Patents Examined by John R. Lee
-
Patent number: 11011668Abstract: It is to provide a semiconductor device, a semiconductor system, and a method of controlling the semiconductor device capable of reducing the power consumption. According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a photo coupler control circuit that passes the current to a first signal path for a predetermined period when detecting a change of the input signal supplied from the outside, an insulating circuit that transmits a pulse signal indicating the change of the input signal, from the first signal path to a second signal path insulated from the first signal path, according to the current flow to the first signal path, a holding circuit that generates an input reproducing signal as a reproducing signal of the input signal from the pulse signal transmitted to the second signal path by the insulating circuit, and an internal circuit that receives the input reproducing signal generated by the holding circuit.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATIONInventor: Tsuyoshi Waki
-
Patent number: 11004883Abstract: A processing system for an optical sensing device may comprise receiver circuitry and a determination module. The processing system may also include drive circuitry configured to drive a light source to emit light. The receiver circuitry is coupled to a photodetector, and the receiver circuitry is configured to acquire a resulting signal from the photodetector, and generate a measurement of light received by the photodetector based on the resulting signal. The receiver circuitry includes high-pass filter circuitry configured to high-pass filter the resulting signal to generate a high-pass filtered signal based. The determination module is configured to generate a light measurement based on the high-pass filtered signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Synaptics IncorporatedInventor: Kirk Hargreaves
-
Patent number: 10998372Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hybrid focal-plane array includes: forming a read-out integrated circuit with integral bending slit; forming a detector die separately from the read-out integrated circuit and including a detector with integral bending slit; and joining the read-out integrated circuit and the detector die to each other such that the read-out bending slit and the detector bending slit are aligned with each other.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLCInventors: Geoffrey P. McKnight, Andrew C. Keefe, Alexander R. Gurga, Ryan Freeman
-
Patent number: 10983227Abstract: Methods and systems for more efficient X-Ray scatterometry measurements of on-device structures are presented herein. X-Ray scatterometry measurements of one or more structures over a measurement area includes a decomposition of the one or more structures into a plurality of sub-structures, a decomposition of the measurement area into a plurality of sub-areas, or both. The decomposed structures, measurement areas, or both, are independently simulated. The scattering contributions of each of the independently simulated decomposed structures are combined to simulate the actual scattering of the measured structures within the measurement area. In a further aspect, measured intensities and modelled intensities including one or more incidental structures are employed to perform measurement of structures of interest. In other further aspects, measurement decomposition is employed to train a measurement model and to optimize a measurement recipe for a particular measurement application.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2018Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventors: John Hench, Antonio Arion Gellineau, Alexander Kuznetsov
-
Patent number: 10986294Abstract: A sensing module includes a linear image sensor and an optical unit. The unit includes an optical element having a curved, outward surface and a covering on the outward surface. The covering has a slit formed therein. The optical unit faces the sensor with the slit perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sensor and images a wide field of view onto a single pixel of the linear sensor, wherein light impinging normal to the slit, at any location along the slit, is imaged on a central pixel of the sensor while light impinging one of a plurality of non-normal angles to the slit is imaged on an associated one of a plurality of non-central pixels of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Six Degrees Space LtdInventors: Klonymus Sholom Lieberman, Daniel Greenspan
-
Patent number: 10969562Abstract: An observation device, comprising an image sensor that forms images of a specimen and outputs an image signal, an AF detection circuit that calculates evaluation values based on the image signal, and a focus control circuit that controls focus position based on the evaluation values, wherein the AF detection circuit calculates a plurality of evaluation values based on signals relating to a plurality of frequency bands of the image signal, and the focus control circuit controls focus position based on maximum value or minimum value of the plurality of evaluation values.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Satoshi Takinoiri
-
Patent number: 10971538Abstract: A semiconductor structure having: a silicon structure; and a plurality of laterally spaced PiN diodes formed in the silicon structure; and a surface of the silicon structure configured to reduce reverse bias leakage current through the PiN diodes. In one embodiment, a gate electrode structures is disposed on a surface of the silicon structure, the gate electrode structure having portions disposed between adjacent pairs of the diodes, the gate structure being biased to prevent leakage current through the diodes.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: John J. Drab, Justin Gordon Adams Wehner, Christian M. Boemler
-
Patent number: 10964835Abstract: A broad-spectral-bandwidth photodetector designed for use with all types of optical fibers used in different avionics networks and sensors and a process for fabricating such photodetectors. A Schottky barrier photodetector is provided that includes germanium, which has a broad spectral response to light in the ultraviolet to near-infrared range (220 to 1600 nm). The provision of a photodetector having a broad spectral response avoids the use of multiple different types of photodetectors and receivers in an avionics platform with different optical fiber networks and sensors.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Eric Y. Chan
-
Patent number: 10955266Abstract: A position sensor employing silicon photodiodes formed from trapezoidal chips mounted on a printed circuit board detects angular positions of a rotor shaft within a galvanometer-based optical scanner.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Pangolin Laser Systems, Inc.Inventors: William R. Benner, Jr., Ryan Smith, Ante Uglesic
-
Patent number: 10948342Abstract: The present invention relates to a Bell state measurement apparatus capable of increasing a probability in which a determination that a Bell state measurement fails by using an optical fiber.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and ScienceInventors: Sang Min Lee, Hee Su Park
-
