Position Or Displacement Patents (Class 356/614)
  • Patent number: 10520300
    Abstract: An optical liquid height determination system of the present embodiments includes light sensors capturing different amounts of light, based on level of liquid in the tank that blocks or limits light to particular sensors. The tank is enclosed in a container with a light source and the light sensors are installed on walls of the container. Light emitted by the light source is transmitted to the light sensors by passing through the liquid product, scattered, diffused, diffracted or reflected by the dairy product, through the tank walls which may be transparent or translucent, or from other surfaces in the container within which the tank is enclosed by. The set of electrical signals received from all the light sensors are compared against sets of calibrated signals corresponding to known liquid levels in the tank. The known height corresponding to the nearest set of calibrated signals is determined as the measured liquid height in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: A.C. Dispensing Equipment Inc.
    Inventors: Ian MacLean, Daniel Cantin, Anthony Alkins, Derek Cole, P. Gregory Erman, Michael Rankin, Brian Gay, Kenneth MacGillivary
  • Patent number: 10502555
    Abstract: A laser processing system having a measurement function. The laser processing system includes a processing head configured to irradiate an object with a laser beam in a scanning manner via an optical system for processing; an illumination-light emitting section provided in the processing head, and configured to cause illumination light to be emitted from the processing head toward the object along an optical axis of the optical system for processing; a light receiving section located in a predetermined positional relationship with the illumination-light emitting section, and configured to receive a reflection of the illumination light reflected at an irradiated point on the object; and a measurement section configured to process the reflection received by the light receiving section and obtain three-dimensional measurement data of the irradiated point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Nakamura, Yoshinori Murakami, Yuuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10502701
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a cabinet, an electron beam system, at least one imaging device, and a computing device. The cabinet is configured to enclose a component and defines a pinhole extending therethrough. The electron beam system is configured to generate an electron beam directed toward the component. Interactions between the component and the electron beam generate x-ray radiation. The at least one imaging device is configured to detect the x-ray radiation through the pinhole. The computing device is configured to image the component based on the x-ray radiation detected by the at least one imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vladimir Anatolievich Lobastov, Adrian Ivan, David Charles Bogdan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10496226
    Abstract: Provided is an optical sensing member, comprising a light guide plate 102 which propagates light from a light source unit 108, detecting units 104, 106 which detect scattered light from the light guide plate 102 being touched, an optical member which guides the scattered light to the detecting units, and a primary control unit 118 which computes the touch location upon the light guide plate 102 on the basis of information relating to the detected light. The optical member has arc-shaped curved surfaces formed on the end parts which face each of the detecting units. Each of the detecting units outputs, as the information relating to the light which is detected by the detecting units, location information corresponding to the angle of entry to the detecting units of the light which is radiated from the facing arc-shaped curved surfaces. It is thus possible to clarify contours of the light which is detected by the detecting units, and to improve the precision of the detection of the touch location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Sugiyama, Nobuyuki Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 10452152
    Abstract: A wearable glasses is provided. The wearable glasses includes a sensing circuit, a communication interface, a display, and a controller. The sensing circuit senses movement information of a user wearing the wearable glasses. The communication interface receives notification message information. The display displays the notification message information within an angle of view of the user wearing the wearable glasses. The controller determines a movement state of the user based on the sensed movement information of the user and controls the display to display the received notification message information according to the movement state of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ga-hyun Joo
  • Patent number: 10437391
    Abstract: Touch sensing based on optical sensing as disclosed herein can be implemented by using an optical stylus or pointer that emits probe light for optical sensing, and spatially distributed optical sensors at different spatial locations for sensing. The measurements from the different optical sensors can be processed to determine the position of the light from the optical stylus at the screen. Optical sensing of a position on a two-dimensional surface and a position in a three-dimensional space can be achieved for various optical touch sensing applications. In one implementation, an apparatus can include a screen or display, an optical stylus or optical pointer, and two or more optical angle sensors which determine, respectively, a first angle between the first optical angle sensor and a position of light at the screen and a second angle between the second optical angle sensor and the position of light at the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi He, Bo Pi
  • Patent number: 10436898
    Abstract: An object recognition device includes a camera (113) and a radar (114), detects an estimated plane region estimated to be a plane from an image from the camera (113) (S202), and calculates a plane equation for the estimated plane region (S207). The object recognition device interpolates and estimates distance data within the estimated plane region based on the plane equation and the measured distance data from the radar (S210) and obtains the distance to an object by using the distance data. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain dense distance data throughout the estimated plane region and to detect the distance to small objects and distant objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichirou Kurata, Shigeru Matsuo, Noriyasu Hasejima
