Using Optical Instrument (excludes Mere Human Eyeballing) Patents (Class 29/407.04)
  • Patent number: 11816519
    Abstract: A code display medium includes a code image display portion which arranges a plurality of code images side by side in a circumferential direction around an axis of screw fastening and which displays the plurality of code images so as to be optically readable, each of the plurality of code images including identification information for identifying at least one of a fastening material for the screw fastening and/or an object to be fastened by the screw fastening and a fixing portion which fixes the code image display portion to a position that is on the object to be fastened and that can be simultaneously captured with the fastening material in a state where the screw fastening is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Mitsuru Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 11648604
    Abstract: A robot vision-based automatic rivet placement system and method. The automatic rivet placement system includes: an industrial robot installed on a frame, a multi-functional end effector, a rivet blowing mechanism, a detection disk, and a rivet holding tray. The multi-functional end effector consists of a flange disk, a support frame, an industrial CCD camera, a laser displacement sensor, a spring, a mixing rod, and a vacuum nozzle. The multi-functional end effector is connected to a terminal end of the industrial robot via the flange disk. The industrial CCD camera is installed directly in front of the support frame, and is used to acquire a rivet image and measure a rivet parameter. The laser displacement sensor is installed at a side surface of the support frame, and is used to measure a rivet depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS
    Inventors: Wei Tian, Yi Zheng, Zhiwei Zhuang, Wenhe Liao, Lin Zhang, Bo Li, Junshan Hu
  • Patent number: 11529678
    Abstract: The method can include: using a mold, casting an encapsulation onto a workpiece including solidifying the encapsulation around the workpiece in the mold and extracting the encapsulation from the mold, and cooling the extracted encapsulation using a vortex tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Maurice Cameron
  • Patent number: 11477928
    Abstract: A component mounting device includes a component supply device that supplies a component to a component supply position by using a component housing tape, a head unit provided with a suction nozzle that can be moved up and down, a first image capturing unit that captures the component supplied to the component supply position, and a component posture determination unit that determines the posture of the component supplied to the component supply position. Based on a captured image captured by the first image capturing unit, the component posture determination unit determines whether the component takes an abnormal posture protruding from a component housing part in a direction intersecting the vertical direction on a horizontal plane in the component housing tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kunimune Komaike
  • Patent number: 11460294
    Abstract: A system and method for processing a flexible part comprising holding the flexible part securely in an unconstrained position using a holder; and controlling a positioner to process the flexible part based on a comparison of a shape and/or position of the flexible part in the unconstrained position with design specifications of the part not in the unconstrained position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: PAR SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Charles J. Habermann, Dean R. LaValle, Thomas E. Marrinan
  • Patent number: 11317549
    Abstract: A component mounting machine including a component supply device to supply a component to a supply position; a component transfer device to pick up the component from the supply position and mount the component on a board; a component detecting section to detect whether the component is present at the supply position before or while the component is being picked up by the component mounting tool; a holding detecting section to detect whether the component mounting tool is holding the component following pickup; and a retry performing section to determine whether to perform a retry operation of attempting to pick up the component again using the component mounting tool based on a detection result of the component detecting section and a detection result of the holding detecting section, and to perform the retry operation in accordance with a result of the determining of whether to perform the retry operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rie Kito, Hidetoshi Kawai, Norio Hosoi, Mizuho Nozawa, Jun Iisaka, Hidetoshi Ito, Shingo Fujimura, Kenzo Ishikawa, Yusuke Yamakage
  • Patent number: 11280445
