Fourier-domain-based angular correlation for quasiperiodic pattern recognition. Applications to web inspection

Quasi-seamless stitching for large-area micropatterned surfaces enabled by Fourier spectral analysis of moiré patterns

The main challenge in preparing a flexible mold stamp using roll-to-roll nanoimprint lithography is to simultaneously increase the imprintable area with a minimized perceptible seam. However, the current methods for stitching multiple small molds to fabricate large-area molds and functional surfaces typically rely on the alignment mark, which inevitably produces a clear alignment mark and stitched seam. In this study, we propose a mark-less alignment by the pattern itself method inspired by moiré technique, which uses the Fourier spectral analysis of moiré patterns formed by superposed identical patterns for alignment. This method is capable of fabricating scalable functional surfaces and imprint molds with quasi-seamless and alignment mark-free patterning. By harnessing the rotational invariance property in the Fourier transform, our approach is confirmed to be a simple and efficient method for extracting the rotational and translational offsets in overlapped periodic or nonperiodic patterns with a minimized stitched region, thereby allowing for the large-area and quasi-seamless fabrication of imprinting molds and functional surfaces, such as liquid-repellent film and micro-optical sheets, that surpass the conventional alignment and stitching limits and potentially expand their application in producing large-area metasurfaces.

Fabric inspection by near-infrared machine vision

Fabrics that have superstructures of colored squares, bands, etc., superimposed upon the basic web structure can be advantageously analyzed by use of near-infrared (NIR) illumination and a conventional monochrome camera. The reduction in contrast of the superstructure signal in the NIR image facilitates inspection of the fabric's structure and defect segmentation. Underdetection and misdetection errors are noticeably reduced. This inspection takes advantage of the residual sensitivity of a monochrome camera, which can reach 1000 nm. The light source is an array of NIR LEDs emitting in a band to which the camera is still sensitive. NIR visual inspection can be performed by machines or by humans. In the latter case the observer looks at the NIR image of the fabric displayed on a TV monitor.

Weave-repeat identification by structural analysis of fabric images

Two descriptions of the image of a web structure, a convolution model and an additive model, in both the spatial and frequency domains, are combined in the design of a method to extract information about the fabric structure by image analysis. The method allows the extraction of the conventional and also the minimal weave repeats, their size in terms of number of threads, their interlacing patterns, and their patterns of repetition. It is applicable to fabrics with square and nonsquare conventional weave repeat. Experimental results with image of real samples are presented and discussed.

Modeling of woven fabric structures based on fourier image analysis

The periodic woven structures of fabrics can be defined on the basis of the convolution theorem. Here an elementary unit with the minimum number of thread crossings and a nonrectangular two-dimensional comb function for the pattern of repetition is used to define woven structures. The expression derived is more compact than the conventional diagram for weaving, and the parameters that one needs to determine a given fabric can easily be extracted from its Fourier transform. Several results with real samples of the most common structures-plain, twill, and satin-are presented.