US 4,731,745 A · Automatic dimension analyzer · patentgrep

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Abstract

An automatic dimension analyzer is disclosed which comprises a power driven table on which an object being measured is placed, the table being movable in orthogonal directions, and an optical system for forming an optical image of the object in a sample point field. The sample point field is electronically scanned in a rectangular raster format to produce sample point data bits each representing a sample point having a predetermined optical level. A cursor generator is synchronized with the raster to generate a cursor in the sample point field. A coincidence detector is provided to detect a coincidence between a sample point data bit and the cursor. Measurement instructions are stored in sequentially addressible locations of a memory through a data entry means. A microprocessor addresses the memory locations to retrieve the instructions to cause one of the table and the cursor to move relative to the other so that sample points derived from the object move toward the cursor and detect the position of the table or cursor relative to a reference upon the detection of a coincidence by the coincidence detector.

Claims36

Dependent claims

An automatic dimension analyzer comprising:

a power driven table on which an object under measurement is placed, the table being movable in orthogonal directions in a field defined by a pair of coordinate axes;
an optical system for forming an optical image of said object in a sample point field;
means for scanning said sample point field in a rectangular raster format to produce sample point data bits each representing a sample point having a predetermined optical level;
means for detecting a coincidence between at least one sample point data bit and a cursor defined in said sample point field parallel with one of said coordinate axes, said cursor being movable in said sample point field;
a memory;
data entry means for storing measurement instructions in sequentially addressable locations of said memory;
data processing means for addressing said memory locations to retrieve said instructions, causing one of said table and said cursor to move with respect to the other in accordance with the retrieved instructions and detecting the position of said table or said cursor relative to a reference position upon the detection of a coincidence by said coincidence detecting means,
wherein said coincidence detecting means comprises means for generating left, right, upper and bottom window cursors in said sample point field to define a rectangular window therein, the first-mentioned cursor being located in said rectangular window, and
means for detecting a coincidence between said sample point data bits and each one of said window cursors,
further comprising means for counting the number of data bits derived from sample points located in said window.

7 more elements

An automatic dimension analyzer comprising:

a power driven table on which an object under measurement is placed, the table being movable in orthogonal directions in a field defined by a pair of coordinate axes;
an optical system for forming an optical image of said object in a sample point field;
means for scanning said sample point field in a rectangular raster format to produce sample point data bits each representing a sample point having a predetermined optical level;
means for detecting a coincidence between at least one sample point data bit and a cursor defined in said sample point field parallel with one of said coordinate axes, said cursor being movable in said sample point field;
a memory;
data entry means for storing measurement instruction in sequentially addressable locations of said memory;
and
data processing means for addressing said memory locations to retrieve said instructions, causing one of said table and said cursor to move with respect to the other in accordance with the retrieved instructions and detecting the position of said table or said cursor relative to a reference position upon the detection of a coincidence by said coincidence detecting means,
wherein said coincidence detecting means comprises means for generating left, right, upper and bottom window cursors in said sample point field to define a rectangular window therein, the first-mentioned cursor being located in said rectangular window, and
means for detecting a coincidence between said sample point data bits and each one of said window cursors,
each of said window cursors being movable in said sample point field, said data processing means being programmed to perform the steps of:
(a) causing at least one pair of said window cursors to move relative to one another to opposite edges of the optical image of said object from predetermined positions which are defined by the area of said object;
(b) determining the positions of said opposite edges in response to the successive detection of a coincidence between a data bit and each of the cursors of the pair by said coincidence detector when said window cursors of said pair coincide with each of the opposite edges of said object;
and
(c) deriving a distance between said opposite edges from the positions determined by the step (b).

12 more elements

An automatic dimension analyzer comprising:

a power driven table on which an object under measurement is placed, the table being movable in orthogonal directions in a field defined by a pair of coordinate axes;
an optical system for forming an optical image of said object in a sample point field;
first means for scanning said sample point field in a rectangular raster format to produce sample point data bits each representing a sample point having a predetermined optical level;
second means for defining a pair of X and Y cursors orthogonally intersecting each other in said sample point field respectively parallel with said coordinate axes and detecting a coincidence between at least one sample point data bit and each one of said X and Y cursors;
a memory;
data entry means for storing measurement instructions in sequentially addressable locations of said memory;
and
data processing means for addressing said memory locations to retrieve said instructions, causing said table to move with respect to said cursor in accordance with the retrieved instructions and detecting the position of said table relative to a reference point upon the detection of a coincidence by said second means
wherein said data processing means is programmed to perform the steps of:
inverting the binary levels of said data bits supplied from said first means so that said second means detects a coincidence between at least one inverted data bit and one of said X and Y cursors;
and
detecting the position of said table at the instant the last mentioned coincidence ceases to exist.

