Patents Examined by Joseph L. Williams
  • Patent number: 11531011
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging device that includes a gating element which receives incident photons and releases pulsed electrons; a single microchannel-plate (MCP) which receives the pulsed electrons and amplifies the pulsed electrons as an amplified pulsed electron flux; a collection element which receives the amplified pulsed electron flux; a high-pass filter; and a gated integrator; wherein the high-pass filter element receives the amplified pulsed electron flux from the collection element and alternate current (AC) couples the amplified pulsed electron flux as a charge pulse to the gated integrator; and wherein the gating element and the gated integrator are time-synchronized to allow charge-integration only while the AC-coupled charge pulse is unipolar. A feedback loop can provide an auto-gating function. The imaging device can be used in night vision goggles or a mass spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Daniel J. Gershman, Levon Avanov, Corey J. Tucker
  • Patent number: 11521841
    Abstract: An ion detector includes a microchannel plate configured to generate secondary electrons upon reception of ions incident thereon and multiply and output the generated secondary electrons; a plurality of electron impact-type diodes configured to have effective regions narrower than an effective region of the microchannel plate on an electron incident surface facing the microchannel plate side, receive the incident secondary electrons output from the microchannel plate, and multiply and detect the incident secondary electrons; and a focus electrode configured to be disposed between the microchannel plate and the electron impact-type diodes and focus the secondary electrons toward the electron impact-type diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kobayashi, Sayaka Takatsuka
  • Patent number: 11518297
    Abstract: A light element for a bodywork component is provided. The light element includes at least one light source and a light guide, where the light guide forms a profile of an open cross-section, comprising: a first element made of injection-molded transparent polycarbonate, defining, along substantially the entire length of the profile, a zone (ZT) that is transparent to the light emitted by the light source; at least one second element made of injection-molded black polycarbonate, defining, along substantially the entire length of the profile, a zone (ZO) that is opaque to the light emitted by the light source; the light source emitting light from inside the profile toward the transparent and opaque zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventor: Frédéric Stablo
  • Patent number: 11517975
    Abstract: An electron beam source including a cathode, an anode, a means for deflecting an electron beam over a target surface and at least one vacuum pump, the electron beam source further including a contraction area arranged between the anode and the means for deflecting the electron beam where a hole in the contraction area is aligned with a hole in the anode with respect to the cathode, a first vacuum pump is arranged between the contraction area and the anode and a second vacuum pump is arranged above the anode, a gas inlet is provided between the contraction area and the means for deflecting the electron beam, wherein a first crossover of the electron beam is arranged between the cathode and the anode and a second crossover is arranged at or in close proximity to the contraction area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Arcam AB
    Inventors: Mattias Fager, Johan Backlund
  • Patent number: 11508544
    Abstract: To stabilize an emitted electron beam, a thermoelectric field emission electron source includes: an electron source having a needle shape; a metal wire to which the electron source is fixed and configured to heat the electron source; a stem fixed to an insulator and configured to energize the metal wire; a first electrode having a first opening portion and arranged such that a tip of the electron source protrudes from the first opening portion; a second electrode having a second opening portion; and an insulating body configured to position the first electrode and the second electrode such that a central axis of the first opening portion and a central axis of the second opening portion coincide with each other, and to provide electrical insulation between the first and second electrodes, so as to provide a structure that reduces an amount of gas released when the first electrode is heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soichiro Matsunaga, Souichi Katagiri, Keigo Kasuya, Aki Takei, Hajime Kawano, Takashi Doi
  • Patent number: 11508549
    Abstract: Beam intercept profiles are measured as a particle beam transversely scans across a probe. A current of beam particles, a detector intensity, or image pixel intensities can variously be measured to obtain the profiles. Multiple profiles are used to determine geometric parameters which in turn can be used to configure equipment. In one application, transverse beam intercept profiles are measured for different waist heights of the particle beam. Steepness of the several profiles can be used to determine a height of the probe as the height at which the profile is steepest. The known probe height enables placing the probe in contact with a substrate at another known height. In another application, transverse beam intercept profiles of orthogonal probe edges are used to position a beam waist, reduce spot size, or reduce astigmatism. Techniques are applicable to SEM, FIB, and nanoprobe systems. Methods and apparatus are disclosed, with variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Herman Carlo Floresca, Brian Tilley
