Patents by Inventor Lorenzo IAFOLLA

Lorenzo IAFOLLA 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).

  • Apparatus and method for determining the orientation and position of two rigid bodies
    Patent number: 10914578
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a position and orientation of first and second rigid bodies in relation to each other. The apparatus includes a light source mounted to the first rigid body, an image sensor mounted to either the first or second rigid body and positioned in a field of light, a shadow mask mounted to either the first or second rigid body and arranged in the field of light, and a computation unit configured to calculate at least one angle by evaluating a shadow image which passes the shadow mask and is detected by the image sensor. The apparatus may include a mechanical constraint mounted to the first and second rigid bodies that defines a fixed distance between the first and second rigid bodies, is stationary in relation to one of the first or second rigid body, and is variably inclinable in relation to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITÄT BASEL
    Inventors: Philippe C. Cattin, Lorenzo Iafolla, Lilian Witthauer
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE ORIENTATION AND POSITION OF TWO RIGID BODIES
    Publication number: 20200109940
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a position and orientation of first and second rigid bodies in relation to each other. The apparatus includes a light source mounted to the first rigid body, an image sensor mounted to either the first or second rigid body and positioned in a field of light, a shadow mask mounted to either the first or second rigid body and arranged in the field of light, and a computation unit configured to calculate at least one angle by evaluating a shadow image which passes the shadow mask and is detected by the image sensor. The apparatus may include a mechanical constraint mounted to the first and second rigid bodies that defines a fixed distance between the first and second rigid bodies, is stationary in relation to one of the first or second rigid body, and is variably inclinable in relation to the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Philippe C. CATTIN, Lorenzo IAFOLLA, Lilian WITTHAUER