The optical measurement apparatus includes an interface unit and a measuring unit. The interface unit is configured to receive a synchronization signal transmitted from a PLC to a fieldbus at a constant communication cycle, and output, in synchronization with the synchronization signal, a result of measurement (a measured value) by the optical measurement apparatus and a synchronization supervisory signal. The measuring unit is configured to execute optical measurement at a measurement cycle irrelevant to the communication cycle and generate a result of the measurement and a synchronization supervisory signal. The measuring unit sets the synchronization supervisory signal into an ON state in synchronization with receipt of the synchronization signal by the interface unit after start of the measurement, and sets the synchronization supervisory signal into an OFF state in synchronization with receipt of the synchronization signal by the interface unit when the interface unit outputs the measurement result.

To generate link information containing association between machining information and/or machine information in a machining program, and an optical feature in a workpiece image. A link information generation device 1 comprises: a machining information acquisition unit 111 that acquires machining information in a machining program for a machine tool that executes machining on a workpiece W; a machine information acquisition unit 112 that acquires machine information about the machining state of the machine tool; a workpiece image acquisition unit 13 that acquires image information about the workpiece W; an optical feature setting unit 14 that sets an image area having an optical feature in the image information about the workpiece W; and a link information generation unit 15 that generates link information containing association between the image area having the optical feature, and the machining information and/or the machine information about a workpiece area associated with the image area.

A measurement system and method, which increases a degree of freedom for setting a measurement period and a transmission period of measurement values and has a high accuracy, are provided. The measurement system includes a control device and a measurement device that measures a measurement object in a first period and transmits measurement values obtained from the measurement device to the control device. The measurement device transmits the measurement values waiting to be transmitted and additional information including information of the number of the measurement values waiting to be transmitted to the control device using frames transmitted in a second period that is longer than the first period. The control device generates time series data in which the measurement values are arranged in time series using the additional information.

A timing circuit is provided comprising a light sensing component operable to generate a raw solar signal, a solar signal regulator comprising a voltage regulator and a low-pass filter, the solar signal regulator coupled to the raw solar signal and generating a regulated solar signal, a comparator coupled to the regulated solar signal and a reference value, the comparator configured to assert a solar output signal when the regulated solar signal exceeds the reference value, and a timing circuit coupled to the solar output signal and configured to assert a timer output signal a preset delay duration after the solar output signal is asserted, and to maintain the timer output signal for a preset output duration.

A timing circuit is provided comprising a light sensing component operable to generate a raw solar signal, a solar signal regulator comprising a voltage regulator and a low-pass filter, the solar signal regulator coupled to the raw solar signal and generating a regulated solar signal, a comparator coupled to the regulated solar signal and a reference value, the comparator configured to assert a solar output signal when the regulated solar signal exceeds the reference value, and a timing circuit coupled to the solar output signal and configured to assert a timer output signal a preset delay duration after the solar output signal is asserted, and to maintain the timer output signal for a preset output duration.

The optical measurement apparatus includes an interface unit and a measuring unit. The interface unit is configured to receive a synchronization signal transmitted from a PLC to a fieldbus at a constant communication cycle, and output, in synchronization with the synchronization signal, a result of measurement (a measured value) by the optical measurement apparatus and a synchronization supervisory signal. The measuring unit is configured to execute optical measurement at a measurement cycle irrelevant to the communication cycle and generate a result of the measurement and a synchronization supervisory signal. The measuring unit sets the synchronization supervisory signal into an ON state in synchronization with receipt of the synchronization signal by the interface unit after start of the measurement, and sets the synchronization supervisory signal into an OFF state in synchronization with receipt of the synchronization signal by the interface unit when the interface unit outputs the measurement result.

A PLC system includes a displacement sensor, drives, and a PLC. The PLC system obtains line measurement data including a plurality of pieces of measurement information or 1D information from the displacement sensor and a plurality of pieces of positional information from the drives that are read in accordance with measurement intervals, generates 2D shape data, and generates 2D shape data as 1D arrangement information for every measurement interval from combination line measurement data combining the 1D information and the positional information.

A measurement system and method, which increases a degree of freedom for setting a measurement period and a transmission period of measurement values and has a high accuracy, are provided. The measurement system includes a control device and a measurement device that measures a measurement object in a first period and transmits measurement values obtained from the measurement device to the control device. The measurement device transmits the measurement values waiting to be transmitted and additional information including information of the number of the measurement values waiting to be transmitted to the control device using frames transmitted in a second period that is longer than the first period. The control device generates time series data in which the measurement values are arranged in time series using the additional information.

To generate link information containing association between machining information and/or machine information in a machining program, and an optical feature in a workpiece image. A link information generation device 1 comprises: a machining information acquisition unit 111 that acquires machining information in a machining program for a machine tool that executes machining on a workpiece W; a machine information acquisition unit 112 that acquires machine information about the machining state of the machine tool; a workpiece image acquisition unit 13 that acquires image information about the workpiece W; an optical feature setting unit 14 that sets an image area having an optical feature in the image information about the workpiece W; and a link information generation unit 15 that generates link information containing association between the image area having the optical feature, and the machining information and/or the machine information about a workpiece area associated with the image area.

A PLC system includes a displacement sensor, drives, and a PLC. The PLC system performs a data obtaining process for obtaining one-dimensional information from the displacement sensor and positional information from the drives in a task with a first constant cycle, and performs a data generation process for generating two-dimensional shape data or three-dimensional shape data based on the obtained measurement data in a task with a second constant cycle, and can set an amount of processing to be performed for one task in the data generation process.