Vision system
First Claim
1. A system for sensing, processing and analyzing images, said system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of camera means for sensing images and generating video signals defining said sensed images;
(b) vision processing means communicating with said camera means for processing said video signals, said vision processing means including at least two central processing units, shared memory means for storing said video signals during all stages of processing of said video signals and internal bus means communicating with each said central processing unit and with said shared memory means;
(c) external bus means communicating with said vision processing means, said external bus means providing communication with at least the shared memory means;
(d) computer controller means communicating with said shared memory means through said external bus means, said computer controller means at least generating command signals for controlling said vision processing means;
(e) display means connected to said computer controller means, selected image signals being presented on said display means; and
,(f) switch means for selectively switching said video signals generated by said camera means, selected ones of said video signals being applied to said vision processing means and said display means.
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Abstract
A system for sensing, processing and analyzing images includes a camera assembly for sensing a workpiece image and generating video signals representing the sensed images. The video signals are fed through a multiplexer to a vision processor and a display. The video signals are preprocessed and stored in the vision processor which has a shared memory. A computer controller, which has access to the shared memory via a common bus, controls operation of the vision processor in response to command signals from peripheral devices. The controller generates data signals for presenting the sensed images on a display and controlling external devices in response to the visual characteristics of the workpiece.
74 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for sensing, processing and analyzing images, said system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of camera means for sensing images and generating video signals defining said sensed images; (b) vision processing means communicating with said camera means for processing said video signals, said vision processing means including at least two central processing units, shared memory means for storing said video signals during all stages of processing of said video signals and internal bus means communicating with each said central processing unit and with said shared memory means; (c) external bus means communicating with said vision processing means, said external bus means providing communication with at least the shared memory means; (d) computer controller means communicating with said shared memory means through said external bus means, said computer controller means at least generating command signals for controlling said vision processing means; (e) display means connected to said computer controller means, selected image signals being presented on said display means; and
,(f) switch means for selectively switching said video signals generated by said camera means, selected ones of said video signals being applied to said vision processing means and said display means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for image sensing, processing and analyzing, said system comprising:
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(a) camera means for sensing images and generating analog video signals defining said sensed images; (b) multiplexer means communicating with said camera means for selectively switching said analog video signals; (c) analog-to-digital converter means connected to said multiplexer means, said analog-to-digital converter means digitizing said analog video signals applied thereto from said multiplexer means; (d) vision processor means connected to said analog-to-digital converter means, said vision processor means processing said digitized signals, said vision processor means including shared memory means for storing said processed digitized signals and at least two central processing units; (e) internal bus means communicating with said vision processor means, said central processing units communicating with said shared memory means via said internal bus means; (f) external bus means communicating with said vision processor means, said external bus means providing communication with at least the shared memory means of said vision processor means; and
,(g) computer controller means communicating with said vision processor means through said external bus means, said computer controller means having access to said shared memory means through said external bus means, said computer controller means generating command signals for controlling said vision processor means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for sensing, processing and analyzing images, said system comprising:
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(a) a plurality of camera means for sensing images and generating video signals defining said sensed images; and
,(b) vision processing means communicating with said camera means for processing said video signals, said vision processing means including; (i) shared memory means for storing said video signals during all stages of processing of said video signals; (ii) internal bus means communicating with said shared memory means; (iii) at least two central processing units; and
,(iv) a vision processor arbiter;
each said central processing unit communicating with said shared memory means via said internal bus means, each said central processing unit generating request signals for access to said shared memory means, said request signals being fed to said vision processor arbiter, said vision processor arbiter generating grant signals on a priority basis with access to said shared memory means being controlled by said vision processor arbiter.(c) external bus means communicating with said vision processing means, said external bus means providing communication with at least the shared memory means of said vision processing means; (d) computer controller means communicating with said shared memory means through said external bus means, said computer controller means at least generating command signals for controlling said vision processing means; and
,(e) means for utilizing the video signals processed by said vision processing means.
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19. A system for image sensing, processing and analyzing, said system comprising:
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(a) camera means for sensing images and generating analog video signals defining said sensed images; (b) multiplexer means communicating with said camera means for selectively switching said analog video signals; (c) analog-to-digital converter means connected to said multiplexer means, said analog-to-digital converter means digitizing said analog video signals applied thereto from said multiplexer means; (d) vision processor means communicating with said camera means for processing said video signals, said vision processor means including; (i) shared memory means for storing said video signals during all stages of processing of said video signals; (ii) internal bus means communicating with said shared memory means; (iii) at least two central processing units; and
,(iv) a vision processor arbiter;
each said central processing unit communicating with said shared memory means via said internal bus means, each said central processing unit generating request signals for access to said shared memory means, said request signals being fed to said vision porcessor arbiter, said vision processor arbiter generating grant signals on a priority basis with access to said shared memory means being controlled by said vision processor arbiter;(e) external bus means connunicating with said vision processing means, said external bus means providing communication with at least the shared memory means of said vision processing means; (f) computer controller means communicating with said shared memory means through said external bus means, said computer controller means at least generating command signals for controlling said vision processing means; and
,(g) means for utilizing the video signals processed by said vision processing means.
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Specification