Patents Examined by Iyabo S. Alli
  • Patent number: 7808621
    Abstract: A system is provided including a unique marker configured to engage an unknown optical fiber and an identification device configured to selectively engage the unknown optical fiber and detect the unique marker. A method is further provided including the steps of attaching a unique identifier to an unknown optical fiber, engaging an identification device to the unknown optical fiber, and identifying the unique identifier via the unknown optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Verizon New England Inc.
    Inventor: Todd H. Russell
  • Patent number: 7808620
    Abstract: A testing device equipped with: a microchip having a receiver for a test fluid, a discharge lamp which emits light into the microchip test fluid receiver, a light source housing in which the discharge lamp is located, and an arithmetic calculation mechanism, which calculates the concentration of the component to be detected, based on the intensity of the light emitted from the test fluid container unit. To reduce the size of the device and to shield the arithmetic calculation mechanism from electromagnetic waves generated around the light source, the light source housing is equipped with shielding connected to the ground on the outside of the light source housing made of insulating material. The light source housing is positioned within an enclosure of the testing device holding the microchip and containing the arithmetic calculation mechanism, analysis output device(s), and other components of the testing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Ogawa, Katsuoki Miyasu, Yoshihiko Okumura
  • Patent number: 7808640
    Abstract: A system for providing photoacoustic spectroscopy. A light source having a quantum dot filter may provide a band of infrared light which is to be reflected by a lamellar grating to a photoacoustic chamber. The light may be modulated by the grating. The chamber may contain a sample of fluid for which spectral information is sought. A sensor may detect acoustic pressures in the chamber which indicate the spectral information. Signals from the sensor may be processed and displayed. Identification and concentration of certain substances in the fluid may be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard E. Fritz, Matthew S. Marcus
  • Patent number: 7804603
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus disclosed that has a radiation source configured to provide a measurement beam of radiation such that an individually controllable element of an array of individually controllable elements capable of modulating a beam of radiation, is illuminated by the measurement beam and redirects the measurement beam, and a detector arranged to receive the redirected measurement beam and determine the position at which the redirected measurement beam is incident upon the detector, the position at which the redirected measurement beam is incident upon the detector being indicative of a characteristic of the individually controllable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Eduard Martinus Klarenbeek
  • Patent number: 7800749
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a transparent substrate provides an index-matching fluid between an index-matched optical coupler and a surface of the transparent substrate. The method repeats, at two or more positions along the surface of the transparent substrate, steps of illuminating an inspection volume within the transparent substrate by directing a ribbon of light through the optical coupler and into the transparent substrate and detecting scattered light from the inspection volume at a detector that is optically conjugate with the inspection volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Philip Robert LeBlanc, Douglas S Goodman
  • Patent number: 7800757
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fast, nondestructive measurement method for determining the contents of solid, liquid and/or suspended flowing organic compounds. The arrangement according to the invention comprises a sample vessel, a pump, and a measurement cell which form a unit together with a spectroscopic measurement head. The measurement cell is connected to the pump, which can be regulated to vary the flow rate, and to the sample vessel by a pipe, and the spectroscopic measurement head and the regulatable pump have electrical connections to a controlling and evaluating unit. Due to its compact construction, the solution which makes use of the principle of transflection is also particularly suited to mobile use, for example, to determine the components of liquid manure while the latter is being dispensed. In principle, the solution can be transferred to any applications with suspensions or pumpable, homogeneous and inhomogeneous materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignees: Carl Zeiss Jena GmbH, Christian-Albrechts-Universitaet Zu Kiel
    Inventors: Michael Rode, Helga Andree, Diane F. Malley
  • Patent number: 7791712
    Abstract: A fiber interface configuration for a chromatic point sensor optical pen is provided wherein a detector aperture element provides an aperture that is smaller than the light-transmitting core diameter of an optical fiber that is connected to the optical pen. The detector aperture element is fixed relative to the chromatically dispersive optics of the optical pen, the optical fiber abuts the aperture element, and the optical fiber core is aligned to the aperture. The aperture element and the end of the fiber may be inclined relative to the axis of the fiber, to deflect spurious reflections away from the optical signal path. The configuration provides high measuring resolution without using a tapered optical fiber, and provides interchangeability of the optical fiber connected to the optical pen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: David William Sesko
  • Patent number: 7791730
