Position Or Displacement Patents (Class 356/614)
  • Patent number: 11948327
    Abstract: A method and system by which a bounding box disposed around a segmented object in a camera (or other perception sensor) 2D image can be used to produce an estimate for both the location of the object—its position relative to the position of the camera that obtained the image (i.e., translation)—and the angle of rotation of the surface that the object is located on. The method and system may be used by an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), an autonomous driving (AD) system, or the like. The input includes a simple camera (or other perception sensor) 2D image, with the ego vehicle generating 2D or 3D bounding boxes for objects detected at the scene. The output includes, for each object, its estimated distance from the ego vehicle camera/perception sensor and the angle of rotation of the surface underneath the object relative to the surface underneath the ego vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Roman Akulshin, Sihao Ding
  • Patent number: 11948819
    Abstract: Provided is a method of evaluating a silicon wafer, the method including a first determination that determines the presence or absence of an abnormality by inspecting a surface of an evaluation-target silicon wafer with a light scattering type surface inspection device; and a second determination that determines the presence or absence of an abnormality through observing, with an atomic force microscope, a region of the surface of the evaluation-target silicon wafer, where the presence of an abnormality has not been confirmed in the first determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SUMCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keiichiro Mori
  • Patent number: 11927603
    Abstract: Probes that define retroreflectors, probe systems that include the probes, and methods of utilizing the probes. The probes include the retroreflector, which is defined by a retroreflector body. The retroreflector body includes a first side, an opposed second side, a tapered region that extends from the first side, and a light-receiving region that is defined on the second side. The probes also include a probe tip, which is configured to provide a test signal to a device under test (DUT) and/or to receive a resultant signal from the DUT. The retroreflector is configured to receive light, via the light-receiving region, at a light angle of incidence. The retroreflector also is configured to emit at least an emitted fraction of the light, from the retroreflector body and via the light-receiving region, at a light angle of emission that is at least substantially equal to the light angle of incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Quan Yuan, Joseph George Frankel
  • Patent number: 11886638
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to user interface control of a head-worn computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Benjamin Pelis, Preston Douglas Brown, Sean Thomas Mostajo O'Hara, Robert Michael Lohse, Andrew Carl Heisey
  • Patent number: 11860007
    Abstract: An encoder includes a scale and a sensor. The scale has first and second absolute patterns. The sensor includes a light source, and first and second absolute light receivers. The first and second absolute light receivers receive light from the first and second absolute patterns, respectively. The first absolute light receiver receives light from the first pattern and includes first and second light receiving elements. Each first light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a first phase. Each second light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a second phase. The first and second light receiving elements are arranged alternately. The second absolute light receiver includes third and fourth light receiving elements. Each third light receiving element outputs a second signal with the first phase. The third and fourth light receiving elements are arranged alternately. Each fourth light receiving element outputs a second signal with the second phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takada, Yasushi Yoshida, Shiro Yoshidomi, Masanobu Harada, Yasuhiro Matsutani, Daisuke Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11836914
    Abstract: An information processing method calculates a position of a feature corresponding to a trace in a first coordinate system, calculates a position of the feature corresponding to the trace in a second coordinate system, and calculates a size of a first distribution of the position of the feature corresponding to the trace in the first coordinate system and a size of a second distribution of the position of the feature corresponding to the trace in the second coordinate system. Additionally, the information processing method outputs information indicating that the feature corresponding to the trace is the trace formed on the surface of the workpiece in the machining process, and outputs information indicating that the feature corresponding to the trace is a false detection of the trace in the inspection process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo Hara, Takeshi Yamasaki, Koichi Wakitani, Tomoyuki Ishikawa, Seita Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11810160
    Abstract: System, methods, and apparatus for determining a foundation profile of a floor and/or a room profile of a room based on information obtained by a scanner device. For example, a scanner device can perform a scan operation of at least one floor in at least one room, generate a foundation profile that describes at least an area underneath the at least one floor based on the scan operation, and generate and send, to a server, a message comprising the foundation profile for the at least one floor and a location of the building. The server can receive the message, determine, based on the location of the building, an account identifier that uniquely identifies an account associated with the building, and store the foundation profile for the at least one floor in a database in a location associated with the account identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
