Triangulation Ranging To A Point With One Projected Beam Patents (Class 356/3.01)
  • Patent number: 11965309
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a leveling control method, device and system, a motor grader. The leveling control method includes: acquiring elevations of a current position of a blade of a motor grader and a target position, and a movement speed of the motor grader, wherein the target position is on the ground with a certain horizontal distance from the current position along a movement direction of the motor grader; determining a movement time of the blade from the current position to the target position from the horizontal distance and the movement speed; determining a lifting speed of a lifting cylinder from an elevation difference between the elevation of the target position and the elevation of the current position and the movement time; and controlling the lifting cylinder to adjust the blade to move from the current position to the target position according to the lifting speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: JIANGSU XCMG CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY RESEARCH INSTITUTE LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Hou, Bin Zhao, Hao Liu, Shengli Lu
  • Patent number: 11926440
    Abstract: A sampling method includes: obtaining topographical information about a predetermined wide area by using a first sensor on a work machine; selecting a candidate area within the wide area, the candidate area is less than an area of the wide area, and setting a movement route based on the information about the wide area, the movement route allows a distal end portion of an arm provided on the work machine to reach a preparation position without coming into contact with an obstacle, the preparation position being located above the candidate area; moving the distal end portion of the arm along the movement route to the preparation position, and obtaining topographical information about the candidate area by using a second sensor on the distal end portion of the arm; and specifying a sampling point based on the information about the candidate area and performing sampling at the specified sampling point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fuminobu Sakamoto, Toyotoshi Kurose
  • Patent number: 11921296
    Abstract: There is provided an illumination system of a navigation device including a light beam shaping optics, and a first light source and a second light source having different characteristics. The light beam shaping optics is used to shape light beams emitted by the first light source and the second light source to illuminate a work surface with substantially identical incident angles and/or beam sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventor: Sai-Mun Lee
  • Patent number: 11919320
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Videojet Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Ellis, Philip Hart, Gareth Walley
  • Patent number: 11912277
    Abstract: A method for providing driving assistance by detecting and warning against areas on one or other side of the road which are obscured by vehicles in other lanes is based on a HD map and includes acquiring location and driving speed of a vehicle which is carrying an apparatus applying the method. The system of the method includes at least one sensor, and environmental information as to surroundings is acquired with location. The speeds of other vehicles relative to the driving speed of the vehicle are calculated, and an instruction to the driver is generated the speed of the vehicle is less than a first predefined value but the speed of the vehicle relative to the driving speeds of the other vehicles is larger than a second predefined value. The apparatus applying the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Mobile Drive Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Jing-Long Yang
  • Patent number: 11898835
    Abstract: A method for configuring a device for non-destructive testing of a mechanical part, the device including an optical motion-tracking system, a non-destructive testing probe fixedly linked to a first rigid body, and a pointing device, includes steps of: learning of an origin and of axes of an examination area of the surface of the mechanical part using the pointing device, in a coordinate system linked to the optical motion-tracking system, so as to define a coordinate system linked to the examination area, learning of an origin and of axes of an emitter and receiver surface, called active surface, of the probe using the pointing device, in a coordinate system linked to the first rigid body of the probe, and determination of the position and of the orientation of the active surface of the probe, in the coordinate system linked to the examination area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Michel Cardoso, Thomas Desrez, Sebastien Bey
  • Patent number: 11892568
