Combined With Diverse-type Device Patents (Class 250/215)
  • Patent number: 11955761
    Abstract: A beam shutter is for a laser beam. The beam shutter includes: a reflecting optical unit configured to deflect the laser beam; a holding arm, which is capable of being brought into a release position and a shut-off position and on which the reflecting optical unit is held; a sensor circuit with at least one sensor component arranged between the reflecting optical unit and the holding arm; and an evaluation device, which is configured to interact with the sensor circuit, at least in the shut-off position of the holding arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TRUMPF LASER GMBH
    Inventors: Rainer Flaig, Andreas Enzmann, Florian Jansen
  • Patent number: 11933710
    Abstract: A system for imaging particles in a fluid includes a substrate holder for holding a substrate comprising a channel or reservoir for containing the fluid in the substrate, a radiation source for providing irradiation in the substrate and a radiation detection unit for detecting particles in the fluid in the substrate. At least one of the radiation source and the radiation detection unit) are configured to obtain detection in one or more distinct detection sheets in the substrate. The system further comprises an actuator configured for imparting an oscillating mechanical movement of the substrate holder regarding the radiation detection unit and the radiation source, the oscillating mechanical movement being a movement comprising a movement component in a direction perpendicular to the plane wherein the one or more detection sheets are extending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL
    Inventors: Wim De Malsche, Ozlem Sardan Sukas, Manly Callewaert, Pierre Gelin
  • Patent number: 11637153
    Abstract: A display may have an array of light-emitting pixels that display an image in an active area of the display. These light-emitting pixels may be visible light pixels such as red, green, and blue thin-film organic light-emitting diode pixels. The display may also have a border region that runs along a peripheral edge of the active area. The border region may be free of pixels that display image light, whereas the active area may be free of light detectors. A non-optical touch sensor such as a capacitive touch sensor may overlap the active area to gather touch input from the active area. The non-optical touch sensor may not overlap any portion of the border region. In the border region, an optical sensor formed from infrared light-emitting pixels and infrared light-sensing pixels or other optical sensing circuitry may serve as an optical touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph H. Krah, Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost
  • Patent number: 11607998
    Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mounting structure configured for mounting at an interior portion of a vehicle. A distal end portion of the mounting arm is at an angle relative to a proximal end portion of the mounting arm at the interior portion of the vehicle. An attaching element is fixedly disposed at the distal end portion. A mirror housing includes an aperture, and the mounting arm of the mounting structure passes through the aperture without making contact with the mirror housing. A reflective element is attached at an attachment plate disposed within the mirror housing. A motorized actuator is mounted at the attachment plate at the reflective element or at the attaching element at the distal end portion of the mounting arm. The motorized actuator is electrically operable to adjust the reflective element and the mirror housing together and in tandem relative to the mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA MIRRORS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Jake A. Mohan
  • Patent number: 11513001
    Abstract: A module comprises a display element, a first polarizing element, a light sensor, a transparent layer, and a second polarizing element. The display element emits a display light source. The first polarizing element covers the display element, and blocks a first phase portion of the display light source and allows a second phase portion of the display light source to penetrate. The transparent layer covers the first polarizing element. The light sensor is disposed on one side of the display element or the first polarizing element. The second polarizing element is disposed between the light sensor and the transparent layer and blocks a second phase portion of the display light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sensortek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Feng-Jung Hsu, Tsung-Hua Wu
  • Patent number: 11497673
    Abstract: A smart walking stick made up of main parcels including the upper body forming the upper body and the lower body elements forming the lower body. With the aim of positioning the hand correctly for the visually impaired user, sensors are provided, which contain technological elements such as soft-grip upper gripping surface and the lower gripping surface, touch mouse, vibration motors and a smart module that allows the user freedom of movement. A folding bar forms the stick portion of the movement-releasing smart walking stick which can be replaced by a snap-fit method, with the motion-liberating smart walking stick this allows the visually impaired user to easily, safely and comfortably navigate with location information, which increases the freedom of movement, to detect and protect the obstacles in front of the movement, and to maintain a more ergonomic life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: WEWALK LIMITED
    Inventor: Kürşat Ceylan
  • Patent number: 11442012
    Abstract: An assay device is disclosed comprising a housing and a test portion, electronic circuitry and an optical assembly each a least partially located in the housing. The test portion comprises one or more test zones adapted to receive an analyte and a fluorescent label associated with the analyte, the fluorescent label being excitable by excitation light and adapted to emit emission light upon excitation by excitation light. The electronic circuitry comprises one or more light sources and one or more light detectors. The optical assembly comprises one or more excitation light guides adapted to guide excitation light from the one or more light sources to the one or more test zones, and/or one or more emission light guides adapted to guide emission light from the one or more test zone to the one or more light detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ellume Limited
    Inventors: Sean Andrew Parsons, Michael Stuart Hazell, David Lara
  • Patent number: 11185241
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for continuous physiological monitoring as well as systems and methods for interpreting data from such a device. The device may support intelligent selection from among two or more different modes for heart rate detection. In addition, the acquisition of continuous physiological data facilitates automated recommendations concerning changes to sleep, recovery time, exercise routines and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: WHOOP, INC.
