Patents Examined by Georgia Y. Epps
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Patent number: 10897590Abstract: An imaging device includes a photoelectric converter generating signal charge; a charge storage region storing the signal charge; a first transistor having a gate coupled to the charge storage region; a second transistor having a source and a drain; and voltage supply circuitry supplying voltages varying with time. An output of the first transistor is fed back to the second transistor and is supplied to the charge storage region. A reset operation for discharging the signal charge in the charge storage region includes a first reset operation and a second reset operation. In the first reset operation, the second transistor changes from an OFF state to an ON state and then changes to an OFF state. In the second reset operation, the voltage supply circuitry supplies the voltages to a gate of the second transistor so that the second transistor gradually changes from an OFF state to an ON state.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2018Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Motonori Ishii, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga, Yutaka Hirose
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Patent number: 10895365Abstract: A lighting apparatus is provided with a first housing assembly formed from a thermally conductive material and a second housing assembly formed of a thermally conductive material. At least one electrical component is positioned within the first housing assembly and the at least one electrical component is in thermally conductive contact with the first housing assembly. At least one light source is in thermally conductive contact with the second housing assembly. The second housing assembly is not in thermally conductive contact with the first housing assembly, such that thermal energy from the first housing assembly does not directly transfer to the second housing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2020Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Ideal Industries Lighting LLCInventors: Mario A. Castillo, Kurt S. Wilcox, William L. Dungan, Russell S. Schultz, Brian Kinnune
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Patent number: 10886829Abstract: The disclosure discloses an electromagnetic driving module which includes a base, two magnetic elements, a wiring assembly, a reference element, and a sensor element. The two magnetic elements are arranged along a reference line and positioned at two sides of the base. The wiring assembly is connected to the base and arranged adjacent to the two magnetic elements. The reference element is positioned on the base. The sensor element is adjacent to the reference elements and configured to detect the movement of the reference element to position the base. A lens device using the electromagnetic driving module is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2018Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.Inventors: ShangYu Hsu, Nai-Wen Hsu
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Patent number: 10883712Abstract: A luminaire with a heat sink (1), which heat sink is formed by one integral piece of cold forged aluminum, comprising an essentially flat base portion (2), having a base surface with a center (2a) and an outer periphery (2b) and a set of heat dissipating fins (3, 4) extending from a first side of the base surface, in a direction normal to the base surface. The set includes at least one radial heat dissipating fin (3) having a cross section in a plane parallel to the base surface which cross section extends substantially in a radial direction from the center (2a) towards the outer periphery (2b), and at least one peripheral heat dissipating fin (4) having a cross section in a plane parallel to the base surface which cross section includes a portion extending in a direction parallel to the outer periphery (2b), wherein the peripheral heat dissipating fins (4) are arranged radially outside the radial heat dissipating fins (3).Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2017Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.Inventors: Feihong Chen, Xia Wang
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Patent number: 10863124Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state image pickup apparatus, a correction method, and an electronic apparatus, enabled to suppress an apparent uncomfortable feeling of an image output from a solid-state image pickup apparatus in which pixels of different OCL shapes are mounted mixedly. A solid-state image pickup apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a pixel array in which a first pixel in which an OCL (On Chip Lens) of a standard size is formed and a second pixel in which an OCL of a size different from the standard size is formed are present mixedly, and a correction section that corrects a pixel value of the first pixel that is positioned in the vicinity of the second pixel among the first pixels on the pixel array. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a CMOS image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2017Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Takeru Tsuzuki, Katsumi Nishikori
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Patent number: 10855229Abstract: Methods and systems for process and temperature compensation in a transimpedance amplifier using a dual replica and configurable impedances is disclosed and may include a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) circuit comprising a first TIA, a second TIA, a third TIA, and a control loop. The first TIA comprises a fixed feedback resistance and the second and third TIAs each comprise a configurable feedback impedance. The system may comprise a gain stage with inputs coupled to outputs of the first and second TIAs and with an output coupled to the configurable feedback impedance of the second and third TIAs. The circuit may be operable to configure a gain level of the first TIA based on the fixed feedback resistance and a reference current applied at an input to the first TIA, and configure a gain level of the second and third TIAs based on a control voltage generated by the gain stage.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Luxtera LLCInventors: Stefan Barabas, Joseph Balardeta, Simon Pang, Scott Denton
