Patents Examined by Jamil Ahmed
  • Patent number: 10620051
    Abstract: An object detection system uses a change in a linear polarization statistic between a first image at a first time and a second image at a second time to determine the presence or the likelihood of an object beneath a surface. The presence of the object may be determined by regions of anomalously high changes in the polarization statistic. The system may use a polarization change detection detector which may simultaneously capture images in multiple polarization channels. Further, the polarization change detection detector may be coupled with a laser interferometry system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electonic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew N. Acker, Michael J. DeWeert
  • Patent number: 10612977
    Abstract: A wavelength calibration apparatus includes a light source configured to deliver a backlight beam characterized by a backlight spectrum. The apparatus includes a gas reference cell configured to absorb light from the backlight beam and transmit an imprinted light beam characterized by an imprinted light spectrum. The apparatus further includes a spectrometer configured to (i) receive the transmitted imprinted light beam from the gas reference cell and to apply a plurality of reference spectral selection factors to spectrally resolve the imprinted light beam into reference indicia groups, (ii) detect a plurality of reference spectral power readings, and (iii) deliver a reference dataset for associating the reference spectral power readings with the reference spectral selection factors. A wavelength calibrator of the apparatus determines a wavelength calibration factor based on a difference between the reference dataset and a standard dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: THE CHARLES STARK DRAPER LABORATORY, INC.
    Inventor: Gilbert D. Feke
  • Patent number: 10605728
    Abstract: A monitoring probe is for monitoring a fluid inside a process system. The probe has a first portion comprising a plurality of optical sensors provided along a waveguide for monitoring a plurality of measurands from the fluid, wherein each optical sensor is configured to monitor at least one measurand from the fluid. The first portion of the probe is elongate and is configured to be inserted through an aperture of the process system into a chamber of the process system such that the optical sensors are in communication with the fluid. The probe further has an attachment element for securing the probe to the process system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Scott Coonrod, Christopher Staveley
  • Patent number: 10598481
    Abstract: Around a crankshaft (S) supported by a support device (10), a first shape measuring device (31) to a fourth shape measuring device (34) are disposed, and the crankshaft (S) and the first shape measuring device (31) to the fourth shape measuring device (34) are relatively movable in an axial direction (X direction) of the crankshaft (S). The first shape measuring device (31) and the third shape measuring device (33) are disposed so as to face to one X direction and acquire partial shape information (including the other side surfaces in the X direction of counterweights (S2)) of the crankshaft S, and further, the second shape measuring device (32) and the fourth shape measuring device (34) are disposed so as to face to the other X direction and acquire partial shape information (including one side surfaces in the X direction of the counterweights (S2)) of the crankshaft S. This makes it possible to accurately inspect a shape of the crankshaft (S) in a short time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshito Isei, Toshiyuki Oyama, Ryota Ohashi
  • Patent number: 10598790
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system. The LIDAR system includes a modular LIDAR device, which includes a scanner component and a structurally separate base component. The scanner component is mountable on an external surface of a vehicle, and includes a light source and detector to capture LIDAR data including a measure of a distance to an object relative to the vehicle. The scanner component also includes a communications transmitter to transmit LIDAR data indicative of the distance, and a power receiver to wirelessly power the scanner component. The base component is at least partially mountable on an interior surface of the vehicle, and includes a power transmitter to wirelessly power the scanner component, a communications receiver to wirelessly receive the LIDAR data, and a processor to enable autonomous or semi-autonomous navigation of the vehicle based on processed LIDAR data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: ESSENTIAL PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew E. Rubin
  • Patent number: 10598601
    Abstract: A gas concentration measuring device including a light emitter and a light receiver which are disposed so as to be opposed to each other with a hollow tube-like measurement pipe interposed therebetween. The device is configured to measure concentration of target gas passing through the measurement pipe using light applied from the light emitter, transmitted through the inside of the measurement pipe, and received by the light receiver. Purge gas guide pipes through which purge gas is introduced into optical systems of the light emitter and the light receiver are connected to a side wall of the measurement pipe. The measurement pipe includes a gas entrance portion having a tapered shape widening from a gas supply port toward a downstream side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignees: YANMAR CO., LTD., FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Fukui, Ryota Kobayashi, Tetsuya Yokoyama, Tsuyoshi Inoue, Yusuke Oda, Michiyasu Okada, Kozo Akao, Ryouichi Higashi
  • Patent number: 10598607
    Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting a semiconductor substrate, the inspection system may include an inspection unit that comprises a partially blocking bright field unit and a non-blocking bright field unit; wherein the partially blocking bright field unit is configured to block any specular reflection that fulfills the following: (a) the specular reflection is caused by illuminating, along a first axis, of an area of the wafer, (b) the specular reflection propagates along a second axis, (c) the first axis and the second axis are symmetrical about a normal to the area of the wafer, and (d) the normal is parallel to an optical axis of the partially blocking bright field unit; and wherein the non-blocking bright field unit is configured to pass to the image plane any specular reflection that fulfills the following: (a) the specular reflection is caused by illuminating, along the first axis, of an area of the wafer, (b) the specular reflection propagates along the second axis, (c) the first axis and the second a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Camtek Ltd.
