Patents by Inventor Eric F. Bryan
Eric F. Bryan 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: 10567650Abstract: Embodiments include a method for autonomous camera pod tracking of a vehicle during vehicle alignment. The method can include receiving, at a processor of an autonomous camera pod, at least one of vehicle target image data from a vehicle target camera or calibration target image data from a calibration camera, the vehicle target camera being adapted to acquire images of a target mounted to the vehicle, and the calibration camera being adapted to acquire images of a calibration target mounted to a sister autonomous camera pod. An optimal location of the autonomous camera pod can be calculated based on the received vehicle target image data or calibration target image data. The method can include transmitting, when it is determined to move the autonomous camera pod, a motor command to a motor drive of the autonomous camera pod, thereby causing the autonomous camera pod to move to the optimal location.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATEDInventors: Steven W. Rogers, Eric F. Bryan, Adam C. Brown, Brandon J. McGinley, Eric R. Sellers
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Publication number: 20190158740Abstract: Embodiments include a method for autonomous camera pod tracking of a vehicle during vehicle alignment. The method can include receiving, at a processor of an autonomous camera pod, at least one of vehicle target image data from a vehicle target camera or calibration target image data from a calibration camera, the vehicle target camera being adapted to acquire images of a target mounted to the vehicle, and the calibration camera being adapted to acquire images of a calibration target mounted to a sister autonomous camera pod. An optimal location of the autonomous camera pod can be calculated based on the received vehicle target image data or calibration target image data. The method can include transmitting, when it is determined to move the autonomous camera pod, a motor command to a motor drive of the autonomous camera pod, thereby causing the autonomous camera pod to move to the optimal location.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Steven W. Rogers, Eric F. Bryan, Adam C. Brown, Brandon J. McGinley, Eric R. Sellers
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Patent number: 10284777Abstract: Embodiments include a method for autonomous camera pod tracking of a vehicle during vehicle alignment. The method can include receiving, at a processor of an autonomous camera pod, at least one of vehicle target image data from a vehicle target camera or calibration target image data from a calibration camera, the vehicle target camera being adapted to acquire images of a target mounted to the vehicle, and the calibration camera being adapted to acquire images of a calibration target mounted to a sister autonomous camera pod. An optimal location of the autonomous camera pod can be calculated based on the received vehicle target image data or calibration target image data. The method can include transmitting, when it is determined to move the autonomous camera pod, a motor command to a motor drive of the autonomous camera pod, thereby causing the autonomous camera pod to move to the optimal location.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Inventors: Steven W. Rogers, Eric F. Bryan, Adam C. Brown, Brandon J. McGinley, Eric R. Sellers
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Publication number: 20150049199Abstract: Embodiments include a method for autonomous camera pod tracking of a vehicle during vehicle alignment. The method can include receiving, at a processor of an autonomous camera pod, at least one of vehicle target image data from a vehicle target camera or calibration target image data from a calibration camera, the vehicle target camera being adapted to acquire images of a target mounted to the vehicle, and the calibration camera being adapted to acquire images of a calibration target mounted to a sister autonomous camera pod. An optimal location of the autonomous camera pod can be calculated based on the received vehicle target image data or calibration target image data. The method can include transmitting, when it is determined to move the autonomous camera pod, a motor command to a motor drive of the autonomous camera pod, thereby causing the autonomous camera pod to move to the optimal location.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2014Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventors: Steven W. ROGERS, Eric F. BRYAN, Adam C. BROWN, Brandon J. McGINLEY, Eric R. SELLERS
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Patent number: 8693286Abstract: A position measurement apparatus and methodology is provided. Embodiments include a probe including an acoustic signal source, an optical signal source, and a probe processor for driving the signal sources such that the signals of the acoustic source and the optical source have a known temporal relationship to each other. A receiver receives the optical and acoustic signals, and a processor communicates with and controls the probe and the receiver, and processes data from the receiver. The acoustic signal source is a sinusoidally varying acoustic energy source, and the acoustic signal received by the receiver comprises a sinusoidal signal. The processor correlates the received sinusoidal signal to a mathematical reference sinusoidal signal, and determines a specific cycle and a specific phase as a time of flight measurement point based on the correlation.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2010Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Snap-On IncorporatedInventors: Steve W. Rogers, Darwin Y. Chen, Eric F. Bryan, Adam C. Brown
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Patent number: 7855783Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC), for use in an imaging module of a wheel alignment system, incorporates an image sensor as well as a number of other features. Some of the added features are implemented within the integrated circuit. The IC also incorporates interfacing for signaling or communication with other devices in the imaging module or elsewhere in the wheel alignment system. Some examples of added internal features include a temperature sensor, unique chip ID, and chip power control. The addition of analog and/or digital I/O to the integrated circuit enables control of an image module illumination function, control of an imaging module positioning function, various cooling functions, and operator interface control. A communications hub may be added to the IC, to enable operation in a networked system environment.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2007Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Snap-On IncorporatedInventors: Michael J. Kling, III, Steven W. Rogers, Eric F. Bryan
