Beam Interruption Or Shadow Patents (Class 250/559.12)
  • Patent number: 11884023
    Abstract: An apparatus for quality assessment of a sealing section of a package for food products. The package comprises at least a robustness layer and a plastic layer. The sealing section is formed by holding a first section and a second section of the package against each other while providing heat such that the plastic layer of the first and second section melt and thereby provide for that the first and second section adhere to each other. The apparatus comprises a sample holder arranged for fixating a sample comprising the sealing section of the package, wherein at least part of the sample holder is transparent, a magnification device arranged on a first side of the sample holder, and an illumination device arranged on a second side of the sample holder, such that light is provided to the magnification device through the sample holder, wherein the first and second side are opposite sides of the sample holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Hans Hallstadius, Magnus Råbe
  • Patent number: 11660825
    Abstract: A manufacturing device is used for manufacturing a package including a resin sheet and a predetermined work wrapped with the resin sheet. The manufacturing device includes: a sealing unit that thermally welds overlapping parts of the sheet; and an inspection device that inspects a sealing quality of the sealed portion thermally welded by the sealing unit. The sealing unit makes, by the thermal welding, a thickness of the sealed portion after the thermal welding smaller than a total thickness of the overlapping parts prior to the thermal welding. The inspection device obtains thickness information on the thickness of the sealed portion and determines the sealing quality of the sealed portion based on the thickness information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukihiro Taguchi
  • Patent number: 11352720
    Abstract: A device for contactless measurement of one or more parameters of a linear textile formation (e.g., yarn) includes a yarn sensor with at least two mutually independent detection zones for one or a combination of the parameters of yarn presence, yarn movement, or yarn quality. The individual detections zones are arranged in defined positions relative to at least two different yarn paths of the yarn at a workstation depending on changed states of the yarn at the workstation so that at least one of the parameters is measured in each of the detections zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG
    Inventors: Evzen Pilar, Bernd Bahlmann
  • Patent number: 11169172
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a measuring system for measuring a movable object, for example a lateral guide on the transport path of a casting strand in a metallurgical installation. The system has at least one light source (110) for emitting parallel light beams (130) and a receiving device (120) with a sensor field for receiving the light beams. An evaluation device is used to evaluate the light beams received by the sensor field. In order to be able to make the evaluation simpler and faster, the receiving device is designed to generate an image of the sensor field having the positions of the sensors of the sensor field, which are assigned to the light beams not influenced by the object, and having the positions of the sensors of the sensor field, which are assigned to the light beams which are emitted, but are influenced by the object. The distances between the individual sensors are likewise known on the basis of the known resolution of the sensor field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: SMS GROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Torsten Mueller, Thomas Haschke
  • Patent number: 10648791
    Abstract: A test artifact for a coordinate measuring machine includes a calibrated standard and a convex background illumination surface. The calibrated standard, the convex background illumination surface and a vision sensor are positionable relative to one another so as to create a silhouette of the calibrated sphere in the vision sensor's field of view. The test artifact may thus be used to calibrate the coordinate measuring machine, and/or to assess the associativity between the vision sensor and another measuring sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Hexagon Metrology, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Salvatore Lamendola
  • Patent number: 10480935
    Abstract: An example system includes a material transport system configured to transport a substantially planar material through a monitoring zone, an illumination source configured to illuminate at least a portion of the material that is within the monitoring zone with light, and a sensor configured to obtain a plurality of consecutive datasets. Datasets indicate, for locations of the material and for a specific wavelength of light, a respective intensity of the light that is of the wavelength and that is received from the location. The system also includes a processing system configured to receive the dataset, determine, based on the dataset and for each of at least two locations in the plurality of locations, a respective value of a thickness of the material, and execute, based on the respective value of the thickness of the material for at least one of the at least two locations, an action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Przemyslaw Rupnowski, Michael Joseph Ulsh
  • Patent number: 9983146
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and techniques for inspecting seals for high altitude balloons. In one example, a system may include a reflective surface, a translucent material on the reflective surface, and a movable light source configured to move along the reflective surface and provide light to the reflective surface. The light is provided such that it is reflected from the reflective surface and through the translucent material in order to backlight a balloon envelope seal for inspection. A method for inspecting a balloon envelope seal may include placing balloon envelope material on a table, forming a seal between portions of the material, moving a light over the seal, shining light onto a reflective portion of the table below the seal to backlight the seal, and inspecting the seal using the backlighting of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Henry Fourie
  • Patent number: 9965847
