Patents Examined by John R. Lee
  • Patent number: 11892346
    Abstract: An optical system and a method of manufacturing an optical system are provided. The optical system includes a carrier, a light emitter, a light receiver, a block structure and an encapsulant. The light emitter is disposed on the carrier. The light receiver is disposed on the carrier and physically spaced apart from the light emitter. The light receiver has a light detecting area. The block structure is disposed on the carrier. The encapsulant is disposed on the carrier and covers the light emitter, the light receiver and the block structure. The encapsulant has a recess over the block structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ADVANCED SEMICONDUCTOR ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Hsin-Ying Ho, Ying-Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 11886025
    Abstract: A receptacle (6) includes an optical fiber stub (7). A lens (5) includes an incident-side curved surface (9), an emission-side curved surface (10), and a barrel (11) provided between the incident-side curved surface (9) and the emission-side curved surface (10). A receptacle holder (8) holds the receptacle (6) so that the lens (5) and the optical fiber stub (7) are not in contact but separated from each other. When light out from the optical fiber stub (7) enters the lens (5) through the incident-side curved surface (9), the light is condensed inside the lens (5) and then spreads again, and the light out from the emission-side curved surface (10) is condensed onto a light-receiving surface of the light-receiving device (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yohei Mikami
  • Patent number: 11880018
    Abstract: An optical window for a hypersonic vehicle includes a window substrate and an optical coating on the window substrate, with the coating including multiple alternating layers of different materials. The coating may have many layers, for example having five or more alternating bi-layers and may be configured to still perform its optical function with some of the layers removed, such as by ablation of some of the layers through exposure to hypersonic flow. The different materials of the different layers may have different properties, for example with one of the materials being more resistant to ablation and/or chemical reaction than another of the layers. Coatings for anti-reflection additionally include a region of graded optical index between the sequence of bi-layers and the substrate. The hypersonic vehicle may include an optical sensor which operates by receiving light through the optical window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Gary A. Frazier
  • Patent number: 11874166
    Abstract: The present application discloses a light sensor circuit, which comprises a photodiode and a capacitor unit. The cathode of the photodiode is controlled by a capacitive unit to maintain the same or close voltage level as the anode of the photodiode, which significantly reduces the effect of the dark current of the photodiode. Thus, the light sensor circuit can effectively maintain the performance and accuracy of an analog-to-digital converter applying the light sensor circuit. The circuit design difficulty and manufacturing cost are also significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Sensortek Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Wen-Cheng Chen, Kai-Hsiang Chan, Sheng-Wen Huang
  • Patent number: 11867841
    Abstract: One example device comprises a plurality of emitters including at least a first emitter and a second emitter. The first emitter emits light that illuminates a first portion of a field-of-view (FOV) of the device. The second emitter emits light that illuminates a second portion of the FOV. The device also comprises a controller that obtains a scan of the FOV. The controller causes each emitter of the plurality of emitters to emit a respective light pulse during an emission time period associated with the scan. The controller causes the first emitter to emit a first-emitter light pulse at a first-emitter time offset from a start time of the emission time period. The controller causes the second emitter to emit a second-emitter light pulse at a second-emitter time offset from the start time of the emission time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Michael Marx, Pierre-Yves Droz
  • Patent number: 11869912
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a method for fabricating an image sensor package to define a gap height includes coupling an image sensor die to a substrate, forming a plurality of pillar members on the image sensor die, dispensing a bonding material on the image sensor die, contacting a transparent member with the bonding material such that a height of the pillar members defines a gap height between an active region of the image sensor die and the transparent member, and curing the bonding material to couple the transparent member to the image sensor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Yu-Te Hsieh
  • Patent number: 11868026
