Patents by Inventor Michael Schanz

Michael Schanz 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: 9989353
    Abstract: A method for optically scanning and measuring a scene by a laser scanner includes generating multiple scans; tracking scanner positions with a position-tracking device for the multiple scans and providing tracked scanner positions in response; registering sequentially scans selected from the multiple scans into clusters using registration points or targets and confirming registration of the scans into the clusters according to specified quality criteria being fulfilled; selecting scans from the clusters and forming pairs of scans; forming an intersection of the selected pairs and comparing a size of the intersection with a threshold value obtained based at least in part on the tracked scanner positions; and attempting to register the pairs of scans if the size of the intersection exceeds the threshold value and accepting the registered pairs of scans if the registration is successful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sebastian Bartmann, Helmut Kramer, Daniel Pompe, Michael Schanz
  • Publication number: 20170370701
    Abstract: A method for optically scanning and measuring a scene by a laser scanner includes generating multiple scans; tracking scanner positions with a position-tracking device for the multiple scans and providing tracked scanner positions in response; registering sequentially scans selected from the multiple scans into clusters using registration points or targets and confirming registration of the scans into the clusters according to specified quality criteria being fulfilled; selecting scans from the clusters and forming pairs of scans; forming an intersection of the selected pairs and comparing a size of the intersection with a threshold value obtained based at least in part on the tracked scanner positions; and attempting to register the pairs of scans if the size of the intersection exceeds the threshold value and accepting the registered pairs of scans if the registration is successful.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Sebastian Bartmann, Helmut Kramer, Daniel Pompe, Michael Schanz
  • Patent number: 9746311
    Abstract: A method for optically scanning and measuring a scene by a laser scanner includes generating multiple scans; tracking scanner positions with a position-tracking device for the multiple scans and providing tracked scanner positions in response; registering sequentially scans selected from the multiple scans into clusters using registration points or targets and confirming registration of the scans into the clusters according to specified quality criteria being fulfilled; selecting scans from the clusters and forming pairs of scans; forming an intersection of the selected pairs and comparing a size of the intersection with a threshold value obtained based at least in part on the tracked scanner positions; and attempting to register the pairs of scans if the size of the intersection exceeds the threshold value and accepting the registered pairs of scans if the registration is successful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sebastian Bartmann, Helmut Kramer, Daniel Pompe, Michael Schanz
  • Publication number: 20170052017
    Abstract: A method for optically scanning and measuring a scene by a laser scanner includes generating multiple scans; tracking scanner positions with a position-tracking device for the multiple scans and providing tracked scanner positions in response; registering sequentially scans selected from the multiple scans into clusters using registration points or targets and confirming registration of the scans into the clusters according to specified quality criteria being fulfilled; selecting scans from the clusters and forming pairs of scans; forming an intersection of the selected pairs and comparing a size of the intersection with a threshold value obtained based at least in part on the tracked scanner positions; and attempting to register the pairs of scans if the size of the intersection exceeds the threshold value and accepting the registered pairs of scans if the registration is successful.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Sebastian Bartmann, Helmut Kramer, Daniel Pompe, Michael Schanz
  • Publication number: 20160153773
    Abstract: A method for optically scanning and measuring a scene by a laser scanner includes generating multiple scans; tracking scanner positions with a position-tracking device for the multiple scans and providing tracked scanner positions in response; registering sequentially scans selected from the multiple scans into clusters using registration points or targets and confirming registration of the scans into the clusters according to specified quality criteria being fulfilled; selecting scans from the clusters and forming pairs of scans; forming an intersection of the selected pairs and comparing a size of the intersection with a threshold value obtained based at least in part on the tracked scanner positions; and attempting to register the pairs of scans if the size of the intersection exceeds the threshold value and accepting the registered pairs of scans if the registration is successful.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Sebastian Bartmann, Helmut Kramer, Daniel Pompe, Michael Schanz
  • Patent number: 9245346
    Abstract: A method for optically scanning and measuring a scene by a three-dimensional (3D) measurement device in which multiple scans are generated to then be registered in a joint coordinate system of the scene. At first at least one cluster is generated from at least one scan, further scans are registered for test purposes in the coordinate system of the cluster, and registering is then confirmed if specified quality criteria are fulfilled and the generated clusters are then joined, for which purpose pairs are formed of selected scans and/or clusters to form pairs, the pairs are registered for test purposes and registering is confirmed if appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sebastian Bartmann, Helmut Kramer, Daniel Pompe, Michael Schanz
