Angle Measuring Or Angular Axial Alignment Patents (Class 356/138)
  • Patent number: 11971249
    Abstract: An optical system including an enclosure including a front end and a rear end, a first pair of apertures configured to be disposed on a front plane on the front end of the enclosure and a single optical lens system disposed between the front end and the rear end of the enclosure, wherein the first pair of apertures are configured to allow sets of light rays into the enclosure through the single optical lens system to be cast on an image plane as first and second spots, the image plane being parallel to the front plane, if the first and second spots are concentrically disposed, the sets of light rays are determined to be parallelly disposed with respect to one another, otherwise the sets of light rays are determined to not be parallelly disposed with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: MLOptic Corp.
    Inventors: Pengfei Wu, Ying-Ju Chu, Sean Huentelman
  • Patent number: 11959743
    Abstract: A dimensionless kinematics calibration method based on a virtual point and a related apparatus thereof. The method comprises: establishing a kinematics model of a motion mechanism, and arranging a plurality of virtual points at a tail end of the motion mechanism to establish a dimensionless kinematics model and a dimensionless error model; converting a measurement coordinate system into a motion mechanism coordinate system, acquiring a rotation matrix and a translation matrix of a target virtual point measured by the measurement device, and calculating actual coordinates of all virtual points to obtain a measured value of the dimensionless kinematics model; calculating a theoretical value of the dimensionless kinematics model according to a spatial relationship between a reflecting head and the tail end of the motion mechanism; and optimizing the dimensionless error model according to the measured value and the theoretical value to obtain a calibration result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: GUANGDONG UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jian Gao, Disai Chen, Yuheng Luo, Lanyu Zhang, Zhuojun Zheng, Guoqing Wu, Xin Chen
  • Patent number: 11953055
    Abstract: A photographing step of obtaining an original image by photographing a part or all of a sliding surface using a camera is performed and then an imaging process of detecting machining marks on the original image is performed; a detecting step of obtaining a detection image is performed; and an evaluating step of estimating a difference of a rotation torque of the raceway ring member with respect to another raceway ring member on the basis of the detection image in a direction of relative rotation between the raceway ring member and the other raceway ring member when a rolling bearing is constituted by combining a raceway ring member with the other raceway ring member is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Hidekazu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11940343
    Abstract: A bearing providing a first ring, a second ring and at least one row of rolling elements radially located between raceways disposed on the first and second ring, a single optical sensing fiber mounted in a groove provided on a surface of the first ring radially opposite to the raceway of the first ring, the fiber having at least a sensing part. The groove including a first branch extending from a first frontal surface of the first ring and being at least partially incurved along at least one radius of curvature to extend towards a circumferential groove parallel to the first frontal surface; a second branch extending from a second frontal radial surface of the first ring, axially opposite to the first frontal surface, connected to the first branch, the second branch being at least partially incurved along at least one radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Håkan Båstedt, Alexander Mocnik, Stijn van Eesbeek
  • Patent number: 11941855
    Abstract: A device comprises one or more processors configured to: obtain a value for a first laser, the value for the first laser indicating a number of probes in an azimuth direction of the first laser; decode a syntax element for a second laser, wherein the syntax element for the second laser indicates a difference between the value for the first laser and a value for the second laser, the value for the second laser indicating a number of probes in the azimuth direction of the second laser; determine the value for the second laser indicating the number of probes in the azimuth direction of the second laser based on the first value and the indication of the difference between the value for the first laser and the value for the second laser; and decode a point based on the number of probes in the azimuth direction of the second laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Bappaditya Ray, Adarsh Krishnan Ramasubramonian, Geert Van der Auwera, Louis Joseph Kerofsky, Marta Karczewicz
  • Patent number: 11940268
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a contact angle measuring device, including a light source, a container, a photodetector, a bubble generating unit, and a processing unit. The container includes a first and a second side walls that are opposite. The first side wall is made of a light-transmitting material, the container is filled with a liquid with light transmission inside. The monochromatic light emitted by the light source passes through the first side wall and enters an interface between the first side wall and the liquid. The bubble generating unit is configured for generating a bubble that is in contact with an inner surface of the first side wall. The photodetector is configured for detecting light intensity distribution of the monochromatic light through the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignees: Xiamen University of Technology, Riccino (Xiamen) Optical Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Sun, Luming Song, Xianjian Zhou, Hongyi Lin, Hong Liu, Wenzhang Zhu, Haijun Lin
