Flat Light vs. Light Ripple


PROBLEM: Light-ripple - in all light sources

To varying degrees, ALL light sources have residual ripple by virtue of their electrical operation and mechanical structure. Machine Vision Systems running on 60-cycle power and using

  • • Tungsten light-sources have 10% ripple content
  • • Fluorescent light-sources have 60% ripple content  (Includes: UV & IR)
  • • Metal Halide light sources have 60%-or-more ripple
  • • Sodium light sources have better than 60% ripple

(Note: LEDs operate on DC power; therefore have no ripple (or no flicker*), but they do have heat issues).


SOLUTION: MERCRON Light-Controllers do not merely drive the lamps as other solid-state, inverter ballasts do; they regulate the light, thereby, eliminating 60-cycle ripple for the 6 most commonly used light-sources in Machine Vision / Color Imaging Inspection Systems. In a very real sense, the light is "flattened" and becomes just like sunshine. For other advantages of Precision Regulation, click here.


* Light flicker, though related to light ripple, is technically different. Nonetheless, MERCRON's Light Regulation feature counters light flicker also.