Patents by Inventor Anne Bowlby
Anne Bowlby 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).
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Patent number: 9921300Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided that is capable of accurately recovering waveforms of reflected light pulses incident on the sensor's photo-receiver array using a low sampling rate. A number of samples for a received light pulse incident on a given photo-receiver are obtained by emitting a light pulse to the viewing field, integrating the electrical output generated by the photo receiver over an integration period, and adding the integral values for respective integration cycles to yield an accumulation value. This process is repeated for multiple accumulation cycles; however, for each consecutive accumulation cycle the start of the integration period is delayed relative the start time of the integration period for the previous cycle by a delay period. Sampled values for the waveform are obtained by determining the difference values between consecutive accumulation values for the respective accumulation cycles.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignees: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Innovaciones Microelectrónicas S.L.Inventors: Richard Galera, Anne Bowlby, Derek W. Jones, Nilesh Pradhan, Francis L. Leard, Rafael Dominguez Castro, Sergio Morillas Castillo, Rafael Romay Juárez
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Patent number: 9696424Abstract: An imaging sensor device is configured to illuminate a viewing field using an array of focused light spots spaced across the viewing field rather than uniformly illuminating the viewing field, thereby reducing the amount of illumination energy required to produce a given intensity of light reflected from the spots. In some embodiments, the imaging sensor device can project an array of focused light spots at two different intensities or brightness levels, such that high intensity and low intensity light spots are interlaced across the viewing field. This ensures that both relatively dark and relatively bright or reflective objects can be reliably detected within the viewing field. The intensities of the light spots can be modulated based on measured conditions of the viewing field, including but not limited to the measured ambient light or a determined dynamic range of reflectivity of objects within the viewing field.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Richard Galera, Anne Bowlby, Derek W. Jones, Nilesh Pradhan, Francis L. Leard
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Patent number: 9477907Abstract: An industrial safety system is provided that integrates optical safety monitoring with machine control. The safety system includes an imaging sensor device supporting pixel array processing functions that allow time-of-flight (TOF) analysis to be performed on selected portions of the pixel array, while two-dimensional imaging analysis is performed on the remaining portions of the array, reducing processing load and response time relative to performing TOF analysis for all pixels of the array. The portion of the pixel array designated for TOF analysis can be pre-defined through configuration of the imaging sensor device, or can be dynamically selected based on object detection and classification by the two-dimensional imaging analysis. The imaging sensor device can also implement a number of safety and redundancy functions to achieve a high degree of safety integrity.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Richard Galera, Anne Bowlby, Derek W. Jones, Nilesh Pradhan, Francis L. Leard
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Publication number: 20160070991Abstract: An industrial safety system is provided that integrates optical safety monitoring with machine control. The safety system includes an imaging sensor device supporting pixel array processing functions that allow time-of-flight (TOF) analysis to be performed on selected portions of the pixel array, while two-dimensional imaging analysis is performed on the remaining portions of the array, reducing processing load and response time relative to performing TOF analysis for all pixels of the array. The portion of the pixel array designated for TOF analysis can be pre-defined through configuration of the imaging sensor device, or can be dynamically selected based on object detection and classification by the two-dimensional imaging analysis. The imaging sensor device can also implement a number of safety and redundancy functions to achieve a high degree of safety integrity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2015Publication date: March 10, 2016Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Richard Galera, Anne Bowlby, Derek W. Jones, Nilesh Pradhan, Francis L. Leard
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Patent number: 9256944Abstract: An industrial safety system is provided that integrates optical safety monitoring with machine control. The safety system includes an imaging sensor device supporting pixel array processing functions that allow time-of-flight (TOF) analysis to be performed on selected portions of the pixel array, while two-dimensional imaging analysis is performed on the remaining portions of the array, reducing processing load and response time relative to performing TOF analysis for all pixels of the array. The portion of the pixel array designated for TOF analysis can be pre-defined through configuration of the imaging sensor device, or can be dynamically selected based on object detection and classification by the two-dimensional imaging analysis. The imaging sensor device can also implement a number of safety and redundancy functions to achieve a high degree of safety integrity.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Richard Galera, Anne Bowlby, Derek W. Jones, Nilesh Pradhan, Francis L. Leard
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Publication number: 20150331092Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided that is capable of accurately recovering waveforms of reflected light pulses incident on the sensor's photo-receiver array using a low sampling rate. A number of samples for a received light pulse incident on a given photo-receiver are obtained by emitting a light pulse to the viewing field, integrating the electrical output generated by the photo receiver over an integration period, and adding the integral values for respective integration cycles to yield an accumulation value. This process is repeated for multiple accumulation cycles; however, for each consecutive accumulation cycle the start of the integration period is delayed relative the start time of the integration period for the previous cycle by a delay period. Sampled values for the waveform are obtained by determining the difference values between consecutive accumulation values for the respective accumulation cycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Inventors: Richard Galera, Anne Bowlby, Derek W. Jones, Nilesh Pradhan, Francis L. Leard, Rafael Dominguez Castro, Sergio Morillas Castillo, Rafael Romay Juárez
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Publication number: 20150334371Abstract: An imaging sensor device includes pixel array processing functions that allow time-of-flight (TOF) analysis to be performed on selected portions of the pixel array, while two-dimensional imaging analysis is performed on the remaining portions of the array, reducing processing load and response time relative to performing TOF analysis for all pixels of the array. The portion of the pixel array designated for TOF analysis can be pre-defined through configuration of the imaging sensor device. Alternatively, the imaging sensor device can dynamically select the portions of the pixel array on which TOF analysis is to be performed based on object detection and classification by the two-dimensional imaging analysis. Embodiments of the imaging sensor device can also implement a number of safety and redundancy functions to achieve a high degree of safety integrity, making the sensor suitable for use in various types of safety monitoring applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2014Publication date: November 19, 2015Inventors: Richard Galera, Anne Bowlby, Derek W. Jones, Nilesh Pradhan, Francis L. Leard
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Publication number: 20150331107Abstract: An imaging sensor device is configured to illuminate a viewing field using an array of focused light spots spaced across the viewing field rather than uniformly illuminating the viewing field, thereby reducing the amount of illumination energy required to produce a given intensity of light reflected from the spots. In some embodiments, the imaging sensor device can project an array of focused light spots at two different intensities or brightness levels, such that high intensity and low intensity light spots are interlaced across the viewing field. This ensures that both relatively dark and relatively bright or reflective objects can be reliably detected within the viewing field. The intensities of the light spots can be modulated based on measured conditions of the viewing field, including but not limited to the measured ambient light or a determined dynamic range of reflectivity of objects within the viewing field.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2014Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Richard Galera, Anne Bowlby, Derek W. Jones, Nilesh Pradhan, Francis L. Leard
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Publication number: 20150332463Abstract: An industrial safety system is provided that integrates optical safety monitoring with machine control. The safety system includes an imaging sensor device supporting pixel array processing functions that allow time-of-flight (TOF) analysis to be performed on selected portions of the pixel array, while two-dimensional imaging analysis is performed on the remaining portions of the array, reducing processing load and response time relative to performing TOF analysis for all pixels of the array. The portion of the pixel array designated for TOF analysis can be pre-defined through configuration of the imaging sensor device, or can be dynamically selected based on object detection and classification by the two-dimensional imaging analysis. The imaging sensor device can also implement a number of safety and redundancy functions to achieve a high degree of safety integrity.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2014Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Richard Galera, Anne Bowlby, Derek W. Jones, Nilesh Pradhan, Francis L. Leard