  • Patent number: 11933911
    Abstract: This document describes techniques for enabling radar system calibration with bistatic sidelobe compensation. Radar signals reflect off of a flat plate that changes orientation (e.g., elevation and/or azimuth angle) and position relative to a mounting position of a specific radar sensor being calibrated. For each radar sensor, measurements may be obtained across a range of translational positions of the flat plate. Highly accurate calibration errors are determined for each radar sensor this way. By calibrating radar systems repositioning the target during the data collection in this way, the prominence of any bistatic sidelobes appearing in measurements may be reduced or prevented, which may enable less-complex and more-accurate calibration of each unique radar system installation. An indication of each calibration error may be output for use in individually adjusting the mounting position of each specific radar sensor within a radar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
    Inventors: Armin Talai, Rafal Michal Burza, Sashi Praveen Kalli
  • Patent number: 11928841
    Abstract: An optical scanning system for measuring and/or controlling a vehicle and/or parts of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is arranged on a support surface. The optical scanning system comprises two optical reader apparatuses, which are arranged on said support surface, on opposite sides of the vehicle, and are provided with respective optical image capturing devices configured to provide respective data/signals encoding one or more images of the vehicle, an electronic system, which is designed to process the data/signals in order to construct one or more three-dimensional images of the vehicle. The optical image reader apparatuses each comprise a calibration target, which lies on an approximately horizontal support surface and is arranged immediately adjacent to the optical image capturing device of the relative optical image reader apparatus at a predetermined distance from it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: TEXA S.P.A., Ravaglioli S.P.A.
    Inventors: Bruno Vianello, Massimo Mambrilla
  • Patent number: 11921215
    Abstract: A system and method for optical assessment of a heliostat includes obtaining a point cloud data representing an image of the heliostat; isolating the data; filtering and fitting the filtered heliostat data to a bounding box; translating the heliostat data to a plane to aid in segmentation; segmenting a plurality of facets of the heliostat fitting each of the segmented facets to a respective plane; generating normal vectors characterizing each of the plurality of facets; and calculating a canting angle associated with each respective facet of the plurality of facets. A heliostat with mirrored facets and a scanner are provided. The scanner captures point cloud data representing the heliostat, which is segmented for each facet. Normal vectors characterize the facets and a canting angle is calculated for the respective facet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel E. Small, Charles Q. Little, Julius Yellowhair
  • Patent number: 11867508
    Abstract: The present invention is a specialized laser alignment tool for locating at least one roofing penetration point for a conduit installation. The specialized laser alignment tool is fixably mountable to and self-centering on an electrical hub and projects one or more roofing penetration points which are in vertical alignment with the electrical hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Keith Hendrick
  • Patent number: 11835267
    Abstract: A method of determining a reflector parameter of a concentrating solar collector's reflector surface. An image is captured of the reflected receiver tube in the reflector surface, with an image capturing device, e.g. a camera, and processed to put together image data related to the reflected receiver tube. Further, the method comprises determining a location of the image capturing device at a capturing time of the captured image, and determining a position on the reflector surface based on the determined location of the image capturing device and the image data. The method comprises also calculating the reflector parameter at the determined position based on the image data. By numeric calculation of reflector parameters, such as slope, defects, e.g. caused by impacts or material imperfections, may be identified at an early stage before installing the solar collectors, which may reduce service needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ABSOLICON SOLAR COLLECTOR AB
    Inventor: Joakim Byström
  • Patent number: 11808612
    Abstract: In this optical rotary encoder, detection tracks of a rotating disc are irradiated with detection light emitted from a light-emitting element. An optical signal obtained via slits in the detection tracks passes through a slit pattern in a fixed slit plate and is received by light-receiving surfaces of a light-receiving element. The slit pattern in the fixed slit plate is formed so as to fit into a range of an effective spot of the detection light. An LED or other light-emitting element that has a small effective spot diameter can be used, which is advantageous in terms of reducing costs and making the device more compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Shintaro Ueno, Yoshinori Shibahara, Sadaharu Kanamori
  • Patent number: 11740723
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a display with an array of pixels configured to display images for a user. The electronic device may have an ambient light sensor for gathering ambient light information. A set of the pixels may overlap the ambient light sensor so that ambient light measurements may be made on ambient light passing through the set of pixels. Control circuitry in the electronic device may control light transmission through the set of pixels so that different light transmission levels can be used in different ambient light conditions. Directional light measurements may be made by moving transparent pixels dynamically across the surface of the display overlapping the light sensor and/or by using pixelated light modulators to vary the angle of light rays measured by the ambient light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Vampola, Joshua A. Spechler, Weili Chen, Christopher M. Dodson, Mahdi Nezamabadi