    Abstract: Provided is a structural body, formed in a plate-like shape and positioned with respect to an assembly jig including a positioning pin and supporting a first surface of the structural body, including a positioning hole formed through an end portion, a positioning protrusion being inserted into the positioning hole; and a pair of first position detection areas formed on a second surface of the end portion through which the positioning hole is formed. The positioning hole is formed apart from an axis line connecting the pair of first position detection areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Azusawa, Takayuki Shimizu, Kenichi Tsuruda, Hiroki Azuma, Takuya Goto
  • Patent number: 11247317
    Abstract: A control device is provided with a communication unit and a processing unit. The communication unit makes communication with a tool that is used for the work of fastening a fastener (for example, a screw) and with an image pickup unit for capturing an image of the work site where the work is being performed. The processing unit executes a determination process of determining whether or not the work is being performed normally on the basis of the fastening torque applied to the fastener by the tool and the image captured by the image pickup unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11167339
    Abstract: A method is provided for filling a rivet cartridge with rivet elements by means of a rivet loading station having a rivet delivery unit for delivering the rivet elements and having a rivet cartridge receiving means for receiving a rivet cartridge. The rivet elements are supplied from the rivet delivery unit to a rivet cartridge which is received in the rivet cartridge receiving means and are received therein in an aligned manner. The rivet loading station detects pre-determined characteristics of the rivet elements that are relevant to the drilling process and/or the riveting process prior to supplying them to the rivet cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventor: Christoph Eusterwiemann
  • Patent number: 11148285
    Abstract: A method for operating a hand-guided robot having a jointed arm and an end effector is provided. As part of the method, a moment is measured at each joint while the robot is being hand-guided or subjected to a mechanical tension due to contact with an external object. Based on the measured moment, an external moment affecting the robot is determined. Then, a correction factor for a position of the end effector is computed based on the external moment and an absolute accurate model of the robot. Then, a current position of the end effector is computed based on a correction model in dependence on the correction factor. A corresponding storage medium, data processing device, robotic system, and tracking system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Holger Mönnich
  • Patent number: 11135637
    Abstract: A method for determining the quality of a joint fabricated in a plurality of metal sheets by a joining device and a control method. The joining device comprises a drive element, and a hold-down device The method may have the following steps: moving the drive element to move the punch and, via at least one first and one second spring, the hold-down device; recording of a force applied by the drive element with a first sensor and of a distance covered by the drive element with a second sensor during a movement of the drive element in a mating direction and opposite thereto as a force/displacement curve; and comparing a linear relief range in the recorded curve with a reference curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Draht, Stefan Rehling
  • Patent number: 11054666
    Abstract: A lens device includes a hollow base, a calibration ring, and a lens assembly. The hollow base includes a bottom surface and an assembly plane opposite to the bottom surface. The assembly plane has a through hole. The calibration ring includes a shaft hole, a first annular surface, and a second annular surface axially opposite to the first annular surface. An inner wall of the shaft hole has an internal thread. The shaft hole corresponds to the through hole of the hollow base. The second annular surface is fixed on the assembly plane of the hollow base via a curing adhesive layer. The lens assembly includes a lens barrel. The lens barrel has an external thread. The lens barrel is screwed to the internal thread of the calibration ring by the external thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: CHICONY ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsung-You Wang, Jin-Kae Jang
  • Patent number: 11020799
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a marking method and a marking device for a casting that are, even when foreign matter is adhered to a casting to be marked, capable of making an effective and appropriate mark on the casting. [Solution] Detect foreign matter on an outer surface of a casting 100, set marking locations 118, 120-1, 120-2, and make a mark on the marking locations 118, 120-1, 120-2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: SINTOKOGIO, LTD.
