Collimating Of Light Beam Patents (Class 359/641)
  • Publication number: 20120281263
    Abstract: Optical solenoid beams, diffractionless solutions of the Helmholtz equation whose diffraction-limited in-plane intensity peak spirals around the optical axis, and whose wavefronts carry an independent helical pitch. The solenoid beams have the noteworthy property of being able to exert forces on illuminated objects that are directed opposite to the direction of the light's propagation. Optical solenoid beams therefore act as true tractor beams that are capable of transporting material back toward their source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: David G. Grier, Sang-Hyuk Lee, Yohai Roichman
  • Patent number: 8280205
    Abstract: The invention pertains to an optical connector assembly having an alignment mechanism for coupling two single-lens, multi-fiber optical connectors together. Particularly, each connector comprising a single lens through which the light from multiple fibers is expanded/focused for coupling to corresponding fibers in a mating connector. In one aspect of the invention, the alignment mechanism includes mating features extending from the fronts of the lenses having substantially longitudinal surfaces that meet and contact each other when the two connectors are coupled together in only one or a limited number of rotational orientations relative to each other to as to properly rotationally align the multiple fibers in the two mating connectors. This mechanism also helps align the two connectors with the optical axes of their lenses parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: David Donald Erdman, Michael Aaron Kadar-Kallen
  • Publication number: 20120243105
    Abstract: A light source device includes a light source main unit made of a combination of a plurality of semiconductor laser devices, a plurality of collimator lens respectively capable of converting light beams emitted by the respective semiconductor laser devices of the light source main unit to respective approximately parallel light beam fluxes, and a condenser lens capable of condensing light beam fluxes emitted by the plurality of collimator lenses. The light source main unit has the plurality of semiconductor laser devices arranged, when viewed from the condenser lens, so that the stems of the adjacent semiconductor laser devices are seemingly continuous in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the condenser lens, and the stems of the adjacent semiconductor laser devices are overlapped in a second direction perpendicular to both the direction of optical axis and the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Takashi SASAMURO, Yukitoshi Marutani
  • Patent number: 8274743
    Abstract: A method for thermally compensating lenses in an optical system for high power lasers includes the steps of providing a fused silica lens to collimate a high power laser beam and positioning that lens in collimating relation to the laser beam. A focusing lens assembly is provided to focus the collimated laser beam and is positioned in focusing relation to the collimated laser beam. At least one lens having a negative dn/dT to offset a heat-induced change in index of refraction of the fused silica lens is included as a part of the collimating lens assembly and as a part of the focusing lens assembly. The lens having a negative dn/dT is selected from a group of glasses having a negative dn/dT. The power of the lenses is balanced with an offsetting negative dn/dT so that the optical system maintains its focus over a wide temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventor: Michael J. Scaggs
  • Patent number: 8270084
    Abstract: A beam forming device produces a linear intensity distribution on a work plane. The device contains a laser light source that can emit laser radiation, an optical device that can transfer the laser radiation in a linear intensity distribution on the work plane, and lens that are used to influence the linear intensity distribution on the work plane and that can be displaced in the direction of diffusion of the laser radiation. The intensity profile can be modified perpendicular to the extension of the linear intensity distribution by modifying the position of the lens in the direction of diffusion of the laser radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: LIMO Patentverwaltung GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Iouri Mikliaev
  • Publication number: 20120230704
    Abstract: A collimator for a laser assembly includes a first electrostatically controllable liquid lense having a first optical axis and a second electrostatically controllable liquid lense having a second optical axis aligned with the first optical axis. A laser is provided and has such a collimator. Finally, a transmitter uses the laser for optical data transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: NOKIA SIEMENS NETWORKS OY
    Inventors: Thomas Treyer, Sylvia Smolorz
  • Publication number: 20120229910
    Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus for optically isolating a light beam from a laser, comprising an optical isolator configured to isolate a light beam having a beam quality; a reference plane; an output connector disposed at the output of the optical isolator, wherein the output connector is configured with a common collimator interface to connect to a collimator which is capable of being mechanically referenced to the reference plane; a first lens arrangement disposed proximal to a distal end of the output connector, wherein the first lens arrangement is selected to provide an output light beam having a predetermined divergence. The laser can be selected from the group consisting of a fiber laser, a disk laser and a rod laser. Also provided herein are a system, a plurality of lasers, and a method of providing a light beam that has a consistent divergence and distance from a reference plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SPI LASERS UK LTD
