Patents Examined by Jennifer D Bennett
  • Patent number: 11339494
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a method for manufacturing a rear surface incident type light receiving device including a substrate, a light receiving unit formed on a surface of the substrate and an electrode formed on the light receiving unit and electrically connected to the light receiving unit includes a first step of performing, after formation of a part of the electrode, a characteristic inspection of the rear surface incident type light receiving device by applying a probe to a part of the electrode and a second step of reducing an area of the electrode in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11333532
    Abstract: There is provided a light control circuit including a light detector, a frequency detector, an error amplifier, an NMOS driver and a light source. The frequency detector identifies a signal frequency according to detected voltage signals outputted by the light detector and generates a control signal accordingly. The NMOS driver changes a drive current of the light source according to an output of the error amplifier. The error amplifier changes a bandwidth thereof according to the control signal from the frequency detector to regulate a response time of the drive current of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Kuan-Choong Shim, Gim-Eng Chew
  • Patent number: 11326908
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring wire and cable length is provided for using a wireless encoder for wire and cable processing. The apparatus for measuring wire and cable length may include a housing, battery, communication component, microcontroller, printed circuit board, encoder module, encoder disc, shaft, wire counter and spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Wire Pulse, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew F. Human, Eric M. Martin
  • Patent number: 11326938
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bio illuminance measuring apparatus including a circadian lambda filter passing external light along according to a circadian rhythm sensitivity curve, a visual lambda filter passing the external light along according to a visual sensitivity curve, a photo sensing portion sensing and converting the external light, which has passed through the circadian lambda filter, into a circadian wavelength signal and sensing and converting the external light, which has passed through the visual lambda filter, into a visual wavelength signal, and an illuminance calculating portion which calculates a ratio between the circadian wavelength signal and the visual wavelength signal, calculates a circadian action factor by applying the ratio between the circadian wavelength signal and the visual wavelength signal to a circadian action function which varies according to the visual wavelength signal, and calculates a bio illuminance value of the external light on the basis of the circadian action factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: KOOKMIN UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY ACADEMY COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Hyun Sun Mo, Dae Jeong Kim
  • Patent number: 11328447
    Abstract: A method for determining blockage of a vehicular camera includes providing a camera and mounting the camera at a vehicle so as to view exterior of the vehicle. The control determines at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) that the imaging sensor is totally blocked by determining that the count of bright photosensor pixels of the camera's imaging sensor remains below a threshold, and (ii) that the imaging sensor is partially blocked by determining continuity of intensity variations in different regions of the imaging sensor. The control, responsive to determination of either total blockage or partial blockage of the imaging sensor of the camera, adapts image processing by the image processor of frames of image data captured by the camera to accommodate (i) the determined total blockage of the imaging sensor of the camera or (ii) the determined partial blockage of the imaging sensor of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yuesheng Lu, Michael J. Higgins-Luthman, Antony V. Jeyaraj, Manoj R. Phirke
  • Patent number: 11320289
    Abstract: An optical encoder includes a scale, a calculator, and a head having a light source, an image capturer, and a lens array having first and second lenses. The calculator includes a signal generator, an extractor, a signal combiner, and a displacement calculator. The signal generator generates a sine wave signal. The extractor extracts first and second regions. The signal combiner, based on an inter-regional distance, uses a sine wave signal of the second region to generate a sine wave signal that extends to a first end of the first region such that the generated sine wave signal overlaps with a sine wave signal of the first region. The signal combiner also combines the sine wave signal of the first region with the generated sine wave signal. The displacement calculator calculates an amount of relative displacement based on the sine wave signal that is combined by the signal combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kato
  • Patent number: 11322537
    Abstract: An imaging detection chip, including an optical antenna and a photosensitive array in parallel to the optical antenna. The optical antenna is an array structure including a plurality of antenna cells spaced apart and electrically connected to each other. The photosensitive array is an array structure including a plurality of photosensitive cells spaced apart from each other. The plurality of antenna cells and the plurality of photosensitive cells are equal in number. The plurality of antenna cells of the optical antenna is aligned, perpendicularly to a parallel direction of the photosensitive array and the optical antenna, with the plurality of photosensitive cells at corresponding positions of the photosensitive array, respectively. The plurality of antenna cells each includes one or more nanocones each including a top surface; top surfaces of the plurality of antenna cells are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NANJING OPY ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinyu Zhang, Tangansu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11314146
