Bizarre Patents
Decorative Jeweled Wheel Cover
An improved wheel is provided wherein decorative items such as gem stones are embedded in either the wheel surface, a special mounting section attached to the wheel surface, or to a spoke strap that wraps around each spoke and positions embedded gem stones on the outside surface of the spoke.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8169478 | Method and apparatus for calibrating a mark verifier A method for calibrating a mark quality verifier assembly wherein the assembly includes a camera including a camera field of view (FOV) and a processor for running software programs that are stored in a memory that is accessible to the processor, the method comprisi... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8162584 | Method and apparatus for semiconductor wafer alignment The invention provides, in some aspects, a wafer alignment system comprising an image acquisition device, an illumination source, a rotatable wafer platform, and an image processor that includes functionality for mapping coordinates in an image of an article (such a... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8139231 | Machine vision technique for manufacturing semiconductor wafers A vision system is provided to determine a positional relationship between a photovoltaic device wafer on a platen and a printing element, such as a printing screen, on a remote side of the photovoltaic device wafer from the platen. A source emits ultraviolet light ... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8134116 | Modular focus system for image based code readers A modular focus system for image based code readers includes swappable lens attachments enables fixed focus, manual focus, and variable focus operation from a single reader. A manual focus lens cap includes a manually adjustable focus ring to change the focus of the... | 03/13/2012 |
| 8127247 | Human-machine-interface and method for manipulating data in a machine vision system This invention provides a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that operates in connection with a machine vision detector or other machine vision system, which provides a highly intuitive and industrial machine-like appearance and layout. The GUI includes a centralized im... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8126260 | System and method for locating a three-dimensional object using machine vision This invention provides a system and method for determining position of a viewed object in three dimensions by employing 2D machine vision processes on each of a plurality of planar faces of the object, and thereby refining the location of the object. First a rough ... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8108176 | Method and apparatus for verifying two dimensional mark quality A method and system for applying a two dimensional mark on a first surface of a component and assessing mark quality, the method including the steps of positioning a component with a first surface at a first station, applying a two dimensional mark to the first surf... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8107675 | Trigger system for data reading device A data reader comprises a camera that has an adjustable resolution and acquisition speed. The camera is maintained at a low level resolution and fast speed and is periodically actuated to acquire images. When an acquired image indicates that an object is present, th... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8103085 | System and method for detecting flaws in objects using machine vision This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a system and method for flexibly detecting flaws in the acquired runtime/live images of objects based upon an inspection process that employs a training or model image of the object. This syste... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8063350 | Circuits and methods allowing for pixel array exposure pattern control An image processing system includes an image sensor circuit. The image sensor circuit is configured to obtain an image using a type of shutter operation in which an exposure pattern of a pixel array is set according to exposure information that changes over time bas... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8033670 | Manually adjustable ruggedized focus mechanism The invention provides, in some aspects, devices for image acquisition that use seals (e.g., O-rings) between concentrically disposed portions of an enclosure and an optics assembly (or sub-assemblies thereof) in order to protect image acquisition components from th... | 10/11/2011 |
| 8027802 | Method and apparatus for verifying two dimensional mark quality A method and system for applying a two dimensional mark on a first surface of a component and assessing mark quality, the method comprising the steps of positioning a component with a first surface at a first station, applying a two dimensional mark to the first sur... | 09/27/2011 |
| 8018352 | Video traffic monitoring and signaling apparatus A traffic signal head having a signal lamp or signal ball with an embedded video monitoring system can be provided to perform vehicle detection to inform an intelligent traffic control system. Video monitoring of traffic lanes facing the signal head can be analyzed ... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8016199 | Illumination devices for image acquisition systems An apparatus for imaging a symbol associated with an object which includes a housing and an imaging module connected to the housing, where the imaging module includes at least one lens for creating an image of the symbol. The imaging module further has a sensor for ... | 09/13/2011 |
| 7984854 | Method and apparatus for multiplexed symbol decoding A method and apparatus for multi-threaded operation of an image-based symbology reader is provided. In the method of the invention, acquired images of an encoded symbol are attempted to be decoded using a plurality of decoding engines asynchronously and substantiall... | 07/26/2011 |
| 7962898 | Optimized distribution of machine vision processing A system and method is provided for remotely analyzing machine vision data. An indication of a choice of vision software is sent from a first computer to a remote second computer. The second computer, using the selected vision software, processes image data to provi... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7961201 | Method and apparatus for producing graphical machine vision content for distribution via a network A method and system is provided for viewing machine vision information. The machine vision information includes machine vision data representing a sequence of machine vision processing steps. The machine vision information pertaining to a machine vision process on a... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7920718 | Multi-zone passageway monitoring system and method A method, computer program product, and machine vision system for monitoring an activity area proximate an actuated passageway for the occurrence of an object-related event. The activity area includes a first activity zone and at least a second activity zone. The fi... | 04/05/2011 |
| 7882426 | Conditional cell execution in electronic spreadsheets An improved electronic spreadsheet is provided for applications requiring conditional expression execution behavior. Each cell having an executable expression is cooperative with an implicit conditional execution wrapper. The execution of each cellular expression is... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7857218 | Handheld code reader having a motion sensor A method and apparatus for use with a handheld code reader that has an operating characteristic that can have at least first and second different states, the method for switching between the different states of the operating characteristic, the method comprising the... | 12/28/2010 |
