Quality Inspection Patents (Class 348/92)
  • Patent number: 8368750
    Abstract: A mura evaluation apparatus 100 includes: a mura detection unit 110 that acquires multiple images of a display mura present in a display area of a display device by scanning the display area while moving along a spherical surface with a preset radius; and an information processing apparatus 150 that generates a three-dimensional mura figure from the multiple images acquired by the mura detection unit, by associating a feature value of the display mura in each of the images with a position where the image is acquired, and generates a mura superimposed image in which the three-dimensional mura figure viewed from a designated observation angle is superimposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yumi Mori, Hiroki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20130027543
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the inspection of light emitting semiconductor devices. The semiconductor device is illuminated with a light source, wherein at least an area of the light emitting semiconductor is illuminated with a waveband of light. The waveband of light ?A+?B can generate electron-hole pairs in the light emitting semiconductor to be inspected. Through an objective lens at least a part of the light ?C emitted by the light emitting semiconductor is detected. The emitted light is captured with a sensor of a camera that is sensitive to wavelengths of the emitted light, wherein the wavelength of the emitted light is above the width of the waveband. The data of the emitted light, captured with the sensor, are transmitted to a computer system for calculating inspection results of the light emitting semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Boeykens, Tom Marivoet
  • Patent number: 8358339
    Abstract: An inspecting method for grasping the inspection result on an intermediate (or an n-th) treatment without long extension of time, in case predetermined treatments of a predetermined number (N times) are exerted on a plurality of sheets running on a conveyor line, before all the treatments of N-times are ended. The inspecting method for inspecting an object subjected to the predetermined treatment includes performing the predetermined treatment repeatedly by the N-times (N: a natural number of 2 or more) sequentially on the individual objects being conveyed on the conveyor line, and an inspecting step of testing such a leading one of the objects as has been subjected to the n-th (n: a natural number of 1 or more but N or less) treatment, and returning the tested object to after such one of the targets as was subjected to the n-th treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kenta Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8358340
    Abstract: A pattern inspection device according to the embodiment, includes: an image picking-up portion for picking-up an image of a pattern formation member in which a plurality of opening patterns are formed so as to obtain a picked-up image of the pattern formation member; a reference image obtaining portion for obtaining a reference image used for comparing with the picked-up image; and a pattern defect detecting portion for matching the center locations of the opening pattern images respectively between the picked-up image and the reference image, forming difference images of the opening pattern images between the picked-up image and the reference image per the opening pattern and detecting the defect of the opening pattern base on the difference images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryoji Yoshikawa, Tomohide Watanabe, Hiromu Inoue, Hiroyuki Ikeda, Hiroyuki Tanizaki
  • Publication number: 20130016208
    Abstract: A method and a device for the quality inspection and testing of a flat print product. A print product, including at least one structural element, is initially deposited on a support element and illuminated by at least one light source. At least one image of the illuminated print product is generated using at least one image recording unit. An image is also generated of at least one structural element on the support element and a geometric object of the support element is determined from the at least one structural element of the support element. Actual values for the at least one geometric object of the support element are compared to predetermined desired values for this geometric object and the result of the comparison is used for controlling the further processing of the print product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventors: Hanspeter DUSS, Christoph GYSIN
  • Publication number: 20130016207
    Abstract: A test device is for testing display parameters of an electronic product with a page browsing function. The electronic product stores display times of a number of standard frames which selected from a standard video file. The standard video file includes frames record the play process of a testing file being played by a standard electronic product. The test device controls a video capturing unit to capture an original video file which includes frames to records the playing process of the electronic product. The electronic product searches matching frames of the number of standard frames in the original video file. Thus the parameters of the electronic product can be determined by display times of the matching frames in the video file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FU TAI HUA INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YU-KAI XIONG, XIN LU, SHIH-FANG WONG, DONG-SHENG LV, XIN-HUA LI, YU-YONG ZHANG, JIAN-JIAN ZHU
  • Patent number: 8355582
    Abstract: For each pixel of interest in a local region of an input image, an edge intensity in each of a plurality of predetermined directions is calculated. All directions in which the edge intensities are larger than an average value of the edge intensities are selected. For all pixels of interest in the local region, the edge intensities calculated for each of the selected directions are accumulated and output as an edge feature amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naotsugu Sagawa
  • Patent number: 8355044
