Method, system and storage medium for providing an executable program to a coordinate measurement system

• US 6,612,044 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Raab, Simon, Pearce, Robert, Adams, Scott, Perez, Orlando, Perreault, Daniel, Atwell, Paul, Mymudes, Shaun, Steffey, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US09/775,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 335/03, 335/04, 717/168, 717/171, 717/172, 717/173, 717/174, 717/176, 717/177, 717/178, 700/245, 702/95, 702/150, 705/26
• US Class Current: 33/503
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/047 Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4202 preparation of the programme medium using a drawing, a model
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31186 TCP-IP internet protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35034 Adapt design to customer feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37193 Multicoordinate measuring system, machine, cmm
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37443 Program cmm, coordinate measuring machine, use cad data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method of providing an executable program from an executable program provider to a customer for use in a controller of a three dimensional coordinate measurement system. The method includes receiving a request to create an executable program from a customer and obtaining information related to the executable program. The executable program is developed which guides an operator through a number of measurement steps to be performed with the three dimensional coordinate measuring system. The executable program is delivered to the customer over a network.

Claims

1. A method of providing an executable program from an executable program provider to a customer for use in a controller of a three dimensional coordinate measurement system, the method comprising:

receiving a request to create an executable program from a customer;

obtaining information related to the executable program, the information including a customer description of at least one feature of a part to be measured with the coordinate measurement system;

developing the executable program in response to the information, the executable program guiding an operator through a number of measurement steps to be performed with the three dimensional coordinate measuring system to measure the at least one feature; and

,

delivering the executable program to the customer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein delivering the executable program is performed over a network.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

wherein the network is the Internet.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the request to create an executable program is received over the network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the executable program prompts the operator for an experience level; and

the executable program generates varying content in response to the experience level.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an expiration code to the customer for installation in the controller, the expiration code enabling operation of the coordinate measurement system for a predetermined period of time.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving a request from the customer for an updated expiration code;

providing art updated expiration code to the customer.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the updated expiration code is provided to the customer over a network.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the request for an updated expiration code is provided to the executable program provider over the network.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

allowing the customer to view execution of the executable program over a network; and

obtaining a customer approval of the executable to am over the network.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein:

obtaining information related to the executable program includes obtaining engineering drawings of a part to be measured.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein:

obtaining information related to the executable program includes obtaining a description of features of a part to be measured.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:

obtaining information related to the executable program includes obtaining a description of reference features of a part to be measured.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein:

obtaining information related to the executable program includes obtaining a description of the measurement environment.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein:

obtaining information related to the executable program includes obtaining a a description of a report to be generated by the executable program.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the executable program provides an inspection procedure to an operator of the coordinate measurement system having a display, the executable program implementing a process comprising;

prompting the operator to select an experience level;

selecting one of a plurality of executable programs in response to the experience level to define a selected executable program; and

,

executing the selected executable program,

wherein for a first experience level, the selected executable program consists essentially of audio and video to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein for a second experience level, the selected executable program consists essentially of audio and still images to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein for a third experience level, the selected executable program consists essentially of audio to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the executable program directs an operator through an inspection procedure including measuring a feature at a measurement location on the part using the coordinate measurement system including a display, comprising:

presenting to the operator through the display a digital image of the part and a measurement indicator, the measurement indicator directing the operator to position a measurement portion of the coordinate measurement system adjacent the measurement location on the part.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the measurement indicator is positioned relative to the digital image of the part, the measurement indicator being positioned on an interior surface of the digital image of the part.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the measurement indicator is a colored indicator.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the measurement indicator is a home-in guide, the home-in guide including a display window that changes appearance as the measurement portion approaches the measurement location.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the home-in guide includes concentric rings indicating the position of the measurement location.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the home-in guide changes appearance as the measurement portion approaches the measurement location.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the executable program provides reporting results of a measurement process, comprising:

measuring a feature of a part at a measurement location on the part;

displaying an image of the part, the image of the part including a representation of the measurement location; and

displaying adjacent to the image of the part an indication of the feature, the indication of the feature being positioned proximate to the representation of the measurement location.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the feature includes a three dimensional coordinate.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the feature is circularity.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the feature is planarity.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the indication of the feature is a table of measurements performed for the measurement location over a predetermined time.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the indication of the feature is a statistical process control graph depicting variance of the feature over time.

31. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing a plurality of executable programs on a server, the executable programs guiding an operator through a number of measurement steps to be performed with the coordinate measurement system;

receiving a request at the server from the coordinate measurement system for delivery of an executable program, the request including an operator identifier identifying the operator using the coordinate measurement system, the server restricting access or providing access to at least one executable program based on the operator identifier; and

the server delivering the executable program to the coordinate measurement system if access is available to the operator.

32. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing a plurality of executable programs on a server, the executable programs guiding an operator through a number of measurement steps to be performed with the coordinate measurement system;

receiving a request at the server from the coordinate measurement system for delivery of an executable program, the request including a coordinate measurement system identifier identifying the coordinate measurement system requesting the executable program, the server restricting access or providing access to at least one executable program based on the coordinate measurement system identifier; and

the server delivering the executable program to the coordinate measurement system if access is available to the coordinate measurement system.

33. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an executable program toolkit, the executable program toolkit generating an executable program for execution by the coordinate measurement system, the executable program toolkit inserting a site identifier in an executable program generated using the executable program toolkit;

the coordinate measurement system including a coordinate measurement system site identifier;

wherein the coordinate measurement system executes the executable program in response to a comparison of the executable program site identifier and the coordinate measurement system site identifier.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the coordinate measurement system compares the executable program site identifier and the coordinate measurement system site identifier.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the three dimensional coordinate measuring system is portable.

36. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the three dimensional coordinate measuring system includes an articulated arm.

37. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the feature to be measured is a dimensional feature.

38. A system for providing an executable program from an executable program provider to a customer for use in a controller of a three dimensional coordinate measurement system, the system comprising:

an executable program provider system coupled to a customer system by a network, the executable program provider system receiving a request to create an executable program and receiving incarnation related to the executable program from the customer system, the information including a description of at least one feature of a part to be measured with the coordinate measurement system;

the executable program provider system submitting the executable program to the customer system over the network.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein:

wherein the network is the Internet.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the request to create an executable program is received over the network.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the executable program prompts the operator for an experience level; and

the executable program generates varying content in response to the experience.

42. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the executable program provider system provides an expiration code to the customer system for installation in the controller, the expiration code enabling operation of the coordinate measurement system car a predetermined period of time.

43. Tho system of claim 42 wherein:

the executable program provider system receives a request from the customer system for an updated expiration code; and

,

the executable program provider system provides an updated expiration code to the customer system.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein:

the request for an updated expiration code is provided to the executable program provider system over the network.

46. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the executable program provider system provides allows the customer system to view execution of the executable program over the network; and

the executable program provider system receives approval of the executable program from the customer system over the network.

47. The system of claim 38 wherein:

obtaining information related to the executable program includes obtaining engineering drawings of a part to be measured.

48. The system of claim 38 wherein:

obtaining information related to the executable program includes obtaining a description of features of a part to be measured.

49. The system of claim 38 wherein:

obtaining information related to the executable program includes obtaining a description of reference features of a part to be measured.

50. The system of claim 38 wherein:

obtaining information related to the executable program includes obtaining a description of the measurement environment.

51. The system of claim 38 wherein:

obtaining information related to the executable program includes obtaining a a description of a report to be generated by the executable program.

