Patents by Inventor Richard Nopper

Richard Nopper 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).

  • Publication number: 20230353883
    Abstract: A camera for detecting an object in a detection zone is provided that has an image sensor having a plurality of light reception elements for the generation of image data from received light from the detection zone), a reception optics having a focus adjustment unit for setting a focal position, with an angle of incidence of the received light on the image sensor changing on a change of the focal position, and a control and evaluation unit that is configured to set the focal position for a sharp recording of image data of the object, A sensitivity change of the capturing of the image data caused by the respective angle of incidence of the received light is compensated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Katharina BLEICHER, Romain MÜLLER, Richard NOPPER, Jan NOHLER
  • Patent number: 11521006
    Abstract: A code reader for reading an optical code is provided that has a linear image sensor having a plurality of linear arrangements of light reception pixels for recording image data having the code and a control and evaluation unit that is configured to locate and read the code in the image data, wherein the light reception pixels have a different spectral sensitivity. Here, at least one linear arrangement is a white line whose reception pixels are sensitive to white light for recording a gray scale image and the other linear arrangements are color lines whose reception pixels are sensitive to light of only one respective color for recording a color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Romain Müller, Florian Schneider, Richard Nopper
  • Publication number: 20210150172
    Abstract: A code reader for reading an optical code is provided that has a linear image sensor having a plurality of linear arrangements of light reception pixels for recording image data having the code and a control and evaluation unit that is configured to locate and read the code in the image data, wherein the light reception pixels have a different spectral sensitivity. Here, at least one linear arrangement is a white line whose reception pixels are sensitive to white light for recording a gray scale image and the other linear arrangements are color lines whose reception pixels are sensitive to light of only one respective color for recording a color image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Romain MÜLLER, Florian SCHNEIDER, Richard NOPPER
  • Publication number: 20180288317
    Abstract: A camera (10) for detecting objects (32) moving relative to the camera (10) in a conveying direction (34), comprising a light receiver (20) having a plurality of pixels (24) arranged in two lines (22a-b) in a line direction transverse to the conveying direction (34) and an evaluation unit (26) configured to generate a first and second image (40a-b) of a partial region of the object (32) by means of the two lines (22a-b), the images (40a-b) having a mutual offset in the line direction, to compute an image line of higher resolution than an original resolution from the first and second image (40a-b), and to compose an overall image from the image lines generated in the course of the movement, wherein reception optics (16) are arranged in front of the light receiver (20) for providing the mutual offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Richard NOPPER, Dirk STROHMEIER
  • Patent number: 9609194
    Abstract: A camera (10) for the detection of objects (30) in a detection region (16) is provided which has a light receiver (22) having a plurality of light reception pixels, a multispectral illumination unit (12) for illuminating the detection region (16) in different spectral bands and an evaluation unit (24) that is configured to illuminate the detection region (16) by means of the illumination unit (12) during different illumination windows of time (30a-c) in a respectively different spectral band and to record image data from the detection region (16) by means of the light receiver (22) in recording windows of time (40a-c, 42a-c). In this respect, the light receiver (22) is configured as a two-line receiver having a first line (22a) of light reception pixels and a second line (22b) of light reception pixels and the recording window of time (40a-c, 42a-c) for the first line (22a) is different from that for the second line (22b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Christoph Egger, Richard Nopper, Jurgen Reichenbach
  • Publication number: 20160119523
    Abstract: A camera (10) for the detection of objects (30) in a detection region (16) is provided which has a light receiver (22) having a plurality of light reception pixels, a multispectral illumination unit (12) for illuminating the detection region (16) in different spectral bands and an evaluation unit (24) that is configured to illuminate the detection region (16) by means of the illumination unit (12) during different illumination windows of time (30a-c) in a respectively different spectral band and to record image data from the detection region (16) by means of the light receiver (22) in recording windows of time (40a-c, 42a-c). In this respect, the light receiver (22) is configured as a two-line receiver having a first line (22a) of light reception pixels and a second line (22b) of light reception pixels and the recording window of time (40a-c, 42a-c) for the first line (22a) is different from that for the second line (22b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Christoph EGGER, Richard NOPPER, Jurgen REICHENBACH
  • Patent number: 9111158
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus (10) is provided for a camera-based code reader (100) having a plurality of light transmitters (16) arranged in ring shape and in a fixed position with respect to a base housing part (12) and having a plurality of optical transmission systems (20) associated with the light transmitters (20) in a front housing (14) supported rotationally movably with respect to the base housing part (12), wherein the optical transmission systems (20) can be set to adapt the illumination by rotation of the front housing (14). The front housing (14) has a plurality of front lenses (20) and the front housing (14) is supported in a thread (15) with respect to the base housing part (12) so that front lenses (20) can be associated with the light transmitters (16) at a changed spacing by a rotational movement of the front housing (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Ralf Ulrich Nübling, Roland Gehring, Richard Nopper
