Patents Examined by John Lee
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Patent number: 9865631Abstract: Provided is a back-illuminated solid-state image pickup apparatus having an improved color separation characteristic. A photo detector includes a first photo detector unit and a second photo detector unit disposed deeper than the first photo detector unit with respect to a back surface of a semiconductor substrate, wherein the first photo detector unit includes a first-conductivity-type first semiconductor region where carriers generated through photo-electric conversion are collected as signal carriers. A readout portion includes a first-conductivity-type second semiconductor region extending in a depth direction such that the carriers collected in the first semiconductor region are read out to a front surface of the semiconductor substrate. A unit that reduces the amount of light incident on the second semiconductor region is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Yuichiro Yamashita, Masaya Ogino, Junji Iwata, Kentarou Suzuki
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Patent number: 9846515Abstract: Influence of external light is suppressed. With a photodetector including a photodetector circuit which generates a data signal in accordance with illuminance of incident light and a light unit which overlaps with the photodetector circuit, a first data signal is generated by the photodetector circuit when the light unit is in an ON state, a second data signal is formed by the photodetector circuit when the light unit is in an OFF state, and the first data signal and the second data signal are compared, so that a difference data signal that is data of a difference between the two compared data signals is generated.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa, Takayuki Ikeda, Hikaru Tamura, Munehiro Kozuma, Masataka Ikeda
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Patent number: 9829161Abstract: A signalling device comprising an emission module operative on the application of battery power from a rechargeable battery for the emission of a signal from at least one electromagnetic radiation emitting element, a battery compartment and a cap for housing the rechargeable battery and covering an opening of said battery compartment. The cap includes circuitry for charging the battery and a socket for receiving an external power input.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2014Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: 9609385 CANADA INC.Inventors: Timothy D. F. Ford, Stéphane Gascon
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Patent number: 9829350Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an optical encoder that has magnetic elements embedded in a shaft or shaft of the optical encoder. Further, the optical encoder is hermitically sealed and is configured to rotate based on a magnetic field between the optical encoder and an actuation member.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Prashanth S. Holenarsipur, Brian R. Land, Karen M. Freer, Alex M. Lee
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Patent number: 9827045Abstract: A laser light waveguide device includes laser light provision units that oscillate and cause laser light to exit; a laser light waveguide path formed of an optical fiber capable of guiding the laser light; and a control unit that controls the laser light provision units. The control unit detects an illumination spot (output of the visible laser light) based on a captured image, captured by an image capturing unit, of a laser light illumination area and an area close thereto illuminated with the laser light, and controls exit of the infrared laser light by the infrared laser light provision unit based on a result of detection of the illumination spot (output of the visible laser light).Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: J. Morita Mfg. CorporationInventors: Akihito Hongo, Katsumi Hiyoshi, Masato Wada
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Patent number: 9823642Abstract: A system and method for causing a specialized device to cut and weed a cut thermal transfer film is provided. In an embodiment, a service provider computer receives a request for one or more designs to be attached to a substrate. The service provider computer uses the design to generate additional instructions for a thermal transfer film cutting device that describe regions of the thermal transfer film to be cut to create the one or more designs, regions of the thermal transfer film to be cut to provide a registration means, and regions of the thermal transfer film to be attached to a receiving sheet. The service provider computer sends the additional instructions to the thermal transfer film cutting device which executes the instructions on a thermal transfer film.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Zazzle Inc.Inventor: Leslie Young Harvill
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Patent number: 9816929Abstract: The invention provides imaging apparatus and methods useful for obtaining a high resolution image of a sample at rapid scan rates. A rectangular detector array having a horizontal dimension that is longer than the vertical dimension can be used along with imaging optics positioned to direct a rectangular image of a portion of a sample to the rectangular detector array. A scanning device can be configured to scan the sample in a scan-axis dimension, wherein the vertical dimension for the rectangular detector array and the shorter of the two rectangular dimensions for the image are in the scan-axis dimension, and wherein the vertical dimension for the rectangular detector array is short enough to achieve confocality in a single axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: ILLUMINA, INC.Inventors: Wenyi Feng, Theofilos Kotseroglou, Mark Wang, Alexander Triener, Diping Che, Robert Kain
