Patents by Inventor Adrian Paul Sheppard

Adrian Paul Sheppard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240133822
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a location of artefacts and/or inclusions in a gemstone, mineral or sample thereof, the method comprising: surface mapping a gemstone, mineral or sample thereof to determine surface geometry associated with at least a portion of a surface of the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof; sub-surface mapping the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof using an optical beam that is directed at the surface along an optical beam path, wherein the optical beam is generated by an optical source using an optical tomography process; determining a surface normal at the surface at an intersection point between the optical beam path and the determined surface geometry; determining relative positioning between the surface normal and the optical beam path; and determining the location of artefacts and/or inclusions in the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof based on the sub-surface mapping step and the determined relative positioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: The Australian National University
    Inventors: Roland Fleddermann, Jong Hann Chow, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Timothy John Senden, Shane Jamie Latham, Keshu Huang
  • Patent number: 11898962
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a location of artefacts and/or inclusions in a gemstone, mineral or sample thereof, the method comprising the steps of: surface mapping a gemstone, mineral or sample thereof to determine surface geometry associated with at least a portion of a surface of the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof; sub-surface mapping the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof using an optical beam that is directed at the surface along an optical beam path, wherein the optical beam is generated by an optical source using an optical tomography process; determining a surface normal at the surface at an intersection point between the optical beam path and the determined surface geometry; determining relative positioning between the surface normal and the optical beam path; and determining the location of artefacts and/or inclusions in the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof based on the sub-surface mapping step and the determined relative positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: The Australian National University
    Inventors: Roland Fleddermann, Jong Hann Chow, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Timothy John Senden, Shane Jamie Latham, Keshu Huang
  • Publication number: 20210041369
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a location of artefacts and/or inclusions in a gemstone, mineral or sample thereof, the method comprising the steps of: surface mapping a gemstone, mineral or sample thereof to determine surface geometry associated with at least a portion of a surface of the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof; sub-surface mapping the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof using an optical beam that is directed at the surface along an optical beam path, wherein the optical beam is generated by an optical source using an optical tomography process; determining a surface normal at the surface at an intersection point between the optical beam path and the determined surface geometry; determining relative positioning between the surface normal and the optical beam path; and determining the location of artefacts and/or inclusions in the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof based on the sub-surface mapping step and the determined relative positioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: The Australian National University
    Inventors: Roland Fleddermann, Jong Hann Chow, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Timothy John Senden, Shane Jamie Latham, Keshu Huang
  • Patent number: 10311606
    Abstract: Provided are improved referenceless multi-material beam hardening correction methods, with an emphasis on maintaining data quality for real-world imaging of geologic materials with a view towards automation. A referenceless post reconstruction (RPC) correction technique is provided that applies the corrections in integrated attenuation space. A container-only pre-correction technique also is provided to allow automation of the segmentation process required for beam hardening correction methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Inventors: Jeremy James Holt, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard
  • Patent number: 10043274
    Abstract: A method for processing image data of a sample is disclosed. The method comprises registering a first and a second images of at least partially overlapping spatial regions of the sample and processing data from the registered images to obtain integrated image data comprising information about the sample, said information being additional to that available from said first and second images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Trond Karsten Varslot, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Mark Alexander Knackstedt, Robert Martin Sok, Shane Jamie Latham
  • Publication number: 20170228897
    Abstract: Provided are improved referenceless multi-material beam hardening correction methods, with an emphasis on maintaining data quality for real-world imaging of geologic materials with a view towards automation. A referenceless post reconstruction (RPC) correction technique is provided that applies the corrections in integrated attenuation space. A container-only pre-correction technique also is provided to allow automation of the segmentation process required for beam hardening correction methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2015
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Jeremy James Holt, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard
  • Patent number: 9384567
