System and method for graphical image data acquistion, storage, and retrieval

• US 5,793,647 A
• Filed: 08/15/1995
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LMI Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Diffracto, Ltd. (LMI Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Karpala, Frank, Hageniers, Omer L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH-STEWART, DEMETRA R
• Application Number:
  US08/515,156
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 364/507, 395/164, 395/508, 395/501, 395/511, 395/500, 395/173, 395/339, 395/340, 345/116, 345/121, 345/122
• US Class Current: 702/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/532 Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

A computerized system and a method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval of a plurality of image datas corresponding to a plurality of physical inspection areas of a physical surface is disclosed. A graphical interface graphically draws a virtual diagram of the physical surface and a plurality of virtual inspection areas on the virtual diagram. A sensor connected to the interface senses a plurality of image datas of the plurality of physical inspection areas. A display connected to the interface is also provided for selectively displaying the virtual diagram and the image data. An image storage connected to the interface collects the plurality of image datas and names an image file of each image data according to a graphical position of the corresponding virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram. A selector connected to the interface is then used for selecting a virtual inspection area corresponding to a desired physical inspection area of interest and for retrieving an image file of the desired physical inspection area from the image storage for display. In a preferred embodiment, a status of the virtual inspection areas are displayed, conveniently, by color coding. A desired inspection program is also indicated on the display.

Claims

1. A computerized system for acquisition, storage, and retrieval of a plurality of image datas corresponding to a plurality of physical inspection areas of a physical surface comprising:

a graphical interface means for graphically drawing a virtual diagram of the physical surface and a plurality of virtual inspection areas on the virtual diagram, the virtual inspection areas representing corresponding physical inspection areas on the physical surface for which image datas are collected;

a sensing means connected to said interface means for sensing a plurality of image datas of the plurality of physical inspection areas of the physical surface;

a display means connected to said interface means for selectively displaying the image data and the virtual diagram;

an image storage means connected to said interface means for collecting the plurality of image datas of the physical inspection areas sensed by said sensing means and for naming an image file of each image data of each respective physical inspection area according to a graphical position of the corresponding virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram;

a selection means connected to said interface means for selecting a virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram corresponding to a desired physical inspection area of interest and for retrieving an image file of the desired physical inspection area from said image storage means for display by said display means; and

a status means connected to said interface means for visually indicating a status of the virtual inspection areas of the virtual diagram displayed by said display means by color coding of the virtual inspection areas.

2. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the virtual diagram of said interface means includes virtual reference features drawn on the virtual diagram, the virtual reference features corresponding to physical reference features provided on the physical surface.

3. A computerized system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the virtual reference features are added to the virtual diagram by said interface means as desired such that corresponding physical reference features are then added to the physical surface.

4. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the virtual diagram of said interface means includes labels which describe positions on the physical surface.

5. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 and further including a sensor control means connected to said graphical interface for communicating with and for controlling operation of said sensor means.

6. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said selection means includes an input means for adding, changing, moving and deleting virtual inspection areas from the virtual diagram, and further for creating a new file name in said image storage means for each added virtual inspection area.

7. A computerized system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said interface means draws the virtual diagram so that points of the physical surface are mapped to points of the virtual diagram;

and further including a locating means connected to said interface means for locating said sensor means with reference to the physical surface.

8. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval of a plurality of image datas corresponding to a plurality of inspection areas of a physical surface comprising the steps of:

graphically drawing a virtual diagram of the physical surface and a plurality of virtual inspection areas on the virtual diagram on a graphical interface, the virtual inspection areas representing corresponding physical inspection areas on the physical surface for which image datas are to be collected;

sensing a plurality of image datas of the plurality of physical inspection areas of the physical surface with a sensor connected to the graphical interface;

displaying the virtual diagram with a display device connected to the graphical interface;

storing the plurality of image datas of the physical inspection areas sensed by the sensor and naming an image file of each image data of each respective physical inspection area stored according to a graphical position of the corresponding virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram in an image storage connected to the graphical interface;

selecting a virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram corresponding to a desired physical inspection area of interest with a selector connected to the graphical interface;

retrieving an image file of the desired physical inspection area from the image storage for display by the display device; and

visually indicating a status of the virtual inspection areas of the virtual diagram displayed by the display device with a status generator connected to the graphical interface by color coding of the virtual inspection areas.

9. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval as claimed in claim 8 wherein said graphical drawing step further includes the step of drawing virtual reference features on the virtual diagram corresponding to physical reference features provided on the physical surface.

10. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval as claimed in claim 9 wherein the virtual reference features are added to the virtual diagram by the graphical interface as desired and further including the step of adding corresponding physical reference features to the physical surface.

11. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval as claimed in claim 8 and further including the step of drawing labels on the virtual diagram which describe positions on the physical surface.

12. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval as claimed in claim 8 and further including the steps of communicating with and controlling operation of the sensor with a sensor control connected to the graphical interface.

13. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval as claimed in claim 8 and further including the steps of adding, changing, moving and deleting virtual inspection areas from the virtual diagram with an input device, and creating a new file name in the image storage for each added virtual inspection area.

14. A computerized system for acquisition, storage, and retrieval of a plurality of image datas corresponding to a plurality of physical inspection areas of a physical surface comprising:

a graphical interface means for graphically drawing a virtual diagram of the physical surface and a plurality of virtual inspection areas on the virtual diagram, the virtual inspection areas representing corresponding physical inspection areas on the physical surface for which image datas are collected;

a sensing means connected to said interface means for sensing a plurality of image datas of the plurality of physical inspection areas of the physical surface;

a display means connected to said interface means for selectively displaying the image data and the virtual diagram;

an image storage means connected to said interface means for collecting the plurality of image datas of the physical inspection areas sensed by said sensing means and for naming an image file of each image data of each respective physical inspection area according to a graphical position of the corresponding virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram;

a selection means connected to said interface means for selecting a virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram corresponding to a desired physical inspection area of interest and for retrieving an image file of the desired physical inspection area from said image storage means for display by said display means;

a status means connected to said interface means for visually indicating a status of the virtual inspection areas of the virtual diagram displayed by said display means; and

an inspection requirements means for storing a desired inspection program of successive physical inspection areas for the physical surface and for indicating a next desired virtual inspection area corresponding to a next desired physical inspection area on the physical surface after said sensor means senses each successive physical inspection area.

15. A computerized system as claimed in claim 14 and further including a sensor control means connected to said graphical interface for communicating with and for controlling operation of said sensor means.

16. A computerized system for acquisition, storage, and retrieval of a plurality of image datas corresponding to a plurality of physical inspection areas of a physical surface comprising:

a graphical interface means for graphically drawing a virtual diagram of the physical surface and a plurality of virtual inspection areas on the virtual diagram, the virtual inspection areas representing corresponding physical inspection areas on the physical surface for which image datas are collected;

a sensing means connected to said interface means for sensing a plurality of image datas of the plurality of physical inspection areas of the physical surface;

a display means connected to said interface means for selectively displaying the image data and the virtual diagram;

an image storage means connected to said interface means for collecting the plurality of image datas of the physical inspection areas sensed by said sensing means and for naming an image file of each image data of each respective physical inspection area according to a graphical position of the corresponding virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram;

a selection means connected to said interface means for selecting a virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram corresponding to a desired physical inspection area of interest and for retrieving an image file of the desired physical inspection area from said image storage means for display by said display means; and

a sensor specifications storage means for identifying a type of said sensor means and for choosing appropriately sized virtual inspection areas on the virtual diagram corresponding to a physical inspection footprint of said sensor means.

17. A computerized system as claimed in claim 16, and further including a sensor control means connected to said graphical interface for communicating with and for controlling operation of said sensor means.

18. A computerized system for acquisition, storage, and retrieval of a plurality of image datas corresponding to a plurality of physical inspection areas of a physical surface comprising:

a graphical interface means for graphically drawing a virtual diagram of the physical surface and a plurality of virtual inspection areas on the virtual diagram, the virtual inspection areas representing corresponding physical inspection areas on the physical surface for which image datas are collected so that points of the physical surface are mapped to points of the virtual diagram;

a sensing means connected to said interface means for sensing a plurality of image datas of the plurality of physical inspection areas of the physical surface;

a display means connected to said interface means for selectively displaying the image data and the virtual diagram;

an image storage means connected to said interface means for collecting the plurality of image datas of the physical inspection areas sensed by said sensing means and for naming an image file of each image data of each respective physical inspection area according to a graphical position of the corresponding virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram;

a selection means connected to said interface means for selecting a virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram corresponding to a desired physical inspection area of interest and for retrieving an image file of the desired physical inspection area from said image storage means for display by said display means;

a locating means connected to said interface means for locating said sensor means with reference to the physical surface; and

a sensor control means connected to said graphical interface for moving said sensor means into position to sense image data of predetermined physical inspection areas corresponding to predetermined virtual inspection areas.

19. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval of a plurality of image datas corresponding to a plurality of inspection areas of a physical surface comprising the steps of:

graphically drawing a virtual diagram of the physical surface and a plurality of virtual inspection areas on the virtual diagram on a graphical interface, the virtual inspection areas representing corresponding physical inspection areas on the physical surface for which image datas are to be collected;

sensing a plurality of image datas of the plurality of physical inspection areas of the physical surface with a sensor connected to the graphical interface;

displaying the virtual diagram with a display device connected to the graphical interface;

storing the plurality of image datas of the physical inspection areas sensed by the sensor and naming an image file of each image data of each respective physical inspection area stored according to a graphical position of the corresponding virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram in an image storage connected to the graphical interface;

selecting a virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram corresponding to a desired physical inspection area of interest with a selector connected to the graphical interface;

retrieving an image file of the desired physical inspection area from the image storage for display by the display device;

visually indicating a status of the virtual inspection areas of the virtual diagram displayed by the display device with a status generator connected to the graphical interface; and

modifying the surface at a selected physical inspection area when the corresponding virtual inspection area indicates an unacceptable status, and changing the status of the modified virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram after modification is effected.

20. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval as claimed in claim 19, and further including the steps of communicating with and controlling operation of the sensor with a sensor control connected to the graphical interface.

21. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval of a plurality of image datas corresponding to a plurality of inspection areas of a physical surface comprising the steps of:

graphically drawing a virtual diagram of the physical surface and a plurality of virtual inspection areas on the virtual diagram on a graphical interface, the virtual inspection areas representing corresponding physical inspection areas on the physical surface for which image datas are to be collected;

sensing a plurality of image datas of the plurality of physical inspection areas of the physical surface with a sensor connected to the graphical interface;

displaying the virtual diagram with a display device connected to the graphical interface;

storing the plurality of image datas of the physical inspection areas sensed by the sensor and naming an image file of each image data of each respective physical inspection area stored according to a graphical position of the corresponding virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram in an image storage connected to the graphical interface;

selecting a virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram corresponding to a desired physical inspection area of interest with a selector connected to the graphical interface;

retrieving an image file of the desired physical inspection area from the image storage for display by the display device;

visually indicating a status of the virtual inspection areas of the virtual diagram displayed by the display device with a status generator connected to the graphical interface;

storing a desired inspection program of successive physical inspection areas for the physical surfaces and

indicating a next desired virtual inspection area corresponding to a next desired physical inspection area on the physical surface after the sensor senses each successive physical inspection area.

22. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval as claimed in claim 21 and further including the steps of communicating with and controlling operation of the sensor with a sensor control connected to the graphical interface.

23. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval of a plurality of image datas corresponding to a plurality of inspection areas of a physical surface comprising the steps of:

graphically drawing a virtual diagram of the physical surface and a plurality of virtual inspection areas on the virtual diagram on a graphical interface, the virtual inspection areas representing corresponding physical inspection areas on the physical surface for which image datas are to be collected;

sensing a plurality of image datas of the plurality of physical inspection areas of the physical surface with a sensor connected to the graphical interface;

displaying the virtual diagram with a display device connected to the graphical interface;

storing the plurality of image datas of the physical inspection areas sensed by the sensor and naming an image file of each image data of each respective physical inspection area stored according to a graphical position of the corresponding virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram in an image storage connected to the graphical interface;

selecting a virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram corresponding to a desired physical inspection area of interest with a selector connected to the graphical interface;

retrieving an image file of the desired physical inspection area from the image storage for display by the display device;

identifying a type of the sensor from a sensor specifications storage; and

choosing appropriately sized virtual inspection areas on the virtual diagram corresponding to a physical inspection footprint of the sensor.

24. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval as claimed in claim 23 and further including the steps of communicating with and controlling operation of the sensor with a sensor control connected to the graphical interface.

25. A method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval of a plurality of image datas corresponding to a plurality of inspection areas of a physical surface comprising the steps of:

graphically drawing a virtual diagram of the physical surface and a plurality of virtual inspection areas on the virtual diagram on a graphical interface, the virtual inspection areas representing corresponding physical inspection areas on the physical surface for which image datas are to be collected and with points of the physical surface mapped to points of the virtual diagram;

sensing a plurality of image datas of the plurality of physical inspection areas of the physical surface with a sensor connected to the graphical interface;

displaying the virtual diagram with a display device connected to the graphical interface;

storing the plurality of image datas of the physical inspection areas sensed by the sensor and naming an image file of each image data of each respective physical inspection area stored according to a graphical position of the corresponding virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram in an image storage connected to the graphical interface;

selecting a virtual inspection area on the virtual diagram corresponding to a desired physical inspection area of interest with a selector connected to the graphical interface;

retrieving an image file of the desired physical inspection area from the image storage for display by the display device;

locating the sensor with reference to the physical surface with a locating device connected to the graphical interface; and

moving the sensor into position to sense image data of predetermined physical inspection areas corresponding to predetermined virtual inspection areas with a sensor control connected to the graphical interface.