Method and system for storing calibration data within image files

Abstract

A system and method for storing, within an image transfer medium, an image and image-specific data associated with the image includes obtaining the image-specific data from a probe such as a borescope or endoscope, obtaining the corresponding image, choosing a specific image transfer medium, writing the image to the medium, and writing the image-specific data to a marker in the medium. In this manner, storing a combination of image data and one or more of system calibration data, overlay replacement data, and audio comment data in a single file of either a non-standard file format or a standard file format that does not explicitly support the inclusion of these data types is possible.

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       29 . A method of inspecting an engine, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an endoscopic probe;    providing an optical measurement tip for use with said endoscopic probe;    capturing image data representative of a portion of said engine using said endoscopic probe and said optical measurement tip;    performing a dimensional measurement using said captured image data and measurement tip calibration data specific to said optical measurement tip;    embedding data sets representative of said captured image data and said measurement tip calibration data into a single data package; and    storing said single data package.    
   
   
       30 . A method as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the embedding step includes the step of embedding a data set representative of said dimensional measurement into said single data package.  
   
   
       31 . A method as recited in  claim 29 , wherein said single data package is selected from the group consisting essentially of digital still image, digital video, and analog video formats.  
   
   
       32 . A method as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said digital still image format includes at least one of JPEG, TIFF, bitmap, and PCX formats.  
   
   
       33 . A method as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said digital video format includes at least one of MPEG and AVI formats.  
   
   
       34 . A method as recited in  claim 31 , wherein said analog video format uses closed captioning.  
   
   
       35 . A method as recited in  claim 29 , including the step of embedding markers for each of the dimensional measurement and measurement tip calibration data within the single data package in relation to said image data.  
   
   
       36 . A method as recited in  claim 29 , including the steps of capturing audio data as part of said inspection and embedding the captured audio data into said single data package.  
   
   
       37 . A method of measuring the defect of an object, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an endoscope;    providing an optical measurement tip for use with said endoscope;    capturing image data representative of a portion of said defect using said endoscope probe and said optical measurement tip;    performing a dimensional measurement of said defect using said captured image data and measurement tip calibration data specific to said optical measurement tip;    embedding data sets representative of said captured image data and said measurement tip calibration data into a single data package; and    storing said single data package.    
   
   
       38 . A method as recited in  claim 37 , including the step of embedding a data set representative of the dimensional measurement into the single data package.  
   
   
       39 . A method as recited in  claim 37 , wherein said data package is selected from the group consisting essentially of digital still image, digital video, and analog video formats.  
   
   
       40 . A method as recited in  claim 39 , wherein said digital still image format includes at least one of JPEG, TIFF, bitmap, and PCX formats.  
   
   
       41 . A method as recited in  claim 39 , wherein said digital video format includes at least one of MPEG and AVI formats.  
   
   
       42 . A method as recited in  claim 39 , wherein said analog video format uses closed captioning.  
   
   
       43 . A method as recited in  claim 37 , including the steps of capturing audio data associated with said measurement and embedding the captured audio data in the single data package.  
   
   
       44 . A method as recited in  claim 37 , wherein said embedding step includes the step of providing markers for each of the measurement image data and calibration tip data within the single data package in relation to said image data.  
   
   
       45 . A method as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the measurement tip calibration data specific to said optical tip includes at least one of the tip type, the tip color code, the tip serial number, the tip optical distortion, shadow geometry parameters, and a checksum of tip calibration data.  
   
   
       46 . A method of inspecting an engine, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an endoscopic probe;    providing an optical measurement tip for use with said endoscopic probe;    capturing image data representative of a portion of said engine using said endoscopic probe and said optical measurement tip;    performing a dimensional measurement using said captured image data and measurement tip calibration data specific to said optical measurement tip;    embedding data sets representative of said captured image data, said measurement tip calibration data and said dimensional measurement into a single data package; and    storing said single data package.    
   
   
       47 . A method of measuring the defect of an object, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an endoscope;    providing an optical measurement tip for use with said endoscope;    capturing image data representative of a portion of said defect using said endoscope probe and said optical measurement tip;    performing a dimensional measurement of said defect using said captured image data and measurement tip calibration data specific to said optical measurement tip;    embedding data sets representative of said captured image data, said measurement tip calibration data and said dimensional measurement into a single data package; and    storing said single data package.    
   
   
       48 . A system for inspecting and measuring an object comprising: 
 an endoscope having an endoscopic probe including an optical measurement tip;    means for capturing image data representative of a portion of said object using endoscopic probe and said optical measurement tip;    means for performing a dimensional measurement using said captured image data and measurement tip calibration data specific to said optical measurement tip;    means for embedding data sets representative of said captured image data, said measurement tip calibration data and said dimensional measurement into a single data package; and    means for storing said single data package.