Velocity Or Velocity/height Measuring Patents (Class 356/27)
  • Patent number: 11982743
    Abstract: A LIDAR system has one or more light splitters and multiple light combiners. The LIDAR system also has multiple optical pathways through which light signals travel. The optical pathways include delay pathways that each extends from one of the one or more splitters to one of the light combiners. The optical pathways include expedited pathways that each extends from one of the splitters to one of the light combiners. Each of the light combiners has one of the delay pathways and one of the expedited pathways extending to the light combiner. The delay pathways and the expedited pathways are configured such that the delay pathway to each light combiner is longer than the expedited pathway to the same light combiner. Each of the delay pathways has a common portion and a separated portion. The common portion of each delay pathway is shared by the other delay pathways. In contrast, the separated portion of a delay pathways is not shared with the other delay pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SiLC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen Chen, Bradley Jonathan Luff
  • Patent number: 11922669
    Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes identifying pixels indicative of motion based on a frame of pixels; selecting a region of interest within the frame based on the pixels indicative of motion, the region being a subset of the frame of pixels and including the pixels indicative of the motion; identifying an object based on pixels within the region; and issuing an alarm in response to the region including both the object and the pixels indicative of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SimpliSafe, Inc.
    Inventors: Shekhar Bangalore Sastry, Nicholas Setzer, Monica Xu, Alexander Pollack, Shreyas Kamath
  • Patent number: 11816706
    Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for intelligent interface displays based on past data correlations. A service provider and/or entity may implement a machine learning engine to dynamically adjust data displayed in interface elements of an interface provided by the service provider or entity. The data may correspond to an amount for a voluntary payment to the entity by a user and may be based on correlating and processing past user transactions and received entity payments. Weights may be applied to the data to determine median, average, and/or quartile amounts based on goals set by the user, events occurring at the time of the voluntary payment, and/or time of year. Once the machine learning engine determines one or more amounts specific to the user's payment to the entity, the engine may adjust or output the interface having the user specific data for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventors: Krishnakumar Govindarajalu, Cynthia L. O'Yang, Yue Xin, Tao Sun, Dharmendra Kumar
  • Patent number: 11676354
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for augmented reality beauty product tutorials. Methods disclose determining from live images of an augmented reality (AR) tutorial effects, the effects indicating changes to the live images of a presenter of the AR tutorial from a beauty product being applied to a body part of the presenter. The methods further comprising determining from the live images motion, the motion indicating motion of the beauty product from the beauty product being applied to the body part of the presenter and storing the effects and the motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Christine Barron, Virginia Drummond, Jean Luo, Alek Matthiessen, Celia Nicole Mourkogiannis, Jonathan Solichin, Olesia Voronova
  • Patent number: 10684119
    Abstract: A device for measuring the diameter and/or the wall thickness of a strand that has a substantially circular cross-section and is guided through the device by guide means in the direction of its longitudinal axis includes at least one transmitter for transmitting terahertz radiation, at least one radiation optical system that conducts the terahertz radiation to a strand guided by the device, at least one reflector for the terahertz radiation arranged opposite a transmitter and behind the strand in the radiation direction of the terahertz radiation, at least one receiver for receiving the terahertz radiation reflected at the strand and/or the reflector, and an evaluation apparatus that determines the diameter and/or the wall thickness of the strand using the measuring signals received by the at least one receiver. A corresponding method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Sikora AG
    Inventor: Harald Sikora
  • Patent number: 10412462
    Abstract: A video server generates metadata representative of interpolation parameters for portions of a first frame representative of a scene in a stream of frames including the first frame. The interpolation parameters are used to generate at least one interpolated frame representative of the scene subsequent to the first frame and prior to a second frame in the stream of frames. The video server incorporates the metadata into the stream and transmits the stream including the multiplexed metadata. A video client receives the first frame representative the stream of frames including the metadata. The video client generates one or more interpolated frames representative of the scene subsequent to the first frame and prior to a second frame in the stream of frames based on the first frame and the metadata. The video client displays the first frame, the one or more interpolated frames, and the second frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Boris Ivanovic
