Following A Pattern (e.g., Line Or Edge) Patents (Class 250/202)
  • Patent number: 11969849
    Abstract: A method of polishing a target surface of a waveguide to achieve perpendicularity relative to a reference surface is disclosed. The method includes i) providing a polishing apparatus having a polishing plate with a flat surface defining a reference plane, and an adjustable mounting apparatus configured to hold the waveguide during polishing at a plurality of angular orientations; ii) positioning an optical alignment sensor and a light reflecting apparatus such that a first collimated light beam is reflected off of a surface parallel to the reference plane, and a second perpendicular collimated light beam is reflected off of the reference surface; iii) aligning the waveguide within the polishing apparatus such that the reflections received by the optical alignment sensor align within the optical alignment sensor, thereby being indicative of perpendicularity between the reference plane and the reference surface; and iv) polishing the target surface of the aligned waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: LUMUS LTD.
    Inventors: Amit Maziel, Naamah Levin, Lilya Lobachinsky, Yochay Danziger
  • Patent number: 11391066
    Abstract: An electronic cabinet lock includes a lock housing, a lock body, a limiting member, a motor, and a main control board. The lock body and the limiting member are rotatably disposed in the lock housing, respectively. The motor is electrically connected to the main control board. The limiting member is driven by the motor through a transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a screw rod driven by the motor and a slider threadedly connected to the screw rod. The slider is slidably disposed in the lock housing, and is movably connected to the limiting member. The transmission mechanism has few components, which is a simple structure and convenient for assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: XIAMEN HEADLEADER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tingpeng Liu, Junmin Lin, Jiasheng Zhang, Binghuang Chen
  • Patent number: 11385054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hand-held observation device. The observation device is characterized in that a first observation channel comprises a first opto-mechanical stabilization unit for actively and equally stabilizing, during an observation, a first observation optical axis and an LRF axis of an integrated laser range finder by compensating for hand jitter during the observation, the first opto-mechanical stabilization unit being adapted for continuously adjusting and setting a lateral position (with respect to the optical axis) of at least one lens of the objective optical system of the first optical observation channel, in a way automatically controlled by an electronic processing and control unit, which reads and processes the gyro sensor data, particularly in a way wherein the adjusting of the lateral position of the at least one lens equally stabilizes the first observation optical axis and the LRF axis in one go.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN VECTRONIX AG
    Inventors: Dusan Zadravec, Daniel Kunz
  • Patent number: 11338921
    Abstract: A dispersement system for a UAV is provided. The dispersement system may include a plurality of dispersement nozzles operable to dispense an agricultural product at variable flowrates, a flow controller responsive to instructions and operable to regulate a volume of the agricultural product dispensed by the dispersement nozzles, and a control system. The control system may include a plurality of sensors operable to monitor a plurality of flight parameters and a processing unit configured to model an effect of the plurality of flight parameters on first flow control instructions corresponding to a prescription coverage of the agricultural product and calculate and output modulated flow control instructions to the flow controller. The control system may modulate the first control instructions to change a flowrate of one or more of the plurality of dispersement nozzles to achieve an actual coverage of the agricultural product that is closer to the prescription coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: AEROVIRONMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Lance Holly, William Donovan, Aaron Lessig
  • Patent number: 11308044
    Abstract: The process includes receiving a data set comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and applying a first rule based decisioning to the data set to generate a first layer of metadata that comprises at least one of a key, a type indicator, a categorical indicator, and/or a continuous indicator. The first layer of metadata may be descriptive of the data set. The processor may further apply a second rule based decisioning to the first layer to generate a second layer that includes at least one of the key, the type indicator, the categorical indicator, or the continuous indicator. The second layer may be descriptive of the first layer. The process may also include generating an output file from at least one of the first layer or the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Vineet Agrwal, Ravi Arasan, Atul R. Dalmia, Pratiksha M. Jogani, Kunal C. Joshi, Ravi Kaushik, Himanshu Prabhakar, Kandarp Srivastava
  • Patent number: 11203209
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a moving body, first and second sensors, and a processor. The first sensor detects the moving body passing a reference position while moving along a first axis. The second sensor outputs a second phase signal of a second phase according to the moving body moving along the first axis, wherein the second phase is shifted from a first phase. In a setting mode, the processor stores information data indicating a level of the second phase signal at a time when the first sensor detects the reference position. In an operation control mode, the processor sets, as a position pertaining to an origin on the first axis, a position of an earliest edge of the first phase after the second phase signal switches from a level identical with the level stored in the setting mode to a different level after the first sensor detects the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Nagao
