Patents by Inventor George J. Costigan

George J. Costigan 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: 11563931
    Abstract: A calibration fixture that enables more accurate calibration of a touch probe on, for example, a CMM, with respect to the camera. The camera is mounted so that its optical axis is approximately or substantially parallel with the z-axis of the probe. The probe and workpiece are in relative motion, along a plane defined by orthogonal x and y axes, and optionally the z-axis and/or and rotation R about the z-axis. The calibration fixture is arranged to image from beneath the touch surface of the probe and, via a 180-degree prism structure, to transmit light from the probe touch point along the optical axis to the camera. Alternatively, two cameras respectively view the fiducial location relative to the CMM arm and the probe location when aligned on the fiducial. The fixture can define an integrated assembly with an optics block and a camera assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Filhaber, Lowell D. Jacobson, George J. Costigan
  • Patent number: 11159784
    Abstract: A calibration fixture is provided that enables more accurate calibration of a touch probe on, for example, a coordinate measuring machine (CMM), with respect to the camera. The camera is mounted so that its optical axis is approximately or substantially parallel with the z-axis of the probe. The probe and workpiece are in relative motion, along a plane defined by orthogonal x and y axes, and optionally the z-axis and/or and rotation R about the z-axis. The calibration fixture is arranged to image from beneath the touch surface of the probe and, via a 180-degree prism structure, to transmit light from the probe touch point along the optical axis to the camera. Alternatively, two cameras respectively view the fiducial location relative to the CMM arm and the probe location when aligned on the fiducial. The fixture can define an integrated assembly with an optics block and a camera assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Filhaber, Lowell D. Jacobson, George J. Costigan
  • Publication number: 20210176456
    Abstract: This invention provides a calibration fixture that enables more accurate calibration of a touch probe on, for example, a CMM, with respect to the camera. The camera is mounted so that its optical axis is approximately or substantially parallel with the z-axis of the probe. The probe and workpiece are in relative motion, along a plane defined by orthogonal x and y axes, and optionally the z-axis and/or and rotation R about the z-axis. The calibration fixture is arranged to image from beneath the touch surface of the probe and, via a 180-degree prism structure, to transmit light from the probe touch point along the optical axis to the camera. Alternatively, two cameras respectively view the fiducial location relative to the CMM arm and the probe location when aligned on the fiducial. The fixture can define an integrated assembly with an optics block and a camera assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: John F. Filhaber, Lowell D. Jacobson, George J. Costigan
  • Publication number: 20160191911
    Abstract: This invention provides a calibration fixture that enables more accurate calibration of a touch probe on, for example, a CMM, with respect to the camera. The camera is mounted so that its optical axis is approximately or substantially parallel with the z-axis of the probe. The probe and workpiece are in relative motion, along a plane defined by orthogonal x and y axes, and optionally the z-axis and/or and rotation R about the z-axis. The calibration fixture is arranged to image from beneath the touch surface of the probe and, via a 180-degree prism structure, to transmit light from the probe touch point along the optical axis to the camera. Alternatively, two cameras respectively view the fiducial location relative to the CMM arm and the probe location when aligned on the fiducial. The fixture can define an integrated assembly with an optics block and a camera assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: John F. Filhaber, Lowell D. Jacobson, George J. Costigan
  • Patent number: 5293721
    Abstract: A horizontal cable animal barrier for mounting on a cable to deter animal passage including a plurality of roller elements each having a central hole for rotatably mounting on a cable and a spacer element between each pair of roller elements and also having a central hole for rotatably mounting on the cable, in which the spacer elements are of a different size than the roller elements on either side to present an uneven, rotating barrier to animals on the cable to prevent the animals from passing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: The Omt Group
    Inventors: James T. Richard, George J. Costigan, David J. Perry, Kevin T. Eldridge