Patents by Inventor Johan STIGWALL

Johan STIGWALL 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: 12631439
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine for measuring a number of measuring points on a surface, the coordinate measuring machine comprising a base, a probe head with an optical probe, a machine structure for linking the probe head to the base, at least one drive mechanism for providing movability of the probe head relative to the base, at least one encoding unit, an optical overview sensor unit arranged at the machine structure and a controlling and processing unit adapted at least for controlling the drive mechanism. The optical probe comprises an optical detection unit, in particular a sensor, a variable focal length lens capable of modifying its focal length and an actuating unit configured and arranged relative to the variable focal length lens so that the actuating unit provides setting and varying the focal length as a function of a controlling signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: HEXAGON INNOVATION HUB GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Jensen, Johan Stigwall, Frank Przygodda
  • Publication number: 20260110531
    Abstract: A laser line module for projecting a laser line onto a surface of a distant target object, the projected laser line having a laser line length, the laser line module comprising: a laser diode configured to emit radiation in the form of a laser beam; a beam-shaping optical arrangement; a micro-lens array comprising a multitude of microlenses and having a surface with a height profile, each point on the surface having a distance from an average height of the height profile and providing a divergence for radiation passing through the micro-lens array at the respective point, which divergence depends on the relative height of the respective point; and a spatial light modulator that is provided between the beam-shaping optical arrangement and the micro-lens array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2025
    Publication date: April 23, 2026
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Johan STIGWALL, Peter KIPFER, Thomas JENSEN
  • Patent number: 12601589
    Abstract: A measuring system for measuring an object, the measuring system comprising a measuring device and a controlling and processing unit. The measuring device comprises at least one camera, a first optical sensor and a second optical sensor, the first optical sensor provides a first field of view and is configured for collecting first measuring data representing a first part of the object, the second optical sensor provides a second field of view and is configured for collecting second measuring data representing a second part of the object. The second optical sensor comprises at least three light sources configured for illuminating the object from at least three different poses. The controlling and processing unit comprises a second capturing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: HEXAGON INNOVATION HUB GMBH
    Inventors: Zheng Yang, Johan Stigwall, Thomas Jensen
  • Publication number: 20260089397
    Abstract: An aerial imaging device that comprises a plurality of camera arrangements. The cameras are arranged to have different viewing directions in a device-transverse direction that corresponds to a cross-track direction perpendicular to the track direction of a flying carrier vehicle, wherein overlapping fields of view of the cameras provide in device-transverse direction a combined uninterrupted total field of view of at least 75 degrees, which is larger than an individual field of view of each of the cameras. Images of the cameras are combined for providing generation of a country mode composite image, a city mode composite nadir image, and city mode side oblique images. The country mode composite image is generated based on a combination of images from several of the cameras of the plurality of cameras and provides a field of view in device-transverse direction which essentially corresponds to the uninterrupted total field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Applicant: HEXAGON INNOVATION HUB GMBH
    Inventors: Johan STIGWALL, Rainer WOHLGENANNT, Werner KIRCHHOFER
  • Patent number: 12578512
    Abstract: Optical assembly comprising a variable focal length lens assembly comprising a variable focal length lens and an actuating unit, wherein an energy absorption rate of energy absorbed by the variable focal length lens assembly depends on the applied controlling signal. The optical assembly comprises a controlling unit configured to control focal length settings of the variable focal length lens by providing respective controlling signals and to apply a default controlling signal for providing a default focal length and default energy absorption rate. The controlling unit provides a thermal stabilisation functionality, the thermal stabilisation functionality is defined by applying a varying controlling signal related to a varying focal length and applying a compensation controlling signal related to a compensating focal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Jensen, Frank Przygodda, Johan Stigwall
  • Publication number: 20260029513
    Abstract: A laser line module LLM for projecting a laser line onto a surface of a distant target object comprising a light emitting assembly configured to emit measuring radiation, the light emitting assembly comprising a laser diode and a beam shaping assembly, wherein the laser diode and the beam shaping assembly are arranged and configured to guide the measuring radiation along an optical axis of the laser line module. The LLM comprises a line adjusting unit successively arranged to be irradiated by the measuring radiation of the light emitting assembly and configured to manipulate the measuring radiation to provide the laser line with a defined laser line length, the line adjusting unit comprising a first micro-lens array having a first beam-manipulation surface having a multitude of first microlenses which define a first periodic height profile and providing a first refractive power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2025
    Publication date: January 29, 2026
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Johan STIGWALL, Peter KIPFER, Thomas JENSEN
  • Patent number: 12356077
