Coordinate Positioning Patents (Class 702/95)
  • Patent number: 8504317
    Abstract: A person is detected by an observer device. A person detection history is recorded in a person detection history database. A position where the person is detected for the first time is estimated by a first-time detection position estimating unit, to be stored in a first-time detection position history database. The position of the door of the room in terms of local coordinates is estimated by a doorway position estimating unit. The calibration information as to the position of the observer device is calculated by a position calibration information calculating unit based on the door position in terms of local coordinates and that in terms of global coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Tanigawa, Katsuyoshi Yamagami
  • Patent number: 8494800
    Abstract: A method for identifying geometric errors with respect to at least two translational axes and at least one rotational axis of a machine using a control device is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: measuring positions of a jig in three-dimensional space using a position measurement sensor, wherein a measurement is carried out when the jig being indexed around the rotational axis by a plurality of angles is located at the positions; approximating a plurality of measured values of the positions measured in the measuring step to a circular arc; and calculating an error in regard to a center position of the rotational axis and/or a tilt error in the rotational axis, and tilt errors in the translational axes, based on the circular arc resulting from the approximating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20130185010
    Abstract: A measurement coordinate correction method correcting the measurement coordinates of a work piece placed on a base, in which the measurement coordinate correction method includes a weight acquiring step, a position acquiring step, and a correcting step. The weight acquiring step acquires information related to the weight of the work piece. The position acquiring step acquires information related to the position of the work piece on the base. The correcting step corrects the measurement coordinates of the work piece based on the weight and position of the work piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8489353
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a vision system of a vehicle includes the steps of projecting a pattern in proximity to the vehicle and calibrating the vision system using an image of the pattern generated by the vision system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Eric L. Raphael
  • Patent number: 8486290
    Abstract: There is provided an etching apparatus in which, without setting the information of the substance and the chemical reaction, a small number of representative wavelengths can be selected from a waveform at a lot of wavelengths, and an analysis process of etching data which needs large man-hours can be eliminated to efficiently set the monitoring of the etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Morisawa, Daisuke Shiraishi, Satomi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130173199
    Abstract: A method of calibration of a mathematical model for the compensation of errors due to dynamic deformation of a measuring machine equipped with a mobile unit able to move a stylus probe in un measuring volume, wherein the model provides, in response to at least one input quantity correlated with a control signal of said drive means, a plurality of output quantities comprising at least one component of the measurement error introduced by the deformation and at least one quantity detected by a laser sensor and correlated with the deformation. In the calibration step, the mobile unit is subjected to a movement cycle constituted by small-amplitude oscillations of variable frequency, following the law of sinusoidal motion, keeping the tip of the probe blocked; during the movement cycle, the input and output quantities are sampled and supplied to an algorithm for model identification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: HEXAGON METROLOGY S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giampiero GUASCO
  • Patent number: 8478383
    Abstract: A method, including: receiving an input indicative of respective apparent locations of a plurality of points disposed along a length of a probe inside a body of a subject, and applying a model of known mechanical properties of the probe to the respective apparent locations so as to minimize a first cost function with respect to shapes that can be assumed by the probe in the body. The method further includes choosing a shape responsively to the minimized first cost function and determining preliminary coordinates of the apparent locations responsively to the shape, minimizing a second cost function with respect to differences between the apparent locations and the preliminary coordinates, and generating corrected coordinates of the points along the length of the probe based on the minimized second cost function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Biosense Webster (Israel), Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Bar-Tal, Daniel Osadchy
  • Patent number: 8457917
    Abstract: A device, a method and a guiding device for setting out contours, points or works, including a computer-controlled measuring device provided with a movable measuring probe and a portable base unit provided with a rotatably supported elongate arm. The measuring probe is connected to the measuring device by means of a cord or a wire via the elongate arm, and the measuring device is provided with sensors for measuring a length or a change in the length of the cord or the wire and rotation of the arm in at least one degree of freedom for providing position data of the measuring probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Holding Prodim Systems B.V.
