TDI imaging and scanning moiré for online defect detection

This paper explains the application of scanning moiré in association with TDI (Time Delay and Integration) imaging for complete peripheral inspection of cylindrical objects. Based on the structured light technique, a grating pattern modulated by deformations, such as dents on the surface of a rotating cylindrical object, is recorded using a TDI camera. The illumination system consists of an intensity modulated, line generating laser diode aligned at an angle to the camera axis. By using the TDI option for recording every nth line, an online scanning moiré pattern is generated. After providing a simple explanation of the scanning moiré, the effects of object rotation speed and TDI scan speed on the fringe pattern are discussed and demonstrated. The techniques presented here offer low cost solutions to industrial machine vision tasks related to peripheral imaging and inspection of cylindrical objects.