Abstract:
A computer based method for converting a measuring program is provided. The method includes the steps of: reading a measuring program to be converted from a measuring program storage area; converting a measure element sub-program having an initial format into a converted measure element sub-program having a designated format; converting a create element sub-program having an initial format into a converted create element sub-module having a designated format; converting a configure coordinates sub-program having an initial format into a converted configure coordinates sub-program having a designated format; converting an output dimension sub-program having an initial format into a converted output dimension sub-program having a designated format; transmitting and storing the converted sub-programs to the converted program storage area. A related system is also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to systems and methods of data conversion, and more particularly to a system and method for converting a measuring program. 
         [0003]    2. Description of related art 
         [0004]    With the improvement of measuring equipment precision, measuring equipment becomes more complex in configuration and more difficult in operation. 
         [0005]    To date, there are various measuring equipments that have a high precision and a high speed in measuring physical dimensions and geometric tolerances of a product. Normally, for the purpose of measuring physical dimensions and geometric tolerances of a product with a high precision and a high speed, the measuring equipments are programmed for corresponding measuring programs with different formats. In order to measure a same product by utilizing the measuring equipments, a user must program the measuring equipments respectively. In this way, it is inconvenient and time consuming for the user to reprogram the measuring equipments and is impossible. 
         [0006]    What is needed, therefore, is a system and a method for converting a measuring program, which can convert the measuring program into a converted measuring program quickly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A system for converting a measuring program includes a measuring program storage area for storing the measuring program to be converted, a conversion module for converting the measuring program into a converted measuring program, and a converted program storage area for storing the converted measuring program. The conversion module includes: a reading sub-module for reading the measuring sub-program to be converted from the measuring program storage area; a measure element converting sub-module for converting a measure element sub-program having an initial format into a converted measure element sub-program having a designated format; a create element converting sub-module for converting a create element program having an initial format into a converted create element sub-program having a designated format; a configure coordinates converting sub-module for converting a configure coordinates sub-program having an initial format into a converted configure coordinates sub-program having a designated format; an output dimensions converting sub-module for converting an output dimensions sub-program having an initial format into a converted output dimensions sub-program having a designated format; a saving sub-module for transmitting and storing the converted sub-programs to the converted program storage area. 
         [0008]    A computer based method for converting a measuring program includes the steps of: reading a measuring program to be converted from a measuring program storage area; converting a measure element sub-program having an initial format into a converted measure element sub-program having a designated format; converting a create element sub-program having an initial format into a converted create element sub-module having a designated format; converting a configure coordinates sub-program having an initial format into a converted configure coordinates sub-program having a designated format; converting an output dimension sub-program having an initial format into a converted output dimension sub-program having a designated format; transmitting and storing the converted sub-programs to the converted program storage area. 
         [0009]    Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art on examination of the following drawings and detailed description. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of hardware configuration of a system for converting a measuring program in accordance with one preferred embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of function modules of an conversion module in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method for converting a measuring program in accordance with one preferred embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for converting a measure element sub-program in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a method for converting a create element sub-program in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a method for converting a configure light sub-program in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a method for converting a configure coordinates sub-program in  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a method for converting an output dimension sub-program in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a hardware configuration of a system for converting a measuring program (hereinafter, “the system”), in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The system typically includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU)  10 , a measuring program storage area  15 , a conversion module  17 , and a converted program storage area  19  each in communication with each other via a Universal Serial Bus (USB)  13 . 
         [0019]    The CPU  10  is configured for processing data transmitted between the measuring program storage area  15 , the conversion module  17 , and the converted program storage area  19  via the USB  13 . 
         [0020]    The measuring program storage area  15  is configured for storing measuring programs to be converted. 
         [0021]    The conversion module  17  is configured for converting the measuring programs stored in the measuring program storage area  15  into converted measuring programs according to corresponding format-converting rules. Each of the format-converting rules correspond to corresponding measuring equipments programmed the converted measuring program. Different measuring equipments programmed for corresponding measuring programs with different formats to measuring a production. 
