Indentation hardness test system

• US 7,139,422 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LECO Corporation
• Original Assignee: LECO Corporation
• Inventors: Barfoot, David Andrew, Hauck, John Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Phuoc
• Application Number:
  US11/170,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20050265593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 382/108, 382/141, 382/152, 382/199, 382/284, 382/286, 73/78, 73/81
• US Class Current: 382/141
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0076 Hardness, compressibility or resistance to crushing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0647 Image analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/08 by applying steady tensile or compressive forces G01N3/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/42 by performing impressions under a steady load by indentors, e.g. sphere, pyramid G01N3/54 takes precedence

Abstract

An indentation hardness test system includes a frame including an attached indenter, a movable stage for receiving a part attached to the frame, a camera, a display, a processor and a memory subsystem. The camera captures images of the part, which can then be provided on the display. The processor is coupled to the movable stage, the camera and the display, as well as the memory subsystem. The memory subsystem stores executable code that instructs the processor to capture a series of real-time images of the part using the camera, obtain associated stage coordinates for each of the images and display a composite image, which includes the series of real-time images assembled according to the associated stage coordinates, of the part.

Claims

1. An indentation hardness test system, comprising:

a frame including an attached indenter;

a movable stage for receiving a part attached to the frame;

a camera for capturing images of the part;

a display;

a processor electrically coupled to the movable stage, the camera and the display; and

a memory subsystem coupled to the processor, the memory subsystem storing code that when executed instructs the processor to perform the steps of;

capturing a series of real-time images of the part, wherein the real-time images are provided by the camera;

obtaining associated stage coordinates for each of the real-time images; and

displaying a composite image of the part, wherein the composite image includes the series of real-time images assembled according to the associated stage coordinates.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the series of real-time images are stored at a lower resolution than the captured images.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the code instructs the processor to perform the additional step of:

displaying a background pattern in the composite image for portions of the part that have not been captured.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera captures at least one of the real-time images of the part through a first objective lens of a microscope, and wherein the code instructs the processor to perform the additional step of:

normalizing the series of real-time images when at least one of the real-time images was captured by a second objective lens with a different focal length than the first objective lens before displaying the composite image of the part.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the code instructs the processor to perform the additional step of:

displaying an outline of the part in the composite image.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the step of displaying an outline of the part in the composite image includes the steps of:

examining a frame of an image stream of the part to locate an edge of the part; and

moving the part in a direction parallel to the edge of the part such that the edge remains in a field of view of the camera for a next frame until the outline of the part is complete.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the code instructs the processor to perform the additional steps of:

overlaying a current position image of the part in the composite image; and

indicating a location of the current position image.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the code instructs the processor to perform the additional steps of:

overlaying an indent position diagram on the composite image; and

displaying at least one of a proposed indent location, a proposed indent location with an indentation outline that represents a geometry and size based upon an expected indenter, an expected orientation of the indenter, an expected indenter load or an expected hardness of the part.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the code instructs the processor to perform the additional step of:

displaying at least one manipulatable measurement construct.

10. An indentation hardness test system, comprising:

a frame including an attached indenter;

a movable stage for receiving a part attached to the frame;

a camera for capturing images of the part;

a display;

a processor electrically coupled to the movable stage, the camera and the display; and

a memory subsystem coupled to the processor, the memory subsystem storing code that when executed instructs the processor to perform the steps of;

capturing a series of real-time images of the part, wherein the real-time images are provided by the camera;

examining images of the part to locate and store an edge location of the part while moving the stage and maintaining the part within view of the camera; and

displaying an outline of the part and at least one manipulatable measurement construct.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the code instructs the processor to perform the additional steps of:

overlaying a current position image of the part in a composite image, wherein the composite image includes the series, of real-time images assembled according to associated stage coordinates; and

indicating a location of the current position image.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the code instructs the processor to perform the additional steps of:

overlaying an indent position diagram on a composite image, wherein the composite image includes the series of real-time images assembled according to associated stage coordinates; and

displaying at least one of a proposed indent location, a proposed indent location with an indentation outline that represents a geometry and size based upon an expected indenter, an expected orientation of the indenter, an expected indenter load or an expected hardness of the part.

13. An indentation hardness test system, comprising:

a frame including an attached indenter;

a movable stage for receiving a part attached to the frame;

a camera for capturing images of the part;

a display;

a processor electrically coupled to the movable stage, the camera and the display; and

a memory subsystem coupled to the processor, the memory subsystem storing code that when executed instructs the processor to perform the steps of;

capturing a series of real-time images of the part, wherein the real-time images are provided by the camera;

obtaining associated stage coordinates for the real-time images, wherein the stage coordinates are provided by the stage;

displaying a composite image of the part, wherein the composite image includes the series of real-time images assembled according to the associated stage coordinates, and wherein the composite image includes a background pattern for portions of the part that have not been captured;

overlaying a current position image of the part in the composite image; and

indicating a location of the current position image.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the series of real-time images are stored at a lower resolution than the captured images.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the camera captures at least one of the real-time images of the part through a first objective lens of a microscope, and wherein the code instructs the processor to perform the additional step of:

normalizing the series of real-time images when at least one of images was captured by a second objective lens with a different focal length than the first objective lens before displaying the composite image of the part.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the code instructs the processor to perform the additional step of:

displaying an outline of the part in the composite image.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the step of displaying an outline of the part in the composite image includes the steps of:

examining a frame of an image stream of the part to locate an edge of the part; and

moving the part in a direction parallel to the edge of the part such that the edge remains in a field of view of the camera for a next frame until the outline of the part is complete.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the code instructs the processor to perform the additional steps of:

overlaying an indent position diagram on the composite image; and

displaying a proposed indent location with an indentation outline that represents a geometry and size based upon an expected indenter, an expected orientation of the indenter, an expected indenter load and an expected hardness of the part.

19. A method for providing a composite image of a part, comprising the steps of:

capturing a series of real-time images of a part, wherein the real-time images are provided by a camera, and wherein the part is attached to a movable stage;

obtaining associated stage coordinates for each of the series of real-time images;

displaying a composite image of the part, wherein the composite image includes the series of real-time images assembled according to the associated stage coordinates;

overlaying a current position image of the part in the composite image; and

indicating a location of the current position image.

20. The method of claim 19, further including the step of:

displaying at least one manipulatable indent location on the composite image.