  • Patent number: 10070796
    Abstract: A method in one embodiment includes acquiring optical image information with a detection unit configured to be operably coupled to a patient. The optical image information corresponds to microcirculation of the patient. The method also includes generating a microcirculation map of microvasculature of the patient using the optical image information. Further, the method includes generating a quantitative microcirculation index based on the microcirculation map, the quantitative microcirculation index corresponding to a condition of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Victor Petrovich Ostroverkhov, Alberto Santamaria-Pang, Dmitry V. Dylov, Ali Can, Siavash Yazdanfar
  • Patent number: 10045703
    Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a system and method for imaging living tissue and processing laser speckle data anisotropically to calculate laser speckle contrast preferentially along the direction of blood flow. In the present invention, raw laser speckle images are obtained and processed resulting in the anisotropic laser speckle images. The system and method involve the determination of the direction of blood flow for every pixel within the region of interest (primary pixel) and subsequent extraction of a set of secondary pixels in the spatio-temporal neighborhood of the primary pixel that is anisotropic in the direction of blood flow. Speckle contrast is then calculated for every primary pixel as the ratio of standard deviation and mean of all secondary pixels in this anisotropic neighborhood and collectively plotted using a suitable color mapping scheme to obtain an anisotropic laser speckle contrast image of the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Abhiskek Rege, Janaka Senarathna, Nitish V. Thakor
  • Patent number: 9977045
    Abstract: An apparatus providing for simultaneous measurement of the wind upstream and downstream of a wind turbine uses either a single LIDAR beam split into two beams, each focused upstream or downstream of the windmill, or a multiple beam LIDAR with a first beam source aimed toward the upstream direction of the wind and a second beam source aimed at the downstream direction after the wind has passed through the wind turbine. The apparatus may also use LIDAR to measure wind direction and speed by making measurements along slightly different lines of sight, or by pointing the LIDAR in different directions. Two lines of sight allow measuring wind direction in the plane defined by the two lines of sight. Three non-coplanar lines of sight provide the information necessary to determine a full 3-dimensional wind velocity vector. Further, LIDAR may also be used to measure wind speed by estimating the wind velocity using inputs from both aerosol and molecular components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Michigan Aerospace Cororation
    Inventors: Paul Byron Hayes, Peter Tchoryk
  • Patent number: 9839365
    Abstract: Systems are provided for detecting the flow of blood or other fluids in biological tissue by illuminating the biological tissue with a coherent light source and detecting time-varying patterns of constructive and destructive interference in light received from portions of the biological tissue by an imager. The movement of blood cells and other light-scattering elements in the biological tissue causes transient, short-duration changes in light emitted from portions of the biological tissue proximate to the moving blood cells or other scatterers. High-frequency sampling or other high-bandwidth processing of light intensities detected by an imager could be used to determine the flow of blood or other fluids at a plurality of points in the biological tissue, to detect and/or localize a tumor in the biological tissue, to determine the location, pattern, width, or other properties of vasculature in the biological tissue, or to provide information for some other application(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Homyk, Jason Donald Thompson
  • Patent number: 9841414
    Abstract: An aggregated cell evaluation apparatus includes a laser light source, a speckle image acquisition unit, an SC calculation unit, an evaluation unit, and a memory unit. The speckle image acquisition unit acquires a two-dimensional speckle image by forward scattered light generated in aggregated cells by irradiation of the aggregated cells with laser light output from the laser light source. The SC calculation unit calculates a speckle contrast value Kn of a speckle image In at each time tn, determines a maximum value Kmax among the speckle contrast values K1 to KN, and normalizes the speckle contrast value Kn at each time tn by the maximum value Kmax to obtain a normalized speckle contrast value Kn?. The evaluation unit evaluates motion of the aggregated cells, based on the normalized speckle contrast value Kn? at each time tn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: HAMAMASTU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Hidenao Iwai, Takuji Kataoka, Satoshi Yamamoto, Norikazu Sugiyama, Toyohiko Yamauchi, Kentaro Goto
