Gesture-Controlled Coordinate Measuring Device Menu

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current coordinate measuring devices with articulated arms require operators to interrupt measurement processes for menu selection, leading to inefficiencies, safety risks, and increased physical burden due to the need for manual menu navigation and frequent arm movement.

Innovation Solution

A coordinate measuring device with a controller that detects predefined menu display operations using the measuring arm's position information, allowing for menu selection without interrupting measurements, and utilizing circular or drum-shaped menus that can be operated using the measuring probe, enabling selection without moving the entire arm.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the operator uses the traditional arm menu to select menus, then the menu can be selected without moving to the PC, but the measurement process must be interrupted and the arm must be moved frequently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemenu selection operationVSAvoidmeasurement efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-assigns specific gestures to menu selection functions, allowing the operator to initiate menu operations during measurement without interruption. The gesture recognition system is prepared in advance to distinguish between measurement gestures and menu selection gestures, enabling seamless switching between modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts its interpretation of arm movements based on the current operational context. During measurement, normal movement gestures are recognized for measurement purposes. When a specific gesture pattern is detected, the system transitions to menu selection mode, allowing the same physical device to serve multiple functions without interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the operator repeatedly selects the same menu using the arm menu, then the function can be repeatedly executed, but time and effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemenu repetition capabilityVSAvoidmenu selection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system monitors the sequence of gestures and provides feedback by detecting repetitive patterns. When the same menu selection gesture is detected multiple times in succession, the system automatically executes the menu function repeatedly without requiring the operator to perform the full gesture sequence each time, thus reducing time and effort for repetitive operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Illumination intensity

If the menu is always displayed at large size, then the menu is easily visible, but the display area for measurement data is constricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemenu visibilityVSAvoiddisplay area

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display system dynamically adjusts menu size and position based on the operational context. During measurement, the menu is displayed at a smaller size or in a condensed format to maximize data display area. When menu selection mode is activated through gesture recognition, the menu expands to a larger, more visible format, allowing the display to serve both measurement data presentation and menu selection needs efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the arm is moved up and down to select menus, then menu selection is possible, but there is a risk of striking the measurement environment and physical burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemenu selection capabilityVSAvoidsafety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the entire arm up and down for menu selection, the system inverts the approach by keeping the arm stable and using subtle gesture variations (such as probe movements or hand gestures near the probe) to trigger menu selection. This eliminates the safety risk of arm movement while maintaining menu selection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

5Ease of operation

If the arm is frequently returned to home position for menu selection, then menu operation is enabled, but the risk of damage increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemenu operation capabilityVSAvoiddevice reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures multiple menu selection methods that do not require returning the arm to home position. Gesture-based menu selection and probe-based menu selection are prepared as alternative operations, allowing the operator to access menus from any arm position, thereby eliminating the need for frequent home position returns and reducing mechanical stress on the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2752639B1Method and program for using gestures to control a coordinate measuring device

Publication Date: 2017.05.31 MITUTOYO CORP

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AI summary

A coordinate measuring device (10) includes a measuring probe (11) measuring three-dimensional coordinates; a measuring arm (12) supporting the measuring probe and outputting position information for calculating the three-dimensional coordinates; a controller (13) connected to the measuring arm (12) and detecting the three-dimensional coordinates based on the position information; and a display displaying a menu. The controller (13) further displays the menu on the display when a predefined menu display operation performed using the measuring probe is detected.