Triangulation Patents (Class 356/602)
  • Patent number: 9494418
    Abstract: A 3D dental camera for recording surface structures of an object by means of triangulation. The camera includes a light source for producing an illumination beam, means for focusing the illumination beam onto the surface of the object, an image sensor for recording a monitoring beam that is the illumination beam reflected by the surface of the object, and means for focusing the monitoring beam onto the image sensor. The light source is subdivided into a plurality of regions that can be independently regulated in terms of light intensity, such that a light center of the illumination beam changes in at least two switching modes of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SIRONA DENTAL SYSTEMS, GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9476707
    Abstract: In the measuring device and measuring method, confocal measuring principle is utilized. A certain component of an optical measurement signal is, from the point of view of both illumination and imaging, in focus only at one point on the virtual measuring surface. In the measuring device, the surface to be measured always hits a common focus point of the illumination and imaging, whereby a reflection is generated. The reflected optical signal is directed to a detector belonging to the imaging unit, where one picture element of the detector corresponds to a certain focus point, respectively. The optical efficiency received by each picture element is indicated. The light reflecting from the intersection of the virtual measuring surface and the surface of the object produces an intensity maximum for the detector. This maximum point is indicated and converted in the imaging unit (13) into the height of the surface of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: FOCALSPEC OY
    Inventor: Heimo Keranen
  • Patent number: 9405365
    Abstract: A system is provided for identifying reference locations within the environment of a device wearer. The system includes a scene camera mounted on eyewear or headwear coupled to a processing unit. The system may recognize objects with known geometries that occur naturally within the wearer's environment or objects that have been intentionally placed at known locations within the wearer's environment. One or more light sources may be mounted on the headwear that illuminate reflective surfaces at selected times and wavelengths to help identify scene reference locations and glints projected from known locations onto the surface of the eye. The processing unit may control light sources to adjust illumination levels in order to help identify reference locations within the environment and corresponding glints on the surface of the eye. Objects may be identified substantially continuously within video images from scene cameras to provide a continuous data stream of reference locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: EYEFLUENCE, INC.
    Inventors: Nelson G. Publicover, William C. Torch, Gholamreza Amayeh, David Leblanc
  • Patent number: 9292927
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are described related to adaptive support windows for stereoscopic image correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Dror Reif, Ariel Szapiro
  • Patent number: 9274547
    Abstract: A display system can include a panel 110. The panel 110 can include a perimeter 117 and can display images on a front side. A bezel 170 can extend from the perimeter of the panel. The display system can include a designated area 140 on the bezel. A three dimensional optical sensor 115 can generate information to determine if an object is in contact with the designated area on the bezel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Compamy, L.P.
    Inventors: John P. McCarthy, Bradley Neal Suggs, Robert Campbell
  • Patent number: 9234748
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to measure at least one physical characteristic of an threaded surface (e.g., an internally threaded surface) of an object is provided. The apparatus uses optical triangulation to perform non-contact characterization of the threaded surface. The apparatus can be used to characterize various aspects of the threaded surface, including generating the measurements required to produce a longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the threaded surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Quest Metrology, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Dewayne Bondurant, David William Rook, David H. Bothell, Christian Robert Lentz, David Jack Savage
  • Patent number: 9205576
    Abstract: There is provided a measuring apparatus including: an imaging optical system configured to form an image of an object to be measured; and an imaging section including a transmissive member which is arranged in the vicinity of an image plane of the imaging optical system to be inclined with respect an optical axis of the imaging optical system. The imaging optical system includes a first optical member which is non-coaxial with respect to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Kitazawa, Patrick Blanckaert
  • Patent number: 9186228
    Abstract: A 3D virtual model of an intra oral cavity in which at least a part of a finish line of a preparation is obscured is manipulated in virtual space by means of a computer or the like to create, recreate or reconstruct finish line data and other geometrical corresponding to the obscured part. Trimmed virtual models, and trimmed physical models, can then be created utilizing data thus created. The virtual models and/or the physical models may be used in the design and manufacture of copings or of prostheses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Eldad Taub