  • Patent number: 11697428
    Abstract: A method for three-dimensional modeling. The method may include: acquiring coordinate points of obstacles in a surrounding environment of an autonomous driving vehicle in a vehicle coordinate system; determining a position of eyes of a passenger in the autonomous driving vehicle, and establishing an eye coordinate system using the position of the eyes as a coordinate origin; converting the coordinate points of the obstacles in the vehicle coordinate system to coordinate points in the eye coordinate system, and determining a visualization distance between the obstacles in the surrounding environment based on an observation angle of the eyes; and performing three-dimensional modeling of the surrounding environment, based on visualization distance between the coordinate points of the obstacles in the eye coordinate system and the obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: APOLLO INTELLIGENT DRIVING TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yiming Liu
  • Patent number: 11692818
    Abstract: A support structure having a vertical element supporting a set of cameras associated with a vehicle measurement or inspection system together with at least one target structure required for realignment or recalibration of onboard vehicle safety system sensors. A camera crossbeam carried by the support structure locates the set of cameras as required to view a vehicle undergoing measurement or inspection. The target structure is affixed to the vertical element of the support structure, at an elevation suitable for observation by at least one vehicle onboard sensors during a realignment or recalibration procedure. A set of rollers facilitates positioning of the target structure on a supporting floor surface during a realignment or recalibration procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: HUNTER ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Brian M. Cejka, Nicholas J. Colarelli, III, Michael T. Stieff
  • Patent number: 11686875
    Abstract: An improved detector device for locating studs and other objects behind a substrate (such as a wall) uses one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) in combination with a photochromic compound to mark the locations on the substrate behind which objects are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignees: Robert Bosch Tool Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jeremy Rubens, Christopher Crowell
  • Patent number: 11670531
    Abstract: A pick-up tool (PUT) includes a bridge pick-up head. The bridge pick-up head includes: a first bridge leg portion, a second bridge leg portion, and a bridge center portion between the first and second leg portions, the first and second bridge leg portions each including a top surface and side surfaces, the top surfaces of the first and second bridge leg portions extending above the bridge center portion; a bridge base portion on the bridge center portion, the bridge base portion including a bottom side on the bridge center portion, a top side that is smaller than the bottom side, and one or more sloped surfaces defined between the top and bottom sides; and a tip configured to attach with a semiconductor device on the top side of the bridge base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Oscar Torrents Abad, Daniel Brodoceanu, Ali Sengül, Pooya Saketi
  • Patent number: 11644871
    Abstract: An information handling system may be implemented as a notebook, comprising a first assembly, a second assembly, a hinge mechanically coupling the first assembly to the second assembly wherein the hinge comprises a surface having an apparent reflectivity of light which is variable from a first location of the surface to a second location of the surface, a source of light configured to project light onto a surface of the hinge, and a sensor configured to detect an intensity of light reflected from the surface of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Kened Li-Diaz, Anthony W. Howard
  • Patent number: 11636605
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for generating a verified minimum viable range (MVR) of an object. An exposed outer corner and exposed edges of an object may be identified by processing one or more image data. An initial MVR may be generated by identifying opposing parallel edges opposing the exposed edges. The initial MVR may be adjusted, and the adjusted result may be tested to generate a verified MVR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MUJIN, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinze Yu, Jose Jeronimo Moreira Rodrigues, Rosen Nikolaev Diankov, Xutao Ye
  • Patent number: 11592277
    Abstract: Machines, calibration kits for machines, and methods of calibrating machines are disclosed herein. A machine includes a chassis, a frame, and a calibration kit. The chassis has a first coupling element and the frame has a second coupling element configured for interaction with the first coupling element to pivotally couple the frame to the chassis. The calibration kit is coupled to the chassis adjacent the second coupling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Peter J. Jorgensen, Michael Peat, Craig Christofferson, David Veasy, Shannon Massingill
  • Patent number: 11592527
