Patents Examined by Jennifer Bennett
  • Patent number: 10077991
    Abstract: A device for measuring the relative displacement between two members comprises a scale grating, an illumination source, a detector portion, and an imaging portion. The illumination source outputs diffracted light components (DLC) to the scale grating. The DLC comprises desired interfering light components comprising +1 and ?1 order DLC and undesired interfering light components comprising diffraction orders that are not the +1 and ?1 order DLC. The detector portion comprises at least a first array of periodically arranged optical detector sensing areas. The illumination source light diffraction grating is positioned proximate to the scale grating and oriented relative to the scale grating such that respective sets of interference fringes formed by different respective sets of interfering light components are differently rotated about the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Norman Laman
  • Patent number: 10069574
    Abstract: An optical system, an optocoupler, and an isolation device are provided. The disclosed optical system includes at least one photodetector that receives light energy and converts the light energy into one or more electrical signals. The disclosed optical system further includes a comparator module that receives the one or more electrical signals from the at least one photodetector and compares the one or more electrical signals against two different reference values to determine whether a power supply fault condition has occurred for a light source that emitted the light energy and to determine a logic signal conveyed to the at least one photodetector via the light energy emitted by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: HongLei Chen
  • Patent number: 10066971
    Abstract: A rotation angle detection apparatus includes a rotator having a track unit to detect the rotation angle of a rotation axis; a detection unit disposed in correspondence with the track unit; a rotation angle calculation unit for calculating the rotation angle of the rotation axis based on signals generated by the detection unit; a rotation speed calculation unit for calculating the rotation speed of the rotation axis; and an abnormality detection unit for detecting an abnormality. The abnormality detection unit includes a frequency analyzing unit for calculating the frequency characteristic of the signals; a storage unit for storing the number of the signals per revolution of the rotator; a signal frequency calculation unit for calculating a signal frequency; and a determination unit for detecting the abnormality in the detection apparatus, when the frequency characteristic includes a component of a higher order than the signal frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nishioka, Shunichi Odaka, Keisuke Imai
  • Patent number: 10050416
    Abstract: A method to control an amplifying unit including a variable optical attenuator VOA and a semiconductor optical amplifier SOA is disclosed. The method first sets the attenuation of the VOA in a value realizable in the VOA and the optical gain of the SOA in a value where the SOA may operate in an optimum range. The method then gradually reduces the attenuation of the VOA as detecting the intensity of the beam output from the amplifying unit. When the intensity is still less than a target one even when the VOA shows no attenuation, the optical gain of the SOA is gradually increased to a value by which the intensity of the output beam becomes the target one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryota Teranishi
  • Patent number: 10048117
    Abstract: An optical receiver module includes: a lens array including a plurality of condenser lenses arranged in one direction to define a plane with optical axes in parallel to each other; and a light receiving element array including a plurality of light receiving elements each configured to receive light emitted from each of the condenser lenses. The light receiving element array includes: a semiconductor substrate to which the light from each of the condenser lenses is input and through which the light is transmitted; and light receiving portions each configured to receive the light transmitted through the semiconductor substrate and convert the light into an electrical signal. A shift of the optical axis of each of the condenser lenses from a center of each corresponding one of the light receiving portions is larger in a direction perpendicular to the one direction within the plane than in the one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: OCLARO JAPAN, INC.