    Abstract: A depth map sensor includes a first array of first pixels, each first pixel having a first photodetector associated with a pixel circuit that comprises a plurality of first bins for accumulating events. A clock source is configured to generate a plurality of phase-shifted clock signals. A first circuit has a plurality of first output lines coupled to the first array of first pixels. The first circuit is configured to receive the plurality of phase-shifted clock signals. The first circuit includes a first block and a second block. The first block is configured to propagate the plurality of phase-shifted clock signals to the second block during a first period determined by a first enable signal and the second block configured to select to which of the plurality of first output lines each of the plurality of phase-shifted clock signals is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS, STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Ivelina Hristova, Pascal Mellot, Neale Dutton
  • Patent number: 11858509
    Abstract: An operator offset request for automatic lane following system of an automobile vehicle includes an operator offset request defining a lateral offset distance away from a first travel-line of an automobile vehicle in a displacement path moved until a second travel-line of the automobile is achieved. An operator input setting system when actuated generates an initiation signal forwarded to a controller to input the operator offset request. An achievement signal is generated to signify a selected offset position selected by a vehicle operator for the offset distance is achieved. A vehicle return travel path is elected by the vehicle operator to return the automobile vehicle to the first travel-line from the second travel-line by a return displacement path which is opposite to the displacement path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Reza Zarringhalam, Mohammadali Shahriari, Wenhao Wu, Paul A. Adam
  • Patent number: 11796827
    Abstract: A Lidar system is provided. The Lidar system includes a laser emitter transmitting a first signal of a first wavelength. The Lidar system includes a filter receiving the first signal. The Lidar system includes a first dichroic filter switch filtering the first signal received by the variable waveplate or other filter. The Lidar system includes a receiver sensor receiving the filtered first signal. The Lidar system includes the laser emitter transmitting a second signal of a second wavelength. The Lidar system includes the variable waveplate or other filter receiving the second signal. The Lidar system includes the first dichroic filter switch filtering the second signal. The Lidar system includes the receiver sensor receiving the filtered second signal. A processor determines a distance of a target based on the received filtered first and second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Ronald P. Earhart, Kevin L. Whiteaker
  • Patent number: 11783248
    Abstract: A construction management system includes: a current topography data acquisition unit configured to acquire current topography data indicating a current topography of a construction site; a design topography data acquisition unit configured to acquire design topography data indicating a design topography of the construction site; a construction plan data calculation unit configured to calculate construction plan data including earth cutting plan data and earth banking plan data by collating the current topography data with the design topography data; and a construction plan data output unit configured to output the construction plan data to an output device. The construction plan data output unit causes an output device to output at least two of the design topography data, the cutting plan data, and the banking plan data in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikashi Shike, Yuichi Nemoto, Masahiro Kurihara
  • Patent number: 11747439
    Abstract: A method and device for calibrating a sensor system of a moving object. The sensor system includes a plurality of individual sensors. Each individual sensor has a particular detecting range. Each of these sensors having a detecting range at least partially overlapping with at least one further sensor of the sensor system. The method includes: defining a virtual overall sensor based on a merger of the particular detecting ranges of each individual sensor; determining first coordinates of a plurality of external objects, as well as second coordinates of selected points of the moving object; and orienting the virtual overall sensor relative to the moving object, as a function of the first and second coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Nuernberg
  • Patent number: 11726190
    Abstract: A system for emulating an over-the-air environment for testing a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) unit under test (UUT). The system may comprise a lens system that receives light from the LiDAR UUT and a plurality of optical processing chains. The system may generate light into free space based on the optical signals processed by each chain. The system may process received light optically to maintain coherence with light received from the LiDAR unit under test and may process all points in a LiDAR image simultaneously. The system may operate to emulate an over-the-air environment for a time-of-flight LiDAR UUT, a frequency modulated continuous wave LiDAR UUT, and/or a flash LiDAR UUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Marks, Marcus Kieling daSilva
