Patents Examined by Iyabo S. Alli
  • Patent number: 8165382
    Abstract: Methods of determining the divergence angle between a primary image and a secondary image generated by a glazing are disclosed. In a first method, a glazing is illuminated with a light source and a primary and a secondary image of the light source, generated by the glazing, are captured using an image capture device. The distance between the primary and the secondary image is determined, and the divergence angle determined from this distance. In a second method, the primary and secondary images are viewed on a target marked with a scale indicating the divergence angle. The divergence angle is read from the scale and the positions the primary and secondary image. In this second method, the light source is located at the center of the target. In both methods, the light source comprises at least one light emitting diode. Preferably, the method is used to examine the edge region of a glazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignees: Pilkington Group Limited, Pilkington Automotive Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Bartsch, Simon Peter Aldred
  • Patent number: 8159676
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods for ratiometric detection of analytes by surface plasmon coupled emission detection that includes disposing a target on the metal layer of a surface plasmon resonance detection system; coupling a first analyte to a first fluorescent dye and a second analyte to a second fluorescent dye; contacting the first and second analytes to the target on the surface plasmon resonance detection system; and measuring the intensity of a first and a second surface plasmon resonance enhanced fluorescence emission ring, wherein the first and second rings, respectively, quantitatively represents the amount of first and second analyte within 50 nanometers of the metal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: University of North Texas, Health Science Center at Fort Worth
    Inventors: Zygmunt Gryczynski, Ignacy Gryczynski, Evgenia Matveeva, Julian Borejdo
  • Patent number: 8149402
    Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the invention is an optical system for a flow cytometer including a flow channel with an interrogation zone, and an illumination source that impinges the flow channel in the interrogation zone from a particular direction. The optical system preferably includes a lens system and a detection system. The lens system preferably includes multiple lens surfaces arranged around the flow channel and adapted to collect and collimate light from the interrogation zone. The detection system preferably includes multiple detectors adapted to detect light from the lens system. Each detector preferably includes a local filter that independently filters for specific wavelengths. Thus, the user may easily swap the filters in any order to achieve the same detection parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Accuri Cytometers, Inc.
    Inventors: Collin A. Rich, Richard L. Fisher, Nathaniel C. Bair
  • Patent number: 8144338
    Abstract: A pattern measurement method includes: acquiring sectional shapes of a first pattern corresponding to process parameters, respectively; using the acquired sectional shapes to calculate predicted spectral waveforms which would be obtained when light is applied to the first pattern, and adding information on the corresponding process parameters to the calculated predicted spectral waveforms, respectively, to form a waveform library; setting a process parameter to obtain a desired shape, and acquiring an actual spectral waveform of a second pattern actually created from the first pattern using the set process parameter; performing waveform matching between the actual spectral waveform and the predicted spectral waveforms to acquire matching scores for respective waveform matching, and calculating an optimum process parameter providing the maximum matching score; generating an optimum pattern sectional shape corresponding to the optimum process parameter to measure the optimum pattern sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tadashi Mitsui
  • Patent number: 8144327
    Abstract: A photoacoustic apparatus obtains information on a specimen by receiving photoacoustic waves which are generated from the specimen resulting from light irradiated to the specimen. The apparatus includes a light source for irradiating light to the specimen, an acoustic wave receiver for receiving the photoacoustic waves, and a light reflection member for causing the light, which is radiated out of the specimen by optical diffusion thereof after having entered an interior of the specimen from the light source, to reenter the interior of the specimen, wherein the light reflection member allows elastic waves to pass therethrough. As a result, a photoacoustic apparatus and a probe are provided which can confine scattered light from the specimen into the specimen, and which can reliably prevent photoacoustic waves from being generated from a receiving element region of the probe by the scattered light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takao Nakajima, Kazuhiko Fukutani, Yasufumi Asao, Ryuichi Nanaumi
  • Patent number: 8144973
    Abstract: A method for scanning a surface with a number of different illumination configurations, the method comprises capturing a plurality of images in a sequential manner during a single sweep, each image including one or more lines of pixels, sequentially altering an illumination configuration used to capture the plurality of images according to a predefined sequence of illumination configurations and shifts of the relative position of the imaging unit for capturing each of the plurality of images, and repeating the sequence of illumination configurations settings and associated image capture positions until a desired area of the surface is scanned, wherein said predefined shift is between 10 pixels and less then one pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Orbotech Ltd.
