With Plural Images Patents (Class 356/144)
  • Patent number: 11709230
    Abstract: A geodesic system for measuring the position of a target when the target is obstructed from view by a station. The geodesic system includes a rod fastener positioned on a housing axis for selectively coupling a housing to a survey rod, wherein the housing axis is collinear with a rod axis centrally-positioned within the survey rod when the system is coupled to the survey rod. The system further includes a cuboid-shaped station-scope for viewing the station along a station-line extending between the system and the station and for viewing the target along a target-line extending between the system and the target. The station-scope includes a mirror equally bisecting the station-scope. The housing axis equally bisects the mirror at an intersection of the station-line and the target-line. The station further includes a rangefinder for aligning a laser with the target, the laser having an origination point along the housing axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventor: John Matthews
  • Patent number: 11396394
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for orienting an umbilicated fruit, in which, during a first orientation phase (22), the presence of at least a portion of an umbilicus is detected in at least one initial image (II), then the fruit is driven (24) in spinning rotation about a first axis of rotation at an angular amplitude of between 5° and 45°, and then the presence of at least a portion of an umbilicus is detected in at least one subsequent image (IU). If at least a portion of an umbilicus is detected in at least one initial image (II) and no longer detected in each subsequent image (IU), the first orientation phase is stopped and the method is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: MAF AGROBOTIC
    Inventor: Philippe Blanc
  • Patent number: 9936168
    Abstract: A system and methods are provided for controlling a surveying device. In one embodiment, a method includes displaying a control screen including image data captured by a surveying device, detecting an input associated with the control screen, and determining a control command for the surveying device based on the input associated with the control screen. The method may further include controlling operation of the surveying device based on the control command, wherein the surveying device is configured to rotate in one more of a horizontal and vertical direction based on the control command. The device and methods may advantageously allow for precise pointing of a surveying device and translation of input position to surveying device commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Mikael Wilhelm Nordenfelt, Marc Alexander Howell, Robert Michael Miller, Volker Koehler, Omar Soubra, Nico Becke
  • Patent number: 9891022
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical-instrument making industry, namely, to optical sights used for small arms shooting. The technical result, which the claimed invention is intended to achieve, is a simpler design while maintaining functional capabilities and, correspondingly, increased reliability and a decreased cost of the product overall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: RusOpticalSystem LTD
    Inventors: Pavel Andreevich Blagov, Evgeny Viktorovich Tsivilev
  • Patent number: 8681326
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed generally to a method and apparatus for monitoring mask process impact on lithography performance. A method including receiving a physical wafer pattern according to a mask, extracting a mask contour from the mask, and extracting a deconvolution pattern based on the mask contour. A lithography process is simulated to create a virtual wafer pattern based on the deconvolution pattern. The virtual wafer pattern is then compared to the physical wafer pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping-Chieh Wu, Chien-Hsun Chen, Ru-Gun Liu, Wen-Chun Huang, Chih-Ming Lai, Boren Luo
  • Patent number: 8477299
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed generally to a method and apparatus for monitoring mask process impact on lithography performance. A method including receiving a physical wafer pattern according to a mask, extracting a mask contour from the mask, and extracting a deconvolution pattern based on the mask contour. A lithography process is simulated to create a virtual wafer pattern based on the deconvolution pattern. The virtual wafer pattern is then compared to the physical wafer pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping Chieh Wu, Chien-Hsun Chen, Ru-Gun Liu, Wen-Chun Huang, Chih-Ming Lai, Boren Luo
  • Patent number: 8393900
    Abstract: A system for aligning a simulator arranged for firing a mounted on a weapon. The simulator has a radiation source arranged so as to emit a beam along a simulation axis, and for adjusting the simulation axis so that it is aligned with the weapon sight. The system includes a sighting mark at which the weapon sight is to be aimed during alignment, and a device arranged in connection with the sighting mark to emit beam along an axis representing an aligned simulation axis. The system further includes an aligning unit that is deployable at the simulator and in which at least a first part of the beam from the element is reflected along an axis representing the current position of the simulation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Saab AB
    Inventor: Per Renntoft
  • Patent number: 8120774
    Abstract: There is provided an evanescent wave multimode optical waveguide sensitive to a chemical species or to a physical parameter. The optical waveguide comprises a core and a cladding having a cladding refractive index lower than that of the core for guiding light to be propagated in the optical waveguide. The cladding defines with the core an optical waveguide providing mode coupling. A chemical indicator is provided in the cladding for causing a variation of the optical absorption of the cladding as a function of the chemical species or the physical parameter. The cladding is interrogated by the evanescent wave of the propagated light. The mode coupling causes unabsorbed light power to be redistributed among the multiple modes while light propagates along the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Institut National d'Optique