    Abstract: A headlamp module of a vehicle includes a housing including a window, an illumination submodule disposed inside the housing and configured to provide illumination light to be transmitted through the window toward a scene in front of the vehicle, and a first LiDAR sensor disposed inside the housing and laterally displaced from the illumination submodule. The first LiDAR sensor includes one or more laser sources configured to emit laser beams to be transmitted through the window toward the scene, the laser beams being reflected off of one or more objects in the scene, thereby generating return laser beams to be transmitted through the window toward the first LiDAR sensor and one or more detectors configured to receive and detect the return laser beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Mark A. McCord, Jun Pei, Liqun Han, Dongyi Liao, Wei Wei
  • Patent number: 11582375
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for enhanced pointing angle validation. A device may generate a collimated beam using a light source emitting a light beam through a fiducial target in an optical instrument. The device may capture an image fiducial target using a camera, wherein the camera is mounted on a mounting datum that is orthogonal to the collimated beam. The device may determine a pointing angle associated with camera based on the captured image of the fiducial target. The device may compare a location of the fiducial target in the image to an optical center of the camera. The device may determine a validation status of camera based on the location of the fiducial target in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ARGO AI, LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. D'Alo, Christopher N. St. John
  • Patent number: 11543236
    Abstract: A three-dimensional measuring device comprising an arm having a free end provided with an interface body that includes a front face that has projecting therefrom a tubular coupling part for coupling to a first measuring member for measuring by contact and that is arranged to form a fastener plate for fastening either to a first grip member or else to a second measuring member, and the interface body also includes a side surface arranged to form a second fastener plate for fastening to a second grip member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: HEXAGON METROLOGY SAS
    Inventors: Laurent Desforges, Thibault Duportal, Denis Roux, Jean-Luc Famechon, Wes Inglis
  • Patent number: 11536809
    Abstract: Rotatable mirror assemblies and light detection and ranging systems containing rotatable mirror assemblies are described herein. An example rotatable mirror assembly may include (1) a housing having a top end, a bottom end, and a longitudinal axis intersecting the top and bottom ends, and (2) a set of reflective surfaces, where each reflective surface in the set is coupled to the top end of the housing and the bottom end of the housing such that each reflective surface possesses limited freedom of movement with respect to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-yves Droz, Drew E. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 11530953
    Abstract: Methods and devices for measuring full or partial Mueller matrix information in a single shot are described. One single shot polarimeter includes a polarization filter that is positioned to receive collimated light from a light source and to produce light having different polarization states. The polarization filter includes at least four sections, where each section receives a portion of the collimated light and produces light of a particular polarization state, which is spatially separated from light produced by other sections of the polarization filter. An imaging component images the sections of the polarization filter onto a plane of a sample object. One or more optical elements receive the light from the sample object and image a section of the sample object onto a detector. The disclosed devices and methods enable the measurement of the Mueller matrix of the sample with high signal-to-noise ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventor: Stanley Pau
  • Patent number: 11499966
    Abstract: A digitally encoded microflake includes a polymer layer, which has a top surface and a bottom surface substantially parallel to the top surface. At least one of the top surface and the bottom surface is to be coupled to target-specific probes for bonding with a target analyte. The microflake is identified by a binary sequence of bits encoded by an edge outline on a plane substantially parallel to the top surface and the bottom surface. The bits in the binary sequence are encoded at respective predefined locations surrounding the edge outline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: WinMEMS Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsiang Lai, Wen-Ching Lai
  • Patent number: 11493338
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting tilt of a fixture and method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Hao Gu, Jihuan Tian, Cheng Li, Martin Kefer
  • Patent number: 11486701
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments for a system and method for performing real-time detection for mapping. The embodiments include one or more processors, a scanner, and a mobile computing device removably coupled to the 2D scanner where the mobile computing device having a display. Embodiments include collecting scan data of an environment to generate a first map and identifying lines from the collected scan data corresponding to a surface of a structure. Embodiments also include grouping the identified lines into buckets based at least in part on a characteristic of the identified lines and combining the identified lines in each bucket. Embodiments also include optimizing the first map to generate a second map and displaying the second map on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Oliver Zweigle, Aleksej Frank, Ahmad Ramadneh, Joao Santos
  • Patent number: 11486792