    Inventors: Michael Kevan Durkin, Stewart Thomas Ingram
  • Publication number: 20120228802
    Abstract: A system for focusing a light beam may be used for multi-photon stereolithography. It comprises a collimator or expander for adjusting the beam divergence and a scanner for directing the beam onto a focusing device to focus the beam to a focal point or beam waist and to scan the focused beam. A controller controls adjustment of the beam divergence so that the focal point or beam waist is scanned substantially in a plane. A light source may be provided to generate the light beam. The expander may comprise a diverging lens and a converging lens for expanding the beam to produce a collimated beam. The divergence of the collimated beam is dependent on the distance between the diverging lens and the converging lens, which may be adjusted to adjust the beam divergence. The focusing device may comprise a dry objective lens to focus the collimated beam onto the target material to induce multi-photon absorption in the target material at the beam waist of the focused beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Shyi-Herng Kan, Tseng-Ming Hsieh, Jackie Y. Ying
  • Patent number: 8254032
    Abstract: The collimated test object according to the invention is used for projecting to infinity a set of marks, the positions of which are very accurately known so as to be able to verify the alignment and/or the distortion of optical equipment such as sensors or collimated screens. This test object comprises a plurality of microcollimated sets, each comprising a light source, an elementary test object comprising a mark illuminated by the source as well as a collimation lens for projecting the mark to infinity. With this solution, one gets free of aberration problems to which are subject convention test objects of large dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Eads Test & Services
    Inventors: Pierre Lecoq, Vincent Petit, Franck Delsol
  • Patent number: 8253940
    Abstract: An ellipsometer, polarimeter, reflectometer, spectrophotometer or scatterometer system for use in the UV and infrared range of wavelengths, characterized by the combination of a fiber optic capable of transmitting wavelengths from below 2.2 micron up to at least 3.5 microns, and a beam collimator formed from a combination of two off-axis concave astigmatism reducing spherical mirrors capable of operating between about 190 nm up to 5.5 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: J. A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Green, Gerald T. Cooney, Martin M. Liphardt
  • Publication number: 20120212831
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave propagating structure includes a main body having surfaces capable of blocking propagation of an electromagnetic wave, and including an incident side and an exit side opposite to the incident side in a wave-propagating direction. The main body is formed with two wave-propagating channels that are spaced apart from each other by a distance not greater than the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave. Each of the wave-propagating channels extends from the incident side to the exit side, and has an inner dimension not greater than half of the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave. The electromagnetic wave propagating structure is adapted to allow an electromagnetic wave to propagate therethrough via the wave-propagating channels for focusing into a light spot having a spot size that is smaller than half of the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Kuan-Ren CHEN
  • Patent number: 8238030
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing multiple collimated light beams from optical fibers and the method for producing such beams. The apparatus includes first and second optical fibers that carry light of first and second wavelengths, respectively, a fixture that maintains the fibers in a fixed relationship to one another, and a collimating lens. Light from each of the first and second optical fibers diverges from a face of the fixture. The collimating lens produces first and second collimated light beams that are displaced relative to one another from the light leaving the face. The face of the fixture is positioned to correct for chromatic aberration in the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Webb, David Lande
  • Patent number: 8217897
    Abstract: An optical tracking system is disclosed that provides more precise tracking and better performance in an optical mouse. It involves provides a collimated laser, and imaging a reflection of the collimated laser, such that the reflection has a substantially linear phase gradient. The reflection of the laser includes a pattern of speckles due to optical interference effects. The speckles are imaged such that the substantially linear phase gradient restricts any variation in intensity of the imaging of the speckles during a translating motion of the reflection, thereby providing superior tracking performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: John Lutian
  • Publication number: 20120154922
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particular optical configuration employed in a solid-state laser, in particular a fiber laser, cutting head for controlling the problems of focal drift and laser damage of the optics of the focusing head and to a laser unit equipped with such a focusing head, in particular an ytterbium-doped fiber laser unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Francis Briand, Gaia Ballerini, Isabelle Debecker, Thomas Jouanneau, Hakim Maazaoui, Eric Verna