    Inventors: Andre Fougeres, Liya Muslinkina, Claude Pare, Serge Caron
  • Patent number: 8060344
    Abstract: A method and system comprising a Master station, a processor and one or more targets that allows a user of said system to automatically generate a 3 dimensional graphical representation of a construction site and also overlay a drawing onto the graphical representation to guide the user within a virtual space being displayed by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventor: Sam Stathis
  • Patent number: 5999252
    Abstract: A method for laser marking semiconductor wafers wherein marking errors attributable to the laser marking tool are measured for each of the anticipated marking fields. A weighted average error is then calculated, and a correction based thereon is entered into the control mechanism of the laser marking tool. The method of the invention reduces downtime between jobs by eliminating the need to recalibrate the laser marking tool between jobs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: SEH America, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark J. Greisz
  • Patent number: 5118184
    Abstract: A transit includes two identical transit elements oriented at 90.degree. with respect to each other. Each transit element includes an objective end and a viewing end and be focused on a distant point. The transit is mounted on top of an intersection of two elements, and the elements can be moved to be at a right angle with respect to each other. Once the right angle is set, other portions of a polygonaly figure, such as a rectangle or a square, can be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Inventor: Zigmond J. Kordana
  • Patent number: 4991125
    Abstract: An absolute position type of displacement detector employs multiple grating tracks. The pitches of the gratings in the respective tracks are set to be just slightly different so as to detect an absolute position from a small number of analog signals by a vernier. The number of tracks is set to be three or more so as to multiply the vernier, thereby enabling absolute position measurement in a wide measurement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Souji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 4981354
    Abstract: An electrooptical sensor system directly measures the angle between two nearly parallel collimated laser beams. After focussing with a positive lens, the beams pass through a photoelastic modulator, a quarter wave retardation plate, and two polarizers. The beams then hit a lateral cell position sensor. Electrical signals from the lateral cell are processed with special electronics to yield a voltage which is proportional to the angular difference between the two beams. The sensor measures extremely small angles and operates at a high bandwidth. Its primary application is in the control of phased array optical telescopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Christopher R. DeHainaut, John D. Gonglewski, Dennis C. Duneman, Morten Jenks, David F. Holmes
  • Patent number: 4972592
    Abstract: An optical measuring instrument permits the user to adapt the handle position optimally to his individual wishes and habits while holding the instrument. An adapter is fixed to the limbus body. The adapter includes curved slots for accepting fixing screws that lie within bores of the head part of the handle. By loosening the screws, one may adjust the position of the handle through a preselected angular range, tightening the screws to fix a preferred handle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: C. Plath Fabrik nautischer Instrumente
    Inventor: Gerd Finnern
  • Patent number: 4967479
    Abstract: A relocation device has a housing, a first sight tube having a viewing opening through which a user can look to sight an object substantially along a first line of sight, a second sight tube having a viewing opening through which a user can look to sight a second object substantially along a second line of sight, and structure for mounting the first and second sight tubes to the housing so that the first and second lines of sight are at a fixed acute angle with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Zebco Corporation
    Inventor: Charles J. Fischer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4902128
    Abstract: Appartaus is disclosed for harmonizing onto a common reference axis the optical/optronic axes (4;5;18) of an aiming apparatus consisting of day sight channel (3) and combined thermal image/laser reception channel (1) with a stand alone laser transmitter (2). The laser radiation (9) reflected by the target is incident together with the target and ambient inherent radiation (11) via the scanning mirror (12) on selected elements of the detector row array (30), is optoelectronically converted and represented on the light-emitting diode array (25). Via the back of the mirror the signals are imaged on the retina by means of the deflection mirror (23) swung into the ray path. The visible radiatioin (19) imaged in the plane of the day reticle (21) also passes to the observer's eye when the deflection mirror is swung out. The visible radiation (19) in the day sight channel (3) can be observed when the deflection mirror is swung out via an imaging in the plane of the day reticle (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Hans Siebecker, Wolfgang Weigel
  • Patent number: 4483598
    Abstract: This invention provides an optical sight comprising a first telescope having a fixed increasing magnification whose image is combined and overlayed with the image of a second telescope having a selectable increasing magnification. The magnification of the second telescope is selected by the gunner at the beginning of the engagement in accordance with a known, conventional engagement speed of the target aircraft, thereby permitting the gunner to remember a chart of multiple target lengths for different target ranges without further consideration of target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Leightner, Henry Thibault
