Patents Examined by James Phan
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Patent number: 9500854Abstract: A beam steering mirror device includes a mirror having an optical part with a reflecting or optical surface and a mirror body. The optical part is essentially thermally de-coupled from the body. A biaxial suspension of the mirror body has two rotation axes arranged essentially perpendicular with respect to each other and being located in a common plane. The suspension includes a set of four flexible pivots with a pair of pivots assigned to each rotation axis. The mirror is arranged with regard to the biaxial suspension such that its center of mass is approximately located in the intersection point of the two rotation axes. The device also includes motors for moving of the mirror body around the two rotation axes, sensors for determining the tilting angle of the mirror, and a housing for the mirror, the biaxial suspension, the motors and the sensors.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Airbus DS GmbHInventors: Reiner Barho, Manfred Schmid, Harald Langenbach
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Patent number: 9503604Abstract: Provided is an illuminating device including a cylindrical lens in which a light incidence surface and a light emission surface, which are opposite to each other, extend in a longitudinal direction, and a light source that is disposed in such a manner that a positional relationship between a paraxial virtual image of the light source due to the light incidence surface of the cylindrical lens and a center of curvature of the light emission surface is in a predetermined range.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshiya Imoto, Masao Ito
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Patent number: 9488826Abstract: Disclosed is an electrowetting display device including a plurality pixels. Each pixel includes a pixel electrode, a hydrophobic layer, a hydrophobic fluid, and a bank adapted to limit the range of movement of the hydrophobic fluid. The bank has a hydrophobic bank surface and a hydrophilic bank surface, which face each other. The hydrophobic fluid is moved from the hydrophilic bank surface towards the hydrophobic bank surface by the application of a voltage to the pixel electrode.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Sang-Min Shin, Woo-Song Kim, Chang-Ku Hua, Soo-Jin Park, Mun-Soo Park
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Patent number: 9488828Abstract: In an optical deflector apparatus including a mirror, an inner frame, an outer frame, an inner piezoelectric actuator adapted to flex the mirror around an axis of the mirror, an outer piezoelectric actuator adapted to flex the mirror around the axis of the mirror, and a driver adapted to generate an offset drive voltage and a rocking drive voltage. The offset drive voltage is applied to a first piezoelectric actuator selected from the inner piezoelectric actuator and the outer piezoelectric actuator. The rocking drive voltage is applied to a second piezoelectric actuator different from the first piezoelectric actuator.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Keiichi Ikegami, Akio Ogawa
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Patent number: 9488829Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a first scanning driving unit and a second scanning driving unit. The first scanning driving unit includes a scanning mirror and a frame structure supporting the scanning mirror. The first scanning driving unit is configured to cause the scanning mirror to rotate about a first rotation axis by means of deformation of the frame structure. The second scanning driving unit includes a rotation holder supporting the first scanning driving unit and a supporting shaft. The second scanning driving unit is configured to cause the rotation holder to rotate about the second rotation axis. The frame structure includes a pair of beams provided so as to sandwich the scanning mirror in a direction of the first rotation axis, and a pair of base portions provided on sides of respective beams of the pair of beams opposite to the scanning mirror. Each of the pair of base portions has an elongated shape elongated in a direction of the second rotation axis, and is deformable.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2013Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Toshiya Matozaki, Hironori Nakahara, Nobuo Takeshita
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Patent number: 9488830Abstract: A scanning device includes a scan unit with a polygon mirror, pre-scan optics and post-scan optics. The pre-scan optics are arranged upstream of the polygon mirror in such a way that a beam bundle coming from the light source impinges on the polygon mirror at an angle of incidence (?) in a cross scan plane, and the optical axis of the post-scan optics is arranged in a reflection direction of the polygon mirror. Distortions, trapezoidal distortion and scan bow, occurring when imaging the light source on a scan line are minimized in that the cylindrical mirror of the post-scan optics is tilted at a first tilt angle (?) relative to the surface normals to the polygon mirror in the cross scan plane, and one of the two corrective lenses of the post-scan optics is tilted relative to the optical axis of the post-scan optics at a second tilt angle (?) and is arranged so as to be offset by a distance.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2014Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: JENOPTIK Optical Systems GmbHInventors: Ullrich Krueger, Thomas Dressler, Stefan Heinemann