    Abstract: A multi-type BGA chip visual recognition method using line based clustering to solve the problems of BGA inspection algorithms which have limited applicability, low flexibility caused by template matching, poor robustness to illumination and interferences and high time complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventors: Huijun Gao, Wanxin Jin, Xianqiang Yang, Jinyong Yu, Guanghui Sun, Weiyang Lin, Zhan Li
  • Patent number: 8836957
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided with a plurality of light transmitters (14) and light receivers (26) that form between one another a field (20) of mutually parallel monitoring beams (18), wherein beam shaping optics (16, 24) are assigned to the light transmitters (14) and the light receivers (26). The optics (16, 24) comprise a geometry and arrangement leading to a mutual overlap of the optics (16, 24) in a direction diagonal, in particular perpendicular, to the field (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Daniel Kietz, Jürgen Bürger, Axel Hauptmann, Günter Hirt
  • Patent number: 8428686
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a physiological parameter includes a garment that includes a fabric that exhibits both a light transmission property and a light reflection property. The amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, such as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one source of radiation having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers and at least one detector responsive to such incident radiation. The source and detector are associated with the fabric such that the reception of incident radiation by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric when the fabric stretches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Textronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia Kuo, George W. Coulston
  • Patent number: 8402785
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a shape profile of a surface of a sheet of material includes a light source for providing a light beam to be directed at the surface of the sheet of material, a linear translation stage coupled to the light source for translating the light source over the surface of the sheet of material such that the light beam, when directed at the surface, is incident on the surface at multiple positions and produces a reflected light beam at each of the multiple positions, a plurality of light receivers located at predetermined positions for selectively intercepting the reflected light beam produced at each of the multiple positions, a data acquisition device configured to receive information related to position difference between the light source and a selected one of the plurality of light receivers intercepting the reflected light beam produced at each of the multiple positions, and a data analysis device configured to correlate the position difference information to a shape profile of the su
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Xin Chen, Anping Liu, Naiyue Zhou
  • Patent number: 8388247
    Abstract: An image forming device having a detection assembly that detects a detection target. The detection assembly includes an actuator having a shaft rotatable about its axis, an abutment portion extending from the shaft and pivotally movable upon abutment of the detection target, and a detected portion pivotally movable about the axis. A detection board is supported to a stationary base component and includes a detection unit for detecting the detected portion. The shaft has one end portion supported to the base component, and another end portion supported to the detection board. Relative positional relationship between the actuator and the detection unit is maintained by the direct supporting manner of the shaft by the detection board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8145291
    Abstract: A garment and system includes a monitoring fabric that exhibits a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers. The amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an imaginary axis extending from the fabric relative to the amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance detectably changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one radiation source and at least one radiation detector, with the detector disposed in the aperture of acceptance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Textronics, Inc.
    Inventor: George W. Coulston
  • Patent number: 8115914
    Abstract: This invention enables a worker, who performs a work for optical axis adjustment, to easily grasp whether adjustment for further increasing the light receiving quantity is possible. In a multi-optical axis photoelectronic sensor, a minimum value of the light receiving quantities obtained for every optical axis is detected every time a process of measuring, while lighting each light emitting element 10 by turns, the light receiving quantity of a light receiving element corresponding to a lighted light emitting element 10 is repeated for one cycle, and a peak value of the minimum light receiving quantities detected in the past is detected. A bar graph based on specific values of the most recent minimum light receiving quantity and the peak value, or a bar graph showing a proportion of the most recent minimum light receiving quantity with respect to the peak value is displayed using a plurality of indication lights 100, each arranged on the front surfaces of a light projector 1 and a light receiver 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Osako, Takayoshi Takahara
  • Patent number: 8099190
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for transferring a substantially flat and substantially circular objects, such as wafers, from a pick-up position to a delivery position, the apparatus comprising, a manipulator, at least one source for emitting a source signal, at least one sensor for sensing said source signal and for providing a sensor signal, a computing device arranged for processing at least one sensor signal to obtain data on the position of said object, the manipulator being arranged for simultaneously transferring a first and a second object along a path in a substantially parallel orientation, spaced apart from each other, and substantially co-axially whereby the central axis of each object may be displaced radially, a said source and a said sensor are connected by a virtual line, whereby the virtual line includes an angle with the central axes of the first and second objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: ASM International N.V.
