Patents Examined by John Lee
  • Patent number: 10154209
    Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, optically sensitive devices comprise a plurality of pixel regions. Each pixel region includes an optically sensitive layer over a substrate and has subpixel regions for separate wavebands. A pixel circuit comprises a charge store and a read out circuit for each subpixel region. Circuitry is configured to select a plurality of subpixel elements from different pixels that correspond to the same waveband for simultaneous reading to a shared read out circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: INVISAGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hui Tian, Jess Jan Young Lee, Pierre Henri Rene Della Nave
  • Patent number: 10145734
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise methods and apparatus for a light sensor with a precharge circuit, such as for charging an internal node of a sensor to a starting voltage equal to an ending voltage of a different sensor. The methods and apparatus may comprise sequentially reading out the voltages of photosensitive elements and selectively activating the precharge circuit of one sensor during readout of the last photosensitive element of a different sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Wu
  • Patent number: 10145730
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including an apparatus for testing a light beam emitted by a light source. The apparatus includes a transparent substrate, a first face of the substrate being shaped to define a plurality of optical deflectors. At least one optical detector is positioned to face a second face of the substrate that is not opposite the first face. Each one of the deflectors is configured to deflect a portion of the light beam toward the detector, when the light beam is passed through the first face of the substrate. Other applications are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Florian R. Fournier, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 10129497
    Abstract: A CMOS type semiconductor image sensor module wherein a pixel aperture ratio is improved, chip use efficiency is improved and furthermore, simultaneous shutter operation by all the pixels is made possible, and a method for manufacturing such semiconductor image sensor module are provided. The semiconductor image sensor module is provided by stacking a first semiconductor chip, which has an image sensor wherein a plurality of pixels composed of a photoelectric conversion element and a transistor are arranged, and a second semiconductor chip, which has an A/D converter array. Preferably, the semiconductor image sensor module is provided by stacking a third semiconductor chip having a memory element array. Furthermore, the semiconductor image sensor module is provided by stacking the first semiconductor chip having the image sensor and a fourth semiconductor chip having an analog nonvolatile memory array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Iwabuchi, Makoto Motoyoshi
  • Patent number: 10126462
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a proximity sensor, an electronic apparatus and a method for manufacturing a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor comprises a sensor chip, a light-emitting device, a transparent molding material and a non-transparent molding material, wherein the sensor chip comprises a sensor region; the light-emitting device is located on the sensor chip and is electrically coupled to the sensor chip; the transparent molding material at least covers a light-emitting surface of the light-emitting device; and the non-transparent molding material isolates the transparent molding material from the sensor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTD
    Inventor: Jing-En Luan
  • Patent number: 10127865
    Abstract: A sensing device for sensing a backlight density of a panel module is disclosed. The panel module includes a panel, a back plate and a holding frame. The back plate has an opening formed thereon and is for installing the panel onto the holding frame. The sensing device includes a sensor module and a base. The sensor module is for sensing a light projected via the opening and generated by the panel. The base is disposed between the back plate and the holding frame. The base includes a main body and a resilient structure. The main body is for containing the sensor module. The resilient structure extends from the main body and resiliently abuts against the holding frame. The resilient structure presses the main body onto the back plate when resilient abutting against the holding frame, such that the back plate and the main body cooperatively covers the sensor module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: BenQ Corporation
    Inventors: Ho-Shih Wu, Chih-Ren Chen
  • Patent number: 10088429
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus used to measure an object is disclosed. The measurement apparatus includes at least one sensing unit, a first optical module, a second optical module, a data processing unit and at least one prompting unit. The at least one sensing unit is disposed near the object to perform a contact or proximity sensing on the object. The first optical module is disposed near the object and adjacent to the at least one sensing unit. The first optical module includes at least one lens unit. The second optical module and the object are disposed at opposite sides of the first optical module. The second optical module includes a light source and at least one optical component. The data processing unit is coupled to at least one sensing unit. The at least one prompting unit is coupled to the data processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Crystalvue Medical Corporation
    Inventors: William Wang, Meng-Shin Yen, Chung-Cheng Chou, Chung-Ping Chuang
  • Patent number: 10082576
    Abstract: An optical sensor includes photodiodes and optical filters that are arranged on the photodiodes. The photodiodes and optical filters may be spaced apart from each other. The optical filters include an infrared blocking filter and at least one visible light filter and the optical sensor measures a light quantity of a specific wavelength band in a visible light band through the photodiodes, wherein a specific visible light filter is arranged on the photodiodes. Therefore, the optical sensor has a simplified structure and may function as an ambient illuminance sensor, a proximity sensor, and a color sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongsup Lee, Daeho Lim
  • Patent number: 10078009
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a pulse processing circuit (100) for the processing of current pulses (CP) generated by incident photons (X) in a piece of converter material, for instance in a pixel (11) of a radiation detector. Deviations of the pulse shape from a reference are detected and used to identify pulse corruption due to pile-up effects at high count rates and/or charge sharing between neighboring pixels. The deviation detection may for instance be achieved by generating, with a pulse shaper (110), bipolar shaped pulses from the current pulse (CP) and/or two shaped pulses of different shapes which can be compared to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Heiner Daerr, Klaus Juergen Engel, Christoph Herrmann, Roger Steadman Booker, Ewald Roessl
  • Patent number: 10072974
    Abstract: An image sensor may include one or more pixels having a charge steering structure that may selectively route charge from a photodiode to increase the dynamic range of the pixel. The charge steering structure may be a coupled gate structure that routes overflow charge to a voltage supply and to one or more integrating storage structures during an exposure period. The charge steering structure may be two integrating storage structures directly connected to the photodiode that each integrate charge generated by the photodiode in an alternating fashion during an exposure period. Storage structures and transistors within the charge steering structure may receive control signals, which may be asserted in a mutually exclusive manner. Pixels may also include a dual-gain structure, which may provide additional charge storage capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Tomas Geurts
  • Patent number: 10060789
    Abstract: An electronic device including a substrate and an optoelectronic device package is provided. The optoelectronic device package includes a light source, an image sensor and a plurality of connecting pins. The light source is configured to emit light toward a direction of a bottom surface of the optoelectronic device package. The image sensor is configured to receive reflected light from the direction of the bottom surface. The connecting pins are bended toward an opposite direction of the direction of the bottom surface and electrically connected to the substrate thereby increasing a discharge path of the electrostatic discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Tsung-Fa Wang, Yen-Min Chang, Ching-Lin Chung
  • Patent number: 10063849
    Abstract: An optical system for collecting distance information within a field is provided. The optical system may include lenses for collecting photons from a field and may include lenses for distributing photons to a field. The optical system may include lenses that collimate photons passed by an aperture, optical filters that reject normally incident light outside of the operating wavelength, and pixels that detect incident photons. The optical system may further include illumination sources that output photons at an operating wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Ouster, Inc.