    Abstract: A surface plasmon resonance meter is provided, including a backlight module, a line-slot plate, a parabolic mirror, a linear polarizer, a sensing chip, a prism and a photo detector array. The line-slot plate includes a light outlet. A light beam travels in the backlight module, and leaves the backlight module through the light outlet. The position of the line-slot plate is matched on a predetermined focal point of the parabolic mirror. The light beam is reflected by the parabolic mirror to be a parallel light beam, and travels trough the linear polarizer to the prism. The prism includes a light entering surface, a detection surface and a light exiting surface. The light beam enters the prism through the light entering surface, contacts the sensing chip with total internal reflection, and finally leaves the prism through the light exiting surface to be received by the photo detector array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Chih-Kung Lee, Shu-Sheng Lee, Chih-Hsiang Sung, Yi-Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 7787125
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) measures a spectral distribution of a printed product (12) produced with a printing device. The apparatus (10) has an illuminating source (20) for illuminating the printed product (12), an optoelectronic measuring means (32) for measurer the reflectance value of a section of the spectrum of the light (26) reflected from the printed product (12), an optical disperser (28) for dispersing the wavelengths of the reflected light (26), and a light entry gap plane that is definitive for the disperser (28). The light entry gap plane that is definitive for the disperser (28) is created by the surface of the printed product (12) to be examined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Theta Systems Elektronik GmbH
    Inventors: Christina Tatarczyk, Joachim Tatarczyk
  • Patent number: 7787114
    Abstract: Systems and methods for inspecting a specimen with light at varying power levels are provided. One system configured to inspect a specimen includes a light source configured to generate light. The system also includes a power attenuator subsystem configured to alter a power level of the light directed to the specimen during inspection between at least two power levels including a full power level and a minimum power level equal to or greater than about 10% of the full power level. In addition, the system includes a detection subsystem configured to generate output responsive to the light scattered from the specimen. The output can be used to detect defects on the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Christian Wolters, Jon Meyer
  • Patent number: 7777874
    Abstract: A noncontact form measuring apparatus emits a laser beam L. In the apparatus, a prism bends the laser beam into an X-axis direction, so that a Z-axis displacement of an objective optical system is converted by the prism into an X-axis displacement on a measurement coordinate system. A movement of an X-axis stage is converted into a Z-axis displacement on the measurement coordinate system. The apparatus moves an internal gear as a measurement object and the prism, reads X, Y, and Z coordinates at each focal point, and measures a three-dimensional form of inner teeth of the internal gear. The apparatus may translate the internal gear in a Y-axis direction, to measure a partial form of the inner teeth. The apparatus may turn the internal gear in an angular ?-direction, to measure a whole circumferential form of the inner teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Mitaka Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsushige Nakamura, Katsuhiro Miura
  • Patent number: 7777885
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for imaging circulating tumor cells from blood after enrichment. The system is designed to provide optimum use in a clinical laboratory setting with minimum laboratory bench top space. Operator intervention is minimized compared to other analytical methodologies. The system is useful in the enumeration and identification of target cells in a sample specimen for screening and detection of early stage pre-metastatic cancer, monitoring for disease remission in response to therapy and selection of more effective dose regimens or alternative therapies for individual patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Veridex, LLC
    Inventors: Frank A. W. Coumans, Arthur G. Marlin, Frank P. Modica, John V. Verrant
  • Patent number: 7777875
    Abstract: Inspection systems, circuits and methods are provided to enhance defect detection by addressing anode saturation as a limiting factor of the measurement detection range of a photomultiplier tube (PMT) detector. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method for inspecting a specimen includes directing light to the specimen and detecting light scattered from the specimen. The step of detecting may include monitoring an anode current of the PMT detector, and detecting features, defects or light scattering properties of the specimen using the anode current until the anode current reaches a predetermined threshold. Thereafter, the method may use a dynode current of the PMT for detecting the features, defects or light scattering properties of the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies Corp,
    Inventors: Christian H. Wolters, Anatoly Romanovsky, Alexander Slobodov
  • Patent number: 7777886
    Abstract: Improved optical alignment precision to a passive optical cavity is provided by including a combination of a weak focusing element and a translation plate in the input coupling optics. Adjustment of positions and angles of these optical elements, preferably after all other input optical elements are fixed in place, advantageously provides for high-precision optical alignment to the cavity, without requiring excessively tight fabrication tolerances. Fabrication tolerances are relaxed by making the optical power of the weak focusing element significantly less than the optical power of a strong focusing element in the input optics. The position and angles of the beam with respect to the cavity can be adjusted, as can the size of the beam at the cavity. Differential adjustment of the beam size in two orthogonal directions (e.g., tangential plane and sagittal plane) at the cavity can also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Picarro, Inc.