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reticle defect inspection method and a reticle defect inspection apparatus capable of calibrating the offset and gain of a sensor amplifier using a product reticle even though black and white regions each sufficiently wider than a TDI sensor imaging area do not exist in the product reticle. An output of each pixel of the TDI sensor is amplified by the sensor amplifier. A bottom value of the amplified amount-of-light signal of each pixel is stored by bottom value storing means of offset/gain calibrating means, and a peak value thereof is stored by peak value storing means. The offset of each pixel is calculated by offset calculating means based on the bottom value of each pixel. The gain of each pixel is calculated by gain calculating means based on the offset of each pixel and the peak value of each pixel. The calculated offset and gain of each pixel are stored in a register and thereby the offset and gain of the sensor amplifier are calibrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideo Tsuchiya, Toshiyuki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130010101
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noboru Yamasaki, Yasuichi Okada, Shozo Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20130002851
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting a container having a base and a mouth, wherein light is directed through the container base into the container, and out of the container through the container mouth, using at least first and second light sources operatively disposed adjacent to each other beneath the container base and having differing operating characteristics. Light transmitted through the container mouth is sensed, and a composite image of the container mouth may be produced from two or more images of portions of the container mouth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: George H. Hall, JR., Benjamin L. Daniel, Stephen M. Graff, John W. Juvinall, Timothy A. Kohler, Thomas F. Michalski, James A. Ringlien
  • Publication number: 20130002853
    Abstract: An approximate circle approximated to the profile of a filter end face in an inspection image obtained by photographing the filter end face of a filter cigarette is obtained, and the center position of the approximate circle is found. An area indicating a string-like flavor containing element embedded in the filter is detected in the inspection image, and the position of gravity center of the area is found. Distance between the gravity center position indicating the flavor containing element and the center position of the approximate circle is determined, and thus, the quality of the flavor containing element embedded in the filter is inspected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Tetsuya Okuyama
  • Publication number: 20130002852
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Jeremy Georges Bertin, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Markus Ingo Hoffmann, Randolph William Lumsden
  • Patent number: 8345947
    Abstract: A paper-sheet recognition apparatus recognizes a paper sheet, which is being transported, by using an optical line sensor and a magnetic line sensor. The paper-sheet recognition apparatus includes a memory unit that stores therein magnetic templates defined in advance for respective types and respective transport directions of paper sheets, wherein the magnetic templates are defined at optical resolution representing resolution of the optical line sensor; a selecting unit that selects a magnetic template based on a type and a transport direction of the paper sheet, the type and the transport direction being obtained by analyzing optical data acquired by the optical line sensor; and a comparing unit that divides magnetic data acquired by the magnetic line sensor into pieces of data each corresponding to the optical resolution, and compares the magnetic template selected by the selecting unit with the divided magnetic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Koretsune
  • Publication number: 20120327215
    Abstract: An optical inspection sensor is provided. The sensor includes an array of cameras configured to acquire image data relative to a workpiece that moves relative to the array of cameras in a non-stop fashion. An illumination system is disposed to provide a pulse of illumination when the array of cameras acquires the image data. At least some image data includes data regarding a skip mark or barcode on the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Steven K. Case, Beverly Caruso, Todd D. Liberty, Timothy A. Skunes, Carl E. Haugan, Chuanqi Chen, Hiroshi Anzai
  • Patent number: 8331678
    Abstract: Machine vision is used to identify a discontinuity in the boundary of an object in an image. An image of one or more objects is captured. One or more skeletons of the one or more objects are calculated. One or more boundaries of the one or more objects are calculated. A plurality of radial lines is extended from a spine point of a skeleton to the one or more boundaries. Each radial line intersects a boundary at a radial endpoint producing a plurality of radial endpoints. For each radial endpoint an expected radial endpoint is calculated based on two or more neighboring radial endpoints. If the difference between the radial endpoint and its expected radial endpoint exceeds a threshold, a radial line including the radial endpoint is identified as a discontinuity in a boundary of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Optopo Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Chapman, Prasant Potuluri
  • Patent number: 8330809
    Abstract: A vision system incorporated into an item of egg handling equipment, the system incorporating software control for detecting at least one of color shades and defects on both brown and white eggs. An enclosure incorporates a plurality of high resolution producing cameras, these communicating via cable with a switch to a remote vision PC system. A non-linear shaped diffuser is mounted along an open facing bottom of the enclosure for facilitating uniform lighting throughout an open interior of the enclosure associated with the cameras. The cameras are operable to produce multiple, high resolution images of each of a plurality of eggs continuously transported along the associated egg handling equipment, for classifying types of defects that are allowable and those that must be rejected, as well as assisting in the segregating of the eggs into more consistent shaded groups for eventual packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: FPS Food Processing Systems, B.V.
