Patrick Stuart Freeman

US Patent:

6757058, Jun 29, 2004

Filed:

Oct 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/031265

Inventors:

George M. Carman - Corvallis OR
Patrick S. Freeman - Brownsville OR

Assignee:

Lucidyne Technologies, Inc. - Corvallis OR

International Classification:

G01N 2100

US Classification:

3562372

Abstract:

The present invention employs a blinded fiber-optic light illumination system ( ) to illuminate a wood board ( ) with a sharp projected light edge to detect the tracheid, color, and geometric characteristics of the lumber during an automated grading process. The light line ( ) employs thousands of fibers ( ) of desired length ( ) and thickness ( ). The fibers ( ) are randomized such that fibers ( ) neighboring each other in the cable ( ) do not necessarily neighbor each other in the light line subunit ( ) so that the emitted light has substantially uniform intensity over its spatial range. Multiple light line subunits ( ) are positioned adjacent to one an other to achieve a desired light line length ( ). A set of image sensors ( ) in predetermined positions obtain three types of data from the light incident to the board ( ). A computer analyzes the data to interpret the physical characteristics of the board ( ) and determine how to grade or cut it.

US Patent:

7200458, Apr 3, 2007

Filed:

Jul 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/898668

Inventors:

George M. Carman - Corvallis OR, US
Patrick S. Freeman - Corvallis OR, US
Ofer Heyman - Corvallis OR, US
William J. Briskey - Monmouth OR, US

Assignee:

Lucidyne Technologies, Inc. - Corvallis OR

International Classification:

G06F 19/00
B07C 5/14

US Classification:

700117, 700115, 700167, 209517

Abstract:

A “woodprint™” characterization and identification technique unique employs cameras (), lighting (), camera interface hardware (), a computer (), and/or image processing software to collect and analyze surface characteristics of pieces of wood () to track them through an automated production process in real-time with information that is specific to each wood piece (), such as what machining is required, its value, and/or its destination. When a wood piece () reaches a point in the production process where a decision is required, its unique identity is used to retrieve appropriate information previously determined and assigned to the wood piece ().

US Patent:

7406190, Jul 29, 2008

Filed:

Jan 24, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/042467

Inventors:

George M. Carman - Corvallis OR, US
Patrick S. Freeman - Corvallis OR, US
Ofer Heyman - Corvallis OR, US
William J. Briskey - Monmouth OR, US

Assignee:

Lucidyne Technologies, Inc. - Corvallis OR

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382141, 700117

Abstract:

A “Woodprint™” characterization and identification technique employs cameras (), lighting (), camera interface hardware (), a computer (), and/or image processing software to collect and analyze surface characteristics of pieces of wood () to track them through an automated production process in real-time with information that is specific to each wood piece (), such as what machining is required, its value, and/or its destination. When a wood piece () reaches a point in the production process where a decision is required, its unique identity is used to retrieve appropriate information previously determined and assigned to the wood piece ().

US Patent:

7426422, Sep 16, 2008

Filed:

Dec 12, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/609744

Inventors:

George M. Carman - Corvallis OR, US
Patrick S. Freeman - Corvallis OR, US
Ofer Heyman - Corvallis OR, US
William J. Briskey - Monmouth OR, US

Assignee:

Lucidyne Technologies, Inc. - Corvallis OR

International Classification:

G06F 19/00
B07C 5/14

US Classification:

700117, 700115, 144394, 144403

Abstract:

A “Woodprint™” characterization and identification technique employs cameras (), lighting (), camera interface hardware (), a computer (), and/or image processing software to collect and analyze surface characteristics of pieces of wood () to track them through an automated production process in real-time with information that is specific to each wood piece (), such as what machining is required, its value, and/or its destination. When a wood piece () reaches a point in the production process where a decision is required, its unique identity is used to retrieve appropriate information previously determined and assigned to the wood piece ().

US Patent:

7466403, Dec 16, 2008

Filed:

Sep 20, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/858708

Inventors:

George M. Carman - Corvallis OR, US
William J. Briskey - Monmouth OR, US
David D. Ayers - Salem OR, US
David K. Christopher - Lebanon OR, US
Patrick S. Freeman - Corvallis OR, US
Chad D. Gibson - Corvallis OR, US
Aaron R. Paul - Corvallis OR, US
Paul Shirkey - Corvallis OR, US
Joseph H. Weintraub - Elkins Park PA, US

Assignee:

Lucidyne Technologies, Inc. - Corvallis OR

International Classification:

G01N 21/00

US Classification:

3562372, 356446

Abstract:

A grain angle sensor system for measuring grain angle direction of surface fibers of a wood object with respect to at least one of a surface plane direction or a transverse direction, such as a dive angle, or with respect to both the surface plane and transverse direction. The system includes multiple laser diodes and photosensor detectors integrated into an electro-optical assembly that can sequence the firing of the lasers to minimize crosstalk. An exemplary assembly includes an enclosure housing an electronic control board connected to circuit cards containing multiple laser diodes and multiple photosensor detectors.

US Patent:

20200191765, Jun 18, 2020

Filed:

Feb 21, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/797805

Inventors:

- Corvallis OR, US
Patrick Freeman - Corvallis OR, US
Hayden Michael Aronson - Corvallis OR, US
Kevin Johnsrude - Corvallis OR, US
Chris Mosbrucker - Philomath OR, US
Dan Robin - Albany OR, US
Ryan T. Shear - Corvallis OR, US
Joseph H. Weintraub - Eugene OR, US
Eric N. Mortensen - Albany OR, US

International Classification:

G01N 33/46
G06N 20/00
G06F 15/76
G06T 7/00
G06N 7/00
G06K 9/62
G06K 9/32

Abstract:

A method of board lumber grading is performed in an industrial environment on a machine learning framework configured as an interface to a machine learning-based deep convolutional network that is trained end-to-end, pixels-to-pixels on semantic segmentation. The method uses deep learning techniques that are applied to semantic segmentation to delineate board lumber characteristics, including their sizes and boundaries.

US Patent:

20190227049, Jul 25, 2019

Filed:

Mar 5, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/082103

Inventors:

- Corvallis OR, US
Patrick Freeman - Corvallis OR, US
Hayden Michael Aronson - Corvallis OR, US
Kevin Johnsrude - Corvallis OR, US
Chris Mosbrucker - Philomath OR, US
Dan Robin - Albany OR, US
Ryan T. Shear - Corvallis OR, US
Joseph H. Weintraub - Eugene OR, US
Eric N. Mortensen - Albany OR, US

International Classification:

G01N 33/46
G06T 7/00
G06K 9/62
G06K 9/32
G06N 7/00

Abstract:

A method of board lumber (Table 2) grading is performed in an industrial environment on a machine learning framework () configured as an interface to a machine learning-based deep convolutional network () that is trained end-to-end, pixels-to-pixels on semantic segmentation. The method uses deep learning techniques that are applied to semantic segmentation to delineate board lumber characteristics (Table 1), including their sizes and boundaries.