Patents by Inventor Willard Foster

Willard Foster 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: 10775160
    Abstract: This invention provides a system for measuring displacement of an object surface having a displacement sensor that projects a line on the object surface and receives light from the projected line at an imager in a manner defines a plurality of displacement values in a height direction. A vision system processor operates on rows of imager pixels to determine a laser line center in columns of imager pixels in each of a plurality of regions of interest. Each region of interest defines a plurality of rows that correspond with expected locations of the projected line on the object surface. A GUI can be used to establish the regions. In further embodiments, the system generates grayscale images with the imager. These grayscale images can be compared to a generated height image to compensate for contrast-induced false height readings. Imager pixels can be compared to a reference voltage to locate the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Wolff, Michael C. Moed, Mikhail Akopyan, Robert Tremblay, Willard Foster, Aaron S. Wallack
  • Publication number: 20190265027
    Abstract: This invention provides a system for measuring displacement of an object surface having a displacement sensor that projects a line on the object surface and receives light from the projected line at an imager in a manner defines a plurality of displacement values in a height direction. A vision system processor operates on rows of imager pixels to determine a laser line center in columns of imager pixels in each of a plurality of regions of interest. Each region of interest defines a plurality of rows that correspond with expected locations of the projected line on the object surface. A GUI can be used to establish the regions. In further embodiments, the system generates grayscale images with the imager. These grayscale images can be compared to a generated height image to compensate for contrast-induced false height readings. Imager pixels can be compared to a reference voltage to locate the line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Robert A. Wolff, Michael C. Moed, Mikhail Akopyan, Robert Tremblay, Willard Foster, Aaron S. Wallack
  • Patent number: 10223589
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for guiding the workpieces to optimal positions to train an assembly system that is generally free of the use of a CMM or similar metrology device. The system and method expresses the image features of the workpieces, when they are in their respective stations, in a common coordinate system. This ability allows a user to visualize the result of assembling the workpieces without actually assembling them, in a “virtual assembly”. The virtual assembly assists guiding placement of workpieces in respective stations into a desired relative alignment. The system and method illustratively generates a composite image using the images from cameras used in guiding the workpieces that helps the user visualize how the part would appear following assembly. The user can reposition the images of workpieces in their respective stations until the composite image has a desired appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Guruprasad Shivaram, Willard Foster
  • Patent number: 10041786
    Abstract: This invention provides a system for measuring displacement of an object surface having a displacement sensor that projects a line on the object surface and receives light from the projected line at an imager in a manner defines a plurality of displacement values in a height direction. A vision system processor operates on rows of imager pixels to determine a laser line center in columns of imager pixels in each of a plurality of regions of interest. Each region of interest defines a plurality of rows that correspond with expected locations of the projected line on the object surface. A GUI can be used to establish the regions. In further embodiments, the system generates grayscale images with the imager. These grayscale images can be compared to a generated height image to compensate for contrast-induced false height readings. Imager pixels can be compared to a reference voltage to locate the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Wolff, Michael C. Moed, Mikhail Akopyan, Robert Tremblay, Willard Foster, Aaron S. Wallack
  • Publication number: 20170299380
    Abstract: This invention provides a system for measuring displacement of an object surface having a displacement sensor that projects a line on the object surface and receives light from the projected line at an imager in a manner defines a plurality of displacement values in a height direction. A vision system processor operates on rows of imager pixels to determine a laser line center in columns of imager pixels in each of a plurality of regions of interest. Each region of interest defines a plurality of rows that correspond with expected locations of the projected line on the object surface. A GUI can be used to establish the regions. In further embodiments, the system generates grayscale images with the imager. These grayscale images can be compared to a generated height image to compensate for contrast-induced false height readings. Imager pixels can be compared to a reference voltage to locate the line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Robert A. Wolff, Michael C. Moed, Mikhail Akopyan, Robert Tremblay, Willard Foster, Aaron S. Wallack
  • Patent number: 9605950