    Inventor: Dick Teune
  • Patent number: 8458140
    Abstract: A system for evaluating data points against cadastral regulations to include a plurality of software modules programmed into a computer system with software and hardware configured to store and update a cadastral rule database containing a plurality of rules for determining the validity of the cadastral data (10). The cadastral database obtained from a data source reference data that is indicative of a plurality of established reference data points wherein the received input data corresponds to a plurality of measured data points with steps to co-process the input data and the referenced data according to the plurality of cadastral rules to determine an indication for the plurality of data points (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: GEO Pioneers Ltd.
    Inventor: Marwan Zeibak
  • Publication number: 20130138378
    Abstract: In a computing device and method for compensating for perpendicularity errors of a three-coordinate measuring machine, coordinates of touched points on an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis of the three-coordinate measuring machine are acquired and respectively recorded into an X array, a Y array, and a Z array. A perpendicular error Axy of the X-axis and the Y-axis, a perpendicular error Axz of the X-axis and the Z-axis, and a perpendicular error Ayz of the Y-axis and the Z-axis using the X array, the Y array, and the Z array are computed using the X array, the Y array, and the Z array. The perpendicular errors Axy, Axz and Ayz then stored into a compensation record for later use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHIH-KUANG CHANG, HUA-WEI YANG, MIN-JUN HUANG
  • Patent number: 8452568
    Abstract: A method for calibrating vehicle cameras is simplified by providing painted patterns on a road surface and by capturing those patterns by the cameras to be calibrated. According to a predefined positional relationship of the cameras with the painted patterns, captured images of the painted patterns are bird's-eye converted and matched with reference to calculate camera positions in a vehicle, thereby enabling an automatic calibration of camera directions and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Masayuki Imanishi, Hirohiko Yanagawa
  • Patent number: 8452443
    Abstract: An industrial robot system including a workcell including a load area and a process area. A detector detects when a human enters the load area. A manipulator is located in the workcell. At least one positioner is adapted to hold a workpiece and to change the orientation of the workpiece about at least one axis while the manipulator processes the workpiece. A station exchanger is movable about an axis and adapted to move, upon command, the manipulator or the positioner between the load and process area. Each of the axes is provided with a motor and a drive unit. An axis controller is adapted to switch between executing a first task in which the axes of the positioner and the station exchanger are commanded to a standstill, and a second task in which the axes of the positioner and the station exchanger are allowed to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Jan H. Karlsson, Antero Lassuri
  • Patent number: 8452564
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining geometric errors in a machine tool or measuring machine having a mobile unit for moving a target within a measuring volume. The method includes the steps of generating a succession of laser beams in different directions by means of an interferometer, and, for each direction, moving the target into a number of points along the beam; measuring, by means of the interferometer, the abscissa of each of the points from an origin located along the direction of the beam; acquiring the coordinates of each of the points by means of the machine; and determining error parameters of the machine on the basis of the abscissas measured by the interferometer, and the coordinates of the points acquired by the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignees: Hexagon Metrology S.p.A., Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (I.N.RI.M.)
    Inventors: Alessandro Balsamo, Michele Verdi
  • Patent number: 8447539
    Abstract: An electromagnetic field distribution measurement apparatus (10) according to the present invention includes: an electromagnetic field probe (20) for measuring an electromagnetic field distribution; a scan apparatus (30) for scanning the vicinity of a wiring (120) with the electromagnetic field probe (20); and a data processing apparatus (50) for calculating the offset value (?Xd) of the coordinate of the electromagnetic field probe (20) from the coordinate of the wiring (120). The data processing apparatus (50) extracts a characteristic point (E1 to E3) of the measured electromagnetic field distribution and calculates the offset value (?Xd) based on the coordinates of the extracted characteristic point (E1 to E3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Masuda
  • Patent number: 8447551
    Abstract: An assembly tool is provided. The assembly tool comprises a body and a gripper mount slidably mounted to the body with a first actuator. The first actuator is configured to slide the gripper mount from a first position to a second position along an axis. The assembly tool also comprises a gripper assembly slidably mounted to the gripper mount with a second actuator. The second actuator is configured to facilitate displacement of the gripper assembly with respect to the gripper mount along the axis. The assembly tool also comprises an encoder configured to indicate a displacement distance between an expected position and an actual position of the gripper assembly with respect to the gripper mount along the axis when the gripper mount is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tze Yang Ong, Jit Han Tan
  • Publication number: 20130096860
