Abstract:
A method of producing component data for use with an electronic component mounting apparatus includes imaging a component whose component data is to be produced and displaying a component image on a display, the component image on the display having an outline having at least one side edge with two corners, inputting the corners as reference points so that a first reference line passing the reference points is produced, producing second and third reference lines passing the reference points respectively so as to be perpendicular to the first reference line, inputting a point on another side edge of the outline of the component image and producing a fourth reference line passing the point on the side edge so as to be parallel to the first reference line, and producing component data by measuring a size of the component image outline on the basis of the first to fourth reference lines.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a method and device for producing component data used with an electronic component mounting apparatus. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   JP-A-H08-236990 discloses a conventional technique for producing component data used with electronic component mounting apparatus. In the disclosed technique, a component whose component data is to be produced is photographed by a camera. An image of the component obtained is displayed on a display. A first measuring position pointer is set at any point of an edge of the component image on a screen. Subsequently, a second measuring position pointer is set at any point of another edge of the component image on the screen. A spacing between the first and second pointers (a length on the screen) is automatically computed so that the length of the component is measured. Component data is produced from the results of computation. 
   Generally, a component image picked up by a camera is not necessarily positioned with respect to horizontal and vertical directions (XY direction) and accordingly is sometimes inclined. However, the above-noted conventional technique has no function of automatically determining whether the component image is inclined. Accordingly, even when a component image is inclined, component data is produced on the basis of the inclined component image. As a result, precise component data cannot be produced. 
   In view of the problem, it is proposed to add to the above-noted technique a function of manually correcting an inclination of the component image while the operator is viewing a screen of the display. However, it is troublesome for the operator to manually correct the inclination of the component image correctly while he or she is viewing the screen, whereupon the working efficiency is low. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a component data producing method and device which can efficiently produce precise component data by an exceedingly simple operation, irrespective of an inclination of the component image and a degree of inclination. 
   In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of producing component data for use with an electronic component mounting apparatus, comprising a process of imaging a component whose component data is to be produced, by an imaging unit and displaying a component image on a display, the component image on the display having an outline further having at least one side edge with two corners, a process of inputting the corners as referenced points by an operator so that a first reference line passing the reference points is produced, a process of producing second and third reference lines passing the reference points respectively so as to be perpendicular to the first reference line, a process of inputting a point on another side edge of the outline of the component image by the operator and producing a fourth reference line passing the point on said another side edge so as to be parallel to the first reference line, and a process of producing component data by measuring a size of the outline of the component image on the basis of the first to fourth reference lines. 
   In the above-described method, even in the case where the component image displayed on the screen of the display is inclined, the outline of the component image can be encompassed by four reference lines readily and precisely when the operator inputs three points on the outline of the component image. Consequently, precise component data can efficiently be produced by an exceedingly simple operation, irrespective of an inclination of the component image and a degree of inclination. 
   In another embodiment, the method further comprises a process of automatically calculating an inclination of a rectangle defined by the first to fourth reference lines and coordinates of a center of the rectangle and a process of producing a cross line (XY coordinates) having the center of the rectangle as an origin thereof, the cross line (XY coordinates) having an inclination equal to the inclination of the rectangle. Consequently, the origin of the cross line (XY coordinates) need not be positioned and no adjustment of inclination is necessitated. 
   In further another embodiment, the method further comprises a process of turning the component image, the first to fourth reference lines and the cross line together on a screen of the display by an angle equal to the inclination of the rectangle so that the inclinations of the component image, first to fourth reference lines and cross line are rendered zero, and a process of moving the component image toward a center of a screen of the display together with the first to fourth reference lines and the cross line so that a center of the component image corresponds with the center of the screen of the display. Consequently, the component image can be positioned on a central part of the screen of the display together with the reference lines and the cross line precisely both horizontal and vertical directions. Moreover, since the component image is displayed on the central part of the display screen, a larger image can be displayed by an effective use of the screen when the component image is scaled up. Consequently, the component image is easy for the operator to view. 
   The cross line may or may not be displayed and furthermore, the reference lines may or may not be displayed. When the cross line and reference lines are not displayed, the operator inputs two corners of one side edge of the outline of the component image as the first and second reference points respectively and a point on another side edge of the outline of the component image as the third reference point. As a result, the size of the outline (the rectangle) and the inclination of the component image are determined from the positions of the three reference points. Accordingly, the size of the outline and the inclination of the component image may automatically be calculated so that the component data is produced. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear upon reviewing the following description of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a component image displayed on a screen of a display employed in one embodiment of the component data producing device in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  explains a manner of producing first to third reference lines; 
       FIG. 3  explains a manner of producing a fourth reference line; 
       FIG. 4  explains a manner of producing a cross line; 
       FIG. 5  shows a final display state; and 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram showing an arrangement of the component data producing device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring first to  FIG. 6 , the component data producing device comprises a camera  31  (an imaging unit) which images a component whose component data is to be produced, a display  11 , such as a liquid-crystal display or a cathode-ray tube (CRT), which displays an image of the component imaged by the camera  31 , a computer  32  (component data producing unit) which encompasses an outline of a component image  10  with four reference lines  12  to  15  on the screen of the display  11  and produces component data, input unit such as a key board  33  and a mouse  34  which are connected to the computer  32 . 
   When component data is produced using the aforesaid component data producing device, firstly, a component whose component data is to be produced is imaged by the camera  31 , and an obtained image of the component is displayed on a screen of the display  11 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . In this case, there is no problem when the whole component image  10  is displayed within the screen of the display  11 . The component image  10  may be decentered on the screen of the display  11  or may be inclined. Alternatively, image data of the component previously imaged by the camera  31  may be stored on a memory device (not shown) so that the stored image data is read out into the computer  32  thereby to be displayed on the display  11 . 
   Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 2 , an operator operates an input unit such as a mouse  34  to cause two indication pointers  21  and  22  to correspond with two corners of one side edge of an outline of the component image  10  on the screen of the display  11 , thereby inputting reference points A and B, respectively. Upon input of the reference points A and B, the computer  32  computes or otherwise calculates a reference line  12  passing both reference points A and B, causing the display  11  to display the obtained reference line  12  on the screen. The computer  32  further carries out computation to obtain second and third reference lines  13  and  14  which pass the respective reference points A and B and are perpendicular to the first reference line  12 . The obtained reference lines  13  and  14  are also displayed on the screen of the display  11 . 
   Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the operator operates the input unit such as the mouse  34  to cause a third indication pointer  23  to correspond with an optional point C of another side edge of the outline of the component image  10  on the screen of the display  11 , thereby inputting the reference point C. Upon input of the reference point C, the computer  32  computes a fourth reference line  15  which passes the point C and is parallel to the reference line  12 . The obtained fourth line  15  is displayed on the screen of the display  11 . 
   Subsequently, the computer  32  automatically carriers out the first to fourth reference lines  12  to  15  and coordinates of center of the rectangle. The computer  32  then produces a cross rectangle as a respective origins, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The cross lines  17  and  18  further have respective inclination equal to the inclination of the rectangle. 
   Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the computer  32  turns, on the screen of the display  11 , the component image  10 , the first to fourth reference lines  12  to  15  and the cross lines  17  and  18  together by an angle equal to the inclination of the rectangle so that inclinations of the component image  10 , reference lines  12  to  15  and cross lines  17  and  18  are rendered zero. Furthermore, the computer  32  moves the component image  10  together with the first to fourth reference lines  12  to  15  and the cross lines  17  and  18  so that a center of the component image  10  automatically corresponds with a center of the screen of the display  11 . 
   Subsequently, the computer  32  measures dimensions of the component image  10  on the basis of the reference lines  12  to  15  and the cross lines  17  and  18  to produce component data, storing the produced component data on a memory. 
   In the foregoing embodiment, the operator operates the input unit to input two corners of one side edge of the outline of the component image  10  as the reference points A and B respectively. Upon input of the reference points A and B, the computer  32  produces the first reference line  12  passing the two reference points A and B. The computer  32  further produces the second and third reference lines  13  and  14  which pass the respective reference points A and B and are perpendicular to the first reference line  12 . Furthermore, the operator inputs the optional point C on another side edge of the outline of the component image  10 . Upon input of the point C, the computer  32  produces the fourth reference line  15  which passes the point C and is parallel to the first reference line  12 . Accordingly, even in the case where the component image  10  displayed on the screen of the display  11  is inclined, the outline of the component image  10  can be encompassed by the four reference lines  12  to  15  readily and precisely when the operator inputs three points A, B and C on the outline of the component image  10 . Consequently, precise component data can efficiently be produced by an exceedingly simple operation, irrespective of an inclination of the component image  10  and a degree of inclination. 
   Moreover, an automatic computation is carried out to obtain the inclination of the rectangle defined by the four reference lines  12  to  15  and the coordinates of the center of the rectangle. The cross lines  17  and  18  (XY coordinates) having the center of the rectangle as the respective origins are produced. The cross lines  17  and  18  are inclined by the same angle as the inclination of the rectangle. Thus, the cross lines  17  and  18  (XY coordinates) having the center of the rectangle (component image  10 ) as the respective origins can automatically be produced so as to be inclined by the same angle as the inclination of the rectangle. Consequently, the origin of the cross lines  17  and  18  (XY coordinates) need not be positioned and no adjustment of inclination is necessitated. 
   Furthermore, the component image  10 , the first to fourth reference lines  12  to  15  and the cross lines  17  and  18  are turned together on the screen of the display  11  by the angle equal to the inclination of the rectangle, whereby the inclinations of the component image  10 , the reference lines  12  to  15  and the cross lines  17  and  18  are rendered zero. Furthermore, the component image  10  is moved toward the center of the screen of the display  11  together with the first to fourth reference lines  12  to  15  and the cross lines  17  and  18  so that the center of the component image  10  automatically corresponds with the center of the screen of the display  11 . Consequently, the operator needs only to input the three points A to C on the outline of the component image  10 , and the sequential processes from production of the reference lines  12  to  15  and cross lines  17  and  18  to the movement and turn can all be automatized. Consequently, the component image  10  can be positioned on a central part of the screen of the display  11  together with the reference lines  12  to  15  and the cross lines  17  and  18  precisely both horizontal and vertical directions. 
   Moreover, since the component image  10  is displayed on the central part of the display screen, a larger image can be displayed by an effective use of the screen when the component image  10  is scaled up. Consequently, the component image  10  is easy for the operator to view. 
   The reference lines  12  to  15  may or may not be displayed and furthermore, the cross lines  17  and  18  may or may not be displayed. When the cross lines  17  and  18  and reference lines  12  to  15  are not displayed, the operator inputs two corners of one side edge of the outline of the component image  10  as the first and second reference points A and B respectively and the point on another side edge of the outline of the component image  10  as the third reference point C. As a result, the size of the outline (the rectangle) and the inclination of the component image  10  are determined from the positions of the three reference points A to C. Accordingly, the size of the outline and the inclination of the component image  10  may automatically be calculated so that the component data is produced. In this case, the component image  10  may be turned so that the inclination of the component image  10  is rendered zero, and the component image  10  may be moved toward the center of the screen of the display  11  so that the center of the component image  10  automatically corresponds with the center of the screen of the display  11 . 
   The foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. Various changes and modifications will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such changes and modifications are seen to fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
   This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application 2004-241829, filed Aug. 23, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.