Patents Examined by Gregory Toatley
  • Patent number: 9194695
    Abstract: A ball distance measuring system incorporates a support received over a reference ball. A reference on the support has a diameter differing from a diameter of the reference ball by a predetermined amount visually distinguishable from a circumference of the reference ball presenting an even visual separation confirming concentric coincidence when centered with respect to the reference ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nuventi Designs, LLC
    Inventor: Gustavo A. Dascanio
  • Patent number: 8767197
    Abstract: An automatic angle adjustment unit (70) engages with and drivers a horizontal adjustment-engagement member (33) and a vertical adjustment-engagement member (37) of an object detection device (D) from the exterior. The unit (70) includes: engagement-drive transmission sections (72 and 73) which removably engages with both adjustment-engagement members (33 and 37), from the front surface, and drives both adjustment-engagement members (33 and 37); clamping section (76) that is removably secured to the object detection device (D); and an adjustment unit control section (80) for performing a control for adjusting a horizontal angle and a vertical angle of an optical system, based on a detection signal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Optex Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8390810
    Abstract: A color sensing apparatus (10) includes an optical system (16) that produces a spatially uniform light beam (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephan R. Clark, Brett E. Dahlgren
  • Patent number: 7355707
    Abstract: A system and method and for analyzing dew in a system of interest are provided. A representative method comprises receiving infrared information corresponding to a degree of polarization of dew in a particular environment, and using the degree of polarization to determine dew presence in the environment. Changes in the degree of polarization can be attributed to changes in the density, size or shadowing of the dew drops. Infrared emissions information can be detected and accumulated over a range of emission angles and over a period of time. The system compares the accumulated data for the particular environment to detect the presence of dew, the rate of growth of the dew and the change in characteristics of dew over a period of time starting from a first time interval. The system also compares the accumulated data with other previous accumulated data from the environment to detect if changes should be made to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Gorden Videen
  • Patent number: 7310136
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising illuminating a microstructured prism, or linear array of prisms of a prism sheet with an incident beam. The method further comprises making measurements of the refracted image of the beam on a measuring device to measure the distance disposed on an opposing side of the prism sheet from the side that the light beam is incident upon. Measurement of two angles of the refracted images of the beam on the ruled scale, measured twice, illuminating the sample at different angles are used in an equation to simultaneously provide the apex angle, the skew angle and the refractive index of the prism sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dennis Joseph Coyle, Micah Sakiestewa Sze, Masako Yamada
  • Patent number: 7295295
    Abstract: A real-time method of determining paste solids includes: correlating the refractive index of a paste with solute concentration in a solvent using a plurality of paste solids concentrations, typically including at least two paste solids concentrations greater than about 5 percent; submersing a fiber optic refractometer sensor into a sample and allowing it to equilibrate for a period of from about 30 seconds to about 20 minutes prior to measuring refractive index of the sample; measuring the refractive index of the paste sample with the fiber optic refractometer sensor; and determining the concentration of solute in the sample using the correlation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Georgia Lynn Lambert, Dalia I. Diaz
  • Patent number: 7280204
    Abstract: A multi-spectral detection and analysis system detects and classifies a targeted sample. The system may include a light source that causes the targeted sample to luminesce. A light dispersion element disperses the luminescence to a photodetector in a photodetector array. Each photodetector in the array transmits a signal indicating a portion of the spectrum to a multi-channel collection system. The multi-channel collection system processes the signal into a digital signal and forms the digital signal into a spectral signature. A processor analyzes the spectral signature and compares the spectral signature to known spectral signatures to identify the targeted sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Joseph Paul Robinson, Bartlomiej Rajwa, Gérald Grégori, Valery Patsekin
  • Patent number: 7245360