9 more elements

An automatic dimension analyzer comprising:

a power driven table on which an object under measurement is placed, the table being movable in orthogonal directions in a field defined by a pair of coordinate axes;
an optical system for forming an optical image of said object in a sample point field;
first means for scanning said sample point field in a rectangular raster format to produce sample point data bits each representing a sample point having a predetermined optical level;
second means for defining a pair of X and Y cursors orthogonally intersecting each other in said sample point field respectively parallel with said coordinate axes and detecting a coincidence between at least one sample point data bit and each one of said X and Y cursors;
a memory;
data entry means for storing measurement instructions in sequentially addressable locations of said memory;
and
data processing means for addressing said memory locations to retrieve said instructions, causing said table to move with respect to said cursor in accordance with the retrieved instructions and detecting the position of said table relative to a reference point upon the detection of a coincidence by said second means,
where in said second means comprises means for generating a pair of column cursors parallel with the oppositely spaced from said X cursor and a pair of row cursors parallel with and oppositely spaced from said Y cursor, said column and row cursors defining a window in said sample point field, and means for detecting a coincidence between said data bit and each one of said column and row cursors, said data processing means being programmed to sequentially perform the steps of:
(a) causing said table to move at a given speed in a direction parallel with one of said coordinate axes;
(b) reducing the speed of said table in response to the detection of a coincidence between a data bit and one of said column and row cursors by said coincidence detecting means when one edge of said object coincides with said window;
and
(c) detecting the position of said table in response to the detection of a coincidence between a data bit and one of said X and Y cursors by said coincidence detecting means when said one edge of the object coincides with said X or Y cursor.

10 more elements

An automatic dimension analyzer comprising:

an optical system for forming an optical image of an object under measurement in a sample point field;
means for scanning said sample point field in a rectangular raster format to produce sample point data bits each representing a sample point having a predetermined optical level;
means for generating a pair of spaced-apart column window cursors and a pair of spaced-apart row window cursors forming with said column window cursors a rectangular window in said sample point field, each of said window cursors being movable with respect to the other of the same pair to vary the size of said rectangular window;
means coupled to said cursor generating means and to said scanning means for detecting a coincidence between at least one sample point data bit and each one of said window cursors;
a memory;
data entry means for storing measurement instructions in sequentially addressable locations of said memory;
and
data processing means for addressing said memory locations to recall said instructions, causing one of said window cursors to move with respect to the other of the same pair in accordance with the recalled instructions and detecting the position of said moved cursor relative to a reference point upon the detection of a coincidence by said coincidence detecting means,
wherein said data processing means is programmed to perform the steps of:
(a) causing at least one pair of said window cursors to move relative to one another to opposite edges of said object from predetermined positions which are defined by the area of said object;
(b) determining the positions of said opposite edges in response to the successive detection of a coincidence between a data bit and each of the cursors of the pair by said coincidence detector when said window cursors of said pair coincide with each of the opposite edges of said object;
and
(c) deriving a distance between said opposite edges from the positions determined by the step (b).

10 more elements

A method of analyzing the dimensions of an object placed on a movable table, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming an optical image of said object on a sample point field;
(b) scanning said sample point field in a rectangular raster format and generating sample point data bits each representing a sample point having a predetermined optical level;
(c) moving one of said table and a cursor relative to the other so that the sample points representing said object move toward said cursor, said cursor being defined in said sample point field parallel with one of coordinate axes of said field and movable therein;
(d) detecting a coincidence between at least one data bit and said cursor;
and
(e) detecting the position of said table or the position of said cursor with respect to a reference point upon the detection of a coincidence by the step (d),
and further
(f) forming a second cursor parallel with and spaced from the first-mentioned cursor,
said step (c) comprising moving said table toward said second cursor at a higher speed at first, then at a lower speed when said one data bit coincides with said second cursor and moving said table toward said first cursor at the lower speed until said one data bit coincides with the first-mentioned cursor.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.