    Inventors: Zehava Ben Ezer, Menachem Regensburger, Shimon Koren, Tomer Gilad, Shy Shapira
  • Patent number: 10591414
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the osmolarity of a sample are provided. Aspects of the subject methods include contacting a sensing surface of a surface plasmon resonance based sensor with a sample, and generating one or more data sets at at least two wavelengths over a time interval, wherein the data sets are used to determine the osmolarity of the sample. The subject methods find use in determining the osmolarity of a sample, such as a biological sample (e.g., a tear fluid), and in the diagnosis and/or monitoring of various diseases and disorders, such as, e.g., dry eye disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: LACRISCIENCES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul T. Gavaris, Chris D. Geddes, Ali H. Ghovanlou
  • Patent number: 10578484
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a backlight source monitoring device and a pattern generator. The backlight source monitoring device includes a base, a fixing structure arranged on the base and configured to fix a backlight source to be monitored, a monitoring element fixed on the base and configured to monitor a brightness value of the backlight source to obtain brightness data, and a display element connected with the monitoring element and configured to receive and display the brightness data obtained by the monitoring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tuan Liang, Zhaolei Li, Shuanghui Zhao, Yuan Liu, Yubing Zhang, Gang Luo, Jun Wang, Yi Qu
  • Patent number: 10571336
    Abstract: A system for analyzing and processing user input and providing a result based on a predetermined set of color identifiers, the system comprising a first user input, wherein the first user input comprises of one or more digital images, a second user input, wherein the second user input comprises of responses to queries, a white balancing method for removing color casts from the first user input to create a final corrected image of the first user input, a first database for storing a predetermined set of color identifiers, a second database for storing product profiles, and a processor for analyzing the final corrected image of the first user input and the second user input collectively, comparing the final corrected image of the first user input and the second user input collectively to the predetermined set of color identifiers, and providing a color output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventors: Atima Lui, Nyalia Lui, Mahmoud Afifi, Ariadne Bazigos
  • Patent number: 10571812
    Abstract: Focus performance of a lithographic apparatus is measured using pairs of targets that have been exposed (1110) with an aberration setting (e.g. astigmatism) that induces a relative best focus offset between them. A calibration curve (904) is obtained in advance by exposing similar targets on FEM wafers (1174, 1172). In a set-up phase, calibration curves are obtained using multiple aberration settings, and an anchor point (910) is recorded, where all the calibration curves intersect. When a new calibration curve is measured (1192), the anchor point is used to produce an adjusted updated calibration curve (1004?) to cancel focus drift and optionally to measure drift of astigmatism. Another aspect of the disclosure (FIGS. 13-15) uses two aberration settings (+AST, ?AST) in each measurement, reducing sensitivity to astigmatism drift. Another aspect (FIGS. 16-17) uses pairs of targets printed with relative focus offsets, by double exposure in one resist layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Fahong Li, Miguel Garcia Granda, Carlo Cornelis Maria Luijten, Bart Peter Bert Segers, Cornelis Andreas Franciscus Johannes Van Der Poel, Frank Staals, Anton Bernhard Van Oosten, Mohamed Ridane
  • Patent number: 10571250
    Abstract: Problem: To provide a device, system, method, and program able to easily measure retroreflective coefficients using a commercially available mobile terminal having an imaging unit. Resolution Means: A device is provided that has an imaging unit for capturing an image of a target object, an observation angle acquiring unit for acquiring an observation angle determined by a positional relationship between the imaging unit, a light source for emitting light for capture and the target object, an entrance angle acquiring unit for acquiring an entrance angle of light emitted for capture incident on the target object, a converting unit for converting image data of an image to a luminance value of the target object using capture information of the image, and a calculating unit for calculating a value of a retroreflective coefficient of the target object based on an illuminance value and the luminance value of the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Fumio Karasawa, Andreas M. Geldmacher, Guruprasad Somasundaram
  • Patent number: 10571334
    Abstract: An optical system includes a spectrograph having a concave diffraction grating and a detector. An aperture is selectively positioned by an associated actuator or positioning mechanism either into, or out of, an optical path of the input light beam downstream of a sample and prior to entering the spectrograph. A slit plate having a plurality of different size entrance slits is positioned downstream of the aperture and movable by an associated actuator or positioning mechanism to position one of the plurality of entrance slits in the optical path of the input light beam. A controller coupled to the detector and the actuators is configured to control the actuators to selectively position the aperture and the slit plate to provide a selectable resolution of the spectrograph. The aperture setting and slit plate setting may be determined from a lookup table in response to a request for finer or coarser spectral resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: HORIBA INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Harry Jerome Oana, Xiaomei Tong, Ronald Joseph Kovach
  • Patent number: 10563986
