Cliff J Leidecker

US Patent:

6410872, Jun 25, 2002

Filed:

Dec 14, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/461079

Inventors:

Duncan B. Campbell - Central Point OR
James Ewan - Los Altos CA
Cliff J. Leidecker - Rogue River OR
H. Parks Squyres - Medford OR
Hooshmand M. Kalayeh - Medford OR

Assignee:

Key Technology, Inc. - Walla Walla WA

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

209577, 209576, 209580, 209587, 209938

Abstract:

A sorting system ( ) conveys articles, such as peaches ( ) on a conveyor belt ( ) past an inspection zone ( ) that is lighted by an illumination source ( ) radiating a number of emission peaks over visible and infrared portions of the spectrum. The illumination source generates the radiation from an Indium Iodide lamp ( ) that is reflected off a parabolic reflector ( ) and through a âsoda strawâ collimator ( ) to illuminated the peaches. A detector system ( ) employs line scanning visible and infrared cameras ( ) to sense visible and IR wavelength reflectance values for the peach meat ( ) and peach pit or pit fragments ( ). Various image processing and analysis methologies, such as subtraction, ratio, logarithmic, regression, combination, angle, distance, and shape may be employed to enhance the image contrast and classify the resulting data for sorting the peaches. Employing subtraction also cancels âglintâ caused by specular reflections of the illumination source off the peaches and into the cameras.

US Patent:

6646218, Nov 11, 2003

Filed:

Dec 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/937804

Inventors:

Duncan Campbell - Central Point OR
Todd Hoffman - Medford OR
Cliff Leidecker - Rogue River OR
H. Parks Squyres - Medford OR

Assignee:

Key Technology, Inc. - Walla Walla WA

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

209582, 209577, 209587, 209906, 356 51, 356419, 356425

Abstract:

An article sorting apparatus and method is disclosed and which conveys a mixture of articles on a conveyor belt and through an inspection zone, and which includes at least one illumination source emitting red, green, and infrared radiation for illuminating the articles in the inspection zone; a detector system for sensing the red, green, and infrared radiation reflected from the articles in the inspection zone, and which generates red data, green data, and infrared data; a processor receiving the red data, green data, and infrared data and which generates article sorting data; and a sorter responsive to the sorting data for separating the articles into acceptable articles and unacceptable articles.

US Patent:

7477392, Jan 13, 2009

Filed:

Jul 27, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/191689

Inventors:

Cliff J. Leidecker - Rogue River OR, US
J. Thomas Higgins - Medford OR, US
Carlo Janssens - Londerzeel, BE
Edward D. Clement - Eagle Point OR, US

Assignee:

Key Technology, Inc - Walla Walla WA

International Classification:

G01N 21/25

US Classification:

356419, 359634, 359638, 359640

Abstract:

An electromagnetic energy measurement apparatus and method for measuring first, second, and third wavelength components includes first and second coated optical elements having non-parallel surfaces. Proper selection of the parameters of the optical elements reduces the level of coma and astigmatism in the apparatus. Additionally, filters pass the first, second, and third wavelength components to first, second, and third sensors. Improvement in the alignment of the field of view between sensors is realized by applying an adjustable compressive force on the filters to individually adjust the field of view.

US Patent:

8281931, Oct 9, 2012

Filed:

Sep 18, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/586184

Inventors:

Harry Drewes - Hamburg, DE
Wolfgang Benz - Börnsen, DE
Hans Dierken - Amelinghausen, DE
Peter Funke - Hamburg, DE
Frank Schuster - Hamburg, DE
Cliff J. Leidecker - Rogue River OR, US
J. Thomas Higgins - Medford OR, US

Assignee:

Key Technology, Inc. - Walla Walla WA

International Classification:

B07B 7/00

US Classification:

209154, 2091391, 209149, 1311092, 131110

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for post-threshing inspection and sorting of tobacco lamina is described and which includes a separation conduit which receives a source of post-threshed tobacco lamina and other contaminants for inspection and sorting, and wherein a source of pressurized air causes the tobacco lamina to move along the separation conduit past an inspection station where it is optically inspected to identify undesirable tobacco lamina or other contaminants; and a downstream reject station is provided which responds to a sorting signal provided by the inspection station and which removes unwanted or undesirable tobacco lamina and other contaminants from an air stream so as to provide a resulting product which is substantially free from contaminants or other defects.

