Apparatus for reading value measured with analog measuring tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10825216-B2
Application number	US-201816210477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2018
Priority date	Dec 7, 2017
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus reads a value measured with an analog measuring tool. The apparatus includes an imaging unit for obtaining a captured image of the analog measuring tool that is indicating a measured value, a retaining unit for retaining a 3D model of the analog measuring tool, a matching unit for specifying a 3D model matching the captured image, a guidance unit for outputting guidance information for correcting orientation of the analog measuring tool based on the matched 3D model, a reading unit for reading the measured value from the captured image to generate a measurement result, and an output unit for outputting the measurement result.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for reading a value measured with an analog measuring tool, comprising:
one or more sensors configured to obtain shape data representing an appearance configuration of the analog measuring tool;
a memory configured to retain a three-dimensional model of the analog measuring tool, the three-dimensional model including information about a location or a region where a measured value of the analog measuring tool is indicated;
a camera configured to obtain a captured image of the analog measuring tool, the analog measuring tool indicating a measured value; and
a processor programmed to
specify the three-dimensional model that matches the shape data;
specify the location or the region where the measured value of the analog measuring tool is indicated, with reference to the specified three-dimensional model;
output guidance information for correcting an orientation of the analog measuring tool, based on the specified three-dimensional model;
correct the captured image based on the specified three-dimensional model, and to read the measured value indicated on the specified position or the specified region from the captured image to generate a measurement result; and
output the measurement result.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the camera includes the one or more sensors, and the captured image obtained by the camera is used as the shape data.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the processor is further programmed to register the shape data of the analog measuring tool obtained by the one or more sensors in the memory.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a display configured to display the captured image overlapping with the guidance information or the measurement result.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the processor outputs a graph generated by plotting the measurement result being in chronological order.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the analog measuring tool is an analog micro-meter, an analog micro-meter with a vernier, an analog caliper, an analog dial caliper, or an analog dial gauge.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the processor generates an intermediate value of measured values of an analog dial gauge as the measurement result.

Assignees

• Mitutoyo Corp

Inventors

• Abe Shinsaku

Classifications

• G01B3/22 Primary

  Feeler-pin gauges, e.g. dial gauges (for measuring contours or curvatures G01B5/20) · CPC title

• G06T11/60 Primary

  Creating or editing images; Combining images with text · CPC title

• G06T11/26

  Drawing of charts or graphs · CPC title

• G01B2210/60

  Unique sensor identification · CPC title

• G01B3/20

  Slide gauges · CPC title