Patents Examined by Jessica T Stultz
  • Patent number: 7936496
    Abstract: An optical device with at least one interconnection tab is provided. The optical device includes a pair of opposed substrates with a gap therebetween filled with an electro-optic material. Each substrate has a facing surface with a substrate electrode disposed thereon. A sealing material is disposed between the pair of opposed substrates to contain the electro-optic material. At least one interconnection tab is interposed between the substrates. The interconnection tab includes an insulator layer with opposed surfaces. A tab electrode layer is provided on each surface, wherein each tab electrode layer contacts a corresponding substrate electrode. And each tab electrode layer includes a portion that extends from the pair of opposed substrates on selected portions of the insulator layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Alphamicron Incorporated
    Inventors: Tamas Kosa, Roy Miller, Christine Martincic, Eui-Yeul Park, Bahman Taheri
  • Patent number: 7931368
    Abstract: An eyeglass lens and manufacturing method using epoxy aberrator includes two lenses with a variable index material, such as epoxy, sandwiched in between. The epoxy is then cured to different indexes of refraction that provide precise corrections for the patient's wavefront aberrations. The present invention further provides a method to produce an eyeglass that corrects higher order aberrations, such as those that occur when retinal tissue is damaged due to glaucoma or macular degeneration. The manufacturing method allows for many different applications including, but not limited to, supervision and transition lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Opthonix, Inc.
    Inventor: Andreas W. Dreher
  • Patent number: 7929230
    Abstract: A lens module includes a lens barrel, a lens holder, a base, a plurality of elastic guiding members secured on the base and a plurality of electromagnetic devices arranged on the base. The lens barrel has a plurality of optical components received therein, and outer screw threads formed on an outer wall thereof. The lens holder has inner screw threads formed on an inner wall thereof to engage with the outer screw threads of the lens barrel. A plurality of supporting bars and magnetic elements are secured on an outer wall of the lens barrel. The guiding members each is formed on the base and configured for inserting of the respective supporting bar therein to guide a movement of the lens holder. The electromagnetic devices each locates at opposite sides of the respective magnetic element of the lens holder to provide a force to drive the lens holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jen-Tsorng Chang
  • Patent number: 7929212
    Abstract: There is provided an image sensor having micro lenses of which pitches decrease by different ratios according to left side and right side ratios, which are arranged in different ratios according to upper side and right side ratios, and of which pitches in the edge area are equal to a pixel pitch to arrange the micro lenses in a predetermined interval, thereby capable of preventing ambient sensitivity from deteriorating and suppressing crosstalk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Pixelplus Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae Sung Min, Jung Soon Shin
  • Patent number: 7929211
    Abstract: An optical film comprises a transparent substrate including a top surface and a bottom surface; a micro-hemisphere layer disposed on the top surface of the transparent substrate and having a plurality of hemispheric projections, and an unsmooth diffusion layer disposed on the bottom layer of the transparent substrate. The micro-hemisphere layer condenses a light. The unsmooth diffusion surface diffuses a light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Eternal Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shih-Yi Chuang
  • Patent number: 7929229
    Abstract: An actuator device includes: a piezoelectric element; a weight secured to one end of the piezoelectric element along an expansion-contraction direction thereof; and a drive member secured to another end of the piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element and the weight are in contact so as to have a spatial overlap with respect to the expansion-contraction direction of the piezoelectric element, and the center of gravity of the weight is positioned in the vicinity of a plane that contains a contact plane in which the piezoelectric element and the weight are in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Ugawa, Hiroshi Nishizawa, Tatsuo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7924495
    Abstract: This invention deals with the general topic of adaptive electronic redirection of sunlight by means of an active matrix of transistors, electrodes, and optical elements. The scale of the system may range from small portable systems to large-scale arrays for industrial processes such as solar power plants used for the production of environmentally benign energy. It may be integrated directly into buildings and other platforms without the need for heliostats to hold photovoltaic cells or other energy conversion devices above the building or other host platform. It makes solar energy harvesting systems practical by allowing the separation of tracking, collection, concentration, aggregation, distribution, and energy conversion. This novel system is unique and distinct from other sun tracking and energy conversion systems because it allows adaptive solid-state electronics to be used in place of conventional mechanical tracking heliostats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Xtreme Energetics, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo David DiDomenico
