Method and system for quickly developing application software for use in a machine vision system

Claim 3

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of setting includes the step of setting one property of one custom control to be equal to one property of another custom control.

Claim 4

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of linking includes the step of receiving a set of instructions from the user of the open computer system.

Claim 5

The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: storing a third set of custom control programs representing possible software products for use in a machine vision system; and displaying a graphical representation of the possible software products, wherein the step of linking links a third custom control program corresponding to a desired software product with the first and second custom control programs and the desired hardware operating parameters in response to the commands to form the application software.

Claim 6

The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters correspond to a desired image source of the machine vision system.

Claim 7

The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired image source is a camera.

Claim 8

The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired operating parameters further correspond to a desired vision processor board of the machine vision system.

Claim 9

The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters further correspond to a desired frame grabber board of the machine vision system.

Claim 10

The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters further correspond to a desired motion board of the machine vision system.

Claim 11

The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters further correspond to a desired bus of the machine vision system.

Claim 12

The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is an image processing algorithm.

Claim 13

The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is an image-analysis algorithm.

Claim 14

The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is a calibration space algorithm.

Claim 15

The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is an interactive CAD/geometry algorithm.

Claim 16

The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the open computer system includes a personal computer.

Claim 17

An open computer system operating in an open programming environment for quickly developing application software for use in a machine vision system, the system comprising: means for storing an application development program, including a first set of custom control programs representing possible components of a user interface for the machine vision system, the first set of custom control programs defining a first set of custom controls obeying an open standard which defines properties for programming the first set of custom controls; means for storing a second set of custom control programs representing possible machine vision algorithms for the machine vision system, the second set of custom control programs defining a second set of custom controls obeying the open standard which defines properties for programming the second set of custom controls; means for storing hardware operating parameters corresponding to possible hardware for use in the machine vision system, the hardware operating parameters defining a third set of custom controls obeying the open standard which defines properties for programming the third set of custom controls; means for displaying graphical representations of the possible components, the possible hardware and the possible machine vision algorithms; means for receiving commands from a user of the open computer system to select a first custom control program corresponding to a desired component of the user interface, desired hardware operating parameters corresponding to desired hardware and a second custom control program corresponding to a desired machine vision algorithm; and means for linking the first custom control program with the desired hardware operating parameters to the second custom control program to form the application software in response to the commands wherein the means for linking includes means for setting the properties of custom controls of the selected programs and hardware operating parameters.

Claim 18

An open computer system operating in an open programming environment for quickly developing application software for use in a machine vision system, the system comprising: means for storing an application development program, including a first set of custom control programs representing possible components of a user interface for the machine vision system, the first set of custom control programs defining a first set of custom controls obeying an open standard which defines properties for programming the first set of custom controls; means for storing a second set of custom control programs representing possible machine vision algorithms for the machine vision system, the second set of custom control programs defining a second set of custom controls obeying the open standard which defines properties for programming the second set of custom controls; means for storing hardware operating parameters corresponding to possible hardware for use in the machine vision system, the hardware operating parameters defining a third set of custom controls obeying the open standard which defines properties for programming the third set of custom controls; means for displaying graphical representations of the possible components, the possible hardware and the possible machine vision algorithms; means for receiving commands from a user of the open computer system to select a first custom control program corresponding to a desired component of the user interface, desired hardware operating parameters corresponding to desired hardware and a second custom control program corresponding to a desired machine vision algorithm; and means for linking the first custom control program with the desired hardware operating parameters to the second custom control program to form the application software in response to the commands wherein the means for linking includes means for setting the properties of custom controls of the selected programs and hardware operating parameters.

Claim 19

The computer system as claimed in claim 15 wherein the means for setting sets one property of one custom control to be equal to one property of another custom control.

Claim 20

The computer system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the means for linking includes means for receiving a set of instructions from the user of the computer system.

Claim 21

The computer system as claimed in claim 16 further comprising: means for storing a third set of custom control programs representing possible software products for use in a machine vision system; and means for displaying a graphical representation of the possible software products, wherein the means for linking links a third custom control program corresponding to a desired software product with the first and second custom control programs and the desired hardware operating parameters in response to the commands to form the application software.

Claim 22

The computer system as claimed in claim 16 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters correspond to a desired image source of the machine vision system.

Claim 23

The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired image source is a camera.

Claim 24

The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired operating parameters further correspond to a desired vision processor board of the machine vision system.

Claim 25

The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters further correspond to a desired frame grabber board of the machine vision system.

Claim 26

The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters further correspond to a desired motion board of the machine vision system.

Claim 27

The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired hardware operating parameters further correspond to a desired bus of the machine vision system.

Claim 28

The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is an image processing algorithm.

Claim 29

The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is an image-analysis algorithm.

Claim 30

The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is a calibration space algorithm.

Claim 31

The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the desired machine vision algorithm is an interactive CAD/geometry algorithm.

Claim 32

The computer system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the open computer system includes a personal computer.