Patents by Inventor William H. Equitz
William H. Equitz 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).
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Publication number: 20170213060Abstract: Systems and methods provide an illumination assembly for a mark reader. A light transmitter is arranged in a surrounding relationship to an interior area, with the light transmitter having a proximal end and a distal end. An illumination source provides a light for transmission into the light transmitter. The light transmitter distal end allows the light from within the light transmitter to pass through and out of the distal end to provide bright field illumination and dark field illumination. The light transmitter distal end may include a first portion and a second portion, where light from within the light transmitter passes through and out of the first portion to provide bright field illumination, and light from within the light transmitter passes through and out of the second portion to provide dark field illumination.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2016Publication date: July 27, 2017Inventors: LAURENS NUNNINK, WILLIAM H. EQUITZ
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Patent number: 9584715Abstract: Vision systems including a swappable camera and methods of making and using the swappable camera are disclosed. The swappable camera can include an alignment indicator storing alignment data representative of an array-housing alignment of a sensor array relative to a camera housing. The swappable camera can have a desired sensor array position. A region of interest that is concentric with the desired sensor array position can be determined using the alignment data and an image can be acquired using only pixels of the sensor array that are located within the region of interest.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2015Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATIONInventors: William H. Equitz, Paul Burrell
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Patent number: 9536124Abstract: Systems and methods provide an illumination assembly for a mark reader. A light transmitter is arranged in a surrounding relationship to an interior area, with the light transmitter having a proximal end and a distal end. An illumination source provides a light for transmission into the light transmitter. The light transmitter distal end allows the light from within the light transmitter to pass through and out of the distal end to provide bright field illumination and dark field illumination. The light transmitter distal end may include a first portion and a second portion, where light from within the light transmitter passes through and out of the first portion to provide bright field illumination, and light from within the light transmitter passes through and out of the second portion to provide dark field illumination.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Laurens Nunnink, William H Equitz
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Publication number: 20160241771Abstract: Vision systems including a swappable camera and methods of making and using the swappable camera are disclosed. The swappable camera can include an alignment indicator storing alignment data representative of an array-housing alignment of a sensor array relative to a camera housing. The swappable camera can have a desired sensor array position. A region of interest that is concentric with the desired sensor array position can be determined using the alignment data and an image can be acquired using only pixels of the sensor array that are located within the region of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2015Publication date: August 18, 2016Inventors: William H. Equitz, Paul Burrell
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Patent number: 9405951Abstract: A light transmitter (e.g., pipe) is constructed from polycarbonate for increased shock resistance and can define a rectangular cross section. A chamfered end of the light pipe is textured or frosted to further diffuse refracted light passing through the end to present a more even effect. A conical/tapered diffuser within the light pipe is illuminated by a reflector that reflects a plurality of rear-ward-directed illumination sources back into the diffuser. The reflector can direct light into the forwardmost, remote regions of the diffuser to generate a better spread of light and alleviate spotting effects. The illumination sources can be multi-colored sources that respond to a controller to project a color and/or blink in a pattern to indicate various conditions. The controller can operate individual portions of the ring so that only corresponding portions of the light pipe perimeter are illuminated in a particular color at a given time.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2010Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment LLCInventors: Laurens Nunnink, William H. Equitz
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Patent number: 9329332Abstract: Systems and methods provide for illuminating a subject using a light pipe that transmits light from a source. A method includes providing a light pipe, the light pipe defining an inner lumen through which the image sensor views the subject; providing a light source in alignment with a proximal portion of the light pipe; and using the light source, projecting a light into the light pipe and through the light pipe, the light pipe including a distal portion for providing a high-angle bright field illumination pattern on the subject with a first portion of the light and for reflecting a second portion of the light for providing a low-angle dark field illumination pattern on the subject.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2014Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATIONInventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, William H. Equitz, Justin Testa, Sateesha Nadabar
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Patent number: 9298960Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively controlling the illumination, and particularly dark field illumination, applied to a symbol to be decoded, and for determining a suitable or optimized level of lighting for decoding the symbol. A method includes providing a light source comprising a plurality of individually-controllable lighting elements for providing low angle dark field illumination; activating an image sensor for detecting image data reflected from an encoded data symbol when the encoded data symbol is illuminated by the light source; and providing a controller connected to each of the individually-controllable lighting elements, the controller being programmed for: selectively activating the individually-controllable lighting elements to vary the direction of the low angle dark field illumination provided by the light source; and processing the image data detected by the image.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2014Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATIONInventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, William H. Equitz, Justin Testa, Sateesha Nadabar