  • Patent number: 11027927
    Abstract: An article conveyance apparatus including a front imaging device, a left-side imaging device, and a right-side imaging device. The front imaging device determines the presence or absence of an obstacle ahead of the imaging device and calculates a distance from the obstacle based on a comparison between images captured by a plurality of cameras. In a transition region from a linear section to a curved section, the left-side imaging device and the right-side imaging device capture images ahead of the left or the right side and determine the presence or absence of an obstacle ahead of the left or the right side. If a distance from a front obstacle is at most a predetermined threshold value and if it is determined that an obstacle is present ahead of the left or the right side, a controller avoids a collision between the article conveyance apparatus and the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: DAIFUKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Shin, Tetsuji Nakae
  • Patent number: 10956772
    Abstract: A high security key scanning system and method is provided. The scanning system may comprise a sensing device configured to determine information and characteristics of a master high security key, and a digital logic to analyze the information and characteristics of the master key. The sensing device may be configured to capture information about the geometry of features cut into the surface of the master key. The logic may analyze the information related to that geometry and compare it to known characteristics of that style of high security key in order to determine the data needed to replicate the features on a new high security key blank. The system may be configured to capture the surface geometry using a camera or other imaging device. The system may utilize object coating techniques, illumination techniques, filtering techniques, image processing techniques, and feature extraction techniques to capture the desired features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: HY-KO PRODUCTS COMPANY
    Inventors: William R. Mutch, Thomas F. Fiore, Randall A. Porras, Chester O. D. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10950589
    Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus is provided having a carrier device that has at least one optoelectronic transmitter and/or at least one optoelectronic receiver at an upper side; at least one first optical element, a second optical element, and a third optical element that are arranged in a layer arrangement above the carrier device, with the second optical element being arranged above the first optical element and the third optical element being arranged above the second optical element, and with each of the at least three optical elements comprising a lens element, an aperture element or a filter element; and a holding device that holds at least the first optical element and the second optical element relative to the carrier device and partly surrounds them, with the holding device furthermore either holding the third optical element relative to the carrier device and partly surrounding the third optical element or forming the third optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Vishay Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Burger, Sascha Kuhn, Peter Mühleck
  • Patent number: 10809057
    Abstract: A method for simultaneously measuring roll angle, pitch angle and yaw angle of an element. The method includes directing a laser beam into a spiral phase plate resonator (SPPR) device to generate an optical vortex intensity pattern having a centroid and radial light peaks. The method reflects the laser beam off of the element after it has propagated through the SPPR device so that the laser beam is directed onto a camera that generates images of the optical vortex intensity pattern. The method determines a location of the centroid in the images, determines integrated counts along a radial direction from the centroid in the images, and determines a location of the radial light peaks in the images using the integrated counts. The method changes the frequency of the laser beam to rotate the radial light peaks, and estimates the roll angle of the element from the change in frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yisa S. Rumala
  • Patent number: 10564734
    Abstract: A pen mouse with a tracing compensation function includes an optical navigation module, an angle detector and a processor. The optical navigation module is adapted to generate coordinates of the pen mouse. The angle detector is adapted to detect an inclination angle of the pen mouse. The processor is electrically connected to the optical navigation module and the angle detector, and adapted to transform the inclination angle into a compensation parameter and further to compute a trace of the pen mouse via computation of the coordinates by the compensation parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Lin Chung, Chia-Fu Ke
  • Patent number: 10486901
    Abstract: A system for transporting inventory items includes an inventory holder capable of storing inventory items and a mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is capable of moving to a first point with the inventory holder at least one of coupled to and supported by the mobile drive unit. The mobile drive unit is additionally capable of determining a location of the inventory holder and calculating a difference between the location of the inventory holder and the first point. The mobile drive unit is then capable of determining whether the difference is greater than a predetermined tolerance. In response to determining that the difference is greater than the predetermined tolerance, the mobile drive unit is also capable of moving to a second point based on the location of the inventory holder, docking with the inventory holder, and moving the mobile drive unit and the inventory holder to the first point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Raffaello D'Andrea, Peter K. Mansfield, Michael Cordell Mountz, Dennis Polic, Patrick R. Dingle
