Patents by Inventor Todd Templeton

Todd Templeton 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: 10825651
    Abstract: Techniques are described that facilitate automated extraction of lamellae and attaching the lamellae to sample grids for viewing on transmission electron microscopes. Some embodiments of the invention involve the use of machine vision to determine the positions of the lamella, the probe, and/or the TEM grid to guide the attachment of the probe to the lamella and the attachment of the lamella to the TEM grid. Techniques that facilitate the use of machine vision include shaping a probe tip so that its position can be readily recognized by image recognition software. Image subtraction techniques can be used to determine the position of the lamellae attached to the probe for moving the lamella to the TEM grid for attachment. In some embodiments, reference structures are milled on the probe or on the lamella to facilitate image recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Valerie Brogden, Jeffrey Blackwood, Michael Schmidt, Dhruti Trivedi, Richard J. Young, Thomas G. Miller, Brian Roberts Routh, Jr., Stacey Stone, Todd Templeton
  • Publication number: 20190272975
    Abstract: Techniques are described that facilitate automated extraction of lamellae and attaching the lamellae to sample grids for viewing on transmission electron microscopes. Some embodiments of the invention involve the use of machine vision to determine the positions of the lamella, the probe, and/or the TEM grid to guide the attachment of the probe to the lamella and the attachment of the lamella to the TEM grid. Techniques that facilitate the use of machine vision include shaping a probe tip so that its position can be readily recognized by image recognition software. Image subtraction techniques can be used to determine the position of the lamellae attached to the probe for moving the lamella to the TEM grid for attachment. In some embodiments, reference structures are milled on the probe or on the lamella to facilitate image recognition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Valerie Brogden, Jeffrey Blackwood, Michael Schmidt, Dhruti Trivedi, Richard J. Young, Thomas G. Miller, Brian Roberts Routh, JR., Stacey Stone, Todd Templeton
  • Patent number: 10340119
    Abstract: Techniques are described that facilitate automated extraction of lamellae and attaching the lamellae to sample grids for viewing on transmission electron microscopes. Some embodiments of the invention involve the use of machine vision to determine the positions of the lamella, the probe, and/or the TEM grid to guide the attachment of the probe to the lamella and the attachment of the lamella to the TEM grid. Techniques that facilitate the use of machine vision include shaping a probe tip so that its position can be readily recognized by image recognition software. Image subtraction techniques can be used to determine the position of the lamellae attached to the probe for moving the lamella to the TEM grid for attachment. In some embodiments, reference structures are milled on the probe or on the lamella to facilitate image recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Valerie Brogden, Jeffrey Blackwood, Michael Schmidt, Dhruti Trivedi, Richard J. Young, Thomas G. Miller, Brian Roberts Routh, Jr., Stacey Stone, Todd Templeton
  • Publication number: 20170256380
    Abstract: Techniques are described that facilitate automated extraction of lamellae and attaching the lamellae to sample grids for viewing on transmission electron microscopes. Some embodiments of the invention involve the use of machine vision to determine the positions of the lamella, the probe, and/or the TEM grid to guide the attachment of the probe to the lamella and the attachment of the lamella to the TEM grid. Techniques that facilitate the use of machine vision include shaping a probe tip so that its position can be readily recognized by image recognition software. Image subtraction techniques can be used to determine the position of the lamellae attached to the probe for moving the lamella to the TEM grid for attachment. In some embodiments, reference structures are milled on the probe or on the lamella to facilitate image recognition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Valerie Brogden, Jeffrey Blackwood, Michael Schmidt, Dhruti Trivedi, Richard J. Young, Thomas G. Miller, Brian Roberts Routh, JR., Stacey Stone, Todd Templeton
  • Patent number: 9601313
    Abstract: Techniques are described that facilitate automated extraction of lamellae and attaching the lamellae to sample grids for viewing on transmission electron microscopes. Some embodiments of the invention involve the use of machine vision to determine the positions of the lamella, the probe, and/or the TEM grid to guide the attachment of the probe to the lamella and the attachment of the lamella to the TEM grid. Techniques that facilitate the use of machine vision include shaping a probe tip so that its position can be readily recognized by image recognition software. Image subtraction techniques can be used to determine the position of the lamellae attached to the probe for moving the lamella to the TEM grid for attachment. In some embodiments, reference structures are milled on the probe or on the lamella to facilitate image recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: FEI COMPANY
    Inventors: Valerie Brogden, Jeffrey Blackwood, Michael Schmidt, Dhruti Trivedi, Richard J. Young, Thomas G. Miller, Brian Roberts Routh, Jr., Stacey Stone, Todd Templeton
  • Publication number: 20160141147
    Abstract: Techniques are described that facilitate automated extraction of lamellae and attaching the lamellae to sample grids for viewing on transmission electron microscopes. Some embodiments of the invention involve the use of machine vision to determine the positions of the lamella, the probe, and/or the TEM grid to guide the attachment of the probe to the lamella and the attachment of the lamella to the TEM grid. Techniques that facilitate the use of machine vision include shaping a probe tip so that its position can be readily recognized by image recognition software. Image subtraction techniques can be used to determine the position of the lamellae attached to the probe for moving the lamella to the TEM grid for attachment. In some embodiments, reference structures are milled on the probe or on the lamella to facilitate image recognition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventors: Valerie Brogden, Jeffrey Blackwood, Michael Schmidt, Dhruti Trivedi, Richard J. Young, Thomas G. Miller, Brian Roberts Routh, JR., Stacey Stone, Todd Templeton