High-speed Line-scan Camera Research Articles

Online micro defects detection for ductile cast iron pipes based on twin light photometric stereo

Ductile cast iron pipes (DCIPs) are widely utilized in water and gas supply due to their exceptional mechanical and material properties. Quality control during production is paramount for optimal performance, with surface defect detection being of utmost importance. Currently, production sites primarily rely on manual visual inspection, which presents several challenges, including high labor intensity, low efficiency, and subjectivity in defect judgment. 2D detection algorithms based on single images struggle to effectively detect small defects such as pores, pinholes, and scratches, resulting in high missed detection rates and vulnerability to interference from oil and water stains. To address these issues, this paper proposes a symmetrical twin-light photometric stereo (TLPS) detection algorithm based on photometric stereo theory, and image correction algorithm for mitigating the effects of ambient light. A visual inspection prototype system was designed and successfully implemented at a production site. The system comprises eight visual inspection units, each equipped with a high-speed line scan camera and two bar light sources for image acquisition of moving DCIP. Under the Lambertian model and parallel light source assumption, the gradient expression in the texture direction of the DCIP surface is derived based on light source symmetry. Production experiment results demonstrate that the gradient map obtained through the proposed TLPS effectively enhances defect contrast and accurately detects and locates micro defects such as pores, pinholes, and scratches on cast pipe surfaces. This verifies the effectiveness of the TLPS algorithm, addresses the shortcomings of traditional 2D detection algorithms, and lays the foundation for subsequent online detection of DCIP surface defects.

Ultrabroadband 2D electronic spectroscopy with high-speed, shot-to-shot detection.

Two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) is an incisive tool for disentangling excited state energies and dynamics in the condensed phase by directly mapping out the correlation between excitation and emission frequencies as a function of time. Despite its enhanced frequency resolution, the spectral window of detection is limited to the laser bandwidth, which has often hindered the visualization of full electronic energy relaxation pathways spread over the entire visible region. Here, we describe a high-sensitivity, ultrabroadband 2DES apparatus. We report a new combination of a simple and robust setup for increased spectral bandwidth and shot-to-shot detection. We utilize 8-fs supercontinuum pulses generated by gas filamentation spanning the entire visible region (450 - 800 nm), which allows for a simultaneous interrogation of electronic transitions over a 200-nm bandwidth, and an all-reflective interferometric delay system with angled nanopositioner stages achieves interferometric precision in coherence time control without introducing wavelength-dependent dispersion to the ultrabroadband spectrum. To address deterioration of detection sensitivity due to the inherent instability of ultrabroadband sources, we introduce a 5-kHz shot-to-shot, dual chopping acquisition scheme by combining a high-speed line-scan camera and two optical choppers to remove scatter contributions from the signal. Comparison of 2D spectra acquired by shot-to-shot detection and averaged detection shows a 15-fold improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio. This is the first direct quantification of detection sensitivity on a filamentation-based ultrabroadband 2DES apparatus.

A Dual Image Sensor Approach for Automated, High Resolution, Region-of-Interest Imaging in a 96-Well Plate

Phenotypic screens are performed on model organisms to understand how chemical compounds affect biological systems. High-throughput devices are needed to efficiently gather large volumes of data for these screens. Recently we developed a low cost high-throughput imaging solution to capture the effects of chemicals on the egg-laying behaviour of C. elegans. We present a second-generation prototype capable of high-resolution (0.2 µm/px) imaging of individual worms and their internal structures. It features an automatic real time segmentation of C. elegans worms and is compatible with 96-well plates. In order to maximize efficiency in data collection, we developed an approach for simultaneous dual imaging through a single objective. A low-resolution (15 µm/px) arm continuously collects images of an entire well using a CCD camera (1280 px by 1024 px). The images are continuously fed into a Python image algorithm that tracks the movement of the worms in regions of interest (ROIs). Using this information, high resolution images of the worms are captured using a linescan camera (8000 px). This solution provides automated high-resolution imaging minimizing acquisition time by eliminating the need for multiple objectives, allowing image collection with a continuously moving system (high speed linescan camera) and minimizing the amount of stitching (large linescan sensor). The scan time of a 96-well plate is proportional to the number of ROIs, which is significantly less than imaging an entire plate. The high-resolution images can be fed into an image processing pipeline that will be able to classify the effects of chemicals on the internal structure of the worms. Simultaneous acquisition of high and low resolution data can be used to correlate deformations of internal structure with changes in mobility. This low cost solution provides users with an automated approach to obtain high-resolution images and mobility statistics of C. elegans.

High-speed ultrahigh-resolution spectral domain optical coherence tomography using high-power supercontinuum at 0.8 µm wavelength

We demonstrated high-speed ultrahigh-resolution (UHR) optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the 800 nm wavelength region. A high-power coherent supercontinuum (SC) and a high-speed line scan camera were used to construct a spectral domain OCT. The axial resolution was 3.1 µm in air and 2.3 µm in tissue. The dependence of sensitivity on the SC power and A-scan rate was examined. For the A-scan rate of 70 kHz, the sensitivity of 104 dB was achieved for the SC power higher than 60 mW. High-speed in vivo UHR-OCT imaging was demonstrated for zebrafish embryo and swimming medaka.

