Patents Examined by James C. Jones
  • Patent number: 11789275
    Abstract: Provided is a glass type electronic device in which an optical driving assembly is disposed in a spatially efficient position and which stably implements an optical path. The glass type electronic device includes a binocular lens provided to correspond to both eyes of a wearer, a lens frame fixed to the binocular lens and seated on a head of the wearer, an electronic component case fixed to the lens frame, an optical driving assembly mounted in the electronic component case for emitting an image light to the binocular lens, and a battery supplying power to the optical driving assembly. The electronic component case is disposed to correspond to an area between superciliary arches of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Changkyu Hwang, Seungyong Shin, Sungchul Shin, Dongyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 11789183
    Abstract: Three or more base optical materials are selectively combined into a trans-gradient index (GRIN) optical element (e.g., a lens). A wavelength-dependent index of refraction for light propagating perpendicular to the three or more optical materials equals: a volume fraction of a first optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the first optical material, plus a volume fraction of a second optical material multiplied by a refractive index of the second optical material, plus one minus the volume fraction of the first optical material and the volume of the second optical material all multiplied by the refractive index of a third optical material. The wavelength-dependent index of refraction distribution and a refractive index dispersion through the GRIN optical element may be independently specified from one another. A local refractive index at any point in the optical element is a fixed function of a refractive index of each individual optical material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Guy Beadie, Richard Flynn, James S. Shirk, Joseph Mait, Predrag Milojkovic
  • Patent number: 11782263
    Abstract: An oscillator system includes an electrostatic oscillator structure configured to oscillate about an axis based on a deflection that varies over time; an actuator configured to drive the electrostatic oscillator structure about the axis, the actuator including a first capacitive element having a first capacitance dependent on the deflection and a second capacitive element having a second capacitance dependent on the deflection; a sensing circuit configured to receive a first displacement current from the first capacitive element and a second displacement current from the second capacitive element, to integrate the first displacement current to generate a first capacitive charge value, and to integrate the second displacement current to generate a second capacitive charge value; and a measurement circuit configured to receive the first and the second capacitive charge values and to measure the deflection of the electrostatic oscillator structure based on the first and the second capacitive charge values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Richard Schroedter, Han Woong Yoo, David Brunner, Georg Schitter, Franz Michael Darrer, Marcus Edward Hennecke
  • Patent number: 11782156
    Abstract: This invention provides an integrated time-of-flight sensor that delivers distance information to a processor associated with the camera assembly and vison system. The distance is processed with the above-described feedback control, to auto-focus the camera assembly's variable lens during runtime operation based on the particular size/shape object(s) within the field of view. The shortest measured distance is used to set the focus distance of the lens. To correct for calibration or drift errors, a further image-based focus optimization can occur around the measured distance and/or based on the measured temperature. The distance information generated by the time-of-flight sensor can be employed to perform other functions. Other functions include self-triggering of image acquisition, object size dimensioning, detection and analysis of object defects and/or gap detection between objects in the field of view and software-controlled range detection to prevent unintentional reading of (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Weber, Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, William Equitz
  • Patent number: 11782252
    Abstract: An optical system includes a front lens unit, a first focusing unit having a negative refractive power, and a second focusing unit having a negative refractive power in this order from an object side to an image side. The optical system is a single focus optical system. When a focus is shifted from an object at infinity to an object at a short distance, the first focusing unit and the second focusing unit move to change a distance between the first focusing unit and the second focusing unit on an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Komiyama
  • Patent number: 11782280
    Abstract: Provided is a glass type electronic device including a binocular lens, a lens frame fixed to the binocular lens and seated on a head of the wearer, an electronic component case fixed to the lens frame, and an optical driving assembly mounted in the electronic component case and emitting light to the binocular lens. The optical driving lens can include an image source panel for generating light corresponding to a content image, an emitting lens group provided to expose an exit surface to an outside of the electronic component case and for adjusting an exit angle and a focal length of the light, and a reflective mirror provided to expose a reflection surface to an outside of the electronic component case and for reflecting the light, emitted from the emitting lens group, to the binocular lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Changkyu Hwang, Seungyong Shin, Sungchul Shin, Dongyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 11774718