    Inventors: Andrew Enochs, David Patrick Dixon, Samuel Ngure, Scott Matthew Myrick, Davin Bernstein
  • Patent number: 11781238
    Abstract: Systems for electroplating seal inspection may include a module configured to support a seal for inspection. The module may include a set of supports positioned to contact an interior rim of the seal. The module may be configured to rotate the seal about a central axis. The system may also include a detector positioned on the module. The detector may be positioned to scan an exterior surface of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Heller, David W. Bricker
  • Patent number: 11756582
    Abstract: A system for determining a fly height includes a first head of a disk drive, a second head of the disk drive, a capacitive sensor circuit coupled to the first head and the second head, and a logic device coupled to the capacitive sensor circuit. The capacitive sensor circuit is configured to measure a first capacitance between the first head and the first disk, remove noise from the first capacitance using a second capacitance between the second head and the second disk, and based thereon determine a corrected first capacitance. The logic device is configured to determine the fly height between the first head and the first disk using the corrected first capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics, Inc., STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Paolo Pulici, Dennis Hogg, Michele Bartolini, Enrico Sentieri, Enrico Mammei
  • Patent number: 11754438
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a self-checking photoelectric sensor that is configured to determine a characteristic (e.g., an amount of blockage and/or wellness/decay) of an optical pathway (e.g., an electro-optical pathway). An example method generally includes increasing, over a time period that starts at a first time, a current input to a light emitting element (LEE). The method generally includes receiving, by a light detection element, an output of the LEE via the optical pathway during the time period. The method generally includes converting, during the time period, the LEE output to a voltage output. The method generally includes determining a second time in the time period when the voltage output crosses a threshold. The method generally includes determining the characteristic of the optical pathway between the LEE and the light detection element based on a difference between the second time and the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Carl Jung
  • Patent number: 11756296
    Abstract: A method comprises receiving one or more inputs captured by a camera of a device, and determining, using one or more machine learning models, whether the one or more inputs depict at least one object configured to capture a visual representation of a screen of the device. A recommendation is generated responsive to an affirmative determination, the recommendation comprising at least one action to prevent the capture of the visual representation of the screen of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Dhilip S. Kumar, Jaganathan Subramanian
  • Patent number: 11757533
    Abstract: A shutdown circuit may include a filter, for receiving a laser trigger signal for a laser emitter, that is configured to output a filtered signal. The shutdown circuit may include a logic gate configured to receive the filtered signal and at least one of a first signal based on a signal from a photodiode or a second signal based on a signal from a conductive path. The shutdown circuit may include a flip-flop configured to receive an output of the logic gate and to output an enablement signal that is based on the output of the logic gate, and a driver circuit for a switch configured to control current flow to the laser emitter. The driver circuit may be configured to receive the enablement signal and the laser trigger signal and to output the laser trigger signal based on whether the enablement signal is a first or a second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mikhail Dolganov, Lijun Zhu, Hao Huang
  • Patent number: 11719532
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a deformable object which is at least partially filled with a light-absorbing material, one or more light sources configured to illuminate the inside of the deformable object, an imaging unit configured to capture respective images of the light sources, and circuitry configured to reconstruct the shape of the deformable object based on the captured images of the light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tonino Greco
  • Patent number: 11701070
    Abstract: A medical or dental imaging system for generating an image of a part of the head, comprising: an x-ray source and an x-ray detector which move around the head to generate x-ray images at different positions, a tracking device which provides sensor data indicative of any movement of the head during the acquisition of the x-ray images and a computer which generates tracking data based on the sensor data and calculates an x-ray image of the head part based on the x-ray images and on the tracking data to compensate for any movement of the head part during the acquisition of the x-ray images, wherein the tracking device comprises at least one camera and an attachment device for detachable attachment of the camera to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: See Through S.r.l.
