Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8115808 | Coordinate measuring machine and method for calibrating the coordinate measuring machine A coordinate measuring machine is disclosed having an orientor automatically orienting a substrate associated therewith. A control and computing unit is further associated with the coordinate measuring machine, so that self-calibration may be performed on the basis ... | 02/14/2012 |
| 7948516 | Position accuracy evaluation method and position accuracy evaluation apparatus According to a related art for evaluating the position accuracy of heaters with respect to the plate, it is necessary to attach an energizing electrode to the heaters, and energize the heaters for a predetermined period to heat the entire plate, before measuring the... | 05/24/2011 |
| 7839431 | Image processing system and method for improving repeatability Embodiments of the invention relate to a dome camera assembly that is able to ensure repeatability. The dome camera assembly includes a nonvolatile storage mechanism including a stored video image and a corresponding stored camera position. The assembly may further ... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7420588 | Measuring method, measuring system and storage medium There are provided a measuring method and a measuring system which enable creation of a measurement route with ease to thereby enable three-dimensional measurement to be quickly performed even if an object to be measured has a complicated shape or configuration. An ... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7382914 | Method for aligning two objects, method for detecting superimposing state of two objects, and apparatus for aligning two objects Disclosed is a case where an aligning method according to the present invention is applied to a probe apparatus. Target probes are photographed by an upper CCD camera and target electrode pads are photographed by a lower CCD camera. Second virtual images of the phot... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7373017 | System and method for capturing adjacent images by utilizing a panorama mode A system and method for capturing adjacent images includes an imaging device with a panorama manager that performs various procedures to manipulate one or more image parameters that correspond to adjacent frames of captured image data. An image-stitching software pr... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7359577 | Differential method for layer-to-layer registration A system for precisely measuring layer-to-layer mis-registration is provided. The system includes a new type of mark and a comparison system, which compare the right and left signals from the mark to eliminate non-alignment noise, to enlarge the alignment informatio... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7350915 | Lens having at least one lens centration mark and methods of making and using same A lens having at least one lens centration mark formed on a major surface of the lens is disclosed. The lens centration mark may be located at the intersection of a first axis and the major surface, where the major surface is symmetrical about the first axis such th... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7342572 | System and method for transforming an ordinary computer monitor into a touch screen A system and method for turning a regular computer monitor screen into a touch screen using an ordinary camera. It includes an image-screen mapping procedure to correct for the non-flatness of the computer screen. It also includes a segmentation method to distinguis... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7313263 | Method and apparatus for measuring coaxial relation between two mechanical parts According to a measuring method, shapes of two mechanical parts of a measuring object are shot by a camera at their respective axial both ends so that image information of the shapes are obtained. Then a center coordinate of the detected shape is respectively calcul... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7298919 | System and method for displaying an image indicating a positional relation between partially overlapping images A camera system includes a display monitor which displays an image of an object, taken by an optical unit, on a screen of the monitor. A reading unit reads a preceding image and a current image among a plurality of partially overlapping images, from a memory device,... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7289113 | Projection display system with pressure sensing at screen, and computer assisted alignment implemented by applying pressure at displayed calibration marks An interactive display system comprising a touch sensitive display surface for sensing pressure applied thereto and in response generating control signals indicating locations of the applied pressure, a personal computer for receiving the control signals and in resp... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7286696 | Method and apparatus for utilizing representational images in commercial and other activities In a method and apparatus for performing commercial and other activities using one or more two- or three-dimensional representational images, superimposing a two- or three-dimensional representational image, containing an image of the workpiece in an advanced state ... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7277120 | Stereo imaging system and method for use in telerobotic systems This invention relates to a stereo imaging system for use in telerobotic systems. A method of imaging a target site in a stereo imaging system is provided. The method typically includes capturing a right and a left optical image of the target site and transforming t... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7246429 | Electronic component mounting apparatus The invention is directed to performing of an effective checking and aligning operation of component pick-up positions at component feeding units used for manufacturing by performing the operation sequentially at a time. A board recognition camera takes an image of ... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7248373 | Workpiece configuration detection system and method An assembly includes a platform for supporting and moving a tire along therealong. A light emitter of a first detection assembly transmits a first signal from emitter around the tire in to determine the height of the tire. A light receiver of the first detection ass... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7242801 | Image preprocessing for probe mark inspection Digital image processing methods are applied to an image of a semiconductor interconnection pad to preprocess the image prior to an inspection or registration. An image of a semiconductor pads exhibiting spatial patterns from structure, texture or features are filte... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7242818 | Position and orientation sensing with a projector A position and orientation of a projector are determined from projected images. First, a homography between a camera and a planar surface, where the relationship between the camera and planar surface is fixed, is determined. Next, a known pattern is projected on the... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7239736 | Method of welding three-dimensional structure and apparatus for use in such method When a three-dimensional structure is formed by welding a plurality of members, accurate welding can be performed matching the three-dimensional shape. The teaching data consisting of the three-dimensional position at each of the welding points determined on each of... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7236960 | Software and system for customizing a presentation of digital images A method for customizing a presentation of a set of digital images provided by a user is disclosed, comprising the steps of selecting an initial presentation format criteria for the set of digital images by the user; analyzing the digital images for additional infor... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7230223 | Sensing system for ascertaining currency content of ATM A sensing arrangement (12) is described. The arrangement comprises: a moveable object (80) including a plurality of marker portions (112) disposed in a calibrated configuration, each marker portion (112) being capable of emitting light in... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7219769 | Industrial vehicle equipped with load handling operation control apparatus A load handling operation control apparatus for an industrial vehicle, which has a load carrying apparatus provided movably on a vehicle body, is provided. A load carrying apparatus 2 is positioned with a load handling target 41, 42 according to its mo... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7209161 | Method and apparatus for aligning a pair of digital cameras forming a three dimensional image to compensate for a physical misalignment of cameras An apparatus and method for detecting and correcting for physical misalignments of a pair of digital cameras creating a composite, three dimensional (3D) image of a target. The method involves using the distances from each of a pair of digital cameras to a target an... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7207103 | Powder compaction press for capacitor anodes A powder compaction press having opposed rib and channel punches which are interleaved and a production method are used to produce capacitor elements having a uniform compaction density and which are free of surface imperfections. ... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7201032 | Transillumination unit A metal sheet-receiving system for receiving parts and feeding a metal sheet-folding machine, particularly a folding press comprising at least one manipulator for seizing and moving metal sheet parts with a gripper head fitted with gripping means; an electronic cont... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7199712 | System for automatically locating and manipulating positions on an object A system for automatically locating positions on an object and uniquely identifying the object employing an electronic tag positioned in or on the object. The system utilizes a plurality of sensors to locate the electronic tag and identify the object, and triangulat... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7160403 | Treatment system and method for a head gimbal assembly static altitude control A system and method to control the head suspension assembly static attitude during the manufacturing process are disclosed. A loading fixture loads and supports a head suspension while a slider is attached. A pitch static attitude and roll static attitude (PSA/RSA) ... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7156139 | Treatment system and method for a head gimbal assembly static altitude control A system and method to control the head suspension assembly static attitude during the manufacturing process are disclosed. A loading fixture loads and supports a head suspension while a slider is attached. A pitch static attitude and roll static attitude (PSA/RSA) ... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7132843 | Method and apparatus for positioning a test head on a printed circuit board A method and apparatus for positioning a test head with respect to a printed circuit board. Adjusting marks having two parts, a frame and a mark positioned within a region enclosed by the frame, are provided on the printed circuit board. The frame and the mark withi... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7130490 | Attentive panoramic visual sensor The present invention provides a process for accurately combining low-resolution and high-resolution video streams into a single seamless display to a human observer. The present invention also provides a method for the smooth blending of high- and low-resolution vi... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7127993 | Positioning apparatus provided with a register for flexible printing plates The invention relates to a positioning apparatus for positioning flexible printing plates on printing cylinders, wherein the printing plates are provided with at least one mark functioning as reference, wherein the apparatus comprises: ... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7106883 | Container position measuring method and device for cargo crane and container landing/stacking method When image data of a target container obtained by an image pickup unit such as a CCD installed on a hoisting accessory is processed, and a line approximating the arrangement of a pixel group which causes a change in luminance or hue larger than a set value can be fi... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7100698 | Make-up control system for tubulars A make-up control method and system for creating a threaded connection between a first tubular and a second tubular are provided. The make-up control system including a top drive connected to the first tubular and a controller operably connected to the top drive tha... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7084900 | Image processing apparatus An image processing apparatus capable of detecting position and posture of individual workpieces randomly arranged in a stack and having identical shapes. Reference models are created from two-dimensional images of a reference workpeace captured in a plurality of di... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7061625 | Method and apparatus using interferometric metrology for high aspect ratio inspection In one embodiment, the present invention provides an interferometric inspection system for inspecting semiconductor samples. The system includes at least one illumination source for generating an illumination beam and an interferometric microscope module for splitti... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7061522 | Optical fiber fusion-splicer In an optical fiber observing image processing apparatus, at least two different capturing modes is provided in an image capturing means for capturing image data from two or more television cameras, so that, by automatically switching capturing modes in synchronous ... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7054477 | Automatic accurate alignment method for a semiconductor wafer cutting apparatus An automatic accurate alignment method for a wafer cutting apparatus includes: (a) placing a wafer on a platform, and moving the platform and a camera unit to initial positions; (b) matching the electrical output of the camera unit with a key pattern to find a plura... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7046838 | Three-dimensional data input method and apparatus The three-dimensional data input method uses the three-dimensional data input apparatus that includes a monitor screen for confirming an object and is constructed to input the three-dimensional data of the object by shooting the object. In accordance with the three-... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7027141 | Static attitude determination and adjust of head suspension components An apparatus and method for determining and adjusting the static attitude of a head suspension or a head suspension assembly for use in a dynamic storage device. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a workpiece support and an adjust device,... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7023413 | Memory controller and liquid crystal display apparatus using the same A system can be realized by using a single frame memory, that is costly, to allow data write and data read operations continuously without suspending the video signal input. Such a memory controller comprises a serial/parallel converter section for converting serial... | 04/04/2006 |
