Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a Tracking AutoFocus (TAF) portion of a machine vision inspection system including an imaging portion, a movable workpiece stage, a control portion, and graphical user interface (GUI). The TAF portion automatically adjusts a focus position of the imaging portion to focus at a Z height corresponding to a current surface height of the workpiece. The method includes providing the TAF portion, and providing TAF enable and disable operations, wherein: the TAF disable operations comprise a first set of TAF automatic interrupt operations that are automatically triggered by user-initiated operations that include changing the Z height, and the TAF disable operations may further comprise automatic interrupt operations that are automatically triggered based on at least one respective TAF Z height surface tracking characteristic exceeding a previously set TAF disable limit for that respective TAF Z height surface tracking characteristic.

Abstract: A method is provided for defining and utilizing an editing initialization block for a part program. The part program comprises a plurality of steps for taking measurements of a part and is displayed in an editing interface. An option is provided in the editing interface for selecting which steps are in an editing initialization block. After the part program has been saved, at a later time when the part program is recalled for editing, the editing initialization block may be run before additional steps are added to the part program. At least some of the data that would have been obtained by one or more of the initial part program steps that are not in the editing initialization block may be based on estimated data that is related to (e.g., modified based on) data determined from running the editing initialization block.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for programming workpiece feature inspection operations for a coordinate measuring machine. An editing environment is operated to display a 3-dimensional workpiece representation comprising a first surface feature of a workpiece. A first feature surface sampling pattern is created having at least one pattern parameter adjusted to correspond to a first surface feature of the workpiece. A corresponding representation of the sampling pattern includes operative sampling pattern locations located proximate to the first surface feature. User operations in the GUI further adjust pattern parameters of the sampling pattern. The further adjustment of the pattern parameters simultaneously affects a plurality of the sampling pattern locations.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a Tracking AutoFocus (TAF) portion of a machine vision inspection system including an imaging portion, a movable workpiece stage, a control portion, and graphical user interface (GUI). The TAF portion automatically adjusts a focus position of the imaging portion to focus at a Z height corresponding to a current surface height of the workpiece. The method includes providing the TAF portion, and providing TAF enable and disable operations, wherein: the TAF disable operations comprise a first set of TAF automatic interrupt operations that are automatically triggered by user-initiated operations that include changing the Z height, and the TAF disable operations may further comprise automatic interrupt operations that are automatically triggered based on at least one respective TAF Z height surface tracking characteristic exceeding a previously set TAF disable limit for that respective TAF Z height surface tracking characteristic.

Abstract: A machine vision system program editing environment includes near real time context generation. Rather than requiring execution of all preceding instructions of a part program in order to generate a realistic context for subsequent edits, surrogate data operations using previously saved data replace execution of certain sets of instructions. The surrogate data may be saved during the actual execution of operations that are recorded in a part program. An edit mode of execution substitutes that data as a surrogate for executing the operations that would otherwise generate that data. Significant time savings may be achieved for context generation, such that editing occurs within an operating context which may be repeatedly refreshed for accuracy in near real time. This supports convenient program modification by relatively unskilled users, using the native user interface of the machine vision system, rather than difficult to use text-based or graphical object-based editing environments.

Abstract: A machine vision system program editing environment includes near real time context generation. Rather than requiring execution of all preceding instructions of a part program in order to generate a realistic context for subsequent edits, surrogate data operations using previously saved data replace execution of certain sets of instructions. The surrogate data may be saved during the actual execution of operations that are recorded in a part program. An edit mode of execution substitutes that data as a surrogate for executing the operations that would otherwise generate that data. Significant time savings may be achieved for context generation, such that editing occurs within an operating context which may be repeatedly refreshed for accuracy in near real time. This supports convenient program modification by relatively unskilled users, using the native user interface of the machine vision system, rather than difficult to use text-based or graphical object-based editing environments.

Abstract: A method is provided for defining and utilizing an editing initialization block for a part program. The part program comprises a plurality of steps for taking measurements of a part and is displayed in an editing interface. An option is provided in the editing interface for selecting which steps are in an editing initialization block. After the part program has been saved, at a later time when the part program is recalled for editing, the editing initialization block may be run before additional steps are added to the part program. At least some of the data that would have been obtained by one or more of the initial part program steps that are not in the editing initialization block may be based on estimated data that is related to (e.g., modified based on) data determined from running the editing initialization block.

Abstract: A method is provided for programming step and repeat operations of a machine vision inspection system. The machine vision inspection system includes an imaging portion, a stage for holding one or more workpieces in a field of view (FOV) of the imaging portion, a control portion, and a graphical user interface (GUI). According to the method, a user operates the machine vision inspection system to define a set of inspection operations to be performed on a first configuration of workpiece features. The user also operates the GUI to display a step and repeat dialog box, in which he defines a first plurality of parameters defining a set of default step and repeat locations for performing the defined set of inspection operations. The user further operates the GUI to define a set of inspection step and repeat locations, which is a subset of the defined set of default step and repeat locations, where the inspection operations are to be actually performed.

Abstract: A method is provided for programming step and repeat operations of a machine vision inspection system. The machine vision inspection system includes an imaging portion, a stage for holding one or more workpieces in a field of view (FOV) of the imaging portion, a control portion, and a graphical user interface (GUI). According to the method, a user operates the machine vision inspection system to define a set of inspection operations to be performed on a first configuration of workpiece features. The user also operates the GUI to display a step and repeat dialog box, in which he defines a first plurality of parameters defining a set of default step and repeat locations for performing the defined set of inspection operations. The user further operates the GUI to define a set of inspection step and repeat locations, which is a subset of the defined set of default step and repeat locations, where the inspection operations are to be actually performed.