    Inventors: Claudio Landi, Cristina Sarti, Michael Reiter
  • Patent number: 11698254
    Abstract: A surveying instrument including an optical axis deflector which integrally deflects a distance measuring optical axis and a light receiving optical axis, a narrow-angle image pickup module having an optical axis a part of which is common to the distance measuring optical axis, a distance measurement calculation module and an arithmetic control module, in which the wavelength dispersion compensation prisms which is constituted of a plurality of optical members having the different wavelength characteristics are provided in the part of which is common to the distance measuring optical axis and the narrow-angle image pickup optical axis, the arithmetic control module performs the distance measurement of a measuring point based on a signal of the distance measuring light and a signal of the reflected distance measuring light, and acquires a narrow-angle image in which the dispersion has been compensated by the wavelength dispersion compensation prisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: TOPCON Corporation
    Inventors: Ikuo Ishinabe, Fumio Ohtomo, Kaoru Kumagai
  • Patent number: 11694453
    Abstract: Methods for determining a value of an intrinsic geometrical parameter of a geometrical feature characterizing a physical object, and for classifying a scene into at least one geometrical shape, each geometrical shape modeling a luminous object. A singular light distribution characterized by a first wavelength and a position of singularity is projected onto the physical object. Light excited by the singular light distribution that has interacted with the geometrical feature and that impinges upon a detector is detected and a return energy distribution is identified and quantified at one or more positions. A deep learning or neural network layer may be employed, using the detected light as direct input of the neural network layer, adapted to classify the scene, as a plurality of shapes, static or dynamic, the shapes being part of a set of shapes predetermined or acquired by learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Bioaxial SAS
    Inventor: Gabriel Y Sirat
  • Patent number: 11656357
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tracking system for tracking the position and orientation of an object in an environment, the tracking system including: (a) a tracking base positioned in the environment; (b) a tracking target mountable to the object, wherein in use the tracking base is linked to the tracking target by: (i) a bidirectional light beam transmitted therebetween; and, (ii) a unidirectional light beam transmitted therebetween, said unidirectional light beam parallel to the bidirectional light beam; and, (c) at least one controller configured to determine a roll angle of the tracking target relative to the tracking base, the roll angle determined at least in part by signals received from a sensor housed in at least one of the tracking base and the tracking target that detects the unidirectional light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: FASTBRICK IP PTY LTD
    Inventor: Mark Joseph Pivac
  • Patent number: 11630197
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for determining a motion state of a target object. In an aspect, an on-board computer of an ego vehicle detects the target object in one or more images, determines one or more first attributes of the target object based on measurements of the one or more images, determines one or more second attributes of the target object based on measurements of a map of a roadway on which the target object is travelling, and determines the motion state of the target object based on the one or more first attributes and the one or more second attributes of the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jayakrishnan Unnikrishnan, Avdhut Joshi, Shivam Agarwal, Amir Salimi, Sree Sesha Aravind Vadrevu, Gautam Sachdeva, Yoga Y Nadaraajan, Ravi Teja Sukhavasi, Xinzhou Wu, Young-Ki Baik, Duck Hoon Kim, Hyun-Mook Cho
  • Patent number: 11609084
    Abstract: A system for mechanical testing a specimen includes a 3D printed mechanical testing fixture; a linear actuator having an axis of movement; a controller configured to control the linear actuator; two cameras; a data-acquisition system configured to acquire data from the linear actuator, the controller, and the two cameras; and the specimen. The specimen is marked in two locations with tracking markers to provide indication to the data acquisition system via at least one camera of movement and change in length of the specimen. The fixture includes force-sensing beams extending perpendicular to the axis of force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Wonmo Kang, Christopher Rudolf
  • Patent number: 11585692
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor network comprising at least one optical fiber having one or more optical sensors. At least one of the optical sensors is arranged to sense vibration of an electrical device and to produce a time variation in light output in response to the vibration. A detector generates an electrical time domain signal in response to the time variation in light output. An analyzer acquires a snapshot frequency component signal which comprises one or more time varying signals of frequency components of the time domain signal over a data acquisition time period. The analyzer detects a condition of the electrical device based on the snapshot frequency component signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter Kiesel, Ajay Raghavan, Todd Karin, Qiushu Chen, Malcolm G. Smith, Jr., Robert T. Stinson, IV