  • Patent number: 11681028
    Abstract: An optical sensing device includes a light source, which emits one or more beams of light pulses toward a target scene at respective angles about a transmit axis of the light source. A first array of single-photon detectors output electrical pulses in response to photons that are incident thereon. A second array of counters count the electrical pulses output during respective count periods by respective sets of one or more of the single-photon detectors. Light collection optics form an image of the target scene on the first array along a receive axis, which is offset transversely relative to the transmit axis, thereby giving rise to a parallax shift as a function of distance between the target scene and the device. Control circuitry sets the respective count periods of the counters, responsively to the parallax shift, to cover different, respective time intervals following each of the light pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Moshe Laifenfeld
  • Patent number: 11639987
    Abstract: An airborne laser scanner configured to be arranged on an aircraft for surveying a target along a flight path. The airborne laser scanner comprises an emitter configured for emitting a plurality of consecutive laser pulses towards the ground surface, at least one optical element configured for deflecting the laser pulses along pulse paths towards the target, a motor configured for altering the pulse paths by moving the optical element, a receiver configured for receiving the laser pulses backscattered from the target, and a computer configured for controlling the emitter, the motor, and the receiver, for determining directions of the pulse paths, and for triggering the emitter to emit the laser pulses with a varying pulse spacing based on the directional component of the pulse paths in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a direction of the flight path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Kristian Altmann, Andreas Axelsson
  • Patent number: 11635374
    Abstract: An optical testing device for use in testing an optical measuring instrument provides incident light from a light source to an incident object and receives reflected light due to reflection of the incident light at the incident object. The optical testing device includes an incident light receiving section that receives incident light, and a light signal providing section. The light signal providing section provides a light signal to the incident object after a predetermined delay time since the incident light receiving section has received the incident light. A reflected light signal due to reflection of the light signal at the incident object is provided to the optical measuring instrument. The delay time is approximately equal to the time between emission of the incident light from the light source and reception of the reflected light by the optical measuring instrument in the case of actually using the optical measuring instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiro Sugawara, Shin Masuda, Takao Sakurai, Hidenobu Matsumura, Takao Seki
  • Patent number: 11638073
    Abstract: A ranging device and a ranging method are provided. The ranging device includes a light source, an image sensor, and a processor. The light source projects a plurality of projection patterns onto a surface of an object to be measured at different times. The image sensor senses the surface of the object to be measured in synchronization with projection times of the projection patterns to obtain a plurality of sensing images respectively corresponding to the projection patterns. The processor analyzes the sensing images to determine depth information of the object to be measured. The processor performs trigonometric calculations to obtain the depth information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Guangzhou Tyrafos Semiconductor Technologies Co., LTD
    Inventors: Ping-Hung Yin, Jia-Shyang Wang
  • Patent number: 11635521
    Abstract: A method for optical distance measurement involves transmitting measuring pulses by means of a transmission matrix having a plurality of transmission elements, reflecting transmitted measuring pulses to at least one object, and receiving reflected measuring pulses by a reception matrix. The reception matrix includes a plurality of reception elements each having a plurality of reception sub-elements. The method involves monitoring reception rates of reception sub-elements of the reception matrix for determining a misalignment between the transmission matrix and reception matrix, wherein the transmission matrix and reception matrix define a visual field, and wherein the method is used for the navigation of a vehicle. Monitoring takes place while a vehicle is traveling, wherein the method does not involve the conscious introduction of measuring objects into the visual field for determining a misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Ibeo Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Özgür Püskül
  • Patent number: 11619726