    Inventors: Tamir Margalit, Ram Oron, Amir Noy
  • Patent number: 8144317
    Abstract: A method for locating and eliminating defects on a substrate wafer includes illuminating a top surface of the substrate wafer with a first illumination source, illuminating a bottom surface of the substrate wafer with a second illumination source, forming an image of a portion of the top surface of the substrate wafer while the substrate wafer is illuminated by the first and second illumination sources, adjusting a contrast of the image to accentuate defects on the top surface of the substrate wafer, locating defects in the image, and ablating the defects on the top surface with a laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventor: Richard J. Joyce
  • Patent number: 8144341
    Abstract: A method for making a sample for evaluation of laser irradiation position and evaluating the sample, and an apparatus which is switchable between a first mode of modification of semiconductor and a second mode of making and evaluating the sample. Specifically, a sample is made by irradiating a semiconductor substrate for evaluation with a pulse laser beam while the semiconductor substrate is moved for evaluation at an evaluation speed higher than a modifying treatment speed, each relative positional information between pulse-irradiated regions in the sample is extracted, and stability of the each relative positional information between pulse-irradiated regions is evaluated. The evaluation speed is such a speed that separates the pulse-irradiated regions on the sample from each other in a moving direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Kawakami, Miyuki Masaki
  • Patent number: 8144328
    Abstract: An arrangement for in-situ optical interrogation of plasma emission to quantitatively measure normalized optical emission spectra in a plasma chamber is provided. The arrangement includes a flash lamp and a set of quartz windows. The arrangement also includes a plurality of collimated optical assemblies, which is optically coupled to the set of quartz windows. The arrangement further includes a plurality of fiber optic bundles, which comprises at least an illumination fiber optic bundle, a collection fiber optic bundle, and a reference fiber optic bundle. The arrangement more over includes a multi-channel spectrometer, which is configured with at least a signal channel and a reference channel. The signal channel is optically coupled to at least the flash lamp, the set of quartz windows, the set of collimated optical assemblies, the illuminated fiber optic bundle, and the collection fiber optic bundle to measure a first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Vijayakumar C. Venugopal, Eric Pape, Jean-Paul Booth
  • Patent number: 8144969
    Abstract: A pattern evaluation method includes: acquiring data of a design pattern for an evaluation pattern to detect a first edge of the design pattern; acquiring an image of the evaluation pattern to detect a second edge of the evaluation pattern; dividing the first edge into first linear parts and first corner parts; performing matching of the first and second edges to obtain correspondence between the first and second edges; dividing the second edge into second linear parts and second corner parts based on the correspondence between the first and second edges; and evaluating the evaluation pattern based on at least one of the second linear parts and the second corner parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tadashi Mitsui
  • Patent number: 8134712
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating ore quality using color correlations is disclosed. The apparatus and method quantify ash or grade concentration in process streams arid/or samples in real time, allowing for the optimization of ore processing operations, The apparatus and method employ a light beam at a given wavelength, which allows for the measurement of ash content or grade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Mark Crosbie, Colin Howard
  • Patent number: 8125635
    Abstract: Apparatus for performing Raman analysis may include a laser source module, a beam delivery and signal collection module, a spectrum analysis module, and a digital signal processing module. The laser source module delivers a laser beam to the beam delivery and signal collection module. The beam delivery and signal collection module delivers the laser source beam to a sample, collects Raman scattered light scattered from the sample, and delivers the collected Raman scattered light to the spectrum analysis module. The spectrum analysis module demultiplexes the Raman scattered light into discrete Raman bands of interest, detects the presence of signal energy in each of the Raman bands, and produces a digital signal that is representative of the signal energy present in each of the Raman bands. The digital signal processing module is adapted to perform a Raman analysis of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: PD-LD, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Sinisa Ban, Boris Leonidovich Volodin, Neal R. Stoker
  • Patent number: 8125634
    Abstract: An additive {hacek over (S)}olc filter (ASF) includes i) a first polarizer for receiving an input light, such as from a monochromatic light source, and transmitting a first polarized output, ii) at least one birefringent plate positioned to receive the first polarizer output and transmit an output with wavelength-dependent polarization state, and iii) a second polarizer for receiving the plate output and transmitting a second polarized, filtered output. An ASF spectroscopy system includes the ASF; a monochromatic light source input, e.g. a laser; a sample chamber for exposing a sample to the second polarized, tuned output and generating a signal characteristic of the sample that is filtered by the ASF; and a detector for acquiring the characteristic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Sergei Nikitin, Charles K Manka