    Inventors: William Ahmed, John Capodilupo, Aurelian Nicolae
  • Patent number: 11113979
    Abstract: An aerodrome system for an aerodrome is provided. The aerodrome system comprises a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light from a surface of the aerodrome upon which aircraft may take-off, land and manoeuvre; and a controller operatively coupled to each of the light emitting elements so as to selectively control the light emitting elements, wherein the light emitting elements form pixels of a display and the controller is configured to control an image displayed by the display so as to display and demarcate at least one runway for aircraft to take-off or land, wherein the light emitting elements are spaced such that the controller may display the runway with a variable orientation and the controller is further configured to change the image displayed by the display so as to change the orientation of the runway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Matthew Moxon
  • Patent number: 11006508
    Abstract: A chained flashlight system includes: plural flashlights; plural lighting control devices that control lighting of the plural flashlights, respectively; a communication wire; and a traffic control device. The plural lighting control devices include receiving units, controlling units, activating units, and power supply units, respectively and are coupled to the traffic control device by the communication wire. The traffic control device simultaneously sends an activating signal to the plural lighting control devices via the communication wire. The receiving units receive the activating signal. The controlling units activate the activating units based on a time from reception of the activating signal to activation of the activating units, set for the flashlights, respectively. When the power supply units are turned ON in an activated state of the activating units, respectively, the flashlights are lit by a lighting signal from the traffic control device, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HotaluX, Ltd.
    Inventor: Norimasa Mizobe
  • Patent number: 10865005
    Abstract: A bagger safety system includes a controller, a heating element, a light-emitting device, a light-detecting device and a backing assembly. The backing assembly includes a backing bar, a pair of reflectors and a seal backing element movably coupled to the backing bar by at least one mechanical force generating member so as to create a space between the seal backing element and the backing bar when no external force is applied to the mechanical force generating member. Light emitted from a light-emitting device reflects off the reflectors to the light-detecting device when no external force is applied to the mechanical force generating member. Movement of the seal backing element toward the backing bar prevents light emitted from the light-emitting device from reaching the light-detecting device and the controller controls movement of the backing assembly toward the heating element based on whether light from light-emitting device reaches the light-detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Automated Packaging Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Miller, Mark Stultz
  • Patent number: 10779370
    Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to systems of enhancing contrast of LED lighting, including two subsystems. A light-transmitting subsystem can include an LED light source, a first reference oscillator to receive a reference signal broadcast from a remote source, and a synchronous modulation and power system to cause a stream of modulated light-signal pulses to be emitted from the LED light source in synchronous correlation with the reference signal. A light-receiving subsystem can include a light imager to synchronously receive the stream of modulated light-signal pulses, a second reference oscillator to receive the reference signal broadcast from the remote source, and a synchronous demultiplexing system to convert the stream of modulated light-signal pulses to a stream of synchronous digital images in synchronous correlation with the reference signal. A demodulation image processor can be used to process and generate enhanced contrast display imagery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Thorne
  • Patent number: 10571715
    Abstract: The disclosure features visual assistive devices that include a detection apparatus configured to receive information about an environment surrounding a user of the visual assistive device, a communication apparatus configured to transmit information to the user, and an electronic processor coupled to the detection apparatus and the communication apparatus, and configured to: receive information about an activity of the user; filter the information about the environment surrounding the user based on the activity of the user; assign a priority rank to each element of the filtered information based on the activity of the user; and transmit at least some of the elements of the filtered information, according to the assigned priority ranks, to the user using the communication apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, The United States Government As Represented By The Department Of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Joseph F. Rizzo, III, Attila Priplata, Minnan Xu, Conrad Wall, III
  • Patent number: 10481388
