By Nonmovable Driving Element (e.g., Piezoelectric, Magnetostrictive) Patents (Class 359/579)
  • Patent number: 11726309
    Abstract: An illumination system for a STED optical microscope includes an illumination light path consisting of an illumination light source and an optical elements. The illumination light path includes a first light filter, a second light filter, a polarizing light splitter, a first quarter wave plate, a first dichroic element, a light path delay unit, a phase plate, a second dichroic element, and a second quarter wave plate arranged in sequence along the transmission direction of the light path. The light beam emitted from the illumination light source is divided into two coaxial light beams after transmitted by the illumination light path. A first light beam is incident to a microscope objective to form a first light spot, a second light beam is incident to the microscope objective to form a second light spot, and the center of the first light spot coincides with that of the second light spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Jinghe Yuan, Jianqiang Yu, Xiaohong Fang
  • Patent number: 11480783
    Abstract: An optical filter system includes a Fabry-Perot interference filter, and a controller that controls the Fabry-Perot interference filter. The Fabry-Perot interference filter includes a first mirror portion, a second mirror portion, a first driving electrode and a first monitor electrode provided with the first mirror portion, and a second driving electrode and a second monitor electrode provided with the second mirror portion. The controller includes a control unit that calculates an electrostatic capacitance between the first mirror portion and the second mirror portion based on an alternating voltage generated between the first monitor electrode and the second monitor electrode while an alternating current is applied between the first monitor electrode and the second monitor electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Helmut Teichmann, Andreas Durandi, Peter Seitz, Takashi Kasahara, Katsumi Shibayama
  • Patent number: 11106063
    Abstract: An electrically-tunable optical filter has an optical cavity that forms an absorption peak in light that is incident on the filter. The optical cavity includes a layer composed of a material with a high electro-optic coefficient so that the index of refraction of the layer changes in response to a voltage applied by a controller. By adjusting the voltage, the controller can control the index of refraction so that an absorption peak of the filter can be tuned as may be desired without having to alter the physical structure of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in Huntsville
    Inventors: Seyed Sadreddin Mirshafieyan, Don Allen Gregory
  • Patent number: 10274719
    Abstract: An optical system including at least one liquid crystal lens and an imaging lens module is provided. The optical system is configured to form an image of an object. The at least one liquid crystal lens and the imaging lens module is disposed on a path of light from the object. The at least one liquid crystal lens includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. An effective refractive index of each position on the liquid crystal layer is related to an voltage applied, and the at least one liquid crystal lens is configured to change an optical axis of the at least one liquid crystal lens by changing distribution of orientations of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: LIQXTAL TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Hung-Shan Chen, Jui-Ping Chang
  • Patent number: 9383596
    Abstract: A variable spectrum element includes: first and third sensors which are placed at positions at which the first and third sensors are symmetrical with respect to a line connecting the centers of mass of the surfaces of a pair of optical substrates opposite to each other, respectively; second and fourth sensors which are placed at positions at which the second and fourth sensors are symmetrical with respect to the line connecting the centers of mass, respectively; and first to fourth actuators which are placed on lines running from the center of mass of the surface of each of the pair of the optical substrates opposite to each other to the centers of the first to fourth sensors respectively, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Wakai
  • Patent number: 9244269
    Abstract: A micro movable device includes: a micro movable substrate in which a micro movable unit is formed, the micro movable unit including a frame, a movable part, and a coupling part for coupling the frame and the movable part to define an axial center of rotation of the movable part; a supporting substrate; and a reinforced fixed part provided between the frame and the supporting substrate, and including a first spacer that joins the frame to the supporting substrate and an adhesive part that covers the first spacer and joins the frame to the supporting substrate, wherein the frame includes a first area facing the movable part in a direction of extent of the axial center, and a second area different from the first area, and the reinforced fixed part is bonded to the second area of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Soneda, Tsuyoshi Matsumoto, Yoshihiro Mizuno, Norinao Kouma, Hisao Okuda, Osamu Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 9019611
    Abstract: An optical module (colorimetry sensor) includes an interference filter, and a transparent substrate to which a first substrate of the interference filter is fixed, having a second thermal expansion coefficient which has a value different from a first thermal expansion coefficient. The interference filter is fixed to the transparent substrate through an adhesive layer made of gel-like resin, and the adhesive layer alleviates stress generated due to a difference in the thermal expansion coefficients between the interference filter and the transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunori Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20150103343
