Robot Camera Focus Position Control for Detection Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
In robot systems using autofocus cameras, variations in focus position due to different conditions can lead to inconsistent detection accuracy, and manual focus adjustment is time-consuming, increasing takt time during production.
Innovation Solution
A robot system with a user interface that allows setting and storing focus positions for each program, enabling both autofocus and fixed focus capture modes to ensure consistent focus and reduce focus adjustment time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If autofocus function is used during teaching and production, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to focus position variations under different conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary autofocus adjustment during the teaching phase to determine optimal focus positions for different capture modes. These focus positions are stored in advance and automatically applied during production, eliminating the need for real-time autofocus adjustments while maintaining consistent detection accuracy across varying production conditions.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual focus adjustment is performed, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased takt time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs autofocus adjustment automatically during the teaching phase without operator intervention. The determined focus positions are then stored and automatically applied during production, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating manual focus adjustment operations that would increase takt time and reduce productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
All focus adjustment work is completed in advance during the teaching phase. The system stores multiple focus positions corresponding to different capture modes, and during production it simply retrieves and applies the appropriate pre-determined focus position, eliminating time-consuming manual adjustments and improving productivity.
3Ease of operation
If autofocus function is continuously used, then ease of operation is maintained, but device complexity increases due to additional focusing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the autofocus function from continuous production operations and confines it to the teaching phase only. During production, the system uses pre-determined focus positions without invoking autofocus, thereby reducing the number of focusing operations and simplifying the overall system operation while maintaining ease of use.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot system includes a camera with an auto-focus lens, and a robot for performing work on the basis of an image capturing result of the camera, and can set a plurality of programs for using the camera. The robot system further includes a user interface that can set a focus position of the auto-focus lens in each of the programs, and a storage unit that stores focus values set in each of the plurality of programs. The user interface is configured to be able to execute, during execution of a program, a first image capture mode for performing image capturing using an auto-focus function of the auto-focus lens, and a second image capture mode for performing image capturing using the focus value stored in the storage unit, without using the auto-focus function.