Patents by Inventor Yeu-Hwa Shyy
Yeu-Hwa Shyy 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: 20110050879Abstract: A system for inspecting cigarette paper containing banded regions and non-banded regions. The system includes a short wave infrared camera, the short wave infrared camera forming electrical signals representing properties of the cigarette paper and a processor for analyzing the electrical signals to provide analysis results, the processor including logic for successively examining pixels to determine whether each successive pixel corresponds to a non-banded region or a banded region; logic for computing spacing between adjacent banded regions on the cigarette paper based on results provided by the logic for successively examining; and logic for computing width of banded regions on the cigarette paper based on results provided by the logic for successively examining. An online method for inspecting paper containing banded regions and non-banded regions is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.Inventor: Yeu-Hwa SHYY
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Patent number: 7784356Abstract: Inspection systems and methods for their use comprise: a movable carrier with spaced receptacles, each sized to accept a sample; a first pin positioned proximate to the movable carrier and connected to a first movable member capable of reciprocally moving the first pin alternately into and out of contact with a first end of a sample disposed in one of the spaced receptacles; a second pin positioned proximate to the movable carrier and connected to a second movable member capable of reciprocally moving the second pin alternately into and out of contact with a second end of the sample disposed in the one of the spaced receptacles; a measurement sensor capable of determining a value associated with the sample disposed in the one of the spaced receptacles; and an evaluation device in communication with the measurement sensor for receiving the value, the evaluation device providing a comparison between the value and a predetermined value.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Steven F. Spiers, Jeremy J. Straight, Travis M. Garthaffner, Janet L. Thompson, Yeu-Hwa Shyy
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Publication number: 20090005989Abstract: Inspection systems and methods for their use are described, wherein the systems comprise: a movable carrier having a plurality of spaced receptacles, each spaced receptacle sized to accept a sample; a first pin positioned proximate to the movable carrier and connected to a first movable member capable of reciprocally moving the first pin alternately into and out of contact with a first end of a sample disposed in one of the spaced receptacles; a second pin positioned proximate to the movable carrier and connected to a second movable member capable of reciprocally moving the second pin alternately into and out of contact with a second end of the sample disposed in the one of the spaced receptacles; a measurement sensor capable of determining a value associated with the sample disposed in the one of the spaced receptacles; and an evaluation device in communication with the measurement sensor for receiving the value, the evaluation device providing a comparison between the value and a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC.Inventors: Steven F. Spiers, Jeremy J. Straight, Travis M. Garthaffner, Janet L. Thompson, Yeu-Hwa Shyy
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Patent number: 6570177Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically inspecting transparent or translucent materials, especially plastic materials, the apparatus including a light container, at least one camera, a digital processor, and a reject mechanism, the method comprising conveying a particle of the material through the light container, capturing an image of the particle with the camera, identifying defects in the image with the digital processor, and separating out defective material by communication between the digital processor and the reject mechanism. The light container is an illumination device, preferably an integrating sphere, that has two opposing openings through which a particle can pass and one or more other openings or windows through which one or more cameras view the particle.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2000Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: DCS CorporationInventors: Andy Struckhoff, Yeu-Hwa Shyy
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Patent number: 6198537Abstract: A station optically inspects banded cigarette paper by directing an elongated beam of white light laterally across a web of the cigarette paper. The elongated beam impinges on the surface of the cigarette paper and forms reflections. A plurality of line scan camera containing linear CCD arrays receive the reflections and generate output signals. One or more processing units process the output signals to generate data indicative of the spacing between bands, the width of the bands, and the contrast of the bands. These calculations can be periodically transferred to a separate computer workstation over a network. The workstation generates statistical reports on the basis of the calculations, such as the band width, band spacing and band contrast as a function of lane number, and as a function of time. The statistical reports provide a convenient way of quickly detecting irregularities in application of the bands.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 1997Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Gordon H. Bokelman, Thomas A. Fletcher, D. Anh Phan, Yeu-Hwa Shyy, Ernest S. Houck
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Patent number: 5966218Abstract: A rewinder machine optically inspects banded paper unwound from a first bobbin by directing an elongated beam of light laterally across the paper. The elongated beam impinges the surface of the paper and forms reflections. A line scan camera containing a linear CCD array receives the reflections and generates output signals. A line scan processor processes the output signals to generate data indicative of the spacing between bands, the width of the bands, and the contrast of the bands. These calculations may be periodically transferred to a separate computer workstation over a network. The workstation generates statistical reports on the basis of the calculations, such as the band width, band spacing and band contrast as a function of lane number, and as a function of time. After being inspected by the camera, the paper is rewound on a rewind bobbin. Various mechanical features of the rewind machine allow rapid mounting and removal of bobbins of paper, and provide for high speed operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 1997Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Philip Morris IncorporatedInventors: Gordon H. Bokelman, Thomas A. Fletcher, Harold T. Hinson, Steven F. Spiers, Yeu-Hwa Shyy, Timothy F. Gacek
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Patent number: 5262837Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring the distance to a target according to the time-of-flight of laser pulses. The apparatus includes a transmitter of laser impulses toward the target and a receiver of laser impulses reflected from the target. A driver of the transmitter generates a first time signal corresponding to the transmission. The receiver generates a second time signal corresponding to the reception. A delay generator delays at least one of the first and second signals to compensate for time errors, and provides a third signal corresponding to the first signal and a fourth signal corresponding to the second signal, such that a time difference between the third and fourth signals is exactly equal to the time-of-flight of the transmitted pulses.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1992Date of Patent: November 16, 1993Assignee: Norm Pacific Automation Corp.Inventor: Yeu-Hwa Shyy
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Method and apparatus for picking and placing a surface mounted device with the aid of machine vision
Patent number: 5157734Abstract: A method for accurately placing a surface mounting device (SMD) with a vacuum nozzle analyzes a video image of the SMD to locate the SMD leads and compute corrections. The positions of the lead centers are processed to determine the translation and rotation of the SMD relative to a desired location. The position of the SMD centroid is transformed from an image-referenced coordinate system to a space-referenced coordinate system. The SMD rotation relative to a desired orientation is derived from the slope of a line drawn through colinear SMD leads.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1989Date of Patent: October 20, 1992Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Inn-Ming Chen, Yeu-Hwa Shyy, Jeng-Chang Yeh, Yunghsueh Chao -
Patent number: 4866629Abstract: A machine vision process and apparatus for reading a plurality of separated figures, such as the hole-position diagram of a printed-circuit board; the apparatus comprises an X-Y table to be moved on a plane and to be positioned at a given position, two photographing devies such as camaras being mounted over the X-Y table, and an image processing unit. The X-Y table is used for placing a diagram or the like so as to facilitate a first camera to photograph a large area and to facilitate a second camera to photograph a small and detailed separated figure. The image signal obtained will be transmitted to the image processing unit to find out the center coordinates of every separated figure, and the size and shape of every separated figure classified so as to find out the control data of size, position and the moving path in the real production process.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1987Date of Patent: September 12, 1989Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Inn-Ming Chen, Yeu-Hwa Shyy, Ching-Fu Chung, Dar-Jong Hwang, Jenq-Chang Yeh, Hsu-Lung Wu