Patents by Inventor Paul C. Atwell

Paul C. Atwell 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).

  • Publication number: 20240095944
    Abstract: A method includes providing a measuring device having a projector, a camera with a photosensitive array, and at least one processor, projecting with the projector a line of light onto an object, capturing with the camera an image of the projected line of light on the object within a window subregion of the photosensitive array, and calculating with the at least one processor three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of points on the object based at least in part on the projected line of light and on the captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: FARO Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Michael Shen, Paul C. Atwell, Keith G. Macfarlane, Jacint R. Barba, Nitesh Dhasmana
  • Patent number: 11930155
    Abstract: A 3D measuring system includes a first projector that projects a first line onto an object at a first wavelength, a second projector that projects a second line onto the object at a second wavelength, a first illuminator that emits a third light onto some markers, a second illuminator that emits a fourth light onto some markers, a first camera having a first lens and a first image sensor, a second camera having a second lens and a second image sensor, the first lens operable to pass the first wavelength, block the second wavelength, and pass the third light to a first image sensor, the second lens operable to pass the second wavelength, block the first wavelength, and pass the fourth light. The system further includes one or more processors operable to determine 3D coordinates based on images captured by the first image sensor and the second image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: FARO Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul C. Atwell, Matthew Mogensen, Nitesh Dhasmana, Christopher M Reihl
  • Publication number: 20240061393
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Kenneth Steffey, Keith G. Macfarlane, Paul C. Atwell, Dragos M. Stanescu, John Lucas Creachbaum, Brent Bailey, Matthew Mogensen
  • Patent number: 11908162
    Abstract: A handheld three-dimensional (3D) measuring system operates in a target mode and a geometry mode. In the target mode, a target-mode projector projects a first line of light onto an object, and a first illuminator sends light to markers on or near the object. A first camera captures an image of the first line of light and the illuminated markers. In the geometry mode, a geometry-mode projector projects onto the object a first multiplicity of lines, which are captured by the first camera and a second camera. One or more processors determines 3D coordinates in the target mode and the geometry mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: FARO Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Francesco Bonarrigo, Paul C. Atwell, John Lucas Creachbaum, Nitesh Dhasmana, Fabiano Kovalski, Andrea Riccardi, William E. Schoenfeldt, Marco Torsello, Christopher Michael Wilson
  • Patent number: 11853028
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: FARO Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Kenneth Steffey, Keith G. Macfarlane, Paul C. Atwell, Dragos M. Stanescu, John Lucas Creachbaum, Brent Bailey, Matthew Mogensen
  • Patent number: 11854219
    Abstract: A method includes providing a measuring device having a projector, a camera with a photosensitive array, and a processor, projecting with the projector a line of light onto an object, capturing with the camera an image of the projected line of light on the object within a window subregion of the photosensitive array, and calculating with the processor three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of points on the object based at least in part on the projected line of light and on the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: FARO Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Michael Shen, Paul C. Atwell, Keith G. Macfarlane, Jacint R. Barba, Nitesh Dhasmana
  • Publication number: 20220316869
    Abstract: A system includes a first light source that projects lines of light onto an object, a second light source that illuminates markers on or near the object, one or more image sensors that receive first reflected light from the projected lines of light and second reflected light from the illuminated markers, one or more processors that determine the locations of the lines of light on the image sensors based on the first reflected light and that determines the locations of the markers on the image sensors based on the second reflected light, and a frame physically coupled to the first light source, the second light source, the one or more image sensors, and the one or more processors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: William E. SCHOENFELDT, Fabiano KOVALSKI, Jacint R. BARBA, Paul C. ATWELL, Francesco BONARRIGO
  • Publication number: 20220201269
    Abstract: A 3D measuring system includes a first projector that projects a first line onto an object at a first wavelength, a second projector that projects a second line onto the object at a second wavelength, a first illuminator that emits a third light onto some markers, a second illuminator that emits a fourth light onto some markers, a first camera having a first lens and a first image sensor, a second camera having a second lens and a second image sensor, the first lens operable to pass the first wavelength, block the second wavelength, and pass the third light to a first image sensor, the second lens operable to pass the second wavelength, block the first wavelength, and pass the fourth light. The system further includes one or more processors operable to determine 3D coordinates based on images captured by the first image sensor and the second image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Paul C. Atwell, Matthew Mogensen, Nitesh Dhasmana, Christopher M. Reihl
  • Publication number: 20220198704
    Abstract: A handheld three-dimensional (3D) measuring system operates in a target mode and a geometry mode. In the target mode, a target-mode projector projects a first line of light onto an object, and a first illuminator sends light to markers on or near the object. A first camera captures an image of the first line of light and the illuminated markers. In the geometry mode, a geometry-mode projector projects onto the object a first multiplicity of lines, which are captured by the first camera and a second camera. One or more processors determines 3D coordinates in the target mode and the geometry mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Paul C. Atwell, John Lucas Creachbaum, Nitesh Dhasmana, Fabiano Kovalski, Andrea Riccardi, William E. Schoenfeldt, Marco Torsello, Christopher Michael Wilson
  • Publication number: 20210165389
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Kenneth Steffey, Keith G. Macfarlane, Paul C. Atwell, Dragos M. Stanescu
  • Publication number: 20210118167
    Abstract: A method includes providing a measuring device having a projector, a camera with a photosensitive array, and a processor, projecting with the projector a line of light onto an object, capturing with the camera an image of the projected line of light on the object within a window subregion of the photosensitive array, and calculating with the processor three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of points on the object based at least in part on the projected line of light and on the captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Michael Shen, Paul C. Atwell, Keith G. Macfarlane, Jacint R. Barba, Nitesh Dhasmana
