Interference Pattern Analysis (e.g., Spatial Filtering Or Holography) Patents (Class 250/550)
  • Patent number: 11761753
    Abstract: Apparatus include a polarization state generator situated to provide an interferometer source beam with a region of polarized source light with a polarization state that is in-plane as subsequently incident on a sample and a region of polarized source light with a polarization state that is perpendicular to in-plane as subsequently incident on the sample, and an interferometer unit configured to split the interferometer source beam into test and reference arm beams, to direct the test arm beam to the sample and the reference arm beam to a reference surface, and to recombine the test and reference arm beams to produce an interferometer output beam. Methods use a polarization state generator to produce an interferometer source beam and use an interferometer unit which splits the interferometer source beam into test and reference arm beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Svarog LLC
    Inventor: Boris V. Kamenev
  • Patent number: 11582407
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging apparatus and a driving method that can perform imaging at lower power consumption. By providing the solid-state imaging apparatus including a pixel array section on which a plurality of SPAD pixels is two-dimensionally arranged, in which in a case where illuminance becomes first illuminance higher than reference illuminance, a part of the SPAD pixels of the plurality of pixels arranged on the pixel array section is thinned, it is possible to image at lower power consumption. The present technology can be applied to an image sensor, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki Sano
  • Patent number: 11561467
    Abstract: A reflectivity and transmittance measuring device includes: an EUV light source for outputting EUV light with a wavelength ranging from 5 nm to 15 nm; a multilayer reflection zone plate having an EUV reflection multilayer film, which is a planar substrate, and a zone plate pattern; and an EUV lighting unit for creating EUV illumination light by obtaining 1st diffraction light reflected after radiating EUV light output from the EUV light source to the multilayer reflection zone plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ESOL Inc.
    Inventor: Dong Gun Lee
  • Patent number: 11385329
    Abstract: A radar sensor includes: a transceiver unit for emitting a radar beam at at least two different wavelengths along a beam path in an outgoing direction and to receive radar radiation along the beam path in an incoming direction; and a reference object placed in the beam path for redirecting part of the outgoing radar beam in the incoming direction. The reference object includes two identical grids, each grid having regularly spaced elements arranged at a distance d from each other in a first direction perpendicular to the beam path, the grids being spaced from one another along the beam path by a distance L. The transceiver unit is operable at a wavelength ? which satisfies L = n ? 2 ? d ? 2 n being an integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Mathias Fauth
  • Patent number: 11201505
    Abstract: A system for optical wireless power transmission to a power receiving apparatus generally situated in a mobile electronic device. The transmitter has an optical resonator with end reflectors and a gain medium positioned between them, such that an optical beam is generated. The frequency of the beam is selected such that it is absorbed by almost all transparent organic materials in general use. A beam steering unit on the transmitter can direct the beam in any of a plurality of directions, and the beam is absorbed on the receiver by means of an optical-to-electrical power converter, through a low reflection surface. The band gap of this power converter is selected to be smaller than that of the gain medium. The receiver has a voltage converter including an inductor, an energy storage device and a switch. A beam steerer controller ensures that the beam impinges on the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Wi-Charge Ltd.
