Patents Examined by Don Williams
  • Patent number: 8450670
    Abstract: A lighting fixture system for fluorescent lamps includes one or more fluorescent lamps and one or more ballasts configured to provide controlled power to the one or more fluorescent lamps. The lighting fixture further includes a controller wired to the fluorescent lighting fixture. The controller includes one or more relays configured to turn power provided to the one or more ballasts on and off such that the one or more fluorescent lamps turn on and off with the switching of the one or more relays. The controller further includes a logic circuit configured to control the switching of the one or more relays, wherein the logic circuit is configured to log usage information for the fluorescent lighting fixture in memory. The controller yet further includes communications electronics configured to output the logged usage information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal R. Verfuerth, Daniel J. Czaja, Jr., Michael J. Potts, Ryan M. Franzen, Eric A. Smasal
  • Patent number: 8450679
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a sensing device that uses a proximity sensor. The sensing device includes: a proximity sensor sensing approach of an external object; and a lens unit installed on top of the proximity sensor. The lens unit includes: a lens body having a first through-opening through which light emitted from a light emitting unit of the proximity sensor passes and a second through-opening through which light, reflected from the external object and entering into a light receiving unit of the proximity sensor, passes; and a reflective film formed in the lens body to surround edges of the first through-opening and the second through-opening. The lens body and the reflective film are integrated with each other by double injection molding. The lens body and the reflecting film are manufactured in a single body by double injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Won Yun
  • Patent number: 8450676
    Abstract: An optical receiver suitable for connecting to a photodiode generating a photocurrent with a sensing resistor and a diode circuit in parallel with the sensing resistor to limit the voltage across the sensing resistor. The diode circuit allows for a larger resistor providing greater sensitivity without risking violating the necessary headroom available to the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Iptronics A/S
    Inventor: Kenn Christensen
  • Patent number: 8445832
    Abstract: An optical communication device which can be operated at high speed is provided. For example, the optical communication device includes: a pre-amplifier circuit PREAMP1 amplifying a current signal Iin from a photodiode PD, and converting an amplified signal into a voltage signal; and an operating-point controller circuit VTCTL1 controlling an operation of the PREAMP1. The PREAMP1 includes a negative feedback path formed by a feedback resistance Rf1, and includes: a level-shift circuit LS1 level-shifting in accordance with an operating-point control signal Vcon; and an amplifier circuit AMP1 connected to a subsequent stage of the LS1 and performing an amplifying operation with a high gain. The VTCTL1 includes a replica circuit configured by the same circuit and circuit parameter as those of the AMP1 and electrically connected between the input and the output, and generates the Vcon so that an output DC level of this replica circuit is matched with an input DC level of the AMP1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Takemoto, Hiroki Yamashita, Tatsuya Saito
  • Patent number: 8445826
    Abstract: An outdoor lighting fixture includes at least a first ballast for controllably providing power to at least one lamp for illuminating an outdoor area. The outdoor lighting fixture further includes a housing and a radio frequency transceiver. The outdoor lighting fixture yet further includes an antenna coupled to the radio frequency transceiver and extending away from the housing. The outdoor lighting fixture also includes a control circuit that operates the radio frequency transceiver as a wireless router for wireless network communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
  • Patent number: 8439503
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein involves systems, methods, apparatuses or devices related to infrared imaging or infrared imaging projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Reichow, Christopher R. Runco, Tom E. Brentnall, Thomas F. LaDuke
  • Patent number: 8440989
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a light source assembly for coupling to a photonically enabled complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip are disclosed. The light source assembly may comprise a laser, a microlens, a turning mirror, and an optical bench, and may generate an optical signal utilizing the laser, focus the optical signal utilizing the microlens, and reflect the optical signal at an angle defined by the turning mirror. The reflected optical signal may be transmitted out of the assembly to grating couplers in the photonically enabled CMOS chip. The assembly may comprise a non-reciprocal polarization rotator, comprising a latching faraday rotator. The assembly may comprise a reciprocal polarization rotator, which may comprise a half-wave plate comprising birefringent materials operably coupled to the optical bench. The turning mirror may be integrated in the optical bench and may reflect the optical signal to transmit through a lid operably coupled to the optical bench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Luxtera Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Mack, Mark Peterson, Steffen Gloeckner, Adithyaram Narasimha, Roger Koumans, Peter De Dobbelaere