    Abstract: An electrowetting display device includes a first support plate and a second support plate opposite the first support plate, and a plurality of pixel walls over the first support plate. The plurality of pixel walls are associated with an electrowetting pixel and define a volume containing at least a portion of an oil and an electrolyte fluid. The electrolyte fluid has a first refractive index. The electrowetting display device includes a pixel spacer between a first pixel wall in the plurality of pixel walls and the second support plate. A second refractive index of the pixel spacer is less than the first refractive index. The electrowetting display device includes a pixel electrode over the first support plate for applying a voltage within the electrowetting pixel to cause relative displacement of the oil and the electrolyte fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Toru Sakai, Sridhar Guntaka, Karel Johannes Gerhardus Hinnen
  • Patent number: 10482588
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method to control manufacturing and feeding of semifinished products in a tyre building process, includes detecting at least one first image representative of a semifinished product; dividing the at least one first image into a plurality of first sub-parts, wherein each one of first sub-parts is composed of a plurality of first portions, each one associated with a respective brightness value; defining a first threshold for the brightness values; making a first comparison between the brightness values of the first portions and the first threshold; as a function of the first comparison, determining for each one of the first sub-parts a first operative parameter representative of a total area occupied in each first sub-part by the first portions associated with a brightness value smaller or greater than the first threshold; making a second comparison between each one of the first operative parameters and a second threshold; and causing the generation of a first notification signal as a functio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Cesare Emanuele Amurri, Davide Lupo Conti, Ivan Gildo Boscaino
  • Patent number: 10427605
    Abstract: A rear view mirror for use in a motor vehicle includes a support element having a reflective element attached to a first side; and a frame element detachably attached to a second side of the support element which is located opposite the first side. The frame element includes an adjusting element that is adapted to connect the rear view mirror to a stationary support arm holding the rear view minor. The frame element is adapted to move the rear view minor relative to the stationary support arm and comprises active material to move the rear view mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventor: Andreas Herrmann
  • Patent number: 10338058
    Abstract: A calibrating-light module for use in a system for measuring whole-blood hemoglobin parameters or whole-blood bilirubin parameters. The calibrating-light module includes a calibrating module housing, a light beam receiving portion connected to a first end of the calibrating module housing, a calibrating light portion connected to a side of the calibrating module housing wherein the side is transverse to the first end, and an optic fiber portion connected to a second end of the calibrating module housing wherein the calibrating module housing, the light beam receiving portion and the optic fiber portion are aligned with an optical path and the calibrating light portion is spaced from and transverse to the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Sanvita Medical LLC
    Inventors: Michael S. Cafferty, Scott P. Cionek
  • Patent number: 10260941
    Abstract: A chromatic confocal distance sensor has a housing in which a polychromatic light source, imaging optics having a longitudinal chromatic aberration, a spectrometer and a planar beam splitter surface are arranged. These lie in the light path of the measurement light between the light source and the imaging optics and between the imaging optics and the spectrometer. A first diaphragm is arranged in the light path between the light source and the beam splitter surface, and a second diaphragm is arranged in the light path between the beam splitter surface and the spectrometer. The diaphragms are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the beam splitter surface. The measurement light propagates as a free beam inside the housing. The beam splitter surface, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm are fastened together on a carrier which has an isotropic thermal expansion coefficient. This way, temperature changes cannot significantly affect the measurement accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: PRECITEC OPTRONIK GMBH
    Inventors: David Marsaut, Martin Schönleber
  • Patent number: 10136840
    Abstract: Systems and methods for prompting a user to perform an exercise and monitoring the exercise are provided. Multiple independent sensors or sensor systems may be used to calculate energy expenditure. Various criteria may be used to manually or automatically select the independent sensor or sensor system or combination that will be used with the energy expenditure calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Adriana Guerrero, Steven H. Walker, Aaron B. Weast
  • Patent number: 10049535
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to provide enriched human-perceptible signals indicative of a parameter of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the apparatus and reflected from an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: WOLFCUB VISION, INC.
