Automated inspections using image processing techniques can

be valuable for preventing the outflow of defective products.

Visual inspection is vital for assuring the function and
performance of products by eliminating flaws and defects such
as stains, dents, dirt, and burrs. The following guide features
innovative techniques for appearance inspection using a vision
system. The examples are actual achievements of Keyence's
state-of-art CV3000 Series. This guide will introduce several
techniques users may consider when implementing
appearance inspection with a vision system.
ADVANCED TECHNIQUES
GU I D E F OR I MP L E ME NT I NG V I S I ON S Y S T E MS
Visual
Inspection
Techniques
Examples of difficult Inspections and Solution Techniques
Highlighting mark indicating the presence of
a fluorescent agent.
Technique for reducing GLARE on A glossY surface case 4
4
case 1
Solution Technique
Black-light
Solution Technique
Stripe illumination
Solution Technique
Color shading
Filter
Stain tool
Grouping processing
Solution Technique
Polarizing filter
The following technique reduces specular-reflective light on a transparent film surface using a polarizing filter.
Without polarizing filter
With polarizing filter
Color camera image
Color camera image
Specular-reflective
light is reflected by
the film surface.
Camera
Object
Transparent
film
Illumination
The i l l umi nat i on i s
separated into the light
reflected on the film
surface and the light
reflected on the object
surface, making it difficult
to see the object.
Principle of a polarizing filter
The specular-reflective
light on the film
surface is reduced.
Camera
With
polarizing filter
Object
Transparent
film
Illumination
If polarizing filters are
installed on the front of the
lens and the source of
illumination, the light that
passes through the filters
and is specularly reflected
on the film is blocked by
the filter on the front of
the lens. This prevents
the light from entering
the camera and allows
users to capture an image
where the influence of
diffuse reflection is reduced.
Illumination
Polarizing
filter A
Polarizing
filter B
Glass
Transparent filter,
etc.
Object
Camera

Polarizing filter for illumination

Polarizing filter for lens
Light emitted from the illuminator is polarized with Polarization filter A and
becomes Light . Part of Light is specularly reflected by the glass surface,
becoming specular reflection . The rest of Light is reflected by the target
surface, becoming Light . Light is diffused when it passes through the
glass surface. Light also passes through Polarization filter B, becoming Light
and entering the camera. Light , which is luster, is intercepted by
Polarization filter B and eliminated.
Detecting a subtle dent on a glossy surface. case 2
Reducing glare on a glossy surface. case 4 Detecting low contrast foreign material. case 3
PrincipIe
KEYENCE CORPORATION, 2007 CV-Inspection3-KA-C-E0038-1 600240 Printed in Japan
KA2-0017
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
CALL
TOLL
FREE
TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL OFFICE
1 - 8 8 8 - 5 3 9 - 3 6 2 3
Corporate Office 50 Tice Blvd., Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 Phone:201-930-0100 Fax:201-930-0099 E-mail:keyence@keyence.com
Fax
:
201-930-0099
www.keyence.com
KEYENCE CORPORATION OF AMERICA
1

If black-light (ultraviolet light) is irradiated on a substance containing a fluorescent agent, the substance will shine due to the fluorescent
reaction. Using this property allows for detection of substances that are usually invisible to the human eye.
White illumination (color image)
Raw Image Processed image
Stripe-shaped surface illumination
Almost invisible in white illumination.
Black-light (color image) Black-light
Blue fluorescence is generated by black-light.
Detecting a substance containing a fluorescent agent.
Major applications
involving a black-light
Presence/absence inspection of flux on a PCB
Presence/absence inspection of adhesive on
sanitary goods
Oil leak inspection for car parts
Place the stripe illumination and camera so that
specular reflection occurs as shown in the figure to the
left. If there is a dent on the object, it is detected by the
stripe distortion as shown in the image above.
A monochrome camera could not
detect the two foreign substances
because there is not a sufficient
difference in contrast or color.
Striped illumination
Camera
Object
The following example illustrates the detection of foreign substances where there is almost no difference in
color and contrast of the background and the detected substances.
Only these two
foreign substances
need to be detected.
Color shade processing screen Shrink filter and contrast conversion
processing screen
Processing screen Stain tool
Post-grouping stability screen
Foreign substance extraction
via color shade processing
Step 1
Detection with increased
brightness and filtering
Step 2
Detection with the stain
inspection tool
Detection of only large
defects by grouping

When a color camera is
used for processing
Technique for detecting LOW CONTRAST FORIEGN MATERIAL case 3
Illumination with a striped pattern is reflected onto an object. If the object surface has a dent, the stripe is distorted. This distortion can
be easily detected using the CV-3000's powerful stain tool.
Detecting a dent by reflecting striped illumination on an object.
Technique for improving contrast of a substance containing a fluorescent agent case 1
Technique for detecting a subtle dent case 2
Raw image
Color camera image
Gray image
Undetectable
Monochrome binary image
Undetectable
Detected image
Blue cross marks indicate the detected targets