  • Patent number: 11573291
    Abstract: A removable position locator having a light source and attachment hardware for attaching the removable position locator to a body, the attachment hardware has at least one hardware light-transmitting through-hole, the removable position locator has at least one locator light-transmitting through-hole and the light from the light source is projected outward through the light-transmitting through-hole, the body has an opening that is substantially the same or bigger than the hardware light-transmitting through-hole and the opening is substantially aligned with the hardware light-transmitting through hole and the locator light-transmitting through-hole when the hardware is attached to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventor: Li Zhijian
  • Patent number: 11565427
    Abstract: A robot system includes a robot for performing predetermined processing to a treating object, a photographing device for photographing the treating object, a robot control device for performing position compensation of a moving destination of the robot so as to track the treating object, on a basis of previously-set information on positions of the robot, the photographing device and the treating object, and an image of the treating object photographed by the photographing device, and a display device for providing an AR space. The robot control device calculates a position of the photographing device on the basis of the information on the positions of the robot and the photographing device. The display device displays an image imitating the photographing device at a corresponding position in the AR space, on a basis of the calculated position of the photographing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoshino, Makoto Yamada
  • Patent number: 11566993
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides improved systems and methods for automated cell identification/classification. More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous systems and methods for automated cell identification/classification using shearing interferometry with a digital holographic microscope. The present disclosure provides for a compact, low-cost, and field-portable 3D printed system for automatic cell identification/classification using a common path shearing interferometry with digital holographic microscopy. This system has demonstrated good results for sickle cell disease identification with human blood cells. The present disclosure provides that a robust, low cost cell identification/classification system based on shearing interferometry can be used for accurate cell identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: Bahram Javidi, Adam Markman, Siddharth Rawat, Arun Anand
  • Patent number: 11534908
    Abstract: An operation adjustment apparatus includes a camera arranged so as to capture images of a robot and a hand. The robot controller includes an operation control unit that sends an operation command to the robot at a predetermined control cycle. The camera captures images at a time interval that coincides with the control cycle. A determination unit of the robot controller determines whether an operation of the hand is appropriate based on a result of image processing performed by an image processing unit. If the determination unit determines that the operation of the hand is not appropriate, a correction unit of the robot controller corrects a command statement included in an operation program so that the operation of the hand is an appropriate operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenshirou Oono, Makoto Yamada
  • Patent number: 11538701
    Abstract: A method of inspecting a semiconductor processing chamber includes providing a vision sensor into the semiconductor processing chamber, aligning the vision sensor on a target in the semiconductor processing chamber, obtaining an object image of the target using an image scanning module of the vision sensor, generating a three dimensional model of the target based on the object image, and obtaining a physical quantity of the target from the three dimensional model. The obtaining of the object image of the target includes projecting a pattern onto the target using an illuminator of the image scanning module, and scanning an image of the target in which the pattern is projected, using a camera of the image scanning module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taehyoung Lee, Byeongsang Kim, Sung Chai Kim, Wooram Kim, Kyungwon Yun, Keonho Lee, Sangil Im, Namyoung Cho
  • Patent number: 11520438
    Abstract: An optical touch-sensitive device is able to determine the locations of multiple simultaneous touch events. The optical touch-sensitive device can include an optical waveguide, an emitter, and an emitter coupler. The emitter produces optical beams, and the emitter coupler is on a surface of the waveguide and is configured to direct at least some of the optical beams to propagate via total internal reflection (TIR) through the waveguide as coupled optical beams. Touches on the top surface of the waveguide disturb the coupled optical beams, and the touch-sensitive device determines touch events based on the disturbances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Beechrock Limited
    Inventor: Owen Drumm
  • Patent number: 11498132
