Flaw Detector Patents (Class 348/125)
  • Patent number: 10616556
    Abstract: A 3D track assessment method is disclosed for identifying and assessing features of a railway track bed based on 3D elevation and intensity data gathered from the railway track bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TETRA TECH, INC.
    Inventor: Darel Mesher
  • Patent number: 10616557
    Abstract: A 3D track assessment method is disclosed for identifying and assessing features of a railway track bed based on 3D elevation and intensity data gathered from the railway track bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TETRA TECH, INC.
    Inventor: Darel Mesher
  • Patent number: 10607354
    Abstract: A conveying device includes a conveyor and a carrying member. The conveyor is movable along a transporting path that sequentially defines an upstream segment and a downstream segment, and an outer surface of the conveyor includes a detecting region. The carrying member is mounted on the outer surface of the conveyor. A height of the carrying member with respect to the outer surface is larger than or equal to 3 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: LIPS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yen-Wei Lu, Chi-Chuan Lu
  • Patent number: 10580125
    Abstract: A method of quality inspection is performed by a robotic arm that includes a plurality of segments, a camera at an end of the robotic arm, and a plurality of joints connecting two segments of the plurality of segments. The method includes (i) inspecting, via the camera, a surface of a product with the camera positioned at a first position, (ii) based on the inspecting, identifying: (a) an area of interest on the surface of the product, and (b) a relative location of the area of interest on the surface, (iii) positioning, based on the relative location of the area of interest on the surface, the camera at a second position, and (iv) inspecting, via the camera, the area of interest on the surface of the product with the camera positioned at the second position. Inspecting the area of interest includes inspecting a subset of the surface of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dongyan Wang, Haisong Gu, Tao Liu
  • Patent number: 10582187
    Abstract: A 3D track assessment method is disclosed for identifying and assessing features of a railway track bed based on 3D elevation and intensity data gathered from the railway track bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TETRA TECH, INC.
    Inventor: Darel Mesher
  • Patent number: 10579890
    Abstract: A method of aligning a 3D CAD model to a test object in a machine vision system comprising steps of orienting the 3D CAD model in a model window, placing the test object on a motion stage in an orientation approximately matching the orientation of the 3D model, taking a video image of the test object with the video camera and extracting a peripheral boundary in a datum plane normal to the viewing axis of the video camera, extracting a silhouette boundary of the 3D model in a corresponding datum plane, relatively positioning the silhouette boundary of the 3D model to match the peripheral boundary of the test object using a fitting algorithm, and matching coordinates of points in the 3D model to coordinates of corresponding points of the test object referenced within the corresponding datum plane and along the viewing axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: QUALITY VISION INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Edward T. Polidor, Attila Prokai
  • Patent number: 10565699
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for detecting an anomaly in a plant pipe using multiple meta-learning. When a multi-sensor data stream about a plant pipe is received, each of a plurality of meta-learning modules for processing different packet section ranges, extracts one or more preset types of features from sensor data of packet section ranges set according to trend from an arbitrary reception time point, generates 2D image features of the features according to multi-sensor-specific times, generates 3D volume features by accumulating the 2D image features in a depth direction according to multiple sensors, and learns the 3D volume features in parallel through multi-sensor-specific learning modules. Results of the learning of the meta-learning modules are aggregated, and it is determined whether there is an anomaly in a plant pipe according to a learning result selected based on an optimal combination of multiple features, multiple sensors, and multiple packet sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignees: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Ji Hoon Bae, Gwan Joong Kim, Se Won Oh, Doo Byung Yoon, Wan Seon Lim, Kwi Hoon Kim, Nae Soo Kim, Sun Jin Kim, Cheol Sig Pyo
  • Patent number: 10523937
    Abstract: A method for noise shaping includes: reducing a bit-depth of an input signal to obtain a quantized input signal; feeding a quantization error corresponding to the bit-depth reduction of the input signal into a feedback loop to the input signal, the feedback loop comprising a first quantization stage, a second quantization stage and a correction stage, both the first and second quantization stages operating at the bit-depth of the input signal and the correction stage operating at a bit-depth of the quantization error; and generating a noise-shaped output signal at lower clock rate than the input signal based on the feedback loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kerner, Nati Dinur, Assaf Gurevitz
  • Patent number: 10484666
