Title: Measurement data collection apparatus
Abstract: A measurement data collection apparatus includes at least a collection/analysis processing device having a measuring instrument interface for converting measurement data input from a measuring instrument into data of a form corresponding to measurement contents, and a measurement data collection interface for converting the data of the form corresponding to the measurement contents into measurement data of a predetermined form. The apparatus can process the results obtained from the measurement as electronic data irrespective of the measurement contents or a kind of the measuring instrument and can perform form printing or data processing such as arithmetic operations.
Patent Number: 6,978,219 Issued on 12/20/2005 to Kojima, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Kojima; Koichi (Suwa, JP);
Yoshida; Yoshifumi (Suwa, JP);
Ichikawa; Yuya (Suwa, JP);
Hirai; Atsushi (Suwa, JP);
Torii; Hideo (Suwa, JP)
|
| Assignee:
|
Seiko Epson Corporation (JP)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
099257 |
| Filed:
|
April 5, 2005 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Mar 18, 2002[JP] | 2002-073750 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
702/127; 702/182; 702/183; 702/186; 702/188 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G06F 015/00 |
| Field of Search: |
702/127,122,123,182,183,186,188
700/83,84,85,108,109
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4665621 | May., 1987 | Ackerman et al.
| |
| 5120943 | Jun., 1992 | Benz.
| |
| 5956658 | Sep., 1999 | McMahon.
| |
| 6615133 | Sep., 2003 | Boies et al.
| |
| 2003/0004691 | Jan., 2003 | Michiwaki et al.
| |
Primary Examiner: Bui; Bryan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/286,429, now
U.S. Pat. No. 6,892,158, filed Nov. 1, 2002 which claims priority to Japanese Application
No. 2002-073750 filed Mar. 18, 2002, all of which are incorporated by reference.
Claims
1. A method of collecting measurement data comprising steps of:
converting measurement data input from a measuring instrument having a form corresponding
to the measuring instrument into data having a form corresponding to measurement
contents and kinds of measurement;
converting input control command data into control data corresponding to the
measuring instrument to control the measuring instrument; and
sending the control data to the measuring instrument to perform collection/analysis
processing of measurement data of the measuring instrument.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collection/analysis processing
sends a signal for giving an instruction to the measuring instrument in accordance
with a form that is processible by the measuring instrument.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collection/analysis processing
is provided for each of the measurement contents or measuring instruments respectively;
and wherein the method further comprising steps of:
identifying the measurement contents and the kind of a designated measuring instrument
based on measuring instrument data on items relating to the measuring instruments;
and determining a collection/analysis processing to be employed of each collection/analysis processing.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the method further comprising a step of;
correlating the measurement data measured by the measuring instrument with measuring
instrument data for identifying the measuring instrument provided for each measuring instrument.
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the measuring instrument data includes
data on a calibration data of the measuring instrument.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collection/analysis processing
processes binary data.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collection/analysis processing
processes measurement data input by input means.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collection/analysis processing
processes measurement data stored in a recording medium.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprising a step
of sending a signal for activating an object to be measured.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to apparatuses for collecting measurement
data and, more particularly, to control and analysis of measured data adaptable
to different kinds of measuring instruments.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various kinds of controls such as product control and process control are
performed when producing goods. The product control will be considered below. In
order to control the quality of products and so on and to ensure that products
are stably manufactured, it is necessary to periodically measure produced parts
and finished products, as well as production equipment such as manufacturing equipment
and dies, to check whether the manufactured parts comply with the specifications.
Inspection is performed to measure the size, precision, and so on of the
goods and check whether they comply with the specifications or whether they exhibit
an abnormal appearance. Generally, a measurer fills in predetermined positions
in a predetermined form with measurement results obtained. Then, a manager, a schedule
controller, or the like (one person may play both these roles) performs an analysis
based on the form to carry out the maintenance and the like of the production equipment
and measuring instruments.
