Patent ID: 6473537
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: B21D,G01B,G06T

Abstract:
A bend angle detection process in which a linear projected light image is produced on a surface of a workpiece, a picture image of the linear projected light image is picked up and subjected to image processing, thereby detecting the angle of a bend in the workpiece, the process comprising:(a) a first step of picking up a picture image of a first linear projected light image formed on a workpiece during bending of the workpiece; (b) a second step of picking up a picture image of a second linear projected light image formed on a workpiece after an elapse of a specified time period after picking up the picture image of the first linear projected light image; (c) a third step of assigning the respective picture images picked up at the first step and at the second step to pixels arranged within a common plane represented by X and Y coordinates and dividing said pixels into two groups according to hue and brightness; (d) a fourth step of creating a new picture image through a logical operation which is performed by making a comparison between each pixel associated with the picture image picked up at the first step and its corresponding pixel associated with the picture image picked up at the second step in the common plane represented by X and Y coordinates; and (e) a fifth step of calculating the angle of the bend from the new picture image created in the fourth step.