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing spectroscopy incorporates, between an EM source and a detector, an optical filter comprising a pair of mirrors opposed along the optical axis and shaped to provide an optical cavity with stable resonance and having a cavity length of at most 50 ?m and a mode at a wavelength within said band of wavelengths for bandpass filtering EM radiation passing therethrough. The actuator system is arranged to move the mirrors relative to each other along the length of the optical cavity for tuning the wavelength of said mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: ISIS INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Jason Michael Smith, Claire Vallance
  • Publication number: 20150085367
    Abstract: A tunable optical filter is formed in the structure of an etalon. A thin electro-optic ceramic substrate is fixed between two end substrates. Each end substrate has an inner parallel surface toward said electro-optic ceramic substrate covered by an electrode layer and a reflecting layer. An adhesive which attaches the electro-optic ceramic substrate to each first and second end substrates has a consistency so as to avoid stress on the electro-optic ceramic substrate. A voltage imposed on the electro-optic ceramic substrate by the electrode layers on the inner parallel surfaces of the first and second end substrates effectively controls an optical distance between the reflective coating layers on the inner parallel surfaces of the first and second end substrates of the etalon structure. The electro-optic ceramic substrate is preferably PMN-PT ((1-x)Pb (Mg? Nb?) O3?x—Pb Ti O3) and no more than 160 ?m thick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Jing-Jong Pan
  • Publication number: 20150043060
    Abstract: An optical element (21) with a substrate (30) and a reflective coating (31). The coating (31) has, in particular for the reflection of EUV radiation, a plurality of layer pairs having alternate layers (33a, 33b) composed of a high refractive index material and a low refractive index material At least one active layer (34) composed of a magnetostrictive material is formed within the reflective coating (31). Also disclosed is an optical element (21) having a substrate (30) and a reflective coating (31). The optical element (21) has at least one first active layer with a material having positive magnetostriction and at least one second active layer with a material having negative magnetostriction. The layer thicknesses and the layer materials of the active layers are such that mechanical stress changes or changes in length of the active layers that are produced by a magnetic field mutually compensate for one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Peter Huber, Oliver Dier
  • Publication number: 20140362442
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for optical fiber communications. One tunable optical filter includes a light inputting assembly and a light receiving assembly; an adjustable cavity length assembly arranged between the light inputting assembly and the light receiving assembly, wherein the adjustable cavity length assembly includes an adjustable length device, a first substrate, and a second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are positioned parallel to each other and are fixed at respective ends of the adjustable length device; and a Fabry-Perot filter arranged in the adjustable cavity length assembly, the Fabry-Perot filter including a first component which is fixed on the first substrate, and a second component which is fixed on the second substrate, the first component includes a reflecting surface facing the second substrate and the second component includes a reflecting surface facing the first substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Zhuhai FTZ Oplink Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Guoping Chen, Zhongsheng Wang, Yong Du
  • Publication number: 20140347662
    Abstract: An optical resonator by which reflectivity of ring-down cavity mirrors can be altered and enhanced by adding external optical cavities that recycle light to the main cavity. A coupled-cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CC-RDS) is used for controlling the finesse of an optical resonator. Applications include extending the sensitivity and dynamic range of a cavity-enhanced spectrometer as well as widening the useful spectral region of high-reflectivity mirrors. CC-RDS uses controlled feedback of the probe laser beam to a ring-down cavity, which leads to interference between the internally circulating light and that which is fed back through a cavity mirror port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Joseph T. Hodges, Jeremie Courtois
  • Patent number: 8879160
    Abstract: An optical device with a deformable membrane including an anchor zone on a support contributing to trapping fluid, a central zone reversibly deforming from a rest position, and an actuating mechanism to displace fluid acting on the membrane in an intermediate zone between the anchor and central zones. The actuating mechanism includes a principal actuation mechanism and supplementary actuation mechanism each arranged in at least one ring mounted around the central zone, each ring including one or plural piezoelectric actuators, and being anchored on the intermediate zone, only the supplementary actuation mechanism may be anchored to the support, these actuation mechanisms and the membrane to which they are anchored forming at least one piezoelectric bimorph, such that they contract or expand in the radial direction during actuation such that when the fluid moves, it deforms the central zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique et aux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Sébastien Bolis, Stéphane Moreau
  • Patent number: 8835204
