Machine-Vision Quality Inspection With Centralized Remote Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional machine-vision systems operate as autonomous cells, limiting data sharing and remote access, making it difficult to aggregate data from multiple inspection stations, and requiring manual software updates, which impairs revision control and data retention.
Innovation Solution
A machine-vision system that allows remote monitoring and control of multiple inspection stations through a centralized controller, vision server, and remote terminal, enabling data aggregation, storage, and dynamic updates over networks, facilitating comprehensive quality metric computation and visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple machine-vision systems are distributed throughout production lines as autonomous cells, then each system can independently perform quality inspection, but data aggregation and remote monitoring become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple autonomous machine-vision systems into a unified networked architecture where inspection data from distributed stations is aggregated and transmitted to a central server, enabling both independent inspection capability and centralized data collection
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides multi-functionality by enabling machine-vision systems to operate both as independent inspection stations and as integrated components of a centralized monitoring network, allowing data to be used for both local control and remote analysis
2Ease of operation
If machine-vision systems operate as autonomous cells, then they can control single aspects of manufacturing, but cross-camera data sharing is not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational mode of machine-vision systems, allowing them to function autonomously when needed while enabling data sharing and collaboration with other stations through the network when holistic quality inspection is required
3Reliability
If traditional autonomous-cell machine-vision is used, then systems can function independently, but remote access and control are not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communication network and central server as intermediaries between autonomous machine-vision systems and remote users, enabling remote access and control without compromising the independent operational capability of individual inspection stations
4Ease of operation
If manual software updates are performed at each inspection station, then local control is maintained, but revision control and configuration uniformity become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a centralized server to store and manage master copies of software and configuration files, which can be automatically distributed to multiple inspection stations, ensuring configuration uniformity while maintaining the ability to perform local operations
Data Source
AI summary
A machine-vision system for monitoring a quality metric for a product. The system includes a controller configured to receive a digital image from an image acquisition device. The controller is also configured to analyze the digital image using a first machine-vision algorithm to compute a measurement of the product. The system also includes a vision server connected to the controller, and configured to compute a quality metric and store the digital image and the measurement in a database storage. The system also includes a remote terminal connected to the vision server, and configured to display the digital image and the quality metric on the remote terminal.