Assisting apparatuses have been proposed for processing, for example, the
measurement results input for the purpose of assisting such measuring jobs. The
assisting apparatuses are designed to store measurement results collected (hereinafter,
referred to as measurement data) in storage means within a collection apparatus
or outside thereof.
In these assisting apparatuses, for example, measurement information for providing
the measurer with measurement instructions is based on a measurement descriptor
table, in which records describing objects to be measured, measurement locations,
required measurement data, and kinds of measuring instruments used are arranged,
and a control table having command extraction tables provided for each kind of
measuring instrument. The control table is created by rearranging the records in
the measurement descriptor table in order of measurement action and by automatically
extracting them into one or a plurality of records that include commands corresponding
to each element in the measurement descriptor table and to the measuring instruments
used, and instruction information for the measurer. The assisting apparatuses give
instructions to the measurer in accordance with the contents of the control table.
The measurement data is collected by activating means for giving commands to the
measuring instruments used in accordance with the contents of the control table
and means for storing in order of measurement the data measured based on the given commands.
However, in the assisting apparatuses described above, the measuring instruments
that can directly transmit and receive data signals to and from the apparatus are
limited to the ones that can output signals including digital data based on command
instructions. For the measuring instruments without such a function being used,
for example, when an appearance test is performed, the measurer fills in a form
of a paper medium with the measurement results and later inputs them as data into
a host computer and so on. Therefore, such a system that prevents careless mistakes
relating to the measurement such as entry errors, missing entries, and measurement
errors (mixing up of the measuring instruments) has not yet been established. Also,
it is hard to keep track of the status of measurement jobs. Worse still, the measurement
data can only be input from the measuring instruments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a measurement
data collection apparatus capable of solving the above-mentioned problems.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a measurement data collection
apparatus includes collection/analysis processing means having at least a measuring
instrument interface for converting measurement data input from a measuring instrument
into data having a form corresponding to measurement contents. The apparatus can
accommodate the difference in data form to collect measurement results as electronic
(for example, magnetic) data, irrespective of the measurement contents, including
data input such as the results obtained by a appearance check, or the kind of measuring
instrument differing in output (digital or analog) or presence of commands (instructions).
Therefore, it is also possible to quickly and easily perform form printing based
on the collected data and data processing by arithmetic operations and so on.
Preferably, the measurement data collection apparatus has the collection/analysis
processing means further including a measurement data collection interface for
converting the data having the form corresponding to the measurement contents into
measurement data having a predetermined form. The apparatus can accommodate the
difference in data form to collect the measurement results as electronic (for example,
magnetic) data in a common form irrespective of the measurement contents. Therefore,
it is also possible to quickly and easily perform the form printing based on the
collected data and data processing by arithmetic operations and so on.
The collection/analysis processing means in the measurement data collection apparatus
may send a signal giving an instruction to the measuring instrument in accordance
with a form that is processible by the measuring instrument. Accordingly, it is
possible to give instructions to control the measuring instrument.
Preferably, the collection/analysis processing means in the measurement
data collection apparatus is provided for each of the measurement contents and
each kind of the measuring instrument. The measurement data collection apparatus
may further include control processing means for identifying the measurement contents
and the kind of a designated measuring instrument based on measuring instrument
data on items relating to the measuring instrument and for determining the collection/analysis
processing means to be employed in processing. Accordingly, only identification
of the measuring instrument can cause the control processing means to dynamically
determine the collection/analysis processing means, which can perform the processing.
Preferably, the measuring instrument data for identifying the measuring
instrument is provided for each measuring instrument in the measurement data collection
apparatus. The measuring instrument data may correlate with the measurement data
measured by the measuring instrument. Therefore, it is also possible to analyze
the stored data in a time series manner to understand the trend in characteristics
of the measuring instrument and so on.
The measurement data that is processed by the collection/analysis processing
means of the measurement data collection apparatus may be binary data. Accordingly,
it is also possible to address the data such as OK or NG independently of the data form.