    Inventors: Christianus Gerardus Maria De Ridder, Theodorus Gerardus Maria Oosterlaken
  • Patent number: 7880155
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus has a substrate transport apparatus for transporting substrates, a sensor, and a control system. The processing apparatus is adapted to effect relative movement between the substrate and the sensor. The processing apparatus is further adapted to determine a position of the substrate by sensing the substrate with the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander G. Krupyshev, Sergei E. Syssoev
  • Patent number: 7784317
    Abstract: The invention describes a safety system (22) for a production unit (1) for bending a sheet metal part (3), in particular for a bending press (2), with a stationary bench beam (13) and a bending tool (4, 5) for a displaceable press beam (13), and with a light beam transmitter and receiver system (23) monitoring an operating region to prevent trapping of a foreign body. The bending tool (5) disposed in the press beam (13) is provided in the form of a slat pack (34) comprising at least one reference slat (35) and at least one tool slat (33) which can be displaced relative to it, which are provided with recesses (60) traversing them in the direction of a thickness (32). When oriented in alignment, these form a beam passage (65) for a light beam (9), in particular a laser light beam, extending parallel with an end face (8) of the press beam (13). An embodiment of the bending tool is possible in the form of a skeleton tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Trumpf Maschinen Austria GmbH & Co. Kg.
    Inventors: Thomas Denkmeier, Gerhard Sperrer
  • Patent number: 7767954
    Abstract: Monitoring is provided, for a passageway through which objects on carrier (12) are transported, such that the passageway is guarded by at least one light grid (16) with a plurality of light rays running one above the other, where the light grid (16) is divided into a first, lower area (16a) through which the carriers (12) pass and a second, upper area (16b) through which the objects pass, which light grid (16) disposes over an evaluating circuit which emits a signal if a light ray (22) is interrupted in the first, lower area (16a) and provides information on the height of the object. A current value for the height is stored height as last measured value. Readouts are taken of a lower area (16a) and upper area (16b) of the light grid (16), and the readouts are used to determine a current value for the height of the object, and a determination is made whether an object flag has been changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventor: Klaus Pirkl
  • Patent number: 7759626
    Abstract: A process circuit sets a plurality of light emitting elements in a state in which light is not emitted through a process circuit, and receives a signal S1 corresponding to received ambient light from each of a plurality of light receiving elements. The process circuit generates light receiving information (data DT) showing the light receiving state of the ambient light with respect to each predetermined number of light receiving elements among the plurality of light receiving elements. The process circuit transmits the data DT to the outside. The personal computer receives the data DT through a communication unit and displays it. In a sensor SNS, the amount of light received can be displayed with respect to each optical axis by the personal computer. Thus, an operator can find the light receiving state of the ambient light in more detail than the conventional sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Keisaku Kikuchi, Kazunori Osako, Takahara Takayoshi
  • Patent number: 7752009
    Abstract: A method of checking the height of a mail item relative to at least one dimensional threshold SH defining a change in postage. The mail items are advanced at a constant speed V along a reference surface. The presence of a mail item is detected relative to a given point of the reference surface. First and second times t1, t2 for which the same mail item is present at the first and second distances d1, d2 relative to the reference surface is detected. The ratio t2/t1 is compared with a value equal to (1??), where ? represents a correction coefficient of less than 1 that depends on the tolerances for detection of the presence of a mail item. The height of a mail item is considered greater than the dimensional threshold SH if, and only if, the relationship t2/t1>1?? is true.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: NEOPOST Technologies
    Inventors: Christian Nicolas, Didier Painault
  • Patent number: 7747065
    Abstract: A manufacturing process for sheet or shaped work products includes advancing the work product in a direction along a processing path; establishing a reference line with respect to the processing path; capturing visual data related to the work product; converting the visual data into a pixel array; and setting a predetermined line of pixels to correspond with the reference line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventor: Major K. Howe
  • Patent number: 7725152
    Abstract: A garment and system includes a monitoring fabric comprising a first plurality of reflective yarns knitted or woven with a second plurality of stretchable yarns. The fabric exhibits both a light transmission property and a light reflection property. The amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, such as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one source of radiation having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers and at least one detector responsive to such incident radiation. The source and detector are associated with the fabric such that the reception of incident radiation by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric when the fabric stretches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Textronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia Chyuan Kuo, George W. Coulston
  • Patent number: 7715897
    Abstract: A garment and system includes a monitoring fabric that exhibits a light reflection property and substantially no light transmission property when the fabric is illuminated with light having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers. The amount of useful light reflected by the fabric into an aperture of acceptance defined with respect to an axis extending from the fabric relative to the amount of light lost to the aperture of acceptance detectably changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one radiation source and at least one radiation detector, with the detector disposed in the aperture of acceptance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Textronics, Inc.
