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.

Date of Patent:
May. 05, 2015

Filed:

Oct. 18, 2010
Applicants:

Carl Meinherz, Malans, CH;

Craig Martin Brockman, Windham, NH (US);

Elik I. Fooks, Lexington, MA (US);

Manfred Norbert Stein, Graubuenden, CH;

Martin Hardegger, Sargans, CH;

Wei Jie Chen, Westford, MA (US);

Reto Berner, Aarau, CH;

Richard Galera, Nashua, NH (US);

Robert M. Black, Bolton, MA (US);

Roger Merz, Richterswil, CH;

Suresh Nair, Amherst, NH (US);

Steven A. Eisenbrown, South Russell, OH (US);

Inventors:

Carl Meinherz, Malans, CH;

Craig Martin Brockman, Windham, NH (US);

Elik I. Fooks, Lexington, MA (US);

Manfred Norbert Stein, Graubuenden, CH;

Martin Hardegger, Sargans, CH;

Wei Jie Chen, Westford, MA (US);

Reto Berner, Aarau, CH;

Richard Galera, Nashua, NH (US);

Robert M. Black, Bolton, MA (US);

Roger Merz, Richterswil, CH;

Suresh Nair, Amherst, NH (US);

Steven A. Eisenbrown, South Russell, OH (US);

Assignees:

Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc., Mayfield Heights, OH (US);

Cedes Safety & Automation AG, Landquart, CH;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 17/89 (2006.01); F16P 3/14 (2006.01); G01S 7/48 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 17/89 (2013.01); F16P 3/142 (2013.01); G01S 7/4802 (2013.01);
Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for utilizing time of flight sensors in an industrial automation environment. The method includes employing a multi pixel camera associated with a time of flight sensor to detect an object located within a defined or bounded target area, comparing pixels with adjacent pixels associated with an image of the object captured by the multi pixel camera, identifying the object as being a colored, texture, or highly reflective object, and controlling industrial machinery based on the identification of the object entering the target area.


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