Patents Examined by Jennifer Bennett
  • Patent number: 9964622
    Abstract: In the field of deviometers used for detecting and locating laser spots, and more precisely to a laser spot detector with matrix deviometer, a device comprises a readout circuit exhibiting a matrix of pixels, a matrix of photodiodes produced on a single substrate, said photodiodes each comprising an individual electrode, and a laser pulse detection device. The particular feature of the device resides in the fact that said matrix of photodiodes is hybridized on said readout circuit by way of balls made of flexible and conducting material, such as indium, placed in contact with the pixels of the readout circuit, so that said single substrate constitutes an electrode common to the set of photodiodes and that said individual electrodes are linked to said pixels by said balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventor: Eric Belhaire
  • Patent number: 9954125
    Abstract: Various examples are provided for pillar array photo detectors. In one example, among others, a photo detection system includes an array of substantially aligned photo sensitive nanorods extending between first and second electrodes, and a plurality of resistance monitoring circuits coupled at different positions about the circumference of the electrodes. In another example, a photo detector includes first and second electrodes, and an array of substantially aligned photo sensitive nanorods extending between the substantially parallel electrodes. Light passing through an electrode excites electrons in the photo sensitive nanorods that are illuminated by the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Forwarding Technology LTD
    Inventors: Jinhui Song, Chengming Jiang
  • Patent number: 9942497
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus and an imaging system which can reduce the occurrence of darkening and decrease deterioration in CDS performance are provided. The solid-state imaging apparatus has: a pixel unit including a photoelectric conversion unit for generating a signal by a photoelectric conversion; an amplifier unit for amplifying the signal generated by the photoelectric conversion unit; and a limiting circuit for limiting a level of an output signal from the amplifier unit. The pixel unit outputs a noise signal under a reset state during a first period and outputs a pixel signal under a non-reset state during a second period. The limiting circuit limits the level of the output signal from the amplifier unit in the first period, lower than the level of the output signal from the amplifier unit in the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuji Ikeda, Hiroki Hiyama
  • Patent number: 9933302
    Abstract: An electronic circuit including a current conveyor connected to a load is provided. The load delivers at least one first voltage output and one second voltage output. Such a circuit is noteworthy in that the second voltage output has what is called a non-linear behavior relative to the magnitude of the input current of the electronic circuit in a given range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: CNRS-CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventor: Christophe De La Taille
  • Patent number: 9927537
    Abstract: A positron emission tomography (PET) photosensor output circuit configured to be operably coupled to a PET photosensor system is provided that includes a plurality of regional circuit portions and a summing portion. Each regional circuit portion is configured to be operably coupled to a corresponding photosensor system region and includes an input portion, a first branch, and a second branch. The first branch includes a delay unit and a switch. The second branch includes a sensor unit configured to place the switch in a closed position when a signal received via the input portion satisfies a threshold and to place the switch in an open position when the signal received via the input portion does not satisfy the threshold. The summing portion is configured to receive corresponding regional circuit outputs from the regional circuit portions, and to combine the regional circuit outputs to provide a summed output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Chang Lyong Kim
  • Patent number: 9921407
    Abstract: A fiber-optic scanner equipped with a light-guiding optical fiber; the fiber-optic scanner including a plurality of vibration generating units disposed circumferentially at equal intervals on an outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber located on a base end side thereof at a predetermined distance from the emission end of the optical fiber to vibrate an emission end of the optical fiber in a plurality of directions; and a vibration damping member disposed at least in a position between base end-side edges of the vibration generating units and the emission end of the optical fiber, wherein the vibration damping member has a uniform shape of a rotating body rotated around the axis line of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuaki Kasai
  • Patent number: 9921197
    Abstract: A both ultraviolet-visible and double monochromatic fluorescence dual detector has a small inner-casing, which combines both ultraviolet-visible and double monochromatic fluorescence dual detector widely used in the high performance liquid chromatography by taking the first to use deuterium lamp as the individual light source of the dual detectors, the individual sample detection cell and the individual electrical circuit, the device comprises a detection optical member, which including a first monochromatic spectroscopic device—raster G1, a second monochromatic spectroscopic device—raster G2, a light source, four groups of lens needed for processing the light paths; and a detection electromechanical member, which includes: a central controller, a proposed amplifying module, an auto gain module, a noise processing module and a logarithm amplifying module. The dual detector realizes the sensitivity and stability, also the elimination of noise and drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Jiade Yu