         [0022]    The converted program storage area  19  is configured for storing the converted programs of the measuring programs. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of function modules of the conversion module  17 . The conversion module  17  typically includes a reading sub-module  170 , a measure element converting sub-module  171 , a create element converting sub-module  172 , a configure light converting sub-module  173 , a configure coordinates converting sub-module  174 , an output dimension converting sub-module  175  and a saving sub-module  176 . 
         [0024]    The reading sub-module  170  is configured for reading a measuring program to be converted from the measuring program storage area  15 . The measuring program may include a measure element sub-program, a create element sub-program, a configure light sub-program, a configure coordinates sub-program, and an output dimension sub-program. 
         [0025]    The measure element converting sub-module  171  is configured for converting the measure element sub-program having an initial format into a converted measure element sub-program having a designated format according to a corresponding format-converting rule. The measure element sub-program may include a measure point component, a measure line component, a measure plane component, and a measure circle component. Correspondingly, the converted measure element sub-program may include a converted measure point component, a converted measure line component, a converted measure plane component, and a converted measure circle component. 
         [0026]    The create element converting sub-module  172  is configured for converting the create element sub-program having an initial format into a converted create element sub-program having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. The create element sub-program may include a create point component, a create line component, a create plane component, and a create circle component. Correspondingly, the converted create element sub-program may include a converted create point component, a converted create line component, a converted create plane component, and a converted create circle component. 
         [0027]    The configure light converting sub-module  173  is configured for converting the configure light sub-program having an initial format into a converted configure light sub-program having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rules. The convert configure light sub-program sub-module  173  calculates a light value to be compensated between the configure light sub-program and the converted configure light sub-program, and converts the configure light sub-program into the converted configure light sub-program according to the light value. 
         [0028]    The configure coordinates converting sub-module  174  is configured for converting the configure coordinates sub-program having an initial format into a converted configure coordinates sub-program having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. The configure coordinates sub-program may include an align plane component, a rotate coordinates component, an offset coordinates component, an align origin component, and a recall part coordinates system module. Correspondingly, the converted configure coordinates sub-program may include a converted align plane component, a converted rotate coordinates component, a converted offset coordinates component, a converted align origin component, and a converted recall part coordinates system component. 
         [0029]    The output dimension converting sub-module  175  is configured for converting the output dimension sub-program having an initial format into a converted output dimension sub-program having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. The output dimension sub-program may include an output feature component, an output distance component, an output straightness component, an output circularity component, an output parallelism component, an output position component, an output perpendicularity component and an output text component. Correspondingly, the converted output dimension sub-program may include a converted output feature component, a converted output distance component, a converted output straightness component, a converted output circularity component, a converted output parallelism component, a converted output position component, a converted output perpendicularity component and a converted output text component. 
         [0030]    The saving sub-module  176  is configured for transmitting and storing the converted sub-programs to the converted program storage area  19 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method for converting a measuring program in accordance with one preferred embodiment. 
         [0032]    In step S 20 , the reading sub-module  170  reads the measuring program to be converted from the measuring program storage area  15 . The measuring program may include the measure element sub-program, the create element sub-program, the configure light sub-program, the configure coordinates sub-program, and the output dimension sub-program. 
         [0033]    In step S 22 , the measure element converting sub-module  171  converts the measure element sub-program having an initial format into the converted measure element sub-program having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0034]    In step S 24 , the create element converting sub-module  172  converts the create element sub-program having an initial format into the converted create element sub-program having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0035]    In step S 26 , the configure light converting sub-module  173  converts the configure light sub-program having an initial format into the converted configure light sub-program having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0036]    In step S 28 , the configure coordinates converting sub-module  174  converts the configure coordinates sub-program having an initial format to the converted configure coordinates sub-program having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0037]    In step S 30 , the output dimension converting sub-module  175  converts the output dimension sub-program having an initial format to the converted output dimension sub-program having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0038]    In step S 32 , the saving sub-module  176  transmits and stored the converted components to the converted program storage area  19 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for converting the measure element sub-program in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0040]    In step S 220 , the measure element converting sub-module  171  searches the measure element sub-program to be converted from the measuring program storage area  15 . The measure element sub-program may include the measure point measuring component, the measure line component, the measure plane component, and the measure circle component. 
