Patents by Inventor Henry M. Dante

Henry M. Dante 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: 11946806
    Abstract: A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within an agricultural product stream is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. Dante, Samuel Timothy Henry, Seetharama C. Deevi
  • Patent number: 11946807
    Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring a manufacturing process of an agricultural product. The method utilizes hyperspectral imaging and comprises scanning at least one region along a sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the at least one region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product from the hyperspectral images; and comparing the spectral fingerprint so obtained to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints obtained at various points of the manufacturing process, using a computer processor, to determine which point in the manufacturing process the sample has progressed to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. Dante, Samuel Timothy Henry, Seetharama C. Deevi
  • Publication number: 20220157052
    Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring a manufacturing process of an agricultural product. The method utilizes hyperspectral imaging and comprises scanning at least one region along a sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the at least one region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product from the hyperspectral images; and comparing the spectral fingerprint so obtained to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints obtained at various points of the manufacturing process, using a computer processor, to determine which point in the manufacturing process the sample has progressed to.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. DANTE, Samuel Timothy HENRY, Seetharama C. DEEVI
  • Publication number: 20220139076
    Abstract: Provided is a method for blending of agricultural product utilizing hyperspectral imaging. At least one region along a sample of agricultural product is scanned using at least one light source of different wavelengths. Hyperspectral images are generated from the at least one region. A spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product is formed from the hyperspectral images. A plurality of samples of agricultural product is blended based on the spectral fingerprints of the samples according to parameters determined by executing a blending algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Seetharama C. DEEVI, Henry M. DANTE, Qiwei LIANG, Samuel Timothy HENRY
  • Publication number: 20220130144
    Abstract: A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within an agricultural product stream is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. DANTE, Samuel Timothy HENRY, Seetharama C. DEEVI
  • Patent number: 11250259
    Abstract: Provided is a method for blending of agricultural product utilizing hyperspectral imaging. At least one region along a sample of agricultural product is scanned using at least one light source of different wavelengths. Hyperspectral images are generated from the at least one region. A spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product is formed from the hyperspectral images. A plurality of samples of agricultural product is blended based on the spectral fingerprints of the samples according to parameters determined by executing a blending algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Seetharama C. Deevi, Henry M. Dante, Qiwei Liang, Samuel Timothy Henry
  • Patent number: 11250261
    Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring a manufacturing process of an agricultural product. The method utilizes hyperspectral imaging and comprises scanning at least one region along a sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the at least one region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product from the hyperspectral images; and comparing the spectral fingerprint so obtained to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints obtained at various points of the manufacturing process, using a computer processor, to determine which point in the manufacturing process the sample has progressed to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. Dante, Samuel Timothy Henry, Seetharama C. Deevi
  • Patent number: 11222203
    Abstract: A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within an agricultural product stream is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. Dante, Samuel Timothy Henry, Seetharama C. Deevi
  • Patent number: 10896325
    Abstract: Provided is a method for blending of agricultural product utilizing hyperspectral imaging. At least one region along a sample of agricultural product is scanned using at least one light source of different wavelengths. Hyperspectral images are generated from the at least one region. A spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product is formed from the hyperspectral images. A plurality of samples of agricultural product is blended based on the spectral fingerprints of the samples according to parameters determined by executing a blending algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Seetharama C. Deevi, Henry M. Dante, Qiwei Liang, Samuel Timothy Henry
  • Publication number: 20200257882
    Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring a manufacturing process of an agricultural product. The method utilizes hyperspectral imaging and comprises scanning at least one region along a sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the at least one region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product from the hyperspectral images; and comparing the spectral fingerprint so obtained to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints obtained at various points of the manufacturing process, using a computer processor, to determine which point in the manufacturing process the sample has progressed to.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. DANTE, Samuel Timothy HENRY, Seetharama C. DEEVI
  • Patent number: 10706283