  • Patent number: 9183629
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically determining, on a bone comprising a head portion contiguous to a neck portion, parameters for characterizing a bump deformation on the head-neck junction of the bone from acquired 3D medical image, the method comprising the following steps: i) constructing a 3D surface model of the bone; ii) fitting a sphere on the spherical portion of the head of the bone; iii) determining a neck axis characterizing the neck portion of the bone; iv) determining from the fitted sphere and the neck axis, a clock face referential on the head of the bone rotating around the neck axis; v) determining a 3D curve on the 3D surface model characterizing the head-neck junction of the bone; vi) determining, from the 3D curve, the summit of the bump deformation of the head-neck junction of the bone; vii) determining, from said summit of the bump deformation, first and a second parameters (?3D, iMax) characterizing the maximum bump deformation of the head-neck junction of the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: A2 Surgical
    Inventors: Laurence Chabanas, Stéphane Lavallee, Jérôme Tonetti, Thomas Byrd, Bryan Talmadge Kelly, Christopher Larson
  • Patent number: 9183459
    Abstract: A method for detecting one or more target objects is provided including obtaining 2-dimensional imaging information and 3-dimensional point cloud information of a target zone. The method also includes determining a ground plane in the point cloud information and removing the ground plane to generate modified 3-dimensional information. Also, the method includes identifying a set of 2-dimensional candidate objects from the 2-dimensional imaging information, and identifying a set of 3-dimensional candidate objects from the modified 3-dimensional information. The method also includes determining, for each of at least some of the 2-dimensional candidate objects, a corresponding 3-dimensional candidate object from the set of 3-dimensional candidate objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Zhiqi Zhang, Kyungnam Kim, Jiejun Xu, Yuri Owechko, Hai-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 9115978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for measuring the anatomical shape of the leg comprising a support frame (10) and an angle measuring instrument (20) connected to said support frame (10). The device according to the present invention is characterized in that said angle measuring instrument (20) comprises at least one goniometer (22a, 22b) and at least one rod (21) hinged to said goniometer (22a, 22b), and in that it also comprises light spot projecting means (23a, 23b) connected to said angle measuring instrument (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Cabra Engineering S.R.L.
    Inventor: Riccardo Paganini
  • Patent number: 9110128
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) package with a plurality of contact leads and a plurality of contact pads disposed on a surface of the IC package is disclosed. The contact pads may be used as test probes for testing the IC. Having a plurality of contact pads may create more test locations on the IC package. The size of the IC package may also be reduced by using contact pads instead of contact leads for testing. A socket body for the IC package is also disclosed. The socket body has a plurality of contactors extending outward from the socket body. The contactors may have different heights to contact each of the contact pads and contact leads on the IC package. The contactors may be adjustable to different heights. In some embodiments, a portion of the contactors may be compressed when and IC package is placed in the socket body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Altera Corporation
    Inventor: Jon M. Long
  • Patent number: 9030671
    Abstract: A measuring assembly for measuring an inside of a lens frame of a spectacle frame, said lens frame at least partially delimiting an inscribed surface area F that corresponds to a lens shape, comprising a holding device for mounting the spectacle frame, at least one light source for generating a light beam to be projected on a region of the lens frame to be evaluated, and at least one sensor that can be coupled to an evaluation unit for detecting the reflected light beam, wherein the holding device can be rotated about a rotational axis r and moved in the direction of a movement axis x, and the movement axis x comprises at least one movement component in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis r. The holding device is used to fix the spectacle frame by spectacle frame bows, wherein at least one free space is provided in the region of the holding device, said free space being used to receive the spectacle frame bows of a spectacle frame to be held which are not folded in or cannot be folded in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Schneider GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gunter Schneider, Torsten Gerrath, Ulf Boerner
  • Publication number: 20150109626
    Abstract: A tire digitizer system for digitizing the profile of a tire to create a digital model of the tire is described. There is provided a chassis that includes one or more sheet of light triangulation sensors for capturing the profile of a tire moving in a predefined area and outputting coordinate values describing a digital model of the tire. The system may be used during the tire development and manufacturing process to inspect for any defects in the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Michael J. Harris
