Patents by Inventor Rene Delasauce
Rene Delasauce 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).
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Patent number: 11921350Abstract: This invention provides a vision system having a housing and an interchangeable lens module is provided. The module is adapted to seat on a C-mount ring provided on the front, mounting face of the housing. The module is attached via a plurality of fasteners that pass through a frame of the module and into the mounting face. The module includes a connector in a fixed location, which mates with a connector well on the mounting face to provide power and control to a driver board that operates a variable (e.g. liquid) lens within the optics of the lens module. The driver board is connected to the lens body by a flexible printed circuit board (PCB), which also allows for axial motion of the lens body with respect to the frame. This axial motion can be effected by an adjustment ring that can include an indexed/lockable, geared, outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, Nicole Dippel, Andreas Weber
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Patent number: 11782156Abstract: This invention provides an integrated time-of-flight sensor that delivers distance information to a processor associated with the camera assembly and vison system. The distance is processed with the above-described feedback control, to auto-focus the camera assembly's variable lens during runtime operation based on the particular size/shape object(s) within the field of view. The shortest measured distance is used to set the focus distance of the lens. To correct for calibration or drift errors, a further image-based focus optimization can occur around the measured distance and/or based on the measured temperature. The distance information generated by the time-of-flight sensor can be employed to perform other functions. Other functions include self-triggering of image acquisition, object size dimensioning, detection and analysis of object defects and/or gap detection between objects in the field of view and software-controlled range detection to prevent unintentional reading of (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Andreas Weber, Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, William Equitz
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Publication number: 20230194710Abstract: This invention provides an integrated time-of-flight sensor that delivers distance information to a processor associated with the camera assembly and vison system. The distance is processed with the above-described feedback control, to auto-focus the camera assembly's variable lens during runtime operation based on the particular size/shape object(s) within the field of view. The shortest measured distance is used to set the focus distance of the lens. To correct for calibration or drift errors, a further image-based focus optimization can occur around the measured distance and/or based on the measured temperature. The distance information generated by the time-of-flight sensor can be employed to perform other functions. Other functions include self-triggering of image acquisition, object size dimensioning, detection and analysis of object defects and/or gap detection between objects in the field of view and software-controlled range detection to prevent unintentional reading of (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2022Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Andreas Weber, Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, William Equitz
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Publication number: 20230076572Abstract: This invention provides a vision system having a housing and an interchangeable lens module is provided. The module is adapted to seat on a C-mount ring provided on the front, mounting face of the housing. The module is attached via a plurality of fasteners that pass through a frame of the module and into the mounting face. The module includes a connector in a fixed location, which mates with a connector well on the mounting face to provide power and control to a driver board that operates a variable (e.g. liquid) lens within the optics of the lens module. The driver board is connected to the lens body by a flexible printed circuit board (PCB), which also allows for axial motion of the lens body with respect to the frame. This axial motion can be effected by an adjustment ring that can include an indexed/lockable, geared, outer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, Nicole Dippel, Andreas Weber
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Patent number: 11513311Abstract: This invention provides a removably mountable lens assembly for a vision system camera that includes an integral auto-focusing liquid lens unit, in which the lens unit compensates for focus variations by employing a feedback control circuit that is integrated into the body of the lens assembly. The feedback control circuit receives motion information related to the bobbin of the lens from a position sensor (e.g. a Hall sensor) and uses this information internally to correct for motion variations that deviate from the lens setting position at a desired lens focal distance setting. Illustratively, the feedback circuit can be interconnected with one or more temperature sensors that adjust the lens setting position for a particular temperature value. In addition, the feedback circuit can communicate with an accelerometer that reads a direction of gravity and thereby corrects for potential sag in the lens membrane based upon the spatial orientation of the lens.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, William Equitz
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Patent number: 11422257Abstract: This invention provides an integrated time-of-flight sensor that delivers distance information to a processor associated with the camera assembly and vison system. The distance is processed with the above-described feedback control, to auto-focus the camera assembly's variable lens during runtime operation based on the particular size/shape object(s) within the field of view. The shortest measured distance is used to set the focus distance of the lens. To correct for calibration or drift errors, a further image-based focus optimization can occur around the measured distance and/or based on the measured temperature. The distance information generated by the time-of-flight sensor can be employed to perform other functions. Other functions include self-triggering of image acquisition, object size dimensioning, detection and analysis of object defects and/or gap detection between objects in the field of view and software-controlled range detection to prevent unintentional reading of (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Andreas Weber, Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, William Equitz
