Optical Inspection Workflow With Predefined Instructions and Data Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical inspection systems lack a centralized and automated system for providing predefined inspection instructions and efficiently storing quality report data, leading to inconsistent and labor-intensive quality control processes.
Innovation Solution
A processing device communicatively coupled to a camera, user interface, and storage, which provides pre-defined inspection instructions and centrally stores quality report data, enabling automated and efficient optical quality inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If optical inspection is performed manually by eye or microscope with hand-noted results, then flexibility in inspection methods is maintained, but inspection efficiency and data management are labor-intensive and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a processing device as an intermediary between the optical inspection system and data storage. This processing device receives image data from the camera, processes it according to predefined instructions, and manages quality report data storage. The intermediary handles the complexity of automated processing while keeping the user interface simple, resolving the contradiction between improved productivity and increased system complexity.
2Reliability
If quality inspection results are noted by hand or in simple digital sheets, then ease of operation is maintained, but data consistency and centralized management are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The processing device automatically processes image data, generates quality assessments, and stores results according to predefined instructions without requiring manual data entry. The system serves itself by automating the data consistency management, eliminating the need for manual note-taking while maintaining ease of operation through automated workflows.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where quality report data is stored and can be retrieved for review. The processing device provides feedback on inspection results by comparing image data against predefined quality criteria, ensuring data consistency while maintaining operational simplicity through automated decision-making processes.
3Manufacturing precision
If pre-defined inspection instructions are not centrally managed, then adaptability to different inspection scenarios is maintained, but instruction standardization and reproducibility suffer
Solution Approach 1:
The processing device is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple inspection scenarios through a single standardized platform. It can load and execute different sets of predefined instructions for various sample types and quality criteria, achieving both inspection standardization and adaptability. The system serves as a multi-functional tool that maintains precision across different inspection contexts.
Solution Approach 2:
Inspection instructions are predefined and stored in advance in the storage device, allowing standardization to be established before actual inspection occurs. This preliminary preparation of inspection protocols ensures consistency and reproducibility, while the system remains adaptable by allowing different predefined instruction sets to be selected based on specific inspection needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing device to be used for optical inspection of samples is configured to be communicatively coupled to a camera of an optical inspection device and to a user interface, to receive input data from the user interface and/or from the camera, to provide output data to the user interface, to be communicatively coupled to a storage device, to provide instructions, by accessing instruction data stored at the storage device, for optical quality inspection of samples to be performed by a user via the user interface. The instructions include instructions regarding what kind of optical quality inspection to be performed on which sample. The processing device is further configured to receive quality report data from the optical quality inspection via the user interface, and/or image data of images acquired by the camera, and to store the quality report data and/or the image data in the storage device.