Patents by Inventor Kenneth G. Brittain

Kenneth G. Brittain 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: 11585762
    Abstract: System and methods used to inspect a moving web (112) include a plurality of image capturing devices (113) that image a portion of the web at an imaging area. The image data captured by each of the image capturing devices at the respective imaging areas is combined to form a virtual camera data array (105) that represents an alignment of the image data associated with each of the imaging areas to the corresponding physical positioning of the imaging areas relative to the web. The image output signals generated by each of the plurality of image capturing devices may be processed by a single image processor, or a number of image processors (114) that is less than the number of image capturing devices. The processor or processors are arranged to generate the image data forming the virtual camera array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Brittain, Steven P. Floeder
  • Patent number: 11327454
    Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to a device comprising a product status synchronization device. Examples of the product status synchronization device comprise a plurality of input ports and an encoder input, each of the input ports coupled to one of a plurality of registers and configured to receive a signal indicative of a status assigned to a product by one of a plurality of process stations, and to register the status assigned to the product into the one of the plurality of registers coupled to the input port, wherein one or more of the plurality of process stations are located at different distances from a predetermined location along a processing line and are configured to asynchronously process one or more products moving through the processing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Floeder, Kenneth G. Brittain, Joseph R. Nesbitt
  • Publication number: 20210041373
    Abstract: System and methods used to inspect a moving web (112) include a plurality of image capturing devices (113) that image a portion of the web at an imaging area. The image data captured by each of the image capturing devices at the respective imaging areas is combined to form a virtual camera data array (105) that represents an alignment of the image data associated with each of the imaging areas to the corresponding physical positioning of the imaging areas relative to the web. The image output signals generated by each of the plurality of image capturing devices may be processed by a single image processor, or a number of image processors (114) that is less than the number of image capturing devices. The processor or processors are arranged to generate the image data forming the virtual camera array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Brittain, Steven P. Floeder
  • Publication number: 20190219979
    Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to a device comprising a product status synchronization device. Examples of the product status synchronization device comprise a plurality of input ports and an encoder input, each of the input ports coupled to one of a plurality of registers and configured to receive a signal indicative of a status assigned to a product by one of a plurality of process stations, and to register the status assigned to the product into the one of the plurality of registers coupled to the input port, wherein one or more of the plurality of process stations are located at different distances from a predetermined location along a processing line and are configured to asynchronously process one or more products moving through the processing line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Steven P. Floeder, Kenneth G. Brittain, Joseph R. Nesbitt
  • Patent number: 9031312
    Abstract: A computerized inspection system is described for detecting the presence of non-uniformity defects and providing output indicative of a severity of each type of non-uniformity defect. Techniques are described that increase the throughput of the inspection system. Algorithmic and hardware approaches are described to significantly decrease the average amount of time required to inspect a given quantity of material that is expected to be mostly uniform. The techniques described herein involve dynamic selection of which image features to compute by starting with a base feature set and only triggering additional feature computations as needed until the features are sufficient to compute a severity for each type of non-uniformity defect. The number of features extracted and the order in which the features are extracted is dynamically determined in real-time to reduce a cost associated with the feature extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Evan J. Ribnick, Kenneth G. Brittain, John A. Ramthun, Derek H. Justice, Guillermo Sapiro
  • Patent number: 9002072
    Abstract: A system is described for detecting the presence of non-uniformity patterns and providing output indicative of a severity of each type of non-uniformity pattern. The system includes a computerized rating tool that assists a user in efficiently and consistently assigning expert ratings (i.e., labels) to a large collection of training images representing samples of a given product. In addition, the rating software develops a model that allows a computerized inspection system to detect the presence of non-uniformity patterns in a manufactured web material in real time and provide output indicative of a severity level of each pattern on a continuous scale. The system also includes algorithmic and hardware approaches to significantly that increase the throughput of the inspection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Catherine P. Tarnowski, Kenneth G. Brittain, David L. Hofeldt, Andrzej P. Jaworski, Gregory D. Kostuch, John A. Ramthun, Evan J. Ribnick, Esa H. Vilkama, Derek H. Justice, Guillermo Sapiro
  • Patent number: 8965116
    Abstract: A computerized rating tool is described that assists a user in efficiently and consistently assigning expert ratings (i.e., labels) to a large collection of training images representing samples of a given product. The rating tool provides mechanisms for visualizing the training images in an intuitive and configurable fashion, including clustering and ordering the training images. In some embodiments, the rating tool provides an easy-to-use interface for exploring multiple types of defects represented in the data and efficiently assigning expert ratings. In other embodiments, the computer automatically assigns ratings (i.e., labels) to the individual clusters containing the large collection of digital images representing the samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Evan J. Ribnick, Kenneth G. Brittain, Gregory D. Kostuch, Catherine P. Tarnowski, Derek H. Justice, Guillermo Sapiro, Sammuel D. Herbert, David L. Hofeldt