    Abstract: A computer vision camera unit comprising first and second pairs, of image capture assemblies, both of which have an approximately same orientation to a first axis. The first and second pairs are optically focused to capture first and second fields of view that, at least, overlap each other. Providing the first and second pairs with imager chips of differing light sensitivity permits high dynamic range to be realized. Having the second field of view within the first field of view permits specialization, between the first and second pairs, similar to the roles of peripheral and foveal vision, found in biological stereo vision systems. The image capture assemblies can be organized in a rectangular configuration that implies third and fourth pairs, orthogonal to the first and second pairs. The orthogonal but interlocking nature, of the first and second pairs in relation to the third and fourth pairs, enables an autocalibration technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: Herman Herman
  • Patent number: 10466677
    Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein include an assessment system and process for assessing an industrial machine and its various sections, sub-sections, and parts. In embodiments, the assessment system includes an assessment device that includes an assessment overviewer and a part assessor. The assessment overviewer provides an assessor with a selectable industrial machine schematic that illustrates the assessment status of each section of the industrial machine, such as by changing the appearance of each section based its assessment status. The part assessor provides a part assessment interface with engineering instructions and a part grading user interface that provides for a comparison of digital images to complete the part grading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Jonathan Bendert, Pier Paolo Piattini, Francesc Diaz Trias, Chandrakanth Reddy Boppidi, Venkatesh Lingineni, Martin Rinak, Karol Sykora, Martin Velgos
  • Patent number: 10460195
    Abstract: A luminance variation (dI) pertaining to each pixel is calculated (21) using a plurality of captured images obtained by image capturing under different illumination conditions, a texture variation (dF) pertaining to each pixel is calculated (22) using a plurality of captured images obtained by image capturing at different time points, and a subject region is extracted (23) based on the luminance variation (dI) and the texture variation (dF). A variation in the texture feature (F) pertaining to each pixel between the images is calculated as the texture variation (dF). The subject can be extracted with a high accuracy even when there are changes in the ambient light or the background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yudai Nakamura, Tomonori Fukuta, Masashi Kamiya, Masahiro Naito
  • Patent number: 10432639
    Abstract: A bit vector representing access permissions associated with respective vertices of a graph data set is generated. At least a portion of the bit vector is read, and a first graph analytics algorithm is performed. The algorithm comprises determining, based at least in part on a portion of the bit vector, whether access permission to one or more vertices of the graph data set is granted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Bebee, Bryan B. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10429314
    Abstract: A single-shot metrology for direct inspection of an entirety of the interior of an EUV vessel is provided. An EUV vessel including an inspection tool integrated with the EUV vessel is provided. During an inspection process, the inspection tool is moved into a primary focus region of the EUV vessel. While the inspection tool is disposed at the primary focus region and while providing a substantially uniform and constant light level to an interior of the EUV vessel by way of an illuminator, a panoramic image of an interior of the EUV vessel is captured by way of a single-shot of the inspection tool. Thereafter, a level of tin contamination on a plurality of components of the EUV vessel is quantified based on the panoramic image of the interior of the EUV vessel. The quantified level of contamination is compared to a KPI, and an OCAP may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Lin Louis Chang, Shang-Chieh Chien, Shang-Ying Wu, Li-Kai Cheng, Tzung-Chi Fu, Bo-Tsun Liu, Li-Jui Chen, Po-Chung Cheng, Anthony Yen, Chia-Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 10418392
    Abstract: An image sensor and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The image sensor includes a pixel sensing circuit, a pixel electrode, and an opto-electrical conversion layer. The pixel sensing circuit is corresponding to a plurality of pixel regions. The pixel electrode is disposed on the pixel sensing circuit. The pixel electrode includes a first electrode and a second electrode and is electrically connected to the pixel sensing circuit. The first electrode and the second electrode are coplanar, and have different polarities. The opto-electrical conversion layer is disposed on the pixel sensing circuit. The opto-electrical conversion layer includes a plurality of opto-electrical conversion portions, each of the opto-electrical conversion portions is corresponding to each of the pixel regions, and the opto-electrical conversion portions are separated from each other by a pixel isolation trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Pei-Wen Yen, Yan-Rung Lin, Kai-Ping Chuang, Sheng-Min Yu
  • Patent number: 10403657
    Abstract: An image sensor and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The image sensor includes a pixel sensing circuit, a pixel electrode, and an opto-electrical conversion layer. The pixel sensing circuit is corresponding to a plurality of pixel regions. The pixel electrode is disposed on the pixel sensing circuit. The pixel electrode includes a first electrode and a second electrode and is electrically connected to the pixel sensing circuit. The first electrode and the second electrode are coplanar, and have different polarities. The opto-electrical conversion layer is disposed on the pixel sensing circuit. The opto-electrical conversion layer includes a plurality of opto-electrical conversion portions, each of the opto-electrical conversion portions is corresponding to each of the pixel regions, and the opto-electrical conversion portions are separated from each other by a pixel isolation trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Pei-Wen Yen, Yan-Rung Lin, Kai-Ping Chuang, Sheng-Min Yu
