CMM downtime system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12504271-B2
Application number	US-202418740801-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2024
Priority date	Nov 3, 2021
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

Various embodiments enable automation of non-production activities of a coordinate measuring machine by ascertaining, prior to executing such activities, that such activities could be safely executed in the machine's environment. Although making such a determination can be fully automated, some embodiments include a human decision-maker in the loop.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of operating a coordinate measuring machine disposed in an environment, the method comprising:
ascertaining that the coordinate measuring machine is in an inactive mode; while the coordinate measuring machine in the inactive mode, imaging the environment using a camera to produce a first set of environment images, the camera having a field of view; contemporaneously with producing the first set of environmental images, ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view; and subsequent to and consequent to said ascertaining: controlling movable parts of the coordinate measuring machine to execute non-production activities.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein imaging the environment comprises imaging at least the measuring space of the coordinate measuring machine and a portion of the environment around the coordinate measuring machine.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view comprises ascertaining, by automated computer analysis of the first set of environmental images, that the environment does not include a human within a specified distance of the coordinate measuring machine.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view comprises ascertaining, by automated computer analysis of the first set of environmental images, that there is no foreign object on the coordinate measuring machine.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view comprises ascertaining, by automated computer analysis of the first set of environmental images, that there is no workpiece on the coordinate measuring machine.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view comprises providing the first set of environmental images to a human operator, and ascertaining, by operator analysis of the first set of environmental images, that the environment does not include a human within a specified distance of the coordinate measuring machine.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view comprises providing the first set of environment images to a human operator, and ascertaining, by operator analysis of the first set of environment images, that there is no foreign object on the coordinate measuring machine.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view comprises providing the first set of environment images to a human operator, and ascertaining, by operator analysis of the first set of environment images, that there is no workpiece on the coordinate measuring machine.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the camera is a wide-angle still-image camera.

10 . The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to imaging at least one of the coordinate measuring machine and the environment using a camera to produce a first set of environment images, establishing the coordinate measuring machine in the inactive mode.

11 . The method of claim 1 wherein ascertaining that the coordinate measuring machine is in an inactive mode is performed without assessing the first set of environment images.

12 . The method of claim 1 wherein ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view comprises assessing the first set of environment images with a neural network trained to determine whether an image includes an obstruction on a coordinate measuring machine.

13 . The method of claim 1 wherein ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view comprises assessing the first set of environment images with a neural network trained to determine whether a person is within the environment of a coordinate measuring machine.

14 . The method of claim 1 wherein controlling movable parts of the coordinate measuring machine to execute non-production activities includes an activity selected from controlling movable parts of the coordinate measuring machine to execute calibration operations, repairing the coordinate measuring machine, or changing a probe.

15 . A non-transient computer programmed product having non-transient computer-executable instructions stored thereon, which computer-executable instructions when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method relating to a coordinate measurement machine, the method comprising:
ascertaining that the coordinate measuring machine is in an inactive mode; while the coordinate measuring machine in the inactive mode, imaging the environment using a camera to produce a first set of environment images, the camera having a field of view; contemporaneously with producing the first set of environmental images, ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view; and subsequent to and consequent to said ascertaining: causing movable parts of the coordinate measuring machine to execute non-production activities.

16 . The non-transient computer programmed product of claim 15 , wherein ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view, comprises ascertaining, by automated computer analysis of the first set of environmental images, that there is no workpiece on the coordinate measuring machine.

17 . The non-transient computer programmed product of claim 15 , wherein:
ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view comprises: ascertaining, by automated computer analysis of the first set of environmental images, that the environment does not include a human within a specified distance of the coordinate measuring machine.

18 . The non-transient computer programmed product of claim 15 , wherein:
ascertaining, at least in part from the first set of environment images, that there is no obstruction within the environment within the camera's field of view comprises: ascertaining, by automated computer analysis of the first set of environmental images, that there is no foreign object on the coordinate measuring machine.

19 . The non-transient computer programmed product of claim 15 , wherein:
ascertaining that the coordinate measuring machine is in an inactive mode comprises: establishing the coordinate measuring machine in the inactive mode.

20 . The non-transient computer programmed product of claim 15 , wherein ascertaining that the coordinate measur

Assignees

• Hexagon Metrology Inc

Inventors

• Kocic Milan

Classifications

• G06N3/02

  Neural networks · CPC title

• G06V20/10

  Terrestrial scenes (scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59) · CPC title

• G06V40/10

  Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands · CPC title

• G01B11/005 Primary

  coordinate measuring machines · CPC title

• G01B21/047 Primary

  Accessories, e.g. for positioning, for tool-setting, for measuring probes · CPC title