  • Patent number: 4428671
    Abstract: An optical device for vertically positioning a sextant to minimize the "tilt error" which occurs in a measured angle of altitude whenever the sextant is not held orthogonal to the horizon. The optical device can be fixed to the sextant and provides in the sextant's viewing area a secondary horizon which will align with the direct horizon only when the sextant is in a vertical orientation. The device is capable of periodic calibration and can be pivoted out of the line of sight when the sextant's user is initially locating the celestial body whose altitude is being measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Davis Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas D. Davies
  • Patent number: 4421407
    Abstract: An improved optical measuring instrument having an image combining mirror which reflects part of the light from one source and transmits part of the light from another source and superimposes such reflected and transmitted light over the entire surface of the mirror is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment an improved sextant is disclosed using the image combining mirror. Sextants are double reflecting optical devices which are generally used to measure the angle between a celestial object, such as the sun, the moon, or a star, and the horizon. This measurement is used primarily in navigation for determining the user's location at sea. Prior sextants split the viewing area of the horizon mirror into two fields of view: one-half horizon and one-half celestial object. The improved sextant uses a horizon mirror which combines and overlaps (superimposes) the horizon and celestial images over the entire viewing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Davis Instruments
    Inventor: Angus MacDonald
  • Patent number: 4413906
    Abstract: Uniquely integrating a search mirror and a deflection mirror with a passive ptical rangefinder and a remote sextant, enhances the operation of both devices. The improved rangefinder/sextant provides day/night 360.degree. azimuthal and at least -5.degree. to about 60.degree. elevational search capability with the additional capability of pointing the search mirror at a navigational star in a direction different from that of an imaging camera. Thus, the imaging camera, can be pointed at the sea horizon that is least obscured by haze and/or sea clutter, thereby allowing altitude readings under adverse conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Sidney Feldman, George G. Barton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4367949
    Abstract: A method of aiming or aligning in which two overlapping fields of view fixed with respect to each other are produced, one of which is inverted and reversed with respect to the other and superimposed thereon. Given a target in the overlapping fields of view, movement of the fields of view to cause a given point on the target in the two images thereof provided by the two fields of view to overlie each other will cause such points to lie on an axis having a fixed relation to the axes of two fields of view. Optical and electronic devices for practicing the method are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Inventor: Gordon R. Lavering
  • Patent number: 4352556
    Abstract: A reflector for electrooptical measurement of the distance between a first (3) and a second point (4) is arranged with a right angle sighting device (13) in a common case (8). The reflector (6) may thus be set up at a point (5) where the directions to the first (3) and second points (4) form a right angle. This facilitates the distance measurement between points (3, 4) that are not suited for the set up of reflectors or where visual contact between the points (3, 4) is impaired by an obstacle (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: Kern & Co. AG
    Inventors: Erwin Haefliger, Fritz Hinden, Aldo Lardelli
  • Patent number: 4339198
    Abstract: The combination with a sextant embodying an index mirror rotatable about a predetermined axis to bring a sighted object into juxtaposition with the line of sight of the optical system at the center of the horizontal mirror of an arcuate informational grating concentric with the axis of rotation of the index mirror and an index arm rotatable in consonance with the index mirror so that its distal end travels along the informational grating, a reference grating at the distal end of the index arm concentric with the information grating, a light-emitting diode at the proximal end of the index arm arranged to project a beam through the reference grating at the distal end of the arm onto the informational grating and a phase detector arranged at the proximal end of the index arm to receive the beam reflected from the conjuncted gratings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: Celenav Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred A. Leuchter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4245393
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an instant position finder and course plotter. A first embodiment of the present invention relates to a three arm protractor which includes a circular base member, a fixed central arm and a movable left and right arm. Each arm of the protractor includes a sight at each extreme end which work in conjunction with a central sight in the circular base portion to permit an individual to accurately align the three arms of the protractor with three visible charted objects. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to an instant position finder and course plotter which utilizes sextant type mirrors to reflect the right and left objects being viewed onto target mirrors positioned on the apex of the base. The center object is sighted over the two target mirrors through a scope mounted at the rear of the instrument. The second embodiment of the present invention enables an individual to see all three objects simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Inventors: Anthony J. Zane, Frederick C. Beurer
