Having Optical Device Patents (Class 340/815.57)
  • Patent number: 10909720
    Abstract: A control device determines whether deviation between a predetermined position detected by a processor and a reference predetermined position stored in advance in a control device is within a preset allowable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Inazumi, Takahiko Noda
  • Patent number: 10596700
    Abstract: A method for manipulating a multi-link robotic arm includes: at a first time, recording a first optical image through an optical sensor arranged proximal a distal end of the robotic arm proximal an end effector; detecting a global reference feature in a first position in the first optical image; virtually locating a global reference frame based on the first position of the global reference feature in the first optical image; calculating a first pose of the end effector within the global reference frame at approximately the first time based on the first position of the global reference feature in the first optical image; and driving a set of actuators within the robotic arm to move the end effector from the first pose toward an object keypoint, the object keypoint defined within the global reference frame and representing an estimated location of a target object within range of the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Carbon Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Corkum, Rosanna Myers
  • Patent number: 10436590
    Abstract: The present application provides a localization system and method, and robot using the same. The localization system comprises: a storage device, configured to store the corresponding relationship between an image coordinate system and a physical space coordinate system; an image acquisition device, configured to capture image frames during movement of the robot; and a processing device, connected with the image acquisition device and the storage device, and configured to acquire positions of visual features in an image frame at the current time and positions of the corresponding visual features in an image frame at the previous time and to determine the position and pose of the robot according to the corresponding relationship and the positions. In the present application, the localization error of the robot can be effectively reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ANKOBOT (SHANGHAI) SMART TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuwei Cui, Xiru Hou, Kaiqi Cao
  • Patent number: 10274138
    Abstract: A lighting device is provided which includes: a wavelength converter that emits, from laser light, light having a wavelength different from a wavelength of the laser light; and a reflector surrounding the wavelength converter and including a surface of revolution that reflects the light emitted from the wavelength converter. The reflector includes, in the surface of revolution, a through-hole through which the laser light passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nishi, Hiroshi Kitano
  • Patent number: 9024775
    Abstract: A control panel for a measuring device with a housing and a control and inspection window. The control panel includes at least one optical key that is operable through the control and inspection window using a finger. The optical key includes a transmitting element and a receiving element. The control panel is constructed such that it allows reliable and quick control even when the housing is open and the control panel is exposed. Specifically, the control panel has at least one corresponding finger-operable mechanical key in addition to the finger-operable optical key in order to reliably and quickly control the measuring device when a predefined control distance for the optical key is no longer ensured by the control and inspection window of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Brockhaus
  • Patent number: 8836483
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical remote control system, and a method for controlling a light source of the system. The system includes: a light source including a plurality of lighting units, the light source generating at least one light beam; an image sensor receiving an image including the light beam; and a processor determining a number or positions of the lighting units which are activated according to an area of the light beam in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Chip Goal Electronic Corporation, R.O.C.
    Inventor: Chun-Huang Lin
  • Patent number: 8749397
    Abstract: A user-interface device comprises a plurality of indication elements (3), each provided with a visual indication (4), mounted on a structure (5). Operatively associated to at least one indication element (3) is a lighting system (12a, 12b, 14) comprising light-generating means (12a, 12b) in position set at the back of the body of the indication element (3). The lighting system also comprises an optical module (14) made of transparent material associated to the light-generating means (12a, 12b) and configured for changing the direction of rays of light emitted by the generating means (12a, 12b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventors: Stefano Bernard, Giorgio Masoero, Cosimo Carvignese, Diego Marzorati
  • Patent number: 8638226
    Abstract: In a method and a device for determining a leak in at least one system component (2.1 through 2.n) and/or a state of a system component (2.1 through 2.n) of a system, at least one section of one or more system components (2.1 through 2.n) is monitored optically. Sound emissions occurring in or on at least one of the system components (2.1 through 2.n) are detected, analyzed and localized, wherein acoustically localized sound emission areas of the affected system component (2.1 through 2.n) are also optically detected and analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Thomas Dobler
  • Publication number: 20130241740
    Abstract: A user-interface device comprises a plurality of indication elements (3), each provided with a visual indication (4), mounted on a structure (5). Operatively associated to at least one indication element (3) is a lighting system (12a, 12b, 14) comprising light-generating means (12a, 12b) in position set at the back of the body of the indication element (3). The lighting system also comprises an optical module (14) made of transparent material associated to the light-generating means (12a, 12b) and configured for changing the direction of rays of light emitted by the generating means (12a, 12b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Stefano BERNARD, Giorgio Masoero, Cosimo Carvignese, Diego Marzorati
  • Patent number: 8502695
    Abstract: Provided is a light emitting device improved in safety to an eye. The light emitting device includes: a semiconductor laser element for emitting laser light; an optical conversion member for converting coherent laser light which is emitted from the semiconductor laser element into incoherent light, and for emitting the incoherent light; and a safety device for preventing the coherent laser light from exiting to an outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 8378795
