{"id":1265,"date":"2019-02-20T20:54:57","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T01:54:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1stvision.com\/machine-vision-solutions\/?p=1265"},"modified":"2023-03-21T18:41:58","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T22:41:58","slug":"optotune-focus-tunable-lenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1stvision.com\/machine-vision-solutions\/2019\/02\/optotune-focus-tunable-lenses.html","title":{"rendered":"Optotune liquid lenses – 5 case examples for machine vision"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Optotune<\/a>Liquid lens technology,<\/a><\/strong><\/span> with its ability to change focus within the order of milliseconds is opening up a host of new applications in both machine vision and the life sciences.\u00a0 It is gaining growing interest from a wide cross section of applications and easily adapts to standard machine vision lenses.<\/p>\n

Liquid lens technology alone provides nice solutions, but when combined with advanced controls, many more applications can be solved.<\/p>\n

To learn the fundamentals of liquid lens technology and download a comprehensive white paper read our previous blog HERE.\u00a0 <\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"see<\/a><\/p>\n

In this blog, we will highlight several case application areas for liquid lens technology.<\/p>\n

Case 1:\u00a0 Applications requiring various focus points and extended depth of field:<\/strong>\u00a0 This does cover many applications, such as logistics, packaging and code reading in packaging.\u00a0 Optotune Liquid lenses provide the ability to have pre-set focus points, auto-focus or utilize distance sensors for feedback to the lens.\u00a0 In the example below, 2 presets can be programmed and toggled to read 2D codes at various heights essentially extending the depth of field.<\/p>\n

\"extended<\/a><\/p>\n

Case 2:\u00a0 3D imagery of transparent materials \/ Hyperfocal (Extended DOF Images:\u00a0<\/strong> When \"image<\/a>using an Optotune liquid lens<\/span><\/strong><\/a> in conjunction with a Gardasoft TR-CL180 controller<\/a>, sequence of images can be taken with the focus point stepped between each image.\u00a0 This technique is known as focus stacking. \u00a0 This will build up a 3D image of transparent environments such as cell tissue or liquid for analysis.\u00a0 This can also be used to find particles suspended in liquids.<\/p>\n

\"image<\/a><\/p>\n

A Z-stack of images can also be used to extract 3D data (depth of focus) and compute a hyper-focus or extended depth of field (EFOF) image.<\/p>\n

The EDOF technique requires tacking a stack of individual well focused images which have preferably been synchronized with one flash per image.\u00a0 An example is show below with the rendered hyper focus image shown at right.<\/p>\n

\"Hyperfocus<\/a>Case 3:\u00a0 Lens inspection:<\/strong>\u00a0 Liquid lenses can be used to inspect lenses, such as those in cell phones for dust and scratches looking through the lens stack.<\/p>\n

\"OptotuneFor this application, a liquid lens is used in conjunction with a telescentric lens taking images through different heights of the lens stack.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Case 4:\u00a0 Bottle \/ Container inspection:<\/strong>\u00a0 Optotune Liquid lenses<\/span><\/strong><\/a> can be used to facilitate image bottom’s of glass bottles or containers of various heights.<\/p>\n

In this example, the camera is consistently at the neck of the bottle, but the bottom is at different heights.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/a>\"optotune<\/a><\/p>\n

Case 5:\u00a0 Large surface inspections with variation in height:\u00a0<\/strong> Items ranging from PCB’s to LCD’s are not flat, have various component heights and need to be inspected at high magnification (typically using lenses with minimal DOF).\u00a0 Optotune Liquid<\/a> lenses are a perfect solution using preset focus points.<\/p>\n

\"pcb<\/a><\/p>\n

Machine Vision applications using Optotune Liquid lenses and controller are endless!<\/strong><\/p>\n

These applications are just the tip of the iceberg and many more exist, but this will give you a good idea of capabilities.\u00a0\u00a0 Gardasoft TR-CL controllers are fully GigE Vision compliant, so any compatible GigE Vision client image processing software such as Cognex VisionPro, Teledyne Dalsa Sherlock or National Instruments LABVIEW can be used easily.<\/p>\n

\"Click<\/a><\/p>\n

1st Vision\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> sales engineers have over 100 years of combined experience to assist in your camera selection.\u00a0 With a large portfolio of lenses<\/a>, cables<\/a>, NIC card<\/a> and industrial computers<\/a>, we can provide a full vision solution!<\/p>\n

Contact us to help in the specification and providing pricing<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Ph:\u00a0 978-474-0044\u00a0 \/\u00a0 info@1stvision.com<\/a>\u00a0 \/ www.1stvision.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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