Quality Inspection Patents (Class 348/92)
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Patent number: 10007981Abstract: A system for imaging and analyzing a vehicle may include a frame having a central passage, wherein the central passage is configured and dimensioned to allow a vehicle to pass through. The frame may include, for example, a pair of substantially vertical legs connected at the top by a cross member, wherein the legs and cross member define the central passage. One or more bollards may be positioned in front of and/or behind the frame. A plurality of cameras within the each leg, cross member, and/or bollard may be directed toward the passage to record video images of a passing vehicle. Integrated LED array panels may provide bands of light to aid in detection of surface anomalies, for example by simultaneous analysis of symmetrical sides of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2016Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: Mountain ForgeInventors: Keith Joseph Gangitano, David Preston Graton
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Patent number: 9990536Abstract: In various examples there is an image combiner comprising a memory storing two or more frames being images depicting the same scene; and at least one processor. The memory holds instructions executable by the processor to select at least one of the frames and designate it as a reference frame and to designate the other frames as target frames. The instructions align the target frames to the reference frame and compute an output image by combining the reference frame and the aligned target frames. The process of selecting the reference frame comprises any one or more of: local analysis of characteristics of the frames, face detection, smile detection, object detection, computing signal to noise ratio of individual frames, use of sensor data from at least one non-camera sensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2016Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Juuso Petteri Gren, Martti Olavi Ilmoniemi
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Patent number: 9978105Abstract: Automated claims adjustment is engineered to receive submission of two-dimensional data or three-dimensional data from a structured-light scan and other pieces of information directly via a mobile device. Upon receiving sufficient information to open a claim, automated claims adjustment and settlement processes are executed aiding and guiding a claimant. This reduces the time involved by the claimant in waiting for a claims adjuster to manually review a specific case file.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANYInventors: David Antony Parchment, Khamla Saenglongma, Gary Ellis Hall, Normand Francis Olean, Jr., John Heveran
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Patent number: 9921552Abstract: The invention relates to a placement apparatus for the positionally accurate alignment and/or fitting of a first placement partner with at least one second placement partner complementary thereto, wherein the placement apparatus has at least one camera apparatus for recording separate images of the first placement partner or of a holding apparatus for the first placement partner and of the at least one second placement partner or of a holding apparatus for the at least one second placement partner and a position evaluation apparatus for creating an output data record from processing of the images, wherein the output data record has the visual image of the expected placement result. The invention also relates to a placement method.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: FINETECH GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Matthias Winkler, Michael Koch
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Patent number: 9866780Abstract: An exemplary electronic light processing cell uses a photo sensor unit to provide an analog electrical output proportional to an amount of light impinging on the photo sensor. A noise source provides a noise output that is compared by a comparator, during a plurality of times during a frame of an image, with the analog electrical output to generate a binary digital output representative of each comparison. A digital counter counts the binary digital outputs during the frame and stores a count at the end of a frame where the value of the stored count is proportional the light impinging the photo sensor. The value of the stored count is adapted for use by an image processing unit to render an image.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventor: Denpol Kultran
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Patent number: 9773304Abstract: A photometric processing part calculates a normal vector of a surface of a workpiece from a plurality of luminance images acquired by a camera in accordance with the photometric stereo method, and performs synthesis processing of synthesizing at least two images out of an inclination image made up of pixel values based on the normal vector calculated from the plurality of luminance images and at least one reduced image of the inclination image, to generate an inspection image showing a surface shape of the inspection target. In particular, a characteristic size setting part sets a characteristic size which is a parameter for giving weight to a component of a reduced image at the time of performing the synthesis processing. The photometric processing part can generate a different inspection image in accordance with the set characteristic size.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: Keyence CorporationInventor: Norimasa Mayumi
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Patent number: 9721304Abstract: Automated claims adjustment is engineered to receive submission of two-dimensional data or three-dimensional data from a structured-light scan and other pieces of information directly via a mobile device. Upon receiving sufficient information to open a claim, automated claims adjustment and settlement processes are executed aiding and guiding a claimant. This reduces the time involved by the claimant in waiting for a claims adjuster to manually review a specific case file.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Liberty Mutual Insurance CompanyInventors: David Antony Parchment, Khamla Saenglongma, Gary Ellis Hall, Normand Francis Olean, Jr., John Heveran
