Patents Examined by Georgia Epps
  • Patent number: 8029144
    Abstract: A system for providing illumination includes a color mixing rod integrator for receiving and homogenizing laser light or output to a spatial light modulator. The rod integrator recombines the light of the primary colors, thus obviating dichroic recombination optics. Entrance and exit faces of the integrator have reflective layers where the length of the integrator is decreased and/or the f-number in the system is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Oscar Hendrikus Willemsen, Marcellinus Petrus Carolus Michael Krijn
  • Patent number: 8029142
    Abstract: An illumination source includes a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) operating at a first wavelength. Light from the LEDs illuminates a phosphor material that generates light at a second wavelength. A reflective polarizer transmits light at the second wavelength in a first polarization state and reflects light at the second wavelength in a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. The light at the second wavelength reflected by the reflective polarizer is directed back towards the phosphor material without an increase in angular range. In some embodiments the LEDs, having a conformal layer of phosphor material, are attached directly to the first surface of a liquid cooled plate. A liquid coolant contacts a second surface of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Arlie R. Conner, Sean M. Donnelly, Peter R. Oehler
  • Patent number: 8030606
    Abstract: An imager in which two adjacent pixels share row and reset lines and a row selection circuitry while the output transistors of the two pixels are configured as a differential amplifier. In operation, both pixels are reset at the same time, causing differential reset signals to be output from the amplifier. The charge from the first pixel is readout and a differential pixel signal for the first pixel is output from the amplifier. Because the reset and pixel signals are differential signals generated within the pixels, they are free from common-mode noise. Correlated double sampling can be used to obtain the pixel output value, which is also free from common-mode noise, from the differential reset and pixel signals. The second pixel may be readout in the same manner. Because the two pixels are sharing circuitry, the pixels have decreased fill factor and complexity as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Nikolai E. Bock
  • Patent number: 8029149
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for illuminating an object and projecting its image on a ground glass screen. Optical comparators conventionally use incandescent illumination, either mercury arc or halogen. The use of an array of high intensity LED devices, provides many options for packaging the required optical components used in comparators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Dorsey Metrology International
    Inventor: Peter Donald Klepp
  • Patent number: 8025416
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an optical component is provided. The optical component includes a first polarizing prism having a first face, a second face and a third face. The light beam may be received incident on the first face. Light having a first polarization may be output through a second face and light having a second polarization may be output through a third face. The optical component further includes a half-wave plate fastened to the second face of the first polarizing prism. The optical component further includes a first reflecting prism connected to the third face of the first polarizing prism. The first reflecting prism has a first face and a second face, the first face connected to the third face of the first polarizing prism. The optical component further includes a second reflecting prism connected to the half-wave plate and to the second face of the first reflecting prism. The second reflecting prism has a first face, a second face and a third face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Inventor: William S. Oakley
  • Patent number: 8017900
    Abstract: An apparatus for photon counting is disclosed that comprises a sensor element (5) comprising a photon detector (8) and a capacitance (2) for applying a potential difference across the detector (8). The apparatus also comprises switching circuitry (6) for connecting the sensor element (5) operatively to a voltage source (4) during a refresh period to charge the capacitance (2) to achieve a predetermined potential difference across the detector (8) above a threshold value, and for substantially isolating the sensor element (5) from the voltage source (4) during a sensing period in which the charged capacitance (2) maintains a potential difference across the detector (8) above the threshold value and in which the detection of a photon by the detector (8) causes at least some of the charge on the capacitance (2) to discharge through the detector (8). The apparatus also comprises control circuitry (12) for controlling the switching circuitry (6) to initiate refresh and sensing periods in alternating sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: SensL Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan Mathewson, John Carlton Jackson
  • Patent number: 8007114
    Abstract: A projector includes a housing, a projection lens, a receiving member, an optical engine, a light source module, a heat sink, and a fan. The housing includes a bottom wall and four sidewalls, the bottom wall and the four sidewalls together define a receiving space. One of the sidewalls a number of first vents, the other three sidewalls define a number of second vents. The projection lens is located at an intersecting corner of the sidewalls. The receiving member includes a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion. The optical engine is received in the second receiving portion. The light source module is received in the first receiving portion. The heat sink is located at an intersecting corner of the sidewalls. The fan is located at an intersecting corner of the sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Fu Chen, Yi-Ping Hsieh, Tsung-Je Chiu
