IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,665,068
Granted Patent B2
US 10,665,068 · App. 16/132,929 · Granted May 26, 2020

Interactive imaging and sensing system, device and method

Inventors: Nathan L. Greiner (Hanover, IA); Alexander Jon Schuster (Dubuque, IA); Jane McCleary (Cuba City, WI); Jasmine Nobis-Olson (Elizabeth, IL); John Brian Priest (Dubuque, IA)
Assignee: Design Mill Inc.
G08B7/06G03B17/54G03B21/53G03B35/08G08B5/36H04N9/3179H04N9/3185H04N9/3194
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,665,068
App. No.
16/132,929
Granted
May 26, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus may include a base configured to be connected to a light socket, a projector supported by the base to project a projection field and a three-dimensional sensor supported by the base to output a three-dimensional field measurement of the projection field.

Claims (29)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a base configured to be connected to a light socket;

a projector supported by the base to project a projection field; and

a three-dimensional sensor supported by the base to output a three-dimensional field measurement of the projection field,

wherein the controller is to:

recognize and distinguish between different objects within the projection field based upon the three-dimensional field measurements within the projection field;

control the projector to alter the projection field based upon the recognized objects within the projection field and their positioning within the projection field, and

wherein the controller is to control the projector to alter the projection field in response to changes in positioning of the recognized objects so as to prompt or direct moving of the recognized objects within the projection field.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a transparent housing, wherein the base is threaded.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the transparent housing comprises a lens.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller in communication with the projector and the three-dimensional sensor, wherein the control outputs control signals automatically adjusting a focus of the projector based upon signals from the three-dimensional sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the controller receives signals from the three-dimensional sensor indicating different distances between the projector and multiple different surfaces of a movable medium, wherein the control signals automatically adjust a focus of the projector based upon a combination of the different distances.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a base configured to be connected to a light socket;

a projector supported by the base to project a projection field; and

a three-dimensional sensor supported by the base to output a three-dimensional field measurement of the projection field, wherein the projector is supported to project the projection field onto and about a movable medium, the apparatus further comprising:

an input interface outside the projection field; and

a controller that adjusts content of the projection field being projected onto the movable medium based upon a combination of a first input from the sensor indicating a position of the movable medium and a second input from the input interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the projector to alter content of the projection field based upon the recognized objects within the projection field and their positioning within the projection field.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the projector to alter the projection field based upon the recognized objects within the projection field and their positioning within the projection field by selectively illuminating first recognized objects and not selectively illuminating other recognized objects.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the projector to alter content of the projection field to identify a part or component to be moved next by user in a process.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the projector to alter content of the projection field to identify incorrectly positioned or assembled parts by illuminating the incorrectly positioned are simple parts and to further instruct moving of such incorrectly positioned or assembled parts.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the projector to incrementally alter content of the projection field by incrementing through a process based upon a sensed state of the recognized objects.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , the controller controls the projector to project markers onto a component that is to be moved as part of a process and wherein the controller is to alter the content of the projection field in response to moving of the component as detected by the sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller controls the projector to project a first set of instructions in the projection field and to project a second set of instructions in the projection field upon completion of the first set of instructions as detected by the sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to alter content of the projection field based upon a combination of recognized mediums, their positioning and a current state of a process being carried out, wherein the content of the projection field comprises markers identifying particular mediums to be moved next as part of the process being carried out.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is to alter content of the projection field to prompt or direct moving of the recognized objects within the projection field by projecting a graphical depiction of one of the recognized object at a new position according to a process being carried out.

16. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the movable medium comprises a first movable medium and a second movable medium, wherein the controller is to distinguish between the first movable medium and the second movable medium based upon signals from the sensor and wherein controller adjusts the projection field being projected onto the movable medium differently based upon positioning of the first movable medium as compared to positioning of the second movable medium.

17. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the movable medium comprises a moldable medium.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2018
From: GREINER, NATHAN L.; SCHUSTER, ALEXANDER JON; MCCLEARY, JANE; NOBIS-OLSON, JASMINE; PRIEST, JOHN BRIAN
To: DESIGN MILL INC.
Reel/Frame 046889/0957 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTUS2017022970 · Mar 17, 2017
Provisional Application 62309737 · Mar 17, 2016
Related Publication 20190019378A1 · Jan 17, 2019