Patents by Inventor Howard Stern

Howard Stern 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: 4629324
    Abstract: A pattern of light is projected upon a surface to be measured which may be devoid of surface detail. A sharply focused image of the surface provides distance discrimination. Although the projected pattern may be separate from the imaging optics, a common optics path removes distortion, provides maximum sensitivity and eliminates processing for misalignment between projector and imager. Sequential cross-correlation, synchronous detection or percent modulation processing methods may be readily implemented to develop three-dimensional co-ordinates relative to the sensor for all in-focus regions of the image. Refocusing the lens provides depth coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Robotic Vision Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Stern
  • Patent number: 4591253
    Abstract: Cameras or optical devices requiring shutters to allow light to reach a light sensitive area from an object scene for a prescribed amount of time are provided with an electrically controlled light modulator to replace mechanical shutters. Cameras or optical devices requiring a variable aperture and/or transform filter to adjust the amount of light admitted, depth of focus and/or image enhancement are also provided with electrically controlled light modulators to replace mechanical apertures and transform masks. Both functions may be incorporated into a single electrically controlled light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Robotic Vision Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Hecker, Howard Stern
  • Patent number: 4573758
    Abstract: An arrangement for deflecting a beam of monochromatic light in a rapid and accurate manner. To deflect the beam, segments of a number of Fresnel lenses are produced onto a single flat glass substrate disk. The optical axis of each of the lens segments corresponds to the center of rotation of the disk. The disk is mounted on a shaft which is rotatable about that optical axis. The beam of light to be deflected is applied to the surface of the disk at a point off the axis. When the beam passes through the disk it becomes deflected by one of the lens elements. The degree of deflection depends on the nature of the element, and the rate at which the beam is deflected from one orientation to another is determined by the rate of rotation of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: Robotic Vision Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Hecker, Howard Stern, Thomas Heydenburg
  • Patent number: 4488173
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of determining the position and orientation of an element (such as a platform) in space by determining the intersection of a line with a plane (or with another line). Three different implementations are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: Robotic Vision Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Di Matteo, Paul Rademacher, Howard Stern
  • Patent number: 4396945
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of determining the position and orientation of an element (such as a platform) in space by determining the intersection of a line with a plane (or with another line). Three different implementations are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1983
    Assignee: Solid Photography Inc.
    Inventors: Paul DiMatteo, Paul Rademacher, Howard Stern
  • Patent number: 4286852
    Abstract: An arrangement in which a three-dimensional surface is copied by recording images of planar sections of the surface. The surface is subdivided into the sections, and the sections are illuminated in sequence by a projector which directs a plane of light against the surface. A camera spaced from the projector records the intersection of the illuminating plane with the surface. By recording sections in sequence with the camera, the entire surface may be covered. The camera is focused on the illuminating plane in the region about the object surface. The recorded information is stored in a computer and used as a guide to repeat the procedure with a thinner plane of light for the purpose of obtaining increased accuracy of the final data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Solid Photography, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Stern, Paul DiMatteo
  • Patent number: 4259589
    Abstract: The method of generating data for files containing information regarding three-dimensional surface configurations, involving selective compilation of area data through use of projected rays of differing orientation, recording of the radiation patterns produced by these rays on the surface, and correlation of records from overlapping fields of view to meld information from contiguous areas into a continuous data bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1981
    Assignee: Solid Photography, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul DiMatteo, Howard Stern
  • Patent number: 4238147
    Abstract: An arrangement in which a three-dimensional surface is copied by recording images of planar sections of the surface. The surface is subdivided into the sections, and the sections are illuminated in sequence by a projector which directs a plane of light against the surface. A camera spaced from the projector records the intersection of the illuminating plane with the surface. By recording sections in sequence with the camera, the entire surface may be covered. The camera is focused on the illuminating plane in the region about the object surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: Solid Photography Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Stern