Patents Examined by Charles Wieland
  • Patent number: 4682037
    Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus for projecting a pattern of a mask onto a semiconductor wafer through a projection optical system including plural refracting surfaces, and for irradiating the mask with a wavelength of light suitable for assuring optimum projection performances of the projection optical system to expose the wafer to the pattern of the mask, wherein at least one of the refracting surfaces of the projection optical system is provided with an interference film having an anti-reflection function relative to the wavelength of the light for the exposure of the mask, and having a predetermined reflection factor relative to a wavelength of light different from that of the exposure light, whereby the positional relation between the mask and the wafer can be detected through the projection optical system with the wavelength of light other than that of the exposure light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masao Kosugi
  • Patent number: 4678910
    Abstract: A reference position-detecting device for use with a photoelectric, incremental encoder which produces a sinusoidal signal in response to the movement of an index scale relative to a main scale. A pattern comprising bright portions and dark portions alternately arranged is formed on the main scale. A similar pattern is formed on the index scale. The device comprises a random pattern formed at some location of the main scale, a similar random pattern formed at some location of the index scale, optical devices for producing a signal indicative of a reference position, a first pulse generator for producing pulses in response to the signal above, second and third pulse generators for producing two kinds of pulses that are 90.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Asahi Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Hara, Atsumi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 4677306
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for a solid-state image pickup device, in which an average output level of the charge storage portion can be maintained substantially constant even if a storage time interval is short in the case of high luminance, and in which a signal charge in the shift register can be properly transferred, is so constructed that a drive pulse is supplied to the transfer portion so that the transfer portion receives a charge from a photosensor for a predetermined period of time simultaneously when the charge stored in the photosensor is shifted to the transfer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Nippon Kogaku K. K.
    Inventor: Shozo Yamano
  • Patent number: 4673817
    Abstract: A system for measuring without contact the distance between a predetermined point of an object surface and a reference level using trigonometric principles includes a transmitting section with a source of radiation for emitting a plurality essentially parallel radiation beams of small separation to the point of the object surface to be investigated and a receiving section with a detector responsive to the reflected radiation. The detector converts the reflected radiation into a corresponding electrical signal and includes a radiation sensitive area which is restricted to a substantially linear area. The output of the detector is coupled to signal processing means in which a discriminating operation is carried out between detector signals which have, or have not, a predetermined separation or separations corresponding to the separation or separations between said radiation beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: N.V. Optische Industrie de Oude Delft
    Inventor: Gijsbert L. Oomen
  • Patent number: 4672192
    Abstract: Laser beam noise reducing apparatus includes an acoustooptic cell which receives a noisy input laser light beam and produces an undiffracted or zero-order light beam and a diffracted beam in response to an RF signal at a predetermined frequency. The zero-order beam is applied to a utilization device which produces an information modulated output beam at an image zone. The zero-order beam at the output of the acoustooptic cell is sampled and AC and DC component signals are produced which are functions of fast and slow time varying changes, respectively, in the intensity of the zero-order beam. The output beam from the utilization device is sampled when it is unmodulated and a DC reference signal which represents the intensity of the DC component at the image zone is produced. The AC and DC component signals and the reference signal are combined and used to control the amplitude of the RF signal to reduce noise in the beam at the image zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Edward Muka, Nea Yea Woo
  • Patent number: 4672220
    Abstract: For reading-out an opto-electric detector constructed as an array of rows, the signal contents of several detector elements of a row section of a row located within a "window" are added up. The "window" is advanced in steps by the provision that the signal content of the last detector element located in the "window" is subtracted from the respective sum signal of all detector elements located in the "window" and the signal content of the detector element located in front of the "window" is added to the sum signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
    Inventor: Fritz Haberl
  • Patent number: 4670646