    Abstract: A measuring system for acquiring three-dimensional measuring points, comprising a base unit, a support unit mounted on the base unit and rotatable relative to the base unit around an azimuth axis, an emitting unit, a receiving unit, a directing unit mounted in the support unit, and configured for directing a transmission beam from the emitting unit towards a scene, directing a reception beam from the scene to the receiving unit, a first actuator configured for rotating the support unit relative to the base unit around the azimuth axis, a second actuator configured for rotating the directing unit relative to the support unit around the elevation axis, a first angle encoder configured for measuring a rotatory position of the support unit, a second angle encoder configured for measuring a rotatory position of the directing unit, a camera comprising an image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Johan Stigwall, Andreas Schwendener, Thomas Jensen, Marco Schröder, Zheng Yang
  • Publication number: 20250207917
    Abstract: A reflector arrangement for determining a position and/or for marking a target point having at least two retro-reflecting elements, each of the at least two retro-reflecting elements comprises a respective front boundary surface configured for entry of measuring light into the respective retro-reflecting element and a respective back boundary surface configured for reflecting the measuring light as reflected measuring light, wherein the front boundary surface and the back boundary surface are arranged on opposite sides of the respective retro-reflecting element, and a respective optical axis defined by the arrangement of the front boundary surface and/or the back boundary surface of the respective retro-reflecting element. The front boundary surface and the back boundary surface of each of the at least two retro-reflecting elements are of curved shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Publication date: June 26, 2025
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Zheng YANG, Danick BRÜHLMANN, Johan STIGWALL, Thomas JENSEN
  • Publication number: 20250164235
    Abstract: A measuring device for imaging an object, including a light emitting unit configured to emit polarised measuring light, a light receiving unit configured to receive and detect reflected measuring light, and a support structure which comprises a retro-reflective layer and a polarisation state manipulation layer. The support structure provides retro-reflecting of the measuring light and changing a polarisation state of the measuring light such that the polarisation state of incident measuring light is different relative to the polarisation state of retro-reflected measuring light. The measuring device comprises a polarisation selecting unit configured to provide selecting either reflected measuring light with a first polarisation state or with a second polarisation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2024
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Danick BRÜHLMANN, Thomas JENSEN, Zheng YANG, Frank PRZYGODDA, Johan STIGWALL
  • Patent number: 12289526
    Abstract: A metrology system comprising a target object, a metrology instrument and a control unit configured for controlling an alignment of the targeting unit and for deriving an orientation of the target object. The metrology instrument comprises a zoom objective, an illumination unit and a time-of-flight sensor comprising an array of pixels and capable of providing range data for each pixel of the array as point cloud data, the time-of-flight sensor provides the distance measuring device. The control unit comprises an object determination functionality which provides receiving the point cloud data provided by the time-of-flight sensor, deriving a digital representation of the target object by processing the point cloud data, comparing the digital representation of the target object with a reference pattern of the target object, and determining the orientation of the target object based on the comparison of the digital representation of the target object with the reference pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Johan Stigwall, Zheng Yang, Thomas Jensen
  • Patent number: 12259242
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laser tracker-based surveying system having a measurement aid which comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU). The surveying system is designed to determine coordinates of points of a surface which are sampled by means of the measurement aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Markus Steiner, Tomasz Kwiatkowski, Johan Stigwall
  • Publication number: 20250030958
    Abstract: An aerial camera instrument configured to acquire high-resolution aerial images from a target area. The aerial camera instrument comprises (i) an imaging sensor having an electronic global shutter functionality, (ii) an external shutter component, and (iii) a coupling functionality configured to synchronize the electronic global shutter functionality and the external shutter component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Roland GRAF, Johan STIGWALL
  • Publication number: 20250003732
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine for measuring a number of measuring points on a surface, the coordinate measuring machine comprising a base, a probe head with an optical probe, a machine structure for linking the probe head to the base, at least one drive mechanism for providing movability of the probe head relative to the base, at least one encoding unit, an optical overview sensor unit arranged at the machine structure and a controlling and processing unit adapted at least for controlling the drive mechanism. The optical probe comprises an optical detection unit, in particular a sensor, a variable focal length lens capable of modifying its focal length and an actuating unit configured and arranged relative to the variable focal length lens so that the actuating unit provides setting and varying the focal length as a function of a controlling signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas JENSEN, Johan STIGWALL, Frank PRZYGODDA
  • Patent number: 12025470