  • Patent number: 10366645
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lighting-on device and a method for cell test. The lighting-on device includes a movable unit including a first marker; an image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image indicating an actual relative positional relationship between the first marker and a second marker on a display panel; a calculation unit configured to calculate the actual relative positional relationship between the first marker and the second marker according to the image; a first position adjustment unit configured to drive the movable unit so as to adjust the actual relative positional relationship; and a first control unit configured to determine whether the adjusted actual relative positional relationship has been aligned by the first position adjustment unit according to the relative positional relationship between the first marker and the second marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., FUZHOU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Wang, Jaeyoung Joo, Hongyan Guo, Yo Seop Cheong, Yang Yu, Zongtian Xie, Zengyang Jiang, Cundui Tang, Lingling Fan, Huailiang Wu
  • Patent number: 10352869
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes an illumination device including an arch-like lighting unit that is provided around an inspection target in a circular arc form and emits light toward the inspection target, imaging devices that capture images of a light reflection surface of the inspection target by which the light emitted from the arch-like lighting unit is reflected, and a determination device that inspects the light reflection surface of the inspection target on the basis of the images captured by the imaging devices. As a result, the inspection apparatus provides an effect of preventing the apparatus from being increased in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryuhei Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10345373
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes receiving a semiconductor device structure having a to-be-inspected feature. The semiconductor device structure has a first surface and a second surface. The method also includes applying a polymer-containing solution over the first surface of the semiconductor device structure. The method further includes disposing a transparent substrate over the first surface of the semiconductor device structure and the polymer-containing solution. In addition, the method includes irradiating the polymer-containing solution with a light to form an adhesive layer between the transparent substrate and the semiconductor device structure. The adhesive layer bonds the transparent substrate and the semiconductor device structure. The method also includes inspecting the to-be-inspected feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Baohua Niu, Chia-Nan Ke, Chi-Chun Lin
  • Patent number: 10338564
    Abstract: A system for processing a work-piece including a sheet of material into pieces includes a production environment configured for collecting data characterizing the work-piece and for subsequently cutting the work-piece into a plurality of products; and a development environment separate from the production environment, the development environment configured for receiving characterization data from the production environment, developing a nesting strategy for cutting the work-piece and providing the nesting strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: GERBER TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Gordon, William T. Lord, Todd Alan Rhodes
  • Patent number: 10311559
    Abstract: To present a determination result with respect to input data and also a reason of the determination result to a user, an extraction unit configured to extract a plurality of feature amounts from an image including an inspection target object, a determination unit configured to determine an anomaly degree of the inspection target object on the basis of the extracted feature amounts, and an image generation unit configured to generate a defect display image representing a defect included in the inspection target object on the basis of contribution degrees of the respective feature amounts with respect to the determined anomaly degree are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Takimoto, Yusuke Mitarai, Katsuhiko Mori, Tomotaka Fujimori
  • Patent number: 10262189
    Abstract: A method for co-registering images of tissue slices stained with different biomarkers displays a first digital image of a first tissue slice on a graphical user interface such that an area of the first image is enclosed by a frame. Then a portion of a second image of a second tissue slice is displayed such that the area of the first image enclosed by the frame is co-registered with the displayed portion of the second image. The displayed portion of the second image has the shape of the frame. The tissue slices are both z slices of a tissue sample taken at corresponding positions in the x and y dimensions. The displayed portion of the second image is shifted in the x and y dimensions to coincide with the area of the first image that is enclosed by the frame as the user shifts the first image under the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Definiens AG
    Inventors: Ralf Schoenmeyer, Gerd Binnig, Guenter Schmidt, Maria Athelogou, Peter Ellenberg
  • Patent number: 10242246
    Abstract: A method to encode and decode a digital fingerprint code by an identification encoder and an identification decoder wherein the digital fingerprint code includes a plurality of N-bit data embedded on a set of curves by changed thicknesses in the curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: AGFA NV
