Method and apparatus for interactively generating a computer program for machine vision analysis of an object
DCFirst Claim
1. A digital processing system for interactively generating a computer program, said system comprisingA. program storage means for storing a program signal representative of a syntactically correct computer program being generated,B. display means, coupled to said program storage means, for displaying at least a portion of said computer program being generated,C. positioning means coupled to said display means for demarking a location of interest within said computer program being generated, and for generating a position signal representative of that location,D. menu means, coupled to said program storage means and to said positioning means, for responding to said position signal and said program signal for graphically displaying one or more syntactically correct modifications of said computer program being generated at said location of interest, said menu means includingselection means for inputting an operator selection corresponding to at least one of said syntactically correct modifications, and for generating a selection signal representative of that operator selection, andE. update means, coupled to said selection means, said program storage means, and said positioning means, for responding to said selection signal, said position signal and said program signal, for generating and storing in said program storage means an updated program signal representative of said computer program being generated as modified in accord with said at least one syntactically correct modification corresponding to said operator selection.
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Abstract
A system for interactively generating a computer program for machine vision analysis insures that the program is correct by permitting the operator to make only syntactically correct modifications to the program. The system includes an element for storing the computer program being generated. A further element displays the program to the operator. A positioning element demarks a location of interest within the program. A menu element displays permissible programming modifications for the location of interest. The menu element incorporates in its display of permissible programming modifications statements for machine vision analysis of an object image, e.g., calls to machine vision subroutines and functions. To facilitate specification of input parameters to those subroutines and functions, the imaging element can generate a candidate image of the object upon which the machine vision analysis is to be run. A graphical input element displays over that candidate image a graphical icon that the operator can manipulate to specify the parameters. A textual input element can display an icon, e.g., a dialog box, prompting the operator to designate textually input parameters for the machine vision tool. An update element responds to the operator selection by appropriately modifying the stored program.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A digital processing system for interactively generating a computer program, said system comprising
A. program storage means for storing a program signal representative of a syntactically correct computer program being generated, B. display means, coupled to said program storage means, for displaying at least a portion of said computer program being generated, C. positioning means coupled to said display means for demarking a location of interest within said computer program being generated, and for generating a position signal representative of that location, D. menu means, coupled to said program storage means and to said positioning means, for responding to said position signal and said program signal for graphically displaying one or more syntactically correct modifications of said computer program being generated at said location of interest, said menu means including selection means for inputting an operator selection corresponding to at least one of said syntactically correct modifications, and for generating a selection signal representative of that operator selection, and E. update means, coupled to said selection means, said program storage means, and said positioning means, for responding to said selection signal, said position signal and said program signal, for generating and storing in said program storage means an updated program signal representative of said computer program being generated as modified in accord with said at least one syntactically correct modification corresponding to said operator selection.
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13. A digital processing system for interactively generating a computer program for use in conjunction with machine vision analysis of an image, said system comprising
A. selection means for selecting, for inclusion in a computer program being created, a machine vision analysis tool to be invoked by that program, said machine vision analysis tool requiring input parameters, B. imaging means for generating a candidate of an image upon which said machine vision analysis tool is to operate, C. graphical input means, coupled to said selection means and to said imaging means, for selectively displaying in connection with said candidate image a manipulable graphical icon, said graphical input means including means for responding to operator manipulation of that icon for generating values for one or more of said input parameters, and D. update means, coupled to said selection means and to said graphical input means, for generating a program signal representative of at least a portion of said computer program being generated, said portion including one or more syntactically correct programming statements for invoking said selected machine vision analysis tool and for supplying thereto said values for said one or more input parameters.
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18. A method for automated generation of a computer program, said method comprising
A. a program storage step for storing a program signal representative of a syntactically correct computer program being generated, B. a display step for displaying at least a portion of said computer program being generated, C. a positioning step for demarking a location of interest within said computer program being generated, and for generating a position signal representative of that location, D. a menu step for responding to said position signal and said program signal for graphically displaying one or more syntactically correct modifications of said computer program being generated at said location of interest, said menu step including an input step for inputting an operator selection corresponding to at least one of said syntactically correct modifications, and for generating a selection signal representative of that operator selection, and E. an update step for responding to said selection signal, said position signal and said program signal, for generating and storing in said program storage step an updated program signal representative of said computer program being generated as modified in accord with said at least one syntactically correct modification corresponding to said operator selection.
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30. A method for automated generation of a computer program for use in conjunction with machine vision analysis of an image, said method comprising
A. a selection step for selecting, for inclusion in a computer program being created, a machine vision analysis tool to be invoked by that program, said machine vision analysis tool requiring input parameters, B. an imaging step for generating a candidate of an image upon which said machine vision analysis tool is to operate, C. a graphical input step for selectively displaying in connection with said candidate image a manipulable graphical icon, said graphical input step including the step of responding to operator manipulation of that icon for generating values for one or more of said input parameters, and D. an update step for generating a program signal representative of at least a portion of said computer program being generated, said portion including one or more syntactically correct programming statements for invoking; - said selected machine vision analysis tool and for supplying thereto said values for said one or more input parameters.
- View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
Specification