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems, methods, and computer readable media may be configured to perform a calibration. Calibrating an additive manufacturing system may include comparing a digital representation of one or more calibration marks to a calibration-CAD model that includes one or more model calibration marks, and applying a calibration adjustment to one or more CAD models based at least in part on the comparison. The digital representation of the one or more calibration marks may have been obtained using a vision system, and the one or more calibration marks may have been printed on a calibration surface according to the calibration-CAD model using an additive manufacturing machine. The calibration adjustment may be configured to align the one or more CAD models with one or more coordinates of the additive manufacturing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jinjie Shi, Richard Roy Worthing, Jr., Joseph Edward Hampshire
  • Patent number: 11480425
    Abstract: A computing device includes: a tracking sensor including a camera; a controller connected with the tracking sensor, the controller configured to: control the tracking sensor to track successive poses of the computing device in a frame of reference; detecting a plurality of dimensioning events associated with an object; in response to detecting each of the dimensioning events, generate a respective position in the frame of reference based on a current one of the poses; generate, based on the positions, an object boundary in the frame of reference; and dimension the object based on the generated object boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Zebra Techologies Corporation
    Inventors: Alan J. Epshteyn, Mohitosh Mondal, Raghavendra Tenkasi Shankar, Patrick B. Tilley
  • Patent number: 11467594
    Abstract: The invention discloses a robot network structure suitable for an unstructured environment and a sensing system. The robot network structure is a basic unit or superposition of multiple basic units. An upper structure of the basic unit comprises at least two first nodes, and a lower structure comprises at least two second nodes which are not coplanar with the at least two first nodes. All the first nodes and all the second nodes form a three-dimensional network structure through connecting rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Chaoyang Song, Fang Wan
  • Patent number: 11468791
    Abstract: Implementations relate to medical simulations for medical procedure training. In some implementations, a system includes a simulation processing component including at least one processor and which generates a virtual environment using position signals that describe at least one of a position and a configuration of a physical surgical instrument relative to a physical surgical site. The simulation processing component updates the virtual environment according to changes in the position signals and according to control signals corresponding to inputs by a user of the system. The updating includes moving a virtual surgical instrument within the virtual environment, where an interaction of the virtual surgical instrument with a virtual surgical site is defined at least partly by a physical relationship between the physical surgical instrument and the physical surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Jarc, Joey Chau, Brian E. Miller
  • Patent number: 11428642
    Abstract: An overlay metrology system may include an illumination sub-system to sequentially illuminate an overlay target with a first illumination lobe and a second illumination lobe opposite the first illumination lobe, where the overlay target includes grating-over-grating features formed from periodic structures on a first sample layer and a second sample layer. The system may further include an imaging sub-system to generate a first image and a second image of the overlay target. The first image includes an unresolved image of the grating-over-grating structures formed from a single non-zero diffraction order of the first illumination lobe. The second image includes an unresolved image of the one or more grating-over-grating structures formed from a single non-zero diffraction order of the second illumination lobe. The system may further include a controller to determine an overlay error between the first layer and the second layer based on the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: KLA Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew V. Hill, Amnon Manassen
  • Patent number: 11415895
    Abstract: An arrangement of a microlithographic optical imaging device includes first and second supporting structures. The first supporting structure supports at least one optical element of the imaging device via an active relative situation control device of a control device. The first supporting structure supports the second supporting structure via supporting spring devices of a vibration decoupling device. The supporting spring devices act kinematically parallel to one another. Each supporting spring device defines a supporting force direction and a supporting length along the supporting force direction. The second supporting structure supports a measuring device of the control device. The measuring device is connected to the relative situation control device. The measuring device outputs to the relative situation control device measurement information representative for the position and/or the orientation of the at least one optical element in relation to a reference in at least one degree of freedom in space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Marwène Nefzi, Ralf Zweering, Toralf Gruner