    Inventor: Rudolf Bartels
  • Patent number: 10192308
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising: a division unit configured to divide, into a plurality of partial regions, a region of interest obtained from each of cross sections of a first image and a second image; a statistic information calculation unit configured to calculate statistic information of pixels included in the partial region; a degree-of-coincidence calculation unit configured to calculate a degree of coincidence between the pieces of statistic information for a partial region in the first image and a partial region in a pair of cross-sectional positions in the first image and the second image; and a specifying unit configured to specify positions of corresponding cross sections between the first image and the second image based on comparison between evaluation values each obtained by integrating the degrees of coincidence over all of the plurality of partial regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keita Nakagomi
  • Patent number: 10184897
    Abstract: A method for processing a plurality of sheet material includes receiving a plurality of sheets of material, transporting, via a transport mechanism, the plurality of sheets, one sheet at a time, past a first image capture device, obtaining, via a first image capture device, a first image of a first set of one or more of the plurality of sheets while being transported past the first image capture device, and determining, via at least one processor, a first caliper measurement of the first set of one or more of the plurality of sheets based on the first image of each of the first set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Packaging Corporation of America
    Inventor: Benjamin Frank
  • Patent number: 10033913
    Abstract: An array imaging module includes a molded photosensitive assembly which includes a supporting member, at least a circuit board, at least two photosensitive units, at least two lead wires, and a mold sealer. The photosensitive units are coupled at the chip coupling area of the circuit board. The lead wires are electrically connected the photosensitive units at the chip coupling area of the circuit board. The mold sealer includes a main mold body and has two optical windows. When the main mold body is formed, the lead wires, the circuit board and the photosensitive units are sealed and molded by the main mold body of the mold sealer, such that after the main mold body is formed, the main mold body and at least a portion of the circuit board are integrally formed together at a position that the photosensitive units are aligned with the optical windows respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Ningbo Sunny Opotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingzhu Wang, Bojie Zhao, Takehiko Tanaka, Nan Guo, Zhenyu Chen, Heng Jiang, Zhongyu Luan, Fengsheng Xi, Feifan Chen, Liang Ding
  • Patent number: 10025981
    Abstract: A method of operating an image detection device includes receiving an image, dividing the image into a plurality of patches, grouping ones of the plurality of patches, generating a set of saccadic paths through the plurality of patches of the image, generating a cluster-direction sequence for each saccadic path, generating a policy function for identifying an object in a new image using a combination of the cluster-direction sequences, and operating the image detection device using the policy function to identify an object in the new image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ban Kawas, Arvind Kumar, Janusz Marecki, Sharathchandra U. Pankanti
  • Patent number: 9965850
    Abstract: A device for detecting and marking differences between two substrates, such as images or written text. The device has an image capturing device that is in communication with image recognition software. Images of a secondary images are analyzed and compared to a primary image to detect differences between the two. Once a difference is detected, the device automatically disperses a marking material in the proximity of the detected difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: Bernard Fryshman
  • Patent number: 9933572
    Abstract: The base member 3 can be attached to and detached from a base-holding member 5 without using tools and the like. The base-holding member 5 has a positioning mechanism that decides the position of the base member 3 on the base-holding member 5. Here, a reference part that decides the position of the base member 3 on the base-holding member 5 in a direction parallel to an optical fiber installation surface 2, which is an upper surface of the base member 3, is called a horizontal positioning reference part. Also, a reference part that decides the position of the base member 3 on the base-holding member in a direction vertical to the optical fiber installation surface 2 (the direction vertical to the horizontal positioning reference part), which is the upper surface of the base member 3, is called a vertical positioning reference part 6. That is, the horizontal positioning reference part and the vertical positioning reference part 6 are provided on the base-holding member 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignees: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD., SEIWA GIKEN INC.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Akiyama, Takashi Tanaka, Kenji Mori
  • Patent number: 9928599