  • Patent number: 9909922
    Abstract: An anti-aliasing photodetector system for a powered ophthalmic device, such as a contact lens, may be utilized for any number of functions. The anti-aliasing photodetector system converts current from an array of photodetectors into a voltage for use in other aspects of the powered ophthalmic device. The anti-aliasing photodetector system comprises a photodiode array including a plurality of individual photodiodes, an integrate-and-hold circuit, including a capacitor and switch to convert current to voltage, and an analog-to-digital converter. The anti-aliasing photodetector system provides for low power consumption, a wide dynamic range, noise rejection, and is capable of detecting incident ambient visible light as well as incident infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Karl Schweickert, Steven Phillip Hoggarth, Corey Kenneth Barrows, Scott Robert Humphreys, Adam Walter Toner, Randall Braxton Pugh
  • Patent number: 9912302
    Abstract: A pulse detector amplifier is disclosed. The pulse detector amplifier may have a detection switching leg that receives an input energy pulse. The pulse detector may have a mirror fast trigger including a trigger node and controlling a mirrored switching leg. The detection switching leg may trigger the trigger node in response to the input energy pulse. The pulse detector amplifier may also have a mirrored switching leg that controlled by the trigger node. The mirrored switching leg may control a voltage and/or current on the output node responsive to the input energy pulse. Thus, the pulse detector may generally include a cascode architecture, with a mirror fast trigger (which may include a FET) between the mirrored legs of the amplifier and enhancing the rapid triggering of the amplifier output. Thus the pulse detector may be power efficient, may have a small part count, and may be sensitive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SENSORS UNLIMITED, INC.
    Inventors: Minlong Lin, Joshua Lund, Robert Brubaker
  • Patent number: 9905596
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor which holds a potential for a long time and includes a thin film transistor with stable electrical characteristics is provided. A reset transistor is omitted by initializing the signal charge storage portion to a cathode potential of a photoelectric conversion element portion in the solid-state image sensor. When a thin film transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor layer and has an off-state current of 1×10?13 A or less is used as a transfer transistor of the solid-state image sensor, the potential of the signal charge storage portion is kept constant, so that a dynamic range can be improved. When a silicon semiconductor which can be used for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor is used for a peripheral circuit, a high-speed semiconductor device with low power consumption can be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Koyama
  • Patent number: 9897693
    Abstract: An electronic device and a method for controlling a gesture sensor of the same are provided. The electronic device includes a gesture sensor and a threshold determining module configured to receive a light amount measurement with respect to light incident to the gesture sensor, to compare the light amount measurement with a light amount reference value, and to determine a light amount threshold that is used based on object recognition of the gesture sensor by adding the weight value to the light amount measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Ho Cho, Seung-Geol Baek, Dong-Han Lee, Jae-Yub Kim, Jong-Woo Kim, Ki-Hong Min, Hyeon-Chang Son, Ki-Hun Eom, Kyeong-Mun Jo
  • Patent number: 9891079
    Abstract: A double-bearing position encoder has an axle stabilized within a housing via two bearings disposed on opposite walls of the housing. The axle is in communications with a rotating cam. The cam actuates a pulser so as to generate an active pulse at a tissue site for analysis by an optical sensor. The axle rotates a slotted encoder wheel or a reflective encoder cylinder disposed within the housing so as to accurately determine the axle position and, hence, the active pulse frequency and phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Masimo Corporation
    Inventor: Cristiano Dalvi
  • Patent number: 9891100
    Abstract: An electronic device display may have a display cover layer. The cover layer may have a border that has an opaque masking material with an opening defining a light window for an ambient light sensor. The ambient light sensor may have a photodetector mounted in a light sensor housing. A molded clear plastic light diffuser may be used to diffuse light for the ambient light sensor that is passing through the light window. The light diffuser may reduce directionality in the ambient light sensor. The light diffuser may have an array of molded protrusions such as flat-topped cones. Alignment features may be formed in the light sensor housing and the light diffuser. Clips and other molded structures for attaching the light sensor to a mounting bracket or other structures may be molded into the light diffuser and light sensor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Apple, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Ruh
  • Patent number: 9894300
