Patent Application
20140000516
The present invention is related to a contrast target tool and, in particular, a contrast target tool having a marker end that can be tracked by a digital imaging system and used to place a visible mark on a surface at a desired location.
An important activity in industrial manufacturing and/or repair can include finding a precise location on a surface of a part or component in order to attach a separate component at a desired location or to remove a portion of the surface at the desired location. For example, a three-dimensional object such as an automotive panel can be modified by placing or cutting a hole, slot, and the like at a desired location within the panel. However, finding a precise location on a three-dimensional contoured surface can be timely and require placement of the object within a machining fixture, measurement block, etc. As such, a tool and/or a process for finding a precise location on such a surface that reduces time and effort would be desirable.
A contrast target tool for locating and marking desired location on a surface of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional object is provided. The contrast target tool can have target flange with a plurality of contrast targets thereon and a marker that is rigidly attached to and extending from the target flange. The marker can have a marker end that is operable to produce a mark on the surface of the three-dimensional object and the target flange with the marker can be viewed and tracked by a digital imaging system. In addition, a present location of the marker end can be determined, tracked and provided to a user in real time, thereby aiding the user in locating and placing the marker end at the desired location on the object surface in a time efficient manner. The marker can be a center punch that is operable to put an indentation on the surface of the object, a retractable marker pen operable to put an ink mark on the surface of the object, and the like. In addition, the marker can be operable to produce the mark on the surface of the object when a force is applied thereto.
A process for locating and marking a desired location on a surface of an object is also provided, the process including providing the object with the surface that has the desired location thereon. In addition, the process includes providing a contrast target tool having a target flange with a plurality of contrast targets, in addition to a marker that is rigidly attached to and extending from the target flange. The marker can have a marker end that is operable to produce a mark on the surface of the object.
A digital imaging system with a camera and a display screen is also provided, the digital imaging system operable to recognize the plurality of contrast targets on the target flange and determine a location in real time of the marker end. The contrast tool is held proximate to the surface of the object and real time digital coordinates of the marker end are displayed on the display screen. In addition, the marker end is moved along the surface of the object while the real time digital coordinates are viewed on the display screen until the marker end is positioned at the desired location. Thereafter, the surface of the object is marked at the desired location with the marker end of the marker.
A contrast tool for locating and marking a desired location on a surface of a three-dimensional object is provided. As such, the contrast target tool has use as a manufacturing tool.
The contrast target tool can include a target flange that can be generally planar in nature and have a plurality of contrast targets thereon. In addition, a marker can be rigidly attached to and extend from the target flange. The marker can have a marker end that is operable to place or create a mark on a surface of a three-dimensional object when desired.
The target flange with the plurality of contrast gets can be viewed by a digital imaging system to provide a precise location of the target flange, the marker and/or the marker end in real time. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “real time” refers to determining and/or providing the precise location of the target flange, contrast targets, marker and/or marker end within strict time constraints and/or without perceivable delay. For example, “real time” can be determination and/or providing of the location of the marker end and providing coordinates of the end within 1 second, 0.5 seconds, 0.1 seconds, 0.01 seconds, 0.001 seconds 0.0001 seconds, 0.00001 seconds or 0.000001 seconds. In this manner, the marker end can be tracked as it is moves across a surface of a three-dimensional object until a desired location is found on the surface of the object. In addition, upon placement of the marker end at the desired location, the marker can place a visible mark on the surface such as a center punch indentation, an ink mark, and the like.
In one embodiment, an individual can hold the contrast target tool in their hand and the contrast targets can be in line of sight of a camera that is part of an imaging system. In some instances the imaging system can be a three-dimensional digital imaging system as is known to those skilled in the art. In addition, a display screen can be provided and be viewable by the individual with the imaging system providing a position of the marker end on the display screen in real time as the individual moves the contrast target tool. The imaging system can also have data, e.g. CAD data, of a desired location on an object and/or a surface of an object, and the individual can track the location of the marker end as it approaches the desired location on the object surface. Once the marker end has been placed at the desired location on the surface of the object by the individual, a force can be applied onto the marker which affords for a mark to be placed on the surface.
Turning now to
Proximate to the contrast target toll 10 can be an object 200 having a surface with a desired location, point, position, etc., thereon. The object 200 also illustratively has a first surface 210, a second surface 220, and a third surface 230. The third surface 230 can be arcuate, that is contoured, and have a desired location 232 thereon. The desired location 232 can be a location0 where an aperture is desired and as such the contrast target tool 10 can provide a mark at the location 232 as disclosed herein.
Referring now to
It is appreciated that the display screen 310 can provide the real time location of the marker end 124 such that an operator can track the position of the marker end 124 as it approaches the desired location 242 on the surface 240. Upon reaching the desired location 242, a force F can be placed upon the distal end 122 and afford for a mark to be placed at the desired location 242 on the surface 240. As stated above, the marker 120 can be a center punch such that the force F provides an indentation at the desired location 242 on the surface 240 or, for example, the marker 120 can be a marking pen that provides an ink mark at the location 242.
In some instances, the digital imaging system 300 can determine a location, orientation, etc., of the three-dimensional object 200 and/or surface 240 such that the object 200 and/or surface 240 do not have to be precisely placed within a machining fixture, measuring block, and the like. For example, the digital imaging system 300 can determine the location, orientation, etc., of the object using photogrammetry, laser scanning, etc., as known to those skilled in the art. In addition, once the location, orientation, etc., is known to the digital imaging system 300, it is appreciated that the desired location 232 and/or 242 can be determined and/or is known by the system 300 such that in combination with real time tracking of the marker end 124, an operator can determine when the marker end 124 is located at the desired location 232 and/or 242.
A process for locating and marking a desired location on a surface of the object can include providing an object having a surface and providing the contrast tool 10. In addition, the digital imaging system 300 with the camera 130 and display screen 310 can be provided with the system 300 affording for recognition of the surface as well as the plurality of contrast targets 110 on the target flange 100. The contrast target tool 10 is held proximate to the surface of the object, e.g. by an individual, and the digital imaging system 300 displays in real time digital coordinates of the marker end 124 on the display screen 310 as illustrated at reference numeral 330. The display screen 310 can also display the coordinate(s) of the desired location, point, etc., to be marked and the marker end 124 can be moved along the surface 230 and/or 240 while the real time coordinates of the marker end are viewed on the display screen. The marker end can then be positioned at the desired location 232 and/or 242 on the surface of the object and the surface marked with the marker end 124. In this manner, a cost- and time-efficient process for locating and marking a desired location on a surface of an object is provided by the contrast target tool disclosed herein.
The contrast target tool and the process described above are appreciated to be exemplary embodiments of the invention but do not limit the scope thereof. In addition, the target flange can be made from any material known to those skilled in the art, illustratively including metals, alloys, plastics, ceramics, and the like. The marker can be any marker that can be rigidly attached to the target flange, illustratively including a center punch, an automatic center punch, a retractable marker pen, a non-retractable marker pen, and the like. The digital imaging system be any imaging system known to those skilled in the art, illustratively including systems provided by GOM mbH, AICON 3d Systems, Breuckmann GmbH and Steinbichler Optotechnik. As such, the specification should be interpreted broadly and it is the claims and all equiv is which define the scope of the invention.
