Patents by Inventor Kevin George Harding

Kevin George Harding 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: 9970753
    Abstract: A system includes a light emitting unit, a front mirror, a rear mirror, an imaging unit and a processor. The light emitting unit is configured to emit a collimated light beam. The front mirror is configured to reflect part of the collimated light beam to produce and project a front focused ring of structured light to an object to obtain a front reflected ring of light, and configured to allow part of the collimated light beam to pass by. The rear mirror is positioned downstream of a light transmitting path of the front mirror. The rear mirror is configured to reflect at least part of the collimated light beam passing by the front mirror to produce and project a rear focused ring of the structured light to the object to obtain a rear reflected ring of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xu Han, Guangping Xie, Kevin George Harding, John Brandon Laflen
  • Publication number: 20180124341
    Abstract: An imaging device for an additive manufacturing system is provided. The additive manufacturing system includes a material. The imaging device includes a high resolution imaging bar including at least one detector array, and an imaging element positioned between the at least one detector array and the material. The high resolution imaging bar is displaced from the material along a first direction and extends along a second direction. The high resolution imaging bar is configured to generate an image of a build layer within the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin George Harding, Jason Harris Karp, James William Sears
  • Publication number: 20180045510
    Abstract: A probe system and a method are provided. The probe system includes an emitter unit, a pattern generation system, and an intensity modulator. The emitter unit is for emitting light. The pattern generation system is for projecting at least one reference structured-light pattern onto an object surface to obtain at least one reference projected pattern, and including a mirror scanning unit for reflecting the light to a plurality of directions. The intensity modulator is for modulating intensity of the light according to the at least one reference projected pattern to provide modulated light to the mirror scanning unit to reflect the modulated light to the plurality of directions to project at least one modulated structured-light pattern onto the object surface to obtain at least one modulated projected pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Zirong Zahi, Kevin George Harding, Jie Han, Dongmin Yang, Clark Alexander Bendall, Jijun Gu
  • Patent number: 9874728
    Abstract: A lens system includes a tube lens and a lens assembly, with the tube lens disposed between an optical sensor and the lens assembly. The lens assembly is disposed between the tube lens and an imaged object. In order to solve the problem of some lens systems having focal lengths that are shorter than the working distances of the lens systems, one aspect of the inventive subject matter described herein provides the lens assembly with a negative lens and plural positive lenses. A first positive lens is located between a second positive lens and an imaging plane, the second positive lens is located between the first positive lens and the negative lens, and the negative lens is located between the second positive lens and the tube lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhangyi Zhong, Kevin George Harding, Daniel Curtis Gray, Yi Liao
  • Patent number: 9760986
    Abstract: An automated measurement system includes multi-axis imager configured to receive images of a workpiece wherein the images include visual information about the workpiece at a plurality of focus planes or visual information about the workpiece between at least two focus planes. The multi-axis imager is also configured to determine a point cloud of a plurality of 3 D data points wherein each of the plurality of 3 D data points represents an intersection of one of the plurality of focus planes with a surface of the workpiece or positional information of the workpiece in a de-focused area between the at least two focus planes. The multi-axis imager is further configured to determine a plurality of dimensions of features of the workpiece and compare the determined plurality of dimensions of the features to manufacturing specifications corresponding to at least some of the determined plurality of dimensions of the features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajesh Ramamurthy, Kevin George Harding, Yi Liao, Ratnadeep Paul, Tao Jia, Xiaoming Du
  • Publication number: 20170132775
    Abstract: An automated measurement system includes multi-axis imager configured to receive images of a workpiece wherein the images include visual information about the workpiece at a plurality of focus planes or visual information about the workpiece between at least two focus planes. The multi-axis imager is also configured to determine a point cloud of a plurality of 3 D data points wherein each of the plurality of 3 D data points represents an intersection of one of the plurality of focus planes with a surface of the workpiece or positional information of the workpiece in a de-focused area between the at least two focus planes. The multi-axis imager is further configured to determine a plurality of dimensions of features of the workpiece and compare the determined plurality of dimensions of the features to manufacturing specifications corresponding to at least some of the determined plurality of dimensions of the features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Rajesh Ramamurthy, Kevin George Harding, Yi Liao, Ratnadeep Paul, Tao Jia, Xiaoming Du
  • Patent number: 9612211
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system for enhanced tip-tracking and navigation of visual inspection devices includes a visual inspection device. The system further includes a plurality of spatially sensitive fibers. The system includes a computing device. The computing device includes a memory device and a processor. The system includes a storage device. The storage device includes an engineering model representing the physical asset. The computing device is configured receive an insertion location from the visual inspection device. The computing device is configured to receive fiber information associated with the visual inspection device. The computing device is configured to determine the real-time location of the visual inspection device using the fiber information. The computing device is configured to identify the real-time location of the visual inspection device with respect to the engineering model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guiju Song, Kevin George Harding, Thomas James Batzinger, Vinod Padmanabhan Kumar, Joseph Vincent Pawlowski, Kelles Jay Fleming
