Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090158315 | METHOD FOR EMBEDDING FRAMES OF HIGH QUALITY IMAGE DATA IN A STREAMING VIDEO - A method for embedding frames of image data in a streaming video is disclosed, comprising the steps of receiving a plurality of frames of image data of a target object over a period of time; compressing the plurality of frames of image data; embedding the plurality of compressed frames of image data in a streaming video; initiating a control signal during the period of time to embed a particular frame of image data; selecting a frame of image data from the plurality of frames of image data received near the time the control signal is initiated; embedding a user data marker in the streaming video; and embedding the selected frame of image data in the streaming video as user data, wherein the embedded selected frame of image data has a higher quality than the embedded plurality of compressed frames of image data. | 06-18-2009 |
20110149413 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING TWO POSITION ZOOM-FOCUS - A system for providing a two-position zoom-focus capability in a video inspection device comprising, in one embodiment, a focus lens cell and primary aperture attached to a set of fixed rails and connected to a zoom lens cell. In one embodiment, the focus lens cell is moveable into a first position along the rails through activation of a proximally located lens movement mechanism, and moveable into a second position through relaxation of a tensioned focus spring. In one embodiment, movement of the focus lens cell between first and second focus positions causes movement of the zoom lens cell and a secondary aperture between corresponding first and second zoom and aperture positions to provide unmagnified and magnified images of a target object. | 06-23-2011 |
20110205552 | FRINGE PROJECTION SYSTEM FOR A PROBE WITH INTENSITY MODULATING ELEMENT SUITABLE FOR PHASE-SHIFT ANALYSIS - An intensity modulating element for a probe having a plurality of light emitters for phase-shift analysis and measurement is disclosed. The intensity modulating element comprises a plurality of columns of a plurality of grating elements formed by two opposing patterns. | 08-25-2011 |
20110210961 | METHOD OF DETERMINING THE PROFILE OF A SURFACE OF AN OBJECT - A method of determining the profile of a surface of an object is disclosed that does not require that the video inspection device be at a certain angle relative to the surface when an image of the surface is obtained (e.g., allows non-perpendicular captures of the image | 09-01-2011 |
20120014563 | METHOD OF STRUCTURED LIGHT-BASED MEASUREMENT - A method of determining the distance to an object can use a video inspection device comprising a first light emitter and a second light emitter, wherein the first light emitter can emit light through an opening with at least one shadow-forming element. The method can comprise capturing at least one first emitter image with the first light emitter activated and the second light emitter deactivated, capturing at least one second emitter image with the second light emitter activated and the first light emitter deactivated, determining a first plurality of luminance values of the pixels in the at least one first emitter image, determining a second plurality of luminance values of the pixels in the at least one second emitter image, determining the brightness ratios of the second plurality of luminance values to the first plurality of luminance values, and determining an object distance using the brightness ratios. | 01-19-2012 |
20120188560 | SYSTEM ASPECTS FOR A PROBE SYSTEM THAT UTILIZES STRUCTURED-LIGHT - A probe system includes an imager and an inspection light source. The probe system is configured to operate in an inspection mode and a measurement mode. During inspection mode, the inspection light source is enabled. During measurement mode, the inspection light source is disabled, and a structured-light pattern is projected. The probe system is further configured to capture at least one measurement mode image. In the at least one measurement mode image, the structured-light pattern is projected onto an object. The probe system is configured to utilize pixel values from the at least one measurement mode image to determine at least one geometric dimension of the object. A probe system configured to detect relative movement between a probe and the object between captures of two or more of a plurality of images is also provided. | 07-26-2012 |
20120223937 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL VIEW OF THE SURFACE OF A VIEWED OBJECT - A method and device for displaying a three-dimensional view of the surface of a viewed object is disclosed, wherein a subset of the three-dimensional data from the entire image of the viewed object in a region of interest is determined and displayed to provide enhanced detail in the region of interest. | 09-06-2012 |
20120256901 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING AN INDICATION OF THE QUALITY OF THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL DATA FOR A SURFACE OF A VIEWED OBJECT - A method and device for displaying an indication of the quality of the three-dimensional data for a surface of a viewed object are disclosed, wherein overlays are displayed on pixels of an image corresponding to surface points, indicating the predicted accuracy or availability of the three-dimensional coordinates of those surface points. | 10-11-2012 |