  • Patent number: 9508610
    Abstract: A method including emitting a terahertz beam from a light source at a layer of molding material; detecting a reflectance of the beam; and determining a thickness of the layer of molding material. A system including a panel supporter operable to support a panel including a plurality of substrates arranged in a planar array; a light source operable to emit a terahertz beam at a panel on the panel supporter; a detector operable to detect a reflection of a terahertz beam emitted at a panel; and a processor operable to determine a thickness of a material on the panel based on a time delay for an emitted terahertz beam to be detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Shuhong Liu, Nilanjan Z. Ghosh, Zhiyong Wang, Deepak Goyal, Shripad Gokhale, Jieping Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140347651
    Abstract: A probe including a multiple lens array is disclosed to measure velocity distribution of a moving surface along many lines of sight. Laser light, directed to the moving surface is reflected back from the surface and is Doppler shifted, collected into the array, and then directed to detection equipment through optic fibers. The received light is mixed with reference laser light and using photonic Doppler velocimetry, a continuous time record of the surface movement is obtained. An array of single-mode optical fibers provides an optic signal to the multiple lens array. Numerous fibers in a fiber array project numerous rays to establish many measurement points at numerous different locations. One or more lens groups may be replaced with imaging lenses so a stereo image of the moving surface can be recorded. Imaging a portion of the surface during initial travel can determine whether the surface is breaking up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: National Security Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert M. Malone, Morris I. Kaufman
  • Publication number: 20140218227
    Abstract: A method is described for detecting a rotating wheel of a vehicle that is travelling on a roadway in a travel direction, the wheels of which are at least partially exposed laterally, the method comprising: emitting an electromagnetic measurement beam having a known temporal progression of its frequency onto a first section above the roadway in a direction in a slant with respect to the vertical and normally or at a slant with respect to the travel direction; receiving a reflected measurement beam and recording the temporal progression of its frequencies, relative to the known progression, as a reception frequency mixture progression; and detecting a frequency band, which is continuously inclining or declining over a period of time, in the reception frequency mixture progression as a wheel. A device for conducting the method is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Kapsch TrafficCom AG
    Inventors: Andreas Stelzen, Markus Pichler, Clemens Pfeffer, Oliver Nagy, Werner Scheiblhofer, Reinhard Feger
  • Patent number: 8751091
    Abstract: A sensor system is described, using self-mixing laser sensors (10) and an analyzer circuit (30) in order to determine the velocity of a vehicle, such as a car, and the rotational velocity of a wheel (20) of the car. Deviations between the velocity of the vehicle and the rotational velocity of the wheel (20) can be used to determine sliding of the wheel (20) and, finally, the traction or, more specifically, the coefficient of driving friction between the wheel (20) and the surface the car is driving on. Furthermore, a vehicle control system is described, initiating test accelerations of a wheel (20) by means of a control circuit (50) and control means (300, 400) in order to determine the coefficient of driving friction during driving. The test accelerations initiate short periods of sliding of the wheel (20) and the sliding is detected by means of the sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Holger Moench, Mark Carpaij, Albert Comberg
  • Publication number: 20140118719
    Abstract: A probe including a fisheye lens is disclosed to measure the velocity distribution of a moving surface along many lines of sight. Laser light, directed to the surface and then reflected back from the surface, is Doppler shifted by the moving surface, collected into fisheye lens, and then directed to detection equipment through optic fibers. The received light is mixed with reference laser light and using photonic Doppler velocimetry, a continuous time record of the surface movement is obtained. An array of single-mode optical fibers provides an optic signal to an index-matching lens and eventually to a fisheye lens. The fiber array flat polished and coupled to the index-matching lens using index-matching gel. Numerous fibers in a fiber array project numerous rays through the fisheye lens which in turn project many measurement points at numerous different locations to establish surface coverage over a hemispherical shape with very little crosstalk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: National Security Technologies, LLC.