    Abstract: A system uses range and Doppler velocity measurements from a lidar subsystem and images from a video subsystem to estimate a six degree-of-freedom trajectory of a target. The video subsystem and the lidar subsystem may be aligned with one another by mapping the measurements of various facial features obtained by each of the subsystems to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Aeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoley T. Zheleznyak, Chris Roller, Gavin Rosenbush, Richard L. Sebastian
  • Patent number: 11619591
    Abstract: An image inspection apparatus includes: an image capturing unit which captures images of an object; a transparent illumination unit which has a light-emitting surface which radiates light to the object and is configured to be able to control a light-emitting position on the light-emitting surface and a radiation direction of the light; and a control unit which is configured to control the image capturing unit and the illumination unit. The control unit causes the illumination unit to change the light-emitting position and the radiation direction, causes the image capturing unit to capture images of the object, identifies a light-emitting position and a radiation direction of the illumination unit when a measurement point of the surface of the object is illuminated from images of the object, and calculates a distance to the measurement point on the basis of the identified light-emitting position and the identified radiation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Kato, Shingo Inazumi
  • Patent number: 11609311
    Abstract: A pulsed light emitting element emits pulsed light that is linearly polarized in a first polarization direction, the pulsed light passes through a polarizing beam splitter and a lens in this order and is radiated onto a target object, reflected light passes through the lens and the polarizing beam splitter in this order, is linearly polarized in a second polarization direction that is different from the first polarization direction, and is concentrated on a light receiving element, the pulsed light emitting element and the light receiving element are provided on a focal plane of the lens, and the optical axis of the pulsed light and the optical axis of the reflected light overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuji Iguchi, Noriaki Fujii, Hidenori Kawanishi, Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11604475
    Abstract: A planar-beam, light detection and ranging (PLADAR) system can include a laser to output a laser beam and a collimator configured to collimate the laser beam axially to emit a planar beam from the laser. The PLADAR system can further include a detector to detect reflected light based on the planar beam being reflected from external surfaces of target objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: UATC, LLC
    Inventor: Scott Boehmke
  • Patent number: 11592524
    Abstract: Methods and systems for laser point clouds are described herein. The method and system may include receiving, at a computing device, lidar data indicative of an environment of a vehicle from a first lidar data source, where the lidar data includes a first plurality of data points indicative of locations of reflections from the environment and further includes a respective intensity for each data point. The method and system also include determining a first surface normal for at least a first data point of the first plurality of data points. The method and system further includes determining a first angle of incidence for the first data point based on the surface normal. Additionally, the method and system includes adjusting the intensity of the first data point based on the first angle of incidence to create a first adjusted intensity for the first data point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Mingcheng Chen, Christian Lauterbach, Blaise Gassend, Nathaniel Quillin, Luke Wachter, Gil Shotan, Mark Alexander Shand
  • Patent number: 11579289
    Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus includes a light source to emit light beams, an optical scanner to scan the light beams output from the light source over a predetermined range, a light receiver to receive reflected light obtained as a result of the light beams being reflected by a target object, and to output detection signals, and a control circuit to measure a distance to the target object based on the detection signals. The light source including a plurality of light-emitting device groups that are arranged in a scan direction of a scan performed by the optical scanner, and the control circuit being to make the plurality of light-emitting device groups emit light at respective different timings in a single scan, and to measure the distance to the target object based on a sum of the detection signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuichi Suzuki, Nobunari Tsukamoto, Tsuyoshi Ueno, Tadashi Nakamura, Naoto Jikutani, Kazuma Izumiya, Atsushi Sakai, Masayuki Yanagihashi, Yasufumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 11573308