    Inventors: Leslie Philip Thomas, Nathaniel Barret Brown
  • Patent number: 8325225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for a web inspection system. In one embodiment, the present invention is a web inspection system including a web moving unit moving a web of material, a camera positioned adjacent the web moving unit, the camera configured to be in an image capture state or a non-image-capture state, a first illumination system positioned adjacent the web moving unit, the first illumination system constantly illuminating the web of material, a second illumination system positioned adjacent the web moving unit, the second illumination system illuminating the web of material only when the camera is in the image capture state, and a control unit connected to the camera, the first illumination system, and the second illumination system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: PT Papertech, Inc
    Inventors: Michael J. Brenneman, Richard T. Eagle, Kari K. Hilden, Dave Narasimhan
  • Patent number: 8319118
    Abstract: An optical transceiver that reduces the EMI noise leaked therefrom is reduced is disclosed. The optical transceiver of the invention provides a metal housing, an optical subassembly, and an electronic circuit. The metal housing includes a first space that installs the electronic circuit and a second space that installs the optical subassembly. The first space and the second space are electrically shielded to each other, in addition that both spaces are shielded from the external. In the optical transceiver of the invention, even the second space provides the optical path to the optical connector, which becomes a definite leak path for the EMI noise, the leakage from the first space to the external through the optical path is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Phillip J. Edwards, Jignesh H. Shah, Lance R. Thompson, Nhan Huynh
  • Publication number: 20120293623
    Abstract: A method and system for inspecting small, manufactured objects at a plurality of inspection stations and sorting the inspected objects are provided. Coins, coin blanks, tablets or pills are fed from a centrifugal feeder and conveyed or transferred by a transfer subsystem. The objects are spaced at equal intervals during conveyance to provide a “metering effect” which allows the proper spacing between objects for inspection and rejection of defects. The inspection stations may include imaging assemblies in the form of conventional cameras and/or three-dimensional sensors such as triangulation or confocal sensors. The inspection stations may include a circumference vision station and/or an eddy current station. Circumferential defects (like in edge lettering) on coins or rim defects on pills can be detected at the circumference vision station by another imaging assembly. Metal chips, foreign metallic debris, etc. in or on the tablets/pills can be detected at the eddy current station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GII ACQUISITION, LLC DBA GENERAL INSPECTION, LLC
    Inventor: Michael G. Nygaard
  • Patent number: 8310533
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus can include an application guiding an inspector in the performance of an inspection. The application can be provided in such form as to be modified. In one embodiment, an application for guiding an inspector can be modified responsively to data collected by an inspection apparatus of an inspection system. In one embodiment an application for guiding an inspector can be modified responsively to data output by a data output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies, LP
    Inventors: Bradford Morse, Thomas Eldred Lambdin, Clark A. Bendall, Edward B. Hubben, Thomas W. Karpen, Bruce A. Pellegrino
  • Patent number: 8310534
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for confirming three-dimensional model data or the like, capable of confirming easily, efficiently, and precisely whether three-dimensional model data including an attached object attached to a machine tool and at least a part of the machine tool good are accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd., Intelligent Manufacturing Systems International
    Inventors: Xiaodong Tian, Makoto Fujishima
  • Patent number: 8305436
    Abstract: A separation filter selection device provided with an image input unit, a memory unit, a setting unit, an evaluation unit and a separation filter selection unit is disclosed. The image input unit inputs a captured image capturing a tire surface including a characteristic portion thereof. The memory unit stores plural filters for performing image processing of the captured image, stores a training image in which the characteristic portion is separated from the captured image, and a weighted image in which a weighting is set to a predetermined region of the captured image. The setting unit combines two or more filters out of the plural filters and sets a separation filter. The evaluation unit derives an evaluation value of the separation filter on the basis of an image in which a differential between the processed image that has been processed by each of the filters of the separation filter, and the training image, and to which a weighting based on the weighted image is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Fujisawa, Tomohiro Mizuno, Akinobu Mizutani, Akira Togii, Hirotaka Iino
  • Publication number: 20120274758
