Product information network system

• US 4,845,634 A
• Filed: 07/29/1987
• Issued: 07/04/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Edwards, Laura B., Holmes, Craig R., Vitek, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruggiero, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US07/079,210
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 364/468, 364/132, 364/474, 364/200, 364/900, 364/188, 364/189, 364/191-193, 364/468, 364/474.22-474.27, 364/514, 364/518, 364/521, 358/101, 358/903
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation

Abstract

A manufacturing data creation and distribution system comprises a computer with a graphics-capable display screen. The computer is capable of processing programmable instructions and creating data, and of generating graphic images on the display screen. A video camera is connected to the computer, and the computer includes hardware which can digitize the images transmitted by the video camera into a computer-readable form and display the digitized camera images on the display screen.

A plurality of microprocessor-controlled workstations are networked to a microprocessor-controlled networking and file server, which can selectively retrieve data and transmit such data to the workstations for display. Also included within the computer is the capability to selectively manipulate the image-data received from the video camera to generate a manufacturing aid applicable to a product to be produced.

Claims

1. A manufacturing data creation and distribution system comprising:

(a) a graphics-capable display screen;

(b) a computer connected to said display screen, capable of processing programmable instructions and capable of creating and editing data, said computer capable of generating graphic images on said display screen;

(c) a video camera having its output connected to said computer, said computer including means for digitizing the images transmitted by said video camera into a computer-readable form, said computer including means for displaying the digitized camera images on said display screen;

(d) storage means connected to said computer for storing data received from said computer;

(e) a plurality of microprocessor-controlled workstations each having an output screen connected thereto and capable of individually requesting and receiving data from said storage means;

(f) microprocessor-controlled networking and file serving means connected to said workstations and said storage means for selectively retrieving data from said storage means and transmitting such data to said workstations for display on said workstation output screens; and

(g) means disposed within said computer for selectively manipulating the images received from said video camera to generate a manufacturing aid applicable to a product to be produced and for transmitting said manufacturing aid to said storage means for storage.

2. A system for the creation and distribution of manufacturing aids which are for use by personnel in the manufacture of a product comprising:

(a) manufacturing aid creation means for creating and editing said manufacturing aids comprising;

(i) a graphics-capable display screen;

(ii) a computer connected to said display screen and capable of processing programmable instructions and creating data, said computer capable of generating and editing graphic images on said display screen;

(iii) a video camera having its output connected to said computer, said computer including means for digitizing the images transmitted by said video camera into a computer-readable form, said computer including means for displaying the digitized camera images on said display screen;

(iv) storage means connected to said computer for storing data received from said computer; and

(v) image manipulation means disposed within said computer for selectively manipulating the images received from said video camera to generate said manufacturing aid and for transmitting said manufacturing aid to said storage means for storage;

(b) manufacturing aid distribution means for selectively distributing said manufacturing aids to the manufacturing personnel upon request comprising;

(i) a plurality of microprocessor-controlled workstations each having an output screen connected thereto for individually requesting and receiving data from said storage means; and

(ii) microprocessor-controlled networking and file serving means connected to said workstations and said storage means for selectively retrieving data from said storage means and transmitting such data to said workstations for display on said workstation output screens; and

(iii) microprocessor-based manufacturing aid information compilation means connected to said creation means and said distribution means for processing data relative to each manufacturing aid created by said creation means with respect to each product and for retrieving such data and transmitting it to said distribution means upon request of said manufacturing personnel.

3. A computer-aided system for generating, editing and distributing graphic images of objects comprising:

(a) a device for electronically capturing a graphic image of an object;

(b) means for digitizing the graphic image created by said device into a computer-readable graphic image data, wherein means for digitizing the graphic image is a digitizing card in communication with said computer which transforms the image into a series of digital numbers that represent the light intensity levels at points on the image;

(c) a graphics-capable display device for displaying the digitized graphic image;

(d) a computer in communication with said display device and capable of processing programmable instructions, creating data and capable of generating graphic images on the display device from the digitized graphic image;

(e) means in communication with said computer for editing the digitized graphic image through selective manipulation of the digitized graphic image data;

(f) means in communication with said computer for storing the digitized graphic image data, wherein means for storing the digitized graphic image comprises a user-programmable relational-type data base;

(g) at least one station for requesting and receiving digitized graphic image data from said storage means and having an output device for displaying the digitized graphic image, wherein said station for requesting and receiving data is microprocessor-controlled and equipped with software to enable independent operation from other stations and from said computer; and

(h) means for retrieval and distribution of the stored digitized graphic image data for transmitting from storage means selected image data to said station for output device display.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the means for retrieval and distribution from storage is comprised of a microprocessor-controlled networking and file serving system.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the device for electronically capturing the graphic image is a television camera.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the object of the graphic image is an assembly drawing used for printed circuit boards.

7. A computer-aided system for generating, editing and distributing graphic images of objects comprising:

(a) a device for electronically capturing a graphic image of an object;

(b) means for digitizing the graphic image created by said device into computer-readable graphic image data;

(c) a graphics-capable display device for simultaneously displaying the digitized graphic image and textual data;

(d) a computer in communication with said display device, said computer capable of processing programmable instructions, creating and displaying textual data and capable of generating graphic images on the display device from the digitized graphic image;

(e) means in communication with said computer for editing the digitized graphic image through selective manipulation of the digitized graphic image data;

(f) means in communication with said computer for storing the digitized graphic image data;

(g) means in communication with said computer for editing the textual data;

(h) means in communication with said computer for storing the textual data;

(i) at least one station for requesting and receiving digitized graphic image data and textual data from storage means and having an output device for displaying the digitized graphic image and the textual data; and

(j) means for retrieval and distribution of the stored digitized graphic image data and the textual data for transmitting from storage means selected image and textual data to said station for output device display.

8. The system in claim 7 wherein means for storing the digitized graphic image data and means for storing the textual data comprises a user-programmable relational-type data base.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein means for digitizing the graphic image is a digitizing card in communication with said computer which transforms the image into a series of digital numbers that represent the light intensity levels at points on the image.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said station for requesting and receiving data are microprocessor-controlled and equipped with software to enable independent operation from other stations and from said computer.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the means for retrieval and distribution from storage is comprised of a microprocessor-controlled networking and file serving system.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the device for electronically capturing the graphic image is a television camera.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the object of the graphic image is an assembly drawing used for printed circuit boards.