    Abstract: Systems and methods for alignment and testing of a photonic device include a light source, an interferometer, a detector, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit may generate control signal(s) for the light source to project a beam through the interferometer to a device under testing (DUT). The interferometer may receive an interference beam from an optical fiber of the DUT. The processing circuit may align optical fiber(s) for the DUT, determine one or more characteristics for the DUT, and so forth based on the interference beam and a reference beam generated by the interferometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SANTEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Changho Chong
  • Patent number: 11435392
    Abstract: An inspection method includes a step S20 of electrically connecting electrical signal terminals of a semiconductor device to electric connectors, and optically connecting optical signal terminals of the semiconductor device to optical connectors, a step S30 of measuring a test light output signal output from a monitoring element provided in an inspection object in response to a test input signal having been input to the monitoring element while adjusting conditions of a position and an inclination of the inspection object, and extracting conditions in which an optical intensity of the test light output signal is a predetermined determination value or greater as inspection conditions, and a step S40 of inspecting the semiconductor device under the inspection conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Osamu Arai, Hiroshi Kamiya
  • Patent number: 11415410
    Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus of optical module assembly, where the method includes: when an optical module to be aligned images, controlling an alignment mechanism clamping a lens to be assembled to move in a set direction by a set movement step; when the alignment mechanism moves each time, collecting, by an image acquisition device, light spots imaged by the optical module to be aligned sequentially, and selecting a light spot with a minimum size from the collected light spots; determining an optimal position of the alignment mechanism according to at least two light spots before the light spot with the minimum size and at least two light spots thereafter; and controlling the alignment mechanism to move to the optimal position to align the lens to be assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventors: Nanjing Dong, Debo Sun
  • Patent number: 11408090
    Abstract: A method for growing a single crystal silicon ingot by the continuous Czochralski method is disclosed. The melt depth and thermal conditions are constant during growth because the silicon melt is continuously replenished as it is consumed, and the crucible location is fixed. The critical v/G is determined by the hot zone configuration, and the continuous replenishment of silicon to the melt during growth enables growth of the ingot at a constant pull rate consistent with the critical v/G during growth of a substantial portion of the main body of the ingot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: GlobalWafers Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Carissima Marie Hudson, JaeWoo Ryu
  • Patent number: 11401048
    Abstract: Described is a visual indicator device for landing aircraft on the deck of a ship, comprising a unit for measuring the instantaneous rolling motion angle of the ship, a light projection apparatus designed to project, on a non-horizontal wall of the ship, at least a first rectilinear segment representing the horizon line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: CALZONI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Daniele Maria Bertin
  • Patent number: 11390263
    Abstract: A sensor detects a variable indicative of a position of a receiving vehicle relative to a harvester during a harvester operation in which a material conveyance subsystem on the harvester is conveying harvested material to the receiving vehicle. If the receiving vehicle is in a compromised position in which it is out of range of the material conveyance subsystem or is about to be out of range, then a control signal is generated that can alert the operator of the harvester, automatically control harvester speed, or perform other control operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Kellen O'Connor, Jeremy J. Faust, Zachary T. Bonefas
  • Patent number: 11366308
    Abstract: An optical scanner unit includes a mirror component, a vibration generator, an optical sensor, and a light shield portion. The mirror component includes a reflective portion for reflecting light. The vibration generator swings the mirror component around a specific swing axis when AC voltage is applied. The optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver for receiving light emitted from the light emitter. The light shield portion is provided to the mirror component so as to swing along with the mirror component. The light shield portion blocks the light emitted from the light emitter. The light receiver further includes a first light receiver that is provided on one swing angle side from a center position of a swing angle range of the light shield portion, and a second light receiver that is provided on the other swing angle side from the center position of the swing angle range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Futoshi Takeda, Kenji Tanehashi, Kenichi Fujita
  • Patent number: 11303357
    Abstract: An optical device includes a chip, a set of waveguides on the chip and configured to carry first optical signals modulated with data during a data transmission stage, and an alignment waveguide on the chip. The alignment waveguide is configured to receive a second optical signal during an alignment stage that aligns the set of waveguides with a collimator including a set of lenses. The alignment waveguide is configured to output the second optical signal from the chip. The second optical signal output from the chip is indicative of a quality of alignment between the set of waveguides and the collimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: MELLANOX TECHNOLOGIES TLV LTD.
