Mark D Goodwin

US Patent:

7855348, Dec 21, 2010

Filed:

Jul 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/824826

Inventors:

Mark D. Goodwin - Apalachin NY, US
Mathew S. Hale - Barton NY, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G01J 3/46

US Classification:

209584, 356402

Abstract:

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a camera and a group of light emitting diodes configured and arranged to illuminate an object imaged by the camera. The group of LEDs comprises at least one first LED of a first type that emits light with a first spectrum profile and at least one second LED of a second type that emits light with a second spectrum profile that is substantially different than the first spectrum profile. The apparatus may further comprise an adjustment mechanism for adjusting of the relative amounts of illumination energy generated by the at least one first LED and the at least one second LED during each of a plurality of scan cycles of the camera.

US Patent:

8243166, Aug 14, 2012

Filed:

Jan 20, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/356472

Inventors:

Santosh Kumar - Endwell NY, US
Mark D. Goodwin - Apalachin NY, US
Thomas Musa - Endicott NY, US
James Howard - Owego NY, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

H04N 5/235
H04N 5/76

US Classification:

3482291, 3482313

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for detecting a blockage in the field-of-view of a camera in an image capture system by monitoring changes in the quality of images captured by the camera. As an image is acquired by the camera, intensity values for pixels in the acquired image are determined and stored in a data structure in memory of the camera. Image statistics are calculated based in part on the intensity values for pixels in the currently acquired image and at least some previous images acquired by the camera. If the image statistics satisfy at least one predetermined alert criterion, an alert is triggered. In response to triggering an alert, an alert sensor included as part of the camera is activated to indicate to a user of the image capture system that a possible blockage in the field-of-view of the camera has been detected.

US Patent:

20080011654, Jan 17, 2008

Filed:

Jul 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/824828

Inventors:

Mathew Hale - Barton NY, US
Mark Goodwin - Apalachin NY, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

209584000

Abstract:

A mail processing system with a UV imaging subsystem that uses radiation filtering for improved reliability in processing mail. The UV imaging subsystem has one or more filters, such as a short pass filter between a UV radiation source and a mailpiece under examination or long pass filter between the mailpiece and a detector array. The UV subsystem can quickly and reliably form UV images. Though the images are of low resolution, the image quality is adequate to allow the system to identify features—such as barcodes, IBI and stamps—on mailpieces. The image quality is also sufficient to allow the mail processing system to make mail processing decisions—such as whether to invert the mailpiece or where to spray a cancellation mark—as mailpieces are passing through the mail processing system.

US Patent:

20080012981, Jan 17, 2008

Filed:

Jul 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/824847

Inventors:

Mark Goodwin - Apalachin NY, US
Mathew Hale - Barton NY, US
Wayne Blackwell - Chenango Forks NY, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/225

US Classification:

348374000

Abstract:

A mail processing system with a camera assembly including both a UV imaging camera and a grayscale imaging camera integrated in a single assembly. Integration provides lower costs as well as desirable performance characteristics. However, for the cameras to operate in a compact housing, it is necessary to include mechanisms to prevent interference between the optical paths for the cameras. Interference is avoided by positioning the apertures for the cameras in a convex face of the assembly. Each aperture is mounted in a portion of the surface with a different tangent. Additionally, the a support structure for a UV source and detector array acts as a baffle, further preventing interference.

US Patent:

20080013069, Jan 17, 2008

Filed:

Jul 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/824894

Inventors:

Mark Goodwin - Apalachin NY, US
Matthew Hale - Barton NY, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G01P 3/40

US Classification:

356023000

Abstract:

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a line scanning camera, a conveyor, an illumination source, and one or more controllers. The conveyor is configured and arranged to move objects past the line scanning camera so that the objects can be imaged thereby. The illumination source is configured and arranged to illuminate the objects for imaging by the line scanning camera. The one or more controllers are configured to cause the line scanning camera to acquire a plurality of individual lines of an image of the object at a rate determined by a speed of the conveyor so that a particular number of lines per unit length of the object are acquired by the line scanning camera, and are further configured to control activation and deactivation of the illumination source so as to synchronize discrete periods during which illumination is provided by the illumination source with line scan periods during which individual lines are acquired by the line scanning camera.

US Patent:

20080019563, Jan 24, 2008

Filed:

Jul 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/824824

Inventors:

Mark Goodwin - Apalachin NY, US
Mathew Hale - Barton NY, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382101000

Abstract:

A mail processing system with a low resolution UV imaging subsystem. The subsystem comprises a detector array made with discrete phototransistors, each of which includes a lens. The phototransistors are mounted on a relatively wide pitch to provide a low resolution camera that can image an entire surface of a mailpiece. The camera can be constructed and maintained inexpensively, but can quickly provide information that facilitates rapid and accurate processing of mailpieces.

US Patent:

20080035866, Feb 14, 2008

Filed:

Jul 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/824933

Inventors:

Mark Goodwin - Apalachin NY, US
Mathew Hale - Barton NY, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G21K 1/00

US Classification:

250505100

Abstract:

A UV illumination source interrupt may prevents emission of UV illumination from the UV illumination source in a mail processing system based on a detected presence of a mailpiece near a window at which the mailpiece may be illuminated with UV light. The UV source may also be controlled based on detected movement associated with a UV shield which may indicate potential exposure of an operator to UV light.

US Patent:

20080049972, Feb 28, 2008

Filed:

Jul 3, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/824825

Inventors:

Wayne Blackwell - Chenango Forks NY, US
Mark Goodwin - Apalachin NY, US
Glenn Kehley - Endicott NY, US
Mathew Hale - Barton NY, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382101000

Abstract:

An imaging and illumination system for use with a mail processing apparatus may include illumination and imaging assemblies located in a housing that has first and second windows to transmit imaging illumination for the illumination assembly and/or the imaging assembly. The first and second windows may be arranged to interact with mailpieces that are moved along a path relative to the first and second windows. The direction of travel for the mailpieces may be parallel to the first plane and transverse to the second plane, and the second window may be arranged downstream of the first window. Thus, the first and second windows may be arranged at an angle with respect to each other, and the second window may be arranged at an angle with respect to the direction of travel of mailpieces past the second window.