    Abstract: A haptic signal distribution system capable of distributing haptic synchronous signals includes a master haptic device and groups of slave haptic devices. In one embodiment, the master haptic device is configured to distribute haptic synchronous signals to slave haptic devices. The haptic synchronous signals, for instance, may include information relating to a tempo for a piece of music. A haptic signal distribution system, for example, allows a master wearable haptic device to selectively distribute haptic synchronous signals to one or more groups of slave wearable haptic devices via a wireless communications network. Upon receipt of the haptic synchronous signals, each slave wearable haptic device generates a series of haptic feedback having a rhythm of beats in response to the haptic synchronous signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Steger, Barbara Kruse
  • Publication number: 20120098673
    Abstract: Network device includes a plate, an OTST plate, and a light source. First plate is situated at a first side of the network device wherein the first side can be the front side of device. OTST plate is situated at a second side of the network device and positioned substantially perpendicular to the plate, wherein the OTST plate having a first surface and a second surface further includes status indicators showing performance status associated with the network device. The light source, in one embodiment, can be an LED device capable of projecting a light beam with a predefined angle onto the first surface of OTST plate illuminating one or more status indicators. At least one status indicator is viewable from the second surface or bottom surface of OTST second plate when at least a portion of OTST plate is illuminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: NETGEAR, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kui Yin Ramones, Tiffany Ming Tsao, Jonathan Alexander Matheson
  • Patent number: 8138941
    Abstract: A compact warning light employs LED lamps as a light source and has a lighthead configured for insertion into the reflector shells of a motor vehicle such as a sedan or SUV. The lighthead has a base and cover which define a sealed interior space surrounding the LED lamps. The base is constructed of heat conducting material and the LED lamps are secured to the base so that heat generated by the lamps is conducted away and dissipated by the base. The base may include a post for supporting a plurality of individually energized arrays of LED lamps. The cover may be optically clear, tinted or provided with facets or a surface texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin M. Smith, Todd J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8093995
    Abstract: A haptic signal distribution system capable of distributing haptic synchronous signals includes a master haptic device and groups of slave haptic devices. In one embodiment, the master haptic device is configured to distribute haptic synchronous signals to slave haptic devices. The haptic synchronous signals, for instance, may include information relating to a tempo for a piece of music. A haptic signal distribution system, for example, allows a master wearable haptic device to selectively distribute haptic synchronous signals to one or more groups of slave wearable haptic devices via a wireless communications network. Upon receipt of the haptic synchronous signals, each slave wearable haptic device generates a series of haptic feedback having a rhythm of beats in response to the haptic synchronous signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Steger, Barbara Kruse
  • Patent number: 7839269
    Abstract: A haptic signal distribution system capable of distributing haptic synchronous signals includes a master haptic device and groups of slave haptic devices. In one embodiment, the master haptic device is configured to distribute haptic synchronous signals to slave haptic devices. The haptic synchronous signals, for instance, may include information relating to a tempo for a piece of music. A haptic signal distribution system, for example, allows a master wearable haptic device to selectively distribute haptic synchronous signals to one or more groups of slave wearable haptic devices via a wireless communications network. Upon receipt of the haptic synchronous signals, each slave wearable haptic device generates a series of haptic feedback having a rhythm of beats in response to the haptic synchronous signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Steger, Barbara Kruse
  • Patent number: 7815344
    Abstract: A high visibility emergency signaling device includes a base configured to be secured to an external support raised above ground level, light-emitting means mounted thereto for generating at least one light beam, and power supply means for such light-emitting means. Optical means are further provided, operating on the at least one light beam to model and orient it in such a manner as to illuminate a substantially circular area in space and/or on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Bleiner, Bruno Dussert-Vidalet
  • Patent number: 7772988
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing specified output intensity distribution requirements from a single LED source, wherein the apparatus includes a single LED source and a cover, including a lens, that captures and controls the non-collimated light of the LED source and limits its spread vertically and horizontally as well as producing intensity variations within the output pattern. In one aspect of the invention, the lens is on the same order of size as the LED source, the cover has an exposed surface area several times larger than the area of the lens and is primarily configured to have retroreflective properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Innovative Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Condon, Mark B. Pruss, Hans Christian Lassen
  • Patent number: 7581342
    Abstract: A display device includes an ultraviolet light source, a color light source, and a filter selectively hit by their lights. The filter has a first area part for displaying the first display contents excluding an overlapped parts when the ultraviolet light is emitted, a second area part for the second display contents excluding the overlapped parts when the color light is emitted, and a third display part for displaying the overlapped parts when one of the ultraviolet and color light is emitted. The first area part blocks the color light and produces visible light when the ultraviolet light hits the first area part, the second area part allows the ultraviolet and color lights to pass therethrough, and the third area part allows the ultraviolet and color lights to pass therethrough and produces the visible light when the ultraviolet light hits the third area part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Egami, Kazuo Arai
  • Patent number: 7297928
