Adaptive feature recognition tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9330448-B2
Application number	US-201113238716-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2011
Priority date	Sep 21, 2011
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

The present invention provides an adaptive feature recognition tool that can be used to determine the location and/or count discrete features on an object being manufactured in a relatively quick time fashion. The tool can include an elongated rigid member that has a first end with a generally planar surface, the generally planar surface having a plurality of contrast targets thereon. The elongated rigid member can also have a second end for placement at a desired location, for example placement on a plurality of features whose number and/or location(s) on the object is desired. In addition, an exposure device that is operable to expose specific subsets of the plurality of contrast targets to a line-of-sight digital imaging device can be included.

First claim

I claim:

1. An adaptive feature recognition tool comprising:
an elongated rigid member having a central axis and a first end with a circular shape and a planar surface, said first end having a central aperture through said planar surface and a plurality of contrast targets on said planar surface;
said elongated rigid member also having a second end with a point end for placement at a desired location; and
an opaque cover with a circular shape and a central shaft, said opaque cover fitting over said first end with said central shaft at least partially within said central aperture of said planar surface, said opaque cover having an opening with a pair of side edges extending radially from said central axis, said opaque cover operable to rotate to different positions on said first end with said opening exposing a first subset and then a second subset of said plurality of contrast targets on said planar surface of said first end to a line-of-sight digital imaging device.

2. The adaptive feature recognition tool of claim 1 , wherein said first end has a plurality of detents, said opaque cover engaging at least one of said detents when in each selected position.

3. The adaptive feature recognition tool of claim 1 , wherein said elongated rigid member is dimensioned to be a hand-held member.

4. An adaptive feature recognition tool comprising:
an elongated rigid member having a central axis and a first end with a circular shape and a planar surface, said first end having a central aperture through said planar surface and a plurality of contrast targets on said planar surface;
said elongated rigid member also having a second end with a point end for placement at a desired location; and
an opaque cover with a circular shape and a central shaft, said opaque cover fitting over said first end with said central shaft at least partially within said central aperture of said planar surface, said opaque cover having an opening with a pair of side edges extending radially from said central axis, said opaque cover rotatably attached to said first end and having a plurality of positions, said opening dimensioned to cover said plurality of contrast targets except for a specific subset of contrast targets when said cover is at a specific position of said plurality of positions on said first end.

5. The adaptive feature recognition tool of claim 4 , wherein said first end has a plurality of detents, said opaque cover engaging at least one of said detents when in each specific position of said plurality of positions.

6. The adaptive feature recognition tool of claim 4 , wherein said elongated rigid member is dimensioned to be a hand-held member.

Assignees

• Dickinson Brian Ray
• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Dickinson Brian Ray

Classifications

• G06T7/0004 Primary

  Industrial image inspection · CPC title

• G06T2207/30164

  Workpiece; Machine component · CPC title

• G06T2207/30242

  Counting objects in image · CPC title