    Inventor: George W. Coulston
  • Patent number: 7696469
    Abstract: The present invention can be used in a multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor indicating an operating status thereof to a non-safety control device. The present invention allows the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor so as to become a easier operation. The multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor has a control unit to providing a safety control signal representing a result of a distinguish portion in a normal operating status, a safety control signal representing operation non-allowable in an abnormal status and a safety control signal representing operation allowable in a special operating status. The multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor also has an operating status indication portion for determining an operating status of the multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor from the normal operating status, the abnormal status and the special operating status, and providing the operating status to an external device via the same output line regardless of the result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsu Inoue, Koji Fukumura
  • Publication number: 20100065762
    Abstract: A system for detecting the alignment of a top plate placed on a plate pallet. The alignment is detected relative to predetermined coordinates of the system. The system will generally include the following components: An illumination source configured to illuminate light on at least one edge of the top plate; a scanner for acquiring scanning results of the top plate edges. The scanning result will be analyzed by an analyzing component, in order to align the top plate correctly before it is loaded into the CTP imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Yossef Dror
  • Patent number: 7671322
    Abstract: An optoelectronic security system includes a plurality of light transmitters in a light grid arrangement for the transmission of light signals into a monitored zone, at least one spatially resolving light reception unit for the reception of the light signals transmitted by the light transmitters and a read-out circuit for the reading out of the signals of the at least one light reception unit. The optoelectronic security system has an evaluation device which is configured such that it can split the surface of the at least one light reception unit into at least two processing regions in dependence on a predetermined selection criterion and can further process the signals of the at least two processing regions differently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventor: Stephan Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20090101851
    Abstract: A method for estimating thread parameters of a part which moves relative to a stage and a plurality of sensors which measure the amount of radiation contained in directed planar portions of radiation unobstructed by the part is provided. The amount of radiation is representative of a respective geometric dimension of the part. The method includes obtaining calibrated part data from an inspection region between position limits of the stage. The calibrated part data includes calibrated sensor data for each sensor of the system and its corresponding coordinate system. The method further includes processing the calibrated part data to obtain intermediate data. The method still further includes analyzing the intermediate data to produce estimates of the thread parameters of the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: John D. Spalding
  • Publication number: 20090079998
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for slitting composite material into tape and for measuring the width of the slit tape as the tape is being reeled onto take up rolls. The tape width is measured by an optical micrometer. The optical micrometer includes a transmitter for directing radiant energy over the tape and, a receiver for receiving radiant energy from the transmitter that passes across an edge of the tape and for producing a signal related to the width of the tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick L. Anderson, Leonard P. Estrada
  • Patent number: 7454935
    Abstract: A method and an optoelectronic sensor are provided for ensuring the safety of a machine tool having a first tool part carrying out working movements in the direction of a second tool part. The sensor monitors a three-dimensional protected field between the tool parts of the machine tool. At the start of a working movement of a first tool part of the machine tool, the extent of the protected field in the direction of the working movement is smaller than the extent of the open gap between the tool parts. On a continued working movement, the extent of the protected field is continuously reduced and the protected field is held in the center of the open gap. Thereafter, on a further continued working movement, the extent of the protected field is maintained and the protected field is held in the center of the open gap. The sensor is finally deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Ingolf Braune, Roland Bergbach
  • Patent number: 7448242
