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Patent No. 5678617

Method and apparatus for making a drink hop along a bar or counter

A method for generating a drink which appears to hop from a remote spot on the bar or counter and take one or more leaps, before landing in a patron's glass.

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Assignee: Diffracto Ltd.


Location: Windsor, CA
No. of patents: 52

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NumberTitleIssue Date
6211506Method and apparatus for electro-optically determining the dimension, location and attitude of objects
A method and apparatus for optically determining the dimension of part surfaces. Particular embodiments describe optical triangulation based coordinate measurement machines capable of accurate measurement of complex surfaces, such as gear teeth and turbin...
04/03/2001
6127689Method and apparatus for positioning a member relative to an object surface
A method and apparatus for positioning a member in a desired position relative to a surface of an object including providing positioning means for positioning the member, sensing the attitude of the object surface relative to the member or the positioning...
10/03/2000
5793647System and method for graphical image data acquistion, storage, and retrieval
A computerized system and a method for acquisition, storage, and retrieval of a plurality of image datas corresponding to a plurality of physical inspection areas of a physical surface is disclosed. A graphical interface graphically draws a virtual diagra...
08/11/1998
5206700Methods and apparatus for retroreflective surface inspection and distortion measurement
A method for creating a retroreflective image of a surface (or transparent medium) is provided where the retroreflective image is produced by illuminating an area of the surface with light which is reflected therefrom to a retroreflector which returns thi...
04/27/1993
5168322Surface inspection using retro-reflective light field
This invention relates to an electro-optical technique which senses form type and other defects on surfaces such as sheet metal or plastic panels. Method and apparatus are disclosed for allowing the inspection of the entire surface of interest from a sing...
12/01/1992
5164579Method and apparatus for electro-optically determining the dimension, location and attitude of objects including light spot centroid determination
A method and apparatus for optically determining the dimension of part surfaces. Particular embodiments describe optical triangulation based coordinate measurement machines capable of accurate measurement of complex surfaces, such as gear teeth and turbin...
11/17/1992
5114230Electro-optical inspection
A method and apparatus for inspecting workpieces for rapid and accurate determination of dimensions and the like. The equipment is electro-optical in nature and there is no contact between the inspecting elements and the workpiece under inspection. An ele...
05/19/1992
5074661Methods and apparatus for retroreflective surface inspection and distortion measurement
Methods for improving and calibrating a retroreflection defects determination system are disclosed. The retroreflection system includes a light source which directs light to an area of a surface such that the light is reflected therefrom, a retroreflectiv...
12/24/1991
5012574Controlled machining of combustion chambers gears and other surfaces
Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring cylinder head combustion chambers and for providing inputs to machines which can perform operations to assure that all combustion chambers are of a correct volume. Apparatus is provided for matching volumes...
05/07/1991
5004339Method and apparatus for determining physical characteristics of objects and object surfaces
A method of determining physical characteristics of a surface. Light or other electromagnetic radiation is directed onto a first portion of a surface and the reflected radiation is received such as by a photodiode. The radiation is also directed onto at l...
04/02/1991
4920385Panel surface flaw inspection
This invention relates to electro-optical sensing of form type and other defects on surfaces such as sheet metal or plastic panels. Method and apparatus are disclosed for detection and quantification of defects such as dents, creases, low spots, flat spot...
04/24/1990
4907888Non destructive testing and other applications using retroreflective illumination
The invention concerns optical non-destructive test of materials using surface distortions detected by light which is reflected from the surface, retroreflected back to the surface and thence to form an image containing a greatly enhanced view of local de...
03/13/1990
4875776Electro-optical inspection
A method and apparatus for inspecting workpieces for rapid and accurate determination of dimensions and the like. The equipment is electro-optical in nature and there is no contact between the inspecting elements and the workpiece under inspection. An ele...
10/24/1989
4863268Diffractosight improvements
Disclosed are improvements in the surface inspection method and apparatus invention of our copending application "Panel Surface Flaw Inspection", Ser. No. 579,971, U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,319, which has now come to be described as "DiffractoSight". Particular...
09/05/1989
4862397Remote operation of optical system
A method and apparatus for controlling a detector array based optical system using reflected or transmitted light for machine vision is disclosed. The light characteristic such as power (intensity) or distribution of power received by said optical system ...
08/29/1989
4851905Vision target fixture construction
A new method and apparatus for fabrication or alignment of fixtures, jigs and structures is disclosed. The invention uses target points on one or more details which are referenced to the overall structure via targets on the details. These targets are moni...
07/25/1989
4838696Pulsed robotic inspection
Robotic machines such as coordinate measuring machines, contour projectors and other optical measuring machines are provided wherein a pulsed light is used to "freeze" the dimensional or positional data. The light source of an electro-optical sensor which...
06/13/1989
4839526Coordinate measuring method and device
A method and device for sensing the presence and location of an object in a reference plane by directing light along a line prependicular to the plane, defining a ring in that plane encircling said line of light, and sensing, by a change in the condition ...
06/13/1989
4796200Target based determination of robot and sensor alignment
Target based machine vision method and apparatus are disclosed, useful for alignment of sensors and other objects affixed to structures, robots and the like. While addressed particularly to alignment of machine vision systems relative to structures, the t...
01/03/1989