  • Publication number: 20120147475
    Abstract: The collimating optical element includes a light incident surface and a light emission curved surface. The light incident surface receives a light emitted by a light source. The light emission curved surface and a first plane are intersected to form a first curve. The first curve has a plurality of first curve segments, and each first curve segment includes at least three first tangent points. After passing each first tangent point along a connecting line of the light source and each first tangent point, the light exits along a first collimation axis, and an included angle formed between the first collimation axis and an optic axis is greater than ?15° and smaller than 15°. Thus, the light after passing the collimating optical element forms a one-dimensional collimating light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Hui Hsiung Lin, Wen Hsun Yang, Chin Ju Hsu, Yu Nan Pao
  • Publication number: 20120148189
    Abstract: The multiple channel fiber optic rotary joint of this invention can transmit an increased number of optical signals simultaneously through the de-rotating mechanism without increasing the size of the de-rotating mechanism. It also allows for the recapturing of the signals with relative ease. This is accomplished through the use of an optical condenser and/or an optical expander that reduces or expands the overall all beam structure without significantly altering the relative structure. The expanders and condensers are inverse structures in that if an optical signal is condensed when passing from right to light through the condenser it is expanded when passing left to right through the same condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Boying B. ZHANG, Hong ZHANG, Louis D. VIOLANTE
  • Publication number: 20120147476
    Abstract: The collimating optical element includes a light incident surface and a light emission curved surface. The light incident surface receives a light emitted by a light source. The light emission curved surface and a first plane are intersected to form a first curve. The first curve has a plurality of first curve segments, and each first curve segment includes at least three first tangent points. After passing each first tangent point along a connecting line of the light source and each first tangent point, the light exits along a first collimation axis, and an included angle formed between the first collimation axis and an optic axis is greater than ?15° and smaller than 15°. Thus, the light after passing the collimating optical element forms a one-dimensional collimating light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Hui-Hsiung LIN, Wen-Hsun Yang, Chin-Ju Hsu, Yu-Nan Pao
  • Patent number: 8199405
    Abstract: A tactical radiating device for directed energy includes at least two generators of high energy directed beams. At least one beam combining system combines high energy directed beams emitted by the generators into a combined high energy beam. A focusing device focuses the combined high energy beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: LFK-Lenkflugkoerpersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Geidek, Norbert Nissl, Rudolf Protz, Juergen Zoz
  • Publication number: 20120140334
    Abstract: A micro-optical element for use with an edge-emitting laser diode bar stack, the element comprising a plurality of spaced apart fast-axis collimators formed as a monolithic array, wherein the spacing between the collimators in the fast-axis varies across the micro-optic element. A method of manufacturing a micro-optical element for use with a laser diode bar stack, using a wavelength stabilized CO2 laser is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Roy McBride, Matthew Oren Currie, Jozef Jacek Wendland
  • Patent number: 8189973
    Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adrian Travis, Timothy Large, Neil Emerton, Steven Bathiche
  • Publication number: 20120106200
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus to collimate light. In one aspect, a manifold to collimate light can be used to illuminate a display or project an image. The manifold can be formed of optically transmissive material and can have a backside for receiving light from a light source and a front wall, opposite the backside, for outputting collimated light. The front wall can include a plurality of lens. The upper and bottom walls of the manifold can extend along a curve from the backside to the front wall. The manifold can be hollowed, with an internal cavity that opens to the backside. The manifold can be configured to collimate light propagating in directions extending out of a plane, while light propagating from the light source in directions within the plane is not collimated or is less collimated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ye Yin, Russell Wayne Gruhlke, Zhengwu Li
  • Publication number: 20120105969
    Abstract: Multileaf collimator calibration includes defining a reference position of a carriage and determining a first value, the first value being for a drift of a first position of a leaf from a first defined absolute position, the leaf being arranged on the carriage and the carriage being located at the reference position. The multileaf calibration also includes moving the carriage to a position to be checked and determining a second value, the second value being for a drift of a second position of a leaf from a second defined absolute position, the carriage being located at the position to be checked. A difference value is determined by forming the difference between the first value and the second value for the drift of the position of the leaf and using the difference value as a value for the drift of the position of the carriage for the position to be checked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Christian Ehringfeld, Marco Köhler