  • Patent number: 10491866
    Abstract: An actuator controlling device controls an actuator based on signals acquired from a photodetector. The actuator includes a drive unit that causes a reflecting part to move. The actuator controlling device includes a waveform generating unit, a driving amplifier, a power supply unit, and a controller. The waveform generating unit generates a voltage waveform for driving the drive unit. The driving amplifier amplifies the voltage waveform generated by the waveform generating unit. The power supply unit supplies power to the driving amplifier. The controller acquires detection signals from the photodetector and controls, based on the acquired detection signals, voltage to be supplied from the power supply unit to the driving amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10473447
    Abstract: A system for and method of tracking elements of a welding system using electromagnetic sensors and an electromagnetic transmitter, the electromagnetic sensors and an electromagnetic transmitter operating at a frequency group that is selected to reduce or avoid interference from other welding systems, such selection being performed manually by a user or automatically as the result of detection of interference at the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Suyash Mathkar, Sarah Evans
  • Patent number: 10360460
    Abstract: A lane departure warning method includes steps of: collecting a road image by an imaging device; detecting a lane marking in accordance with the road image, so as to extract a position of the lane marking and an angle of the lane marking relative to a running direction of the vehicle; acquiring steering information and a movement speed of the vehicle by an OBD system; judging whether or not the vehicle is unconsciously running on the lane marking in accordance with the position of the lane marking, the angle of the lane marking relative to the running direction of the vehicle and the steering information of the vehicle; in the case that the vehicle is unconsciously running on the lane marking, recording a duration within which the vehicle is unconsciously running on the lane marking; and judging whether or not to send a lane departure warning to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: BEIJING SMARTER EYE TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventors: An Jiang, Ran Meng, Haitao Zhu, Feng Cui, Qiwei Xie
  • Patent number: 10307867
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a substrate comprises first and second lasers, and first and second optical fibers each having an input end and an output end opposite to the input end, wherein the input ends of the first and second optical fibers are connected to the first and second lasers respectively. The output ends of the first and second optical fibers are movable relative to the substrate and are configured to image first and second laser beams onto the substrate simultaneously for cutting the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ASM TECHNOLOGY SINGAPORE PTE LTD
    Inventors: Franz Hollinger, Karel Maykel Richard Van Der Stam, Dick Verhaart, Guido Martinus Henricus Knippels
  • Patent number: 10303264
    Abstract: An optical encoder has a displacement generating unit, a light-emitting unit and an optical navigation integrated circuit. The displacement generating unit has an axle body movable along a central axial line thereof. The axle body has a free end with a diameter larger than a part of the axle body and a planar working surface formed on the free end. The light-emitting unit is configured for operatively providing a light beam to irradiate the working surface of the displacement generating unit. The light beam has a divergence angle within a range to reduce scattering. The optical navigation integrated circuit receives the reflected light beam reflected by the working surface, and calculates a relative displacement between the optical navigation integrated circuit and the working surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Ching-Lin Chung, Hsin-Chia Chen
  • Patent number: 10252392
    Abstract: A system for duplicating a master key includes a mechanism for receiving and positioning a master key. The master key defines a major key axis and an intermediate key axis along which a key blade variably extends, and a minor key axis along a key thickness. Optical path components direct a light beam along the minor key axis. The light beam impinges upon the key blade. A portion of the light beam traverses the key blade. A detector receives the portion of the light beam that traverses the key blade. An apparatus imparts relative motion along the major key axis between the light beam and the master key. The light beam scans along the major key axis of the master key. A processor receives a signal from the detector as the beam scans along the major key axis and generates information usable for defining the machining of a duplicate key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: The Hillman Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L Gardner, Bradford Shayne Cooley, David Kortbawi
  • Patent number: 10246190
    Abstract: A power drive unit (PDU) includes a light source configured to generate light as pulses with pulse intervals between the pulses. The PDU also includes a light driver configured to control the light source to generate the light at a desired intensity. The PDU also includes a light receiver configured to receive a reflection of the light. The PDU also includes a processor coupled to the light receiver and configured to determine whether the cargo is positioned on the PDU based on the reflection of the light. The PDU also includes a light controller coupled to the processor and the light driver and configured to determine an adjustment to the desired intensity of the light generated by the light source based on an intensity of the reflection of the light and whether the light source is generating a pulse or a pulse interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott Harms, Justin D. Williams