    Abstract: A triangulation device for measuring a measurement object by a projection of a structured light pattern onto the measurement object. The triangulation device includes a projector projecting the structured light pattern decomposable into different spatial frequencies onto the measurement object. The projector comprises a matrix of pixel elements and a lens system which determines a wavefront with a wavefront aberration from a reference wavefront, and a camera including a lens system and an imaging sensor, the camera being configured to receive the structured light pattern projected by the projector onto the measurement object, and a processing unit configured to provide distance information by evaluating imaging information provided by the camera. The wavefront aberration comprises a primary spherical aberration coefficient Z9, wherein the primary spherical aberration coefficient Z9 is larger than 0.5?, wherein ? is a wavelength of the projected structured light pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Schwendener, Thomas Jensen, Johan Stigwall
  • Publication number: 20240191990
    Abstract: A geodetic surveying device, wherein the geodetic surveying device is configured for surveying retroreflective cooperative targets, the geodetic surveying device comprises a base, a telescope and a support. The geodetic surveying device further comprises a target recognition emitting unit, called ATR-illuminator, an target recognition sensor, called ATR-sensor, having a position-sensitive area for receiving radiation of the radiation beam reflected at the retroreflective cooperative targets for generating ATR image data, wherein the received radiation appear as spots in the ATR image data, an angle encoder and a processing unit. The geodetic surveying device generates a series of ATR image data with continuously changing orientation of the ATR-illuminator and/or the ATR-sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Ulrich HORNUNG, Martin MAYER, Romedi SELM, Johan STIGWALL, Luca VARANO
  • Publication number: 20240175677
    Abstract: A measuring system for measuring an object, the measuring system comprising a measuring device and a controlling and processing unit. The measuring device comprises at least one camera, a first optical sensor and a second optical sensor, the first optical sensor provides a first field of view and is configured for collecting first measuring data representing a first part of the object, the second optical sensor provides a second field of view and is configured for collecting second measuring data representing a second part of the object. The second optical sensor comprises at least three light sources configured for illuminating the object from at least three different poses. The controlling and processing unit comprises a second capturing mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Zheng YANG, Johan STIGWALL, Thomas JENSEN
  • Publication number: 20240125904
    Abstract: A sensor device comprising a retro-reflecting element having a front boundary surface configured for entry of measuring light into the retro-reflecting element and a back boundary surface configured for reflecting a first part of the measuring light as reflected measuring light and configured for transmitting a second part of the measuring light as transmitted measuring light, wherein the front boundary surface and the back boundary surface are arranged on opposite sides of the retro-reflecting element, and a sensor unit configured and arranged so that the transmitted measuring light is detectable by the sensor unit. The front boundary surface and the back boundary surface are of curved shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas JENSEN, Zheng YANG, Johan STIGWALL
  • Publication number: 20240093993
    Abstract: An optical detection unit comprising a retro-reflecting element which provides a reflection surface configured for retro-reflecting a first part of measuring light as reflected measuring light for providing determination of a position of the optical detection unit and a passage surface configured for transmitting a second part of the measuring light as transmitted measuring light, further comprising a sensor arrangement with a sensor configured and arranged behind of the retro-reflecting element so that the transmitted measuring light is detectable by the sensor. The optical detection unit comprises a referencing assembly with at least one illumination unit configured to emit reference illumination light. The at least one illumination unit is arranged with fixed positional relationship to the retro-reflecting element and/or the sensor arrangement and the referencing assembly is configured and arranged to direct the reference illumination light onto the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas JENSEN, Johan STIGWALL
  • Publication number: 20240069204
    Abstract: A measuring device for acquiring a three-dimensional measuring point related to a target in a scene, the measuring device comprises a base unit, a support unit mounted on the base unit, a distance measuring unit comprising an emitting unit configured for emitting measuring radiation and a receiving unit configured for detecting at least a part of the measuring radiation reflected by the target and a directing unit mounted in the support unit configured for directing the measuring radiation towards the scene. The measuring device comprises a capturing unit, wherein the capturing unit is configured for capturing at least a scene image of at least part of the scene, the scene image is generated by the detection of visual-spectrum light, and a controlling and processing unit, wherein the controlling and processing unit is configured for aligning the directing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Johan STIGWALL, Zheng YANG, Thomas JENSEN, Martin MAYER
  • Publication number: 20240068810
    Abstract: A measuring device for acquiring a three-dimensional measuring point related to a target in a scene, the measuring device comprises a distance measuring unit comprising an emitting unit configured for emitting collimated measuring radiation (T) and a receiving unit configured for detecting at least a part of the collimated measuring radiation reflected (R) by the target, a directing unit rotatable around an elevation axis and configured for directing the measuring radiation towards the scene, a capturing unit, wherein the capturing unit comprises an image sensor and is configured to capture at least a scene image of at least part of the scene, and a controlling and processing unit configured at least for aligning the directing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Johan STIGWALL, Zheng YANG, Thomas JENSEN, Martin MAYER