    Inventors: Douta Sato, Takehiro Sugino
  • Patent number: 11014244
    Abstract: Disclosed are a robot system for assembling components and a control method thereof. The control method compares location coordinates of a robot in a vision coordinate system with location coordinates in a robot coordinate system and calculates a first correction value, calculates a second correction value from a difference between location coordinates of a correction tool and a component, and calculates a third correction value from location coordinates of components located at predetermined spaced locations and spacing coordinates, thereby precisely assembling components and performing inspection of the assembling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SUNGWOO HITECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaekyun Kim, Kwang Wook Jeong, Byung Hag Park
  • Patent number: 10994309
    Abstract: A system for identifying and transferring parcels includes a robot singulator configured to engage and transfer individual parcels in a bulk flow of multiple parcels on a first conveyor to a singulated stream of parcels on a second conveyor. The system further includes a vision and control subsystem, with a first camera for acquiring image data of the bulk flow of multiple parcels, and a computer that receives and processes the image data to identify and segment individual parcels, and then communicates instructions to the robot singulator to engage and transfer each of the individual parcels to the second conveyor. The system may further include a second camera for acquiring image data of the individual parcels to confirm placement on the second conveyor. The system may further include first and second indexing conveyors controlled by the vision and control subsystem for delivering parcels to the robot singulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Material Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Anthony Hillerich, Jr., Michael Alan McCue, Gregory Robert Sturm, David W. Caldwell, II, Derek Robert Sturm
  • Patent number: 10875182
    Abstract: A robot system that includes a remote station and a robot face. The robot face includes a camera that is coupled to a monitor of the remote station and a monitor that is coupled to a camera of the remote station. The robot face and remote station also have speakers and microphones that are coupled together. The robot face may be coupled to a boom. The boom can extend from the ceiling of a medical facility. Alternatively, the robot face may be attached to a medical table with an attachment mechanism. The robot face and remote station allows medical personnel to provide medical consultation through the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: TELADOC HEALTH, INC.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Marco Pinter, Daniel Steven Sanchez, Kevin Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 10864570
    Abstract: A bending angle measuring device has an illumination device with at least one light source and an optical detector with a light-detecting surface. On the bending angle measuring device is arranged at least one axisymmetric body with a reflecting surface. A central axis of the axisymmetric body is arranged such that it is aligned parallel to the bending edge. A first light beam transmitted by the illumination device is reflected from the sheet metal part and as a second light beam is directed onto the axisymmetric body. The second light beam is reflected on the axisymmetric body, and as a third light beam is directed onto the optical detector, in particular onto its light-detecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: TRUMPF MASCHINEN AUSTRIA GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Angerer, Klemens Freudenthaler, Florian Hausmann, Matthias Hoerl, Nenad Kovjenic, Florian Maier, Helmut Theis, Manfred Waldherr
  • Patent number: 10795335
    Abstract: Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by executing various shoe-manufacturing processes in an automated fashion. For example, information describing a shoe part may be determined, such as an identification, an orientation, a color, a surface topography, an alignment, a size, etc. Based on the information describing the shoe part, automated shoe-manufacturing apparatuses may be instructed to apply various shoe-manufacturing processes to the shoe part, such as a pickup and placement of the shoe part with a pickup tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Patrick Conall Regan, Chih-Chi Chang, Chang-Chu Liao, Ming-Feng Jean, Kuo-Hung Lee, Yen-Hsi Liu, Hung-Yu Wu
  • Patent number: 10766145
    Abstract: A robot includes a gripping member configured to move and pick up the object, a camera affixed to the gripping member such that movement of the gripping member causes movement of the camera, the camera configured to measure and store data related to intensity of light and direction of light rays within the environment, an image processing module configured to process the data to generate a probabilistic model defining a location of the object within the environment, and an operation module configured to move the gripping member to the location and pick up the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Brown University
    Inventors: John Oberlin, Stefanie Tellex
  • Patent number: 10703577
    Abstract: Provided is an object conveying system including: a conveying apparatus that conveys an object; one or more cameras that capture images of feature points of the object; a position measuring portion that measures positions of the feature points from the acquired images; a detecting portion that detects a position or a movement velocity of the object; a position correcting portion that corrects the positions of the feature points so as to achieve positions at which the feature points are disposed at the same time; a line-of-sight calculating portion that calculates lines of sight that pass through the feature points on the basis of the corrected positions of the feature points and the positions of the cameras; and a position calculating portion that calculates a three-dimensional position of the object by applying a polygon having a known shape to the calculated lines of sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Ooba