US Patent:

62256203, May 1, 2001

Filed:

Mar 26, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/277568

Inventors:

Duncan B. Campbell - Central Point OR
James Ewan - Los Altos CA
Cliff J. Leidecker - Rogue River OR
H. Parks Squyres - Medford OR

Assignee:

Key Technology, Inc. - Walla Walla WA

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

250221

Abstract:

A peach sorting system (110) conveys peaches (114) on a conveyor belt (112) past an inspection zone (126) that is lighted by an illumination source (90) radiating a number of emission peaks over visible and infrared portions of the spectrum. The illumination source generates the radiation from an Indium Iodide lamp (92) that is reflected off a parabolic reflector (94) and through a "soda straw" collimator (100) to illuminated the peaches. A detector system (118) employs line scanning visible and infrared cameras (142, 140) to sense visible and IR wavelength reflectance value differences existing between peach meat (124) and peach pit or pit fragments (126). Because there is a reversal in the reflectance values between the visible and infrared wavelengths, a data subtraction technique (150) is employed to enhance the detection contrast ratio. The data subtraction technique also cancels "glint" caused by specular reflections of the illumination source off the peaches and into the cameras.

US Patent:

58083057, Sep 15, 1998

Filed:

Oct 23, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/735730

Inventors:

Cliff Leidecker - Rogue River OR
Park Squyres - Medford OR
Duncan Campbell - Central Point OR

Assignee:

SRC Vision, Inc. - Medford OR

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

2503418

Abstract:

Fruit defects of interest in the production of prunes are identified based on characteristics of illumination reflected by the fruit. Various reflection characteristics can be used in this regard including near infrared reflectivity and polarization state of the reflected illumination. In one embodiment, the apparatus (10) of the present invention includes a transport system (12) for transporting fruit (14) through an inspection zone (16), an illumination system (18) for illuminating the fruit (14), a detector system (20) for detecting reflected illumination (21), a sorting system (22) for separating defective fruit from good fruit, and a control system (24) for controlling operation of the sorting system (22) based on signals from the detector system (20) and transport system (12). The signals from the detector system can be improved by treating the fruit inorder to diminish the chlorophyll response.

US Patent:

20170306487, Oct 26, 2017

Filed:

Oct 16, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/653352

Inventors:

- Central Point OR, US
CLIFF J. LEIDECKER - ROGUE RIVER OR, US

Assignee:

QUANTUM INNOVATIONS, INC. - CENTRAL POINT OR

International Classification:

C23C 16/458
C23C 14/50
C23C 14/56

Abstract:

A deposition system includes a system housing having a housing interior, a fixture transfer assembly having a generally sloped fixture transfer rail extending through the housing interior, a plurality of processing chambers connected by the fixture transfer rail, a controller interfacing with the processing chambers and at least one fixture carrier assembly carried by the fixture transfer rail and adapted to contain one substrate. The fixture carrier assembly travels along the fixture transfer rail under influence of gravity. A deposition method is also disclosed.

US Patent:

20160237562, Aug 18, 2016

Filed:

Apr 22, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/135893

Inventors:

- Central Point OR, US
Cliff J. Leidecker - Rogue River OR, US

Assignee:

QUANTUM INNOVATIONS, INC. - Central Point OR

International Classification:

C23C 16/458

Abstract:

A deposition system includes a system housing having a housing interior, a fixture transfer assembly having a generally sloped fixture transfer rail extending through the housing interior, a plurality of processing chambers connected by the fixture transfer rail, a controller interfacing with the processing chambers and at least one fixture carrier assembly carried by the fixture transfer rail and adapted to contain one substrate. The fixture carrier assembly travels along the fixture transfer rail under influence of gravity. A deposition method is also disclosed.