  • Patent number: 9587933
    Abstract: A method involves receiving a test image of at least a portion of a test object which includes a test moiré pattern generated by superposing one or more reference gratings on one or more subject gratings. The method further involves analyzing one or more test beat lines in the test moiré pattern and calculating one or more test values based on the analysis of the one or more test beat lines. The one or more test values are a function of one or more rotational angles corresponding to the one or more subject gratings and a shape of at least the portion of the test object. The method also involves calculating one or more angular errors of the one or more subject gratings based on the one or more test values and one or more template values and sending a notification based on the one or more angular errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin George Harding, Joseph Benjamin Ross, Esmaeil Heidari
  • Publication number: 20170038199
    Abstract: A method involves receiving a test image of at least a portion of a test object which includes a test moiré pattern generated by superposing one or more reference gratings on one or more subject gratings. The method further involves analyzing one or more test beat lines in the test moiré pattern and calculating one or more test values based on the analysis of the one or more test beat lines. The one or more test values are a function of one or more rotational angles corresponding to the one or more subject gratings and a shape of at least the portion of the test object. The method also involves calculating one or more angular errors of the one or more subject gratings based on the one or more test values and one or more template values and sending a notification based on the one or more angular errors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin George Harding, Joseph Benjamin Ross, Esmaeil Heidari
  • Patent number: 9536127
    Abstract: A system and method for contactless handprint capture is disclosed that includes an image capture device to capture handprint images of a subject hand at each of a plurality of different focal distances, with the image capture device including an imaging camera and an electro-optics arrangement having a plurality of light modulating elements and polarization sensitive optical elements having differing optical path lengths based on polarization states. A control system is coupled to the image capture device to cause the device to capture the handprint images at each of the different focal distances, with each handprint image having a depth-of-focus that overlaps with a depth-of-focus of handprint images at adjacent focal distances such that redundant handprint image data is captured. The control system registers each handprint image with positional data and creates a composite handprint image from the handprint images captured at the different focal distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gil Abramovich, Kevin George Harding, Joseph Czechowski, III, Frederick Wilson Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20160307310
    Abstract: A device for identifying an end of a fiber tape rolling over a composite structure is presented. The device includes a light source disposed proximate to the composite structure and configured to project a line of light at a first angle on the fiber tape rolling over the composite structure. Also, the device includes an image capturing unit disposed proximate to the composite structure and configured to capture an image of the line of light on the fiber tape at a second angle. Further, the device includes a controller coupled to the image capturing unit and configured to process the captured image to detect a discontinuity in the line of light on the fiber tape and identify the end of the fiber tape based on the detected discontinuity in the line of light on the fiber tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin George Harding, Christopher Allen Nafis, Robert William Tait
  • Patent number: 9342728
    Abstract: A system and method for contactless multi-fingerprint collection is disclosed. The contactless multi-fingerprint collection system includes an imaging volume, a user interface configured to provide feedback to the subject regarding a proximity of a hand to a desired imaging location within the imaging volume, and at least one image capture device to capture images of each of the plurality of fingerprints at each of at least two different depths from the fingerprints. The contactless multi-fingerprint collection system also includes a processor coupled to the at least one image capture device that is programmed to generate a composite image and a contour map of each of the plurality of fingerprints from the images captured at the at least two different depths and generate a two-dimensional rolled equivalent image of each of the plurality of fingerprints from the composite image and the contour map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gil Abramovich, Kevin George Harding, Christopher Allen Nafis, Joseph Czechowski, III, Vijay Krishna Paruchuru, Daniel Curtis Gray
  • Publication number: 20160134816
    Abstract: A method for correcting a magnification in image measurements is implemented using a computer device including one or more processors coupled to a user interface and one or more memory devices. The method includes acquiring a plurality of images of a target. Each image is acquired at a different distance from the target. The method also includes determining a distance between a lens used in acquiring the plurality of images and the target and determining a magnification of each acquired image. The method further includes determining a magnification correction with respect to a reference, determining a change in a size of the target, and outputting the determined change in a size of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin George Harding, Thomas James Batzinger
  • Patent number: 9338363