  • Patent number: 10151716
    Abstract: An internal imaging system has a radiation source and a plurality of detectors positioned to receive portions of the plurality of collimated beams that have been attenuated by interaction with the target. The radiation source is configured to irradiate a target with a plurality of collimated beams of radiation. Two of the plurality of collimated beams of radiation may have different beam shapes. Another internal imaging system includes a radiation source configured to irradiate a target with at least one collimated beam of radiation and at least one detector. A planar rotating collimator is positioned adjacent to the radiation source and is configured to form the at least one collimated beam. The at least one detector is positioned to receive attenuated portions of the at least one collimated beam. The radiation source may be or include a neutron source. The detectors may be or include a plurality of neutron converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: GEORGETOWN RAIL EQUIPMENT COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeb E. Belcher, Gregory Thomas Grissom, James Edward Baciak, Kelly Alexander Jordan, Jyothier Nimmagadda, Shuang Cui, Michele Viola Manuel
  • Patent number: 10072950
    Abstract: An encoder for outputting a measurement value of a position or angle of a scale in accordance with a command signal transmitted with a cycle, includes: a detector configured to perform detection of a signal from the scale and output a detection signal; and a processor configured to perform generation of data representing a position or angle of the scale based on the detection signal, perform correction of the data based on a change amount of the position or angle along with movement of the scale in a delay time till receiving of a subsequent command signal after the detection, and perform outputting of the corrected data. The processor is configured to perform processing including the generation and correction in accordance with receiving of the command signal, and perform a plurality of the processing in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Okada
  • Patent number: 10068401
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for replicating a transponder key is disclosed. The transponder replication device includes an antenna that reads a transponder code from a transponder key; a camera, wherein the camera captures a bitting characteristic of the transponder key blade; a stabilizer that secures the transponder key in place while the camera captures the bitting characteristic; a memory device for storing the transponder data; means for transmitting the transponder code and the bitting characteristic of the transponder key blade to a remote location; and, a remote communication device that is compatible with the internet communications device that receives the transponder data and transmits it to a transponder duplication device at the remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: RB Distribution, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Blalock, Michael DiGregorio, Matthew Barnard, Brandon Graver
  • Patent number: 10018720
    Abstract: A unit load device (ULD) sensor for detecting presence and movement of cargo within an aircraft includes a light source designed to generate light as pulses with pulse intervals between the pulses and having a source lens designed to focus the light towards a first point that is a first distance away from the source lens. The ULD sensor also includes a light receiver having a light detector designed to receive a reflection of the light and a receiver lens designed to focus the reflection of the light towards a second point that is towards the light detector and a second distance away from the receiver lens. The second distance is different than the first distance and the detected reflection of the light is usable to determine the presence and the movement of the cargo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott Harms, Justin D. Williams
  • Patent number: 10013833
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for replicating a transponder key is disclosed. The transponder replication device includes an antenna that reads a transponder code from a transponder key; a camera, wherein the camera captures a bitting characteristic of the transponder key blade; a stabilizer that secures the transponder key in place while the camera captures the bitting characteristic; a memory device for storing the transponder data; means for transmitting the transponder code and the bitting characteristic of the transponder key blade to a remote location; and, a remote communication device that is compatible with the internet communications device that receives the transponder data and transmits it to a transponder duplication device at the remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: RB Distribution, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Blalock, Michael DiGregorio, Matthew Barnard, Brandon Graver
  • Patent number: 9987715
    Abstract: A system for duplicating a master key includes a mechanism for receiving and positioning a master key. The master key defines a major key axis and an intermediate key axis along which a key blade variably extends, and a minor key axis along a key thickness. Optical path components direct a light beam along the minor key axis. The light beam impinges upon the key blade. A portion of the light beam traverses the key blade. A detector receives the portion of the light beam that traverses the key blade. An apparatus imparts relative motion along the major key axis between the light beam and the master key. The light beam scans along the major key axis of the master key. A processor receives a signal from the detector as the beam scans along the major key axis and generates information usable for defining the machining of a duplicate key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: MINUTE KEY INC.
