Patents Examined by Kevin K Pyo
  • Patent number: 11733089
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe an unsupervised context encoder-based fiber sensing method that detects anomalous vibrations proximate to a sensor fiber that is part of a distributed fiber optic sensing system (DFOS) such that damage to the sensor fiber by activities producing and anomalous vibrations are preventable. Advantageously, our method requires only normal data streams and a machine learning based operation is utilized to analyze the sensing data and report abnormal events related to construction or other fiber-threatening activities in real-time. Our machine learning algorithm is based on waterfall image inpainting by context encoder and is self-trained in an end-to-end manner and extended every time the DFOS sensor fiber is optically connected to a new route. Accordingly, our inventive method and system it is much easier to deploy as compared to supervised methods of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Shaobo Han, Ming-Fang Huang, Eric Cosatto
  • Patent number: 11724635
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a vehicle which includes a one or more sets of light emitter devices and sensor devices included in a common element assembly of the vehicle which includes a common window element via which the light emitter devices and sensor devices can interact with an external environment in which the vehicle is located. The sensor devices and light emitter devices can be communicatively coupled, and operation of the light emitter devices and sensor devices can be adjustably controlled to mitigate interference by the light emitter devices with sensor data representations generated by the sensor devices. The window element can include a reflection-mitigating layer which mitigates reflection of light beams emitted by one or more light emitter devices in an assembly towards one or more sensor elements of one or more sensor devices included in the same assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Al-Dahle, Jean-Marie Bussat
  • Patent number: 11716219
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a galvanic isolation device or a bidirectional connecting line of a LIN bus system with two optocouplers arranged in antiparallel, each having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, wherein the galvanic isolation device is connectable to a LIN bus via a first signal connection and to a microprocessor via a second signal connection, wherein each signal connection is connected to the respective light-emitting element of an optocoupler, and wherein a diode is connected in antiparallel to the light-emitting element, such that, when a low signal level is applied to one of the signal connections, the signal level at the other signal connection is also low, without the signal being fed back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC-DRIVEXPERT GMBH
    Inventor: Robert Reichert
  • Patent number: 11710753
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate provided with an effective pixel region including a light receiving section that photoelectrically converts incident light; an interconnection layer that is provided at a plane side opposite to the light receiving plane of the semiconductor substrate; a first groove portion that is provided between adjacent light receiving sections and is formed at a predetermined depth from the light receiving plane side of the semiconductor substrate; and an insulating material that is embedded in at least a part of the first groove portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kawashima, Katsunori Hiramatsu, Yasufumi Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 11705646
    Abstract: A connection structure between sensor and cable includes a cable formed by assembling a plurality of electric wires each including a covering portion covering a core and a core-exposing portion exposing the core at an end of the covering portion, a spacer that is interposed in a space surrounded by the covering portions of the electric wires and holds end portions of the covering portions in the state that the end portions are spaced from each other, and a sensor that detects a physical quantity, and the core-exposing portion of each of the electric wires of the cable is electrically connected to the sensor via a fixing member in the state that each of the electric wires is held by the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: HIRAKAWA HEWTECH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11699712
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a first lens layer; and a second lens layer, wherein the second lens layer is formed at least at a periphery of each first microlens formed based on the first lens layer, and the second lens layer present at a central portion of each of the first microlenses is thinner than the second lens layer present at the periphery of the first microlens or no second lens layer is present at the central portion of each of the first microlenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Ootsuka, Tomoyuki Yamashita, Kiyotaka Tabuchi, Yoshinori Toumiya, Akiko Ogino
  • Patent number: 11692854
    Abstract: An optical encoder system is disclosed comprising a movable target arranged to provide a varying reflectance dependent on a position of the target within the system. An emitter is positioned on a first side of the target to illuminate the target and a sensor is positioned on the first side of the target to sense a reflectance from the target, wherein the sensed reflectance is dependent on the position of the target within the system. Also disclosed are a target and a sensor module for use in such a system, a device comprising such a system and a method of determining the position of a moving target using such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Vijay Ele, Niwin Gnaniah
