Patents Examined by Maurice Smith
-
Patent number: 9377376Abstract: A test apparatus for electro-optical printed circuit boards having optical waveguides comprises a control device, a beamer and a camera, which can be positioned in such a way that light emitted by the beamer can be coupled by means of a first deflecting element to optical waveguides of the circuit board and can be coupled out by means of a second deflecting element into the field of vision of the camera. The beamer is used in a first phase to determine the position for each deflecting mirror of the first deflecting element which a light spot needs to assume in the image projected by the beamer so that the light spot illuminates the deflecting mirror. The beamer is used in a second phase to illuminate at least one deflecting mirror and to carry out the testing of the optical waveguide associated with the at least one deflecting mirror.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2014Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: VARIO-OPTICS AGInventors: Felix Betschon, Stefan Beyer, David Bischof, Markus Halter, Johannes Kremmel, Tobias Lamprecht, Markus Michler
-
Patent number: 9377359Abstract: An optical measuring system and a method for gas detection, the optical measuring system including a light emitter and at least one light detector arranged in at least one housing, wherein the light emitter emits a modulated main light beam with a mean wave length ?0 with a modulation span ??. At least one opto-mechanical component, e.g. a housing window including optically effective boundary surfaces, is arranged between the light emitter and the light detector and causes scatter light beams which interfere with the main light beam so that self-mixing occurs and/or etalons are caused. According to the invention the at least one opto-mechanical component is arranged relative to the light emitter and/or the light detector at an optimized distance L which is a function of the wave length ?0 and the modulation span ?? of the main light beam.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2015Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Axetris AGInventors: Andreas Wittmann, Marc-Oliver Zufferey, Urs Boegli, Kai Hassler
-
Patent number: 9364071Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring spectra and other optical characteristics such as colors, translucence, gloss, and other characteristics of objects and materials such as skin. Instruments and methods for measuring spectra and other optical characteristics of skin or other translucent or opaque objects utilize an abridged spectrophotometer and improved calibration/normalization methods. Improved linearization methods also are provided, as are improved classifier-based algorithms. User control is provided via a graphical user interface. Product or product formulations to match the measured skin or other object or to transform the skin or other object are provided to lighten, darken, make more uniform and the like.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: SPECTRAL SENSORS INC.Inventors: Wayne D Jung, Russell W. Jung, Walter W Sloan, Paresh Patel, Alan R Loudermilk, Joseph Dale Martens
-
Patent number: 9366633Abstract: Multiple functional systems are integrated to configure a portable handheld decision-aid device for first responder medics. Fuzzy membership functions of “life” and “death” are used to determine the status of fallen people using remote measurements. EO/IR cameras can be used to detect and identify casualties in a mass injury situation, while also estimating body temperature. Using the temperature, along with the remote estimation of a second vital sign, the life membership proportion can be estimated from the ground truth by using a 2D projection of stable vital signs. The other fuzzy membership function, death, can be estimated by the presence or absence of peri-mortem and post-mortem molecules. These molecules are only released after death and provide a certain indication of death. Solid state UV laser resonance Raman backscattering from these molecules allows the device to analyze the molecules present in a plume around the casualty.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMYInventors: Harold H. Szu, Lein W. Ma, James A. Hutchinson
-
Patent number: 9366571Abstract: Apparatus and methods can include an optical waveguide coupled to a photonic crystal comprising a dielectric material, the photonic crystal located on an exterior surface of the optical waveguide and comprising a first surface including a first array of periodic features on or within the dielectric material, the array extending in at least two dimensions and including an effective dielectric permittivity different from the surrounding dielectric material. In an example, the periodic features include a specified lattice constant, the periodic features configured to extract a portion of propagating optical energy from the waveguide through the photonic crystal, the portion determined at least in part by the specified lattice constant.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New YorkInventors: Nadia Pervez, Ioannis Kymissis, Zhang Jia, Marshall Cox
-