    Inventors: Brent Copely Frogget, Vincent Todd Romero
  • Patent number: 8711336
    Abstract: A probe including a fisheye lens is disclosed to measure the velocity distribution of a moving surface along many lines of sight. Laser light, directed to the surface and then reflected back from the surface, is Doppler shifted by the moving surface, collected into fisheye lens, and then directed to detection equipment through optic fibers. The received light is mixed with reference laser light and using photonic Doppler velocimetry, a continuous time record of the surface movement is obtained. An array of single-mode optical fibers provides an optic signal to an index-matching lens and eventually to a fisheye lens. The fiber array flat polished and coupled to the index-matching lens using index-matching gel. Numerous fibers in a fiber array project numerous rays through the fisheye lens which in turn project many measurement points at numerous different locations to establish surface coverage over a hemispherical shape with very little crosstalk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: National Security Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Copely Frogget, Vincent Todd Romero
  • Patent number: 8692979
    Abstract: A sensor module (1) for measuring the distance to a target and/or the velocity of the target (50), the sensor module (1) comprising at least one laser source (100), at least one detector (200) being adapted to detect modulated laser light and at least one control element the control element (400) being adapted to vary the focus point of the laser light and/or the intensity of the laser light and/or the direction of the laser light. The control of the laser light emitted by the laser source (100) either by active optical devices as variable focus lenses or controllable attenuators or passive optical elements in combination with arrays of laser sources (100) and detectors (200) enable flexible and robust sensor modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Holger Moench, Mark Carpaij, Alexander Marc Van Der Lee, Stefan Schwan, Meng Han, Marcel Franz Christian Schemmann
  • Patent number: 8687175
    Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring velocity of a fluid flow through a predetermined fluid flow space. A fiber optic conductor includes a flow measurement portion defining an elongated dimension extending across a portion of the fluid flow space. The fluid flow in the fluid flow space causes the measurement portion of the fiber optic conductor to flex in a direction transverse to the elongated dimension. Optical radiation is supplied to the fiber optic conductor, and optical radiation is received from the fiber optic conductor after the supplied optical radiation has passed through the measurement portion. The received optical radiation is analyzed to effect a determination of a flow velocity of the fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Evangelos V. Diatzikis, Edward D. Thompson, Michael Twerdochlib
  • Publication number: 20140081233
    Abstract: A method of operating an infusion pump includes transmitting light through or around a drop of fluid suspended from an end of a drip tube for the infusion pump, the end of the drip tube located in a drip chamber for the infusion pump, wherein the drip tube is configured for connection to a source of the fluid; receiving, using an optical system for the pump, light transmitted through or around the drop; transmitting, to a specially programmed microprocessor and using the optical system, data regarding the received light; and, using the microprocessor to calculate a volume of the drop using the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicants: BAXTER HEALTHCARE S.A., BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Roger L. Hungerford, Tuan Bui
  • Publication number: 20140071284
    Abstract: A method of laser-based speed determination includes determining, via a digital scan of a field of view, a location of a target, directing, via a laser-aiming device, a laser from a laser device to the determined location, and determining a speed of the target via light reflected from the target to the laser device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Enforcement Video, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Cilia, Robert V. Vanman
  • Patent number: 8666120
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are presented for estimating the velocity field based on a multi-image frame sequence having an integer number M frames, M is greater than two, in which a set of M?1 displaced frame difference (DFD) equations is solved including a motion compensated prediction (MCP) equation, M?2 motion compensated interpolation (MCI) equations for solving a velocity field at a first time using a set of iteration equations to determine a velocity field, and 2×(M?2) conservative velocity constraint (CVC) equations for solving a velocity field at times t2, . . . , tM?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8529460
    Abstract: Provided is a measuring apparatus including: a driving unit that outputs first and second driving signals each having an opposite phase; a first semiconductor laser device, driven by the first driving signal, that emits a first laser beam to an object to be measured; a second semiconductor laser device, disposed near the first device and driven by the second driving signal, that emits a second laser beam to the object; a first detection unit that detects a first electrical signal that corresponds to the intensity of the first laser beam modulated due to the self-coupling effect; a second detection unit that detects a second electrical signal that corresponds to the intensity of the second laser beam modulated due to the self-coupling effect; a calculation unit that calculates differences between the first and second electrical signals; and a measuring unit that measures a state change of the object from the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Kawano, Yoshio Nishihara, Yasuaki Kuwata
