Patents Examined by Don Williams
  • Patent number: 10753746
    Abstract: A digitizer system includes a substrate with indicia that uniquely define local areas of the substrate. A multi-mode sensor device, such as a stylus, may sense radiation emitted from the features, and selectively switch to a mode of operation that can sense the indicia and determine therefrom the location of the stylus relative to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard O. Geaghan, Michael W. Dolezal
  • Patent number: 10534320
    Abstract: A method of detecting a movement of a timepiece setting stem arranged to be moved axially along and/or rotated about its longitudinal axis. The method includes a light source illuminating a portion of the setting stem; a light detector receiving a reflected or diffracted light pattern from the setting stem; a processor forming a first pixel pattern representative of the reflected light pattern at a first time instant; the processor forming a second pixel pattern representative of the reflected light pattern at a second, later time instant; and determining that the setting stem has been moved, if the second pixel pattern is different or shifted with respect to the first pixel pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Yvan Ferri, Raphael Balmer, Damien Schmutz, Pascal Lagorgette
  • Patent number: 10527467
    Abstract: A rotation angle detector comprises a rotating body including a plurality of track parts, and an abnormality detecting unit for detecting an abnormality based on signals generated in detection units. The detection units generate a first signal based on a first track part and a second signal based on a second track part. The abnormality detecting unit includes a judgement unit for judging an occurrence of an abnormality when the difference between the fluctuation range of the first signal and the fluctuation range of the second signal is larger than a predetermined fluctuation range judgement value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nishioka, Shunichi Odaka, Keisuke Imai
  • Patent number: 10483076
    Abstract: The present disclosure claims an apparatus, a method and a system for the calibration of a streak camera. A plurality of fiber optic cables is bundled together such that the input ends and the output ends of the fibers are grouped together. Each fiber in the bundle has a distinct and characteristic time taken for light to traverse from the input end to the output end known by the observer. This characteristic time depends on the physical and optical properties of the fibers selected. Calibration light is collected by the fiber input face and travels through the individual fibers in a characteristic time. Individual light pulses will subsequently be detected by the streak camera which converts the time profile of the incoming light pulses into a spatial profile. An observer can compare the observed spatial separation profile to an expected spatial separation profile for calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: MCMASTER UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Anthony Tsikouras, Qiyin Fang
  • Patent number: 10431571
    Abstract: The opto-electronic module comprises a substrate member (P); at least one emission member (E1; E2) mounted on said substrate (P); at least one detecting member (D) mounted on said substrate (P); at least one optics member (O) comprising at least one passive optical component (L); at least one spacer member (S) arranged between said substrate member (P) and said optics member (O). The opto-electronic modules can be very small and can be produced in high quality in high volumes. In particular, at least two emission members (E1, E2), e.g., two LEDs, are provided, for emitting light of variable color. This can improve illumination of a scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hartmut Rudmann, Markus Rossi, Renè Kromhof
  • Patent number: 10429236
    Abstract: A gesture sensing device includes a single light source and a multiple segmented single photo sensor, or an array of photo sensors, collectively referred to herein as segmented photo sensors. A light modifying structure relays reflected light from the light source onto different segments of the segmented photo sensors. The light modifying structure can be an optical lens structure or a mechanical structure. The different segments of the photo sensor sense reflected light and output corresponding sensed voltage signals. A control circuit receives and processes the sensed voltage signals to determine target motion relative to the segmented photo sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: David Skurnik, Nevzat A. Kestelli, Ilya K. Veygman, Anand Chamakura, Christopher F. Edwards, Nicole D. Kerness, Pirooz Parvarandeh, Sunny K. Hsu
  • Patent number: 10378933
    Abstract: Encoder systems provide measurement and reference optical paths based on propagation in a common set of optical elements along paths that are displaced angularly or spatially. Associated measurement and reference beams are reflected by corner cubes to as to define first paths and second paths. The measurement and reference beams are combined to determine a work piece displacement in a manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Eric P. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 10374000
