Patents Examined by Darren E. Schuberg
  • Patent number: 6081354
    Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display contains, a holographic reflector that provides either a white or more neutral background color to the display when viewed with ambient white light. The holographic reflector comprises a holographic recording film layer that includes at least first and second pixel volumes containing holographic mirrors and, preferably, third pixel volumes containing holographic mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: William John Gambogi, Jr., Torence John Trout
  • Patent number: 6081363
    Abstract: An optical length adjusting device provides different optical length for different lenses in a multi-resolution scanner. The optical length adjusting device includes a focus module for focusing the optical image on an image sensor, a first light reflecting device for directing the light from an object to the focus module, a first carrier for fixing the first light reflecting device, a second carrier for fixing the focus module, and a driving module for moving the first and/or second carriers to change the distance between them. Since the distance between the focus module and the first light reflecting module can be adjusted, the light from the object can be guided to the focus module via the same optical path for different resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Microtek International, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Shen, Harn-Jou Yeh
  • Patent number: 6081378
    Abstract: A polarization converter polarizes an incident light beam having a first component with a first plane of polarization and a second component with a second plane of polarization orthogonal to the first plane. The polarization converter comprises a planar matrix for concentrating and collimating the incident light beam; a polarizer parallel to the planar matrix for refracting the first component and reflecting the second component; quarter-wave retarding means, parallel to the planar matrix and disposed between the planar matrix and the polarizer, for delaying the second component one-quarter wavelength relative to that of the first component; and reflection means, between the quarter-wave retarding means and the planar matrix, for reflecting the second component back through the quarter-wave retarder. The planar matrix may include on a top surface an array of first lenses and on a bottom surface an array of second lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Polycom, Inc.
    Inventors: Pasquale Romano, Brian L. Hinman
  • Patent number: 6078442
    Abstract: In a concentric ND filter in which multi-layered circular ND filter elements whose diameter is decreased stepwise toward the uppermost layer from the lowermost layer are concentrically provided on a first transparent substrate, a surrounding space of the concentrically multi-layered ND filter elements defined by and between the surface of the transparent substrate and the surface of the central ND filter layer of the smallest diameter is filled with a transparent adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Seimitsu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eijiroh Tada, Masakazu Yamagata, Shunichiro Wakamiya, Masayuki Arai, Toru Shikano, Takayasu Shishido
  • Patent number: 6078420
    Abstract: An all-reflective optical system uses a mirror with a hole to transmit a focused laser beam to an on-axis elliptical mirror. The reflected beam from the ellipse is predominately reflected off the mirror with a hole and focused to a distant adjustable focus. This focus spot can be positioned by X-Y scanning mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Optical Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Macken
  • Patent number: 6075626
    Abstract: A hologram has a hologram element 3 containing a photopolymer and a cover film 22 and cover plate 21 which cover its surfaces. An adhesive 1 is used for bonding the cover film to the hologram element and the cover plate to the hologram element. The hologram has excellent humidity resistance, chemical resistance, solvent resistance and heat resistance, prevents coloration, can maintain its holographic properties and allows easy repositioning of the hologram element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Mizutani, Naoyuki Kawazoe, Hidekazu Hattori
  • Patent number: 6075638
    Abstract: An optical scanning lens is for use in an optical scanning device in which a light beam forming a line image elongated in a direction corresponding to a main-scanning direction is deflected at a constant angular velocity by a deflector having a reflecting surface in a vicinity of a position of the line image, and in which a deflected beam is focused by the optical scanning lens to form a beam spot on a surface to be scanned so that a constant velocity optical scanning of the surface to be scanned is effected, the optical scanning lens having a single-lens construction and being constructed such that at least one of lens surfaces has an asymmetrical configuration with respect to an optical axis within a plane of deflection, the asymmetrical configuration with respect to the optical axis being designed so that a field curvature is properly corrected and a proper constant-velocity characteristic is obtained over an entire effective optical scanning area, and the plane of deflection being defined as a plane inclu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouji Masuda
  • Patent number: 6074073
    Abstract: An extension device for decorative lamps includes a position base, a connection base, a lamp socket and conductors. The lamps and the power wires can be combined in various shapes and configurations by means of the extension devices. Then all power wires are bundled and fitted in a tubular base, which can then be stabilized with a bottom base or a position rod able to insert in something to stabilize the whole decorative lamps combined with the extension devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Shun-Feng Huang
  • Patent number: 6072608
    Abstract: An architecture for holographic data storage and processing integrates multifunctional silicon-based optoelectronic devices, rewritable holographic material, optical devices and other electro-optical elements in compact and high-performance systems. A dynamic hologram refresher based on optoelectronic integrated circuits has a smart pixel structure including an electrically addressed SLM to write a new data page, a thresholding detector array for readout, and a memory to latch the data from the detector to the modulator in each pixel. In particular, conjugate reconstruction is used in combination with the dynamic hologram refresher to retrieve data from volume multiplexed holograms in the rewritable holographic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Demetri Psaltis, Jean-Jacques P. Drolet, George Barbastathis
  • Patent number: 6069724
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes an optical scanning lens composed of a single lens which is arranged and adapted to correct for placement errors of optical elements. The shapes of both surfaces of the optical scanning lens are non-arc in a deflective surface and at least one surface thereof has a special toric surface. The scanning lens is meniscus having a concave shape in a sub-scanning direction and is biconvex in a main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Hayashi, Seizo Suzuki, Koji Masuda
  • Patent number: 6069723