4792698Sensing location of an object with line image projection and rotation
An apparatus and method for sensing the presence or location of an object in a plane perpendicular to a reference axis is disclosed. An optical detector using triangulation techniques is used to sense the presence or rough location of the object. A contac...
12/20/1988
4788440Electro-optical systems for control of robots, manipulator arms and coordinate measuring machines
This application discloses systems for use in the accurate positioning of robot arms and and similar automation. It is adjunct or alternative to present methods utilizing digital coordinates transmitted from encoders based in the joints of the manipulator...
11/29/1988
4769700Robot tractors
Disclosed is an electro-optical and microcomputer based method and apparatus for automatically guiding tractors and other farm machinery for the purpose of automatic crop planting, tending and harvesting. A target is preferably located at one boundary of ...
09/06/1988
4753569Robot calibration
A method and apparatus for calibrating a computer guided robotic apparatus. At least one camera mounted on the robot arm or fixed at the work station views a target comprising a pattern of at least three dots fixed to the other of the robot arm or work st...
06/28/1988
4754415Robotic alignment and part simulation
A method and apparatus is disclosed for setting up fixed and robotic systems by using a robot programmed by design data for a part of structure to simulate a master of same. Envisioned primarily for use in auto body fabrication processes, the invention is...
06/28/1988
4705395Triangulation data integrity
Disclosed is an improved electro-optical triangulation distance sensing method and apparatus incorporating a reference detector to detect light returned from an object surface and so control light power, integration time (or other characteristic) of the p...
11/10/1987
4694184Coordinate measuring method and device using a contact member
A method and device for sensing the presence and location of an object in a reference plane by directing light along a line perpendicular to the plane, defining a ring in that plane encircling said line of light, and sensing, by a change in the condition ...
09/15/1987
4686374Surface reflectivity detector with oil mist reflectivity enhancement
A method an apparatus are provided for inspecting the surface of objects such as panels for automobile vehicles wherein the surface of the object is sprayed with an oil mist or the like to increase the reflectivity thereof. The surface is then illuminated...
08/11/1987
4674869Method and apparatus for electro-optically determining dimension, location and altitude of objects
A method and apparatus for optically determining the dimension of part surfaces. Particular embodiments describe optical triangulation based coordinate measurement machines capable of accurate measurement of complex surfaces, such as gear teeth and turbin...
06/23/1987
4667231Electro-optical part inspection in the presence of contamination and surface finish variation
A method and apparatus for provided for sensing the location of a surface of an object in the presence of localized surface contamination, roughness or other minor irregularities. A light image of pattern is imaged onto a photodetector corresponding to ea...
05/19/1987
4629319Panel surface flaw inspection
This invention relates to electro-optical sensing of form type and other defects on surfaces such as sheet metal or plastic panels. Method and apparatus are disclosed for detection and quantification of defects such as dents, creases, low spots, flat spot...
12/16/1986
4621664Filling machines
Disclosed are method and apparatus for determining and assuring correct fill weight of containers. In one embodiment electro-optical weigh cells are employed in conjunction with weigh dump receptacles. A second embodiment discloses addition of a second co...
11/11/1986
4585947Photodetector array based optical measurement systems
This invention relates to new and useful electro-optical methods and apparatus using photodetector arrays for measurement of parts and other objects in industrial environments. Several particularly useful optical embodiments are illustrated together with ...
04/29/1986
4574199Sensing location of an object
An apparatus and method for sensing the presence or location of an object in a plane perpendicular to a reference axis is disclosed. An optical detector using triangulation techniques is used to sense the presence or rough location of the object. A contac...
03/04/1986
4547674Optical triangulation gear inspection
This invention describes novel method and apparatus for inspecting gear geometry via optical triangulation. Preferred machine construction uses specialized geometrical relationships of sensor to gear, and specialized high accuracy photodetector array base...
10/15/1985
4506980Method and apparatus for determining physical characteristics of objects and object surfaces
A method of determining physical characteristics of a surface. Light or other electromagnetic radiation is directed onto a first portion of a surface and the reflected radiation is received such as by a photodiode. The radiation is also directed onto at l...
03/26/1985
4482960Robot tractors
Disclosed is an electro-optical and microcomputer based method and apparatus for automatically guiding tractors and other farm machinery for the purpose of automatic crop planting, tending and harvesting. Also disclosed are means for automatic picking, ex...
11/13/1984
4465374Method and apparatus for determining dimensional information concerning an object
Method and apparatus for determining dimensional information concerning an object. A ring of light is directed onto an object surface such that at least a portion of the ring of light is incident upon the object surface. An image is formed of the incident...
08/14/1984
4460826Fiber optic based robot controls
Optical sensing means, such as an optical image-forming system, is provided on the gripper of a robot and positioned to sense an object to be gripped. A signal, such as an image of the object or a portion thereof, is transmitted from the sensor to a remot...
07/17/1984
4453085Electro-optical systems for control of robots, manipulator arms and co-ordinate measuring machines
Method and apparatus for accurate positioning of a moveable member such as a robot arm or the like. An encoder or other position sensing means on the robot is used to control positioning of the robot into a desired position. However, because of inaccuraci...
06/05/1984
4453082Coordinate measuring method and device
A method and device for sensing the presence and location of an object in a reference plane by directing light along a line perpendicular to the plane, defining a ring in that plane encircling said line of light, and sensing, by a change in the condition ...
06/05/1984
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