20120314058 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING A DISTANCE TO AN OBJECT - A system for measuring a distance to an object includes a camera positioned at a location and a signal generated by the camera that is reflective of a camera setting. A controller operably connected to the camera receives the signal and generates an accuracy signal based on the signal. The accuracy signal is reflective of a predicted accuracy of a distance measurement. An indicator operably connected to the controller provides an indication reflective of the accuracy signal. A method for measuring a distance to an object includes positioning a camera and generating a signal reflective of a predicted accuracy of a distance measurement. The method further includes providing an indication reflective of the signal, capturing one or more images of the object at the location, and calculating a distance to the object based on the one or more captured images of the object at the location. | 12-13-2012 |
20130027527 | INSPECTION SYSTEM DEPLOYING PORTABLE HANDSET WITH ACTIVE COOLING FEATURE - Embodiments of an inspection system deploy active cooling to dissipate heat in a portable handset. In one embodiment, the inspection system comprise a visual inspection apparatus with a handle portion and a head portion coupled to the handle portion. The head portion can have a display and a circuit board coupled to the display and a heat sink in thermal connection with the circuit board. To facilitate active cooling, the apparatus may include an air moving device in flow connection with the heat sink, where the air moving device comprises a motor and an impeller and where the motor and the circuit board are sealed from the environment. | 01-31-2013 |
20130201489 | PROBE ASSEMBLY AND METHODS FOR USE IN INSPECTING A COMPONENT - A probe tip includes a plurality of light emitters and a control circuit that is coupled to the light emitters. The control circuit is configured to control a projection of a plurality of light patterns from the light emitters for performing a phase-shift analysis using a plurality of images of the light patterns that are projected onto a component being inspected. The control circuit controls the projection of the light patterns by receiving electrical energy from a drive circuit. At least one of the light emitters is identified for receiving a power input based at least in part on the electrical energy received from the drive circuit. The power input is transmitted to the identified light emitter, based at least in part on the electrical energy received from the drive circuit, to enable the activation of the identified light emitter. | 08-08-2013 |
20130287288 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE OFFSET DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO SURFACES - A method and device for determining the offset distance between a first surface and a second surface is disclosed. The method and device determine a first reference surface, which is based on the three-dimensional coordinates of the first surface, and a second reference surface, which is based on the three-dimensional coordinates of the second surface. The offset distance is determined as the distance between a first point on the first reference surface and a second point on the second reference surface. | 10-31-2013 |
20140320700 | INSPECTION APPARATUS METHOD AND APPARATUS COMPRISING SELECTIVE FRAME OUTPUT - A method of operating an inspection device includes collecting a plurality of successive image frames using an image sensor of the inspection device and displaying the plurality of successive image frames on a display of the inspection device. The method includes processing, via a processor of the inspection device, each image frame of the plurality of successive image frames by determining a motion parameter of each respective image frame and adding each respective image frame to a frame buffer when the respective image frame is motion free. The method includes receiving a control signal from a user interface of the inspection device requesting an image frame output. The method further includes determining, via the processor of the inspection device, a noise-reduced image frame from the frame buffer in response to the control signal and outputting the noise-reduced image frame in response to the control signal. | 10-30-2014 |
20140333778 | AUTOMATED BORESCOPE MEASUREMENT TIP ACCURACY TEST - Measurement accuracy of a remote visual inspection (RVI) system is tested using a test object including a test feature having a known geometric characteristic. Using a controller, attachment of a detachable measurement optical tip to an RVI probe is detected. A user is then prompted to perform testing of the measurement accuracy. When the user indicates the test feature is visible, the system captures one or more images of the test feature, determines coordinates of the test feature from the images, and measures a geometric characteristic of the test feature using the coordinates. An accuracy result is determined using the measured geometric characteristic and the known geometric characteristic, and an indication is provided, e.g., to the user, of the result of the comparison. An RVI system with a user-prompt device is also described. | 11-13-2014 |
