Patents Examined by Erin R Garber
-
Patent number: 12176366Abstract: An image sensor that provides a uniform sensitivity for pixels having color filters of the same color to increase the image quality is provided. The image sensor includes a substrate, a first grid pattern disposed on the substrate and including a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, a first pixel including a first photoelectric conversion element and a first color filter, and a second pixel including a second photoelectric conversion element and a second color filter. The first color filter contacts the first side wall and the second color filter contacts the second side wall. The first color filter and the second color filter are color filters of same color, and a first thickness of the first color filter is greater than a second thickness of the second color filter.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2021Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Dong Min Keum, Yun Ki Lee, Jun Sung Park, Dong Kyu Lee, Bum Suk Kim, Kwang Hee Lee, Tae Sung Lee
-
Patent number: 12164177Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to the present technology includes an imaging element including a light shielding pixel and a photodiode division pixel, and a defocus amount calculation unit that calculates a defocus amount using at least one of an output signal of the light shielding pixel and an output signal of the photodiode division pixel on the basis of an exposure amount.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2020Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: Sony Group CorporationInventor: Shinichi Fujii
-
Patent number: 12164070Abstract: A photon detection device including: a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) configured to generate a detected signal when the SiPM absorbs a photon; an amplifier; and a transmission line stub between the SiPM and amplifier input. The SiPM connection is configured to transmit the detected signal to the amplifier and a transmission line stub is also configured to receive the SiPM signal and generate a time-delayed reflected signal back into the amplifier input; wherein the amplifier is configured to amplify a combination of the detected signal and the time-delayed reflected signal. The end of the transmission line stub is terminated with a complex impedance that can simultaneously absorb some components of the SiPM pulse response, and reflect others.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2021Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.Inventor: Bill Radtke
-
Patent number: 12140774Abstract: An afocal sensor assembly detects a light beam with an aberrated wavefront. The afocal sensor assembly is configured to provide sorted four-dimensional (4D) light field information regarding the light beam, for example, via one or more plenoptic images. Based on the 4D light field information, a lossy reconstruction of an aberrated wavefront for one or more actuators of an adaptive optics (AO) device is performed. The AO device can be controlled based on the lossy reconstruction to correct the wavefront of the light beam. In some embodiments, the aberrated wavefront is due to passage of the light beam through atmospheric turbulence, and the lossy reconstruction and correction using the AO device is performed in less than 1.0 ms. The lossy reconstruction of the aberrated wavefront can have a phase accuracy in a range of ?/2 to ?/30.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2021Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: University of Maryland, College ParkInventors: Chensheng Wu, Jonathan Ko, John R. Rzasa, Christopher C. Davis, Daniel Paulson
-
Patent number: 12125659Abstract: Image intensifier systems incorporating a microchannel plate (MCP) and methods for producing the same are disclosed. In some examples, a device is disclosed that includes a first substrate having a radiation-receiving first surface and an opposed second surface through which electromagnetic radiation is transmitted. A second substrate is coupled to the first substrate to define a vacuum cavity therebetween. An electron-emitting photocathode is disposed within the vacuum cavity for generating electrons from electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the second surface. A microchannel plate is disposed within the vacuum cavity and defines microchannels extending from an input end to an output end. Each of the microchannels is configured to generate electrons in response to an electron generated by the photocathode being received through the input end of the respective microchannel.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2022Date of Patent: October 22, 2024Assignee: SIONYX, LLCInventors: Martin U. Pralle, Christopher Vineis
-
Patent number: 12117525Abstract: A presence detection system includes a presence detection field of an amusement park attraction, multiple transmitters, multiple receivers, and a controller. The multiple transmitters send multiple light beams of multiple wavelengths and the multiple receivers receive the multiple light beams of the multiple wavelengths. The controller receives input from the multiple transmitters and receivers and determines presence of an object in the presence detection field based on an interruption of the multiple light beams as indicated by the input. The controller also determines reflected light beams of the multiple wavelengths, absorbed light beams of the multiple wavelengths, or both, based on the input. The controller determines the object as a known object or an unknown object based at least in part on the reflected light beams, the absorbed light beams, or both.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2022Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: Universal City Studios LLCInventor: Benjamin Robert Clark
-