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Patent number: 10845218Abstract: An encoder includes a base portion, a rotation portion that is provided to be rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the base portion, a mark that is disposed around the rotation axis on the rotation portion, an imaging element that is disposed in the base portion and images the marks, a storage portion that stores a reference image, and a determination portion that performs template matching on the mark imaged by the imaging element by using the reference image, so as to determine a rotation state of the rotation portion with respect to the base portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2018Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Inventor: Takayuki Kondo
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Patent number: 10845553Abstract: Multichannel RF Feedthroughs. In some examples, a multichannel RF feedthrough includes an internal portion and an external portion. The internal portion includes a top surface on which first and second sets of traces are formed. Each set of traces is configured as an electrical communication channel to carry electrical data signals. The external portion includes a bottom surface on which the first set of traces is formed and a top surface on which the second set of traces is formed. A set of vias connects the first set of traces between the top surface of the internal portion and the bottom surface of the external portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2016Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: II-VI Delaware Inc.Inventors: Yan yang Zhao, Bernd Huebner, Tengda Du, Yuheng Lee
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Patent number: 10840281Abstract: A device that includes an analog-to-digital converter circuit and a control circuit is disclosed. The analog-to-digital converter circuit converts at least one of analog pixel output signals from a pixel array, to at least one of digital signals. The analog-to-digital converter circuit includes a comparator which generates a comparator output signal for operatively enabling and disabling, in accordance with a reference signal and an analog pixel output signal from the pixel array, a counter generating a digital signal. The control circuit disables, in accordance with the comparator output signal, the comparator.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2015Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.Inventors: Kuo-Yu Chou, Shang-Fu Yeh
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Patent number: 10830638Abstract: A photodetector circuit is disclosed. The photodetector circuit includes an optical input configured to receive a source optical signal for detection by the photodetector circuit, an optical waveguide for coupling the optical input and at least one side of a plurality of sides of a photodiode, wherein the optical waveguide is configured to generate a first optical signal and a second optical signal from the source optical signal, and the photodiode coupled to the first optical waveguide, where the photodiode is illuminated on the at least one side by the first and second optical signals at different locations on the photodiode, where the photodiode generates a photocurrent based on the first and second optical signals reducing photocurrent saturation. Providing a delay between the first and second optical signals reduces an out-of-band frequency response of the photodiode circuit.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: Ciena CorporationInventors: Francois Pelletier, Michel Poulin, Yves Painchaud, Michael Vitic, Christine Latrasse, Alexandre Delisle-Simard
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Patent number: 10831035Abstract: An optical encoder 10 comprising: a light source 11; a splitter 12 splits a light from the light source 11, a light receiving unit 16; a scale 13 is arranged on a light path and movable in a measurement direction, a grating being arranged on a main surface of the scale; and an offset diffraction grating 14 includes a plurality of diffraction gratings arranged in the optical path from the splitter 12 to the light receiving unit 16, the plurality of diffraction gratings diffracting the split lights with different phases, wherein, the plurality of diffraction gratings 13 in the offset diffraction grating 14 are arranged in one plane parallel to the main surface of the scale and are offset each other in an offset direction orthogonal to the measurement direction, the light receiving unit 16 includes a plurality of light-receiving elements 16-11 to 16-23 arranged in the offset direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2015Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATIONInventor: Akihide Kimura
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Patent number: 10823587Abstract: An encoder apparatus including a scale including a series of features defining at least one scale track and a readhead for reading the scale's features. The readhead includes at least one light source for illuminating the scale and at least one detector. The configuration of the at least one light source is such that there is a structure in the light projected toward the scale. The readhead is configured such that the structure is angled so that it is substantially misaligned with respect to the scale's features so as to reduce measurement error in the signal output by the readhead.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: RENISHAW PLCInventor: Simon Eliot McAdam
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Patent number: 10823974Abstract: The present disclosure provides an optical system. In one aspect, the optical system includes a plurality of imagers configured to emit an electromagnetic radiation, a plurality of optical sensors configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the imagers, and a beam splitting device disposed at an optical path between the imagers and the optical sensors. In one example, the beam splitting device is a multi-way beam splitter configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from one of the imagers and separate the received electromagnetic radiation into a plurality of portions, each separated portion of the received electromagnetic radiation being directed to one of the optical sensors.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2018Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.Inventor: Thomas A. Mitchell
