Gregory Joseph Wiles

US Patent:

6509964, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

May 15, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/858205

Inventors:

Gregory R. Wiles - Royal Oak MI

Assignee:

AMT Inc. - Madison Heights MI

International Classification:

G01N 2100

US Classification:

3562372, 356446, 356445, 356600

Abstract:

An apparatus for measuring the visual characteristics of a surface of a workpiece includes two separate light sources. The first source provides one or more focused beams of light which strike the workpiece at a first angle and are reflected therefrom. The second source provides one or more unfocused beams of light which strike the workpiece at a second angle, different from the first angle, and are reflected therefrom. All of the reflected beams converge onto a single photo detector. The beams are time multiplexed so that the photo detector only reads one beam at a time. The output of the photo detector is processed to provide surface quality measurements of the workpiece such as gloss, distinctness of image and orange peel.

US Patent:

20020171052, Nov 21, 2002

Filed:

May 20, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/151380

Inventors:

Gregory Wiles - Royal Oak MI, US

International Classification:

G01V008/00
G01N021/86

US Classification:

250/559110

Abstract:

An apparatus for measuring the visual characteristics of the surface of a workpiece includes a light source which produces a beam of light. One or more mirrors are positioned so as to direct the light from the source onto the workpiece for reflection therefrom, and to direct the reflected beam onto a photodetector. At least one of the mirrors is supported on a movable mirror carriage which is coupled to a member which contacts the workpiece surface and adjusts the position of the mirror or mirrors supported by the carriage so as to assure that the reflected beam falls on the photodetector. The detector may be mechanically scanned across the reflected beam to provide a spatial profile of that beam.

US Patent:

55701833, Oct 29, 1996

Filed:

Apr 24, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/426963

Inventors:

Gregory R. Wiles - Royal Oak MI

Assignee:

ATI Systems, Inc. - Madison Heights MI

International Classification:

G01B 1130
G01B 1124
G02B 2608

US Classification:

356371

Abstract:

A system for measuring optical characteristics of a surface such as orange peel includes a light source and detector retained upon a support block and translatable as a single unit. The light source emits a beam which is scanned across the workpiece surface by a moving mirror so as to produce a scan line. Translation of the light source causes the scan line to move across the workpiece. The associated detector reads the light reflected from the workpiece and produces a signal which may be processed to determine orange peel or other optical characteristics of the surface.

US Patent:

56867310, Nov 11, 1997

Filed:

Apr 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/640027

Inventors:

Gregory R. Wiles - Royal Oak MI
Charles C. Prain - Oxford MI

Assignee:

ATI Systems, Inc. - Madison Heights MI

International Classification:

G01N 2186

US Classification:

25055922

Abstract:

An apparatus for scanning the visual characteristics of a surface includes an illumination system which scans a beam of light across the surface for reflection therefrom. The reflected beam is split into two parts. A first part goes to a control sensor which generates a control signal in response to the spatial distribution of the intensity of the reflected light. A second portion of the reflected light goes to a measuring sensor. A field mask is disposed in the beam of reflected light and operates to restrict the cross-sectional area of the beam which impinges upon the measuring sensor. Positioning of the field mask is controlled by a driver responsive to the control signal produced by the control sensor. In this manner, the field mask may be positioned so as to select only specularly reflected light for measurement. The system may also be operated to move the field mask in accord with a preselected program so as to determine the slope of the intensity of the reflected light, and this slope may be utilized to calculate the haze value of the surface being inspected.

US Patent:

47616768, Aug 2, 1988

Filed:

Aug 22, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/899467

Inventors:

Gregory R. Wiles - Royal Oak MI
Robert J. Matzoll - Rochester Hills MI

Assignee:

ATI Systems Inc. - Madison Heights MI

International Classification:

G01N 2155
G01N 2101
G04G 1100
G04F 1300

US Classification:

356445

Abstract:

In a surface reflectance meter for directing light to a surface, receiving light reflected from the surface and measuring the rate of change of light flux upon withdrawal of a light chopper from the optical path, a fault detection means which detects and indicates a fault in the flux rate of change measurement is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment the rate of change of flux is detected by measuring the time for the light intensity to increase from a first to a second predetermined intensity and the fault detector means detects and indicates a fault when the light intensity does not reach the second predetermined intensity within a predetermined period of time. The surface reflectance meter is reset for repetition of the measurement upon indication of a fault. This invention is useful in portable surface reflectance meters which must be hand held to the surface to be measured, because instability in holding the meter to the surface can cause the fault.