  • Patent number: 8993914
    Abstract: A high-speed, high-resolution, triangulation-based, 3-D method and system for inspecting manufactured parts and sorting the inspected parts are provided. The method includes consecutively transferring the parts so that the parts move along a path which extends from a supply of parts and through an imaging station. A triangulation-based sensor head is supported at the imaging station. The sensor head is configured to generate focused lines of radiation and to sense corresponding reflected lines of radiation. The focused lines are delivered onto an end surface of each part to obtain a corresponding array of reflected lines of radiation. The sensor head senses the array of reflected lines to obtain a corresponding set of 2-D profile signals. The set of profile signals represent a 3-D view of the end surface. The set of 2-D profile signals of each part is processed to identify parts having an unacceptable defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GII Acquisition, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Andrew-Paul Kujacznski, Michael G. Nygaard
  • Patent number: 8947677
    Abstract: A computer-implemented process, system, and computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon, program code and instructions for 3-D triangulation-based image acquisition of a contoured surface/object-of-interest under observation by at least one camera, by projecting onto the surface-of-interest a multi-frequency pattern comprising a plurality of pixels representing at least a first and second superimposed sinusoid projected simultaneously, each of the sinusoids represented by the pixels having a unique temporal frequency and each of the pixels projected to satisfy I n p = A p + ? k = 1 K ? B k p ? cos ? ( 2 ? ? ? ? f k ? y p + 2 ? ? ? ? kn N ) Eq . ? ( 1.1 ) where Inp is the intensity of a pixel in the projector for nth projected image in a particular instant in time; K is an integer representing the number of component sinusoids (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kai Liu, Yongchang Wang, Daniel L. Lau, Laurence G. Hassebrook
  • Patent number: 8929642
    Abstract: A three-dimensional scanner according to one aspect of the embodiments includes an irradiation unit, an imaging unit, a position detecting unit, and a scanning-region determining unit. The irradiation unit emits a slit-shaped light beam while changing an irradiation position with respect to a measuring object. The imaging unit sequentially captures images of the measuring object irradiated with the light beam. The position detecting unit detects a position of the light beam in an image captured by the imaging unit by scanning the image. The scanning-region determining unit determines a scanning region in an image as a scanning target by the position detecting unit based on a position of the light beam in an image captured by the imaging unit before the image as a scanning target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yasakawa Denki
    Inventor: Yuji Ichimaru
  • Publication number: 20140368834
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to measure at least one physical characteristic of an threaded surface (e.g., an internally threaded surface) of an object is provided. The apparatus uses optical triangulation to perform non-contact characterization of the threaded surface. The apparatus can be used to characterize various aspects of the threaded surface, including generating the measurements required to produce a longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the threaded surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Phillip Dewayne Bondurant, David William Rook, David H. Bothell, Christian Robert Lentz, David Jack Savage
  • Patent number: 8860952
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to measure at least one physical characteristic of a threaded surface (e.g., an internally threaded surface) of an object is provided. The apparatus uses optical triangulation to perform non-contact characterization of the threaded surface. The apparatus can be used to characterize various aspects of the threaded surface, including generating the measurements required to produce a longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the threaded surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Quest Metrology, LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Dewayne Bondurant, David William Rook, David H. Bothell, Christian Robert Lentz, David Jack Savage
  • Patent number: 8861833
    Abstract: A system for simultaneous real-time three-dimensional geometry and color texture acquisition. The system includes a system processor for generating at least three phase shifted black and white fringe patterns with a phase shift of 2 ?/3, a light projector adapted to project the fringe patterns onto an object, the projector being electrically connected with the system processor, and a color camera for capturing the fringe patterns to generate at least three raw fringe images. The fringe images are used to calculate a black and white texture image which is further converted to a color image by employing a demosaicing algorithm. The fringe images are also used to calculate a wrapped phase map that is further processed to generate a continuous unwrapped phase map by employing a phase unwrapping algorithm and the unwrapped phase map is converted to co-ordinates using calibrated system parameters for point-by-point three-dimensional shape measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Press of Boston, Inc.