  • Publication number: 20150287207
    Abstract: A method for optically scanning and measuring a scene by a three-dimensional (3D) measurement device in which multiple scans are generated to then be registered in a joint coordinate system of the scene. At first at least one cluster is generated from at least one scan, further scans are registered for test purposes in the coordinate system of the cluster, and registering is then confirmed if specified quality criteria are fulfilled and the generated clusters are then joined, for which purpose pairs are formed of selected scans and/or clusters to form pairs, the pairs are registered for test purposes and registering is confirmed if appropriate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Sebastian Bartmann, Helmut Kramer, Daniel Pompe, Michael Schanz
  • Patent number: 7283167
    Abstract: A device for reading out image data of a sub-range of an image captured by an image sensor is described, the image sensor including a plurality of image sensor elements which can be read out by an activation signal sequentially appliable to same according to a predetermined clock signal, wherein the image sensor elements outputting the image data for the sub-range can be determined by means of an activation pattern. The device comprises a plurality of branch blocks connected in series storing the activation pattern, wherein each of the branch blocks, depending on the activation pattern, applies the activation signal received to one or several image sensor elements associated with a branch block or passes same on to a subsequent branch block or a terminating element. The activation pattern is stored in the branch blocks substantially simultaneously to the activation signal. No delay or latency times, respectively, occur in the sensor readout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: THOMSON Licensing SAS
    Inventors: Olaf Schrey, Michael Schanz, Werner Brockherde, Bedrich Hosticka
  • Patent number: 6765960
    Abstract: For detecting a change between pixel signals which chronologically follow one another, a current pixel value is first deteced and, subsequently, the difference between the detected pixel signal and a reference value is determined. Depending on the difference, it is determined whether there is a change of the detected pixel value in comparison with the preceding pixel values, the reference signal being produced from two or more pixel values preceding the detected pixel value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e. V.
    Inventors: Michael Schanz, Su-Birm Park, Andreas Teuner, Markus Schwarz, Bedrich Hosticka
  • Patent number: 6396048
    Abstract: An optical detector has at least one image sensor element that generates an image sensor element output signal according to the illumination incident on the element. A readout amplifier for the one or each image sensor element is switchable between a plurality of amplification stages for amplifying the respective image sensor element output signal. An amplification switch is provided for comparing the image sensor element output signal with at least one given threshold value before the signal is amplified by the readout amplifier and for switching between the amplification stages of the readout amplifier depending on the result of the comparison. The optical detector has a first output signal indicating the amplified image sensor element output signal and a second output signal indicating the amplification stage to which the amplifier is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Michael Schanz, Bedrich Hosticka, Christian Nitta
  • Patent number: 6198086
    Abstract: In a method for detecting an image signal by means of an array (30) of photosensitive devices (10) with each of which the charge of a capacitance (12) can be altered, an optical signal (20) of each photosensitive device is first detected by means of the following substeps: creating a charge condition of the capacitance with a predetermined voltage (+U_DD), changing the charge of the capacitance (12) either with a photocurrent generated in the photosensitive device (10) by the optical signal (20) or with a quantity derived from the same and detecting the voltage across the capacitance (12) after a predetermined time period, deciding whether the detected voltage lies within a valid range and, if this is so, determining on the basis of the detected voltage a valid signal which characterizes the detected optical signal, and, if this is not so, repeating the cited steps with a time period which differs from the predetermined time period either a predetermined number of times or until it is determined that the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Bodenseewerk Gerätetechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schanz, Bedrich Hosticka, Reiner Wertheimer, Hakan Kisakürek
  • Patent number: 6141243
    Abstract: A sensor element has a field effect transistor sensitive to a physical quity to be detected. The gate electrode of the transistor is implemented as a floating gate. The sensor element has therefore integrated therein a sensor cell and a non-volatile memory. The operating point of the transistor can be adjusted permanently by means of the floating gate on which charges can be stored in a non-volatile manner. In addition, charges corresponding to a detected physical quantity can be stored on the floating gate via a simple circuit in a non-volatile manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Amer Aslam, Bedrich Hosticka, Werner Brockherde, Michael Schanz
  • Patent number: 5169509
    Abstract: A pair of magnetron cathodes in an evacuable coating chamber are each connected to an ungrounded output of an A.C. power supply. The discharge voltage of at least one of the cathodes is measured and the flow of reactive gas into the chamber is controlled so that the measured voltage is identical to a desired voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Leybold Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudolf Latz, Michael Schanz, Michael Scherer, Joachim Szczyrbowski