Patents by Inventor Danilo Dorizzi
Danilo Dorizzi 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: 11709266Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device includes: an illumination component that emitting a light beam toward a viewing space; a receiving lens element receiving reflected light and directing the reflected light to a photo-receiver array; and a processor. The processor is configured to generate distance information for a pixel corresponding to an object in the viewing space based on time-of-flight analysis of the reflected light; record a variation of an intensity of the reflected light from the object over time to yield intensity variation information; record a variation of the distance information for the pixel corresponding to the object over time to yield distance variation information; and apply a correction factor to the distance information in response to a determination that the intensity variation information and the distance variation information do not conform to an inverse-square relationship.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION SAFETY AGInventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Stein, Danilo Dorizzi
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Publication number: 20200278447Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device includes: an illumination component that emitting a light beam toward a viewing space; a receiving lens element receiving reflected light and directing the reflected light to a photo-receiver array; and a processor. The processor is configured to generate distance information for a pixel corresponding to an object in the viewing space based on time-of-flight analysis of the reflected light; record a variation of an intensity of the reflected light from the object over time to yield intensity variation information; record a variation of the distance information for the pixel corresponding to the object over time to yield distance variation information; and apply a correction factor to the distance information in response to a determination that the intensity variation information and the distance variation information do not conform to an inverse-square relationship.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Stein, Danilo Dorizzi
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Patent number: 10677922Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2017Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Rockwell Automotive Safety AGInventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Stein, Danilo Dorizzi
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Publication number: 20180059245Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2017Publication date: March 1, 2018Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Stein, Danilo Dorizzi
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Patent number: 9823352Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation Safety AGInventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Stein, Danilo Dorizzi
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Patent number: 9798040Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for synchronizing the optical units of a photoelectric barrier and to such a photoelectric barrier. The synchronization method comprises the steps of transmitting radiation forming a synchronization signal from a first optical sender of the first optical unit; controlling a plurality of the optical receivers of the at least one second optical unit to monitor whether the synchronization signal has been received and performing a synchronization step if the synchronization signal has been received. The method further performs the step of defining at least one of said plurality of optoelectronic components to be used for the synchronization step.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation Safety AGInventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Christopher Walther, Danilo Dorizzi
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Patent number: 9628183Abstract: The present invention relates to a transceiver element for an optical unit of a photoelectric barrier to such a photoelectric barrier. In particular, a transceiver element comprises at least one optical sender, at least one optical receiver and a control element, wherein said control element comprises a driver unit for driving said at least one optical sender to emit radiation and at least one receiver unit for sensing and evaluating electrical signals generated by said optical receiver.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Rockwell Automation Safety AGInventors: Carl Meinherz, James Edward Dogul, George E. Rollins, Martin Hardegger, Christopher Walther, Danilo Dorizzi
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Publication number: 20160124089Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor device is provided with features for correcting distance measurement offset errors caused by such factors as temperature, dynamic reflectivity ranges of objects in the viewing space, or other factors. In various embodiments, the TOF sensor device generates corrected distance values based on comparison of two different distance values measured for an object by two different measurement techniques, including but not limited to phase shift measurement, pulsed TOF measurement, distance measurement based on the focal length of the TOF sensor's lens, and comparison of distance variations with light intensity variations. In addition, some embodiments of the TOF sensor device perform self-calibration using internal waveguides or parasitic reflections as distance references.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Stein, Danilo Dorizzi
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Publication number: 20160085080Abstract: A lens carrier and an optical module for forming a light curtain associated with monitoring a protective field. The lens carrier includes at least one lens for focussing a radiation beam forming said light curtain and a lens mask having at least one opening for shaping the radiation beam to have a predetermined aperture. The lens carrier is formed by overmolding said lens mask with a transparent material. The optical module has such a lens carrier and a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that comprises at least one transmitter and/or receiver for transmitting and/or receiving said radiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2013Publication date: March 24, 2016Applicant: CEDES SAFETY & AUTOMATION AGInventors: Carl Meinherz, Richard Casty, Danilo Dorizzi, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Norbert Stein, Clau Lombriser, Guido Baumgartner
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Patent number: 9279902Abstract: An optical module for an optical unit associated with forming a light curtain for monitoring a protective or surveillance field. The optical module includes at least one radiation emitting and/or radiation receiving element for transmitting and/or receiving a radiation beam associated with forming a light curtain. The optical module includes a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that carries the at least one transmitting and/or receiving element associated with the radiation beam. The module body has at least one alignment element for aligning the optical module within a support element that forms an outer housing of the optical unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Rockwell Automation Safety AGInventors: Carl Meinherz, Richard Casty, Danilo Dorizzi, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Norbert Stein, Clau Lombriser, Guido Baumgartner
