Quality Vision International Inc.

Optical Gaging Products, Inc.

Edward Tarry Polidor

Albert G Choate

Daniel C Abbas

Kenneth L Sheehan

Joseph C LaPlaca

Robert Lea Jackson

Boris Gelman

Frederick D Schwab

Terry L Herbeck

Jeffrey Blood

Attila Prokai

Method and apparatus for scanning surfaces of a three-dimensional object employ a first sensor to acquire first data points and a second sensor to acquire second data points. The first sensor has a relatively lower accuracy and faster data point acquisition rate than the second sensor, and the second data points are assigned a higher weighting than the first data points. A three-dimensional coordinate point cloud is generated based on the both the first and second data points and their respective weighting.

Method and apparatus for scanning object

A method of aligning a 3D CAD model to a test object in a machine vision system comprising steps of orienting the 3D CAD model in a model window, placing the test object on a motion stage in an orientation approximately matching the orientation of the 3D model, taking a video image of the test object with the video camera and extracting a peripheral boundary in a datum plane normal to the viewing axis of the video camera, extracting a silhouette boundary of the 3D model in a corresponding datum plane, relatively positioning the silhouette boundary of the 3D model to match the peripheral boundary of the test object using a fitting algorithm, and matching coordinates of points in the 3D model to coordinates of corresponding points of the test object referenced within the corresponding datum plane and along the viewing axis.

Automatic alignment of a 3D model to a test object

An articulated sensor head includes three different sensor modules. A first of the sensor modules is carried on an extended shank that is mounted in a pivotable fashion from an articulating wrist. A housing carrying a second and a third of the sensor modules is releasably fastened to the extended shank. The second and third sensor modules are carried by the housing in a fixed angular orientation with respect to an orientation of the first sensor module.

Articulated head with multiple sensors for measuring machine

An optical measurement system includes an optical sensor assembly for measuring an object located beneath the optical sensor assembly. A deployment mechanism is pivotally connected relative to the optical sensor assembly that moves a secondary measurement aid, such as a touch sensor, between a deployed position and a retracted position. When in the retracted position, the secondary measurement aid does not inhibit movement of the optical sensor with respect to the object being measured.

Deployment mechanism for optical measurement system

A coordinate measurement machine having a feeler whose position is determined optically and a lens for use in such a machine and a method for making a lens for a coordinate measurement machine, having a flexible feeler having a sensing tip, positioned substantially at the focal point of the objective lens.

Optical probe for vision measurements

A process for pre-calibrating illumination sources permits illumination light intensities to be set to a near optimal level during training of an optical inspection system. Applicants have found that the illumination source intensities for a category of illuminators are sufficiently constant from machine to machine that the data collected during calibration of an illumination source on a machine using a particular type of source may be used on other machines of the same type using the same type of illumination source when combined with the reticle light intensity data for different zoom magnification's of the particular machine being used. That is, using known data for particular machine and the illumination source light intensity data for the same type of machine and illumination source permits accurate presetting of an illumination source.

Method for automatically adjusting the levels of illumination sources in an optical measurement machine

An optical comparator arranged for rear projection onto a viewing screen combines an optical projector that projects an optical image of a test part under inspection onto the viewing screen with a video projector that projects an optical image of a pixilated template pattern containing illustrated specifications of the test part onto the same viewing screen. The images of the test part and the pixilated template pattern are projected concurrently onto the viewing screen for visually comparing the form of the test part against its specified form.

Method of inspecting test parts with an optical comparator having digital gage

Optical comparator with digital gage

An autofocus system and method that includes a controllable light source having at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths adapted for illuminating an object; a camera receiving light from said light source reflected from a portion of said object and generating output signals responsive to said received light; a controller connected to said camera and said controllable light source for positioning said camera and sequentially illuminating a first portion of the object with at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths, moving the camera to a second position and sequentially illuminating a second portion of the object with at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths; and a data processor connected to said camera and receiving said output signals and for each portion, comparing the output signals associated with each wavelength and determining a focus parameter from said comparison.

Multi color autofocus apparatus and method

A yoke is supported on a frame for vertical movement in a Z direction above a transparent work support that is mounted on the frame for horizontal adjustment in a Y direction, normal to the Z direction. A carriage which is mounted for horizontal adjustment on the yoke in an X direction, normal to the Y and Z directions, carries a video camera and lens system which overlies the work support to project an image of an inspected workpiece to the camera. A substage collimator which is mounted on the frame beneath the work support for adjustment in the X direction, has thereon a souce of collimated light that registers with the lens system. The collimator is connected to the carriage to be moved in unison therewith in the X direction, and always to maintain the light source in registry with the lens system.

Compact video inspection apparatus with Y, Z, X compounded measurement axes

A plurality of light emitting diodes are secured coaxially around the lower end of a cylindrical objective lens housing in radially spaced, circular arrays or rings disposed coaxially of the housing. The diodes in each ring are equi-angularly spaced from each other about the axis of the housing; and their light emitting ends overlie a work table so as to direct beams of light obliquely downwardly onto an object supported thereon. The diodes are energizable in generally pie-shaped sectors disposed coaxially of the housing so that arcuate clusters of diodes in a given segment may be illuminated to enable the orientation of the resultant illumination to be varied. The diodes of each ring may have their beam axes inclined at different angles to the axis of the housing so that the inclination of the projected illumination may be varied by selected energization of the rings; and a collimating lens may be secured over the light emitting end of each diode.

Growing community of inventors

Webster, NY, United States of America

Edward Tarry Polidor