James Eugene Retterath, 63Nicolville, MN

6363161, Mar 26, 2002

Jun 18, 2001

09/883816

Robert Anthony Laumeyer - Minneapolis MN
James Eugene Retterath - Excelsior MN

Facet Technology Corp. - Excelsior MN

G06K 900

382104, 382156

A system for automatically generating a database of images and positions of objects of interest identified from video images depicting roadside scenes that are recorded from a vehicle navigating a road and having a system that stores location metrics for the video images.

6449384, Sep 10, 2002

Jan 29, 2001

09/772191

Robert Anthony Laumeyer - Minneapolis MN
James Eugene Retterath - Excelsior MN

Facet Technology Corp. - Eden Prairie MN

G06K 900

382104, 382156

The present invention relates to an apparatus for rapidly analyzing frame(s) of digitized video data which may include objects of interest randomly distributed throughout the video data and wherein said objects are susceptible to detection, classification, and ultimately identification by filtering said video data for certain differentiable characteristics of said objects. The present invention may be practiced on pre-existing sequences of image data or may be integrated into an imaging device for real time, dynamic, object identification, classification, logging/counting, cataloging, retention (with links to stored bitmaps of said object), retrieval, and the like. The present invention readily lends itself to the problem of automatic and semi-automatic cataloging of vast numbers of objects such as traffic control signs and utility poles disposed in myriad settings. When used in conjunction with navigational or positional inputs, such as GPS, an output from the inventive system indicates the identity of each object, calculates object location, classifies each object by type, extracts legible text appearing on a surface of the object (if any), and stores a visual representation of the object in a form dictated by the end user/operator of the system. The output lends itself to examination and extraction of scene detail which cannot practically be successfully accomplished with just human viewers operating video equipment, although human intervention can still be used to help judge and confirm a variety of classifications of certain instances and for types of identified objects.

6453056, Sep 17, 2002

Mar 20, 2001

09/812753

Robert Anthony Laumeyer - Minneapolis MN
James Eugene Retterath - Excelsior MN

Facet Technology Corporation - Minneapolis MN

G06K 900

382104, 340933

A method and apparatus for automatically generating a database of road sign images and positions where the road signs are identified from video images depicting roadside scenes that are recorded from a vehicle navigating a road and having a system that stores location information.

6609423, Aug 26, 2003

Aug 23, 2002

10/226640

James E. Retterath - Excelsior MN
Robert A. Laumeyer - Minneapolis MN
Steven A. Chapman - Eden Prairie MN

Facet Technology Corp. - Eden Praire MN

G01N 902

73433

A system that performs content analysis on comestible products using volumetric determination with a single-chamber technique in a mass production environment. The content value determination system includes a conveyor system, a system for weighing the comestible products interposed along the path of the conveyor, a volumetric determination station that consists of a plurality of receiving chambers, and a control module. In this embodiment, each receiving chamber is equipped with a pressure sensor and a mechanical system for modifying the volume of the chamber. In addition, both the pressure sensors and the volume modification system of each receiving chamber are operably connected to the control module.

6625315, Sep 23, 2003

Sep 16, 2002

10/244318

Robert Anthony Laumeyer - Minneapolis MN
James Eugene Retterath - Excelsior MN

Facet Technology Corp. - Eden Prairie MN

G06K 966

382190, 358538

The present invention relates to an apparatus for rapidly analyzing frame(s) of digitized video data which may include objects of interest randomly distributed throughout the video data and wherein said objects are susceptible to detection, classification, and ultimately identification by filtering said video data for certain differentiable characteristics of said objects. The present invention may be practiced on pre-existing sequences of image data or may be integrated into an imaging device for real-time, dynamic, object identification, classification, logging/counting, cataloging, retention (with links to stored bitmaps of said object), retrieval, and the like. The present invention readily lends itself to the problem of automatic and semi-automatic cataloging of vast numbers of objects such as traffic control signs and utility poles disposed in myriad settings. When used in conjunction with navigational or positional inputs, such as GPS, an output from the inventative systems indicates the identity of each object, calculates object location, classifies each object by type, extracts legible text appearing on a surface of the object (if any), and stores a visual representation of the object in a form dictated by the end user/operator of the system. The output lends itself to examination and extraction of scene detail, which cannot practically be successfully accomplished with just human viewers operating video equipment, although human intervention can still be used to help judge and confirm a variety of classifications of certain instances and for types of identified objects.

6674878, Jan 6, 2004

Jul 30, 2001

09/918375

James E. Retterath - Excelsior MN
Robert A. Laumeyer - Minneapolis MN

Facet Technology Corp. - Excelsior MN

G06K 900

382104, 382274, 382165, 345581, 340907

A system for the automated determination of retroreflectivity values for reflective surfaces disposed along a roadway repeatedly illuminates an area along the roadway that includes at least one reflective surface using a strobing light source. Multiple light intensity values are measured over a field of view which includes at least a portion of the area illuminated by the light source. A computer processing system is used to identifying a portion of the light intensity values associated with a reflective surface and analyze the portion of the light intensity values to determine at least one retroreflectivity value for that reflective surface. Preferably, color images of the area and locational information are also generated by the system and are used together with a characterization profile of the light source to enhance the accuracy of the determination of retroreflectivity values. In one embodiment, a three-dimensional overlay of retroreflectivity values for the roadway is generated and can be manipulated to display retroreflectivity values of a reflective surface at any desired point along the roadway. In another embodiment, a virtual drive through along a roadway is simulated using a plurality of retroreflectivity values to simulate reflections from each reflective surface disposed along the roadway during the virtual drive through.

6829927, Dec 14, 2004

Jun 16, 2003

10/462456

James E. Retterath - Excelsior MN
Robert A. Laumeyer - Minneapolis MN
Steven A. Chapman - Eden Prairie MN

Facet Technology Corp. - Eden Prairie MN

G01F 1700

73149

A system that performs content analysis on comestible products using volumetric determination with a single-chamber technique in a mass production environment. The content value determination system includes a conveyor system, a system for weighing the comestible products interposed along the path of the conveyor, a volumetric determination station that consists of a plurality of receiving chambers, and a control module. In this embodiment, each receiving chamber is equipped with a pressure sensor and a mechanical system for modifying the volume of the chamber. In addition, both the pressure sensors and the volume modification system of each receiving chamber are operably connected to the control module.

6891960, May 10, 2005

Aug 10, 2001

09/928218

James E. Retterath - Excelsior MN, US
Robert A. Laumeyer - Minneapolis MN, US

Facet Technology - Eden Prairie MN

G06K009/00

382104, 340905

A system for classifying different types of sheeting materials of road signs depicted in a videostream compares estimated retroreflectivity values against known minimum retroreflectivity values for each of a plurality of colors. Once a road sign has been identified in the videostream, the frames associated with that road sign are analyzed to determine each of a plurality of colors present on the road sign. An estimated retroreflectivity for each of the plurality of colors present on the road sign is then determined. By comparing the estimated retroreflectivity for each of the plurality of colors against known minimum retroreflectivity values for the corresponding color for different types of sheeting materials, an accurate determination of the classification of the sheeting material of the road sign is established. Preferably, certain conditions of gross failure of the sheeting material are filtered out before classification of the sheeting material is determined.