  • Patent number: 10665489
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip (IC) processing tool having a die exchanger configured to automatically transfer a plurality of IC die between a die tray and a die boat, and an associated method. The integrated chip processing tool has a die exchanger configured to receive a die tray comprising a plurality of IC die. The die exchanger is configured to automatically transfer the plurality of IC die between the die tray and a die boat. An IC die processing tool is configured to receive the die boat from the die exchanger and to perform a processing step on the plurality of IC die within the die boat. By operating the die exchanger to automatically transfer IC die between the die tray and the die boat, the transfer time can be reduced and contamination and/or damage risks related to a manual transfer of IC die can be mitigated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Fa Lee, Hsu-Shui Liu, Jiun-Rong Pai, Pin-Yi Hsin, Shou-Wen Kuo, Patrick Lin
  • Patent number: 10646992
    Abstract: A system and method for placing an object, which is to be processed on a production apparatus in a precise position, is provided. The system includes at least one location-determining system for determining a relative location of an object in relation to a production apparatus and a positioning apparatus for positioning the object on the production apparatus. The positioning apparatus has a receiving apparatus for receiving and discharging the object, and a movable arm for moving the object from one location to another. The location-determining system has at least one location-detecting device to detect a relative location of the receiving apparatus in relation to the location-detecting device. The location-detecting device is configured to detect a relative location of the object in relation to the location-detecting device and also a relative location of the production apparatus in relation to the location-detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Remco Zwinderman, Jan Hodde, Stefan Josef Stanglmaier
  • Patent number: 10551181
    Abstract: A board inspection machine includes a carrier conveyance device that loads, positions, and unloads a carrier member on which multiple individual boards are placed, solder paste being printed and a component being mounted on the individual boards; a board lifting-up device that lifts up the individual board, and a flatness inspection device that inspects flatness of the lifted individual board and determines usability of the individual board. As the multiple individual boards are sequentially lifted by the board lifting-up device and the flatness can be sequentially inspected by the flatness inspection device, efficient inspection may be performed. In addition, since full inspection is performed with respect to the flatness of the multiple individual boards, quality of the individual board may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Yamakage
  • Patent number: 10543877
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly for adjusting the geometry of a vehicle suspension. The assembly according to the invention comprises an adjustment head, which includes a supporting plate and an adjustable plate connectable in rigid manner to said wheel discs of the suspension. Such head comprises a joint, which connects the two plates defining a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis for the adjustable plate with respect to the supporting plate. The assembly according to the invention comprises connection means for connecting the adjustable plate to wheel disc. The assembly further comprises toe-in adjustment means, comprising at least one first locating element for the adjustable plate, the position of which is adjustable along a first adjustment axis. The assembly further comprises camber adjustment means, comprising at least one second locating element for said adjustable plate, the position of which is adjustable along a second adjustment axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Jofa S.R.L.
    Inventor: Alessandro Faraglia
  • Patent number: 10509388
    Abstract: There is described a method and system for reshaping a component for assembly that may have been deformed pre-assembly and post-fabrication. As-fabricated measurements are used to determine a baseline for the component and as-mounted measurements are used to determine a deformation parameter as a function of the baseline. The component may be reshaped using correction displacements applied to a positioning device of an assembly tool to which the component is mounted for assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: C SERIES AIRCRAFT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Laurent Regnault, Sebastien Sirois
  • Patent number: 10410172
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an object detection apparatus includes an imaging unit, an extraction unit, an estimation unit, and a detection unit. The imaging unit acquires an image of a plurality of polyhedrons which are loaded, each of the polyhedrons having a marker on a surface, each of marker including a first straight line portion and a second straight line portion. The extraction unit that extracts a plurality of markers included in the image. The estimation unit estimates a region included in the surface by using the first straight line portion and the second straight line portion of the extracted markers. The detection unit detects a region having all corners provided with the markers as a surface of a desired polyhedron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takafumi Sonoura, Akihito Ogawa, Hideichi Nakamoto, Haruna Eto, Rie Katsuki, Junya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10362719
