Patents by Inventor Rikk Crill

Rikk Crill 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: 7988297
    Abstract: Non-rigidly coupled, overlapping, non-feedback optical systems for spatial filtering of Fourier transform optical patterns and image shape characterization comprises a first optical subsystem that includes a lens for focusing a polarized, coherent beam to a focal point, an image input device that spatially modulates phase positioned between the lens and the focal point, and a spatial filter at the Fourier transform pattern, and a second optical subsystem overlapping the first optical subsystem includes a projection lens and a detector. The second optical subsystem is optically coupled to the first optical subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Look Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rikk Crill
  • Publication number: 20090103052
    Abstract: Non-rigidly coupled, overlapping, non-feedback optical systems for spatial filtering of Fourier transform optical patterns and image shape characterization comprises a first optical subsystem that includes a lens for focusing a polarized, coherent beam to a focal point, an image input device that spatially modulates phase positioned between the lens and the focal point, and a spatial filter at the Fourier transform pattern, and a second optical subsystem overlapping the first optical subsystem includes a projection lens and a detector. The second optical subsystem is optically coupled to the first optical subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Rikk Crill
  • Patent number: 7302100
    Abstract: A segmented radial spatial light modulator has an active optic area comprising a plurality of radially extending active optic modulators disposed at various angular orientations with respect to a central axis. The segmented radial spatial light modulator is used in separating and isolating portions of Fourier transform optic patterns from images for characterization of images by shape for recording, storing, retrieving, searching, and comparison to other images for matches and near matches. The images can be ghosted to increase optical power in the Fourier transform optic pattern without adding new shape content and for grading comparisons to other image shape characteristics for identifying near matches in addition to matches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Look Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rikk Crill
  • Publication number: 20070076280
    Abstract: A segmented radial spatial light modulator has an active optic area comprising a plurality of radially extending active optic modulators disposed at various angular orientations with respect to a central axis. The segmented radial spatial light modulator is used in separating and isolating portions of Fourier transform optic patterns from images for characterization of images by shape for recording, storing, retrieving, searching, and comparison to other images for matches and near matches. The images can be ghosted to increase optical power in the Fourier transform optic pattern without adding new shape content and for grading comparisons to other image shape characteristics for identifying near matches in addition to matches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Applicant: Look Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rikk Crill
  • Patent number: 7103223
    Abstract: A segmented radial spatial light modulator has an active optic area comprising a plurality of radially extending active optic modulators disposed at various angular orientations with respect to a central axis. The segmented radial spatial light modulator is used in separating and isolating portions of Fourier transform optic patterns from images for characterization of images by shape for recording, storing, retrieving, searching, and comparison to other images for matches and near matches. The images can be ghosted to increase optical power in the Fourier transform optic pattern without adding new shape content and for grading comparisons to other image shape characteristics for identifying near matches in addition to matches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Look Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rikk Crill
  • Patent number: 6678411
    Abstract: An optical image characterizer 10 detects light energy as discrete angular orientations of a slit in a rotating spatial filter positioned at the focal plane of a Fourier transform lens, where a Fourier transform pattern of spatial frequencies of an image are formed. Detection of light energy with a small array (e.g., 16×16) photodetector is enhanced by splitting the beam containing the filtered light energy pattern and projecting it onto two photodetector arrays in offset, virtual juxtaposed relation to each other. Detected light intensities I at discrete angular orientations R are stored in RIXel data arrays with or without searchable flags X, such as distortion factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Look Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rikk Crill
  • Publication number: 20030219158
    Abstract: A segmented radial spatial light modulator has an active optic area comprising a plurality of radially extending active optic modulators disposed at various angular orientations with respect to a central axis. The segmented radial spatial light modulator is used in separating and isolating portions of Fourier transform optic patterns from images for characterization of images by shape for recording, storing, retrieving, searching, and comparison to other images for matches and near matches. The images can be ghosted to increase optical power in the Fourier transform optic pattern without adding new shape content and for grading comparisons to other image shape characteristics for identifying near matches in addition to matches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: Look Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rikk Crill
  • Publication number: 20020122595
    Abstract: A segmented radial spatial light modulator has an active optic area comprising a plurality of radially extending active optic modulators disposed at various angular orientations with respect to a central axis. The segmented radial spatial light modulator is used in separating and isolating portions of Fourier transform optic patterns from images for characterization of images by shape for recording, storing, retrieving, searching, and comparison to other images for matches and near matches. The images can be ghosted to increase optical power in the Fourier transform optic pattern without adding new shape content and for grading comparisons to other image shape characteristics for identifying near matches in addition to matches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventor: Rikk Crill