20150035967 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EMBEDDED IMAGING CLOCKING - An embedded imaging system in one embodiment includes an encoding module, an imaging module, and a cable. The encoding module is disposed proximate to a proximal end of the system, and is configured to encode frame synchronizing information into timing information comprising a reference clock. The imaging module is disposed proximate the distal end, and includes an image capture device configured to obtain imaging information and a decoding module. The decoding control module is configured to obtain the timing information, to decode the timing information to obtain recovered frame synchronizing information, and to control the image capture device using the recovered frame synchronizing information. The cable is interposed between the proximal end and the distal end, and is configured for passage therethrough of the timing information and the imaging information. | 02-05-2015 |
20150053025 | MODULAR INSPECTION SYSTEM HANDSET - A handset for inspecting a target object with a sensor in an inspection module is disclosed. The handset includes a housing having a grip portion adapted to be held by a person, the housing adapted to selectively mechanically engage with the inspection module, a handset interface on the housing adapted to exchange signals with the inspection module, a handset processor, a user input interface accessible to the person gripping the grip portion and adapted to provide a control signal to the handset processor, and a user output interface responsive to the handset processor to display the data transmitted by the handset processor about the target object. | 02-26-2015 |
20150055281 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PIVOT ATTACHMENT - A modular device and method are disclosed. The modular device includes individual modular units. A first modular unit includes a pivot member and a connector and a second modular unit includes a matching connector and a first mating point. The first mating point is configured to fit a portion of the pivot member. A third modular unit may also be included, where the third modular unit has a second mating point which is configured to fit another portion of the pivot member. The matched connectors align and connect when the second modular unit is rotated about the pivot member into contact with the first modular unit. The third modular unit can also be rotated about the same pivot member with or without the second modular unit connected. The second and third modular units can be rotated independently and/or removed independently. | 02-26-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120077714 | Mass Spectrometry Based Particle Separation - Certain embodiments provide a method of sample analysis that comprises: a) labeling a particle using a specific binding reagent that is cleavably linked to an elemental tag; b) flowing the labeled particle through a flow cell of a mass cytometer; c) cleaving the elemental tag from the labeled particle; d) performing elemental analysis of the cleaved elemental tag without destroying the particle, to produce data; e) matching data for the particle with the particle; and f) collecting the particle. Also provided is a specific binding reagent that is cleavably linked to an elemental tag, and a mass cytometer adapted to perform the method. | 03-29-2012 |
20120178183 | Mass Dots: Nanoparticle Isotope Tags - Compositions and methods are provided for the use of nanoparticles, which may be referred to herein as mass dots, as mass tags for probes such as antibodies, aptamers, nucleic acids, etc. in multiplexed bioassays with ICP-MS detection. | 07-12-2012 |
20140106976 | Compressed Sensing for Simultaneous Measurement of Multiple Different Biological Molecule Types in a Sample - A method and apparatus for simultaneously determining multiple different biological molecule types in a sample include labeling each different biological molecule type in a biological sample with a unique combination of a plurality of labels. Each different biological molecule type is selected from a population of M different biological molecules types. The plurality of labels is selected from a population of L different labels; and, M is greater than L. Measurements are obtained of relative abundances of the L different labels in the sample. Relative abundance of up to M different biological molecule types in the sample are determined based on the measurements and a method of compressed sensing. | 04-17-2014 |
20140221241 | Mass Dots: Nanoparticle Isotope Tags - Compositions and methods are provided for the use of nanoparticles, which may be referred to herein as mass dots, as mass tags for probes such as antibodies, aptamers, nucleic acids, etc. in multiplexed bioassays with ICP-MS detection. | 08-07-2014 |
20150080233 | MULTIPLEXED IMAGING OF TISSUES USING MASS TAGS AND SECONDARY ION MASS SPECTROMETRY - A method of generating a high resolution two-dimensional image of a sample comprising cells and extracellular structures is provided. In certain embodiments, the method comprises: labeling a sample with at least one mass tag, thereby producing a labeled sample; scanning the sample with a secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS) ion beam to generate a data set that comprises spatially-addressable measurements of the abundance of the mass tag across an area of the sample; and outputting the data set. In many embodiments, the data set contains the identity and abundance of the mass tag. A system for performing the method is also provided. | 03-19-2015 |