Patents by Inventor Graham L. Hine

Graham L. Hine 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: 6591160
    Abstract: A robot calibration system for calibration of a workpiece handling robot relative to a station. The workpiece handling robot includes a sensor mounted on an end effector. The robot calibration system also includes a target, which in coordination with the sensor, allows a control system to determine a center of the target. The target is a wafer in the shape of a disk. A pattern is on at least one side of the workpiece, preferably on a bottom side of the target. The pattern comprises alternating black and white areas. The workpiece handling robot is placed in front of the station which includes a cassette mounted thereon. The cassette has a support surface which supports the target. Once the z-height of the end effector is established with the end effector being in close proximity to a lowermost support surface of the cassette, the end effector proceeds to move in a search pattern searching the pattern for transition points from black to white areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger G. Hine, Graham L. Hine
  • Publication number: 20020068992
    Abstract: A robot calibration system for calibration of a workpiece handling robot relative to a station. The workpiece handling robot includes a sensor mounted on an end effector. The robot calibration system also includes a target, which in coordination with the sensor, allows a control system to determine a center of the target. The target is a wafer in the shape of a disk. A pattern is on at least one side of the workpiece, preferably on a bottom side of the target. The pattern comprises alternating black and white areas. The workpiece handling robot is placed in front of the station which includes a cassette mounted thereon. The cassette has a support surface which supports the target. Once the z-height of the end effector is established with the end effector being in close proximity to a lowermost support surface of the cassette, the end effector proceeds to move in a search pattern searching the pattern for transition points from black to white areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Roger G. Hine, Graham L. Hine