The measurement data collection apparatus further may include input means for
inputting the measurement data. Accordingly, the operator can input the data such
as numerical values, OK, or NG, which can be processed.
The measurement data collection apparatus further may include a recording medium
for storing the measurement data. Therefore, the data can be read from the recording
medium, etc., not only when actually performing the measurement, but also after
finishing the measurement.
The measuring instrument interface in the measurement data collection apparatus
preferably controls the associated measuring instrument based on data for controlling
the associated measuring instrument. Accordingly, it is possible to give instructions
to the measuring instrument to control it.
The measuring instrument interface in the measurement data collection apparatus
preferably converts the measurement data differing between kinds of the measuring
instrument into data having a predetermined form for each of the measurement contents.
Accordingly, it is possible to unify the data form independently of the measuring instrument.
The collection/analysis processing means in the measurement data collection apparatus
may send a signal for activating objects to be measured. Therefore, functional
measurement of the objects to be measured can be performed by causing the objects
to carry out patterned actions by the signal.
The measuring instrument data of the measurement data collection apparatus preferably
includes data on a calibration date of the measuring instrument. Therefore, it
is possible to obtain effective data showing the preciseness of the measurement,
thus guaranteeing the quality of the objects to be measured. Also, the data thus
obtained can provide reference information about the inspection time for the measuring
instrument and so on.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention
will become clear from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a measurement data collection
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration centering on a data collecting/analyzing
unit ID of data processing means;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the entire process for collecting measurement data;
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the relationships between different kinds of
measuring instruments 3 and the data collecting/analyzing unit ID;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the process of the actions of the measuring
instrument involving size measurement centering on the data collecting/analyzing
unit ID;
FIG. 6 is a table showing measuring instrument data stored in storage means 14;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the process of the actions of the measuring
instrument, centering on the data collecting/analyzing unit ID, involving action
measurement for assembly parts (assembling parts);
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the process of the actions for processing
the measurement data recorded on a recording medium centering on the data collecting/analyzing
unit ID; and
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the process of the actions of the measuring
instrument 3 that is not required to send the collection signals centering
on the data collecting/analyzing unit ID.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a measurement data collection
apparatus according to the embodiments of the present invention. Referring to FIG.
1, data processing means
1 includes a control processing unit
1A,
a data access processing unit
1B, a data arithmetic processing unit
1C,
a data collecting/analyzing unit
1D, a display processing unit
1E,
and a primary storage unit
1F. The control processing unit
1A controls
data communication among the units within the data processing means
1. It
also makes a processing determination based on input data and outputs the data
obtained as a result to the other units. The data access processing unit
1B
performs processing required for data communication with the other means or units.
For example, it performs the processing to create data for requiring and instructing
a database system outside of the apparatus (not shown) (hereinafter, referred to
as DB system) to store the measurement data collected, or it performs the processing
to send this data. Also, the data access processing unit
1B performs the
processing to create or send the data for requiring and instructing the reading
of various data from the DB system. Further, it performs the processing to read
all or part of various data stored in storage means
4 during measurement
or to store the data in the storage means
4. The data arithmetic processing
unit
1C carries out its operations based on the measurement data, such as
calculating the allowance or calculating a circumference based on the coordinates
of three points on the circumference, to calculate the new measurement data. It
also carries out the operations based on the numerical values, operators, functions,
and so on input by an operator. The data collecting/analyzing unit
1D processes
measurement signals to collect measurement data or groups of measurement data contained
in the measurement signals. It also sends collection signals based on the instruction
of the control processing unit
1A to a measuring instrument
3 to
cause the measuring instrument
3 to perform measuring actions. Since the
measurement signals and the collection signals here vary depending on the kind
of the measuring instrument
3, a different kind of data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D is used in accordance with the kind of the measuring instrument
3. Because different kinds of the data collecting/analyzing units
1D
are provided independently of each other, one kind of data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D can be added to or removed from the apparatus. Identification of
the measuring instrument
3 used for the measurement and determination of
the kind of the data collecting/analyzing unit
1D are performed by the control
processing unit
1A. The control processing unit
1A identifies the
measuring instrument
3 determined by the operator (measurer) based on the
signals input as input signals from input means
2. It then determines the
data collecting/analyzing unit
1D based on measuring instrument data including
code data, proper name data, data for the data collecting/analyzing unit
1D,
calibration date data, and so on. The display processing unit
1E creates
and sends display signals to cause display means
5 to perform displaying.