  • Patent number: 8440955
    Abstract: A device, computer-readable medium or method for adjusting pixels of a source image prior to being output to a display device comprising: segmenting the pixels of the source image into spatial groups; assigning an adjustment method to each pixel in a group; creating an adjustment matrix set with rows (or columns) corresponding to the plurality of adjustment methods, and columns (or rows) corresponding to a range of pixel values that exceed a discrete output device value, and adjustment values as entries; receiving a pixel of the source image in a graphics processing unit (GPU) and using the GPU to: determine the pixel's relative location in its spatial group and its corresponding adjustment method; determine the range of pixel values that the value of the pixel exceeds a discrete output device value: select an adjustment value from the adjustment matrix set; and adjust the value of the pixel by the adjustment value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Victor Ivashin
  • Patent number: 8436287
    Abstract: A system and/or a method read, measure and/or control intensity of light emitted from a light-emitting diode (LED). A light detector may be located in a position adjacent to the LED for reading and/or measuring the intensity of light emitted from the LED. The LED and the light detector may be located in a cavity which may limit exposure of the LED and the light detector to ambient light. The cavity may have an aperture for allowing light emitted from the LED to exit the chamber to illuminate an environment in which the chamber is located. The aperture may be located between the cavity and a compartment, and the LED may emit light through the aperture into the compartment. An additional detector may be located in the compartment and/or may extend from the cavity through an additional aperture into the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Phaedrus, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley W. Engstrand
  • Patent number: 8426791
    Abstract: Installation of solar energy systems is made easier through the use of augur tubes. The base augur tube accommodates telescoping sections which enable these systems to exhibit a smaller footprint with enhanced power ratings. A tracking head is provided in which dual axis tracking is provided using a single drive mechanism. These features are employed either together or independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Inventor: Charles Silver
  • Patent number: 8420997
    Abstract: A system accountably maintains an accumulated charge of a photo-detector charge well at or around a predefined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Edward K. Y. Jung, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8408716
    Abstract: The image projection apparatus includes an exhaust air outlet through which an exhaust air flows out from an inside of the apparatus to an outside thereof, an air inlet through which an external air flows in from the outside of the apparatus to the inside thereof, a temperature detector that detects a temperature of the external air flowing into the inside of the apparatus through the air inlet, and a controller that performs a protection operation when one of a predetermined temperature corresponding to a temperature of the exhaust air and a predetermined temperature change caused by flowing in of the exhaust air through the air inlet is detected by the temperature detector. The apparatus enables quick detection of a state in which the exhaust air outlet is blocked to perform the protection operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Noda, Ayumu Kameoka
  • Patent number: 8399820
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides photodetectors and components thereof having multi-spectral sensing capabilities. In some embodiments, photodetectors of the present invention provide a first photosensitive element comprising at least one accessway extending through the element and an electrical connection at least partially disposed in the accessway, the electrical connection accessible for receiving a second photosensitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sensors Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventors: John Trezza, Martin Ettenberg
  • Patent number: 8399821
    Abstract: A light source integrated photoelectric conversion apparatus is provided, which includes: a light-emitting element that includes a light-emitting layer, and emits light in a predetermined emission direction through one surface of the light-emitting layer; and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that includes a photoelectric conversion layer formed on a region which is not overlapped with the light-emitting layer, and converts light having passed through one surface of the photoelectric conversion layer into an electrical signal. In the light source integrated photoelectric conversion apparatus, the light-emitting element is formed on the same substrate as that of the plurality of photoelectric conversion element, one surface of the photoelectric conversion layer is disposed on the side opposite to the emission direction further away from the other surface of the light-emitting layer, and one surface of the light-emitting layer and the substrate face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomotaka Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8395136
