Patents by Inventor Eric Ferley

Eric Ferley 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).

  • Patent number: 12607578
    Abstract: Example industrial radiography systems allow for generation of higher resolution 2D radiographs using an accelerated higher resolution radiograph process. The accelerated higher resolution radiograph process uses pixel (e.g., grayscale) values from one or more lower resolution 2D radiographs to set pixel values for a first portion of higher resolution radiograph pixels of a higher resolution 2D radiograph. The remaining portion of the higher resolution radiograph pixels are set based on an analysis of the first portion. The accelerated higher resolution radiograph process is faster than more traditional processes because the accelerated higher resolution radiograph process necessitates fewer lower resolution radiographs be captured, and therefore saves time and/or lower wear and tear on the radiography machine, while still providing quality higher resolution 2D radiographs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Lucas Determan, Joseph Schlecht, Eric Ferley
  • Publication number: 20250347635
    Abstract: Example industrial radiography systems allow for generation of higher resolution 2D radiographs using an accelerated higher resolution radiograph process. The accelerated higher resolution radiograph process uses pixel (e.g., grayscale) values from one or more lower resolution 2D radiographs to set pixel values for a first portion of higher resolution radiograph pixels of a higher resolution 2D radiograph. The remaining portion of the higher resolution radiograph pixels are set based on an analysis of the first portion. The accelerated higher resolution radiograph process is faster than more traditional processes because the accelerated higher resolution radiograph process necessitates fewer lower resolution radiographs be captured, and therefore saves time and/or lower wear and tear on the radiography machine, while still providing quality higher resolution 2D radiographs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: November 13, 2025
    Inventors: Lucas Determan, Joseph Schlecht, Eric Ferley
  • Patent number: 12346412
    Abstract: Described herein are examples of interfaces for designing and/or configuring custom assisted defect recognition (ADR) systems and/or workflows. In some examples, the ADR systems and/or workflows may be designed and/or configured using visual tools, such as, for example, node based processing tools. In some examples, the ADR workflows may be used to analyze two dimensional (2D) and/or three dimensional (3D) image scans, such as might be generated by industrial X-ray scanning systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Sean Lin, Joseph Schlecht, Caleb Nelson Hay, Eric Ferley
  • Patent number: 12298260
    Abstract: Described herein are examples of industrial radiography systems that enable rotation of a part about a custom axis that is offset from an actual rotation axis of a rotatable fixture that retains the part. This may be valuable in situations where it is difficult, impractical, and/or impossible to align the center of the part with the center of the rotatable fixture. In some examples, the custom axis rotation may be implemented on existing radiography machines, without requiring physical alteration of the radiography machines, integration of new components into the radiography machines, and/or risk of instability to the part and/or radiography machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Schlecht, Caleb Nelson Hay, Eric Ferley
  • Patent number: 12092591
    Abstract: An example scan procedure generation system includes: a display; a processor; and a computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to: output, via the display, a first visual representation of an arrangement of a radiation source, a radiation detector, a workpiece positioner, and a workpiece; and based on positions and orientations of the radiation source, the radiation detector, the workpiece positioner, and the workpiece, generate a scanning procedure for execution by a physical scanner having a physical radiation source, a physical radiation detector, and a physical workpiece positioner, wherein the generated scanning procedure comprises a plurality of movements of one or more of the physical radiation source, the physical radiation detector, and the physical workpiece positioner and a plurality of image captures to capture a plurality of scan images of a physical workpiece corresponding to the workpiece in the first virtual representati
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson Turner, Joseph Schlecht, Eric Ferley
  • Publication number: 20240098284
    Abstract: Described herein are examples of imaging systems for digital image processing. For example, techniques are disclosed for dynamic compression of individual regions representing pixels and/or voxels of high-resolution digital images. During image data compression, first regions may be scaled based on a first scaling value, whereas second region may be scaled based on a second scaling value. During image data decompression and image reconstruction, a third scaling value is applied to both first and second regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Joseph Schlecht, Eric Ferley