The primary storage unit
1F is provided for temporarily storing various
data to be processed or that has been already processed by each of the units.
The input means
2 includes a pointing device, such as a mouse, and a keyboard.
It converts the data input by the operator into the input signals and sends it
to the data processing means
1. In some cases, it performs the same function
as interface means
6, that is, it sends the input signals containing the
measurement data as the measurement signals. In such a case, the input means
2
acts as means for inputting the measurement data as with the measuring instrument
3. The measuring instrument
3 sends the measurement signals based
on measured magnitude (physical quantity). Here, the measuring instrument
3
includes, for example, both the instrument for measuring the sizes or weights of
objects to be measured such as a digital caliper, a three-dimensional measuring
instrument, or a micrometer microscope, and the instrument for measuring a physical
quantity such as temperature of those other than the objects to be measured, for
example, the surrounding environment (processing condition, processing environment).
Further, the measuring means
3 includes instruments such as a camera for
sending image data as signals. The measurement signals sent by the measuring instrument
3 here can be any kind of signals such as analog signals or digital signals.
A plurality of measuring instruments
3 may be connected to the apparatus.
The storage means
4 is a so-called secondary storage, which is means for
storing the data to be processed by the data processing means
1. It may
also serve as storage means for storing the measurement data in some cases. The
display means
5 is implemented by means such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)
or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). It performs displaying based on the display
signals sent from the data processing means
1. The interface means
6
converts various measurement signals sent from the measuring instrument
3
into the measurement signals in such a form that can be processed by the data processing
means
1. Therefore, the measuring instrument
3 which can send the
measurement signals in such a form that can be processed by the data processing
means
1 without the interface means
6 requires no interface means
6. Specifically, interfaces such as an RS-232C for converting serial signals,
a Centronics interface for converting parallel signals, or a GP-IB serve as the
interface means
6. Also, the interface means
6 also includes data
reading means (for example, FDD or CD-ROM drive) that reads the data recorded on,
for example, a recording medium such as FD or CD and sends it as the signals in
such a form that can be processed by the data processing means
1. Data transmitting/receiving
means
7, which is implemented by, for example, a modem, is means for communicating
the signals, or the data, with other apparatuses via a network. Here, the data
transmitting/receiving means
7 mainly serves as an interface when it stores
various data in the DB system or when the data processing means
1 reads
the data stored in the DB system for use.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration centering on the data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D of the data processing means
1. The data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D includes a measurement data collection interface
1D-
1
and a measuring instrument interface
1D-
2. The measurement data collection
interface
1D-
1 serves as the interface between the control processing
unit
1A and the measuring instrument interface
1D-
2. It processes
the measurement data, which is processed by the measuring instrument interface
1D-
2, in accordance with measurement contents and converts it into
measurement data in a predetermined form that can be processed by the control processing
unit
1A and so on. The measurement data collection interface
1D-
1
also causes the measuring instrument interface
1D-
2 to process instructions
(control commands) sent from the control processing unit
1A. The measuring
instrument interface
1D-
2 performs the processing to create command
data for instructing the measuring instrument
3 when receiving the instructions
from the control processing unit
1A via the measurement data collection
interface
1D-
1, and sends it to the measuring instrument
3
as the collection signals. The command data includes, for example, initialization
command data for initializing the measuring instrument
3, data collection
command data for requesting the measuring instrument
3 to send the measurement
data, and termination command data for causing the measuring instrument
3
to terminate the measurement. Then, when the objects to be measured operate based
on activation signals, the measuring instrument interface
1D-
2 sends
control signals for activating the objects to be measured to a signal generator
(not shown) in order to inspect the actions of the objects. The signal generator
sends the activation signals based on the sent signals to the measured objects
to cause the objects to perform patterned actions. The measuring instrument interface
1D-
2 also analyzes (protocol analysis) the measurement data included
in the sent measurement signals, and converts it into the measurement data that
can be processed by the measurement data collection interface
1D-
1
independently from any kind of the measuring instrument
3.