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for detecting an object in an image, and particularly, an apparatus and a method for detecting a vehicle in an image. The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an apparatus and a method for object detection based on dominant pixel information which generate an average image and a standard deviation image of training object images, acquire a feature area representing a feature of a training object, and detect an object by using a value acquired by calculating a similarity between the average image in the feature area and a target image as a feature vector to efficiently detect a target object with a small calculation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: INDUSTRY—ACADEMIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION, YONSEI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Euntai Kim, Jisu Kim, Jeonghyun Baek
  • Patent number: 9908293
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system and equipment assembly for the manufacture of three-dimensionally printed articles is provided. The equipment assembly includes a three-dimensional printing build system, an optional liquid removal system and an optional harvester system. The build system includes a conveyor, plural build modules and at least one build station having a powder-layering system and a printing system. The equipment assembly can be used to manufacture pharmaceutical, medical, and non-pharmaceutical/non-medical objects. It can be used to prepare single or multiple articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: APRECIA PHARMACEUTICALS LLC
    Inventors: Jaedeok Yoo, Thomas J. Bradbury, Thomas J. Bebb, James Iskra, Henry L. Surprenant, Thomas G. West
  • Patent number: 9898808
    Abstract: A method is described to increase the efficiency of the removal of defects from document images by reorienting the conceptual framework within which an image is filtered. Rather than arbitrarily applying a filter to an entire landscape of a document image, the disclosure describes a methodology by which a document image is separated into regions of darkness and regions of light, or viewed alternatively, regions of darkness and regions of lack of darkness. Filtering is then adaptively applied to each region to remove defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Assocation (USAA)
    Inventors: Reynaldo Medina, III, Bharat Prasad
  • Patent number: 9885668
    Abstract: A surface inspection device includes an opening defining an aperture plane, one or more optical transceivers, and a processor. Each optical transceiver includes a light emitter and a light receiver that are arranged in different directions with respect to the aperture plane when viewed from above a virtual normal line of the aperture plane. The processor acquires detection values from the optical transceivers and calculates an evaluation value of a degree of variation in the detection values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi Komatsu, Yoshihisa Abe, Wataru Yamaguchi, Yosuke Takebe
  • Patent number: 9870503
    Abstract: A method of operating an image detection device includes receiving an image, dividing the image into a plurality of patches, grouping ones of the plurality of patches, generating a set of saccadic paths through the plurality of patches of the image, generating a cluster-direction sequence for each saccadic path, generating a policy function for identifying an object in a new image using a combination of the cluster-direction sequences, and operating the image detection device using the policy function to identify an object in the new image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ban Kawas, Arvind Kumar, Janusz Marecki, Sharathchandra U. Pankanti
  • Patent number: 9841567
    Abstract: An optical scanning adapter for shifting the imaging axis of an inspection probe for inspecting fiber endfaces of a multiple-fiber connector includes a housing, a fitting tip having a mating interface for interfacing with the connector, an imaging assembly, an x-direction driving mechanism, a y-direction driving mechanism, and a connecting portion for connecting an inspection probe. The imaging assembly includes a first lens, a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and a second lens. The connector endfaces are placed on the front focal plane of the first lens. The x-direction driving mechanism shifts the imaging axis of the imaging assembly along a first direction by translating the first lens and the first reflective surface together, whereas the y-direction driving mechanism shifts the imaging axis along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction by turning the second reflective surface about the optical axis of the second lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: LIGHTEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ge Zhou, Shangyuan Huang
  • Patent number: 9831110
    Abstract: A wafer alignment system includes an image capture device that captures an image of a wafer positioned on a pedestal. An image analysis module analyzes the image to detect an edge of the wafer and a notch formed in the edge of the wafer and calculates, based on a position of the notch, first and second edge positions corresponding to the edge of the wafer. An offset calculation module calculates an angular offset of the wafer based on the first position and the second edge positions. A system control module controls transfer of the wafer from the pedestal to a process cell based on the angular offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gustavo G. Francken, Brandon Senn, Peter Thaulad, Zhuozhi Chen, Richard K. Lyons, Christian DiPietro, Christopher M. Bartlett
  • Patent number: 9805461
    Abstract: A reference density profile is generated in an outer circumference direction of a pipe having a reference welded portion on the basis of a reference fluoroscopic image generated from a radiation detection medium when a radiation source is disposed on a central axis of the pipe. A weld inspection density profile is generated in an outer circumference direction of a pipe having an inspection target welded portion on the basis of a weld inspection fluoroscopic image. On the basis of the reference density profile and the weld inspection density profile, density correction information is calculated. The density correction information is for correcting density irregularities in the weld inspection fluoroscopic image in the outer circumference direction of the pipe. On the basis of the density correction information, the density irregularities in the weld inspection fluoroscopic image arc corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Makiko Nagashima, Yasunori Narukawa
