Sensor signal visualization for sensors of coordinate measuring machines and microscopes

An apparatus for visualizing at least one of (i) a sensor of a measurement device and (ii) sensor signals from the sensor, the measurement device having a space for arranging a workpiece and including at least one of a coordinate measuring machine and a microscope, the sensor and the space being movable relative to one another, the apparatus comprising:

• a combining device configured to:
• obtain data relating to a three-dimensional scene that is stationary relative to the space;
• based on the data relating to the three-dimensional scene, generate a two-dimensional view image of a portion of the three-dimensional scene, wherein:
• the view image has two directions corresponding to its two dimensions;
• opposing edges are predefined for the view image with respect to at least one of the two directions;
• and
• a central region of the view image is located between the edges;
• and
• repeatedly:
• obtain two-dimensional sensor information, wherein the two-dimensional sensor information comprises one of a sensor image and a representation of the sensor;
• combine the two-dimensional sensor information with the view image to form a two-dimensional output image for display by an image display device;
• and
• a determining device configured to, in response to relative movement between the sensor and the space:
• determine whether, when using the same view image as in a previously generated output image, the two-dimensional sensor information of the central region would extend beyond at least one of the two opposing edges;
• and
• in response to extension beyond at least one of the two opposing edges, generate a new two-dimensional view image from the data relating to the three-dimensional scene,
• wherein the new view image captures a portion of the three-dimensional scene that has been displaced in accordance with the relative movement.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for execution by at least one processor, the instructions comprising:

• obtaining data relating to a three-dimensional scene that is stationary relative to a space configured to receive a workpiece;
• based on the data relating to the three-dimensional scene, generating a two-dimensional view image of a portion of the three-dimensional scene, wherein:
• the view image has two directions corresponding to its two dimensions;
• opposing edges are predefined for the view image with respect to at least one of the two directions;
• and
• a central region of the view image is located between the edges;
• and
• repeatedly:
• obtaining two-dimensional sensor information, wherein the two-dimensional sensor information comprises one of a sensor image collected by a sensor and a representation of the sensor, wherein the sensor and the space are movable relative to one another;
• combining the two-dimensional sensor information with the view image to form a two-dimensional output image for display by an image display device;
• and
• in response to relative movement between the sensor and the space:
• determining whether, when using the same view image as in a previously generated output image, the two-dimensional sensor information of the central region would extend beyond at least one of the two opposing edges;
• and
• in response to extension beyond at least one of the two opposing edges, generating a new two-dimensional view image from the data relating to the three-dimensional scene,
• wherein the new view image captures a portion of the three-dimensional scene that has been displaced in accordance with the relative movement.