Heretofore, measuring instruments capable of collecting data have been
limited to the measuring instruments that can send signals which can be processed
by means corresponding to the data processing means
1. Accordingly, in the
measurement data collection apparatus according to the embodiments of the present
invention, the interface means
6 and the data collecting/analyzing unit
1D appropriate for different kinds of measuring instruments
3 (including
the input means
2) are provided. The interface means
6 converts the
signals into the measurement signals in such a form that can be processed by the
data processing means
1. Then, the data collecting/analyzing unit
1D
determined by the control processing unit
1A in accordance with the kind
of the measuring instrument
3 analyzes the measurement signals and processes
them for conversion. After that, it stores all of the measurement data measured
by different kinds of measuring instruments
3 as electronic data (including
data that can be recorded in similar forms such as magnetic form) to enable them
to be processed. Therefore, not only data such as numerical data, but also binary
data such as OK/NG can be stored and so on as the measurement data. Here, the measuring
instruments
3 of the same kind may be used depending on the type of the
measurement. Since each of the measuring instruments
3, even when they are
of the same kind, has different characteristics, each measuring instrument
3
is controlled separately regardless of the kind. However, with respect to the measuring
instruments
3 of the same kind, the same data collecting/analyzing unit
1D can be used for processing. When the collection signals including control
command data are sent to the measuring instrument
3, the corresponding data
collecting/analyzing unit
1D also sends the collection signals including
the data in such forms that different kinds of measuring instruments
3 can
process, based on the instructions from the control processing units
1A.
Further, the data collecting/analyzing unit
1D can send the control signals
including the data for patterned actions to cause the objects to be measured to
perform the patterned actions, when inspecting the actions of the objects to be
measured in response to the instructions from the control processing unit
1A.
Also, when it controls each measuring instrument
3, it also manages the
data relating to the date when the measuring instrument
3 is calibrated
to guarantee the product quality. Each unit included in the data processing means
1 can be configured as hardware (including a firmware), that is, can be
configured as independent means, not as a part of the data processing means
1.
However, when configuring the apparatus according to the embodiments of the present
invention, the data processing means
1 in a data processing device is implemented
by arithmetic and control means (a computer) having, for example, a CPU (Central
Processing Unit) as a central unit, and the processing procedure of each unit is
programmed in advance (configured as software). The above-mentioned function is
realized by the arithmetic and control means, which executes the program and performs
the processing based on the program. In such a case, the data communication among
the units in the data processing means
1 described above is internally processed
within the data processing means
1. Although each of the means is illustrated
and described separately, it may be integrally configured.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the entire process for collecting the measurement
data. The action for collecting the measurement data centering on the data processing
means
1 will be described here. The description will be made of the measuring
instrument
3 acting based on control command signals. At first, the operator
(measurer) determines the measuring instrument
3 used for the measurement,
and inputs the name of the measuring instrument
3 using the input means
2 or selects it from various options. The control processing unit
1A
identifies the measuring instrument
3 used for the measurement based on
the input by the operator (S
1). Next, the control processing unit
1A
determines the data collecting/analyzing unit
1D in accordance with the
identified measuring instrument
3 (S
2). The control processing unit
1A then instructs the determined data collecting/analyzing unit
1D
to send the collection signals including the initialization command data appropriate
for the measuring instrument
3 (S
3). After a predetermined period
of time or when the instructions are provided from the operator via the input means
2, the control processing unit
1A causes the data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D to send the collection signals including collection command data
appropriate for the measuring instrument
3 (S
4). The data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D processes the measurement data included in the measurement signals
sent from the measuring instrument
3 (S
5). The control processing
unit
1A temporarily stores the measurement data processed by the data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D in the primary storage unit
1F (S
6). The data arithmetic
processing unit
1C performs the operations based on the measurement data
stored in the primary storage unit
1F, and performs the processing to create
the new measurement data in accordance with the operations (S
7). The measurement
data thus collected or operated and thus created and processed is stored in, for
example, the DB system (S
8). The control processing unit
1A causes
the determined data collecting/analyzing unit
1D to send the collection
signals including the termination command data appropriate for the measuring instrument
3 (S
9). Then, it terminates the sending of the measurement signals
from the measuring instrument
3 (S
10) and terminates the receiving
of the input from the interface means
6 (S
11).
