Patents by Inventor Darren Duane Cofer
Darren Duane Cofer 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: 7768549Abstract: A safety system receives access monitoring information from sensors to detect intrusion into a mutual exclusion zone by either an operator or mechanical equipment. The border of the mutual exclusion zone is segmented into portals that allow both the operator and equipment to access a common work area such as for loading material. When intrusion into one of the portals is detected, intrusion into any other selected portals triggers a safety violation. Access to the mutual exclusion zone via the other portals is prohibited until the interior of the zone is determined to be empty again.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2001Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Darren Duane Cofer
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Patent number: 7200246Abstract: A visual object detection system to provide access and/or presence monitoring of an area of interest. In steady state operation, that is when no object is entering or within the area of interest, only those portions of the incoming images that correspond to the border of the area of interest are analyzed. Once the border is breached by an object, the present invention may begin analyzing the entire area or selected regions inside the border of the area of interest. This may provide some level of presence monitoring of the area of interest. It is contemplated that both modes of analysis can take place simultaneously or sequentially, depending on the application. Once the object leaves the area of interest, the present invention preferably returns to the original steady state, and monitors only the border regions of the incoming images.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2001Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Darren Duane Cofer, Rida M. Hamza
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Patent number: 7184585Abstract: A method for object detection that utilizes a patterned background. Patterned backgrounds are chosen such that each reference image analyzed will have both light and dark pixels. The method calculates the difference between the expected value for the light pixels and the expected value of the dark pixels in the reference image. This difference is used to chose a threshold value. The difference in expected values for the corresponding pixels in a live image is calculated and compared to the threshold value. If the difference in expected values of the live image are less than the threshold value, object detection is indicated.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2004Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Ridha M. Hamza, Darren Duane Cofer
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Publication number: 20040146184Abstract: A method for object detection that utilizes a patterned background. Patterned backgrounds are chosen such that each reference image analyzed will have both light and dark pixels. The method calculates the difference between the expected value for the light pixels and the expected value of the dark pixels in the reference image. This difference is used to chose a threshold value. The difference in expected values for the corresponding pixels in a live image is calculated and compared to the threshold value. If the difference in expected values of the live image are less than the threshold value, object detection is indicated.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2004Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Ridha M. Hamza, Darren Duane Cofer
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Patent number: 6711279Abstract: A method for object detection that utilizes a patterned background. Patterned backgrounds are chosen such that each reference image analyzed will have both light and dark pixels. The method calculates the difference between the expected value for the light pixels and the expected value of the dark pixels in the reference image. This difference is used to chose a threshold value. The difference in expected values for the corresponding pixels in a live image is calculated and compared to the threshold value. If the difference in expected values of the live image are less than the threshold value, object detection is indicated.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2000Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Ridha M. Hamza, Darren Duane Cofer
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Publication number: 20020186299Abstract: A safety system receives access monitoring information from sensors to detect intrusion into a mutual exclusion zone by either an operator or mechanical equipment. The border of the mutual exclusion zone is segmented into portals that allow both the operator and equipment to access a common work area such as for loading material. When intrusion into one of the portals is detected, intrusion into any other selected portals triggers a safety violation. Access to the mutual exclusion zone via the other portals is prohibited until the interior of the zone is determined to be empty again.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2001Publication date: December 12, 2002Applicant: Honeywell Inc.Inventor: Darren Duane Cofer
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Patent number: 6424874Abstract: Device configuration information is automatically determined with respect to a physical process that multiple devices monitor or control. The physical process is exercised, with each device tracking progression of the process and determining a preceding device and a successor device. Messages are produced in a configuration mode by each device in a system indicating when some phase of the process monitored by the device begins and ends.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2000Date of Patent: July 23, 2002Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventor: Darren Duane Cofer
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Publication number: 20020061134Abstract: A visual object detection system to provide access and/or presence monitoring of an area of interest. In steady state operation, that is when no object is entering or within the area of interest, only those portions of the incoming images that correspond to the border of the area of interest are analyzed. Once the border is breached by an object, the present invention may begin analyzing the entire area or selected regions inside the border of the area of interest. This may provide some level of presence monitoring of the area of interest. It is contemplated that both modes of analysis can take place simultaneously or sequentially, depending on the application. Once the object leaves the area of interest, the present invention preferably returns to the original steady state, and monitors only the border regions of the incoming images.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2001Publication date: May 23, 2002Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Darren Duane Cofer, Rida M. Hamza