    Abstract: A component mounting machine including a head having two right and left nozzle holders to which suction nozzles are detachably attached, and a nozzle station having multiple sockets for accommodating the suction nozzles. The multiple sockets are arrayed at the same interval as an interval of the right and left nozzle holders. The suction nozzles mounted on the right and left adjacent nozzle holders can be simultaneously returned to right and left empty sockets, and the suction nozzles accommodated in the right and left adjacent sockets can be simultaneously mounted on the right and left nozzle holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Iisaka, Shigeto Oyama
  • Patent number: 10349245
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a sender and a receiver. The sender sends a character in a virtual space to a robot device. The receiver receives authorization to operate the robot device in return for the character sent to the robot device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kengo Tokuchi
  • Patent number: 10295331
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a hazardous zone (2) and a safe optoelectronic distance sensor (1) for monitoring a hazardous zone (2) at a movable machine part (3) having a protected zone (4), wherein the safe distance sensor (1) is arranged at the movable machine part (3), wherein a tool (5) is arranged at the movable machine part (3), wherein a plurality of distance sensors (1) are arranged in a modular manner and wherein the protected zone (4) is adapted to the tool (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Magnus Albert, Markus Hammes, Jorg Sigmund
  • Patent number: 10235801
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the comfort level of a helmet includes the steps of acquiring head shape data by measuring a three-dimensional shape of a head of a wearer of a helmet, inputting inner surface shape data showing a three-dimensional shape of a helmet inner surface, acquiring space information showing a space between the head and the helmet inner surface on the basis of the head shape data and the inner surface shape data, and displaying additional images showing the space information on a display part by superimposing the additional images on i) a shape image showing the inner surface shape data or ii) the shape image showing the head shape data and the inner surface shape data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SHOEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Ebisawa
  • Patent number: 10214275
    Abstract: A method of installing a fixture, such as a bracket, in a fuselage structure of an aircraft includes the steps of: providing or generating a three-dimensional digital model of the fixture; arranging a head of an additive manufacturing apparatus in the fuselage structure; and forming the fixture in situ in the fuselage structure with the head of the additive manufacturing apparatus based upon the digital model of the fixture. The fixture is installed in the fuselage structure by bonding or fusing the fixture to the fuselage structure as the fixture is formed. A fixture, such as a bracket, which is generated in situ in a fuselage structure of an aircraft based upon a three-dimensional digital model, wherein the fixture is bonded or fused to the fuselage structure as the fixture is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Alexander Goehlich
  • Patent number: 10217211
    Abstract: A method for placing electronic components onto a circuit board, comprising the following steps: Placing a component to be placed of a first component type into a starting position; creating a component image of the component to be placed in the starting position; creating a circuit board region image of a circuit board of a first circuit board region type; calculating a travel path for moving the component to be placed into a final position on the circuit board based upon an image overlay of the component image and a previously saved reference component image of a reference component of the first component type, and based upon a previously saved reference travel path of the reference component from a reference starting position into a reference final position on a reference circuit board of the first circuit board region type, and based upon an image overlay of the circuit board region image and a previously saved reference circuit board region image of the reference circuit board; moving the component to be
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: ERSA GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Hofmann, Wolfram Sinn, Sergei Richter
  • Patent number: 10204406
    Abstract: A system includes one or more sets of reflective visual markers, a light source configured to emit light, and a controller communicatively coupled to the light source. Each set of reflective visual markers is coupled to a component of a welding system. Each reflective visual marker is configured to reflect the emitted light received from the light source towards one or more cameras. The controller is configured to control illumination settings of the light source based at least in part on a status of the welding system being utilized to perform a live-arc welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: William Joshua Becker, Jeffrey Dale Weber
  • Patent number: 10197809
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a holographic display system including: a projection object having a three-dimensional shape corresponding to an original item; an image projection unit comprising projectors projecting unit images of parts selected from a three-dimensional image of the original item on the projection object; and a reflector disposed adjacent to the projection object and reflecting images reflected from the projection object to provide an augmented three-dimensional holographic image. In the disclosure, the unit images corresponding to a three-dimensional image of an original item are projected on the projection object having a three-dimensional shape corresponding to the original item using the projectors and reflected by the projection object and augmented by the reflector, thereby providing a virtual image having three dimensional information corresponding to the original item, whereby a proper image is provided to an observer even when the viewpoint of the observer is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: GWANGJU INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yong Yi Lee, Kwan Heng Lee, Moon Gu Son, Bilal Ahmed, Jong Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 10159559