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for securing a machine tool comprising a first tool part that carries out work movements in the direction of a second tool part in order thereby to carry out a machining process on a workpiece, wherein an optoelectronic sensor monitors a three-dimensional protected field between the tool parts in that light is transmitted along an open gap formed between the tool parts by means of a transmitter device and is detected by means of a receiver device which includes a matrix of light-sensitive elements, wherein the first tool part is stopped if individual light-sensitive elements or specific groups of the light-sensitive elements do not receive any light. In the method in accordance with the invention, relative positions between individual workpiece areas or measured values related to individual workpiece areas are determined from the signals delivered by the light-sensitive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Dieterle, Ingolf Braune
  • Patent number: 7361920
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus has a transfer mechanism arranged on a transfer base and configured to transfer a processing substrate between predetermined transfer positions, a mapping sensor arranged on the transfer base and configured to detect an arrangement state of a processing substrate inside a processing substrate accommodating case which accommodates a plurality of processing substrate in a shelf-like form, and a Z-axis teaching jig provided on or in the vicinity of one of the transfer positions. This substrate processing apparatus detects, by the mapping sensor, a height of the Z-axis teaching jig so as to perform teaching of Z-axis to the transfer mechanism with respect to the one of the transfer positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Keisuke Kondoh
  • Patent number: 7312433
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device 5 of the type which detects the interruption of a beam of radiation (e.g. light 20) by an object (50 FIG. 1) in the beam. The device includes a light emitter 12 and a light detector 32 each enclosed in a housing 10 and 30. In order to accommodate different spacings between the housings different caps 14 having varying size apertures 11 are fittable to the housings. This allows varying amounts of light to be issued and/or detected. Other ways of adjusting the amount of light passing through the cap are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventors: Victor G. Stimpson, Benjamin J. Merrifield
  • Patent number: 7275438
    Abstract: In order to check a material web (12), in particular a film web, with regard to the correct arrangement of a tear-off strip (11) extending in the longitudinal direction of the material web (12), ultrasonic transmitters are used, specifically an ultrasonic transmitter (11) on the one hand and an ultrasonic receiver (19) on the other hand. The sensors are arranged on opposite sides of the material web (12) in such a way that, if appropriate, focused ultrasonic waves are aimed specifically at the region of the tear-off strip (11). If a tear-off strip (11) is missing, an appropriate signal is generated by the ultrasonic receiver (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)
    Inventors: Doris Focke, legal representative, Jürgen Focke, legal representative, Michael Czarnotta, Heinz Focke, deceased
  • Patent number: 7242486
    Abstract: A note skew detector, for use in a note transport mechanism of an Automated teller Machine (ATM) is described. The detector comprises a light source and a single optical sensor, optically coupled via a pair of optical wave-guides arranged to have an air gap there between so as to provide a note transport path between the said wave-guides. The wave-guides are further arranged to provide a first optical path and a second, distinct, optical path between said light source and said sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Gunnar Jespersen, Eric G. Lyons
  • Patent number: 7227163
    Abstract: An inspection system and a method for using the inspection system, wherein the inspection system includes a collimated light source defining a source optical path, the collimated light source being operable to cause a collimated light beam to propagate along the source optical path, a sensing device defining a sensor optical path, the sensor optical path being substantially perpendicular to the source optical path, a reflecting device disposed within the source optical path to receive the collimated light beam, the reflecting device causing a reflected collimated light beam to propagate along the sensor optical path to the sensing device and a retention mount, the retention mount being disposed within the sensor optical path such that when a component is retained within the retention mount, the component blocks at least a portion of the reflected collimated light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Inventor: Stanley P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7205528
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to perform a coordinate position detection not involving detection miss, even if a drawing process frequently involves detection interruptions on a display surface. A method of the invention comprises: performing a scanning in a first scanning area corresponding to the width of the display surface at the time of an initial detection of a shading object; performing, when continuing the detection of the shading object, a scanning in a second scanning area whose scanning region is an area near the latest detection position; performing, after an interruption in the detection of the shading object, a scanning in a third scanning area which is broader than the second scanning area but narrower than the first scanning area, within a predetermined time period and with the detection position of a continued detection serving as reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Haruo Watari
