Patents Examined by Jonathon Cook
  • Patent number: 11953320
    Abstract: An optical coherence tomographic imager for contributing reduction of the number of man-hours for evaluation to obtain a wavelength sweeping operation of continuous, linear, and monotonic change while utilizing a wavelength-tunable laser having a structure that is less susceptible to mechanical disturbance. The optical coherence tomographic imager includes a wavelength-tunable light source, a branching means, an irradiation means, a photoelectric conversion measuring means, and a processor. The wavelength-tunable light source outputs light whose wavelength is determined by a plurality of light source drive parameters. The branching means branches output light of the wavelength-tunable light source into object light and reference light. The irradiation means irradiates an object to be measured with the object light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11951564
    Abstract: A method determines translational and/or rotational deviations between the measurement coordinate system of a measurement mirror scanner and the processing coordinate system of a processing mirror scanner. A measurement beam reflected at a workpiece returns on a path of an incident measurement beam and is captured by a spatially resolving measurement sensor to ascertain spatially resolving information of the workpiece. The reflected measurement beam, in a sensor image of the measurement sensor, is imaged onto a previously known image position. This is accomplished by ascertaining a focal position deviation of the processing beam by scanning with the processing beam, evaluating a laser power detected at grid points, fixing the processing mirror scanner, capturing spatially resolving height information of the pinhole diaphragm by the measurement sensor, and determining a translational deviation between the processing and measurement coordinate systems based on the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik Gm H, TRUMPF Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Stambke, Jan-Patrick Hermani, Thomas Notheis, Alexander Sauter
  • Patent number: 11944407
    Abstract: An optical system comprises a first optical path configured to supply a first light with a first range of wavelengths; a second optical path configured to supply a second light with a second range of wavelengths shorter than the first range of wavelengths; a third optical path configured to supply a third light with a third range of wavelengths shorter than the second range of wavelengths; an optical I/O unit configured to emit the first light, the second light and the third light to a target and acquire a light from the target; a reference unit configured to split off a reference light from the third light; and a detector that includes a range of detection wavelengths shared with a CARS light and an interference light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ATONARP INC.
    Inventors: Lukas Brueckner, David Anderson, Prakash Sreedhar Murthy
  • Patent number: 11925999
    Abstract: A workpiece processing machine that includes: a beam emission head for providing a beam for processing the workpiece, an optical interferometer for splitting, redirecting, and detecting the beam, an adjustment element for changing a second portion of a power of the beam redirected from a retroreflector to a detector, and a control unit for actuating the adjustment element to control a ratio between a first power portion of the beam redirected from the workpiece to the detector and the second power portion of the beam redirected from the retroreflector to the detector to a target ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: TRUMPF Laser- und Systemtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Jan-Patrick Hermani, Steffen Kessler, Friedhelm Dorsch, Holger Braun
  • Patent number: 11920930
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices and techniques based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology in combination with optical actuation. A system for providing optical actuation and optical sensing can include an optical coherence tomography (OCT) device that performs optical imaging of a sample based on optical interferometry from an optical sampling beam interacting with an optical sample and an optical reference beam; an OCT light source to provide an OCT imaging beam into the OCT device which splits the OCT imaging beam into the optical sampling beam and the optical reference beam; and a light source that produces an optical actuation beam that is coupled along with the optical sampling beam to be directed to the sample to actuate particles or structures in the sample so that the optical imaging captures information of the sample under the optical actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Steven G Adie, Yuechuan Lin, Nichaluk Leartprapun
  • Patent number: 11920929
    Abstract: One or more devices, systems, methods, and storage mediums for detecting and guiding optical connection(s) using one or more imaging modalities are provided herein. Examples of applications include imaging, evaluating and diagnosing biological objects, such as, but not limited to, for Gastro-intestinal, cardio and/or ophthalmic applications, and being obtained via one or more optical instruments, such as, but not limited to, optical probes, catheters, capsules and needles (e.g., a biopsy needle). Devices, systems, methods, and storage mediums may include or involve a method, such as, but not limited to, for guiding and/or determining status of engagement and/or disengagement of one or more optical connections. A device, system, method, or storage medium may detect, monitor, and/or guide a probe/catheter to minimize, reduce, and/or avoid engagement and disengagement failures and to have a robust means of determining status of probe/catheter engagement to an apparatus or system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Canon U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Badr Elmaanaoui
  • Patent number: 11906388
    Abstract: A beam irradiation unit (a collimator unit, a processing head, and a nozzle) includes a plurality of optical components, and is configured to convert a laser beam, which is divergent light, to collimated light and then to condense the light to irradiate a sheet metal. A photodetection element (a photodiode) detects intensity of reflected light reflected by an inspected optical component that is one of the plurality of optical components. A control device (an NC device) controls irradiation of a pierced hole with the laser beam as inspection light, subsequently to piercing the portion of the sheet metal to be cut to manufacture a product, and compares, with a threshold, the intensity of the reflected light detected by the photodetection element during the irradiation with the inspection light, to detect whether the inspected optical component is deteriorated, or a degree of the deterioration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Amada Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Koshimizu
  • Patent number: 11906435
    Abstract: A system including a signal obtaining module and a controller is provided. The signal obtaining module includes: a receiver to which an emission light generated in the target by an excitation light is input; a receiving optical path that guides the emission light and a residual light, which is at least a part of the excitation light propagated forward, coaxially between the target and the receiver; a separator that separates the residual light from the receiving optical path to be routed to an image sensor; and an actuator for controlling an optical relative position between the target and the receiver. The controller includes a module that controls the actuator to maintain an optical alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ATONARP INC.