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an analysis unit, a gathering place determination unit, and a correction unit. The analysis unit analyzes an action history including at least a position of a subject, in accordance with action information obtained by detecting an action of the subject. The gathering place determination unit determines a position of a gathering place where plural subjects including the subject are together, in accordance with position information indicating the position of the subject which is included in the action information. The correction unit corrects position information about the subject, in accordance with the position of the gathering place determined by the gathering place determination unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideto YUZAWA, Toshiroh Shimada, Tomoyuki Shoya
  • Publication number: 20130090877
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for aligning a wafer using a wafer leveling map with alignment marks. A set of alignment marks can be selected to create overlay correction parameters to realign the wafer. Alignment marks that are near wafer leveling hotspots, or alignment marks that have poor reproducibility are not selected for realignment purposes. The wafer leveling data is used to determine which alignment marks have poor reproducibility and can create an unstable offset. The wafer leveling data identifies areas on the wafer that are uneven. Only alignment marks which have a stable offset are used to calculate the associated overlay correction parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Satoshi Nagai
  • Publication number: 20130090878
    Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus are described for recalibrating coordinate positioning apparatus after a disturbance, such as a stylus replacement. The coordinate positioning apparatus includes a platform, a measurement probe and a probe head for reorienting the measurement probe relative to the platform. A calibration data set is taken for the coordinate positioning apparatus that includes datum data for a plurality of orientations of the measurement probe. The datum data includes at least first datum data for a first nominal orientation of the measurement probe. After a disturbance to the coordinate positioning apparatus, the calibration data set is updated by acquiring one or more position measurements and calculating a first correction from the one or more position measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventor: Leo Christopher Somerville
  • Patent number: 8416412
    Abstract: There is provided a method for determining residual errors, compromising the following steps: in a first step, a test plate comprising a first pattern is used, and in a second step, a test plate comprising a second pattern which is reflected and/or rotated with respect to the first step is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMS GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Schellhorn, Matthias Manger
  • Patent number: 8407023
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a robotic device, such as a cardiac catheter, includes oscillating the device on an actuation axis by applying an oscillation vector at an oscillation frequency. While oscillating, a location of the device is periodically measured to generate a plurality of location data points, which may express the location of the device relative to a plurality of measurement axes. The location data points are then processed using a signal processing algorithm, such as a Fourier transform algorithm, to derive a transfer function relating a position of the device to a movement vector for the actuation axis. The transfer function may be resolved into and expressed as a calibration vector for the actuation axis, which may include one or more components, including zero components, directed along each of the measurement axes. The process may be repeated for any actuation axes on which calibration is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Hauck
  • Patent number: 8392140
    Abstract: A method, system and inertial navigation unit are provided in order to facilitate location determination by calibrating a location determined by an inertial navigation unit. The method may receive a magnetic pulse, such as a magnetic pulse generated by a lightening strike, with a plurality of first magnetometers and with a second magnetometer co-located with the inertial navigation unit. The method may also compare a representation of the magnetic pulse received by the plurality of first magnetometers to a respective representation of the magnetic pulse received by the second magnetometer. Further, the method may correct the location determined by the inertial navigation unit as a result of the comparing of the representation of the magnetic pulse received by the plurality of first magnetometers to the respective representation of the magnetic pulse received by the second magnetometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: William G. Bartholet
  • Patent number: 8380456
    Abstract: To provide a calibration jig which can perform three-dimensional calibration of measurement errors in a spectacle frame shape measuring apparatus. The calibration jig is used for calibrating measurement errors of the spectacle frame shape measuring apparatus for measuring a shape of a spectacle frame, etc. A trace groove traced by a measuring probe of the spectacle frame shape measuring apparatus is a frame groove formed in an inner circumference of rims of the spectacle frame and provided for engaging with the bevel of a spectacle lens. The rims are secured to a frame body having rigidity higher than that of the rim. The frame groove has a displacement r in the radial direction, a displacement ? in the rotational direction, and a displacement z in the height direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Igarashi, Masahiro Jinbo, Ryousuke Satoh
  • Patent number: 8370124
