Visual quality control system solino®

Overview
The solino 25 RTI sensor uses BRDF‑based computational imaging to reveal surface structures and micro defects on battery components. The system captures 64 images under multiple illumination directions within milliseconds and reconstructs reflectance‑based surface information to enhance defect visibility.

Customer Task:
Battery components such as coin cells, cylindrical housings and stamped parts must meet strict quality and safety standards. Surface defects affect sealing, electrical contact, corrosion resistance and product reliability. Manufacturers require a robust inspection method for diverse battery parts and surface finishes.

• coin cell batteries (e.g. CR series)
• cylindrical battery housings
• stamped and engraved markings
• sealing surfaces and edges
• coated and metallic surfaces

Inspection Challenges:
Inspecting battery surfaces is challenging due to material properties, geometry and process variability that impair conventional vision systems.

• Highly reflective metallic surfaces (nickel, stainless steel, aluminum) create reflections and glare that hide defects or cause false detections.
• Curved edges of coin cells and cylindrical batteries produce changing reflections.
• Low‑contrast engravings and laser markings, stamped text or logos are difficult to detect.
• Micro‑scale defects (scratches, dents, coating irregularities, early corrosion) often lie in the micron range and are barely visible.
• Surface contamination (dust, oil, residues) can affect sealing and electrical contact.
• Coating and material inconsistencies such as thin coatings or oxidation layers vary locally.
• Process variability from stamping, forming or coating leads to appearance variations.
• Unstable results from traditional vision systems that depend on fixed lighting setups.

Technology Principle
The solino 25 RTI sensor captures photometric stereo data with controlled multi‑directional illumination and reconstructs reflectance information based on BRDF. Key elements include:

• 64 multi‑directional LED illumination
• photometric stereo image capture
• reflectance‑based surface reconstruction
• computational defect enhancement

Application
The solino 25 can be used to inspect battery components across a wide range of sizes. Typical inspection targets include:

• coin cell surfaces and engraved labels
• cylindrical battery housings
• sealing edges and contact areas
• surface coatings and finishes
• contamination or handling damage

Technology Benefits
Using controlled multi‑directional illumination, solino 25 enhances visibility of surface anomalies, including:

• micro scratches and dents on metal housings
• irregularities in engraved markings
• coating defects or corrosion spots
• particles and contamination on surfaces

Solution Architecture
The inspection system consists of integrated hardware and software components designed for easy integration into automated production systems.

• solino 25 RTI sensor with 64 LED dome illumination
• high‑resolution 20 MP industrial camera
• solinoStudio software for acquisition, reconstruction and visualization

Inspection Workflow

• Position battery component under the solino 25 RTI sensor
• System captures images under different illumination directions (64 images)
• Computational algorithms reconstruct surface reflectance information
• solinoStudio enables visualization and enhancement of surface structures for defect detection

Characteristics / Technical specifications

• Item number (example): 100-SO-25-MAN-001 (solino 25x25 - Viewer - Stand)
• Model / Series: solino 25 RTI sensor
• Illumination: 64 multi‑directional LEDs (integrated dome)
• Capture: photometric stereo, 64 images in milliseconds
• Camera: high‑resolution 20 MP industrial camera
• Software: solinoStudio for acquisition, reconstruction and visualization
• Target applications: coin cells, cylindrical housings, sealing edges, engraved markings, coatings and contamination detection
• Integration: compact sensor design for automated production or inspection stations