    Inventors: Lukas Brueckner, David Anderson
  • Patent number: 11898912
    Abstract: Provided is a hyperspectral imaging (HSI) apparatus. The HSI apparatus includes: a first slit plate configured to introduce an output beam; a first aspherical mirror configured to reflect the introduced output beam; a first grating having a planar reflective surface, the first grating configured to generate a plurality of first split beams by splitting the output beam after being reflected by the first aspherical mirror; and a first camera configured to detect the plurality of first split beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sungho Jang, Jungchul Lee, Jinseob Kim, Gwangsik Park, Minhwan Seo, Janghwi Lee, Wondon Joo, Jiyoung Chu, Daehoon Han
  • Patent number: 11898841
    Abstract: A processer of an optical module is configured to control a voltage signal having a frequency for causing a movable mirror to resonate, and perform an intensity acquisition process. The intensity acquisition process is a process of acquiring a measurement light intensity of the interference light of the measurement light M times at a first time interval based on the frequency in each of a plurality of cycles among P cycles continuous in the voltage signal, acquiring an addition value of a plurality of the measurement light intensities mutually corresponding for the same number of times, acquiring a laser light intensity of the interference light of the laser light N times at a second time interval based on the frequency in each of the plurality of cycles, and acquiring an addition value of a plurality of the laser light intensities mutually corresponding for the same number of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Tomofumi Suzuki, Yuya Iwazaki, Kyosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Sugimoto, Hiromichi Tozuka
  • Patent number: 11898962
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a location of artefacts and/or inclusions in a gemstone, mineral or sample thereof, the method comprising the steps of: surface mapping a gemstone, mineral or sample thereof to determine surface geometry associated with at least a portion of a surface of the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof; sub-surface mapping the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof using an optical beam that is directed at the surface along an optical beam path, wherein the optical beam is generated by an optical source using an optical tomography process; determining a surface normal at the surface at an intersection point between the optical beam path and the determined surface geometry; determining relative positioning between the surface normal and the optical beam path; and determining the location of artefacts and/or inclusions in the gemstone, mineral or sample thereof based on the sub-surface mapping step and the determined relative positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: The Australian National University
    Inventors: Roland Fleddermann, Jong Hann Chow, Adrian Paul Sheppard, Timothy John Senden, Shane Jamie Latham, Keshu Huang
  • Patent number: 11892353
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method for diagnosing a disease of a body tissue by using LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) comprising: preparing a laser device including: a laser projection module, outputting the laser to a suspicious region of the body tissue, a light receiving module, receiving a plurality of light, a spectrum measurement module, and a guide unit; and projecting the laser to generate plasma by inducing tissue ablation in the suspicious region; wherein the laser projected to the suspicious region has a target area, and wherein the target area has smaller size than the suspicious region such that the target area is located inside the suspicious region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SPECLIPSE, INC.