    Abstract: An optical apparatus and method for simultaneously scanning the profile of at least two adjacent surfaces of an article such as a wooden board moving along a travel path axis passing through an inspection area located at a central plane transverse to the travel path axis, involve first and second scanning zones sufficiently spaced one with another along the travel path axis to substantially prevent mutual scanning interference between the profile sensors used, while providing a compact arrangement of profile sensors. For so doing, one the first sensing field and the first laser beam of the first profile sensor is crossing the central plane toward the other one of the first sensing field and the first laser beam, and one the second sensing field and the second laser beam of the second profile sensor is crossing the central plane toward the other one of the second sensing field and the second laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: CENTRE DE RECHERCHE INDUSTRIELLE DU QUEBEC
    Inventor: Denis Lessard
  • Patent number: 8289387
    Abstract: A fixed vision system includes a sensor having a sensitive surface for acquiring an image of an object on a detecting plane, and a light-emitting device for generating a luminous reference figure on the detecting plane including an emission surface, and an objective through which a luminous radiation (from the object to the sensor) and a further luminous radiation (from the light-emitting device to the object) pass. The sensor and the light-emitting device are positioned such that, when the detecting plane is focused by the objective on the sensor, the sensitive surface is on the image plane generated by the objective or on a respective mirror plane with respect to the image plane and the emission surface of the light-emitting device is on the image plane or on a respective mirror plane with respect to the image plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Datalogic Automation S.R.L.
    Inventors: Luigi Pellegrino, Kurt Vonmetz, Stefano Santi, Fabrizio Guastadini
  • Patent number: 8284251
    Abstract: In a tire type determination method, a surface image of a tread portion of a tire mounted on a vehicle is captured by a camera fixed at a predetermined position in a tilted hanger conveyor line, which is located downstream in a vehicle-carrying direction with respect to a position at which the tire of the vehicle is lifted from the ground and starts moving diagonally upward. Further, image information is extracted from the surface image of the tread portion, and a tire type is determined by checking the image information against registered information. A vehicle inspection system includes a tire type determination portion and a vehicle type information obtaining portion so as to determine the tire type using the method. A conformance determination portion determines whether the tire type determined by the tire type determination portion conforms to a specified tire type searched based on the vehicle type information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutsugu Suita, Kazufumi Kimura, Rikio Azumaya
  • Publication number: 20120242826
    Abstract: A multi-spectral imaging system includes a first light source that emits a first wavelength and a second light source that emits a second wavelength different than the first wavelength. The system further includes a camera having a lens, a beam splitter downstream of the lens and a pair of sensors downstream of the beam splitter. The lens is configured to focus the first and second wavelengths onto separate ones of the sensors, and the beam splitter allows one of the first wavelength or the second wavelength to pass through the beam splitter, and the other of the first wavelength or the second wavelength to be reflected off the beam splitter. One of the pair of sensors is configured to receive the first wavelength to produce a first image and the other of the sensors is configured to receive the second wavelength to produce a second image different from the first image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Nigel John Holmes
  • Publication number: 20120242827
    Abstract: An automated optical inspection system for the runout tolerance of circular saw blades comprises a rotating device, a first and a second optical inspection module, and a computing device. The rotating device is used to rotate a circular saw blade. The circular saw blade includes multiple teeth, and each tooth has a side and a back. The first/second optical inspection module is used to capture a side/back image of the tooth. The computing device activates the rotating device to rotate the circular saw blade, and activates the first and the second optical inspection module to capture the side image and the back image of each tooth upon rotation of the circular saw blade. The computing device performs a radial-position-calculating procedure according to the side images, to obtain an amount of radial runout, and performs an axial-position-calculating procedure according to the back images, to obtain an amount of axial runout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Wen-Tung Chang, Chih-Hsien Su, Dong-Xie Guo, Geo-Ry Tang, Fang-Jung Shiou
  • Patent number: 8275190