    Abstract: A wavefront, such as from a laser, is sampled, preferably at a beam splitter to break off only a fraction of the total light energy. The sampled beam is adjusted and sized--either by expansion or contraction at a conventional telescope--and thereafter sent through paired crossed Ronchi gratings and onto a CCD camera located at the first wave distance of constructive interference from the crossed Ronchi gratings. The crossed Ronchi gratings--in the order of 200 lines per inch and preferably with 200 equally spaced gaps per inch--project an array of square spots onto the focus of the CCD camera. The image of the array of square spots at the CCD camera is frozen via a frame grabber and digitized in a conventional format. The digitized image is played through a disclosed computer program to locate the spots. Thereafter, the located spots are compared to a standard spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: Western Research Corporation
    Inventor: Brett A. Spivey
  • Patent number: 4670648
    Abstract: An optical sensor apparatus receives visible light and converts that light to electrical signals for use by a control system. Visible light enters the apparatus through a hemispherical "fisheye" lens which provides a 360.degree. field of view in azimuth and a 180.degree. field of view in elevation. The light exiting the fisheye lens is projected through a shutter mechanism onto a receptor of a camera. The lens, shutter mechanism, camera and a level dector are mounted on a gimbal mounting to maintain a vertical orientation of the lens and camera. When the optical sensor apparatus is called upon by the control system to provide visual information, the shutter mechanism is energized to open when the lens and camera next become vertical. Image processing is then performed to determine the position of the optical sensor apparatus relative to known landmarks in the operating environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignee: University of Cincinnati
    Inventors: Ernest L. Hall, Mohammad Ehtashami
  • Patent number: 4667096
    Abstract: A position measuring system for measuring the relative position of two objects movable with respect to one another includes a housing which rotatably supports a shaft connected with the first object. A first graduation disk with a first incremental graduation and at least one absolutely positioned first reference mark is mounted to rotate with the shaft. A first scanning unit for the scanning of the first incremental graduation and the first reference mark is rotatably mounted on the shaft to rotate relative to the first graduation disk and the housing. A second graduation disk is firmly connected to the first scanning unit. The second graduation disk defines a second incremental graduation and at least one absolutely positioned second reference mark. A second scanning unit is fixedly mounted to the housing which is connected to the second object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Holmer Dangschat
  • Patent number: 4665317
    Abstract: Images of successive portions of a surface of a strip are formed and converted as analog signals. Signals typical of each image are stored in an image storage whereas the analog signals relating to each image are converted in numerical form by splitting up the image into image elements. Each of the image elements is given a numerical value, and then filtered, in order to sense the relative variations of the numerical values of the image elements. To determine whether or not to deliver a defect-sensing signal in terms of the sensed variations, the filtered signal is scanned. The typical image is stored in response to the transmission of the defect signal. Every read-in information is stored and displayed at a check station long enough for a visual check of the image it represents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignees: Institute de Recherches de la Siderurgie Francaise (IRSID), USINOR (Soc. An.)
    Inventors: Dominique Ferriere, Bernard Giraudy
  • Patent number: 4663535
    Abstract: A contact type color image sensor reads out a document image at its actual size while moving along the length of the document. The photosensitive cell arrays, each having pixel electrodes which prescribe n photosensitive cells (where n is a positive integer), are aligned on the substrate. Filter films are positioned over the cell arrays. The radiated image light is converted into the three primary color components of red, green and blue, and R, G, B color signals necessary for color reproduction of the document image are obtained from the respective cell arrays. The n photosensitive cells are arranged at a predetermined pitch p along the main scanning direction X in each array, and the cell arrays are arranged at a sub-scanning direction pitch q which is larger than the pitch p by a factor of K (where k is larger than 1 and k.times.n is a natural number).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toshio Nakai, Tamio Saito
  • Patent number: 4659922
    Abstract: Disclosed is an embodiment (50) of an optical sensor device adapted to detect presence of an object by reflected radiation such as visible or invisible light within viewing field (8) of an optical sensor (4) over a broader distance ("X")range without having to make physical position adjustments of a single radiation source heretofore required. Device (50) is provided with a pair of spaced-apart radiation sources (14, 16) that are positioned such that their respective radiation beams (18, 20) angularly intersect optical axis ("O") of viewing field (8) at respective angles (.theta..sub.1, .theta..sub.2) to provide three respective zones comprising a first zone (1), second zone (2) and an intermediate third zone (3) therebetween containing at least a portion of the first and second zones (1, 2) within viewing field (8) from any one or more of which reflected radiation from an object is able to be detected by sensor (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Eugene F. Duncan
