Control system, control device, image processing device, and control method

A control device configured to communicate with a database for storing information associated with an object for inspection, a data storage area for storing image data, and an image processing device, the control device comprising

• a first processor that executes one or more programs causing the control device to perform operations comprising controlling a process comprising a plurality of stages executed on the object for inspection;
• wherein
• the first processor is configured to perform operations comprising:
• communicating with the image processing device, the image processing device comprising a second processor that executes one or more programs for causing the image processing device to perform, for the plurality of stages, independent operations comprising:
• acquiring image data by taking an image of the object for inspection,
• processing the image data acquired from taking the image of the object for inspection, the processing of the image data comprising determining whether the image data of the object for inspection indicates that the object for inspection is defective, and
• causing the image data acquired by the image processing device to be stored in the data storage area according to designation information specifying a storage designation in the data storage area designated for the object for inspection;
• the information to be stored in the database comprises:
• an attribute value associated with the object for inspection,
• results information comprising a result from the processing of the image data of the object for inspection, and
• the designation information;
• the first processor of the control device and the second processor of the image processing device perform collaborative operations for storing the information in the database;
• the attribute value is managed by the first processor of the control device;
• the results information is managed by the second processor of the image processing device;
• the designation information is managed by one of:
• the first processor of the control device;
• and the second processor of the image processing device to enable the collaborative operations such that:
• in response to the first processor of the control device managing the designation information, the collaborative operations comprise the second processor of the image processing device sending the results information to the first processor of the control device and receiving the designation information from the first processor of the control device, and
• in response to the second processor of the image processing device managing the designation information, the collaborative operations comprise the second processor of the image processing device sending the results information and the designation information to the first processor of the control device;
• the collaborative operations further comprise the first processor of the control device creating a unique mapping of the information associated with the object for inspection to be stored in the database and the image data corresponding to the object for inspection stored in the data storage area for the plurality of stages of the process based on the designation information;
• and
• the unique mapping facilitates retrieval of the image data corresponding to the object for inspection from the data storage area and retrieval of the information associated with the object for inspection from the database at each of the plurality of stages of the process.

An image processing device configured to communicate with a database for storing information associated with an object for inspection, a data storage area for storing image data, and a control device, the image processing device comprising

• a second processor that executes one or more programs for causing the image processing device to perform operations comprising:
• communicating with the control device, the control device comprising a first processor that executes one or more programs causing the control device to perform operations comprising controlling a process comprising a plurality of stages executed on the object for inspection, and
• for the plurality of stages, independent operations comprising:
• acquiring image data by taking an image of the object for inspection;
• processing the image data acquired from taking the image of the object for inspection, the processing of the image data comprising determining whether the image data of the object for inspection indicates that the object for inspection is defective;
• and
• causing the image data acquired by the image processing device to be stored in the data storage area according to designation information specifying a storage destination in the data storage area designated for the object for inspection;
• wherein
• the information to be stored in the database comprises:
• an attribute value associated with the object for inspection,
• results information comprising a result from the processing of the image data of the object for inspection, and
• the designation information;
• the first processor of the control device and the second processor of the image processing device perform collaborative operations for storing the information in the database;
• the attribute value is managed by the first processor of the control device;
• the results information is managed by the second processor of the image processing device;
• the designation information is managed by one of:
• the first processor of the control device;
• and the second processor of the image processing device to enable the collaborative operations such that:
• in response to the first processor of the control device managing the designation information, the collaborative operations comprise the second processor of the image processing device sending the results information to the first processor of the control device and receiving the designation information from the first processor of the control device, and
• in response to the second processor of the image processing device managing the designation information, the collaborative operations comprise the second processor of the image processing device sending the results information and the designation information to the first processor of the control device;
• the collaborative operations further comprise the first processor of the control device creating a unique mapping of the information associated with the object for inspection to be stored in the database and the image data corresponding to the object for inspection stored in the data storage area for the plurality of stages of the process based on the designation information;
• and
• the unique mapping facilitates retrieval of the image data corresponding to the object for inspection from the data storage area and retrieval of the information associated with the object for inspection from the database at each of the plurality of stages of the process.

A control method for a control system configured to gather and analyze, for an object for inspection, information to be stored in a database and image data to be stored in a data storage area, the control method comprising:

• controlling a process comprising a plurality of stages executed on the object for inspection by a control device;
• taking an image of the object by an image processing device arranged in communication with the control device;
• processing, by the image processing device, the image data, the processing of the image data comprising determining whether the image data of the object for inspection indicates that the object is defective;
• storing, by the image processing device, the image data in the data storage area according to designation information specifying a storage destination in the data storage area designated for the object for inspection;
• and
• performing, by the control device and the image processing device, collaborative operations for storing the information in the database, wherein
• the information to be stored in the database comprises:
• an attribute value associated with the object for inspection,
• results information comprising a result from the processing of the image data of the object for inspection, and
• the designation information;
• the attribute value is managed by the control device;
• the results information is managed by the image processing device;
• the designation information is managed by one of:
• the control device;
• and the image processing device to enable the collaborative operations such that:
• in response to the control device managing the designation information, the collaborative operations comprise the image processing device sending the results information to the control device and receiving the designation information from the control device, and
• in response to the image processing device managing the designation information, the collaborative operations comprise the image processing device sending the results information and the designation information to the control device;
• the collaborative operations further comprise the control device creating a unique mapping of the information associated with the object for inspection to be stored in the database and the image data corresponding to the object for inspection to be stored in the data storage area for the plurality of stages of the process based on the designation information;
• and
• the unique mapping facilitates retrieval of the image data corresponding to the object for inspection from the data storage area and retrieval of the information associated with the object for inspection from the database at each of the plurality of stages of the process.