    Abstract: An indicating instrument for a vehicle has a display board, a light modulation member disposed to cover a surface of the display board. An illumination intensity of the display board is detected by a light detecting member and a control unit applies to a dc pulse voltage to the light modulation member, to thereby control a light transmissivity of the light modulation member according to the illumination intensity. When the illumination intensity is higher than a predetermined level, the voltage is applied in one direction so that the light modulation member changes from a colorless condition to a colored condition to restrict an external light from reflecting on the display board. When the illumination intensity is lower than a predetermined level, the voltage is applied in a reverse direction so that the light modulation member is transferred from the colored condition to the colorless condition to maintain the visibility of the display board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Wada, Kazumasa Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 7277024
    Abstract: A remote controlling device includes a micro-controller; a transmitter coupled to the micro-controller to selectively transmit a control signal that controls the lighting of a lamp string, the transmitter comprising an encoder for coding the control signal; a preset lighting mode memory coupled to the micro-controller to store preset lighting modes; and lighting control program memory coupled to the micro-controller to store lighting control programs, each comprised of at least one lighting mode selected from the preset lighting mode memory. A user may operate a plurality of selection switches to select the preset lighting modes and the lighting control programs from the memories. Actuation of a transmission button allows for transmission of the control signal that carries the lighting control program selected from the lighting control program memory toward a receiver of the lamp control module of the lamp string in a wireless manner for controlling the lighting of the lamp string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Willis Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen Tarng Chen
  • Patent number: 7196614
    Abstract: A guidance device including a body having multiple reflective fields, and a mounting member for secure mounting to a surface. The body's reflective surfaces may be oriented to reflect approaching light from the top, bottom, left, and right, thereby enhancing its visibility regardless of an approach mode of rescue personnel, and regardless of an orientation in which the guidance device is mounted. The guidance device may include an element capable of absorbing heat to enhance the guidance device's detection by a thermal imaging camera, or be configured to cause emission of light from responsive to detection of light (e.g. from a firefighter's flashlight). One or more guidance devices may be sold as part of a kit that includes an identification marker mountable adjacent an entry door of a building, and instructions for coordinating mounting positions of the identification marker and the guidance device relative to their respective doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Inventor: Joseph P. Carolan
  • Patent number: 7030774
    Abstract: A visible indicator for an instrument cluster is backlit with an electroluminescent (EL) film. A mounting plate is located a first distance from a light source and includes a first aperture. A translucent lens is located adjacent to the mounting plate. An EL film is located adjacent to the translucent lens and includes a second aperture having a laser-cut first shape. A lens is located a second distance from the EL film and includes a sandblasted inner surface facing the EL film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew R Krenz, David Bolognino
  • Patent number: 6987461
    Abstract: Various methods are disclosed relating to optical emanations from a light source or a first optical device that is intended to display a state of a serial data stream that crosses an interface that is associated with an information processing device. In one embodiment, the first optical device is modulated in a manner so as to not replicate the data signal being provided to and/or transmitted from the information processing device. In another embodiment, the optical emanations from the first optical device are monitored so as to be able to recover the data that is being transmitted to the information processing device in the form of a first data signal. In yet another embodiment, the cumulative optical output of a plurality of first optical devices associated with a plurality of information processing devices is monitored and evaluated in the form of a cumulative signal so as to decode each of the various individual data signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Joseph Loughry
  • Patent number: 6894623
    Abstract: A display monitor is provided for a multi-optical-path photoelectric safety apparatus including a plurality of multi-optical-path photoelectric sensor units. The user can determine whether a special function such as blanking is set for each optical path in a group which comprises a plurality of indicator lamps placed in a row along a longitudinal direction. The user can check the light incidence/light block status for each optical path on an indicator lamp group. The display monitor includes the plurality of indicator lamps placed in a row in the longitudinal direction. First and second switches allow the user to select the unit and the optical path to be shown on the two indicator lamp groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Hama, Tetsu Inoue
  • Patent number: 6690449
    Abstract: A device that provides a display indicating an absence of power to an LCD is disclosed. The device includes a continuous polarizing filter layer disposed within a display area that makes up a portion of the total display area of the LCD. A layer of liquid crystals is disposed between alignment gratings and optically coupled to the continuous polarizing filter layer. A discontinuous polarizing filter layer is optically coupled to the layer of liquid crystals. The discontinuous polarizing filter layer has a plane of polarization aligned with the plane of polarization of the continuous polarizing filter, and the discontinuous polarizing filter layer comprises a contour within the display area conforming to an image, so that the image is displayed in the absence of an electric field and indicates an absence of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Inglis, Andrew Cawte
  • Patent number: 6504488
    Abstract: In an electronic device having a housing containing electronic components and a front part connected to the housing and having control elements, the connections between the electronic components and the control elements are made using a first transmitter and a second receiver on the front part respectively aligned with a second receiver and a second transmitter on the housing. This arrangement obviates the need for mechanical connections which are susceptible to faults between the housing and the front part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Troedel, Wolfgang Reichel, Michael Römer