Patents Examined by Kevin Pyo
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Patent number: 9565385Abstract: An imaging system has an imager comprising a plurality of jots. A readout circuit is in electrical communication with the imager. The readout circuit can be configured to facilitate the formation of an image by defining neighborhoods of the jots, wherein a local density of exposed jots within a neighborhood is used to generate a digital value for a pixel of the image.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Rambus Inc.Inventor: Eric R. Fossum
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Patent number: 9562808Abstract: A light receiving circuit includes a light receiving element, a first transistor that includes a control terminal which is connected to the light receiving element through a first node, a first terminal and a second terminal, a first load circuit that is connected between a power supply potential and a second node connected to the second terminal, and outputs a voltage signal to a third node, wherein the voltage signal is based on a current signal in the light receiving element, a first feedback resistor that is connected between the first node and the third node, a first limiter circuit that is connected in parallel with the first feedback resistor, and limits an increase of voltage at both ends of the first feedback resistor, and a first circuit that is connected between the second node and the reference potential, includes a second transistor which is diode-connected.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Masayuki Sugizaki, Shigeyuki Sakura, Toyoaki Uo
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Patent number: 9559239Abstract: A high-performance optical device is provided. An optical device includes a first transmitting portion that is disposed at the center of a predetermined area in a first substrate, a light-receiving portion that receives light passing through the first transmitting portion, N light-emitting portions (N is an integer of 2 or more) that are disposed around the first transmitting portion in the predetermined area, and a control circuit that controls the light-emitting portions. The control circuit is functionally divided into N control portions, namely, first to N-th control portions. The N control portions are disposed in areas overlapping the N light-emitting portions, respectively, when viewed from above. The optical device can reduce noise light and achieve a high S/N ratio, and also the sensitivity of the optical device can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Gakuji Yamamoto
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Patent number: 9557521Abstract: An optical guide system is provided for guiding an optical lens along an optical axis of the guide system. The optical guide system has a guide housing for accommodating a guide carriage, wherein an inner guide surface thereof extends along the optical axis. The guide carriage is arranged within the guide housing, movably between a start position and an end position and suitably to secure the at least one optical lens. The guide carriage also has a sliding element which is in contact with the inner guide surface of the guide housing and which enables sliding of the guide carriage. The optical guide system also has a suspension element which is connected to the guide carriage and by means of which the guide carriage is mechanically coupled to a drive.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Trimble Jena GmbHInventors: Matthias Nowak, Wolfgang Hahn
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Patent number: 9553216Abstract: A method of operating an avalanche photodiode includes providing an avalanche photodiode having a multiplication region capable of amplifying an electric current when subject to an electric field. The multiplication region, in operation, has a first ionization rate for electrons and a second, different, ionization rate for holes. The method also includes applying the electric field to the multiplication region, receiving a current output from the multiplication region, and varying the electric field in time, whereby a portion of the current output is suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Voxtel, Inc.Inventors: George Williams, Andrew S. Huntington
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Patent number: 9554073Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises a first signal transfer block comprising first through (M)-th aligning blocks that are cascade-coupled to produce first aligned control signals through (M)-th aligned control signals, respectively, by aligning first control signals with a clock signal, wherein M is an integer greater than one, and a functional block divided into first through (M)-th sub-functional blocks configured to perform a same function in parallel, each of the first through (M)-th sub-functional blocks operating according to corresponding ones of the first aligned control signals through (M)-th aligned control signals generated by the first through (M)-th aligning blocks.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Eun-Young Jin, Kyo-Jin Choo, Yu-Jin Park, Han-Kook Cho
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Patent number: 9554074Abstract: A readout circuit for use in an image sensor includes a sense amplifier circuit coupled to a bitline to sense analog image data from a pixel cell of the image sensor. An analog to digital converter is coupled to the sense amplifier circuit to convert the analog image data to digital image data. A ramp generator circuit is coupled to generate a first ramp signal. The analog to digital converter is coupled to generate the digital image data in response to the analog image data and the first ramp signal. A first capacitive voltage divider is coupled to the ramp generator. The first capacitive voltage divider is coupled to reduce an output voltage swing of the first ramp signal coupled to be received by the analog to digital converter to reduce noise in the first ramp signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2015Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Liang Zuo, Zhiqiang Song, Liping Deng
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Patent number: 9536919Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate provided with an effective pixel region including a light receiving section that photoelectrically converts incident light; an interconnection layer that is provided at a plane side opposite to the light receiving plane of the semiconductor substrate; a first groove portion that is provided between adjacent light receiving sections and is formed at a predetermined depth from the light receiving plane side of the semiconductor substrate; and an insulating material that is embedded in at least a part of the first groove portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2016Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Atsushi Kawashima, Katsunori Hiramatsu, Yasufumi Miyoshi
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Patent number: 9537027Abstract: The invention relates to quantum dot and photodetector technology, and more particularly, to quantum dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs) and focal plane array. The invention further relates to devices and methods for the enhancement of the photocurrent of quantum dot infrared photodetectors in focal plane arrays.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: University of MassachusettsInventors: Xuejun Lu, Guiru Gu, Puminun Vasinajindakaw
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Patent number: 9529079Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system can emit light toward an environment and detect responsively reflected light to determine a distance to one or more points in the environment. The reflected light can be detected by a plurality of plurality of photodiodes that are reverse-biased using a high voltage. Signals from the plurality of reverse-biased photodiodes can be amplified by respective transistors and applied to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The signal from a particular photodiode can be applied to the ADC by biasing a respective transistor corresponding to the particular photodiode while not biasing transistors corresponding to other photodiodes. The gain of each photodiode/transistor pair can be controlled by adjusting the bias voltage applied to each photodiode using a digital-to-analog converter. The gain of each photodiode/transistor pair can be controlled based on the detected temperature of each photodiode.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Pierre Yves Droz, Samuel William Lenius