    Inventors: Shing-Tung Yau, Song Zhang, Xiangfeng Gu
  • Patent number: 8767218
    Abstract: An optical arrangement for the non-contact measurement or testing of properties of a solid's surface, such as curvature, shape, contour, roughness or alignment. An optical arrangement includes structure for establishing a gap between the solid's surface and a reference edge, structure for imaging the gap on a detector, and an analyzing system connected to the detector. The analyzing system is designed to determine gap widths lying adjacent to each other on the basis of the output signals of the detector, and to determine curvature, shape, contour or roughness of the solid's surface on the basis of the gap widths lying adjacent to each other. From the comparison of the images obtained from any two positions within a drilled hole, deductions can be made, among other things, about any tilt between the measuring object and the measuring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Glasenapp
  • Patent number: 8755054
    Abstract: A method of measuring a surface structure of a display device is provided. The display device includes first and second substrates, first and second patterned light-shielding layers, and first and second pixel units. The first patterned light-shielding layer disposed on a surface of the first substrate includes first openings. The second patterned light-shielding layer disposed on the surface of the first substrate includes second openings. The first pixel unit includes first and second protrusions. The first protrusion correspondingly covers the first openings and a portion of the first patterned light-shielding layer. The second protrusion is disposed on and directly contacted with the first and second patterned light-shielding layers. The second pixel unit includes a third protrusion correspondingly covering the second openings and a portion of the second patterned light-shielding layer, wherein sizes of the second openings are smaller than sizes of the first openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Lin, Min-Cheng Wang, Yung-Cheng Chen, Hung-Min Liu
  • Patent number: 8743374
    Abstract: The invention provide a shape measuring device, a shape measuring method, and a shape measuring program capable of clearly observing a surface state of a measuring object while measuring a shape of the measuring object at high accuracy. Light irradiated by a light projecting unit is reflected by a measuring object and received by a light receiving unit. Stereoscopic shape data of the measuring object is generated by a triangular distance measuring method. The light irradiated by the light projecting unit is reflected by the measuring object and received by the light receiving unit. All-focus texture image data of the measuring object is generated by synthesizing texture image data of a plurality of portions of the measuring object while changing a focus position of the light receiving unit. The stereoscopic shape data and the all-focus texture image data are synthesized to generate synthesized data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 8717578
    Abstract: An observing apparatus includes a lighting device for irradiating a surface of a measuring target with light having a first light source distribution, and an imaging section for imaging the surface of the measuring target. Considering a first plane passing through a measurement point, the first light source distribution is set such that: (1) a radiance L11(?) changes in a continuous or stepwise manner according to an angle ?, and (2) the radiance L11(?) is not zero in a local region of a predetermined range of ±? having a point located at a predetermined angle ?c as a center on the first plane when viewed from the measurement point, and the following equation substantially holds for arbitrary a satisfying 0<a??; L11(?c?a)+L11(?c+a)=2×L11(?c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ohnishi, Masatoshi Kimachi, Masaki Suwa, Shree Nayar
  • Publication number: 20140104621
    Abstract: A three-dimensional shape measuring apparatus according to the embodiment includes an irradiating unit, an imaging unit, a position detector, a changing unit. The irradiating unit applies a slit light beam while changing an irradiation position in an area under measurement. The imaging unit images reflected light of the light beam. The position detector scans an image taken by the imaging unit to detect a position of the light beam on the image. The changing unit changes a position of an imaging area of the imaging unit in accordance with the irradiation position of the light beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Yuji ICHIMARU
  • Publication number: 20140097665
    Abstract: A system is provided for determining a volume of material milled, or a surface area milled, by a construction machine having a milling drum. The volume of material milled is determined as a function of a cross-sectional area of material to be milled in front of the milling drum and a distance traveled by the construction machine while actively milling. The cross-sectional area is determined in part by direct machine observation of one or more profile characteristics of a ground surface in front of the milling drum. The surface area milled is determined as a function of the width of the area to be milled in front of the milling drum and a distance traveled by the construction machine while actively milling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: WIRTGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Sven Paulsen, Stefan Wagner, Klaus Vollmann, Lothar Schwalbach, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8675208
    Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for laser profiling that simplifies the task of setting up and using laser profiling systems and associated applications by providing a profiler assembly that includes a predetermined arrangement of lens and spaced-apart laser in which the geometry and calibration parameters are predetermined. The profiler assembly is adapted to mount directly into the camera mount (typically threaded) of a conventional vision system camera. All components needed to perform the profiling task can be integrated into the profiler assembly. The integration of components in a single interchangeable/exchangeable assembly makes it straightforward to optimize/adapt the assembly for a particular profiling application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventor: Laurens Nunnink
  • Publication number: 20140071458
    Abstract: The invention provide a shape measuring device, a shape measuring method, and a shape measuring program capable of clearly observing a surface state of a measuring object while measuring a shape of the measuring object at high accuracy. Light irradiated by a light projecting unit is reflected by a measuring object and received by a light receiving unit. Stereoscopic shape data of the measuring object is generated by a triangular distance measuring method. The light irradiated by the light projecting unit is reflected by the measuring object and received by the light receiving unit. All-focus texture image data of the measuring object is generated by synthesizing texture image data of a plurality of portions of the measuring object while changing a focus position of the light receiving unit. The stereoscopic shape data and the all-focus texture image data are synthesized to generate synthesized data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 8654353
    Abstract: A measuring method for topography of moving specimen and a measuring apparatus thereof is disclosed, providing a measuring module that moves along with a testing specimen to narrow relative velocity of the testing specimen and the measuring module so that the measuring module is able to have enough luminous intensity signal at the same position in time, to measure the topography or the thickness of the testing specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Shih-Hsuan Kuo, Wei-Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 8619126
    Abstract: A device and method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a defocusing technique is disclosed. The device comprises a lens, a central aperture located along an optical axis for projecting an entire image of a target object, at least one defocusing aperture located off of the optical axis, a sensor operable for capturing electromagnetic radiation transmitted from an object through the lens and the central aperture and the at least one defocusing aperture, and a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object. Different optical filters can be used for the central aperture and the defocusing apertures respectively, whereby a background image produced by the central aperture can be easily distinguished from defocused images produced by the defocusing apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Morteza Gharib, Jian Lu, Emilio Graff, Francisco Pereira
  • Publication number: 20130286407
    Abstract: An apparatus for illuminating an object with electro-magnetic radiation comprising spectrally distinct features, the apparatus comprising: a) a probe for illuminating the object and having a proximal end and a distal end; b) a receiver for receiving reflected light from the object; and c) a processor operatively connected to the receiver for processing the reflected light, wherein the probe comprises a bundle of waveguides, each of which waveguides transmits light of a particular wavelength, wavelength band or spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel Elson, Neil Clancy, Guang-Zhong Yang, Danail Stoyanov
  • Patent number: 8570530
    Abstract: An intra-oral imaging apparatus having an illumination field generator that forms an illumination beam having a contour fringe projection pattern when receiving light from a first light source and having a substantially uniform illumination field when receiving light from a second light source. A polarizer in the path of the illumination beam has a first polarization transmission axis. A projection lens directs the polarized illumination beam toward a tooth surface and an imaging lens directs at least a portion of the light from the tooth surface along a detection path. A polarization-selective element disposed along the detection path has a second polarization transmission axis. At least one detector obtains image data from the light provided through the polarization-selective element. A control logic processor responds to programmed instructions for alternately energizing the first and second light sources in a sequence and obtaining both contour fringe projection data and color image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Carestream Health, Inc.