  • Patent number: 10969760
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Kenneth Steffey, Keith G. Macfarlane, Paul C. Atwell, Dragos M. Stanescu
  • Patent number: 10895445
    Abstract: Rotary assemblies for arm segments of an articulated arm coordinate measuring machines are provided. The rotary assemblies include a drive assembly having an output shaft passing therethrough. The drive assembly includes a motor subassembly and an output subassembly having a gear assembly and a shaft engagement element. The motor subassembly is configured to drive the gear assembly and the shaft engagement element to drive the output shaft. In some embodiments, a motor controller is operably coupled to the motor subassembly. The motor assembly provides a torque on an arm segment about a second axis in response to a signal from the motor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Yue Li, John Lucas Creachbaum, Dragos M. Stanescu, Paul C. Atwell
  • Patent number: 10699442
    Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the coordinates of an object in space and a method of operating the AACMM is provided. The AACMM includes a laser line probe is having a projector and a camera, the projector projecting a line of light, the camera having a lens assembly and a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly having a filter disposed between a photosensitive array and the lens assembly. The filter has a plurality of red, green and blue pixels in a predetermined arrangement. A controller causes the camera to acquire a metrology image and a color image. 3D coordinates of points on a surface are determined based on the metrology image and a color is assigned to the points based on the color image. The exposure time for the color image is adjusted based on an Exposure To The Right or a Mid-gray color model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Mares, Jacint R. Barba, Christopher M. Riehl, Christopher Michael Wilson, Keith G. Macfarlane, Kishore Lankalapalli, Paul C. Atwell, Michael Shen, Nitesh Dhasmana
  • Publication number: 20200088505
    Abstract: Rotary assemblies for arm segments of an articulated arm coordinate measuring machines are provided. The rotary assemblies include a drive assembly having an output shaft passing therethrough. The drive assembly includes a motor subassembly and an output subassembly having a gear assembly and a shaft engagement element. The motor subassembly is configured to drive the gear assembly and the shaft engagement element to drive the output shaft. In some embodiments, a motor controller is operably coupled to the motor subassembly. The motor assembly provides a torque on an arm segment about a second axis in response to a signal from the motor controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Yue Li, John Lucas Creachbaum, Dragos M. Stanescu, Paul C. Atwell
  • Patent number: 10591276
    Abstract: An articulated arm coordinate measuring machine includes a laser line probe. The laser line probe includes a camera that can acquire metrology data and color data. A laser line probe is coupled to a probe end of an articulated arm. The laser line probe having a projector and a camera, the projector being operable to project a line of light at one or more predetermined wavelengths, the camera having a lens assembly optically coupled to a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly has a photosensitive array and a filter disposed between the photosensitive array and the lens assembly. The filter includes a plurality of red, green and blue pixels in a predetermined arrangement. A controller is coupled to the laser line probe and causes the camera to acquire a metrology image and a color image. The controller assigns a color to the three-dimensional coordinate points based on the color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jacint R. Barba, Christopher Michael Wilson, Nitesh Dhasmana, Michael Shen, Jeremy W. Mares, Keith G. MacFarlane, Randy R. Fields, Paul C. Atwell, Kishore Lankalapalli, Yazid Tohme
  • Publication number: 20190317470
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Kenneth Steffey, Keith G. Macfarlane, Paul C. Atwell, Dragos M. Stanescu
  • Publication number: 20190066337
    Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (AACMM) for measuring the coordinates of an object in space and a method of operating the AACMM is provided. The AACMM includes a laser line probe is having a projector and a camera, the projector projecting a line of light, the camera having a lens assembly and a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly having a filter disposed between a photosensitive array and the lens assembly. The filter has a plurality of red, green and blue pixels in a predetermined arrangement. A controller causes the camera to acquire a metrology image and a color image. 3D coordinates of points on a surface are determined based on the metrology image and a color is assigned to the points based on the color image. The exposure time for the color image is adjusted based on an Exposure To The Right or a Mid-gray color model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Jeremy W. Mares, Jacint R. Barba, Christopher M. Riehl, Christopher Michael Wilson, Keith G. Macfarlane, Kishore Lankalapalli, Paul C. Atwell, Michael Shen, Nitesh Dhasmana
  • Publication number: 20190063899
    Abstract: An articulated arm coordinate measuring machine includes a laser line probe. The laser line probe includes a camera that can acquire metrology data and color data. A laser line probe is coupled to a probe end of an articulated arm. The laser line probe having a projector and a camera, the projector being operable to project a line of light at one or more predetermined wavelengths, the camera having a lens assembly optically coupled to a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly has a photosensitive array and a filter disposed between the photosensitive array and the lens assembly. The filter includes a plurality of red, green and blue pixels in a predetermined arrangement. A controller is coupled to the laser line probe and causes the camera to acquire a metrology image and a color image. The controller assigns a color to the three-dimensional coordinate points based on the color image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Jacint R. Barba, Christopher Michael Wilson, Nitesh Dhasmana, Michael Shen, Jeremy W. Mares, Keith G. MacFarlane, Randy R. Fields, Paul C. Atwell, Kishore Lankalapalli, Yazid Tohme
  • Patent number: 10060722
    Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine includes a noncontact 3D measuring device that has a projector configured to emit a first pattern of light onto an object, a scanner camera arranged to receive the first pattern of light reflected from the surface of the object, an edge-detecting camera arranged to receive light reflected from an edge feature of the object, and a processor configured to determine first 3D coordinates of an edge point of the edge feature based on electrical signals received from the scanner camera and the edge-detecting camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. Bridges, Paul C. Atwell