    Abstract: A stent-graft, including a generally tubular vascular graft of biocompatible material, and a plurality of bio-resorbable discrete annular members spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the vascular graft and attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. McDermott
  • Patent number: 10131268
    Abstract: A laser unit (2) for a vehicle headlight with a laser diode (11) and, associated with the laser diode (11), adjustable optics with optical elements comprising at least one collimator, wherein at least one optical element selected from the group consisting of a collimator (13, 22) and a deflection mirror (20) is mounted so that it can pivot about at least one spatial axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Mayer
  • Patent number: 10104275
    Abstract: A lens barrel (3) holding an imaging lens (2) is inserted into a carrier (5) accommodated in an actuator (4), and the carrier (5) is held at a position in an optical axis direction of the imaging lens (2) by the actuator (4). The position of the imaging lens (2) in the optical axis direction and the eccentricity of the imaging lens (2) are adjusted on the basis of imaging information of an image sensor (6), and the lens barrel (3) is fixed to the carrier (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHa
    Inventors: Norimichi Shigemitsu, Yoshihiro Sekimoto, Masahiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10086514
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a robotic method for processing an aircraft component that includes determining feature positions by illuminating with light, imaging the reflected light with a camera, and processing images from the camera. The method further includes determining a position offset of the features by comparing to a model of the aircraft component, determining a path offset for movement by a robot arm, and modifying the aircraft component using a processing tool coupled to the robot arm. A robotic system for processing an aircraft component includes a light emitting device and a camera configured for respectively illuminating and imaging features of an aircraft component, a gripper tool for gripping and moving the aircraft component to a workstation, a processing tool for modifying the aircraft component, and a controller to control the light emitting device, camera, gripper tool, workstation, and processing tool to modify the aircraft component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Fair, Austin Garbers
  • Patent number: 10071455
    Abstract: A tool measuring apparatus for measuring a height of a punch body and a die includes a measurement device that measures a distance from a punch reference position that is set preliminarily to an end surface of the punch body, and a distance from a die reference position that is set preliminarily to an end surface of the die. The punch reference position and the die reference position are placed independently from each other. According to the tool measuring apparatus, it is possible to measure a punch body and a die easily even in a case where a size of the punch body and a size of the die are significantly different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: AMADA COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Masami Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 9902070
    Abstract: A robot system which can adjust the position of a coolant nozzle at a lower cost, that is, a robot system which comprises a robot, a robot controller which controls the operation of the robot, and a notification part which notifies the type of the workpiece which is processed by the machine tool to the robot controller. The robot controller determines the target position of the coolant nozzle with respect to the workpiece to be processed based on the type of the workpiece which is obtained from the notification part and makes the coolant nozzle move by the robot so as to place the coolant nozzle at the target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keisuke Kunihiro
  • Patent number: 9895766
    Abstract: An all-in-one jigless projection loading system for a vehicle is adapted to load and assemble a body component to a vehicle body. The all-in-one jigless projection loading system may include: a fixing bracket fixed to an arm of a robot; a position adjusting member rotatably mounted to the fixing bracket; a gripper mounted to the fixing bracket to be movable backward and forward, and gripping the body component; an array unit mounted to the position adjusting member, and arraying the body component; and a welding unit mounted to the fixing bracket, and projection-welding the body component to a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sung Phil Ryu
  • Patent number: 9855655
    Abstract: A robot system comprises a first robot which supports a suspending jig for suspending a workpiece, a second robot which supports a hand, and a control device which performs cooperative control for causing the first robot and the second robot to operate cooperatively. The hand grasps the workpiece at a portion which is lower than a mating portion of the workpiece. In the robot system, the control device performs cooperative control so that the workpiece is conveyed while a condition in which the hand grasps the article is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Inutake, Daisuke Itou
  • Patent number: 9651935
    Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a physical reference inside an airplane representing the airplane's optimized line of flight based on the as-built orientation of aerodynamically significant features of the airplane. Values generated for aerodynamic pitch, roll and yaw representing the optimized line of flight are used to orient a tool reference surface outside the airplane. The orientation of the tool reference surface is recorded using an inertial reference unit placed on the tool reference surface. The tool reference surface and inertial reference unit are moved into the airplane where they are used to establish the physical reference on the airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Patrick B. Stone