    Inventors: Frank Wilczek, Alexander Reed Munoz
  • Patent number: 9998701
    Abstract: An imaging device in the present invention includes an imaging unit that images an image and an installation unit on which the imaging unit is removably installed. The installation unit houses a first contactless transmitter that transmits and receives at least one of a power and a signal in a non-contact basis. The imaging unit houses an axis portion, a second contactless transmitter, and transmits and receives at least one of the electric power and the signal in a non-contact basis, and an imaging mechanism portion that is fixed to the other end portion of the axis portion in the side opposite to the installation unit side, and is connected to the second contactless transmitter via a transmission wire inserted through the axis portion. In this way, a watertproofness and a dustproofness can be improved, and thus, it is possible to improve a long-term reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jyouji Wada, Yoshihito Urashima, Tamotsu Uchida, Toshihisa Tsuda, Hirohito Tsuruta, Masahumi Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9989746
    Abstract: An optical microscope having a sample plane for positioning a sample, and a light source for emitting illumination light, includes optical imaging means for guiding the illumination light into the sample plane. A detector device having a plurality of detector elements for detecting sample light coming from the sample. Adjacent detector elements are at a distance from one another which is smaller than an Airy-Disk produced by a point of the sample plane on the detector device. A scanning device has at least a first and a second optical arrangement simultaneously movable in a common direction for producing an illumination scanning movement and a detection scanning movement, which are opposite to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bathe, Ralf Netz
  • Patent number: 9986729
    Abstract: 1. A trap for rodents, including in particular rats, said trap comprising: a housing; and a trapping chamber in which a passage extends from the side(s) of the housing. The trap further comprises two electric poles, of which the one electric pole is disposed outside the trapping chamber and a reservoir. The trap is moreover configured with a transport mechanism for the transport of the trapping chamber with rodent between a lower position in which the rodent is able to run into the trapping chamber and an upper position in which the trapping chamber is able to discharge a destroyed rodent into the reservoir. The trapping chamber and the electric poles comprise means to the effect that the electric poles can be caused to be situated close to each other within the trapping chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ANTICIMEX INNOVATION CENTER A/S
    Inventor: Preben Fritzboeger
  • Patent number: 9946240
    Abstract: Example apparatus to communicatively couple three-wire field devices to controllers in a process control system are disclosed. An example terminal block is disclosed that includes a first interface having three termination points to terminate each of three wires from a three-wire field device. The example, terminal block further includes a second interface to removably receive a first termination module that is to communicate with the three-wire field device using a first communication protocol and to communicate with a controller via a shared bus of a termination panel using a second communication protocol different than the first communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Klaus Erni
  • Patent number: 9921248
    Abstract: A method of measuring fluctuations in electric fields is disclosed, the method comprising the step of: placing a Liquid Crystal Device in communication with the electric field, the device having disparate orthogonal polarization sensitivity to an external electric field; utilizing an optical probe beam having a known polarization state to interrogate the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal device to produce a response beam; and analyzing the polarization state of the response beam to provide an indicator of the corresponding fluctuations in the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: ZEDELEF PTY LTD
    Inventors: Zourab Brodzeli, Leonardo Silvestri, Andrew Mark Michie, Vladimir Chigrinov, Eugene Pozhidaev, Francois Ladouceur
  • Patent number: 9898907
    Abstract: A theft-prevention exhibition device includes a first unit, which comprises a microprocessor, a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver, a first alarm, a first switch, a power source, wherein the microprocessor is electrically connected with the RF transceiver, the first alarm, and the first switch; a second unit, which comprises a memory, a magnetic induction coil, and a wire retractor; a connecting plate adapted to be connected to a display item, wherein the connecting plate comprises a second switch; a wire rope spooled on the wire retractor and connected to the connecting plate, wherein the wire rope connects with the second switch, the memory, and the magnetic induction coil to form a circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Hangzhou Langhong Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hong Xin
  • Patent number: 9815565
    Abstract: Tracker systems are disclosed, the system mountable on a device having one or more rotary component, comprising: an optical tracker having circuitry that causes the optical tracker to transmit one or more optical signal to be deflected by, and received back from, the one or more rotary component of the device, the optical tracker having circuitry transmitting data indicative of a distance; an orientation/motion sensor having circuitry that automatically determines data indicative of the orientation and motion of the optical tracker; and one or more computer processor that utilizes the optical tracker determined distance and the orientation/motion sensor data to determine track error of the one or more rotary component of the device, and transmits data indicative of the track error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: RPX Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Fox, Matthew Dock
  • Patent number: 9770176