  • Publication number: 20120098794
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting, collimating and redirecting light from a point-like source to produce a collimated optical signal in a substantially planar form are provided. In one embodiment the apparatus is manufactured as a unitary transmissive body comprising a collimation element and a redirection element, and optionally a transmissive element. In another embodiment the apparatus is assembled from one or more components. The apparatus and method are useful for providing sensing light for an optical touch input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: RPO Pty Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Kleinert, Duncan Ian Ross, Jonathan Payne, Warwick Todd Holloway, Graham Roy Atkins, Robert Bruce Charters, Kenli Chong, Dax Kukulj, Brigg Maund, Ian Andrew Maxwell
  • Publication number: 20120082179
    Abstract: An optical system (31) with an input optical source (33) for projecting an input beam along an optical axis and an optical element (37, 43) which creates a cone refracted beam (41) from the input beam (35) then reconstructs the input beam (49). The optical element may comprise a first cone refractive element (37) which creates a cone refracted beam and reconstructs the beam using a reconstructing optical element (43) to apply a phase shift to the cone refracted beam. The optical system may be used to form a laser or a gain medium for a laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE
    Inventors: Edik Rafailov, Amin Abdolvand, Todor Kalkandjiev
  • Publication number: 20120063166
    Abstract: A collimating waveguide, an optical backlight apparatus, and a method of producing a collimated beam of radiant electromagnetic energy are disclosed. A collimating waveguide comprises an input surface to receive radiant electromagnetic energy from a point source and an output surface to emit an output beam of substantially collimated radiant electromagnetic energy. A first collimating surface of the waveguide receives a beam of the radiant electromagnetic energy entering from the input surface traveling in a first direction and reflects the radiant electromagnetic energy into a substantially collimated beam of radiant electromagnetic energy traveling in a second direction, which is the reverse of the first direction. A second collimating surface of the waveguide receives the substantially collimated beam of radiant electromagnetic energy and to redirect the substantially collimated beam toward the output surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Teledyne Lighting and Display Products, Inc.
    Inventors: George W. Panagotacos, David G. Pelka, Blair L. Unger
  • Patent number: 8128257
    Abstract: An LCD can include a Compact Collimating Reflector (CCR), is configured to be located downstream in a light path from an LCD light source, where the CCR is configured to reflect light from the LCD light source to provide collimated light downstream from the CCR. A light diffusion film is located downstream from the CCR and is configured to receive the collimated light from the CCR. An LCD panel is located downstream from the CCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Bright View Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Wood
  • Patent number: 8126305
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave propagating structure includes a main body having surfaces capable of blocking propagation of an electromagnetic wave, and including an incident side and an exit side opposite to the incident side in a wave-propagating direction. The main body is formed with two wave-propagating channels that are spaced apart from each other by a distance not greater than the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave. Each of the wave-propagating channels extends from the incident side to the exit side, and has an inner dimension not greater than half of the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave. The electromagnetic wave propagating structure is adapted to allow an electromagnetic wave to propagate therethrough via the wave-propagating channels for focusing into a light spot having a spot size that is smaller than half of the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: National Cheng Kung University
    Inventor: Kuan-Ren Chen
  • Patent number: 8094377
    Abstract: A see-through head-mounted optical apparatus for a viewer has at least one display module, each display module having a display energizable to form an image and a positive field lens optically coupled to the surface of the display and disposed to direct imaged light from the display toward a first surface of a prism. A curved reflector element is in the path of the imaged light through the prism and disposed at a second surface of the prism, opposite the first surface. The curved reflector element has a refractive surface and a curved reflective surface disposed to collimate imaged light received from the display and direct this light toward a beam splitter that is disposed within the prism and that is at an oblique angle to the collimated reflected light. The beam splitter redirects the incident collimated reflected light through the prism to form an entrance pupil for the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: NVIS, Inc.