    Inventor: Rongguang Liang
  • Patent number: 8553234
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shape measurement device including: a light irradiation unit which irradiates linear light onto a work; an imaging element which images reflected light reflected by the work; and an image-forming lens which forms an image of the reflected light reflected by the work on an imaging plane of the imaging element, and a light irradiation plane of the light irradiation unit, a principal plane including a principal point of the image-forming lens, and the imaging plane of the imaging element satisfy a Scheimpflug principle. The shape measurement device further includes: an image obtaining region selection unit which divides the imaging plane of the imaging element into a plurality of regions, and selects, as an image obtaining region, a region for use in measurement from the plurality of regions in response to at least one of measurement accuracy and a size of a measurement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nemoto, Masaoki Yamagata, Tadashi Iwamoto, Nobuyoshi Machida
  • Patent number: 8534844
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for dynamic keystone correction. A measurement module measures distances from a projector to each of at least three projected points of a first projected image projected on a first surface with projection angles between each projected point. The at least three projected points are endpoints for at least two vectors with a target ratio of vector lengths. An adjustment module calculates an actual ratio of actual vector lengths of the at least two vectors. The adjustment module further adjusts a first aspect ratio of first projected image until the actual ratio is equivalent to the target ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Rod D. Waltermann, Scott Edwards Kelso, John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Arnold S. Weksler
  • Patent number: 8491135
    Abstract: An apparatus determines a cursor position in an illumination field of a projector. An obstruction is detected in the illumination field. The cursor position is determined as the point on the obstruction furthest from where the obstruction crosses a border of the illumination field. A distance to the point on the obstruction is determined and compared to a distance to a point not on the obstruction. Gestures are recognized as a function of movement of the obstruction and the determined distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Margaret K. Brown, George Thomas Valliath, David R. Nash
  • Patent number: 8462353
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a shape of a surface, comprises a measurement head which measures a direction of a normal from the surface to a reference point by detecting test light obtained when light that passes through the reference point is emitted, is reflected by the surface, and returns to the reference point, a scanning mechanism which scans the measurement head, and a processor which calculates the shape of the surface based on the direction of the normal measured using the measurement head and a position of the reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryuichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8462355
    Abstract: A scanning microscope includes an acousto-optic scanner that produces a scanned beam. A beam separator based on total internal reflection or angle tuning of a dielectric filter separates an unscanned portion of an excitation light flux from a scanned portion. The scanned beam is directed to a specimen, and optical radiation generated in response to the scanned beam is directed to a detector that produces a detected signal that can be used to determine an image. The scanned beam can be directed to the specimen without formation of any intermediate focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
    Inventors: Dejan Vucinic, Terrence J. Sejnowski
  • Patent number: 8437010
    Abstract: A process for determining the position of closed holes in a component is provided. By carrying out laser triangulation measurements on an uncoated component and a coated component with holes, the exact position of the holes to be reopened may be detected following the coating. A device used to carry out this process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Chromalloy Gas Turbine LLC
    Inventors: Georg Bostanjoglo, Torsten Melzer-Jokisch, Andreas Oppert, Dimitrios Thomaidis
  • Patent number: 8436606
    Abstract: A rotation detector includes a first distance sensor disposed to face a rotating body with a gear portion formed non-parallel to a rotation axis for continuously measuring a distance from the gear portion during rotation of the rotating body, a second distance sensor disposed at a position different from the first distance sensor in a direction of the rotation axis for continuously measuring a distance from the gear portion during rotation of the rotating body, and an axis shift detecting portion for detecting an axis shift of the rotation axis based on a variation in the distance measured by at least one of the first and second distance sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Shuichi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8427656
    Abstract: A system (100) for scanning a three-dimensional object (150) comprises a device for illuminating a plane (110); an imaging sensor (120); and a transparent container (130) for immersing the object (150) in a participating medium (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foderung der Wissenschaften E.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Hullin, Martin Fuchs, Ivo Ihrke, Hendrik Lensch, Hans-Peter Seidel
  • Patent number: 8416427
    Abstract: There is described a scanner having a frame with a support, two lasers attached to the frame and two optical sensors attached to the frame, the lasers and optical sensors being positioned and oriented to reduce shadowing effects for the cameras and for the laser lines while covering close to 100% of the surface of an object to be imaged and reducing the scanning time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Numeq Inc.