  • Patent number: 7918556
    Abstract: Improved eyewear is disclosed. The eyewear comprises a frame member and a lens. The eyewear also includes circuitry within the frame member for enhancing the use of the eyewear. A system and method in accordance with the present invention is directed to a variety of ways to enhance the use of eyeglasses. They are: (1) media focals, that is, utilizing the eyewear for its intended purpose and enhancing that use by using imaging techniques to improve the vision of the user; (2) telecommunications enhancements that allow the eyeglasses to be integrated with telecommunication devices such as cell phones or the like; and (3) entertainment enhancements that allow the eyewear to be integrated with devices such as MP3 players, radios, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventor: Scott W. Lewis
  • Patent number: 7916408
    Abstract: An optical element mount has an inner member suspended within an outer member by a plurality of flexures. A first and a second translational adjustment apparatus are disposed to translate the inner member within a translation plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis, wherein each translational adjustment apparatus has an actuator movable within the outer member along a linear travel path that is parallel to the translation plane and a shaft extending between the outer and inner members, the shaft coupled to the actuator with a first ball-and-socket joint and coupled to the inner member with a second ball-and-socket joint. The linear travel path of the actuator for the first translational adjustment apparatus is substantially orthogonal to the linear travel path of the actuator for the second translational adjustment apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglass L Blanding, Jack W Frankovich, Keith E Hanford, Kevin J Magierski
  • Patent number: 7911721
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a taking lens including a lens group; a distance ring that is operated to rotate around the taking lens; an LD roller capable of rotating in conjunction with the rotational operation of the distance ring; a transducer that is in contact with the LD roller and capable of moving around the taking lens relative to the LD roller; and a rotatable frame member that is capable of moving around the taking lens within a predetermined angle range and supports the transducer, upon the distance ring being rotated manually, the rotatable frame member being rotated via the LD roller and the transducer, and upon the transducer being driven by a drive signal, the transducer moving relative to the LD roller, thereby the rotatable frame member being rotated around the taking lens to move a focusing lens in the taking lens to move in an optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Iwasa
  • Patent number: 7911681
    Abstract: A display system is built up of at least one display cell comprising an assembly which has at least a first electrode and a second electrode and in which there are mutually non-miscible first and second liquids filled, wherein either one of the first and second electrodes is electrically insulated from the first and second liquids, the first liquid has electrical conductivity or polarity, and voltage is applied to one or both of the first and second electrodes, whereby the first liquid and the second liquid can vary in position to produce a display. Even after an applied voltage is shut off at a position to which the first and second liquids have migrated, the positions of the first and second liquids that have migrated are retained to keep memory capability going on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanami Ikegami, Masanori Akada
  • Patent number: 7907326
    Abstract: A reflecting apparatus that includes a mirror having an axis. A holding unit holds the mirror via an elastic member. A first actuator positions the mirror by driving the holding unit. A second actuator deforms the mirror and includes a magnetic member attached to the mirror, and an electromagnet arranged to oppose the magnetic member. The electromagnet generates an attraction force between the magnetic member and the electromagnet. A base supports the electromagnet, and a spring interposed between the base and the mirror applies a force between the magnetic member and the electromagnet in a direction opposite to that of the attraction force. A rigidity of the spring in a direction parallel to the axis is less than that of the elastic member in the direction parallel to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Uchida
  • Patent number: 7903324
    Abstract: An optical switching element including at least a multi-layered optical switching layer that includes a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer wherein, the charge transport layer contains a charge transporting material represented by the following general formula (1). The optical switching element is applicable in a device, a photoaddressable display medium and a display device. The optical switching element may alternatively include a mono-layered optical switching layer that has a charge generating function and a charge transporting function, wherein the mono-layered optical switching layer contains the charge transporting material represented by the following general formula (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Takehito Hikichi