    Abstract: In a positional deviation detection apparatus provided with a transfer mechanism where plural arm portions are connected pivotably and in series with each other, the transfer mechanism being adapted to hold and transfer an object to be processed with a distal end arm portion, there are provided an edge detection unit that detects at least an edge of the object to be detected held by the distal end arm portion, the edge detection unit being provided in an arm portion among the plural arm portions, except for the distal end arm portion; and a positional deviation detection portion that obtains positional deviation of the object to be processed, in accordance with a detected value of the edge detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Keisuke Kondoh
  • Patent number: 8389919
    Abstract: A laser controller may operate a laser at a high power level, such as Class 3R, Class 3B, or higher, but may have safety interlocks to limit exposure to a safe level and may, as a system, be classified as Class 1. The laser controller may control a laser that transmits a light beam to a sensor, and may operate the laser in a high power mode when the sensor senses the light beam. While a laser is transmitting and the laser beam is not sensed, the laser may be operated within Class 1 power levels. When the light beam is broken, the laser controller may turn off the laser or change the power level to a safe level such that a person would not be exposed to any more energy than a Class 1 level. The laser controller may use various mechanisms to set a detection threshold and may use an ambient light sensor to determine when detection may be impossible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventors: Theodore Bruce Ziemkowski, John Bonvallet
  • Patent number: 8389923
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device having a pixel array region in which a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric converter are arrayed, and a peripheral region arranged around the pixel array region, the device comprising a multilayer wiring structure which is arranged on a semiconductor substrate, and includes wiring layers in the peripheral region more than wiring layers in the pixel array region, and a plurality of interlayer lenses which is arranged on the multilayer wiring structure in the pixel array region, wherein the plurality of interlayer lenses each includes a first insulator, and a second insulator arranged to cover the first insulator, and having a refractive index higher than the first insulator, and wherein the first insulator in each of the plurality of interlayer lenses, and an uppermost interlayer insulating film in the peripheral region in the multilayer wiring structure are made of an identical material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Naruse, Ryuichi Mishima
  • Patent number: 8389924
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a detector comprising first and second lenses for use with respective first and second sensing means; each lens comprising a plurality of Fresnel facets having respective fields of view adapted such that the fields of view of the first lens are alternately arranged with the fields of view of the second lens such that the fields of view of the first lens are adjacent only to, but do not overlap with, the fields of view of the second lense in a single direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Pyronix Limited
    Inventors: Juan Sebastian H. Stromberg, Craig Leivers
  • Patent number: 8378285
    Abstract: Provided is a photoelectric conversion apparatus for detecting focus, which provides an increased number of ranging points while suppressing a chip-area increase. In a first mode, signals from a first line sensor L1 group are written in a first line memory L1 group while signals from a second line sensor L2 group are written in a second line memory L2 group. In a second mode, signals from the second line sensor L2 group are written in the first line memory L1 group while signals from the first line sensor L1 group are written in the second line memory L2 group, so that even one and the same line sensor can select different ranging point regions, enabling provision of an increased number of ranging points while suppressing a chip-area increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 8378281
    Abstract: Terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic arrays that may include a modular design that is sized and weighted to facilitate installation with a small amount of manpower. The array may further be adapted to be adjusted during or after installation to accommodate the necessary power requirements. The terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic array may include a torque tube that may be constructed of discrete sections. A drive may be connected to the torque tube to rotate the torque tube. A number of solar cell modules may be connected to the torque tube. The modules may be positioned at offsetting angular orientations depending upon their distance away from the drive. This offset positioning compensates for twisting distortion of the torque tube caused by the drive rotating the torque tube. At one point of rotation, each of the solar cell modules may be substantially aligned in a common plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Suncore Photovoltaics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail Kats, Gary Hering