    Abstract: A computed tomography imaging process, including: acquiring projection images of an object by detecting radiation that has passed through the object for respective different relative orientations of the object and the radiation; and processing the projection images to generate a tomogram of the object; wherein the radiation passes through the object in the form of a diverging beam, and the different relative orientations of the object and the beam of radiation define two or more complete trajectories of the beam along the object, the complete trajectories being mutually offset to reduce the degradation of spatial resolution in portions of the generated tomogram due to the divergence of the beam through the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Adrian Paul Sheppard, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Trond Karsten Varslot
  • Patent number: 9129425
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reconstructing a multi-dimensional data set representing a dynamic sample at a series of reconstruction instants. The multi-dimensional data set comprises a static component and a dynamic component. The method comprises acquiring a plurality of projection images of the dynamic sample; reconstructing a static component of the multi-dimensional data set from the acquired projection images; acquiring a further plurality of projection images of the dynamic sample; and reconstructing a dynamic component of the multi-dimensional data set at each reconstruction instant from the further plurality of acquired projection images using a priori information about the sample. The multi-dimensional data set is the sum of the static component and the dynamic component at each reconstruction instant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Glenn Robert Myers, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Trond Karsten Varslot
  • Publication number: 20150104078
    Abstract: A method for processing image data of a sample is disclosed. The method comprises registering a first and a second images of at least partially overlapping spatial regions of the sample and processing data from the registered images to obtain integrated image data comprising information about the sample, said information being additional to that available from said first and second images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Trond Karsten Varslot, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Mark Alexander Knackstedt, Robert Martin Sok, Shane Jamie Latham
  • Patent number: 8938111
    Abstract: A computed tomography imaging process, including: accessing projection data representing two-dimensional projection images of an object acquired using a misaligned tomographic imaging apparatus; and processing the projection data to generate misalignment data representing one or more values that quantify respective misalignments of the tomographic imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Trond Karsten Varslot, Shane Jamie Latham, Arthur Sakellariou
  • Patent number: 8854430
    Abstract: A method for processing image data of a sample is disclosed. The method comprises registering a first and a second images of at least partially overlapping spatial regions of the sample and processing data from the registered images to obtain integrated image data comprising information about the sample, said information being additional to that available from said first and second images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Trond Karsten Varslot, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Mark Alexander Knackstedt, Robert Martin Sok, Shane Jamie Latham
  • Publication number: 20140233691
    Abstract: A computed tomography imaging process, including: acquiring projection images of an object by detecting radiation that has passed through the object for respective different relative orientations of the object and the radiation; and processing the projection images to generate a tomogram of the object; wherein the radiation passes through the object in the form of a diverging beam, and the different acquire set of projection images for a relative orientations of the object and the beam of radiation define two or more complete trajectories of the beam along the object, the complete trajectories being mutually offset to reduce the degradation of spatial resolution in portions of the generated tomogram due to the divergence of the beam through the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Adrian Paul Sheppard, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Trond Karsten Varslot
  • Publication number: 20130343629
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reconstructing a multi-dimensional data set representing a dynamic sample at a series of reconstruction instants. The multi-dimensional data set comprises a static component and a dynamic component. The method comprises acquiring a plurality of projection images of the dynamic sample; reconstructing a static component of the multi-dimensional data set from the acquired projection images; acquiring a further plurality of projection images of the dynamic sample; and reconstructing a dynamic component of the multi-dimensional data set at each reconstruction instant from the further plurality of acquired projection images using a priori information about the sample. The multi-dimensional data set is the sum of the static component and the dynamic component at each reconstruction instant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Glenn Robert Myers, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Trond Karsten Varslot, Andrew Maurice Kingston
  • Publication number: 20120301004
    Abstract: A computed tomography imaging process, including: accessing projection data representing two-dimensional projection images of an object acquired using a misaligned tomographic imaging apparatus; and processing the projection data to generate misalignment data representing one or more values that quantify respective misalignments of the tomographic imaging apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Trond Karsten Varslot, Shane Jamie Latham, Arthur Sakellariou
  • Publication number: 20110181701
    Abstract: A method for processing image data of a sample is disclosed. The method comprises registering a first and a second images of at least partially overlapping spatial regions of the sample and processing data from the registered images to obtain integrated image data comprising information about the sample, said information being additional to that available from said first and second images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Trond Karsten Varslot, Andrew Maurice Kingston, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Mark Alexander Knackstedt, Robert Martin Sok, Shane Jamie Latham