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Publication number: 20090073425Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC), for use in an imaging module of a wheel alignment system, incorporates an image sensor as well as a number of other features. Some of the added features are implemented within the integrated circuit. The IC also incorporates interfacing for signaling or communication with other devices in the imaging module or elsewhere in the wheel alignment system. Some examples of added internal features include a temperature sensor, unique chip ID, and chip power control. The addition of analog and/or digital I/O to the integrated circuit enables control of an image module illumination function, control of an imaging module positioning function, various cooling functions, and operator interface control. A communications hub may be added to the IC, to enable operation in a networked system environment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2007Publication date: March 19, 2009Inventors: Michael J. Kling, III, Steven W. Rogers, Eric F. Bryan
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Patent number: 7181852Abstract: Methods and devices for measuring and calculating wheel alignment angles. Light weight and mechanically robust accelerometers in measurement heads are attached to a vehicle's wheels during an alignment procedure. The output of the accelerometers may be compensated for effects of temperature or thermal hysteresis by memory lookup or a temperature based feedback control loop.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2006Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Snap-On IncorporatedInventor: Eric F. Bryan
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Patent number: 7069660Abstract: In a machine vision system utilizing computer processing of image data, an imaging module incorporates the image sensor as well as pre-processing circuitry, for example, for performing a background subtraction and/or a gradient calculation. The pre-processing circuitry may also compress the image information. The host computer receives the pre-processed image data and performs all other calculations necessary to complete the machine vision application, for example, to determine one or more wheel alignment parameters of a subject vehicle. In a disclosed example useful for wheel alignment, the module also includes illumination elements, and the module circuitry provides associated camera control. The background subtraction, gradient calculation and associated compression require simpler, less expensive circuitry than for typical image pre-processing boards.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2005Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: Snap-On IncorporatedInventors: Michael J. Robb, Steve L. Glickman, Patrick Brendan O'Mahony, Manjula Gururaj, David A. Jackson, George M. Gill, Eric F. Bryan
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Patent number: 6871409Abstract: In a machine vision system utilizing computer processing of image data, an imaging module incorporates the image sensor as well as pre-processing circuitry, for example, for performing a background subtraction and/or a gradient calculation. The pre-processing circuitry may also compress the image information. The host computer receives the pre-processed image data and performs all other calculations necessary to complete the machine vision application, for example, to determine one or more wheel alignment parameters of a subject vehicle. In a disclosed example useful for wheel alignment, the module also includes illumination elements, and the module circuitry provides associated camera control. The background subtraction, gradient calculation and associated compression require simpler, less expensive circuitry than for typical image pre-processing boards.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2003Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Assignee: Snap-On IncorporatedInventors: Michael J. Robb, Steve L. Glickman, Patrick Brendan O'Mahony, Manjula Gururaj, David A. Jackson, George M. Gill, Eric F. Bryan
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Publication number: 20040194327Abstract: Methods and devices for measuring and calculating wheel alignment angles. Light weight and mechanically robust accelerometers in measurement heads are attached to a vehicle's wheels during an alignment procedure. The output of the accelerometers may be compensated for effects of temperature or thermal hysteresis by memory lookup or a temperature based feedback control loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Inventor: Eric F. Bryan
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Publication number: 20040128844Abstract: In a machine vision system utilizing computer processing of image data, an imaging module incorporates the image sensor as well as pre-processing circuitry, for example, for performing a background subtraction and/or a gradient calculation. The pre-processing circuitry may also compress the image information. The host computer receives the pre-processed image data and performs all other calculations necessary to complete the machine vision application, for example, to determine one or more wheel alignment parameters of a subject vehicle. In a disclosed example useful for wheel alignment, the module also includes illumination elements, and the module circuitry provides associated camera control. The background subtraction, gradient calculation and associated compression require simpler, less expensive circuitry than for typical image pre-processing boards.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Inventors: Michael J. Robb, Steve L. Glickman, Patrick Brendan O'Mahony, Manjula Gururaj, David A. Jackson, George M. Gill, Eric F. Bryan