Modular assisted visualization system

• US 20030202091A1
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adams, Dan, Wahab, Angela, Dekeyser, Kathy, Shafer, David Christopher, Shaughnessy, Helen Diane, McElhaney, Christine, Garcia, Jaime, Larkin, John, Retailleau, Sascha, Davies, Kathy Hannon
• Application Number:
  US10/413,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20030202091A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/86
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/002 for the position of the saw blade B27B5/36 and B27B9/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/003 Indicating the cutting plane on the workpiece, e.g. by projecting a laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 27/0015 Hanging grinding machines
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 49/12 involving optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A modular assisted visualization system includes an image manipulation module in communication with a work piece manipulation device, a camera module and at least one remote image manipulation module. The camera module, which is coupled to the work piece manipulation device and includes a camera lens and a light, provides a visual image of a work area of the work piece manipulation device. The visual image provided is displayed on the image manipulation module. The image manipulation module lays down at least one of a grid and a cut line on a work piece, by using the camera lens. The grid or cut line is established by data received by the image manipulation module from an operator. The work piece manipulation device, controlled by the image manipulation module, is engaged upon the grid or cut line established on the work piece.

Claims

1. A modular assisted visualization system, comprising:

a work piece manipulation device for executing a function upon a work piece located in a work area of the work piece manipulation device;

a camera module connected to the work piece manipulation device for providing a visual image of the work area; and

an image manipulation module in communication with the camera module, for manipulating the visual image of the work area, and the work piece manipulation device,

wherein the work piece manipulation device assisted visualization system establishes at least one of a grid and a cut line on a work piece in the work area for identifying the location on the work piece that the work piece manipulation device executes its function.

2. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 1, wherein the work piece manipulation device is at least one of a circular saw, a laser cutter, a water jet cutter, a drill, a sander, and a lathe, for providing execution of a desired function upon the work piece.

3. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 2, wherein the work piece manipulation device is disposed within a housing.

4. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 2, further comprising a work piece manipulation device controller coupled to the work piece manipulation device and in communication with the image manipulation module, for providing programmable control over the work piece manipulation device.

5. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 4, wherein the work piece manipulation device controller is remotely located from the work piece manipulation device.

6. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 1, further comprising a measuring device in communication with the image manipulation module, for providing measurements to establish the at least one of the grid and the cut line.

7. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 1, further comprising a marking device, which places an indicator upon the work piece that is identified by the image manipulation module in communication with the camera module for execution by the work piece manipulation device upon the indicator.

8. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 1, further comprising a safety guard disposed upon the work piece manipulation device.

9. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 8, wherein the safety guard is removable from the work piece manipulation device.

10. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 1, wherein the image manipulation module includes a remote image manipulation module.

11. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 1, wherein the image manipulation module, in communication with the camera module, includes an image enhancer capability, for providing a virtual image of the work area, free from debris.

12. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 1, wherein the camera module is removable from the work piece manipulation device.

13. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 1, further comprising a light connected to at least one of the work piece manipulation device and the camera module, for providing improved lighting of the work area.

14. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 1, further comprising a remote viewing module in communication with the camera module and the image manipulation module.

15. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 1, further comprising a clamping mechanism connected to the work piece manipulation device.

16. A modular assisted visualization system, comprising:

a saw for cutting a work piece located in a work area of the saw;

a camera module connected to the saw for providing a visual image of the work area of the saw; and

an image manipulation module in communication with the camera module, for displaying the image of the work area, and the saw.

wherein the modular assisted visualization system establishes at least one of a grid and a cut line on a work piece in the work area for identifying the location on the work piece that the saw executes its cut and executing the cut upon the work piece.

17. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 16, wherein the saw is at least one of a miter saw, a radial arm saw and a table saw.

18. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 16, wherein the saw is at least one of a laser cutter, a water jet cutter, a drill, a sander, and a lathe.

19. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 18, wherein the saw is disposed within a housing.

20. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 16, further comprising a saw controller coupled to the saw and in communication with the image manipulation module, for providing programmable control over the functioning of the saw.

21. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 20, wherein the saw controller is remotely located from the saw.

22. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 16, further comprising a measuring device in communication with the image manipulation module, for providing measurements to establish the cut line.

23. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 16, further comprising a marking device, which places an indicator upon the work piece that is identified by the image manipulation module in communication with the camera module for execution by the saw upon the indicator.

24. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 16, further comprising a safety guard coupled to the saw.

25. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 24, wherein the safety guard is removable from the saw.

26. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 16, wherein the image manipulation module includes a remote image manipulation module.

27. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 26, wherein the image manipulation module, in communication with the camera module, includes an image enhancer capability, for providing a virtual image of the work area, free from debris.

28. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 16, wherein the camera module is removable from the saw.

29. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 16, further comprising a light connected to at least one of the saw and the camera module, for providing improved lighting of the work area.

30. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 16, further comprising a remote viewing module in communication with the camera module and the image manipulation module.

31. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 16, further comprising a clamping mechanism connected to the saw.

32. A system for providing a finished work piece, comprising:

a programmable work piece hopper for providing storage and access to a selected work piece;

a saw connected to a saw controller and coupled with the work piece hopper for cutting the selected work piece within a work area of the saw;

a camera module connected to the saw for providing a visual image of the work area of the saw;

am image manipulation module in communication with the programmable work piece hopper, the saw controller and the camera module for providing the capability to select and access the work piece, establish a cut line on the selected work piece and engage the saw upon the cut line; and

a programmable conveyance mechanism in communication with the image manipulation module and coupled with the programmable work piece hopper and the saw for indexing and delivering the selected work piece,

wherein the system enables the selection and retrieval of the work piece, the cutting of the selected work piece to a desired finished product and the delivery of a finished work piece.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the saw is at least one of a miter saw, a radial arm saw and a table saw.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the saw is at least one of a laser cutter, a water jet cutter, a drill, a sander, and a lathe.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the saw is disposed within a housing.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the saw controller is remotely located from the saw.