    Inventors: Richard L Gardner, Bradford Shayne Cooley, David Kortbawi
  • Patent number: 9965952
    Abstract: Road condition management is provided. A first road problem at a first location is identified, based, at least in part, on a current traffic pattern and current environmental conditions at the first location. An optimized plan for road repairs is generated. The optimized plan identifies one or more road problems. The plan is optimized based on a severity index of each of the one or more road problems and an availability of at least one resource. An alert is issued to at least one interface device, wherein the alert describes the first road problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Subil M. Abraham, Vinod A. Bijlani, Mathews Thomas
  • Patent number: 9934257
    Abstract: The process includes receiving a data set comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and applying a first rule based decisioning to the data set to generate a first layer of metadata that comprises at least one of a key, a type indicator, a categorical indicator, and/or a continuous indicator. The first layer of metadata may be descriptive of the data set. The processor may further apply a second rule based decisioning to the first layer to generate a second layer that includes at least one of the key, the type indicator, the categorical indicator, or the continuous indicator. The second layer may be descriptive of the first layer. The process may also include generating an output file from at least one of the first layer or the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Vineet Agrwal, Ravi Arasan, Atul R. Dalmia, Pratiksha M. Jogani, Kunal C. Joshi, Ravi Kaushik, Himanshu Prabhakar, Kandarp Srivastava
  • Patent number: 9818041
    Abstract: A high security key scanning system and method is provided. The scanning system may comprise a sensing device configured to determine information and characteristics of a master high security key, and a digital logic to analyze the information and characteristics of the master key. The sensing device may be configured to capture information about the geometry of features cut into the surface of the master key. The logic may analyze the information related to that geometry and compare it to known characteristics of that style of high security key in order to determine the data needed to replicate the features on a new high security key blank. The system may be configured to capture the surface geometry using a camera or other imaging device. The system may utilize object coating techniques, illumination techniques, filtering techniques, image processing techniques, and feature extraction techniques to capture the desired features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: HY-KO PRODUCTS COMPANY
    Inventors: William R. Mutch, Thomas F. Fiore, Randall A. Porras, Chester O. D. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9807925
    Abstract: A robotic mower area coverage system includes a load sensor on the robotic mower signaling load on a cutting blade motor, a boundary sensor on the robotic mower indicating the distance from the sensor to a boundary wire, a timer on the robotic mower indicating when the robotic mower last used a specified boundary coverage, and a vehicle control unit on the robotic mower selecting the type of area coverage based on input from the load sensor, the boundary sensor and the timer, and commanding a pair of traction drive motors to drive the robotic mower using the selected type of area coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: David A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9808900
    Abstract: A system for duplicating a master key includes a mechanism for receiving and positioning a master key. The master key defines a major key axis and an intermediate key axis along which a key blade variably extends, and a minor key axis along a key thickness. Optical path components direct a light beam along the minor key axis. The light beam impinges upon the key blade. A portion of the light beam traverses the key blade. A detector receives the portion of the light beam that traverses the key blade. An apparatus imparts relative motion along the major key axis between the light beam and the master key. The light beam scans along the major key axis of the master key. A processor receives a signal from the detector as the beam scans along the major key axis and generates information usable for defining the machining of a duplicate key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: MINUTE KEY INC.