  • Patent number: 4656353
    Abstract: A fiber optic readout from an optic fiber which receives light from a driven LED and conveys it to a light detector, is processed by a preamp and sample and hold arrangement to produce an output of 4-20 mA. This output is applied to a conventional two-wire 4-20 mA line. Power is conserved by using a preamp in a variable pulse rate mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: William L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 4654536
    Abstract: A contact-type color image sensor in which pixel electrodes are linearly provided in a main scanning direction and three (or four) rows thereof are arrayed in a subscanning direction, color filters for color-separating are provided to oppose the pixel electrodes, an amorphous semiconductor film is formed on the pixel electrodes, and a common transparent electrode is formed on the amorphous semiconductor film. This color image sensor allows color-separation in the subscanning direction to maximize the areas of pixel electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tamio Saito, Toshio Nakai
  • Patent number: 4653082
    Abstract: A high voltage generating device for an X-ray apparatus includes a DC output voltage control device for rectifying and smoothing a commercial AC power source voltage and a resonant circuit comprised of a series circuit of a capacitor and a primary winding of a transformer. The output DC voltage of the DC output voltage control device is supplied to the resonant circuit in a first direction or in a direction opposite to the first direction. The direction in which the voltage is applied to the resonant circuit is switched by a current switching means. Consequently, a high AC voltage is obtained through a secondary winding of the transformer. The AC voltage is converted by a rectifying/smoothing means to an X-ray tube voltage which is applied between an anode and a cathode filament of an X-ray tube. The DC output voltage control device permits its output voltage to be switched to an arbitrary level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Akira Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 4651336
    Abstract: In an X-ray tube comprising a rotating anode mounted on magnetic bearings, the flow of anode current within the tube takes place without any contact by means of a stationarily fixed hollow anode in which is placed a cathode coupled rotationally to the rotating anode. The hollow anode is associated with heating means and the cathode is heated by thermal radiation within the hollow anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Jacques Le Guen, Andre Plessis
  • Patent number: 4649561
    Abstract: A test phantom and method of fabrication and use of the same is disclosed which phantom is representative of human tissue containing variable concentrations of iodine to serve as a test device in for assessing the performance of X-ray imaging systems such as digital subtraction angiographic apparatus. The method of fabrication provides the long-term stable incorporation of iodine into a tissue equivalent material which allows standardized testing and evaluation of X-ray imaging systems. The incorporation of additional test details into geometrically fixed positions in the phantom allows accurate and reproduceable measurements of other performance parameters of digital X-ray imaging systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Ben Arnold
    Inventor: Ben A. Arnold
  • Patent number: 4647767
    Abstract: An optical encoding goniometer includes a rotatable chamber containing unequal volumes of two immiscible fluids having different indices of refraction and different densities. A plurality of optical fibers are bent to a critical radius and mounted in the chamber. The fiber cladding is exposed in different desired patterns along the bent fibers. The transmissivities of the respective fibers are measured as a function of the angular rotation of said chamber, the transmissivities of the fibers being governed by the radiation bending loss due to immersion of the exposed cladding in one of the two fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Western Geophysical Company of America
    Inventor: Paul Jubinski
  • Patent number: 4646338
    Abstract: A modular portable X-ray source with integral generator system for generating continuous X-rays of regulated intensity and energy level over a range from zero to maximum and includes a unitary housing containing an X-ray tube, a direct current high voltage power supply for generating a directly controllable, regulated high voltage, a regulated filament supply for generating a directly controllable, regulated beam current, both supplies being directly connected to the X-ray tube without cabling, both supplies being controlled by feedback control signals directly from the X-ray tube, and both being operated directly from a low voltage high current supply, such as a storage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Kevex Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Skillicorn
  • Patent number: 4646341
    Abstract: Improved calibration standard construction for X-ray fluorescence thickness measurement gauges formed of one or more plated layers of known character and thickness disposed on an apertured supporting foil base and accessible to X-radiation through an aperture at the base of a conically shaped bore in a surrounding protective housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: UPA Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Finer, Robert O. Wahl, William Silverman