Inspection system

• US 6,704,441 B1
• Filed: 08/04/1999
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Original Assignee: Keyence Corporation (Keyence)
• Inventors: Inagaki, Daisuke, Ikushima, Yasuhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jayanti K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAWAN, SHEELA C
• Application Number:
  US09/366,555
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 382/145, 382/142, 382/173, 382/141, 382/305, 328/56, 328/57, 328/58, 209/524, 209/545, 250/223.B, 198/340, 198/408, 198/576, 717/100, 702/81, 702/83, 702/134, 702/113, 714/763
• US Class Current: 382/145
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/952 Inspecting the exterior surface of cylindrical bodies or wires G01N21/956 takes precedence

Abstract

An inspection system in which an inspection of a work is conducted by processing image data of the work. The inspection system includes a data processor for storing image data of the work in a memory and executing data processing of the image data stored in the memory, a set process storing section for dividing a plurality of inspection items, which need different data processing respectively, of the image data stored in the memory into a plurality of groups within performance of the data processor and storing the plurality of inspection items, and an execution controller for causing the data processor to execute sequentially data processing of the image data stored in the memory in unit of group which is stored in the set process storing section.

Claims

1. An inspection system for conducting inspections of an object to be inspected by processing image data which are collected by picking up an image of the object to be inspected, comprising:

image data storing means for storing at least one set of the image data of the object;

data processing means for executing data processing of the image data stored in said image data storing means;

inspection item storing means having a plurality of setting groups, each of said setting groups being set a plurality of data processes as inspection items and the number of data processes set in each setting group being set within data processing capabilities of said data processing means;

designating means for designating one setting group or plural setting groups to cause said data processing means to execute data processing sequentially corresponding to said only once picked-up image of the object; and

executing means for causing said data processing means to execute data processing based on said data processes of said one setting group or said plural setting groups designated by said designating means.

2. The inspection system according to claim 1, further comprising designation receiving means for receiving designation of at least one group out of the plurality of said setting groups stored in said inspection item storing means, wherein said executing means is constructed to cause said data processing means to sequentially execute the data processing in units of groups received by said designation receiving means.

3. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the executing means is configured to include at least one operation mode, each of said at least one operation mode includes at least one inspection item, and said executing means is further configured to allow selection of the at least one operation mode such that, depending on the operation mode selected, one of a single inspection item and a plurality of related inspection items associated with the at least one operation mode is data processed.

4. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein each of said setting groups of said inspection item storing means can be set inspection area to execute data processes set in the same setting group.

5. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein said designating means designates said one setting group when the whole data processes corresponding to the image of the object to be inspected are set in said specified setting group, and wherein said designates said plural setting groups to executing data processes of the setting groups sequentially, when the whole data processes corresponding to the image of the object to be inspected are set in said specified plural setting group separately.

6. The inspection system according to claim 5, wherein said designating means determines a turn of said setting group to carry out the data processes set in said setting group.

7. The inspection system according to claim 1, wherein said data processes set in said setting group include a data process to detect at least one of diameter area and angle of the image of the object to be inspected.

8. The inspection system according to claim 7, wherein said data processes set in said setting group include a data process to detect diameter area and angle of the image of the object to be inspected.