    Abstract: A method of operating a monitoring sensor comprising a light transmitter; a light receiver; and a deflection unit is described, with the method comprising the steps: a) detecting a respective detected signal that comprises a time curve of a reception signal received for an angle of rotation; b) determining the number of reception light pulses in the detected signal; c) generating a detection signal that comprises information on the determined position of an object, wherein checks are made in accordance with first, second and third test conditions, and with the first test condition being checked in a first test step, and one of the second and third test conditions being checked in possibly performed second and/or third test steps respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventor: Fabian Jachmann
  • Patent number: 11543496
    Abstract: A range sensor and a method thereof. The range sensor includes a light source configured to project a plurality of sheets of light at an angle within a field of view (FOV); an image sensor, wherein the image sensor is offset from the light source; collection optics; and a controller connected to the light source, the image sensor, and the collection optics, and configured to simultaneously determine a range of a distant object based on direct time-of-flight (TOF) and a range of a near object based on triangulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventor: Yibing Michelle Wang
  • Patent number: 11536814
    Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus includes a reference object distance calculation section which calculates a distance to a reference object based on a two-dimensional image in which the reference object, which includes a plurality of feature points having obvious three-dimensional coordinate correlations, is captured, and a correction amount calculation section which calculates a correction amount for correcting a distance image by comparing the calculated distance to the reference object with a distance measurement value to the reference object in the distance image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Nakamura, Yuuki Takahashi, Atsushi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11520017
    Abstract: A lidar device for scanning a region to be scanned, using at least one beam, including at least one radiation source for generating the at least one beam, and at least two mirrors rotatable about an axis of rotation, in order to deflect beams reflected by an object, onto a detector oriented perpendicularly to the axis of rotation; the at least two mirrors having, in each instance, a reflectivity for a wavelength range and being connectable to each other at an angle, in a region of the axis of rotation. A method for scanning a region to be scanned, using a lidar device, is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mustafa Kamil, Nico Heussner
  • Patent number: 11486974
    Abstract: A LIDAR apparatus for scanning a scan region with at least one beam is described. The LIDAR apparatus includes at least one beam source for generating the at least one beam; having a mirror for deflecting the at least one generated beam toward the scan region; and having a detector mirror for deflecting at least one beam, reflected at an object, onto a defined region of a detector, the mirror and the detector mirror being disposed on a rotor rotatably around a vertical rotation axis, and the detector mirror focusing the at least one reflected beam onto the detector. A method for operating a LIDAR apparatus is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Remigius Has, Annemarie Holleczek, Matthias Baier
  • Patent number: 11486967
    Abstract: A module for a lidar sensor, including: a light-transmitting path having a movable mirror and a light source; and a transmitting-side microlens set-up, which is situated downstream from the light transmitting path; the light transmitting path being configured to illuminate a first microlens of the microlens set-up on the input side, using a first spot of a predefined diameter of a first light beam; the predefined diameter of the spot of the first light beam being greater than a diameter of the first microlens, and a distance of an edge of the first microlens to edges of adjacent microlenses inside of the transmitting-side microlens set-up corresponding to a difference between the predefined diameter of the spot of the first light beam and the diameter of the first microlens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Hasselbach
  • Patent number: 11474245
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes instructing, by a processing system of a distance sensor, a pattern projector of the distance sensor to project a pattern of light onto an object, wherein the pattern comprises a plurality projection artifacts, detecting, by the processing system, a location of a first projection artifact of the plurality of artifacts in an image of the object that includes the pattern of light, wherein the detecting comprises identifying an area of peak light intensity within a window corresponding to a trajectory of the first projection artifact, wherein the trajectory represents a range of potential movement of the first projection artifact on an imaging sensor of the distance sensor, and calculating, by the processing system, a distance from the distance sensor to the object based in part on the location of the first projection artifact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Magik Eye Inc.