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Patent number: 9070031Abstract: Systems and methods provide an illumination assembly for a mark reader. A light transmitter is arranged in a surrounding relationship to an interior area, with the light transmitter having a proximal end and a distal end. An illumination source provides a light for transmission into the light transmitter. The light transmitter distal end allows the light from within the light transmitter to pass through and out of the distal end to provide bright field illumination and dark field illumination. The light transmitter distal end may include a first portion and a second portion, where light from within the light transmitter passes through and out of the first portion to provide bright field illumination, and light from within the light transmitter passes through and out of the second portion to provide dark field illumination.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment LLCInventors: Laurens Nunnink, William H. Equitz
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Patent number: 9036929Abstract: A method for scanning and decoding encoded symbols comprises processing low resolution image data from a full field of view and/or high resolution image data from one or more windowed segments of the field of view to provide imaging that is easily adaptable to different types of symbols and varying environmental conditions. The scanning method can be switched between the low resolution mode and the high resolution mode automatically based on whether the low resolution data is sufficiently accurate to decode the symbol.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment LLCInventors: Laurens Nunnink, William H. Equitz
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Publication number: 20150016139Abstract: Systems and methods provide for illuminating a subject using a light pipe that transmits light from a source. A method includes providing a light pipe, the light pipe defining an inner lumen through which the image sensor views the subject; providing a light source in alignment with a proximal portion of the light pipe; and using the light source, projecting a light into the light pipe and through the light pipe, the light pipe including a distal portion for providing a high-angle bright field illumination pattern on the subject with a first portion of the light and for reflecting a second portion of the light for providing a low-angle dark field illumination pattern on the subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, William H. Equitz, Justin Testa, Sateesha Nadabar
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Publication number: 20150014415Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively controlling the illumination, and particularly dark field illumination, applied to a symbol to be decoded, and for determining a suitable or optimized level of lighting for decoding the symbol. A method includes providing a light source comprising a plurality of individually-controllable lighting elements for providing low angle dark field illumination; activating an image sensor for detecting image data reflected from an encoded data symbol when the encoded data symbol is illuminated by the light source; and providing a controller connected to each of the individually-controllable lighting elements, the controller being programmed for: selectively activating the individually-controllable lighting elements to vary the direction of the low angle dark field illumination provided by the light source; and processing the image data detected by the image.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, William H. Equitz, Justin Testa, Sateesha Nadabar
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Patent number: 8770483Abstract: Systems and methods provide for illuminating a subject using a light pipe that transmits light from a source. A method includes providing a light pipe, the light pipe defining an inner lumen through which the image sensor views the subject; providing a light source in alignment with a proximal portion of the light pipe; and using the light source, projecting a light into the light pipe and through the light pipe, the light pipe including a distal portion for providing a high-angle bright field illumination pattern on the subject with a first portion of the light and for reflecting a second portion of the light for providing a low-angle dark field illumination pattern on the subject.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment CorporationInventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, William H. Equitz, Justin Testa, Sateesha Nadabar
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Patent number: 8740078Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively controlling the illumination, and particularly dark field illumination, applied to a symbol to be decoded, and for determining a suitable or optimized level of lighting for decoding the symbol. A method includes providing a light source comprising a plurality of individually-controllable lighting elements for providing low angle dark field illumination; activating an image sensor for detecting image data reflected from an encoded data symbol when the encoded data symbol is illuminated by the light source; and providing a controller connected to each of the individually-controllable lighting elements, the controller being programmed for: selectively activating the individually-controllable lighting elements to vary the direction of the low angle dark field illumination provided by the light source; and processing the image data detected by the image.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2012Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment CorporationInventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, William H. Equitz, Justin Testa, Sateesha Nadabar
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Patent number: 8646690Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for expanding the field of view of a vision system camera assembly such that the field of view is generally free of loss of normal resolution across the entire expanded field. A field of view expander includes outer mirrors that receive light from different portions of a scene. The outer mirrors direct light to tilted inner mirrors of a beam splitter that directs the light aligned with a camera axis to avoid image distortion. The inner mirrors each direct the light from each outer mirror into a strip on the sensor, and the system searches features. The adjacent fields of view include overlap regions sized and arranged to ensure a centralized feature appears fully in at least one strip. Alternatively, a moving mirror changes position between acquired image frames so that a full width of the scene is imaged in successive frames.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Laurens Nunnink, Carl W. Gerst, III, William H. Equitz, Matthew D. Engle