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Patent number: 9797845Abstract: This invention addresses technical problem of optimizing output of a melt cascade, which is used in production of mineral fiber (so called mineral wool as known in state of the art being stone wool, slag wool or other type of mineral wool). These technical problems are solved by steps of determining (a) trajectory of movement of a melt stream, (b) melt concentration relative to surrounding air between the first and the second rotating wheels, and (c) movement vector, and further by regulating of movement of melt stream (i.e., drop mass), said regulation mostly achieved through variation in point of contact of melt and rotating wheel or plurality thereof. This is achieved by determining three key parameters: (a) trajectory of movement of melt stream, (b) melt concentration relative to surrounding air between the first and the second rotating wheels, and (c) movement vector, and further by analyzing these three key.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Inventors: Francelj Trdi{hacek over (c)}, Miha Trdi{hacek over (c)}
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Patent number: 9797772Abstract: A method for controlling the gain and zero of a multiple pixel photon counter device, and light-measuring system implementing said method. Signals provided by the device are acquired for predefined periods, until a predefined total measurement time is reached, an amplitude histogram is formed from the acquired signals, the positions of two consecutive peaks, measurable on the histogram, are determined, an error signal is produced, which is equal to the deviation between both peaks and, by means of the same, the voltage supplying the device is regulated, so as to keep the deviation equal to a predefined set point.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: AREVA NCInventors: Jean-Marc Fontbonne, Jean Colin, Cathy Fontbonne, Jacky Allee Jehanno
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Patent number: 9784671Abstract: Optical computing devices including a light source that emits electromagnetic radiation into an optical train that extends from the light source to a detector, a substance arranged in the optical train and configured to optically interact with the electromagnetic radiation and produce sample interacted radiation, an integrated computational element (ICE) array arranged in the optical train and including a plurality of ICE cores arranged on a substrate, and a variable weighting array arranged in the optical train and including a plurality of weighting devices arranged on a weighting substrate, the plurality of weighting devices being configured to optically apply corresponding weighting factors to beams of modified electromagnetic radiation prior to being received by the detector, wherein the detector generates an output signal indicative of a characteristic of the substance based on the plurality of beams of modified electromagnetic radiation.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Neal G. Skinner, David L. Perkins
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Patent number: 9780133Abstract: A wafer-level lens structure for contact image sensor (CIS) module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and an image sensor electrically connected to the PCB and comprising a circuit area and a light sensitive area. The light sensitive area comprises an optoelectronic conversion array, a first lens array arranged on the optoelectronic conversion array and comprising a plurality of first cover lens, each of first cover lens having a first curved face to focus the external image light to the optoelectronic conversion array, and an aperture array arranged on the first lens array and comprising a plurality of apertures to expose the first curved face, the aperture array controlling a light amount passing through the cover lens. The first curved face of the cover lens has such a curvature that a predetermined focus point can be achieved by the plurality of first cover lens.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2015Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: CREATIVE SENSOR INC.Inventor: Ming-Chieh Lin
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Patent number: 9774802Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a unit cell comprising a photodiode, a MOSCap having an input node coupled to the photodiode, a reset switch selectively coupled between the MOSCap and a reset voltage, and a transistor coupled to the input node of the MOSCap, wherein, in a first mode of operation of the unit cell, the reset switch is configured in an open state and charge generated by light incident on the photodiode accumulates at the input node of the MOSCap in response to voltage at the input node being less than a threshold voltage, and wherein, in a second mode of operation of the unit cell, the reset switch is configured in the open state and the charge generated by the light incident on the photodiode accumulates on the MOSCap in response to the voltage at the input node being greater than the threshold voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2014Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANYInventors: Bryan W. Kean, John L. Vampola
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Patent number: 9768216Abstract: An image sensor device may include an interconnect layer, an image sensor IC on the interconnect layer, and a barrel adjacent the interconnect layer and having first electrically conductive traces. The image sensor device may include a liquid crystal focus cell carried by the barrel and having cell layers, and second electrically conductive contacts. A pair of adjacent cell layers may have different widths. The image sensor device may include an electrically conductive adhesive body coupling at least one of the second electrically conductive contacts to a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive traces.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTDInventors: Dave Alexis Delacruz, David Gani
