Patents by Inventor Alexander K. Peat

Alexander K. Peat has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9341578
    Abstract: A method of inspecting a painted finish of a component such as a vehicle body or panel includes positioning the component with respect to an array of LED lighting fixtures each having LED tubes and generating light via the array with a predetermined set of lighting characteristics. The set of lighting characteristics includes a striped pattern, a beam angle of at least 120 degrees, and a CRI of at least 85 or at least 90. The method includes inspecting the painted surface for defects while illuminating the component with the light from the array. A control action is executed with respect to the component when the component contains a threshold number and/or a threshold size of the defects. Each array may have two LED tubes and four angled reflectors, and illuminating includes reflecting light from the LED tubes off of the angled reflectors toward the painted surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Patrick A. Porter, Alexander K. Peat
  • Publication number: 20160097725
    Abstract: A method of inspecting a painted finish of a component such as a vehicle body or panel includes positioning the component with respect to an array of LED lighting fixtures each having LED tubes and generating light via the array with a predetermined set of lighting characteristics. The set of lighting characteristics includes a striped pattern, a beam angle of at least 120 degrees, and a CRI of at least 85 or at least 90. The method includes inspecting the painted surface for defects while illuminating the component with the light from the array. A control action is executed with respect to the component when the component contains a threshold number and/or a threshold size of the defects. Each array may have two LED tubes and four angled reflectors, and illuminating includes reflecting light from the LED tubes off of the angled reflectors toward the painted surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick A. Porter, Alexander K. Peat