Patents by Inventor Kenneth Steffey

Kenneth Steffey 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).

  • Publication number: 20250231546
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2025
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Kenneth Steffey, Keith G. Macfarlane, Paul C. Atwell, Dragos M. Stanescu, John Lucas Creachbaum, Brent Bailey, Matthew Mogensen
  • Publication number: 20240159906
    Abstract: A method of operating a coordinate measurement device includes selecting an operating mode on the coordinate measurement device. A first light is emitted from at least one light source of the coordinate measurement device. At least two angles associated with the emitting of the first light are measured. A second light is received with an optical detector of the coordinate measurement device. The second light is a reflection of the first light off of at least one of the retroreflector and the surface. A first distance is determined based at least in part on a mode of the coordinate measurement device that is selected, the emitting of the first light, and the receiving of the second light. Three dimensional coordinates of a point in the environment is determined based on the measuring of the at least two angles and at least one of the first distance and the second distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Robert E. Bridges, David H. Parker
  • Publication number: 20240061393
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Kenneth Steffey, Keith G. Macfarlane, Paul C. Atwell, Dragos M. Stanescu, John Lucas Creachbaum, Brent Bailey, Matthew Mogensen
  • Patent number: 11860276
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement device and method of operating combines tracker and scanner functionality. The method includes selecting an operating mode on the coordinate measurement device. A first light is emitted from the coordinate measurement device. At least two angles associated with the emitting of the first light are measured. A second light is received with an optical detector, wherein the second light is a reflection of the first light off of the retroreflector or the surface. A distance is determined based at least in part on the selected mode, the emitting of the first light, and the receiving of the second light. Three dimensional coordinates of at least one point in the environment are determined based at least in part on the measuring of the at least two angles and the determination of the distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: FARO Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Robert E. Bridges, David H. Parker
  • Patent number: 11853028
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: FARO Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Kenneth Steffey, Keith G. Macfarlane, Paul C. Atwell, Dragos M. Stanescu, John Lucas Creachbaum, Brent Bailey, Matthew Mogensen
  • Patent number: 11333761
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement device combines tracker and scanner functionality. The tracker function is configured to send light to a retroreflector and determine distance to the retroreflector based on the reflected light. The tracker is also configured to track the retroreflector as it moves, and to determine 3D coordinates of the retroreflector. The scanner is configured to send a beam of light to a point on an object surface and to determine 3D coordinate of the point. In addition, the scanner is configured to adjustably focus the beam of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Robert E. Bridges, David H. Parker
  • Publication number: 20210349215
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement device and method of operating combines tracker and scanner functionality. The method includes selecting an operating mode on the coordinate measurement device. A first light is emitted from the coordinate measurement device. At least two angles associated with the emitting of the first light are measured. A second light is received with an optical detector, wherein the second light is a reflection of the first light off of the retroreflector or the surface. A distance is determined based at least in part on the selected mode, the emitting of the first light, and the receiving of the second light. Three dimensional coordinates of at least one point in the environment are determined based at least in part on the measuring of the at least two angles and the determination of the distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Robert E. Bridges, David H. Parker
  • Patent number: 11055426
    Abstract: Securing data acquired by coordinate measurement devices including receiving a request from a requestor to access a data file including data that was acquired by a coordinate measurement device. The data file is retrieved and the content of the data file is authenticated. The authenticating includes retrieving an expected digital security attribute previously calculated by a digital security function based on content of the data file prior to the data file being retrieved. The authenticating also includes applying the digital security function to the data file to calculate an actual digital security attribute, and comparing the expected digital security attribute to the actual digital security attribute. Based on the comparing, a value of valid or not valid is assigned to an output of the authenticating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Oswin Horvath
  • Publication number: 20210165389
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Kenneth Steffey, Keith G. Macfarlane, Paul C. Atwell, Dragos M. Stanescu
  • Patent number: 10969760
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Kenneth Steffey, Keith G. Macfarlane, Paul C. Atwell, Dragos M. Stanescu
  • Patent number: 10663588
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement device combines tracker and scanner functionality. The tracker function is configured to send light to a retroreflector and determine distance to the retroreflector based on the reflected light. The tracker is also configured to track the retroreflector as it moves, and to determine 3D coordinates of the retroreflector. The scanner is configured to send a beam of light to a point on an object surface and to determine 3D coordinate of the point. In addition, the scanner is configured to adjustably focus the beam of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Robert E. Bridges, David H. Parker
  • Publication number: 20200019717