Patent number: 10948334Abstract: A non-contact displacement sensor includes a focus timing calculator that, calculates a measurement-side focus timing at which measurement light is focused on a surface of a measurable object, a first reference-side focus timing at which reference light is focused on a first reference surface, and a second reference-side focus timing at which the reference light is focused on a second reference surface; a characteristics calculator that calculates the refractive index characteristics of a liquid lens apparatus based on the first reference-side focus timing, the second reference-side focus timing, and an optical path length difference; and a position calculator that calculates a position of the measurable object based on the refractive index characteristics and a phase of the measurement-side focus timing relative to a period of a drive signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2019Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATIONInventor: Koji Kubo
-
Patent number: 10935413Abstract: A fuel sensing system utilizes non-contact plastic optical fiber (POF) to optically sense the level of liquid fuel in a fuel tank. In one implementation, the fuel level sensing system includes the following elements: (i) a high-speed and high-power red laser diode; (ii) an ultra-high-sensitivity photon-counting avalanche photodiode; and (iii) a large-diameter and large-numerical-aperture graded-index POF. The fuel level is sensed when the avalanche photodiode first detects impinging light reflected by the POF end face and then detects impinging light reflected by the fuel surface in response to emission of a laser pulse by the red laser diode. A time delay detection circuit calculates the time interval separating the respective times of arrival. A fuel level calculator calculates the fuel level based on the time interval provided by the time delay detection circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric Y. Chan, Dennis G. Koshinz
-
Patent number: 10933185Abstract: A device for monitoring fluid leakage. A flexible plastic sheet (11) is provided with a tear-off strip (12), which divides the sheet in a first sheet portion (21) and a second sheet portion (20) and forms a folding line. An adhesive (22) is arranged at the first portion (21). The sheet is folded along the folding line and the first portion is attached to the second portion via the adhesive to form a pocket along the folding line for enclosing a connector and hose assembly to be monitored. An optical sensor having an absorbent pad and an optical fiber is enclosed in said pocket when formed. The exterior end of the optical fiber is connected to an optical detector device for monitoring if the interior end of the optical fiber comes into contact with a fluid, indicating a leakage of the connector.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: REDSENSE MEDICAL ABInventors: Patrik Byhmer, Susanne Olausson
-
Patent number: 10929945Abstract: The present disclosure provides image capture devices and associated methods that feature intelligent use of hardware-generated statistics. An example image capture device can include an imaging hardware pipeline that generates frames of imagery. The imaging hardware pipeline can generate one or more hardware-generated statistics based at least in part on, for example, the raw image data captured by the image sensor or intermediate image data within the pipeline. The image capture device can analyze the hardware-generated statistics to determine one or more metrics for the raw image data or the image. The image capture device can determine a downstream operation of the image capture device relative to the image based at least in part on the metrics determined from the hardware generated statistics.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Suk Hwan Lim, Huizhong Chen, David Chen, Hsin-I Liu
-
Patent number: 10928245Abstract: Systems, methods, and software to acquire light measurements in a targeted space using an autonomous vehicle, such as an aerial drone, are provided. Examples of targeted spaces include, but are not limited to, stadiums, arenas, racetracks, fields, parking lots, etc. Uses of such systems, software, and/or methods include, but are not limited to, verifying that required light intensity, distribution, camera image quality, and/or other performance metrics are met when commissioning, changing, checking, and approving lighting systems, among other things.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2017Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Siteco GmbHInventors: Torsten Onasch, Dorian Jack Spero
-
Patent number: 10921447Abstract: A light emitting and receiving device includes: a light emitting element, a first light receiving element, and a second light receiving element. A reference signal generator generates a reference signal including a component of a predetermined reference frequency. A drive circuit supplies a drive signal to the light emitting element so that a feedback signal corresponding to an output of the first light receiving element matches a reference signal. A correlation detector detects an output of the second light receiving element by correlating with the component of the reference frequency.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Tsuji, Okimoto Kondo, Tatsuro Shimizu
-
Patent number: 10921189Abstract: A system for detecting the presence of a plant on the ground includes a light module configured to emit a light beam having a shape with a length longer than a width. The system may include one or more lenses each having one or more photodetectors. The photodetectors may be arranged in a side-by-side configuration and are configured to receive reflected portions of the light beam. The lenses may be configured to direct the reflected portions of the light beam onto the photodetectors.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Trimble Inc.Inventor: James G. Quaderer
-
Patent number: 10921488Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 11, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: KLA CorporationInventors: Ivan Maleev, Donald Pettibone
-
Patent number: 10920490Abstract: A sensor assembly comprises a housing having a major face and a side edge. The side edge is formed of a material that is capable of conducting light. A photosensitive element is positioned within the housing and facing the major face of the housing. A reflector is positioned within the housing. The reflector is shaped to direct light entering through the side edge onto the photosensitive element.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: LUTRON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LLCInventors: Edward J. Blair, Stephen Lundy, Brandon L. Szoke, David A. Kirby
-
Patent number: 10921183Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor is provided for detecting objects in a monitored zone that has a light receiver having a reception optics arranged in front of it for generating a received signal from received light that is incident on the sensor in a direction of incidence of light from the monitored zone, wherein the reception optics comprises a flat light guide plate having a first main surface and a lateral edge bounding the first main surface at a side; and wherein the first main surface of the light guide plate is arranged transversely to the direction of incidence of light and deflects the incident received light to the lateral edge. The light guide plate here has a diffractive structure for deflection to the lateral edge.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: SICK AGInventors: Siegfried Ringwald, Christoph Menzel