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Patent number: 9530904Abstract: A sensor assembly for a flame sensor apparatus includes a photodiode that generates a current. The sensor assembly includes a seal assembly supporting the photodiode. The seal assembly includes an inner conductor defining an inner conductor end. The inner conductor includes an inner conductor surface disposed at the inner conductor end. The photodiode is attached to the inner conductor end of the inner conductor and to a middle conductor end of a middle conductor. The photodiode is electrically connected to the inner conductor surface. The seal assembly is triaxial so as to protect the current generated by the photodiode. The seal assembly withstands temperatures up to or greater than about 325° C. The seal assembly forms a hermetic barrier that, with the photodiode supported within a sealed volume, limits the passage of materials/gases through the seal assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2014Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Joseph Cleary Blakemore, Troy David Hazelton
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Patent number: 9520426Abstract: A vision sensor chip includes a photoelectric conversion element that generates a current based on an incident light, a current-voltage (I-V) converter that converts the current into a voltage, an AC coupling capacitor directly connected to the I-V converter, an open-loop amplifier that includes a reset switch and amplifies a voltage provided by the I-V converter via the AC coupling capacitor. An event detection block detects motion according to a change in the amplified output voltage and generates first and second detection signals. A reset signal generator generates a reset signal controlling operation of the reset switch in response to first and second control signals respectively related to the first and second detection signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Moo Young Kim, Yun Hong Kim, Seok Yong Hong, Tae Chan Kim, Jae Cheol Yun
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Patent number: 9519051Abstract: An optoelectronic device has a first component provided to generate radiation, a second component provided to receive radiation, a connection board and a frame. The first component and the second component are arranged on the connection board. The frame is arranged on the connection board. The first component is arranged in a first opening in the frame. The second component is arranged in a second opening in the frame. The first opening and the second opening extend from a main face of the frame opposite the connection board in the direction of the connection board. The main face between the first opening and the second opening has an intermediate region, in which a reflection of radiation incident on the main face is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbHInventor: Hubert Halbritter
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Patent number: 9515618Abstract: In one embodiment, a femtowatt sensitivity optical detector is provided using one or more photodiodes, intended as a replacement for the photomultiplier based photon counting unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Theranos, Inc.Inventors: Karan Mohan, Marcelo Martinez
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Patent number: 9506802Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical sensor module, an optical sensing accessory, and an optical sensing device. An optical sensor module comprises a light source, a photodetector, and a substrate. The light source is configured to convert electric power into radiant energy and emit light to an object surface. The photodetector is configured to receive the light from an object surface and convert radiant energy into electrical current or voltage. An optical sensing accessory and an optical sensing device comprise the optical sensor module and other electronic modules to have further applications.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2016Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Taiwan Biophotonic CorporationInventors: Chang-Sheng Chu, Yu-Tang Li, Yeh-Wen Lee, Chih-Hsun Fan, Lung-Pin Chung, Jyh-Chern Chen, Shuang-Chao Chung
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Patent number: 9508879Abstract: An apparatus according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a substrate, at least one semiconductor light-detector on the substrate and an optical waveguide on the substrate. The optical waveguide is configured to guide light to the at least one light-detector, one or more vias in a surface of the substrate or one or more ridges on the surface of the substrate. The one or more vias or ridges are configured to at least partially interrupt light propagating along the surface toward the at least one semiconductor light-detector from outside the optical waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2013Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Alcatel LucentInventors: Po Dong, Young-Kai Chen
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Patent number: 9503016Abstract: A solar panel unit (10) includes a control unit (73) which operates an actuator (41) such that an angle of a solar panel (20) coincides with a predetermined command angle. The control unit (73) performs reset control for resetting the angle of the solar panel (20) misaligned due to strong wind. In the reset control, the actuator (41) is not operated until a predetermined time has passed since the angle of the solar panel (20) was misaligned to wait for the strong wind to stop, and then the actuator (41) is operated to reset the angle of the solar panel (20).Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Daikan Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Toshiyuki Sakai, Tetsuya Matsuura, Yoshitaka Yasui
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Patent number: 9500585Abstract: A photometer and associated method includes a source of radiation to be directed through a sample and a detector stage configured to measure radiation after passing through the sample. A voltage follower circuit is connected to the detector and is configured to provide an output signal which varies as a function of the detector output voltage and which varies as a function of the ambient temperature. A processing subsystem is configured to determine a temperature compensation factor from the voltage follower circuit output signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Spectro Scientific, Inc.Inventors: David B. Chamberlin, Michael Edward Glowinski, Donald Stanton Lavery
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Patent number: 9500519Abstract: The present invention provides a device and system for high-efficiency and low-noise detection of single photons within the visible and infrared spectrum. In certain embodiments, the device of the invention can be integrated within photonic circuits to provide on-chip photon detection. The device comprises a traveling wave design comprising a waveguide layer and a superconducting nanowire atop of the waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Yale UniversityInventors: Hongxing Tang, Wolfram Pernice, Carsten Schuck
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Patent number: 9494462Abstract: A circuit includes a first photo detector and a second photo detector to receive a first and second light input signal, respectfully, to generate a first current output signal and second current output signal respectively in response to the respective light input signals. A current multiplier stage receives the second current output signal from the second photo detector to generate a multiplied current output signal that is greater than the magnitude of the second current output signal. A differential multiplier having a first current path receives a portion of the multiplied current output signal and a second current path that receives another portion of the multiplied current output signal. The first current path is in series with the first current output signal to facilitate balancing of currents between the first current output signal of the first photo detector and the second current output signal of the second photo detector.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventor: Robert C. Griffith