Off-line graphical user interface system and method for three-dimensional measurement

• US 20120050255A1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hexagon Technology Center GmbH (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: New River Kinematics, Inc. (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Thomas, Bruce L., Salerno, Robert J., Calkins, Joseph M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,021,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/047 Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32128 Gui graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37193 Multicoordinate measuring system, machine, cmm

Abstract

An off-line graphical user interface (GUI) system and method provide for input control of a three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine (CMM) using the CMM'"'"'s probe. A GUI image presents a plurality of control operation icons associated with the CMM. A controller uses the CMM to locate the GUI image in a coordinate system of the CMM. The controller defines coordinates of the control operation icons and references the coordinates to the coordinate system of the CMM. The controller also defines a function activation zone associated with each of the control operation icons. Each function activation zone defines criteria relating movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe therein to the operational function of the CMM associated with one of the control operation icons corresponding thereto. Satisfaction of the criteria causes the operational function of the CMM to be carried out by the CMM.

Claims

1. An off-line graphical user interface (GUI) system for input control of a three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine (CMM) using the CMM'"'"'s probe, comprising:

a GUI image displayed on a platform, said GUI image existing in at least two dimensions, said GUI image presenting a plurality of control operation icons associated with the CMM, each of said control operation icons being indicative of an operational function of the CMM;

a controller adapted to interface with the CMM, said controller using the CMM to locate said GUI image in a coordinate system of the CMM;

said controller defining coordinates of said control operation icons;

said controller referencing said coordinates to the coordinate system of the CMM;

said controller defining a spatial zone associated with each of said control operation icons, each said spatial zone extending from one of said control operation icons associated therewith, each said spatial zone referenced to the coordinate system of the CMM; and

said controller defining a function activation zone within each said spatial zone, each said function activation zone defining criteria relating movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe therein to the operational function of the CMM associated with one of said control operation icons corresponding thereto, wherein satisfaction of said criteria causes the operational function of the CMM to be carried out by the CMM.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said GUI image exists in three dimensions.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said GUI image further visually presents at least three reference positions, each of said reference positions located on said GUI image in an area thereof not coincident with said control operation icons, said at least three reference positions being non-collinear.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein each of said reference positions comprises a three-dimensional feature.

5. A system as in claim 3, wherein each of said reference positions comprises a depression in said platform that is adapted to at least partially receive the CMM'"'"'s probe therein.

6. A system as in claim 3, wherein said reference positions are indicative of said plurality of control operation icons presented by said GUI image.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein said controller generates a first signal whenever the CMM'"'"'s probe enters each said spatial zone, and wherein said controller generates a second signal whenever the CMM'"'"'s probe enters each said function activation zone.

8. A system as in claim 7, further comprising at least one output device coupled to said controller, wherein said first signal is applied to said at least one output device to produce a first sensory output, and wherein said second signal is applied to said at least one output device to produce a second sensory output that is different from said first sensory output.

9. A system as in claim 8, wherein at least one of said first sensory output and said second sensory output comprises a speech output.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein said criteria related to movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe includes criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into and then out of said function activation zone within a predetermined period of time, criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into said function activation zone and retention therein, and criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into said function activation zone and subsequent movement therein.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein said platform comprises image media adapted to be applied on a surface.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein said platform comprises a portable platform.

13. A system as in claim 1, wherein said platform comprises a flexible platform.

14. A system as in claim 1, further comprising an attachment device coupled to said platform and adapted to be coupled to a surface, wherein said platform is fixed in position relative to the surface.

15. An off-line graphical user interface (GUI) system for input control of a three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine (CMM) using the CMM'"'"'s probe, comprising:

a GUI image displayed on a platform, said GUI image existing in at least two dimensions, said GUI image presenting a plurality of control operation icons associated with the CMM, each of said control operation icons being indicative of an operational function of the CMM, said GUI image visually presenting at least three reference positions, each of said reference positions located on said GUI image in an area thereof not coincident with said control operation icons, said at least three reference positions being non-collinear;

a controller adapted to interface with the CMM, said controller using the CMM to locate said GUI image in a coordinate system of the CMM using said at least three reference positions;

said controller defining coordinates of said control operation icons;

said controller referencing said coordinates to the coordinate system of the CMM;

said controller defining a spatial zone associated with each of said control operation icons, each said spatial zone bounded in two dimensions by one of said control operation icons associated therewith, each said spatial zone extending in a third dimension from said one of said control operation icons associated therewith, wherein said two dimensions and said third dimension are referenced to the coordinate system of the CMM; and

said controller defining a function activation zone within each said spatial zone and adjacent to one of said control operation icons associated therewith, each said function activation zone defining criteria relating movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe therein to the operational function of the CMM associated with one of said control operation icons corresponding thereto, wherein satisfaction of said criteria causes the operational function of the CMM to be carried out by the CMM.