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a multi-dimensional target waveguide grating and volume grating with micro-structure quasi-phase-matching. An ordinary waveguide grating is used as a seed grating, and on this basis, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional sampling structure modulated with a refractive index, that is, a sampling grating, is formed. The sampling grating comprises multiple shadow gratings, and one of the shadow gratings is selected as a target equivalent grating. A sampled grating comprises Fourier components in many orders, that is, shadow gratings, a corresponding grating wave vector is [Formula 1], and the grating profile of all the shadow gratings changes with the sampling structure [Formula 2]. In a case where a seed grating wave vector [Formula 3] and a required two-dimensional or three-dimensional grating wave vector do not match, a certain Fourier periodic structure component of the Fourier components of the sampling structure is used to compensate for the wave vector mismatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Nanjing University
    Inventors: Yuechun Shi, Xiangfei Chen
  • Publication number: 20140240838
    Abstract: An etalon has a pair of transparent components; a ring-shaped piezoelectric member which is provided between the pair of transparent components, which is bonded to the pair of transparent components, and which is provided with metal films on the surfaces which face the transparent component sides; and the external connecting terminals which are provided on the transparent components and which are connected to the metal films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA CRYSTAL DEVICE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kotaro Wakabayashi, Yukiko Furukata, Shiori Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20140233103
    Abstract: An optical module (colorimetry sensor) includes an interference filter, and a transparent substrate to which a first substrate of the interference filter is fixed, having a second thermal expansion coefficient which has a value different from a first thermal expansion coefficient. The interference filter is fixed to the transparent substrate through an adhesive layer made of gel-like resin, and the adhesive layer alleviates stress generated due to a difference in the thermal expansion coefficients between the interference filter and the transparent substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazunori SAKURAI
  • Patent number: 8797650
    Abstract: A wavelength-variable interference filter includes first and second electrodes provided at first and second substrates, respectively, the second substrate including a movable section, first and second electrode wires that extend from the first and second electrodes toward outer circumferential edges of the first and second substrates, respectively, a first opposite electrode wire disposed so as to be isolated from the second electrode, and a first conductive section that connects the first electrode wire with the first opposite electrode wire. The second electrode wire and the first opposite electrode wire extend passing through a center point of an imaginary circle of the movable section in respective directions and dividing the imaginary circle at regular angular intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Matsushita, Yasushi Matsuno
  • Publication number: 20140204442
    Abstract: Described is a method of controlling the absorption of light in a cavity, a system in which absorption is so controlled, and an interferometer embodying the underlying physical concept. Materials can be made to completely absorb incident light when the light is imposed in a specific pattern of illumination. Coherent perfect absorption, as the process is referred to, is achieved when a cavity is illuminated coherently and monochromatically by the time-reverse of the output of a lasing mode. Varying the parameters of the incident light and/or of the cavity allows the absorption of the incident light by the cavity to be controlled; enhanced or even reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Yale University
    Inventors: A. Douglas Stone, Hui Cao, Li Ge, Yidong Chong
  • Patent number: 8755116
    Abstract: In an optical assembly having a light source which provides two optically different light components with essentially planar wavefronts on an optical axis, wherein the light components differ at least in their wavelength; in the case of an objective lens which projects the two optically different light components into a projection space; and in the case of an optical component which is arranged on the optical axis and has an plane through which the wavefronts of the two light components pass and in which at least two different areas of the optical component with different dispersion behaviors n(?) abut against one another in the lateral direction with respect to the optical axis; the optical component causes phase shifts of the wavefronts of the two light components, wherein the phase shift of the wavefronts of the one light component differs by at least one quarter of the wavelength of that light component between the two different areas, and wherein the phase shift of the wavefronts of the other light compo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
    Inventors: Lars Kastrup, Volker Westphal
  • Patent number: 8743461
    Abstract: An optical module (colorimetry sensor) includes an interference filter, and a transparent substrate to which a first substrate of the interference filter is fixed, having a second thermal expansion coefficient which has a value different from a first thermal expansion coefficient. The interference filter is fixed to the transparent substrate through an adhesive layer made of gel-like resin, and the adhesive layer alleviates stress generated due to a difference in the thermal expansion coefficients between the interference filter and the transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunori Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8649097
