Methods for assessing visual tasks to establish desirable lighting and viewing conditions for performance of tasks; apparatus; and, applications

Abstract

A method of establishing a lighting system and viewing environment for conduct of visual task is provided. The method generally includes steps of providing a visual performance lab, conducting a visual performance study, and constructing an industrial viewing station based upon the results of the visual performance study. The invention also concerns provision of a preferred visual performance lab and development of preferred industrial viewing stations.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of establishing a lighting system for conduct of a visual task; said method including the steps of: 
 (a) providing a visual performance lab including at least: 
 (i) a viewing station;  
 (ii) an arrangement for selectively positioning an object to be viewed and manipulating an orientation of the object relative to the viewing station;  
 (iii) a selectively controlled lighting arrangement; said selectively controlled lighting arrangement including at least: 
 (A) an intensity control for selectively modifying an intensity of task light illuminating the object to be viewed; and  
 (B) a background luminance control for selectively controlling background luminance viewable from the viewing station;  
 
   (b) conducting a visual performance study by positioning a viewer at the viewing station and selectively modifying each of: the orientation of the object being viewed; the intensity of task light illuminating the object being viewed; and, the background luminance, to determine preferred orientation, task light intensity and background luminance for viewing the object; and    (c) constructing an industrial viewing station for the object; said step of constructing including a step of providing selectively controlled lighting of the object at the viewing station to implement the preferred orientation, task light intensity, and background luminance determined in step (b).    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 (a) said step of providing an arrangement for selective positioning of an object to be viewed and for manipulating an orientation of the object relative to the viewing station includes providing a goniometer on which the object can be selectively positioned, for viewing.    
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 (a) said step of conducting a visual performance study includes serially positioning a selected population of viewers at the viewing station and determining each viewer's lighting preference; and    (b) said step of constructing an inspection station includes providing selectively controlled lighting implementing the preferred orientation, light intensities, and background luminance determined by the most visually limited viewer's preference.    
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , including steps of: 
 (a) selecting as the object to be viewed an object which is normally purchased by an identifiable population; and    (b) selecting the selected population of viewers from the identifiable population.    
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 (a) said step of providing a visual performance lab includes providing a lighting arrangement including: 
 (i) a color control for selectively modifying a color of task light illuminating the object to be viewed;  
   (b) said step of conducting a visual performance study includes modifying a color of task light illuminating the object, to determine a preferred color of light for viewing the object; and    (c) said step of constructing a viewing station includes a step of providing selectively controlled task lighting color, to implement a preferred color determined in step  5 ( b ).    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 (a) said step of providing a visual performance lab includes providing a lighting arrangement including: 
 (i) a task lighting direction control for selectively modifying a direction of task light illuminating the object to be viewed;  
   (b) said step of conducting a visual performance study includes modifying the direction of task light illuminating the object to determine a preferred direction of task light illuminating the object to be viewed; and    (c) said step of constructing an inspection station includes a step of providing a selectively controlled direction of task light to implement the preferred direction of task light determined in step  6 ( b ).    
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 (a) said step of constructing a viewing station for the object includes: 
 (i) a step of providing a first selected lighting condition for a first viewing task; and  
 (ii) a step of providing a second selected lighting condition for a second viewing task, the second lighting condition being different from the first lighting condition; and  
 (iii) a step of providing a control arrangement for selecting between the first and second lighting conditions.  
   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 (a) the step of conducting a visual performance study includes determining: a set of preferred conditions in the visual performance lab for detecting at least one type of non-dimensional defect in the object; and, a set of preferred conditions in the visual performance lab for detecting at least one type of dimensional defect in the object; and    (b) said step of constructing a viewing station includes providing: 
 (i) a first selectively controlled lighting arrangement for preferred detection of the at least one type of non-dimensional defect; and  
 (ii) a second selectively controlled lighting arrangement for preferred detection of the at least one type of dimensional defect; and  
 (iii) a control arrangement for: selective actuation of the first selectively controlled lighting arrangement; and, selective actuation of the second selectively controlled lighting arrangement.  
   
     
     
         9 . A visual performance lab comprising: 
 (a) a viewing station;    (b) an arrangement for selectively positioning an object to be viewed and manipulating an orientation of the object relative to the viewing station; and    (c) a selectively controlled lighting arrangement, said selectively controlled lighting arrangement including at least: 
 (i) an intensity control for selectively modifying an intensity of task lighting illuminating the object to be viewed;  
 (ii) a background luminance control for selectively controlling background luminance viewable from the viewing station; and,  
 (iii) a task lighting direction control for selectively modifying a direction of task light illuminating the object to be viewed.  
   
     
     
         10 . A visual performance lab according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 (a) said selectively controlled lighting arrangement includes a mask lighting control for selectively modifying an amount of masking light illuminating the object to be viewed.    
     
     
         11 . A visual performance lab according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 (a) said selectively controlled lighting arrangement includes a task lighting color control for selectively modifying a color of task lighting illuminating the object to be viewed.    
     
     
         12 . A visual performance lab according to  claim 10 , including: 
 (a) a viewing station position adjustment mechanism for selectively adjusting a distance between said viewing station and the object to be viewed.    
     
     
         13 . A visual performance lab according to  claim 10 , including: 
 (a) a video photometer arrangement including a detection camera positioned at said viewing station and oriented to observe the object to be viewed when the object to be viewed is positioned in the arrangement for selectively positioning the same.    
     
     
         14 . An industrial viewing station comprising: 
 (a) a lighting arrangement having: 
 (i) a first selected lighting condition for a first viewing task;  
 (ii) a second selected lighting condition for a second viewing task;  
   (b) a control system for selectively actuating said first lighting condition and said second lighting condition; and    (c) a visual surround covering a portion of the viewing station in order to block outside light, said visual surround including a luminous surface therein.