Patent number: 9360434Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical inspection apparatus that suppresses an influence of quantum noise and obtains superior defect detection performance even when an amount of light is small and a method thereof. In order to resolve the above problem, the present invention provides an optical inspection apparatus that includes a light source which radiates light to a sample; a light interference device which causes target light transmitted, scattered, or reflected from the sample and reference light to interfere with each other, such that strength of light after the interference becomes lower than strength of the target light; a photon counter which measures a photon number of the light after the interference by the light interference device; and a defect identifier which identifies the presence or absence of a defect, on the basis of a detected photon number obtained by the photon counter.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Nakahira, Toshifumi Honda
-
Patent number: 9360302Abstract: A measurement unit comprising a light source and a photodetector may be formed in a cavity in a substrate. The light source produces light that impinges a material layer and is reflected back to the photodetector. Through methods such as interferometry and ellipsometry, the thickness of the material layer may be calculated from the light intensity data measured by the photodetector. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventors: Earl Jensen, Kevin O'Brien, Farhat Quli, Mei Sun
-
Patent number: 9360367Abstract: A handheld LIBS spectrometer includes an optics stage movably mounted to a housing and including a laser focusing lens and a detection lens. One or more motors advance and retract the optics stage, move the optics stage left and right, and/or move the optics stage up and down. A laser source in the housing is oriented to direct a laser beam to the laser focusing lens. A spectrometer subsystem in the housing is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from the detection lens and to provide an output. A controller subsystem is responsive to the output of the spectrometer subsystem and is configured to control the laser source and motors. In this way, auto-calibration, auto-clean, and auto-focus, and/or moving spot functionality is possible.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2014Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: SciAps, Inc.Inventors: David R. Day, Konstantin Derman, John Francis Egan, Paul Edward Soucy
-
Patent number: 9335156Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method for the nondestructive testing, using laser ultrasonics, of a composite part having a fibrous reinforcement in a resin that optically scatters the laser, includes: a) taking a measurement of the thickness of the resin of the part on the surface that is illuminated during the laser shot, which is capable of generating a thermoelastic effect in said resin and which is referred to as an ultrasonic laser shot; b) adjusting the power of the laser of said ultrasonic shot on the basis of the thickness measurement carried out in step a) so as to eliminate any risk of a flash on the reinforcements; and c) producing the ultrasonic laser shot at the power determined during step b). The device used for implementing the method comprises a combined photoacoustic imaging and low time-coherence interferometry (OCT) system.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S.)Inventors: Benjamin Campagne, Franck Bentouhami
-
Patent number: 9335166Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for monitoring hot waste water discharged from a power plant by using an airborne multispectral scanner system. The apparatus includes a first detector including a first image data collecting unit to obtain first image data and a liquid-phase nitrogen storing tank used to cool an image obtaining sensor, a second detector including a second image data collecting unit to obtain second image data, and a liquid-phase nitrogen storing tank used to cool an image obtaining sensor, a controller to process the first and second image data obtained by the first detector and the second detector, respectively, and an auxiliary liquid-phase nitrogen tank separated from the liquid-phase nitrogen storing tank. The auxiliary liquid-phase nitrogen tank complements liquid-phase nitrogen for cooling.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral ResourcesInventors: Jong-Gyu Han, Ki-Sung Sung, Sung-Soon Lee, Yeong-Kwang Yeon
-
Patent number: 9335161Abstract: A rotation angle measuring device provided with a fixed unit and a movable unit relatively rotating with respect to the fixed unit, comprising a light source installed on either one of the fixed unit or the movable unit and for emitting a detection light and a reference position signal light, a polarizing plate for converting a detection light emitted from the light source to a polarized light, a polarized light rotating unit for rotating the polarized light around an optical axis of the light source as the center, a reference position signal light emitted at a reference rotating position of the polarized light, a stationary polarizing plate provided on either one of the fixed unit or the movable unit and to stand still with respect to a rotation of the polarized light, a photodetection sensor provided on the fixed unit or on the movable unit and for receiving the polarized light passing through the stationary polarizing plate and the reference position signal light, and an arithmetic unit for calculating a dType: GrantFiled: August 26, 2014Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCONInventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Kaoru Kumagai
-