    Abstract: An optical imaging lens assembly is provided. The optical imaging lens assembly includes, sequentially from an object side to an image side along an optical axis, a first lens having negative refractive power with a concave object-side surface and a concave image-side surface; a second lens having refractive power; a third lens having negative refractive power; a fourth lens having refractive power; a fifth lens having refractive power; a sixth lens having refractive power with a concave object-side surface and a concave image-side surface; a seventh lens having refractive power; and an eighth lens having refractive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventors: Jian Wang, Lingbo He, Fujian Dai, Liefeng Zhao
  • Patent number: 11768417
    Abstract: A removable lens for glasses includes an electrochromic layer adapted to transition between at least two states of a transparency level dependent on an electrical condition applied to the electrochromatic layer and an electrical connection element physically adapted to make an electrical connection with the electrochromic layer, wherein the electrical connection element is positioned to align with a variable-power electrode mounted on the glasses such that, when the removable lens is mounted on the glasses, the variable-power electrode and the electrical connection element make the electrical connection between the variable-power electrode and an electrically conductive layer of the electrochromic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Mentor Acquisition One, LLC
    Inventor: Ralph F. Osterhout
  • Patent number: 11768357
    Abstract: A converter lens (RCL) has a negative refractive power, which is disposed on an image side of a master lens (ML) to make a focal length of an entire system longer than that of the master lens alone. The converter lens comprises a most image-side lens element (LT) disposed closest to an image side in the converter lens, wherein the most image-side lens element has a lens surface having a convex shape toward an image side, a lens disposed closest to an image side in the converter lens has a positive refractive power, and mN<mP and 0.0?LR2/AR2<1.0 are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichiro Saito, Hiroki Ebe
  • Patent number: 11762175
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for seamlessly transitioning between lens projections. In one exemplary embodiment, a piecewise lens projection is composed of three (3) functions: (i) a first polynomial-based lens projection, (ii) a second “joining” lens projection, and (iii) a trigonometric lens projection. The piecewise lens projection characterizes virtualized lens distortion as a function of FOV; image data can be dynamically projected based on the virtualized lens distortion, regardless of FOV. In this manner, a user may achieve the visually familiar effects associated with a first lens definition for a first FOV, while still smoothly animating transitions to other lens projections (e.g., a larger FOV using stereographic projections).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Newman
  • Patent number: 11762198
    Abstract: An optical reflective device for pupil equalization including at least one or more grating structures within a grating medium is disclosed. The grating structures may have reflective axes that need not be constrained to surface normal. The grating structures are configured to reflect light about substantially constant reflective axes across a relatively wide range of wavelengths. The optical reflective device may reflect light towards a specific location, such as an exit pupil or eye box. Each grating structure within the device may be configured to reflect light of a particular wavelength at a plurality of incidence angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Akonia Holographics LLC
    Inventors: Mark Ayres, Adam Urness, Kenneth Anderson, Friso Schlottau
  • Patent number: 11762131
    Abstract: A variable focus optical device (100) can include first optically transparent membrane (102) and a second membrane (104) that at least partially define a chamber (106) retaining an optically transparent liquid. A transparent piston (110) is attached to the second membrane (104). At least one actuator (112a-c) is operatively coupled to the transparent piston (110) and configured to move to change a focal length of the variable focus optical device (100) via actuation of the transparent piston (110). Three curved bimorph actuators (112a-c) can surround and be coupled to the piston (110) for actuation of the piston (110) to generate a plano-convex or plano-concave lens via the membranes (102, 104). A smart eyeglasses system includes a pair of variable focus optical devices (100), an object distance sensor, a battery, optional eye-tracking camera(s), and a microcontroller, collectively used for purposes of sensing distance of objects and adjusting said focal length via the variable focus optical devices (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Carlos Mastrangelo, Nazmul Hasan, Kim Hanseup
  • Patent number: 11754755
    Abstract: Systems and methods reduce temperature induced drift effects on a liquid lens used in a vision system. A feedback loop receives a temperature value from a temperature sensor, and based on the received temperature value, controls a power to the heating element based on a difference between the measured temperature of the liquid lens and a predetermined control temperature to maintain the temperature value within a predetermined control temperature range to reduce the effects of drift. A processor can also control a bias signal applied to the lens or a lens actuator to control temperature variations and the associated induced drift effects. An image sharpness can also be determined over a series of images, alone or in combination with controlling the temperature of the liquid lens, to adjust a focal distance of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Laurens Nunnink, Mario Joußen
  • Patent number: 11747599
    Abstract: The imaging lens consists of, in order from an object side, a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a third lens group having a negative refractive power, and is configured such that, during focusing, the first lens group and the third lens group remain stationary with respect to an image plane, the second lens group moves in the direction of an optical axis, the first lens group includes a first-a negative lens and a first-b negative lens successively in order from a position closest to the object side, and that the second lens group includes an aperture stop that moves integrally with the second lens group during focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Taiga Noda