  • Patent number: 10429239
    Abstract: A color capture arrangement and a method for correcting a captured brightness of an object are disclosed. In an embodiment the color capture arrangement includes a directed light source configured to direct light towards the object to be identified, evaluation electronics and a color capture device including at least three color identification sensors configured to receiving radiation reflected by the object and funnels as light-guiding elements, wherein each funnel is disposed upstream of a color identification sensor, and wherein at least one of the color identification sensors is a distance sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SensoPart Industriesensorik GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Kemmler, Robert Weiss, Dirk Trueper
  • Patent number: 10427254
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing an aircraft structure. A drivable support may be driven from a first location to a second location to bring the drivable support together with at least one other drivable support to form a drivable support system. A structure may be held in a desired position using the drivable support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dan Dresskell Day, Clayton Lynn Munk, Steven John Schmitt, Eric M. Reid
  • Patent number: 10414685
    Abstract: In a substrate processing method in which, for a substrate including a first layer made of a glass substrate and second layers made of a material different from that of the first layer and provided on a front surface and a back surface of the first layer, respectively, an intended mark is formed in each of the second layers, the substrate processing method includes the step of irradiating with a laser beam having an energy density capable of processing the second layers but incapable of processing the first layer from one surface side of the substrate, thereby simultaneously forming the mark at corresponding positions on each of a front surface and a back surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: VIA MECHANICS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Ichikawa, Kaori Tateishi, Yasushi Ito
  • Patent number: 10408574
    Abstract: A handheld targeting device that includes a geolocating system and a laser targeting system is provided. The geolocating system includes a laser range finder operable to emit a first pulsed laser beam toward an object from the first end of the housing and receive a returned first pulsed laser beam to calculate a distance to a target. By combining the calculated distance with a compass direction and position of the targeting device, a location of the object can be calculated. The laser targeting system includes a laser targeting marker operable to emit a second pulsed laser beam toward the object from the first end of the housing. Other vehicles or weapons can detect the second pulsed laser beam for indication of or guidance to the target. In one aspect, the laser range finder can share an optical lens with a thermal imager that captures infrared images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard B. Guthrie, Ivan A. Cintron
  • Patent number: 10386534
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a valve position of a valve of an internal combustion engine having a multiplicity of valves. The method includes illuminating a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, detecting light emerging from the illuminated combustion chamber on a side, averted from the combustion chamber, of the valve for ascertainment, and determining the valve position of the valve for ascertainment by way of the detected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Sebastian Von Schoening
  • Patent number: 10378891
    Abstract: A system for measuring the displacement of a surface in a material handling system relative to a base reference is provided. The system includes scanning means to generate point cloud data of the surface relative to a reference point to define a three-dimensional image of the surface, storage means to store base reference data in respect of the base reference, and processing means to process the point cloud data and the base reference data to determine the relative displacement of the surface with respect to the base reference. The processing means includes a referencing means to orientate the point cloud data relative to key reference data of the base surface and transforming the point cloud data and the base reference data into a common co-ordinate system, and displacement processing means to calculate the displacement between the surface and the base reference using both sets of data in the co-ordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Outotec Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Jochen Franke, Michael Paul Stewart, Derek Lichti
  • Patent number: 10365298
    Abstract: A detection arrangement and method for directing the sensitivity of an optical knife-edge detection system to its optimal operating point. This is referred to as an increase in the detection dynamic range of the system with advantageous applications for detecting motion of a surface such as for Atomic Force Microscopy as well as detecting acoustic vibrations on unstable surfaces. A pair of parallel reflecting surfaces, such as an optical slab waveguide, serve to reflect the sensing beam back onto the knife-edge detector once it is shifted off its sensing range. Allowing multiple reflections, the sensing beam is maintained on the knife-edge detector even at large angular offsets from the optimal operating point of the basic knife-edge detector. Use of a modified arrangement, with two knife-edge detectors at quadrature ensures near-optimal sensitivity at a detection dynamic range up to forty-fold larger than that of the basic knife-edge system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Technion Research & Development Foundation Limited
    Inventor: Abraham Aharoni
  • Patent number: 10365084
    Abstract: The current embodiments provide a system for determining a parameter of a tire component. The system may have a background surface, a first measurement device configured to measure a dimension with respect to the reference surface and a support surface located at least partially between the first measurement device and the reference surface, where the support surface is configured to support the tire component. The parameter may correspond to the dimension on the background surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Bartell Machinery Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Nathan Jeremy Little, Douglas Maxwell Sassaman, Collin McLaughlin Sears
