The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 18, 2005
Filed:
Jun. 27, 2001
Frank Evans, Dundee, OR (US);
Mark Singer, Tualatin, OR (US);
Frank Evans, Dundee, OR (US);
Mark Singer, Tualatin, OR (US);
Electro Scientific Industries, Inc., Portland, OR (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for characterizing pixels in an image of an object surface by providing at least two images of the surface wherein each pixel has a unique location common to all of the images; comparing each pixel value at each location to an identification matrix; and identifying the region in which each pixel is located based on the comparison. The matrix can comprise a plurality of non-pixel values representing one or more regions, each of the regions defining at least one surface attribute. One embodiment provides at least two references images of a template using the same technique used to obtain each image of the surface, and creating the matrix using the reference images. Providing at least two images comprises providing a first and second image, wherein the surface is illuminated using a first and second source of illumination, or providing the first using a source of illumination and providing the second from the first.