    Inventors: Ori Refael Mor, Ortal Alpert, Alexander Slepoy, Lior Golan, Ran Sagi, Vadim Shmukler, Eitan Ronen, Omer Nahmias, Victor Vaisleib
  • Patent number: 11187639
    Abstract: Method of characterizing particles suspended in a fluid dispersant by light diffraction, comprising: obtaining measurement data from a detector element, the detector element being arranged to measure the intensity of scattered light; identifying a measurement contribution arising from light scattered by inhomogeneities in the dispersant; processing the measurement data to remove or separate the measurement contribution arising from light scattered by inhomogeneities in the dispersant; calculating a particle size distribution from the processed measurement. The detector element is one of a plurality of detector elements from which the measurement data is obtained. The detector elements are arranged to measure the intensity of scattered light at a plurality of scattering angles, the plurality of scattering angles distributed over a plurality of angles about an illumination axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Malvern Panalytical Limited
    Inventors: Rhys Poolman, David Stringfellow, Nigel Lightfoot, Jason Cecil William Corbett
  • Patent number: 11115609
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging apparatus and a driving method that can perform imaging at lower power consumption. By providing the solid-state imaging apparatus including a pixel array section on which a plurality of SPAD pixels is two-dimensionally arranged, in which in a case where illuminance becomes first illuminance higher than reference illuminance, a part of the SPAD pixels of the plurality of pixels arranged on the pixel array section is thinned, it is possible to image at lower power consumption. The present technology can be applied to an image sensor, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki Sano
  • Patent number: 11009692
    Abstract: A structured illumination microscope includes a spatial light modulator containing ferroelectric liquid crystals, an interference optical system for illuminating a specimen with an interference fringe generated by making lights from the spatial light modulator interfere with each other, a controller for applying a voltage pattern having a predetermined voltage value distribution to the ferroelectric liquid crystals, an image forming optical system for forming an image of the specimen, which has been irradiated with the interference fringe, an imaging element for generating an image by imaging the image formed by the image forming optical system, and a demodulating part for generating a demodulated image using a plurality of images, wherein the controller applies an image generation voltage pattern for generating the demodulated images and a burn-in prevention voltage pattern calculated based on the image generation voltage pattern to the ferroelectric liquid crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumihiro Dake, Ryosuke Komatsu, Yosuke Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11002966
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for eyebox expansion in wearable heads-up displays (WHUD) are described. A WHUD includes a support structure, a scanning laser projector (SLP), a split mirror, an optical splitter, and a holographic combiner. When the WHUD is worn on the head of a user the holographic combiner is positioned in a field of view of the user. The SLP scans light signals onto the split mirror which reflects the light signals onto the optical splitter. The optical splitter redirects the light signals towards the holographic combiner such that subsets of the light signals originate from spatially-separated virtual positions. The holographic combiner redirects the light to the eye resulting in spatially-separated exit pupils. The spatial separation of the exit pupils results in an expanded eyebox. The indirect path of light from SLP to optical splitter enables a smaller and therefore more aesthetically desirable design for the WHUD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Ian Andrews, Joshua Moore
  • Patent number: 10996354
    Abstract: The present invention is an electronically collimated gamma radiation detector apparatus including a radiation sensor coupled to a digitizer, which is coupled to a processor. The apparatus receives an analog signal waveform from the sensor and transmits it to the digitizer, for transformation to a digital pulse waveform. This waveform is transmitted to the processor, which calculates at least one pulse shape parameter of the waveform, instantiates a pulse data object, and populates the object with a pulse identifier, a vector parameter, and the pulse shape parameter. The above steps are repeated at a different vector to obtain multiple objects. The processor compares pulse shape parameters from different objects using a comparison method. The comparison method updates each object with a longitudinal, transverse, or angled directional parameter. The processor can output vector parameters associated longitudinal parameters, output objects with a desired vector parameter, or conduct further analysis on objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
    Inventors: John C. Morgan, John Furey, Austin V. Davis
  • Patent number: 10750104
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging apparatus and a driving method that can perform imaging at lower power consumption. By providing the solid-state imaging apparatus including a pixel array section on which a plurality of SPAD pixels is two-dimensionally arranged, in which in a case where illuminance becomes first illuminance higher than reference illuminance, a part of the SPAD pixels of the plurality of pixels arranged on the pixel array section is thinned, it is possible to image at lower power consumption. The present technology can be applied to an image sensor, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki Sano
  • Patent number: 10732422
    Abstract: An optical system for producing electromagnetic radiation with localized increases in irradiance or radiance at the system output includes a first optical mask containing localized regions for producing controlled modifications of phase delays and/or amplitude attenuations and located within the input plane of said optical system. The system also includes at least a single optical component with positive optical power located after the input plane and at least one additional optical mask located after the optical component at non-conjugate locations with respect to the input plane of the system. The additional optical mask contains localized regions for producing controlled modifications of phase delays. Locally increased radiation distributions are produced at the system output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventors: Yakov G. Soskind, Michael G. Soskind, Rose A. Soskind