37. The system of claim 32, further comprising a measuring device in communication with the image manipulation module, for providing measurements to establish the cut line.

38. The system of claim 32, further comprising a marking device, which places an indicator upon the work piece that is identified by the image manipulation module in communication with the camera module and the programmable saw controller, for execution by the saw upon the indicator.

39. The system of claim 32, further comprising a safety guard disposed upon the programmable saw.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the safety guard is removable from the saw.

41. The system of claim 32, wherein the image manipulation module is a remote image manipulation module.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the image manipulation module, in communication with the camera module, includes an image enhancer capability, for providing a virtual image of the work area, free from debris.

43. The system of claim 32, wherein the camera module is removable from the saw.

44. The system of claim 34, further comprising a remote viewing module in communication with the camera module.

45. The system of claim 32, further comprising a light connected to at least one of the saw and the camera module, for providing improved lighting of the work area.

46. The system of claim 32, further comprising a clamping mechanism connected to the saw.

47. The system of claim 32, further comprising an enclosure, for providing a portable system for providing a finished work piece.

48. A modular assisted visualization system, comprising:

means for manipulating a work piece received in a work area of the work piece manipulation means;

means for viewing an image of a work area connected to the means for manipulating a work piece; and

means for manipulating the image of the work area in communication with the viewing means and means for manipulating the work piece,

wherein the modular assisted visualization system is capable of establishing at least one of a grid and a cut line for locating the execution of the work piece manipulation means upon the work piece.

49. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 48, wherein the means for manipulating a work piece is at least one of a circular saw, a laser, a water jet cutter, a drill, a sander and a lathe, for providing execution of a desired function upon the work piece.

50. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 49, wherein the work piece manipulation device is a plurality of work piece manipulation devices.

51. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 50, wherein the work piece manipulation device is disposed within a housing.

52. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 48, wherein the means for viewing an image of the work area is a camera module.

53. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 52, wherein the camera module is removable from the means for manipulating a work piece.

54. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 52, further comprising a remote viewing module in communication with the camera module.

55. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 48, wherein the means for manipulating the image provided by the viewing means is an image manipulation module for establishing the at least one of the grid and the cut line.

56. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 55, wherein the image manipulation module, in communication with the camera module, includes an image enhancer capability, for providing a virtual image of the work area, free from debris.

57. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 55, further comprising a measuring device in communication with the image manipulation module, for providing measurements to establish the at least one of the grid and the cut line.

58. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 55, further comprising a marking device, which places an indicator upon the work piece that is identified by the image manipulation module in communication with the camera module for execution by the saw upon the indicator.

59. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 55, wherein the image manipulation module is a remote image manipulation module.

60. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 48, further comprising a safety guard disposed upon the means for manipulating the work piece.

61. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 60, wherein the safety guard is removable from the means for manipulating the work piece.

62. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 48, further comprising a light coupled with at least one of the work piece manipulation means and the viewing means, for providing improved lighting.

63. The modular assisted visualization system of claim 48, further comprising a clamping mechanism coupled with the work piece manipulation means.

64. A method for manipulating a work piece, comprising:

selecting the work piece using an image manipulation module in communication with a programmable work piece hopper where the work piece is stored and accessible;

providing a work piece manipulation device including a work area, in communication with the image manipulation module;

conveying the selected work piece using a programmable conveyance mechanism connected to the work piece manipulation device and in communication with the image manipulation module, for delivering the work piece to a desired location;

viewing the work area of the work piece manipulation device, utilizing a camera module connected to the work piece manipulation device and in communication with the image manipulation module, for providing a visual image of the work piece in the work area;

establishing at least one of a grid and a cut line on the work piece in the work area, using the image manipulation module, for providing a location for the execution of a work piece manipulation device function upon the work piece; and

executing the work piece manipulation device function upon the at least one of the grid and the cut line identified location on the work piece.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein selecting the work piece further comprises the step of providing a work piece hopper with a plurality of compartments including a plurality of work pieces.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein selecting the work piece further comprises the step of providing a visual image of the plurality of work pieces disposed in the work piece hopper on at least one of the image manipulation module and a remote image manipulation module.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein the providing of the work piece manipulation device further comprises the step of providing at least one of a circular saw, a sander, a lathe, a drill, a laser cutter, and a water jet cutter.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein the conveying of the selected work piece further comprises the step of marking the work piece with a marker, before the work piece is delivered to the work piece manipulation device, with at least one of a visible indicator and a mechanically readable indicator.

69. The method of claim 64, wherein the viewing of the work area further comprises the step of providing a virtual image of the work area.

70. The method of claim 64, wherein the establishing of at least one of a grid and a cut line on the work piece further comprises the step of indexing the work piece in the work area of the work piece manipulation device, in accordance with measurements provided by a measurement device, using the conveyance mechanism in communication with the image manipulation module which is in communication with the camera module.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein the establishing of at least one of a grid and a cut line on the work piece further comprises the step of identifying the at least one of the visible indicator and the mechanically readable indicator by the image manipulation module in communication with the camera module.

72. The method of claim 64, wherein the executing of the work piece manipulation device function upon the work piece further comprises the step of providing a work piece manipulation device controller in communication with the work piece manipulation device and the image manipulation module.

73. The method of claim 64, wherein the executing of the work piece manipulation device function upon the work piece further comprises the step of providing a safety guard connected to the work piece manipulation device.