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the relationships between different kinds of
measuring instruments
3 and the data collecting/analyzing unit
1D.
Examples of items to be measured are shown in FIG. 4. Different kinds of measurement
data collection interfaces
1D-
1 are used in accordance with the measurement
contents (the kind of measurement). Also, different kinds of measuring instrument
interfaces
1D-
2 are used in accordance with the kinds of the measuring
instrument
3 and the interface means
6.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the process of the actions of the measuring
instrument
3 involving size measurement centering on the data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D. The actions in some relationships will be described among those
shown in FIG. 4. The interface means
6 is omitted in FIGS. 5,
7,
8, and
9 for clarity. First, the measuring instrument
3 involved
in the size measurement will be described (the measuring instrument
3 involved
in the size measurement is referred to as a measuring instrument
3A here).
The data such as the object names to be measured, the code of the measuring instrument
3A used, and the measurer's name is input by the measurer (operator). The
time of measurement and so on are also input at this time. The data, which is sent
and included in the input signals, is processed by the control processing unit
1A. The control processing unit
1A then identifies the measuring
instrument
3A input by the measurer based on the data of the measuring instrument
name (S
51). Here, it is assumed that a measuring instrument
3A-
1
is input.
FIG. 6 is a table showing the measuring instrument data stored in the storage
means
4. The data on items including types (measurement types such as digital
caliper and metallograph, or signal modes) and characteristics with respect to
each measuring instrument is called the measuring instrument data. Here, all of
the measuring instrument data may be stored in the DB system. However, among measuring
instrument data, the data concerning at least the codes, the measuring instrument
names, the data collecting/analyzing unit
1D used in the measurement, and
the calibration date is also stored in the storage means
4 of the data processing
device in the embodiments of the present invention.
The control processing unit
1A dynamically determines the corresponding
data collecting/analyzing unit
1D (AACtrl is used here) based on the identified
measuring instrument (the measuring instrument
3A-
1) (when configured
as software, it executes the corresponding programs) to allow the data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D to run (S
52).
The measuring instrument interface
1D-
2 of the determined data
collecting/analyzing unit
1D performs the processing to create the initialization
command data in response to the instructions by the control commands from the control
processing unit
1A, and sends it as the collection signals to the measuring
instrument
3A (S
53). However, step S
53 is omitted when no
initialization is required.
When the measuring instrument
3A-
1 can send the measurement signals,
the measurer performs the measurement using the measuring instrument
3A-
1
(S
54). The measurement data (size) is temporarily stored in the measuring
instrument
3A-
1. When the measurement is finished, the measurer inputs
the instructions for collecting data using the input means
2. The control
processing unit
1A processes the input signals sent from the measurer. When
the measuring instrument interface
1D-
2 receives the instructions
from the control processing unit
1A based on the processed input signals,
it performs the processing to create the data collection command data (size) in
accordance with the measuring instrument
3A (the measuring instrument
3A-
1),
and sends it as the collection signals (S
55).
