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

• US 6,820,346 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Faro Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Pearce, Robert, Adams, Scott, Perez, Orlando, Perreault, Daniel, Atwell, Paul, Mymudes, Shaun, Steffey, Ken, Raab, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US10/648,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20040035014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 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 inspection procedure to an operator of a coordinate measurement system having a display, the method comprising:

prompting the operator to select an experience level indicative of the operator experience in using said coordinate measurement system;

selecting one of a plurality of executable programs in response to said experience level to define a selected executable program, the executable program guiding an operator through a number of measurement steps to be performed with the three dimensional coordinate measuring system to measure at least one feature of a part to be measured with the coordinate measurement system, the executable program generating different content in response to said experience level; and

,

executing said selected executable program.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said selected executable program consists essentially of audio and video to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said selected executable program consists essentially of audio and still images to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said selected executable program consists essentially of audio to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

5. A coordinate measurement system having a display, the coordinate measurement system providing an inspection procedure to an operator, the coordinate measurement system comprising:

a controller for prompting the operator to select an experience level indicative of the operator experience in using said coordinate measurement system;

said controller selecting one or a plurality of executable programs in response to said experience level to define a selected executable program, the executable program guiding an operator through a number of measurement steps to be performed with the three dimensional coordinate measuring system to measure at least one feature of a part to be measured with the coordinate measurement system, the executable program generating different content in response to said experience level; and

, said controller executing said selected executable program.

6. The coordinate measurement system or claim 5 wherein said selected executable program consists essentially of audio and video to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

7. The coordinate measurement system of claim 5 wherein said selected executable program consists essentially of audio and still images to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

8. The coordinate measurement system of claim 5 wherein said selected executable program consists essentially of audio to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

9. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for providing an inspection procedure to an operator of a coordinate measurement system having a display, the storage medium including instructions for causing the coordinate measurement system to implement a method comprising:

prompting the operator to select an experience level indicative of the operator experience in using said coordinate measurement system;

selecting one of a plurality of executable programs in response to said experience level to define a selected executable program, the executable program generating different content in response to said experience level; and

executing said selected executable program.

10. The storage medium of claim 9 wherein said selected executable program consists essentially of audio and video to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

11. The storage medium of claim 9 wherein said selected executable program consists essentially of audio and still images to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

12. The storage medium of claim 9 wherein said selected executable program consists essentially of audio to direct the operator through the inspection procedure.

13. A method for directing an operator through an inspection procedure including measuring a feature at a measurement location on a part using a coordinate measurement system including an articulated arm and a display, the method comprising:

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

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said measurement indicator is positioned relative to the digital image of said part, said measurement indicator being positioned on an interior surface of said digital image of said part.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said measurement indicator is a colored indicator.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein said measurement indicator is a home-in guide, said home-in guide including a display window that changes appearance as said measurement portion of said articulated arm approaches said measurement location.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said home-in guide includes concentric rings indicating the position of said measurement location.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said home-in guide changes appearance as the measurement portion of said articulated arm approaches said measurement location.

19. A three dimensional coordinate measurement system for measuring a parameter associated with a part, said coordinate measurement system comprising:

an articulated arm operated by an operator to measure a feature associated with said part;

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

a display compiled to said controller, said display presenting a digital image of said part and a measurement indicator, said measurement indicator directing said operator to position a measurement portion of said articulated arm adjacent a measurement location on said part.

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

21. The coordinate measurement system of claim 20 wherein said measurement indicator is a colored indicator.

22. The coordinate measurement system of claim 19 wherein said measurement indicator is a home-in guide, said home-in guide including a display window that changes appearance as said measurement portion of said articulated arm approaches said measurement location.

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

24. The coordinate measurement system of claim 22 wherein said home-in guide changes appearance as the measurement portion of said articulated arm approaches said measurement location.

25. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for providing an inspection procedure to an operator, the inspection procedure including measuring a feature at a measurement location on a part using a coordinate measurement system including an articulated arm and a display, the storage medium including instructions for causing the coordinate measurement system to implement a method comprising:

presenting to the operator through the display a digital image of said part and a measurement indicator, said measurement indicator directing said operator to position a measurement portion of said articulated arm adjacent said measurement location.

26. The storage medium of claim 25 wherein said measurement indicator is positioned relative to the digital image of said part, said measurement indicator being positioned on an interior surface of said digital image of said part.

27. The storage medium of claim 26 wherein said measurement indicator is a colored indicator.

28. The storage medium of claim 25 wherein said measurement indicator is a hone-in guide, said home-in guide including a display window that changes appearance as said measurement portion of said articulated arm approaches said measurement.

29. Tho storage medium of claim 28 wherein said home-in guide includes concentric rings indicating the position of said measurement location.

30. The storage medium of claim 28 wherein said home-in guide changes appearance as the measurement portion of said articulated arm approaches said measurement location.