  • Patent number: 7903354
    Abstract: Provided is an optical scanning device that can consistently obtain a light beam having a desired beam spot diameter without allowing an aperture to block parallel ray to be admitted, and that can be manufactured at lower cost. The optical scanning device has a light source that emits laser light, a collimator lens that converts the laser light emitted from the light source into parallel ray, and a lens holder that holds the collimator lens and has an aperture portion for fairing the laser light, the aperture portion being formed integrally with the lens holder. The optical scanning device also may have a collimator lens having a lens surface with which an aperture portion for fairing the laser light is brought into close contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Nakai
  • Patent number: 7901075
    Abstract: This invention discloses methods and apparatus for modifying a silicone contact lens via laser ablation and a resulting modified lens. In some embodiments a lens is ablated in a hydrated state. A lens may also be ablated in an environment of decreased oxygen content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Rooney, Michael F. Widman, Shivkumar Mahadevan
  • Patent number: 7898751
    Abstract: A projection lens unit includes a magnifying optical system is provided. A second magnifying lens barrel has a shape of double circular cylinders, and a first magnifying lens barrel is fitted to an outer circular cylinder. Further, a second magnifying lens is in contact with and fixed to a step portion of inner circular cylinder. In a manufacturing step thereof, the second magnifying lens is inserted into the inner circular cylinder of the second magnifying lens barrel to be into contact with the step portion. A front end portion of the inner circular cylinder is plastically deformed by being heated and pressed to fix the second magnifying lens. An outer peripheral edge of the front end portion has a curved surface. The curved surface of the front end portion is made to be smaller in radius of curvature than the second magnifying lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7889414
    Abstract: A reflection type display apparatus includes a first light modulating layer for controlling electrically and externally a light absorbing state and a light transmitting state, a second light modulating layer for controlling electrically and externally a light reflecting state and the light transmitting state, and a reflector for reflecting light of a particular wavelength band. The first and second light modulating layers and the reflector are arranged in order from a light incidence side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hajime Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7889445
    Abstract: A lens actuation device for an optical system includes a housing, a carrier at least partially installed in the housing, and a plurality of transducers arranged around the carrier in the housing. All the transducers are coupled with the mount, and at least one transducer includes at least one magnet and at least one coil. At least one transducer includes at least one yoke. All the transducers when powered on may generate independent or consistent movement to cause the mount to make linear movement, rotation, or both relative to the housing. An optical system adopting the lens actuation device and a camera using the same are also presented. The device of the present invention uses the transducers to drive the carrier, such that the lens set is driven to make linear movement, rotation, or both, thereby achieving the flexible manipulation of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hua Yang, Sio Kuan Lam, Kwok Sing Cheng, Kin Ming Fan, Wing Ming Fan
  • Patent number: 7889428
    Abstract: An external laser light introducing device is constructed to introduce laser light from outside of an optical apparatus into inside so that the laser light is condensed on a target by a condenser lens located inside the optical apparatus. In this case, the external laser light introducing device comprises a pupil projection optical system for projecting the entrance pupil of the condenser lens on an external pupil located outside the optical apparatus and an optical axis aligning mechanism for practically aligning the optical axis of the laser light with that of the external pupil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7884993
    Abstract: An electrophoretic display device is described. The device includes a substrate, first electrodes, an electrophoretic film having electrophoretic particles, and second electrodes. The substrate is has a plurality of pixel regions. First electrodes are disposed respectively on each pixel region, and include first patterns separated from one another and second patterns connected to the first patterns. The second electrode is disposed on the electrophoretic film. The area of one of the electrodes, opposing the other of the electrodes has apertures formed therein, reducing the contact area between the electrode and the electrophoretic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Sik Jeong, Sang Yeup Lee