    Inventors: David Kessler, Minoo Bablani
  • Publication number: 20120002297
    Abstract: There is provided a collimator lens which turns light emitted from a laser device, which is used in a laser display device, into parallel beams. The collimator lens is configured such that the wavelength of the light from the laser device is equal to or longer than 375 nm and equal to or shorter than 750 nm, the numerical aperture is equal to or larger than 0.2 and equal to or smaller than 0.75, and both conditions of “D/f>0.85 assuming that the lens thickness is D and the focal distance is f” and “?d>57 assuming that the Abbe number is ?d” are satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kameda, Shoichi Kyoya, Masayoshi Nakagawa, Yasuyuki Kondo
  • Patent number: 8089465
    Abstract: An optical tracking system is disclosed that provides more precise tracking and better performance in an optical mouse. It involves provides a collimated laser, and imaging a reflection of the collimated laser, such that the reflection has a substantially linear phase gradient. The reflection of the laser includes a pattern of speckles due to optical interference effects. The speckles are imaged such that the substantially linear phase gradient restricts any variation in intensity of the imaging of the speckles during a translating motion of the reflection, thereby providing superior tracking performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: John Lutian
  • Patent number: 8085468
    Abstract: A line generator according to the present invention includes a light source, a first lens group, and a second lens group. An optical axis is set to a position of a light beam which travels orthogonal to incidence surfaces of both the first and second lens groups and the first lens group is configured such that light beams from the light source are not collimated in a first direction in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis and are collimated or focused only in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in the plane orthogonal to the optical axis and the second lens group is configured such that the light beams which have passed through the first group form a line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Nalux Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamasa Kuroda, Yousuke Nakano, Kazuyuki Yao
  • Publication number: 20110310471
    Abstract: UV curing of adhesives with light beam shaping utilizes a spot curing process that focuses a limited amount of UV light onto a target area, such as glue dots. A focusing lens may be used to direct the UV light beam to the target area. The target areas have different geometrical shapes, and the UV light is advantageously concentrated in a more efficient manner. Beam-shaping optics or lenses are used to facilitate re-shaping and re-defining the UV-light beam. The UV beam may be defined and limited to a rectangular spot to improve the spot process quality and efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS, B.V.
    Inventors: Iraj Kavosh, Russell Dean Moates
  • Publication number: 20110304815
    Abstract: An optical magnifier has two light transmissive substrates with lenses on either side of each substrate and wherein the arrays of lenses are aligned such that an array of afocal optical magnifiers is produced. One of the arrays forming the array of afocal magnifiers has positive lenses and one of the arrays forming the array of afocal magnifiers has negative lenses. Two arrays of afocal magnifiers are combined to form a pair of magnifying glasses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicants: SPAARIO INC., Michael P. NEWELL
    Inventor: Michael P. NEWELL
  • Publication number: 20110304897
    Abstract: An optical semiconductor module in which displacement resulting from fixation of lenses is effectively corrected includes a first lens (102), a second lens (103), and a third lens (104) arranged between a semiconductor laser (101) and a semiconductor optical modulator (105). The first lens (102) and the second lens (103) form a collimate lens optical system. The first lens (102) converts light emitted by the semiconductor laser (101) into parallel light rays. The second lens (103) focuses the parallel light rays on the semiconductor optical modulator (105) to couple the light rays to the semiconductor optical modulator (105). The third lens (104) has a longer focal distance than the first and second lenses. Thus, displacement of the lenses resulting from fixation thereof can be corrected by adjusting in position and fixing the first and second lenses (102, 103) and then adjusting in position and fixing the third lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicants: NTT Electronics Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Kasaya, Ken Tsuzuki, Toshiki Nishizawa, Hiroshi Tomita, Yuji Mitsuhashi
  • Publication number: 20110270585
    Abstract: A freeform surface included collimation lens is provided, which is designed through a freeform surface design process to provide an integrally-formed unitary structure. The design method includes a step of identifying an optic field pattern of light source, a step of performing graphic analysis of freeform surface tangential vector formula, a step of acquiring freeform surface control point, a step of constructing a three-dimensional model, and a step of performing geometric processing. Through these steps, tangential vectors of control points of each freeform surface are determined and an approximating process or an exact solution process is adopted to determine the coordinates of the points of the freeform surface. Three-dimensional modeling software is then employing to construct an ellipsoid collimation lens, which realizes an optic collimation performance of at least 88% when tested with a circular disk set at a distance of 200 meters and having a diameter of 35 meters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: JIN-JIA CHEN, Chin-Tang Lin
  • Publication number: 20110265105
