Patents Examined by L. G. Lauchman
  • Patent number: 8659755
    Abstract: The present teachings provide for systems, and components thereof, for detecting and/or analyzing light. These systems can include, among others, optical reference standards utilizing luminophores, such as nanocrystals, for calibrating, validating, and/or monitoring light-detection systems, before, during, and/or after sample analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventors: J. Michael Phillips, Kevin S. Bodner, Aldrich N. K. Lau, Steven J. Boege, Mark F. Oldham, Donald R. Sandell, David H. Tracy
  • Patent number: 8437000
    Abstract: An illustrative cavity ring down gas sensor includes an optical cavity for receiving a gas to be detected and at least two electromagnetic radiation sources. The first electromagnetic radiation source may emit a first beam of light having a wavelength corresponding to an absorption wavelength of the gas to be detected, and the second electromagnetic radiation source may emit a second beam of light having a second wavelength that is off of an absorption wavelength of the gas to be detected. The first beam of light may detect a cavity ring down time decay, which is related to the concentration of the gas to be detected. The second beam of light may be used to detect a baseline cavity ring down time decay, which may be used to help increase the accuracy of the sensor by, for example, helping to compensate the concentration of the gas detected by the first beam of light for sensor variations caused by, for example, sensor age, temperature or pressure changes, and/or other conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Barrett E. Cole, Terry Marta, James Allen Cox, Fouad Nusseibeh
  • Patent number: 8427656
    Abstract: A system (100) for scanning a three-dimensional object (150) comprises a device for illuminating a plane (110); an imaging sensor (120); and a transparent container (130) for immersing the object (150) in a participating medium (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foderung der Wissenschaften E.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Hullin, Martin Fuchs, Ivo Ihrke, Hendrik Lensch, Hans-Peter Seidel
  • Patent number: 8027034
    Abstract: In a spectroscopy module 1, a light detecting element 5 having a light passing hole 50 is used. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the relative positional relationship between the light passing hole 50 and a light detecting portion 5a of the light detecting element 5 from deviating. Moreover, the light detecting element 5 is electrically connected to a wiring 9 formed on a front plane 2a of a substrate 2 by face-down bonding, and a resin layer 79 is formed as an underfill resin between the substrate 2 and the light detecting element 5. Therefore, it is possible to improve the fixing strength between the substrate 2 and the light detecting element 5. Additionally, before the resin layer 79 is formed, a resin layer 78 is formed along a guide portion 77 that surrounds the passing hole 50. Thus, the resin layer 79 is prevented from penetrating into the light passing hole 50, which makes it possible to make a light be appropriately incident into the substrate 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Katsumi Shibayama, Tomofumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8018590
    Abstract: A system includes an optical sensor that optically measures and spatially resolves in three dimensions at least one chemical species within a flame produced by a device and a component that correlates the three dimensionally measured at least one chemical species to at least one parameter of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Keith Robert McManus
  • Patent number: 8018581
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for analyzing milk in a field, capable of analyzing the quality of milk by rapidly and easily examining components of milk in a field, other than a laboratory. To manage the quality of milk, a monochromator using an interference filter having different wavelength bands is employed to the apparatus for analyzing milk, and the amount of milk samples used at one time is increased, so components of milk are simultaneously examined. The apparatus for analyzing milk has a portable structure, so the components of milk are simply, rapidly and easily determined in the field, and the apparatus for analyzing milk is inexpensive as compared with existing apparatuses, thereby increasing the productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Republic of Korea (Management: Rural Development Administration)
    Inventors: Hyun Seob Kim, Sang Bum Kim, Kwang Sook Ki, Hyun June Lee, Won Mo Cho
  • Patent number: 8013993
    Abstract: In a spectroscopy module 1, a light passing hole 50 through which a light L1 advancing to a spectroscopic portion 4 passes is formed in a light detecting element 5. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the relative positional relationship between the light passing hole 50 and a light detecting portion 5a of the light detecting element 5 from deviating. Moreover, the light detecting element 5 is bonded to a front plane 2a of a substrate 2 with an optical resin adhesive 63. Thus, it is possible to reduce a stress generated onto the light detecting element 5 due to a thermal expansion difference between the light detecting element 5 and the substrate 2. Additionally, the light transmissive plate 16 covers a part of a light incident opening 50a. Thus, a light incident side surface 63a of the optical resin adhesive 63 becomes a substantially flat plane in the light passing hole 50. Therefore, it is possible to make the light L1 appropriately incident into the substrate 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Katsumi Shibayama, Tomofumi Suzuki, Takafumi Yokino, Anna Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8009278