  • Patent number: 11500141
    Abstract: An optical fiber module includes an optical fiber containing a glass component, and a ferrule which is tubular in shape and covers an outer circumferential surface in an end portion of the optical fiber. The outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber and an inner circumferential surface of the ferrule are bonded by a silicone resin containing siloxane bonds at cross-linking points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kitano, Yoshiyuki Takahira, Hideharu Kawachi, Shinichi Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 11500156
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a photonic system comprising a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) includes: a support structure configured to support the PIC; and a rigid structure surrounding a hollow passage that extends to an opening at a distal end of the rigid structure. The rigid structure includes an optically transmissive portion configured to transmit at least about 50% of a received beam of ultraviolet light, and configured such that at least a portion of the ultraviolet light transmitted through the rigid structure is incident upon an edge surface of the PIC at an angle of incidence that is less than about 60 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Asselin, Raphael Beaupré-Laflamme, Luc Belanger, Simon-Pierre Pelletier, Éric Giguère
  • Patent number: 11498478
    Abstract: An electric scooter with a lighting system that includes a rear mounted light that projects light upward and toward the front of the scooter to illuminate the back of a rider, and side lights that project light to illuminate the sides of a scooter. The lighting system employs a multi-faceted approach to vary intensity and effects for improved visibility in traffic. The light system can be configured to automatically illuminate or change effects in response to road or environmental conditions, or in response to existing or future roadway infrastructure such as autonomous traffic infrastructure or adaptive traffic control systems. The light system may also be integrated with the braking system for signaling a slow down or stop. The system may be controlled by communication between an onboard processor and a personal computing device such as a smart phone that can be docked on the scooter and provide display of information and a means of input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Wendt
  • Patent number: 11495439
    Abstract: An apparatus for plasma processing that performs an etching on a workpiece, includes: a container; a gas supply system for supplying a processing gas into the container; a plasma source for exciting the processing gas; a support for holding the workpiece inside the container; an exhaust system for exhausting an internal space of the container; electrode plates provided on an inner wall of the container; insulators for electrically insulating the electrode plates from each other; a DC power supply for independently applying a DC voltage to each of the electrode plates; and a controller for controlling the gas supply system, the plasma source, and the DC power supply. The controller controls the gas supply system, the plasma source, and the DC power supply such that the DC voltage is supplied to each electrode plate during execution of the etching or after completion of the etching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kohei Mizota, Shin Okamoto, Atsutoshi Inokuchi
  • Patent number: 11493383
    Abstract: A magnetic photomultiplier tube (PMT) system, including a PMT. The PMT including a photocathode for converting an impinging photon to a photoelectron, an anode, and at least two or a series of oppositely facing pairs of dynodes, wherein each pair is spaced apart from an adjacent pair, a first electric field being generated intermediate at least one pair of oppositely facing dynodes and a second electric field generated intermediate at least one adjacent pairs of dynodes. The PMT system includes a magnetic field generated by a magnetic system, the PMT being positioned within the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: .EL-MUL TECHNOLOGIES LTD
    Inventors: Semyon Shofman, Alexander Kadyshevitch
  • Patent number: 11493958
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing with a display. The display may be overlapped by an image transport layer such as a coherent fiber bundle or layer of Anderson localization material. The image transport layer may have an input surface that receives an image from the display and a corresponding output surface to which the image is transported. The input surface and output surface may have different shapes. A wristwatch device may, as an example, have a rectangular or hexagonal input surface and may have an output surface such as a rectangular output surface with rounded corners or a circular output surface. A region of the output surface may have compound curvature. A portion of the image transport layer may protrude laterally over an inactive portion of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler R. Kakuda, Christopher E. Glazowski, Elizabeth C. Porter, Hao Dong, Jean-Pierre S. Guillou, Warren S. Rieutort-Louis
  • Patent number: 11495434