The measuring instrument
3A-
1 sends the measurement signals containing
the measurement data (size) based on the data collection command data (size) included
in the collection signals. The measuring instrument interface
1D-
2
analyzes the measurement data (size) included in the measurement signals sent from
the measuring instrument
3A-
1 (in some cases, through the interface
means
6), and converts it into the data format that the other units can
process (S
56).
The collection process in accordance with the measurement contents is performed
on the converted measurement data in the measurement data collection interface
1D-
1 (S
57). Further, the relevant processes to other data
(for example, the measurement data concerning the surrounding environment, the
measuring instrument data of the measuring instrument
3A-
1, and so
on) are performed in the control processing unit
1A. Depending on the cases,
the data arithmetic processing unit
1C may perform the operations to create
the new measurement data. Based on the processed results, the display processing
unit
1E creates the display signals, which are displayed on the display
means
5 in order to be shown to the measurer.
When the processes described above are finished, the data access processing
unit
1B creates the instruction data for storing the data in the DB system
and sends it as the signals. It then sends the processed data as the signals and
stores it in the DB system. Here, the data can be stored in the storage means
4 (S
58).
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the process of the actions of the measuring
instrument
3, centering on the data collecting/analyzing unit
1D,
involved in the parts measurement for assembly parts (assembling parts). The description
will be made of measuring the assembly parts (the measuring instrument
3
involved in the parts measurement is referred to as a measuring instrument
3B).
Because steps S
61 to S
63 are processed in the same manner as for
the measuring instrument
3A involving the size measurement described above,
their description will be omitted here.
The measuring instrument interface
1D-
2 of the determined data
collecting/analyzing unit
1D (BBCtrl is used here) performs the processing
to create the command data for activating the signal generator in response to the
instructions from the control processing unit
1A. The measuring instrument
interface
1D-
2 sends the control signals (parts action) to the signal
generator based on the command data (S
64), and causes the objects to be
measured to perform the patterned actions (S
65). The measurer carries out
the measurement using the measuring instrument
3B based on the actions (S
66).
The measurement data (parts action) is temporarily stored in the measuring instrument
3B. When the measurement is finished, the measurer inputs the instructions
for collecting the data using the input means
2. The control processing
unit
1A processes the input signals sent from the measurer. The measuring
instrument interface
1D-
2 performs the processing to create the collection
command data (parts action) in response to the instructions from the control processing
unit
1A. It then converts the collection command data (parts action) into
the data appropriate for the kind of the measuring instrument
3B, and sends
it as the collection signals (S
67). Because the subsequent steps S
68
to S
70 are processed in the same manner as steps S
56 to S
58
of the measuring instrument
3A involving the size measurement described
above, their description will be omitted here.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the process of the actions for processing
the measurement data recorded on the recording medium centering on the data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D. The description will be made of processing the measurement data
recorded on the recording medium (the measuring instrument
3 for recording
the measurement data on the recording medium is referred as to a measuring instrument
3C). Because steps S
81 and S
82 are processed in the same manner
as steps S
51 and S
52 of the measuring instrument
3A involving
the size measurement described above, their description will be omitted here.
The measurer performs the measurement using the measuring instrument
3C
(S
83). It then records the measurement data by the measuring instrument
3C on the recording medium such as a FD (S
84). Since this job is
executed separately from the actions of the apparatus, it may not be necessarily
performed after steps S
81 and S
82.
The operator for operating the data processing means
1 (regardless of
being the measurer) sets the recording medium so as to cause data reading means
serving as the interface means
6 to read the measurement data by the measuring
instrument
3C. The control processing unit
1A identifies the instructions
from the operator included in the input signals from the input means
2,
and causes the data reading means to read the measurement data recorded on the
recording medium and to send it to the data processing means
1 as the signals (S
85).
