US4628353A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video measuring system
Assignee: WESTKAMPER ENTERPRISE Inc
•
Filing: 1984-04-04
•
Granted: 1986-12-09
•
Expires: 2004-04-04
Abstract
Abstract A user-friendly video measuring system employing a TV camera having a two-axis array of photosensors, a memory, a monitor, a keyboard and a joystick. The camera takes a first picture, which is stored in memory and displayed on the monitor. In response to a series of menus, an operator uses the joystick to manipulate a cursor on the monitor to locate a series of start search points for the first picture, and to select gradient threshold for one or more features. Both the start search points and gradient thresholds are stored. The operator also selects and stores tolerances for the measurements. A second picture is taken and examined, commencing with the stored start search points, to determine whether the gradients exceed the stored threshold.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray E. Davis, Jr.
- 👤 Robert G. Foster
- 👤 Michael J. Westkamper
- 👤 Dana L. Duncan
- 👤 James R. Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:51
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C3/00; G07C3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A video measuring system comprising: (a) a TV camera for taking a picture, said camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (b) interface/memory circuitry connected to said TV camera for digitizing and storing said picture; (c) a digital computer connected to said interface/memory circuitry; (d) a monitor connected to said computer for displaying the stored picture; (e) a keyboard connected to said computer to permit an operator to communicate with said computer; (f) means connected to said computer for locating a plurality of start search points for the picture on the monitor; (g) means for storing the start search points; (h) means for selecting and storing gradient thresholds for a plurality of points for the picture on the monitor, said gradient thresholds comprising digital numbers having both a sign and a magnitude; and (i) means for storing the difference between a pair of points for the picture on the monitor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A video measuring system comprising: (a) a TV camera for taking a picture, said camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (b) interface/memory circuitry connected to said TV camera for digitizing and storing said picture; (c) a digital computer connected to said interface/memory circuitry; (d) a monitor connected to said computer for displaying the stored picture; (e) a keyboard connected to said computer to permit an operator to communicate with said computer; (f) means connected to said computer for locating a plurality of start search points for the picture on the monitor; (g) means for storing the start search points; (h) means for selecting and storing gradient thresholds for a plurality of points for the picture on the monitor, said gradient thresholds comprising digital numbers having both a sign and a magnitude; and (i) means for storing the difference between a pair of points for the picture on the monitor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 1 further comprising means for selecting and storing a tolerance for said difference.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 2 further comprising means for determining and storing horizontal and vertical references for the picture on the monitor and means for selecting and storing additional start search points for said picture, said additional start search points being located relative to said references.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A video measuring method comprising the steps of: (a) taking a picture using a TV camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (b) digitizing and storing the picture; (c) displaying the stored picture; (d) locating a plurality of start search points for the picture; (e) storing the start search points; and (f) selecting and storing gradient thresholds for a plurality of points for the picture, said gradient thresholds comprising digital numbers having both a sign and a magnitude.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A video measuring method comprising the steps of: (a) taking a picture using a TV camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (b) digitizing and storing the picture; (c) displaying the stored picture; (d) locating a plurality of start search points for the picture; (e) storing the start search points; and (f) selecting and storing gradient thresholds for a plurality of points for the picture, said gradient thresholds comprising digital numbers having both a sign and a magnitude.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 4 further including the step of determining and storing the line signature for a line in the picture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 4 further including the step of selecting and storing an area to be searched.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 6 further including the step of selecting and storing a search direction for the search area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 6 further including the step of selecting and storing a gradient threshold for the search area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 4 further including the step of storing the difference between a pair of points for the picture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 9 further including the step of selecting and storing a tolerance for the difference between the pair of points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 10 further including the steps of determining and storing references for the picture; and selecting and storing additional start search points for said picture, said additional start search points being located relative to said references.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
28 words
A method according to any of claims 4 through 8 further including the steps of presenting an operator with a series of menus from which to make selections.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
52 words
A method according to any of claims 4 through 8 further including the additional steps of: (a) taking a second picture using a TV camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (b) digitizing and storing the second picture; and (c) searching the second picture commencing with the start search points previously stored.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 13 further including the step of determining whether the gradient for the second picture exceeds the stored gradient threshold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein the step of locating a plurality of start search points for the first picture includes the step of moving a cursor on the monitor using a joystick.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 13 including the further step of determining and storing references for the second picture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the search of the second picture utilizes less than about five percent of the picture elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein the search of the second picture utilizes less than about one percent of the picture elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
127 words
A video measuring method comprising the steps of: (a) taking a first picture using a TV camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (b) digitizing and storing the first picture; (c) displaying the first picture; (d) locating and storing a plurality of start search points for the first picture; (e) selecting and storing gradient thresholds for a plurality of points for the first picture, said gradient thresholds comprising digital numbers having both a sign and a magnitude; (f) taking a second picture using a TV camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (g) digitizing and storing the second picture; (h) searching the second picture commencing with the start search points previously stored; and (i) determining whether the gradients for the second picture exceeds the stored gradient thresholds.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
127 words