  • Patent number: 11747595
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the field of optical lenses and provides a camera optical lens sequentially including, from an object side to an image side, first to seventh lenses. The camera optical lens satisfies following conditions: 2.00?R1/d1?4.00; 20.00?v4?v5?30.00; 1.00?(R1+R2)/(R3+R4)?2.50; and 1.00?R12/R11?2.80, where v4 and v5 denote abbe numbers of the fourth and fifth lenses, respectively; R1 and R2 denote curvature radiuses of an object side surface and an image side surface of the first lens, respectively; R3 and R4 denote curvature radiuses of an object side surface and an image side surface of the second lens, respectively; R11 and R12 denotes curvature radiuses of an object side surface and an image side surface of the sixth lens, respectively; and dl denotes an on-axis thickness of the first lens. The camera optical lens can achieve high optical performance while satisfying design requirements for ultra-thin, wide-angle lenses having large apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: AAC Optics Solutions Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Yamazaki, Lei Zhang, Yuanshan Cui
  • Patent number: 11749958
    Abstract: Provided is a fixing device for line laser output. The device includes a laser beam expander having: a laser via hole defined in an axial direction thereof; an emitter embedding groove disposed at a laser entry end of the laser via hole, the emitter embedding groove having a peripheral wall coaxial with a peripheral wall of the laser via hole, and a bottom wall perpendicular to the peripheral wall of the laser via hole; and a Powell lens embedding groove disposed at a laser exit end of the laser via hole, the Powell lens embedding groove having a peripheral wall coaxial with the peripheral wall of the laser via hole, and a bottom wall perpendicular to the peripheral wall of the laser via hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MECH-MIND ROBOTICS TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Xiao Wu, Youshuang Ding, Tianlan Shao
  • Patent number: 11747612
    Abstract: An instrument for moving and positioning of an optical element in beamlines comprises a mounting structure to which one (or more) optical element(s) is mounted, as well as a reference structure, in relation to which the mounting structure is moved by means of a moving means of low (or close to zero) mechanical stiffness and in relation to which the position of the mounting structure is metered by means of a high-resolution interferometer. The invention proposes that the instrument also comprises a balance mass for receiving the reaction force from the moving means of the mounting structure, and both the mounting structure and the balance mass are attached to the reference structure by spring means, with specific stiffness properties, allowing the positioning control of the mounting structure to be done by a control system with main feedback loop with high bandwidth (>100 Hz).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Centro Nacional De Pesquisa Em Energia E Materials
    Inventors: Renan Ramalho Geraldes, Ricardo Malagodi Caliari, Marlon Saveri Silva
  • Patent number: 11740458
    Abstract: A projector system in a head mounted display (HMD). The projector system includes a microscopic mirror. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is coupled to the microscopic mirror. The MEMS is configured to tilt the microscopic mirror at a varying scan angle in a first periodic fashion along a single scanning axis. A rotary platform is coupled to the microscopic mirror. The rotary platform is configured to rotate the microscopic mirror about a rotation axis in a second periodic fashion. A light emitter is configured to direct light into the mirror. The light emitter is configured to be modulated based on the position of the microscopic mirror due to the microscopic mirror being tilted along the scanning axis and rotated about the rotary axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Tapani Matias Alasaarela, Simo Kaarlo Tapani Tammela
  • Patent number: 11740538
    Abstract: A lens driving module includes a base, a frame fixedly connected to the base, and a holder configured to connect an optical lens. The holder is movable relative to the base. The lens driving module also includes a reflecting element configured to reflect light from a light incident direction to a first direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the light incident direction, and the first direction is parallel to an optical axis of the optical lens. The lens driving module further includes a first electromagnetic driving assembly configured to force the holder to move along the first direction relative to the base. The lens driving module has multiple recesses formed on the base and arranged along the first direction. The lens driving module includes multiple the rolling elements disposed on the recesses, and the holder is moved relative to the base via the rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Cheng-Kai Yu, Chen-Hsien Fan, Chao-Chang Hu, Shu-Shan Chen, Chih-Wei Weng
  • Patent number: 11740441
    Abstract: An optical imaging lens includes six lens elements. The object-side surface of the first lens element has a convex part in a vicinity of the periphery of the first lens element, the image-side surface of the second lens element has a concave part in a vicinity of the periphery of the first lens element, the object-side surface of the third lens element has a convex part in a vicinity of the optical axis, the image-side surface of the fourth lens element has a convex part in a vicinity of the periphery of the fourth lens element, the image-side surface of the fifth lens element has a concave part in a vicinity of the optical axis, and the sixth lens element has negative refractive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Genius Electronic Optical (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih-Han Chen, Huabin Liao, Changlin Zhao