    Abstract: Digital camera comprising an upright Wide camera configured to provide a Wide image with a Wide image resolution and a folded Tele camera configured to provide a Tele image with a Tele image resolution higher than the Wide image resolution, the Wide and Tele cameras having respective Wide and Tele fields of view FOVW and FOVT and respective Wide and Tele image sensors, the digital camera further comprising a rotating OPFE operative to provide a folded optical path between an object or scene and the Tele image sensor, wherein rotation of the OPFE moves FOVT relative to FOVW. In some embodiments, a rectangular FOVT is orthogonal to a rectangular FOVW. When included in a host device having a user interface that displays FOVT within FOVW, the user interface may be used to position FOVT relative to FOVW, scan FOVT across FOVW and acquire, store and display separate Wide and Tele images, composite Wide plus Tele images and stitched Tele images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Eran Kali, Noy Cohen, Gil Avraham, Ruthy Katz
  • Patent number: 11317037
    Abstract: A light-detection method for a light-detection device including a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of read-out lines and a plurality of photo sensing elements is provided. Each of the plurality of photo sensing elements is coupled to one of the plurality of scan lines and one of the plurality of read-out lines. The method includes simultaneously turning on at least two of the plurality of scan lines to turn on a portion of the plurality of photo sensing elements which are coupled to the turned-on scan lines, turning on at least one of the plurality of read-out lines to transmit signals of the portion of the plurality of photo sensing elements, and determining whether the signals match a trigger standard. When it is determined that the signals match the trigger standard, a reading mode is entered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: INNOLUX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chun-Fu Lai, Wen-Hao Kuo
  • Patent number: 11307083
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to a proximity-illuminance sensor and an electronic device including the same to increase the accuracy of the illuminance sensor and addressing crosstalk issues. According to an embodiment, an electronic device comprises a transparent member, a scattering member disposed under a portion of the transparent member to scatter light incident at a designated angle from an outside of the electronic device through the transparent member, a light receiving element disposed under the portion and configured to obtain scattered light which is scattered by the scattering member from at least a part of incident light, and a control circuit configured to determine a brightness of the incident light based on, at least, the scattered light obtained through the light receiving element. The electronic device may be implemented in various manners according to embodiments of the disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeongho Cho, Donghan Lee, Jongah Kim, Heewoong Yoon
  • Patent number: 11300443
    Abstract: A cover mountable over a sensor includes a hood and a baffle. The cover is adapted to create a barrier between the sensor and ambient light. The hood surrounds an interior volume for receiving the sensor. The baffle has a sidewall that surrounds an opening providing access to the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Commonwealth Edison Company
    Inventors: Nicholas DePinto, Jason Stanislaus, Misael Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11283232
    Abstract: A laser protection system includes a high-power laser source, an optical diffuser, a photo detector, a signal-processing device, and a control module. The high-power laser source generates a first laser light beam, and the optical diffuser attenuates a laser power of the first laser light beam to form a second laser light beam. The photo detector obtains an optical detection signal from the second laser light beam. The signal-processing device includes a signal conversion module, a processor, and an encoder. The signal conversion module transforms the optical detection signal into a measurement data eigenvalue. The encoder encodes the measurement data eigenvalue into a measured encoded data, and the setting data eigenvalue into a set encoded data. The control module evaluates the set encoded data and the measured encoded data to determine whether or not the high-power laser source needs to be stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chih-Chun Chen, Fu-Shun Ho, Chun-Chieh Yang, Yu-Cheng Song
  • Patent number: 11280671
    Abstract: Various implementations relate generally to multi-sensor devices. Some implementations more particularly relate to a multi-sensor device including a ring of radially-oriented photosensors. Some implementations more particularly relate to a multi-sensor device that is orientation-independent with respect to a central axis of the ring. Some implementations of the multi-sensor devices described herein further include one or more additional sensors. For example, some implementations include an axially-directed photosensor. Some implementations also can include one or more temperature sensors configured to sense an exterior temperature, for example, an ambient temperature of an outdoors environment around the multi-sensor. Additionally or alternatively, some implementations include one or more of an infrared sensor or infrared sensors, a cellular communication circuit, and a GPS module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Clark Brown, Dhairya Shrivastava, Jason Zedlitz, Trevor Frank, Jue Wang, Alexander Rumer, Dennis Mullins, Kevin Kazuo Kaneshiro
