Patents by Inventor Kurt C. Lawrence

Kurt C. Lawrence 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).

  • Imaging system for sorting poultry meat with wooden breast myopathy
    Patent number: 10596601
    Abstract: The image sorting system sorts normal chicken breast meat fillets from chicken fillets that exhibit wooden breast myopathy (i.e. WB fillets). In the preferred embodiment, a camera and associated controller gather data and construct a digital image of a chicken breast fillet as it travels on a conveyer belt. The digital image is used to calculate a centroid (i.e. center of mass) of the fillet. As the fillet moves over a nose of the conveyor belt and free-falls to a lower conveyor belt, the controller determines the distance between the fillet centroid and a reference point (preferably the conveyer belt axis of rotation). If the distance exceeds a predetermined minimum distance, the fillet is designated a WB fillet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Seung C. Yoon, Brian C. Bowker, Hong Zhuang, Kurt C. Lawrence, Gerald W. Heitschmidt, Tae Sung Shin
  • IMAGING SYSTEM FOR SORTING POULTRY MEAT WITH WOODEN BREAST MYOPATHY
    Publication number: 20180333752
    Abstract: The image sorting system sorts normal chicken breast meat fillets from chicken fillets that exhibit wooden breast myopathy (i.e. WB fillets). In the preferred embodiment, a camera and associated controller gather data and construct a digital image of a chicken breast fillet as it travels on a conveyer belt. The digital image is used to calculate a centroid (i.e. center of mass) of the fillet. As the fillet moves over a nose of the conveyor belt and free-falls to a lower conveyor belt, the controller determines the distance between the fillet centroid and a reference point (preferably the conveyer belt axis of rotation). If the distance exceeds a predetermined minimum distance, the fillet is designated a WB fillet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: SEUNG C. YOON, BRIAN C. BOWKER, HONG ZHUANG, KURT C. LAWRENCE, GERALD W. HEITSCHMIDT, TAE SUNG SHIN
  • Portable multispectral imaging systems
    Patent number: 8159525
    Abstract: Multiport multispectral portable imaging systems having at least two cameras with charge-coupled device sensors, a front lens unit, at least two rear lens units, a beamsplitter, and at least two bandpass filters is used to detect contaminants on food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Bosoon Park, Michio Kise, Kurt C. Lawrence, William Robert Windham
  • Egg micro-crack detection systems
    Patent number: 7796241
    Abstract: An avian eggshell egg-check/crack detection system was developed to aide official egg graders. It includes an imaging system and a device to produce negative pressure in an egg chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Kurt C. Lawrence, Seung C. Yoon, Gerald W. Heitschmidt, Deana Jones, Bosoon Park, Vernon A. Savage
  • Portable multispectral imaging systems
    Publication number: 20090309960
    Abstract: Multiport multispectral portable imaging systems having at least two cameras with charge-coupled device sensors, a front lens unit, at least two rear lens units, a beamsplitter, and at least two bandpass filters is used to detect contaminants on food.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Bosoon Park, Michio Kise, Kurt C. Lawrence, William Robert Windham
  • Egg micro-crack detection systems
    Publication number: 20090091744
    Abstract: An avian eggshell egg-check/crack detection system was developed to aide official egg graders. It includes an imaging system and a device to produce negative pressure in an egg chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Kurt C. Lawrence, Seung C. Yoon, Gerald W. Heitchmidt, Deana Jones, Bosoon Park, Vernon A. Savage
  • Method and system for contaminant detection during food processing
    Patent number: 6587575
    Abstract: Imaging systems, containing at least one charge-coupled device detector, are used for determining contamination of foodstuffs, such as for example, animal carcasses. Image processing algorithms allow for the identification of contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc., ProVision Technologies Division Institute for Technology Development
    Inventors: William R. Windham, Kurt C. Lawrence, Bosoon Park, Luis A. Martinez, Mark A. Lanoue, David A. Smith, Jerry Heitschmidt, Gavin H. Poole
  • Single kernel, seed, nut, or fruit dielectric moisture content measurement
    Patent number: 5218309
    Abstract: A method for the nondestructive measurement of the moisture content of single grain kernels, seeds, nuts, or fruits which is independent of their weight, thickness, and projected area. At least two independent parameters of complex electrical impedance or admittance of a single grain kernel, seed, nut, or fruit are measured at two different frequencies and the moisture content is calculated therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Stuart O. Nelson, Venkatrkrishna S. Kandala, Richard G. Leffler, Kurt C. Lawrence