| US 7,505,124 B2 | ||
| Automated inspection system and method | ||
| Achim Kreckel, Mainz (Germany); Christian Laue, Mainz (Germany); and Edgar Maehringer-Kunz, Muenster-Sarmsheim (Germany) | ||
| Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y. (US) | ||
| Filed on Feb. 19, 2008, as Appl. No. 12/33,110. | ||
| Application 12/033110 is a continuation of application No. 11/266742, filed on Nov. 03, 2005, granted, now 7,355,700. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 041 06 458 (DE), filed on Dec. 10, 2004. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0137079 A1, Jun. 12, 2008 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01N 21/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 356—237.1 [356/240.1] | 9 Claims |
| 1. An automated system for illuminating and inspecting at least one inner surface area of a tubular sample, comprising
a pair of cylindrical illuminating members, each said cylindrical illuminating member having a respective longitudinal axis,
wherein said longitudinal axes of said cylindrical illuminating members are parallel; and
an inspection location at which light emitted from the surfaces of said cylindrical illuminating members and reflected by
said tubular sample is received forming an image of said tubular sample for inspection;
wherein said automated system supports said tubular sample during inspection in a position: (a) which is outside said cylindrical
illuminating members and in a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axes of said cylindrical illuminating members,
(b) in which a longitudinal edge of an outer surface area of said tubular sample nearest said inspection location is closer
to said inspection location that any longitudinal edge of said cylindrical illuminating members, and (c) in which at least
one longitudinal edge of said inner surface area of said tubular sample is farther from said inspection location than the
respective longitudinal edges of said cylindrical illuminating members which are closest to said inspection location.
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