Patent number: 12107108Abstract: Techniques for realizing compound semiconductor (CS) optoelectronic devices on silicon (Si) substrates for mobile applications are disclosed. The integration platform is based on heteroepitaxy of CS materials and device structures on Si by direct heteroepitaxy on planar Si substrates or by selective area heteroepitaxy on dielectric patterned Si substrates. Following deposition of the CS device structures, device fabrication steps can be carried out using Si complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) fabrication techniques to enable large-volume manufacturing. The integration platform can enable manufacturing of optoelectronic devices including photodetector arrays for image sensors and vertical cavity surface emitting laser arrays.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2022Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Assignee: Aeluma, Inc.Inventor: Jonathan Klamkin
-
Patent number: 12104949Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) device includes a controller circuitry having an input connected to a photodiode of an optoelectronic circuitry and an output connected to a biasing circuitry, the biasing circuitry having an input connected to the output of the controller circuitry, the controller circuitry configured to transmit a transimpedance control signal code to the biasing circuitry configured to cause the biasing circuitry to offset a DC current component of the output of the photodiode.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2023Date of Patent: October 1, 2024Assignee: XILINX, INC.Inventors: Zhaowen Wang, Mayank Raj
-
Patent number: 12087793Abstract: An image sensor includes: a sensor substrate including a plurality of first pixels configured to sense light of a first wavelength and a plurality of second pixels configured to sense light of a second wavelength; and an anti-reflection element provided on the sensor substrate, wherein the anti-reflection element includes a plurality of low-refractive index patterns and a high-refractive index layer provided between the plurality of low-refractive index patterns and the sensor substrate.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2022Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Sangyun Lee, Sookyoung Roh, Seokho Yun
-
Patent number: 12072605Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a non-linear photonic element for outputting a signal and idler photon pair. The apparatus further comprises a module configured to, based on receiving one or more control signals, controllably store photons and controllably output stored photons. The apparatus further comprises a detector arrangement comprising one or more detectors for detecting light. The module is further configured to receive at least one of the signal and idler photons of the pair. The module is further configured to at least partially store one of the signal or idler photons of the pair. The module is further configured to output the said at least partially stored signal or idler photon along an optical path towards the at least one detectors. The apparatus is configured to direct the other of the signal or idler photon towards the detector arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2022Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: ORCA Computing LimitedInventors: Richard Murray, Joshua Nunn, Robert Francis-Jones, Tom Parker, Krzysztof Kaczmarek
-
Patent number: 12068350Abstract: Provided is an image sensor including a sensor chip including a first substrate and a first interconnection layer, a logic chip including a second substrate and a second interconnection layer, a through-hole penetrating a portion of the second interconnection layer, the first substrate, and the first interconnection layer, and a first connection structure disposed on an inner surface of the through-hole and extending from the first substrate toward the second interconnection layer, wherein the first interconnection layer includes a first interlayer insulating layer and a first interconnection pattern, the second interconnection layer includes a second interlayer insulating layer and a second interconnection pattern, the through-hole includes first and second trenches respectively extending from the through-hole toward the second interconnection layer, bottom surfaces of the first and second trenches contact the second interconnection pattern, and a bottom surface of the through-hole contacts the first intercoType: GrantFiled: July 22, 2021Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Seokha Lee, Junetaeg Lee
-
Patent number: 12055434Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to irradiance sensing devices and methods. One such device includes a housing and an optical diffuser coupled to the housing. The housing has an opening that extends into the housing from an outer surface, and the opening has a circular shape at the outer surface of the housing. The optical diffuser has a first region that extends at least partially beyond the outer surface of the housing and a second region housed within the housing. The first region of the optical diffuser has a curved surface, and the optical diffuser includes a cavity extending at least partially into the second region.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2022Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: MicaSense, Inc.Inventors: Justin Bates McAllister, Steven Matthew Larsen
-
Patent number: 12021094Abstract: An imaging device that includes a semiconductor substrate; a first photoelectric converter that is located in the semiconductor substrate and that generates a first signal charge by photoelectric conversion; a first node to which the first signal charge is input; a capacitor having a first terminal coupled to the first node; a second photoelectric converter that is located in the semiconductor substrate and that generates a second signal charge by photoelectric conversion; a second node to which the second signal charge is input; a transistor having a gate coupled to the second node; and a switch element coupled between the first node and the second node, where a number of saturation charges of a first imaging cell including the first photoelectric converter and the capacitor is greater than a number of saturation charges of a second imaging cell including the second photoelectric converter.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2022Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Sanshiro Shishido, Masashi Murakami, Kazuko Nishimura
-
