Integrated Vision Engine API for PLC Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current industrial control systems with integrated machine vision require users to develop separate applications for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and vision systems, leading to increased complexity and cumbersome coordination, especially when dealing with multiple vision systems or cameras.
Innovation Solution
A vision engine is stored on a vision system to execute vision functions in response to asynchronous commands, with an application programming interface (API) providing access to function blocks that can be included in industrial control applications, allowing for seamless integration of machine vision functionality within industrial control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate applications are developed for PLC and vision system, then machine vision functionality can be achieved, but system complexity and coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vision system and PLC into a single integrated system where the vision engine executes directly on the PLC platform. This merging eliminates the need for separate applications and coordination between independent systems, resolving the technical contradiction by maintaining machine vision functionality while reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The PLC is designed to serve dual purposes: traditional industrial control functions and machine vision processing. By making the PLC universal and capable of executing both control logic and vision algorithms, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated vision hardware, thereby reducing complexity while preserving full machine vision capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate applications are developed for PLC and vision system, then machine vision functionality can be achieved, but coordination between systems becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the vision engine into the PLC, the patent eliminates the coordination interface between separate systems. The unified architecture allows seamless integration of vision tasks with control logic, improving ease of operation while maintaining full machine vision functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vision systems or cameras are involved, then comprehensive vision coverage is achieved, but development and coordination complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated PLC architecture provides a universal platform that can manage multiple vision systems and cameras through a single development environment. This eliminates the need to develop and coordinate separate applications for each vision device, reducing development complexity while achieving comprehensive vision coverage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate applications are used, then machine vision tasks can be performed, but execution time and synchronization become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the vision engine with the PLC into a single execution platform, the patent enables synchronized execution of control and vision tasks within the same real-time environment. This eliminates communication delays and synchronization issues between separate systems, reducing execution time while maintaining full machine vision capability.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for performing industrial control. A vision engine operable to execute vision functions to control a vision element in response to received asynchronous commands is stored on a vision system. An application programming interface (API) that provides access to the vision engine is stored. The API includes multiple function blocks operable to be included in an industrial control application, and executable to send the asynchronous commands to the vision engine. The application is created, including inserting at least one function block of the API into the application. The application is executed on a programmable controller, including executing the function block to send a corresponding asynchronous command to the vision engine. The vision engine performs a vision function corresponding to the function block in response to the asynchronous command, and sends resultant data to the industrial control application, which stores the resultant data.