    Abstract: Computer program products comprising tangible computer-readable media having instructions that are executable by a computer to generate a customized spectral profile, which can be used to generate a corresponding filter. The instructions can comprise: generating a trial source spectrum; determining an uncorrected lamp source spectrum; calculating one or more optical indices using the trial source spectrum or the uncorrected lamp source spectrum; and optimizing one or more of the optical indices by varying the trial source spectrum to generate the customized spectral profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventor: Carl W. Dirk
  • Patent number: 7999938
    Abstract: This application describes designs, implementations, and techniques for controlling propagation mode or modes of light in a common optical path, which may include one or more waveguides, to sense a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Tomophase Corporation
    Inventor: Feiling Wang
  • Patent number: 7995200
    Abstract: An analyzer in which optical measurement is performed with respect to a sample placed in optically transparent cells of an analysis tool includes a light source unit, a light-receiving unit, a tray on which the tool is placed, and a drive mechanism for driving the tray. The tray includes a holding section that holds the tool in a predetermined position. The drive mechanism reciprocates the tray between a first position where the tool placed on the tray is exposed to the outside of the analyzer and a second position where the tool is accommodated inside the analyzer. The light source unit is disposed so that emitted light is incident on a cell of the tool when the tray is located in the second position. The light-receiving unit is disposed so as to receive light transmitted through the cell when the tray is located in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Arkray, Inc.
    Inventor: Daisuke Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7995194
    Abstract: Detection and characterization of immunologically detected substances are performed electronically on human and animal biological fluids such as whole blood, serum, plasma, urine, milk, pleural and peritoneal fluids, and semen, which fluids are contained in a thin chamber forming a quiescent fluid sample, which chamber has at least two parallel planar walls, at least one of which is transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Abbott Point of Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Wardlaw, Robert A. Levine
  • Patent number: 7978321
    Abstract: Methods and devices for angle determination, and retroreflecting foils are presented. A retroreflecting foil (1) is arranged at a surface, an angle of which is going to be determined. The retroreflecting foil has a lens surface with a plurality of spherical microlenses (4) and a reflecting surface with a plurality of spherical mirrors (5) of a second main radius of curvature. The lens surface of the retroreflecting foil is illuminated, and transitions between darkness and light in radiation reflected from the retroreflecting foil, either upon changing a relative angle between the retroreflecting foil and the illuminating light or spatial transitions over the surface of the retroreflecting foil, are observed. An angle measure associated with the transitions is determined. The spherical mirrors present preferably at least one inner point (22) of a spherical mirror surface at which reflection according to the second main radius of curvature is prohibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Rolling Optics AB
    Inventor: Axel Lundvall
  • Patent number: 7978317
    Abstract: A miniaturized spectrometer/spectrophotometer system and methods are disclosed. A probe tip including one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers is provided. A first spectrometer system receives light from a first set of the plurality of light receivers. A second spectrometer system receives light from a second set of the plurality of light receivers. A processor, wherein the processor receives data generated by the first spectrometer system and the second spectrometer system, wherein an optical measurement of a sample under test is produced based on the data generated by the first and second spectrometer systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Vita Zahnfabrik H. Rauter GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wayne D. Jung, Russell W. Jung, Walter W. Sloan, Alan R. Loudermilk
  • Patent number: 7973914
