Patents by Inventor Steven Whitman
Steven Whitman 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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Publication number: 20170016502Abstract: A magnetic shock absorber having a first body slidably coupled to a second body via a first bearing arranged to move in sliding engagement with a first counter-face portion. A first array of magnets associated with the first body is arranged to magnetically interact with a second array of magnets associated with the second body to absorb compression or extension loads applied to the shock absorber. The first bearing and the first counter-face portion each have a non-circular cross section profile to inhibit axial relative rotation between the bodies.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2016Publication date: January 19, 2017Inventors: Yann Simonneaux, Steven Whitman
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Patent number: 8582925Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for employing GUI-based non-numeric slide buttons and bar meters to setup and monitor operating parameters of a vision system. Graphical representations of operating parameters are displayed in a parameter box on the GUI with moving bars that are shaded, patterned or colored so as to provide a relative level between two extremes on a scale of the given operating parameter. Input of operating parameter settings with respect to the scale is made by moving a setting slider along the scale between the extremes. The position of the slider establishes the user-input setting relative to the scale. In an illustrative embodiment, scales, level bars and setting sliders can also be displayed on the image view itself, adjacent to a given image view feature, which is the subject of the scale.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2010Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment CorporationInventors: Brian V. Mirtich, Andrew Eames, Brian S. Phillips, Robert J. Tremblay, II, John F. Keating, Steven Whitman
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Publication number: 20130074005Abstract: A system, method and GUI for displaying and controlling vision system operating parameters includes an automated region of interest (ROI) graphic image that is applied to a discrete region of a selected image in response to a single click by a user. At least one automated operating parameter is generated automatically in response to the single click by the user at the discrete region, so as to determine whether a feature of interest (such as a pattern, a blob or an edge) is in the automated ROI graphic image. Illustratively, the automated ROI graphic image (a pass/fail graphic image) is user-movable to allow the user to move the automated ROI graphic image from a first positioning to a second positioning, to thereby automatically reset the operating parameter to a predetermined value in accordance with the second positioning.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2012Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: COGNEX CORPORATIONInventors: Steven Whitman, Robert J. Tremblay, Carroll Arbogast, JR., G. Scott Schuff, Emily Hart
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Patent number: 8127247Abstract: This invention provides a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that operates in connection with a machine vision detector or other machine vision system, which provides a highly intuitive and industrial machine-like appearance and layout. The GUI includes a centralized image frame window surrounded by panes having buttons and specific interface components that the user employs in each step of a machine vision system set up and run procedure. One pane allows the user to view and manipulate a recorded filmstrip of image thumbnails taken in a sequence, and provides the filmstrip with specialized highlighting (colors or patterns) that indicate useful information about the underlying images. The programming of logic is performed using a programming window that includes a ladder logic arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2006Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Robert J. Tremblay, Brian S. Philips, John F. Keating, Andrew Eames, Steven Whitman, Brian V. Mirtich, Carroll McNeil Arbogast, Jr.
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Publication number: 20100318936Abstract: This invention provides a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that operates in connection with a machine vision detector or other machine vision system, which provides a highly intuitive and industrial machine-like appearance and layout. The GUI includes a centralized image frame window surrounded by panes having buttons and specific interface components that the user employs in each step of a machine vision system set up and run procedure. One pane allows the user to view and manipulate a recorded filmstrip of image thumbnails taken in a sequence, and provides the filmstrip with specialized highlighting (colors or patterns) that indicate useful information about the underlying images. The programming of logic is performed using a programming window that includes a ladder logic arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2010Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: COGNEX CORPORATIONInventors: Robert J. Tremblay, Brian S. Phillips, John F. Keating, Andrew Eames, Steven Whitman, Brian V. Mirtich, Carroll McNeill Arbogast, JR.
