Patents Examined by Euncha P. Cherry
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Patent number: 11822069Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a micromachined mirror assembly for controlling optical directions in an optical sensing system. The micromachined mirror assembly may include a micro mirror configured to direct an optical signal into a plurality of directions. The micromachined mirror assembly may also include at least one actuator coupled to the micro mirror and configured to drive the micro mirror to tilt around an axis. The micromachined mirror assembly may further include one or more objects attached to the micro mirror. The one or more objects may be asymmetrically disposed with respect to the axis to create an imbalanced state of the micro mirror when the micro mirror is not driven by the at least one actuator.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: BEIJING VOYAGER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Youmin Wang, Yufeng Wang, Qin Zhou
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Patent number: 11822076Abstract: Disclosed is an image display device for displaying an image on a screen. The image display device includes an image forming element configured to optically scan a screen, and an optical member disposed between the screen and the image forming element, and being configured to reflect light, where the optical member is disposed such that the reflected light, along normals with respect to every reflecting point on the optical member, is directed away from the screen.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2019Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Makoto Hirakawa, Daisuke Ichii
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Patent number: 11815676Abstract: An active imaging system uses a MEMS Micro-Mirror Array to form and scan an optical beam over a first portion of scene within a first edge region of the field-of-view of the optical receiver in the direction of motion of the imaging system. In addition to tip and tilt control of the mirrors, the MMA may have piston control which can be used to minimize diffraction losses when focusing and scanning the beam, provide wavefront correction or to compensate for path length variations. The MMA may be partitioned into segments to independently form and scan a plurality of optical beams, which may be used to scan the first or different portions of the scene. The different segments may be provided with reflective coatings at different wavelengths to provide for multi-spectral imaging. The different segments may be used to combine multiple optical sources to increase power or provide multi-spectral illumination.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2020Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Gerald P. Uyeno, Sean D. Keller, Benn H. Gleason
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Patent number: 11807522Abstract: In described examples, a device mounted on a substrate includes an encapsulant. In at least one example, an encapsulant barrier is deposited along a scribe line, along which the substrate is singulatable. To encapsulate one or more terminals of the substrate, an encapsulant is deposited between the encapsulant barrier and an edge of the device parallel to the encapsulant barrier.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Jane Qian Liu, Gary Philip Thomson, Richard Allen Richter
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Patent number: 11802042Abstract: A method of operating a MEMS device includes generating a MEMS drive signal, and generating and modifying the MEMS drive signal based upon a control signal to produce a modified drive signal. The method further includes generating the control signal by determining when a feedback signal from the MEMS device is at its peak value, comparing the peak value to a desired value when the feedback signal is as its peak, and generating the control signal depending upon whether the peak value is at least equal to a desired value. The modification of the MEMS drive signal based upon the control signal to produce the modified drive signal includes skipping generation of a next pulse of the modified drive signal when the control signal indicates the peak value is at least equal to the desired value.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2020Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventor: Davide Terzi
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Patent number: 11796678Abstract: An optical device according to an embodiment may include: a plurality of light sources configured to emit laser beams; a light direction changing unit comprising at least one of a prism and a mirror, provided on traveling paths of the laser beams, and configured to focus the laser beams at one point by changing travelling directions of the laser beams to form constant angles between the traveling paths of the laser beams; and a scanning mirror configured to perform two-dimensional scanning by reflecting the laser beams received from the light direction changing unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yongchul Cho, Jungwoo Kim, Tatsuhiro Otsuka
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Patent number: 11796793Abstract: An optical deflector includes a mirror configured to reflect light; a pair of support portions each having an end connected to the mirror, and configured to support the mirror; first actuators connected to the respective support portions, and configured to deform the support portions so as to cause the mirror to oscillate about a first axis; a movable frame configured to support the first actuators; and second actuators connected to the movable frame and disposed opposite to the first actuators, with the support portions being interposed between the first actuators and the second actuators. The second actuators are not connected to the support portions. The first actuators and the second actuators bend and deform in the same direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Yoda, Yukito Sato, Mizuki Shinkawa, Goichi Akanuma, Shuichi Suzuki
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Patent number: 11789255Abstract: An optical module includes a mirror unit having a movable mirror portion, a magnet portion configured to generate a magnetic field acting on the movable mirror portion, and a package accommodating the magnet portion. The magnet portion has a Halbach structure including a first magnet applied with a force in a first direction, and a second magnet applied with a force in a second direction. The package has a bottom walls portion, a side wall portion, and a restriction portion configured to restrict movement of the second magnet in the second direction. The movable mirror portion is disposed in a space formed by the restriction portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.Inventors: Daiki Suzuki, Shinya Iwashina, Yuki Morinaga
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Patent number: 11789258Abstract: A light deflector including a mirror unit configured to reflect light; a pair of supports, one end of each of the pair of supports coupled to the mirror unit to support the mirror unit; a pair of drive beams each coupled to the other end of a corresponding support of the pair of supports, the pair of drive beams being configured to deform the pair of supports to rotate the mirror unit around a first axis; and connecting parts connecting the pair of drive beams to the pair of supports, respectively. Each of the connecting parts having a rib.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Goichi Akanuma
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Patent number: 11782264Abstract: The systems and methods provided herein are directed to a flight motion simulator. The target axes are replaced by a system of Risley pairs. Light is projected to the unit under testing at a range of angles by rotating elements within the Risley pairs.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2020Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventor: Joshua K Lentz