  • Patent number: 11280673
    Abstract: A photodetection apparatus includes at least one photodetection cell, each of which includes a first photodiode, a first switch, a capacitor, a second switch and a cancellation circuit. The first photodiode is to receive incident light, and converts the incident light received thereby into a first photocurrent. The cancellation circuit includes a second photodiode that is to receive the incident light and that converts the incident light received thereby into a second photocurrent. The cancellation circuit cooperates with the first photodiode and the first and second switches to adjust a residual electric quantity of the capacitor to a value correlated to a magnitude difference between the first and second photocurrents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SHANGHAI HARVEST INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jiandong Huang
  • Patent number: 11268850
    Abstract: An analog front end that reads from a sensor an output signal which is either a current output signal (IOUT) or a charge output signal corrects characteristics of the sensor by adjusting a bias voltage (VBIASIN) of an output signal line from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 11264418
    Abstract: A device for sensing light includes a first semiconductor region doped with a dopant of a first type and a second semiconductor region doped with a dopant of a second type. The second semiconductor region is positioned above the first semiconductor region. The device includes a gate insulation layer; a gate, a source, and a drain. The second semiconductor region has a top surface that is positioned toward the gate insulation layer and a bottom surface that is positioned opposite to the top surface of the second semiconductor region. The second semiconductor region has an upper portion that includes the top surface of the second semiconductor region and a lower portion that includes the bottom surface of the second semiconductor region and is mutually exclusive with the upper portion. The first semiconductor region is in contact with both the upper portion and the lower portion of the second semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Stratio Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Hyung Lee, Yeul Na, Youngsik Kim, Woo-Shik Jung
  • Patent number: 11255726
    Abstract: An optical sensor and a method having a high linearity digital controlling mechanism are provided. An optoelectronic component converts a light energy into a photocurrent. Then, the photocurrent flows to a current mirror and is amplified by a gain to form a charging current by the current mirror to charge a capacitor. A comparator compares a voltage of the capacitor with a reference voltage multiple times to generate a comparison signal. A counter determines a digital value capturing range according to the gain, and counts bit values that fall within the digital value capturing range from the comparison signal to output a counted signal. A noise cancellation processor reduces the digital value capturing range according to the gain, and removes one or more of the bit values that do not fall within the digital value capturing range from the counted signal to output a sensed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jing-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 11244975
    Abstract: An image sensing device is provided to include organic and inorganic photosensing regions. The organic photosensing region includes an organic material and provides a first image signal generated in response to light incident on the organic photosensing region. The inorganic photosensing region includes an inorganic material and provides a second image signal generated in response to light incident on the inorganic photosensing region. The image sensing device further includes: top and bottom electrodes formed on opposite sides of the organic photosensing region, a first storage region disposed relative to the organic photosensing region and storing the first image signal, a second storage region disposed relative to the inorganic photosensing region and storing the second image signal, and a logic circuit disposed to receive the first image signal and the second image signal and processing at least one of the first image signal or the second image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Kyoung-In Lee, Hoon-Sang Oh, Sung-Joo Hong
  • Patent number: 11237048
    Abstract: A light sensor includes a light sensing element, a first integrator and a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter. The light sensing element senses light during a measurement period to generate a first current. The first integrator is coupled to the light sensing element and configured to receive the first current and generates a first integration signal. The sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter is coupled to the first integrator and used to convert the first integration signal to a sensing value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Eminent Electronic Technology Corp. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kao-Pin Wu
  • Patent number: 11237046
    Abstract: A photoelectric detection circuit and a photoelectric detector are provided. The photoelectric detection circuit includes a first sub-circuit and a second sub-circuit. The first sub-circuit includes a first photoelectric sensing element, and the second sub-circuit includes a second photoelectric sensing element, and an electrical characteristic of the first photoelectric sensing element is substantially identical to an electrical characteristic of the second photoelectric sensing element, and the second photoelectric sensing element is shielded to prevent light from being incident on the second photoelectric sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongming Shi, Zhanjie Ma, Hui Tian, Chun Wang