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Patent number: 9709390Abstract: A method and a device for the inspection of surfaces of an examined object includes illuminating a the surface using an illumination unit and capturing an image of the surface using an area image sensor. The captured images are forwarded to an image analysis unit configured to ascertain surface anomalies as defect areas and delimit, if required, the defect areas in a segmentation relative to one another or against the image background, to summarize defect areas belonging together in a regional analysis, to derive characteristic defects from defect areas or defect regions in a feature extraction or both.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: ISRA VISION AGInventors: Marc Luxen, Jan Erxleben
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Patent number: 9683944Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for the surface inspection and detection of defects of long products by means of a combination of images of the same region of the long product. The images are taken under different lighting condition in order to reconstruct the shape of the surface and thus obtain information on the presence of defects.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2013Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: CENTRO SVILUPPO MATERIALI S.P.A.Inventor: Valerio Moroli
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Patent number: 9671314Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide an apparatus comprising a number of landing gear components for a vehicle, a number of systems, and a number of processor units. The number of systems is configured to generate data about the number of landing gear components and the vehicle. The number of processor units is configured to monitor the data and manage health of the number of landing gear components.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2014Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: David A. Followell, Jeanne C. Maggiore, Wayne R. Majkowski
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Patent number: 9661183Abstract: The present disclosure relates an image correction apparatus and method. The image correction apparatus includes a printing unit for printing an image; a scratch detecting unit which detects a scratch region from a scan image scanned per line; and a restoration processing unit which performs the restoration of the scratch region by interpolation if the width of the scratch region detected by the scratch detecting unit is less than a predetermined value and, if the width thereof is not less than the predetermined value, does not perform a restoration of the scratch region but provides the printing unit with the scan image, thereby correcting an image distortion by easily detecting an image distortion due to foreign matter.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2015Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: SINDOH CO., LTD.Inventors: Nam Ik Cho, Byoung Bag Lee, Cheol Ho Ohk
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Patent number: 9646370Abstract: An automatic detection method for defects of a display panel is disclosed, which comprises: acquiring a tag image, a mapped original image and a mapped tag image; dividing the mapped original image into a plurality of mapped original sub-images, and dividing the mapped tag image into a plurality of mapped tag sub-images; acquiring a normal area and a defective area of the mapped original sub-images; merging the mapped original sub-images to discriminate the normal area and the defective area of the mapped original sub-images; correcting the discriminated normal area and the discriminated defective area of the mapped original sub-images by using the mapped tag image and the tag image to acquire a defect location of the display panel. The automatic detection method for defects of the display panel can accurately acquire the location of the defect and the difference between the defective area and the normal area to quantify and discriminate the defects of the display panel.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., LtdInventors: Houliang Hu, Li-wei Chu
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Patent number: 9633609Abstract: A display compensating method for eliminating a mura of a display panel. The display compensating method includes capturing an image displayed by the display panel to generate a capturing image; generating a plurality of compensation results according to a plurality of brightness values in the capturing image corresponding to a plurality of display units of the display panel; and setting brightness of the plurality of display units according to the plurality of compensation results to eliminate the mura of the display panel.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Wistron CorporationInventors: Meng-Chao Kao, Hui-Chen Lin
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Patent number: 9595295Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described to overcome the perception in viewed video or other presentations containing moving vehicles that the apparent rotation rate of their wheels is frequently inappropriate for the vehicle speeds, which is caused by the stroboscopic interaction between the wheel spokes and the rate at which the images are presented. A currently preferred embodiment operates off-line under human control on a previously recorded video, identifying the wheels and replacing them with suitably altered images which are perceived to rotate at rates appropriate to the vehicle speeds; or to suppress inappropriate perception of rotation. The apparatus and method results in a new recording of the original video in which the wheels appear to rotate at the correct rate for all vehicle speeds. Alternate embodiments implement a similar but automated process operating in near-real time for operating in-line on streaming videos; and variations achieving the same ends.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Inventor: Ivan Bekey