    Inventors: Sung Hyun Pyun, Wan Ki Min
  • Patent number: 11892290
    Abstract: An optical coherence tomography apparatus includes a branching and merging device that branches a light beam emitted from a wavelength sweeping laser light source into an object light beam and a reference light beam, a balanced photodetector that generates information about a change in an intensity ratio of interference light beams, which are generated by the interference between the object light beam and the reference light beam, wherein the object light beam is scattered from the measurement object after being transmitted through the transparent substrate including a structure that changes a thickness, and a control unit that acquires structural data of the measurement object in a depth direction based on the information about the change in the intensity ratio of the interference light beams and connects the structural data while moving an irradiation position of the object light beam with a position of the above structure as a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11885616
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising means for: causing illumination of different areas of a sample with an optical frequency imaging beam at different positions at different times, wherein adjacent positions are configured to cause the corresponding areas to at least partially overlap; receiving signals indicative of back-scattering of the optical frequency imaging beam from the sample at the different times; and processing the received signals to obtain an image of the sample, wherein processing the received signals compensates for phase variations between the different positions at the different times using a matched filter derived from a scattering model of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies
    Inventors: Noriaki Kaneda, Michael Eggleston
  • Patent number: 11879717
    Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes a holding unit and a measuring unit. The measuring unit includes a first optical fiber for transmitting light emitted from a light source, a branching member for branching the light transmitted through the first optical fiber to at least two measuring optical fibers, a plurality of heads including respective beam condensers for converging the light branched by the branching member onto a measurand, a shutter device for shifting timings of application of the light applied from the heads to the measurand, a second optical fiber branched from the branching member and transmitting returning light reflected from the measurand, a spectroscopic unit having a light detector for detecting the returning light, and a controller for controlling the shutter device to control the timings of application of the light applied from the heads to the measurand and controlling the light detector to detect the returning light individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: DISCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehito Kawasumi, Nobuyuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 11872015
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for confocal microscopy using dispersed structured illumination. In certain embodiments the apparatus also comprises an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, and OCT images acquired from two or more regions of a sample are registered using a corresponding set of two or more larger area images acquired with the confocal microscopy system. In preferred embodiments the apparatus is suitable for analysing the retina of an eye. The confocal microscopy system can be operated in a purely intensity mode or in a coherent mode. In other embodiments a confocal microscopy system using dispersed structured illumination is utilised for surface metrology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Cylite Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Steven James Frisken
  • Patent number: 11867506
    Abstract: A scanning device applied to an optical coherence tomography system integrates a scanning lens group required by the coherence tomography system into a fundus imaging system, so that the coherence tomography system and the fundus imaging system can share the scanning lens group for focusing. The above-mentioned scanning device can shorten a response time of focusing and reduce the volume of the system. An optical coherence tomography system including the above-mentioned scanning device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: MEDIMAGING INTEGRATED SOLUTION, INC.
    Inventors: Chu-Ming Cheng, Long-Sheng Liao
  • Patent number: 11846587
    Abstract: A tomographic imaging system includes a light source, a light irradiation unit that irradiates light to a transparent material composite thin film sample and a reference mirror and acquires an interference signal between light reflected and scattered from the sample and light reflected from the reference mirror, a light measuring unit that measures the interference signal acquired by the light irradiation unit, a light transmission unit that transmits the light output from the light source to the light irradiation unit and transmits the interference signal of the light transmitted from the light irradiation unit to the light measuring unit; and a signal processing apparatus that converts the interference signal of the sample, outputs the converted interference signal as a tomographic image, and monitors the interference signal acquired by the light irradiation unit to modulate intensity and a polarization state of the light input to the light irradiation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Yonsei University, University-Industry Foundatoin (UIF)
    Inventors: Jusung Han, Jiseok Hwang, Se Joon Im, Chulmin Joo, Seungri Song, Baek Cheon Seong
  • Patent number: 11835468
    Abstract: Proposed are a device and a method for inspecting an air void at a lead film of a battery to simply and accurately perform total inspection of a gap between a lead film and the lead tab boundary by using an OCT, wherein an object to be inspected in which the lead film is attached to a lead tab is conveyed through a conveying device, the conveyed object is gripped and loaded to an inspection position, the object is aligned to form an OCT focus on an interface between the lead tab and the lead film of the object, a gap inspection image between the lead tab and the lead film is obtained by scanning the interface between the lead tab and the lead film by using an OCT scanner above the inspection position, and the obtained gap inspection image is analyzed, thereby determining fusion quality of the lead film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TECH DR. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Young Ho Park
  • Patent number: 11819275
    Abstract: The optical coherence tomography apparatus is an optical coherence tomography apparatus that obtains a tomographic image of an eye to be examined by using combined light obtained by combining (a) return light from the eye to be examined irradiated with measurement light and (b) reference light, the optical coherence tomography apparatus including an optical path length difference changing unit arranged to change an optical path length difference between the measurement light and the reference light, a driving unit arranged to drive the optical path length difference changing unit, a determining unit configured to determine, using a learned model, a driving amount of the driving unit from the obtained tomographic image, and a controlling unit configured to control the driving unit using the determined driving amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumasa Tanaka, Hiroki Uchida, Yoshihiko Iwase, Osamu Sagano, Ritsuya Tomita