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Publication number: 20130233926Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively controlling the illumination, and particularly dark field illumination, applied to a symbol to be decoded, and for determining a suitable or optimized level of lighting for decoding the symbol. A method includes providing a light source comprising a plurality of individually-controllable lighting elements for providing low angle dark field illumination; activating an image sensor for detecting image data reflected from an encoded data symbol when the encoded data symbol is illuminated by the light source; and providing a controller connected to each of the individually-controllable lighting elements, the controller being programmed for: selectively activating the individually-controllable lighting elements to vary the direction of the low angle dark field illumination provided by the light source; and processing the image data detected by the image.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2012Publication date: September 12, 2013Applicant: Cognex Technology and Investment CorporationInventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, William H. Equitz, Justin Testa, Sateesha Nadabar
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Publication number: 20130200157Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for expanding the field of view of a vision system camera assembly such that the field of view is generally free of loss of normal resolution across the entire expanded field. A field of view expander includes outer mirrors that receive light from different portions of a scene. The outer mirrors direct light to tilted inner mirrors of a beam splitter that directs the light aligned with a camera axis to avoid image distortion. The inner mirrors each direct the light from each outer mirror into a strip on the sensor, and the system searches features. The adjacent fields of view include overlap regions sized and arranged to ensure a centralized feature appears fully in at least one strip. Alternatively, a moving mirror changes position between acquired image frames so that a full width of the scene is imaged in successive frames.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2012Publication date: August 8, 2013Applicant: COGNEX CORPORATIONInventors: Laurens Nunnink, Carl W. Gerst, III, William H. Equitz, Matthew D. Engle
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Publication number: 20130194819Abstract: Systems and methods provide for illuminating a subject using a light pipe that transmits light from a source. A method includes providing a light pipe, the light pipe defining an inner lumen through which the image sensor views the subject; providing a light source in alignment with a proximal portion of the light pipe; and using the light source, projecting a light into the light pipe and through the light pipe, the light pipe including a distal portion for providing a high-angle bright field illumination pattern on the subject with a first portion of the light and for reflecting a second portion of the light for providing a low-angle dark field illumination pattern on the subject.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicants: Cognex Technology and Investment Corp., Cognex CorporationInventors: Carl W. Gerst, William H. Equitz, Justin Testa, Sateesha Nadabar
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Publication number: 20130062411Abstract: A method for scanning and decoding encoded symbols comprises processing low resolution image data from a full field of view and/or high resolution image data from one or more windowed segments of the field of view to provide imaging that is easily adaptable to different types of symbols and varying environmental conditions. The scanning method can be switched between the low resolution mode and the high resolution mode automatically based on whether the low resolution data is sufficiently accurate to decode the symbol.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: Cognex CorporationInventors: Laurens Nunnink, William H. Equitz
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Patent number: 8342405Abstract: Systems and methods provide for illuminating a subject using a light pipe that transmits light from a source. A method includes providing a light pipe, the light pipe defining an inner lumen through which the image sensor views the subject; providing a light source in alignment with a proximal portion of the light pipe; and using the light source, projecting a light into the light pipe and through the light pipe, the light pipe including a distal portion for providing a high-angle bright field illumination pattern on the subject with a first portion of the light and for reflecting a second portion of the light for providing a low-angle dark field illumination pattern on the subject.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2011Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment CorporationInventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, William H. Equitz, Justin Testa, Sateesh Nadabar
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Patent number: 8282000Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively controlling the illumination, and particularly dark field illumination, applied to a symbol to be decoded, and for determining a suitable or optimized level of lighting for decoding the symbol. A method includes providing a light source comprising a plurality of individually-controllable lighting elements for providing low angle dark field illumination; activating an image sensor for detecting image data reflected from an encoded data symbol when the encoded data symbol is illuminated by the light source; and providing a controller connected to each of the individually-controllable lighting elements, the controller being programmed for: selectively activating the individually-controllable lighting elements to vary the direction of the low angle dark field illumination provided by the light source; and processing the image data detected by the image.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2011Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment CorporationInventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, William H Equitz, Justin Testa, Sateesh Nadahar