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Publication number: 20100241981Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for employing GUI-based non-numeric slide buttons and bar meters to setup and monitor operating parameters of a vision system (the term “vision system” as used herein including the above-described vision detector). Such parameters can include, but are not limited to the threshold at which a feature is activated in viewing an image. Operating parameters also include the underlying range of contrast values and levels of brightness intensities (or by input inversion, the level of darkness) recognized and acted upon by the vision system. Graphical representations of operating parameters are displayed in a parameter box on the GUI with moving bars that are shaded, patterned or colored so as to provide a relative level between two extremes on a scale of the given operating parameter. The endpoints of the scale can be established by analyzing the relevant extremes on a subject image view.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2010Publication date: September 23, 2010Inventors: Brian V. Mirtich, Andrew Eames, Brian S. Phillips, Robert J. Tremblay, II, John F. Keating, Steven Whitman
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Patent number: 7720315Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for employing GUI-based non-numeric slide buttons and bar meters to setup and monitor operating parameters of a vision system (the term “vision system” as used herein including the above-described vision detector). Such parameters can include, but are not limited to the threshold at which a feature is activated in viewing an image. Operating parameters also include the under-lying range of contrast values and levels of brightness intensities (or by input inversion, the level of darkness) recognized and acted upon by the vision system. Graphical representations of operating parameters are displayed in a parameter box on the GUI with moving bars that are shaded, patterned or colored so as to provide a relative level between two extremes on a scale of the given operating parameter. The endpoints of the scale can be established by analyzing the relevant extremes on a subject image view.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2004Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment CorporationInventors: Brian V. Mirtich, Andrew Eames, Brian S. Phillips, Robert J. Tremblay, II, John F. Keating, Steven Whitman
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Patent number: 7636449Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for automating the setup of Locators and Detectors within an image view of an object on the HMI of a vision detector by determining detectable edges and best fitting the Locators and Detectors to a location on the object image view following the establishment of an user selected operating point on the image view, such as by clicking a GUI cursor. In this manner, the initial placement and sizing of the graphical elements for Locator and Detector ROIs are relatively optimized without excessive adjustment by the user. Locators can be selected for direction, including machine or line-movement direction, cross direction or angled direction transverse to cross direction and movement direction. Detectors can be selected based upon particular analysis tools, including brightness tools, contrast tools and trained templates.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2004Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment CorporationInventors: Brian V. Mirtich, Andrew Eames, Brian S. Phillips, Robert J. Tremblay, II, John F. Keating, Steven Whitman
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Publication number: 20070146491Abstract: This invention provides a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that operates in connection with a machine vision detector or other machine vision system, which provides a highly intuitive and industrial machine-like appearance and layout. The GUI includes a centralized image frame window surrounded by panes having buttons and specific interface components that the user employs in each step of a machine vision system set up and run procedure. One pane allows the user to view and manipulate a recorded filmstrip of image thumbnails taken in a sequence, and provides the filmstrip with specialized highlighting (colors or patterns) that indicate useful information about the underlying images.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2006Publication date: June 28, 2007Applicant: COGNEX CORPORATIONInventors: Robert Tremblay, Brian Phillips, John Keating, Andrew Eames, Steven Whitman, Brian Mirtich, Carroll Arbogast
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Publication number: 20060107211Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for employing GUI-based non-numeric slide buttons and bar meters to setup and monitor operating parameters of a vision system (the term “vision system” as used herein including the above-described vision detector). Such parameters can include, but are not limited to the threshold at which a feature is activated in viewing an image. Operating parameters also include the under-lying range of contrast values and levels of brightness intensities (or by input inversion, the level of darkness) recognized and acted upon by the vision system. Graphical representations of operating parameters are displayed in a parameter box on the GUI with moving bars that are shaded, patterned or colored so as to provide a relative level between two extremes on a scale of the given operating parameter. The endpoints of the scale can be established by analyzing the relevant extremes on a subject image view.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2004Publication date: May 18, 2006Inventors: Brian Mirtich, Andrew Eames, Brian Philips, Roger Tremplay, John Keaung, Steven Whitman
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Publication number: 20060107223Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for automating the setup of Locators and Detectors within an image view of an object on the HMI of a vision detector by determining detectable edges and best fitting the Locators and Detectors to a location on the object image view following the establishment of an user selected operating point on the image view, such as by clicking a GUI cursor. In this manner, the initial placement and sizing of the graphical elements for Locator and Detector ROIs are relatively optimized without excessive adjustment by the user. Locators can be selected for direction, including machine or line-movement direction, cross direction or angled direction transverse to cross direction and movement direction. Detectors can be selected based upon particular analysis tools, including brightness tools, contrast tools and trained templates.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2004Publication date: May 18, 2006Inventors: Brian Mirtich, Andrew Eames, Brian Phillips, Robert Tremblay, John Keating, Steven Whitman
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Patent number: RE44353Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for automating the setup of Locators and Detectors within an image view of an object on the HMI of a vision detector by determining detectable edges and best fitting the Locators and Detectors to a location on the object image view following the establishment of an user selected operating point on the image view, such as by clicking a GUI cursor. In this manner, the initial placement and sizing of the graphical elements for Locator and Detector ROIs are relatively optimized without excessive adjustment by the user. Locators can be selected for direction, including machine or line-movement direction, cross direction or angled direction transverse to cross direction and movement direction. Detectors can be selected based upon particular analysis tools, including brightness tools, contrast tools and trained templates.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Cognex Technology and Investment CorporationInventors: Brian V. Mirtich, Andrew Eames, Brian S. Phillips, Robert J. Tremblay, II, John F. Keating, Steven Whitman