Light optical sensor

for detectionin-linemobile

Short description

• Camera-based inline sensor for transmitted appearance measurement
• Quantifies transparency with perception-correlated metrics: Haze, ID Sharpness and ID Clarity
• Short and long focal-distance versions to suit production-line geometries

Overview
The Rhopoint ID-Inline is a camera-based inline sensor for continuous measurement of the optical appearance of sheeted and 3D transparent materials. It uses a backlit reference graticule and image analysis to quantify changes in transmitted light caused by a sample. Outputs are mapped to human-perception metrics and can be referenced to legacy clarity/haze scales when required.

Key features

• Measures Haze, ID Sharpness and ID Clarity
• Visible Transmittance (TID) reporting to quantify perceived brightness through the material
• Two focal-length options: short (45 mm separation) and long (170 mm separation)
• Configurations for inline sensor mounting or larger inspection stations for big sheets and 3D parts
• Camera and sealed illumination operate without moving parts to reduce contamination risk
• Sampling rate suitable for continuous production monitoring (up to 3 measurements/second)
• Factory calibrated to ASTM references for haze/clarity when using an 8 mm ASTM platen
• Compatible with Rhopoint ID laboratory software (ID-L) and TCP/IP client for process integration

Haze — perception / description (table)
Perception | Description
No Haze | High contrast; colours are vibrant; crisp edges
Medium Haze | Reduced contrast; colours less vibrant; details remain sharp
High Haze | Poor contrast; colours appear flat; indistinct edges and reduced detail

Sharpness / Clarity — notes

• ID Sharpness quantifies perceived detail/sharpness of objects seen through the sample and provides higher resolution than traditional clarity metrics.
• ID Clarity reports a clarity-type value compatible with sphere-based clarity/haze meters when using the 8 mm adaptor for interoperability with legacy data.
• Anisotropic sharpness (directional sharpness) can be measured (ID-L) to detect direction-dependent texture or processing faults.

Software & integration

• ID-L laboratory software: connects up to 5 ID sensors to collect images, batch statistics and trend graphs.
• TCP/IP client: integrates up to 10 ID-Inline units with process control/SAP systems for high-rate data exchange (up to ~10 measurements/second per sensor depending on configuration).

Applications

• Blown and cast film production (online web measurement; multi-point or traversing sensor)
• Sheeted plastics and glass (inline or bespoke inspection stations)
• Plastic bottles (PET), labels and trays where contact clarity and haze are critical
• Tubes, pipes and large 3D transparent components (measurement station configurations)
• Automotive windscreens, large-sheet inspection and industrial transparency quality control

Measurement method summary
The instrument backlights a high-contrast reference graticule. The camera quantifies transmitted-light changes and image analysis extracts Haze, ID Sharpness and ID Clarity metrics, correlated to human perception and, where applicable, to ASTM haze/clarity measurements using the 8 mm platen.

Technical specifications

• Brand: Rhopoint Instruments
• Model: Rhopoint ID-Inline
• Retailer item id (site): A3100-100
• Availability: In stock
• Versions: Short focal distance (45 mm); Long focal distance (170 mm)
• Measurement parameters: Haze, ID Sharpness, ID Clarity, Visible Transmittance (TID)
• Compatibility: ASTM D1003 equivalence for clarity/haze when using 8 mm ASTM platen
• Software: ID-L (up to 5 units), TCP/IP client (up to 10 units)
• Sampling rate: Up to 3 measurements per second (typical inline sampling)
• Illumination: Sealed backlit reference graticule (no moving parts)
• Typical sample types: Plastic films (cast, blown), PET bottles, sheeted plastics, glass sheets, tubes, large 3D transparent parts
• Calibration: Factory calibrated to ASTM standards for quantitative matching