Patents Examined by Euncha P. Cherry
  • Patent number: 11977223
    Abstract: An optical unit includes: a base which includes a main surface; a mirror device which includes a movable mirror portion and is disposed on the base; a frame member that is provided on the main surface so as to surround the mirror device; and a window member that is bonded to the frame member and has a flat plate shape. The frame member includes a first wall portion which is provided on the main surface and includes a first top surface on the side opposite to the main surface, a second wall portion which is provided on the main surface so as to face the first wall portion and includes a second top surface on the side opposite to the main surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Yuki Morinaga, Anna Yoshida, Yoshihisa Warashina
  • Patent number: 11971606
    Abstract: A ruggedized adjustable mounting system is described for adjustably coupling and selectively locking a component supported in a fixture of the mount in a desired orientation. In some embodiments, the mounting system includes one or more kinematic couplings that support a fixture on a base and one or more adjustable couplings that are configured to adjust a separation distance between two opposing portions of the fixture and the base to selectively pivot the fixture about one or more axes of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Andrew Guzman, Joseph Flaherty, Steven R. Gillmer, Kevin Edward Sullivan, Steven Augst
  • Patent number: 11971538
    Abstract: Provided is an optical scanning device capable of preventing abnormal vibration occurring in a micro mirror. The optical scanning device includes a micro mirror that reflects light beams, torsion bars that rotate the micro mirror around a Y-axis, a movable frame that is disposed around the micro mirror, and meander-type piezoelectric actuators that rotate the micro mirror around an X-axis. The movable frame has a rectangular shape, and has a rib provided on the rear surface of the movable frame. Corner regions of four corners of the movable frame have a removal region where no rib is partially provided or a rib with a thickness thinner than other regions is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yutaro Oda
  • Patent number: 11958088
    Abstract: Some variations provide an atomic instrument configured with an optically transparent and electrochemically cleanable window, comprising: a transparent first electrode; a second electrode with an atom reservoir for first metal ions; an ion conductor interposed between the first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the ion conductor is capable of transporting second metal ions, wherein the ion conductor is in contact with the first electrode and with the second electrode, and wherein the ion conductor is optically transparent; and a transparent window support in contact with the ion conductor, wherein the electrochemically cleanable window is optically transparent, wherein the transparent window support, the ion conductor, and the first electrode collectively form a transparent and electrochemically cleanable window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher S. Roper
  • Patent number: 11960143
    Abstract: A positioning system, including: a first plate; a second plate coupled to the first plate and pivotable about an axis; a pair of voice coil actuators configured to rotate the second plate about this axis; and a processor configured to drive currents to the pair of voice coil actuators; wherein the pair of voice coil actuators comprises a first and second magnet structures mounted on the first plate at equal and opposite distance from the axis, and a first and second coils mounted on the second plate and positioned such that the respective first and second magnet structures move in and out of the first and second coils when the second plate rotates about the axis; wherein each of the first and second magnet structures substantially conforms to an arc having a center at the axis and a radius equal to the distance of the magnet structure from the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: THORLABS GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Böhme, Egbert Krause, Stefan Michael Friedrich Baumhackl
  • Patent number: 11958129
    Abstract: On an optical path of a condensing lens (101), a varifocal lens (102) is disposed. The varifocal lens (102) is formed of an electro-optic crystal such as, e.g., potassium tantalate niobate. A condensation position measurement unit (103) measures a condensation position where laser light is condensed by the condensing lens (101). A condensation position control unit (104) controls a focal position of the varifocal lens (102) such that a difference between the condensation position measured by the condensation position measurement unit (103) and a prescribed condensation position that has been set falls within an acceptable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Sohan Kawamura, Tadayuki Imai, Soichi Oka
  • Patent number: 11961436
    Abstract: A display system includes a display screen, a light source to generate a light beam to be modulated in accordance with image data, and a beam scanning module to receive the light beams and to direct the light beam onto an associated display region of the display screen. The beam scanning module includes a resonant scanning mirror configured to scan the light beam along a first scanning direction across the associated display region, and a polygon scanning mirror to scan the light beam along a second scanning direction across the associated display region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Prysm Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Roger A. Hajjar, Scot C. Fairchild, Arthur R. Telkamp
  • Patent number: 11953813
