METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ASSESSING AND CHECKING THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL SHAPE OF AN OBJECT

Abstract: A method and device of locating, assessing and check­ ing the circumferential shapes of an object, of imaging the object, of pointwise measuring the intensity of the light emitted by each point and of comparing the measured values with given values comprising the integration of the measured light intensities of a sequence of points in a selected direction, counting the points of said sequence having at least one predetermined light intensity, and determining the locations of the circumferential points.

Description: The invention relates to a method and a device for locating, assessing and checking the circumferential shape of an object. In order to assess the contours of an object in industry and in purely scientific research a method may be used in which the image of the object may be defined, for example, in a co-ordinate system by scanning, for example, pointwise. From this image of discrete values the shape characteristics of the object can be calculated and measured and for each resultant measuring value a comparison may be made with a predetermined value. If the measured and the fixed values differ from one another, a decision can be taken in accordance with predetermined criteria whether the examined object, for example, satisfies the requirements. In order to obtain sufficient accuracy a large number of measuring points is required. The means for recording the measuring points, their fixing thereof and processing them into measuring values of the shape characteristics and comparing said measuring values with the given values usually comprise a large computer. A drawback of this method is that due to the great amount of data a comparatively large memory and a large number of calculations are required, whilst furthermore due to the large number of data to be processed said method is comparatively timeconsuming. As an alternative , photographic means are used for fixing the circumferential shape of an object for comparison with a reference image. The comparison of the pictures is usually performed visually. This method is time-consuming and requires much labour. The object of the invention is to mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages and to provide a method and a device which permit of assessing the circumferential shape of an object, of comparing it with given values and of deciding whether the dimensions and the shape of the examined object are lying within the prefixed limits within a short time of, for example, two seconds at comparatively low costs. According to the invention this is achieved by imaging the object, by measuring pointwise the intensity of the light emitted by each point, by integrating the measured light intensities of a sequence of points in a selected direction, by counting the points of said sequence having at least a predetermined light intensity, by assessing the location of the circumferential points and by comparing the measured values with given values. According to the invention the integration of the light intensities of a number of associated points appreciably reduces the amount of data to be processed, whilst the resultant integrated value together with the count of a number of points having a light intensity exceeding a selected threshold value and the location of the circumferential points is sufficient for taking certain decisions by calculation. The location of the object within the field of view is obtained by detecting the co-ordinates in the selected direction of the circumferential points of the object. In carrying out this method first a row in the direction of length and subsequently a row at right angles to the direction of length of the image may be chosen. The image can be formed by exposure to diffuse light, the picture being taken by means of a vidicon camera. As an alternative, a line scanner may be employed to this end. In order to obtain a distinction between different parts of an object selection may be applied to the grey value of the image. This is achieved by integrating only those light intensities which exceed a given threshold value. In counting only those points may be counted, the light intensity of which exceeds a given threshold value. In assessing the co-ordinates of the circumferential points those points are taken the value of which is equal to the adjustable threshold. The invention will be described more fully with reference to the assessment of the circumference of a reed relay. Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a reed relay with an indication of the dimensions to be checked. Figure 2 is a graphical illustration of the integrated profile obtained by line-wise integration of the light intensities in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the reed relay. Figure 3 is a graph of the width profile obtained by line-wise counting the points having light intensities exceeding a given threshold in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the reed relay. Figure 4 is a graph of the integrated profile in a direction at right angles to that of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a graph of the integrated value according to Figure 2 with an indication of the corresponding dimensions of the reed relay of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a graph of the integrated value with a different threshold value for the light intensity with an indication of the corresponding dimensions of the reed relay of Figure 1. Figure 7 is a graphical representation of the counted values with a higher threshold than that of Figure 3 with an indication of the corresponding dimensions of the reed relay of Figure 1. Figure 8 illustrates the integrated profile in a direction at right angles to that of Figure 2, with an indication of the corresponding dimensions of the reed relay. Figure 9 shows the integrated profile of Figure 8 with a different threshold value of the light intensity with an indication of a corresponding dimension in the reed relay. Figure 10 represents the value of the co-ordinates of the lower half of the outermost ciruinerential shapes of the reed relay for each scanned line at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said relay. Figure 11 illustrates for the same scanning direction as in Figure 10 the value of the co-ordinates of the upper half of the outermost circualferential shApe. By means thereof the absolute position of the object in the viewing field can be assessed so that the measured dimensions of the reed relay in other graphs can be corrected. Figure 12 shows schematically the method and device in accordance with the invention and Figure 13 shows schematically the circuit -arrangement for carrying out the method according to the invention. Figure 2 illustrates the integrated profile of the light intensities of the points lying on a line at right angles to the direction of length of the reed relay shown in Figure 1. Only the light intensities exceeding a selected threshold value are integrated. From the graphical representation it appears that conformity with the shape of the reed relay in the selected direction is existing. Figure 3 is for the same reed relay the graphical representation of the number