Patents by Inventor M. Kent Norton

M. Kent Norton 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: 6167148
    Abstract: An improved wafer surface inspection system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the object surface inspection system includes a translation stage that generates relative motion between an object viewing device such as an objective lens and the surface of the object being inspected. A translation stage controller controls the relative movement of the object surface and the object viewing device. The translation stage controller determines current coordinates for the object surface and the object viewing device, compares the current coordinates to target coordinates generated by a processor, and generates a trigger signal in response to a match between the current coordinates to the target coordinates. A camera receives an image through the object viewing device and captures the image in response to the trigger signal while the translation stage generates relative motion between the object surface and the object viewing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Ultrapointe Corporation
    Inventors: Louis D. Calitz, Kexing Cecilia Du, M. Kent Norton, Bruce W. Worster
  • Patent number: 5311203
    Abstract: A compact hand-held viewing apparatus that automatically determines the three-dimensional direction in which it is pointing and automatically presents information to the user related to features which are visible in the field of view of the apparatus in that three-dimensional direction. Any given embodiment of the invention is intended to be used for viewing a predetermined subject matter, such as astronomical features of the night sky or geographical features of the distant terrain. Included within the apparatus is a database with data about the predetermined subject matter correlated with three-dimensional direction. The apparatus is configured to provide data from the database in real time to the user as the user observes the field of view in a selected three-dimensional direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: M. Kent Norton
  • Patent number: 4767935
    Abstract: A system and method for optically measuring parameters such as dry basis weight of fibrous sheet materials during manufacture without scanning. The system includes mirror sections for reflecting modulated light as parallel rays perpendicularly incident upon one surface of a traveling web, and a plurality of light detection devices to detect light transmitted through the web at two distinct wavelengths. The system further includes ducts to environmentally isolate the mirror sections and the light detection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Measurex Corporation
    Inventors: Leonard M. Anderson, Mathew G. Boissevain, M. Kent Norton