  • Patent number: 10343281
    Abstract: A robotic system is proposed whereby the system comprises drivers which integrate the power switches and communications electronics for communicating over power lines or wirelessly or over another shared communications channel. In a robotic system comprising such drivers, one or more central controllers communicate with at least one actuator driver across a communications channel, wherein the communications channel is subject to interference caused by an actuator, and wherein at least one of the communication and the operation of the actuators is modified in anticipation of interference occurring such that reliable communication can be assured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Clemens Mueller, Daniel Scharfen
  • Patent number: 10332275
    Abstract: In order to perform robust position and orientation measurement even in a situation where there are noises, an image, including a measurement target object, captured by an image capturing apparatus is acquired, a flag indicating whether any one of geometric features constituting a three-dimensional model of the measurement target object or a plurality of image features detected from the image corresponds to a shadow of the measurement target object is set, the plurality of geometric features and the plurality of image features detected from the image are associated with each other based on an approximate position and orientation of the measurement target object and the flag, and a position and orientation of the measurement target object is derived based on a result of the association by the association unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Niwayama
  • Patent number: 10323928
    Abstract: A scanning probe responsive in three axes is provided for use in a coordinate measuring machine. The scanning probe includes a frame, a stylus suspension portion and a stylus position detection portion. The stylus position detection portion includes a light source that is operated to radiate source light toward a position indicating element that is fixed relative to the stylus coupling portion. The position indicating element includes a position indicating emitter having an emitter material (e.g., phosphor) that inputs and absorbs the light from the light source and responds by outputting excitation light. In various implementations, the excitation light is directed as at least one of axial measurement light along an axial measurement spot path to form an axial measurement spot on an axial position sensitive detector and/or rotary measurement light along a rotary measurement spot path to form a rotary measurement spot on a rotary position sensitive detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: David William Sesko
  • Patent number: 10325413
    Abstract: A method of generating a smooth optimized part design for a workpiece is presented. Topology optimization is performed based on design objectives, to generate surface data describing an optimized but unfinished surface of the workpiece. The surface data is used to generate volumetric data describing the workpiece structure. A three dimensional smoothing filter is applied to the volumetric data. A manufacturing design is generated from the resulting smoothed volumetric data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew E. Lynch
  • Patent number: 10317288
    Abstract: A method for reducing the peak factor of a signal transmitted in a frequency band comprising several channels, the signal using a plurality of channels in the band comprises: a step of clipping the signal, a step of subtracting the clipped signal from the signal, so as to obtain a peak signal, a step of filtering the peak signal with the aid of a multichannel filter configured to comply with a predetermined spectral mask for each of the channels used by the signal, and a step of subtracting the filtered peak signal from the signal. A device for emitting a multichannel signal implementing the method for reducing the peak factor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Jean Minet, Grégoire Pillet, Patrick Feneyrou
  • Patent number: 10295436
    Abstract: A field deployable, portable structured light measurement (SLM) apparatus, together with a structured light measurement process to manage part to part variation in production and in the field, to support both rotor airfoil mistuning and rotor airfoil repair limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Richard David Conner, Bruce David Reynolds, Jonathan C. Bittner, Srinivas Jaya Chunduru, Bruce D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10282855
    Abstract: A method of identifying a surface point or region of an object to be measured by means of an optical sensor providing defined measuring conditions regarding emission of measuring light and reception of reflected measuring light in a defined spatial relationship. The method comprises defining a point or region of interest of the object, determining an optical property of the defined point or of the defined region and deriving an object information base on the optical property. The determination of the optical property is performed by optically pre-measuring the point or region using the optical sensor by illuminating the point or the region with the measuring light, capturing at least one image by means of the optical sensor of at least one illumination (Lr,Li) at the object and analyzing respective illuminations (Lr,Li) regarding position or appearance plausibility with respect to the measuring conditions of the optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: HEXAGON TECHNOLOGY CENTER GMBH
    Inventors: Johan Stigwall, Thomas Jensen
  • Patent number: 10274435
    Abstract: A data analysis method and system are presented for use in determining one or more parameters of a patterned structure located on top of an underneath layered structure. According to this technique, input data is provided which includes first measured data PMD being a function ƒ of spectral intensity I? and phase ?, PMD=ƒ(I?;?), corresponding to a complex spectral response of the underneath layered structure, and second measured data Smeas indicative of specular reflection spectral response of a sample formed by the patterned structure and the underneath layered structure. Also provided is a general function F describing a relation between a theoretical optical response Stheor of the sample and a modeled optical response Smodel of the patterned structure and the complex spectral response PMD of the underneath layered structure, such that Stheor=F(Smodel; PMD).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.
