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US 7,627,162 B2Granted
Enhanced video metrology tool
AssigneeMitutoyo Corporation
InventorsCharles Blanford, Dahai Yu, Barry E. Saylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for tool enhancements are provided which allow users to utilize video tools in a controlled manner. The video tools balance a minimal amount of cursor positioning and “mouse clicks” against a level of video tool “customization” control desired by a user when applying the video tools. Tool construction methods using multiple mouse clicks are provided as an alternative to using drag-and-draw and one-click tools. Multi-click-plus tools give more specific information and provide a precise way to rapidly create customized tools.
Claims19
A method for operating a video tool to determine video tool parameters used by the video tool, wherein:
- the video tool comprises video tool operations performed to analyze features in a workpiece image, the video tool operations comprise at least one image analysis operation, and at least some of the video tool operations are controlled based on the video tool parameters;
- the video tool further comprises a video tool graphical user interface (GUI) including a plurality of displayable parameter indicators corresponding to video tool parameters, wherein at least some of the parameter indicators may be added to modify a display of the video tool GUI, and at least some of the parameter indicators may be adjusted in the display of the video tool GUI, and at least some of the parameter indicators may be anchored in the display of the video tool GUI;
- and
- the video tool is included in a machine vision inspection system, the machine vision inspection system comprising a camera portion usable to provide the workpiece image, a control system portion that includes the video tool, and a display portion usable to display the workpiece image and the video tool GUI overlaying the workpiece image,
- the method comprising:
- (a) displaying the video tool GUI and a cursor overlaying a workpiece image after a user selects the video tool, wherein the user may position the cursor at a desired position;
- (b) determining a plurality of video tool parameters that are controlled by the user placing a plurality of respective placed points at respective desired positions while the video tool GUI is displayed, and
- (c) for at least one respective time when the user places a respective placed point, performing video tool operations comprising automatically linking and displaying at least one newly-linked parameter indicator that is dynamically adjusted based on the cursor position as the cursor is moved away from that respective placed point.
5 more elements
A method for operating a video tool to determine video tool parameters used by the video tool, wherein:
- the video tool comprises video tool operations performed to analyze features in a workpiece image, the video tool operations comprise at least one image analysis operation, and at least some of the video tool operations are controlled based on the video tool parameters;
- the video tool further comprises a video tool graphical user interface (GUI) including a plurality of displayable parameter indicators corresponding to video tool parameters, wherein at least some of the parameter indicators may be added to modify a display of the video tool GUI, and at least some of the parameter indicators may be adjusted in the display of the video tool GUI, and at least some of the parameter indicators may be anchored in the display of the video tool GUI;
- and
- the video tool is included in a machine vision inspection system, the machine vision inspection system comprising a camera portion usable to provide the workpiece image, a control system portion that includes the video tool, and a display portion usable to display the workpiece image and the video tool GUI overlaying the workpiece image,
- the method comprising:
- (a) displaying the video tool GUI and a cursor overlaying a workpiece image after a user selects the video tool, wherein the user may position the cursor at a desired position;
- (b) determining a plurality of video tool parameters that are controlled by the user placing a plurality of respective placed points at respective desired positions while the video tool GUI is displayed;
- and
- (c) modifying the parameter indicators displayed in the video tool GUI at respective times based on the user placing the respective placed points,
- wherein:
- in step (b), the user placing a plurality of respective placed points comprises the user placing each respective placed point using the same point-placing operation;
- the video tool GUI includes the user placing a sequence of respective placed points;
- and
- before the user places a final respective placed point that is the last respective placed point in the sequence, a plurality of different types of parameter indicators are linked to be dynamically adjusted at the same time based on the position of the cursor.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.