  • Patent number: 7187457
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring sizes of articles including a light projecting device for projecting light toward an article placed on a stationary transparent plate from one side of the plate, a photo-sensor device arranged on the other side of the plate and having plural photo-detectors arranged in array in Y direction to receive light projected from the light projecting device and impinging upon the photo-sensor device without being interrupted by the article, a driving device for reciprocally moving the light projecting device and photo-sensor device relative to the article in X direction perpendicular to the Y direction, and a shifting device for shifting the photo-sensor device in the Y direction between first and second positions which are mutually separated by a half of a photo-detector array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Shinko Denshi Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7129507
    Abstract: The invention is a method for detecting float or peel of semiconductor chips arranged in X and Y axes directions diced and bonded to a dicing tape on a stage. The method includes detecting float or peel of the semiconductor chips in a respective horizontal or longitudinal row arranged in the X or Y axis direction; moving the stage in the X axis direction, the Y axis direction, a Z axis direction, and a rotational direction around the Z axis for aligning the stage with a position detection unit for detecting positions of the semiconductor chips in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction; detecting the positions of abnormal semiconductor chips in the respective horizontal or longitudinal row that includes said abnormal semiconductor chips; and specifying the positions of said abnormal semiconductor chips on the X-Y axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Akira Yamamoto, Konosuke Murakami, Yoshio Niki, Takashi Ishimoto, Yutaka Ueda
  • Patent number: 7126145
    Abstract: A frame transfer prober 1, for carrying out an electrical property test on a number of semiconductor chips 10 fixed on a dicing tape 11, comprises a separation detection unit 9 for detecting the separation and/or protrusion of the semiconductor chips 10 from the dicing tape. The separation detection unit has a light emitting portion 91 for emitting a laser beam L, a light receiving portion 92 for receiving the laser beam L so emitted and a determination portion 93 for determining the separation and/or protrusion of the semiconductor chips through an increase or decrease in amount of the laser beam L so received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Ueda
  • Patent number: 7126144
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the contactless measurement of an object in at least one dimension. An object is scanned in a spatially restricted effective zone of a scanning beam field and the size of the object in terms of the measured dimension is deduced by the detection of one or more interruptions in the scanning beams. The scanning beam field is constructed from a number of directly addressable individual beams. The beam-assisted scanning of the spatially restricted effective zone of the scanning beam field is carried out according to a predefinable pattern of steps, using a non-linear soiling method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Cedes AG
    Inventor: Beat De Coi
  • Patent number: 7080583
    Abstract: In microtomes or ultramicrotomes, it is necessary to preset the specimen (14) onto the knife (16). In order to facilitate and automate this presetting operation, which is intended to guarantee the fastest and most accurate possible positioning of the knife (16) relative to the specimen (14), the spacing (13) between the trimmed surface (15) of the specimen (14) and the specimen holder (22) is ascertained and is transferred to the microtome or ultramicrotome (10). The spacing (13) is preferably ascertained in the trimming device (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Leica Microsysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Lihl, Hubert Goll, Anton Lang, Paul Wurzinger
  • Patent number: 7067833
    Abstract: An apparatus for wrapping harvested crop material into bales wherein the wrapping material web is drawn off from a wrapping media supply which rotates about a vertical axis while, at the same time, the bale rotates about a horizontal axis. A sensor is provided which signals a tear in the wrapping media web or the absence of material media. The sensor may be optical ultrasonic or sense electromagnetic radiations of different frequency ranges, as appropriate for the media of which the wrapping media involved. A position sensor is provided which activates an evaluation of signals from the sensor that a signal is produced when the web tears or is absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Lely Enterprises AG a Swiss Limited Liability Co.
