Image Processing Architecture Using Software Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing integrated circuit inspection systems face challenges with flexibility, reliability, and cost due to reliance on customized hardware and switched fabric topologies, which are costly, inflexible, and lack standardization.
Innovation Solution
The system employs commercially available components, including dual processor nodes and a shared memory architecture, with job managers written in Java and process node programs in C, to manage image data flow and analysis, ensuring stability and speed while isolating processes to prevent crashes and optimize data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If customized hardware is used in inspection systems, then manufacturing precision and measurement precision can be improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces customized hardware systems with a software-based processing architecture running on commercial off-the-shelf computers. The image processing functionality is implemented through software modules rather than dedicated hardware circuits, eliminating the need for complex customized hardware while maintaining processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system uses universal commercial computer hardware that can perform multiple functions through different software applications. The same hardware platform can run various image processing algorithms and inspection tasks, replacing the need for specialized customized hardware designed for single purposes.
2Productivity
If customized hardware is used, then processing speed can be optimized, but reliability decreases due to smaller engineering support base
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces customized hardware processing with software-based image processing on commercial computers. This substitution leverages the reliability of widely-supported commercial hardware while achieving processing speeds through optimized software algorithms and parallel processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the extensive engineering support and self-improving capabilities of commercial computer manufacturers. These manufacturers continuously update and improve their products based on feedback from numerous customers, providing ongoing reliability enhancements without requiring specialized hardware development teams.
3Ease of operation
If switched fabric topology is used, then data flow management can be improved, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex hardware-based switched fabric topology with software-based data flow management on a networked computer system. Data flows between processing nodes through standard network communication, managed by software controllers rather than dedicated hardware switching fabric.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses standard network infrastructure and commercial computer components that can handle various data flow patterns through software configuration. The same network hardware can support different inspection algorithms and processing requirements without requiring specialized switched fabric architecture.
4Adaptability or versatility
If commercial hardware is used, then cost and flexibility are improved, but processing speed may be insufficient without customization
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic software loading and execution on commercial hardware. Processing algorithms can be loaded, unloaded, and modified at runtime, allowing the system to adapt to different inspection requirements while utilizing the full processing power of commercial computers through optimized software implementations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous processing throughput by efficiently managing data flow and processing tasks across multiple commercial computer nodes. Software optimization ensures that commercial hardware operates at sustained high speeds without the need for customized hardware acceleration.
Data Source
AI summary
An inspection system that receives image data corresponding to an image and processes the image data to produce a report corresponding to characteristics of the image. Interface cards receive the image data in a flow, where each interface card receives image data corresponding to a different portion of the image. Process nodes connect to the interface cards, and receive the image data from the interface cards. A host computer is connected to the process nodes, and job managers implemented in the host computer manage the flow of image data to and from the process nodes. The job managers are written in a relatively stable and slow programming environment, to remain operable during a crash of one of the process nodes. Process node programs are implemented in the process nodes, and analyze a portion of the image data and produce the report corresponding to the characteristics of the analyzed portion of the image data. At least one process node program is implemented in each process node. The process node programs are written in a relatively instable and fast programming environment, and rapidly analyze the image. The process node programs are isolated from the job managers so that a crash of a process node program does not crash the job manager.