  • Patent number: 11678790
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel McCaffrey, Jane Bareau, Laura Keith, James McNally, Jason Sproul
  • Patent number: 11668865
    Abstract: The subject of the present disclosure is to enhance spectral characteristics. The present disclosure relates to an optical sensor and an electronic apparatus. The optical sensor includes: multiple optical receivers, multiple color filters covering light receiving surfaces of the multiple optical receivers, and a multi-layer filter layered on the multiple color filters. The multiple color filters include a red color filter, a green color filter and a blue color filter. The multi-layer filter includes a first transmission wavelength region allowing transmission of a portion of the transmission wavelength regions of the green color filter and the blue color filter, and a second transmission wavelength region allowing transmission of a portion of the transmission wavelength region of the red color filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitsugu Uedaira
  • Patent number: 11657130
    Abstract: A light emitter includes: a substrate; a driving section provided on the substrate; a light source that is provided on the substrate and is driven by the driving section; a cover section through which light emitted from the light source is transmitted and that is disposed in an optical axial direction of the light source; and a support section that is provided on a part of the substrate excluding a part between the driving section and the light source and supports the cover section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Satoshi Inada, Kenichi Ono, Takeshi Minamiru, Michiaki Murata, Takafumi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11656122
    Abstract: A photon detection device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a superconducting photon detector array in which a plurality of superconducting photon detectors (SPDs) are arranged; a plurality of first transmission lines connected to the plurality of SPDs and configured to transmit a detection current output from each of the plurality of SPDs; an address information generation circuit connected to the plurality of first transmission lines and configured to generate, based on the detection current, an address information signal that specifies a superconducting photon detector from which the detection current is output; a second transmission line magnetically coupled to all of the plurality of first transmission lines; and a time information generation circuit connected to the second transmission line and configured to generate, based on the detection current, a time information signal indicating a time at which a photon is incident on the plurality of superconductive photon detection SPDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION YOKOHAMA NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Naoki Takeuchi, Shigehito Miki, Hirotaka Terai
  • Patent number: 11658200
    Abstract: An imaging device including: a first pixel and a second pixel that are arranged along a first direction, the first pixel and the second pixel each including a photoelectric converter that converts light into a charge, a charge accumulator that accumulates the charge, and a first transistor one of a source and a drain of which is connected to the charge accumulator; a first line and a second line that each extend along the first direction; first voltage supply circuitry that is connected to the first transistor of the first pixel through the first line; and second voltage supply circuitry that is connected to the first transistor of the second pixel through the second line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidenari Kanehara, Yusuke Okada, Sanshiro Shishido, Kazuko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11653116
    Abstract: An imaging device including: a semiconductor substrate; pixels arranged in a first direction; and a signal line that extends in the first direction. Each of the pixels includes: a photoelectric converter that generates signal charge by photoelectric conversion, a region into which the signal charge is input, a first transistor that outputs a signal to the signal line according to an amount of the signal charge input into the region, and a capacity circuit that is coupled to a gate of the first transistor and that includes a first capacitive element, the first capacitive element including a first electrode, a second electrode and a first insulating layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode containing a metal. Further, the signal line is located closer to the semiconductor substrate than the first capacitive element is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase
  • Patent number: 11644346
    Abstract: A rotation angle encoder apparatus is disclosed. The rotation angle encoder apparatus may comprise a plurality of light sources, a plurality of light detectors, and a plurality of pinions rotatable about a shaft. Each of the pinions may comprises a plurality of teeth and a plurality of gaps. The rotation angle encoder apparatus may comprise a plurality of stacked configurations such that, when the shaft is rotated, transmissivity may be measured to determine or calculate at least one measurement, such as an angle of rotation, position, movement, distance, or other discernable measurement. The rotation angle encoder apparatus with a plurality pinions and associated measurable transmissivities may enable an optical spectrum analyzer to increase wavelength accuracy and improve resolution in optical measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Eberhard Lothar Loecklin