    Inventor: Avner Badihi
  • Patent number: 11258159
    Abstract: A pedestal is provided for mounting a portable antenna onto a platform. The pedestal includes a ring, a base, a horn and a prong composed of three-dimensionally printable composite resin. The ring attaches to the platform. The base inserts into the ring and includes an outer tube having a pair of axially distributed outer holes. The horn includes an inner tube for insertion into the outer tube and an inverted pyramid that connects to the inner tube. The inner tube includes at least three axially distributed inner holes. The prong has two probes that insert into the outer holes and two of the inner holes to secure the horn to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Garrett L. Timberlake
  • Patent number: 11250587
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes non-intrusive optical (NIO) characterization methods which efficiency measures optical errors (such as mirror surface slope error, mirror canting error, and heliostat tracking error) of a heliostat field. The methods utilize photogrammetry and deflectometry to analyze an image taken of a heliostat to determine optical errors and increase the amount of solar energy delivered by the heliostat to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Guangdong Zhu, Rebecca Amelia Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11230765
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a showerhead mechanism to adjust a showerhead in a semiconductor substrate-processing apparatus is disclosed. The mechanism includes at least one actuator assembly that is dynamically operable to adjust parallelism of a faceplate of the showerhead with reference to an upper surface of a substrate pedestal that is to be positioned adjacent to the faceplate. Each of the actuator assemblies includes a piezoelectric stack and a lever having a first end and a second end. The lever is mechanically coupled on the first end to the piezoelectric stack and on the second end to the showerhead to displace the showerhead in at least one direction of tilt. The lever is operable to amplify mechanically a displacement of the piezoelectric stack. A lever pivot point is coupled to the lever and is located between the first end and the second end of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Wiltse
  • Patent number: 11187496
    Abstract: The method and apparatus for a remote weapon station or incorporated into manually-aimed weapons. The methodology requires use of a muzzle velocity sensor that refines the aiming of the second and subsequent fires or volleys fired from weapon systems. When firing the first volley a weapon uses an estimated velocity and, at firing, the muzzle velocity of a projectile is measured. When firing the second volley a weapon's fire control calculates an aiming point using the measured velocity of the first volley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NOSTROMO HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Michael Sullivan
  • Patent number: 11150129
    Abstract: An optical sensing module has a light source and an optical sensing integrated circuit device. The optical sensing integrated circuit device has an optical sensor and a grating. The optical sensor and the light source are arranged along a first direction. The grating is formed over the optical sensor and has multiple parallel wires. The multiple wires are perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: EMINENT ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CORP. LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Yung Chen, Kao-Pin Wu, Tom Chang
  • Patent number: 11136460
    Abstract: An anti-slip structure comprising a plurality of anti-slip projections that protrude outwardly from a floor surface and are arranged so as to be mutually isolated, the anti-slip structure being such that the anti-slip projections are of circular dome-like three-dimensional shape and are cured bodies produced by curing a composition for anti-slip treatment comprising a curable resin. This anti-slip structure causes a floor surface comprising ceramic tile, tile made of stone material, or the like to be imparted with excellent anti-slip capability without impairing the lustrousness, beauty, design characteristics, or cleanability of the floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SUNSTAR ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Okamoto, Norihiro Tameno, Yoshimasu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11120571
    Abstract: A system is for measuring the deformations of at least one element of at least one examined construction, with at least one marker (1) fixedly attached to an element of the examined construction, at least one sensor (2) configured and programmed to record data related to the position of the marker (1) in the form of digital data, a processing unit (4) configured and programmed to process the data related to the position of the marker (1), connected communicatively to the sensor (2), preferably via a receiving unit (3), characterised in that the marker (1) comprises at least ten light-emitting characteristic points. A method is also provided for measuring the deformations of the examined construction implemented in such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: INTELLIGENT CONSTRUCTION SAFETY SYSTEMS SP. Z.O.O.