  • Patent number: 9648795
    Abstract: A pick-and-place tool configured to pick and place at least one die on a workpiece includes a mounting head. The mounting head includes a die position determining unit configured to one of measure and detect an actual position of at least one die during a time between the placement of the at least one die on the workpiece and the picking up of a subsequent die for placement on the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: MYCRONIC AB
    Inventors: Per-Erik Gustafsson, Mikael Wahlsten
  • Patent number: 9616429
    Abstract: The invention concerns a control and positioning system for the indication of the mounting position of an exchangeable wear lining element at a surface at a wall that is subject to wear, which may be constituted by, for example, the inner surface of a rotating drum at an ore grinder. The wear lining element is supported at the free end of a maneuverable arm that is a component of a lifting arrangement that is controlled during the handling of the wear lining element during a mounting operation by a crane operator. The wall is provided with a set of mounting holes and the wear lining element is equipped on its lower surface with a set of attachment means. The wear lining element is intended to be tightened against the surface by means of supplementary attachment means that are introduced through the mounting holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Metso Minerals (Sweden) AB
    Inventors: Tage Moller, Lars Furtenbach, Dennis Johansson
  • Patent number: 9572295
    Abstract: In an electronic component mounting method, a light-emitting element is temporarily fixed to a board by solder paste and adhesive, the adhesive is cured to fix a main body of the light-emitting element to the board, and solder is melted to bond a terminal of the light-emitting element to the board. The method includes: detecting a positional deviation of an emission portion in a top surface of the light-emitting element; detecting a position of the light-emitting element in a state in which the light-emitting element is held by an absorption nozzle; positioning the emission portion to a prescribed position on the board based on the positional deviation and the position of the light-emitting element; mounting the light-emitting element on the board at a position deviated from the prescribed position by the positional deviation; curing the adhesive; and heating the board to melt the solder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Azuma, Masayuki Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 9517560
    Abstract: A control apparatus calculates a calibration value based on a position in the robot coordinate system 41 and a position in the vision coordinate system 42, for at least three teaching points set within a calibration area. Markers 21 of two of the three teaching points have the same inclination in relation to an optical axis of a camera 3 as a visual sensor, and the two points are placed on different positions of the same plane normal to the optical axis. The remaining one of the three teaching points other than the two points is set such that the inclination of the marker 21 in relation to the optical axis is different from that of the two points. As a result, influence of a large quantization error in the optical axis direction as a measurement error of the camera 3 can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shingo Amano
  • Patent number: 9501080
    Abstract: A multiple output comparator compares a first input signal and a second input signal. An output mirror circuit receives the comparison and sets an output signal at a first output terminal of the multiple output comparator to a digital state indicating that the magnitude of the is greater than or lesser than the second signal. An offset generator creates an offset signal for adjusting a threshold signal level at the output mirror circuit such that the difference of the and the second signal is combined with the offset signal. The output mirror circuit transfers provides a digital state to another output terminal indicating that the is greater than or lesser than the second signal as adjusted by the adjustment signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Mark Childs
  • Patent number: 9461569
    Abstract: A motor control device controls a motor using an angle data signal and a rotational speed signal output from a rotation detector detecting a rotation state of a rotating shaft of the motor. The motor control device includes a speed control unit that outputs a torque instruction signal corresponding to a difference between the rotational speed of the rotating shaft and a speed instruction using the speed instruction of the rotating shaft and the rotational speed signal, a limit value setting unit that sets a torque limit value indicating the maximum value of the torque applied to the rotating shaft, and a torque limit control unit that limits the torque of the rotating shaft driven by the torque instruction signal to the torque limit value or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Isamu Sejimo, Daisuke Sato
  • Patent number: 9447706
    Abstract: A bearing frame or cylinder head cover of an internal combustion engine may include at least one camshaft mounted therein. The camshaft may be tunnel-mounted in at least two bearing openings arranged along a bearing channel. At least two radial bearings may be arranged on the camshaft, each of the radial bearings having an outer bearing shell. The outer bearing shells of the at least two radial bearings may include different outer diameters, each of the respective outer diameters adapted to be complementary to an inner diameter of the associated bearing opening. The inner diameters of the bearing openings may decrease in a direction of assembly of the camshaft along the bearing channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Dautel, Thomas Flender, Klaus Heidenberger, Antonio Menonna, Kurt Schwellenbach, Stefan Steichele