Patents by Inventor Christopher C. Fromme

Christopher C. Fromme 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).

  • Conveyor belt inspection system and method
    Patent number: 6988610
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for detecting and reporting conditions of a conveyor belt by receiving image data from at least one camera structured and arranged to capture an image of a portion of a conveyor belt, detecting an object in the portion of the conveyor belt based on the received image data, and generating status information associated with the portion of the conveyor belt based on the detected object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Christopher C. Fromme, David J. Stager, Thomas E. Pilarski, Bruce Bancroft, Timothy Ennis Hegadorn
  • Conveyor belt inspection system and method
    Publication number: 20030168317
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for detecting and reporting conditions of a conveyor belt by receiving image data from at least one camera structured and arranged to capture an image of a portion of a conveyor belt, detecting an object in the portion of the conveyor belt based on the received image data, and generating status information associated with the portion of the conveyor belt based on the detected object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Christopher C. Fromme, David J. Stager, Thomas E. Pilarski, Bruce Bancroft, Timothy Ennis Hegadorn
  • Vision-based motion sensor for mining machine control
    Patent number: 6296317
    Abstract: A mining machine having a position sensing and control apparatus is claimed. The mining machine has a vehicle body having forward and rearward ends and movable along a mine floor. A cutter head is mounted on the forward end of the mining machine for upward and downward movement relative to the vehicle body. A conveyor mounted on the vehicle body conveys material cut by the cutter head. The position sensing and control apparatus has at least one light source and at least one imaging device mounted on the machine. The position sensing and control apparatus captures images of natural features of an interior surface of a mine, digitizes the images and determines the distance between the imaging device and the natural feature to determine positional change of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Mark Ollis, Christopher C. Fromme, Timothy Ennis Hegadorn, Alonzo James Kelly, John Bares, Herman Herman, Anthony J. Stentz, Richard McCargo Moore, Jr., David K. Herdle, Frank Higgins, Bryan G. Campbell
  • Miner guidance using laser and image analysis
    Patent number: 6203111
    Abstract: A mining machine comprising a vehicle body having forward and rearward ends, the vehicle body being movable along a mine floor, a cutter head mounted on the forward end of the vehicle body, and a position sensing and control apparatus including first and second generally vertical, generally parallel surfaces on the vehicle body, an off-board light source emitting a light beam that strikes the surfaces, an imaging device for imaging both of the plates in a single image, and a computer receiving the single image from the camera, the computer using the single image to determine at least one of the roll, yaw and lateral offset of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventors: Mark Ollis, Steven John Scheding, Christopher C. Fromme, Jorgen Pederson, John Bares, Herman Herman, Anthony J. Stentz, David K. Herdle, Frank Higgins, Bryan G. Campbell