  • Patent number: 10605916
    Abstract: A depth of field imaging apparatus includes a light field imager and a time of flight imager combined in a single on-chip architecture. This hybrid device enables simultaneous capture of a light field image and a time of flight image of an object scene. Algorithms are described, which enable the simultaneous acquisition of light field images and a time of flight images. Associated hybrid pixel structures, device arrays (hybrid imaging systems), and device applications are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Alyosha Molnar, Suren Jayasuriya, Sriram Sivaramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 10508903
    Abstract: A three-dimensional measurement device includes: a projector including: a light source that emits a predetermined light; a grid that converts the light from the light source into a predetermined striped pattern; and a driver that moves the grid, and the projector projecting the striped pattern onto a measurement object; an imaging device that takes an image of the measurement object on which the striped pattern is projected; and a controller that: controls the projector and the imaging device to obtain a plurality of image data having different light intensity distributions; executes three-dimensional measurement of the measurement object by phase shifting based on the image data having different light intensity distributions; and obtains each of the image data among the image data having different light intensity distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: CKD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Umemura, Tsuyoshi Ohyama, Norihiko Sakaida, Manabu Okuda
  • Patent number: 10302927
    Abstract: A structured illumination microscope includes a spatial light modulator containing ferroelectric liquid crystals, an interference optical system for illuminating a specimen with an interference fringe generated by making lights from the spatial light modulator interfere with each other, a controller for applying a voltage pattern having a predetermined voltage value distribution to the ferroelectric liquid crystals, an image forming optical system for forming an image of the specimen, which has been irradiated with the interference fringe, an imaging element for generating an image by imaging the image formed by the image forming optical system, and a demodulating part for generating a demodulated image using a plurality of images, wherein the controller applies an image generation voltage pattern for generating the demodulated images and a burn-in prevention voltage pattern calculated based on the image generation voltage pattern to the ferroelectric liquid crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Inventors: Fumihiro Dake, Ryosuke Komatsu, Yosuke Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10063109
    Abstract: A system for optical wireless power transmission to a power receiving apparatus generally situated in a mobile electronic device. The transmitter has an optical resonator with end reflectors and a gain medium positioned between them, such that an optical beam is generated. The frequency of the beam is selected such that it is absorbed by almost all transparent organic materials in general use. A beam steering unit on the transmitter can direct the beam in any of a plurality of directions, and the beam is absorbed on the receiver by means of an optical-to-electrical power converter, through a low reflection surface. The band gap of this power converter is selected to be smaller than that of the gain medium. The receiver has a voltage converter including an inductor, an energy storage device and a switch. A beam steerer controller ensures that the beam impinges on the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Wi-Charge Ltd.
    Inventors: Ori Refael Mor, Ortal Alpert, Alexander Slepoy, Lior Golan, Ran Sagi, Vadim Shmukler, Eitan Ronen, Omer Nahmias, Victor Vaisleib
  • Patent number: 10031228
    Abstract: An object detecting apparatus includes: a light projection unit that is an array light source in which each of a plurality of light emission areas emits light, an optical scanning unit that performs scanning with the light, which is emitted from the light projection unit, in a first direction, and a light receiving unit that receives reflected light which is the light, with which the scanning is performed, being reflected by an object, and an object information acquiring unit that detects presence/absence of the object based on emission timing at which the light is emitted from the light projection unit and light receiving timing at which the light receiving unit receives the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kohji Sakai, Tadashi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9911207
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for Coherent Diffractive Imaging with multiple, simultaneous, spatially distinct beams chosen and configured to isolate incoherent sums of beam diffraction such that interference between the multiple beams is not present in the data prior to computationally reconstructing the image. This is accomplished through selecting the multiple beams to be non-interfering modes, or through designing the apparatus such that the interference is not recorded, or through processing the collected data to filter the interference before reconstructing the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: KM Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Karl, Daniel E. Adams, Charles S. Bevis, Henry C. Kapteyn, Margaret M. Murnane
  • Patent number: 9866075
    Abstract: A system incorporating safety features, for optical power transmission to receivers, comprising an optical resonator having end reflectors and a gain medium, a driver supplying power to the gain medium, and controlling its small signal gain, a beam steering apparatus and a controller to control at least the beam steering apparatus and the driver. The controller responds to a safety risk occurring in the system, by outputting a command to change at least some of the small signal gain of the gain medium, the radiance of the optical beam, the power supplied by the driver, the scan speed or the scan direction and position of the beam steering apparatus, or to register the scan pose which defines the location of said optical-to-electrical power converter. The controller may also ensure a high overall radiance efficiency, and may warn of transmitted power not received by a targeted receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: WI-CHARGE LTD.