  • Publication number: 20130322733
    Abstract: A system is described for detecting the presence of non-uniformity patterns and providing output indicative of a severity of each type of non-uniformity pattern. The system includes a computerized rating tool that assists a user in efficiently and consistently assigning expert ratings (i.e., labels) to a large collection of training images representing samples of a given product. In addition, the rating software develops a model that allows a computerized inspection system to detect the presence of non-uniformity patterns in a manufactured web material in real time and provide output indicative of a severity level of each pattern on a continuous scale. The system also includes algorithmic and hardware approaches to significantly that increase the throughput of the inspection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Catherine P. Tarnowski, Kenneth G. Brittain, David L. Hofeldt, Andrzej P. Jaworski, Gregory D. Kostuch, John A. Ramthun, Evan J. Ribnick, Esa H. Vilkama, Derek H. Justice, Guillermo Sapiro
  • Publication number: 20130320994
    Abstract: An apparatus to infer the resistivity of an electrode by stimulating the electrode with a capacitively coupled signal, and processing the resultant signal with circuitry that produces a signal having an amplitude that is a function of the resistivity of the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth G. BRITTAIN, Sammuel D. Herbert, Neil F. Diamond
  • Publication number: 20130236082
    Abstract: A computerized inspection system is described for detecting the presence of non-uniformity defects and providing output indicative of a severity of each type of non-uniformity defect. Techniques are described that increase the throughput of the inspection system. Algorithmic and hardware approaches are described to significantly decrease the average amount of time required to inspect a given quantity of material that is expected to be mostly uniform. The techniques described herein involve dynamic selection of which image features to compute by starting with a base feature set and only triggering additional feature computations as needed until the features are sufficient to compute a severity for each type of non-uniformity defect. The number of features extracted and the order in which the features are extracted is dynamically determined in real-time to reduce a cost associated with the feature extraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Evan J. Ribnick, Kenneth G. Brittain, John A. Ramthun, Derek H. Justice, Guillermo Sapiro
  • Publication number: 20130202200
    Abstract: A computerized rating tool is described that assists a user in efficiently and consistently assigning expert ratings (i.e., labels) to a large collection of training images representing samples of a given product. The rating tool provides mechanisms for visualizing the training images in an intuitive and configurable fashion, including clustering and ordering the training images. In some embodiments, the rating tool provides an easy-to-use interface for exploring multiple types of defects represented in the data and efficiently assigning expert ratings. In other embodiments, the computer automatically assigns ratings (i.e., labels) to the individual clusters containing the large collection of digital images representing the samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Evan J. Ribnick, Kenneth G. Brittain, Gregory D. Kostuch, Catherine P. Tarnowski, Derek H. Justice, Guillermo Sapiro, Sammuel D. Herbert, David L. Hofeldt
  • Patent number: 8072593
    Abstract: A lighting configuration that is a combination of far dark field lighting and a modified dark stripe lighting is disclosed. The novel combination provides a more robust detection of flaws on, e.g. a moving web of transparent film, than either would provide alone or through a summation of their individual parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth G. Brittain, Steven P. Floeder
  • Patent number: 7542821
    Abstract: A conversion control system is described that includes a database to store data defining a set of rules and an interface to receive local anomaly information from a plurality of different analysis machines associated with a plurality of manufacturing process lines that perform a plurality of operations on a web of material, and each of the manufacturing process lines includes position data for a set of regions on the web containing anomalies. The system also includes a computer that registers the position data of the local anomaly information for the plurality of manufacturing process lines to produce aggregate anomaly information. The system further includes a conversion control engine that applies the rules to the aggregate anomaly information to determine which anomalies represent actual defects in the web for a plurality of different products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Floeder, Kenneth G. Brittain, James A. Masterman, Carl J. Skeps
  • Publication number: 20090030544
    Abstract: A conversion control system is described that includes a database to store data defining a set of rules and an interface to receive local anomaly information from a plurality of different analysis machines associated with a plurality of manufacturing process lines that perform a plurality of operations on a web of material, and each of the manufacturing process lines includes position data for a set of regions on the web containing anomalies. The system also includes a computer that registers the position data of the local anomaly information for the plurality of manufacturing process lines to produce aggregate anomaly information. The system further includes a conversion control engine that applies the rules to the aggregate anomaly information to determine which anomalies represent actual defects in the web for a plurality of different products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Steven P. Floeder, Kenneth G. Brittain, James A. Masterman, Carl J. Skeps
  • Publication number: 20080198602
    Abstract: A lighting configuration that is a combination of far dark field lighting and a modified dark stripe lighting is disclosed. The novel combination provides a more robust detection of flaws on, e.g. a moving web of transparent film, than either would provide alone or through a summation of their individual parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth G. BRITTAIN, Steven P. Floeder