    Abstract: An optical collimator assembly used in an optical pickup device and an optical pickup device are provided. The optical collimator assembly may include a collimating lens, a lens holder for supporting the collimating lens, a piezoelectric element coupled to the lens holder and including a female screw portion disposed along a central axis in one direction and a plurality of pairs of piezoelectric bodies disposed symmetrically with one another around the central axis and for causing deformation in a direction that crosses the central axis, and a male screw type transfer screw coupled to the female screw portion of the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Won-ik Cho
  • Publication number: 20110249342
    Abstract: A method for thermally compensating lenses in an optical system for high power lasers includes the steps of providing a fused silica lens to collimate a high power laser beam and positioning that lens in collimating relation to the laser beam. A focusing lens assembly is provided to focus the collimated laser beam and is positioned in focusing relation to the collimated laser beam. At least one lens having a negative dn/dT to offset a heat-induced change in index of refraction of the fused silica lens is included as a part of the collimating lens assembly and as a part of the focusing lens assembly. The lens having a negative dn/dT is selected from a group of glasses having a negative dn/dT. The power of the lenses is balanced with an offsetting negative dn/dT so that the optical system maintains its focus over a wide temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventor: Michael J. Scaggs
  • Patent number: 8029637
    Abstract: UV curing of adhesives with light beam shaping utilizes a spot curing process that focuses a limited amount of UV light onto a target area, such as glue dots. A focusing lens may be used to direct the UV light beam to the target area. The target areas have different geometrical shapes, and the UV light is advantageously concentrated in a more efficient manner. Beam-shaping optics or lenses are used to facilitate re-shaping and re-defining the UV-light beam. The UV beam may be defined and limited to a rectangular spot to improve the spot process quality and efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Iraj Kavosh, Russell Dean Moates
  • Patent number: 8030593
    Abstract: A laser welding apparatus and method for easily adjusting a laser focusing position according to a distance from a laser irradiating device to a laser irradiating point on a work piece, or a welding point. A post-collimation laser diameter is measured when the laser emitting end has an optimal laser diameter on the work piece with respect to the distance from the laser processing head to the work piece. Corresponding data is stored with the above distance and the post-collimation laser diameter corresponding to each other. During welding, a diameter of the laser beam passing through a collimate lens is measured by a laser diameter measuring device. The post-collimation laser diameter is adjusted to be an optimal value according to the corresponding data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8029167
    Abstract: The light emitting device comprises a point light source, a solid and transparent light guide, a recess arranged on center of a light receiving surface of the light guide, a concave lens formed on a surface of the recess. A reflecting side surface is a revolving surface determined by revolving a parabola passing through one point of peripheral border of the light receiving surface and the other point of peripheral border of the light radiating surface, and having a focal point on the other point of peripheral border. The point light source is arranged apart from the light receiving surface so as to divide the light from the point light source into light entering into the light guide through the surface of the recess and light entering into the light guide through some part of the light receiving surface other than the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Phoenix Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomihiko Ikeda, Andrei Kazmierski, Kana Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8031414
    Abstract: A single lens bullet-shaped laser beam shaper capable of redistributing an arbitrary beam profile into any desired output profile comprising a unitary lens comprising: a convex front input surface defining a focal point and a flat output portion at the focal point; and b) a cylindrical core portion having a flat input surface coincident with the flat output portion of the first input portion at the focal point and a convex rear output surface remote from the convex front input surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Jefferson Science Associates, LLC
    Inventors: Chuyu Liu, Shukui Zhang
  • Patent number: 8027094
    Abstract: A lens may operate in the mid-IR spectral region and couple highly divergent beams into highly collimated beams. In combination with a light source having a characteristic output beam, the lens may provide highly stable, miniaturized mid-IR sources that deliver optical beams. An advanced mounting system may provide long term sturdy mechanical coupling and alignment to reduce operator maintenance. In addition, devices may also support electrical and thermal subsystems that are delivered via these mounting systems. A mid-IR singlet lens having a numerical aperture greater than about 0.7 and a focal length less than 10 mm may be combined with a quantum well stack semiconductor based light source such that the emission facet of the semiconductor lies in the focus of the lens less than 2 mm away from the lens surface. Together, these systems may provide a package that is highly portable and robust, and easily integrated with external optical systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Daylight Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Day, David F. Arnone
  • Publication number: 20110228404