    Inventors: Boris Levant, Yanir Hainick, Vladimir Machavariani, Roy Koret, Gilad Barak
  • Patent number: 10267620
    Abstract: An optical three-dimensional coordinate measuring device of the present invention ensures both the measurement range and the measurement accuracy. The optical three-dimensional coordinate measuring device includes an imaging device, a table that is displaceable from an original position, a probe for designating a measurement position of a measurement object, a probe marker that is disposed on the probe, and a stage marker that is disposed on the table. The position and the attitude of the probe with respect to the imaging device are identified on the basis of the probe marker included in a captured image. The position and the attitude of the table with respect to the imaging device are identified on the basis of the stage marker included in a captured image. Relative position coordinates of a measurement position designated by the probe are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Masayasu Ikebuchi
  • Patent number: 10259119
    Abstract: A remote controlled robot system that includes a mobile robot and a remote control station. A user can control movement of the robot from the remote control station. The mobile robot includes a camera system that can capture and transmit to the remote station a zoom image and a non-zoom image. The remote control station includes a monitor that displays a robot view field. The robot view field can display the non-zoom image. The zoom image can be displayed in the robot view field by highlighting an area of the non-zoom field. The remote control station may also store camera locations that allow a user to move the camera system to preset locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: INTOUCH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Marco Pinter, Jonathan Southard, Keith Phillip Laby, John Cody Herzog
  • Patent number: 10257497
    Abstract: A depth sensor and a 3D camera include a macro pixel that provides an output signal when light is received and a programmable concurrent detector (PCD) circuit that compares an electric signal provided by the macro pixel with a number of concurrence (NC) and determines a necessity of providing the output signal of the macro pixel. In addition, the depth sensor and the 3D camera may include a controller that measures a dark count of the macro pixel, changes the number of concurrence (NC) of the macro pixel, based on the dark count, and controls noise of the macro pixel. In addition, the depth sensor and the 3D camera may control the noise of the macro pixel, based on an external light count which is a noise signal generated due to the external light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaehyuk Choi, Jinmyoung Kim, Jungwoo Kim
  • Patent number: 10228451
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus comprises a laser detector, a lens, a Global Positioning System (“GPS”) receiver, a digital ground map, a tilt measurement device, and one or more processors. The laser detector is operable to detect a laser light emitted from a laser source, the lens is operable to pass the laser light to the laser detector, the GPS receiver is operable to determine a GPS location of an aircraft, and the tilt measurement device is operable to determine a tilt angle of the aircraft. The one or more processors of the apparatus are operable to determine a line of sight based on the detected laser light, the GPS location, and the tilt angle. The one or more processors are further operable to determine a location of the laser source from an intersection of the line of sight and the digital ground map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt M. Chankaya, Mike Ivor Jones
  • Patent number: 10200809
    Abstract: A positioning system that combines the use of real-time location system and a robotic total station into a single, transparent hybrid positioning system to locate one or multiple targets by one or multiple users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Hallett
  • Patent number: 10187567
    Abstract: Some embodiments include determining geometrical data in a space, with a measurement sequence having a measurement of a first distance to a first target point by emitting a laser beam in a first emission direction, and a measurement of a second distance to a second target point by emitting a laser beam in a second emission direction. In some embodiments the geometrical data comprises a distance between the two target points and/or a solid angle between the first emission direction and the second emission direction. Some embodiments include detecting a series of images; relating the detected images to one another using image processing and using the at least one common image area; determining a distance between the mappings of the target points in the images put in relationship with one another; and determining the geometrical data on the basis of the distance between the mappings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Kurt Giger
  • Patent number: 10185096
    Abstract: Systems and methods of measuring ferrule-core concentricity for an optical fiber held by a ferrule are disclosed. The method includes: generating ferrule distance data by measuring distances to a ferrule outside surface as a function of rotation angle using a distance sensor and rotating either the ferrule or the distance sensor about an axis of rotation that is off-center from the true ferrule axis; aligning the axis of rotation with the fiber core; using the ferrule distance data to determine a position of the true ferrule center relative to the optical fiber core; and measuring the concentricity as the distance between the true center of the ferrule and the optical fiber core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: Sterling Michael Clarke, John Joseph Costello, III, En Hong, Garrett Andrew Piech, Michael Brian Webb, Elvis Alberto Zambrano