    Inventors: Richard L. Gardner, Bradford Shayne Cooley, David Kortbawi
  • Patent number: 9798167
    Abstract: An alignment system includes: a light emitting device located on one side of an object to be aligned for emitting light towards the object to be aligned; a light receiving device located on the other side of the object to be aligned and at a standard position corresponding to an alignment mark disposed on the object to be aligned, the light receiving device being provided with a plurality of light sensors for sensing light emitting from the light emitting device on an end surface facing the object to be aligned; a processor configured to receive sensing signals transmitted from each of the light sensors and determine whether the object to be aligned is aligned accurately according to whether each of the light sensors sense the light emitted from the light emitting device. This alignment system shortens the processing time and enhances the processing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chaoyang Deng, Zijin Lin, Haisheng Zhao
  • Patent number: 9767837
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reproduction apparatus. The reproduction apparatus may comprise an optical filter and electric filters. The optical filter may be configured to provide electrical signals corresponding to regions of an optical beam returning from an optical medium, the optical beam being incident on the optical filter, the regions of the optical beam corresponding to different bands in a line density direction and/or a track density direction. The electric filters may be configured to provide outputs based, at least in part, on the electrical signals provided by the optical filter, wherein the reproduction apparatus is configured to obtain a reproduced signal by combining the outputs of the electric filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Nishi, Kimihiro Saito, Junya Shiraishi, Yutaka Tentaku, Nobuhiko Ando
  • Patent number: 9720940
    Abstract: The focus of the present invention is the modular analysis of Big Data encompassing parallelization, chunking, and distributed analysis applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventors: Konstantinos (Constantin) F. Aliferis, Alexander Statnikov
  • Patent number: 9550526
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lane keeping control system, including: a target distance calculator configured to calculate a target distance by receiving a speed of a vehicle; and a target trace generator configured to generate coordinates of a target point separated by the target distance by receiving vehicle information and camera image information and generate a target trace to the target point as a circular trace. Accordingly, by variably calculating a target distance according to a speed of a vehicle, generating a target trace of a vehicle according to the target distance as a profile (curvature) in a form of a circular trace, and applying the generated profile (curvature) to a lane keeping control, smooth lane keeping control may be achieved and a sense of steering difference of a driver may be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun Young You, Kwang Keun Joseph Shin
  • Patent number: 9541384
    Abstract: A system, method, and device for measuring camber in a film is disclosed. The system generally includes: a flat surface with a longitudinal axis, at least three sensors spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, and a computing device operatively connected to each sensor. When the film is positioned in relationship to the sensors, the computing device computes the camber of the film. The flat surface may be a table with a film holder. At least one of the sensors may be a LED sensor. The computing device may have an output means, such as a monitor, a printer, or both. The computing device defines a straight line between the first and third sensor based on the position of the film, and the camber is a deviation of the film, measured by the second sensor, from the straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Celgard, LLC
    Inventors: Bogyeol Ham, David P. Bourcier, Alan H. Freeman
  • Patent number: 9511933
    Abstract: A storage apparatus includes: a storage member provided with a pair of first rail members, extending along a horizontal direction, on both side faces thereof; a storage rack; a carrying mechanism to carry the storage member placed thereon in the horizontal direction to a storage location of the storage rack; and a pair of walls, provided so as to be opposed to the side faces of the storage member, respectively, having a pair of second rail members, extending in the horizontal direction, provided on side faces thereof opposed to the pair of first rail members, respectively, in a state where the storage member is stored in the storage rack, the storage member being guided to the storage rack with the pair of first rail members being supported by the pair of second rail members, when the carrying mechanism is moved in the horizontal direction toward the storage rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Kobayashi, Mikio Houjou
  • Patent number: 9497898
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved articulated combine of a forward grainhead carried by a forward bogey devoid of grain storage and operated by an operator and a rear grain storage bogey capable of crabbing. Proximity sensors are affixed to the side of the grainhead and on the side of the rear end of the rear bogey. Cameras are affixed to the front of the forward bogey looking to the side of the forward bogey, to the front of the rear bogey looking rearwardly into the rear bogey grain storage, to the rear of the rear bogey, and on the grain arm discharge end. Readout from the sensors are fed to memory for each type of grain off-loading vehicle for later use by the operator in placing the combine in the optimum unloading position. Video also is fed to a display confronting the combine operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Tribine Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Ben N. Dillon
  • Patent number: 9465968
    Abstract: Methods for performing a scheme that results in a refined measurement pattern within an optical grid are provided. Physically adjusting spacing of elements within an optical grid to achieve enhanced resolution is historically unfeasible, as reduction of the spacing causes light sensors of the optical grid to pick up false signals when reading light beams. Technology introduced by the present invention generates a virtual reduced spacing of the elements within the optical grid by using two signals that are slightly different. These slightly different signals can accomplish, at least, quarter-grid spacing resolution within the optical grid. Additionally, the enhanced resolution derived from the virtual reduced spacing is employed to govern movement of a motor. The motor movement is in response to one or more changes of direction such that the motor is operating in its linear range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Intermec IP Corp.
