US 12,345,869 B2
Microscopic fiber analysis systems and methods
Samuel K Taylor, Provo, UT (US); J. Caleb Lystrup, Provo, UT (US); Jacob Gates, Provo, UT (US); Andrew D. James, Spanish Fork, UT (US); Cammi R. Lystrup, Provo, UT (US); Carver J. Coleman, Provo, UT (US); David B. Jackson, Spanish Fork, UT (US); and Marin James, Spanish Fork, UT (US)
Assigned to Bellu, LLC, Provo, UT (US)
Filed by Bellu, LLC, Provo, UT (US)
Filed on May 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/322,175.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/359,002, filed on Jul. 7, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0012231 A1, Jan. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. G06K 9/00 (2022.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 1/28 (2006.01); G02B 21/36 (2006.01); H04N 23/60 (2023.01)
CPC G02B 21/362 (2013.01) [B01L 3/508 (2013.01); G01N 1/2813 (2013.01); H04N 23/64 (2023.01); B01L 2200/025 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0822 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fiber analysis system configured to capture and microscopically analyze an elongate fiber, the fiber analysis system comprising:
an image sensor configured to obtain microscopic imagery of a portion of the elongate fiber disposed within a sensing region;
a fiber analysis coupling comprising:
an elongate driving roller extending along and configured to rotate about a drive axis, the elongate driving roller comprising a groove fabricated radially along the elongate driving roller;
an actuator coupled to and configured to drive the elongate driving roller about the drive axis;
a mount configured to couple the actuator to the image sensor;
an analysis tube coupler; and
an elongate free roller configured to rotate about an axis parallel to the drive axis in response to rotation of the elongate driving roller, the elongate free roller comprising a collar extending radially from the elongate free roller and configured to be received within the groove, wherein the collar and the groove are separated by a space sized to receive the elongate fiber therein;
an analysis tube comprising an aperture and first and second segments separated by a tube bend, the analysis tube configured to be positioned within the analysis tube coupler, wherein in response to a rotation of the elongate driving roller, the elongate driving roller is configured to draw the elongate fiber into the aperture of the analysis tube, and wherein the tube bend is shaped to cause the elongate fiber to be disposed along an interior surface of the analysis tube within the sensing region;
a non-transitory memory executable instructions stored thereon; and
an electronic processor in communication with the non-transitory memory and configured to execute the instructions to cause the system to at least:
cause the actuator to drive the elongate driving roller a first target amount;
cause the image sensor to obtain the microscopic imagery of the portion of the elongate fiber disposed within the sensing region; and
in response to the obtaining of the microscopic imagery, automatically cause the actuator to drive the elongate driving roller a second target amount.