  • Publication number: 20130148095
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes representing a range of Doppler frequency offsets as a local oscillator waveform comprising a plurality of digital waveform samples, selecting a portion of the plurality of digital waveform samples using a Doppler value to form an optical heterodyne; and generating a signal associated with a target within a bandwidth of a receiver using the optical heterodyne.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Coda, Matthew J. Klotz, Jean-Paul Bulot
  • Publication number: 20130141711
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the synchronicity of a rotary platen (22) in a vacuum deposition chamber (24). A light source (64) projects a highly collimated light beam (66) onto the rotating platen (22), thereby tracing a circular swept path (67). The swept path (67) passes alternately through samples (20) on the platen (22) and intervening webs (58, 60). The samples (20) are significantly more reflective than the webs (58, 60). The platen (22) includes an asymmetry feature (60) along the swept path (67). A detector (62) measures light signals reflected from the platen (22) along the swept path (67), and generates a unique signal upon encountering the asymmetry feature (60). A microcontroller generates a trigger pulse synchronized to the unique signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: K-SPACE ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: K-SPACE ASSOCIATES, INC.
  • Patent number: 8446574
    Abstract: The velocity calculating device includes a semiconductor laser for emitting a laser beam at a web that is the subject to be measured; a photodiode for converting into an electric signal the optical power of the semiconductor laser; a lens for focusing and emitting the beam from the semiconductor laser and for focusing the return light from the web and injecting it into the semiconductor laser; a laser driver for driving the semiconductor laser; a current-voltage converting/amplifying portion for converting the output current from the photodiode into a voltage and then amplifying; a filter portion for removing the carrier wave from the output voltage of the current-voltage converting/amplifying portion; a signal extracting portion for counting the number of interference waveforms included in the output voltage of the filter portion; and a calculating portion for calculating the velocity of the web based on the counting result of the signal extracting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ueno
  • Publication number: 20130114066
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring parameters such as the material properties or structural integrity of a wind turbine blade on a wind turbine. An example method comprises detecting light reflected from a wind turbine blade, generating a value based on the detecting, comparing the value to a threshold value and determining a parameter of the wind turbine blade based on the comparing. A further embodiment comprises determining a wind velocity by detecting reflected light from a target area in front of the wind turbine blade. An example system comprises a detector configured to detect light reflecting from a turbine blade and to produce a value representative of the detected light. The system also comprises a comparator configured to compare the value to a threshold value and to determine a parameter of the turbine blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: BLUESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Priyavadan Mamidipudi, Elizabeth A. Dakin, Frederick C. Belen, JR., Philip L. Rogers
  • Patent number: 8436890
    Abstract: A three-dimensional measuring device includes an irradiation means capable of irradiating a striped light pattern used for a spatial encoding method and a striped light pattern used for a phase shift method on a measurement object part on a board main body, an imaging means capable of imaging a measurement object part irradiated by the light pattern, an image control means for controlling imaging by the imaging means, a first calculation means for calculating a height of the measurement object part according to the phase shift method based on a multiplicity of image data imaged by the imaging means, and a second calculation means capable of using the spatial encoding method to identify a line corresponding to the measurement object part from among the image data at a time of calculation by the first calculation means by the phase shift method based on the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: CKD Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Mamiya
  • Patent number: 8437549
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus robustly performs segmentation on an image including an object such as a moving person with its deformation. The image processing apparatus includes: an image inputting unit which receives temporally successive images; a motion analyzing unit which calculates motions of blocks using at least two temporally different images and calculates, based on the motions of the blocks, temporal motion trajectories of the blocks in the temporally successive images; a distance calculating unit which calculates a distance indicating a similarity of the motions of the blocks, using a temporal motion trajectory of a block i and a temporal motion trajectory of a block other than the block i calculated by the motion analyzing unit; and a nonlinear space processing unit which projects the distance calculated by the distance calculating unit into a nonlinear space and performs the segmentation on a result of the projection in the nonlinear space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Iwasaki, Arasanathan Thayananthan, Roberto Cipolla
