HUMAN-MACHINE-INTERFACE AND METHOD FOR MANIPULATING DATA IN A MACHINE VISION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A graphical user interface (GUI) for setup and testing of machine vision systems comprising:
- an image frame pane in which recorded and real time images of an object acquired by an interconnected vision system are displayed as discrete frames;
at least one box in which the user performs interface functions in connection with each of a plurality of different and discrete procedures to set up and run a machine vision job using the interconnected vision system; and
a plurality of buttons, arranged in a sequential order across a portion of the GUI, the buttons defining each of the plurality of different and discrete procedures, the sequential order corresponding to a predetermined order in which the procedures occur to set up and run a machine vision job.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that operates in connection with a machine vision detector or other machine vision system, which provides a highly intuitive and industrial machine-like appearance and layout. The GUI includes a centralized image frame window surrounded by panes having buttons and specific interface components that the user employs in each step of a machine vision system set up and run procedure. One pane allows the user to view and manipulate a recorded filmstrip of image thumbnails taken in a sequence, and provides the filmstrip with specialized highlighting (colors or patterns) that indicate useful information about the underlying images. The system is set up and run are using a sequential series of buttons or switches that are activated by the user in turn to perform each of the steps needed to connect to a vision system, train the system to recognize or detect objects/parts, configure the logic that is used to handle recognition/detection signals, set up system outputs from the system based upon the logical results, and finally, run the programmed system in real time. The programming of logic is performed using a programming window that includes a ladder logic arrangement. A thumbnail window is provided on the programming window in which an image from a filmstrip is displayed, focusing upon the locations of the image (and underlying viewed object/part) in which the selected contact element is provided.
163 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. A graphical user interface (GUI) for setup and testing of machine vision systems comprising:
-
an image frame pane in which recorded and real time images of an object acquired by an interconnected vision system are displayed as discrete frames;
at least one box in which the user performs interface functions in connection with each of a plurality of different and discrete procedures to set up and run a machine vision job using the interconnected vision system; and
a plurality of buttons, arranged in a sequential order across a portion of the GUI, the buttons defining each of the plurality of different and discrete procedures, the sequential order corresponding to a predetermined order in which the procedures occur to set up and run a machine vision job. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A graphical user interface (GUI) for setup and testing of machine vision systems comprising:
-
an interface screen that includes buttons that allow a user to set up and configure a sensor on an image of an object, the sensor providing a high or low value based upon the presence or absence of predetermined features;
a ladder logic screen on which the user can configure rungs of ladder logic that uses results provided by the sensors as contacts on the rungs to provide discrete high or low output coils for each of the rungs; and
an image window that presents a thumbnail of a subject image of the object including graphical representations of sensors associated with selected of the contacts, wherein highlighting each of the contacts causes the window to display the associated graphical representation of the sensor associated with the contact. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
-
18. A graphical user interface (GUI) for setup and testing of machine vision systems comprising:
-
an interface screen that includes buttons that allow a user to set up and configure a sensor on an image of an object, the sensor providing a high or low value based upon the presence or absence of predetermined features;
a ladder logic screen on which the user can configure rungs of ladder logic that uses results provided by the sensors as contacts on the rungs to provide discrete high or low output coils for each of the rungs; and
wherein the output coils are constructed and arranged to be provided as contacts on predetermined of the rungs.
-
-
19. A graphical user interface (GUI) for setup and testing of machine vision systems comprising:
-
an interface screen that includes buttons that allow a user to set up and configure a sensor on an image of an object, the sensor providing a high or low value based upon the presence or absence of predetermined features;
a ladder logic screen on which the user can configure rungs of ladder logic that uses results provided by the sensors as contacts on the rungs to provide discrete high or low output coils for each of the rungs; and
wherein each of the contacts is constructed and arranged so as to be highlighted and thereby display a menu of properties, the menu of properties being selectable so as to change the properties of the highlighted contact. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 25)
-
-
23. A method for setting up and testing a machine vision system using graphical user interface (GUI) comprising the steps of:
-
displaying, in an image frame pane, recorded and real time images of an object acquired by an interconnected vision system as discrete frames;
performing interface functions in connection with each of a plurality of different and discrete procedures to set up and run a machine vision job using the interconnected vision system; and
activating a plurality of buttons, arranged in a sequential order across a portion of the GUI, the buttons defining each of the plurality of different and discrete procedures, the sequential order corresponding to a predetermined order in which the procedures occur to set up and run a machine vision job. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
24. A graphical user interface (GUI) for setup and testing of machine vision systems comprising:
-
an image frame pane in which recorded and real time images of an object acquired by an interconnected vision system are displayed as discrete frames;
a filmstrip window that displays individual thumbnail images of a series of time-based sequential image frames of the recorded images acquired by the interconnected vision system;
wherein a first group of the thumbnail images are highlighted in a first discrete color or pattern so as to identify a first predetermined detected feature on the object in connection with the recorded images associated with the thumbnail images.
-
Specification