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a microelectromechanical device that features a fixed structure defining a cavity, a tiltable structure elastically suspended within the cavity, and a piezoelectrically driven actuation structure that rotates the tiltable structure about a first rotation axis. The actuation structure includes driving arms with piezoelectric material, elastically coupled to the tiltable structure by decoupling elastic elements that are stiff to out-of-plane movements but compliant to torsional movements. The tiltable structure is elastically coupled to the fixed structure at the first rotation axis using elastic suspension elements, while the fixed structure forms a frame surrounding the cavity with supporting elements. A lever mechanism is coupled between a supporting element and a driving arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Nicolo' Boni, Roberto Carminati, Massimiliano Merli
  • Patent number: 11947097
    Abstract: A bandpass filter for light has variable lower and upper cut-off wavelengths. The bandpass filter comprises an areal long-pass filter defining the variable lower cut-off wavelength and an areal short-pass filter defining the variable upper cut-off wavelength. The long-pass filter has different lower cut-off wavelengths in different first area regions which follow to one another in a first direction, and the short-pass filter has different upper cut-off wavelengths in different second area regions which follow to one another in a second direction. The long-pass filter and the short-pass filter are connected in series and spatially fixed relative to one another. The first direction and the second direction are oriented crosswise to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ABBERIOR INSTRUMENTS GMBH
    Inventors: Joachim Fischer, Matthias Henrich, Andreas Schoenle, Lars Kastrup
  • Patent number: 11944182
    Abstract: Disclosed is an invention in the field of cosmetic mirrors. The present invention particularly relates to a portable makeup mirror device comprising a first mirror, a second mirror, and a third mirror, each of varying mirror magnification factors, being supported by a freestanding frame, said makeup mirror device having the first mirror and second mirror pivoting and upwardly removed from the mirror housing in opposite directions, and once fully deployed are located on opposing sides of the mirror housing central aperture showing a third mirror fixed within the mirror housing. The freestanding frame has a base and a support member having a plurality of pivots for adjusting the base and mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: AT LASTI MAKEUP MIRROR, LLC
    Inventors: Rebecca Long, Glen Clifton, Curt Stewart
  • Patent number: 11940564
    Abstract: A laser radar device includes: a light source for outputting laser light; a scanner for causing the laser light to scan; a first optical system for receiving the laser light caused to scan by the scanner and incident on the first optical system and emitting the incident laser light in such a manner that a horizontal component of the incident laser light is different from a horizontal component of the laser light to be emitted; and a second optical system for receiving the laser light caused to scan by the scanner and incident on the second optical system and emitting the incident laser light in such a manner that an incident area of the incident laser light in the horizontal direction is the same as an incident area of the first optical system in the horizontal direction, and an emission area of the incident laser light is different from an emission area of the first optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Ito, Takayuki Yanagisawa, Hiroshi Aruga, Masaharu Imaki, Wataru Yoshiki, Shumpei Kameyama
  • Patent number: 11940619
    Abstract: A mirror device including a micromirror, which is excitable to an oscillatory motion such that a first impingement angle of a beam of light impinging upon its reflective surface varies within a first value range, and a cover element, which is stationary so that, due to the reflection at the reflective surface, the beam impinges upon at least one inner surface of the cover element and partially impinges as reflection beam upon the reflective surface. The cover element is aligned at an incline relative to a neutral position of the micromirror such that a second impingement angle of the reflection beam impinging upon the micromirror lies within a second value range outside the first value range. The reflective surface has a coating, which has a reflection coefficient of at least 0.6 for the first value range and a reflection coefficient of maximally 0.4 for the second value range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Gael Pilard
  • Patent number: 11933966
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of making a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device. The method includes, in a single structural layer, affixing a tiltable structure to an anchorage portion with first and second supporting arms extending between the anchorage portion and opposite sides of the tiltable structure, and forming first and second resonant piezoelectric actuation structures extending between a constraint portion of the first supporting arm and the anchorage portion, on opposite sides of the first supporting arm. The method further includes coupling a handling wafer underneath the structural layer to define a cavity therebetween, and forming a passivation layer over the structural layer, the passivation layer having contact openings defined therein for routing metal regions for electrical coupling to respective electrical contact pads, the electrical contact pads being electrically connected to the first and second resonant piezoelectric actuation structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberto Carminati, Nicolo' Boni, Massimiliano Merli
  • Patent number: 11933969