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable device (10) for determining a heart rate of a person (20), comprising a heart rate measurement unit, a motion measurement unit for measuring the motion of a body part (12), and a processing unit. The processing unit is adapted to measure a signal quality of the heart rate signal and accordingly switch between two calculation modes: If the signal quality is above a predefined threshold, the heart rate is calculated based on the heart rate signal. If the signal quality is so poor that a reliable calculation of the heart rate is technically not possible anymore based on the heart rate signal, the processing unit switches to its second calculation mode, in which the heart rate is estimated based on the motion signal by estimating a heart rate constant, which depends on the frequency of the motion signal, and defining an exponential development of the heart rate, starting at the last reliably measured heart rate and finishing at the estimated heart rate constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Cristian Nicolae Presura, David Antoine Christian Marie Roovers
  • Patent number: 9684135
    Abstract: In an optoelectrical connector including two connectors to be interconnected, each having at least one optical connection part and at least two electrical connection parts, the electrical connection parts of one of the connectors are pins and the electrical connection parts of the other connector are spring contacts. The connector having the spring contacts includes, before the spring contacts, positioning holes in which the pins are to be inserted. The tips of the pins come into contact with the spring contacts to make electrical connection. The bases of the pins fit in the positioning holes to perform positioning for optical connection. The optoelectrical connector can be smaller, lighter, and thinner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Keiichi Mori, Takayoshi Yamauchi, Masuo Nishimoto, Shuichi Aihara
  • Patent number: 9671600
    Abstract: A light microscope having a sample plane for positioning a sample, and a light source for emitting illumination light, includes optical imaging means for guiding the illumination light into the sample plane. A detector device having a plurality of detector elements for detecting sample light coming from the sample. Adjacent detector elements are at a distance from one another which is smaller than an Airy-Disk produced by a point of the sample plane on the detector device. A scanning device has at least a first and a second optical arrangement simultaneously movable in a common direction for producing an illumination scanning movement and a detection scanning movement, which are opposite to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bathe, Ralf Netz
  • Patent number: 9606069
    Abstract: Inspection with multiple illumination regions includes generating a primary beam of illumination directed along a primary illumination direction, transmitting a portion of the primary beam of illumination along a first illumination direction, deflecting a portion of the primary beam of illumination along a second illumination direction different from the first illumination direction with one or more angular selection elements, focusing the transmitted portion of the primary beam of illumination onto a first inspection region of the substrate, and focusing the deflected portion of the primary beam of illumination onto a second inspection region of the substrate being spatially separated from the first inspection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventor: Jeremy Nesbitt
  • Patent number: 9602203
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for identifying entities and communicating using lightweight and wearable free space optical systems. A variety of optical and electronic elements are used to enable communications and identification in an environment where identification and communication must be accomplished to address a variety of constraints. Such constraints can include frequency congested environments or environments in which communication should be done using non radio frequency (RF) systems. Embodiments include converting data into optical signals that are transmitted using a laser which are received by optical receivers and converted into audio output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Kiron Mateti, Taylor Boyke, Christopher Boyd
  • Patent number: 9567899
    Abstract: A light tower assembly for the high density illumination of an indoor or outdoor area by a portable power plant or a stationary power source includes at least one vertical support shaft, at least one cross member attached to the vertical support shaft and at least on omnidirectional heavy duty LED light bracket attached to the cross member, providing support to a high lumen LED light, with the heavy duty LED light bracket being moveably aimed within a range of 360 degrees from a pivotal mounting point on the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen C. McKinley, Kevin L. Feguson, Keith Hilbish, Jon Warner
  • Patent number: 9562736
    Abstract: Systems and methods for electromagnetically controlling the muzzle velocity of a conventional gun using a coil gun on a barrel extension. This method can also provide an electromagnetically induced increase to muzzle velocity beyond that capable by conventional explosives. With higher muzzle velocity, the weapons will have longer range, higher penetrating power and stand-off distances. A section of coil gun can also be used to center the projectile in the barrel to control the exit trajectory. Using a coil gun to control muzzle velocity and center the projectile can be a retrofit to existing weapons that would greatly increase their down-range accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James A. Grossnickle, Dejan Nikic
  • Patent number: 9525097
    Abstract: A PV module is formed having an array of PV cells, where the cells are separated by gaps. Each cell contains an array of small silicon sphere diodes (10-300 microns in diameter) connected in parallel. The diodes and conductor layers may be patterned by printing. A continuous metal substrate supports the diodes and conductor layers in all the cells. A dielectric substrate is laminated to the metal substrate. Trenches are then formed by laser ablation around the cells to sever the metal substrate to form electrically isolated PV cells. A metallization step is then performed to connect the cells in series to increase the voltage output of the PV module. An electrically isolated bypass diode for each cell is also formed by the trenching step. The metallization step connects the bypass diode and its associated cell in a reverse-parallel relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Nthdegree Technologies Worldwide Inc.