    Abstract: Fabry-Perot tunable filters is provided with a first fixed semitransparent mirror and a second movable semitransparent mirror arranged against each other, and piezoelectric elements more than three arranged at an equi-interval on the second movable semitransparent mirror to change a space between the first and second semitransparent mirrors. The second movable semitransparent mirror is adapted to be rotated by using as a pivot an imaginary axis toward which each length of perpendiculars let fall from each of the piezoelectric elements on a plane parallel to the second movable semitransparent mirror and including the imaginary axis connected between arbitrary two points of each middle point between the adjacent piezoelectric elements is equal each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Motohiro Mitamura
  • Patent number: 8619359
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a unique and novel combination light source and active light filtering system for microscopes that eliminates the need for individual color filters, fluorescence filters, and many other filter types. The present invention provides variable light wavelength generating capabilities, and all of the benefits of most commercially available light sources in a compact package that can be mounted on a microscope or used at a distance from a microscope, but be coupled to it through a fiber optic cable or other light transmission means. Additionally, the present invention eliminates the need for a filter wheel turret in a microscope's optical path, as well as eliminates the need for multiple fluorescent filter blocks in a fluorescent microscope optical path. The present invention can improve microscope filter systems to enable effective imaging of live cells without staining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventor: Howard Letovsky
  • Publication number: 20120212824
    Abstract: An optical module (colorimetry sensor) includes an interference filter, and a transparent substrate to which a first substrate of the interference filter is fixed, having a second thermal expansion coefficient which has a value different from a first thermal expansion coefficient. The interference filter is fixed to the transparent substrate through an adhesive layer made of gel-like resin, and the adhesive layer alleviates stress generated due to a difference in the thermal expansion coefficients between the interference filter and the transparent substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazunori SAKURAI
  • Publication number: 20120170114
    Abstract: Embodiments herein are directed to a metamaterial transmission filters including a metamaterial component and a upper medium positioned within proximity of the metamaterial component such that movement of the upper medium changes the resonances and optical transmission, reflection or absorption spectra of the filter. The upper material may be a natural material or a second metamaterial identical or non-identical to the metamaterial component. Embodiments herein are designed to allow both continuous tuning of the optical spectra of the assembly and/or discrete spectral switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: TRITON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence H. Domash, Daniel Wasserman
  • Publication number: 20120134002
    Abstract: Described is a method of controlling the absorption of light in a cavity, a system in which absorption is so controlled, and an interferometer embodying the underlying physical concept. Materials can be made to completely absorb incident light when the light is imposed in a specific pattern of illumination. Coherent perfect absorption, as the process is referred to, is achieved when a cavity is illuminated coherently and monochromatically by the time-reverse of the output of a lasing mode. Varying the parameters of the incident light and/or of the cavity allows the absorption of the incident light by the cavity to be controlled; enhanced or even reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventor: A. Douglas Stone
  • Patent number: 8110159
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a platform for placement of a sample or an animal to be imaged, and at least one excitation light source for irradiating the sample or animal to stimulate an emission at a plurality of different center wavelengths. An acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is provided that includes a piezoelectric transducer crystal for emitting an acoustic wave having a ground electrode disposed on one side of the piezoelectric crystal. A patterned electrode layer is disposed on a side of the piezoelectric crystal opposite the ground electrode. The patterned electrode layer includes a continuous region proximate to its center and a discontinuous region, a pattern in the discontinuous region comprising a plurality of spaced apart features electrically connected to the continuous region, and an AO interaction crystal receiving the acoustic wave attached to the ground electrode or the patterned electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Gooch and Housego PLC
    Inventors: Elliot S. Wachman, Jill Wachman, Stanley J. Geyer
  • Patent number: 8103138
    Abstract: A tunable filter is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: O-Net Communications (Shenzhen) Limited
    Inventors: Yang Fang, Bin Chen, Chuan Zhang, Hong Xie
  • Publication number: 20110299166
    Abstract: A thermally tunable Fabry-Perot optical filter includes a single crystalline sheet resistance heater layer. A single crystalline semiconductor spacer layer is positioned proximate to and in thermal communication with the single crystalline sheet resistance heater layer. A first distributed Bragg reflector is positioned proximate to a first surface of the single crystalline semiconductor spacer layer. A second distributed Bragg reflector is positioned proximate to a second surface of the single crystalline semiconductor spacer layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: AEGIS LIGHTWAVE, INC.