16. A system as in claim 15, wherein said GUI image exists in three dimensions.

17. A system as in claim 15, wherein each of said reference positions comprises a three-dimensional feature.

18. A system as in claim 15, wherein each of said reference positions comprises a depression in said platform that is adapted to at least partially receive the CMM'"'"'s probe therein.

19. A system as in claim 15, wherein said reference positions are indicative of said plurality of control operation icons presented by said GUI image.

20. A system as in claim 15, wherein said controller generates a first signal whenever the CMM'"'"'s probe enters each said spatial zone, and wherein said controller generates a second signal whenever the CMM'"'"'s probe enters each said function activation zone.

21. A system as in claim 20, further comprising at least one output device coupled to said controller, wherein said first signal is applied to said at least one output device to produce a first sensory output, and wherein said second signal is applied to said at least one output device to produce a second sensory output that is different from said first sensory output.

22. A system as in claim 21, wherein at least one of said first sensory output and said second sensory output comprises a speech output.

23. A system as in claim 15, wherein said criteria related to movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe includes criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into and then out of said function activation zone within a predetermined period of time, criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into said function activation zone and retention therein, and criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into said function activation zone and subsequent movement therein.

24. A system as in claim 15, wherein said platform comprises image media adapted to be applied on a surface.

25. A system as in claim 15, wherein said platform comprises a portable platform.

26. A system as in claim 15, wherein said platform comprises a flexible platform.

27. A system as in claim 15, further comprising an attachment device coupled to said platform and adapted to be coupled to a surface, wherein said platform is fixed in position relative to the surface.

28. An off-line graphical user interface (GUI) system for input control of a three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine (CMM) using the CMM'"'"'s probe, comprising:

a GUI image displayed on a platform, said GUI image existing in at least two dimensions, said GUI image presenting a plurality of control operation icons associated with the CMM, each of said control operation icons being indicative of an operational function of the CMM;

a controller adapted to interface with the CMM, said controller using the CMM to locate said GUI image in a coordinate system of the CMM;

said controller defining coordinates of said control operation icons;

said controller referencing said coordinates to the coordinate system of the CMM; and

said controller defining a function activation zone associated with each of said control operation icons, each said function activation zone extending from one of said control operation icons associated therewith, each said function activation zone referenced to the coordinate system of the CMM, each said function activation zone defining criteria relating movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe therein to the operational function of the CMM associated with one of said control operation icons corresponding thereto, wherein satisfaction of said criteria causes the operational function of the CNN to be carried out by the CMM.

29. A system as in claim 28, wherein said GUI image exists in three dimensions.

30. A system as in claim 28, wherein said GUI image further visually presents at least three reference positions, each of said reference positions located on said GUI image in an area thereof not coincident with said control operation icons, said at least three reference positions being non-collinear.

31. A system as in claim 30, wherein each of said reference positions comprises a three-dimensional feature.

32. A system as in claim 30, wherein each of said reference positions comprises a depression in said platform that is adapted to at least partially receive the CMM'"'"'s probe therein.

33. A system as in claim 30, wherein said reference positions are indicative of said plurality of control operation icons presented by said GUI image.

34. A system as in claim 28, wherein said controller generates a signal whenever the CMM'"'"'s probe enters each said function activation zone.

35. A system as in claim 34, further comprising an output device coupled to said controller, wherein said signal is applied to said output device to produce a sensory output.

36. A system as in claim 35, wherein said sensory output comprises a speech output.

37. A system as in claim 28, wherein said criteria related to movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe includes criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into and then out of said function activation zone within a predetermined period of time, criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into said function activation zone and retention therein, and criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into said function activation zone and subsequent movement therein.

38. A system as in claim 28, wherein said platform comprises image media adapted to be applied on a surface.

39. A system as in claim 28, wherein said platform comprises a portable platform.

40. A system as in claim 28, wherein said platform comprises a flexible platform.

41. A system as in claim 28, further comprising an attachment device coupled to said platform and adapted to be coupled to a surface, wherein said platform is fixed in position relative to the surface.

42. A method of controlling a three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine (CMM) using the CMM'"'"'s probe and an off-line graphical user interface (GUI), comprising the steps of:

providing a GUI image on a platform, said GUI image existing in at least two dimensions, said GUI image presenting a plurality of control operation icons associated with the CMM, each of said control operation icons being indicative of an operational function of the CMM;

defining coordinates of said control operation icons;

locating said GUI image in a coordinate system of the CMM using the CMM'"'"'s probe;

referencing said coordinates of said control operation icons to the coordinate system of the CMM;

defining a spatial zone associated with each of said control operation icons, each said spatial zone extending from one of said control operation icons associated therewith, each said spatial zone referenced to the coordinate system of the CMM;

defining a function activation zone within each said spatial zone, each said function activation zone defining criteria relating movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe therein to the operational function of the CMM associated with one of said control operation icons corresponding thereto;

positioning the CMM'"'"'s probe in a selected one said function activation zone; and

moving the CMM'"'"'s probe relative to said selected one said function activation zone in accordance with said criteria associated therewith, wherein satisfaction of said criteria causes the operational function of the CMM associated with one of said control operation icons corresponding thereto to be carried out by the CMM.