Knife‐edge scanning microscopy for imaging and reconstruction of three‐dimensional anatomical structures of the mouse brain

Anatomical information at the cellular level is important in many fields, including organ systems development, computational biology and informatics. Creating data sets at resolutions that provide enough detail to reconstruct cellular structures across tissue volumes from 1 to 100 mm(3) has proven to be difficult and time-consuming. In this paper, we describe a new method for staining and imaging large volumes of tissue at sub-micron resolutions. Serial sections are cut using an automated ultra-microtome, whereas concurrently each section is imaged through a light microscope with a high-speed line-scan camera. This technique, knife-edge scanning microscopy, allows us to view and record large volumes of tissue in a relatively small amount of time (approximately 7 mm(2) s(-1)). The resolution and scanning speed of knife-edge scanning microscopy provides a new method for imaging tissue at sufficient resolution to reconstruct maps of cellular distribution and morphology. We show that these techniques preserve the alignment of serial sections accurately enough to allow for reconstruction of neuronal processes and microvasculature. Expanding these techniques to other tissues opens up the possibility of creating fully reconstructed cellular maps of entire organs.

Visual measurement of pile movements for the foundation work using a high-speed line-scan camera

When a construction company builds a high structure, many piles should be driven into the ground by a hammer whose weight is typically 7000 kg in order to make the ground under the structure safe and strong. It is essential to determine whether a pile is penetrated into the ground enough to support the weight of the structure since ground characteristics at different locations are different from each other. In order to measure the pile movements, a specially designed mark is designed and a high-speed line-scan camera is used in this paper. A mark, in which black and white right-angled triangles are stacked, is used for the measurements of movement information for vertical distances, horizontal distances and rotational angles simultaneously. The measurement performance of dynamic characteristics of the pile at impact instant is improved dramatically compared with the equipment using speckle laser sensors. The developed visual measurement system is successfully applied for a real penetration measurement system for building construction.

말뚝 변위 측정시스템의 진동 평가에 의한 정확도 향상 대책

In this study, the performance of a DPRMs is evaluated and the measurement precision for the pile driving is presented. The DPRMs is a visual-measurement system for the pile rebound and the penetration movement using a high speed line-scan camera. The DPRMs generates the measurement deviation. It is caused by the strong impact for the pile driving. To reduce it, the vibration signal analysis about the pile driving is performed. As a result, it is confirmed that the tilting frequency of a camera-tripod structure corresponding to excitation frequency range of the ground is under 40㎐. Through the structure modification, the camera-tripod structure is redesigned to the model being free itself from the excitation frequency range of the ground. By the verification testing about the improvement effects, it is inspected that the tilting and measurement deviation of the redesigned DPRMs are reduced.

Surface foam film waves studied with high-speed linescan camera

Dynamic foam films have been investigated using an improved experimental set-up with a CCD high-speed linescan camera in conjunction with the Scheludko micro-interferometric cell for studying the drainage and rupture of liquid foam films. The improved experimental set-up increased the sensibility of detection of the local thickness heterogeneities and domains during the film evolution. The evolution of the foam films up to the formation of black spots was recorded in the time intervals of 50 ms. The wavelengths of the propagating surface waves and their frequencies were determined experimentally. The experimental results show that the current quasi-static hydrodynamic theory does not properly describe the wave dynamics with inter-domain channels. However, the thermodynamic condition for formation of black spots in the foam films was met by the experimental results.

라인 스캔 카메라를 위한 고속 영상 처리 시스템 설계

In this paper, we designed an image processing system for the high speed line-scan camera which adopts the new memory model we proposed. As a resolution and a data rate of the line-scan camera are becoming higher, the faster image processing systems are needed. But many conventional systems are not sufficient to process the image data from the line-scan camera during a very short time. We designed the memory controller which eliminates the time for transferring image data from the line-scan camera to the main memory with high-speed SRAM and has a dual-port configuration therefore the DSP can access the main memory even though the memory controller are writing the image data. The memory controller is implemented by VHDL and Xilinx SPARTAN-IIE FPGA.

Low cost image processing system for line-scan images

A low cost image processing system based on a PC uses a very high-speed line-scan camera to capture the finish of horse and dog races. Uncertain and changing lighting conditions can result in digital images with very poor contrast, making place judging difficult. We use a novel combination of filtering techniques to improve the contrast and sharpen the image details. The system uses a special-purpose board to acquire the image. Special software techniques are used to keep the processing delay at acceptable levels. Future enhancements are planned to further improve the price/performance of the system.

The Influence of Injection Rate Shaping on Diesel Fuel Sprays—An Experimental Study

A current strategy in the development of direct injection (DI) diesel engine combustion systems is the control and limitation of the initial ‘premixed’ combustion heat release ensuing from the auto-ignition of the injected fuel. This requires control of the amount of fuel vaporization and mixing taking place during the ignition delay time. Since the latter is determined by the fuel composition and the in-cylinder gas temperature, development efforts have focused on the injection of well-controlled, portioned fuel quantities prior to the ignition as a means of achieving the desired goal. This practice is becoming known as ‘fuel rate shaping’. Consequently, the fuel spray penetration during this period, fuel evaporation and mixture preparation, as well as the influence of in-cylinder air motion on mixture distribution, are main subjects of interest in affording insight into fuel rate shaping attempts. These have been addressed through a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the spray characteristics associated with different injection practices. The experimental investigations have been performed in an optically accessed spray research engine. Basic aspects of fuel spray tip penetration, time and location of auto-ignition and flame propagation have been recorded with a high-speed line-scan camera. The results provide the space and time-scale characteristics for the propagation, ignition and combustion of a selection of diesel fuel sprays. Investigations have been carried out for a conventional fuel injection system equipped with a set of different single-hole injector nozzles, as well as for a dual-spring injector and an injector with a split injection device. The experimental results provide an insight into the propagation of the fuel spray front, yield qualitative information about its spatial and temporal distribution, and, in the case of split injection, show the interaction of the initial pilot fuel portion with the main injection.