    Abstract: A physical quantity measuring apparatus utilizing optical frequency domain reflectometry includes a tunable laser; a first polarization maintaining fiber; a polarization maintaining coupler; a second polarization maintaining fiber; a third polarization maintaining fiber; a sensor consists of a fiber Bragg grating formed in a core of the third polarization maintaining fiber; a fourth polarization maintaining fiber; a photodiode detects Bragg reflected light from the sensor and reference light from the referential reflecting end; a controller that detects modulation of an interference intensity between the Bragg reflected light and the reference light; and an incidence part that inputs the measuring light, wherein the incidence part being provided on the first polarization maintaining fiber or on both the second polarization maintaining fiber and the third polarization maintaining fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Omichi, Akira Sakamoto, Shunichirou Hirafune
  • Patent number: 7973930
    Abstract: A spectroscopic ellipsometer can compare data different in a measurement condition and facilitate setting an initial value of fitting data even for an inexperienced operator such as a beginner. The spectroscopic ellipsometer includes a reference data storage part storing therein reference data to be compared with measurement data, a conversion operation part converting the measurement data or the reference data into comparable data, so that the measurement data can be compared with the reference data, and a comparison and determination part comparing the measurement data with the reference data made comparable by the conversion operation part with each other and determining a coincidence between the measurement data and the reference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: HORIBA, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7969572
    Abstract: A particle monitor system that can detect fine particles in a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate processing apparatus has a chamber in which a substrate is housed and subjected to processing, a dry pump that exhausts gas out of the chamber, and a bypass line that communicates the chamber and the dry pump together. The particle monitor system has a laser light oscillator that irradiates laser light toward a space in which the particles may be present, and a laser power measurement device that is disposed on an optical path of the laser light having passed through the space and measures the energy of the laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Moriya, Takashi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 7965390
    Abstract: A system which automatically reduces change in effective angle and plane of incidence of a reflected focused beam of electromagnetic radiation entering a detector, via use of a detector with dimensions less than is the spatial spread of a reflected focused beam at a location distal to the location on said sample from which it is caused to reflect, preferably after passing through a collimating lens. The basis of operation is that the portion of a reflected focused beam intercepted by the detector changes with change in sample position and/or orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Martin M. Liphardt
  • Patent number: 7961315
    Abstract: Enhancement of fluorescence emission from fluorophores bound to a sample and present on the surface of two-dimensional photonic crystals is described. The enhancement of fluorescence is achieved by the combination of high intensity near-fields and strong coherent scattering effects, attributed to leaky photonic crystal eigenmodes (resonance modes). The photonic crystal simultaneously exhibits resonance modes which overlap both the absorption and emission wavelengths of the fluorophore. A significant enhancement in fluorescence intensity from the fluorophores on the photonic crystal surface is demonstrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Brian T. Cunningham, Nikhil Ganesh, Patrick C. Mathias, Ian D. Block
  • Patent number: 7956998
    Abstract: A method for polarmetric analysis of scattering media. A first step involves directing stimulus from a linearly polarized stimulus source at a sample. A second step involves directing the stimulus coming from the sample through a collimating system into a polarization segregation unit which causes the stimulus to be segregated into a linearly polarized unscattered component and a depolarized scattered component. A third step involves quantification of scattering processes through computationally comparing the unscattered component and the scattered component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: James Plant
  • Patent number: RE42822
    Abstract: A modified concentric spectrograph for diffracting light with high stray light rejection without astigmatism is provided. The modified spectrograph includes a grating, a lens, and at least one entrance port and one exit port. The grating has a concave surface and a meridian plane with a first side and a second side. The lens has a substantially planar surface and a convex surface. Preferably, the convex and concave surfaces are substantially concentric. The ports are substantially located on different sides of the meridian plane near a focal plane of the spectrograph. The position of a focal plane may be modified using an optically transmissive triangular prism with a reflective surface, and an optically transmissive block. The position of a focal plane may further be modified with one or more optically transmissive plates. Methods for using the spectrograph are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Horiba Jobin-Yvon, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren S. Slutter, Wu Jiang, Alain F. R. Thevenon, Viviane D. Millet, Jeremy J. Goldstone