  • Patent number: 10176527
    Abstract: A shading system creates a shaded region on a structure, enabling 3D scanning techniques that rely on light detection to generate a 3D model. The shading system includes a vehicle or device that moves the shading system into place. A light, such as a laser dot or line, can be projected onto the shaded region of the structure and detected by a 3D scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: James M. Freeman, Patrick H. Boyer, Nicholas U. Christopulos, Jonathan D. Maurer, Nathan L. Tofte, Jackie O. Jordan, II
  • Patent number: 10144530
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing aircraft parts includes creating corresponding 3D geometry models representing surface features and holes of the aircraft parts sized to nominal dimensions. The method includes sending the 3D geometry models to respective manufacturing facilities for each to generate a NC machining program directly from a 3D geometry model, with instructions for a single NC machining apparatus to machine an aircraft part, and including instructions to machine the surface features and/or holes to the modeled dimensions. And for each of the respective manufacturing facilities to machine the aircraft part utilizing the NC machining program. For this, the NC machining apparatus utilizes tool(s) set at substantially the modeled dimensions, instead of at a high or low side of related tolerance range(s) to allow for tight geometric dimensioning and tolerancing requirements. This method enables the full process capability of the CNC machines while utilizing inspection tolerances that are measurable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald L. Erion, David Ray Turner, Teresa M. Finchamp
  • Patent number: 10114475
    Abstract: A projection system includes a light emitting apparatus that emits detection light to a detection area for detecting indication positions of indicators, and a projector that detects the indication positions of the indicators in the detection area. The projector includes an imaging portion that captures an image of the detection area, and a position detection portion that detects at least one of an image of light generated by the indicator and an image of the detection light reflected on the indicator from data of a captured image of the imaging portion, and discriminates and detects the indication positions of the indicator and the indicator based on light emission timings of the indicator and the light emitting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hallvard Naess, Tormod Njolstad, Sverre Dale Moen, Karol Marcin Pawlak, Shinji Kubota
  • Patent number: 10114111
    Abstract: To dynamically control power in a lidar system, a controller identifies a triggering event and provides a control signal to a light source in the lidar system adjusting the power of light pulses provided by the light pulse. Triggering events may include exceeding a threshold speed, being within a threshold distance of a person or other object, an atmospheric condition, etc. In some scenarios, the power is adjusted to address eye-safety concerns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: LUMINAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Austin K. Russell, Jason M. Eichenholz, Laurance S. Lingvay
  • Patent number: 10104751
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a projection system for providing a distributed manifestation within an environment. The projection system includes a data generator for generating a plurality of data sets of associated state data and spatial coordinate data. The projection system also includes a projector in communication with the data generator for receiving the data sets. The projector is provided with a signal generating module for generating a plurality of electromagnetic signals, and a projecting module for projecting each of the electromagnetic signals towards a target location within the environment. The projection system also includes a plurality of receiving units distributed within the environment, each receiving unit having a receiver for receiving one of the electromagnetic signals when the receiving unit is positioned in the corresponding target location, each receiving unit being adapted to perform a change of state in response to the state data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: ESKI Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Leclerc, Patrick Keroulas, Vincent de Belleval
  • Patent number: 10088511
    Abstract: Described herein are architectures, platforms and methods for deriving a complex antenna impedance based on scalar measurements. Three significantly different electrical characterizations such as scattering parameter (S-parameter) settings that correspond to at least three perturbation applications may facilitate the derivation of the complex antenna impedance at an output port antenna load plane (L plane).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Intel IP Corporation
    Inventors: Danniel Nahmanny, Fabian Cossoy
  • Patent number: 10089738
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method of compensating temperature shifts of a structured light pattern for a depth imaging system. In some embodiments, a depth imaging device includes a light source, an imaging sensor and a processor. The light source emits light corresponding to a pattern. A temperature drift of the light source can cause a shift of the pattern. The imaging sensor receives the light reflected by environment in front of the depth imaging device and generates a depth map including a plurality of pixel values corresponding to depths of the environment relative to the depth imaging device. The processor estimates the shift of the pattern based on a polynomial model depending on the temperature drift of the light source. The processor further adjusts the depth map based on the shift of the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jian Zhao, Raymond Kirk Price, Michael Bleyer, Denis Demandolx