    Abstract: When an optical fiber (1, 1?) is heated by an electrical discharge generated between electrodes (3) thermal light emission from the core and cladding of fiber forms a hot image which can be observed by an optical imaging system (9, 15, 17). Since the concentration of dopants in the core is significantly higher than in the cladding, the light emitted from the core gives a peak structure in the light intensity profile of a hot image. The peak width of the core image increases significantly when dopants diffuse out of the core such as in heating the fiber. The increase of peak width is found to be highly correlated to the expansion of the mode field diameter (MFD) of fiber. This correlation can be experimentally determined at well-defined fusion conditions for any given type of fiber and thereby used to give a measure of the MFD by observing the peak width in hot images. Measures of MFD can be used for improving the quality of estimation of losses in splices of optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Wei-Ping Huang, Tomas Adeback
  • Patent number: 7170599
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting biomolecular interactions. The use of labels is not required and the methods may be performed in a high-throughput manner. An instrument system for detecting a biochemical interaction on a biosensor. The system includes an array of detection locations comprises a light source for generating collimated white light. A beam splitter directs the collimated white light towards a surface of a sensor corresponding to the detector locations. A detection system includes an imaging spectrometer receiving the reflected light and generating an image of the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: SRU Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Cunningham, Peter Li
  • Patent number: 7148962
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining the position and direction of channel inlets and channel outlets in wastewater systems that, in the horizontal plane, lead into and out of sewer manholes. To this end, a device was created that is provided in the form of a tachymeter attachment which uses a system of mirrors to enable the horizontal aiming beam of the tachymeter to be redirected to a variable depth in order to form a horizontal aiming beam that is parallel to the first. A profiled tube (11) that is attached via a frame (10) to assigned to the tachymeter (1) and reflectors are provided inside said profiled tube (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventors: Matthias Fuhrland, Michael Fuhrland, Joerg Herrmann
  • Patent number: 7139068
    Abstract: Optical characteristic measuring systems and methods such as for determining the color or other optical characteristics of teeth are disclosed. Perimeter receiver fiber optics are spaced apart from a source fiber optic and receive light from the surface of the object/tooth being measured. Light from the perimeter fiber optics pass to a variety of filters. The system utilizes the perimeter receiver fiber optics to determine information regarding the height and angle of the probe with respect to the object/tooth being measured. Under processor control, the optical characteristics measurement may be made at a predetermined height and angle. Various color spectral photometer arrangements are disclosed. Translucency, fluorescence, gloss and/or surface texture data also may be obtained. Audio feedback may be provided to guide operator use of the system. The probe may have a removable or shielded tip for contamination prevention. A method of producing dental prostheses based on measured data also is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: JJL Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Wayne D. Jung, Russell W. Jung, Alan R. Loudermilk
  • Patent number: 7130058
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and a method for determining coordinates of a three-dimensional measurer probe using a beam phase interference method. Two optical fibers are mounted inside the probe, and detecting means obtains an interference pattern generated by beam emitted from a point beam source mounted at ends of the optical fibers. After that, wave front of the interference pattern is measured and a location of the point beam source is determined through a nonlinear optimization from the wave front, and thereby the coordinates of the three-dimensional measurer probe are set. Because the two optical fibers of the inside of the probe to be measured are located in close vicinity to the three-dimensional object, the present measuring system and method can reduce a measurement error, make a structure of the system simple, and thereby reduce a manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: SeungWoo Kim, Hyuggyo Rhee
  • Patent number: 7095504
    Abstract: An interferometry apparatus comprises one or more beam generators, a detector, and a plurality of optical paths along which one or more beams of light propagate. Disposed along at least one of the optical paths is an apodization mask to shape one of the beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence L. Ames, Kalyan Dutta
  • Patent number: 7088453
    Abstract: An optical device has a rotatable birefringent crystal. The crystal is rotatable around a first axis (4; 42) and has a crystallographic-optical axis (6; 44) in a plane that is perpendicular to the first axis. In addition, the crystal is rotated around the first axis in order to control a displacement (?x) of a light beam in the plane when the light beam is polarized within the plane and directed onto the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gernot Brasen, Christian Laue, Matthias Loeffler
  • Patent number: 7084980
