Method and system for quickly developing application software for use in a machine vision system

• US 5,742,504 A
• Filed: 11/06/1995
• Issued: 04/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microscan Systems Inc (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Medar Incorporated (Nadex (Thailand) Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Meyer, Frank, Cooper, Christopher J., de Magalhaes, Frederico P., Chappel, Benjamin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore, Reba I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US08/554,188
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 364/188, 364/513, 364/191, 364/474.23, 395/700, 395/99, 395/706, 395/705
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23257 Grafcet
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining

Abstract

A method and system are provided for quickly developing application software for use in a machine vision system using a computer system. Hardware operating parameters are stored which correspond to possible hardware for use in the machine vision system. The hardware operating parameters define a set of custom controls having properties. Commands and a set of instructions are received from a user of the computer system to select a first custom control program corresponding to a desired component, desired hardware operating parameters corresponding to desired hardware and a second custom control program corresponding to a desired machine vision algorithm. The first custom control program is linked with the desired hardware operating parameters to the second custom control program to form the application software. The step of linking includes the step of setting the property of one custom control to be equal to one property of another custom control to form the application software in response to the commands and a set of user supplied instructions.

Claims

1. A method for quickly developing application software for use in a machine vision system using an open computer system operating in an open programming environment, the method comprising the steps of:

storing an application development program, including a first set of custom control programs representing possible components of a user interface for the machine vision system, the first set of custom control programs defining a first set of custom controls obeying an open standard which defines properties for programming the first set of custom controls;

storing a second set of custom control programs representing possible machine vision algorithms for the machine vision system, the second set of custom control programs defining a second set of custom controls obeying the open standard which defines properties for programming the second set of custom controls;

storing hardware operating parameters corresponding to possible hardware for use in the machine vision system, the hardware operating parameters defining a third set of custom controls obeying the open standard which defines properties for programming the third set of custom controls;

displaying graphical representations of the possible components, the possible hardware and the possible machine vision algorithms;

receiving commands from a user of the open computer system to select a first custom control program corresponding to a desired component of the user interface, desired hardware operating parameters corresponding to desired hardware and a second custom control program corresponding to a desired machine vision algorithm; and

linking the first custom control program with the desired hardware operating parameters to the second custom control program to form the application software in response to the commands wherein the step of linking includes the step of setting the properties of the custom controls of the selected programs and hardware operating parameters.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of setting includes the step of setting one property of one custom control to be equal to one property of another custom control.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of linking includes the step of receiving a set of instructions from the user of the open computer system.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

storing a third set of custom control programs representing possible software products for use in a machine vision system; and

displaying a graphical representation of the possible software products, wherein the step of linking links a third custom control program corresponding to a desired software product with the first and second custom control programs and the desired hardware operating parameters in response to the commands to form the application software.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters correspond to a desired image source of the machine vision system.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired image source is a camera.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired operating parameters further correspond to a desired vision processor board of the machine vision system.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters further correspond to a desired frame grabber board of the machine vision system.

9. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters further correspond to a desired motion board of the machine vision system.

10. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters further correspond to a desired bus of the machine vision system.

11. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is an image processing algorithm.

12. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is an image-analysis algorithm.

13. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is a calibration space algorithm.

14. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is an interactive CAD/geometry algorithm.

15. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the open computer system includes a personal computer.

17. The computer system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the means for setting sets one property of one custom control to be equal to one property of another custom control.

16. An open computer system operating in an open programming environment for quickly developing application software for use in a machine vision system, the system comprising:

means for storing an application development program, including a first set of custom control programs representing possible components of a user interface for the machine vision system, the first set of custom control programs defining a first set of custom controls obeying an open standard which defines properties for programming the first set of custom controls;

means for storing a second set of custom control programs representing possible machine vision algorithms for the machine vision system, the second set of custom control programs defining a second set of custom controls obeying the open standard which defines properties for programming the second set of custom controls;

means for storing hardware operating parameters corresponding to possible hardware for use in the machine vision system, the hardware operating parameters defining a third set of custom controls obeying the open standard which defines properties for programming the third set of custom controls;

means for displaying graphical representations of the possible components, the possible hardware and the possible machine vision algorithms;

means for receiving commands from a user of the open computer system to select a first custom control program corresponding to a desired component of the user interface, desired hardware operating parameters corresponding to desired hardware and a second custom control program corresponding to a desired machine vision algorithm; and

means for linking the first custom control program with the desired hardware operating parameters to the second custom control program to form the application software in response to the commands wherein the means for linking includes means for setting the properties of custom controls of the selected programs and hardware operating parameters.

18. The computer system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the means for linking includes means for receiving a set of instructions from the user of the computer system.

19. The computer system as claimed in claim 16 further comprising:

means for storing a third set of custom control programs representing possible software products for use in a machine vision system; and

means for displaying a graphical representation of the possible software products, wherein the means for linking links a third custom control program corresponding to a desired software product with the first and second custom control programs and the desired hardware operating parameters in response to the commands to form the application software.

20. The computer system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters correspond to a desired image source of the machine vision system.

21. The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired image source is a camera.

22. The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired operating parameters further correspond to a desired vision processor board of the machine vision system.

23. The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters further correspond to a desired frame grabber board of the machine vision system.

24. The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters further correspond to a desired motion board of the machine vision system.

25. The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters further correspond to a desired bus of the machine vision system.

26. The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is an image processing algorithm.

27. The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is an image-analysis algorithm.

28. The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is a calibration space algorithm.

29. The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is an interactive CAD/geometry algorithm.

30. The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the open computer system includes a personal computer.