    Abstract: A hybrid device package comprising a baseplate, a balanced composite structure (BCS) on the baseplate, a first IC on the BCS, and at least one additional IC physically coupled to the first IC. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) for the stack formed from the BCS and the first IC is arranged to be approximately equal to that of the baseplate, thereby reducing the thermal stress to which the at least one additional IC is subjected when cooled to its operating temperature which might otherwise result in physical damage to the IC. The baseplate is preferably an alumina ceramic baseplate. In one embodiment, the first IC is a readout IC (ROIC), the at least one additional IC is a detector array IC which is on the ROIC, and the hybrid device package is a focal plane array (FPA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: TELEDYNE SCIENTIFIC & IMAGING, LLC
    Inventors: Donald E. Cooper, Lisa L. Fischer
  • Patent number: 10281678
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, method, reagents, and kits for conducting assays as well as process for their preparation are described. They are particularly well suited for conducting automated analysis in a multi-well plate assay format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Meso Scale Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Chamberlin, Charles M. Clinton, Eli N. Glezer, Bandele Jeffrey-Coker, Manish Kochar, Sandor Kovacs, D. T. Le, Aaron Leimkuehler, George Sigal, Leo Tabakin, Jon Willoughby
  • Patent number: 10261023
    Abstract: A remote illumination and detection method, node, and system is described. The remote illumination and detection method generates a detection message when motion is detected by a detector. The detector includes a wireless communications module that wirelessly transmits the detection message to a remote sensing device. The remote sensing device includes a camera having a field of view and wirelessly communicates with the detector. The remote sensing device then proceeds to generate an illumination instruction to illuminate an area within the field of view, when the remote sensing device receives the detection message. The remote sensing device transmits the illumination instruction to an illuminator. The illuminator wirelessly communicates with the remote sensing device. The method then illuminates an area near the illuminator, when motion is detected by the detector and the illumination instruction is received by the illuminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Inventor: David Curtis Gaw
  • Patent number: 10263027
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels, wherein one or more of the plurality of pixels have a pupil dividing portion and a light receiving portion, the light receiving portion includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions, an element isolation region is provided between adjacent ones of the plurality of photoelectric conversion regions, and wherein a scatterer is provided within the pupil dividing portion and above the element isolation region, and the scatterer is formed from a material of a refractive index smaller than a refractive index of a material of the pupil dividing portion peripheral to the scatterer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuya Nobayashi
  • Patent number: 10247584
    Abstract: This application describes methods and apparatus for distributed fiber optic sensing that reduce or compensate for the effects of laser phase noise. The method involves repeatedly interrogating an optical fiber (101), where each interrogation involves launching at least one interrogating pulse into the optical fiber; detecting optical radiation which is backscattered from within the fiber, and forming a measurement signal from a plurality of sensing portions of the fiber. The method involves forming a laser noise template based on the measurement signals within a frequency band of interest from a first set of said sensing portions; and applying a correction to the measurement signals from said plurality of sensing portions based on said laser noise template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Optasense Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Roger Crickmore, Emery Ku
  • Patent number: 10243513
    Abstract: The measuring device determines the luminous intensity received by a photovoltaic cell electrically connected at output to an electrical energy storage unit via a DC-DC converter and to an external capacitor arranged in parallel to the DC-DC converter. It includes: a variable resistor arranged between an input terminal and an earth terminal; a control unit arranged to vary the value of the variable resistor within a plurality of determined resistance values; a discharge unit for the external capacitor controlled by the control unit so as to discharge said external capacitor to a reference voltage; and a photovoltaic cell voltage change detector which is arranged to be capable of determining, when a measurement is made, whether the voltage at said input terminal increases or decreases between two instants separated by a given time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: EM Microelectronic-Marin SA
    Inventors: Jerome Saby, Yves Theoduloz, Cyril Marti
  • Patent number: 10234646
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a photonically enabled complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip are disclosed. The CMOS chip may comprise a plurality of lasers, a microlens, a turning mirror, and an optical bench, and may generate optical signals utilizing the lasers, focus the optical signals utilizing the microlens, and reflect the optical signals at an angle defined by the turning mirror. The reflected optical signals may be transmitted into the photonically enabled CMOS chip, which may comprise a non-reciprocal polarization rotator, comprising a latching faraday rotator. The CMOS chip may comprise a reciprocal polarization rotator, which may comprise a half-wave plate comprising birefringent materials operably coupled to the optical bench. The turning mirror may be integrated in the optical bench and may reflect the optical signals to transmit through a lid operably coupled to the optical bench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Mack, Mark Peterson, Steffen Gloeckner, Adithyaram Narasimha, Roger Koumans, Peter De Dobbelaere
