Patents Examined by Joshua L Pritchett
  • Wideband dichroic-filter design for LED-phosphor beam-combining
    Patent number: 7859754
    Abstract: A general method is disclosed of designing two-component dichroic short-pass filters operable for incidence angle distributions over the 0-30° range, and specific preferred embodiments are listed. The method is based on computer optimization algorithms for an N-layer design, specifically the N-dimensional conjugate-gradient minimization of a merit function based on difference from a target transmission spectrum, as well as subsequent cycles of needle synthesis for increasing N. A key feature of the method is the initial filter design, upon which the algorithm proceeds to iterate successive design candidates with smaller merit functions. This initial design, with high-index material H and low-index L, is (0.75 H, 0.5 L, 0.75 H)^m, denoting m (20-30) repetitions of a three-layer motif, giving rise to a filter with N=2 m+1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Light Prescriptions Innovators, LLC
    Inventor: Waqidi Falicoff
  • Microscope objective
    Patent number: 7855831
    Abstract: A microscope objective including an front optical element, a plurality of optical elements spaced apart from the front element and from each other, as well as an adjusting unit. At least one of the optical elements can be displaced along the optical axis by the adjusting unit to adjust the focus of the objective. The focus of the objective is displaced relative to the front element along the optical axis and/or a temperature-induced imaging error of the objective is compensated for.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microlmaging GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Wolleschensky, Hans-Jürgen Dobschal
  • Optical element with laser damage suppression film
    Patent number: 7852562
    Abstract: An optical element having a laser damage suppression film which is capable of withstanding high power blue laser and formed on a plastic substrate. Specifically disclosed is an antireflection optical element wherein a multilayer film, which is composed of low refractive index material layers (105) and high refractive index material layers (107) arranged alternately, is formed on a plastic substrate. In this antireflection optical element, the oxygen permeability coefficient is decreased such that variation in laser permeability is 2% or less after being continuously irradiated with blue laser having an energy density of 120 mW/mm2 for 1000 hours at an ambient temperature of 25° C. In one embodiment, the oxygen permeability coefficient is set at 30 cm3·mm m2·24 hr·atm) or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Nalux Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuaki Inoue
  • Vehicle interior mirror device
    Patent number: 7850318
    Abstract: A vehicle interior mirror device disposed in a passenger compartment for reflecting a state of rear seats and traffic conditions behind a vehicle. The interior mirror device has reflection restricting means notched in a lower end of the interior mirror device to prevent a face of a passenger from being reflected, so that eyes of passengers seated in seats other than the driver's seat do not meet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Matsumoto
  • Microscope calibration apparatus and method and stage including calibration apparatus
    Patent number: 7848019
    Abstract: A stage for supporting a specimen slide and for calibrating a microscope includes a base and a calibration component integral with the base. The calibration component includes at least one calibration element for positional calibration and at least one calibration element for optical calibration. Calibration of the microscope can be performed without the need for independent calibration slides. The calibration component may be a glass calibration component or may be defined by a calibration element formed or etched through the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Cytyc Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Jennings
  • Microscope device
    Patent number: 7848017
    Abstract: A microscope device including a coherent light source, an illuminating optical system which has light beam splitting means that splits the coherent light source into light beams and phase-modulating means disposed near a pupil conjugate plane and adapted for modulating the phases of two of the light beams and projects illuminating light spatially modulated into an interference fringe structure by causing the two light beams to interfere with each other near the plane of a sample, an imaging optical system for forming an image of the sample with diffracted light, imaging means, and image processing means for creating a sample image by computation of the image captured by the imaging means each time the phase of the spatial modulation is modulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yumiko Ouchi, Hisao Osawa
  • Thin-film design for positive and/or negative C-plate
    Patent number: 7848020
    Abstract: Thin-film coatings, which for example have alternating layers of high and low refractive index materials, are shown to function as both positive and negative C-plates, in dependence upon the incident radiation. In particular, the shape of the retardance versus angle of incidence profile is found to be determined, at least in part, by the phase thickness of the thin film coating (i.e., the optical thickness in terms of the wavelength of the incident radiation, which may, for example, be expressed in degrees, radians, or as the number of quarter wavelengths). These thin film coatings are optionally integrated into anti-reflection coatings, thin film interference filters and/or other components to improve efficiency and/or functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Karen D. Hendrix, Kim L. Tan
  • Projection objective for lithography
    Patent number: 7835073
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a projection objective for lithography includes an optical arrangement of optical elements between an object plane and an image plane. The arrangement generally has at least one intermediate image plane, the arrangement further having at least two correction elements for correcting aberrations, of which a first correction element is arranged optically at least in the vicinity of a pupil plane and a second correction element is arranged in a region which is not optically near either a pupil plane or a field plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT AG
    Inventors: Heiko Feldmann, Susanne Beder, Aurelian Dodoc, Alexander Epple, Hans-Juergen Rostalski
  • Deep shadow occulter
    Patent number: 7828451
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for occulting light. The occulter shape suppresses diffraction at any given size or angle and is practical to build because it can be made binary to avoid scatter. Binary structures may be fully opaque or fully transmitting at specific points. The diffraction suppression is spectrally broad so that it may be used with incoherent white light. An occulter may also include substantially opaque inner portion and an at least partially transparent outer portion. Such occulters may be used on the ground to create a deep shadow in a short distance, or may be used in space to suppress starlight and reveal exoplanets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventor: Webster Cash
  • Adjustable sunshade assembly
