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:
Feb. 16, 2016
Filed:
Oct. 16, 2009
Daniel Freifeld, Napa, CA (US);
John B. Burnett, Vacaville, CA (US);
Daniel Freifeld, Napa, CA (US);
John B. Burnett, Vacaville, CA (US);
Visicon Technologies, Inc., Napa, CA (US);
Abstract
An optical system is effective to illuminate and scan an interior wall of an object having an interior bore, such as a stent. The system includes a light source, an object support having a light conducting portion, an image taking lens, and a line scan camera. The interior bore and the light conducting portion of the object support are in axial alignment with a center optical axis of the image taking lens. A drive mechanism engages the object without impacting the axial alignment. Various aspect of this optical system include a rotating wheel or transparent plate as the drive mechanism. The object support may be an opaque rod having a light conducting portion or a transparent rod. Electronics associated with this optical system include a rotary encoder engaging the drive system to drive an electric circuit capable of triggering the line scan camera in response to rotation of the object, thereby building a line by line image of the interior bore and the line scan camera connected to a computer-based imaging system effective to identify cosmetic and functional manufacturing defects.