  • Patent number: 11402206
    Abstract: A surveying instrument comprises a distance measuring light projecting module, a light receiving module, an optical axis deflector which integrally deflects a distance measuring optical axis and a light receiving optical axis, a wide-angle image pickup module, a projecting direction detecting module configured to detect an optical axis deflection angle and a deflecting direction, a narrow-angle image pickup module, a distance measurement calculating module and an arithmetic control module, wherein the arithmetic control module is configured to control the optical axis deflector and the distance measurement calculating module, wherein the distance measurement calculating module is configured to perform a distance measurement of a measuring point based on a light emission timing of a distance measuring light and a light reception timing of a reflected distance measuring light, and wherein the narrow-angle image pickup module is configured to acquire a narrow-angle image with the distance measuring optical axis
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: TOPCON Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Ikuo Ishinabe, Kaoru Kumagai
  • Patent number: 11366224
    Abstract: A proximity sensor and an electronic device. The proximity sensor includes a circuit board; an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver both arranged on the circuit board, wherein the infrared emitter includes a light emitting source arranged on the circuit board and a light transmitting element covering the light emitting source; the light emitting source has an emission optical axis, the light transmitting element includes a front light transmitting portion and a rear light transmitting portion connected to the front light transmitting portion; the front light transmitting portion is located on a front side of the emission light axis of the light emitting source, and the rear light transmitting portion is located on a rear side of the emission light axis of the light emitting source; and the infrared receiver is located on one side of the light emitting source; and a light shielding element, wherein the light shielding element covers at least a part of the rear light transmitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Haiping Zhang
  • Patent number: 11361678
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for surgical training with low cost, reusable materials and a highly customizable virtual environment for skill-building. According to various embodiments, a surgical training tool is usable in conjunction with a support structure configured to at least partially constrain the tool movement. Meanwhile, the tool is tracked in real-time with off-tool detectors to generate a tool path driving a virtual rendering of the surgical training tool in an operative environment. The virtual rendering may be visually observable via a display device and may include a customizable and/or selectable operative environment with one or more structures that can be operated on by the virtual surgical training tool. By tracking the virtual tool interaction with the virtual structures, a task path may be established for documenting and/or objectively assessing the performance of one or more operative tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
    Inventors: Ka-Chun Siu, Carl Nelson, Mohsen Zahiri, Dmitry Oleynikov
  • Patent number: 11360604
    Abstract: A display device is provided. The display device includes a front frame, a rear cover, a display panel, a plurality of sensors and at least one adjusting mechanism. The front frame has an opening. The front frame and the rear cover are fixed to form an accommodation space. The display panel, disposed in the accommodating space, has a display surface exposed to the opening. A plurality of sensors are disposed on the front frame and configured to receive and emit an optical signal above the display surface. At least one adjusting mechanism is disposed on the rear cover and configured to adjust a deformation amount of the front frame to maintain the sensors at a predetermined emitting position and a receiving position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Tsun Hsieh, Yi-An Ma
  • Patent number: 11346947
    Abstract: An apparatus for localizing a first device includes a time of flight circuit configured to emit a first modulated light signal and receive a reflection of the first modulated light signal from the first device. The apparatus further includes a processing circuit configured to determine, based on the first modulated light signal and the reflection, a position of the first device in a first coordinate system associated with the apparatus. The processing circuit is further configured to determine, based on the position of the first device in the first coordinate system, a position of the apparatus in a second coordinate system and an orientation of the apparatus in the second coordinate system. The apparatus further includes a transmit circuit configured to emit a second modulated signal to the first device, wherein the second modulated signal includes data indicating the position of the first device in the second coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Hannes Plank, Norbert Druml, Theresa Egger, Thomas Herndl, Christoph Steffan
  • Patent number: 11340577