    Inventors: Angus Pacala, Mark Frichtl
  • Patent number: 10042133
    Abstract: A first conductive layer includes a first signal wiring including, at a position except for an end portion, a wide portion having a width wider than that of the other portion. A second conductive layer includes a signal electrode electrically continuous with the end portion of the first signal wiring, a first ground plane overlapping the wide portion, and a ground terminal. A third conductive layer includes a second signal wiring including an end portion overlapping and bonded to the signal electrode, and a ground electrode overlapping and bonded to the ground terminal. A fourth conductive layer includes a second ground plane. The second ground plane includes a through hole overlapping the end portion of the second signal wiring. A fifth conductive layer includes a third groundplane. The third groundplane overlaps the end portion of the second signal wiring inside the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Oclaro Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Noguchi, Sachiko Mizuseki, Norimichi Shibuya, Hiroshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10043839
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an interposer on which an image sensor including a light reception section is disposed; a translucent member that is provided on the light reception section; and a mold that is formed in sides of the interposer having a rectangular shape and bonded to the translucent member to support the translucent member, the mold including a seal surface that is bonded to the translucent member, the seal surface being provided with a protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyotaka Hori
  • Patent number: 10041830
    Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus according to an embodiment includes a radiation detector that detects radiation; a first measurer that measures energy of the radiation from the radiation detected by the radiation detector; and a second measurer that measures the number of times that the radiation detector detects the radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kimura, Go Kawata, Hideyuki Funaki, Masanori Furuta, Hirokatsu Shirahama, Tetsuro Itakura
  • Patent number: 10012533
    Abstract: A circuit for readout from for readout from a focal plane array having a number of pixels, includes, for each one pixel, an adaptive photodetector load circuit coupled to a detector for the one pixel, a trans-impedance amplifier, the detector being AC coupled to the trans-impedance amplifier, a comparator component, receiving an AC coupled output of the trans-impedance amplifier and comparing the AC coupled output to a predetermined threshold, a sample and hold ring comprising a number charge storage components connected in parallel, each one charge storage component comprising a capacitor in series with an enabling three point switching component and a pulse detection logic circuit receiving an output of the comparator component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Richard H. Wyles, Michael J. Batinica
  • Patent number: 10006982
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar position tracking accuracy measurement system based on an optical lens, by which the solar position tracking accuracy of a tracker can be effectively analyzed and detected in real-time by using a technique on the basis of an astronomical analysis on the trajectory of the sun through an accurate measurement based on an optical lens, thereby establishing the reproducibility of a physical measurement method, calculating an error angle according to the vertical incidence of solar light and minimizing physical errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation of Nambu University
    Inventors: Byeong Ho Jeong, Ju Hoon Park
  • Patent number: 10001562
    Abstract: A light receiver has a shield wall disposed facing a part of a near-side light-receiving face of a light receiving element from an end opposite from a far-side light-receiving face. The shield wall blocks a portion of reflection light from a detection object located at a distance at which the detection object reflects reflection light that causes an amount of light received by the light receiving element to be larger than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nagayuki Sato, Shinichiro Suzuki, Tetsuo Koike
  • Patent number: 9995850
    Abstract: A polarization control device includes a first wave plate having a first surface profile and a second wave plate having a second surface profile complementary to the first surface profile. The optical axis of the first wave plate is orthogonal to the optical axis of the second wave plate. The first wave plate and the second wave plate are positioned to align the first surface profile with the second surface profile and maintain a constant thickness across the polarization control device. The first wave plate and the second wave plate may control polarization rotation as a continuous function of transverse position across a pupil plane of an optical system. The first wave plate and the second wave plate are separated by a sufficiently small distance so as to limit wave front distortion below a selected level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Maleev, Donald Pettibone
  • Patent number: 9995922
    Abstract: Provided is an analysis target region setting apparatus that can accurately set an analysis target region, based on an observation image of a sample obtained with an optical microscope and the like irrespective of texture on the sample surface when the analysis target region is set therein. The analysis target region setting apparatus according to the present invention divides the observation image into a plurality of sub-regions based on pixel information on each pixel constituting the observation image. Subsequently, consolidation information on each sub-region is calculated, and two adjacent sub-regions themselves are consolidated based on the consolidation information. According to this, it is possible to divide the observation image into sub-regions having similar pixel information with a disregard of noise attributed to the shape of a surface and the like. A user designates one sub-region from among the sub-regions finally obtained, as the analysis target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Noda