Patents by Inventor Andrew Parrett

Andrew Parrett 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).

  • Patent number: 11966996
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method that performs 3D imaging of a complex object, where image data is likely lost. Available 3D image data, in combination with an absence/loss of image data, allows computation of x, y and z dimensions. Absence/loss of data is assumed to be just another type of image data, and represents the presence of something that has prevented accurate data from being generated in the subject image. Segments of data can be connected to areas of absent data and generate a maximum bounding box. The shadow that this object generates can be represented as negative or missing data, but is not representative of the physical object. The height from the positive data, the object shadow size based on that height, the location in the FOV, and the ray angles that generate the images, are estimated and the object shadow size is removed from the result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Gang Liu, Ben R. Carey, Nickolas J. Mullan, Caleb Spear, Andrew Parrett
  • Patent number: 11748838
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for using an area scan sensor of a vision system, in conjunction with an encoder or other knowledge of motion, to capture an accurate measurement of an object larger than a single field of view (FOV) of the sensor. It identifies features/edges of the object, which are tracked from image to image, thereby providing a lightweight way to process the overall extents of the object for dimensioning purposes. Logic automatically determines if the object is longer than the FOV, and thereby causes a sequence of image acquisition snapshots to occur while the moving/conveyed object remains within the FOV until the object is no longer present in the FOV. At that point, acquisition ceases and the individual images are combined as segments in an overall image. These images can be processed to derive overall dimensions of the object based on input application details.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Ben R. Carey, Andrew Parrett, Yukang Liu, Gilbert Chiang
  • Patent number: 11598973
    Abstract: A system for forming a homogenized illumination line which can be imaged as a low-speckle line is disclosed. The system includes a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam; and an illumination-fan generator that includes one or more linear diffusers. The illumination-fan generator is arranged and configured to (i) receive the collimated laser beam, (ii) output a planar fan of diffused light, such that the planar fan emanates from a light line formed on the distal-most one of the one or more linear diffusers, and (iii) cause formation of an illumination line at an intersection of the planar fan and an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Parrett, John F. Filhaber, Andrew Goodale, Laurent Belanger, Ronald Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20220236580
    Abstract: A system for forming a homogenized illumination line which can be imaged as a low-speckle line is disclosed. The system includes a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam; and an illumination-fan generator that includes one or more linear diffusers. The illumination-fan generator is arranged and configured to (i) receive the collimated laser beam, (ii) output a planar fan of diffused light, such that the planar fan emanates from a light line formed on the distal-most one of the one or more linear diffusers, and (iii) cause formation of an illumination line at an intersection of the planar fan and an object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Andrew Parrett, John F. Filhaber, Andrew Goodale, Laurent Belanger, Ronald Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11314100
    Abstract: A system for forming a homogenized illumination line which can be imaged as a low-speckle line is disclosed. The system includes a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam; and an illumination-fan generator that includes one or more linear diffusers. The illumination-fan generator is arranged and configured to (i) receive the collimated laser beam, (ii) output a planar fan of diffused light, such that the planar fan emanates from a light line formed on the distal-most one of the one or more linear diffusers, and (iii) cause formation of an illumination line at an intersection of the planar fan and an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Parrett, John F. Filhaber, Andrew Goodale, Laurent Belanger, Ronald Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20210382259
    Abstract: A positioning system for an optical system can include a support frame and a flexure arrangement. The flexure arrangement can be configured to secure an optical-system component relative to a support frame, with the optical-system component in a first orientation. The flexure arrangement can be configured to resiliently deform, upon application of a transient stress to the optical system, to move the optical-system component relative to the support frame along at least one degree of freedom. The flexure arrangement can be configured to return the optical-system component to the first orientation upon removal of the transient stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Goodale, Andrew Parrett, John Filhaber, Benjamin Braker
  • Publication number: 20210350496
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for using an area scan sensor of a vision system, in conjunction with an encoder or other knowledge of motion, to capture an accurate measurement of an object larger than a single field of view (FOV) of the sensor. It identifies features/edges of the object, which are tracked from image to image, thereby providing a lightweight way to process the overall extents of the object for dimensioning purposes. Logic automatically determines if the object is longer than the FOV, and thereby causes a sequence of image acquisition snapshots to occur while the moving/conveyed object remains within the FOV until the object is no longer present in the FOV. At that point, acquisition ceases and the individual images are combined as segments in an overall image. These images can be processed to derive overall dimensions of the object based on input application details.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Ben R. Carey, Andrew Parrett, Yukang Liu, Gilbert Chiang
  • Publication number: 20210350495
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method that performs 3D imaging of a complex object, where image data is likely lost. Available 3D image data, in combination with an absence/loss of image data, allows computation of x, y and z dimensions. Absence/loss of data is assumed to be just another type of image data, and represents the presence of something that has prevented accurate data from being generated in the subject image. Segments of data can be connected to areas of absent data and generate a maximum bounding box. The shadow that this object generates can be represented as negative or missing data, but is not representative of the physical object. The height from the positive data, the object shadow size based on that height, the location in the FOV, and the ray angles that generate the images, are estimated and the object shadow size is removed from the result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Gang Liu, Ben R. Carey, Nickolas J. Mullan, Caleb Spear, Andrew Parrett
  • Patent number: 11016260
    Abstract: A positioning system for an optical system can include a support frame and a flexure arrangement. The flexure arrangement can be configured to secure an optical-system component relative to a support frame, with the optical-system component in a first orientation. The flexure arrangement can be configured to resiliently deform, upon application of a transient stress to the optical system, to move the optical-system component relative to the support frame along at least one degree of freedom. The flexure arrangement can be configured to return the optical-system component to the first orientation upon removal of the transient stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Goodale, Andrew Parrett, John Filhaber, Benjamin Braker
  • Publication number: 20200049923
    Abstract: A positioning system for an optical system can include a support frame and a flexure arrangement. The flexure arrangement can be configured to secure an optical-system component relative to a support frame, with the optical-system component in a first orientation. The flexure arrangement can be configured to resiliently deform, upon application of a transient stress to the optical system, to move the optical-system component relative to the support frame along at least one degree of freedom. The flexure arrangement can be configured to return the optical-system component to the first orientation upon removal of the transient stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew Goodale, Andrew Parrett, John Filhaber, Benjamin Braker
  • Publication number: 20190227336
    Abstract: A system for forming a homogenized illumination line which can be imaged as a low-speckle line is disclosed. The system includes a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam; and an illumination-fan generator that includes one or more linear diffusers. The illumination-fan generator is arranged and configured to (i) receive the collimated laser beam, (ii) output a planar fan of diffused light, such that the planar fan emanates from a light line formed on the distal-most one of the one or more linear diffusers, and (iii) cause formation of an illumination line at an intersection of the planar fan and an object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew Parrett, John F. Filhaber, Andrew Goodale, Laurent Belanger, Ronald Zimmerman