  • Patent number: 4232965
    Abstract: A handheld optical sighting device having a sighting means for direct forward observation and reflective surfaces that enable images of two objects, one directly ahead of and one directly to the rear of an observer to coincide when the device is aligned with and between the two objects. The device includes two reflective surfaces for reflecting light rays from the rear object by 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1980
    Assignee: AB Broderna Kjellstrom
    Inventor: Georges Sauerwein
  • Patent number: 4162124
    Abstract: A passive opto-electric rangefinder with remotely controllable index mirr independently rotatable about normal axes, each axis perpendicular to the line-of-sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Sidney Feldman, George G. Barton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4093378
    Abstract: This describes an apparatus and method especially adapted for positioning a semiconductor wafer in a preferred plane with respect to a photomask so as to achieve improved photolithographic focusing. The apparatus comprises a holder, provided with a surface for receiving a semiconductor wafer thereon, mounted in a chuck which mates with an adaptor ring containing both driver mechanisms and sensors for sensing and positioning the wafer. The sensors define a reference plane and converts the spacing between the reference plane and the front surface of the semiconductor wafer into electrical signals which can be fed to the driver mechanisms to position, with both rotational or translational motion, the plane of the wafer by moving the holder until all the signals from the sensors are nulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1978
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Frederick Horr, William Frederick White
  • Patent number: 3992106
    Abstract: An attitude determining system for vehicles, such as spacecraft or for ground-based environments measures the angle between a reference and the line-of-sight to a star or other celestial object of known position or to aircraft and missiles. The system includes a rotating scanning telescopic sensor, and a fixed mirror positioned so that the sensor scans both the direct and the reflected line-of-sight of the celestial object in the course of each rotation. Associated transducers and electronic circuits determine the relative angular positions of the telescopic sensor at the instants it detects the direct and the reflected radiation from the celestial object. A computation based on the two angles gives the angular position of the celestial object relative to the vehicle reference. The system cancels or substantially reduces errors due to optical or electronic inaccuracies which identically affect the direct and the reflected angular position measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1974
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: Victor Auerbach
  • Patent number: 3985446
    Abstract: A device to provide a ship's navigator with information day and night, as to the altitude of celestial bodies on a CRT display with digital display of the altitude and time on the CRT and/or LED read-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1974
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Sidney Feldman, George G. Barton
  • Patent number: 3972620
    Abstract: A straight line whose azimuth angle is to be measured, such as the angle of a gap of a magnetic head assembly relative to a disk radius, is imaged on an evaluation plane via a lens and a pair of deflecting mirrors, the first of which is semi-transparent. The mirrors are each inclined at a different angle from a common pivot line. The angular difference is such that the images do not touch and only one end portion of each image from the mirrors lies in the image field. The lateral spacing of these end portions is a function of the azimuth angle. A mask blocking out the center portion of the image may be used to assist in the end portion definition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1976
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Hans Georg Nauth
  • Patent number: 3937579
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the two-sided exposure of a semiconductor or substrate plate, especially exposure of a wafer, through exposure masks which are arranged in plane parallel, parallel and rotational alignment to either side of a semiconductor plate. The invention further concerns an apparatus for parallel and rotational alignment to either side of a semiconductor plate. The invention further concerns an apparatus for parallel and rotational alignment of a semiconductor or substrate plate, especially alignment of a wafer, in relation to two exposure masks, operating on either of the two surfaces of the semiconductor or substrate plate, for the purpose of a two-sided exposure, in accord with the process established by the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1973
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1976
    Assignee: Karl Suss KG
    Inventor: Jean Schmidt
  • Patent number: RE30601
    Abstract: This describes an apparatus and method especially adapted for positioning a semiconductor wafer in a preferred plane with respect to a photomask so as to achieve improved photolithographic focusing. The apparatus comprises a holder, provided with a surface for receiving a semiconductor wafer thereon, mounted in a chuck which mates with an adaptor ring containing both driver mechanisms and sensors for sensing and positioning the wafer. The sensors define a reference plane and converts the spacing between the reference plane and the front surface of the semiconductor wafer into electrical signals which can be fed to the driver mechanisms to position, with both rotational or translational motion, the plane of the wafer by moving the holder until all the signals from the sensors are nulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1981
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew F. Horr, William F. White