Hardness Tester Image Segmentation for Indentation Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hardness testers suffer from reduced image resolution and manual reading difficulties due to the need to display only partial images of indentations, making it challenging to measure diagonal lines accurately.
Innovation Solution
A hardness tester equipped with an image capturer, display, clipper, and display controller that captures and displays multiple regions containing measurement points within the indentation image, preserving resolution and allowing for simultaneous display of vertices, along with vertical and horizontal guide lines for alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a reduced image is displayed by dropping pixels, then the full image can be displayed on the monitor, but image resolution suffers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the full image into multiple regions of interest (ROIs) that contain measurement points. Instead of displaying the entire image at reduced resolution, the system segments the image into multiple high-resolution regions that can be displayed simultaneously on the monitor, thereby maintaining measurement precision while fitting within the display area constraints.
2Area of stationary object
If only a partial image is displayed, then the image can fit on the monitor, but manual reading of measurement points becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into multiple regions containing measurement points and displays them simultaneously. This allows operators to view multiple measurement points (such as vertices of an indentation) at the same time on the monitor, making manual reading and measurement operations easier while maintaining sufficient display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from displaying a single reduced image to displaying multiple high-resolution regions simultaneously. By organizing the display in a multi-dimensional manner (multiple regions arranged on the monitor), the system provides both sufficient display area and maintains measurement point visibility for easy manual reading.
3Measurement precision
If the full image is displayed, then image resolution is maintained, but the image cannot fit on the monitor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the full image into multiple smaller regions, each containing measurement points. These segmented regions can then be displayed simultaneously on the monitor without exceeding the display area, while each region maintains high resolution to preserve measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate manual reading and measurement of indentation dimensions by displaying multiple vertices simultaneously while maintaining image resolution, facilitating precise hardness calculations.
Implementation Method 1
an image of the indentation formed in the surface of the specimen is captured by a CCD camera
Data Source
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AI summary
A hardness tester (100) includes a CCD camera (12), a monitor (8), a clipper (a CPU (61) and a clipping program (634)), and a display controller (the CPU (61) and a display control program (635)). The CCD camera (12) captures an image of an indentation formed on a surface of a specimen (S) via field lenses (1h; 1a). The monitor (8) displays the image of the indentation captured by the CCD camera (12). The clipper clips a plurality of regions from the image of the indentation captured by the CCD camera (12), the regions containing predetermined measurement points. The display controller simultaneously displays on the monitor images of the plurality of regions clipped by the clipper.