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Patent number: 9482864Abstract: An optical scanner includes: a movable member having a light reflection portion and being configured to swing around a first axis; a frame body configured to swing around a second axis intersecting the first axis; a first shaft connecting the movable member and the frame body; a fixing member; a second shaft connecting the frame body and the fixing member; a first strain detection element disposed at the second shaft and detecting deformation of the second shaft; and a first signal processing unit to which a detection signal of the first strain detection element is input and which outputs a signal based on bending deformation of the second shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Takeshi Shimizu
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Patent number: 9482865Abstract: In a light scanning method of scanning a light beam emitted from a light source on a plane to be scanned, a focal distance of an optical element that converges light emitted from the light source onto the plane to be scanned is sequentially varied to uniform a beam spot diameter at each position on the plane to be scanned where a distance from the light source varies.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Inventor: Makoto Masuda
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Patent number: 9477080Abstract: A head-up display device including a screen member, a first generation portion, and a second generation portion is provided. The screen member is provided with multiple optical elements each of which has a curved surface portion and forms a scan surface by an array of the curved surface portions. The first generation portion generates a first laser beam that is irradiated to the scan surface to draw a display image. The second generation portion generates a second laser beam to draw a display image that is irradiated to the scan surface from a direction different from the first laser beam.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2013Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Ando, Takayuki Fujikawa
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Patent number: 9470889Abstract: A laser scanning device includes: a plurality of laser light sources, each of the plurality of laser light sources emitting a laser light having a light intensity distribution having an elliptical shape; an aperture through which the laser lights emitted from the plurality of laser light sources pass; and a scanning mirror for reflecting the laser lights from the aperture to a scan position. A position of the aperture is adjustable in a first adjustment direction. The plurality of laser light sources are oriented so that long axis directions of the light intensity distributions of the laser lights emitted by the plurality of laser light sources are parallel to the first adjustment direction at positions at which the laser lights emitted by the plurality of laser light sources enter the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Toshiya Matozaki, Hironori Nakahara, Tomo Kishigami, Nobuo Takeshita
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Patent number: 9465147Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting comprising cube corner microstructure and having channels substantially parallel to a longitudinal, peripheral edge of the sheeting.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2013Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventor: Kenneth L. Smith
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Patent number: 9459447Abstract: An apparatus is formed from a double active layer silicon on insulator (DSOI) substrate that includes first and second active layers separated by an insulating layer. An electrostatic comb drive is formed from the substrate to include a first comb formed from the first active layer and a second comb formed from the second active layer. The comb drive may be used to impart a tilting motion to a micro-mirror. The method of manufacturing provides comb teeth exhibiting an aspect ratio greater than 1:20, with an offset distance between comb teeth of the first and second combs that is less than about 6 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS INTERNATIONAL N.V.Inventors: Moshe Medina, Pinchas Chaviv, Yaron Fein
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Patent number: 9448401Abstract: A layered micro-electronic and/or micro-mechanic structure comprises at least three alternating electrically conductive layers with insulating layers between the conductive layers. There is also provided a via in a first outer layer, said via comprising an insulated conductive connection made of wafer native material through the layer, an electrically conductive plug extending through the other layers and into said via in the first outer layer in order to provide conductivity through the layers, and an insulating enclosure surrounding said conductive plug in at least one selected layer of said other layers for insulating said plug from the material in said selected layer. It also relates to micro-electronic and/or micro-mechanic device comprising a movable member provided above a cavity such that it is movable in at least one direction. The device has a layered structure according to the invention. Methods of making such a layered MEMS structure is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2013Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Silex Microsystems ABInventors: Thorbjorn Ebefors, Edvard Kalvesten, Peter Agren, Niklas Svedin
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Patent number: 9448403Abstract: An optical scanner includes: a movable portion that is provided with a light reflection portion and is swingable around a first axis; a frame body portion that is swingable around a second axis; a first shaft portion that connects the movable portion and the frame body portion; a fixed portion; a second shaft portion that connects the frame body portion and the fixed portion; a strain detection element that is disposed in the second shaft portion to detect deformation of the second shaft portion; a first signal processing portion to which a detection signal of the strain detection element is input and that outputs a signal based on bending deformation of the second shaft portion; and a second signal processing portion to which a detection signal of the strain detection element is input and that outputs a signal based on torsional deformation of the second shaft portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Takeshi Shimizu