  • Patent number: 8340356
    Abstract: Method for producing a known fixed spatial relationship between a laser scanner and a digital camera for monitoring traffic, wherein the laser scanner axis and the optical axis of the digital camera are aligned relative to one another only roughly, and the spatial relationship between a scanner coordinate system (1) defined by the position of the laser scanner and orientation of the laser scanner axis and a camera coordinate system (3) defined by the position of the digital camera and orientation of the optical axis of the digital camera is calculated computationally based on the measured values and the image of a vehicle driving through the monitoring area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: JENOPTIK Robot GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Lehning
  • Patent number: 8325327
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using laser Doppler velocimeters to determine and use wind velocities at the locations of impending and occurring events such as sports events are presented. Laser Doppler velocimeters are used to determine wind velocities where an event is occurring or an impending event is about to occur. The determined wind velocities are used to generate and display a representation of the impending or occurring event that accounts for the effect of the determined wind velocities on the impending or occurring event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: BlueScout Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip L. Rogers, Alisa K. Rogers, Elizabeth A. Dakin, Christopher D. Bedford
  • Publication number: 20120273571
    Abstract: In order to determine crosswind effects between a weapon and its intended target (204) a crosswind gradient measuring apparatus (600) directs a first pulsed coherent light beam (646) and a second pulsed coherent light beam (648) to the target (204). Light of both beams scattered back by aerosols in the air is measured by using a detector (652) thus generating a beat frequency in the detector signal. The beat frequency indicates a Doppler-shift due to crosswind as a function of range between weapon and target wherein the range is determined by the time of flight. The information determined by such a Doppler differential interferometer, DDI, is utilised by a signal processor (608) to calculate the bullet's crosswind offset which enables manual of automatic adjustment of an aiming mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: LOGOS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Michael Kremer
  • Patent number: 8279410
    Abstract: An optical body height measurement instrument is provided comprising: a lens configured to be movable along a direction parallel to the height of an object to be measured and form an image of the object; a photosensitive sensor arranged at an image side of the lens to sense the image; and a driving device configured to drive the lens along a direction parallel to the height of the object, wherein when the lens is moved across the height at which the head of the object is located, a hop occurs to an output of the photosensitive sensor; and wherein the height of the object is determined based on the height of the lens measured at the time of the occurrence of the hop. The optical body height measurement instrument can rapidly, conveniently and accurately measure the height based on the infrared rays emitted from the measured object or the light with a predetermined wavelength emitted from an auxiliary light source so long as the person to be measured stands within a certain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Zhongshan Transtek Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Weichao Pan
  • Publication number: 20120180548
    Abstract: A system is disclosed, including: a plurality of Bragg gratings distributed in positions transversely to the direction of flow of an exhaust gas in an exhaust gas channel of the device; an optical wave guide structure including at least one optical wave guide and in which the Bragg gratings are embodied; a heating device arranged adjacently to the Bragg gratings and through which the Bragg gratings are subjected to heat, or a cooling device arranged adjacently to the Bragg gratings, through which the Bragg gratings are subjected to cold; at least one light source for irradiating light into the optical wave guide structure; and at least one signal processing device which determines, from light backscattered from Bragg gratings in the optical wave guide structure against its original direction of diffusion, the speed of the flow of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Thomas Bosselmann
  • Patent number: 8218132
    Abstract: Particles flowed through a micro-channel are imaged by imaging means. Particle speed measuring means determines the particle speed from the image data. Particle counting means counts the particles flowed for a predetermined time. Particle size measuring means measures the size of the particles. The measurements of the particles flowed at a predetermined timing are managed by data associating means. With this, the speed, number and size of particles flowed through a micro-channel can be determined at a time, and associated data can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignees: The University of Electro-Communications, Kowa Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Yamada, Shinpei Okawa, Taisuke Hirono