A video measuring method comprising the steps of: (a) taking a first picture using a TV camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (b) digitizing and storing the first picture; (c) displaying the first picture; (d) locating and storing a plurality of start search points for the first picture; (e) selecting and storing gradient thresholds for a plurality of points for the first picture, said gradient thresholds comprising digital numbers having both a sign and a magnitude; (f) taking a second picture using a TV camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (g) digitizing and storing the second picture; (h) searching the second picture commencing with the start search points previously stored; and (i) determining whether the gradients for the second picture exceeds the stored gradient thresholds.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 19 further including the step of storing the difference between a pair of points for the first picture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 20 further including the step of selecting a tolerance for the difference between the pair of points.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
50 words
A method according to any of claims 19, 20 or 21 further including the steps of determining and storing horizontal and vertical references for the first picture; and selecting and storing additional start search points for said first picture, said additional start search points being located relative to said references.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 19, 20 or 21 further including the steps of determining and storing horizontal and vertical references for the first picture; selecting and storing additional start search points for said first picture, said additional start search points being located relative to said references; and determining and storing horizontal and vertical references for the second picture.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 19, 20 or 21 wherein said first and second pictures are pictures of packages and the second picture is taken while the package is moving.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
26 words
A method according to any of claims 19, 20 or 21 further including the step of displaying the gradient for a point for the first picture.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
27 words
A method according to any of claims 19, 20 or 21 wherein less than about five percent of the picture elements of the second picture are searched.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 26 wherein less than about one percent of the picture elements of the second picture are searched.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to any of claims 19, 20 or 21 further including the steps of presenting an operator with a series of menus from which to make selections.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
42 words
A method according to any of claims 19, 20 or 21 further including the steps of determining and storing the line signature for a line in the first picture; and searching the second picture to determine whether that line signature is present.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 29 wherein said line signature is stored as a binary number.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
36 words
A method according to any of claims 19, 20 or 21 wherein the step of designating a plurality of start search points for the first picture includes the step of moving a cursor on the monitor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 31 wherein the step of moving the cursor includes the step of manipulating a joystick.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
28 words
A method according to any of claims 19, 20 or 21 further including the step of selecting and storing an area of the first picture to be searched.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 33 further including the step of selecting and storing a search direction for the search area.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 33 further including the step of selecting and storing a gradient threshold for the search area.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
182 words
A video measuring method comprising the steps of: (a) taking a first picture using a TV camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (b) digitizing and storing the first picture; (c) displaying the first picture; (d) locating a plurality of start search points for the first picture; (e) storing the start search points; (f) selecting a feature of the first picture to be measured by designating a pair of points; (g) selecting and storing gradient thresholds for the pair of points, said gradient thresholds comprising digital numbers having both a sign and a magnitude; (h) storing the difference between the pair of points; (i) selecting and storing a tolerance for the different between the pair of points; (j) taking a second picture using a TV camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (k) digitizing and storing the second picture; (l) searching the second picture commencing with the stored start search points; (m) determining whether the gradients for the second picture exceed the stored gradient thresholds; (n) measuring the selected feature; and (o) determining whether or not the measured feature is within tolerance.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
182 words
A video measuring method comprising the steps of: (a) taking a first picture using a TV camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (b) digitizing and storing the first picture; (c) displaying the first picture; (d) locating a plurality of start search points for the first picture; (e) storing the start search points; (f) selecting a feature of the first picture to be measured by designating a pair of points; (g) selecting and storing gradient thresholds for the pair of points, said gradient thresholds comprising digital numbers having both a sign and a magnitude; (h) storing the difference between the pair of points; (i) selecting and storing a tolerance for the different between the pair of points; (j) taking a second picture using a TV camera having a two-axis array of photosensors; (k) digitizing and storing the second picture; (l) searching the second picture commencing with the stored start search points; (m) determining whether the gradients for the second picture exceed the stored gradient thresholds; (n) measuring the selected feature; and (o) determining whether or not the measured feature is within tolerance.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
A video measuring method according to claim 36 wherein less than one percent of the picture elements of the second picture are searched to make the measurement.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 36 wherein the step of locating a plurality of start search points includes the step of moving a cursor on the monitor.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to any of claims 36, 37 or 38 further including the steps of presenting a series of menus to an operator.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 38 wherein the step of moving the cursor on the monitor includes the step of manipulating a joystick.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
50 words
A method according to any of claims 36, 37 or 38 further including the steps of: determining and storing horizontal and vertical references for the first picture; and selecting and storing additional start search points for said first picture, said additional start search points being located relative to said references.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 41 further including the step of determining and storing horizontal and vertical references for the second picture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1127361A
Cited
US3868508A
Cited
GB1483963A
Cited
US4041286A
Cited
US4064534A
Cited
US4245243A
Cited
US4173788A
Cited
US4212031A
Cited
US4135204A
Cited
US4186378A
Cited
US4166541A
Cited
GB2031207A
Cited
US4232336A
Cited
US4344146A
Cited
US4445185A
Cited
US4400728A
Cited
US4477830A
Cited
US4493105A
Cited
US4554580A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-08 | 1990-06-09 | 1990-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-08 | 1994-06-09 | 1994-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-08 | 1998-06-09 | 1998-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |