JPH07210657A - Image processing check device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use a personal computer to develop a user program even without a private interface board. CONSTITUTION:A computer 5 and an image processing check device main body 1 are connected by a serial interface 14. A source program is generated and edited by development of the user program. An execute form program is generated on the computer 5. The generated execute form program is transferred to the image processing check device main body 1 through the serial interface 14. Commands for debugging are transmitted from the computer 5 to debug the program. When development of the user program is terminated, the transferred execute form program is transferred to the image processing check device main body and is preserved. Hereafter, the execute form program preserved in a non-volatile storage device or a non-volatile storage element is executed by the image processing check device main body independently.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing inspection apparatus used as a production facility such as a factory for quality inspection of products in a production process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image processing inspection apparatuses have been provided as an apparatus for accurately, rapidly and automatically performing various visual inspections that were conventionally performed by human eyes in factories and the like, and are now being widely introduced. There is. In this kind of image treatment inspection apparatus, generally, a camera is used to capture an in-process product flowing on the production line to be measured as an image signal, perform various image processing, and then calculate. Output the numerical value or the pass / fail judgment result. in this case,
The user needs to set various measurement conditions and determination conditions in advance before the inspection in order to obtain necessary calculation results and determination results.

The above-mentioned conditions are, for example, the condition setting of the start of the inspection, the grayscale image captured by the camera is set to black and white.
Threshold value setting for digitized image, setting required for inspection in image (line for inspection, setting of window), setting of function to correct positional deviation of set inspection position with respect to input image, There is a setting of an arithmetic expression for combining the information (area of product, inclination, etc.) obtained from each inspection line or inspection window to obtain a result. Further, since the above-mentioned various measurement conditions and determination conditions are unique to each product, these conditions are managed as product data for each product.

By the way, the user himself / herself describes a program so that the user can set (customize) various functions of the image processing inspection apparatus by himself / herself. Such a user programming type image processing inspection device has been widely introduced. The development of the user program in this kind of user programming type image processing inspection device is
The source program to the debugging are all performed by the image processing / inspection apparatus main body only, and the development is performed by connecting to an external computer (generally a personal computer).

In the former case, all the processing can be performed by the image processing inspection device alone, but the editor function is poor due to the source program editing, and the expandability of the function is also poor. On the other hand, since the latter can use abundant software resources such as general-purpose personal computers, a high-performance screen editor or the like can be used for creating and editing the source program. Also, regarding expansion of functions,
Functions that are not included in the main body can be realized by transferring the software after developing it externally.

[0006]

By the way, in the latter case, the connection between the image processing inspection apparatus and the personal computer is mainly a parallel interface using a dedicated interface board or the like. In this case, the characteristics of the dedicated interface board depend on the manufacturer and model of the personal computer. Therefore, for example, when performing development or debugging at a site such as a factory, even if there is a personal computer at the site, it cannot be used because the manufacturer and the model are different. Further, there is a drawback that development cannot be performed because a dedicated interface board cannot be prepared.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing inspection apparatus capable of developing a user program using a personal computer without a dedicated interface board. To provide.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 develops a user program by connecting an image processing inspection apparatus main body and a general-purpose computer with an attached serial interface. Then, in the image processing inspection device in which the user can customize the function of the image processing inspection device main body based on the user's specifications, the source program written by the user is created and edited on the computer and The executable program that operates is created from the user program on the computer, the completed executable program is transferred from the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection device via the serial interface, and operation confirmation and debugging are performed by sending and receiving commands from the computer. Or the operation of the main body of the image processing inspection device Performed by operating an input device such as a key or keyboard or mouse, and when the debugging is completed, transfer it to the non-volatile memory device or non-volatile memory element of the image processing inspection device main body and save the execution format program. Is configured so that the executable program stored in the non-volatile storage device or the non-volatile storage element is executed by the image processing inspection device main body alone.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even when an external device such as a robot connected to the serial interface of the image processing inspection apparatus main body exists, the user program can be developed with the external device still connected. Therefore, as a serial interface of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus, an interface dedicated to user program development is separately provided in addition to a serial interface used for general purpose.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even when there is an external device such as a robot connected to the serial interface of the main body of the image processing inspection device, the user program can be developed while the external device is still connected. In order to eliminate the need to newly add a serial interface of the image processing inspection device main body, when the image processing inspection device main body is equipped with an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse as a man-machine interface, the computer is connected. As the serial interface, a serial interface for connecting an input device included in the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is used.

In the invention of claim 3, when the computer is connected to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus through the serial interface for connecting the keyboard, the same input as when the keyboard is connected can be performed. According to the invention of item 4, a screen representing a keyboard is displayed on a display device of a computer, and the screen is used as a virtual keyboard to perform input while acting as a keyboard function by using a pointing device such as a computer keyboard or a mouse. You can do it like this.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the computer is connected to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus through a serial interface for connecting a pointing device such as a mouse, the same input as when the pointing device is connected can be performed. In order to
According to the invention of claim 5, a pointing device such as a mouse of a computer is used as a virtual pointing device of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus, and the input of the function of the pointing device of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is performed by the operation of the virtual pointing device. I am going to do it.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in order to manage whether the executable program transferred to the image processing inspection apparatus main body corresponds to the executable program, the executable program is created on the computer from the user program. At the time of completion of debugging, a management number indicating which user program was created was added to the execution format program, and the execution format program with the management number was transferred from the computer to the image processing inspection device body. It is stored in a non-volatile storage device or a non-volatile storage device, and a management number is sent from the image processing inspection apparatus main body to the computer by a command from the computer.

In the invention of claim 7, it is desirable to use the C language as a user program development language in order to ensure compatibility with different models. In the invention of claim 7, in order to enable development of the user program by positively utilizing excellent software that is easy for the user to use or is familiar with, as shown in claim 8, the language of the user program It is more preferable to provide a preprocessor that includes a language recognition unit that recognizes the, a grammar interpretation unit that interprets the grammar of the recognized language, and a C language program creation unit that generates the C language from the information obtained thereby.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in order to enable line-by-line debugging, the start address table of the execution format program corresponding to each line of the source program when the execution format program is created by the computer. Computer, and transfers both the above-mentioned execution format program and the start address table of the execution format program from the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus via the serial interface, and the arbitrary address of the execution format program is transferred to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus. A monitor program that can be executed only during the period is sent. From the computer, the numerical value corresponding to the line of the source program you want to execute is sent to the main body of the image processing inspection device, and the monitor program side issues a return command to the monitor in the above execution format. By inserting it in the program We are debugging on a row-by-row basis of the source program of over The.

[0016]

According to the invention of claim 1, by configuring as described above, the computer and the image processing / inspection apparatus main body are connected by a serial interface, the source program is created and edited in the development of the user program, and the execution format is used. A program is created on a computer, the obtained executable program is transferred to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus through a serial interface, and a debugging command is transmitted from the computer to perform debugging. Further, when the development of the user program is completed, the transferred execution format program is transferred to a nonvolatile storage device or a nonvolatile storage element included in the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus to save the execution format program. Alternatively, the executable program stored in the nonvolatile storage element is executed by the image processing inspection apparatus main body alone.
With this, even if there is no dedicated interface board,
The user program can be developed by positively utilizing excellent software that is easy for the user to use or is familiar with, and after the development is completed, the user program can be operated by the image processing inspection apparatus main body alone.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, as a serial interface of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus, an interface dedicated to user program development is separately provided in addition to a serial interface used for general purpose, and the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is provided. It is possible to connect an external device to a computer. As a result, even when an external device such as a robot connected to the serial interface of the image processing inspection apparatus main body exists, the user program can be developed with the external device still connected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, as the serial interface for connecting the computer, a serial interface for connecting an input device provided in the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is used to connect to the serial interface of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus. Even if an external device such as a robot is present, the user program can be developed with the external device still connected. Further, it is not necessary to add a new serial interface of the image processing inspection apparatus main body.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a screen representing a keyboard is displayed on a display device of a computer, and the screen is used as a virtual keyboard to substitute the keyboard function by using a pointing device such as a computer keyboard or a mouse. When a computer is connected to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus through a serial interface for connecting a keyboard, the same input as when a keyboard is connected can be performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a pointing device such as a mouse of a computer is used as a virtual pointing device of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus, and the function of the pointing device of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is delegated by operating the virtual pointing device. By connecting the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection device through a serial interface for connecting a pointing device such as a mouse,
It enables the same input as when a pointing device is connected.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, when an execution format program is created from a user program on a computer,
A management number that indicates which user program was created in the execution format program is assigned, and the execution format program with that management number is transferred from the computer to the image processing inspection device body, and non-volatile memory is stored at the completion of debugging. The execution format program transferred to the image processing / inspection apparatus main body can be discriminated from the management number by being stored in the apparatus or the non-volatile storage device and by sending a management number from the image processing / inspection apparatus main body to the computer by a command from the computer. .

According to the invention of claim 7, the C language is used as a user program development language to ensure compatibility with different models. According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a language recognition unit for recognizing the language of the user program, a grammar interpretation unit for interpreting the grammar of the recognized language, and a C language program creation unit for generating C language from the information obtained thereby. By providing the preprocessor, when the C language is used as the user program development language, the preprocessor can convert the different language into the C language, and the excellent software that the user is easy to use or is familiar with is actively used. So that the user program can be developed.

According to the invention of claim 9, as described above,
A numerical value corresponding to the line of the source program to be executed is sent from the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection device, and the source program can be debugged line by line.

[0024]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing inspection apparatus of this embodiment includes a camera 2 for capturing an image of a product and a camera 2.
The monitor 3 that displays various information such as an image captured in step S1 or an image obtained by processing the image, calculation conditions, determination conditions, a keyboard 4 as a man-machine interface, and an image processing inspection device body 1 are configured. ing. In this image processing inspection apparatus, the basic operation is the operation key 11 on the front panel of the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1.
It can be done using. However, even if the keyboard 4 is used, exactly the same operation can be performed, and a complicated operation (for example, character input) is actively performed by using the keyboard 4.

FIG. 2 is a view of the image processing / inspection apparatus main body 1 as seen from the back side. The camera connection connector 12 for connecting the camera 2, the video signal output connector 13 for connecting the monitor 3 and the RS-232C. Various interfaces 15 such as a compliant serial interface connector 14 and a parallel interface connector are provided as standard. Here, in the case of FIG. 2, the number of the connector 12 for camera connection is one, but there is also a connector which can connect a plurality of cameras 2 according to the function of the main body 1. In this embodiment, the keyboard connector 16 for connecting the keyboard 4 is provided on the front panel as shown in FIG. However, there is no problem even if the keyboard connector 16 is provided at another location such as the back panel.

The RS-232C serial interface 14 provided in the main body 1 captures images, starts inspection,
Various commands such as calculation result request, judgment result request,
The image processing / inspection apparatus exchanges commands and data with the external apparatus by giving it to the image processing / inspection apparatus from the external apparatus and making a response thereto. On the contrary,
The parallel interface 15 can also externally give various commands such as image capturing, type data switching, and inspection start. However, its main use is
It is to output the data of the calculation result and the judgment result obtained by executing the inspection.

In many cases, the user has a demand that the user further customizes various functions provided by the image processing inspection apparatus. For example, in FIG. 1, the images of the products A flowing one after another on the production assembly line L are captured by the camera 2, and the images captured by the user based on various calculation conditions and determination conditions registered as the product type data in advance are compared with the images. Consider a case in which the processing is performed and the result is displayed on the monitor 3. In addition, in FIG. 1, a surface mounting type flat package (QFP) type IC
The case where the mounting position of (A) is inspected is shown.

In FIG. 1, a product type switching signal for switching the product type data sent according to the type of the product A flowing through the production assembly line L, and reaching a predetermined position where the product can be captured as an image in the camera 2. The inspection start signal sent when the inspection is ready is sent to the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 by, for example, the parallel interface 15.
Be captured through. The image processing inspection device selects the required product type data from the plurality of product type data stored therein based on the product type switching signal. Further, at the same time when the inspection start signal is fetched, an inspection sequence based on various calculation conditions and determination conditions set in the product type data is performed. And as a result of the inspection, the product meets the inspection conditions,
In order to visually inform the user whether the product is a good product or a defective product, for example, "OK" is displayed on the screen of the monitor 3 when the product is a good product, and "NG" is displayed when the product is a defective product. To

In the above-described series of operations, when the user freely displays whether the product is a non-defective product or a defective product under the inspection conditions on the screen of the final monitor 3, the image is displayed. It is realized by a user program instead of the standard function of the processing inspection apparatus main body 1. By the way, it is no exaggeration to say that personal computers have become so popular these days that they have spread to academic institutions, companies, and even ordinary households. Therefore, it can be considered that one or two general-purpose personal computers are prepared in the field where the image processing inspection device is used or in the place where the user program is developed. Further, due to the widespread use of hardware for personal computers, various manufacturers have released or sold software that has various functions and satisfies the usability of users. Some conventional user programming type image processing inspection apparatuses are provided with an editor function for creating and editing a source program, a test execution function, and a debug function inside the main body, so that a user program can be independently developed. However, the user program development environment of the image processing inspection apparatus from now on is not only a personal computer but also an easy-to-use or familiar software with excellent software that actively uses the above-mentioned general-purpose personal computer. It is desirable to do in. However, it is inconvenient that the user program cannot be operated unless it is always connected to the image processing inspection device. Therefore, after the development is completed, which is the time when it is confirmed that the source program is created, edited, debugged, and operates normally, the user program must operate in the image processing inspection device alone.

In the above development environment, it is necessary to connect the personal computer and the image processing inspection device. In this case, conventionally, it has been the mainstream to mount a dedicated interface board on a personal computer, and if necessary, also mount a dedicated interface board on an image processing inspection apparatus and connect it as a parallel interface. In order to realize various debug functions, for example, to realize the debug function of an in-circuit emulator often used as a microcomputer development device, a dedicated interface board may be required. However, such a function is not necessary for actually debugging the user program. In other words, if the execution format program can be transferred to the image processing inspection device, the source program can be executed or stopped line by line, and registers and variables can be monitored when the program is stopped, sufficient debugging can be performed. Further, for the above-described debugging, it is not necessary to transfer a large amount of data at a high speed unlike the in-circuit emulator, and the data transfer by the serial interface 14 is sufficient.

Focusing on this point, the present invention connects the image processing inspection device with the RS-232C interface 14 which the general-purpose personal computer 5 has as a standard, and develops the user program. . The development procedure is described below. The user's source program is developed on a personal computer. As described above, a lot of excellent software is commercially available for personal computers, and a user may create and edit a source program using an editor or word processor software with which he or she is familiar. The development language can be C or BASIC if the compiler described below is easily available.
You can freely choose the language.

Next, an executable program that can be executed by the image processing inspection apparatus is created from the source program. A commercially available compiler is used for this. When the CPU (central processing unit) inside the image processing inspection device and the personal computer are the same, a native compiler (generally simply called a compiler) for developing a program on the personal computer itself is used. But,
When the CPUs are different from each other, a cross compiler capable of creating another CPU object program is required.

From the compiled source program,
Furthermore, add the necessary execution library and create an executable object with the linker or locator software. The completed executable object is transferred to the image processing inspection device through the RS-232C interface of the personal computer 5. For debugging, commands for executing or stopping the source program line by line and monitoring registers and variables when the program is stopped are sent from the RS-232C interface of the personal computer 5 to the image processing inspection apparatus, and necessary data is personalized. It is returned to the computer 5.

The functions described above are performed by the personal computer 5
It suffices to prepare an editor, a compiler, a linker, etc. on the personal computer 5 owned by the user, regardless of the manufacturer or model of the computer. When the debugging of the execution format program (object program) is completed, this is stored in a nonvolatile storage device (typically a fixed disk) or nonvolatile storage element (typical It has an EEPROM). After that, even if the connection between the personal computer 5 and the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 is disconnected, the user program (execution format program) stored in the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 can be operated alone.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an external device 6 such as a robot is connected to the image processing inspection device by an RS-232C interface 16. Since the command system of the external device 6 is different from the command system that the image processing inspection apparatus has as a standard, the user interprets the command from the external device 6 and converts the inspection result into a command system that the external device 6 can read. Need to be returned. Since the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 does not have the above functions as standard functions,
It must be processed by the user program.

When it is necessary to connect an external device 6 such as a robot as in this embodiment, the RS-232 interface 14 of the image processing inspection apparatus connected to the personal computer 5 in FIG. It is general purpose, not dedicated to user program development, and needs to be connected to the external device 6 through the interface 14. In this case, it becomes impossible to develop the user program while the external device 6 such as the robot is connected, that is, in the actual use state in which the image processing inspection device is operated alone.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the RS-232C interface 17 dedicated to the user program development is individually provided. By doing so, the user program can be developed with the external device 6 such as the robot still connected. (Embodiment 3) FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment of the present invention.
In the case of the above-described second embodiment, in the image processing inspection apparatus equipped with the external device 6 such as the robot as an accessory, the serial interface 17 dedicated to the user program development.
However, in the present embodiment, even if the serial interface 17 dedicated to the user program development is not provided individually,
It is designed to allow user program development.

In the present embodiment, attention is paid to the fact that the serial interface (especially RS-232C interface) is generally used as the keyboard connection interface 16 in the main body 1, and this is used when the user program is developed. This is performed via the serial interface 16 for the keyboard and the interface of the general-purpose personal computer 5. When the development of the user program is completed, only the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 is operated, so a keyboard may be connected as necessary.

By the way, in addition to the method of this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in, a plurality of serial interfaces 18 are prepared on the personal computer 5 side, an external device 6 such as a robot is connected to one of the serial interfaces 18 of the personal computer 5, and the other serial interface 18 is subjected to image processing. There is a method of connecting to the inspection device. In this case, during the development of the user program, when exchanging commands and data between the external device 6 and the image processing inspection apparatus, the commands and data from the transmitting side are temporarily taken into the personal computer 5, and the commands and data are received again at the receiving side. To send it through.

However, the personal computer 5
In order to control the plurality of serial interfaces 18 on the side, the control software becomes complicated, and after debugging, the external device 6 is used as the main body 1 of the image treatment inspection apparatus.
Since it is connected to the serial interface 14 of the above, there is a problem that debugging cannot be performed in the actual connection state.
Therefore, it is desirable to adopt the method of this embodiment.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the third embodiment. In the case of the third embodiment described above, as a serial interface connecting means for connecting the personal computer 5 and the image processing inspection apparatus, a serial interface (R) for the keyboard 4 prepared in the image processing inspection apparatus main body is used.
By using the S-232C interface) 16, an external device 6 such as a robot which is certainly required to be connected by the RS-232C interface (serial interface) is connected to the general-purpose serial interface 14 of the image processing inspection apparatus, There is an advantage that a user program can be developed while it is being used (a state in which the image processing inspection device is operated alone). However, if the user program requires input with the keyboard 4, there is a problem that this input cannot be performed.

Also in this embodiment, as in the third embodiment, the personal computer 5 and the image processing inspection device are connected to the serial interface (RS-232C interface) 16 for the keyboard 4 prepared in the main body 1 of the image processing device inspection device. Connect through. Then, in this embodiment, the serial interface connector 16 for the keyboard 4 is used.
When the personal computer 5 is connected to the personal computer 5, a screen representing a keyboard is displayed as a virtual keyboard on the monitor 5a of the personal computer 5, and while this screen is displayed, the keyboard input of the personal computer 5 is the keyboard of the image processing inspection apparatus. Treated as input by 4. Alternatively, the cursor may be moved on the virtual keyboard with the pointing device 7 such as a mouse and the corresponding key may be clicked to select.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a virtual keyboard (a) and a mouse pointer (b) are displayed on the monitor 5a of the personal computer 5. The screen is displayed on the monitor 5a when the executable program transferred to the image processing inspection apparatus is debugged or when a command or function that requires input from the keyboard 4 is executed.
Appear in. The input from the keyboard of the personal computer 5 when the virtual keyboard (a) is displayed is treated as an input from the keyboard 4 of the image processing inspection apparatus, not a command to the personal computer 5. By clicking each key on the screen of the virtual keyboard (a) with the mouse 7, the same operation as the input from the keyboard is enabled.

The above input signals are sent to the keyboard interface 16 of the image processing inspection device through the RS-232C interface. Here, since the keyboard input signal is sent from the personal computer 5 to the image processing inspection device only when the virtual keyboard (a) is displayed on the screen, it collides with other commands and data such as commands for debugging. There is no such thing. That is, when viewed from the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1, the keyboard 4 is connected as though the personal computer 5 is actually connected. It should be noted that the input from the virtual keyboard (a) during debugging can be ended by the return key, and the input can be stopped by the escape (ESC) key. Here, in the case of stopping, the execution format program of the user is stopped at that point.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment corresponds to a case where the image processing inspection apparatus includes a mouse or a pointing device 7 having a function equivalent to this mouse as the man-machine interface, instead of the keyboard 4. In an image processing inspection apparatus that uses this type of pointing device (hereinafter, described as a mouse is used) 7, a window for making various settings is displayed on the screen of the monitor 3 together with the mouse cursor, and the mouse is used. Various operations according to the screen.

In such an image processing inspection apparatus, the main body 1
As in the case of the keyboard 4, a serial interface (especially RS-232C interface) is used for the mouse connection interface 19 in FIG. The serial interface of the personal computer 5 is connected. After the development of the user program is completed, the image processing inspection apparatus main body is made to operate only. Therefore, there is no problem even if the mouse is connected.

In the case of a mouse, unlike the previous embodiment, the operation must be performed while looking at the mouse cursor on the monitor 3 of the image processing inspection apparatus. Therefore, it is not necessary to display anything on the monitor 5a of the personal computer 5. However, instead, during debugging, the current coordinates are calculated from the position signals from the mouse 7 connected to the personal computer 5 (count pulses for the X and Y axes generated as the mouse moves. It is necessary to constantly send a signal displayed as a numerical value) to the mouse interface 19 of the image processing inspection device through the RS232C interface. However, a command for debugging or the like is sent only when the user operates the keyboard of the personal computer 5, so normally, even if the command is sent at an interval such that the movement of the mouse on the monitor 3 of the image processing inspection device does not become cluttered, There is no difference in the overall operation.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 7 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In each of the above-described embodiments, in order to identify which execution format program the execution format program stored in the non-volatile storage device or the non-volatile storage element is, the execution format transferred to the image processing inspection apparatus is used. It is necessary to manage which executable format program on the personal computer 5 the program corresponds to. In this case, for example, a method of attaching a transfer record for the executable program can be considered. For example, if the above-mentioned management is not performed and the execution format program is transferred from the personal computer 5 to the image processing inspection apparatus for a long time, the execution format stored in the non-volatile storage device or the element of the image processing inspection apparatus. There is a possibility that you will not know what the program is.

Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to know which management number the execution format program stored in the non-volatile storage device or element is. Specifically, when the execution format program is created, date and time information is obtained from the clock of the personal computer 5 and incorporated in the execution format program. When the personal computer 5 inquires about the management number, the image processing inspection device sends the management number stored in the nonvolatile storage device to the personal computer 5.

The present embodiment will be specifically described below. Figure 7
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of a portion according to the present embodiment. The personal computer 5 and the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 are connected to serial interfaces 54 and 23 by an RS-232C compliant communication cable 24.
The personal computer 5 has a built-in editor 51, clock 52, and compiler 53 as software assets.

The editor 51 uses a screen editor that is generally popular, and creates or corrects a user program (source program) in a text file format. The source program is written based on the grammar dedicated to the image processing inspection apparatus. The clock 52 uses the system clock built in the personal computer 5. Generally, the system clock is based on the crystal oscillator signal and is very accurate. The time indicated by the system clock can be captured in software.

The compiler 53 compiles the source program to create an executable program. The compiler 53 is a compiler in a language dedicated to the image processing inspection device, and the created executable program can operate the image processing inspection device independently without the help of the personal computer 5. At the stage of storing the execution format program in the EEPROM 22 which is a non-volatile storage device or element of the image processing inspection apparatus, the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 operates the execution format program by itself without connecting the personal computer 5. , Perform necessary inspection process. In the execution format program created by the compiler 53, the time when the execution format program was created is read from the clock and the time is stored in the execution format program. Image processing inspection device body 1
Has a CPU 20, a RAM 21, and an EEPROM 22, which is a non-volatile storage device (element), inside.
The CPU 20 performs the arithmetic operation of the image processing inspection device, and the execution of the executable program is performed by the CPU 20. R
The AM 21 is used as a work area of the CPU 20, and an executable program created by compiling with the personal computer 5 is stored in this RAM and executed. When debugging, the execution format program sent from the RS-232C serial interface 23 is expanded on the RAM 21, and when the image processing inspection device operates alone, the execution read from the nonvolatile storage device (element) is executed. The format program is expanded in the RAM 21 and the execution format program is operated. EEPROM2
2 stores an executable program when the image processing inspection device operates independently. Executable program is RAM2
EEPROM2 for the first time after finishing the debugging in 1.
Stored in 2.

FIG. 8 shows the management number in the executable program. The management number is shown at the beginning of the executable program in FIG.
It is inserted as shown in (a). Since the ASCII code is used, it can be expressed as a decimal number as a list of numerical values in FIG. The data shown in (a) and (b) of FIG.
It means that it was created in seconds.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the procedure for creating an executable program. First, the user program (source file) is compiled. This is the compiler 5 stored inside the personal computer 5.
3 is used. The compiler 53 is a compiler for a dedicated language of the image processing inspection device, and is an R of the image processing inspection device.
Create an executable program that expands in AM and runs by itself.

Next, the time is read from the built-in clock 52 of the personal computer 5. Create a control number from the read time. In the example of FIG. 8, the data of 16:45:23 on November 22, 1993 is read from the clock 52, and a management number of 9311221624523 is created.
This management number is the time when the executable program was created, and is a management number unique to this executable program. This management number is stored in ASCII code at the beginning of the executable program created earlier.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of inquiry of the management number.
The personal computer 5 inquires of the image processing inspection apparatus about the management number of the executable program. For example, by sending a character string such as "NO.?" In ASCII code to the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1, the image processing inspection apparatus is inquired about the management number of the executable program. When inquiring about the control number, the image processing / inspection apparatus main body 1 sends the EEPR
The management number is read from the executable program stored in the OM 22, and the management number is transferred to the personal computer 5. In the example of FIG. 8, the management number is “931.
122164523 ”and the execution format program are stored in the image processing inspecting apparatus as the management number from the image processing inspection apparatus to the personal computer 5.
Transferred to. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the procedure for inquiring the management number.

In this way, it is possible to know which execution format program the execution format program is on the personal computer 5 side from the management number of the execution format program. Moreover, when the personal computer 5 manages the executable program and leaves it as a file, based on the management number obtained from the image processing inspection apparatus,
It is possible to know which executable program is stored in the nonvolatile storage device or element of the image processing inspection device. Further, even when the user program (source file) remains, the creation date and time of the execution format program can be known as the management number, so that it is possible to know from which source file the execution format program was created. Furthermore, for this reason, even if the user program development place and the use place of the image processing inspection device are far away from each other, if a trouble occurs, it is necessary to reproduce the trouble from the management number at the user program development place and to deal with it. Is possible.

(Embodiment 7) FIG. 12 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the user program is developed in the C language by the personal computer 5, and the user written in the different language on the personal computer 5 in order to use the software assets developed in the different language. A preprocessor for converting a program into C language is provided.

The preprocessor is based on the reading unit 30 for reading the user program, the language recognition unit 31 for recognizing the language of the read user program, the grammar interpretation unit 32 for interpreting the grammar of the language, and the interpreted grammar. The C language program generation unit 33 converts a user program written in a different language into C language. As a result, a user program written in a different language can be converted into the C language, and therefore software assets developed in a different language can be effectively used. For example, a user who has been developing with a conventional model can easily develop with a new model.

After the conversion into the C language as described above, the personal computer 5 compiles the program, and the resulting executable program is transferred to the image processing inspection device for inspection processing. Here, compilation into an executable program can be performed using a general-purpose compiler for C language, and development efficiency can be improved. (Embodiment 8) When debugging an execution format program, it is general to install a monitor program in the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 for controlling the operation of the execution format program. However, even if the user wants to perform debugging in source program units, the relation between the executable program transferred from the personal computer 5 and the source program written by the user is lost at the time of transfer. I will end up. Therefore, the execution address is directly manipulated by the monitor program of the image processing inspection device based on the debug information obtained when the execution format program is created on the personal computer 5 side, for example, based on the relation with the source program line. There was a problem that there was nothing.

In this embodiment, paying attention to this point, the source program can be debugged line by line. In this embodiment, when a library for execution is added from a compiled source program to create an execution format program with linker or locator software, at the same time, a start address table of the execution format program corresponding to each line of the source program. Is created by the personal computer 5. If it is an option of the linker or locator software, it may be used, or a utility created specially may be used.

Then, both the created execution format program and the start address table of the execution format program are transferred from the personal computer 5 to the image processing inspection apparatus. A monitor program is installed in the main body 1 of the image processing inspection apparatus, and it is possible to partially execute and stop the execution format program, monitor the status of internal registers and variables, and input / output ports. Here, the start address table of the executable program transferred from the personal computer 5 is passed to this monitor program.

In actual debugging, the line of the source program to be executed is sent as a command from the personal computer 5 to the image processing inspection apparatus, and the monitor program analyzes the command and refers to the start address table of the execution format program to execute the source program. Executes the program line by line. It should be noted that the command sent from the personal computer 5 to the image processing inspection apparatus may be only one line, or a plurality of lines from what line to what line.

Further, an actual source program will be described as an example. Also here, as described above, the images of the products A flowing one after another on the production assembly line L are captured by the camera 2, and the images are captured by the user based on various calculation conditions and determination conditions registered in advance as product type data. Consider the case where the process is performed on the monitor and the result is displayed on the monitor 3. FIG. 13 shows the source program. This source program is written by the user to realize the above series of functions. Although the C language is used in this embodiment, it may be described in another language.

The leftmost number of each line indicates the line number of the source program, which is 16 digits of 4 digits on the right side separated by a colon.
The decimal number indicates the start address of the executable program of each source program line. Note that a in FIG. 13 is the start address table of the executable program. In the first line, what the user actually wrote is the part to the right of the '#', and so on for the subsequent lines.

Briefly explaining the program, the first to fourth lines are the specification of the include file and the definition of each constant, and the actual program starts from the sixth line. When the number of the product type data sent according to the type of the product A flowing through the production assembly line L is set in the 8th line, and when the product A reaches a predetermined position where it can be captured as an image in the camera 2 in the 10th line. In response to the inspection start signal sent when the inspection is ready, the camera 2 starts capturing the image signal. On the 11th line, based on the product type switching signal, it is switched to the required product data from a plurality of product data stored inside, and on the 12th line, it is based on various calculation conditions and judgment conditions set in the product data. In order to visually inform the user whether the product A is good or bad with respect to the inspection condition in lines 13 to 17, for example, the screen of the monitor 3 is "OK" when it is good, and "NG" when it is not. It is displayed and the inspection result is output to the parallel interface on the 18th line.

As a practical example of debugging, consider the case of executing only the 10th to 12th lines in the program example of FIG. In this case, the personal computer 5 sends the line number of the source program to start the execution and the line number to end the execution to the image processing inspection device as a command for debugging. Upon receiving this command, the monitor program in the image processing inspection device performs the following processing.

First, the start address corresponding to the line of the source program at the start of execution of the executable program is read from the start address table of the previously transferred executable program, and this is set as the debug start address. Next, a return instruction is written so that the execution program returns to the monitor program at the time of execution at the start address corresponding to the next line of the line of the source program that has completed execution. At this time, in order to prevent the instruction before writing from being destroyed, the portion of the original executable program in which the return instruction is written is saved in advance in another location. Then, the program counter is set at the debug start address of the executable program and the execution of the user program is started. Then, a return command returns to the monitor program. Here, for example, in the CPU of Intel 8086 series,
Since a break can be made with a 1-byte instruction, the software interrupt INT3 can be used to return to the monitor program. Further, for example, INT0 can be automatically executed by performing a division in which the denominator is 0, and thus it is possible to return to the monitor program. After returning to the monitor program by the return instruction, the saved original executable program is restored.

By performing the above operation, the debug execution command from the personal computer can be realized with a small data transfer amount such as the start line and the end line. Here, when the above-mentioned debugging is completed, if both the execution format program and the start address data of the execution format program are stored in a non-volatile storage device or an element included in the image processing inspection apparatus, the personal computer 5 and Even if the connection with the processing inspection device is cut off, the start address table for each line of the source program is stored in the image processing inspection device, so even with the image processing inspection device alone, the source program can be Partial execution from arbitrary line to line becomes possible. Therefore, when it is desired to execute only a part of the user program on site, it can be executed without preparing a personal computer. The management of the execution format program and the start address table of the execution format program on the personal computer 5 side is performed based on the file management of a personal computer such as a general MS-DOS.

[0070]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus and the general-purpose computer are connected by the attached serial interfaces to develop the user program, so that the user can perform the image processing inspection apparatus. In an image processing inspection apparatus capable of customizing the functions of the main body based on the user's specifications, a source program written by a user is created and edited by a computer, and an execution format program operating on the image processing inspection apparatus main body is a computer. A user-created execution program is transferred from the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection device via a serial interface, and operation confirmation and debugging are performed by sending and receiving commands from the computer or operating the main body of the image processing inspection device. There is a key or keyboard Is performed by operating an input device such as a mouse, and when debugging is completed, it is transferred to a non-volatile memory device or non-volatile memory element provided in the main body of the image processing inspection device to save the execution format program. The executable program stored in the storage device or the non-volatile storage device is designed to be executed by the image processing inspection device itself, so it is possible to provide excellent software that is easy for the user or familiar with, even without a dedicated interface board. The user program can be actively used to develop the user program, and after the development is completed, the user program can be operated by the image processing inspection apparatus main body alone.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, as the serial interface of the image processing inspection apparatus main body, an interface dedicated to user program development is provided separately from the serial interface used for general purpose. In contrast, even if there is an external device such as a robot that can be connected to an external device and a computer and is connected to the serial interface of the main body of the image processing inspection device, the external device remains connected and the user program Development is possible.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the case where the image processing inspection apparatus main body is provided with an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse as a man-machine interface,
Since the serial interface for connecting the input device provided in the image processing inspection apparatus main body is used as the serial interface for connecting the computer, there is an external device such as a robot connected to the serial interface of the image processing inspection apparatus main body. In this case, the user program can be developed while the external device is still connected, and there is no need to add a new serial interface of the image processing inspection apparatus main body.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a screen representing a keyboard is displayed on a display device of a computer, and the screen is used as a virtual keyboard to substitute the keyboard function by using a pointing device such as a computer keyboard or a mouse. Since the input is performed, when the computer is connected to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus through the serial interface for connecting the keyboard, the same input as when the keyboard is connected can be performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when a computer is connected to a serial interface for a pointing device such as a mouse, the pointing device such as the mouse of the computer is used as a virtual pointing device of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus, and the virtual pointing device is used. By doing the operation, the input of the pointing device function of the image processing inspection device body is performed instead, so the computer was connected to the image processing inspection device body through a serial interface for connecting a pointing device such as a mouse. In this case, the same input as when a pointing device is connected can be performed.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, when an execution form program is created from a user program on a computer,
A management number that indicates which user program was created in the execution format program is assigned, and the execution format program with that management number is transferred from the computer to the image processing inspection device body, and non-volatile memory is stored at the completion of debugging. Since the management number is sent from the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus to the computer by a command from the computer, the execution format program transferred to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus can be identified from the management number.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, since the C language is used as the user program development language, compatibility with different models can be ensured. According to the invention of claim 8, a language recognition section for recognizing the language of the user program, a grammar interpretation section for interpreting the grammar of the recognized language, and a C language program creation section for generating C language from the information obtained thereby. Since the preprocessor is provided, when the C language is used as the user program development language, the preprocessor can convert a different language into the C language, and positively utilize excellent software that is easy for the user to use or familiar with. Can develop user programs.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, when the execution format program is created by the computer, the start address table of the execution format program corresponding to each line of the source program is created by the computer, and the execution format program and the execution format program are created. Both the start address table and the start address table are transferred from the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus via a serial interface, and the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is provided with a monitor program that can be executed only between arbitrary addresses Sends the numerical value corresponding to the line of the source program to be executed to the main body of the image processing inspection device, and the monitor program inserts a return command to the monitor into the above execution form program to Debug the line Since it is, sending a number corresponding to the row of the source program to be executed from a computer to the image processing inspection apparatus main body, it is possible to debug the row of the source program.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main body as viewed from the back side.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fifth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a personal computer and an image processing inspection apparatus main body according to a sixth embodiment.

8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams showing a management method of an execution format program, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method of setting a management number in the above.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for inquiring about a management number in the above.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for inquiring a management number in the above.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the above preprocessor.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a source program exemplified in a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing inspection device as a conventional example of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Processing Inspection Device Main Body 3 Monitor 4 Keyboard 5 Personal Computer 6 External Device 7 Pointing Device 14, 17 Serial Interface 31 Language Recognition Unit 32 Grammar Interpretation Unit 33 C Language Program Creation Unit

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 27, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Full text

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Document name] Statement

Image processing inspection apparatus

[Claims]

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing inspection apparatus used as a production facility such as a factory for quality inspection of products in a production process.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Image processing inspection apparatuses have been provided as an apparatus for accurately, rapidly and automatically performing various visual inspections that were conventionally performed by human eyes in factories and the like, and are now being widely introduced. There is. In this kind of image treatment inspection apparatus, generally, a camera is used to capture an in-process product flowing on the production line to be measured as an image signal, perform various image processing, and then calculate. Output the numerical value or the pass / fail judgment result. in this case,
The user needs to set various measurement conditions and determination conditions in advance before the inspection in order to obtain necessary calculation results and determination results.

The above-mentioned conditions are, for example, the condition setting of the start of the inspection, the grayscale image captured by the camera is set to black and white.
Threshold value setting for digitized image, setting required for inspection in image (line for inspection, setting of window), setting of function to correct positional deviation of set inspection position with respect to input image, There is a setting of an arithmetic expression for combining the information (area of product, inclination, etc.) obtained from each inspection line or inspection window to obtain a result. Further, since the above-mentioned various measurement conditions and determination conditions are unique to each product, these conditions are managed as product data for each product.

[0004] As the user a variety of functions of the image processing inspection apparatus has can be user-set by itself (Kas <br/> motor Mai's), the contents to be custom Mai's yourself A user programming type image processing inspection device that can be realized by writing a program has been widely introduced. The development of a user program in this type of user programming type image processing inspection device is performed by the image processing inspection device main body only from the source program to debugging, and by an external computer (generally a personal computer). There are two main categories: connecting and developing.

In the former case, all the processing can be performed by the image processing inspection device alone, but the editor function is poor due to the source program editing, and the expandability of the function is also poor. On the other hand, since the latter can use abundant software resources such as general-purpose personal computers, a high-performance screen editor or the like can be used for creating and editing the source program. Also, regarding expansion of functions,
Functions that are not included in the main body can be realized by transferring the software after developing it externally.

[0006]

By the way, in the latter case, the connection between the image processing inspection apparatus and the personal computer is mainly a parallel interface using a dedicated interface board or the like. In this case, the characteristics of the dedicated interface board depend on the manufacturer and model of the personal computer. Therefore, for example, when performing development or debugging at a site such as a factory, even if there is a personal computer at the site, it cannot be used because the manufacturer and the model are different. Further, there is a drawback that development cannot be performed because a dedicated interface board cannot be prepared.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing inspection apparatus capable of developing a user program using a personal computer without a dedicated interface board. To provide.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 develops a user program by connecting an image processing inspection apparatus main body and a general-purpose computer with an attached serial interface. in the image processing inspection apparatus that a user can custom My's based functions of the image processing inspection apparatus main body to the specifications of the user, the source program describing user is created and edited with a computer, the image processing inspection apparatus on the body The execution format program that runs on the computer is created from the user program on the computer, and the completed execution format program is transferred from the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection device via the serial interface. Operation confirmation and debugging are performed by sending and receiving commands from the computer. Or operation of the image processing inspection device body -Or by operating an input device such as a keyboard or mouse, and when debugging is completed, transfer to the non-volatile memory device or non-volatile memory element of the main body of the image processing inspection device and save the execution format program. Is configured so that the executable program stored in the non-volatile storage device or the non-volatile storage element is executed by the image processing inspection device main body alone.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even when an external device such as a robot connected to the serial interface of the image processing inspection apparatus main body exists, the user program can be developed with the external device still connected. Therefore, as a serial interface of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus, an interface dedicated to user program development is separately provided in addition to a serial interface used for general purpose.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even when there is an external device such as a robot connected to the serial interface of the main body of the image processing inspection device, the user program can be developed while the external device is still connected. In order to eliminate the need to newly add a serial interface of the image processing inspection device main body, when the image processing inspection device main body is equipped with an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse as a man-machine interface, the computer is connected. As the serial interface, a serial interface for connecting an input device included in the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is used.

In the invention of claim 3, when the computer is connected to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus through the serial interface for connecting the keyboard, the same input as when the keyboard is connected can be performed. According to the invention of item 4, a screen representing a keyboard is displayed on a display device of a computer, and the screen is used as a virtual keyboard to perform input while acting as a keyboard function by using a pointing device such as a computer keyboard or a mouse. You can do it like this.

According to the third aspect of the invention, when the computer is connected to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus through a serial interface for connecting a pointing device such as a mouse, the same input as when the pointing device is connected can be performed. In order to
According to the invention of claim 5, a pointing device such as a mouse of a computer is used as a virtual pointing device of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus, and the input of the function of the pointing device of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is performed by the operation of the virtual pointing device. I am going to do it.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in order to manage whether the executable program transferred to the image processing inspection apparatus main body corresponds to the executable program, the executable program is created on the computer from the user program. At the time of completion of debugging, a management number indicating which user program was created was added to the execution format program, and the execution format program with the management number was transferred from the computer to the image processing inspection device body. It is stored in a non-volatile memory device or a non-volatile memory element , and a management number is sent from the image processing inspection apparatus main body to the computer by a command from the computer.

In the invention of claim 7, it is desirable to use the C language as a user program development language in order to ensure compatibility with different models. In the invention of claim 7, in order to enable development of the user program by positively utilizing excellent software that is easy for the user to use or is familiar with, as shown in claim 8, the language of the user program It is more preferable to provide a preprocessor that includes a language recognition unit that recognizes the, a grammar interpretation unit that interprets the grammar of the recognized language, and a C language program creation unit that generates the C language from the information obtained thereby.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in order to enable line-by-line debugging, the start address table of the execution format program corresponding to each line of the source program when the execution format program is created by the computer. Computer, and transfers both the above-mentioned execution format program and the start address table of the execution format program from the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus via the serial interface, and the arbitrary address of the execution format program is transferred to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus. A monitor program that can be executed only during the period is sent. From the computer, the numerical value corresponding to the line of the source program you want to execute is sent to the main body of the image processing inspection device, and the monitor program side issues a return command to the monitor in the above execution format. By inserting it in the program We are debugging on a row-by-row basis of the source program of over The.

[0016]

According to the invention of claim 1, by configuring as described above, the computer and the image processing / inspection apparatus main body are connected by a serial interface, the source program is created and edited in the development of the user program, and the execution format is used. A program is created on a computer, the obtained executable program is transferred to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus through a serial interface, and a debugging command is transmitted from the computer to perform debugging. Further, when the development of the user program is completed, the transferred execution format program is transferred to a nonvolatile storage device or a nonvolatile storage element included in the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus to save the execution format program. Alternatively, the executable program stored in the nonvolatile storage element is executed by the image processing inspection apparatus main body alone.
With this, even if there is no dedicated interface board,
The user program can be developed by positively utilizing excellent software that is easy for the user to use or is familiar with, and after the development is completed, the user program can be operated by the image processing inspection apparatus main body alone.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, as a serial interface of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus, an interface dedicated to user program development is separately provided in addition to a serial interface used for general purpose, and the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is provided. It is possible to connect an external device to a computer. As a result, even when an external device such as a robot connected to the serial interface of the image processing inspection apparatus main body exists, the user program can be developed with the external device still connected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, as the serial interface for connecting the computer, a serial interface for connecting an input device provided in the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is used to connect to the serial interface of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus. Even if an external device such as a robot is present, the user program can be developed with the external device still connected. Further, it is not necessary to add a new serial interface of the image processing inspection apparatus main body.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a screen representing a keyboard is displayed on a display device of a computer, and the screen is used as a virtual keyboard to substitute the keyboard function by using a pointing device such as a computer keyboard or a mouse. When a computer is connected to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus through a serial interface for connecting a keyboard, the same input as when a keyboard is connected can be performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a pointing device such as a mouse of a computer is used as a virtual pointing device of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus, and the function of the pointing device of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is delegated by operating the virtual pointing device. By connecting the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection device through a serial interface for connecting a pointing device such as a mouse,
It enables the same input as when a pointing device is connected.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, when an execution format program is created from a user program on a computer,
A management number that indicates which user program was created in the execution format program is assigned, and the execution format program with that management number is transferred from the computer to the image processing inspection device body, and non-volatile memory is stored at the completion of debugging. The executable format program stored in the apparatus or the non-volatile storage element and sent from the image processing inspection apparatus main body to the computer by a command from the computer enables the executable format program transferred to the image processing inspection apparatus main body to be identified from the management number. ..

According to the invention of claim 7, the C language is used as a user program development language to ensure compatibility with different models. According to the invention of claim 8, a language recognition section for recognizing the language of the user program, a grammar interpretation section for interpreting the grammar of the recognized language, and a C language program creation section for generating C language from the information obtained thereby. When the C language is used as the user program development language by including the preprocessor, the preprocessor can convert different languages into the C language, and the excellent programming language that is easy to use or familiar to the user is actively used. So that the user program can be developed.

According to the invention of claim 9, as described above,
A numerical value corresponding to the line of the source program to be executed is sent from the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection device, and the source program can be debugged line by line.

[0024]

Embodiment 1 As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing inspection apparatus of the present embodiment includes a camera 2 for capturing an image of a product, and a camera 2.
The monitor 3 that displays various information such as an image captured in step S1 or an image obtained by processing the image, calculation conditions, determination conditions, a keyboard 4 as a man-machine interface, and an image processing inspection device body 1 are configured. ing. In this image processing inspection apparatus, the basic operation is the operation key 11 on the front panel of the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1.
It can be done using. However, even if the keyboard 4 is used, exactly the same operation can be performed, and a complicated operation (for example, character input) is actively performed by using the keyboard 4.

FIG. 2 is a view of the image processing / inspection apparatus main body 1 as seen from the back side. The camera connection connector 12 for connecting the camera 2, the video signal output connector 13 for connecting the monitor 3 and the RS-232C. Various interfaces 15 such as a compliant serial interface connector 14 and a parallel interface connector are provided as standard. Here, in the case of FIG. 2, the number of the connector 12 for camera connection is one, but there is also a connector which can connect a plurality of cameras 2 according to the function of the main body 1. In this embodiment, the keyboard connector 16 for connecting the keyboard 4 is provided on the front panel as shown in FIG. However, there is no problem even if the keyboard connector 16 is provided at another location such as the back panel.

The RS-232C serial interface 14 provided in the main body 1 captures images, starts inspection,
Various commands such as calculation result request, judgment result request,
The image processing / inspection apparatus exchanges commands and data with the external apparatus by giving it to the image processing / inspection apparatus from the external apparatus and making a response thereto. On the contrary,
The parallel interface 15 can also externally give various commands such as image capturing, type data switching, and inspection start. However, its main use is
It is to output the data of the calculation result and the judgment result obtained by executing the inspection.

[0027] In many cases, the user a variety of features that provide us with the image processing inspection apparatus is further user has the desire to custom Mai's on their own. For example, in FIG. 1, the images of the products A flowing one after another on the production assembly line L are captured by the camera 2, and the images captured by the user based on various calculation conditions and determination conditions registered as the product type data in advance are compared with the images. Consider a case in which the processing is performed and the result is displayed on the monitor 3. In addition, in FIG. 1, a surface mounting type flat package (QFP) type IC
The case where the mounting position of (A) is inspected is shown.

In FIG. 1, a product type switching signal for switching the product type data sent according to the type of the product A flowing through the production assembly line L, and reaching a predetermined position where the product can be captured as an image in the camera 2. The inspection start signal sent when the inspection is ready is sent to the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 by, for example, the parallel interface 15.
Be captured through. The image processing inspection device selects the required product type data from the plurality of product type data stored therein based on the product type switching signal. Further, at the same time when the inspection start signal is fetched, an inspection sequence based on various calculation conditions and determination conditions set in the product type data is performed. And as a result of the inspection, the product meets the inspection conditions,
In order to visually inform the user whether the product is a good product or a defective product, for example, "OK" is displayed on the screen of the monitor 3 when the product is a good product, and "NG" is displayed when the product is a defective product. To

In the above-described series of operations, when the user freely displays whether the product is a non-defective product or a defective product under the inspection conditions on the screen of the final monitor 3, the image is displayed. It is realized by a user program instead of the standard function of the processing inspection apparatus main body 1. By the way, it is no exaggeration to say that personal computers have become so popular these days that they have spread to academic institutions, companies, and even ordinary households. Therefore, it can be considered that one or two general-purpose personal computers are prepared in the field where the image processing inspection device is used or in the place where the user program is developed. Further, due to the widespread use of personal computer hardware, various manufacturers have announced or sold programming languages having various functions and satisfying user's usability. Some conventional user programming type image processing inspection apparatuses are provided with an editor function for creating and editing a source program, a test execution function, and a debug function inside the main body, so that a user program can be independently developed. However, the user program development environment of the image processing inspection apparatus from now on is not only a personal computer but also an excellent programming language that is easy to use or familiar to the user, by actively using the above-mentioned general-purpose personal computer. It is desirable to do in. However, if you do not always connect to the image processing inspection device,
It is inconvenient if the user program cannot be operated. Therefore, after the development is completed, which is the time when it is confirmed that the source program is created, edited, debugged, and operates normally, the user program must operate in the image processing inspection device alone.

In the above development environment, it is necessary to connect the personal computer and the image processing inspection device. In this case, conventionally, it has been the mainstream to mount a dedicated interface board on a personal computer, and if necessary, also mount a dedicated interface board on an image processing inspection apparatus and connect it as a parallel interface. In order to realize various debug functions, for example, to realize the debug function of an in-circuit emulator often used as a microcomputer development device, a dedicated interface board may be required. However, such a function is not necessary for actually debugging the user program. In other words, if the execution format program can be transferred to the image processing inspection device, the source program can be executed or stopped line by line, and registers and variables can be monitored when the program is stopped, sufficient debugging can be performed. Further, for the above-described debugging, it is not necessary to transfer a large amount of data at a high speed unlike the in-circuit emulator, and the data transfer by the serial interface 14 is sufficient.

Focusing on this point, the present invention connects the image processing inspection device with the RS-232C interface 14 which the general-purpose personal computer 5 has as a standard, and develops the user program. . The development procedure is described below. The user's source program is developed on a personal computer. As described above, many excellent programming languages are commercially available for personal computers, and a user may create and edit a source program using an editor or word processing software with which he or she is familiar. As for the development language, if the compiler described below can be easily obtained, C language or BASI
You can choose C language freely.

Next, an executable program that can be executed by the image processing inspection apparatus is created from the source program. A commercially available compiler is used for this. When the CPU (central processing unit) inside the image processing inspection device and the personal computer are the same, a native compiler (generally simply called a compiler) for developing a program on the personal computer itself is used. But,
When the CPUs are different from each other, a cross compiler capable of creating another CPU object program is required.

From the compiled source program,
Furthermore, add the necessary execution library and create an executable object with the linker or locator software. The completed executable object is transferred to the image processing inspection device through the RS-232C interface of the personal computer 5. For debugging, commands for executing or stopping the source program line by line and monitoring registers and variables when the program is stopped are sent from the RS-232C interface of the personal computer 5 to the image processing inspection apparatus, and necessary data is personalized. It is returned to the computer 5.

The functions described above are performed by the personal computer 5
It suffices to prepare an editor, a compiler, a linker, etc. on the personal computer 5 owned by the user, regardless of the manufacturer or model of the computer. When the debugging of the execution format program (object program) is completed, this is stored in a nonvolatile storage device (typically a fixed disk) or nonvolatile storage element (typical It has an EEPROM). After that, even if the connection between the personal computer 5 and the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 is disconnected, the user program (execution format program) stored in the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 can be operated alone.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an external device 6 such as a robot is connected to the image processing inspection device by an RS-232C interface 16. Since the command system of the external device 6 is different from the command system that the image processing inspection apparatus has as a standard, the user interprets the command from the external device 6 and converts the inspection result into a command system that the external device 6 can read. Need to be returned. Since the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 does not have the above functions as standard functions,
It must be processed by the user program.

When it is necessary to connect an external device 6 such as a robot as in this embodiment, the RS-232 interface 14 of the image processing inspection apparatus connected to the personal computer 5 in FIG. It is general purpose, not dedicated to user program development, and needs to be connected to the external device 6 through the interface 14. In this case, it becomes impossible to develop the user program while the external device 6 such as the robot is connected, that is, in the actual use state in which the image processing inspection device is operated alone.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the RS-232C interface 17 dedicated to the user program development is individually provided. By doing so, the user program can be developed with the external device 6 such as the robot still connected. (Embodiment 3) FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment of the present invention.
In the case of the above-described second embodiment, in the image processing inspection apparatus equipped with the external device 6 such as the robot as an accessory, the serial interface 17 dedicated to the user program development.
However, in the present embodiment, even if the serial interface 17 dedicated to the user program development is not provided individually,
It is designed to allow user program development.

In the present embodiment, attention is paid to the fact that the serial interface (especially RS-232C interface) is generally used as the keyboard connection interface 16 in the main body 1, and this is used when the user program is developed. This is performed via the serial interface 16 for the keyboard and the interface of the general-purpose personal computer 5. When the development of the user program is completed, only the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 is operated, so a keyboard may be connected as necessary.

By the way, in addition to the method of this embodiment, FIG.
As shown in, a plurality of serial interfaces 18 are prepared on the personal computer 5 side, an external device 6 such as a robot is connected to one of the serial interfaces 18 of the personal computer 5, and the other serial interface 18 is subjected to image processing. There is a method of connecting to the inspection device. In this case, during the development of the user program, when exchanging commands and data between the external device 6 and the image processing inspection apparatus, the commands and data from the transmitting side are temporarily taken into the personal computer 5, and the commands and data are received again at the receiving side. To send it through.

However, the personal computer 5
In order to control the plurality of serial interfaces 18 on the side, the control software becomes complicated, and after debugging, the external device 6 is used as the main body 1 of the image treatment inspection apparatus.
Since it is connected to the serial interface 14 of the above, there is a problem that debugging cannot be performed in the actual connection state.
Therefore, it is desirable to adopt the method of this embodiment.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the third embodiment. In the case of the third embodiment described above, as a serial interface connecting means for connecting the personal computer 5 and the image processing inspection apparatus, a serial interface (R) for the keyboard 4 prepared in the image processing inspection apparatus main body is used.
By using the S-232C interface) 16, an external device 6 such as a robot which is certainly required to be connected by the RS-232C interface (serial interface) is connected to the general-purpose serial interface 14 of the image processing inspection apparatus, There is an advantage that a user program can be developed while it is being used (a state in which the image processing inspection device is operated alone). However, if the user program requires input with the keyboard 4, there is a problem that this input cannot be performed.

Also in this embodiment, as in the third embodiment, the personal computer 5 and the image processing inspection device are connected to the serial interface (RS-232C interface) 16 for the keyboard 4 prepared in the main body 1 of the image processing device inspection device. Connect through. Then, in this embodiment, the serial interface connector 16 for the keyboard 4 is used.
When the personal computer 5 is connected to the personal computer 5, a screen representing a keyboard is displayed as a virtual keyboard on the monitor 5a of the personal computer 5, and while this screen is displayed, the keyboard input of the personal computer 5 is the keyboard of the image processing inspection apparatus. Treated as input by 4. Alternatively, the cursor may be moved on the virtual keyboard with the pointing device 7 such as a mouse and the corresponding key may be clicked to select.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a virtual keyboard (a) and a mouse pointer (b) are displayed on the monitor 5a of the personal computer 5. The screen is displayed on the monitor 5a when the executable program transferred to the image processing inspection apparatus is debugged or when a command or function that requires input from the keyboard 4 is executed.
Appear in. The input from the keyboard of the personal computer 5 when the virtual keyboard (a) is displayed is treated as an input from the keyboard 4 of the image processing inspection apparatus, not a command to the personal computer 5. By clicking each key on the screen of the virtual keyboard (a) with the mouse 7, the same operation as the input from the keyboard is enabled.

The above input signals are sent to the keyboard interface 16 of the image processing inspection device through the RS-232C interface. Here, since the keyboard input signal is sent from the personal computer 5 to the image processing inspection device only when the virtual keyboard (a) is displayed on the screen, it collides with other commands and data such as commands for debugging. There is no such thing. That is, when viewed from the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1, the keyboard 4 is connected as though the personal computer 5 is actually connected. It should be noted that the input from the virtual keyboard (a) during debugging can be ended by the return key, and the input can be stopped by the escape (ESC) key. Here, in the case of stopping, the execution format program of the user is stopped at that point.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment corresponds to a case where the image processing inspection apparatus includes a mouse or a pointing device 7 having a function equivalent to this mouse as the man-machine interface, instead of the keyboard 4. In an image processing inspection apparatus that uses this type of pointing device (hereinafter, described as a mouse is used) 7, a window for making various settings is displayed on the screen of the monitor 3 together with the mouse cursor, and the mouse is used. Various operations according to the screen.

In such an image processing inspection apparatus, the main body 1
As in the case of the keyboard 4, a serial interface (especially RS-232C interface) is used for the mouse connection interface 19 in FIG. The serial interface of the personal computer 5 is connected. After the development of the user program is completed, the image processing inspection apparatus main body is made to operate only. Therefore, there is no problem even if the mouse is connected.

In the case of a mouse, unlike the previous embodiment, the operation must be performed while looking at the mouse cursor on the monitor 3 of the image processing inspection apparatus. Therefore, it is not necessary to display anything on the monitor 5a of the personal computer 5. However, instead, during debugging, the current coordinates are calculated from the position signals from the mouse 7 connected to the personal computer 5 (count pulses for the X and Y axes generated as the mouse moves. It is necessary to constantly send a signal displayed as a numerical value) to the mouse interface 19 of the image processing inspection device through the RS232C interface. However, a command for debugging or the like is sent only when the user operates the keyboard of the personal computer 5, so normally, even if the command is sent at an interval such that the movement of the mouse on the monitor 3 of the image processing inspection device does not become cluttered, There is no difference in the overall operation.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 7 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In each of the above-described embodiments, in order to identify which execution format program the execution format program stored in the non-volatile storage device or the non-volatile storage element is, the execution format transferred to the image processing inspection apparatus is used. It is necessary to manage which executable format program on the personal computer 5 the program corresponds to. In this case, for example, a method of attaching a transfer record for the executable program can be considered. For example, if the above-mentioned management is not performed and the execution format program is transferred from the personal computer 5 to the image processing inspection apparatus for a long time, the execution format stored in the non-volatile storage device or the element of the image processing inspection apparatus. There is a possibility that you will not know what the program is.

Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to know which management number the execution format program stored in the non-volatile storage device or element is. Specifically, when the execution format program is created, date and time information is obtained from the clock of the personal computer 5 and incorporated in the execution format program. When the personal computer 5 inquires about the management number, the image processing inspection device sends the management number stored in the nonvolatile storage device to the personal computer 5.

The present embodiment will be specifically described below. Figure 7
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of a portion according to the present embodiment. The personal computer 5 and the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 are connected to serial interfaces 54 and 23 by an RS-232C compliant communication cable 24.
The personal computer 5 has a built-in editor 51, clock 52, and compiler 53 as software assets.

The editor 51 uses a screen editor that is generally popular, and creates or corrects a user program (source program) in a text file format. The source program is written based on the grammar dedicated to the image processing inspection apparatus. The clock 52 uses the system clock built in the personal computer 5. Generally, the system clock is based on the crystal oscillator signal and is very accurate. The time indicated by the system clock can be captured in software. The compiler 53 compiles the source program to create an executable program. The compiler 53 is a compiler in a language dedicated to the image processing inspection device, and the created executable program can operate the image processing inspection device independently without the help of the personal computer 5. At the stage of storing the execution format program in the EEPROM 22 which is a non-volatile storage device or element of the image processing inspection apparatus, the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 operates the execution format program by itself without connecting the personal computer 5. ,
Perform the necessary inspection process. In the execution format program created by the compiler 53, the time when the execution format program was created is read from the clock and the time is stored in the execution format program.

The image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 is internally provided with a CP.
It has U20, RAM21, and EEPROM22 which is a non-volatile storage device (element). The CPU 20 performs the arithmetic operation of the image processing inspection device, and the execution of the executable program is performed by the CPU 20. RAM21 is CP
The executable program used as a work area of U20 and compiled by the personal computer 5 is stored in this RAM and executed. RS-232C serial interface 2 for debugging
3 is loaded into the RAM 21 and the executable program read from the non-volatile storage device (element) is loaded into the RAM 21 and executed when the image processing inspection device operates alone. Run a formal program. The EEPROM 22 stores an execution format program when the image processing inspection device operates independently. The executable program is first stored in the EEPROM 22 after the debugging in the RAM 21 is completed.

FIG. 8 shows the management number in the executable program. The management number is shown at the beginning of the executable program in FIG.
It is inserted as shown in (a). Since the ASCII code is used, it can be expressed as a decimal number as a list of numerical values in FIG. The data shown in (a) and (b) of FIG.
It means that it was created in seconds.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the procedure for creating an executable program. First, the user program (source file) is compiled. This is the compiler 5 stored inside the personal computer 5.
3 is used. The compiler 53 is a compiler for a dedicated language of the image processing inspection device, and is an R of the image processing inspection device.
Create an executable program that expands in AM and runs by itself.

Next, the time is read from the built-in clock 52 of the personal computer 5. Create a control number from the read time. In the example of FIG. 8, the data of 16:45:23 on November 22, 1993 is read from the clock 52, and a management number of 9311221624523 is created.
This management number is the time when the executable program was created, and is a management number unique to this executable program. This management number is stored in ASCII code at the beginning of the executable program created earlier.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of inquiry of the management number.
The personal computer 5 inquires of the image processing inspection apparatus about the management number of the executable program. For example, by sending a character string such as "NO.?" In ASCII code to the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1, the image processing inspection apparatus is inquired about the management number of the executable program. When inquiring about the control number, the image processing / inspection apparatus main body 1 sends the EEPR
The management number is read from the executable program stored in the OM 22, and the management number is transferred to the personal computer 5. In the example of FIG. 8, the management number is “931.
122164523 ”and the execution format program are stored in the image processing inspecting apparatus as the management number from the image processing inspection apparatus to the personal computer 5.
Transferred to. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the procedure for inquiring the management number.

In this way, it is possible to know which execution format program the execution format program is on the personal computer 5 side from the management number of the execution format program. Moreover, when the personal computer 5 manages the executable program and leaves it as a file, based on the management number obtained from the image processing inspection apparatus,
It is possible to know which executable program is stored in the nonvolatile storage device or element of the image processing inspection device. Further, even when the user program (source file) remains, the creation date and time of the execution format program can be known as the management number, so that it is possible to know from which source file the execution format program was created. Furthermore, for this reason, even if the user program development place and the use place of the image processing inspection device are far away from each other, if a trouble occurs, it is necessary to reproduce the trouble from the management number at the user program development place and to deal with it. Is possible.

(Embodiment 7) FIG. 12 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the user program is developed in the C language by the personal computer 5, and the user written in the different language on the personal computer 5 in order to use the software assets developed in the different language. A preprocessor for converting a program into C language is provided.

The preprocessor is based on the reading unit 30 for reading the user program, the language recognition unit 31 for recognizing the language of the read user program, the grammar interpretation unit 32 for interpreting the grammar of the language, and the interpreted grammar. The C language program generation unit 33 converts a user program written in a different language into C language. As a result, a user program written in a different language can be converted into the C language, and therefore software assets developed in a different language can be effectively used. For example, a user who has been developing with a conventional model can easily develop with a new model.

After the conversion into the C language as described above, the personal computer 5 compiles the program, and the resulting executable program is transferred to the image processing inspection device for inspection processing. Here, compilation into an executable program can be performed using a general-purpose compiler for C language, and development efficiency can be improved. (Embodiment 8) When debugging an execution format program, it is general to install a monitor program in the image processing inspection apparatus main body 1 for controlling the operation of the execution format program. However, even if the user wants to perform debugging in source program units, the relation between the executable program transferred from the personal computer 5 and the source program written by the user is lost at the time of transfer. I will end up. Therefore, the execution address is directly manipulated by the monitor program of the image processing inspection device based on the debug information obtained when the execution format program is created on the personal computer 5 side, for example, based on the relation with the source program line. There was a problem that there was nothing.

In this embodiment, paying attention to this point, the source program can be debugged line by line. In this embodiment, when a library for execution is added from a compiled source program to create an execution format program with linker or locator software, at the same time, a start address table of the execution format program corresponding to each line of the source program. Is created by the personal computer 5. If it is an option of the linker or locator software, it may be used, or a utility created specially may be used.

Then, both the created execution format program and the start address table of the execution format program are transferred from the personal computer 5 to the image processing inspection apparatus. A monitor program is installed in the main body 1 of the image processing inspection apparatus, and it is possible to partially execute and stop the execution format program, monitor the status of internal registers and variables, and input / output ports. Here, the start address table of the executable program transferred from the personal computer 5 is passed to this monitor program.

In actual debugging, the line of the source program to be executed is sent as a command from the personal computer 5 to the image processing inspection apparatus, and the monitor program analyzes the command and refers to the start address table of the execution format program to execute the source program. Executes the program line by line. It should be noted that the command sent from the personal computer 5 to the image processing inspection apparatus may be only one line, or a plurality of lines from what line to what line.

Further, an actual source program will be described as an example. Also here, as described above, the images of the products A flowing one after another on the production assembly line L are captured by the camera 2, and the images are captured by the user based on various calculation conditions and determination conditions registered in advance as product type data. Consider the case where the process is performed on the monitor and the result is displayed on the monitor 3. FIG. 13 shows the source program. This source program is written by the user to realize the above series of functions. Although the C language is used in this embodiment, it may be described in another language.

The leftmost number of each line indicates the line number of the source program, which is 16 digits of 4 digits on the right side separated by a colon.
The decimal number indicates the start address of the executable program of each source program line. Note that a in FIG. 13 is the start address table of the executable program. In the first line, what the user actually wrote is the part to the right of the '#', and so on for the subsequent lines.