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Patent number: 9564073Abstract: A method for analyzing displays is described. A processing device receives a first scanned image of a first display and determines a first characteristic of the first display by analyzing the first scanned image. The processing device also receives a second scanned image of a second display and determines a second characteristic of the second display by analyzing the second scanned image. The processing device compares the first characteristic and the second characteristic to determine a third characteristic of the second display.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ted John Cooper, Omair Abdul Rahman
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Patent number: 9509958Abstract: An image pick-up device which photographs an object to generate an image signal representing the object, including: a housing including an opening; a transparent plate which covers the opening; an image detector arranged in the housing; an optical lens forming an image of the object on the image detector through the transparent plate; a lighting device arranged in the housing and placed both in an inner area in which an imaging area outside the housing is folded into the housing with reference to one surface of the transparent plate, and in an outer area of the imaging area; and an optical-path modifying element which causes an optical path of the light to be refracted such that the light is emitted from a virtual image of the lighting device, the virtual image being placed outside the inner area.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takashi Shiraishi, Shinsuke Yajima, Hidehiro Naito, Tomonari Kakino
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Patent number: 9494532Abstract: Systems and methods for inspecting a device include arranging the device in a known position relative to a plurality of movable cameras mounted on a controllable actuator controlled by a computing device and pointed at the device by controlling the controllable actuator to position a camera with a user interface on the computing device with a display, and the display displays a virtual image from the camera into CAD model of the device and an image of the device generated by the camera in a side-by-side or in an overlay fashion or both.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Binglong Xie, Yakup Genc, Xiang Gao
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Patent number: 9489587Abstract: A character reader 200 for reading and recognizing a character displayed at a predetermined height position on the outer peripheral surface of a plurality of cylindrical containers (for example, bottles BT), the character reader includes: a rotary drive mechanism 203 to 207 for supporting the cylindrical container to rotate the cylindrical container around the central axis thereof; a camera 201 positioned to face the cylindrical container so that a character displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical container is captured within the visual field; and an image processing device for acquiring an image at the height position where the character is displayed over an angular range more than one rotation of the cylindrical container by controlling the imaging operation of the camera 201, thereby executing recognition processing.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: NIHON YAMAMURA GLASS CO., LTD.Inventors: Daisuke Kobayashi, Naohiro Tanaka
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Patent number: 9348948Abstract: An automated method of verifying a part includes scanning the part to create a three-dimensional computer-based model of the part, indexing the computer-based model of the part to a three-dimensional nominal part design, and adjusting the shape of the model to generate an adjusted model with a shape corresponding to the shape of the nominal part design. The adjusted model is compared to the nominal part design to identify variations between the size and configuration of the adjusted model and the target part design are determined. Furthermore, it is determined whether adjusting the part to conform to the nominal part design would compromise the structure of the part.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.Inventors: David Scott Anderson, Clark Ray Miller, Ryan Plourde
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Patent number: 9194816Abstract: In a method of detecting a defect of a substrate, a first light having a first intensity may be irradiated to a first region of the substrate through a first aperture. A defect in the first region may be detected using a first reflected light from the first region. A second light having a second intensity may be irradiated to a second region of the substrate through a second aperture. A defect in the second region may be detected using a second reflected light from the second region. Thus, the defects by the regions of the substrate may be accurately detected.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2014Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Min-Ho Rim, Yu-Sin Yang, Sang-Kil Lee, Yong-Deok Jeong, Hyung-Suk Cho
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Patent number: 9137308Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling media data capture based on a real-world user experience is described herein. According to embodiments of the invention, media data is captured by a mobile computing device and transmitted to a server computer system in response to identifying one or more events from sensor data. The server computer system adds the captured media data, along with data identifying the event that initiated the capture of the media data, to a history of real-world experiences of a user of the mobile computing device. The server computer system may further perform one or more recognition processes on the captured media data and, when the one or more recognition processes find a match, associate the recognized items to the captured media data.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2012Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: David Petrou, Laura Garcia-Barrio, Hartmut Neven, Hartwig Adam