If black-light (ultraviolet light) is irradiated on a substance containing a fluorescent agent, the substance will shine due to the fluorescent
reaction. Using this property allows for detection of substances that are usually invisible to the human eye.
White illumination (color image)
Raw Image Processed image
Stripe-shaped surface illumination
Almost invisible in white illumination.
Black-light (color image) Black-light
Blue fluorescence is generated by black-light.
Detecting a substance containing a fluorescent agent.
Major applications
involving a black-light
Presence/absence inspection of flux on a PCB
Presence/absence inspection of adhesive on
sanitary goods
Oil leak inspection for car parts
Place the stripe illumination and camera so that
specular reflection occurs as shown in the figure to the
left. If there is a dent on the object, it is detected by the
stripe distortion as shown in the image above.
A monochrome camera could not
detect the two foreign substances
because there is not a sufficient
difference in contrast or color.
Striped illumination
Camera
Object
The following example illustrates the detection of foreign substances where there is almost no difference in
color and contrast of the background and the detected substances.
Only these two
foreign substances
need to be detected.
Color shade processing screen Shrink filter and contrast conversion
processing screen
Processing screen Stain tool
Post-grouping stability screen
Foreign substance extraction
via color shade processing
Step 1
Detection with increased
brightness and filtering
Step 2
Detection with the stain
inspection tool
Detection of only large
defects by grouping

When a color camera is
used for processing
Technique for detecting LOW CONTRAST FORIEGN MATERIAL case 3
Illumination with a striped pattern is reflected onto an object. If the object surface has a dent, the stripe is distorted. This distortion can
be easily detected using the CV-3000's powerful stain tool.
Detecting a dent by reflecting striped illumination on an object.
Technique for improving contrast of a substance containing a fluorescent agent case 1
Technique for detecting a subtle dent case 2
Raw image
Color camera image
Gray image
Undetectable
Monochrome binary image
Undetectable
Detected image
Blue cross marks indicate the detected targets

Automated inspections using image processing techniques can

be valuable for preventing the outflow of defective products.
Visual inspection is vital for assuring the function and
performance of products by eliminating flaws and defects such
as stains, dents, dirt, and burrs. The following guide features
innovative techniques for appearance inspection using a vision
system. The examples are actual achievements of Keyence's
state-of-art CV3000 Series. This guide will introduce several
techniques users may consider when implementing
appearance inspection with a vision system.
ADVANCED TECHNIQUES
GU I D E F OR I MP L E ME NT I NG V I S I ON S Y S T E MS
Visual
Inspection
Techniques
Examples of difficult Inspections and Solution Techniques
Highlighting mark indicating the presence of
a fluorescent agent.
Technique for reducing GLARE on A glossY surface case 4
4
case 1
Solution Technique
Black-light
Solution Technique
Stripe illumination
Solution Technique
Color shading
Filter
Stain tool
Grouping processing
Solution Technique
Polarizing filter
The following technique reduces specular-reflective light on a transparent film surface using a polarizing filter.
Without polarizing filter
With polarizing filter
Color camera image
Color camera image
Specular-reflective
light is reflected by
the film surface.
Camera
Object
Transparent
film
Illumination
The i l l umi nat i on i s
separated into the light
reflected on the film
surface and the light
reflected on the object
surface, making it difficult
to see the object.
Principle of a polarizing filter
The specular-reflective
light on the film
surface is reduced.
Camera
With
polarizing filter
Object
Transparent
film
Illumination
If polarizing filters are
installed on the front of the
lens and the source of
illumination, the light that
passes through the filters
and is specularly reflected
on the film is blocked by
the filter on the front of
the lens. This prevents
the light from entering
the camera and allows
users to capture an image
where the influence of
diffuse reflection is reduced.
Illumination
Polarizing
filter A
Polarizing
filter B
Glass
Transparent filter,
etc.
Object
Camera

Polarizing filter for illumination

Polarizing filter for lens
Light emitted from the illuminator is polarized with Polarization filter A and
becomes Light . Part of Light is specularly reflected by the glass surface,
becoming specular reflection . The rest of Light is reflected by the target
surface, becoming Light . Light is diffused when it passes through the
glass surface. Light also passes through Polarization filter B, becoming Light
and entering the camera. Light , which is luster, is intercepted by
Polarization filter B and eliminated.
Detecting a subtle dent on a glossy surface. case 2
Reducing glare on a glossy surface. case 4 Detecting low contrast foreign material. case 3
PrincipIe
KEYENCE CORPORATION, 2007 CV-Inspection3-KA-C-E0038-1 600240 Printed in Japan
KA2-0017
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
CALL
TOLL
FREE
TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL OFFICE
1 - 8 8 8 - 5 3 9 - 3 6 2 3
Corporate Office 50 Tice Blvd., Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 Phone:201-930-0100 Fax:201-930-0099 E-mail:keyence@keyence.com
Fax
:
201-930-0099
www.keyence.com
KEYENCE CORPORATION OF AMERICA
1