    Abstract: A light radiating device includes an optical element held at a desired position by a holder and configured to exhibit desired optical performance based on incoming light entered at the desired position, a detector configured to detect an amount of positional deviation of the optical element relative to the desired position, and a discrimination unit configured to discriminate whether the light radiating device is in a normal state or an abnormal state based on the detected amount of positional deviation. The normal state is a state where the optical element exhibits the desired optical performance by being disposed at the desired position. The abnormal state is a state where the optical element is disposed at a position deviating from the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Asaoka
  • Patent number: 11255219
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a blade monitoring system. The blade monitoring system includes a processor. The processor is configured to receive a sensor signal from a sensor configured to observe a blade of the turbomachinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Michael Allen Ball
  • Patent number: 11240607
    Abstract: An optical microphone assembly comprises a rigid substrate; an interferometric arrangement, a light source, at least one photo detector and an enclosure. The interferometric arrangement comprises a membrane and at least one optical element spaced from the membrane, wherein the at least one optical element comprises a surface of the substrate and/or is disposed on a surface of the substrate. The light source is arranged to provide light to the interferometric arrangement such that a first portion of the light propagates along a first optical path via the interferometric arrangement and a second portion of the light propagates along a second different optical path via the interferometric arrangement, thereby giving rise to an optical path difference between the first and second optical paths which depends on a distance between the membrane and the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: SINTEF TTO AS
    Inventors: Hallvard Angelskår, Thor Bakke, Ib-Rune Johansen, Matthieu Lacolle, Jakob Vennerød, Andreas Vogl, Dag Wang
  • Patent number: 11232590
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus to achieve both the stabilization of estimation of the distance to a target physical body and the suppression of power consumption. The information processing apparatus includes: a first estimation unit configured to estimate a distance between a prescribed visual point and a physical body in a real space on the basis of result of detection of light that is sent from a prescribed light sending unit toward the physical body and is reflected at the physical body; a second estimation unit configured to estimate at least either one of a position or an attitude in the real space of the prescribed visual point on the basis of result of estimation of the distance; and a control unit configured to control the light sent from the light sending unit in accordance with a situation regarding estimation of at least either one of the position or the attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Kaino, Masashi Eshima, Daiki Yamanaka, Shunichi Homma
  • Patent number: 11224954
    Abstract: A non-contact tool setting apparatus, suitable for use with machine tools and the like, is described in which a transmitter emits light that is received by a receiver. An analysis unit is provided for analysing the light received by the receiver and generating a trigger signal therefrom. The receiver includes an imaging sensor, such as a CMOS or CCD sensor, having a plurality of pixels. The analysis unit generates the trigger signal by analysing the light intensity measured by a first subset of the plurality of pixels. This analysis may involve, for example, determining a resultant received light intensity or performing edge detection. The non-contact tool setting apparatus can thus emulate the operation of a laser based non-contact tool setting apparatus whilst also permitting imaging of cutting tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventors: Edward Benjamin Egglestone, Andrew Paul Gribble
  • Patent number: 11199679
    Abstract: Assembly with connecting element connecting a first and a second component, the connecting element has a base part connected to the first component, a first spring element and a second spring element. First and second spring elements are connected to the second component and each have a spring constant in two mutually perpendicular directions in space which is respectively at least twice as high as that in the third direction in space which is perpendicular to the first two directions in space, known as the elasticity direction. Elasticity directions of the two spring elements do not run parallel and define a first plane of elasticity. The base part comprises a floor element to which the first spring element is fastened and a first limb element to which the second spring element is fastened, wherein the first limb element comprises a fastening element for fastening the assembly to a third component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: HUBER+SUHNER Cube Optics AG
    Inventors: Ingo Smaglinski, Thomas Petigk
  • Patent number: 11176702
    Abstract: A 3D image reconstruction processing apparatus includes a processor. The processor acquires a plurality of images captured at different viewpoints. The processor selects two images from the acquired images as an image pair. The processor calculates a relative pose between the two images which constitute each of the selected image pairs. The processor judges whether or not the relative pose between the two images which constitute the selected image pair is capable of being uniquely calculated. The processor determines, based on a result of the judgment, the relative pose which is used in calculating an initial value of bundle adjustment. The processor performs the bundle adjustment, based on the initial value of the bundle adjustment calculated based on the determined relative pose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kota Mogami