  • Patent number: 8007116
    Abstract: A video projection device has one of a plurality of types of projection lenses replaceably loaded and projects a video on a screen at a fixed position. The video projection device includes: a converter lens which is composed of a plurality of lenses, which is afocal as a whole, and which is detachably provided in front of the projection lens to convert projection magnification; and a gap adjustment mechanism changing a predetermined gap in the converter lens to a setting in accordance with at least one of a projection distance to the screen and the type of the projection lens loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Tokuji Matsuda, Shigeru Sawamura
  • Patent number: 7997738
    Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) is used to attach a plurality of wedge-shaped glass filter segments on a first side to a hub during the color ring build portion of the color wheel fabrication process. A strong adhesive, such as epoxy, is then used to adhere a second side of the filter segments directly to a turning surface of a motor, completing the color wheel fabrication. The epoxy is cured if necessary. The pressure sensitive adhesive can temporarily align the plurality of color filter segments in an alignment. The adhesive between the filter segments and the turning surface can then permanently bond the color filter segments in the alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Oerlikon Trading AG, Trubbach
    Inventors: Jean Pierre Menard, Emil Janicek
  • Patent number: 7993004
    Abstract: A projecting device includes a light source, a filtering component, a reflecting mirror, a digital micro-mirror device, a projecting lens, and a panel. The filtering component changes lights emitted from the light source into substantially parallel polarized ultraviolet lights. The reflecting mirror reflects the substantially parallel polarized ultraviolet lights to the digital micro-mirror device. The digital micro-mirror device includes microscopic mirrors arranged in a rectangular array configured to be adjustable to reflect the substantially parallel polarized ultraviolet lights reflected by the reflecting mirror to the projecting lens. The projecting lens diverges the substantially parallel polarized ultraviolet lights. The panel includes a transparent substrate, a first fluorescence material layer, a second fluorescence material layer, and a third fluorescence material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 7993012
    Abstract: An imaging system (200) includes a plurality of laser sources (201) configured to produce a plurality of light beams (204). One or more optical alignment devices (220) orient the light beams (204) into a collimated light beam (205). A light modulator (203) modulates the collimated light beam (205) such that images (206) can be presented on a display surface (207). Speckle is reduced with an optical feedback device (221) that causes the laser sources (201) to operate in a coherence collapsed state. Examples of optical feedback devices (221) include partially reflective mirrors and beam splitter-mirror combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventor: Taha Masood
  • Patent number: 7988303
    Abstract: The image projection apparatus includes a heat generating member disposed inside the apparatus, an exhaust fan exhausting an air that has cooled the heat generating member to the outside of the apparatus, and a duct guiding the air from the heat generating member to the exhaust fan. An outflow opening of the duct is oriented in a direction different from an inflow direction of the air into an inflow opening thereof. At least one air guiding wall is provided inside the duct, which forms plural airflow paths within a cross section extending along the inflow direction and an outflow direction of the air. The apparatus is capable of reducing unevenness in flow rate of the air when guiding the air toward the exhaust fan using a bent-type duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Noda
  • Patent number: 7976173
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a projector for projecting an image to a screen, including: a lamp configured to emit light; an elliptic reflecting mirror configured to reflect and condense the light from the lamp; an image display device configured to modulate the light reflected and condensed by the elliptic reflecting mirror with image data corresponding to the image to convert the reflected light into image light; a projection lens disposed between the screen and the image display device and configured to project the image light from the image display device to the screen; and a position adjustment mechanism configured to displace the bright point of the lamp from a first focus of the elliptic reflecting mirror to adjust the position of the lamp so as to decrease the effective light amount of the image display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Morikawa, Toshiyuki Shirasu, Daizo Oka
  • Patent number: 7835059
    Abstract: An electrochromic medium for use in a tristate electrochromic device, comprising: (a) at least one solvent; (b) at least one anodic material; (c) at least one cathodic material, wherein both of the anodic and cathodic materials are electroactive and at least one of the anodic and cathodic materials is electrochromic; (d) wherein, in a first state, the electrochromic medium exhibits a maximum light transmission; (e) wherein, in a second state, variable attenuation occurs to a significant extent in one of visible radiation or near-infrared radiation without significant attenuation in the other; and (f) wherein, in a third state, variable attenuation occurs to a significant extent in the other spectral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Punam Giri, Thomas F. Guarr