    Inventors: Alexander Slepoy, Lior Golan, Omer Nahmias, Ran Sagi, Ortal Alpert, Ori Refael Mor
  • Patent number: 9863892
    Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including a photon emitter configured for sequentially emitting a first set of photons and a second set of photons onto a surface of an article. In addition, a photon detector array is configured to focus the first set of photons scattered from surface features of the article in a first focal plane. The photon detector array is further configured to focus the second set of photons scattered from surface features of the article in a second focal plane, wherein the first set of photons scattered is different from the second set of photons scattered. The photon detector array is further configured to provide information for distinguishing foreign surface features of the article from native surface features of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Walter Ahner, David M. Tung, Samuel Kah Hean Wong, Henry Luis Lott, Stephen Keith McLaurin, Maissarath Nassirou, Florin Zavaliche
  • Patent number: 9766184
    Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including two photon emitters and a photon detector array. The two photon emitters are configured to emit photons onto an entire surface of an article. The photon detector array includes a number of photon detectors configured to detect photons scattered from features in the entire surface of the article, wherein the features are less than 500 nm in their largest dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Walter Ahner, Stephen Keith McLaurin, Samuel Kah Hean Wong, Henry Luis Lott
  • Patent number: 9742223
    Abstract: A system for optical wireless power transmission to a power receiving apparatus generally situated in a mobile electronic device. The transmitter has an optical resonator with end reflectors and a gain medium positioned between them, such that an optical beam is generated. The frequency of the beam is selected such that it is absorbed by almost all transparent organic materials in general use. A beam steering unit on the transmitter can direct the beam in any of a plurality of directions, and the beam is absorbed on the receiver by means of an optical-to-electrical power converter, through a low reflection surface. The band gap of this power converter is selected to be smaller than that of the gain medium. The receiver has a voltage converter including an inductor, an energy storage device and a switch. A beam steerer controller ensures that the beam impinges on the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Wi-Charge Ltd.
    Inventors: Ori Refael Mor, Ortal Alpert, Alexander Slepoy, Lior Golan, Ran Sagi, Vadim Shmukler, Eitan Ronen, Omer Nahmias, Victor Vaisleib
  • Patent number: 9726877
    Abstract: A microscopy method for producing a high-resolution image of a sample which includes furnishing the sample with a marker that emits statistically flashing luminescence radiation after excitation, or using a sample that has molecules that emit statistically flashing luminescence radiation after excitation. The sample is excited to luminescence in such a manner that the marker/molecules emit luminescence radiation flashing at a flash rate, wherein—the illumination is structured in such a manner that the flash rate varies locally and—the sample is repeatedly illuminated in different illumination states of the structured illumination. The luminescing sample is repeatedly imaged on a detector in each of the different illumination states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Kleppe, Yauheni Novikau
  • Patent number: 9703207
    Abstract: The present invention includes generating illumination, providing a spatial light modulator (SLM) configured to selectably illuminate one or more portions of a surface of a wafer using the generated illumination, receiving a sets of wafer pattern data indicative of one or more patterns of the wafer, translating the wafer along a direction, selectably controlling a pixel configuration of the SLM to control an illumination pattern on the surface of the wafer, a first pixel configuration illuminating a first set of regions of the wafer at an illumination level, an additional pixel configuration illuminating an additional set of regions at an additional illumination level, wherein a pixel pattern of the SLM based on the received sets of wafer pattern data is configured to move across a surface of the SLM synchronously with the pattern of the translated wafer, and detecting illumination from the surface of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Cavan, Grace Chen
  • Patent number: 9638603
    Abstract: A spatial modulator is configured by arranging a plurality of modulating units in an X-axis direction, the modulating units each including at least one light modulating element having a fixed reflecting surface with a constant height from a base surface and a movable reflecting surface with a variable height from the base surface. The spatial modulator spatially modulates a laser beam by the plurality of modulating units. A driver circuit unit applies a voltage corresponding to a driving value to each of the plurality of modulating units, to drive the modulating units individually. A shift amount acquiring portion acquires a driving value at a reference time point and a driving value at an inspecting time point which correspond to a specific light amount value, and acquires a differential value thereof as a shift amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Matsuo, Yuichi Hanada