    Abstract: A multi-beam scanning apparatus includes a light source unit for emitting a plurality of beams, a beam deflector for deflecting the plurality of beams from the light source unit, and a common scanning image-forming optic for converging the plurality of deflected beams so as to form a plurality of beam spots for simultaneously scanning a scanned surface, a plurality of scan lines respectively described by the plurality of beam spots being isolated from each other in a sub-scanning direction, wherein the plurality of scan lines are bowed in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Magane Aoki
  • Patent number: 6067176
    Abstract: A projection-type displaying apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has a coupling prism, a glass substrate joined to the coupling prism and a liquid crystal display panel containing pixel electrodes. A refractive index of the coupling prism is greater than a refractive index of the glass substrate. The apparatus also has a transmission-type holographic color filter provided between the glass substrate and liquid crystal display panel. Light beams enter the apparatus through the plane of incidence of the coupling prism and go through the glass substrate. The light beams are then focused onto the pixel electrodes by the holographic color filter. The focused light beams are modulated by the pixel electrodes and exit the apparatus as projection light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mukouyama, Tetsuji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6064523
    Abstract: An apparatus for polarization conversion having a light source for supplying vertically and horizontally linearly polarized light to an optical path and a parabolic mirror disposed in the optical path and proximate to the light source. In different embodiments, the parabolic mirror has a mirror coating to induce a phase shift of 0.degree., 90.degree., or an arbitrary phase shift between incident light and reflected light. A polarizer, preferably a reflective polarizer film, is disposed in the optical path for reflecting light of one of the linear polarizations and for transmitting the other linear polarization. Lastly, one or more waveplates are disposed in the optical path between the polarizer and the parabolic mirror. The waveplates have opposing segments each having axes which are antiparallel to each other for recycling the reflected linear polarization by converting it to the transmitted polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Russell Alan Budd, Derek Brian Dove, Alan Edward Rosenbluth
  • Patent number: 6064504
    Abstract: A scanning optical device includes a light source that emits a light beam; a deflector for deflecting and scanning the light beam from the light source; a scanning lens for converging the deflected light beam onto an image surface; and a mechanism for adjusting the relative position of at least one lens element of the scanning lens with respect to other lens elements of the scanning lens in an auxiliary scanning direction. Preferably, the adjustable lens element of the scanning lens be provided with an anamorphic surface having relatively larger power in the auxiliary scanning direction than in the main scanning direction. Alternatively, the above-mentioned at least one lens element may have the largest absolute value of refractive power of the lenses in the scanning lens. Further alternatively, the above-mentioned at least one lens element may be provided with a surface having the smallest absolute value of radius of curvature of all surfaces in the scanning lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Minakuchi, Masahiro Oono, Mitsunori Iima, Hiroshi Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 6059414
    Abstract: A reflector belt, which includes a light reflecting frame belt having an elongated base and a light reflecting layer covered on the elongated base, a flexible cover strip covered on the light reflecting layer of the light reflecting frame belt and fastened to two opposite end pockets at the light reflecting layer, and a LED circuit retained between the flexible cover strip and the light reflecting frame belt, the LED circuit having a plurality of LEDs respectively inserted into respective through holes at the cover strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventor: Yen-Shu Tsai
  • Patent number: 6057947
    Abstract: An optical assembly utilizing a novel optical element. The assembly includes a tunable source of input radiation; an optical element that can receive at least a portion of the input radiation and comprises a manifold having at least two independent surfaces, in which at least a portion of each independent surface is selected from the group consisting of a reflective structure and a diffractive structure, and the independent surfaces are geometrically configured so that a portion of incident radiation to the manifold is diffracted at least twice in an angular sense that can increase a tuning sensitivity of an angular deviation of the incident radiation exiting the manifold; and, a scanner means which can accept and redirect a portion of the radiation output by the optical element for producing an illumination pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Charles Danby Hobbs, Theordore G. van Kessel
  • Patent number: 6057961
    Abstract: An optical film is provided which exhibits increased gain at nonnormal angles of incidence and which comprises a disperse phase of polymeric particles disposed within a continuous birefringent matrix. The film is oriented, typically by stretching, in one or more directions. The size and shape of the disperse phase particles, the volume fraction of the disperse phase, the film thickness, and the amount of orientation are chosen to attain a desired degree of diffuse reflection and total transmission of electromagnetic radiation of a desired wavelength in the resulting film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Allen, Lockwood W. Carlson, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, Arthur L. Kotz, Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Biswaroop Majumdar
  • Patent number: 6055101
    Abstract: An isolator assembly eliminates optical feedback or return beams in multiple stages. The isolator assembly employs passive optical components, including birefringent walk-off plates and non-reciprocal rotation plates. The rotation plates are located adjacent the walk-off plates. The optical components form a compact, integral unit. In the forward direction, the isolator assembly translates a polarized component beam through a triangular path to first separate and then combine the beam with respect to an orthogonally polarized component beam. By alternating birefringent sheets and rotation sheets, several isolator assemblies may be produced from a single layered stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest E. Bergmann, William L. Emkey
  • Patent number: 6052228
    Abstract: Optical circulators including a first beam displacer/combiner, a first nonreciprocal rotator, a first beam angle turner, a second beam angle turner, a second nonreciprocal rotator, and a second beam displacer/combiner, together with methods of using the optical circulators and telecommunications systems including the optical circulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: New Focus, Inc.
    Inventors: Ping Xie, Yonglin Huang
  • Patent number: 6052211
    Abstract: A method of arranging scanning optical components is described to provide a compact scanning optical system which includes a plurality of light sources for simultaneously emitting multiple image-forming beams towards a common image-reflecting surface such as a polygon mirror via an image-focusing element such as a set of vertically layered f.theta. mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Nakajima