  • Patent number: 9793092
    Abstract: A charged particle beam apparatus has a charged particle beam column configured to irradiate a charged particle beam, and a controller configured to control the charged particle beam column to irradiate the charged particle beam at a first pixel interval for a first region and to irradiate the charged particle beam at a second pixel interval different from the first pixel interval for a second region included in the first region. The first and second regions include plural first and second pixels each including first and second sub-pixels which are irradiated by the charged particle beam to generate secondary electrons. First and second sub-pixel images are formed based on the detected secondary electrons, and the first and second sub-pixel images are synthesized to form first and second images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH SCIENCE Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Muramatsu, Tomokazu Kozakai, Fumio Aramaki
  • Patent number: 9732380
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring the amplification of DNA molecules and the dissociation behavior of the DNA molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenton C. Hasson, Gregory A. Dale, John P. Keady
  • Patent number: 9734609
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transprojection of geometry data acquired by a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). The CMM acquires geometry data corresponding to 3D coordinate measurements collected by a measuring probe that are transformed into scaled 2D data that is transprojected upon various digital object image views captured by a camera. The transprojection process can utilize stored image and coordinate information or perform live transprojection viewing capabilities in both still image and video modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hexagon Metrology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandeep Pulla, Homer Eaton
  • Patent number: 9721163
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a degree-of-relevance calculation unit calculates a degree of relevance between each of a plurality of images on the basis of a person's face, determination results of scenes and objects, GPS information, and a degree of similarity. An important image extraction unit extracts images captured over a certain period of time including a reference date for determining a degree of importance of the image, and images captured over a certain period of time including a relevant date relevant to the reference date, as important image, from the plurality of images. A relevant image extraction unit extracts a certain number of images as relevant images from important images in which the degree of relevance for a selected image selected from the plurality of images by an instruction which is input through an instruction input unit is equal to or greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kei Yamaji
  • Patent number: 9699416
    Abstract: An image of the filter end faces of a bundle of cigarettes arranged side by side with axes thereof paralleled is acquired as an inspection image, and the diameters of the individual cigarettes of the bundle in the inspection image are obtained and compared with normal diameters associated with the respective cigarettes in the inspection image, to determine axial displacement of cigarettes from the bundle (first determination section). Also, the centers of gravity of the end faces of the individual cigarettes are obtained, and based on the difference between an inter-center-of-gravity distance which is the distance between an outermost cigarette in the bundle and its adjacent cigarette, and an inter-center-of-gravity distance which is the distance between adjacent cigarettes located in the central part of the bundle and belonging to the same tier as the outermost cigarette, axial displacement of the outermost cigarettes is determined (second determination section).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventor: Jun Sato
  • Patent number: 9685025
    Abstract: An optical sensing system for detecting objects passing through a volume of interest, wherein the sensing system has an emitter and a detector. The detector detects motion of object shadows generated as the object passes through the volume of interest between the emitter and detector. Motion detection algorithms, using computed motion vectors of the detected object, logically determine whether an object has traveled completely through the detection space, and can be used to discriminate a specific outcomes and/or impediments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Softronics, Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Sternowski, James G. Sliney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9679744
    Abstract: A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is configured so that SEM images are acquired while scanning a pyramid pattern on a sample plane from four directions. Landing angle of the electron beam is calculated from these SEM images, which are then averaged, whereby inclination angle of the electron beam that is less influenced from scan distortion can be found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Masumi Shirai
  • Patent number: 9619872