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Patent number: 9098892Abstract: Controlled amount of heat is injected into a stacked die using a light beam, and the propagated heat is measuring with LIT camera from the other side of the die. The thermal image obtained can be characterized so that it can be used to calibrate the phase shift from a given stack layer, or can be used to identify defects in the stacked die. The process can be repeated for each die in the stack to generate a reference for future testing. The thermal image can be investigated to detect faults, such as voids in vias, e.g., TSV.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: DCG SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Herve Deslandes, Rudolf Schlangen, Prasad Sabbineni, Antoine Reverdy, Ingrid De Wolf
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Patent number: 9041815Abstract: An operator friendly camera testing module is described. The camera testing module includes at least a color shift evaluation unit and a color non-uniformity evaluation unit. The color shift evaluation unit providing a color shift metric and the color non-uniformity evaluation unit providing a color non-uniformity metric each used to characterize a digital camera.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2011Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Hongqin Zhang, Shizhe Shen, Michael DiVincent, Chong Yip Chow
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Patent number: 9025020Abstract: Controlled amount of heat is injected into a stacked die using a light beam, and the propagated heat is measuring with LIT camera from the other side of the die. The thermal image obtained can be characterized so that it can be used to calibrate the phase shift from a given stack layer, or can be used to identify defects in the stacked die. The process can be repeated for each die in the stack to generate a reference for future testing. The thermal image can be investigated to detect faults, such as voids in vias, e.g., TSV.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2011Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: DCG Systems, Inc.Inventors: Herve Deslandes, Rudolf Schlangen, Prasad Sabbineni, Antoine Reverdy, Ingrid De Wolf
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Patent number: 9019365Abstract: The problem is solved by generating a gob image A by capturing, with a line scanning camera, an image of a falling gob that has been cut off at an orifice; generating an image B by binarizing the gob image A with a boundary value that turns a general part of the gob black and turns a peripheral lustrous portion and a defect of the gob white; generating an image C by binarizing the gob image A with a boundary value that turns the entire gob white and turns a background black and inverting the black and white; generating an image D by combining the image B and the image C together; setting a region located a given number of pixels inside an outer edge of the black area of the image D as an inspection region; and inspecting the inspection region of the gob image A to determine whether the gob is good.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.Inventor: Koichi Akaji
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Patent number: 9001202Abstract: A transfer pathway of a mounting head 10 in a component-mounting round during which the mounting head 10 moves back and forth between a component feeding unit 4 and a substrate conveyance mechanism 2 is derived by a transfer pathway calculation unit 25 for each component-mounting round from mounting program data 21a. A focusing processing unit 24 controls an optical system focusing mechanism 18, thereby matching a focusing point of a line sensor camera 14 achieved during imaging operation to the transfer pathway of the mounting head 10 based on data pertaining to the derived transfer pathway. Further, an optical system zooming mechanism 17 adjusts an imaging range according to the focusing point. Accordingly, even when a long substrate 3 is taken as an object, it is possible to detect with high precision whether or not a component exists on the pickup nozzle 11 of the mounting head 10.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Noboru Yamasaki, Yasuichi Okada, Shozo Fukuda
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Patent number: 9002093Abstract: Method for detecting an anomaly on the surface of a tire comprising the following steps in the course of which: A—the image of a given anomaly present on the surface of at least one tire is produced, B—with the aid of a collection of filters, a multivariate image of the said surface is constructed in a space of the filters, in which each pixel is represented in the form of a pixel vector, the components of each pixel vector having a value corresponding to the value of this pixel in the image transformed with the aid of each of the filters of the said collection, C—with the aid of a linear function, this multivariate image is transformed from the space of the filters into a spectral space of given dimension whose variables are the filters or combinations of filters of the said collection, so as to form a spectral image, D—a classifier is constructed by determining, for this anomaly, those zones representative of the spectral space which contain, in a statistically representative manner, the points of the spectType: GrantFiled: March 4, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventor: Guillaume Noyel
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Publication number: 20150092041Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a melt back of a seed in a boule are provided. The method includes lifting a boule once it has been produced using an actuating device onto a support table to automatically manipulate the boule from a furnace to the support table. The melt back of the seed is then automatically measured using a vision system that is installed on an imaging device disposed below the boule.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventor: John T. Mac Donald