    Inventor: Christoph Ramm
  • Patent number: 6927386
    Abstract: The position of a light blocking object is detected not only within a display screen, but also outside the display screen. With the use of the function of detecting the position in a region outside the display screen, it becomes possible to provide virtual buttons in this region and detect dust around a light retro-reflector. Dirt on the light retro-reflector is detected based on the levels of light receiving signals of optical units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yasuhide Iwamoto, Satoshi Sano, Fumihiko Nakazawa, Nobuyasu Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6906307
    Abstract: A one wire interface for optical emitter-detectors is disclosed that is fail-safe, simple, and includes diagnostics, noise and static protection. Two indicator lamps are used for diagnostics indicating four conditions; a) Ready, b) Not Connected, c) Blocked Beam, d) No power. This allows single or two conductor systems to have the same troubleshooting information as the 4-wire systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Mechanical Ingenuity Corp
    Inventor: Howard Beckerman
  • Patent number: 6900451
    Abstract: The mapping sensor system of the invention is intended for use with a mechanical arm of an industrial robot which loads and unloads flat circular objects, such as semiconductor wafers, into and from wafer cassettes on operations of processing the semiconductor wafers in stand-alone or cluster machines used in semiconductor production. The mapping system consists of a light source, a light-receiving element, and a light beam shaper. The light source is installed on the front end of the robot arm and directs the light via the beam shaper to the leading edge of the semiconductor wafer. The beam reflected from the wafer edge is sensed by a light-receiving element, such as a photodiode. The shaper modifies the shape and the cross-section of the beam directed towards the wafer so as to provide reflection from the curvilinear surface of the edge, irrespective of the existence of the notch, most optimum for detection by the photodiodes and without generation of false signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Multimextrixs, LLC
    Inventors: Boris Kesil, David Margulis, Elik Gershenzon
  • Patent number: 6891181
    Abstract: Optical sensor methods and systems for detecting the edge of an object are disclosed. An optical sensor having dual equal area active regions can be provided, and a uniform light source located opposite the optical sensor, such that an occlusion of light from the uniform light source provides location determination data of an object via the optical sensor regardless of the direction of motion of the occlusion relative to the dual equal area active regions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond W. Blasingame, Ronald W. Chandler, Norman B. Stapleton
  • Patent number: 6878953
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a method and apparatus for making measurement of an object on a machine, such as a machine tool, using an optical measuring apparatus which includes a light source for generating a beam of light which is incident on a detector. A detection signal is generated within the detector each time the beam is interrupted. The duration and/or frequency of the detection signals are evaluated and an output signal is emitted from the detection only if a further detection signal is present within the detector in a specified time interval from the generation of an earlier detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Renishaw PLC
    Inventors: Victor G Stimpson, Jon P Fuge, William K Davies, Norman J Leete, Colin T Bell
  • Patent number: 6844539
    Abstract: The position of a light blocking object is detected not only within a display screen, but also outside the display screen. With the use of the function of detecting the position in a region outside the display screen, it becomes possible to provide virtual buttons in this region and detect dust around a light retro-reflector. Dirt on the light retro-reflector is detected based on the levels of light receiving signals of optical units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yasuhide Iwamoto, Satoshi Sano, Fumihiko Nakazawa, Nobuyasu Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20040251434
    Abstract: In cutting devices (10), in particular microtomes or ultramicrotomes, it is necessary to preset the specimen (14) onto the knife (16). To simplify this presetting operation, which is intended to ensure the quickest and most accurate possible positioning of the knife (16) relative to the specimen (14), a stereomicroscope (12) is provided that can be adjusted in many ways using operating elements (15, 17, 19, 27). To improve the unit's ergonomics and additionally eliminate collisions during pivoting, the unit base (22) of the cutting device (10) is modified. Since the modification of the unit base must result in a lowering, this modification can be achieved by lowering the knife holder (26), the mounting surface for the linear guide being milled directly onto the unit base (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Leica Mikrosysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Zimmermann, Reinhard Lihl, Andreas Hallady, Anton Lang
  • Publication number: 20040227110
    Abstract: Detecting an object, where a light source and an optical receiver are used, and the object is detected by having it intersect the ray of light between the light source and the optical receiver. The optical receiver includes, at least, a fluorescing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Wolfgang Eberhard Luxem, Thomas Zelenka