    Abstract: A waveguide optical gyroscope (WOG) is disclosed. One WOG may comprise an amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) source, a sensor comprising a waveguide loop disposed in a first cladding material interposed between layers of at least a second cladding material having an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the first cladding material, wherein the sensor is configured to receive an output signal of the ASE source, and a pump source configured to pump the first cladding material with an in-plane pump signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: LGS Innovations LLC
    Inventor: Inuk Kang
  • Patent number: 10564037
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for combining colorants using a camera. The method of combining colorants using a camera includes extracting color data from an image of an object captured using a camera, converting the color data into spectral reflection factor data of the object on the basis of a pre-constructed camera color model, acquiring spectral reflection factor data for an estimated colorant combination obtained by simulating a combination of colorant samples obtained from a colorant database, and selecting an optimal colorant combination by comparing errors between the spectral reflection factor data of the object and the spectral reflection factor data for the estimated colorant combination. Therefore, it is possible to use a highly accessible and inexpensive camera, such as a smartphone camera, and thus an ordinary user can easily find an optimal colorant combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: In Su Jang, Soon Chul Jung, Yoon Seok Choi, Jin Seo Kim
  • Patent number: 10557793
    Abstract: Variations in a translucent medium are imaged by detecting deflections and/or polarization shifts in a probe beam transmitted through the translucent medium. Deflections and polarization shifts may be detected using a first polarizing filter positioned between a probe beam generator and the translucent medium to polarize the probe beam in a first direction, a beam splitter positioned to receive the probe beam after it has been transmitted through the medium, and a probe beam deflection detector that receives a first split beam and provides a deflection signal associated with refractive index variations in the medium. A second polarizing filter receives a second split beam and polarizes it in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. An intensity sensor receives the second split beam, after it has passed through the second polarizing filter, and provides an intensity signal associated with a polarization shift in the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Ronald A. Barnes, Hope T. Beier, Bennett L. Ibey, Caleb C Roth, Joel N Bixler, Christopher M Valdez
  • Patent number: 10551284
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a sampling probe having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is configured to penetrate inside a wall of a duct having an inner chamber that is configured to carry a gas stream containing particulate matter therethrough. The first portion is further configured to divert a sample of the gas stream from the inner chamber of the duet to the second portion that extends from the wall of the duct opposite the inner chamber. The second portion of the sampling probe is configured to direct the sample of the gas stream in a first direction with a second direction corresponding to a direction of the gravitational force of the earth. A first ray corresponding to the first direction forms an angle ? with a second ray corresponding to the second direction. The angle ? is less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Dust Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wyatt Baxter, Derrick James Hinkle
  • Patent number: 10551299
    Abstract: To provide a multipass cell permitting a reduction in a volume of an inner space into which sample gas is introduced, there are provided: a cell main body with the inner space into which the sample gas is introduced; and a pair of mirrors provided oppositely to each other in the inner space, wherein light incident from an incidence window of the cell main body is subjected to multireflection between the pair of mirrors and is emitted from an emission window of the cell main body, wherein: each of the mirrors is shaped such that light spots formed on a reflecting surface of each of the mirrors are scattered in an elongated region of a predetermined width through the light multireflection; and each of the mirrors is formed into an elongated shape along a longitudinal direction of the elongated region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: HORIBA, LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoji Shibuya, Masahiro Nakane
  • Patent number: 10551248
    Abstract: In one aspect, a hyperspectral image measurement device is provided to include: a main body; an illumination module disposed in the main body and including LEDs having different peak wavelengths to irradiate light to a subject; a camera disposed on the main body and receiving light reflected from the subject to acquire an image of the subject; a barrel having a contact surface contacting the subject, the contact surface located to be spaced apart from the illumination module and the camera module by a predetermined distance; and a reference cover located on the contact surface and including a standard reflection layer for reflecting light irradiated from the illumination module toward the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SEOUL VIOSYS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seong Tae Jang, Stella Park, Sung Il Park, Ji Ye Song, Woong Ki Jeong
  • Patent number: 10551174
    Abstract: The present invention includes a preparatory step of providing a calibration work piece having a flat reflecting surface as a work piece, and arranging the reflecting surface to be parallel to a standard optical axis and orthogonal or parallel to pixel array directions of an image capture element; a rotation step of rotating a prism centered on the standard optical axis; a brightness detection step of detecting the brightness of an image captured by the image capture element at each of a plurality of rotation positions of the prism; and a positioning step of aligning the prism at a rotation position where the brightness detected by the brightness detection step is greatest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Takahama