  • Patent number: 9618369
    Abstract: Various uses of visible light interference patterns are provided. Suitable interference patterns are those formed by diffraction from patterns of apertures. Typical uses disclosed herein relate to spatial metrology, such as a translational and/or angular position determination system. Further uses include the analysis of properties of the light itself (such as the determination of the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation). Still further uses include the analysis of one or more properties (e.g. refractive index) of the matter through which the light passes. Part of the interference pattern is captured at a pixellated detector, such as a CCD chip, and the captured pattern compared with a calculated pattern. Very precise measurements of the spacing between maxima is possible, thus allowing very precise measurements of position of the detector in the interference pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
    Inventors: Jonathan Mark Ralph Weaver, Phillip Stephen Dobson, David Paul Burt, Stephen Thoms, Kevin Edward Docherty, Yuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9586286
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for fabricating a periodic micro-pattern by laser beams. The apparatus includes an ultrafast laser light source configured to generate an output laser beam. A diffraction optical element is configured to divide the output laser beam into a plurality of diffractive laser beams. A confocal system is configured to focus the plurality of diffractive laser beams on a focal point, so that the plurality of diffractive laser beams produces an interference light beam with interference phenomena. The interference light beam ablates a surface of an element to fabricate a periodic micro-pattern on the surface of the element. The confocal system includes a first lens, a second lens and a light shielding mask. The plurality of diffractive laser beams passes through the first lens, the light shielding mask and the second lens in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lextar Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shih-Hsien Huang, Shih-Hao Wang, Po-Yuan Huang
  • Patent number: 9568155
    Abstract: A light conversion member includes a surface of incidence which includes a recessed portion and on which a laser beam is incident and an output surface in which a wavelength of the laser beam is converted and the laser beam having the converted wavelength is output. The recessed portion has a shape corresponding to a wave front shape of the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chang Hyuck Lee
  • Patent number: 9557262
    Abstract: A method comprises: generating a first and a second correlated photon beam with wavelengths ?1 and ?2, respectively, wherein preferably ?1??2; separating the first photon beam and the second photon beam; illuminating an object with the first photon beam; generating a third and a fourth correlated photon beam with wavelength ?1 and wavelength ?2, respectively; overlapping the first photon beam with the third photon beam such that photons of wavelength ?1 in either photon beam are indistinguishable; overlapping the second photon beam with the fourth photon beam such that photons of wavelength ?2 in either photon beam are indistinguishable; and using the overlapped photons of wavelength ?2 for imaging and/or spectroscopy of the object such that the photons that illuminate the object are not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignees: University of Vienna, The Austrian Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Anton Zeilinger, Sven Ramelow, Radek Lapkiewicz, Victoria Borish, Gabriela Barreto Lemos
  • Patent number: 9488810
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods to image onto a flat surface with a spot-size that is about less than or equal to the wavelength of an incident planar electromagnetic wave, and with large field of view, are disclosed herein. More specifically, the apparatuses and methods disclosed herein utilize two hemispheres comprised of one or more dielectric materials to produce the Fourier transform of an incident planar electromagnetic wave onto a flat surface located in a projection plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventor: Hooman Mohseni
  • Patent number: 9484386
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate, a plurality of photo detectors formed in the substrate, and a diffraction grating having multiple sections disposed over the plurality of photo detectors. Each section of the diffraction grating has a respective periodic width for a respective target wavelength. The diffraction grating has at least two different target wavelengths. The diffraction grating is interlaced with filters. The filters in each section of the diffraction grating are configured to pass a respective electromagnetic wave with the respective target wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsin-Chieh Chang
  • Patent number: 9335486
    Abstract: A method for aligning an optical fiber that includes: directing a laser beam into a beam splitter to generate a pair of beams that are directed to a pair of reflectors that redirect the pair of beams such that the pair of beams intersect with each other and go to a pair of power detectors; and moving an optical fiber into the paths of the pair of beams until power detected at each of the pair of detectors is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLC
    Inventors: William Raymond Klimowych, Toshirou Mizushima
  • Patent number: 9310190
    Abstract: In related art, consideration is not given to that a spatial distribution of scattered light changes in various direction such as forward/backward/sideways according to a difference in micro roughness. Particularly, although a step-terrace structure appearing on an epitaxial growth wafer produces anisotropy in the scattered light distribution, consideration is not given to this point in the related art. The invention includes a process in which light is illuminated to a sample surface, plural detection optical systems mutually different in directions of optical axes detect a spatial distribution of scattered light, and a spatial frequency spectrum of the sample surface is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Ito, Takahiro Jingu, Hisashi Hatano
  • Patent number: 9157870
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pattern test apparatus includes a light source configured to apply test light to a test sample, a polarizing beam splitter which reflects or transmits the test light, an imaging device which receives light which has been reflected by the test sample and transmitted through or reflected by the polarizing beam splitter, an optical system which forms a Fourier transform plane of the test sample between the test sample and the polarizing beam splitter, and a polarizing controller disposed in the Fourier transform plane. The polarizing controller includes a first region which lets the test light through, and a second region which is greater than the first region and lets the light reflected by the test sample through, and the each regions have different retardation quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignees: NuFlare Technology, Inc., KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Riki Ogawa, Masatoshi Hirono
  • Publication number: 20150070704
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic method for extracting the amplitude ES and the phase ?S of an electrical signal in a synchronous detector, the signal containing a modulated part Imod of the form Imod?ES f(t)*cos(?S??R(t)), where ?R(t) and f(t) are two known temporal modulation functions. The method comprises the following steps: multiplying the signal by two reference signals C(t) and S(t) constructed from ?R(t) and f(t); integrating the resulting signals over a time tint; determining the amplitude and phase of said signal from the quantities X and Y resulting from the previous integrations. The method is characterised in that: said electrical signal is multiplied by C(t) and S(t) that can be decomposed on the same set of frequencies as those present in Imod. The invention also concerns the application of the above method in interferometric circuits and the use and execution of the above method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE DE TECHNOLOGIE DE TROYES
    Inventors: Aurelien Pierre Bruyant, Julien Vaillant, Abeer Al Mohtar
  • Publication number: 20140246610
    Abstract: An optical sensor (10) comprises an optical cavity defined by a dielectric body and responsive to one or more physical environmental conditions, and a waveguide (70) having a terminal end spaced apart from the optical cavity such that light is optically coupled from the terminal end of the waveguide (70) to the optical cavity. The waveguide (70) is arranged such that, in use, it is maintained at a first temperature that would not damage the optical coupling to the optical cavity when the dielectric body is maintained at a second temperature sufficient to damage the optical coupling to the optical cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Inventors: Arnold Peter Roscoe HARPIN, John Paul DRAKE, Stephen Geoffrey TYLER
  • Patent number: 8809758
    Abstract: An angle-sensitive pixel (ASP) device that uses the Talbot effect to detect the local intensity and incident angle of light includes a phase grating disposed above a photodiode assembly or a phase grating disposed above an analyzer grating that is disposed above a photodiode assembly. When illuminated by a plane wave, the upper grating generates a self-image at a selected Talbot depth. Several such structures, tuned to different incident angles, are sufficient to extract local incident angle and intensity. Arrays of such structures are sufficient to localize light sources in three dimensions without any additional optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Alyosha Molnar, Albert Wang, Patrick Gill
  • Patent number: 8669512
    Abstract: A system for measuring one or more characteristics of light of a photon energy Eph from a light source, that can be determined from measuring three-photon absorption events, the system comprising: a) a detector having a band gap material characterized by gap energy between 2.1 and 3 times Eph; b) an optical element configured to concentrate a beam of light from the light source on the detector; c) a signal amplifier that amplifies an output signal indicative of when three photons produced by the light source undergo a three-photon absorption event in the band gap material; and d) an analyzer that analyzes the output signal to count or measure a rate of the three-photon absorption events, and determines the one or more characteristics of the light from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Technion Research & Development Foundation Limited
