METHOD AND SYSTEM OF JUXTAPOSING COMPONENTS IN AN ASSEMBLY PROCESS

• US 20100168891A1
• Filed: 08/21/2007
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anaglyph Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Anaglyph Ltd.
• Inventors: Kretsis, George
• Granted Patent: US 8,271,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/98
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/163 Determination of attitude using inertial means G01C9/00; control of attitude G05D1/49

Abstract

A computer model is formed of a mounting component (18) to be mounted at a target location on a mounting surface (12) of a base component (11). A position and viewing direction of a digital camera (3) is determined relative to the base component (11) and a live image (11′) of the base component as viewed by the camera (3) is displayed on a monitor (4). The monitor (4) also displays a mounting component target image (18″) generated by a computer (2) of the mounting component (18) mounted at the target location on the mounting surface (12) superimposed over the live image (11′) of the base component. A user physically moves the mounting component (18) relative to the base component (11) until a live image of the mounting component as viewed by the camera (3) coincides with the mounting component target image (18″).

Claims

1. A method of juxtaposing components in an assembly process comprising the steps of:

forming a computer model of a mounting component (18) to be mounted at a target location on a mounting surface (12) of a base component (11);

providing a system (1) including a computing means (2), a camera (3), and a display means (4);

providing a base component (11) and a mounting component (18);

determining the position and viewing direction of the camera (3) relative to the base component (11);

displaying a live image (11′

) on the display means (4) of the base component as viewed by the camera (3);

displaying on the display means (4) a mounting component target image (18″

) generated by the computing means (2) of the mounting component (18) mounted at the target location on the mounting surface (12) superimposed over the live image (11′

) of the base component; and

moving the mounting component (18) relative to the base component (11) such that a live image (18′

) of the mounting component as viewed by the camera (3) coincides with the mounting component target image (18″

).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of forming the computer model includes forming the model with the at least mounting surface (12) of the base component (11).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, including altering the display on the display means (4) of the mounting component target image (18″

) to take account of the relative movement between the camera (3) and the base component (11).

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the mounting component (18) has been physically mounted on the base component (11) so as to coincide with the mounting component target image (18″

) superimposed over the live image (11′

) of the base component, the combined base component and mounting component become a new base component and the method of claim 1 is repeated with a further mounting component.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, including displaying on the display means (4) an image (12′

) of the mounting surface of the base component (11) generated by the computing means (2) superimposed on the live image (11′

) of the base component.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, including displaying instructions (21) for the assembly of the components.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, including recording at least one said step of juxtaposing components in an assembly process so that at least one recorded step can be subsequently played back.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position and viewing direction of the camera (3) relative to the base component (11) includes providing the camera (3) with a camera locator (10), and using the computing means (2) to process signals from the camera locator (10) to effect the determination.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, including a further step of determining a position of the camera locator (10) relative to the base component (11) by:

providing a movable locator (16);

positioning the movable locator (16) sequentially at plural predetermined locations (13a,b,c) on the base component (11); and

using the computing means (2) to process signals from the camera locator (10) and the movable locator (16) at said predetermined locations (13a,b,c) to determine the position of the camera locator (10) relative to the base component (11).

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, including providing a transducer (6) for receiving signals from at least one said locator (10,16).

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, including providing the base component (11) with a base component locator (14), and using the computing means (2) to take account of relative movement between the base component (11) and the transducer (6).

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, including providing each locator (10,14) with at least three light sources (15) and providing output signals from the transducer (6) relating to light signals from said light sources (15).

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, including

providing the mounting component target image (18″

) with a target image point (19) and the mounting component (18) with a corresponding point (20) marked thereon; and

placing a part of the mounting component (18) bearing the point on the base component (11) before other parts of the mounting component once the live image (18′

) of the mounting component and the mounting component target image (18″

) coincide.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving step includes orientating the mounting component (18) to coincide with the orientation of the mounting component target image (18″

).

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, including

providing the mounting component target image (18″

) with an orientation indicator (29) and the mounting component (18) with a corresponding orientation mark (30) marked thereon.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, including calibrating the optical characteristics of the lens (8) of the camera (3).

17. A system (1) for juxtaposing components in an assembly process comprising:

a camera (3) for viewing a base component (11);

display means (4) for displaying a live image (11′

) of the base component as viewed by the camera (3);

a computing means (2) having a computer model of a mounting component (18) to be mounted at a target location on a mounting surface (12) of the base component (11), the computing means (2) being arranged to determine the position and viewing direction of the camera (3) relative to the base component (11), and generate and display on the display means (4) an image of a mounting component target image (18″

) at the target location superimposed over the live image (11′

) of the base component.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, including wireless optical means to enable the computing means (2) to determine the position and viewing direction of the camera (3) relative to the base component (11).

19. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the camera (3) has a camera locator (10) adapted to emit signals for use in determining a position of the camera (3).

20. The system as claimed in claim 17, including a base component locator (14) for mounting on the base component (11) and adapted to emit signals for use in determining a position of the base component (11).

21. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the camera (3) is mounted on a boom stand (9).

22. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the camera (3) includes head mounting means (22) attachable to the head of a user of the system.

23. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the display means comprises a computer screen (4).

24. The system as claimed claim 17, wherein the display means comprises a head-up display (23).

25. The system as claimed claim 17, wherein the camera (3) comprises a digital and/or analogue camera.