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Patent number: 9752901Abstract: A scale and an optical encoder capable of maintaining an accuracy of a reference position irrespective of an error in attaching a detection head are provided. The scale according to the present invention is a scale including main-signal scale gratings having grating patterns of a predetermined pitch, and a reference-signal pattern, in which the main-signal scale gratings are arranged in parallel in a direction perpendicular to a length measurement axis of the main-signal scale gratings and are different from each other in phase by ½, and the reference-signal pattern is formed on the length measurement axis of the main-signal scale gratings. The optical encoder according to the present invention includes a light source, main-signal light source gratings, reference-signal light source gratings, main-signal receiver gratings, and a reference-signal receiver element.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATIONInventor: Yoshiaki Kato
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Patent number: 9752925Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical sensor module, an optical sensing accessory, and an optical sensing device. An optical sensor module comprises a light source, a photodetector, and a substrate. The light source is configured to convert electric power into radiant energy and emit light to an object surface. The photodetector is configured to receive the light from an object surface and convert radiant energy into electrical current or voltage. An optical sensing accessory and an optical sensing device comprise the optical sensor module and other electronic modules to have further applications.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2016Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Taiwan Biophotonic CorporationInventors: Chang-Sheng Chu, Yu-Tang Li, Yeh-Wen Lee, Chih-Hsun Fan, Lung-Pin Chung, Jyh-Chern Chen, Shuang-Chao Chung
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Patent number: 9756271Abstract: A CMOS image sensor, a pixel unit and a control method thereof are provided. The pixel unit includes: a photoelectric conversion unit, an isolation transistor, a storage unit and a reading unit, wherein a first terminal of the isolation transistor is connected to the photoelectric conversion unit, a second terminal of the isolation transistor is connected to the storage unit and the reading unit; and wherein the storage unit comprises a first switch unit, a second switch unit, a first storage capacitor, a second storage capacitor and a reset unit, the first switch unit is adapted for controlling the first storage capacitor to be charged or discharged, the second switch unit is connected to the second storage capacitor and is adapted for controlling the second storage capacitor to be charged or discharged. The pixel unit improves signal-to-noise ratio of image signals generated by the pixel unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: BRIGATES MICROELECTRONICS (KUNSHAN) CO., LTDInventors: Wenzhe Luo, Lin Wang, Li Wang
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Patent number: 9754989Abstract: A stitched image sensor array on a semiconductor substrate with identical blocks that have wherein said first configuration includes enable inputs, which vary a function of the block depending on the connection to the enable inputs. The enable inputs can set an SRAM to receive different numbers of inputs.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Inventors: Steven Huang, Christophe Ca Basset, Sam Bagwell, Jonathan Bergey, Loc Truong
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Patent number: 9746374Abstract: A spectrophotometer includes a photodetection unit configured to convert received light into an electric signal to output the electric signal; a circuit unit including a plurality of gain amplifiers and a plurality of AD converters configured to amplify an output signal from the photodetection unit by a plurality of gains using the plurality of gain amplifiers and configured to convert the amplified output signals into digital signals using the plurality of AD converters to output the digital signals as a plurality of pieces of light amount data; a saturation determination unit configured to determine whether or not each of the plurality of pieces of light amount data from the circuit unit has been saturated; and a measurement result calculation unit configured to calculate, in accordance with a result of the determination by the saturation determination unit, a measurement result of the received light using a part or all of the plurality of pieces of light amount data.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: OTSUKA ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Hisashi Shiraiwa
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Patent number: 9743008Abstract: A sensor (1) serves for capturing a moving material web (2). It has at least one light source (4) and at least one light detector (10). At least one polarization element (15) is provided between the two, which polarization element influences polarization properties of the light transmitted by the polarization element (15) as a function of an electric field. Markings such as for example metal strips (13) in the material web (2) can thus be captured in the light detector (10) without problem.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2013Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: TEXMAG GMBH VERTRIEBSGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Juergen Eisen, Lars Zwerger
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Patent number: 9742968Abstract: An image acquisition system, in particular for automotive applications, includes: a substrate; an image sensor mounted on the substrate and contacted via contact points; an optically transparent sealing compound that covers the image sensor, the contact points, and a portion of the upper substrate side; an optical device being arranged or secured in or on the sealing compound. The optical device can be placed into the sealing compound after shaping of the sealing compound or directly. Furthermore, the optical device can also be arranged directly by shaping the sealing compound. Manufacture of the image acquisition system can be incorporated into a board populating process.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2007Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Ulrich Seger, Gerald Franz