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting pattern defects, the apparatus including: an image acquisition unit which acquires an image of a specimen and stores the acquired image in an image memory; a defect candidate extraction unit which performs a defect candidate extraction process by using the acquired image, which is read from the image memory; and a defect detection unit which performs a defect detection process based on a partial image containing a defect candidate that is extracted by the defect candidate extraction unit, wherein the defect detection process performed by the defect detection unit is performed asynchronously with an image acquisition process that is performed by the image acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kaoru Sakai, Shunji Maeda, Takafumi Okabe
  • Publication number: 20120229619
    Abstract: One form of the present application provides a system comprising an illumination source capable of providing an electromagnetic illumination of an engine component, an imaging system structured to capture illumination of the engine component, a component manipulation system structured to position the engine component in a variety of orientations relative to one of the illumination source and the imaging system, a computer based user interface capable of identifying an inspection protocol defined to acquire an image of the engine component at the variety of positions using the illumination system, the imaging system and the component manipulation system, and a processor configured to process the inspection protocol for the purposes of analyzing the acquired image in response to the inspection protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Amir Shirkhodaie, Robert Moriarty, Kong Ma
  • Publication number: 20120229618
    Abstract: Disclosed is a defect inspection device that has an illumination optical system; a detection optical system; and a processing unit which includes a defect feature quantity calculation unit that calculates the feature quantities of each defect candidate, a defect candidate grouping unit that groups the aforementioned defect candidates on the basis of the feature quantities, a defect classification evaluation value calculation unit that calculates defect classification evaluation values for the aforementioned defect candidates, a defect classification evaluation value updating unit that, on the basis of instructions, updates the evaluation values, a defect classification threshold determination unit that, on the basis of evaluation valued updated by the aforementioned defect classification evaluation value updating unit, determines a classification boundary that is a threshold for classifying defect types of the aforementioned defect candidates, and a defect detection unit that detects defects using the thresho
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Takahiro Urano, Kaoru Sakai, Toshifumi Honda
  • Publication number: 20120224049
    Abstract: Systems for inspecting clearances in a machine are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for inspecting a clearance in a machine includes: a base bracket configured to be disposed upon at least one rotor land within the machine; an optical device disposed upon the base bracket, the optical device for capturing an image of at least a portion of the machine wherein the image depicts at least one clearance in the machine; and a computing device communicatively connected to the optical device, the computing device for obtaining and processing the image of at least a portion of the machine from the optical device and determining at least one clearance value from the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: David Richard Cox
  • Patent number: 8253791
    Abstract: A device for monitoring objects, in particular for monitoring industrial environments, such as paper mills and manufacturing and/or finishing processes of a paper, board or other fibrous web being carried out therein, includes a monitoring camera, the camera with its objective being arranged in a rotationally symmetrical protective housing rotating about an axis of rotation, and a protective housing to be mounted at its one end on a rigid hollow shaft and, at its coaxially opposite other end, to have a co-rotating blower pipe or merge into the latter, and for compressed air to be applied to the protective housing, including the blower pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Gruber-Nadlinger, Armin Bauer
  • Patent number: 8253793
    Abstract: An imaging means captures a color image of lumber. An image processing means obtains the color distribution of the color image captured by the imaging means, compares the obtained color distribution with a predetermined color distribution of normal lumber, judges the obtained color distribution as an abnormal one when it is deviated from the color distribution of normal lumber by a predetermined value or more, and detects a defect of the lumber having the abnormal color distribution deviated by a value larger than the predetermined value in an area on the surface of the lumber captured by the imaging means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Meinan Machinery Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Noriyuki Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 8237828
    Abstract: A device for inspection of print products (36) produced by a printing machine (10) is provided with a first camera (48) being directed to an inspection field to be checked. At least one further camera (50) is provided being directed at least partially (58) to the same inspection field (54) being checked already by the first camera (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Theta System Elektronik GmbH