  • Patent number: 11639870
    Abstract: An optical sensing device includes a substrate, a sensing element layer, a first planarization layer, and a second planarization layer. The sensing element layer is located on the substrate and includes a plurality of sensing elements. The first planarization layer is located on the sensing element layer and has a first slit. The second planarization layer is located on the first planarization layer and has a second slit. An orthogonal projection of the first slit extending in a direction and located on the substrate is not overlapped with an orthogonal projection of the second slit extending in the same direction and located on the substrate, and the orthogonal projection of the second slit on the substrate has a curved pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: AUO Corporation
    Inventors: Shih-Hua Lu, Chao-Chien Chiu
  • Patent number: 11636702
    Abstract: A method of temperature compensation in an optical-fingerprint detection system includes acquiring a first reading associated with one or more pixels of an array. The first reading is a baseline reading. The method further includes acquiring a second reading associated with the one or more pixels of the array. The second reading includes the baseline plus a signal. Producing a temperature compensated signal reading by subtracting the first reading from the second reading. The array is an optical-fingerprint array, and each pixel of the array is coupled to a readout circuit via a pixel switch. The method includes row-based and frame-based schemes and a blind pixel scheme. Readout circuit improvements including multiplexed analog front-end (AFE), charge magnifier with column charge offset compensation and a low-noise gate driver circuit are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph H. Krah, Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost
  • Patent number: 11629979
    Abstract: A sensor includes at least one optical waveguide and an optical reflector optically coupled to the at least one optical waveguide. The optical reflector includes a first substrate portion configured to reflect a first portion of a light beam back to the at least one optical waveguide and a diaphragm configured to reflect a second portion of the light beam back to the at least one optical waveguide. The diaphragm is responsive to a perturbation by moving relative to the first substrate portion. The light beam is centered on a region between the first substrate portion and the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Michel J.F. Digonnet, Behrad Habib Afshar
  • Patent number: 11631958
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing surface-emitting lasers, a substrate having a major surface including a plurality of areas each provided with a plurality of surface-emitting lasers is prepared. A first laser beam emitted when a direct-current voltage is applied to each of an n number of surface-emitting lasers among the plurality of surface-emitting lasers is measured, n being an integer of 2 or greater. A second laser beam emitted when an alternating-current voltage is applied to each of an m number of surface-emitting lasers among the plurality of surface-emitting lasers is measured, m being a natural number smaller than n. Whether the n number of surface-emitting lasers are each conforming or defective is determined from a result of the measurement of the first laser beam. Whether the m number of surface-emitting lasers are each conforming or defective is determined from a result of the measurement of the second laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Ryosuke Kubota
  • Patent number: 11624812
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantitatively characterizing performance of a laser steering galvanometer mirror directs a laser beam from a calibration “sensor” onto a side region of the mirror to directly determine rotational positioning, velocity, and/or acceleration thereof using interferometry, time-of-flight measurements, and Doppler measurements. Measured positioning errors can be compared with a database to predict required calibration adjustments. Embodiments automatically adjust digital calibrations. Mirrors, splitters, and/or a plurality of sensors can apply measurement beams simultaneously or sequentially to both sides of a mirror, and/or to more than one mirror. Large rotation ranges, for example larger than +/?15 degrees, can be accommodated by applying measurement beams from a plurality of directions. The calibration apparatus can be distinct, or integral with the galvanometer, and can be used to monitor and/or to control the mirror positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventors: James MacMillan, Leonard Williams
  • Patent number: 11619720
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a distance measuring device is a signal processing device that performs processing on time-series luminance signals of each of frames acquired on the basis of reflected lights of laser lights irradiated in order in a plurality of predetermined directions for each of the frames. The distance measuring device includes a storage circuit and a selection circuit. The storage circuit stores information concerning a distance value obtained on the basis of a time-series luminance signal of a preceding frame. The selection circuit selects a peak based on the distance value as a candidate of the distance value out of peaks in the time-series luminance signal in a present frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kubota, Nobu Matsumoto