Patent ID: 6922481

Claim:
A programming apparatus of a visual inspection program comprising: an image data memory that stores a plurality of user prepared sample image data of defective units and non-defective units of an object to be inspected; an algorithm memory that stores a plurality of image processing algorithms with respect to each inspection object; a standard flow memory that stores at least one standard inspection flow and a plurality of inspection parameters with respect to each kind of object to be inspected; a display unit having a monitor display for displaying at least a guidance of programming steps; an input unit configured for inputting or selecting a kind of an object to inspected, and for selecting at least one image processing algorithm and at least one inspection parameter; and an inspection processor for displaying the guidance of the programming steps, automatically selecting a standard inspection flow from the standard flow memory corresponding to the input or selection of the kind of the object, reading at least one image processing algorithm from the algorithm memory and at least one inspection parameter from the standard flow memory corresponding to the selection, programming a provisional visual inspection program by using the standard inspection flow, at least one image processing algorithm and at least one inspection parameter, processing the sample image data of defective units and non-defective units by following the provisional visual inspection program, executing the visual inspection to determine whether an appearance of the object with respect to each sample image data is defective or non-defective using processed image data, displaying results of the visual inspection of the sample image data on the monitor display of the display unit, requiring a judgment whether the provisional visual inspection program is proper or improper, and outputting the provisional visual inspection program as a final visual inspection program upon a judgment that the provisional visual inspection program is proper.