The measuring instrument interface
1D-
2 analyzes the measurement
data included in the signals from the data reading means and converts it into the
data format that the other units can process (S
86). The converted measurement
data is processed in accordance with the measurement contents in the measurement
data collection interface
1D-
1 (S
87). Further, the relevant
processes to other data (for example, the measurement data concerning the surrounding
environment, the measuring instrument data of the measuring instrument
3C,
and so on) are performed in the control processing unit
1A. Depending on
the cases, the data arithmetic processing unit
1C may perform the operations
to create the new measurement data. Based on the processed results, the display
processing unit
1E creates the display signals, which are displayed on the
display means
5 in order to be shown to the operator.
When the processes described above are finished, the data access processing
unit
1B creates the instruction data for storing the data in the DB system
and sends it as the signals. It then sends the processed data as the signals and
stores it in the DB system. Here, the data can be stored in the storage means
4 (S
88).
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the process of the actions of the measuring
instrument
3, that is not required to send the collection signals, centering
on the data collecting/analyzing unit
1D. The measuring instrument
3
that is not required to send the collection signals is referred to as a measuring
instrument
3D. Because steps S
91 and S
92 are processed in
the same manner as steps S
51 and S
52 of the measuring instrument
3A involving the size measurement described above, their description will
be omitted here.
The measurement data collection interface
1D-
1 and the measuring
instrument interface
1D-
2 of the determined data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D (DDCtr
1 is used here) enter a waiting state for the measurement
signals in response to the instructions from the control processing unit
1A.
The measurer performs the measurement using the measuring instrument
3D
(S
93). When the measurement signals are sent from the measuring instrument
3D (S
94), the measuring instrument interface
1D-
2 analyzes
the measurement data included in the measurement signals sent from the measuring
instrument
3D (in some cases, through the interface means
6), and
converts it into the data format that the other units can process (S
95).
The converted measurement data is processed in accordance with the measurement
contents, in the measurement data collection interface
1D-
1 (S
96).
Further, the relevant processes to other data (for example, the measurement data
concerning the surrounding environment, the measuring instrument data of the measuring
instrument
3D, and so on) are performed in the control processing unit
1A.
Depending on the cases, the data arithmetic processing unit
1C may perform
the operations to create the new measurement data. Based on the processed results,
the display processing unit
1E creates the display signals, which are displayed
on the display means
5 in order to be shown to the measurer.
When the processes described above are finished, the data access processing
unit
1B creates the instruction data for storing the data in the DB system
and sends it as the signals. It then sends the processed data as the signals and
stores it in the DB system. Here, the data can be stored in the storage means
4 (S
97).
In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, as described above,
the control processing unit
1A dynamically determines the data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D to run, which is provided in the different kinds of the measuring
instrument
3, based on the instructions from the measuring instrument
3
by the measurer, and different measurement signals are processed depending on the
kinds of the measuring instrument
3. Accordingly, the measurement data having
different formats can be stored as electrical data irrespective of the kind of
the measuring instrument
3 or the measurement contents. Also, the measurement
data can be input not only from the measuring instrument
3, but also from
the input means
2 such as a keyboard. Further, the data recorded on the
recording medium can be input. Therefore, all of the measurement data can be stored
as the electrical data with no intervals and it is also possible to perform form
printing. Because sending the control signals from the data collecting/analyzing
unit
1D can cause the objects to be measured to perform the patterned actions,
which can be checked and can be made the measurement data, the action checks of
the assembly parts such as an ink discharge test of inkjet heads can be easily
performed. The same data collecting/analyzing unit
1D can be used for the
measuring instruments
3 of the same kind even if they have different measuring
instrument data respectively. Further, each of the measuring instruments
3
has the data on its calibration date as the measuring instrument data, thus being
assured that products of high quality can be achieved.
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-073750 filed Mar.
18, 2002 is incorporated by reference.
*
