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The color sensors of the new
SPECTRO-3 series
With the SPECTRO-3 series there now is a family
of color sensors that has been specifically designed for "true-color" detection
("human color reception") and high switching frequency.
The sensors can
be operated both in AC and in DC mode, with integrated or external light
source. With the included SPECTRO3-Scope software illumination can also be
turned off with a simple mouse-click, which then also allows the color and
brightness inspection of self-luminous objects such as LEDs, automobile tail
lights, halogen lamps, or fluorescent lamps.
Up to 31 colors can be
provided through the 5 digital outputs, the maximum switching frequency is 30
kHz. Apart from a super-bright white-light source, a high-performance UV light
source also is available, which allows the color and brightness differentiation
of fluorescent colors without any problems. Different frontends make it
possible to implement operating distances of almost 0 mm through to 500 mm,
with detection areas of Ø 0.5 mm to approx. Ø 100 mm. The use of
an optical fibre version allows applications in Ex areas.
In the
SPECTRO-3 series great importance was attached to a compact design and to the
largest possible extent to a uniform appearance of the various types (M34
design), which facilitates sensor installation.
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Characteristics of the SPECTRO-3 series
- Optical-fibre version with different optical fibres
and frontends
- Light spot sizes with a diameter of 0.5 mm to 100
mm, or a cross-section of 0.2 mm x 2 mm or 0.7 mm x 4 mm
- Operating distances from 0.5 mm up to 2000 mm
- Diffuse illumination for gloss effect suppression
(DIF types)
- Wide dynamic range due to focused white-light
operation (FCL types)
- Polarisation filter for avoiding gloss (POL
types)
- Color fluorescence evaluation with UV illumination
(UV types)
- Switching frequency of up to 30 kHz
- High-speed color mark detection
- siM evaluation according to the L*a*b* method
- RS232, USB, and ETHERNET connection
- L*u*v* measurement of extraneous light sources
- Teaching to a product series (Teach Mean
Value)
- High-speed automatic light power adjustment
- Color candidate selection acc. to the "smallest
distance method"
- Teaching of up to 31 colors
- Forming of color groups
- Compact M34 housing
- SPECTRO3-Scope Windows® user interface
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SPECTRO-3-…-DIL series:
Color inspection of structured and inhomogeneous surfaces
With many
objects requiring color inspection an inhomogeneous surface causes problems in
color determination. A structured surface, for example, leads to gloss rate
fluctuations that cause difficulties for conventional color sensors because
depending on the gloss rate the color is sometimes detected more intensively
and sometimes less intensively.
The actual color is brightened or "softened"
by direct reflection that depends on the respective gloss rate of the surface.
With the color sensors of the SPECTRO-3-DIL series diffuse illumination
considerably reduces this gloss effect. Furthermore, the large detection range
(approx. 10 mm to 30 mm) allows an optical integration of structural
fluctuations, and the color is thus reliably detected with great stability. The
true-color color detector ("human color perception") and the evaluation
software ("human color assessment") furthermore guarantee that even smallest
color differences of objects are reliably detected.
SPECTRO-3-…-FCL series: Reliable high-speed color detection
at a large distance
The SPECTRO-3-FCL series allows the color
differentiation of objects at a large distance. Depending on the version and on
the object, a distance of up to 500 mm can be realised. Among others the FCL
series features super-bright white-light LEDs and a so-called true-color chip
that perceives colors like the human eye. Up to 31 colors can be taught, and
during operation the sensor determines the color reference that comes closest
to the current color of the object (human color interpretation).
The sensors
of this series ideally can be employed for distinguishing between glossy and
non-glossy objects of the same color (e.g. objects without and with transparent
foil).
SPECTRO-3-…-POL series: Color inspection of glossy objects
with the SPECTRO-3-POL
In practice, the reliable detection of the
color of glossy objects usually is extremely difficult because the actual color
information is mixed with direct reflection resulting from the gloss effect.
Rich colors thus are turned into "soft" colors. The polarisation filters that
are integrated in the SPECTRO-3-POL color sensor prevent such direct
reflection, the actual color thus can be clearly recognised and reliably
detected.
Reflecting surfaces such as e.g. the high-gloss paints on
automotive components can thus be clearly recognised.
SPECTRO-3-…-COF series: High-speed color detection of small
objects
The cofocal sensors of the SPECTRO-3-COF series project a
white-light spot with a diameter of approx. 1 mm to 8 mm or with dimensions of
4 mm x 0.7 mm onto the object to be detected. The transmitter optics unit is
located at the centre of the receiver optics unit, which results in a highly
compact design. This allows a high-precision and high-speed detection of small
objects such as e.g. color markings or wires at a great distance.
SPECTRO-3-…-FIO series:
Die FIO series is the
color sensor series with the most flexible application possibilities. In
addition to more than 50 different sensor head variants each for
transmitted-light and reflected-light operation there also are more than 20
frontends. With the help of an external light source the dynamic range con be
considerably increased. Due to the use of optical fibres this series also is
employed in Ex areas.
- Color measurement of self-luminous objects with the
SPECTRO-3-FIO
In combination with a reflected-light optical fibre and a
neutral-absorber attachment unit the SPECTRO-3-FIO makes it possible to perform
color inspection of different self-luminous objects.
- Fluorescent color mark detection with the
SPECTRO-3-FIO-UV
In combination with the super-bright UV light source
SPECTRO-3-ELS-UV the SPECTRO-3-FIO-UV evaluation unit performs high-speed
detection of fluorescent color marks. The sensor not only detects the
brightness of the fluorescent mark, but also its color.
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