  • Patent number: 7798653
    Abstract: A gear portion meshing with the first step of a pinion gear at the side of a motor, which is a driving unit of optical aperture mechanism, is designed to be a two-gears composition of a gear portion abutting on one side surface of the channel of the pinion gear, and a gear portion abutting on the other side surface of the channel of the pinion gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinro Inui, Hiroshi Ooshima, Michiyuki Yoshino
  • Patent number: 7763844
    Abstract: The invention includes at least one swingable elastic locking bar mounted on the chassis of the scanner, and the end of the elastic locking bar is provided with a contact member having a low friction coefficient, and let the contact member on the elastic locking bar contact the top cover of the frame body of the scanner. Thus, the chassis may be rigidly rested on the top cover or on the glass mounted on the top cover to move, thereby providing a good scanning effect of an arbitrary angle. The swingable action of the elastic locking bar may efficiently absorb the tolerance produced during fabrication and assembly of the top cover and the bottom housing of the frame body of the scanner, thereby assuring stability of the optical travel path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventors: Devon Shyu, John Mai
  • Patent number: 7582882
    Abstract: A method of spectrographic measurement is disclosed. The method generates light energy using a solid state low capacitance excitation source, the light energy being caused to fall on a sample to be assayed, causing the sample to output an output optical signal. The method generates a plurality of modulation frequencies, and a plurality of heterodyne frequencies to form a set of heterodyne signals at the heterodyne frequencies. Each of the heterodyne frequencies is associated with one of the modulation frequencies. Coupling the modulation frequencies to the excitation source, causes the excitation source to generate excitation energy modulated in intensity in proportion to the modulation frequencies. A sampling a portion of the substantially incoherent excitation energy forms a reference substantially incoherent excitation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Horiba Jobin Yvon, Inc.
    Inventors: David McLoskey, Glenn Baker, Jim Mattheis, Sal Atzeni
  • Patent number: 7411206
    Abstract: A method and system for determining the lateral position of an edge of a web are disclosed. The system includes an array of light transmitting elements and a corresponding array of lenses and an array of light receiving elements and a corresponding array of lenses. The light transmitting elements are each paired with a light receiving element and the light transmitting elements each transmit a beam of light energy towards the corresponding receiving element. The beams of light can be occluded by a web passing between the transmitting elements and the receiving elements, thereby reducing the light received by the receiving elements. The receiving elements can generate a signal that is proportional to the amount of they receive, and a controller can be used to determine the lateral position of an edge of the web in response to the signals generated by the receivers. A compensation light beam can be employed to enable the controller to compensate for several factors that can affect measurement accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Accuweb, Inc
    Inventors: Raymond A. Buisker, Andrew Kalnajs
  • Patent number: 7403337
    Abstract: A focus adjustable head mounted display system used in a head mounted display device has an image capturing device for capturing environment images; an image processing unit for receiving image signals from the image capturing device and processing the received image signals; a focus adjustment unit for adjusting an input image from the image capturing device according an input focus adjustment signal so that the adjusted display image responses the focus adjustment signal; an image display unit installed at a head mounted display device for displaying the adjusted display image; a focus input unit being a manually operation device for generating a focus adjustment signal to the image processing unit; and the focus input unit providing a focus value to the focus adjustment software. A head mounted display device and a method for realizing the focus adjustable head mounted display system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Universal vision biotechnology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shu-Fong Ou
  • Patent number: 7397019
    Abstract: A light-sensing module and arrays of two or more light-sensing modules are described. Each light-sensing module comprises a mounting support structure that may include an air vehicle guidance section and an optical element adapted to direct incident light to a detector array that comprises an array of photodiodes and is attached to the mounting support structure. The detector array is adapted to receive the directed light and convert the received light to a set of electrical pulses via a plurality of photodetectors each of which is operatively coupled to an amplifier and a threshold circuit adapted to output a detection to a memory store adapted to associate a detection with a time-of-arrival. The light-sensing module may be adapted to output the associated detection and time-of-arrival. Air vehicles including the light-sensing modules are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Byars, Stephen Joseph Kissel, John J. Ringdahl