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Patent number: 11782267Abstract: A mirror unit includes an optical scanning device, a frame member, and a window member. The frame member includes first and second wall portions facing each other in an X-axis direction. The first wall portion is higher than the second wall portion. The window member is disposed on a top surface of the first wall portion and a top surface of the second wall portion and is inclined with respect to a mirror surface of the optical scanning device. In a cross-section parallel to the X-axis direction, the first wall portion is separated from a first line passing through a first end at a side of the first wall portion in the mirror surface and a first corner portion formed at the side of the first wall portion by an outer surface opposite to the frame member and a first side surface in the window member.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.Inventors: Daiki Suzuki, Tomoyuki Ide, Yuki Morinaga
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Patent number: 11768367Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator including an anchor, an elastic layer having a first end coupled to the anchor, and a piezoelectric layer on the elastic layer. The elastic layer includes a solid sublayer including an elastic material and a second sublayer including a plurality of cavities. The piezoelectric layer is on the second sublayer of the elastic layer and includes a top electrode, a bottom electrode, and a piezoelectric material layer between the top electrode and the bottom electrode.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2020Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Beijing Voyager Technology Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sae Won Lee, Youmin Wang, Yufeng Wang
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Patent number: 11762066Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a projector, which is configured to direct a pattern of one or more stripes, extending along a longitudinal dimension across a target. A receiver includes an array of optical sensors, and objective optics, which are configured to image the target onto the array, and which have a non-circular aperture, which is elongated in a direction dependent upon the longitudinal dimension of the stripes.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: David S. Gere, Brad V. Johnson, Neil MacKinnon, Scott T. Smith, Seyedeh Nasim Habibi
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Patent number: 11762191Abstract: In order to expand the surface area of a reflective layer, the space between adjacent turns of a drive coil, which is wound a plurality of turns on a peripheral edge front surface of the principal surface of a movable portion which, being inside a frame-formed support substrate, is connected to the support substrate by torsion bars, is filled and flattened with a smoothing layer, thereby adopting a configuration such that the reflective layer can also be provided in the region of the upper surface of the drive coil.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Shingo Moriue, Hirofumi Konishi, Fusako Tomizumi, Yoshitaka Tsuboi
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Patent number: 11758098Abstract: A control system includes a mirror controller generating horizontal and vertical mirror synchronization signals for a mirror based upon a mirror clock signal. Laser modulation circuitry generates horizontal and vertical laser synchronization signals as a function of first and second laser clock signals and generates control signals for a laser that emits a laser beam that impinges on the mirror. First synchronization circuitry receives the horizontal mirror synchronization signal and the horizontal laser synchronization signal, and modifies generation of the first laser clock signal to achieve alignment between the horizontal mirror synchronization signal and horizontal laser synchronization signal. Second synchronization circuitry receives the vertical mirror synchronization signal and the vertical laser synchronization signal, and modifies generation of the second laser clock signal to achieve alignment between the vertical mirror synchronization signal and vertical laser synchronization signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: STMicroelectronics LTDInventor: Elik Haran
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Patent number: 11754799Abstract: A tunable optical filter for a detector is presented including a plate having a top side and a bottom side. The plate has material properties making it transparent to a range of optical frequencies. A transparent metasurface is proximate the top side of the plate. The transparent metasurface is configured to have a transmissive pass band and a stop band. An undercarriage support structure is proximate the bottom side of the plate. The undercarriage support is responsive to photothermal heating. The undercarriage support is configured to deform from the photothermal heating caused by an undesired signal thereby shifting the stop band in frequency toward the undesired signal to block reception of the undesired signal by the detector.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air ForceInventors: Harris J Hall, David Torres Reyes, Michael E McConney
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Patent number: 11747613Abstract: A multi-axis rotary actuator includes a payload support configured to be rotatable about a first axis, a disk surrounding at least a portion of the payload support, and an elevation wheel rotatably coupled to the payload support. The disk is configured to be rotatable about the first axis. The elevation wheel is configured to be in contact with the disk and to be rotatable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The actuator can include a mirror or other device coupled to the elevation wheel. The mirror or other device is configured to be rotatable about the first axis and the second axis as the payload support and the elevation wheel rotate about the first axis and the second axis, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.Inventors: Michael E. Knotts, Adam J. Marcinuk, Chris L. Willis
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Patent number: 11750779Abstract: A light deflector includes a fixed part, a movable part provided with a reflection plane, a pair of elastic supporting units configured to support the movable part, a pair of connecting parts configured to connect between the pair of elastic supporting units and the fixed part, and a driving unit configured to deform the pair of connecting parts to make the movable part oscillate. The pair of connecting parts are supported by the fixed part in a cantilevered state, and each one of the pair of connecting parts having a folded structure. An optical scanning system includes the light deflector. An image projection device includes the light deflector.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Goichi Akanuma
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Patent number: 11747615Abstract: An optical component protector, comprising a transparent plate, configured to be mounted in front of an optical component to be protected and a plenum chamber, connected to a top edge of a transparent plate wherein the plenum chamber is configured to receive a supply of gas from a gas supply and provide a curtain of the gas across a surface of the transparent plate that is on an opposite side of the transparent plate from the optical component.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2023Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Inventor: Andrew Subratie
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Patent number: 11740454Abstract: In one inventive concept, a method for etching an optic includes obtaining a microemulsion, where the microemulsion includes a continuous oil phase, a surfactant system comprising at least one surfactant, and water, submerging at least a portion of the optic in the microemulsion, and agitating by ultrasonication the microemulsion for etching the optic submerged therein.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2018Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Salmaan H. Baxamusa, John Adams, Paul Ehrmann, Ted Laurence, Marlon G. Menor, Kathleen I. Schaffers