    Inventors: Tricia Youngbull, Bradley Steven Oraw, William Johnstone Ray
  • Patent number: 9401025
    Abstract: A system includes a visual data collector for collecting visual information from an image of one or more features of an object. The system also includes a physical data collector for collecting sensor information provided by at one or more sensors attached to the object. The system also includes a computer system that includes a motion data combiner for combining the visual information the sensor information. The motion data combiner is configured to determine the position of a representation of one or more of the feature in a virtual representation of the object from the combined visual information and sensor information. Various types of virtual representations may be provided from the combined information, for example, one or more poses (e.g., position and orientation) of the object may be represented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: LUCASFILM ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Steve Sullivan, Kevin Wooley, Brett A. Allen, Michael Sanders
  • Patent number: 9389273
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining solar cell characteristics includes a quantum efficiency measurement tool configured to measure an external quantum efficiency of the solar cell and a reflectivity measurement tool configured to measure the reflectivity of the solar cell. The apparatus also includes a capacitance measurement tool configured to measure the capacitance of the solar cell and a processor configured to calculate a diffusion length of the solar cell based on the measured quantum efficiency, reflectivity and capacitance of the solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tayfun Gokmen, Oki Gunawan
  • Patent number: 9057608
    Abstract: A simple type dual axes optoelectronic level includes a carrier, an adjustable fixing mechanism, a level sensing device, a container cup holding a liquid, and a reflector. The adjustable fixing mechanism and the container cup are fixed at the carrier. The level sensing device is fixed at the adjustable fixing mechanism and faces the container cup. The reflector is fixed at the bottom surface of the container cup. The level sensing device provides a measuring light beam, which is refracted by the liquid surface to the reflector, and reflected back to the liquid surface by the reflector, and refracted again by the liquid surface to the level sensing device. Through the refraction effect, the level sensing device can detect two angles between the bottom surface of the carrier and the liquid surface. The dual axes optoelectronic level has advantages of simple structure, low cost and differentiating angles of two axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: 3DFAMILY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kuang-Chao Fan, Chih-Chin Hsu
  • Publication number: 20140224984
    Abstract: Plasma devices and methods for using such plasma devices in analytical measurements are disclosed. In certain examples, a low flow plasma may be operative using a total argon gas flow of less than about five liters per minute, and in some embodiments, a plasma argon gas flow of less than about four liter per minute. In other examples, a plasma produced using inductive and capacitive coupling is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventor: Peter J. Morrisroe
  • Publication number: 20140183342
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided with a display and a light sensor that receives light that passes through the display. The display includes features that increase the amount of light that passes through the display. The features may be translucency enhancement features that allow light to pass directly through the display onto a light sensor mounted behind the display or may include a light-guiding layer that guides light through the display onto a light sensor mounted along an edge of the display. The translucency enhancement features may be formed in a reflector layer or an electrode layer for the display. The translucency enhancement features may include microperforations in a reflector layer of the display, a light-filtering reflector layer of the display, or a reflector layer of the display that passes a portion of the light and reflects an additional portion of the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Paul S. Drzaic, Erik G. de Long, Fletcher R. Rothkopf
  • Publication number: 20140183341
    Abstract: This invention applies optical sensing technology with an ultrasound inspection system to associate encoded position data with the inspection data. The compact electronics of the optical system can be attached to the inspection assembly to allow fully encoded position information to be associated with the ultrasonic, eddy current, or other nondestructive examination data without substantially impacting the overall envelope of the NDE inspection equipment. Moreover, because of the small size, the optical system can be used in tandem to monitor skew or twist of the inspection equipment with respect to the normal rectilinear transducer orientation. The inspection equipment position information is then coupled to the inspection data to provide data outputs equivalent to fully encoded multi-axis manipulator automated scans, but with less setup burden and equipment expense.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: AREVA NP Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel William Glass, III, Bradley A. Thigpen
  • Patent number: 8706271
    Abstract: A system may communicate between a display device and a lighting system using light generated by the display device and a light sensor in the lighting system. A computing device and a building control system may communication over a wireless link. The building control system may determine that the computing device is co-located with a fixture in the building control system based on whether communication over the wireless link between the computing device and the building control system is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Redwood Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Covaro, David Leonard
