US6535776B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for localizing and isolating an errant process step
Assignee: UT Battelle LLC
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Filing: 1999-09-20
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Granted: 2003-03-18
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Expires: 2019-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A method for localizing and isolating an errant process includes the steps of retrieving from a defect image database a selection of images each image having image content similar to image content extracted from a query image depicting a defect, each image in the selection having corresponding defect characterization data. A conditional probability distribution of the defect having occurred in a particular process step is derived from the defect characterization data. A process step as a highest probable source of the defect according to the derived conditional probability distribution is then identified. A method for process step defect identification includes the steps of characterizing anomalies in a product, the anomalies detected by an imaging system. A query image of a product defect is then acquired. A particular characterized anomaly is then correlated with the query image. An errant process step is then associated with the correlated image.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth W. Tobin, Jr.
- 👤 Thomas P. Karnowski
- 👤 Regina K. Ferrell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T7/00; G06T7/0002; G06T7/0004; G06T7/001; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/8851; H; H10; H10P; H10P74/00; H10P74/23; G01N2021/8854; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/302; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30108; G06T2207/30124; G06T2207/30141; G06T2207/30164
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for localizing and isolating an errant process step in multi-step processes, comprising the steps of: retrieving from a defect image database a selection of images, each said image having image content similar to image content extracted from a query image depicting a defect, each said image in said selection having corresponding defect characterization data; and directly deriving from said defect characterization data a conditional probability distribution of said defect having occurred in at least one process step; wherein a particular process step from said process steps can be identified as a highest probable source of said defect based on said conditional probability distribution.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for localizing and isolating an errant process step in multi-step processes, comprising the steps of: retrieving from a defect image database a selection of images, each said image having image content similar to image content extracted from a query image depicting a defect, each said image in said selection having corresponding defect characterization data; and directly deriving from said defect characterization data a conditional probability distribution of said defect having occurred in at least one process step; wherein a particular process step from said process steps can be identified as a highest probable source of said defect based on said conditional probability distribution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the retrieving step comprises the steps of: providing to a content-based image retrieval engine, a query image depicting a defect; retrieving from said content-based image retrieval engine, a selection of images, each said image having image content similar to image content extracted from said query image; and, ranking said selection of images according to a similarity metric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the deriving step comprises the steps of: calculating a process step conditional probability distribution from said defect characterization data; calculating a defect class conditional probability distribution from said defect characterization data; selecting a process step included in said process step conditional probability distribution having a highest probability; selecting a defect class included in said defect class conditional probability distribution having a highest probability; and, merging said selected process step with said selected defect class to produce a probable source process step of said defect.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the identifying step comprises the steps of: ordering a ranked list of probable source process steps of said defect; and, reporting to a user said ranked list, whereby said ranked list localizes and isolates a probable source process step of said defect.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
237 words
A method for process step defect identification comprising the steps of: characterizing anomalies in a product said anomalies detected by a content-based imaging system, wherein the characterizing step comprises the steps of detecting a product anomaly passing within imaging range of a computer vision system; forming an image of said product anomaly; assigning defect characterization data to said formed image; and, storing said formed image and said assigned image defect characterization in a defect characterization database, whereby each formed image and assigned image defect characterization in said defect characterization database can be retrieved for subsequent comparison to a query image depicting a product anomaly; acquiring a query image of a product defect; correlating a particular characterized anomaly with said query image, wherein the correlating step comprises the steps of retrieving from said defect characterization database, a selection of images, each image having image content similar to image content extracted from said query image; ranking said selection of images according to a similarity metric wherein the ranking step comprises the steps of: retrieving from said defect characterization database, defect characterization data corresponding to said selection of images; deriving from said defect characterization data a conditional probability distribution of said defect having occurred in a particular process step; and, identifying a process step as a highest probable source of said defect according to said derived conditional probability distribution, and, identifying an errant process step associated with said correlated image.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
237 words
A method for process step defect identification comprising the steps of: characterizing anomalies in a product said anomalies detected by a content-based imaging system, wherein the characterizing step comprises the steps of detecting a product anomaly passing within imaging range of a computer vision system; forming an image of said product anomaly; assigning defect characterization data to said formed image; and, storing said formed image and said assigned image defect characterization in a defect characterization database, whereby each formed image and assigned image defect characterization in said defect characterization database can be retrieved for subsequent comparison to a query image depicting a product anomaly; acquiring a query image of a product defect; correlating a particular characterized anomaly with said query image, wherein the correlating step comprises the steps of retrieving from said defect characterization database, a selection of images, each image having image content similar to image content extracted from said query image; ranking said selection of images according to a similarity metric wherein the ranking step comprises the steps of: retrieving from said defect characterization database, defect characterization data corresponding to said selection of images; deriving from said defect characterization data a conditional probability distribution of said defect having occurred in a particular process step; and, identifying a process step as a highest probable source of said defect according to said derived conditional probability distribution, and, identifying an errant process step associated with said correlated image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method according to claim 5 , wherein the deriving step comprises the steps of: calculating a process step conditional probability distribution from said defect characterization data; calculating a defect class conditional probability distribution from said defect characterization data; selecting a process step included in said process step conditional probability distribution having a highest probability; selecting a defect class included in said defect class conditional probability distribution having a highest probability; and, merging said selected process step with said selected defect class to produce a probable source process step of said defect.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
102 words
A computer apparatus programmed with a routine set of instructions stored in a fixed medium comprising: means for retrieving from a defect image database a selection of images, each image having image content similar to image content extracted from a query image depicting a defect, each said image in said selection having corresponding defect characterization data; means for directly deriving from said defect characterization data a conditional probability distribution of said defect having occurred in at least one process step; and, means for identifying a process step as a highest probable source of said defect based on said derived conditional probability distribution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
A computer apparatus programmed with a routine set of instructions stored in a fixed medium comprising: means for retrieving from a defect image database a selection of images, each image having image content similar to image content extracted from a query image depicting a defect, each said image in said selection having corresponding defect characterization data; means for directly deriving from said defect characterization data a conditional probability distribution of said defect having occurred in at least one process step; and, means for identifying a process step as a highest probable source of said defect based on said derived conditional probability distribution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The computer apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the retrieving means comprises: means for providing to a content-based image retrieval engine, a query image depicting a defect; means for retrieving from said content-based image retrieval engine, a selection of images, each image having image content similar to image content extracted from said query image; and, means for ranking said selection of images according to a similarity metric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
The computer apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the deriving means comprises: means for calculating a process step conditional probability distribution from said defect characterization data; means for calculating a defect class conditional probability distribution from said defect characterization data; means for selecting a process step included in said process step conditional probability distribution having a highest probability; means for selecting a defect class included in said defect class conditional probability distribution having a highest probability; and, means for merging said selected process step with said selected defect class to produce a probable source process step of said defect.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computer apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the identifying means comprises: means for ordering a ranked list of probable source process steps of said defect; and, means for reporting to a user said ranked list, whereby said ranked list localizes and isolates a probable source process step of said defect.
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