Image retention user interface

• US 7,587,080 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Good, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG R
• Application Number:
  US11/191,123
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 382/141
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30108 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and/or method that facilitates inspecting and/or measuring within manufacturing lines by employing an image retention user interface that displays a failed image from a low end vision system. The image retention user interface can display at least one thumbnail associated to a failed image wherein the failed image can be annotated indicating a failure. Furthermore, the image retention user interface can provide adjustments to equipment related to a low end vision system and/or manufacturing lines. The image retention user interface can also utilize editing techniques to edit failed images. Additionally, the image retention user interface transmits the failed images to a remote system and/or location.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates inspecting manufacturing lines, comprising:

a component that receives a plurality of failed images relating to a manufacturing line, wherein a vision sensor in a low end vision system captures the failed images;

an image retention user interface that displays thumbnails of the plurality of failed images, the thumbnails are displayed in a mixture comprising a plurality of image formats;

an artificial intelligence component that infers adjustments to correct equipment associated with the manufacturing line based at least in part upon captured failed images; and

an adjustment component that provides adjustments to correct equipment associated with the manufacturing line by increasing deceleration rate for the manufacturing line based at least upon the inferred adjustments.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprises an adjustment component that provides adjustments to correct equipment.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the equipment is associated with a low end vision system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the adjustment component provides configuration and/or settings to be adjusted for equipments within the low end vision system.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the adjustment component adjusts at least a lens focus based upon a user preference and/or determination in order to correct focus failure and to reduce failed images due to focus problem.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprises an editor component that utilizes an editing technique to edit a failed image selected from the plurality of the failed images.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one failed image has an annotation that informs of where the failed image failed.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the annotation is a text on the failed image.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the annotation is a pictorial emphasis.

10. The system of claim 7, the annotation is provided to a user audibly.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprises a component that formats at least one of the failed images.

12. The system of claim 11, the format component converts a failed image stored in a first format to a second format based upon criteria associated with a user, the criteria being at least one of size, available memory, display and resolution.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprises an output component that transmits at least one of the failed images to a remote system.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the remote system is one of:

a cell phone;

a personal computer;

a pager;

an email account;

a web page;

a portable digital assistant (PDA);

a laptop;

a wrist watch; and

a second image retention user interface.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the image retention user interface connects to the low end vision system via a wireless connection.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the image retention user interface connects to the low end vision system via a direct connection.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the image retention user interface is integrated into a vision sensor.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the image retention user interface connects to a vision sensor via one of:

a direct connection; and

a wireless connection.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the image retention user interface is one of:

a laptop;

a handheld;

a cell phone;

a portable digital assistant (PDA);

a monitor with touch-screen technology;

a pager;

a wrist watch; and

a portable gaming system.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the image retention user interface formats at least one failed image in a suitable format for display thereon.

21. The system of claim 1, a thumbnail is selected for a larger view from the thumbnails of the plurality of failed images.

22. The system of claim 1, an artificial intelligence component utilizes at least one of historical data and user profiles in order to infer configurations and/or settings for the image retention user interface.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the artificial intelligence component determines and implements a corrective brightness setting for the low end vision system based at least in part upon captured failed images.

24. A computer-implemented method that facilitates inspecting manufacturing lines, comprising:

receiving a plurality of failed images relating to a manufacturing line;

inferring an optimal encoding format for the failed image;

formatting of the failed image for display;

displaying thumbnails of the failed images in a plurality of formats on an image retention user interface, the failed images including annotations comprising at least a cause of a failure of captured failed image;

correcting equipments associated with capturing failed images based on the cause of the failed images,

said correcting comprising correcting equipments associated with the manufacturing line by increasing deceleration rate for the manufacturing line.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprises employing a user request.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the user request is one of:

transmitting a failed image;

editing a failed image;

adjusting equipment; and

enlarging a failed image from a thumbnail.

27. A computer readable medium storing computer executable components that facilitates inspecting manufacturing lines, comprising:

a component that receives a failed image relating to a manufacturing line, wherein a vision sensor in a low end vision system captures the failed images;

an image retention user interface that displays the failed image in a plurality of image formats, comprising a JPG, a BMP, a TIF, a GIF and a PDF, the failed image including a name and a location of the manufacturing line wherein the vision sensors are utilized for inspection; and

an artificial intelligence component that infers corrections and/or adjustments relating to the manufacturing line and associated low-end vision system based at least in part upon the captured failed images; and

an adjustment component that provides adjustments to correct equipment associated with the manufacturing line and the low-end vision system, said adjustments comprising increasing deceleration rate for the manufacturing line based at least upon the inferred corrections and/or adjustments.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprises:

an image retention user interface that displays the failed image;

an adjustment component that provides adjustments to correct equipment;

an editor component that utilizes an editing technique to edit the failed image; and

an output component that transmits the failed image to a remote system.

29. A computer implemented system that facilitates inspecting manufacturing lines, comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of failed images relating to a manufacturing line;

means for displaying thumbnails of the failed images on an image retention user interface in a mixture comprising multiple image formats, the multiple image formats comprising a JPG, a BMP, a TIF, a GIF and a PDF;

means for inferring corrections and adjustments to equipment relating to manufacturing lines and associated low end vision system based at least in part upon received failed images; and

means for correcting equipments associated with the manufacturing line by increasing deceleration rate for the manufacturing line in order to correct the failed images based at least upon the inferred corrections and adjustments.

30. The computer implemented system of claim 29, further comprises:

means for adjusting equipment;

means for transmitting at least one failed image;

means for editing at least one failed image; and

means for formatting at least one failed image.