    Inventors: Akiteru Kimura, Jan Heller
  • Patent number: 11454534
    Abstract: A method of optical and microwave synergistic retrieval of aboveground biomass, the method including: 1) obtaining an observation value of aboveground biomass (AGB) of a sample plot; 2) pre-processing laser radar (LiDAR) data, optical remote sensing data and microwave remote sensing data covering a research region, to yield crown height model (CHM) data, surface reflectance data and a backscattering coefficient, respectively; 3) extracting different LiDAR variables, extracting a plurality of optical characteristic vegetation indexes, and extracting a plurality of microwave characteristic variables; 4) establishing a multiple stepwise linear regression model of the biomass; 5) taking the biomass value of the LiDAR data coverage region as a training set and a verification sample set, and selecting samples for modeling and verification; 6) screening out the optical and microwave characteristic variables; and 7) constructing an optical model, a microwave model, and an optical and microwave synergistic model of AG
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: WUHAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zhenfeng Shao, Linjing Zhang
  • Patent number: 11448758
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optical distance measurement which includes the steps of emitting measurement pulses by a transmission unit and receiving measurement pulses reflected by an object by a receiver unit to identify objects within a field of view of the receiver unit. A background signal is received by receiver elements and the intensity of the background signal is determined for each receiver element, wherein the determined intensities of the background signal are compared in order to identify objects not identified by the measurement within the field of view of the receiver unit. At least one region of minimal intensity of the background signal is established within an intensity image of the field of view of the receiver unit. The region of minimal intensity is assigned a masking in the field of view, the masking originating from an object not identified by the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Ibeo Automotive Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Özgür Püskül
  • Patent number: 11428784
    Abstract: A measuring appliance for performing distance measurements to an object, with an optical transmitter channel, an optical reception channel, a reference light path and an evaluation device, wherein the optical transmitter channel comprises a transmitter unit and an optical outlet element and the optical reception channel comprises an optical inlet element and a reception unit. The measuring appliance facilitates distance measurements over a measurement light path to the object and back again and over a reference light path. An attenuation device renders a desired signal attenuation attainable in the reference light path. The reference light path is laid out in such a way that it receives laser measurement radiation prior to the passage through the optical outlet element, guides said laser radiation without contact with the surroundings to the attenuation device and forwards an attenuated portion to the reception unit through the optical inlet element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Jürg Hinderling, Simon Bestler, Reto Stutz, Rainer Wohlgenannt
  • Patent number: 11422264
    Abstract: There is provided an optical remote sensing system including: an emission channel mount having mounted thereto input ends of an array of emission fiber channels; a beam steering device configured to scan a light beam from a light source across the input ends of the array of emission fiber channels; a plurality of sensor portions, each sensor portion configured to be exposed to a corresponding scene and having connected thereto: an output end of a corresponding emission fiber channel of the array of emission fiber channels; and an input end of a corresponding first collection fiber channel of an array of first collection fiber channels; a first photodetector arranged to detect the backscattered light beams that propagated through the array of first collection fiber channels for sensing a property with respect to the corresponding scenes associated with the plurality of sensor portions; and a fiber channel hub configured for the array of emission fiber channels and the array of first collection fiber channels t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
    Inventors: Ehsan Mihankhah, Danwei Wang
  • Patent number: 11383807
    Abstract: An observation unit (30) for underwater deployment on/in a submerged earth layer (12) or structure. The unit comprises a housing (32), a light source (36), an underwater imaging device (40), a processor device (44), and a communication device (35). The housing supports the underwater observation unit relative to the submerged layer or structure. The light source is fixed to the housing, and configured to emit light into the unit's surroundings. The imaging device is attached to the housing, and configured to acquire image data of a second light source located within a FOV of the camera that covers the surroundings of the unit. The processor device is configured to determine positional data of the second light source relative to the imaging device, from the image data. The communication device is configured to transmit the positional data to another underwater observation unit, an underwater vehicle, or an underwater processing station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventors: Arnoud Marc Jongsma, Dennis Van Weeren, Aris Lubbes
  • Patent number: 11375886
    Abstract: Optical fiber waveguide for communicating electromagnetic radiation pulsed by an emitter in an endoscopic imaging system. A system includes an emitter for emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation and an endoscope comprising an image sensor for sensing reflected electromagnetic radiation. The system includes a waveguide communicating the pulses of electromagnetic radiation from the emitter to the endoscope. The system is such that at least a portion of the pulses of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter comprises a laser mapping pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventors: Joshua D. Talbert, Donald M. Wichern