  • Patent number: 10089789
    Abstract: A method of combining 2D images into a 3D image includes providing a coordinate measurement device and a six-DOF probe having an integral camera associated therewith, the six-DOF probe being separate from the coordinate measurement device. In a first instance, the coordinate measurement device determines the position and orientation of the six-DOF probe and the integral camera captures a first 2D image. In a second instance, the six-DOF probe is moved, the coordinate measurement device determines the position and orientation of the six-DOF probe, and the integral camera captures a second 2D image. A cardinal point common to the first and second image is found and is used, together with the first and second images and the positions and orientations of the six-DOF probe in the first and second instances, to create the 3D image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yazid Tohme, Robert E. Bridges
  • Patent number: 10078153
    Abstract: A method of controlling a sensor system of an embodiment is a method of controlling a sensor system that includes a plurality of sensors to acquire a physical quantity according to existence of an object to be detected and that determines whether there is the object to be detected based on a sensing level that is the physical quantity multiplied by a gain parameter, the method including: adjusting the gain parameter in such a manner that the sensing level is equalized among the plurality of sensors in a case where there is no workpiece in a detection range of any of the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hikaru Nishiwaki
  • Patent number: 10067234
    Abstract: A method of installing a projected beam detector can include providing a radiant energy source, providing a reflector, and projecting a radiant energy beam from the source to the reflector. A multi-pixel sensor or camera can be provided. The beam can be reflected from the reflector back to the sensor. A distance between the reflector and the camera can be determined based on a size of an image of the reflector incident on the camera. Where incident intensity corresponds to expected intensity for a predetermined distance, a sensitivity can be set based on the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Scott Robert Lang, Mark C. Bohanon
  • Patent number: 10054674
    Abstract: To reduce the size, simplify the structure of a light emitting and receiving system. The system that detects a target object with the use of reflected lights gained from a light irradiated to the target object includes a flat-plate shaped light control apparatus having light control parts, a light-entry apparatus allowing light to enter into a light control part, a light-receiving apparatus that receives emitting lights from the remaining light control parts, a control apparatus that controls the light-entry apparatus and the light-receiving apparatus and detects the target object. The light control apparatus includes liquid crystal elements supporting light control parts between a pair of substrates and a drive unit to drive the liquid crystal elements. Each of the light control parts includes a pair of electrodes, a high-resistance film disposed between the electrodes, and a liquid crystal layer disposed at least to the region overlapping the high-resistance film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Toko, Yasuyuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 10029372
    Abstract: A system includes a machine assembly, an imaging sensor, an encoder, and one or more processors. The machine assembly is movable to actuate a brake lever of a vehicle in order to open a valve of an air brake system of the vehicle. The imaging sensor acquires perception information of a working environment that includes the brake lever. The encoder detects a displaced position of the machine assembly relative to a reference position of the machine assembly. The one or more processors detect a position of the brake lever relative to the machine assembly based on the acquired perception information and the detected displacement of the arm. The one or more processors generate a motion trajectory for the machine assembly that provides a path to the brake lever. The one or more processors drive movement of the machine assembly along the motion trajectory towards the brake lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Huan Tan, John Michael Lizzi, Douglas Forman, Charles Burton Theurer, Omar Al Assad, Mauricio Castillo-Effen, Romano Patrick, Balajee Kannan, Yonatan Gefen
  • Patent number: 9958535
    Abstract: A detector (118) for determining a position of at least one object (112) is disclosed, the detector (118) comprising: at least one longitudinal optical sensor (120), wherein the longitudinal optical sensor (120) has at least one sensor region (124), wherein the longitudinal optical sensor (120) is at least partially transparent, wherein the longitudinal optical sensor (120) is designed to generate at least one longitudinal sensor signal in a manner dependent on an illumination of the sensor region (124) by at least one light beam (126) traveling from the object (112) to the detector (118), wherein the longitudinal sensor signal, given the same total power of the illumination, is dependent on a beam cross-section of the light beam (126) in the sensor region (124); at least one illumination source (114) adapted to illuminate the object (112) with illumination light (115) through the longitudinal optical sensor (120); and at least one evaluation device (136), wherein the evaluation device (136) is designed to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Robert Send, Ingmar Bruder, Erwin Thiel, Stephan Irle
