Patents Examined by Brandi Thomas
  • Patent number: 9568800
    Abstract: A thin border display for an electronic device may comprise an optical assembly that includes a support frame and an electrophoretic display (EPD) structure attached to the support frame in a manner that allows for the display of the electronic device to exhibit a “thin border” or “borderless” look at a periphery of the electronic device. A portion of the EPD structure may at least partly curve around a curved portion of the support frame, the curved portion of the support frame being near the periphery of the support frame. In some embodiments, an electrode may be disposed at a periphery of the display to drive the margin of the display for achieving a thin border/borderless appearance. The EPD structure may include a backplane substrate that is either rigid or flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Arthur Sprague
  • Patent number: 9568705
    Abstract: A camera module (40) of the present invention includes: an optical section (1) having an image pickup lens (2) and a lens barrel (3); and a lens driving device (10) including a lens holder (11). The optical section (1) and the lens driving device (10) are provided on an upper side of a sensor cover (23) covering an image pickup element (22) of an image pickup section (20). The lens barrel (3) is positioned at such a location that the lens barrel (3) does not make contact with the sensor cover (23), so that the lens barrel (3) is fixed to the lens holder (11) at the location. Before being fixed to the lens holder (11), the lens barrel (3) is slidable in the optical axis direction with respect to the lens holder (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sekimoto, Kazuya Fujita
  • Patent number: 9568744
    Abstract: A method and a system for the selection and programming of an energized ophthalmic lens are disclosed. More specifically, the energized ophthalmic lens which can include a variable state arcuate shaped liquid meniscus lens capable of changing vision correction properties upon the receipt of an activation signal. According to some aspects of the disclosure, the system and method comprise vision simulation software configured to use patient's eye related data and product design options to select the ophthalmic lens and an operational protocol for the change of optical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Pugh, Frederick A. Flitsch
  • Patent number: 9565999
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus includes a tomographic image acquisition unit configured to acquire a tomographic image of a subject's eye based on a combined beam obtained by combining a return beam from the subject's eye, which is irradiated with a measuring beam, and a reference beam corresponding to the measuring beam, an optical path length difference changing unit configured to change an optical path length difference between the measuring beam and the reference beam, and a control unit configured to, in a case where relative positions of an optical system for irradiating the subject's eye with the measuring beam and an anterior segment of the subject's eye satisfy a predetermined condition based on an image of the anterior segment, control the optical path length difference changing unit so that the optical path length difference is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motoya Takai
  • Patent number: 9566003
    Abstract: In order to detect a position alignment state between an apparatus and an eye to be inspected in a working distance direction with high precision at a high speed in the apparatus side, an ophthalmologic apparatus is disclosed. The position alignment state between the eye to be inspected and the apparatus in the working distance direction is detected by evaluating a contrast of an index image that is obtained as a reflection image of an index projected onto an anterior ocular segment, and a contrast of the index image is evaluated using a ratio or a difference between pixel numbers of the index image in at least two or more gray scale values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Manabu Wada
  • Patent number: 9563742
    Abstract: An apparatus that can measure images of at least a portion of an eye and record data sets indicative of a neurological condition. A method interrelates an image and a data set to provide an interpretive result. The apparatus and method thereby provide guidance as to the presence of a medical condition in a patient. The apparatus and method can be used in an iterative measurement process, in which the apparatus attempts to discern normal health from a state of health that is not normal health. If the interpretive result is consistent with normal health, the process terminates, information is recorded, and an optional report is given. If the interpretive result is not consistent with normal health, the apparatus and method attempts to distinguish which condition is consistent with the data and images used, and can iterate with additional measurements and information to attempt to provide a useful interpretive result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Newman, Corinn C. Fahrenkrug
  • Patent number: 9545197
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods for determining tear film break-up time and for detecting eyelid margin contact and blink rates, particularly for diagnosing, measuring, and/or analyzing dry eye conditions and symptoms. The apparatus and methods for determining tear film break-up time and for detecting eyelid margin contact and blink rates, particularly for diagnosing, measuring, and/or analyzing dry eye conditions and symptoms may employ ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices or other imaging and display devices capable of imaging and displaying a picture of a patient's eye during tear film break-up time and blink rate related procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: TearScience, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Korb, Stephen M. Grenon, Caroline Blackie, Timothy R. Willis, Steve Bacich