    Abstract: An emulation system includes a central time source generating a time reference and an emulated spacecraft control processor which contains an embedded processor that provides an emulated input/output interface to communicate simulated spacecraft data. The embedded processor processes the simulated spacecraft data and contains a real time clock engine having a real-time clock period. The system further has a first simulation that processes attitude control system data from the emulated spacecraft control processor to simulate an attitude control system of the spacecraft in real-time. The first simulation engine operative to produce sensor data for input to the emulated spacecraft control processor based on the simulated system dynamics and adjusts the real time clock period in response to the time reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Gold, John D. Haskell, David L. Koza, Michael J. Surace, Steven R. Zammit
  • Publication number: 20130030747
    Abstract: In one aspect the present disclosure relates to a method for manually calibrating a light based positioning system in a location. In some embodiments, the method includes providing a map of positions of a plurality of light sources in the location; while positioned under one of the plurality of light sources on the map, receiving an identification code from the light source, wherein the identification code identifies the light source; and updating the map with the identification code for the light source. In some embodiments, the light source can be a light emitting diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: BYTELIGHT, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron GANICK, Daniel RYAN
  • Patent number: 8332174
    Abstract: Computer instructions for determining coordinates for nodes on a wire secured to tow lines of a floating vessel for analyzing geological formations is provided. The computer instructions can use sensors in communication with a processor to determine the coordinates of nodes and provide azimuths tangential to the wire. A library of nominal values for polynomial coefficients, a library of known distances along the wire, and a library of preset limits can be stored in a data storage. The computer instructions can: receive sensor information, compute bearing, reorient the coordinates, rotate the azimuth, construct a polynomial algorithm, compute the azimuth, form a residual, compute updated differences until the residual is within preset limits, calculate local coordinates for nodes, and rotate the local coordinates from the local coordinate system to the projected coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: NCS Subsea, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Majzlik, Alfred L. Hise, Brian Hardy, Noel Zinn
  • Patent number: 8331670
    Abstract: A document alteration detection method compares a target image with an original image by comparing character shape features without actually recognizing the characters. Bounding boxes for the characters are generated for both images, each enclosing one or more connected groups of pixels of one character. The bounding boxes in the original and target images are matched into pairs. Addition and deletion of text is detected if a bounding box in one image does not have a matching one in the other image. Each pair of bounding boxes is processed to compare their shape features. The shape features include the Euler numbers of the characters, the aspect ratio of the bounding boxes, the pixel density of the bounding boxes, and the Hausdorff distance between the two characters. The two characters are determined to be the same or different based on the shape feature comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Laboratory U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Songyang Yu, Wei Ming
  • Patent number: 8332181
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a small size hand-held device for aligning two or more structures by attaching the device to master and slave structures and providing real-time position/orientation data to enable the accurate alignment of the structures. The handheld device includes a sensor box containing at least one inertial sensor, such as for example, a gyroscope (such as a disc resonator gyroscope) or an accelerometer. The handheld device further includes an alignment socket designed to mate with an alignment key that may be fixed to the structures to be aligned, and a display for showing a position data output received from the at least one inertial sensor. The handheld device may further include a processor for processing and outputting data to the display and/or the handheld device may include a transmitter for transmitting the data to a central processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Yong Liu, A. Dorian Challoner
  • Patent number: 8332173
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine includes: a probe provided with a measurement piece; a moving mechanism that effects a scanning movement of the probe; and a host computer for controlling the moving mechanism. The host computer includes a displacement acquiring unit for acquiring a displacement of the moving mechanism and a measurement value calculating unit for calculating a measurement value. The measurement value calculating unit includes a correction-amount calculating unit for calculating a correction amount for correcting a position error of the measurement piece and a correcting unit for correcting the position error of the measurement piece based on the displacement of the moving mechanism and the correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8315673
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to interacting with a target object using an imaging device of a handheld mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Arnold Jason Gum
  • Patent number: 8315478
    Abstract: A coordinate system converter efficiently converts coordinates of one coordinate system to a different coordinate system. A base system library module provides a common platform where different algorithms based on different coordinate systems can “shake hands” or be integrated into an overall conversion process in a manner that is transparent to each other. The number of supported coordinate systems can be dynamically extended without changing software to support different tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: DFMSim, Inc.