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Patent number: 11366284Abstract: This invention provides a vision system having a housing and an interchangeable lens module is provided. The module is adapted to seat on a C-mount ring provided on the front, mounting face of the housing. The module is attached via a plurality of fasteners that pass through a frame of the module and into the mounting face. The module includes a connector in a fixed location, which mates with a connector well on the mounting face to provide power and control to a driver board that operates a variable (e.g. liquid) lens within the optics of the lens module. The driver board is connected to the lens body by a flexible printed circuit board (PCB), which also allows for axial motion of the lens body with respect to the frame. This axial motion can be effected by an adjustment ring that can include an indexed/lockable, geared, outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, Nicole Dippel, Andreas Weber
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Patent number: 11281868Abstract: A modular sensor system for use with a faceplate mountable to a housing can include first and second optical modules. Each of the optical modules can be configured to be removably receivable within either of a first mounting aperture or a second mounting aperture of the faceplate, in either of a first orientation or a second orientation.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2020Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATIONInventors: Laurens Nunnink, Carl Gerst, III, Rene Delasauce
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Publication number: 20210286959Abstract: A modular sensor system for use with a faceplate mountable to a housing can include first and second optical modules. Each of the optical modules can be configured to be removably receivable within either of a first mounting aperture or a second mounting aperture of the faceplate, in either of a first orientation or a second orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2020Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: Laurens Nunnink, Carl Gerst, III, Rene Delasauce
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Patent number: 11002854Abstract: This invention provides an integrated time-of-flight sensor that delivers distance information to a processor associated with the camera assembly and vision system. The distance is processed with the above-described feedback control, to auto-focus the camera assembly's variable lens during runtime operation based on the particular size/shape object(s) within the field of view. The shortest measured distance is used to set the focus distance of the lens. To correct for calibration or drift errors, a further image-based focus optimization can occur around the measured distance and/or based on the measured temperature. The distance information generated by the time-of-flight sensor can be employed to perform other functions. Other functions include self-triggering of image acquisition, object size dimensioning, detection and analysis of object defects and/or gap detection between objects in the field of view and software-controlled range detection to prevent unintentional reading of (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2017Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Andreas Weber, Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, William Equitz
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Publication number: 20210003811Abstract: This invention provides a removably mountable lens assembly for a vision system camera that includes an integral auto-focusing liquid lens unit, in which the lens unit compensates for focus variations by employing a feedback control circuit that is integrated into the body of the lens assembly. The feedback control circuit receives motion information related to the bobbin of the lens from a position sensor (e.g. a Hall sensor) and uses this information internally to correct for motion variations that deviate from the lens setting position at a desired lens focal distance setting. Illustratively, the feedback circuit can be interconnected with one or more temperature sensors that adjust the lens setting position for a particular temperature value. In addition, the feedback circuit can communicate with an accelerometer that reads a direction of gravity and thereby corrects for potential sag in the lens membrane based upon the spatial orientation of the lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2020Publication date: January 7, 2021Inventors: Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, William Equitz
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Publication number: 20200319337Abstract: This invention provides an integrated time-of-flight sensor that delivers distance information to a processor associated with the camera assembly and vison system. The distance is processed with the above-described feedback control, to auto-focus the camera assembly's variable lens during runtime operation based on the particular size/shape object(s) within the field of view. The shortest measured distance is used to set the focus distance of the lens. To correct for calibration or drift errors, a further image-based focus optimization can occur around the measured distance and/or based on the measured temperature. The distance information generated by the time-of-flight sensor can be employed to perform other functions. Other functions include self-triggering of image acquisition, object size dimensioning, detection and analysis of object defects and/or gap detection between objects in the field of view and software-controlled range detection to prevent unintentional reading of (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Andreas Weber, Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, William Equitz
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Patent number: 10724947Abstract: This invention provides a vision system camera assembly that includes an optics and illumination module that is removably attached thereto, and that is arranged to project illumination along an optical axis of the imager. This arrangement allows for short exposure time and a short working distance from an imaged scene/surface under inspection. A semi-reflecting mirror turns a structured illumination beam from an illumination axis onto the optical axis while allowing light from the imaged scene to pass through the mirror and into the imager optics. The front end of the module contains a collimating optics that causes a collimated beam from the mirror to strike the surface at various off-axis angles. The collimating optics can include a telecentric lens assembly that can comprise a pair of stacked lenses having a perimeter that is equal to or greater than the area of interest on the surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, Rene Delasauce, Laurens Nunnink, Esther Oteo Lozano
