Infrared and ultraviolet LED lights for machine vision

Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration

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January 2007 Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration

CCS, a world-leading manufacturer of LED lighting for machine vision, is now offering ultraviolet (UV) and near infrared (IR) wavelength versions of most of its standard LED machine vision lights. Achieving the best image for machine vision requires the right light and the right wavelength. The addition of UV and IR wavelengths makes measurements possible that could not be reliably made before.

Example image: foreign matter mixed in beverage container

Visible light: visible light from a back light does not penetrate the plastic bottle

Infrared light: an IR back light penetrates the plastic bottle and silhouettes the foreign object resting at the bottom for reliable detection

Infrared

* Peak wavelength: 850 nm or 940 nm.

* LED light spread: 15°, 30°.

Infrared light's long wavelength often allows for less scattering from part surfaces and higher transmission rates through them. Higher transmission means it can pass through more materials making IR light ideal for inspecting package fill levels or ensuring against foreign matter.

Lower surface scattering means IR light can often be used to ignore some surface paint or print for unobstructed inspection for surface details such as scratches, chips, holes, edges, or characters on a wide variety of materials including paper, cloth, plastics and metals.

Example image: PCB foreign matter detection

Visible light: visible light illuminates both the PCB features as well as foreign matter, so they are difficult to distinguish

Ultraviolet light: UV light scatter from the top layer of the board illuminates only the foreign particle, but not the PCB pattern

Ultraviolet

* LED with anti-spark protection.

* Peak wavelength: 365 nm.

* LED light spread: 20°.

The new UV wavelength availability for standard CCS light models allows for the benefits of LED lights (lifetime, flexibility and strobing), for applications that require UV light to solve the application and achieve the best image. In order to ensure maximum lifetime and safety, CCS's market leading engineering capability has developed an 'anti-spark' protection feature. Many ultraviolet LEDs have packages made from iron alloy, making them vulnerable to static electricity. This has created a major problem with individual LED failure due to a spark occurring when there is contact with a piece of conductive material. CCS's original ultraviolet LED has eliminated this problem by employing a proprietary anti-spark protection feature.

The new UV and IR lights are available in Ring-light, Bar-light, Flat-light, Back-Light, Coaxial-light and Linelight versions.

CCS products are distributed in South Africa by Westplex.

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Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration

Infrared and ultraviolet LED lights for machine vision

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