    Inventors: François Marcil, Christian Matz, Louis Geoffroy, Elmekki Ennajimi
  • Patent number: 8379134
    Abstract: Object detection and selection for use in a device having digital camera functionality is described. The mechanism detects the occurrence of a gesture by a pointing member in an image frame captured by an IR image sensor. The gesture is then recognized and an object pointed to is detected. The object detected is then selected as a result of the gesture recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Brett Foster
  • Patent number: 8363229
    Abstract: A method for height triangulation measurement particularly for measuring the height of an object on a surface, the method includes: a) illuminating said object from a known angle with a narrow strip of light, having a large numerical aperture along said light strip and a small numerical aperture perpendicular to said light strip; b) imaging said object from a known angle having a large numerical aperture along said light strip and a small numerical aperture perpendicular to said light strip, having an image of said object illuminated by said light strip; and c) calculating the height of said object from the location of said light strip on said image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Camtek Ltd.
    Inventor: Meir Ben-Levi
  • Patent number: 8319978
    Abstract: A method for analyzing probe mark, the method includes: scanning the probe mark by multiple spots; evaluating a probe mark characteristic in response to detection signals generated by multiple sensors of the chromatic confocal system that is characterized by a sub-micron axial resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Camtek Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Ben-Levi, Ilana Grimberg
  • Publication number: 20120287416
    Abstract: An optical sensor for measuring at least one of a range, a position, and a profile of an object that is to be measured, the measured object emitting electromagnetic radiation due to the temperature of the object to be measured, and the sensor having a light source for illuminating the surface of the measured object and a detector for detecting the illuminating light reflected at the object to be measured, wherein with respect to the measurability even on the bodies that emit electromagnetic radiation, the light generated by the light source has a wavelength below the peak of the Planck radiation spectrum of the object that is to be measured. A corresponding method is specified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Torsten Stautmeister, Tobias Otto
  • Publication number: 20120268747
    Abstract: A process for determining the position of closed holes in a component is provided. By carrying out laser triangulation measurements on an uncoated component and a coated component with holes, the exact position of the holes to be reopened may be detected following the coating. A device used to carry out this process is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Georg Bostanjoglo, Torsten Melzer-Jokisch, Andreas Oppert, Dimitrios Thomaidis
  • Patent number: 8279450
    Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an intra-oral measurement device and an intra-oral measurement system capable of measuring an inside of an oral cavity at high accuracy without increasing a size of the device, and includes a light projecting unit for irradiating a measuring object including at least a tooth within an oral cavity with light, a lens system unit for collecting light reflected by the measuring object, a focal position varying mechanism for changing a focal position of the light collected by the lens system unit, and an imaging unit for imaging light passed through the lens system unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Sadafumi Oota, Seiji Hamano, Fumio Sugata
  • Patent number: 8270044
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus includes a scanning head that scans an image of a document positioned on a stage glass, but varying in its distance therefrom. A boundary line is detected to determine an amount of skew therein. A skew line is compared with an established reference line, and a correction factor is calculated based on the result of the comparison. The original image processed to map the boundary line to the reference line and image data inside of the boundary line is similarly mapped based on the calculated correction factor. Beneficially, skews of an image produced when a thick book is scanned can be corrected simply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyeon-seok Seo
  • Patent number: 8260569
    Abstract: A method for determining a dimension of a regular pattern of elements, wherein the elements in the regular pattern are arranged along an arrangement direction with a first spatial frequency includes providing a sensor for sampling the regular pattern; providing a plurality of data sample sets, wherein each data sample set includes data samples provided by the sensor while sampling over a portion of the regular pattern, and each data sample set consists of a different number of data samples; analyzing each data sample set to determine a corresponding spatial frequency; determining a plurality of quantified values, each quantified value being associated with a different one of the determined spatial frequencies; selecting a first quantified value from the plurality of quantified values; and determining the dimension based at least on the selected first quantified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Valentine A. Karassiouk
  • Publication number: 20120170052
    Abstract: A measuring method for topography of moving specimen and a measuring apparatus thereof is disclosed, providing a measuring module that moves along with a testing specimen to narrow relative velocity of the testing specimen and the measuring module so that the measuring module is able to have enough luminous intensity signal at the same position in time, to measure the topography or the thickness of the testing specimen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Shih-Hsuan Kuo, Wei-Cheng Wang