    Abstract: An optical engine module including at least two laser sources, collimators, a light combining lens group, an aperture, a beam shaping lens group, a MEMS scanning module, and a beam expansion lens group is provided. The at least two laser sources respectively generate at least two laser beams with different wavelengths. The collimators respectively collimate the at least two laser beams to generate at least two collimated beams. The light combining lens group combines the at least two collimated beams into a combined beam. The aperture filters stray beams of the combined beam. The beam shaping lens group shapes the combined beam to generate a shaped beam with a perfect circle. The MEMS scanning module reflects the shaped beam and scans in horizontal and vertical directions to form a scanning beam. The beam expansion lens group expands the scanning beam into an expanded beam having a predetermined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: MEGA1 COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Masuda, Han-Chiang Wu, Shan-Ling Yeh, Tzu-Chieh Lien
  • Patent number: 11933965
    Abstract: A light path adjustment mechanism includes a support, a carrier, an optical plate member and a plurality of actuators. The carrier is disposed on the support and connected to the support via a first elastic member and a second elastic member. The carrier includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side, and each of the third side and the fourth side is located between the first side and the second side. The actuators are disposed on at most three sides of the first side, the second side, the third side and the fourth side, and the actuators are disposed at least on the first side and the third side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventor: Wei-Szu Lin
  • Patent number: 11933895
    Abstract: A lidar system includes one or more light sources configured to generate a first beam of light and a second beam of light, a scanner configured to scan the first and second beams of light across a field of regard of the lidar system, and a receiver configured to detect the first beam of light and the second beam of light scattered by one or more remote targets. The scanner includes a rotatable polygon mirror that includes multiple reflective surfaces angularly offset from one another along a periphery of the polygon mirror, the reflective surfaces configured to reflect the first and second beams of light to produce a series of scan lines as the polygon mirror rotates. The scanner also includes a pivotable scan mirror configured to (i) reflect the first and second beams of light and (ii) pivot to distribute the scan lines across the field of regard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Luminar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason M. Eichenholz, Scott R. Campbell, John E. McWhirter, Matthew D. Weed, Lane A. Martin
  • Patent number: 11927779
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a retroreflective sheet, provided with a retroreflective layer having retroreflective elements on one surface, a back face layer provided to face the retroreflective elements, a coupling portion to couple a part of the retroreflective elements and a part of the back face layer, the method including a preparation step of preparing a resin composition that has a viscosity capable of adhering over a predetermined time after application of predetermined energy, and completes curing after the predetermined time passes, a coating step of applying the resin composition forming the coupling portion on the retroreflective layer or the back face layer, an energy application step of applying the predetermined energy to the resin composition, and a bonding step of bonding the retroreflective layer and the back face layer via the resin composition to which the predetermined energy is applied before the predetermined time passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON CARBIDE INDUSTRIES CO., INC.
    Inventors: Chenyang Jiang, Toshiaki Shiomi
  • Patent number: 11914173
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reflector for a vehicle, which includes a main body having a plurality of reflection prisms arranged next to each other for each reflecting light. Each reflection prism has a reflection direction along which the reflection prism reflects the light. The main body has first reflection prisms having a first reflection direction and second reflection prisms having a second reflection direction different from the first reflection direction. The second reflection prisms form at least one symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Friedrich-Uwe Tontsch, Benjamin Ettenhuber
  • Patent number: 11905165
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a MEMS device and related methods comprising a mirror for the measuring of light frequency. The MEMS mirror may rotate around a pivot point and is driven by a periodic force for continuous bi-directional motion without transient vibrations. The periodic force may further comprise transient functions comprising special waveforms when at the turn-around point of the bi-directional rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: O-NET TECHNOLOGIES (GROUP) LTD., ITF TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Boyd, Zuowen Jiang, Yun Ren, Feng Tian
  • Patent number: 11905989
    Abstract: The current invention relates to an electrically actuated device for orientating an optical element around a rotational axis comprising a rotor and a stator, said rotor comprising said axis, said axis comprising an optical end and an electronic end, the stator comprising a means for generating a magnetic field; the device further comprising a first axial rotation bearing associated with said optical end and a second axial rotation bearing associated with said electronic end, each bearing comprising an inner part and an outer part; said device further comprising electronic actuation means for providing a charged particle having a velocity v moving through a conductor provided on said rotor, wherein the axis is able to perform a rotational movement over less than 180°, and whereby the orientation of said axis is controlled by a Lorentz force resulting from said charged particle moving in said magnetic field; wherein said device comprises axis-related clamping means configured to exert an axial force on the inne
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NEWSON NV
    Inventor: Marc Van Biesen