    Inventors: Christina Tatarczyk, Joachim Tatarczyk
  • Patent number: 8237789
    Abstract: A device for automatic illumination and inspection of tubular probes, in particular stents, is proposed, with rotatable means for holding the probes that are to be inspected, with an electronic camera and associated lens, with a computer-based electronic imaging system, and with means for illuminating the probe that is to be inspected. The probe surfaces are illuminated by means of a combination of dark field illumination and transillumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: IMSTec GmbH
    Inventors: Edgar Maehringer-Kunz, Matthias Loeffler, Reinhard Rode, Tanja Schneider, Gerald Jarschel, Kathrin Eggelbusch
  • Patent number: 8218001
    Abstract: Features such as holes in a component which may be an aerofoil component of a gas turbine engine are re-drilled after initial formation, for example to remove blockages created in a coating process. In order to ensure that re-drilling occurs at the precise location of the initial holes, a selected number of the holes are selected, and their exact positions identified, for example by camera imaging and image processing. The actual positions of the selected features are compared with the nominal positions, and an algorithm is generated and then used to calculate the actual positions of the non-selected holes of the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Neil K. Hastilow
  • Patent number: 8203603
    Abstract: Disclosed are product processing systems and methods for monitoring, inspecting and controlling baking, cooking and routing processes, and the like. Products are placed on and moved by a conveyor. Images of the moving products are generated, such as by an image acquisition system. The images are processed by a symbol generation system. Symbols are then displayed on selected moving products based upon predetermined criteria. The systems and methods may be used to process oven-cooked or oven-baked products to identify (via the projected symbols) products that are defective or otherwise unacceptable. The product processing systems may be used to process packages or items having barcodes or other identifying labels to display routing or other identifying information on the moving products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Sim Harbert, Blair MacIntyre, Douglas F. Britton, Daniel L. Shaw
  • Patent number: 8203606
    Abstract: A method of assessing the quality of metal parts, for example through detection of defects in a metal part induced by processing the metal part, comprises acquiring a thermal image of the metal part after processing the metal part, determining a difference image by comparing the thermal image to a reference image, the difference image being related to temperature differences between temperature data represented by the thermal image and by the reference image, and determining a gradient image using the difference image, the gradient image representing temperature difference gradients within the difference image. An example apparatus comprises a camera, such as a thermal camera, an image processor, and an output device such as a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Thiago I. Avila, Petru S. Buse, Joshua A. H. Walter
  • Publication number: 20120140059
    Abstract: An inspection machine capable of inspecting optical property and electrical property of a light emitting device is provided. The inspection machine includes a substrate table, a probe mechanism, a heating apparatus, a cooling apparatus, an image-sensing apparatus, a temperature-sensing apparatus and a moving mechanism. The probe mechanism is capable of moving toward the light emitting device to contact therewith. The heating apparatus is capable of heating the light emitting device within a first temperature range. The cooling apparatus is capable of cooling the light emitting device within a second temperature range. The image-sensing apparatus senses a light emitting image provided from the light emitting device. The temperature-sensing apparatus senses the present temperature of the light emitting device. The image-sensing apparatus is disposed on the moving mechanism. The moving mechanism is capable of moving the image-sensing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: LEXTAR ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Hsiao-Liang Hsieh, Wen-Ti Lin, Hsiang-Cheng Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20120133761
    Abstract: An uneven area inspection system of the present invention comprises a patterned panel comprising a panel, wherein the panel have a surface on which a pattern is formed, an object with at least one surface reflecting light from the patterned panel, an imaging unit optically coupled to the patterned panel and the object and configured to capture the image of the patterned panel reflected by the surface of the object, and an image processing unit configured to process the captured image to compare the pattern in the patterned panel and the pattern in the captured image. The object can have uneven area and the uneven area of the object is inspected by comparing the pattern in the patterned panel and the pattern in the captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: ANGSTROM, INC., STEREO DISPLAY, INC.
