Image-Guided Measurement Setup for Faster Instrument Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Setting measurement conditions for measuring instruments is time-consuming and inefficient, especially when multiple instruments are used for repeated measurements, leading to potential errors and increased labor.

Innovation Solution

A measurement system that includes a database for storing measurement target information, an image capturing unit, a display unit, and a setting unit to automatically identify the measurement target, retrieve relevant measurement conditions, and display guidance for correct instrument setup, reducing manual input and error.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If measurement conditions are set manually using the input interface on the measuring instrument, then the measurement can be performed with correct settings, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidtime for setting measurement conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Measurement conditions, measurement point information, and guidance information are pre-stored in a database associated with measurement target types. Before actual measurement, the system automatically retrieves and sets these pre-prepared conditions based on identifying the measurement target type, eliminating the need for manual setup and significantly reducing time consumption while ensuring accurate settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The measuring instrument automatically identifies the measurement target type using an image capturing unit, retrieves the corresponding measurement conditions from the database, and sets them without requiring manual input from the operator. The system serves itself by automating the entire process from target identification to condition configuration, reducing both time and labor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If multiple measuring instruments are used to measure multiple measurement points in parallel, then measurement efficiency increases, but the complexity of setting correct measurement conditions for each instrument increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement throughputVSAvoidcomplexity of setting measurement conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single centralized database stores measurement conditions for multiple measurement target types and multiple measurement points. This universal database can serve multiple measuring instruments simultaneously, allowing one database system to support the configuration of many instruments measuring different targets and points, simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The database acts as an intermediary between the measurement targets and multiple measuring instruments. Instead of requiring direct manual configuration for each instrument, the database mediates by automatically providing the correct measurement conditions to each instrument based on the identified target type, greatly simplifying the setup process for parallel measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If measurement conditions are set manually by referring to drawings and documents, then accurate measurement points and conditions can be determined, but the process becomes inefficient and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of measurement point identificationVSAvoidease of setting measurement conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The manual process of referring to physical drawings and documents is replaced by an automated information system. The database stores all measurement point information and guidance digitally, and the system automatically retrieves and displays the correct information based on the identified measurement target type, eliminating the need for manual document search and reducing errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by automatically displaying guidance information and measurement point details on a display unit after identifying the measurement target type. This feedback mechanism ensures that operators receive accurate, context-specific information without manually searching through documents, improving both accuracy and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12198419B2Measurement system and program

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 MITUTOYO CORP

AI summary

A measurement system includes: measurement target information database that stores measurement point information, including measurement conditions and guidance information for each measurement point, associated with the type of the measurement target; a measuring instrument that performs measurements on the measurement target; an image capturing unit that captures an image of a subject; a display unit; a measurement target identification unit that identifies the type of the measurement target based on the image captured by the image capturing unit; a measurement target information obtaining unit for obtaining the measurement point information corresponding to the type of the measurement target identified by the measurement target identification unit from the measurement target information database; and a setting unit that displays the guidance information included in the measurement point information obtained by the measurement target information obtaining unit on the display unit and sets the measurement conditions on the measuring instrument.