Multi-region Autofocus Tool for Machine Vision Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current machine vision inspection systems have limited features and graphical user interfaces for setting up video tool regions of interest (ROIs) and operating parameters, making them difficult to use efficiently and intuitively, especially for different applications or workpieces.
Innovation Solution
A multi-region autofocus video tool mode that allows users to define and edit multiple autofocus ROIs with ease, providing a simple and intuitive interface for configuring and operating these tools, with features like displaying ROI indications on the image, allowing ROI overlap, and adjusting Z-coordinates through image analysis during continuous motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional autofocus tools are used with limited GUI features, then the system structure remains simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in setting up video tool ROIs and operating parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the autofocus functionality into multiple independent ROIs that can be configured separately. Each ROI can be defined with its own parameters, allowing users to focus on specific regions of interest without being overwhelmed by the entire workpiece. This segmentation makes the setup process more manageable and intuitive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a multi-region dimension to the traditional single ROI autofocus approach. By allowing multiple ROIs to be defined and managed simultaneously in the GUI, the system adds a spatial dimension to the configuration interface, enabling users to visualize and control multiple focus regions across the workpiece surface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple autofocus ROIs are defined with different parameters, then the adaptability improves for different applications, but the device complexity increases due to additional configuration options
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal autofocus tool that can handle multiple ROIs with different parameters through a single integrated GUI interface. The same basic tool structure and configuration methods are used across all ROIs, allowing the system to adapt to different applications and workpiece types without requiring separate tools or complex specialized configurations for each case.
3Productivity
If conventional single ROI autofocus is used, then the device complexity remains low, but the productivity decreases due to limited inspection throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple autofocus ROIs into a single coordinated operation. The GUI allows users to define and manage multiple ROIs that can be processed together in one inspection cycle, combining the functionality of what would traditionally require multiple separate autofocus operations. This merging increases inspection throughput by reducing the number of sequential operations needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for a “multi-region” autofocus video tool-type or mode within a machine vision inspection system. The user may efficiently define multiple regions of interest that are grouped as a “multi-region” set. The autofocus operations for the multi-region set are defined with a shared set of autofocus parameters. The same set of autofocus images may be used for the autofocus operations of the multi-region set. The user may conveniently also define individual autofocus regions of interest, defined with individual autofocus parameters, within the same field of view. Various user interface features allow a user to conveniently change between the individual autofocus tool-type or mode and the multi-region autofocus tool-type or mode.