  • Patent number: 8213023
    Abstract: A beam of light or other electromagnetic field is emitted and received in a vacuum, all within an apparatus in motion. The nature of light permits the beam of light to retain the characteristics of its motion in vacuum, regardless of motion of the apparatus in which the emitted light propagates. The light beam retains its position in space relative to the direction of motion of the apparatus. Since both entities, light beam and apparatus, are disposed in the same frame of reference, characteristics of their motion can be compared. The result of this comparison represents the vector of velocity V of the apparatus which is utilized in navigation of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventor: Val Parker
  • Publication number: 20120162634
    Abstract: A sensor for sensing speeds, at least including a sensor unit, which has a radiation emitter element, a sensor element, a preliminary optical element and an evaluation circuit, a sensor housing, which has a leadframe, and a dirt guard unit, which includes a lens, wherein the sensor unit is in electrical contact with the leadframe of the sensor housing, and the lens of the dirt guard unit caps off the sensor housing as a cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. oHG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Jöckel, Martin Haverkamp, Stephan Risch, Bernhard Schmid, Thomas Zuccaro
  • Publication number: 20120154787
    Abstract: The present invention is a device to measure the characteristics of droplets within a stream of liquid droplets used in spraying. It comprises: a light source (45) supplying light across the stream of droplets; detection (means 2) to detect change in the light level caused by a passing droplet, the detection means generating a signal according to the change in light; and processing means (59) to analyse the characteristics of the droplets in the stream based on the signal produced by the detection means. The light passes through a slit (3A) in a panel (53) disposed between the droplet stream and the detection means (52), so that the change in level of light detected by the detection means is proportional to the diameter of the droplet. Preferably two or more intersecting light beams (68,69) are used to provide comparative data about passing droplets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Brady
  • Patent number: 8194970
    Abstract: A method for producing three-dimensionally structured surfaces of objects, the object surface being created as a reproduction of a three-dimensionally structured original surface with the aid of a machining tool. Accordingly, the topology of the original surface is first determined, a measured depth value being assigned to each surface or grid element, creating a depth map of the original surface. The depth values are evaluated in terms of their influence on the reflective properties of the surface elements and the reflective properties are stored in the form of parameters. The depth values are then modified in accordance with the reflective values and are used as topological data for the electronic control of a machining tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Benecke-Kaliko AG
    Inventors: Oliver Stahlhut, Christian Neumann, Michael Mäker
  • Patent number: 8170277
    Abstract: An automatic tracking apparatus is provided, which is capable of solving a failure occurred in an automatic tracking operation in connection with a zooming operation, and capable of tracking an object in a stable manner, while a zooming-up operation, or a zooming-down operation is carried out in a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Michimoto, Satoru Ooyabu
  • Patent number: 8165345
    Abstract: A method for motion detection/characterization is provided including the steps of (a) capturing a series of time lapsed images of the target, wherein the target moves between at least two of such images; (b) generating a motion distribution in relation to the target across the series of images; and (c) identifying motion of the target based on analysis of the motion distribution. In a further aspect of motion detection/characterization in accordance with the invention, motion is detected/characterized based on calculation of a color distribution for a series of images. A system and computer program for presenting an augmented environment based on the motion detection/characterization is also provided. An interface means based on the motion detection/characterization is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Tom Chau
  • Publication number: 20120094261
    Abstract: A flow meter for a container, for monitoring the dehydration of a patient, has a sensor unit for detecting a flow through the flow meter and a control unit for recording an amount of liquid passing through during a time interval. The flow meter is an adapter for connection to a bottle or a beaker. A patient receives a warning if he should take in liquid. A base station serves for bidirectional transmission of measurement data to an external apparatus, more particularly a telemedical center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Henning Hayn, Gabor Conrad
  • Patent number: 8107058
    Abstract: A sensor device having a sensor arrangement for detecting moving objects that includes a sensor and an electronic unit. The sensor arrangement is designed to detect an object and to subsequently investigate whether there are present within the surface of the object regions that move at a different speed and/or acceleration. The sensor arrangement can also investigate whether the object is accelerating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Cedes AG