of the points lying on the same line as in Figure 2, the light intensities of which exceed the selected value. Figure 4 is the graphical representation of the integrated values of light intensities associated with points lying on a line normal to the direction in figure 2, that is to say, in the direction of length of the reed relay. Figure 5 corresponds with Figure 2. In Figure 5 corresponding dimensions of Figure 1 are indicated. From figure 5 it appears that the dimensions A,B,C,E and F can be inferred from the graph of the integrated values. The correct points on the flanks of the graph can be set with the aid of appropriate threshold values. Therefore, the assessment of said points can be performed automatically. Figures 6 and 7 show graphs corresponding with that of Figure 2, for a different threshold value of the light intensity, the associated counted value of the number of points and the integrated value corresponding to Figure 4. In each of the graphs is indicated a corresponding dimension of the reed relay. Figure 8 is a graphical representation with the aid of which the dimensions of the reed relay indicated therein can be assessed. Figure 9 is a graphical representation corresponding with that of Figure 8 but for a different light intensity with the corresponding dimensions of the relay that is to say the distance between the reeds of the relay. From these Figures it will be obvious that with a suitable choice of the threshold value only a few scans, integrations and counts will be sufficient. Figure 12 shows schematically an implementation of the method according to the invention. The relay to be examined is supplied on a belt 1. The relay is received in a holding device which can turn the relay about the axes 2 and 3. With the aid of a camera 4 a picture is taken of the relay. The position of the relay is set with the aid of the control-device 5 for the holding device. The transport of the relay is governed by the belt control 6. The picture is scanned linewise in the processing device 7 according to the invention, integrated and counted. The resultant data are fed to a computer 8, which also provides the control of the units 5 and 6. On the basis of a comparison of the measured value to the given value the computer 8 decides whether the examined relay lies within the predetermined limits. By means of an ejection unit 9 a relay not meeting the requirements can be removed from the belt. A statistical processing of the results of the inspection may give rise to a direct feedback to the production machine 28 so that frequent deviations can be signalled and the relevant setting of the production machine can be corrected. The camera 4, which may be a television camera, (see figure 13) converts the measured light intensities of the points on a line into electric signals which are applied to the analogue integrator 10. After the scan of a line or part thereof the integrated value converted by the analogue-digital converter into a digital value is fed through the adaptor unit 12 to the computer 13. The beginning and the end of a video line may be fixed with the aid of conventional synchronisation pulses. The electric signal corresponding to the light intensity of a point is passed by the camera also to a comparator 14, a further input of which receives a reference signal 15. When the magnitude of the signal emanating from the camera 4 exceeds the reference signal, the comparator 14 transmits a binary signal 16 to the counter 17, which is advanced by one position. At the end of a scanned line or part thereof the counted value is applied via the unit 12 to the computer 13. From the computer 13 the whole process is governed via the control-unit 18 and the synchronizing unit 19. As stated above the integrator may be set in a manner such that only those values which exceed a given light intensity are integrated. The signal from the television camera is furthermore applied to a second comparator 20, to which a further reference signal 21 is applied. The second binary signal 22 is used for detecting the circumferential points of the object in a flank detection member 23. By the generated pulses 24 corresponding to the positions of the circumferential points a counter 25 is read, which notes the position of the scanned point. At each new point of the line the counter is reset to zero and the co-ordinates of the circumferential points are stored in registers 26 and 27 and passed via the unit 12 to the computer 13. When in this way an image is completely scanned the computer has instantly available one integrated profile, one width profile and the co-ordinates in the direction of length of the circumferential points of the object.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of locating, assessing and checking the circumferential shapes of an object, of imaging the object, of pointwise measuring the intensity of the light emitted by each point and of comparing the measured values with given values characterized by the integration of the measured light intensities of a sequence of points in a selected direction, by counting the points of said sequence having at least one predetermined light intensity, by determining the locations of the circumferential points. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that first a sequence in the direction of length and subsequently a sequence at right angles to the direction of length of the image are selected. 3. A method as claimed in claims 1 to 2 characterized in that the image is formed by exposure to diffuse light and the picture is taken by means of a vidicon camera. 4. A method as claimed in claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the picture is taken by means of a line scanner. 5. A method as claimed in claims 1 to 3 characterized in that only those points are counted, the light intensities of which exceed a predetermined threshold value. 6. A device for carrying out the method claimed in claims 1 to 5 characterized by a holding device for the object, by means to form an image of the object, by means for scanning the imaye point by point and line by line, by means for measuring the intensity of the light emitted by each point, by means for integrating the measured light intensities of the points lying on a line exceeding a given threshold value, by means for counting points lying on a line having a light intensity exceeding said threshold value, by means for assessing the co-ordinates of the circumferential points of the object for a given, adjustable threshold value and by means for transmitting the integrated value obtained for each line, the count and the co-ordinates to a computer. 7. A device as claimed in claim 6 characterized in that the integrating means are formed by an analogue integrator and an analogue-digital converter connected to the output of the former. 8. A device as claimed in claim 6 characterized in that the imaging means are formed by a video camera which scans the object line by line and in that the integrator integrates the light intensities of the points on each image line.

Inventors: OOSTERLINCK, ANDRE JULES JOSEPH, VAN DEN BERGHE, HERMAN BENEDIKTUS, Oosterlinck, André Jules Joseph
Applicants: LEUVEN RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT V.Z.W.
Application year: 1979
Main classification: G01B11
IPC codes: G01B11, G01B21