    Inventor: Monika Karolina Murawska
  • Patent number: 11060854
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining spindle angles of a steerable wheel axle arrangement. In particular, by means of the method, an image of at least one wheel axle optical marker arranged in connection with a wheel axle and an image of a spindle optical marker arranged in connection with the spindle is acquired, where after rotation of the spindle, center of rotation and an axis of rotation of the spindle can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Car-O-Liner Group AB
    Inventors: Andreas Johansson, Mats Appelquist
  • Patent number: 11061230
    Abstract: A laser alignment arrangement includes a first stage configured to structurally support a laser at a first longitudinal position of the laser, the first stage being configured to adjust the first longitudinal position of the laser in at least one direction orthogonal to an axis of the laser, and a second stage configured to structurally support the laser at a second longitudinal position of the laser, the second stage being configured to adjust the second longitudinal position of the laser in at least one direction orthogonal to the axis of the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Sensors Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventor: Laszlo Kovacs
  • Patent number: 11003883
    Abstract: An adjustable fingerprint capturing device is configured to stabilize a finger of a subject. The adjustable fingerprint capturing device comprises an imaging device(s) configured to capture an image(s) of the finger. The adjustable fingerprint capturing device comprises an image actuator. The adjustable fingerprint capturing device comprises a controller configured to activate the imaging device(s) based on input from the image actuator. The adjustable fingerprint capturing device comprises a housing disposed to: the imaging device(s), the image actuator, and the controller. The adjustable fingerprint capturing device comprises a plurality of moveable finger stabilizers configured to move about a portion of the housing. The plurality of moveable finger stabilizers are configured to apply pressure to the finger. The adjustable fingerprint capturing device comprises a stabilizer actuator connected to: the housing and the plurality of moveable finger stabilizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Eliah Aronoff-Spencer, Tom Kalisky, Isaiah Freerksen, Deborah Forster
  • Patent number: 10989800
    Abstract: A tracking system, comprising: multiple beacons, each associated with a different cyclic equivalence class of code-word length n, and each configured to broadcast a bit-stream comprising a repeating code-word, where the code-word belongs to the associated cyclic equivalence class; and a mobile tracking unit, comprising: a sensor, and a processor, wherein the sensor is configured to simultaneously detects at least some of the bit streams, and provide each sensed bit stream in real-time to the processor, wherein for each bit-stream received by the processor from the sensor, the processor is configured to identify the beacon that broadcasted the bit-stream using the first n received bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TECHNION RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Aaron Wetzler, Ron Kimmel
  • Patent number: 10944898
    Abstract: A system for guiding image sensor angle settings in different environments. The system may include a memory storing executable instructions, and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to perform operations. The operations may include obtaining a plurality of synthetic images, the synthetic images representing a plurality of scenes; training a classification model to classify, based on the synthetic images, a plurality of images captured from an environment of a user by an image sensor; determining, based on the classification, whether the image sensor is positioned at a predetermined angle; and adjusting, based on the determination, a position of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Reza Farivar, Cody Stancil, Rittika Adhikari, Joseph Ford, III
  • Patent number: 10932738
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging device for an X-ray image and, particularly, to an imaging device for an X-ray image which enables a posture of a patient to be checked and corrected in real time when an X-ray image of a specific part of a patient's body is to be imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: VATECH Co., Ltd., VATECH EWOO Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung Keun Lim, Jin Pyo Chun
  • Patent number: 10921115
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a punch and die measurement device which includes a linear array LED micrometer arranged so that the light beams and shadows pass vertically from transmitters to receivers, and further teaches a 1:1 ratio pantograph for transferring measurements from inside of a necker die to outside the die where it may then be measured by the linear array LED micrometers. The invention may include a precision alignment block, captive adjustment screws to adjust tilt plates angle of the linear array measurement carriage and lever arms to reduce motion of the adjustment screws as applied to the tilt plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: INTEGRATED PACKAGING SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Dale Goldsmith, Richard Lamar Lord, Adam Brian Johnson, Ryan Caleb Wiebe