Step and Repeat GUI for Machine Vision Inspection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current machine vision inspection systems have limited and non-intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) features for setting up and programming step and repeat operations, making them inefficient and difficult to use, especially for novice users.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that includes a graphical user interface (GUI) with step and repeat dialog boxes allowing users to define and visualize default and inspection step and repeat locations in Cartesian and cylindrical coordinates, enabling users to exclude specific locations and record these settings in a part program for multiple workpiece instances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional text-based programming or basic recording mode is used for step and repeat operations, then the system can perform automated inspection, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to limited and non-intuitive GUI features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the copying principle by creating visual templates of workpiece configurations that can be copied and reused across multiple step and repeat locations. Users define a template at one location and automatically replicate it to multiple positions, eliminating the need to manually program each location individually. This significantly improves ease of operation while reducing the perceived complexity of the GUI.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by allowing users to pre-define workpiece templates and inspection parameters before executing step and repeat operations. The system pre-calculates and displays all step and repeat locations based on the template, enabling users to review and adjust settings before actual inspection begins. This reduces operational complexity during execution.
2Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive step and repeat functionality is provided, then the adaptability improves for different workpiece configurations, but the device complexity increases due to multiple parameters and settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the step and repeat configuration into distinct modular components: workpiece templates, location parameters, and inspection settings. Each component can be independently defined, modified, and reused. This modular approach increases adaptability to different workpiece configurations while managing complexity through organized, separable parameter groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by creating a flexible template system that can accommodate various workpiece configurations and inspection types through a single unified interface. The same GUI framework handles different coordinate systems, workpiece geometries, and inspection parameters, reducing the need for multiple specialized tools and simplifying the overall device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If manual configuration of each step and repeat location is required, then measurement precision can be maintained, but the productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming setup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying to replicate precisely-defined inspection templates across multiple step and repeat locations, maintaining measurement precision through consistent template application while dramatically increasing productivity. The template copying mechanism ensures that the same precise measurement parameters are applied uniformly across all locations without manual re-entry, eliminating time-consuming repetitive setup while preserving measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculation and visualization of all step and repeat locations based on the defined template and workpiece geometry. This pre-computation allows users to review and validate all locations before execution, ensuring measurement precision is maintained while reducing programming time since no manual configuration is needed during actual inspection setup.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for programming step and repeat operations of a machine vision inspection system. The machine vision inspection system includes an imaging portion, a stage for holding one or more workpieces in a field of view (FOV) of the imaging portion, a control portion, and a graphical user interface (GUI). According to the method, a user operates the machine vision inspection system to define a set of inspection operations to be performed on a first configuration of workpiece features. The user also operates the GUI to display a step and repeat dialog box, in which he defines a first plurality of parameters defining a set of default step and repeat locations for performing the defined set of inspection operations. The user further operates the GUI to define a set of inspection step and repeat locations, which is a subset of the defined set of default step and repeat locations, where the inspection operations are to be actually performed.