    Inventors: Koki Iemura, Michihide Sasada, Hiroyasu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10048095
    Abstract: An origin detector includes detecting element groups having a first to a fourth detector, is configured so that a first signal sensitivity of the detectors of a center is larger than a second signal sensitivity of the detectors of a periphery, reads an origin detecting pattern including an origin pattern having a length along a detecting direction of a part having a physical characteristic different from an origin peripheral part larger than a length along the detecting direction of each detecting element group, and outputs a first signal using the first and third detectors, and a second signal using the second and fourth detectors. A processor acquires a third signal from the first signal and a first threshold, and a fourth signal from the second signal and a second threshold, and outputs a fifth signal using the third and fourth signals as an origin signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Precision, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10044964
    Abstract: First processing of causing a hold unit to hold a first signal from an amplification unit based on reset of the amplification unit, second processing of performing AD conversion of the held first signal and outputting a second signal obtained by superposing a signal based on charges generated in a photoelectric conversion unit of a first-row pixel on the first signal, third processing of performing an operation of performing AD conversion of the held second signal and an operation of resetting the amplification unit at least partly in parallel, and fourth processing of causing the hold unit to hold a fourth signal obtained by superposing a signal based on charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit of a second-row pixel on a third signal from the amplification unit based on resetting of the amplification unit and is output from the amplification unit are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Itano, Kazuo Yamazaki, Kohichi Nakamura, Koichiro Iwata
  • Patent number: 10042101
    Abstract: A projection system for a projector and/or a vehicle light, comprising a light-scattering and/or conversion device and having a scanning device with which a light impingement region of the projected light is shiftable on the light-scattering and/or conversion device; the light-scattering and/or conversion device being configured for conversion and/or for physical scattering of the light projected onto the light-scattering and/or conversion device so that a light emitted into an external environment of the projection system encompasses an emitted light and/or physically scattered light having the at least one output wavelength; and the projection system encompassing a hologram onto which a physically unscattered light having the at least one output wavelength, which is transmitted at least once through the light-scattering and/or conversion device, impinges, and by which the physically unscattered light is deflectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Annette Frederiksen, Stefanie Mayer
  • Patent number: 10036810
    Abstract: A method for sensing depth of an object in three-dimensional space a Time-Of-Flight Sensing procedure and a Proximity-Sensing procedure are respectively operated in the same one period of time. The obtained information of the two procedures are manipulated to acquire the depth information of the measured object. With the result of the Time-Of-Flight Sensing procedure having high accuracy and the result of the Proximity-Sensing procedure having high resolution, the acquired depth information of the measured object is more precise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: EMINENT ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CORP. LTD.
    Inventors: Tom Chang, Kao-Pin Wu
  • Patent number: 10031070
    Abstract: An analyzing device, comprising: a light source device; an image pick-up device that generates image data by capturing a biological tissue illuminated with light emitted by the light source device; and an index calculation unit configured to calculate an index representing a molar ratio between first and second biological substances contained in the biological tissue based on the image data, wherein: the light source device switches between light of a first illumination wavelength range which the first and second biological substances absorb and light of a second illumination wavelength range lying within the first illumination wavelength range; and the index calculation unit calculates the index based on first image data obtained by capturing the biological tissue under illumination of the light of the first illumination wavelength range and second image data obtained by capturing the biological tissue under illumination of the light of the second illumination wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Chiba
  • Patent number: 10031020
    Abstract: An optical lens has a light sensing die integrated into the optical lens. The optical lens is extended compared to a spherical optical lens such that the optical lens is elongated in order to allow for placement of the ambient light sensing die without causing any blocking or distortion of the optical lens. The shape of the optical lens and the placement of the ambient light sensing die is compensated for the change in shape compared to a spherical optical lens thus allowing for correct focal length parametrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: IDT EUROPE GMBH
    Inventor: Ed Lam
  • Patent number: 10033161
    Abstract: An optical amplifying apparatus and a method to control the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a semiconductor device that integrates a variable optical attenuator (VOA) with a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). The VOA evaluates the optical power of an incident beam from a photocurrent generated therein. The attenuation of the VOA and the optical gain by the SOA are optionally determined based on the detected input power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryota Teranishi
  • Patent number: 10029490
    Abstract: Paper has a detection pattern having a length in a main scanning direction, the length becoming shorter from upstream to downstream along a paper feeding direction. An image sensor detects the detection pattern and outputs a detection signal including data in the main scanning direction (length y). A control unit calculates a position of a vertex of the detection pattern, by using the detection signal, a feeding speed, an angle being half of the vertex angle of the pattern, and an imaging time, so as to correct an image forming position on the back side to coincide with an image on the front side. The detection signal from the sensor with a low operation speed is processed according to a method utilizing a shape feature and the like of the detection pattern, thereby precisely detecting the position of the paper in the feeding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jiro Momen