  • Patent number: 10229941
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging element including: a plurality of unit pixels each having a photoelectric conversion part, a transfer part that transfers a charge generated by the photoelectric conversion part to a predetermined region, and a draining part that drains a charge in the predetermined region; a light shielding film being formed under an interconnect layer in the unit pixels and shield, from light, substantially the whole surface of the plurality of unit pixels except a light receiving part of the photoelectric conversion part; and a voltage controller controlling a voltage applied to the light shielding film. The voltage controller sets the voltage applied to the light shielding film to a first voltage in charge draining by the draining part and sets the voltage applied to the light shielding film to a second voltage higher than the first voltage in charge transfer by the transfer part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Oike, Takashi Machida
  • Patent number: 10222632
    Abstract: A contact lens for lens-to-lens communication includes blink detection circuitry, one or more electrodes, a logic engine, and data transmission circuitry. The blink detection circuitry is configured to generate a blink signal in response to a blinking of an eye. The logic engine is coupled to receive the blink signal from the blink detection circuitry. The data transmission circuitry is coupled between the one or more electrodes and the logic engine. The logic engine causes the data transmission circuitry to drive electrical data signals onto the one or more electrodes in response to the blink signal reaching a pre-determined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventor: Shungneng Lee
  • Patent number: 10215995
    Abstract: Large area, low f-number optical systems, and microfluidic systems incorporating such optical systems, are disclosed. Large area, low f-number optical systems may be used to collect light from plurality of micro channels associated with a plurality of flow cytometers. The optical systems may be configured to collect light from a source area having an object lateral length or width within a range of 25 mm and 75 mm, configured to have an f-number within a range of 0.9 to 1.2, and configured to have a working distance within a range of 10 mm to 30 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: CYTONOME/ST, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Francis Perrault, Jr., Johnathan Charles Sharpe
  • Patent number: 10215627
    Abstract: A signal conditioning circuit for a light sensor, in particular for an ambient light sensor, comprises a first integration stage (INT1) connected to a first sensor input (IN1) to receive a first and second sensor signal and a second integration stage (INT2) comprising a coupling input (IN2) to receive from the first integration stage (INT1) a first and second integrated sensor signal. A coupling stage (S3, C5) is connecting the first and second integration stages (INT1, INT2) and is designed to generate a difference signal from consecutively received integrated first and second integrated sensor signals. A sensor arrangement and a method for signal conditioning for a light sensor is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Gonggui Xu, Lloyd Hasley, Cecil Aswell
  • Patent number: 10209127
    Abstract: A method. The method may include transmitting an optical noise signal to a first photodetector and a second photodetector within an optical receiver circuit that includes a transimpedance amplifier circuit. The method may further include measuring, in response to transmitting the optical noise signal, a power output from the optical receiver circuit. The method may further include determining, using the power output, a difference in photodetector responsivity between the first photodetector and the second photodetector. The method may further include adjusting, using a transimpedance gain controller, an amplifier gain within the optical receiver circuit to decrease a difference in photodetector responsivity between the first photodetector and the second photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Tom Luk, Christopher Falt, Sean Sebastian O'Keefe
  • Patent number: 10203585
    Abstract: According to some aspects, a method for assisting the adjusting of a focus of an image includes providing a graphical representation of a detected image. The method can also include receiving an indication of a user selection of a region of the image and providing a magnified graphical representation of the selected image region. The method may further include providing a graphical indication of a degree of focus for at least a portion of the selected image region. The graphical indication in some instances is visually correlated with the magnified graphical representation of the selected image region. The size, shape, and/or color of the graphical indication in some instances can be correlated with the degree of focus for at least a portion of the selected image region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: RED.COM, LLC
    Inventors: James H. Jannard, Peter Jarred Land, Deanan DaSilva, Thomas Graeme Nattress