IP Library Granted Patent US 11,680,790
Granted Patent B2
US 11,680,790 · App. 16/392,285 · Granted Jun 20, 2023

Multiple channel locating

Inventors: Benjamin Braker (Louisville, CO); Eric Moore (Longmont, CO); Daniel Feldkhun (Boulder, CO)
Assignee: Cognex Corporation
G01B11/005G01B11/2518G01B11/2527G01B11/2536G01C3/08G01S7/484G01S7/486G01S7/4815G01S7/4818G01S7/499G01S17/48G01S17/89
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,680,790
App. No.
16/392,285
Granted
Jun 20, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for estimating a location on an object in a three-dimensional scene. Multiple radiation patterns are produced by spatially modulating each of multiple first radiations with a distinct combination of one or more modulating structures, each first radiation having at least one of a distinct radiation path, a distinct source, a distinct source spectrum, or a distinct source polarization with respect to the other first radiations. The location on the object is illuminated with a portion of each of two or more of the radiation patterns, the location producing multiple object radiations, each object radiation produced in response to one of the multiple radiation patterns. Multiple measured values are produced by detecting the object radiations from the location on the object due to each pattern separately using one or more detector elements. The location on the object is estimated based on the multiple measured values.

Claims (19)

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of projectors, wherein each projector from the plurality of projectors emits one or more illumination patterns and the plurality of projectors includes a first projector and a second projector wherein the first projector emits a first illumination pattern that illuminates a location on an object and the second projector emits a second illumination pattern that illuminates the location on the object; and

an imaging system that collects a plurality of object radiations from the location on the object that includes collecting a first object radiation produced at the location in response to the first illumination pattern and a second object radiation produced at the location in response to the second illumination pattern to estimate the location on the object independently from other locations on the object and to facilitate forming a three-dimensional surface image of the object, wherein the imaging system includes one or more detecting elements positioned between the first projector and the second projector.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of object radiations from the location are produced in response to at least the first illumination pattern and another illumination pattern from the first projector from the plurality of projectors.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more illumination patterns from each projector from the plurality of projectors includes a set of two or more patterns.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the set of two or more patterns are projected in sequence.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more illumination patterns include one or more two-dimensional illumination patterns.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more two dimensional illumination patterns include one or more stripe patterns.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each projector from the plurality of projectors is oriented to project towards the object at a different angle with respect to the other projectors in the plurality of projectors.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein each projector from the plurality of projectors includes one or more radiation sources.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more radiation sources include one or more light emitting diodes.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least two projectors from the plurality of projectors operate in sequence.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least two projectors from the plurality of projectors operate simultaneously.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging system includes a charge coupled device.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging system includes a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor device.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein each projector from the plurality of projectors includes a pattern mask.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein each projector from the plurality of projectors modulates an amplitude of radiation from the one or more radiation sources of the respective projector.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more illumination patterns from each projector from the plurality of projectors vary across one or more illumination angles for each projector from the plurality of projectors.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging system includes one or more processors configured to estimate the location on the object based on the plurality of object radiations.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2019
From: FELDKHUN, DANIEL; BRAKER, BENJAMIN; MOORE, ERIC DANIEL
To: CHIARO TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 050002/0742 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2019
From: CHIARO TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: COGNEX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050002/0831 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 15607602 · May 29, 2017
Continuation 14455039 · Aug 8, 2014
Continuation 13961397 · Aug 7, 2013
Continuation 12499758 · Jul 8, 2009
Provisional Application 61079128 · Jul 8, 2008
Related Publication 20190353472A1 · Nov 21, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,435,968