52. The system of claim 38 wherein, the coordinate measurement system provides an inspection procedure to an operator, the coordinate measurement system comprising:

a controller for prompting the operator to select an experience level;

the controller selecting one of a plurality of executable programs in response to the experience level to define a selected executable program; and

,

the controller executing the selected executable program,

wherein for a first experience level, the selected executable program consists essentially of audio and video to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

53. The coordinate measurement system of claim 52 wherein for a second experience level, the selected executable program consists essentially of audio and still images to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

54. The coordinate measurement system of claim 53 wherein for a third experience level, the selected executable program consists essentially of audio to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

55. The system of claim 38 wherein the coordinate measurement system comprises:

a measurement portion to measure a feature associated with the part;

a controller executing an executable program directing the operator through a procedure;

a display coupled to the controller, the display presenting a digital image of the part and a measurement indicator, the measurement indicator directing the operator to position the measurement portion adjacent a measurement location on the part.

56. The coordinate measurement system of claim 55 wherein the measurement indicator is positioned relative to the digital image of the part, the measurement indicator being positioned on an interior surface of the digital image of the part.

57. The coordinate measurement system of claim 56 wherein the measurement indicator is a colored indicator.

58. The coordinate measurement system of claim 55 wherein the measurement indicator is a home-in guide, the home-in guide including a display window that changes appearance as the measurement portion approaches the measurement location.

59. The coordinate measurement system of claim 58 wherein the home-in guide includes concentric rings indicating the position of the measurement location.

60. The coordinate measurement system of claim 58 wherein the home-in guide changes appearance as the measurement portion approaches the measurement location.

61. The system of claim 38 wherein the coordinate measurement system comprises:

a measurement portion for measuring a feature of a pad at a measurement location on the part;

a controller receiving the measurement of the feature; and

a display coupled to the controller, the display displaying an image of the part, the image of the part including a representation of the measurement location;

the displaying adjacent to the image of the part an indication of the feature, the indication of the feature being positioned proximate to the representation of the measurement location.

62. A The system of claim 61 wherein the feature includes a three dimensional coordinate.

63. The system of claim 61 wherein the feature is circularity.

64. The system of claim 61 wherein the feature is planarity.

65. The system of claim 61 wherein the indication or the feature is a table of measurements performed for the measurement location over a predetermined time.

66. The system of claim 61 wherein the indication of the feature is a statistical process control graph depicting variance of the feature over time.

67. The system of claim 38 further comprising:

the coordinate measurement system including a measurement portion for measuring the feature of the part, the coordinate measurement system including a controller for executing executable programs, the coordinate measurement system including a network interface;

a further network coupled to the network interface;

a server coupled to the further network, the server receiving a request from the coordinate measurement system for an executable program, the request including an operator identifier identifying the operator using the coordinate measurement system, the server restricting access or providing access to the executable program based on the operator identifier;

the server delivering the executable program to the coordinate measurement system if access is available to the coordinate measurement system.

68. The system of claim 38 further comprising:

the coordinate measurement system including a measurement portion for measuring the feature of the part, the coordinate measurement system including a controller for executing executable programs, the coordinate measurement system including a network interface;

a further network coupled to the network interface;

a server coupled to the further network, the sewer receiving a request from the coordinate measurement system for an executable program, the request including a coordinate measurement system identifier identifying the coordinate measurement system requesting the executable program, the server restricting access or providing access to the executable program based on the coordinate measurement system identifier;

the server delivering the executable program to the coordinate measurement system if access is available to the coordinate measurement system.

69. The system of claim 38, further comprising:

an executable program toolkit, the executable program toolkit generating an executable program for execution by the coordinate measurement system, the executable program toolkit inserting a site identifier in an executable program generated using the executable program toolkit; and

the coordinate measurement system including a coordinate measurement system site identifier;

wherein the coordinate measurement system executes the executable program in response to a comparison of the executable program site identifier and the coordinate measurement system site identifier.

70. The system of claim 69 wherein the coordinate measurement system compares the executable program site identifier and the coordinate measurement system site identifier.

71. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the three dimensional coordinate measuring system is portable.

72. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the three dimensional coordinate measuring system includes an articulated arm.

73. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the feature to be measured is a dimensional feature.

44. Tho system of clam 43 wherein:

the updated expiration code is provided to the customer system over the network.