    Inventors: Nungavaram Sundara Viswanathan, Matthias Frank
  • Patent number: 8296098
    Abstract: A metrological instrument determines a surface profile or form of a surface (61) of a workpiece (60) by effecting relative movement between a probe (11, 12) and the surface (61) so that the probe follows and is displaced by changes in the surface topography. A measure of the displacement of the probe as it follows the surface is obtained by a displacement provider which may be an interferometric gauge (35). Instead of making a measurement along a single measurement path over the surface (61), respective measurements are made on sections (61d and 61e or 61g and 61h) of that measurement path to obtain corresponding measurement data sets and these measurement data sets are independently positioned or aligned to a reference data set. The reference data set may be obtained by a measurement made on another section (61c) of the measurement path (61), on another measurement path (61f) over another surface (62a and 62b) of the component or on another measurement path over a surface on which the component is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Taylor Hobson Limited
    Inventor: Michael Mills
  • Patent number: 8290571
    Abstract: A method and system for maintaining calibration of a distributed localization system are presented. After a baseline calibration of sensors distributed on a working instrument and reference instrument, if movement of the reference instrument is detected, shape sensing data from a Bragg shape sensing fiber also coupled to the reference instrument may be utilized to recalibrate the localization system. The reference instrument preferably is located intraoperatively in a relatively constrained anatomical environment, such as in the coronary sinus of the heart, to prevent significant movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Robert G. Younge, Bhaskar S. Ramamurthy, Randall L. Schlesinger, Neal A. Tanner
  • Patent number: 8290733
    Abstract: A modular calibration method for a CMM, comprising preliminary calibration steps of several components prior to its mounting. The preliminary calibration steps yield specific mapping information for each calibrated component, which are then stored into map files generated and associated to the calibrated components. A final alignment takes place after once the CMM is mounted, which processes mapping information gathered during the preliminary calibration steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Hexagon Metrology AB
    Inventor: Bo Pettersson
  • Publication number: 20120259573
    Abstract: A position sensor for ascertaining the fine position value z of a movable body includes an exciter unit moving therewith and a stationary sensor unit (7) which simultaneously delivers a plurality of output signals aE(z(t)), bE(z(t)), . . . jointly describing the fine position value. In the calibration mode there is a defined relationship between the exciter unit and a calibration unit (31) and groups of amplitude values ?aE(z), ?bE(z), . . . are taken off from the output signals and groups of average values AE(z), BE(z), . . . are formed therefrom, which are fed to the calibration unit (31) which converts them into reference values AE(?(z)), BE(?(z)), . . . using the calibration fine position values ?(z) and stores same with the associated fine position value ?(AE, BE, . . . ) as an associated values multiplet in a comparative value memory (14). In the measuring mode to ascertain a fine position value groups of amplitude values ?aM(z), ?bM(z), . . . are taken off from the output signals aM(z(t)), bM(z(t)), .
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Walter Mehnert, Thomas Theil
  • Patent number: 8280189
    Abstract: A method for tracking a position of an object includes using a field sensor associated with the object to measure field strengths of magnetic fields generated by two or more field generators, wherein a measurement of at least one of the field strengths is subject to a distortion. Rotation-invariant location coordinates of the object are calculated responsively to the measured field strengths. Corrected location coordinates of the object are determined by applying to the rotation-invariant location coordinates a coordinate correcting function so as to adjust a relative contribution of each of the measured field strengths to the corrected location coordinates responsively to the distortion in the measured field strengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Biosense Webster, Inc.