         [0041]    In step S 222 , the measure element converting sub-module  171  converts the measure point component having an initial format into the converted measure point component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0042]    In step S 224 , the measure element converting sub-module  171  converts the measure line component having an initial format into the converted measure line component having a designated format according to corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0043]    In step S 226 , the measure element converting sub-module  171  converts the measure plane component having an initial format into the converted measure plane component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0044]    In step S 228 , the measure element converting sub-module  171  converts the measure circle component having an initial format into the converted measure circle component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0045]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a method for converting the create element sub-program in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0046]    In step S 240 , the create element converting sub-module  172  searches the create element sub-program to be converted from the measuring program storage area  15 . The create element sub-program may include the create point component, the create line component, the create plane component, and the create circle component. 
         [0047]    In step S 242 , the create element converting sub-module  172  converts the create point component having an initial format into the converted create point component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0048]    In step S 244 , the create element converting sub-module  172  converts the create line component having an initial format into the converted create line component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0049]    In step S 246 , the create element converting sub-module  172  converts the create plane component having an initial format into the converted create plane component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0050]    In step S 248 , the create element converting sub-module  172  converts the create circle component having an initial format into the converted create circle component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0051]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a method for converting the configure light sub-program in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0052]    In step S 260 , the configure light converting sub-module  173  searches the configure light sub-program to be converted from the measuring program storage area  15 . 
         [0053]    In step S 262 , the configure light converting sub-module  173  calculates the light value to be compensated between the configure light sub-program and the converted configure light sub-program. 
         [0054]    In step S 264 , the configure light converting sub-module  173  converts the configure light sub-program to the converted configure light sub-program according to the light value. 
         [0055]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a method for converting the configure coordinates sub-program in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0056]    In step S 280 , the configure coordinates converting sub-module  174  searches the configure coordinates sub-program to be converted from the measuring program storage area  15 . The configure coordinates sub-program may include the align plane component, the rotate coordinates component, the offset coordinates component, the align origin component, and the recall part coordinates system component. 
         [0057]    In step S 282 , the configure coordinates converting sub-module  174  converts the align plane component having an initial format into the converted align plane component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0058]    In step S 284 , the configure coordinates converting sub-module  174  converts the rotate coordinates component having an initial format into the converted rotate coordinates component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0059]    In step S 286 , the configure coordinates converting sub-module  174  converts the offset coordinates component having an initial format into the converted offset coordinates component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0060]    In step S 288 , the configure coordinates converting sub-module  174  converts the align origin component having an initial format into the converted align origin component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0061]    In step S 290 , the configure coordinates converting sub-module  174  converts the recall part coordinates system component having an initial format into the converted recall part coordinates system component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0062]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a method for converting the output dimension sub-program in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0063]    In step S 300 , the output dimension converting sub-module  175  searches the output dimension sub-program from the measuring program storage area  15 . The output dimension sub-program may include the output feature component, the output distance component, the output straightness component, the output circularity component, the output parallelism component, the output position component, the output perpendicularity component, and the output text component. 
         [0064]    In step S 301 , the output dimension converting sub-module  175  converts the output feature component having an initial format into the converted output feature component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0065]    In step S 302 , the output dimension converting sub-module  175  converts the output distance component having an initial format into the converted output distance component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0066]    In step S 303 , the output dimension converting sub-module  175  converts the output straightness component having an initial format into the converted output straightness component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0067]    In step S 304 , the output dimension converting sub-module  175  converts the output circularity component having an initial format into the converted output circularity component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0068]    In step S 305 , the output dimension converting sub-module  175  converts the output parallelism component having an initial format into the converted output parallelism component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0069]    In step S 306 , the output dimension converting sub-module  175  converts the output position component having an initial format into the converted output position component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0070]    In step S 307 , the output dimension converting sub-module  175  converts the output perpendicularity component having an initial format into the converted output perpendicularity component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0071]    In step S 308 , the output dimension converting sub-module  175  converts the output text component having an initial format into the converted output text component having a designated format according to the corresponding format-converting rule. 
         [0072]    Although the present invention has been specifically described on the basis of a preferred embodiment and preferred method, the invention is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment and method without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.