  • Patent number: 9529188
    Abstract: An electrowetting element comprising a first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid. A support plate includes an electrode for applying a voltage to control a configuration of the first and second fluids and a plurality of layers between the electrode and at least one of the first or second fluids. The plurality of layers includes a first layer comprising a first plurality of pinholes and a second layer comprising fewer pinholes than the first layer. The first layer is disposed on the second layer, between the second layer and at least one of the first or second fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cristina Maria Petcu, Gerben Boon
  • Patent number: 9529242
    Abstract: A display apparatus and a display apparatus manufacturing method are provided with which a favorable display quality can be obtained by preventing an air bubble from entering. The display apparatus in the invention includes a circuit board including a display portion and a peripheral circuit portion provided at the periphery of the display portion, a display sheet layer, an adhesion layer that adheres the display sheet to the circuit board, and a common electrode that is provided on the display sheet and can apply a voltage to the display sheet between the common electrode and the pixel electrode. A surface of the circuit board to which the display sheet is adhered through the adhesion layer has a recess-and-projection structure including recess portions and projecting portions. The recess-and-projection structure is formed so as to reach an outer edge of the peripheral circuit portion, as viewed in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiki Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9517008
    Abstract: A system for testing the vision of a subject incorporating eye movement tracking is disclosed herein. The system includes a head motion sensing device configured to measure a velocity or speed of a head of a subject, an eye movement tracking device configured to measure an eye movement of the subject, a visual display device configured to display one or more visual objects so that the one or more visual objects are visible to the subject; and a data processing device operatively coupled to the head motion sensing device, the eye movement tracking device, and the visual display device, the data processing device being specially programmed to carry out the steps of the vision tests. A method for the testing the vision of a subject incorporating eye movement tracking is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Bertec Corporation
    Inventors: Necip Berme, Kamran Barin, Daniel James Petit
  • Patent number: 9507176
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve uneven coloring by polarization color due to birefringence of a polarization optical article. Disclosed is a polarization optical article in which uneven coloring by polarization color has been improved, the polarization optical article being a multi-layered polarization optical article including at least a linear polarization functional portion, a retardation functional portion and a back-up resin portion, characterized in that the linear polarization functional portion, the retardation functional portion and the back-up resin portion are arranged in order from an objective side toward an ocular side. The linear polarization functional portion is, for example, a linear polarizer, the retardation functional portion is, for example, a retardation sheet, and the retardation functional portion has, for example, a retardation of 1,000 nm or more. The back-up resin is a polycarbonate resin, a polyamide resin or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: YAMAMOTO KOGAKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kobuchi, Keishi Yoshikawa, Koichiro Oka
  • Patent number: 9504376
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods that facilitate optical analysis, particularly for the diagnosis and treatment of refractive errors of the eye. An optical diagnostic method for an eye includes obtaining a sequence of aberration measurements of the eye, identifying an outlier aberration measurement of the sequence of aberration measurements, and excluding the outlier aberration measurement from the sequence of aberration measurements to produce a qualified sequence of aberration measurements. The sequence of aberrations measurements can be obtained by using a wavefront sensor. An optical correction for the eye can be formulated in response to the qualified sequence of aberration measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: AMO Wavefront Sciences, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Neal, Thomas D. Raymond, Leander Zickler
  • Patent number: 9498116
    Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus of an embodiment includes an optical system, a rotational movement amount calculator, a registration unit, a parallel movement amount calculator, a driver, and a controller. The optical system is used to capture a moving image of a subject's eye. The rotational movement amount calculator calculates a rotational movement amount between a first image and a second image included in the moving image. The registration unit performs registration between the first image and the second image in the rotation direction based on the rotational movement amount. The parallel movement amount calculator performs a phase only correlation process on the first image and the second image registered by the registration unit to calculate a parallel movement amount between the first image and the second image. The driver moves the optical system. The controller controls the driver based on the parallel movement amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOPCON
    Inventors: Masahiro Shibutani, Hiroyuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 9501981
    Abstract: The present invention provides driving methods for electrophoretic color display devices. The backplane system used for the driving methods is found to be simpler which renders color display devices more cost effective. More specifically, the driving method comprises first driving all pixels towards a color state by modulating only the common electrode, followed by driving all pixels towards their desired color states by maintaining the common electrode grounded and applying different voltages to the pixel electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: E INK CALIFORNIA, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Lin, Chi-Mao Hung
  • Patent number: 9500888
    Abstract: An electronically switchable privacy device suitable for use in display devices is described. The electronically switchable privacy device comprises a first transparent electrode layer, an electronically switchable layer disposed adjacent to the first transparent electrode layer, and a second transparent electrode layer disposed adjacent to the electronically switchable layer and opposite the first transparent electrode layer. The second transparent electrode layer comprises a transparent substrate layer having a plurality of microstructured ribs extending across a major surface of the transparent substrate layer such that the microstructured ribs form an alternating series of ribs and channels, each channel having channel walls defined by adjacent ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Evan L. Schwartz, Mark J. Pellerite, Encai Hao, Michael L. Steiner
  • Patent number: 9488803
    Abstract: An optical image lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element has positive refractive power. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof, wherein at least one surface of the fifth lens element is aspheric. The sixth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, wherein at least one surface of the sixth lens element is aspheric, and the image-side surface of the sixth lens element has at least one inflection point thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: LARGAN PRECISION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Shan Chen, Tsung-Han Tsai, Ming-Ta Chou
  • Patent number: 9488802
    Abstract: An optical image lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element with positive refractive power has a convex image-side surface, wherein at least one surface of the fifth lens element is aspheric. The sixth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface, wherein at least one surface of the sixth lens element is aspheric, and the sixth lens element has at least one inflection point on the image-side surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: LARGAN PRECISION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Shan Chen, Tsung-Han Tsai, Ming-Ta Chou
  • Patent number: 9482859
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a dye composition for electrowetting display, the method including a processing step of processing a mixture liquid containing a nonpolar solvent and a dye, using an ion exchange resin, to obtain a dye composition for electrowetting display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Kato, Satoshi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9480398
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a physiological parameter of a subject through interrogation of an eye of the subject with an optical signal are described. Interrogation is performed unobtrusively. The physiological parameter is determined from a signal sensed from the eye of a subject when the eye of the subject is properly aligned with regard to an interrogation signal source and/or response signal sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Allen L. Brown, Jr., Douglas C. Burger, Eric Horvitz, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Chris Demetrios Karkanias, Eric C. Leuthardt, John L. Manferdelli, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Barney Pell, Clarence T. Tegreene, Willard H. Wattenburg, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Richard N. Zare
  • Patent number: 9482861
    Abstract: Optical display devices and methods of operating such devices are provided. The optical device includes a display component having a plurality of anisotropic multiphasic particles with at least two optically distinct phases. The plurality of anisotropic multiphasic particles is disposed in one or more regions of the display component that define an optic feature. Further, at least one of the phases of the anisotropic multiphasic particle comprises a material receptive to a force field, such as a magnetic material is receptive to an applied magnetic field. In this manner, the display component can reversibly exhibit a first optical state in the presence of the force field and thus is optionally switchable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents Of The University Of Michigan
    Inventors: Joerg Lahann, Sang-yeul Hwang, Jaewon Yoon, Srijanani Bhaskar, Kyungjin Lee, Tae-Hong Park