  • Patent number: 10033940
    Abstract: A camera has two distinct image sensor arrays. The image sensor arrays are at least one of different types and different resolutions. The image sensor arrays have different dynamic ranges such that one of the image sensor arrays is a high dynamic range image sensor array configured to capture a wider range of light intensity than the other of the image sensor arrays. The camera has an imaging mechanism configured to combine information collected by each of the image sensor arrays to produce a high dynamic range image. The image sensor arrays include one low resolution image sensor array having a high dynamic range, and one high resolution image sensor array having a normal dynamic range smaller than the high dynamic range wherein luminance values within the normal dynamic range represent a subset of luminance values within the high dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory John Ward, Helge Seetzen, Wolfgang Heidrich
  • Patent number: 10024695
    Abstract: An optical encoder includes an origin point detection scale having an origin point detection pattern and an inverse origin point detection pattern that is the inverse of the origin point detection pattern; a light source emitting light at the origin point detection scale; a light source grid that is inserted on the light source side of the origin point detection scale, the light source grid having two first light source grid patterns corresponding to the origin point detection pattern and the inverse origin point detection pattern, respectively; a photoreceiver detecting a signal from light that has passed through the origin point detection scale; and a photoreceiver grid inserted on the photoreceiver side of the origin point detection scale, the photoreceiver grid having two first photoreceiver grid patterns that are a pattern either identical to or the inverse of the first light source grid pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kato
  • Patent number: 10018822
    Abstract: By using a PPD as a detector, photon count loss is reduced to the utmost, and the incident light-intensity range in which light can be detected is widened. Provided is a laser microscope apparatus including an objective lens that collects return light from a specimen; a collimator lens that converts the return light collected by the objective lens into a substantially collimated beam, a PPD including a plurality of pixels that detect the return light converted to a substantially collimated beam by the collimator lens; and a controller that makes the beam diameter of the return light incident on the PPD substantially equal to an effective detection area of the PPD, formed by the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirokazu Kubo
  • Patent number: 9995928
    Abstract: A circuit may include a first circuit configured to generate a voltage signal for generating an optical pulse, the voltage signal being generated based on a phase control signal, and an array of single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) cells configured to detect a phase of the optical pulse. The circuit may include a phase control circuit configured to generate the phase control signal based upon a target phase value and the detected phase of the optical pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS, STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Pascal Mellot, Donald Baxter
  • Patent number: 9997554
    Abstract: One or more embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a chip scale package camera module that includes a glass interposer between a lens and an image sensor. In some embodiments, the glass interposer is made from one or more layers of optical quality glass and includes an infrared filter coating. The glass interposer also includes electrically conductive paths to connect the image sensor, mounted on one side of the glass interposer, with other components such as capacitors, which may be mounted on a different side of the glass interposer, and the rest of the camera system. The conductive layers include traces and vias that are formed in the glass interposer in areas away from the path of light in the camera module, such that the traces and vias do not block the light between the lens and the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTD
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Grebet, Wee Chin Judy Lim
  • Patent number: 9983029
    Abstract: Examples of the disclosure enclose an optical target on an encoder and sensors inside a single integrated module, wherein the encoder and the sensors are coupled to the same rigid body to maintain optical alignment between the sensors and the optical target on the encoder. Further, the module itself may be hermetically sealed to protect the optical path (e.g., from a light source to the optical target to the sensors) from contamination due to outside dirt, debris, or light sources internal/external to the device that might further interfere with alignment and/or proper sensing. Because the integrated module results in smaller variations in the alignment between the optical target and the sensors, the dynamic range of the sensors may be reduced, resulting in less power consumption and, potentially, longer battery life for the device. The use of an integrated module can also enable relaxed manufacturing requirements for the optical sensor and/or the optical target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anant Rai, Prashanth Holenarsipur, Alex M. Lee
  • Patent number: 9972100
    Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes an imaging device having a single imaging sensor capturing image data within a field of view. A control within the vehicle includes an image processor and receives image data captured by the single imaging sensor and receives vehicle data via a communication bus of the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data, the control detects converging road features along the road the vehicle is travelling and determines a point of intersection where the converging road features would converge. Responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data, the control automatically corrects for misalignment of the imaging device mounted at the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yuesheng Lu, Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Antony V. Jeyaraj, Manoj R. Phirke