    Inventors: Amir Nevet, Alex Hayat, Meir Orenstein
  • Patent number: 8670124
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program wherein the apparatus includes at least one interferometer where the at least one interferometer is configured to cause interference of an electromagnetic input signal; wherein the at least one interferometer is configured to receive at least one sensor input signal from at least one sensor such that the sensor input signal controls the interference of the electromagnetic input signal by the at least one interferometer; wherein the at least one interferometer is configured to provide a plurality of outputs where each of the plurality of outputs is provided by the at least one interferometer responding to the at least one sensor input signal with a different sensitivity; and at least one detector configured to detect the plurality of outputs of the at least one interferometer and provide a digital output signal indicative of the at least one sensor input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Antti Niskanen, Hongwei Li
  • Publication number: 20130181130
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a diffraction grating which diffracts electromagnetic waves from an electromagnetic wave source, a shield grating which shields a part of the electromagnetic waves diffracted by the diffraction grating, a detector which detects an intensity distribution of the electromagnetic waves through the shield grating, and an adjusting unit which adjusts the attitude of at least one of the diffraction grating and the shield grating on the basis of the detection result by the detector, wherein the adjusting unit divides the intensity distribution detected by the detector into a plurality of regions and adjusts the attitude of at least one of the diffraction grating and the shield grating on the basis of the intensity distributions of the plurality of regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidenosuke Itoh, Kentaro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20130161543
    Abstract: A zoneplate includes a first pattern having a first thickness, the first pattern including a first material, and a second pattern adjacent to the first pattern and having a second thickness larger than the first thickness, the second pattern including a second material, incident light incident on the first pattern from the outside passing through the first pattern, and incident light incident on the second pattern from the outside passing through the second pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Jong-Ju PARK, Dong-Gun LEE, Seong-Sue KIM, Chang-Hoon CHOI
  • Publication number: 20130087724
    Abstract: Provided is an observation device and a method of observing capable of clearly obtaining information relating to a boundary part where a medium inside an observation object changes. An observation device (1) is a device for observing an observation object (2) including a sensitivity factor in which a dipole moment changes by sensing an electromagnetic wave (31). An output part (11) outputs the electromagnetic wave (31) and the dipole moment of the sensitivity factor included in the observation object (2) is changed by the electromagnetic wave (31). A detector part (12) detects, of the electromagnetic wave (31) outputted from the output part (11), a signal electromagnetic wave (33) which comes through the observation object (2) and a reference electromagnetic wave (32) which bypasses the observation object (2). A control part (13) analyzes the structure of the observation object (2) based on the detection results of the detection part (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroto Kuroda, Shin Yoneya, Motoyoshi Baba, Masayuki Takasu
  • Publication number: 20130076861
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optically probing an object(s) and/or a medium and/or an optical path using noisy light. Applications disclosed include but are not limited to 3D digital camera, detecting material or mechanical properties of optical fiber(s), intrusion detection, and determining an impulse response. In some embodiments, an optical detector is illuminated by a superimposition of a combination of noisy light signals. Various signal processing techniques are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventor: Shmuel Sternklar
  • Patent number: 8405059
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention allow the operation of confocal microscopes with relatively open pinholes (e.g. 1 Airy unit) whilst still giving a significant XY resolution improvement. In addition axial (Z) discrimination or resolution may also be improved. This is achieved by splitting the emitted light path in an interferometric fashion. One of the split beams is then directed to an image transformation system, which may perform an image inversion which inverts at least one coordinate in image space. The transformed beam and the non-transformed beam are then recombined in an interferometric fashion (i.e. coherently added), which provides an interference effect resulting in increased resolution of the image. Where the embodiments are being used in a confocal application, the resulting combined beam can then be subject to a spatially discriminating means, such as a pinhole, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: King's College London