  • Patent number: 8125651
    Abstract: An object is to provide a substrate conveyance apparatus and a substrate detection device capable of improving flexibility in arrangement layout. The substrate detection device includes a projector 41 for projecting inspection light 40 so as to pass through a predetermined position on a path of a substrate 4 conveyed by conveyance belts 26, a light receiver 42 for receiving the inspection light 40 projected by the projector 41, and a detector (a control device 15) for detecting that the substrate 4 reaches the predetermined position based on a decrease in the amount of received light of the inspection light 40 received by the light receiver 42 when the substrate 4 conveyed by the conveyance belts 26 reaches the predetermined position and a portion of the inspection light 40 is blocked by the substrate 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shuzo Yagi, Masao Nakane, Yoshinori Isobata
  • Patent number: 8125652
    Abstract: A device for handling a substantially circular wafer is provided. The device includes an interior accessible through a plurality of entrances, and a plurality of sensors consisting of two sensors for each one of the plurality of entrances, each sensor capable of detecting a presence of the substantially circular wafer, at a predetermined location within the interior, wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged so that at least two of the plurality of sensors detect the wafer for any position of the wafer entirely within the interior, wherein a first one of the two sensors is positioned to detect the wafer when the wafer has passed entirely into the interior through one of the plurality of entrances, and a second one of the two sensors is positioned immediately outside a diameter of the wafer when the wafer has passed entirely into the interior through one of the plurality of entrances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Fogel, Peter van der Meulen, Forrest T. Buzan, Christopher C. Kiley
  • Patent number: 8121391
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a thickness of a printed product conveyed in a conveying direction at a conveying speed. The apparatus includes a conveying device having a guide arrangement along which the printed product is conveyed at the conveying speed in the conveying direction, the guide arrangement including a measuring region that extends in the conveying direction of the guide arrangement. The apparatus further includes a measuring element operative to act on printed sheets of the printed product to measure the thickness of the printed product while the printed product is conveyed across the measuring region and through a measuring gap located between the measuring element and the guide arrangement. The measuring element is arranged to move toward the guide arrangement with a process timing and to move synchronously with the printed product at the conveying speed across the measuring region of the guide arrangement. The apparatus additionally includes an evaluation unit connected to the measuring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Hanspeter Duss
  • Patent number: 8111384
    Abstract: A method and device for facilitating measurement of thermo-optically induced material phase change response in a thin planar or a grating film stack is disclosed. The method may include using small-spot visible and ultraviolet spectra (ellipsometric or reflectance) for measuring a material phase change response. The device may include a measurement system platform, at least one electrical resistor, at least one external electric probe, and ohmic contact circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos L. Ygartua, Lei Zhong, John McCormack, Robert J. McClelland
  • Patent number: 8111389
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of inspecting defects in a circuit pattern of a substrate. At least one laser beam radiation unit for radiating a laser beam onto an inspection target circuit pattern of a substrate in a non-contact manner is prepared. A probe beam radiation unit for radiating a probe beam onto a connection circuit pattern to be electrically connected to the inspection target circuit pattern in a non-contact manner is prepared. The laser beam is radiated onto the inspection target circuit pattern using the laser beam radiation unit. The probe beam is radiated onto the connection circuit pattern using the probe beam radiation unit, thus measuring information about whether the probe beam is diffracted, and a diffraction angle. Accordingly, the method can solve problems such as erroneous measurements caused by contact pressure and can reduce the time required for measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Seoup Lee, Tak Gyum Kim, Jin Won Park
  • Patent number: 8111894
    Abstract: A Computer Tomography (CT) C-arm system and method for examination of an object is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Peter George Van De Haar
  • Patent number: 8107068
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a Raman spectroscopy system that includes a detection center. The detection center includes at least one light source for outputting exciting light which excites a detected object to generate Raman scattered light, and an analysis device for obtaining the Raman spectroscopy of the detected object. The Raman spectroscopy system further includes at least one detection terminal, each of which includes at least one Raman probe that each introduces the exciting light to the detected object, collects the Raman scattered light generated by the detected object, and returns said Raman scattered light to the detection center. The present invention also relates to a method for detecting Raman spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Nuctech Company Limited, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Chen, Li Zhang, Yuanjing Li, Yinong Liu, Ziran Zhao, Mingliang Li, Hongfeng Gai, Hongqiu Wang, Dongmei Yu