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for in-situ plasma cleaning of ion beam optics. In one approach, a system includes a component (e.g., a beam-line component) of an ion implanter processing chamber. The system further includes a power supply for supplying a first voltage and first current to the component during a processing mode and a second voltage and second current to the component during a cleaning mode. The second voltage and current are applied to one or more conductive beam optics of the component, individually, to selectively generate plasma around one or more of the one or more conductive beam optics. The system may further include a flow controller for adjusting an injection rate of an etchant gas supplied to the beam-line component, and a vacuum pump for adjusting pressure of an environment of the beam-line component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Anglin, William Davis Lee, Peter Kurunczi, Ryan Downey, Jay T. Scheuer, Alexandre Likhanskii, William M. Holber
  • Patent number: 11493184
    Abstract: Provided is a fixture including a base; and a light guide, which is positioned on the base and is configured to receive light emitted from a light source in a first direction and guide the received light to be emitted in a second direction crossing the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hwi Kyeong An
  • Patent number: 11488817
    Abstract: A method for removing deposits in a mass spectrometer ion source housing includes delivering a liquid from a liquid source to a surface within the ion source housing. The surface including an ultrasonic transducer embedded within the surface. The method further includes activating the ultrasonic transducer to ultrasonically remove the deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan
    Inventors: David Gonzalez, Nathaniel L. Sanders, Joshua T. Maze
  • Patent number: 11469086
    Abstract: A method is for manufacturing a multilayer radiation window for an X-ray measurement apparatus. The method includes: producing a gas diffusion stop layer made of silicon nitride on a polished surface of a carrier; producing at least one combined layer on an opposite side of the gas diffusion stop layer than the carrier; attaching the combined structure including the carrier, the gas diffusion stop layer, the at least one combined layer to a region around an opening in a support structure with the at least one combined layer facing the support structure; and etching away the carrier. The at least one combined layer includes: a light attenuation layer made of aluminium, and a strengthening layer. A radiation window is manufactured with the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: AMETEK Finland Oy
    Inventors: Jari Kostamo, Heikki Sipilä
  • Patent number: 11462386
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to apparatus for the fabrication of waveguides. In one example, an angled ion source is utilized to project ions toward a substrate to form a waveguide which includes angled gratings. In another example, an angled electron beam source is utilized to project electrons toward a substrate to form a waveguide which includes angled gratings. Further aspects of the disclosure provide for methods of forming angled gratings on waveguides utilizing an angled ion beam source and an angled electron beam source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kartik Ramaswamy, Yang Yang, Manivannan Thothadri, Chien-An Chen, Ludovic Godet, Rutger Meyer Timmerman Thijssen
  • Patent number: 11462385
    Abstract: An ion beam irradiation apparatus includes modules for generating an ion beam meeting a processing condition, and a machine learning part that generates a learning algorithm using, as an explanatory variable, a processing condition during new processing and a monitored value that indicates a state of a module during a last processing immediately before the new processing, and a basic operation parameter output part that uses the learning algorithm to output an initial value of a basic operation parameter for controlling an operation of the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: NISSIN ION EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinya Takemura
  • Patent number: 11462393
    Abstract: A plasma etching method using a Faraday cage, including: providing an etch substrate in a Faraday cage, where the etch substrate includes a metal mask provided on one surface thereof, and where an upper surface of the Faraday cage is provided with a mesh portion; a first patterning step of forming a first pattern area on the etch substrate; and a second patterning step of forming a second pattern area on the etch substrate after shielding at least a part of the mesh portion with a shutter. The first pattern area includes a first groove pattern having a depth gradient of 0 to 40 nm per 5 mm, and the second pattern area includes a second groove pattern having a depth gradient of 50 to 300 nm per 5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Eun Kyu Her, Song Ho Jang, Chung Wan Kim, Bu Gon Shin, Jeong Ho Park, Jung Hwan Yoon, So Young Choo
  • Patent number: 11456158
    Abstract: A ceramic structure including a first conductive structure embedded therein and a second conductive structure embedded at a different depth from the first conductive structure is disclosed. In the ceramic structure, the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure are electrically connected to each other by an electrically conductive connection member capable of compensating for a vertical shrinkage rate of a ceramic sheet shape while being embedded therein when sintering the ceramic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: KSM COMPONENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Joo Hwan Kim