Depth Extended Image Generation for Stepped Workpiece Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Dimension measuring apparatuses face challenges in accurately measuring workpieces with steps exceeding the depth of field, requiring manual adjustment of the movable stage for focus, leading to complex and time-consuming measurement settings.
Innovation Solution
A dimension measuring apparatus that generates a depth extended image from multiple photographs of a workpiece at different Z-directional positions, allowing for automatic focus adjustment and edge extraction without manual stage positioning, enabling accurate measurement of workpieces with varying heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If photographing magnification is increased to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement accuracy is improved, but depth of field decreases making it difficult to capture entire workpiece
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece measurement is divided into multiple sections corresponding to different Z-directional positions. Multiple photographs are taken at different focal positions, and each photograph captures a specific section of the workpiece. This segmentation allows high-magnification photography for each section while collectively capturing the entire workpiece.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the Z-directional position dimension to the measurement process. By capturing images at multiple Z-directional positions and synthesizing them, the system overcomes the limited depth of field at high magnification. The synthesis process integrates information from different dimensional positions to create a complete measurement.
2Measurement precision
If manual adjustment of movable stage is performed to perform focus adjustment for workpieces with steps exceeding depth of field, then focus adjustment can be achieved, but operating procedure becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic focus adjustment by capturing photographs at multiple predetermined Z-directional positions without requiring manual stage adjustment. The apparatus automatically synthesizes these photographs to create a depth extended image, eliminating the need for operator intervention in focus adjustment and significantly simplifying the measurement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-determines multiple Z-directional positions for photographing before actual measurement. By preparing these positions in advance and automatically capturing images at each position, the system eliminates the need for manual focus adjustment during measurement, streamlining the operating procedure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of movable stage is performed to designate multiple positions with different Z-directional heights as objects to be measured, then measurement of stepped workpieces can be achieved, but measurement setting time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual adjustment system with an automated imaging and synthesis system. By using multiple photographs taken at different Z-directional positions and synthesizing them computationally, the system achieves the ability to measure stepped workpieces without the time-consuming manual stage adjustment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the approach from mechanical position adjustment to parameter-based image synthesis. By varying the Z-directional position parameter during photographing and then synthesizing the results, the system efficiently handles multiple measurement positions without manual intervention, significantly reducing setup time.
Data Source
AI summary
A dimension measuring apparatus is configured of: an imaging section that photographs a workpiece on the movable stage; a depth extending section that performs depth extension on a plurality of the workpiece images in different Z-directional positions in the movable stage, to generate a depth extended image; a master image displaying section that screen-displays as a master image the depth extended image obtained by photographing a master workpiece; a measured position information generating section that designates a position to be measured and a measuring method with respect to the master image, to generate measured position information; an edge extracting section that extracts an edge of the position to be measured from the depth extended image, obtained by photographing the workpiece, based on the measured position information; and a dimension value calculating section that obtains a dimension value of the position to be measured based on the extracted edge.