| 7680323 | Method and apparatus for three-dimensional object segmentation A three-dimensional (3-D) machine-vision involving a method and apparatus for performing segmentation of 3-D objects. Multiple stereo-related sets (left/right, top/left, top/right) of two-dimensional video pixel data are separately processed into sets of edges. Each... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7427028 | Methods and apparatus for reading bar code identifications The invention provides methods and appartaus for analysis of images of two-dimensional (2D) bar codes in which a model that has proven successful in decoding of a prior 2D image of a 2D bar code is utilized to speed analysis of images of subsequent 2D bar codes. In ... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7251366 | Fast high-accuracy multi-dimensional pattern inspection A method and apparatus are provided for identifying differences between a stored pattern and a matching image subset, where variations in pattern position, orientation, and size do not give rise to false differences. The invention is also a system for analyzing an o... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7167575 | Video safety detector with projected pattern A two-dimensional (2-D) machine-vision safety-solution involving a method and apparatus for performing high-integrity, high efficiency machine vision. A known structured lighting texture pattern is projected upon a target area. A model image of the pattern on an emp... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7164796 | Fast high-accuracy multi-dimensional pattern inspection A method and apparatus are provided for identifying differences between a stored pattern and a matching image subset, where variations in pattern position, orientation, and size do not give rise to false differences. The invention is also a system for analyzing an o... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7139421 | Methods and apparatuses for detecting similar features within an image The invention provides methods and apparatuses for finding features that are similar in the image. The invention finds the similar features by searching portions of the image for features that are substantially similar to a feature prototype. First, individual featu... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7088862 | Fast high-accuracy multi-dimensional pattern inspection A method and apparatus are provided for identifying differences between a stored pattern and a matching image subset, where variations in pattern position, orientation, and size do not give rise to false differences. The invention is also a system for analyzing an o... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7065262 | Fast high-accuracy multi-dimensional pattern inspection A method and apparatus are provided for identifying differences between a stored pattern and a matching image subset, where variations in pattern position, orientation, and size do not give rise to false differences. The invention is also a system for analyzing an o... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7058225 | Fast high-accuracy multi-dimensional pattern inspection A method and apparatus are provided for identifying differences between a stored pattern and a matching image subset, where variations in pattern position, orientation, and size do not give rise to false differences. The invention is also a system for analyzing an o... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7043081 | Fast high-accuracy multi-dimensional pattern inspection A method and apparatus are provided for identifying differences between a stored pattern and a matching image subset, where variations in pattern position, orientation, and size do not give rise to false differences. The invention is also a system for analyzing an o... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7043055 | Method and apparatus for locating objects using universal alignment targets A method and apparatus for locating objects by means of machine vision alignment using cooperative targets. Novel cooperative targets are used that have substantial performance advantages. Alignment methods having non-translation alignment capabilities are used, suc... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7016539 | Method for fast, robust, multi-dimensional pattern recognition Disclosed is a method for determining the absence or presence of one or more instances of a predetermined pattern in an image, and for determining the location of each found instance within a multidimensional space. A model represents the pattern to be found, the mo... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7006669 | Machine vision method and apparatus for thresholding images of non-uniform materials Machine vision inspection methods and systems according to the invention take an average (or other statistical measure) of pixel values within neighborhoods or groups of pixels within an image. The averages are compared with one or more thresholds and a result gener... | 02/28/2006 |
| 7006712 | Fast high-accuracy multi-dimensional pattern inspection A method and apparatus are provided for identifying differences between a stored pattern and a matching image subset, where variations in pattern position, orientation, and size do not give rise to false differences. The invention is also a system for analyzing an o... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6993192 | Fast high-accuracy multi-dimensional pattern inspection A method and apparatus are provided for identifying differences between a stored pattern and a matching image subset, where variations in pattern position, orientation, and size do not give rise to false differences. The invention is also a system for analyzing an o... | 01/31/2006 |
| 6985625 | Fast high-accuracy multi-dimensional pattern inspection A method and apparatus are provided for identifying differences between a stored pattern and a matching image subset, where variations in pattern position, orientation, and size do not give rise to false differences. The invention is also a system for analyzing an o... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6963338 | Method for refining geometric description models using images The creation of accurate geometric description-based models of objects in a machine vision system can be performed in a computer-assisted process. A rough model of an image of an object forms the basis of the model. The model is refined through the application of ma... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6950548 | Creating geometric model descriptions for use in machine vision inspection systems A method and system create a geometric object model for use in machine vision inspection. A pixel image representation of an object is acquired. Based on this pixel image representation, part models for the parts of the object are generated. Each part model correspo... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6941026 | Method and apparatus using intensity gradients for visual identification of 2D matrix symbols Visual information regarding intensity and intensity-based gradient information is used in a multi-step process for accurately locating and decoding an encoded visual symbol matrix. A symbol is preprocessed with filtering and morphology. A set of coarse locations of... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6931602 | Approach facilitating the selection of various machine vision functionality from among different platforms A method and apparatus are provided to improve upon accessibility of machine vision tools. More specifically, improved methods and apparatuses are presented to allow a user to select, via a user interface of a web browser included in a given computer, a machine visi... | 08/16/2005 |