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an interferometer comprising: an optical body adapted in operation to mount a measurement area comprising a film which is capable of acting as a two dimensional environment for surface plasmons and an adjacent reference area; an optical beam generation means for irradiating the reference and measurement areas with radiation capable of generating surface plasmon resonance; optical means for combining radiation reflected from the reference and measurement areas, and pixelated detection means for generating data representing two dimensional images of the combined radiation beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Cambridge Consultants Limited
    Inventors: Robert Jones, Michael Hazel, Gavin Roberts
  • Patent number: 7072048
    Abstract: A measuring system for an apparatus having a bed, a first stage movable in a first direction relative to the bed, and a second stage movable in a second direction at right angles to the first direction, relative to the first stage. A first interferometer measures displacement in the first direction between a first reference reflector and a first target reflector fixed to the first stage. A second interferometer (a) measures displacement in the second direction between a second reference reflector and a second target reflector fixed to the second stage, (b) includes an intermediate reflector fixed to the first stage, (c) produces a beam that extends in the first direction from a position fixed to the bed to the intermediate reflector and in the second direction from the intermediate reflector to the second target reflector and (d) can therefore have a head that is mounted on the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Interferomet Limited
    Inventor: Michael John Downs
  • Patent number: 7068369
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring fruit properties, in order to classify fruit according to internal qualities, measures the sweetness of a fruit sample using near-infrared spectroscopy. The apparatus includes a pair of waveguides (12), a pair of optic emitter/sensor assemblies (14), a light-interrupting unit (20), and a light detector (40). The light detector calculates the intensity of light, transmitted from a light source and received by the optical emitter/sensor assemblies, thus allowing spectral analysis and interpretation for the determination of sweetness and acidity of a variety of fruits. The light detector controls the light-interrupting unit to interrupt the optical path when the light intensity is reduced. The apparatus is suitable for use in an automated line, for effective and reliable measurement of internal fruit properties, to improve operational efficiency and precision in fruit selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Rural Development Administration
    Inventors: Kang Jin Lee, Kyu Hong Choi, Dong Soo Choi, Soo Jang Lee, Ki Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 7064840
    Abstract: The optical sampling system performs by detecting the interference effect which is a linear correlation between the signal lights and the optical pulses, so that both the signal lights and the optical pulses can have relatively low intensities, and the reception sensitivity is high. Also, the pulse width of the optical pulses and the amount of delay given to the optical pulses are the only factors that limit the time resolution, so that it is possible to provide the optical sampling system with excellent time resolution and power consumption properties, and it is possible for the optical sampling system to monitor not only the intensity of the signal lights but also the frequency modulation component as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.
    Inventor: Fumihiko Ito
  • Patent number: 7061618
    Abstract: Integrated spectroscopy systems are disclosed. In some examples, integrated tunable detectors, using one or multiple Fabry-Perot tunable filters, are provided. Other examples use integrated tunable sources. The tunable source combines one or multiple diodes, such as superluminescent light emitting diodes (SLED), and a Fabry Perot tunable filter or etalon. The advantages associated with the use of the tunable etalon are that it can be small, relatively low power consumption device. For example, newer microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) implementations of these devices make them the size of a chip. This increases their robustness and also their performance. In some examples, an isolator, amplifier, and/or reference system is further provided integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Axsun Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Walid A. Atia, Dale C. Flanders, Petros Kotidis, Mark E. Kuznetsov
  • Patent number: 7061619
    Abstract: A chemical substance detection sensor for improving detection stability, resistance to vibration, compactness, and sensitivity, wherein said sensor is comprised of optical waveguides for dividing and propagating light from a wavelength-tunable light source, a chamber for allowing a sample to flow through regions of two optical waveguides including ligands provided on one of the two optical waveguides, an optical combiner/splitter for combining and redividing the outputs from the two optical waveguides, and a detector for detecting a chemical substance contained in the sample under test by capturing the interference light output from the optical combiner/splitter. The operating point of this chemical substance detection sensor is adjusted by controlling the wavelength of the light source so as to equalize the outputs of two detectors separated by the optical combiner/splitter when the reference sample not containing the substance for detection flows into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Shirai, Toshiki Sugawara