  • Publication number: 20230010730
    Abstract: Described herein are examples of industrial radiography systems that enable rotation of a part about a custom axis that is offset from an actual rotation axis of a rotatable fixture that retains the part. This may be valuable in situations where it is difficult, impractical, and/or impossible to align the center of the part with the center of the rotatable fixture. In some examples, the custom axis rotation may be implemented on existing radiography machines, without requiring physical alteration of the radiography machines, integration of new components into the radiography machines, and/or risk of instability to the part and/or radiography machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph Schlecht, Caleb Nelson Hay, Eric Ferley
  • Publication number: 20230003671
    Abstract: An example scan procedure generation system includes: a display; a processor; and a computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to: output, via the display, a first visual representation of an arrangement of a radiation source, a radiation detector, a workpiece positioner, and a workpiece; and based on positions and orientations of the radiation source, the radiation detector, the workpiece positioner, and the workpiece, generate a scanning procedure for execution by a physical scanner having a physical radiation source, a physical radiation detector, and a physical workpiece positioner, wherein the generated scanning procedure comprises a plurality of movements of one or more of the physical radiation source, the physical radiation detector, and the physical workpiece positioner and a plurality of image captures to capture a plurality of scan images of a physical workpiece corresponding to the workpiece in the first virtual representati
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Jackson Turner, Joseph Schlecht, Eric Ferley
  • Publication number: 20220108129
    Abstract: Described herein are examples of interfaces for designing and/or configuring custom assisted defect recognition (ADR) systems and/or workflows. In some examples, the ADR systems and/or workflows may be designed and/or configured using visual tools, such as, for example, node based processing tools. In some examples, the ADR workflows may be used to analyze two dimensional (2D) and/or three dimensional (3D) image scans, such as might be generated by industrial X-ray scanning systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Sean Lin, Joseph Schlecht, Caleb Nelson Hay, Eric Ferley
  • Publication number: 20210172886
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for identifying and reducing pixel-specific image distortion of an x-ray detector. In one example, an x-ray detector obtains, for various calibration positions, two-dimensional (2D) images of a calibration object. The calibration object comprises reference points that comprise spatial characteristics. Processing circuitry computes an image distortion field across a plurality of pixels of the x-ray detector based on imaged characteristics of the reference points in each of the 2D images, the spatial characteristics of the reference points, and the calibration positions. The processing circuitry computes, based on the computed image distortion field, a correction transform for correcting image distortion across the x-ray detector. The processing circuitry applies the correction field to a preliminary image obtained by the x-ray detector to obtain a corrected image exhibiting reduced pixel-specific image distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Glatzmaier, Joseph Schlecht, Eric Ferley
  • Patent number: 10413259
    Abstract: An imaging system generates a first radiograph based on a first pattern of radiation detected by a Linear Diode Array (LDA) radiation detector positioned to detect a radiation beam emitted by a radiation generator. The LDA radiation detector comprises a plurality of modules. Each respective module of the plurality of modules comprises a respective plurality of photodiodes corresponding to pixels. Furthermore, the imaging system may determine, based on the first radiograph, a size of a gap between two of the modules of the LDA radiation detector. After determining the size of the gap, the imaging system may generate a second radiograph based on a second pattern of radiation detected by the LDA radiation detector. The imaging system may generate a third radiograph by modifying, based on the size of the gap, the second radiograph to compensate for the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Schlecht, Eric Ferley, Julien Noel, Roland Le Floc'h
  • Patent number: 10247682
    Abstract: An x-ray imaging system may include an x-ray generator, one or more radiation detectors, a rotary stage, a linear translation stage, a motion control system, and a data acquisition system. The rotary stage has an axis of rotation arranged perpendicular to an axis of an x-ray beam emitted by the x-ray generator. The linear translation stage may be configured to move the rotary stage linearly along an axis aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotary stage. The motion control system may synchronize rotational motion of the rotary stage and linear motion of the linear translation stage. The data acquisition system may comprise processors configured to receive user input parameters. The processors may configure, based at least in part on the user input parameters, the x-ray imaging system to acquire radiographs. The processors may generate a three-dimensional image from the radiographs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Schlecht, Eric Ferley, Julien Noel
