US 11,079,522 B1 · Fiducial design

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses related to fiducial designs for fiducial markers on glass substrates, or other transparent or translucent substrates, are disclosed. Example fiducial designs can facilitate visual recognition by enhancing edge detection in visual perception. In example fiducial designs, optical features on glass substrates can re-direct light so as to present a bright image region. Such optical features can include surface relief patterns formed in a coating on the surface of glass substrates. An exemplary method for manufacturing the fiducial markers can involve transfers of a fiducial design across a master mold or plate, a submaster mold or plate, and a target glass substrate. A fiducial marker can facilitate the use of the substrate in a variety of applications, including machine vision systems that facilitate automated performance of manufacturing processes on input working material.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of marking a target substrate with a target fiducial marker having a target fiducial design, the method comprising:

forming a master mold having a master surface relief pattern layer including the target fiducial design;
transferring a negative of the target fiducial design to a blank mold by pressing together the master mold and the blank mold, thereby forming a submaster mold;
separating the master mold and the submaster mold, the submaster mold having a submaster surface relief pattern layer including the negative of the target fiducial design transferred to the submaster mold;
depositing hardenable material onto the target substrate;
transferring the target fiducial design to the target substrate by pressing together the submaster mold and the target substrate;
and
separating the submaster mold and the target substrate, the target substrate having a target surface relief pattern layer in the hardenable material deposited onto the target substrate, the target surface relief pattern layer including the target fiducial design transferred to the target substrate, the target surface relief pattern layer marking the target substrate with the target fiducial marker having the target fiducial design.

4 more elements

A method of implementing a manufacturing process plan on a target substrate, the method performed by an apparatus that includes a machine vision system, the method comprising:

storing one or more predetermined fiducial designs in one or more memories of the machine vision system;
storing the manufacturing process plan in the one or more memories of the machine vision system;
viewing the target substrate by a camera of the machine vision system, the target substrate marked with a plurality of target fiducial markers, each having a respective target fiducial design including one or more surface relief profile areas;
recognizing each of the plurality of target fiducial markers by one or more processors of the machine vision system, comprising:
detecting one or more visual edges that delineate one or more shapes in the respective target fiducial design, each visual edge based on a visual distinction between a plurality of image regions including:
a first image region visually presenting a surface relief profile area in the respective target fiducial design and
a second image region visually presenting an area adjacent the surface relief profile area in the respective target fiducial design,
determining a match between the respective target fiducial design and one of the one or more stored predetermined fiducial designs, based on the detected one or more edges of the target fiducial design;
determining an orientation of the target substrate based on the recognized target fiducial markers, by the one or more processors of the machine vision system;
and
performing a manufacturing process on the target substrate in accordance with the determined orientation, the manufacturing process included in the stored manufacturing process plan.

8 more elements

A substrate marked with a fiducial marker, the substrate comprising:

a first surface relief profile area on the substrate;
and
a surrounding area, surrounding the first surface relief profile area, on the substrate,
wherein the fiducial marker includes at least the first surface relief profile area, and
wherein the fiducial marker is formed to appear as a first image region visually presenting a bright image region.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fiducial design

Life of this patent

Fiducial design

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20