    Inventors: Rainer W Heintzmann, Kai Wicker
  • Publication number: 20130010283
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical coherence microscopy system for fast, phase resolved imaging by means of optical coherence microscopy with decoupled illumination and detection apertures, producing a dark-field effect with an enhanced optical contrast. The setup uses a light source with an appropriate temporal coherence, an interferometer and an array detector combined with a spectrometer. The dark-field effect is produced by optical filter means in the illumination and detection paths, positioned in conjugated planes of the sample microscope objective. These optical means comprise for example refractive or diffractive elements, amplitude or phase masks, or programmable spatial light modulators. The object is scanned via a scanning unit allowing a point scan of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Martin Villiger, Christophe Pache, Theo Lasser
  • Patent number: 8345333
    Abstract: Provided are a displacement/distortion measuring method and a displacement/distortion measuring apparatus for easily and highly accurately measuring displacement or distortion of an object. An image of the surface of the measuring object is picked up by a line scanner apparatus adhered or brought close to the surface of the measuring object. The image is taken, displacement or distortion is measured by image analysis of the image of the measuring object surface prior to time lapse and that after time lapse, and displacement or distortion measuring results are outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Smart Structures LLC
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuda, Masakazu Uchino, Yukihiro Ito, Kousuke Yoshimaru, Chikara Yamazaki, Shuichi Yamazaki, Kousuke Uchida
  • Publication number: 20120292539
    Abstract: An encoder detects positional information of a moving body using interference of a modulated illumination light. A scale has a pattern arrayed in movement directions of the moving body. An optical member generates an emergent light by the interference of the modulated illumination light. A light receiving device receives the emergent light and outputs a first photoelectric conversion signal and a second photoelectric conversion signal which have a phase difference. A control circuit generates a first signal by subtracting at least the first photoelectric conversion signal from the second photoelectric conversion signal, and outputs the positional information of the moving body based on the first signal. At least one of the scale, the optical member and the light receiving device is fixed to the moving body, and the scale is moved relative to the optical member and the light receiving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susumu MAKINOUCHI, Toru IMAI, Akihiro WATANABE
  • Patent number: 8228599
    Abstract: A system for combining multiple coherent optical beams incorporates a plurality of coherent beamlets expanded to an aperture. An interferometer receives a sample of a full aperture unphased combination of the plurality of beamlets and provides interference fringes. A spatial light modulator (SLM) receives the fringes from the interferometer and generates a hologram as a diffraction grating. Relay optics transmit the full aperture unphased combined beamlets to the SLM and receive a diffraction corrected full aperture phased beam from the diffraction grating hologram for emission to the far field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Magarita A. Carbon, Dennis M. Guthals
  • Publication number: 20120168650
    Abstract: An optical detector system comprises a hermetic optoelectronic package, an optical bench installed within the optoelectronic package, a balanced detector system installed on the optical bench. The balanced detector system includes at least two optical detectors that receive interference signals. An electronic amplifier system installed within the optoelectronic package amplifies an output of at least two optical detectors. Also disclosed is an integrated optical coherence tomography system. Embodiments are provided in which the amplifiers, typically transimpedance amplifiers, are closely integrated with the optical detectors that detect the interference signals from the interferometer. Further embodiments are provided in which the interferometer but also preferably its detectors are integrated together on a common optical bench. Systems that have little or no optical fiber can thus be implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: AXSUN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Dale C. Flanders, Randal A. Murdza
  • Publication number: 20120091372
    Abstract: An angle-sensitive pixel (ASP) device that uses the Talbot effect to detect the local intensity and incident angle of light includes a phase grating disposed above a photodiode assembly or a phase grating disposed above an analyzer grating that is disposed above a photodiode assembly. When illuminated by a plane wave, the upper grating generates a self-image at a selected Talbot depth. Several such structures, tuned to different incident angles, are sufficient to extract local incident angle and intensity. Arrays of such structures are sufficient to localize light sources in three dimensions without any additional optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Alyosha Molnar, Albert Wang