    Abstract: An optical analog-to-digital (AD) converter includes, wherein the optical AD converter converts an analog signal of information included in inputted signal light into a digital signal, and is formed of N stages corresponding to a number N of bits of the digital signal, optical waveguides configured to respectively guide the signal light, base light obtained by branching local light, and reference light obtained by branching the local light, a light receiver configured to detect and compare light levels of the signal light and the reference light, and output a binary comparison result, and an optical modulator configured to variably control a light level of the base light, based on the binary comparison result, in each stage of the N stages, wherein an output variably controlled of the optical modulator is multiplexed with the reference light of a next stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Akiyama, Takeshi Hoshida, Jun Matsui, Shinsuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11870492
    Abstract: A directional free-space optical communication system includes a source device including a laser diode and an endpoint device including a photodiode. The endpoint device also includes an optical structure, such as an optical adapter, that increases both angular and spatial offset tolerance between the two source device and the endpoint device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Omid Momtahan
  • Patent number: 11860030
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for detecting an ambient light illuminance and for computing a correction coefficient, and an electronic device. The method for detecting an ambient light illuminance includes: filtering ambient light based on a monochromatic channel, such that a quantum efficiency curve of the filtered light matches a spectral luminous efficiency curve; and performing photoelectric detection on the filtered light to obtain an illuminance level of the ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiying Wu, Songjin Zhong, Canhong Du
  • Patent number: 11860292
    Abstract: A detector for object authentication includes first and second illumination sources. The first illumination source projects an illumination pattern including a plurality of illumination features onto a surface of an object. The second illumination source projects an illuminating light beam onto the object. The detector also includes an image capture device for determining a first image including a plurality of reflection features generated by the surface of the object in response to the illumination pattern and for determining a second image including two dimensional information associated with the surface of the object generated in response to the illuminating light beam. The detector also includes an evaluation device for evaluating the first image and the second image, identifying a geometrical feature of the object, determining a material property of the object, and comparing the two dimensional information to data stored in a database for authentication of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TRINAMIX GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Eberspach, Thomas Ohmer, Robert Send, Christian Lennartz, Christopher Hahne, Stefan Hengen, Sebastian Valouch, Christoph Lungenschmied, Ingmar Bruder, Wilfried Hermes, Celal Mohan Oeguen, Christian Daniel Schildknecht, Peter Schillen, Patrick Schindler, Peter Fejes
  • Patent number: 11852578
    Abstract: To provide a technique capable of handling quantitative data in a spectrum type microparticle measurement device without causing deterioration of the SNR. The present technology provides a microparticle measurement spectrometer including a spectroscopic element that disperses light emitted from microparticles flowing through a flow path, and a photoelectric conversion array that has a plurality of light receiving elements having different detection wavelength ranges and converts optical information obtained by the light receiving elements into electrical information, in which the photoelectric conversion array has a uniform output of all channels when light with which the amount of light per unit wavelength becomes same is incident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Hara, Tomoyuki Umetsu, Yoshiki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11845182
    Abstract: An encoder unit includes a magnetic encoder having a main gear fixed to a rotation shaft, a plurality of auxiliary gears meshing with the main gear, magnets placed in the respective auxiliary gears, and a plurality of magnetic sensors on which magnetic fields of the corresponding magnets act, an optical encoder placed apart from the magnetic encoder in an axial direction of the rotation shaft and having an optical scale fixed to the rotation shaft and an optical sensor receiving light reflected by the optical scale, and a substrate placed between the magnets and the optical scale and having one surface with the magnetic sensors mounted thereon and another surface with the optical sensor mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Mitsuru Toyama
  • Patent number: 11835385
    Abstract: The present invention is in the field of a geometrically and spectrally resolved albedometer for a PV-module, a method of determining characteristics of reflected light, a method of optimizing reflected light performance of a solar cell, and a computer program for geometrically and spectrally resolving light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT
    Inventors: Gregory Pandraud, Miroslav Zeman, Olindo Isabella, Stefaan Gustaaf Mariette Heirman, Hesan Ziar
  • Patent number: 11835664