    Inventor: Rong Sun
  • Publication number: 20110228281
    Abstract: The present patent application provides an interference cavity for precisely controlling an optical path including a cavity formed by two equal distance arms, wherein a positive adjusting plate and a negative adjusting plate are disposed in the interference cavity for compensating the change of a cavity length with temperature and thereby ensuring that the interference cavity length is a constant. The present patent application utilizes the matching relationship between the change of the refractive index of the positive adjustment plate with the temperature and the change of the refractive index of the negative adjusting plates with the temperature to make the optical path difference OPL invariant with changes in the environment temperature and thereby to ensure the precision of the optical path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Zeqin Wang, Hong Xie
  • Publication number: 20110216325
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) in a laser ring is chosen to provide low polarization-dependent gain (PDG) and a booster semiconductor optical amplifier, outside of the ring, is chosen to provide high polarization-dependent gain. The use of a semiconductor optical amplifier with low polarization-dependent gain nearly eliminates variations in the polarization state of the light at the output of the laser, but does not eliminate the intra-sweep variations in the polarization state at the output of the laser, which can degrade the performance of the SS-OCT system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: LIGHTLAB IMAGING, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7972004
    Abstract: A system and method for uniform light generation in projection display systems. An illumination source comprises a light source to produce colored light, and a scrolling optics unit optically coupled to the light source, the scrolling optics unit configured to create lines of colored light from the colored light, and to scroll the lines of colored light along a direction orthogonal to a light path of the illumination source. The scrolling optics unit comprises a single light shaping diffuser to transform the colored light into the lines of colored light, an optical filter positioned in the light path after the light shaping diffuser, and a scrolling optics element positioned in the light path after the optical filter. The single light shaping diffuser is capable of simultaneously transforming colored light into lines of colored light having substantially uniform intensity to provide uniform illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, Paul L. Rancuret
  • Patent number: 7936500
    Abstract: A wavelength-specific optical switch combines one or more tunable filters and bandblock reflectors such that the absorption or reflection of selected wavelength bands in the optical spectrum (visible, near infrared, or near ultraviolet) can be switched on and off. The wavelength switch is programmable, multifunctional, general-purpose, solid-state optical filter. The wavelength switch may serve as a tunable notch or bandblock filter, a tunable bandpass filter, a tunable highpass or lowpass filter, or a tunable band reflector. The wavelength switch has particular, but not exclusive, application in optics as a filter, band reflector, and as a means of isolating particular wavelengths or wavelength bands from a collimated light stream for transmission to, or rejection from, a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: RavenBrick LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Powers, Wil McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20100296164
    Abstract: Light in a desired wavelength band is accurately separated by changing the distance between optical substrates while minimizing deformation thereof. A variable spectroscopic element (1) includes: a plurality of optical substrates (3, 4) opposed to each other with a space therebetween, the optical substrates being provided with coating layers (2a, 2b) on opposed surfaces; actuators (5) arranged circumferentially at intervals around a central axis of the optical substrates (3, 4), the actuators being capable of expansion and contraction in a direction of the gap between the optical substrates (3, 4); and connecting members (10) connecting the actuators (5) and the optical substrates (3, 4) at several locations at intervals in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoaki Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20100246010
    Abstract: Fabry-Perot tunable filters is provided with a first fixed semitransparent mirror and a second movable semitransparent mirror arranged against each other, and piezoelectric elements more than three arranged at an equi-interval on the second movable semitransparent mirror to change a space between the first and second semitransparent mirrors. The second movable semitransparent mirror is adapted to be rotated by using as a pivot an imaginary axis toward which each length of perpendiculars let fall from each of the piezoelectric elements on a plane parallel to the second movable semitransparent mirror and including the imaginary axis connected between arbitrary two points of each middle point between the adjacent piezoelectric elements is equal each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Motohiro Mitamura
  • Patent number: 7775668
    Abstract: A color-mixing laser module is disclosed, which is comprised of a laser unit capable of emitting red, blue and green laser beams; a beam combiner, for receiving and converging the laser beams emitted from the laser unit and then directing the converged laser light to illuminate on a light pattern adjusting unit; and the light pattern adjusting unit, capable of receiving the converged laser light from the beam combiner for adjusting the pattern of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Po-Hung Yao, Cheng-Huan Chen, Ya-Yu Nieh