    Inventors: Khalid El Akel, Jean-Pierre Stang, Bernard Serres
  • Patent number: 9418560
    Abstract: A path is automatically routed for a sensor platform that projects a constant sensor footprint to the surface to observe a region of interest without crossing into an excluded area and to tracking that path. The path is routed by defining a bounding region around the region of interest and defining a convex hull around an obstacle within the region of interest. A parallel arrangement of rectangular planks is generated from each edge of the convex hull out to the bounding region. The extent of each rectangular plank is bounded at one end by the intersection of the plank with the bounding region and at the other end by the intersection of the plank with an extension of a next edge of the convex hull. The path is routed to traverse the parallel arrangement of rectangular planks for each edge of the convex hull in a raster scan pattern and to circle the convex hull in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Ross D. Rosenwald, Jeffery B. Saunders, David E. Bossert, Erwin M. De Sa
  • Patent number: 9349056
    Abstract: A method of measuring road markings. The steps of which include first projecting a red laser line onto the road including a portion on the road surface and a portion on the road markings. Second, filter out all colors except red and convert to a grayscale image. Thirdly, separate image into one pixel wide columns and apply a filtering so only white pixels having a predetermined minimum brightness remain. Next, calculate the road-paint boundary to determine which columns belong to the road surface and which belong to road marking. Using linear regression, a line equation for points corresponding to the road surface is generated and extrapolated to convert the road marking measurements to a height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Inventor: Gordon Peckover
  • Patent number: 9182252
    Abstract: A probe for determining an absolute position of a rod relative to a cylinder with the rod having an associated pattern for indicating position includes a light source for emitting light. The probe further includes a light pipe for directing light emitted by the light source onto the pattern of the rod. A detector of the probe detects light and provides a signal indicative of the detected light. A lens produces an image of a portion of the pattern illuminated by the light on the detector and a controller is responsive to the signal from the detector for determining an absolute position of the rod relative to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Parker Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Brian Dubin, Robert Joseph Pagano, James Cirillo
  • Patent number: 9068861
    Abstract: A resolver interface includes an excitation coil, a first secondary coil, a second secondary coil, a sampling circuit, and a controller. The excitation coil receives an excitation signal that generates first and second signals in the first secondary coil and the second secondary coil, respectively. The sampling circuit includes a multiplexer that samples at least one period of the excitation signal, the first signal, and the second signal, individually. The controller is configured to calculate a sign of the first signal and the second signal relative to the excitation signal, wherein based on the calculated sign of the first signal and the second signal the controller determines a quadrant of the excitation coil and based on the determined quadrant and magnitudes of the sampled first signal and second signal calculates a position of the excitation coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: John M. O'Neil
  • Publication number: 20140158860
    Abstract: Optically communicating from a user to a laser tracker a command to control tracker operation includes providing a rule of correspondence between each of a plurality of commands and temporal patterns; user selecting a first command; projecting a first light from the tracker to a retroreflector; reflecting a second light from the retroreflector that is part of the first light; obtaining first sensed data by sensing a third light imaged onto a photosensitive array that is part of the second light; user creating, between first and second times, a first temporal pattern including at least a decrease in the third light's optical power followed by an increase in its optical power, the first temporal pattern corresponding to the first command; determining the first command based at least in part on processing the first sensed data according to the rule of correspondence; and executing the first command with the tracker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: FARO Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nils P. Steffensen, Todd P. Wilson, Kenneth Steffey, John M. Hoffer, JR., Robert E. Bridges
  • Patent number: 8592766