    Abstract: An image sensing device may include a temperature estimation block suitable for generating a temperature code signal based on a temperature table in response to a digital code signal corresponding to a pixel signal, and a calibration block suitable for removing noise reflected in the pixel signal at current temperature in response to the temperature code signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Min-Hee Jo
  • Patent number: 9891097
    Abstract: A brightness calibration method used in an optical detection system includes a single source illuminator and a probe card. The single source illuminator is configured to illuminate the probe card. The probe card has a plurality of detection sites. The brightness calibration method includes: sequentially detecting brightness values at the detection sites through one of a plurality of diffusers by a sensing chip; sequentially detecting transparencies of the diffusers at one of the detection sites by the sensing chip; and selecting and respectively disposing the diffusers corresponding to larger ones of the transparencies over the detection sites corresponding to smaller ones of the brightness values, and selecting and respectively disposing the diffusers corresponding to smaller ones of the transparencies over the detection sites corresponding to larger ones of the brightness values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: GLOBAL UNICHIP CORPORATION, TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang-Ming Liu, Pi-Tsan Lo, Shih-Hua Hsu, Chien-Hao Lin, Teng-Hui Lee, Tsung-Ju Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9885815
    Abstract: A wavelength locker for use with tunable optical devices may include an etalon, a polarization beam splitter, and a first and second detector. The etalon may be positioned to receive a first beam and may include a first birefringent crystal having a first optical axis and a second birefringent crystal having a second optical axis. The first birefringent crystal may be coupled to the second birefringent crystal such that the first optical axis and the second optical axis are orthogonal to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventor: Tengda Du
  • Patent number: 9882069
    Abstract: A biasing voltage generating circuit for generating a required reverse biasing voltage of an avalanche photodiode (APD) includes: a boost power converter configured to operably convert an input voltage into a higher output voltage according to a feedback signal and a reference signal, and to apply the output voltage to be a reverse biasing voltage of the APD; a reference signal generating circuit configured to operably generate the reference signal; and a control circuit. The control circuit includes: a signal sensing circuit configured to operably generate a sensed signal corresponding to an output current of the APD; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to operably convert the sensed signal into a digital signal; and a processing circuit configured to operably adjust the feedback signal or the reference signal according to the digital signal to thereby control the boost power converter to adjust the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventor: Shih-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 9882537
    Abstract: A light-emitting unit outputs an optical signal corresponding to an input electric signal. A light-receiving unit is electrically insulated from the light-emitting unit and outputs an electric signal according to the received optical signal as an output signal. In the light-receiving unit, a first light-receiving device outputs an optical current according to the optical signal. A second light-receiving device is provided not to receive the optical signal. A current duplication circuit duplicates a current flowing through the second light-receiving device. A current-voltage conversion circuit converts a current, which is generated by subtracting the current duplicated by the current duplication circuit from a current flowing through the first light-receiving device, into a voltage signal. A comparator output a result of a comparison between the voltage signal converted by the current-voltage conversion circuit and a threshold voltage as the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Imai
  • Patent number: 9881491
    Abstract: A dual sensor fire detector includes a smoke sensor and a gas sensor. A source of radiant energy emits a primary beam that is formed into first and second beams. One beam is directed into a smoke sensing chamber. The other is directed to the gas sensor. Outputs from the smoke sensor and the gas sensor are combined to make a fire determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Scott R. Lang
  • Patent number: 9869794
    Abstract: A start-up time of a production facility is shortened while generation of a muting error is suppressed, whereby productivity is improved. A multiple-optical-axis photoelectric sensor system includes a projector, an optical receiver, a light blocking determination unit configured to make a light blocking determination whether each of optical axes formed between the projector and the optical receiver is in a light blocking state, and a muting processor configured to temporarily disable the light blocking determination on condition that a detection signal input from an external muting instrument changes according to a predetermined sequence. The muting processor determines the sequence of the detection signal from the muting instrument during the muting by dividing the sequence into a plurality stages. The muting processor accumulates and analyzes measurement information acquired in each stage, and decides an optimum setting value for a muting operation condition based on an analysis result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisaku Kikuchi, Satoshi Nishiuchi, Kazunori Okamoto, Minoru Hashimoto, Kazunori Osako