Abstract: A system and method for tool enhancements are provided which allow users to utilize video tools in a controlled manner. The video tools balance a minimal amount of cursor positioning and “mouse clicks” against a level of video tool “customization” control desired by a user when applying the video tools. Tool construction methods using multiple mouse clicks are provided as an alternative to using drag-and-draw and one-click tools. Multi-click-plus tools give more specific information and provide a precise way to rapidly create customized tools.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for a “multi-region” autofocus video tool-type or mode within a machine vision inspection system. The user may efficiently define multiple regions of interest that are grouped as a “multi-region” set. The autofocus operations for the multi-region set are defined with a shared set of autofocus parameters. The same set of autofocus images may be used for the autofocus operations of the multi-region set. The user may conveniently also define individual autofocus regions of interest, defined with individual autofocus parameters, within the same field of view. Various user interface features allow a user to conveniently change between the individual autofocus tool-type or mode and the multi-region autofocus tool-type or mode.

Abstract: A handheld metrology imaging system and method. In one embodiment, the device may comprise an imaging portion, a display portion, a signal processing and control portion, an image capture activation element and a user interface. The user interface may comprise user adjustable video measurement tools configurable relative to an image on the display portion, and video tool adjusting elements. Measurement functions are provided that operate to provide a dimensional measurement result based on the configurations of the video measurement tools. The handheld device can be used to measure not only the normal parts which have traditionally been measured by conventional handheld tools such as a caliper or micrometer, but also very small or flat parts that are difficult to measure with conventional tools.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for a “multi-region” autofocus video tool-type or mode within a machine vision inspection system. The user may efficiently define multiple regions of interest that are grouped as a “multi-region” set. The autofocus operations for the multi-region set are defined with a shared set of autofocus parameters. The same set of autofocus images may be used for the autofocus operations of the multi-region set. The user may conveniently also define individual autofocus regions of interest, defined with individual autofocus parameters, within the same field of view. Various user interface features allow a user to conveniently change between the individual autofocus tool-type or mode and the multi-region autofocus tool-type or mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracing an edge contour of an object in three dimensional space is provided. The method and apparatus is utilized in a computer vision system that is designed to obtain precise dimensional measurements of a scanned object. In order to save focusing time during an automatic tracing measurement, multiple images may be collected and saved for a number of Z heights for a particular position of the XY stage. These saved images can later be used to calculate a focal position for each edge point trial location in the selected XY area rather than requiring a physical Z stage movement. In addition, a Z height extrapolation based on the Z heights of previous edge points can significantly speed up the searching process, particularly for objects where the Z height change of a contour is gradual and predictable.

Abstract: A handheld metrology imaging system and method. In one embodiment, the device may comprise an imaging portion, a display portion, a signal processing and control portion, an image capture activation element and a user interface. The user interface may comprise user adjustable video measurement tools configurable relative to an image on the display portion, and video tool adjusting elements. Measurement functions are provided that operate to provide a dimensional measurement result based on the configurations of the video measurement tools. The handheld device can be used to measure not only the normal parts which have traditionally been measured by conventional handheld tools such as a caliper or micrometer, but also very small or flat parts that are difficult to measure with conventional tools.

Abstract: A system and method for tool enhancements are provided which allow users to utilize video tools in a controlled manner. The video tools balance a minimal amount of cursor positioning and “mouse clicks” against a level of video tool “customization” control desired by a user when applying the video tools. Tool construction methods using multiple mouse clicks are provided as an alternative to using drag-and-draw and one-click tools. Multi-click-plus tools give more specific information and provide a precise way to rapidly create customized tools.

Abstract: The defocused image generating methods and systems defocus an image using sets of image elements of a multi-resolution pyramid representation of the input image. Each pixel in the original image generates a region of confusion based on the image depth data for that pixel. The sets of image elements are used to represent the region of confusion using increasingly higher resolution image elements. The final defocused image is generated by compositing or combining together the sets of image elements after the region of confusion of each pixel has been decomposed into the sets of image elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracing an edge contour of an object in three dimensional space is provided. The method and apparatus is utilized in a computer vision system that is designed to obtain precise dimensional measurements of a scanned object. In order to save focusing time during an automatic tracing measurement, multiple images may be collected and saved for a number of Z heights for a particular position of the XY stage. These saved images can later be used to calculate a focal position for each edge point trial location in the selected XY area rather than requiring a physical Z stage movement. In addition, a Z height extrapolation based on the Z heights of previous edge points can significantly speed up the searching process, particularly for objects where the Z height change of a contour is gradual and predictable.

Abstract: The ball-grid array ball measuring system measures the distances between a reference plane and points on the surface of a small crown area of each of a plurality of balls within a ball-grid array. The points include the apex of each of the balls within the ball-grid array. These distances are then forwarded to the ball-grid array seating plane determining circuit. The ball-grid array seating plane determining circuit determines the ball-grid array seating plane in accordance with the JEDEC “Ball-grid Array Package” Standard. The determined ball-grid array seating plane consequently satisfies the needs for realizing calculations of dimensions and tolerances defined by the Standard.

Abstract: A process for the production of 1,3-propanediol by heterogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation of 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde in an aqueous solution at 30 to 180° C., at a hydrogenation pressure of 5 to 300 bar and a pH value of 2.5 to 7.0, wherein ruthenium on an oxide support is used as the catalyst.