  • Patent number: 8740083
    Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus (10) for a code reader (100) is provided which has an objective (12) having at least one lens and a drive (18) with a cam plate (16) for the positional adjustment of the objective (12). The objective (12) is supported in a parallel guide (14) having a coupling unit (32, 34) for the coupling of the cam plate (16) so that a rotational movement of the cam plate (16) adjusts the position of the objective (12) in the parallel guide (14) with a parallel shift of the objective plane. The coupling unit (32, 34) has a press-on element (32) for the play-free coupling of the parallel guide (14) to the cam plate (16) and a counter-bearing element (34) between the press-on element (32) and the drive (18) for relieving the drive (18) from the press-on element (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Christoph Anselment, Roland Gehring, Ulrich Nubling, Richard Nopper
  • Publication number: 20130062414
    Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus (10) for a code reader (100) is provided which has an objective (12) having at least one lens and a drive (18) with a cam plate (16) for the positional adjustment of the objective (12). The objective (12) is supported in a parallel guide (14) having a coupling unit (32, 34) for the coupling of the cam plate (16) so that a rotational movement of the cam plate (16) adjusts the position of the objective (12) in the parallel guide (14) with a parallel shift of the objective plane. The coupling unit (32, 34) has a press-on element (32) for the play-free coupling of the parallel guide (14) to the cam plate (16) and a counter-bearing element (34) between the press-on element (32) and the drive (18) for relieving the drive (18) from the press-on element (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: SICK AG
    Inventors: Christoph ANSELMENT, Roland GEHRING, Ulrich NÜBLING, Richard NOPPER
  • Publication number: 20120261472
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus (10) is provided for a camera-based code reader (100) having a plurality of light transmitters (16) arranged in ring shape and in a fixed position with respect to a base housing part (12) and having a plurality of optical transmission systems (20) associated with the light transmitters (20) in a front housing (14) supported rotationally movably with respect to the base housing part (12), wherein the optical transmission systems (20) can be set to adapt the illumination by rotation of the front housing (14). The front housing (14) has a plurality of front lenses (20) and the front housing (14) is supported in a thread (15) with respect to the base housing part (12) so that front lenses (20) can be associated with the light transmitters (16) at a changed spacing by a rotational movement of the front housing (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: SICK AG
    Inventors: Ralf Ulrich NÜBLING, Roland GEHRING, Richard NOPPER
  • Patent number: 8245838
    Abstract: An apparatus, in particular a code reader, for the recording of images of objects (14) moved on a conveyor device (12), wherein the apparatus includes a line sensor (10), in particular a line camera, which can scan objects line wise for the generation of image data of the surfaces, as well as a speed determination device (26; 30), which can determine the speed of movement of the objects (14) with respect to the line sensor (10) or their conveyed distance. At the same time an evaluation unit (26) is provided, which is adapted to match the recording frequency of the line sensor (10) to the speed of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Reichenbach, Roland Gehring, Richard Nopper, Uwe Schöpflin, Reinhard Heizmann
  • Publication number: 20090095600
    Abstract: An apparatus, in particular a code reader, for the recording of images of objects (14) moved on a conveyor device (12), wherein the apparatus includes a line sensor (10), in particular a line camera, which can scan objects line wise for the generation of image data of the surfaces, as well as a speed determination device (26; 30), which can determine the speed of movement of the objects (14) with respect to the line sensor (10) or their conveyed distance. At the same time an evaluation unit (26) is provided, which is adapted to match the recording frequency of the line sensor (10) to the speed of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: SICK AG
    Inventors: Jurgen Reichenbach, Roland Gehring, Richard Nopper, Uwe Schopflin, Reinhard Heizman
  • Patent number: 6758401
    Abstract: A method for operating a code reader and a code reader. According to the method, laser light is transmitted from a laser light source to illuminate an object having a code, wherein the laser light is amplitude-modulated to reduce the speckle noise of the light illuminating the object. Reflected or re-emitted light from the object is received by a light receiver. According to the code reader, the code reader includes a light transmitter having a laser light source adapted for transmitting laser light to illuminate an object having a code. The code reader also includes a light receiver arranged for receiving reflected or re-emitted light from the object and for producing electrical signals corresponding to the received light. The code reader also includes a modulation apparatus that modulates the laser light source such that amplitude-modulated light can be transmitted from the laser light source to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventor: Richard Nopper
  • Publication number: 20030098348
    Abstract: A method for operating a code reader and a code reader. According to the method, laser light is transmitted from a laser light source to illuminate an object having a code, wherein the laser light is amplitude-modulated to reduce the speckle noise of the light illuminating the object. Reflected or re-emitted light from the object is received by a light receiver. According to the code reader, the code reader includes a light transmitter having a laser light source adapted for transmitting laser light to illuminate an object having a code. The code reader also includes a light receiver arranged for receiving reflected or re-emitted light from the object and for producing electrical signals corresponding to the received light. The code reader also includes a modulation apparatus that modulates the laser light source such that amplitude-modulated light can be transmitted from the laser light source to the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: SICK AG
    Inventor: Richard Nopper