Guaranteed quality for clear and pattern solar glass right from the start - New optical inspection systems for higher yield in solar glass production lines

In the solar and photovoltaic industries the condition of the glass substrate is critical to the final quality of the completed modules. To realize top quality standards in downstream module production, the glass must already have been checked automatically on the glass manufacturer's production lines. The requirement to detect and distinguish defects – typically open and closed bubbles, stones and knots – in the harsh environment of solar glass production is challenging. The robust PATTERNSCAN-Ribbon system from ISRA VISION is dedicated to this demanding application. It can be located directly after the furnace and cooling zones and offers automated inspection of clear and pattern solar glass.

Depending on the application, the glass industry is producing different glass types, such as clear and patterned. All types of cover glass for solar modules have to fulfill stringent quality requirements to guarantee a long life time and the high energy efficiency of the installed solar system. The new PATTERNSCAN-Ribbon inspection system comprehensively facilitates these requirements. Being fully automated, the system is designed to detect and subsequently differentiate all defects within the glass and on the glass surface.


Reliable defect classification even at high production speeds

The integrated QUICKTEACH concept offers fast defect classification and enables “Learning by Showing”: The data and images of all significant defects are stored for further analysis, and even during production they can be acitvated by mouse-click. By means of this the generated information is also usable for production optimization.

New LED measuring principle offers advanced defect classification even for patterned solar glass

The new system includes a novel, ultrafast pattern switching LED-illumination unit. The advantage is that despite a significant hardware reduction, the performance is significantly increased. Instead of applying different camera rows, now, with only one bank of cameras, an unlimited number of illuminated views (such as bright field and dark field images) can be used. The information from the different views is used to achieve reliable and advanced defect classification of bubbles, stones, inclusions, threads (white lines), white spots, scratches and knots. A further advantage for the user is the detection of the formerly difficult to identify bubble defects, which can now be clearly differentiated as open, elongated or closed types.

Suitable for connection with cutting optimizing systems
The new PATTERNSCAN-Ribbon inspection system is typically connected to systems which optimize the cutting of usable glass areas. By means of defect cluster analysis and classification, the line yield in solar glass production can be significantly enhanced. The result is increased profitability.

Exhibitor Data Sheet