  • Publication number: 20100142054
    Abstract: In an optical assembly having a light source which provides two optically different light components with essentially planar wavefronts on an optical axis, wherein the light components differ at least in their wavelength; in the case of an objective lens which projects the two optically different light components into a projection space; and in the case of an optical component which is arranged on the optical axis and has an plane through which the wavefronts of the two light components pass and in which at least two different areas of the optical component with different dispersion behaviors n(?) abut against one another in the lateral direction with respect to the optical axis; the optical component causes phase shifts of the wavefronts of the two light components, wherein the phase shift of the wavefronts of the one light component differs by at least one quarter of the wavelength of that light component between the two different areas, and wherein the phase shift of the wavefronts of the other light compo
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
    Inventors: Lars KASTRUP, Volker WESTPHAL
  • Publication number: 20100118405
    Abstract: Actuator assemblies are formed by at least one cylinder where each cylinder is formed by at least one piezoelectric fiber composite actuator adapted to have actuation energy applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: United States of America as represented by the Admins of the Ntl Aeronautics and Space Admins
    Inventors: Sidney G. Allison, Qamar A. Shams, Robert L. Fox, Christopher L. Fox, Melanie L. Fox Chattin
  • Publication number: 20090126777
    Abstract: In various embodiments described herein, a display device comprising a light collection film and a photovoltaic device disposed on an edge of the collection film. The collection film has a plurality of light-turning features for redirecting light between the front and back surface of the collection film and the photovoltaic device. In some embodiments, a light source is also disposed on an edge of the collection film and emits light which is turned by the light-turning features toward the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kasra Khazeni, Manish Kothari
  • Patent number: 7499603
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided for an electrooptical modulator. One method embodiment includes receiving an optical input signal to an electrooptical modulator. A first voltage input is applied to a first drive electrode associated with a first optical path in the electrooptical modulator. A second voltage input is applied to a second drive electrode associated with a second optical path in the electrooptical modulator at times alternative to applying the first voltage input to the first drive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Krawczak, Raymond J. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090040616
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microelectromechanically tunable Fabry-Perot device and method of manufacturing tunable Fabry-Perot device and method of manufacturing. The F-P device comprises a first and second substrate which has partially reflective planar surfaces, and the partially reflective planar surfaces are separated by a predetermined separation distance and aligned to provide a F-P cavity, where one or more piezoelectric members are adapted to displace the first and second substrates when an electric field is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Pinyen Lin, Peter M. Gulvin, Yao Rong Wang, Lalit Keshav Mestha
  • Patent number: 7483211
    Abstract: An optical tunable filter has a fixed substrate having a first recess formed therein and a movable substrate bonded to the fixed substrate. The movable substrate includes a movable portion having an opening formed at a location facing the first recess and a support portion for supporting the movable portion so that the movable portion can be displaced. The optical tunable filter also has a light-transmittable substrate bonded to the movable portion, a fixed reflection film formed on a bottom of the first recess, and a movable reflection film formed on a surface of the light-transmittable substrate. The optical tunable filter includes an interference gap formed between the fixed reflection film and the movable reflection film. The optical tunable filter also includes an actuator operable to displace the movable portion relative to the fixed substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, Santec Corporation
    Inventors: Ryosuke Nakamura, Chang Ho Chung
  • Publication number: 20080297903
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method for driving a piezoelectric element or an optical modulator including a piezoelectric element and a recorded medium recorded with a program for executing the same. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the method for driving a piezoelectric element causing a displacement object to be displaced by being contracted or expanded according to a supplied driving voltage, including supplying a driving signal to the piezoelectric element during a first driving period in a first voltage range; supplying a control signal for controlling a polarization hysteresis of the piezoelectric element according to a driving, performed during the first driving period, to the piezoelectric element; and supplying the driving signal to the piezoelectric element during a second driving period in a second voltage range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung-Do An, Jong-Hyeong Song, Anatoliy Lapchuk
