Graphical programming interface for programming a sample inspection process, and related programming method

A graphical programming interface for programming an inspection process, wherein said graphical programming interface is implemented on a computer comprising at least one processor and a memory, said inspection process is configured to be implemented on and control an inspection machine, said inspection process is an image recognition process that processes an image of a sample, and said inspection process comprises at least one computer-implemented operation, wherein the graphical programming interface is configured to:

• display user-selectable blocks, including at least one image input type block, each comprising an input into said memory of a multiplicity of images of at least one sample, a multiplicity of operation type blocks, each comprising at least one operation that processes the multiplicity of images, and a multiplicity of sorting type blocks,
• receive, from among the displayed user-selectable blocks, a selection of a particular image input type block, a plurality of operation type blocks from among said multiplicity of operation type blocks, and a particular sorting type block from among said multiplicity of sorting type blocks,
• simulate the inspection process, thereby implementing a simulated inspection process, wherein said simulated inspection process implemented through the graphical programming interface comprises an execution, on the computer, of:
• the selected particular image input type block,
• the selected plurality of operation type blocks, wherein the selected plurality of operation type blocks together perform a plurality of operations that processes said multiplicity of images of the selected particular image input type block, and each operation type block of the selected plurality of operation type blocks computes and displays at least one time period required to perform the at least one operation corresponding to the operation type block, and
• the selected particular sorting type block, which comprises a sorting operation to control the inspection machine to reject those samples that comprise at least one defect, and
• selectively output a computer program corresponding to the simulated inspection process for implementation on the processor or on an external processor,
• wherein each operation type block of the plurality of operation type blocks comprises at least one operation parameter for configuring the at least one operation performed by the operation type block and/or the particular sorting type block comprises at least one sorting parameter for configuring the sorting operation performed by the particular sorting type block, said graphical programming interface is further configured to set said at least one operation parameter and/or the at least one sorting parameter,
• the graphical programming interface is further configured to receive a selection indicating whether or not to display said at least one operation parameter and/or said at least one sorting parameter in said simulated inspection process, and/or in the computer program selectively output by said graphical programming interface, or programmed sample inspection process, and
• the graphical programming interface is further configured to receive a selection indicating whether or not to activate the at least one sorting parameter in said simulated inspection process and/or in the computer program selectively output by said graphical programming interface, or programmed sample inspection process, so that in response to the at least one sorting parameter being activated, the particular sorting type block, which comprises the at least one sorting parameter, uses the at least one sorting parameter.