Patent Publication Number: US-2009240474-A1

Title: System and method for generating a model of an image measuring machine

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for measuring images, and particularly to a system and method for generating a model of an image measuring machine. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Measurement is an important phase in the manufacturing process and is closely interrelated to the product quality of an object. Generally, an engineer will use an image measuring machine to obtain an electronic image of an object. The image is stored in a computer and may be shown on a display device, where a program is used to determine precision of the object according to data of pixel points in the image. 
     However, in the traditional method, the electronic image only includes a model of the object, a model of the image measuring machine is not shown in the electronic image. It is inconvenience for the user to observe a position of the object relative to the image measuring machine. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a system and method for generating a model of an image measuring machine. 
     SUMMARY 
     A computer-implemented method for generating a model of an image measuring machine is provided. The method includes: reading a configuration file from a storage device of a computer, wherein the configuration file stores all vertex coordinates of the image measuring machine and features that need to be generated, the features comprising a top cover, a lens, a workplace, and a holder of the image measuring machine; obtaining the vertex coordinates of the image measuring machine, wherein the vertex coordinates comprise vertex coordinates of the top cover, the lens, the workplace, and the holder; generating the features of the top cover, the lens, the workplace, and the holder using graphical interfaces according to the corresponding vertex coordinates, so as to create the model of the image measuring machine; displaying the model of the image measuring machine on a display device. 
     Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system for generating a model of an image measuring machine; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of one embodiment of an interface module shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for generating a model of an image measuring machine; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed description for generating features of a top cover of an image measuring machine; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a model of an image measuring machine. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system  5  for generating a model of an image measuring machine. In one embodiment, the system  5  includes a display device  1 , a computer  2 , an image measuring machine  3 , and an input device  4 . The display device  1 , the image measuring machine  3 , and the input device  4  are electronically connected to the computer  2 . 
     A schematic diagram of the model of the image measuring machine  3  is shown in  FIG. 5 . In one embodiment, the model of the image measuring machine  3  includes a top cover  31 , a lens  32 , a workplace  33 , and a holder  34 . 
     The computer  2  includes a storage device  20  and a features generating unit  21 . A configuration file  22  stored in the storage device  20  stores all vertex coordinates of the image measuring machine  3  and features that need to be generated in a Digital Audio Tape (DAT) file, for example. The features comprise the top cover  31 , the lens  32 , the workplace  33 , and the holder  34  of the image measuring machine  3 . In one embodiment, the features of the top cover may include lines, planes, circles, ellipses, B-spline curves, B-spline surfaces, and rotatable objects. 
     The image measuring machine  3  captures an image of an object, and sends the image to the computer  2 . The features generating unit  21  is configured for automatically generating the features according to the vertex coordinates stored in the configuration file  22 , so as to create the model of the image measuring machine  3 , and display the model of the image measuring machine  3  along with the image of the object on the display device  1 . 
     The input device  4  is provided for manually altering the model of the image measuring machine  3  displayed on the display device  1 , e.g., parallel moving the model, rotating the model, zooming in or zooming out the model. 
     The features generating unit  21  may include a top cover generating module  210 , a lens generating module  211 , a workplace generating module  212 , a holder generating module  213 , an interface module  214 , and a displaying module  215 . The modules  210 ,  211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214 , and  215  may be used to execute one or more operations of the features generating unit  21 . 
     The features generating unit  21  is configured for reading the configuration file  22  from the storage device  20 . As mentioned above, the configuration file  22  stores all vertex coordinates of the image measuring machine  3  and the features that need to be generated. Then, the features generating unit  21  obtains the vertex coordinates of the image measuring machine  3 . The vertex coordinates comprise vertex coordinates of the top cover  31 , the lens  32 , the workplace  33 , and the holder  34 . 
     The top cover generating module  210  is configured for generating the features of the top cover  31  using graphical interfaces according to the vertex coordinates of the top cover  31 . 
     The lens generating module  211  is configured for generating the features of the lens  32  using graphical interfaces according to the vertex coordinates of the lens  32 . 
     The workplace generating module  212  is configured for generating the features of the workplace  33  using graphical interfaces according to the vertex coordinates of the workplace  33 . 
     The holder generating module  213  is configured for generating the features of the holder  34  using graphical interfaces according to the vertex coordinates of the holder  34 . 
     The displaying module  215  is configured for displaying all the features to show the model of the image measuring machine  3  on the display device  1 . 
     The interface module  214  is configured for providing the graphical interfaces for the module  210 ,  211 ,  212 , and  213 . The graphical interfaces are graphical functions for generating different features in an image processing software (e.g., Open Graphics Library, OpenGL). A block diagram of one embodiment of the interface module  214  is shown in  FIG. 2 . In one embodiment, the interface module  214  includes a texture interface  310  for loading texture, a point interface  311  for generating point features, a line interface  312  for generating line features, a plane interface  313  for generating plane features, a circle interface  314  for generating circle features, an ellipse interface  315  for generating ellipse features, a B-spline curve interface  316  for generating B-spline features, a B-spline surface interface  317  for generating B-spline surfaces, and a rotatable object interface  318  for generating rotatable object features. 