Patent number: 12013265Abstract: An infrared sensing module includes a reflecting portion, a driving portion, an infrared light emitter and an infrared light receiver. The driving portion is connected to the reflecting portion, and the driving portion drives the reflecting portion to rotate, and an infrared reflecting layer of the reflecting portion faces the infrared light emitter and the infrared light receiver when the reflecting portion rotates to a preset position.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2021Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.Inventors: Jie Chen, Xujun Mao
-
Patent number: 12000676Abstract: Optical sensors and particularly gimbaled optical sensors transmit an active signal at a given wavelength(s) and receive passive signals over a range of wavelengths and the active signal in a common aperture. The sensor includes a Tx/Rx Aperture Sharing Element (ASE) configured with a center region that couples the active signal to the telescope for transmission and an annular region that couples the passive emissions and the returned active signal to the detector. A filter wheel may be positioned behind the ASE to present separate passive and active images to the detector. These optical sensors may, for example, be used with guided munitions or autonomous vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2020Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Eric Rogala, Garret A. Odom, Gerald P. Uyeno, Sean D. Keller, Benn H. Gleason
-
Patent number: 11988782Abstract: A cleaning device for a lidar sensor set-up. The cleaning device includes a movable cleaning element, and is configured, for a cleaning operation, to move the cleaning element over a window of the lidar sensor set-up, on a side facing away from the lidar sensor device and facing the field of view of the lidar sensor set-up. The movable cleaning element has an optical element. The optical element is configured to send back and, in particular, reflect back primary light from a transmitting path of the lidar sensor set-up, which is incident upon the optical element, into a receiving path of the lidar sensor set-up.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2022Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Jens Werneth, Johannes Richter, Marco Naegele
-
Patent number: 11991341Abstract: A time-of-flight (ToF) image sensor system includes a pixel array, where each pixel of the pixel array is configured to receive a reflected modulated light signal and to demodulate the reflected modulated light signal to generate an electrical signal; a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), where each ADC is coupled to at least one assigned pixel of the pixel array and is configured to convert a corresponding electrical signal generated by the at least one assigned pixel into an actual pixel value; and a binning circuit coupled to the plurality of ADCs and configured to generate at least one interpolated pixel, where the binning circuit is configured to generate each of the at least one interpolated pixel based on actual pixel values corresponding to a different pair of adjacent pixels of the pixel array, each of the at least one interpolated pixel having a virtual pixel value.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2022Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventor: Krum Beshinski
-
Patent number: 11984519Abstract: An imaging device may include single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). To improve the sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio of the SPADs, light scattering structures may be formed in the semiconductor substrate to increase the path length of incident light through the semiconductor substrate. To mitigate crosstalk, an isolation structure may be formed in a ring around the SPAD. The isolation structure may be a hybrid isolation structure with both a metal filler that absorbs light and a low-index filler that reflects light. The isolation structure may be formed as a single trench or may include a backside deep trench isolation portion and a front side deep trench isolation portion. The isolation structure may also include a color filtering material.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2023Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Swarnal Borthakur, Marc Allen Sulfridge
-
Patent number: 11982746Abstract: A system and method for maintaining a laser impinging on a laser detector assembly includes determining a location of the laser from a rotating laser transmitter impinging on a laser sensor. A current position of the laser sensor along a mast of the laser detector assembly is determined and a new position for the laser sensor along the mast is determined based on the location of the laser impinging on the laser sensor and a current position of the laser sensor. The laser sensor is then moved to the new position. The system and method provide an effectively long working range of the laser detector assembly by moving the laser sensor along the mast of the laser detector assembly. An inertial measurement unit is used to calculate position information in the period between laser strikes.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.Inventors: Steven Daniel McCain, Jay Kishore Nagin, Elena Kruzhkova, Donna Kelley
-
Patent number: 11976967Abstract: An electronic device includes a photodiode, a switching circuit, a readout circuit, and an energy storage device. The photodiode includes a first terminal and a second terminal and is configured to generate a signal according to a light. The switching circuit is electrically connected to the first terminal and the second terminal. When the electronic device operates in a sensing mode, the switching circuit electrically isolates the photodiode from the energy storage device so that the signal is provided to the readout circuit. When the electronic device operates in a charging mode, the switching circuit electrically connects the photodiode to the energy storage device so that the signal is provided to the energy storage device.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2022Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: INNOLUX CORPORATIONInventors: Te-Yu Lee, Yu-Tsung Liu, Wei-Ju Liao