Briefly explaining the program, the first to fourth lines are the specification of the include file and the definition of each constant, and the actual program starts from the sixth line. When the number of the product type data sent according to the type of the product A flowing through the production assembly line L is set in the 8th line, and when the product A reaches a predetermined position where it can be captured as an image in the camera 2 in the 10th line. In response to the inspection start signal sent when the inspection is ready, the camera 2 starts capturing the image signal. On the 11th line, based on the product type switching signal, it is switched to the required product data from a plurality of product data stored inside, and on the 12th line, it is based on various calculation conditions and judgment conditions set in the product data. In order to visually inform the user whether the product A is good or bad with respect to the inspection condition in lines 13 to 17, for example, the screen of the monitor 3 is "OK" when it is good, and "NG" when it is not. It is displayed and the inspection result is output to the parallel interface on the 18th line.

As a practical example of debugging, consider the case of executing only the 10th to 12th lines in the program example of FIG. In this case, the personal computer 5 sends the line number of the source program to start the execution and the line number to end the execution to the image processing inspection device as a command for debugging. Upon receiving this command, the monitor program in the image processing inspection device performs the following processing.

First, the start address corresponding to the line of the source program at the start of execution of the executable program is read from the start address table of the previously transferred executable program, and this is set as the debug start address. Next, a return instruction is written so that the execution program returns to the monitor program at the time of execution at the start address corresponding to the next line of the line of the source program that has completed execution. At this time, in order to prevent the instruction before writing from being destroyed, the portion of the original executable program in which the return instruction is written is saved in advance in another location. Then, the program counter is set at the debug start address of the executable program and the execution of the user program is started. Then, a return command returns to the monitor program. Here, for example, in the CPU of Intel 8086 series,
Since a break can be made with a 1-byte instruction, the software interrupt INT3 can be used to return to the monitor program. Further, for example, INT0 can be automatically executed by performing a division in which the denominator is 0, and thus it is possible to return to the monitor program. After returning to the monitor program by the return instruction, the saved original executable program is restored.

By performing the above operation, the debug execution command from the personal computer can be realized with a small data transfer amount such as the start line and the end line. Here, when the above-mentioned debugging is completed, if both the execution format program and the start address data of the execution format program are stored in a non-volatile storage device or an element included in the image processing inspection apparatus, the personal computer 5 and Even if the connection with the processing inspection device is cut off, the start address table for each line of the source program is stored in the image processing inspection device, so even with the image processing inspection device alone, the source program can be Partial execution from arbitrary line to line becomes possible. Therefore, when it is desired to execute only a part of the user program on site, it can be executed without preparing a personal computer. The management of the execution format program and the start address table of the execution format program on the personal computer 5 side is performed based on the file management of a personal computer such as a general MS-DOS.

[0070]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus and the general-purpose computer are connected by the attached serial interfaces to develop the user program, so that the user can perform the image processing inspection apparatus. in the image processing inspection apparatus capable of custom My's based functions of the body to the specifications of the user, the user-written source program is created and edited by a computer, the executable program that runs image processing inspection apparatus on the body, Created from the user program on the computer, transfer the completed executable program from the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection device via the serial interface, and confirm the operation and debug by sending and receiving commands from the computer or on the main body of the image processing inspection device. Operation key or keyboard Performed by operating an input device such as a mouse, and when debugging is completed, transfer to the non-volatile memory device or non-volatile memory element provided in the main body of the image processing inspection device to save the execution format program. The execution format program stored in the device or the non-volatile storage device is designed to be executed by the image processing inspection device itself, so it is possible to use an excellent programming language that is easy for the user or familiar with even without a dedicated interface board. The user program can be developed by utilizing it, and after the development is completed, the user program can be operated by the image processing inspection apparatus main body alone.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, as the serial interface of the image processing inspection apparatus main body, an interface dedicated to user program development is provided separately from the serial interface used for general purpose. In contrast, even if there is an external device such as a robot that can be connected to an external device and a computer and is connected to the serial interface of the main body of the image processing inspection device, the external device remains connected and the user program Development is possible.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the case where the image processing inspection apparatus main body is provided with an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse as a man-machine interface,
Since the serial interface for connecting the input device provided in the image processing inspection apparatus main body is used as the serial interface for connecting the computer, there is an external device such as a robot connected to the serial interface of the image processing inspection apparatus main body. In this case, the user program can be developed while the external device is still connected, and there is no need to add a new serial interface of the image processing inspection apparatus main body.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a screen representing a keyboard is displayed on a display device of a computer, and the screen is used as a virtual keyboard to substitute the keyboard function by using a pointing device such as a computer keyboard or a mouse. Since the input is performed, when the computer is connected to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus through the serial interface for connecting the keyboard, the same input as when the keyboard is connected can be performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when a computer is connected to a serial interface for a pointing device such as a mouse, the pointing device such as the mouse of the computer is used as a virtual pointing device of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus, and the virtual pointing device is used. By doing the operation, the input of the pointing device function of the image processing inspection device body is performed instead, so the computer was connected to the image processing inspection device body through a serial interface for connecting a pointing device such as a mouse. In this case, the same input as when a pointing device is connected can be performed.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, when an execution form program is created from a user program on a computer,
A management number indicating which user program was created in the execution format program is assigned, and the execution format program with that management number is transferred from the computer to the image processing inspection device main body, and non-volatile memory is stored at the completion of debugging. Since the management number is sent from the image processing inspection apparatus main body to the computer by the command stored in the apparatus or the non-volatile storage element , the execution format program transferred to the image processing inspection apparatus main body can be identified from the management number.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, since the C language is used as the user program development language, compatibility with different models can be ensured. According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a language recognition unit for recognizing the language of the user program, a grammar interpretation unit for interpreting the grammar of the recognized language, and a C language program creation unit for generating C language from the information obtained thereby. Since the preprocessor is provided, when the C language is used as the user program development language, the preprocessor can convert a different language to the C language, and actively uses an excellent programming language that is easy for the user or familiar with. Can develop user programs.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, when the execution format program is created by the computer, the start address table of the execution format program corresponding to each line of the source program is created by the computer, and the execution format program and the execution format program are created. Both the start address table and the start address table are transferred from the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus via a serial interface, and the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is provided with a monitor program that can be executed only between arbitrary addresses Sends the numerical value corresponding to the line of the source program to be executed to the main body of the image processing inspection device, and the monitor program inserts a return command to the monitor into the above execution form program to Debug the line Since it is, sending a number corresponding to the row of the source program to be executed from a computer to the image processing inspection apparatus main body, it is possible to debug the row of the source program.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main body as viewed from the back side.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a fifth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a personal computer and an image processing inspection apparatus main body according to a sixth embodiment.

8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams showing a management method of an execution format program, respectively.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a method of setting a management number in the above.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for inquiring about a management number in the above.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for inquiring a management number in the above.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the above preprocessor.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a source program exemplified in a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing inspection device as a conventional example of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 main body of image processing inspection apparatus 3 monitor 4 keyboard 5 personal computer 6 external equipment 7 pointing device 14, 17 serial interface 31 language recognition section 32 grammar interpretation section 33 C language program creation section

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiko Sugimoto 1048, Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A user program is developed by connecting a main body of an image processing inspection apparatus and a general-purpose computer with attached serial interfaces to develop a user program. In the image processing inspection device that can be raised,
The source program written by the user is created and edited by a computer, and the execution format program that runs on the image processing inspection apparatus main body is created by the computer from the user program, and the completed execution format program is serially interfaced by the computer to the image processing inspection apparatus. Transfer to the main body, check the operation and debug by sending and receiving commands from the computer, or by operating the operation keys of the image processing inspection device main body or operating the input device such as the keyboard or mouse, and when the debugging is completed, The executable program is transferred to a non-volatile storage device or a non-volatile storage element included in the main body of the image processing inspection device to save the execution format program, and thereafter, the execution format program stored in the non-volatile storage device or the non-volatile storage element is stored in the image processing inspection device. Body only In the image processing inspection apparatus characterized by comprising by running. 2. The image processing according to claim 1, wherein an interface dedicated to user program development is separately provided as a serial interface of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus, in addition to a general-purpose serial interface. Inspection device. 3. When the image processing inspection apparatus main body is provided with an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse as a man-machine interface, the input device provided in the image processing inspection apparatus main body is used as a serial interface for connecting the computer. The image processing inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a serial interface for connection is used. 4. When a computer is connected to a serial interface for a keyboard, a screen representing the keyboard is displayed on a display device of the computer,
4. The image processing inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the screen is used as a virtual keyboard, and a keyboard keyboard of a computer or a pointing device such as a mouse is used to perform input with the function of the keyboard acting. 5. When a computer is connected to a serial interface for a pointing device such as a mouse, the pointing device such as a mouse of the computer is used as a virtual pointing device of the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus, and an image is displayed by operating the virtual pointing device. The image processing inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image processing inspection apparatus performs the input by substituting the function of a pointing device of the processing inspection apparatus body. 6. When creating an execution format program from a user program on a computer, a management number indicating which user program was created is added to the execution format program, and the execution format with the management number is added. Transferring the program from the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection device, storing it in a non-volatile storage device or a non-volatile storage device at the completion of debugging, and sending a management number from the main body of the image processing inspection device to the computer by a command from the computer. The image processing inspection device according to claim 1. 7. The image processing inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein C language is used as a user program development language. 8. A preprocessor comprising a language recognition section for recognizing the language of a user program, a grammar interpretation section for interpreting the grammar of the recognized language, and a C language program creation section for generating C language from the information obtained thereby. The image processing inspection apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: 9. When creating an execution format program on a computer, a start address table of the execution format program corresponding to each line of the source program is created on the computer, and the execution format program and the start address table of the execution format program are created. Both of them are transferred from the computer to the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus via a serial interface, and the main body of the image processing inspection apparatus is provided with a monitor program that can be executed only between arbitrary addresses of the execution format program. By sending the numerical value corresponding to the line of the source program to the main body of the image processing inspection device, and inserting the return command to the monitor into the above executable program on the monitor program side, debugging the source program of the user line by line Characterized by The image processing inspection apparatus according to claim 1.