    Inventors: Serguei Koulikov, Bruce A. Richman, Dmitri Davydov
  • Patent number: 7777896
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus comprising: an optical sensor for outputting a detection signal by detecting a surface of a recording medium on which a correction image is to be formed; and a control section configured to obtain a detection signal of the surface of the recording medium with the correction image from which a dominant frequency component has been deleted by making reverse frequency analysis of an analysis signal that has been obtained by making a frequency analysis of a detection signal outputted by the optical sensor detecting the surface of the recording medium on which the correction image it formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tadayuki Ueda, Hiroyuki Watanabe, Akifumi Isobe, Yoshihito Sasamoto, Takashi Nara
  • Patent number: 7777883
    Abstract: A system for reducing reflections of a beam of electromagnetic radiation from the opposite, back, surface of an anisotropic sample, including methodology for investigating the incident, front, surface thereof with electromagnetic radiation, and analyzing the data as if the sample is isotropic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Synowicki, Thomas E. Tiwald
  • Patent number: 7777872
    Abstract: A method for measuring the optical properties of multifocal ophthalmic lenses. Collimated light is passed through an ophthalmic lens and onto an array of lenslets. Light exiting the array of lenslets is detected by a sensor. Blurred spots and/or double spots may represent diffractive zones of the wavefront. A centroid of the spot or a brighter of two spots may be used to determine the lateral position of the spot. Theoretical calculations, laboratory measurements, clinical measurements and experimental image spots may be generated, compared and cross-checked to determine a monofocal equivalent lens. A Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) may be used to evaluate and compare a diffractive lens and a monofocal equivalent lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Alcon Research, Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael J. Simpson
  • Patent number: 7773218
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for spectral imaging. Electromagnetic energy emanating from an object is passed through a first dispersive element, a coded aperture, and a second dispersive element to a detector plane. A wavelength-dependent shift is created by the first dispersive element. The coded aperture modulates the image emanating from the first dispersive element. The wavelength-dependent shift is removed from the modulated image by the second dispersive element producing a wavelength-independent image measured by the detector. A spectral image of the object is calculated from the measured image, a wavelength-dependent shift of the first dispersive element, the code of the coded aperture, and a wavelength dependent shift of the second dispersive element. A spectral image can be calculated from measurements obtained in a single time step and from a number of measurements that is less than the number of elements in the spectral image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: David J. Brady, Michael E. Gehm
  • Patent number: 7773208
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a device for measuring characterisation by reflectometry including a source that emits a light beam, a detector, optics for processing and controlling this light beam so as to focus it on a reflective surface to be measured in the form of a spot and to receive it on the detector, command and acquisition modules, a camera and modules for imaging the spot on the detector and on the camera, wherein the camera is connected to the command and acquisition means so as to automatically focus the spot on the reflective surface to be measured and to automatically conjugate the reflective surface to be measured with the surface of the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Herve Piombini, Philippe Voarino
  • Patent number: 7768660
    Abstract: Disclosed is the use of a focused electromagnetic beam which is caused to impinge on the top surface of a tube shaped sample, to investigate a film coating on its inner surface during fabrication thereof and/or thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory K. Pribil, John A. Woollam, Martin M. Liphardt, James D. Welch