    Abstract: This invention provides a system for measuring displacement of an object surface having a displacement sensor that projects a line on the object surface and receives light from the projected line at an imager in a manner defines a plurality of displacement values in a height direction. A vision system processor operates on rows of imager pixels to determine a laser line center in columns of imager pixels in each of a plurality of regions of interest. Each region of interest defines a plurality of rows that correspond with expected locations of the projected line on the object surface. A GUI can be used to establish the regions. In further embodiments, the system generates grayscale images with the imager. These grayscale images can be compared to a generated height image to compensate for contrast-induced false height readings. Imager pixels can be compared to a reference voltage to locate the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A. Wolff, Michael C. Moed, Mikhail Akopyan, Robert Tremblay, Willard Foster, Aaron S. Wallack
  • Publication number: 20170024613
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for guiding the workpieces to optimal positions to train an assembly system that is generally free of the use of a CMM or similar metrology device. The system and method expresses the image features of the workpieces, when they are in their respective stations, in a common coordinate system. This ability allows a user to visualize the result of assembling the workpieces without actually assembling them, in a “virtual assembly”. The virtual assembly assists guiding placement of workpieces in respective stations into a desired relative alignment. The system and method illustratively generates a composite image using the images from cameras used in guiding the workpieces that helps the user visualize how the part would appear following assembly. The user can reposition the images of workpieces in their respective stations until the composite image has a desired appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Guruprasad Shivaram, Willard Foster
  • Publication number: 20140347473
    Abstract: This invention provides a system for measuring displacement of an object surface having a displacement sensor that projects a line on the object surface and receives light from the projected line at an imager in a manner defines a plurality of displacement values in a height direction. A vision system processor operates on rows of imager pixels to determine a laser line center in columns of imager pixels in each of a plurality of regions of interest. Each region of interest defines a plurality of rows that correspond with expected locations of the projected line on the object surface. A GUI can be used to establish the regions. In further embodiments, the system generates grayscale images with the imager. These grayscale images can be compared to a generated height image to compensate for contrast-induced false height readings. Imager pixels can be compared to a reference voltage to locate the line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Wolff, Michael C. Moed, Mikhail Akopyan, Robert Tremblay, Willard Foster, Aaron S. Wallack
  • Patent number: 8331673
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining the absence or presence of one or more instances of a predetermined pattern in an image, and for determining the location of each found instance within a multidimensional space. A model represents the pattern to be found, the model including a plurality of probes. Each probe represents a relative position at which a test is performed in an image at a given pose, each such test contributing evidence that the pattern exists at the pose. The method further includes a comparison of the model with a run-time image at each of a plurality of poses. A match score is computed at each pose to provide a match score surface. Then, the match score is compared with an accept threshold, and used to provide the location any instances of the pattern in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Silver, E. John McGarry, Matt Hill, Willard Foster
  • Patent number: 8265395
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining the absence or presence of one or more instances of a predetermined pattern in an image, and for determining the location of each found instance within a multidimensional space. A model represents the pattern to be found, the model including a plurality of probes. Each probe represents a relative position at which a test is performed in an image at a given pose, each such test contributing evidence that the pattern exists at the pose. The method further includes a comparison of the model with a run-time image at each of a plurality of poses. A match score is computed at each pose to provide a match score surface. Then, the match score is compared with an accept threshold, and used to provide the location any instances of the pattern in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Silver, E. John McGarry, Matt Hill, Nigel J. Foster, Willard Foster
  • Patent number: 8229222
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining the absence or presence of one or more instances of a predetermined pattern in an image, and for determining the location of each found instance within a multidimensional space. A model represents the pattern to be found, the model including a plurality of probes. Each probe represents a relative position at which a test is performed in an image at a given pose, each such test contributing evidence that the pattern exists at the pose. The method further includes a comparison of the model with a run-time image at each of a plurality of poses. A match score is computed at each pose to provide a match score surface. Then, the match score is compared with an accept threshold, and used to provide the location any instances of the pattern in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Silver, E. John McGarry, Matt Hill, Willard Foster, Adam Wagman