    Inventors: Meir Bar-Tal, Assaf Govari
  • Patent number: 8280664
    Abstract: Stage orthogonal error and position errors caused by mirror distortion are reduced. A CPU calculates a coordinate error (?x,?y) between a measured XY coordinate (x,y) of each of arbitrary reference points on a wafer W0 loaded on a XY stage which is measured by a laser interferometer and a calculated ideal position XY coordinate of the reference point, calculates an orthogonal error of the XY coordinates on the bases of the calculated coordinate errors (?x,?y) and an error due to mirror distortion, and stores them in a storage device. When a wafer W is actually inspected, the CPU corrects the measured position coordinates (x,y) from the laser interferometer on the basis of the calculated orthogonal error, and corrects beam deflector for deflection on the basis of the calculated error due to mirror distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Kimba, Keisuke Mizuuchi
  • Patent number: 8280665
    Abstract: A calibration device for an on-vehicle camera includes an image receiving portion receiving an image of an area around a vehicle taken by an on-vehicle camera, a viewpoint transformation portion performing a viewpoint transformation on the image to obtain a transformed image, a region setting portion setting a recognition target region on the transformed image according to coordinates of the calibration index set in accordance with vehicle models, where the recognition target region includes therein the calibration index, a calibration point detecting portion detecting a calibration point positioned within the calibration index included in the recognition target region, and a calibration calculating portion calibrating the on-vehicle camera in accordance with coordinates of the calibration point in a reference coordinate system and in accordance with coordinates of the calibration point in a camera coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Nakamura, Etsuo Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120245877
    Abstract: A geomagnetic field measurement device has a three-dimensional magnetic sensor and a storage device that stores plural pieces of magnetic data sequentially output from the three-dimensional magnetic sensor. The geomagnetic field measurement device calculates, based on the pieces of magnetic data, a distortion estimation value indicating a degree of difference in shape between a three-dimensional figure defined so that the plural sets of coordinates indicated respectively by the plural pieces of magnetic data are distributed adjacent to a surface thereof and a spherical surface, and determines whether there is distortion in the shape of the three-dimensional figure based on the distortion estimation value, to update an offset for correcting each of the plural pieces of the magnetic data in a case in which it is determined that there is no distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: IBUKI HANDA
  • Patent number: 8271069
    Abstract: A surgical navigation system for navigating a region of a patient that may include a non-invasive dynamic reference frame and/or fiducial marker, sensor tipped instruments, and isolator circuits. The dynamic reference frame may be placed on the patient in a precise location for guiding the instruments. The dynamic reference frames may be fixedly placed on the patient. Also the dynamic reference frames may be placed to allow generally natural movements of soft tissue relative to the dynamic reference frames. Also methods are provided to determine positions of the dynamic reference frames. Anatomical landmarks may be determined intra-operatively and without access to the anatomical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Medtronic Navigation, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley A. Jascob, Scott Shaver, Todd Martens, Nadim Yared, Kirsten Boes, John H. Dukesherer, Mark W. Hunter
  • Patent number: 8260452
    Abstract: A system and method of tracking location and orientation of power tools utilized in the assembly and maintenance of complex systems is disclosed. The system can facilitate collaboration between maintenance and alert maintenance personnel to complete complex system activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Austin, Gregory F. Weselak, Scott David Weber
  • Patent number: 8260578
    Abstract: The method uses a location device and a timing element to determine the location of a protection device at various periods of time. During these periods of time, the human may be participating in a variety of activities and positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Tana Marie Kirkbride, Thomas Ward Osborn, III, Reginald Edward Crutcher, II, Marie Brigid O'Reilly
  • Publication number: 20120215474
    Abstract: A calibration system for simultaneous calibration of multiple motion capture elements (MCEs) of at least one type (accelerometer and/or gyroscope). Includes motion and/or rotational element coupled to a base and configured to move and/or rotate multiple MCEs mounted on a mount in and/or about at least one axis. For one axis movement embodiments, after each motion and/or axial rotation, the motion and/or rotational mount itself is rotated for example manually, so the mount points in a different direction, i.e., the Z axis. In a single axis embodiment, this is performed twice so that each axis of the MCEs experience motion and/or rotation about three axes. The motion capture data is sampled and used in calculation of a 3×3 calibration matrix. The physical format of the motion capture sensors may be any format including chip, memory or SIM card format, PCB format, mobile computers/phones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Michael Bentley, Bhaskar Bose
  • Publication number: 20120203485
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a robotic device, such as a cardiac catheter, including oscillating the device on an actuation axis by applying an oscillation vector at an oscillation frequency. While oscillating, a location of the device is periodically measured to generate a plurality of location data points, which may express the location of the device relative to a plurality of measurement axes. The location data points are then processed using a signal processing algorithm, such as a Fourier transform algorithm, to derive a transfer function relating a position of the device to a movement vector for the actuation axis. The transfer function may be resolved into and expressed as a calibration vector for the actuation axis, which may include one or more components, including zero components, directed along each of the measurement axes. The process may be repeated for any actuation axes on which calibration is desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: John A. Hauck