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing multiple collimated light beams from optical fibers and the method for producing such beams. The apparatus includes first and second optical fibers that carry light of first and second wavelengths, respectively, a fixture that maintains the fibers in a fixed relationship to one another, and a collimating lens. Light from each of the first and second optical fibers diverges from a face of the fixture. The collimating lens produces first and second collimated light beams that are displaced relative to one another from the light leaving the face. The face of the fixture is positioned to correct for chromatic aberration in the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Webb, David Lande
  • Publication number: 20110228562
    Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adrian Travis, Timothy Large, Neil Emerton, Steven Bathiche
  • Patent number: 8016460
    Abstract: A converging element for an LED is described, which is used for converging light rays emitted from a light-emitting chip to enable the light rays to form approximately parallel light rays after passing through the converging element. The converging element for LED includes a cylinder and a first lens. The cylinder is disposed on the light-emitting chip. The first lens is disposed on the other end of the cylinder opposite to the light-emitting chip. The first lens has a first plane and a first curved surface opposite to each other. The first plane of the first lens is attached to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Tien-Fu Huang, Shih-Hao Hua, Chen-Dao Shaio
  • Patent number: 8009363
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to single prism beamsplitters and compound beamsplitters formed from combining one or more of the single prism beamsplitters. In one embodiment, the beamsplitters can be configured to produce one or more split beams of light that can emerge at angles other than 90° to one another. The prisms of the beamsplitter embodiments are configured so that light propagating through prisms encounter one or more intermediate planar surfaces at various angles with respect to the path of the light. A certain number of the intermediate planar surfaces can be angled so that the light transmitted along a particular path undergoes total internal reflection within the prism. A number of other intermediate planar surfaces are angled so that the light transmitted along a particular path does not undergo total internal reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Huei Pei Kuo, Michael Renne Ty Tan
  • Publication number: 20110203662
    Abstract: One optical system comprises a first optical surface, a faceted second optical surface, and a faceted third optical surface. The optical system is operative to convert a first bundle of rays that is continuous in phase space outside the first optical surface into a second bundle of rays that is continuous in phase space outside the third optical surface. Between the second and third optical surfaces the rays making up the first and second bundles form discrete sub-bundles each passing from a facet of the second optical surface to a facet of the third optical surface. The sub-bundles do not form a continuous bundle in a phase space that has dimensions representing the position and angle at which rays cross a surface transverse to the bundle of rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Light Prescriptions Innovators, LLC
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Miñano, Pablo Benítez, Julio C. Chaves, Maikel Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20110194186
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a polymer miniature lens on a substrate with the lens forming pattern, and the liquid polymer is dispensed therein. The lens forming pattern having a periphery area and an interior area, most portion of the periphery area having a property of confining liquid polymer, while the interior area having at least one portion exposing the surface of the substrate; depositing liquid polymer onto the lens forming pattern; and curing the liquid polymer after the liquid polymer reaches equilibrium shape and is confined to the periphery area. The invention also discloses a collimator including the polymer miniature lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Wingkeung Mak, Tinhoi Siu
  • Publication number: 20110157566
    Abstract: A collimator lens unit includes at least two lenses and substantially collimates a beam of light emitted from a solid-state light source unit of a Lambert emission type, wherein at least two faces of incidence faces and emission faces of the lenses constituting the two lenses are aspheric faces, one front aspheric face located close to the solid-state light source unit has a function of changing a luminous flux density distribution of the beam of light emitted from the solid-state light source unit to a predetermined luminous flux density distribution in which the luminous flux density in the vicinity of an optical axis of the collimator lens unit is higher than the luminous flux density in a peripheral portion separated from the optical, the rear aspheric face farthest from the solid-state light source unit has a function of substantially collimating the beam of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koichi AKIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20110116801
    Abstract: A triplexer including an optics block including a first port configured to receive a first light beam at a first wavelength and a second light beam at a second wavelength, and a second port configured to receive a third light beam at a third wavelength, a bounce cavity between the first and second ports, the bounce cavity being formed by opposing reflective elements adjacent respective surfaces of the optics block, a first grating opposite the first port, the first grating receiving all three light beams at substantially a same location thereon, the first grating configured to provide the first and second light beams to the bounce cavity and the third light beam to the first port, and a second grating opposite the second port, the second grating receiving the first and second light beams at spatially separated portions thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: James E. MORRIS