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Patent number: 8988523Abstract: The single-camera multi-mirror imaging method and apparatus is an inspection system configured to examine a whole surface of a rotating object, preferably a spheroidal object such as a fruit or vegetable. The system includes a plurality of mirrors that direct an image of the inspected object into a digital line scan camera with an associated processor. The processor produces an image of the inspected object showing any detected surface defects and selected contamination on the outer surface of the object.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of AgricultureInventors: Moon S. Kim, Kuanglin Chao, Byoung-Kwan Cho, Kangjin Lee
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Publication number: 20150077539Abstract: The invention relates to a method of protecting a camera (2) for inspecting printed work during printing from soiling. A transparent protective element (7) is placed here between the camera (2) and the printed work for inspection, and the protective element (7) is replaced when the transparency thereof decreases. The transparent protective element (7) can form part of a strip of transparent film (7) which is unwound from a supply reel (9) and wound onto a take-up reel (10). The decrease in transparency can be determined on the basis of a recording made by the camera (2). The invention also relates to a device (1) for protecting such a encamera (2) from soiling, comprising a transparent protective element (7) to be placed between the camera (2) and the printed work for inspection; and means () for replacing the protective element (7) when the transparency thereof decreases.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Inventors: Menno Jansen, Erik Andreas Van Holten
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Publication number: 20150070485Abstract: Disclosed herein is a medicine package inspection apparatus for inspecting whether or not accurate medicines have been packaged in medicine packages. The medicine package inspection apparatus includes: a conveying unit conveying the medicine packages; an image reading unit photographing the medicine packages and reading states of the medicines by the photographed image; an aligning unit uniformly spreading the medicines packaged in the medicine packages unit so as not to be overlapped with each other; and a displaying means pivotably installed on a front surface of the body and displaying a work state simultaneously with controlling a work of inspecting the medicine packages. The displaying means is pivotably and tiltably installed on the body through a pivoting and tilting unit and configures a portion of the body, such that an inner portion of the body is opened when the displaying means pivots.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventor: Jun Ho Kim
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Patent number: 8964022Abstract: A dynamic imaging system is provided. The system includes an assembly line, for an object to be placed thereon and for moving the object in a moving direction; a sensor set, for sensing a moving speed and the width of the object on the assembly line; a photography device, for capturing images of the object; and a controller, coupled to the sensor set and the photography device, for controlling the photography device to move and capture images of the object according to the moving speed and the width of the object.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2012Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.Inventor: Chin-Lin Lin
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Patent number: 8964023Abstract: A device and a method for measuring form attributes, position attributes and dimension attributes of rotatable machine elements are described. It is the object of the invention to find a possibility for measuring form attributes, position attributes or dimension attributes of a rotatable machine element which also allows axially probeable surfaces having hidden regions to be measured with high accuracy with a lower expenditure on construction. According to the invention, this object is met in that a mechanical measuring unit having a tactile measuring probe for measuring the machine element in axial direction is provided in addition to an optical measuring unit with illumination module and camera module which captures a shadow image of the machine element. The mechanical measuring unit is fixed to the optical measuring unit and has a swiveling device for swiveling the tactile measuring probe orthogonal to the rotational axis of the machine element.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: JENOPTIK Industrial Metrology Germany GmbHInventors: Ernst Neumann, Michael Schubert
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Patent number: 8957960Abstract: A machine vision system program editing environment includes near real time context generation. Rather than requiring execution of all preceding instructions of a part program in order to generate a realistic context for subsequent edits, surrogate data operations using previously saved data replace execution of certain sets of instructions. The surrogate data may be saved during the actual execution of operations that are recorded in a part program. An edit mode of execution substitutes that data as a surrogate for executing the operations that would otherwise generate that data. Significant time savings may be achieved for context generation, such that editing occurs within an operating context which may be repeatedly refreshed for accuracy in near real time. This supports convenient program modification by relatively unskilled users, using the native user interface of the machine vision system, rather than difficult to use text-based or graphical object-based editing environments.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2011Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Mitutoyo CorporationInventors: Barry Saylor, Dahai Yu, Ryan Northrup, Gyokubu Cho, Akira Takada
