Patents by Inventor John F. MacGregor

John F. MacGregor 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).

  • Method for controlling the appearance of products and process performance by image analysis
    Patent number: 8131020
    Abstract: A new application of machine vision for process industries is proposed. The invention consists of: (1) estimation of visual quality of products, (2) modeling causal relationship between estimated quality and process variables, and (3) optimization of visual quality using the causal model. This invention can handle the stochastic nature in visual appearance of products that process industries provide, which has been a main obstacle for the success of machine vision in process industries. Also, it opens new tasks in machine vision such as modeling and optimization of visual quality of products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: McMaster University
    Inventors: John F. Macgregor, Jay J. Liu
  • Method for on-line machine vision measurement, monitoring and control of organoleptic properties of products for on-line manufacturing processes
    Patent number: 7660440
    Abstract: A method for extracting feature information from product images using multivariate image analysis (MIA) to develop predictive models for organoleptic and other feature content and distribution on the imaged product. The imaging system is used to monitor product quality variables in an on-line manufacturing environment. The method may also be integrated into a closed-loop feedback control system in automated systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilfred Marcellien Bourg, Jr., Steven Andrew Bresnahan, Paul Allan Martin, John F. MacGregor, Honglu Yu, Mark-John Bruwer
  • Method for on-line machine vision measurement, monitoring and control of product features during on-line manufacturing processes
    Patent number: 7068817
    Abstract: A method for extracting feature information from product images using multivariate image analysis based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) which is used to develop predictive models for feature content and distribution on the imaged product. The imaging system is used to monitor product quality variables in an on-line manufacturing environment. It may also be integrated into a closed-loop feedback control system in automated systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: McMaster University
    Inventors: Wilfred M. Bourg, Jr., Steven A. Bresnahan, Gabe Jan Haarsma, John F. MacGregor, Paul Allan Martin, Honglu Yu
  • Method for on-line machine vision measurement, monitoring and control of product features during on-line manufacturing processes
    Publication number: 20040091135
    Abstract: A method for extracting feature information from product images using multivariate image analysis based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) which is used to develop predictive models for feature content and distribution on the imaged product. The imaging system is used to monitor product quality variables in an on-line manufacturing environment. It may also be integrated into a closed-loop feedback control system in automated systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Wilfred M. Bourg, Steven A. Bresnahan, Gabe Jan Haarsma, John F. MacGregor, Paul Allan Martin, Honglu Yu