Patents Assigned to Omron Scientific Technologies, Inc.
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Patent number: 10841539Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for monitoring a zone, which is a contiguous or non-contiguous, two-dimensional (2D) area or three-dimensional (3D) volume. Among its several advantages, the apparatus includes a plurality of sensors that monitor portions of the zone and report intrusion status to a control unit that provides monitoring boundary information to each of the sensors based on user input and further “maps” or otherwise associates each sensor to control unit outputs in accordance with user-defined behaviors. Still further, as a meaningful aid for configuring monitoring boundaries used by the sensors for objection intrusion detection, in one or more embodiments of the apparatus and method, at least a subset of sensors use a common coordinate frame of reference, based on a common origin located within overlapping sensor fields of view.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: OMRON SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: John Drinkard
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Patent number: 8947505Abstract: In one aspect of the teachings herein, a 3D imaging apparatus uses a “texture tool” or facilitates the use of such a tool by an operator, to add artificial texture to a scene being imaged, for 3D imaging of surfaces or background regions in the scene that otherwise lack sufficient texture for determining sufficiently dense 3D range data. In at least one embodiment, the 3D imaging apparatus provides for iterative or interactive imaging, such as by dynamically indicating that one or more regions of the scene require artificial texturing via the texture tool for accurate 3D imaging, and then indicating whether or not the addition of artificial texture cured the texture deficiency and/or whether any other regions within the image require additional texture.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Omron Scientific Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ambrish Tyagi, John Drinkard
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Patent number: 8300284Abstract: According to a method and apparatus taught herein, an optical sensor uses pattern recognition in its optical detection processing to “see” detection patterns that correspond to predefined configuration settings. In one embodiment, for example, an optical sensing system selects an operational configuration by detecting a pattern embodied in received light data and comparing the detected pattern to one or more internally stored patterns. Each stored pattern represents a different operational configuration of the optical sensing system. If the detected pattern matches one of the stored patterns, the optical sensing system adopts the operational configuration corresponding to the matched stored pattern. Further, in one or more embodiments, the optical sensing system enters a configuration mode by an external stimulus, e.g., responsive to a configuration mode input, and the aforementioned pattern detection-based configuration selection is enabled only while in the configuration mode.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2009Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Omron Scientific Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Adam Sowul, Alejandro Ruiz Sanchez
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Publication number: 20120123563Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for monitoring a zone, which is a contiguous or non-contiguous, two-dimensional (2D) area or three-dimensional (3D) volume. Among its several advantages, the apparatus includes a plurality of sensors that monitor portions of the zone and report intrusion status to a control unit that provides monitoring boundary information to each of the sensors based on user input and further “maps” or otherwise associates each sensor to control unit outputs in accordance with user-defined behaviors. Still further, as a meaningful aid for configuring monitoring boundaries used by the sensors for objection intrusion detection, in one or more embodiments of the apparatus and method, at least a subset of sensors use a common coordinate frame of reference, based on a common origin located within overlapping sensor fields of view.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: OMRON SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: John Drinkard
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Patent number: 7965384Abstract: According to a method and apparatus taught herein an active object detection system performs reliable object detection based on light pulse emissions and corresponding and time-of-flight based distance determination, while advantageously rejecting clutter. While not limiting, the method and apparatus taught herein may be particularly advantageous for safety-critical object detection applications, such as where the active object detection system, e.g., a laser scanner, monitors for objects of at least a specified size within a predetermined monitoring radius or contour.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Omron Scientific Technologies, Inc.Inventor: John Drinkard
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Publication number: 20100097665Abstract: According to a method and apparatus taught herein, an optical sensor uses pattern recognition in its optical detection processing to “see” detection patterns that correspond to predefined configuration settings. In one embodiment, for example, an optical sensing system selects an operational configuration by detecting a pattern embodied in received light data and comparing the detected pattern to one or more internally stored patterns. Each stored pattern represents a different operational configuration of the optical sensing system. If the detected pattern matches one of the stored patterns, the optical sensing system adopts the operational configuration corresponding to the matched stored pattern. Further, in one or more embodiments, the optical sensing system enters a configuration mode by an external stimulus, e.g., responsive to a configuration mode input, and the aforementioned pattern detection-based configuration selection is enabled only while in the configuration mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2009Publication date: April 22, 2010Applicant: OMRON SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Adam Sowul, Alejandro Ruiz Sanchez
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Publication number: 20090322549Abstract: Zone selection logic in an area monitoring device increases the number of unique monitoring zone selections that can be selected using a limited number of discrete zone selection inputs, without compromising the safety critical operation of zone selection. The device monitors the logical state of each input in a set of individual inputs and recognizes each unique logical combination of zone selection inputs as a different zone selection. For example, each of two or more configured monitoring zones is associated with a different combinatorial zone selection pattern of asserted zone selection input signals. Correspondingly, a control circuit within the area monitoring device is configured to monitor the discrete zone selection inputs and activate a given one of the configured monitoring zones based on recognizing the associated combinatorial zone selection pattern of asserted zone selection signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: OMRON SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Fred Schleifer, Christopher Alan Dums, Alejandro Ruiz Sanchez, John Drinkard
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Publication number: 20090086189Abstract: According to a method and apparatus taught herein an active object detection system performs reliable object detection based on light pulse emissions and corresponding and time-of-flight based distance determination, while advantageously rejecting clutter. While not limiting, the method and apparatus taught herein may be particularly advantageous for safety-critical object detection applications, such as where the active object detection system, e.g., a laser scanner, monitors for objects of at least a specified size within a predetermined monitoring radius or contour.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: OMRON SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: John Drinkard