  • Patent number: 8239155
    Abstract: In a trajectory information processing apparatus (201) for equalizing the sensitivity of input near a starting point of a trajectory input to the extent possible, regardless of direction of movement, the trajectory information processing apparatus (201) including an input receiving unit (202) receives input of coordinate information of a trajectory at a first definition, a correcting unit (203) corrects the coordinate information of the trajectory based on a pair of coordinates of a starting point of the trajectory at the first definition and a pair of coordinates of the starting point of the trajectory at a second definition lower than the first definition, a converting unit (204) converts the corrected trajectory coordinate information to the second definition and outputs the converted coordinate information, the correcting unit (203), if the starting point locates on an edge of an area which includes the starting point at the first definition, and includes pairs of coordinates which are to be converted to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kawabata
  • Patent number: 8229694
    Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine includes: a probe that has a contact point capable of movement within a predetermined range; a movement mechanism for moving the probe; and a controller for controlling the movement mechanism. The controller has a measurement value calculating unit for calculating a position of the contact point based on a displacement of the movement mechanism and a displacement of the probe. The measurement value calculating unit includes: a correction parameter calculator for calculating a correction parameter for correcting the displacement of the probe based on a measurement condition in measuring an object; a corrector for correcting the displacement of the probe based on the correction parameter; and a displacement synthesizing unit that synthesizes the displacement of the movement mechanism and the displacement of the probe corrected by the corrector to calculate the position of the contact point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Nakagawa, Nobuhiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8224584
    Abstract: System for quantifying analyte polynucleotides employs computer-implemented analysis of real-time amplification data using a calibration curve defined by parametric equations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated
    Inventors: James M. Carrick, Mark R. Kennedy, Jeffrey D. Chismar
  • Patent number: 8224607
    Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus for performing calibrations on robotic components. In one embodiment, a method for performing robotic calibrations includes moving the calibrating device across a target (e.g., a wafer chuck). Next, the method includes measuring distances between light spots from the sensors and a perimeter of the target using the sensors located on the calibrating device. Next, the method includes determining a displacement of the calibrating device relative to a center of the target. Then, the method includes determining a rotation angle of the calibrating device relative to a system of coordinates of the target. Next, the method includes calibrating a robot position of the robot based on the displacement and rotation angle of the calibrating device with respect to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay Sakhare, Sekar Krishnasamy, Mordechai Leska, Donald Foldenauer, Rinat Shimshi, Marvin L. Freeman, Jeffery Hudgens, Satish Sundar
  • Patent number: 8218904
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically transposing an image from a circular image space to another image space, for example, horizontal. Examples of applications include a mail piece a roundel on a mail piece. On a mail piece, company name, city and state, or zip code information can be contained in the roundel instead of, for example, in the permit block. The system implements the methods electronically. Control and data information is electronically executed and stored on computer-readable media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Chadwick M. Coleman, Richard VanHall
  • Patent number: 8219352
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention disclose a system and a method for determining a pose of a probe relative to an object by probing the object with the probe, comprising steps of: determining a probability of the pose using Rao-Blackwellized particle filtering, wherein a probability of a location of the pose is represented by a location of each particle, and a probability of an orientation of the pose is represented by a Gaussian distribution over orientation of each particle conditioned on the location of the particle, wherein the determining is performed for each subsequent probing until the probability of the pose concentrates around a particular pose; and estimating the pose of the probe relative to the object based on the particular pose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuichi Taguchi, Tim Marks
  • Patent number: 8214166
    Abstract: A method, and a corresponding system, are provided for calibrating data of an object measured by different measuring tools, including measuring a Critical-Dimension (CD) and roughness of an object by using a CD-SEM tool, calculating a number of cross section measurement points required for calibration, by statistically processing the roughness of the object, measuring the cross section of the object by using a cross section measuring tool to obtain cross section data at the calculated number of cross section measurement points, calculating the average measurement of the cross section measurement height, and calculating a calibration correction value that is a function of a difference between the average CD measurement of the object and the average measurement of the cross section measurement height of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Maki Tanaka, Wataru Nagatomo