  • Patent number: 7444014
    Abstract: Imaging techniques. The focus of an imaging device is varied while acquiring an image of an object. The resulting blurred image is deconvolved to generate, in one embodiment, a two-dimensional projection image of three dimensions of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
    Inventors: Michael E. Dresser, Jose-Angel Conchello
  • Patent number: 7420738
    Abstract: A dual membrane, single cavity MEMS Fabry-Perot filter has a cavity that is defined between two mirror structures that are located on separate MEMS membranes. This configuration can yield a number of advantages. First, the membranes will be typically subject to the same mechanical vibrations, thus, will vibrate together. This vibration, however, will be rejected as common mode, however. Moreover, since the membranes will move in opposed directions in the gravitational field, the dual membrane device is insulated against passband shifts resulting from changes in orientation in the gravitational field. Finally, since each membrane can now be deflected separately, the scanning range is effectively doubled without increases in the size of the electrostatic cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Axsun Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Mattackal Verghese
  • Patent number: 7329853
    Abstract: A spectrally tunable optical detector and methods of manufacture therefore are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the tunable optical detector includes a tunable bandpass filter, a detector and readout electronics, each supported by a different substrate. The substrates are secured relative to one another to form the spectrally tunable optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Barrett E. Cole, Robert E. Higashi, Arunkumar Subramanian, Subash Krishnankutty
  • Patent number: 7319560
    Abstract: A tunable Fabry-Perot filter that is less sensitive to angle of incidence is formed by replacing the cavity (air gap) with a partitioned cavity that has an effective refractive index greater than one. The partitioned cavity includes a pair of partitioned cavity dielectric layers formed on the reflectors on either side of the variable air gap. Each of the dielectric layers has an optical thickness that is less than one fourth the shortest wavelength in the tuning range of the filter. The resulting three-layer partitioned cavity has an effective optical thickness substantially equal to an integral multiple (m) of one half the transmitted wavelength within the tuning range of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Teledyne Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: William J. Gunning, William H. Southwell
  • Patent number: 7315420
    Abstract: A CWDM filter having four channels of the present invention comprises a substrate and odd number of stack structures. Each stack structure includes a first multi-layer stack, a spacer layer, a second multi-layer stack and a coupling layer arranged in turn from the side thereof approaching the substrate. The rules of the coupling layer of the No. [(N+1)/2?1] stack structure and the coupling layer of the No. [(N+1)/2+1] stack structure both are (2n+1)L, among which, n being a positive whole number, L representing for a low refraction index layer with a thickness of ?0/4 and ?0 representing for the center wavelength thereof. While the coupling layers of the other stack structures can be expressed as L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Chang Chen E Shang
  • Patent number: 7304800
    Abstract: An optical tunable filter is provided including a first substrate having light transmission properties and having a movable part and a supporting member that movably supports the movable part and having a smaller thickness than the movable part, a second substrate having light transmission properties and opposed to the first substrate, a first gap and a second gap provided between the movable part and the second substrate, an interference part causing interference between the movable part and the second substrate through the second gap and a drive member changing an interval of the second gap by moving the movable part to the second substrate by making use of the first gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ryosuke Nakamura, Shinichi Kamisuki, Akihiro Murata, Mitsuhiro Yoda
  • Patent number: 7304799
    Abstract: An optical device including: a glass substrate; a crystalline silicon layer bonded to the glass substrate; and a thermally tunable thin-film optical filter fabricated on top of the crystalline silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Aegis Lightwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Yi-Shan Ma, Mitchell S. Cohen
  • Patent number: RE41239
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stretching a pulse, shaping a stretched pulse, and modeling a stretched and/or shaped pulse are disclosed. An etalon has a port, a partially reflective surface, and a fully reflective surface. A base pulse is introduced into the etalon, and a plurality of portions of the base pulse propagating from the etalon are collected. The collected portions are then combined to generate a stretched pulse whose width is proportional to the width of the base pulse. This can be modeled by assigning a transmission factor value to each one of a plurality of tags and a reflection factor value to each one of the taps, excepting only one tap. A transport delay for is assigned to each tap to which a reflection factor value was assigned, wherein the transport delay is proportional to the width of a base pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventors: James R. Wood, Pradip Mitra