  • Publication number: 20140021337
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multifunctional digital type anti-glare device which adds various functions such as a timer function, a stopwatch function, a world time display function, and a compass function. The multifunctional digital type anti-glare device includes an optical detection unit, an electromagnetic wave sensor unit, an electromagnetic wave detection unit, a control unit, a light transmission control unit for controlling variation in light transmissivity of an anti-glare plate depending upon an output signal of the control unit, a geomagnetic sensor for detecting an azimuth using the earth's magnetic field, and a compass display unit for displaying points of a compass depending upon the azimuth detected by the geomagnetic sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: OTOS WING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Moon Young Huh
  • Patent number: 8618482
    Abstract: A mobile device including a source for emitting electromagnetic radiation, an enclosure having a side wall, and a detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by the source is described. At least a portion of the sidewall is adapted to transmit electromagnetic radiation from the source. The source and detector are positioned inside the enclosure. The detector is spaced from the source, and is arranged to detect electromagnetic radiation from the source that is reflected from an object outside the enclosure and passes through the portion of the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Marshall Joseph Katz, Ian Peter Lewis
  • Patent number: 8499967
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and at least one vacuum source. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween. The vacuum source is adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing. The apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Parata Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Richard D. Michelli
  • Patent number: 8386179
    Abstract: A Solar Access Measurement Device (“SAMD”) located at a predetermined position is disclosed. The SAMD may include a skyline detector enabled to detect a skyline of a horizon relative to the SAMD, an orientation determination unit enabled to determine the orientation of the skyline detector, and a processor in signal communication with the skyline detector and orientation determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Solmetric Corp.
    Inventor: Willard S. MacDonald
  • Publication number: 20130015333
    Abstract: Provided herein is an encoder including a position detecting device provided with a gear mechanism and an optical encoder device. A housing includes a bearing holder provided between a first housing portion and a second housing portion of the housing. The bearing holder serves as a partition wall portion configured to separate the gear mechanism from the optical encoder device. If the gear mechanism is separated from the optical encoder device, abrasion powder or grease can be reliably prevented from scattering from the gear mechanism to adhere to constituent parts of the optical encoder device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: SANYO DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tooru Miyajima, Toshiaki Ayuzawa, Yoshihiro Shoji
  • Publication number: 20120292491
    Abstract: The invention relates to a charged particle lithography system comprising a beam generator for generating a plurality of charged particle beamlets, a beam stop array and a modulation device. The beam stop array has a surface for blocking beamlets from reaching a target surface and an aperture array in the surface for allowing beamlets to reach the target surface. The modulation device is arranged for modulating the beamlets by deflecting or not deflecting the beamlets so that the beamlets are blocked or not blocked by the beam stop array. A surface area of the modulation device comprises an elongated beam area comprising an array of apertures and associated modulators, and a power interface area for accommodating a power arrangement for powering elements within the modulation device. The power interface area is located alongside a long side of the elongated beam area and extending in a direction substantially parallel thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Mapper Lithography IP B.V.
    Inventors: Marco Jan-Jaco Wieland, Remco Jager, Alexander Hendrik Vincent Van Veen, Stijn Willem Herman Karel Steenbrink, Teunis Van De Peut, Henk Derks
  • Publication number: 20120266803
    Abstract: There is provided a high power laser system for powering a remotely located laser device, such as an ROV, using a high power laser fiber optic tether and a photo-conversion device, such as a laser photovoltaic assembly. Laser device systems, such as ROV systems that utilizes a high power laser cutting and/or cleaning tools are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Mark S. Zediker, Rebecca Jones-Albertus, Brian O. Faircloth, Charles C. Rinzler, Joel F. Moxley
  • Publication number: 20120223217
    Abstract: An e-Petri dish comprising a transparent layer having a specimen surface and a light detector configured to sample a sequence of sub-pixel shifted projection images of a specimen located on the specimen surface. The sub-pixel shifted projection images associated with light from a plurality of illumination angles provided by an illumination source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Guoan Zheng, Samuel Yang, Seung Ah Lee, Shuo Pang, Changhuei Yang