Patents by Inventor Michael Melvin Ball

Michael Melvin Ball 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: 11514643
    Abstract: A method, device, and computer readable medium for displaying a two-dimensional image of a viewed object simultaneously with an image depicting a three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object using a video inspection device is disclosed. The video inspection device displays a two-dimensional image of the object surface of a viewed object, and determines the three-dimensional coordinates of a plurality of surface points. At least one rendered image of the three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object is displayed simultaneously with the two-dimensional image. As measurement cursors are placed and moved on the two-dimensional image, the rendered image of the three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object is automatically updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Clark Alexander Bendall, Michael Melvin Ball
  • Publication number: 20210027530
    Abstract: A method, device, and computer readable medium for displaying a two-dimensional image of a viewed object simultaneously with an image depicting a three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object using a video inspection device is disclosed. The video inspection device displays a two-dimensional image of the object surface of a viewed object, and determines the three-dimensional coordinates of a plurality of surface points. At least one rendered image of the three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object is displayed simultaneously with the two-dimensional image. As measurement cursors are placed and moved on the two-dimensional image, the rendered image of the three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object is automatically updated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Clark Alexander Bendall, Michael Melvin Ball
  • Patent number: 10846922
    Abstract: A method and device for displaying a two-dimensional image of a viewed object simultaneously with an image depicting a three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object using a video inspection device is disclosed. The video inspection device displays a two-dimensional image of the object surface of a viewed object, and determines the three-dimensional coordinates of a plurality of surface points. At least one rendered image of the three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object is displayed simultaneously with the two-dimensional image. As measurement cursors are placed and moved on the two-dimensional image, the rendered image of the three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object is automatically updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Clark Alexander Bendall, Michael Melvin Ball
  • Publication number: 20190130636
    Abstract: A method and device for displaying a two-dimensional image of a viewed object simultaneously with an image depicting a three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object using a video inspection device is disclosed. The video inspection device displays a two-dimensional image of the object surface of a viewed object, and determines the three-dimensional coordinates of a plurality of surface points. At least one rendered image of the three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object is displayed simultaneously with the two-dimensional image. As measurement cursors are placed and moved on the two-dimensional image, the rendered image of the three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object is automatically updated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Clark Alexander Bendall, Michael Melvin Ball
  • Patent number: 10157495
    Abstract: A method and device for displaying a two-dimensional image of a viewed object simultaneously with an image depicting a three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object using a video inspection device is disclosed. The video inspection device displays a two-dimensional image of the object surface of a viewed object, and determines the three-dimensional coordinates of a plurality of surface points. At least one rendered image of the three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object is displayed simultaneously with the two-dimensional image. As measurement cursors are placed and moved on the two-dimensional image, the rendered image of the three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object is automatically updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Clark Alexander Bendall, Michael Melvin Ball
  • Patent number: 9600928
    Abstract: A method and device for automatically identifying a point of interest (e.g., the deepest or highest point) on the surface of an anomaly on a viewed object using a video inspection device is disclosed. The video inspection device obtains and displays an image of the surface of the viewed object. A reference surface is determined along with a region of interest that includes a plurality of points on the surface of the anomaly. The video inspection device determines a depth or height for each of the plurality of points on the surface of the anomaly in the region of interest. The point on the surface of the anomaly (e.g., having the greatest depth or height) is identified as the point of interest. A profile of the object surface at the point of interest is then determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Clark Alexander Bendall, Melissa Rose Stancato, Michael Melvin Ball
  • Patent number: 9329763
    Abstract: A method for determining a type of a measurement includes receiving touch data via a touchscreen; automatically identifying a plurality of cursor points in the touch data using a processor; and automatically determining a measurement type based on the touch data using the processor. A method for determining a geometric property of an object further includes displaying an image of the object on the touchscreen and automatically determining the geometric property corresponding to the plurality of cursor points and the determined measurement type using the processor. A device for determining the geometric property includes an imager for obtaining the image; the touchscreen; and the processor for identifying a plurality of cursor points in the touch data, determining a measurement type of the geometric property using the touch data, and automatically determining the geometric property corresponding to the plurality of cursor points and the determined measurement type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bryan David Maule, Michael Melvin Ball
  • Publication number: 20150220261
    Abstract: A method for determining a type of a measurement includes receiving touch data via a touchscreen; automatically identifying a plurality of cursor points in the touch data using a processor; and automatically determining a measurement type based on the touch data using the processor. A method for determining a geometric property of an object further includes displaying an image of the object on the touchscreen and automatically determining the geometric property corresponding to the plurality of cursor points and the determined measurement type using the processor. A device for determining the geometric property includes an imager for obtaining the image; the touchscreen; and the processor for identifying a plurality of cursor points in the touch data, determining a measurement type of the geometric property using the touch data, and automatically determining the geometric property corresponding to the plurality of cursor points and the determined measurement type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bryan David Maule, Michael Melvin Ball
  • Publication number: 20150187067
    Abstract: A method and device for displaying a two-dimensional image of a viewed object simultaneously with an image depicting a three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object using a video inspection device is disclosed. The video inspection device displays a two-dimensional image of the object surface of a viewed object, and determines the three-dimensional coordinates of a plurality of surface points. At least one rendered image of the three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object is displayed simultaneously with the two-dimensional image. As measurement cursors are placed and moved on the two-dimensional image, the rendered image of the three-dimensional geometry of the viewed object is automatically updated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Clark Alexander Bendall, Michael Melvin Ball
  • Publication number: 20150170412
    Abstract: A method and device for automatically identifying a point of interest (e.g., the deepest or highest point) on the surface of an anomaly on a viewed object using a video inspection device is disclosed. The video inspection device obtains and displays an image of the surface of the viewed object. A reference surface is determined along with a region of interest that includes a plurality of points on the surface of the anomaly. The video inspection device determines a depth or height for each of the plurality of points on the surface of the anomaly in the region of interest. The point on the surface of the anomaly (e.g., having the greatest depth or height) is identified as the point of interest. A profile of the object surface at the point of interest is then determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Clark Alexander Bendall, Melissa Rose Stancato, Michael Melvin Ball