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Patent number: 8953034Abstract: A compact, battery powered video imaging device for use in XYZ stage equipped machines (such as milling machines, jig borers, coordinate measuring machines, etc.) that mounts into the spindle of such a machine and displays a magnified image of a part on the XYZ stage of the machine on an integrated video monitor such as a Liquid Crystal Display panel equipped with crosshairs or similar reference marks. The XYZ stage of the host machine is used to move the part so that various features of the part are brought into the crosshairs of the video monitor. In such a way the XYZ coordinates of various features of the part with respect to a selected reference feature, displayed on the host machine's position readout, can be obtained. This procedure can be used to aid work piece setup, measure parts in-process without disturbing the setup, or to inspect finished parts for dimensional accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2007Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Inventors: Milan Milosevic, Violet Milosevic
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Patent number: 8953870Abstract: A surface inspection device includes an image generator for generating a digital image achieved by imaging an inner surface of a bore which is subjected to a boring work, a line extraction processor for extracting a line along a horizontal direction set to a line extraction direction from the digital image, for determining the state of the inner surface of the bore based on the line extracted by the line extraction processor. The line extraction processor extracts lines along the line detection direction from respective digital images before and after rotation which are achieved by rotating the digital image once or over plural times every predetermined angle while the line extraction direction is fixed, and the estimating unit determines the state of the inner surface of the bore based on the lines extracted from the respective digital images before and after the rotation.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2010Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Oikawa, Satoshi Nojo
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Publication number: 20150022652Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wan-Jae JOO
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Patent number: 8922641Abstract: System and method to inspect hygienic articles. Defects are detected using a vision system by comparing an inspection image of a component to a reference image of a defect-free component. Detection of a defect can then be used to reject components and perform other functions.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2011Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Jeremy Georges Bertin, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Markus Ingo Hoffmann, Randolph William Lumsden
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Patent number: 8917320Abstract: A digital optical comparator has a holder for a part under study. A light source illuminates the part and casts an image of the part onto a camera, which is provided with a lens. The image captured by the camera is displayed on a screen, and a drawing of the part is overlaid on the image of the part. Thus, defects in manufacturing can be easily and readily identified. In addition, a determination of whether the part is manufactured within tolerances can also be visually determined.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2009Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: VISIONx Inc.Inventor: Patrick Beauchemin
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Patent number: 8894259Abstract: An illuminator is described which may be used with large inspection areas and which provides a dark field illumination pattern that is spatially uniform, illuminates from consistent angles, has high efficiency, and is smaller than existing solutions. A light pipe has a first end proximate an object to be illuminated and a second end opposite the first end and spaced from the first end. The light pipe also has at least one reflective sidewall. The first end of the light pipe includes an exit aperture and the second end has at least one opening to allow at least one image acquisition device to view the surface therethrough. At least one light source is configured to provide illumination in the light pipe. The object is illuminated by the first end of the light pipe by illumination at a selected elevation angle and substantially all azimuth angles.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: CyberOptics CorporationInventors: Carl E. Haugan, Steven K. Case, David M. Kranz, Steven A. Rose, Mark R. Schoeneck, Beverly Caruso
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Patent number: 8886002Abstract: An optical fiber joint enclosure includes a plurality of carriers for supporting a plurality of optical fiber connectors. At least one carrier is rotatable or pivotable between a first position and a second position, independent of an adjacent carrier. The first position is an in-use orientation of an optical fiber connector and the second position provides improved access to an end face of the optical fiber connector. The carrier itself includes a hub portion, engaging an adjacent hub portion of an adjacent carrier, an arm portion attached to the hub portion, the arm portion supporting the optical fiber connector, and a release member preventing the hub portion from rotating unless the release member is activated. A method includes inspecting, testing or cleaning an end face of the optical fiber connector in situ.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2007Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Prysmian Telecom Cables & Systems Australia Pty LtdInventors: Paul Hubbard, Andrew Ellot Pierce
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Patent number: 8878926Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for analyzing thermal properties of bonding materials within a composite structure. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for analyzing thermal property of a bonding material within a structure. The apparatus comprises a structure support having a supporting surface configured to support the structure, a heat source configured to direct a heat flux to the structure supported by the supporting surface of the structure support, and a camera facing the structure supported on the structure support and configured to capture thermal images of the structure supported on the structure support.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Zheng John Ye, Kartik Ramaswamy, Troy S. Detrick, Kenneth S. Collins