     The features generating unit  21  is further configured for regenerating the features according to new vertex coordinates of the image measuring machine  3  if the model is moved. In one embodiment, the move is selected from the group consisting of a parallel move, a rotatable move, a zoom in move and a zoom out move. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for generating a model of an image measuring machine. Depending on the embodiment, additional blocks may be added, others removed, and the ordering of the blocks may be changed. 
     In block S 401 , the features generating unit  21  reads the configuration file  22  from the storage device  20 . The configuration file  22  stores all vertex coordinates of the image measuring machine  3  and features that need to be generated. In one embodiment, the features comprises the top cover  31 , the lens  32 , the workplace  33 , and the holder  34  of the image measuring machine  3 . Then, the features generating unit  21  obtains the vertex coordinates of the image measuring machine  3 . The vertex coordinates comprise vertex coordinates of the top cover  31 , the lens  32 , the workplace  33 , and the holder  34 . 
     In block S 402 , the top cover generating module  210  generates the features of the top cover  31  using graphical interfaces according to the vertex coordinates of the top cover  31 . 
     In block S 403 , the lens generating module  211  generates the features of the lens  32  using graphical interfaces according to the vertex coordinates of the lens  32 . 
     In block S 404 , the workplace generating module  212  generates the features of the workplace  33  using graphical interfaces according to the vertex coordinates of the workplace  33 . 
     In block S 405 , the holder generating module  213  generates the features of the holder  34  using graphical interfaces according to the vertex coordinates of the holder  34 . 
     In block S 406 , the displaying module  215  displays all the features to show the model of the image measuring machine  3  on the display device  1 . 
     In block S 407 , the features generating unit  21  regenerates the features according to new vertex coordinates of the image measuring machine  3  if the model is moved. In one embodiment, the move is selected from the group consisting of a parallel move, a rotatable move, a zoom in move and a zoom out move. 
       FIG. 4  is a detailed description of block S 402  for generating the features of the top cover of an image measuring machine. Depending on the embodiment, additional blocks may be added, others removed, and the ordering of the blocks may be changed. 
     In block S 410 , the top cover generating module  210  determines if there is texture on the top cover  31  according to the configuration file  22 . If there is texture on the top cover  31 , in block S 411 , the top cover generating module  210  loads texture using the texture interface  310 . If there is not texture on the top cover  31 , the procedure goes to block S 412 . 
     In block S 412 , the top cover generating module  210  determines if points need to be generated for the top cover  31  according to the configuration file  22 . If points need to be generated, in block S 413 , the top cover generating module  210  generates point features using the point interface  311 . If points need not to be generated, the procedure goes to block S 414 . 
     In block S 414 , the top cover generating module  210  determines if lines need to be generated for the top cover  31  according to the configuration file  22 . If lines need to be generated, in block S 415 , the top cover generating module  210  generates line features using the line interface  312 . If lines need not to be generated, the procedure goes to block S 416 . 
     In block S 416 , the top cover generating module  210  determines if planes need to be generated for the top cover  31  according to the configuration file  22 . If planes need to be generated, in block S 417 , the top cover generating module  210  generated plane features using the plane interface  313 . If planes need not to be generated, the procedure goes to block S 418 . 
     In block S 418 , the top cover generating module  210  determines if circles need to be generated on the top cover  31  according to the configuration file  22 . If circles need to be generated, in block S 419 , the top cover generating module  210  generates circle features using the circle interface  314 . If circles need not to be generated, the procedure goes to block S 420 . 
     In block S 420 , the top cover generating module  210  determines if ellipses need to be generated for the top cover  31  according to the configuration file  22 . If ellipses need to be generated, in block S 421 , the top cover generating module  210  generates ellipse features using the ellipse interface  315 . If ellipses need not to be generated, the procedure goes to block S 422 . 
     In block S 422 , the top cover generating module  210  determines if B-spline curves need to be generated for the top cover  31  according to the configuration file  22 . If B-spline curves need to be generated, performing block S 423 , the top cover generating module  210  generates B-spline curves using the B-spline curve interface  316 . If B-spline curves need not to be generated, the procedure goes to block S 424 . 
     In block S 424 , the top cover generating module  210  determines if B-spline surfaces need to be generated for the top cover  31  according to the configuration file  22 . If B-spline surfaces need to be generated, in block S 425 , the top cover generating module  210  generates B-spline surfaces using the B-spline surface interface  317 . If B-spline surfaces need not to be generated, the procedure goes to block S 426 . 
     In block S 426 , the top cover generating module  210  determines if rotatable objects need to be generated for the top cover  31  according to the configuration file  22 . If rotatable objects need to be generated, in block S 427 , the top cover generating module  210  generates rotatable object features using the rotatable object interface  318 . If rotatable objects need not to be generated, the procedure ends. 
     In one embodiment, the detailed descriptions of block S 403 , block S 404 , block S 405  are similar to the detailed description of block S 402  in  FIG. 4  as described above. 
     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, particularly, any embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present disclosure and protected by the following claims.