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Patent number: 9274343Abstract: A lens carrier and an optical module for forming a light curtain associated with monitoring a protective field. The lens carrier includes at least one lens for focusing a radiation beam forming said light curtain and a lens mask having at least one opening for shaping the radiation beam to have a predetermined aperture. The lens carrier is formed by overmolding said lens mask with a transparent material. The optical module has such a lens carrier and a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that comprises at least one transmitter and/or receiver for transmitting and/or receiving said radiation.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2013Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Rockwell Automation Safety AGInventors: Carl Meinherz, Richard Casty, Danilo Dorizzi, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Norbert Stein, Clau Lombriser, Guido Baumgartner
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Patent number: 9201162Abstract: The present invention relates to light curtains and, in particular, to safety light curtains for monitoring a protective field and to optical units of such light curtains which comprise optoelectronic components interconnected by a communication bus and to a method for allocating individual addresses to each of a plurality of optoelectronic components. The optical unit comprises a controller unit, a plurality of optoelectronic components interconnected by means of a communication bus, each of said optoelectronic components having a transmission input terminal for receiving a transmission signal and a transmission output terminal for outputting a transmission signal, and a receiving terminal for receiving a control signal from said control unit. An individual address is allocated to each of said optoelectronic components depending on a position of the respective optoelectronic component with respect to the other optoelectronic components.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Cedes Safety & Automation AGInventors: Martin Hardegger, Carl Meinherz, Christopher Walther, Danilo Dorizzi
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Publication number: 20150288454Abstract: The present invention relates to a transceiver element for an optical unit of a photoelectric barrier to such a photoelectric barrier. In particular, a transceiver element comprises at least one optical sender, at least one optical receiver and a control element, wherein said control element comprises a driver unit for driving said at least one optical sender to emit radiation and at least one receiver unit for sensing and evaluating electrical signals generated by said optical receiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: CEDES SAFETY & AUTOMATION AGInventors: Carl Meinherz, James Edward Dogul, George E. Rollins, Martin Hardegger, Christopher Walther, Danilo Dorizzi
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Publication number: 20140361149Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for synchronizing the optical units of a photoelectric barrier and to such a photoelectric barrier. The synchronization method comprises the steps of transmitting radiation forming a synchronization signal from a first optical sender of the first optical unit; controlling a plurality of the optical receivers of the at least one second optical unit to monitor whether the synchronization signal has been received and performing a synchronization step if the synchronization signal has been received. The method further performs the step of defining at least one of said plurality of optoelectronic components to be used for the synchronization step.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventors: Carl Meinherz, Martin Hardegger, Christopher Walther, Danilo Dorizzi
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Publication number: 20140319358Abstract: The present invention relates to light curtains and, in particular, to safety light curtains for monitoring a protective field and to optical units of such light curtains which comprise optoelectronic components interconnected by a communication bus and to a method for allocating individual addresses to each of a plurality of optoelectronic components. The optical unit comprises a controller unit, a plurality of optoelectronic components interconnected by means of a communication bus, each of said optoelectronic components having a transmission input terminal for receiving a transmission signal and a transmission output terminal for outputting a transmission signal, and a receiving terminal for receiving a control signal from said control unit. An individual address is allocated to each of said optoelectronic components depending on a position of the respective optoelectronic component with respect to the other optoelectronic components.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: CEDES SAFETY & AUTOMATION AGInventors: Martin Hardegger, Carl MEINHERZ, Christopher WALTHER, Danilo DORIZZI
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Publication number: 20130292554Abstract: An optical module for an optical unit associated with forming a light curtain for monitoring a protective or surveillance field. The optical module includes at least one radiation emitting and/or radiation receiving element for transmitting and/or receiving a radiation beam associated with forming a light curtain. The optical module includes a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that carries the at least one transmitting and/or receiving element associated with the radiation beam. The module body has at least one alignment element for aligning the optical module within a support element that forms an outer housing of the optical unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: CEDES SAFETY & AUTOMATION AGInventors: Carl Meinherz, Richard Casty, Danilo Dorizzi, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Norbert Stein, Clau Lombriser, Guido Baumgartner
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Publication number: 20130293966Abstract: A lens carrier and an optical module for forming a light curtain associated with monitoring a protective field. The lens carrier includes at least one lens for focussing a radiation beam forming said light curtain and a lens mask having at least one opening for shaping the radiation beam to have a predetermined aperture. The lens carrier is formed by overmolding said lens mask with a transparent material. The optical module has such a lens carrier and a module body for mounting a radiation transmitter/receiver carrier that comprises at least one transmitter and/or receiver for transmitting and/or receiving said radiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: CEDES SAFETY & AUTOMATION AGInventors: Carl Meinherz, Richard Casty, Danilo Dorizzi, Martin Hardegger, Manfred Norbert Stein, Clau Lombriser, Guido Baumgartner