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Publication number: 20140320635Abstract: A system for assessing a structure and the tools and processes used to form the structure is described. 2D images of the structure are captured and processed to obtain 3D information concerning the structure. Both 2D and 3D information is then used to identify and analyze selected characteristics of the structure. This analysis allows for a quality assessment of the structure. The selected characteristics are correlated with information relating to the operation of the tool that carried out the process that at least in part created the structure. The correlation of tool/process information to structure characteristics allows for the generation of feedback that may be used to modify the tool or processed used to form the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: Rudolph Technologies, Inc.Inventors: John Thornell, Steven Knauber, Jatinder Dhaliwal, Justin Miller, Michael Grant, Kenneth Durden
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Patent number: 8872911Abstract: A method and apparatus for assessing at least one of motion linearity of a motion stage, stage motion straightness of a motion stage, image capture repeatability of a motion stage and camera and accuracy of a calibration plate used to assess motion stage characteristics, the method including using a line scan camera to generate two dimensional images of a calibration plate having a plurality imageable features thereon, examining the images to identify actual coordinates of the imageable features and using the actual coordinates to assess linearity, straightness, repeatability and/or plate accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2010Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Aaron S. Wallack, David J. Michael
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Patent number: 8872912Abstract: An electronics assembly line includes a first electronics assembly machine and a second electronics assembly machine. The first electronics assembly machine has a first electronics assembly machine outlet. The second electronics assembly machine has a second electronics assembly machine inlet and outlet. The inlet of the second electronics assembly machine is coupled to the outlet of the first electronics assembly machine by a conveyor. A first optical inspection sensor is disposed over the conveyor before the inlet of the second electronics assembly and is configured to provide first sensor inspection image data relative to a substrate that passes beneath the first optical inspection sensor in a non-stop fashion. A second optical inspection sensor is disposed over the conveyor after the outlet of the second electronics assembly machine and is configured to provide second sensor inspection image data relative to a substrate that passes beneath the second optical inspection sensor in a non-stop fashion.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2010Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: CyberOptics CorporationInventors: Todd D. Liberty, Timothy A. Skunes, Carl E. Haugan, Chuanqi Chen, Beverly Caruso
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Patent number: 8866897Abstract: Image pickup is executed at an image pickup timing based on reference pulses by using, as a trigger, workpiece pulses which are output at an interval synchronized with a shape portion (projecting or recess portion) which is periodically and repetitively formed on a workpiece being rotated, and the image pickup is executed at the image pickup timing based on the reference pulses PA every time only reference pulses PA whose number corresponds to a pulse number between workpiece pulses are output from the image pickup timing concerned.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2011Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hisashi Takahashi
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Publication number: 20140307943Abstract: Optical inspection methods and apparatus for high-resolution photomasks using only a test image. A filter is applied to an image signal received from radiation that is transmitted by or reflected from a photomask having a test image. The filter may be implemented using programmed control to adjust and control filter conditions, illumination conditions, and magnification conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2014Publication date: October 16, 2014Applicant: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventors: Fred Stanke, Ilya Toytman, David Alles, Gregg Anthony Inderhees, Stanley E. Stokowski, Mehdi Vaez-Iravani
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Patent number: 8860802Abstract: An inspection station identifies defects such as artifacts (e.g., dust, hair, particles) in the sealing areas of sealed sterile packages. A multi-head optical scanner can include at least two fiber optic sensors each comprised of a bundle of optical fibers arranged into a linear face coupled to an image processing module and oriented towards a scanning area of sealed packages moving through a conveyance system. An image processing module can analyze input from the at least two fiber optic sensor arrangements to identify artifacts in the sealing areas of the sealed packages.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Inventor: Youri N. Djachiachvili
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Publication number: 20140300729Abstract: A method and system are provided for inspecting a plurality of target features arrayed in spaced arrangement on a surface of a target object, such as but not limited to inspection of the location of cooling air holes in the surface of a turbine blade or vane.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: Joseph D. Drescher, Eric M. Pedersen, Kevin J. Klinefelter, Markus W. Fritch
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Publication number: 20140300728Abstract: A method and system are provided for inspecting a plurality of target features arrayed in spaced arrangement on a surface of a target object, such as but not limited to inspection of the location of cooling air holes in the surface of a turbine blade or vane.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: Joseph D. Drescher, Eric M. Pedersen, Kevin J. Klinefelter, Markus W. Fritch