IP Library Granted Patent US 12,282,116
Granted Patent B2
US 12,282,116 · App. 16/376,804 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Machine vision method and system

Inventors: Rolf Jon Gerchberg (Longmeadow, MA); Thomas Dean Milster (Tucson, AZ)
Assignee: Wavefront Analysis, Inc.
G01S7/4815G01S17/89G02B5/32G03H1/0866
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,282,116
App. No.
16/376,804
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical system for automated vision and detection. The system includes a light source configured to emit a beam into an environment and a first diffractive optical element. The beam passes through the first diffractive optical element, resulting in a plurality of beams. One or more of the plurality of beams are reflected by the environment, resulting in reflected beams. A second diffractive optical element of the optical system is configured to receive the reflected beams. A detector in alignment with the second diffractive optical element receives the reflected beams. The detector is configured to determine wave data from the reflected beams and generate a plurality of phasorgrams in a single image representing the wave data. The optical system also includes a processor configured to receive the single image and generate a representation of the environment. A control computer is configured to receive the representation of the environment from the processor.

Claims (12)

1. An optical system for generating digital images, comprising:

a single light source configured to emit a beam into an environment;

a first diffractive optical element in alignment with the light source such that the beam passes through the first diffractive optical element, resulting in an illumination wave emitted with a plurality of beams into the environment;

a second diffractive optical element configured to receive a reflected illumination wave;

wherein the reflected illumination wave is the illumination wave reflected back from the environment;

a two-dimensional pixelated detector in alignment with the second diffractive optical element such that the detector receives the reflected illumination wave passed through the second diffractive optical element;

wherein the two-dimensional pixelated detector is configured to determine wave data from the reflected illumination wave and generate an image having a plurality of pixels representing the wave data; and

a processor configured to receive the image having the plurality of pixels representing the wave data and generate a representation of the environment from the image having the plurality of pixels.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a control computer configured to receive the representation of the environment from the processor, wherein the control computer is a computer in at least one of a smartphone, mobile device, and gaming console.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light source emits spatial and temporally coherent light.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit the representation of the environment to a web application.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is connected to a smart phone.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2019
From: GERCHBERG, ROLF JON; MILSTER, THOMAS DEAN
To: WAVEFRONT ANALYSIS INC.,
Reel/Frame 049573/0073 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62652939 · Apr 5, 2018
Related Publication 20190310374A1 · Oct 10, 2019
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