    Patent number: 7828450
    Abstract: An apparatus for sun shielding for telescopic sights and binoculars incorporating a shutter mechanism to both protect the sighting system and to vary the light entering the sighting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventor: Lou Riley
  • Drive system useful in a night vision device
    Patent number: 7821707
    Abstract: A drive system for optical components particularly useful with night vision devices. The drive system uses a single motor to rotate a selected one of two components between its operative and inoperative positions while retaining the other component in its inoperative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Michael Neff
  • Optical properties restoration apparatus, the restoration method, and an optical system used in the apparatus
    Patent number: 7813036
    Abstract: An optical system includes a fluoride compound and has surfaces facing and exposed to plasma installed in an optical equipment which has an inner zone where the plasma exists. A 2 nm-20 nm protective film of a highly plasma-resistant material is formed on the surface of the fluoride compound that is exposed to the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sakai, Shigenori Tsuruga, Hideo Yamakoshi, Shizuma Kuribayashi, Minoru Danno, Hiroshi Futami, Noriko Yamazaki
  • Control of an automatic darkening filter
    Patent number: 7810937
    Abstract: A protective automatic darkening filter (ADF) and an associated tool, such as a welding torch, are controlled by a corresponding communication unit. The invention helps to ensure that the tool is not activated before the ADF has reached its dark state. A communication channel between the communication unit and the ADF may be established using a wired or wireless medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bengt Garbergs, Marcus Wiederkehr
  • Dispersive element, diffraction grating, color display device, demultiplexer, and diffraction grating manufacture
    Patent number: 7808704
    Abstract: In a transmission grating as a dispersive element, diffraction efficiency is enhanced and manufacturing costs are considerably reduced. A dispersive element includes resin members for forming a diffraction grating, being composed of a plurality of diffraction grating members having a cross-sectional shape respectively surrounded by two straight lines such as a triangular shape, and metal members as light-shielding members each being formed on corresponding one of the diffraction grating members at one side of the diffraction grating member along any of the straight line and the curved line of the cross-sectional shape of the diffraction grating member formed by the resin member. The metal members are configured to reduce zero-order transmitted light with respect to incident light, and to enhance diffraction efficiency of first-order transmitted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Taira, Daiju Nakano
  • Multilayer reflective film coated substrate, manufacturing method thereof, reflective mask blank, and reflective mask
    Patent number: 7804648
    Abstract: A multilayer reflective film coated substrate includes a multilayer under film comprised of Mo/Si alternately-layered films and a multilayer reflective film comprised of Mo/Si alternately-layered films for reflecting exposure light. The multilayer under film and the multilayer reflective film are formed on a substrate in this order. Given that a cycle length of the multilayer under film is d bottom (unit:nm) and a cycle length of the multilayer reflective film is d top (unit:nm), a relationship of a formula (1) is satisfied when d bottom>d top, the formula (1) given by (n+0.15)×d top?d bottom?(n+0.9)×d top where n is a natural number equal to or greater than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Morio Hosoya, Takeyuki Yamada, Akira Ikeda
  • Method for decomposition of a customized DOE for use with a single exposure into a set of multiple exposures using standard DOEs with optimized exposure settings
    Patent number: 7804646
    Abstract: A method of determining diffractive optical elements to be utilized in an imaging process. The method includes the steps of defining a customized diffractive optical element which is based on a target pattern to be printed during the imaging process; decomposing the customized diffractive optical element into one or more standard diffractive optical elements; and defining an exposure dose to be assigned to each of the one or more standard diffractive optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: ASML Masktools B.V.
    Inventors: Ting Chen, Jang Fung Chen
  • Microscope viewing device
    Patent number: 7800820
    Abstract: A microscope, e.g., a surgical microscope, includes an image generation device in the light path or light paths of the microscope. Images based on real-time or static data concerning the object in view, e.g., a patient's MRI data and/or parameters of one or more surgical instruments being used to operate on the patient, are projected into the microscope's light path so the surgeon does not need to look away from the surgical field and does not require other personnel to read outloud the settings and data from the machines being used in the surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: Richard Awdeh
  • Vehicle mirror having a light source
    Patent number: 7798659
    Abstract: A vehicle mirror comprises a lens, a reflective member disposed so as to receive light from the lens, and a support disposed so as to support the lens and the reflective member. A control system is connected to the reflective member and is effective to control the reflection of the reflective member. Various techniques are disclosed to control the reflection including the use of photochromic coatings, LCDs, and motor control assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Rosco Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Englander
  • Light transmitting electromagnetic wave shielding film, optical filter and plasma display panel
    Patent number: 7796327
    Abstract: To provide a light transmitting electromagnetic wave shielding film which achieves both of excellent electromagnetic wave shielding properties and an excellent near infrared ray cutting function. A light transmitting electromagnetic wave shielding film has a metallic silver part and a light transmitting part, which are formed by exposing an emulsion layer containing a silver salt emulsion formed on a support and then developing, wherein the light transmitting electromagnetic wave shielding film has infrared ray shielding properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotomo Sasaki
  • Member having antireflection structure
    Patent number: 7787184
    Abstract: A reflection of unnecessary light, which should be prevented, can be suppressed, and occurrence of stray light can be reduced using a member having an antireflection structure, comprising a plate-like portion 2, and an aperture portion 3 formed in the plate-like portion 2, wherein the antireflection structure having an aspect ratio of 1 or more and comprising structural elements arranged in an array form at a period smaller than the shortest wavelength of light, the reflection of which should be prevented, is formed on an inner wall 4 of the aperture portion 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Motonobu Yoshikawa, Keiki Yoshitsugu, Hiroaki Okayama, Yoshiharu Yamamoto, Kazutake Boku