  • Patent number: 11167504
    Abstract: A method and system for assisting in the manufacture of composite parts such as those used for various high-strength assemblies such as aircraft wings, vertical stabilizers, racing car shells, boat hulls, and other parts which are required to have a very high strength to weight ratio. The system uses laser technology to measure the resultant surfaces of a first manufactured composite part. A computer system analyzes and compares the as-built dimensions with the required production specifications. Supplemental composite filler plies are designed including shape and dimensions. These plies are nested together into a single composite sheet and manufactured to minimize wasted material. The plies are then cut out and applied to the first part guided by a laser projection system for locating the plies on the part. The part is then re-cured. The final assembly is then re-measured for compliance with production dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Spellman, Jeff Godfrey, Gregory MacLean
  • Patent number: 11156699
    Abstract: One example system comprises a plurality of substrates disposed in an overlapping arrangement. The plurality of substrates includes at least a first substrate and a second substrate. The system also comprises a first waveguide disposed on the first substrate to define a first optical path on the first substrate. The first waveguide is configured to guide light along the first optical path and to transmit, at an output section of the first waveguide, the light out of the first waveguide toward the second substrate. The system also comprises a second waveguide disposed on the second substrate to define a second optical path on the second substrate. An input section of the second waveguide is aligned with the output section of the first waveguide to receive the light transmitted by the first waveguide. The second waveguide is configured to guide the light along the second optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: James Dunphy, David Hutchison
  • Patent number: 11148224
    Abstract: A processing apparatus, which is provided with a processing space to place a workpiece therein and configured to process the workpiece placed in the processing space using a laser, includes a laser emitter, a processing position specifying device, a target emission condition computing device, an emission controller, a correction amount specifying device, a post-correction focal position computing device, and a post-correction emission condition computing device. The emission controller controls the laser emitter to emit the laser under a post-correction emission condition when a Z-axis correction amount is updated in the correction amount specifying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: FUTABA INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11108916
    Abstract: According to examples, an apparatus may include a processor and a memory on which is stored machine readable instructions that are to cause the processor to determine a size of a chip gap between a first sensor chip and a second sensor chip, access a model that estimates an amount of positional shift of a target centroid, and apply the determined chip gap size and the accessed model on an image captured using the first sensor chip and the second sensor chip to compensate for an estimated positional shift in a centroid of a calibration target in the captured image by causing a location of the calibration target centroid in the captured image to more accurately correspond to an actual location of the calibration target centroid on an object from which the captured image was captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Hsue-Yang Liu
  • Patent number: 11105898
    Abstract: A system and method for adaptively illuminating a volume with an illumination system that illuminates a volume of interest using separately controllable near field and far field optimized illumination sources, to maintain an irradiance pattern criteria in the volume, where that criteria may be different for a far field portion of the volume than for a near field portion of the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir Gurevich, Peter Fazekas, David T. Shi
  • Patent number: 11099689
    Abstract: A receiving device includes an optical detector, a first detection region, and a second detection region. The optical detector detects a position of an object of interest to be detected by receiving, with use of one or more of light-receiving portions, reflected light that occurs when light emitted from one or more of light-emitting portions is reflected by the object of interest to be detected. The first detection region is provided at a position closer to the optical detector, and is for detecting movement of the object of interest to be detected with the use of the optical detector. The second detection region is provided at a position farther from the optical detector than the first detection region, and is for detecting presence of the object of interest to be detected with the use of the optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Nozomi Noguchi, Ko Takeuchi