Patent ID: 6336052
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An interface apparatus having a command and control mechanism for manipulating a workpiece positionable by movement means, said apparatus comprising:a programmable computer with a visual display; a first annular control means responsive to operator input for generating a rotational control signal for rotating said workpiece within a common reference frame; a second annular control means responsive to operator input for generating a translational motion control signal for movement of said workpiece within the common reference frame; and such movement allowing the operator to position the workpiece for at least one of the following imaging, analysis and comparison, wherein the workpiece is both an object and an image of said object and said programmable computer is in functional communication with an imaging device and an object positioning device, the imaging device being placed in relation to the object positioning device such that upon operator input, applied through said interface, the programmable computer can generate the necessary control signal to position the object held by the object positioning device in a focal plane of the object imaging device so that the imaging device can focus on the object and transmit to the programmable computer for display on the visual display the image of that object so obtained.