    Abstract: Provided is a method for monitoring a manufacturing process of an agricultural product. The method utilizes hyperspectral imaging and comprises scanning at least one region along a sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the at least one region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product from the hyperspectral images; and comparing the spectral fingerprint so obtained to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints obtained at various points of the manufacturing process, using a computer processor, to determine which point in the manufacturing process the sample has progressed to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. Dante, Samuel Timothy Henry, Seetharama C. Deevi
  • Publication number: 20200089932
    Abstract: A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within an agricultural product stream is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. DANTE, Samuel Timothy HENRY, Seetharama C. DEEVI
  • Patent number: 10592745
    Abstract: A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within an agricultural product stream is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. Dante, Samuel Timothy Henry, Seetharama C. Deevi
  • Patent number: 10527558
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting foreign material within a product stream in real-time, involve illuminating a portion of the agricultural product stream with light spanning a wavelength range including or within near-infrared and/or shortwave infrared wavelengths; scanning a line of the illuminated agricultural product stream to acquire a hyperspectral image of the line, the hyperspectral image of the line having a width of a single pixel; processing the hyperspectral image of the scanned line to obtain spectrum data for one or more pixels of the hyperspectral image of the scanned line; comparing the obtained spectrum data of the one or more pixels to predetermined spectrum data to determine whether the obtained spectrum data is indicative of foreign material within the scanned line of the agricultural product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Amrita Sahu, Henry M. Dante, Jerry W. Morris
  • Patent number: 10515273
    Abstract: A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within an agricultural product stream is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Henry M. Dante, Samuel Timothy Henry, Seetharama C. Deevi
  • Publication number: 20190360943
    Abstract: A method of inspecting for micro-cracks in a coated piece that includes a substrate and a coating, the method comprising generating a responsive spectral response from an area of inspection of the coated piece by irradiating at least a portion of the coated piece, the area of inspection being less than a predetermined nominal dimension of a micro-crack, and analyzing the responsive spectral response to determine whether a micro-crack exists in the coating, including by comparing the responsive spectral response to one or more predetermined spectral values to determine whether the responsive spectral response corresponds to a response associated with a substrate such as the substrate in the coated piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Amrita SAHU, Henry M. DANTE, Christopher HESSION, James E. FRANKE, Ujwala WAREK
  • Publication number: 20190170660
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting foreign material within a product stream in real-time, involve illuminating a portion of the agricultural product stream with light spanning a wavelength range including or within near-infrared and/or shortwave infrared wavelengths; scanning a line of the illuminated agricultural product stream to acquire a hyperspectral image of the line, the hyperspectral image of the line having a width of a single pixel; processing the hyperspectral image of the scanned line to obtain spectrum data for one or more pixels of the hyperspectral image of the scanned line; comparing the obtained spectrum data of the one or more pixels to predetermined spectrum data to determine whether the obtained spectrum data is indicative of foreign material within the scanned line of the agricultural product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Amrita Sahu, Henry M. Dante, Jerry W. Morris
  • Patent number: 10197504
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting foreign material within a product stream in real-time, involve illuminating a portion of the agricultural product stream with light spanning a wavelength range including or within near-infrared and/or shortwave infrared wavelengths; scanning a line of the illuminated agricultural product stream to acquire a hyperspectral image of the line, the hyperspectral image of the line having a width of a single pixel; processing the hyperspectral image of the scanned line to obtain spectrum data for one or more pixels of the hyperspectral image of the scanned line; comparing the obtained spectrum data of the one or more pixels to predetermined spectrum data to determine whether the obtained spectrum data is indicative of foreign material within the scanned line of the agricultural product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Amrita Sahu, Henry M. Dante, Jerry W. Morris
  • Publication number: 20180285621
    Abstract: Provided is a method for blending of agricultural product utilizing hyperspectral imaging. At least one region along a sample of agricultural product is scanned using at least one light source of different wavelengths. Hyperspectral images are generated from the at least one region. A spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product is formed from the hyperspectral images. A plurality of samples of agricultural product is blended based on the spectral fingerprints of the samples according to parameters determined by executing a blending algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Seetharama C. DEEVI, Henry M. DANTE, Qiwei LIANG, Samuel Timothy HENRY
  • Patent number: 9996745
    Abstract: Provided is a method for blending of agricultural product utilizing hyperspectral imaging. At least one region along a sample of agricultural product is scanned using at least one light source of different wavelengths. Hyperspectral images are generated from the at least one region. A spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product is formed from the hyperspectral images. A plurality of samples of agricultural product is blended based on the spectral fingerprints of the samples according to parameters determined by executing a blending algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Seetharama C. Deevi, Henry M. Dante, Qiwei Liang, Samuel Timothy Henry