    Inventors: Gyoung Il Cho, Hye Young Kim, Cheong Soo Seo
  • Publication number: 20120133762
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting and classifying a defect of a substrate, the system including a first channel, including a first illuminating unit to irradiate a light to a substrate and a first imaging unit to take images by sensing a light from the substrate when it is irradiated; a second channel, including a second illuminating unit to irradiate a light to the substrate and a second imaging unit to take images by sensing a light from the substrate when it is irradiated; an image constructing module to construct two images of the substrate using the images of the first and second imaging units respectively; and an image processing module to detect, when the substrate has a defect, that the defect is a defect on or in the substrate, based on a relationship of positions where the defect of the substrate appears in the two images of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Schweitzer, Huifen Li, Xiaofeng Lin, Xiaofeng Guo, Feng Guo, Xiaowei Sun
  • Patent number: 8189044
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the optical inspection of a matt surface of an object, the surface having a random texture, for example a tile (11) to find cracks (12), in a first step digital images of the surface are created by an image sensor (K) whereby the surface is illuminated from different directions by light sources (B). In a second step sub-images of the regions of interest are created from the images. In a third step the cracks are detected in the sub-images by digital image processing, generating abnormality sub-charts showing the putative cracks. In a fourth step for each region of interest a joint abnormality chart is generated by fusion of the sub-charts and in a fifth step the cracks are detected in each of the joint abnormality charts of each region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Oliver Stier
  • Patent number: 8184152
    Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating a part may include a camera, a camera-holding member for holding the camera in place relative to the part being evaluated, and an indexing surface disposed in a fixed position relative to the camera-holding member. The camera may be positioned to take a simultaneous picture of both the indexing surface and the part in order to evaluate the part using the picture by comparing an indexing surface image with a part image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John M. Pryor, David P. Banks, Stephen D. Friddell, Nancy J. McGinnis
  • Publication number: 20120120229
    Abstract: An inspection system and associated method are provided for inspecting a cigarette package. A transport device is configured to transport individual cigarette packages to an inspection position such that at least a portion of the cigarette package is visibly accessible for optical inspection. An inspection device is configured to optically inspect each cigarette package, at least about the visibly accessible portion thereof, as the cigarette package is transported through the inspection position, and to automatically determine from the optical inspection whether the inspected cigarette package is defective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Franklin Forrest Brantley, Darrell Thomas Dixon, Larry Dean McCann, Eddie Lee Nuckols
  • Patent number: 8179434
    Abstract: A system for capturing a composite image of an object with a curved surface includes a conveyor configured to transport the object to be imaged to a predetermined imaging position. A sensor is configured to produce a signal when the object to be imaged is at the predetermined position, and several cameras are arranged to photograph the object at the predetermined position from a plurality of different angles. A tracking module is used to receive the signal from the sensor, and output an actuating signal to the several cameras, such that each camera captures an image when the actuating signal is received. A processing device receives a captured image from each of the several cameras, manipulates the received images, and generates a composite image based on the manipulated images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo, LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Koval, Stephen L. White
  • Publication number: 20120105622
    Abstract: A coffee filter qualification system receives user-specified filter criteria relating to acceptable attributes for a plurality of apertures included in a liquid brewing filter. A light source illuminates the apertures of the liquid brewing filter and a machine vision camera images the apertures of the filter. A filter qualification information handling system (IHS) determines if the liquid brewing filter meets the predefined user-specified filter criteria. The filter qualification IHS accepts the liquid brewing filter if the filter meets the filter criteria, and otherwise rejects the filter. The filter criteria may include the total cumulative area of the apertures, individual aperture area, aperture count and aperture acircularity information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: VOICE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, INC
    Inventor: Vincent Fedele
  • Publication number: 20120105623
    Abstract: A machine vision inspection system that detects defects on machined valve seats that may be caused by a broken cutting tool insert. The system also measures the valve seat width to detect a missing cutting tool insert and monitor reactions to cutting tool forces and tool wear. The system uses high resolution cameras and stable LED light sources. A method is disclosed for manufacturing cylinder heads that are 100% inspected inline for valve seat surface defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: John Christopher Pauli, Nicholas Amaral, Francis J. Maslar, Gregory Link
  • Patent number: 8169478
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a mark quality verifier assembly wherein the assembly includes a camera including a camera field of view (FOV) and a processor for running software programs that are stored in a memory that is accessible to the processor, the method comprising the steps of providing a calibration program in the memory that is accessible by the processor, providing a calibration code on a surface of a calibration tool wherein the calibration code includes calibration information, positioning the calibration tool adjacent the camera so that the calibration code is within the FOV, obtaining at least one image of the calibration code via the camera, using information in the calibration code to determine that a verifier calibration process should be performed and commencing the calibration program when the calibration code indicates that a calibration process should be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Sateesha Nadabar, Venkat K. Gopalakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20120098957
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: DCG SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Herve DESLANDES, Rudolf SCHLANGEN, Prasad SABBINENI, Antoine REVERDY
  • Patent number: 8154599
    Abstract: An imaging region adjustment device includes plural camera terminals, capable of imaging an entire imaging target without blinds spots. Each of the camera terminals includes a camera which images a virtual imaging region obtained while changing the position of an imaging region within a specific region in a specific period of time and an adjusting unit B which adjusts the position of the virtual imaging region by controlling the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuji Aoki, Atsushi Yoshida, Shoichi Araki