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Patent number: 10823879Abstract: An obstacle detection system includes a first light emitter that emits a light signal and a first light detector configured to receive a portion of the light signal reflected back from an object. The obstacle detection system includes a second light emitter configured to emit a test signal toward the first light detector, and a second light detector configured to detect the light signal emitted by the first light emitter. The obstacle detection system includes a processor to determine, based on the light signal, whether an obstruction is detected and whether, by use of the second light emitter and the second light detector, the first light emitter and the first light detector are operable.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2018Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.Inventor: James J. Fitzgibbon
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Patent number: 10816694Abstract: A system to detect obstacles includes a power beam transmission circuit, a power beam reception circuit arranged to receive a power beam from the power beam transmission circuit, an emitter module, and a detector module arranged to distinguish between a first characteristic and a second characteristic. The emitter module includes a first emitter arranged to emit a first signal having the first characteristic, the first signal emitted in proximity to the power beam, and a second emitter arranged to emit a second signal having the second characteristic, the second characteristic different from the first characteristic, the second signal emitted in proximity to the first signal. The detector module includes a first detector arranged to respond to the first signal emitted by the first emitter, wherein the detector module is arranged to determine when an obstacle is in or near a line-of-sight transmission path between the first emitter and the first detector.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: LASERMOTIVE, INC.Inventors: Jordin T. Kare, Thomas J. Nugent, Jr., David Bashford, Carsten Casey Erickson, Thomas W. Bashford
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Patent number: 10816398Abstract: A spectrometer and a spectrum measurement method thereof are provided. An analog-to-digital converter converts an amplified signal into a digital signal according to a reference voltage provided by a variable reference voltage generation circuit and amplifies the digital signal according to a target signal value, thereby approximating a signal value of the amplified digital signal to the target signal value. A control circuit outputs a spectral signal according to the amplified digital signal. A user can obtain spectrum measurement results that can be easily interpreted by the spectrometer and the spectrum measurement method thereof, without changing hardware or software, so as to improve convenience of use of the spectrometer.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2017Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: InnoSpectra CorporationInventors: Yung-Yu Huang, Hsi-Pin Li, He-Yi Hsieh, Cheng-Hsiung Chen, Ming-Hui Lin
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Patent number: 10816472Abstract: An image acquisition device includes a spatial light modulator modulating irradiation light, a control unit controlling a modulating pattern so that first and second light converging points are formed in an observation object, a light converging optical system converging the irradiation light, a scanning unit scanning positions of the first and second light converging points in the observation object in a scanning direction intersecting an optical axis of the light converging optical system, and a photodetector detecting first observation light generated from the first light converging point and second observation light generated from the second light converging point. The photodetector has a first detection area for detecting the first observation light and a second detection area for detecting the second observation light. The positions of the first and second light converging points are different from each other in a direction of the optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.Inventors: Naoya Matsumoto, Koyo Watanabe
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Patent number: 10816367Abstract: The latch detection system and latch detection method disclosed herein determines an orientation of one or more latches used to secure cargo in a cargo hold, and thus improves latch security and cargo transportation safety. To that end, aspects presented herein provide an optical latch detection system that detects whether one or more latches are in the locked or unlocked orientation. More particularly, aspects presented herein rely on a reflective laser system to determine the orientation of one or more latches based on the amount of reflected light detected by the laser system. In so doing, the disclosed latch detection system provides a reliable and repeatable option for determining the orientation of latch(es) in a cargo hold.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: William Robert Clos, Darrin Michael Noe
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Patent number: 10795062Abstract: A system and method are provided for forming one-way light transmissive layers implementing optical light scattering techniques in those layers, and to objects, object portions, lenses, filters, screens and the like that are formed of, or that otherwise incorporate, such one-way light transmissive layers. Processes are provided by which to form, or otherwise incorporate, one or more one-way light transmissive, or substantially transparent, object portions or layers in solid or hollow objects Individual one-way light transmissive layers are formed of substantially-transparent sub-micrometer spheres, including micro-particles and/or nano-particles, with nano-voids incorporated between them.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Face International CorporationInventors: Clark D Boyd, Bradbury R Face, Jeffrey D Shepard
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Patent number: 10792978Abstract: A vehicle detector assembly for detecting solar radiation may include a housing, a fixed plate fixed to an upper surface of the housing in a flat form, a plurality of photo detectors bonded to a surface of the fixed plate, each being connected to a lead having a uniform one-directional inclination structure, and a detector cap fastened to the housing and transmitting sunlight.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2017Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignees: Hyundai Motor Compnay, Kia Motors Corporation, Omron Automotive Electronic Korea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kwang-Ok Han, Yong-Chul Kim, Gyu-Suk Han, Kwang-Joon Han, Sang-Hyun Kim, Jang-Won Lee