  • Patent number: 11223808
    Abstract: A device, system and method for generating a mapping of projector pixels to camera pixels and/or object positions using alternating patterns is provided. A device controls a projector to project, while a camera acquires frames thereof, in a sequence: alternating patterns; and structured light patterns, the alternating patterns comprising first and second predetermined patterns projected before and/or after the structured light patterns. The device determines, using the frames as coordinated with the alternating patterns, one or more functions relating respective indices of the alternating patterns and the frames, on one or more of a camera pixel-by-pixel basis and a camera scan-line-by-scan-line basis. The device generates, and stores at a memory, a mapping of projector pixels to one or more of camera pixels and positions on an object in the overlapping fields-of-view, based on relating the frames with the structured light patterns using the one or more functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventors: Chad Faragher, Randy Spruyt
  • Patent number: 11187803
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed including a dual laser measurement device (DLMD) coupled with a mobile computing device to measure dimensions of a building or other structure, calculate other quantities based on the measured dimensions, select building construction or finishing material, order the material, and save the list of the measured dimensions and ordered materials in a data storage device. All steps of this process from measurement to ordering material may be performed using a DLMD app running on the mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventor: Michael H. Panosian
  • Patent number: 11125876
    Abstract: A LiDAR system and a method for ascertaining a system state of a LiDAR system, includes an optical source, a mirror, a partially transparent element, a detector array and an evaluation unit. The optical elements of the LiDAR system are arranged so that a component of the light beam is reflected by the partially transparent element onto the detector array. The evaluation unit is configured to receive a detector signal from the detector array, which describes a dimension, shape and/or position of the second component of the light beam projected on the detector array, and to ascertain from the detector signal a system state of the LiDAR system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Siegwart Bogatscher, Reiner Schnitzer
  • Patent number: 11080995
    Abstract: A number of roadway sensing systems are described herein. An example of such is an apparatus to detect and/or track objects at a roadway with a plurality of sensors. The plurality of sensors can include a first sensor that is a radar sensor having a first field of view that is positionable at the roadway and a second sensor that is a machine vision sensor having a second field of view that is positionable at the roadway, where the first and second fields of view at least partially overlap in a common field of view over a portion of the roadway. The example system includes a controller configured to combine sensor data streams for at least a portion of the common field of view from the first and second sensors to detect and/or track the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Image Sensing Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Stelzig, Kiran Govindarajan, Cory Swingen, Roland Miezianko, Nico Bekooy
  • Patent number: 10983196
    Abstract: A laser scanner comprising a distance measuring light projecting unit for emitting at least two distance measuring lights at a known deflection angle with respect to a projecting optical axis, a distance measuring unit for receiving at least two reflected distance measuring lights and performing a distance measurement, respectively, an optical axis deflector for deflecting optical axes of the distance measuring lights and the reflected distance measuring lights at the same deflection angle in the same direction, a projecting direction detecting module for deflecting a deflection angle and a deflecting direction by the optical axis deflector, and an arithmetic control module, wherein the arithmetic control module performs a two-dimensional scanning with the distance measuring lights, draws at least two loci on a plane to be measured, and measures the plane to be measured along at least the two loci substantially at the same time by the distance measuring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: TOPCON Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kaoru Kumagai
  • Patent number: 10948481
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) and a method for determining the action of active ingredients on nematodes and other organisms in aqueous tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: BAYER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Franco Fois, Michael Harnau, Klaus Ochmann
  • Patent number: 10909702
    Abstract: An imaging part 120 receives the light that is reflected from the measurement target, and a plurality of pieces of pattern image data are generated. Height data is generated on the basis of the plurality of pieces of the pattern image data. Green light, blue light, and red light are successively emitted from the light sources 111 to 113, and are reflected from the pattern generating part 118, and uniform light of the green light, uniform light of the blue light, and uniform light of the red light are successively projected onto the measurement target. The imaging part 120 receives the uniform light reflected by the measurement target, and a plurality of pieces of texture image data are successively generated. The plurality of pieces of the texture image data are synthesized, whereby color texture image data is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shuhei Ono
  • Patent number: 10895727