43. A method according to claim 42, wherein said GUI image exists in three dimensions.

44. A method according to claim 42, wherein said GUI image further visually presents at least three reference positions, each of said reference positions located on said GUI image in an area thereof not coincident with said control operation icons, said reference positions being non-collinear, and wherein said step of locating includes the steps of:

positioning the CMM'"'"'s probe at one of said reference positions;

recording a location of the CMM'"'"'s probe so-positioned within the coordinate system of the CMM; and

repeating said steps of positioning and recording for a remainder of said reference positions.

45. A method according to claim 44, wherein said step of locating includes the step of identifying said plurality of control operation icons associated with said GUI image using said reference positions.

46. A method according to claim 44, wherein each of said reference positions comprises a three-dimensional feature.

47. A method according to claim 44, wherein each of said reference positions comprises a depression in said platform that is adapted to at least partially receive the CMM'"'"'s probe therein.

48. A method according to claim 42, further comprising the steps of:

generating a first signal whenever the CMM'"'"'s probe enters each said spatial zone; and

generating a second signal whenever the CMM'"'"'s probe enters each said function activation zone.

49. A method according to claim 48, further comprising the steps of:

converting said first signal to a first sensory output; and

converting said second signal to a second sensory output that is different from said first sensory output.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein at least one of said first sensory output and said second sensory output comprises audible speech.

51. A method according to claim 42, wherein said criteria related to movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe includes criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into and then out of said function activation zone within a predetermined period of time, criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into said function activation zone and retention therein, and criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into said function activation zone and subsequent movement therein.

52. A method according to claim 42, wherein said platform comprises image media, and wherein said step of providing comprises the step of applying said image media to a surface.

53. A method of controlling a three-dimensional coordinate measuring machine (CMM) using the CMM'"'"'s probe and an off-line graphical user interface (GUI), comprising the steps of:

providing a GUI image on a platform, said GUI image existing in at least two dimensions, said GUI image presenting a plurality of control operation icons associated with the CMM, each of said control operation icons being indicative of an operational function of the CMM;

locating said GUI image in a coordinate system of the CMM using the CMM'"'"'s probe;

referencing said control operation icons to the coordinate system of the CMM;

defining a function activation zone associated with each of said control operation icons, each said spatial zone extending from one of said control operation icons associated therewith, each said spatial zone referenced to the coordinate system of the CMM, each said function activation zone defining criteria relating movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe therein to the operational function of the CMM associated with one of said control operation icons corresponding thereto;

positioning the CMM'"'"'s probe in a selected one said function activation zone; and

moving the CMM'"'"'s probe relative to said selected one said function activation zone in accordance with said criteria associated therewith, wherein satisfaction of said criteria causes the operational function of the CMM associated with one of said control operation icons corresponding thereto to be carried out by the CMM.

54. A method according to claim 53, wherein said GUI image exists in three dimensions.

55. A method according to claim 53, wherein said GUI image further visually presents at least three reference positions, each of said reference positions located on said GUI image in an area thereof not coincident with said control operation icons, said reference positions being non-collinear, and wherein said step of locating includes the steps of:

positioning the CMM'"'"'s probe at one of said reference positions;

recording a location of the CMM'"'"'s probe so-positioned within the coordinate system of the CMM; and

repeating said steps of positioning and recording for a remainder of said reference positions.

56. A method according to claim 55, wherein said step of locating includes the step of identifying said plurality of control operation icons associated with said GUI image using said reference positions.

57. A method according to claim 55, wherein each of said reference positions comprises a three-dimensional feature.

58. A method according to claim 55, wherein each of said reference positions comprises a depression in said platform that is adapted to at least partially receive the CMM'"'"'s probe therein.

59. A method according to claim 53, further comprising the step of generating a signal whenever the CMM'"'"'s probe enters each said function activation zone.

60. A method according to claim 59, further comprising the step of converting said signal to a sensory output.

61. A method according to claim 60, wherein said sensory output comprises audible speech.

62. A method according to claim 53, wherein said criteria related to movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe includes criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into and then out of said function activation zone within a predetermined period of time, criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into said function activation zone and retention therein, and criteria specifying movement of the CMM'"'"'s probe into said function activation zone and subsequent movement therein.

63. A method according to claim 53, wherein said platform comprises image media, and wherein said step of providing comprises the step of applying said image media to a surface.