    Abstract: A method for correcting a magnification in image measurements is implemented using a computer device including one or more processors coupled to a user interface and one or more memory devices. The method includes acquiring a plurality of images of a target. Each image is acquired at a different distance from the target. The method also includes determining a distance between a lens used in acquiring the plurality of images and the target and determining a magnification of each acquired image. The method further includes determining a magnification correction with respect to a reference, determining a change in a size of the target, and outputting the determined change in a size of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin George Harding, Thomas James Batzinger
  • Publication number: 20160084644
    Abstract: A system includes a light emitting unit, a front mirror, a rear mirror, an imaging unit and a processor. The light emitting unit is configured to emit a collimated light beam. The front mirror is configured to reflect part of the collimated light beam to produce and project a front focused ring of structured light to an object to obtain a front reflected ring of light, and configured to allow part of the collimated light beam to pass by. The rear mirror is positioned downstream of a light transmitting path of the front mirror. The rear mirror is configured to reflect at least part of the collimated light beam passing by the front mirror to produce and project a rear focused ring of the structured light to the object to obtain a rear reflected ring of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Xu HAN, Guangping XIE, Kevin George HARDING, John Brandon LAFLEN
  • Publication number: 20160069672
    Abstract: A surface roughness measurement device that in one embodiment includes main and auxiliary emitting fibers, multiple collecting fibers, an optical housing, main and auxiliary reflective mirrors, and an external circuit. The optical housing includes the fibers and defines an aperture for optically contacting a surface of an object. The main reflective mirror is arranged in the optical housing, for reflecting light emitted from the main emitting fiber to a detecting point of the aperture and reflected light by the object to the collecting fibers. The auxiliary reflective mirror is arranged in the optical housing, for reflecting light emitted from the auxiliary emitting fiber to the detecting point. The external circuit is for generating a laser beam to the main and auxiliary emitting fibers, collecting the reflected light from the collecting fibers, and calculating the surface roughness of the object based on the collected reflected light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Guangping XIE, Ming JIA, Zirong ZHAI, Paolo TRALLORI, Kevin George HARDING, Guiji SONG
  • Patent number: 9207154
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring creep in an object are provided. The creep monitoring system includes a creep sensor assembly that includes at least one image pattern pair disposed on a surface of the object. The creep monitoring method includes receiving information from the creep sensor assembly regarding an observed creep and an offset associated with the object, correcting the observed creep using the information regarding the offset and outputting the corrected information relative to the creep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin George Harding, Yi Liao
  • Patent number: 9188543
    Abstract: An optical system configured to visually inspect a target having a variable position with respect to the optical system is provided. The optical system includes a polarizer configured to convert an incident light reflected or diffused from the target into linearly polarized light; a light modulating element configured to modulate a polarization state of the linearly polarized light in response to control signals; and a lens group comprising at least one birefringent element, the birefringent element configured to refract or reflect the modulated linearly polarized light with a first polarization state under a first refraction index to enable inspection of the target at a first object position, and the birefringent element further configured to refract or reflect the modulated linearly polarized light with a second polarization state under a second refraction index to enable inspection of the target at a second object position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Tao Li, Guiju Song, Kevin George Harding, Dongmin Yang, Zirong Zhai, Jie Han, Gil Abramovich
  • Publication number: 20150319410
    Abstract: The borescope includes an insertion tube, a first image processor, a model store unit, a pose calculator, a second image processor, a navigation image calculator and a display. The insertion tube includes a detection head and at least one sensor for receiving signals in the insertion tube and generating sensed signals. The first image processor is for calculating a first image based on first image signals captured by the detection head. The second image processor is for adjusting the initial pose calculated by the pose calculator to a navigation pose until a difference between the first image and a second image calculated based on the navigation pose and a predetermined model falls in an allowable range. The navigation image calculator is for calculating a navigation image based on the navigation pose and the predetermined model. The display is for showing the navigation image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Jiajun GU, Yong YANG, Jie HAN, Zirong ZHAI, Kevin George HARDING, Guiju SONG, Ming JIA, Guangping Xie, Ser Nam Lim
  • Patent number: 9148632
    Abstract: A multi-resolution lens system includes a relay lens configured to be directed toward a field-of-view (FOV) and receive a first plurality of image photons emanating from the FOV, a high-resolution lens positioned to receive a second plurality of image photons from the FOV and to pass the second plurality of image photons toward the relay lens, and a shutter device positioned to receive over an area thereof the image photons of the FOV that pass through the relay lens, and simultaneously receive overlaid on a portion of the area thereof the image photons from the portion of the FOV that pass through the high-resolution lens and toward the relay lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin George Harding, Gil Abramovich