    Abstract: A display device is applied to a light sensing system. The display device includes a display module and a pattern layer. The pattern layer is made of optical material capable of either fully or partially reflecting or absorbing invisible light of specific wavelength emitted from the display module, and is formatted on the display module, thus defining gaps through which invisible light can pass. A light sensor is utilized to sense the pre-determined pattern defined by the invisible light passing through the pattern layer. Based on the light sensing result, the light sensor can recognize the corresponding pattern. The optical material of the pattern layer may be arranged to incorporate locational varying invisible light transmittance to define the pre-determined pattern at a finer degree, thus further increasing sensing accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignees: Lite-On Electronics (Guangzhou) Limited, Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Meng-Hsin Kuo
  • Patent number: 8515291
    Abstract: The light receiving device includes a pixel array, such as a two-dimensional pixel array, of pixels each having a light-receiving element for receiving input signal light, an output selecting unit for selecting the outputs of pixels within the pixel array, a selected output adding unit for adding and outputting the selected outputs of the pixels, and an amplifying unit for amplifying the output of the selected output adding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Tadao Inoue
  • Patent number: 8283617
    Abstract: A display device is applied to a light sensing system. The display device includes a display module and a pattern layer. The pattern layer is made of optical material and formatted on the display module. The pattern layer includes patterned optical material and gaps without optical material. The pattern layer selectively reflects or absorbs invisible light with specific wavelength emitted from the display module, such that a light sensor cannot sense the invisible light reflected or absorbed by the optical material or just can sense a little invisible light through the optical material. However, the invisible light can be emitted out of the gaps without the optical material, such that the light sensor can selectively sense the invisible light. Based on the light sensing result, the light sensor can recognize the corresponding pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: Silitek Electronic (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Meng-Hsin Kuo, Chia-Hsi Tsai
  • Patent number: 8259546
    Abstract: The present invention can promptly start the tracking control. According to an embodiment of the present invention, after making it possible to discriminate the groove G and land L by the initial drive for the objective lens, the servo control and brake control are executed under an optimum condition when the objective lens is initially driven to the inner circumference direction to be outer eccentricity where a spot Pt is easily pulled in so as to pull in the spot Pt and start tracking control, and, in case the TR control error is raised when pulling in the spot Pt in an eccentricity speed minimum region AR1 for the first time, assuming that the eccentricity speed minimum region AR1 is inner eccentricity, the spot Pt is pulled in at the next eccentricity speed minimum region AR2 in which the eccentricity direction becomes opposite and the tracking control is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony NEC Optiarc Inc.
    Inventors: Shinichi Yuzuki, Tadaomi Takeshita
  • Patent number: 8188431
    Abstract: A device includes an integrated circuit (IC) and at least one ultra-small resonant structure formed on said IC. At least the ultra-small resonant structure portion of the device is vacuum packaged. The ultra-small resonant structure portion of the device may be grounded or connected to a known electrical potential. The ultra-small resonant structure may be electrically connected to the underlying IC, or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Jonathan Gorrell
  • Patent number: 7800089
    Abstract: A printing system includes a platen; a photosensor including an integrated lens; a light source configured to provide light, the light source including an integrated lens; and an aperture disposed to provide a field of view, the field of view being a portion of a plane parallel to the platen, wherein reflected light from the light source passes through the aperture to the photosensor without passing through an external lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Greg M. Burke, Brian Sinofsky, Yang Shi
  • Patent number: RE48527
    Abstract: A vehicle control system having a controller and a spatial database adapted to provide spatial data to the controller at control speed. The spatial data provided from the spatial database to the controller includes images collected from an optical sensor subsystem in addition to other data collected by a variety of sensor types, including a GNSS or inertial measurement system. The spatial data received by the controller from the database forms at least part of the control inputs that the controller operates on to control the vehicle. The advantage provided by the present invention allows control system to “think” directly in terms of spatial location. A vehicle control system in accordance with one particular embodiment of the invention comprises a task path generator, a spatial database, at least one external spatial data receiver, a vehicle attitude compensation module, a position error generator, a controller, and actuators to control the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: David R. Reeve, Andrew John Macdonald, Campbell Robert Morrison