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Patent number: 9436001Abstract: According to an embodiment, a light beam scanner includes a first mirror and an angular magnification unit. The first mirror makes a normal direction of a reflecting surface change repeatedly. The angular magnification unit is configured to return, when viewed from a first direction, reflected light from the first mirror to the first mirror so that light is reflected at substantially the same points on the first mirror for a plural number of times, and increase, when viewed from the first direction, an angle each time light is reflected from the first mirror, the angle being between the normal direction of the reflecting surface and a reflection direction of light. Light is emitted from the angular magnification unit after the light is reflected from the first mirror for a predetermined number of times.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masataka Shiratsuchi, Masatoshi Hirono
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Patent number: 9435998Abstract: A beam director comprising; a first reflector mounted towards the center of a horizontal rotatable platform, the platform rotatable by an actuator, the beam director configured to receive a vertical beam from a beam source perpendicular to the ratable platform and the first reflector configured to rotate the beam as the platform rotates and to reflect the beam horizontally to a second reflector mounted on the rotatable platform; the second reflector configured to reflect the beam vertically towards a work surface so that when the beam is activated and the actuator rotates the platform, the vertical beam strikes the rotating first reflector rotating the beam as the platform rotates and reflects the beam to the second reflector which reflects the beam to the work surface; the beam then following a curve path relative to the work surface and trace out an arc on the work surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2015Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Inventors: Charles Bibas, Deon Pieter Hugo, Nianqing Zhou
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Patent number: 9436008Abstract: An HUD device includes a laser scanner that projects laser light carrying a display image, and a screen member that has a plurality of optical elements arrayed in the form of a grating, and diffuses laser light which emanates from the laser scanner and enters the optical elements toward a projection surface. The optical elements have curved surfaces, which take on a convexly curved form as a common curved form, formed as their faces, and diffuse laser light which is emitted to the projection surface from the curved surfaces. A sag quantity from each of surface vertices of the curved surfaces to each of boundaries among the optical elements differs between adjoining optical elements.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Takayuki Fujikawa, Hiroshi Ando, Masayuki Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 9429751Abstract: The present invention provides an anti-peeping device comprising: a plate-shaped substrate; a magnetic field generating device disposed on the plate-shaped substrate for generating a magnetic field; a plurality of light blocking walls deflectably connected to the plate-shaped substrate and configured to be changeable in its deflecting direction and/or deflecting angle in response to a change in a direction and/or an intensity of the magnetic field; a magnetic field control device; and a user input device for receiving an instruction from a user. The magnetic field control device is configured to control the magnetic field generating device to adjust the direction and/or the intensity of the magnetic field based on an instruction received from the user input device, so as to change the deflecting direction and/or the deflecting angle of the light blocking walls. The present invention further comprises a control method for an anti-peeping device.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xinan Wang, Wenbo Li
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Patent number: 9423617Abstract: An HUD device includes a laser scanner that projects laser light carrying a display image, and a screen member that has a plurality of optical elements arrayed in the form of a grating, and diffuses laser light which emanates from the laser scanner and enters the optical elements toward a projection surface. The optical elements have curved surfaces, which take on a convexly curved form as a common curved form, formed as their faces, and diffuse laser light which is emitted to the projection surface from the curved surfaces. The optical elements are configured so that an element width differs in at least one array direction of the array of the grating between adjoining optical elements.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Ando, Takayuki Fujikawa, Masayuki Yamaguchi
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Patent number: 9417445Abstract: An image-acquisition device is consists of a single objective optical system; an image-acquisition element that acquires an image of an optical image of an object formed by the objective optical system; an optical component that can be inserted into and removed from the optical axis of the objective optical system, at an intermediate position on the optical axis; and a moving mechanism that moves the optical component between a position on the optical axis of the objective optical system and a position off the optical axis. The optical component has a deflecting surface for deflecting the optical axis of the objective optical system and a refracting surface having power.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2016Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Takeshi Suga