MACHINE VISION INTEGRATION AND INFORMATION SUPPORT - METHODS, MODELS AND TOOLS

In recent years, machine vision systems have been introduced into the electronics manufacturing industry for control and inspection applicat ions. For some applications, great benefit has been derived, but serio us limitations affecting flexibility and the system life cycle have be en exposed. This paper proposes a model for building integratable visi on machines capable of deriving benefit from support information, prov iding facilities to ease change and improve flexibility. A proof of co ncept implementation is discussed using information storage based on b oth the relational and the object-oriented models. The paper presuppos es the need for an integration infrastructure such as that specified b y CIM-OSA or as implemented at Loughborough University of Technology b y the Systems Integration Group as the CIM-BIOSYS (Computer Integrated Manufacturing Building Integrated Open Systems) integration infrastru cture.