Lucidyne Technologies, Inc.

Other

George M Carman

Patrick S Freeman

William J Briskey

Ofer Heyman

Joseph G LaChapelle

Mark J Hiatt

Mark L Carter

Joseph H Weintraub

Aaron R Paul

Paul Shirkey

David K Christopher

Chad D Gibson

David D Ayers

A grain angle sensor system for measuring grain angle direction of surface fibers of a wood object with respect to at least one of a surface plane direction or a transverse direction, such as a dive angle, or with respect to both the surface plane and transverse direction. The system includes multiple laser diodes and photosensor detectors integrated into an electro-optical assembly that can sequence the firing of the lasers to minimize crosstalk. An exemplary assembly includes an enclosure housing an electronic control board connected to circuit cards containing multiple laser diodes and multiple photosensor detectors.

Grain angle sensor

A 'Woodprint&#x2122;' characterization and identification technique employs cameras (), lighting (), camera interface hardware (), a computer (), and/or image processing software to collect and analyze surface characteristics of pieces of wood () to track them through an automated production process in real-time with information that is specific to each wood piece (), such as what machining is required, its value, and/or its destination. When a wood piece () reaches a point in the production process where a decision is required, its unique identity is used to retrieve appropriate information previously determined and assigned to the wood piece ().

Wood tracking by identification of surface characteristics

A 'woodprint&#x2122;' characterization and identification technique unique employs cameras (), lighting (), camera interface hardware (), a computer (), and/or image processing software to collect and analyze surface characteristics of pieces of wood () to track them through an automated production process in real-time with information that is specific to each wood piece (), such as what machining is required, its value, and/or its destination. When a wood piece () reaches a point in the production process where a decision is required, its unique identity is used to retrieve appropriate information previously determined and assigned to the wood piece ().

The present invention employs a blinded fiber-optic light illumination system ( ) to illuminate a wood board ( ) with a sharp projected light edge to detect the tracheid, color, and geometric characteristics of the lumber during an automated grading process. The light line ( ) employs thousands of fibers ( ) of desired length ( ) and thickness ( ). The fibers ( ) are randomized such that fibers ( ) neighboring each other in the cable ( ) do not necessarily neighbor each other in the light line subunit ( ) so that the emitted light has substantially uniform intensity over its spatial range. Multiple light line subunits ( ) are positioned adjacent to one an other to achieve a desired light line length ( ). A set of image sensors ( ) in predetermined positions obtain three types of data from the light incident to the board ( ). A computer analyzes the data to interpret the physical characteristics of the board ( ) and determine how to grade or cut it.

Fiber-optic light line for use in an inspection system

A flitch or cant is successively transported by a pair of differentially operated clamps, first to a scanning station, and then to a sawing station where the wane is removed. A series of flitches are processed in this manner such that as the wane edge from a first flitch is sawn, a next flitch in succession is optically scanned. The sawing and scanning is accomplished by means of a combination saw and scanner which moves in a direction longitudinal of the flitch as respective flitches are held in stationary positions at the sawing station and at the scanning station. Between passes of the saw-scanner combination, the sawn flitch is conveyed away and the next flitch in line is conveyed forwardly to the sawing position while being skewed by the clamps in accordance with the characterization generated by the scanner. The scanner extends outwardly from the side edges of the flitch to provide a radiation beam directed obliquely inwardly and downwardly from a point displaced along the flitch from the location where the radiation image intersects the flitch and provides a line image. Television cameras also disposed to the side of the flitch view the line image at an oblique angle, but the cameras are positioned along the flitch in a second direction opposite the direction where the radiation source was located. The cameras 'see' the line images on the side edge of a flitch substantially face on.

Sawmill method and apparatus with edge scanning means

An apparatus for reading information marks comprising a strobe light activating or reflecting information marks manually placed on objects or wood products. A camera is used for reading the marks. One or more detectors are used to recognize marks and color. A central processing unit is used to process, solve and interpret character and color recognition. A photo-electric eye or a signal from a control device is used to time the strobe and detector. The information contained in the marks is fed directly to the control system and may be used to generate reports.

Growing community of inventors

Corvallis, OR, United States of America

George M Carman