  • Patent number: 6445822
    Abstract: A method for searching for and comparing images includes allowing a user, software application, computer system, etc., to create, identify, select, provide, or otherwise produce one or more reference images that the user, software application, computer system, etc., wants to search for, retrieving or providing one or more candidate images that are to be compared to the reference images, comparing one or more of the candidate images with one or more of the reference images, and indicating the results of the comparisons and the degree of correlation or matching between one or more of the candidate images and one or more of the reference images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Look Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Rikk Crill, David Bruce, Kevin Schehrer
  • Patent number: 6259516
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining the level of a material in a vessel. In one embodiment, and optical emitter emits light onto a rotating mirror. The light reflects off of the rotating mirror and propagates into a vessel. At a first time, the light reflects back and is detected by a first detector. At a second time, the light is reflected back and is detected by a second detector. The distance to the surface of the material in the vessel can be determined using the difference between the first and second times. The volume of the material may also be determined based on this distance. Additional embodiments include rotating the light source itself, maintaining an inert gas near a surface of a window located between the steering mirror and an interior area of the vessel, tilting the steering mirror and first and second detectors to obtain a reflection at maximum intensity, and accounting for the tilt in calculating the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Quantum Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold B. Carter, Kevin Schehrer, Rikk Crill
  • Patent number: 5993039
    Abstract: A latching interface is provided between a machine and a monitoring or control system for the machine to latch the machine in a mode that is safe for the machine and for operating personnel upon power loss. The interface includes one or more latching relay switches, connected into one or more input signal circuits, that may be selectively set and reset by an interface microprocessor to actuate or deactuate the machine from performing certain functions. The interface microprocessor is programmable to set or reset the latching relay switches in response to a signal from a power loss sensor indicating that power to a monitor/controller device, that monitors and controls the functions of the machine, has been interrupted. The interface system further includes a power feed circuit to provide a back-up power supply to power the interface microprocessor during setting and resetting of the latching relay switches to the safe mode upon loss of normal power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Avalon Imagining, Inc.
    Inventor: Rikk Crill
  • Patent number: 5928578
    Abstract: A skip-eject system for an injection molding machine includes an electronic camera for acquiring an actual image of an open mold after a part ejector has operated and a controller for comparing such actual image with an ideal image of the open mold with no part in the open mold. If a comparison of the actual image with the ideal image indicates that a part is no longer in the open mold, the controller outputs a close mold signal to close the mold and start injection molding of a new part. However, if the comparison indicates that the part is still in the open mold, the controller outputs an ejection signal to actuate the ejector to cycle again. This sequence continues until a comparison of an actual image of the open mold with the ideal image indicates that the part is no longer in the open mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Avalon Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward F. Kachnic, James A. Walker, Rikk Crill
  • Patent number: 5225691
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer cassette mapper detects the presence absence of a semiconductor wafer in a particular corresponding pair of slots of the wafer cassette, as well as a cross slotted condition in which a wafer is not aligned in a corresponding pair of slots. The wafer cassette mapper includes a base member for receiving a standard slotted wafer cassette, the base member including transmitter and receiver modules on opposite sides thereof. The transmitter and receiver modules include like pluralities of inwardly facing, aligned light apertures. Each of the light apertures in the transmitter module contains a light emitting infrared transmitter, and each of the light apertures in the receiver module contains an infrared receiver. Control circuitry selectively activates the light emitting transmitters for a predetermined period of time and selectively interrogates the infrared receivers during that period of time to determine if a particular receiver has received light transmitted by a selected transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Avalon Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Lyle R. Powers, Rikk Crill
  • Patent number: RE42070
    Abstract: A segmented radial spatial light modulator has an active optic area comprising a plurality of radially extending active optic modulators disposed at various angular orientations with respect to a central axis. The segmented radial spatial light modulator is used in separating and isolating portions of Fourier transform optic patterns from images for characterization of images by shape for recording, storing, retrieving, searching, and comparison to other images for matches and near matches. The images can be ghosted to increase optical power in the Fourier transform optic pattern without adding new shape content and for grading comparisons to other image shape characteristics for identifying near matches in addition to matches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Look Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rikk Crill