    Abstract: A microscope has a fiducial mask and fiducial lens generating a collimated mask image onto a beam splitter which directs the optical image to an objective lens where it is directed to an optical discontinuity formed by the change of index of refraction of the inner surface of a fluidic channel. Reflected optical energy is directed through the objective lens, the beam splitter, and a detector lens to a detector. A focused image forms when an inner surface of the fluidic channel is a focal distance from the objective lens, providing for imaging of fluorescent labels at the inner surface of the fluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Inventors: James Che, Diping Che
  • Patent number: 10884310
    Abstract: Portable apparatus for identifying and mitigating defects in electronic devices disposed on substrates or windows are disclosed herein. Such defects can be visually perceived by the end user. The substrates or windows may include flat panel displays, photovoltaic windows, electrochromic devices, and the like, particularly electrochromic windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Rozbicki, Bruce Baxter, Trevor Frank
  • Patent number: 10885363
    Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes a method for preventing access to a secure system based on determining a captured image to be of an alternative representation of a live person. The method includes illuminating a subject with structured light using a light source array comprising multiple light sources disposed in a predetermined pattern, capturing an image of the subject as illuminated by the structured light, and determining that the image includes features representative of the predetermined pattern. The method also includes, responsive to determining that the image includes features representative of the predetermined pattern, identifying the subject in the image to be an alternative representation of a live person. The method further includes responsive to identifying the subject in the image to be an alternative representation of a live person, preventing access to the secure system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: ADVANCED NEW TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yash Joshi, Srikanth Parupati
  • Patent number: 10852128
    Abstract: A shape measuring apparatus includes a first light source, a second light source, an optical system, an image capturer, and a controller. The first light source emits visible light. The second light source emits measurement light used in a measurement. The optical system emits the visible light and the measurement light at the same position on a work piece. The image capturer captures an image of the measurement light reflected by the work piece. The controller is configured to cause the emission of the visible light onto the work piece with the first light source when determining a measurement position, and to control the emission of the measurement light onto the work piece with the second light source when making the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaoki Yamagata, Kentaro Nemoto, Eisuke Moriuchi, Tadashi Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 10823559
    Abstract: A measuring device for triangulation measurement comprises a light transmitter for emitting illuminating light; a transmitting optical system, which directs the illuminating light in a plurality of light strips to an object; a light receiver for generating a measurement image of the object by measuring of light thrown back from illuminated object areas; and an evaluation unit for determining form or position information of the object based on the measurement image. According to the invention, for the assignment of which area in the measurement image belongs to which light strip, the transmitting optical system is designed so that it directs the illuminating light in differently formed light strips to the object. In addition a corresponding method for triangulation measurement is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Pepperl+Fuchs SE
    Inventors: Christoph Blankenburg, Hendrik Steinmann
  • Patent number: 10797460
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described that relate to a scanning laser system configured to emit laser light and an interlock circuit communicatively coupled to the scanning laser system. The interlock circuit may carry out certain operations. The operations include, as the scanning laser system emits laser light into one or more regions of an environment around the scanning laser system, determining a respective predicted dosage amount for each region based on the emitted laser light. The operations further include detecting an interlock condition. The interlock condition includes a predicted dosage amount for at least one region being greater than a threshold dose. In response to detecting the interlock condition, the operations include controlling the scanning laser system to reduce a subsequent dosage amount in the at least one region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Mark Shand
  • Patent number: 10740870
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for creating a floor plan from a spherical image. A spherical format is created of an image obtained by a camera, wherein the spherical format has a centre that corresponds to the position from which the image was obtained by the camera, and wherein a first surface represented in the image had a first orientation and was at a first distance from the camera when the image was obtained. A plurality of selected points are obtained in the spherical format, each defined by spherical coordinates consisting of a yaw angle and a pitch angle defining a line from the centre. A plane is identified that has the first orientation and that is at the first distance from the centre of the sphere. For each of the selected points, a location in a Cartesian coordinate system is identified where the line from the centre of the sphere to the selected point intersects with the first plane, two of the axes of the Cartesian coordinate system being parallel to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: EYESPY360 LIMITED
    Inventor: Peter Vassilev Sedeffow