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus executes a correction value determination operation of reading out a signal from a pixel once or more in a state where radiation is not emitted onto the apparatus, and determining a correction value that is based on the signal read out from the pixel, and a radiation dose determination operation of reading out a signal from the pixel while radiation is emitted, and determining a dose of radiation that is being emitted, using a value of the signal read out from the pixel and the correction value. The apparatus executes the correction value determination operation and executes the radiation dose determination operation using the correction value in a case where it is determined that the correction value determination operation is to be executed, and otherwise executes the radiation dose determination operation without executing the correction value determination operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryosuke Miura, Tomoyuki Yagi
  • Patent number: 11821787
    Abstract: The light detection element includes a magnetic element and an optical waveguide. The magnetic element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a spacer layer sandwiched between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The optical waveguide includes at least a core and a cladding covering at least a part of the core. Light that has propagated through the optical waveguide is applied to the magnetic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Nojiri, Hideaki Fukuzawa, Tetsuya Shibata, Tomohito Mizuno, Susumu Aoki
  • Patent number: 11805715
    Abstract: A photoconductive switch that uses materials that support negative differential mobility, whose operation leverages the pulse compression of a charge could to generate the “on” time of the pulse in combination with the speed of light to generate the “off” time of the pulse, is described. In one example, a method of operating a photoconductive switch, which includes two electrodes and a light absorbing material positioned therebetween, includes selecting a value for one or more parameters comprising a voltage for generation of an electric field, a spot size of a laser pulse, a temporal pulse width of the laser pulse, or an intensity of the laser pulse, wherein the selected value(s) for the one or more parameters enable the switch to operate in a region where the light absorbing material exhibits negative differential mobility, and illuminating the light absorbing material with the laser pulse to generate a charge cloud within the light absorbing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignees: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventors: Lars F. Voss, Adam Conway, Karen Marie Dowling, David Lawrence Hall, Shaloo Rakheja, Kexin Li
  • Patent number: 11804898
    Abstract: A detection system for light communications comprises a total internal reflection (TIR) waveguide and a light sensor adjacent to the TIR waveguide. The TIR waveguide comprises a TIR structure, a diffusive element, and a waveguide entrance. The TIR structure is configured to internally propagate light associated with optical signaling along the TIR waveguide. The diffusive element is disposed at an internal edge of the TIR structure opposite the light sensor. The diffusive element is configured to disrupt the propagation of the light such that at least some of the light is directed to the light sensor. The waveguide entrance is offset from the diffusive element along the TIR structure and configured to collect the light into the TIR structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Alexander Hunt, Andreas Kristensson, Magnus L. Disson
  • Patent number: 11804839
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an optical source; a photoconductive switch triggered by the optical source; and an enclosure unit that contains the optical source and the photoconductive switch in a single integrated package. The optical source may output a laser. The optical source may be a diode. The enclosure unit may be conductive. The enclosure unit may be non-conductive. The device may include an electrical connector operatively connected to the optical source. The electrical connector may provide power and control signals to the optical source. The electrical connector may be attached to an outer surface of the enclosure unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Government of the United States as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Joseph Dana Teague
  • Patent number: 11788945
    Abstract: A system is described wherein multiple lasers are used to irradiate particles in a flow cytometer's flow stream. In certain embodiments, a light source having a first laser configured for continuous irradiation of a flow stream and one or more second lasers configured for irradiation of the flow stream in discrete intervals where each discrete interval of irradiation by the second laser is triggered by irradiation of one or more particles in the flow stream with the first laser. Methods for modulating the laser irradiation and measuring light intensity are also described. Also described is the computations and systems required to operate the one or more second lasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Miftek Corporation
    Inventors: Masanobu Yamamoto, J. Paul Robinson, Keegan Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11788869
    Abstract: Waveguides, such as light guides, made entirely of elastomeric material or with indents on an outer surface are disclosed. These improved waveguides can be used in scissors, soft robotics, or displays. For example, the waveguides can be used in a strain sensor, a curvature sensor, or a force sensor. In an instance, the waveguide can be used in a hand prosthetic. Sensors that use the disclosed waveguides and methods of manufacturing waveguides also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Robert Shepherd, Huichan Zhao, Rukang Huang, Hedan Bai, Shuo Li