  • Patent number: 9958256
    Abstract: A system to digitally scan an object in three dimensions is disclosed. The system includes a server system, a memory system, a website and a scanner that scans an object and transfers any number of scanner data to the memory system, the scanner data resides on the digitally scan an object in three dimensions non-transitory storage media and includes any number of object dimensions such as length, width and height of the object, a three-dimensional object file and any number of raw video or any number of images of the object. The system includes a corresponding method for digitally scanning an object in three dimensions and a non-transitory computer storage media having instructions stored thereon which, when executed, execute the method for digitally scanning an object in three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventors: Jason Joachim, Jeremy Joachim, Michael Glombicki, Shai Bernstein, Todd Richard Goodall
  • Patent number: 9952421
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus (100) and method for controlling a plurality of simultaneously active optical traps (OT1,OT2,OT3). In one method, trapping beams (TB1,TB2,TB3) are provided and redirected for individually controlling a respective position (X,Y) of optical traps (OT1,OT2,OT3) formed by focusing of the redirected trapping beams in a sample volume (SV). Light (L11,L20) from the sample volume (SV) corresponding to the optical traps is received. A path of a detector beam (AB) is overlapped with one of the trapping beams (TB3), wherein the detector beam has a distinct wavelength (?A) from that of the overlapping trapping beam (TB3). In one channel, the light from the sample volume is filtered according to wavelength, and only the filtered light having the wavelength (?A) of the detector beam (AB) is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Stichting VU
    Inventors: Andreas Sebastian Biebricher, Andrea Candelli, Iddo Heller, Niels Laurens, Erwin Johannes Gerard Peterman, Gijs Jan Lodewijk Wuite
  • Patent number: 9927553
    Abstract: An optical sensor, optical system, and proximity sensor are disclosed. An illustrative proximity sensor is disclosed to include a light source and a photodetector including a photo-sensitive area that receives incident light and converts the received incident light into an electrical signal. The light source and photodetector are positioned diagonally relative to one another, thereby enabling the devices to be positioned closer together on a body or substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: James Costello, Cherng Woei Heng, Boon Keat Tan
  • Patent number: 9885771
    Abstract: A method for measuring three-dimensional (3D) coordinates includes providing a retroreflector and a laser tracker. An operator gives a follow-operator gesture, and the laser tracker responds by following movement of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kalyan Nagalla, Robert C. Mehler, Robert E. Bridges
  • Patent number: 9885559
    Abstract: A method for measuring three-dimensional (3D) coordinates includes providing a retroreflector and a laser tracker. In a first instance, an operator gives a follow-operator command. The laser tracker responds by following movement of the operator. In a second instance, the operator gives a lock-on command. The laser tracker responds by steering a beam of light onto the retroreflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kalyan Nagalla, Robert C. Mehler, Robert E. Bridges
  • Patent number: 9869695
    Abstract: An atomic-force microscope system is provided including: an electrically conducting cantilever support; an electrically insulating element; and an electrically conducting cantilever anchored at a first end to the cantilever support via the insulating element, the cantilever including a probe tip at a second end opposite to the first end and the cantilever support is configured as a backside electrode of the cantilever for backside actuation thereof; a Fabry-Perot interferometer including: a resonator with a first mirror defined on the cantilever; and a second mirror defined on the cantilever support having a first side and a second side configured to allow light injection, opposite to the first side, the latter extending at least partly vis-à-vis the first mirror. The interferometer includes a light-emitting device, and a detector configured for detecting a property of the system impacted by interferences of light emitted by the light-emitting device. Methods of operations are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ute Drechsler, Urs T Duerig, Armin Knoll, Thilo Stoeferle
  • Patent number: 9869757
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention relate to a laser tracker for determining the position of a target and in particularly for the continuous tracking of the target. In some embodiments, the laser tracker includes a beam source for generating measurement radiation, an angle measuring function for determining a horizontal pivot angle and a vertical pivot angle, a distance measuring function and a position sensitive surface detector for determining a point of impact of the reflected measurement radiation on the surface detector and for generating an output signal in order to control a target tracking function. The laser tracker may include a self-calibrating function for calibrating a beam offset using a reflecting calibration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Albert Markendorf