    Inventors: Manfred Stein, Carl Meinherz, Bas Albers
  • Publication number: 20110304843
    Abstract: Methods and systems for using laser Doppler velocimeters to determine and use wind velocities at the locations of impending and occurring events such as sports events are presented. Laser Doppler velocimeters are used to determine wind velocities where an event is occurring or an impending event is about to occur. The determined wind velocities are used to generate and display a representation of the impending or occurring event that accounts for the effect of the determined wind velocities on the impending or occurring event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Philip L. Rogers, Alisa K. Rogers, Elizabeth A. Dakin, Christopher D. Bedford
  • Publication number: 20110291879
    Abstract: A system for detecting and determining remote atmospheric anomalies is furnished with a movable-beam anemometry probe for measuring the orthogonal projection onto the sighting axis, named the radial component, of a relative velocity remotely, with respect to a remote air mass by Doppler frequency shift. The system comprises means for determining wind heterogeneities remotely, on the basis of at least two successive measurements, at one and the same remote point, of the radial component of the relative velocity of the system with respect to the remote air mass, by said anemometry probe, the line of sight of said anemometry probe comprising said remote point during said successive measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: THALES
    Inventor: Jacques Mandle
  • Patent number: 8059264
    Abstract: Method for monitoring the velocity of growing polymer particles flowing in a two-phase stream during a polymerization process, said method comprising measuring the degree of attenuation in the propagation of light in said two-phase stream by means of a photometric instrument, said photometric instrument comprising: one or more transmitting optical waveguides connecting one or more light sources to said two-phase stream, one or more receiving optical waveguides connecting said two-phase stream to a light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Basell Poliolefine Italia, s.r.l.
    Inventors: Christian Ulrich Schmidt, Stefan Ziegler, Gabriele Mei, Stefano Bertolini, Gerben Meier
  • Patent number: 8019123
    Abstract: An estimation unit calculates an estimated motion vector between a first source region of a plurality of source regions and a first destination region on a destination picture. The first destination region has the highest correlation with the first source region. A weight calculation unit searches a plurality of second destination regions. Each second destination region is pointed by the estimated motion vector of another source region adjacent to the first source region. The weight calculation unit extracts pixel values of each second destination region, calculates a difference of pixel values between the first source region and each second destination region, and calculates a weight based on the difference. The weight is smaller if the difference is larger. A filtering unit calculates a motion vector of the first source region by averaging the estimated motion vectors with the weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nao Mishima, Goh Itoh
  • Publication number: 20110216306
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Method for determining the flow of a fluid close to a surface of an object immersed in the fluid by analyzing at least one confocal measurement volume in the fluid, comprising the steps of: focusing light into the at least one confocal volume within the fluid; detecting and determining of at least one optical parameter of at least one particle comprised in the confocal volume; and determining the flow velocity of the fluid based on the determination of the at least one optical parameter using a correlation function, in particular an auto correlation function or a cross correlation function. Furthermore, the invention relates to an object immersed in a fluid and comprising a measuring device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventor: Rudolf Rigler
  • Patent number: 7995193
    Abstract: A measuring device includes a VCSEL of a first-order or high-order single mode emitting laser beams, a driving part configured to drive the VCSEL, a detecting part configured to detect an electric signal relating to feedback lights generated when laser beams are projected onto an object, and a calculating part configured to identify a direction of movement of the object on the basis of the electric signal detected by the detecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuaki Kuwata
  • Patent number: 7995192
    Abstract: An optoelectronic safety sensor (10) is set forth for the contactless measurement of paths and/or speeds of the safety sensor (10) or of a first object connected in a fixed position to the safety sensor (10) with respect to a second object (12) moved relatively to the first object, which form a potential source of danger, wherein the safety sensor (10) has a light source (20), a light receiver (16) with a plurality of light reception elements and has an evaluation unit (22), with the evaluation unit (22) being configured to determine by means of an optical correlation process and/or by evaluation of the optical flow the path and/or the speed from at least two images of a surface structure (18, 18a, 18b) of the second object (12) taken sequentially by the light receiver (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventor: Martin Wüstefeld