Eric Fain Bryan, Age 601704 Mill St, Conway, AR 72032

6871409, Mar 29, 2005

Jul 23, 2003

10/624940

Michael J. Robb - San Jose CA, US
Steve L. Glickman - Los Gatos CA, US
Patrick Brendan O'Mahony - San Jose CA, US
Manjula Gururaj - Pewaukee WI, US
David A. Jackson - Point Roberts WA, US
George M. Gill - Vilonia AR, US
Eric F. Bryan - Conway AR, US

Snap-On Incorporated - Pleasant Prairie WI

G01B011/275

33288, 3320318, 382151, 35613909

In a machine vision system utilizing computer processing of image data, an imaging module incorporates the image sensor as well as pre-processing circuitry, for example, for performing a background subtraction and/or a gradient calculation. The pre-processing circuitry may also compress the image information. The host computer receives the pre-processed image data and performs all other calculations necessary to complete the machine vision application, for example, to determine one or more wheel alignment parameters of a subject vehicle. In a disclosed example useful for wheel alignment, the module also includes illumination elements, and the module circuitry provides associated camera control. The background subtraction, gradient calculation and associated compression require simpler, less expensive circuitry than for typical image pre-processing boards. Yet, the pre-processing at the imaging module substantially reduces the processing burden on the host computer when compared to machine vision implementations using direct streaming of image data to the host computer.

7069660, Jul 4, 2006

Jan 24, 2005

11/039783

Michael J. Robb - San Jose CA, US
Steve L. Glickman - Los Gatos CA, US
Patrick Brendan O'Mahony - San Jose CA, US
Manjula Gururaj - Pewaukee WI, US
David A. Jackson - Point Roberts WA, US
George M. Gill - Vilonia AR, US
Eric F. Bryan - Conway AR, US

Snap-On Incorporated - Pleasant Prairie WI

G01B 11/275

3320316, 33288, 35613909, 701 29, 701 33

In a machine vision system utilizing computer processing of image data, an imaging module incorporates the image sensor as well as pre-processing circuitry, for example, for performing a background subtraction and/or a gradient calculation. The pre-processing circuitry may also compress the image information. The host computer receives the pre-processed image data and performs all other calculations necessary to complete the machine vision application, for example, to determine one or more wheel alignment parameters of a subject vehicle. In a disclosed example useful for wheel alignment, the module also includes illumination elements, and the module circuitry provides associated camera control. The background subtraction, gradient calculation and associated compression require simpler, less expensive circuitry than for typical image pre-processing boards. Yet, the pre-processing at the imaging module substantially reduces the processing burden on the host computer when compared to machine vision implementations using direct streaming of image data to the host computer.

7181852, Feb 27, 2007

Aug 25, 2006

11/509762

Eric F. Bryan - Conway AR, US

Snap-On Incorporated - Kenosha WI

G01B 5/24

3320318, 33203, 33288

Methods and devices for measuring and calculating wheel alignment angles. Light weight and mechanically robust accelerometers in measurement heads are attached to a vehicle's wheels during an alignment procedure. The output of the accelerometers may be compensated for effects of temperature or thermal hysteresis by memory lookup or a temperature based feedback control loop.

7206716, Apr 17, 2007

Jun 10, 2004

10/864879

Niall Davidson - Little Rock AR, US
Eric Bryan - Conway AR, US

Snap-On Incorporated - Pleasant Prairie WI

G01C 9/00
G01C 17/00
G01C 19/00

702151, 356138, 700302

Methods and systems for measuring and calculating wheel alignment angles are disclosed. The measuring methods include mitigating alignment error by compensating for wheel runout, and further include measuring wheel runout while the wheel maintains contact with an alignment surface.

7684026, Mar 23, 2010

Jul 27, 2007

11/829414

Steven C. Rogers - Conway AR, US
Adam C. Brown - Maumelle AR, US
Eric Bryan - Conway AR, US

Snap-On Incorporated - Kenosha WI

G01B 11/26

35613909

A sensing head and system utilizes fault tolerant design and self-diagnosis. Alternative operation modes are provided when one or more functional modules or components fail. Unique designs provide redundant system resources. Self-diagnoses and tests are provided to isolate and identify sources of malfunctions.

7855783, Dec 21, 2010

Sep 18, 2007

11/898956

Steven W. Rogers - Conway AR, US
Eric F. Bryan - Conway AR, US

Snap-On Incorporated - Pleasant Prairie WI

G01B 11/275

35613909

An integrated circuit (IC), for use in an imaging module of a wheel alignment system, incorporates an image sensor as well as a number of other features. Some of the added features are implemented within the integrated circuit. The IC also incorporates interfacing for signaling or communication with other devices in the imaging module or elsewhere in the wheel alignment system. Some examples of added internal features include a temperature sensor, unique chip ID, and chip power control. The addition of analog and/or digital I/O to the integrated circuit enables control of an image module illumination function, control of an imaging module positioning function, various cooling functions, and operator interface control. A communications hub may be added to the IC, to enable operation in a networked system environment.

8032279, Oct 4, 2011

Jul 27, 2007

11/829442

Steven W. Rogers - Conway AR, US
Adam C. Brown - Maumelle AR, US
Eric Bryan - Conway AR, US
Ronald C. Swayne - Sherwood AR, US
Michael J. Kling - Little Rock AR, US

Snap-On Incorporated - Kenosha WI

G06F 7/00

701 36, 701 29

A wheel alignment head and system use advanced power management to reduce non-essential power consumption, to extend operation time between charges. The wheel alignment head is operable in a first operation state and a second operation state that consumes less power than the first operation state. In response to an occurrence of at least one of preset events, the wheel alignment head switches its operation from the first operation mode to the second operation mode.

8353456, Jan 15, 2013

Aug 7, 2009

12/538100

David A. Jackson - Point Roberts WA, US
Steven W. Rogers - Conway AR, US
Eric Bryan - Conway AR, US

Snap-On Incorporated - Kenosha WI

G06K 7/10

235454, 235385

Inventory control systems for monitoring the removal and replacement of objects are described. An exemplary system includes at least one storage drawer, each storage drawer includes at least one storage location for storing objects, and configured to move in a first direction allowing increasing access to storage locations of the drawer, and a second direction allowing decreasing access to storage locations of the drawer. An image sensing device is provided to form at least one first image of the storage locations when a respective storage drawer moves in the second direction. The system includes a data processor configured to receive information representing images of the storage locations generated by the image sensing device, and determine an inventory condition of the objects stored in the respective storage drawer according to the at least one first image.