    Abstract: A method is described to increase the efficiency of the removal of defects from document images by reorienting the conceptual framework within which an image is filtered. Rather than arbitrarily applying a filter to an entire landscape of a document image, the disclosure describes a methodology by which a document image is separated into regions of darkness and regions of light, or viewed alternatively, regions of darkness and regions of lack of darkness. Filtering is then adaptively applied to each region to remove defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Reynaldo Medina, III, Bharat Prasad
  • Patent number: 9613443
    Abstract: A method for generating a representation of a polyline formed by a sequence of points determines an overcomplete set of geometric primitives that redundantly fit overlapping sections of the polyline. The overcomplete fitting is performed such that the set includes one or more types of geometric primitives, each fitted to a section of the polyline formed by a subset of the sequence of points. The method determines a local cost of each geometric primitive based on a combination of a fitting error and an encoding cost of the geometric primitive, and determines a join cost of each successive pair of adjacent primitives. Next, the method determines a combination of the geometric primitives forming a connected path along a length of the polyline such that a sum of the local costs of the geometric primitives and the join costs of adjacent primitives in the combination is optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Brand, Tim K. Marks, Rohith MV
  • Patent number: 9589331
    Abstract: Results of automatic detection of dirt or other non-steady defects in a sequence of digitized image frames can be unreliable. Here, a determination of a detection of a defective object to be replaced by a replacement pattern in a frame of a sequence of image frames as a misdetection is presented that comprises determining a value of a first similarity measure between a boundary of the detected defective object and a boundary of the replacement pattern and determining a value of a second similarity measure between the detected defective object and the replacement pattern. The detection of the defective object is determined as a misdetection if at least one of the following holds true: the value of the first similarity measure is outside of a corresponding first similarity acceptance range and the value of the second similarity measure is inside of a corresponding second similarity acceptance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Oliver Theis
  • Patent number: 9568303
    Abstract: A sealing inspection device includes a scan unit through which a display device substrate including a top plate coupled to a bottom plate by a sealing member in the sealed area passes; and a photographing unit through which the display device substrate which has passed through the scan unit, further passes. The scan unit generates coordinate values of the sealed area of the display device substrate, detects a defective region in the sealed area of the display device substrate, and includes a plurality of scan cameras. The photographing unit generates an image of the sealed area of the display device substrate using the generated coordinate values, measures an effective sealing width of the sealed area using the generated image, and comprises a measuring camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wan-Jae Joo
  • Patent number: 9563816
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus comprises a first feature extraction unit configured to extract, as a first feature, a feature of a component assembly in which components are assembled for each of viewpoints; a second feature extraction unit configured to extract a feature of the components as a second feature for each of the viewpoints; and a determination unit configured to determine, based on the first feature and the second feature, a viewpoint for inspecting an assembled state of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sonoko Miyatani
  • Patent number: 9560248
    Abstract: A camera module can include a lens housing, an imaging unit and a driving motor. The lens housing can include a first lens module, a second lens module and a lens holder holding the first lens module and the second lens module. The imaging unit is located between the first lens module and the second lens module. The imaging unit is in optical alignment with the first lens module and the second lens module. The driving motor is coupled to the lens housing and configured to drive the lens housing to move relative to the imaging unit. When the driving motor drives the first lens module and the second lens module to move relative to the imaging unit, distance between the imaging unit and the first lens module is changed, or a distance between the imaging unit and the second lens module is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chia-Hung Liao
  • Patent number: 9483820
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting a damaged machine component during operation of the machine are provided. The damaged machine component detection system includes one or more processors, one or more memory devices communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, an image capture device configured to generate a stream of temporally-spaced images of a scene including a machine component of interest, the images generated in real-time, and a grouping model configured to compare features of a current image of the stream of images to features of previously captured images sorted into a plurality of groups of images having similar features, generate an alert if predetermined features of the current image deviate from corresponding features of the grouped images by a predetermined amount, and update the groups with the current image if the predetermined features of the current image are similar to corresponding features of the grouped images by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ser Nam Lim, Jilin Tu, Li Guan, Craig Ronald Hoffmann