  • Publication number: 20170367665
    Abstract: An imaging system generates a first radiograph based on a first pattern of radiation detected by a Linear Diode Array (LDA) radiation detector positioned to detect a radiation beam emitted by a radiation generator. The LDA radiation detector comprises a plurality of modules. Each respective module of the plurality of modules comprises a respective plurality of photodiodes corresponding to pixels. Furthermore, the imaging system may determine, based on the first radiograph, a size of a gap between two of the modules of the LDA radiation detector. After determining the size of the gap, the imaging system may generate a second radiograph based on a second pattern of radiation detected by the LDA radiation detector. The imaging system may generate a third radiograph by modifying, based on the size of the gap, the second radiograph to compensate for the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Joseph SCHLECHT, Eric FERLEY, Julien NOEL, Roland LE FLOC'H
  • Patent number: 9459217
    Abstract: An x-ray imaging system (10), such as a X-ray computerized tomographic system, may acquire a series of radiographs at different detector positions along a first translation axis or a second translation axis parallel to orientation directions of detector pixels of a radiation detector (14). In a first embodiment, the different detector positions may be separated by a distance less than a linear size of the radiation detector (14) along the first translation axis or the second translation axis, respectively. The radiographs may be assembled into a radiograph larger than each radiograph in the series of radiographs, resulting in image stitching. In a second embodiment, the different detector positions may be separated by a distance less than a pixel size of the radiation detector (14), also referred as sub-pixel shifting of the detector. The radiographs may be assembled to form a radiograph with a higher resolution than the acquired radiographs, resulting in superresolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuxin Wang, Joshua A. Sharpe, Joseph Schlecht, Eric Ferley, Julien Noel
  • Publication number: 20160054239
    Abstract: An x-ray imaging system may include an x-ray generator, one or more radiation detectors, a rotary stage, a linear translation stage, a motion control system, and a data acquisition system. The rotary stage has an axis of rotation arranged perpendicular to an axis of an x-ray beam emitted by the x-ray generator. The linear translation stage may be configured to move the rotary stage linearly along an axis aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotary stage. The motion control system may synchronize rotational motion of the rotary stage and linear motion of the linear translation stage. The data acquisition system may comprise processors configured to receive user input parameters. The processors may configure, based at least in part on the user input parameters, the x-ray imaging system to acquire radiographs. The processors may generate a three-dimensional image from the radiographs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Schlecht, Eric Ferley, Julien Noel
  • Publication number: 20160047759
    Abstract: An x-ray imaging system (10), such as a X-ray computerised tomographic system, may acquire a series of radiographs at different detector positions along a first translation axis or a second translation axis parallel to orientation directions of detector pixels of a radiation detector (14). In a first embodiment, the different detector positions may be separated by a distance less than a linear size of the radiation detector (14) along the first translation axis or the second translation axis, respectively. The radiographs may be assembled into a radiograph larger than each radiograph in the series of radiographs, resulting in image stitching. In a second embodiment, the different detector positions may be separated by a distance less than a pixel size of the radiation detector (14), also referred as sub-pixel shifting of the detector. The radiographs may be assembled to form a radiograph with a higher resolution than the acquired radiographs, resulting in superresolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Yuxin Wang, Joshua A. Sharpe, Joseph Schlecht, Eric Ferley, Julien Noel
  • Publication number: 20120257713
    Abstract: A computed tomography (CT) scanning system performs non-destructive analysis of an object. The CT scanning system generates a series of two-dimensional images of the object from different angles as the object rotates. The CT scanning system uses the generated two-dimensional images to reconstruct three-dimensional images of the object. By displaying several reconstructed three-dimensional images over time, the CT scanning system generates a four-dimensional representation of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Julien Baptiste Pierre Noel, Eric Ferley