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Patent number: 10712529Abstract: This invention provides a removably mountable lens assembly for a vision system camera that includes an integral auto-focusing liquid lens unit, in which the lens unit compensates for focus variations by employing a feedback control circuit that is integrated into the body of the lens assembly. The feedback control circuit receives motion information related to the bobbin of the lens from a position sensor (e.g. a Hall sensor) and uses this information internally to correct for motion variations that deviate from the lens setting position at a desired lens focal distance setting. Illustratively, the feedback circuit can be interconnected with one or more temperature sensors that adjust the lens setting position for a particular temperature value. In addition, the feedback circuit can communicate with an accelerometer that reads a direction of gravity and thereby corrects for potential sag in the lens membrane based upon the spatial orientation of the lens.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, William Equitz
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Publication number: 20190361194Abstract: This invention provides a vision system having a housing and an interchangeable lens module is provided. The module is adapted to seat on a C-mount ring provided on the front, mounting face of the housing. The module is attached via a plurality of fasteners that pass through a frame of the module and into the mounting face. The module includes a connector in a fixed location, which mates with a connector well on the mounting face to provide power and control to a driver board that operates a variable (e.g. liquid) lens within the optics of the lens module. The driver board is connected to the lens body by a flexible printed circuit board (PCB), which also allows for axial motion of the lens body with respect to the frame. This axial motion can be effected by an adjustment ring that can include an indexed/lockable, geared, outer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2019Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, Nicole Dippel, Andreas Weber
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Publication number: 20190011557Abstract: This invention provides an integrated time-of-flight sensor that delivers distance information to a processor associated with the camera assembly and vision system. The distance is processed with the above-described feedback control, to auto-focus the camera assembly's variable lens during runtime operation based on the particular size/shape object(s) within the field of view. The shortest measured distance is used to set the focus distance of the lens. To correct for calibration or drift errors, a further image-based focus optimization can occur around the measured distance and/or based on the measured temperature. The distance information generated by the time-of-flight sensor can be employed to perform other functions. Other functions include self-triggering of image acquisition, object size dimensioning, detection and analysis of object defects and/or gap detection between objects in the field of view and software-controlled range detection to prevent unintentional reading of (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2017Publication date: January 10, 2019Inventors: Andreas Weber, Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, William Equitz
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Patent number: 9979933Abstract: This invention provides a modular vision system. In an embodiment, the modular vision system comprises at least three primary modules/components. A main module contains a vision sensor and processor. An optical module contains a lens, focusing and illumination assemblies. An interface module contains external connectors. This combination enables either a linear or angled arrangement. The main module includes with a mating surface on the side opposite the sensor that is angled with respect to the sensor plane. The interface module defines a mating surface with respect the surface containing the connectors for the cables. A connector removably interconnects the interface module and the main module. The connector assembly, and each individual contact, is constructed and arranged to enable interconnection of the main and interface modules in both the straight and right angle arrangements by rotating the modules about a 180-degree orientation.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce
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Publication number: 20160305871Abstract: This invention provides a vision system camera assembly that includes an optics and illumination module that is removably attached thereto, and that is arranged to project illumination along an optical axis of the imager. This arrangement allows for short exposure time and a short working distance from an imaged scene/surface under inspection. A semi-reflecting mirror turns a structured illumination beam from an illumination axis onto the optical axis while allowing light from the imaged scene to pass through the mirror and into the imager optics. The front end of the module contains a collimating optics that causes a collimated beam from the mirror to strike the surface at various off-axis angles. The collimating optics can include a telecentric lens assembly that can comprise a pair of stacked lenses having a perimeter that is equal to or greater than the area of interest on the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2015Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, Rene Delasauce, Laurens Nunnink, Esther Oteo Lozano
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Patent number: 9467604Abstract: A method and camera assembly for use in a machine vision system, the assembly comprising a support structure forming a mounting flange that is configured for coupling with any of a plurality of exchangeable electrically controllable adjustable focal length lens assemblies, a two dimensional image sensor supported by the support structure and forming a sensor plane spaced from the mounting flange by a flange focal distance and a processor programmed with a flange focal distance error and to use the flange focal distance error to generate lens control signals to compensate for the flange focal distance error when a lens is mounted to the mounting flange.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Laurens Nunnink, Michael Haardt, Rene Delasauce
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Publication number: 20140152885Abstract: A method and camera assembly for use in a machine vision system, the assembly comprising a support structure forming a mounting flange that is configured for coupling with any of a plurality of exchangeable electrically controllable adjustable focal length lens assemblies, a two dimensional image sensor supported by the support structure and forming a sensor plane spaced from the mounting flange by a flange focal distance and a processor programmed with a flange focal distance error and to use the flange focal distance error to generate lens control signals to compensate for the flange focal distance error when a lens is mounted to the mounting flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Inventors: Laurens Nunnink, Michael Haardt, Rene Delasauce