    Abstract: Securing data acquired by coordinate measurement devices including receiving a request from a requestor to access a data file including data that was acquired by a coordinate measurement device. The data file is retrieved and the content of the data file is authenticated. The authenticating includes retrieving an expected digital security attribute previously calculated by a digital security function based on content of the data file prior to the data file being retrieved. The authenticating also includes applying the digital security function to the data file to calculate an actual digital security attribute, and comparing the expected digital security attribute to the actual digital security attribute. Based on the comparing, a value of valid or not valid is assigned to an output of the authenticating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Oswin Horvath
  • Publication number: 20190317470
    Abstract: According to some aspects of the invention, auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein. According to some aspects of the invention, methods for operating auxiliary axis measurement systems for determining three-dimensional coordinates of an object are provided as shown and described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Kishore Lankalapalli, Kenneth Steffey, Keith G. Macfarlane, Paul C. Atwell, Dragos M. Stanescu
  • Publication number: 20190250271
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement device combines tracker and scanner functionality. The tracker function is configured to send light to a retroreflector and determine distance to the retroreflector based on the reflected light. The tracker is also configured to track the retroreflector as it moves, and to determine 3D coordinates of the retroreflector. The scanner is configured to send a beam of light to a point on an object surface and to determine 3D coordinate of the point. In addition, the scanner is configured to adjustably focus the beam of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Robert E. Bridges, David H. Parker
  • Patent number: 10132611
    Abstract: A method and system for acquiring three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of a surface is provided. The method includes providing the scanner configured to emit a light from the light source and reflect the light onto the surface, the scanner further being configured to determine with a processor a three-dimensional coordinate of a point on the surface based at least in part on a first and second angle measuring device and a reflection of the light from the surface. An image is acquired of the surface with a camera and a feature is identified. A first area is identified having a high information content and a first arc segment is determined. The surface is scanned by rotating a motor at a first speed during the first arc segment and at a second speed during a second arc segment, the second speed being greater than the first speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Reinhard Becker, Bernd-Dietmar Becker, Jurgen Gittinger
  • Publication number: 20170343673
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement device combines tracker and scanner functionality. The tracker function is configured to send light to a retroreflector and determine distance to the retroreflector based on the reflected light. The tracker is also configured to track the retroreflector as it moves, and to determine 3D coordinates of the retroreflector. The scanner is configured to send a beam of light to a point on an object surface and to determine 3D coordinate of the point. In addition, the scanner is configured to adjustably focus the beam of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Robert E. Bridges, David H. Parker
  • Patent number: 9746560
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) coordinate measurement device combines tracker and scanner functionality. The tracker function is configured to send light to a retroreflector and determine distance to the retroreflector based on the reflected light. The tracker is also configured to track the retroreflector as it moves, and to determine 3D coordinates of the retroreflector. The scanner is configured to send a beam of light to a point on an object surface and to determine 3D coordinate of the point. In addition, the scanner is configured to adjustably focus the beam of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Steffey, Robert E. Bridges, David H. Parker
  • Patent number: 9690017
    Abstract: A spherically mounted retroreflector (SMR) includes a substrate, an optic, and an adhesive. The substrate has a partially spherical outer surface and a cavity, the partially spherical outer surface has a sphere center. The optic has a cube-corner retroreflector fixedly disposed within the cavity; the cube-corner retroreflector has an optical vertex. The adhesive is disposed between the optic and the substrate and fixedly adheres the optic to the substrate. The optical vertex is coincident with the sphere center. The substrate is made from a ferromagnetic material and has an electroless nickel outer coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yazid Tohme, Kenneth Steffey, Jeremy Markee Garey, Jonathan Robert Day
  • Patent number: 9482755
    Abstract: A target is provided having a retroreflector. A body is provided having a spherical exterior portion, the body containing a cavity. The cavity is sized to hold the retroreflector, the cavity open to the exterior of the body and having at least one surface opposite the opening, the retroreflector at least partially disposed in the cavity, wherein the retroreflector and at least one surface define a space therebetween. A transmitter is configured to emit an electromagnetic signal. A first actuator is configured to initiate emission of the electromagnetic signal, wherein the transmitter and the first actuator are affixed to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter G. Cramer, Robert E. Bridges, Nils P. Steffensen, Robert C. Mehler, Kenneth Steffey, John M. Hoffer, Daniel G. Lasley
  • Patent number: 9453913
    Abstract: A target is provided having a retroreflector. A body is provided having a spherical exterior portion, the body containing a cavity. The cavity is sized to hold the retroreflector, the cavity open to the exterior of the body and having at least one surface opposite the opening, the retroreflector at least partially disposed in the cavity, wherein the retroreflector and at least one surface define a space therebetween. A transmitter is configured to emit an electromagnetic signal. A first actuator is configured to initiate emission of the electromagnetic signal, wherein the transmitter and the first actuator are affixed to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter G. Cramer, Robert E. Bridges, Nils P. Steffensen, Robert C. Mehler, Kenneth Steffey, John M. Hoffer, Jr., Daniel G. Lasley