Patent number: 9329119Abstract: A speed reducer for an industrial robot includes a speed reducer main body and a lubricant deterioration sensor for detecting deterioration of a lubricant in the speed reducer main body. The lubricant deterioration sensor includes a light emitting element for emitting light, a color light receiving element for detecting a color of received light, a clearance forming member forming an oil clearance in which the lubricant enters, and a support member supporting the light emitting element, the color light receiving element, and the clearance forming member. The clearance forming member is transmissive so that the light emitted from the light emitting element transmits therethrough. The oil clearance is provided on an optical path from the light emitting element to the color light receiving element.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2011Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATIONInventors: Takuya Shirata, Kenichi Fujimoto
-
Patent number: 9316488Abstract: A system includes an emitter of electromagnetic radiation combined to the object and aligned with a detector for detecting the electromagnetic radiation from the emitter. A processor in communication with the detector is calibrated to recognize a change in alignment between the electromagnetic radiation from the emitter and the detector. The processor translates the change in alignment to the amount of force applied to the object.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Softronics, Ltd.Inventor: Robert H. Sternowski
-
Patent number: 9310307Abstract: High-speed data processing is achieved by measuring spectral data using a multivariate analysis. This is accomplished by a determining sampling intervals or sampling data to be used in the multivariate analysis, obtaining a spectral data group of the determined sampling intervals, and carrying out the multivariate analysis using the obtained spectral data group.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koichi Tanji
-
Patent number: 9310187Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a dividing unit configured to divide light from a light source into reference light and measurement light; a first dichroic mirror arranged in a measurement optical path for guiding the measurement light to an object to be examined; a second dichroic mirror arranged in a reference optical path for guiding the reference light to a reference object; and a light receiving unit configured to receive interference light between the measurement light passing through the first dichroic mirror and the reference light passing through the second dichroic mirror.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2015Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomasz Bajraszewski, Hirofumi Yoshida, Marek Różański, Maciej Szkulmowski
-
Patent number: 9297644Abstract: Device for detecting the position of at least a first and a second hand of an electromechanical watch, said first and second hands moving above a dial, the detection device including a single light source emitting a light beam towards the first and second hands, and a first and a second light detection system, the light source and the first and second light detection systems being mounted on or underneath the dial, the light source and the first and second light detection systems being arranged so that, in a determined position of the first hand, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the first hand towards the first detection system, and in a determined position of the second hand, the light beam emitted by the light source is reflected by the second hand towards the second detection system.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2014Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development LtdInventors: Pierpasquale Tortora, Simon Springer
-
Patent number: 9297997Abstract: An optical module includes a fixed reflection film, a movable reflection film, a first driver having a plurality of sub-drivers that can be driven independently of each other via voltage application in a plan view, a second driver that changes the dimension of a gap between the fixed reflection film and the movable reflection film, and a voltage controller that applies first drive voltages to the sub-drivers and applies a second drive voltage to the second driver, and the voltage controller applies a first drive voltage set for each of the sub-drivers in accordance with parallelism between the fixed reflection film and the movable reflection film at the time when the dimension of the gap is changed.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Akira Sano
-
Patent number: 9297749Abstract: A device and method for identifying solid and liquid materials use near-infrared transmission spectroscopy combined with multivariate calibration methods for analysis of the spectral data. Near-infrared transmission spectroscopy is employed within either the 700-1100 nm or the 900-1700 nm wavelength range to identify solid or liquid materials and determine whether they match specific known materials. Uses include identifying solid (including powdered) and liquid materials with a fast measurement cycle time of about 2 to 15 seconds and with a method that requires no sample preparation, as well as quantitative analysis to determine the concentration of one or more chemical components in a solid or liquid sample that consists of a mixture of components. A primary application of such analysis includes detection of counterfeit drug tablets, capsules and liquid medications.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: Innovative Science Tools, Inc.Inventors: Ronald H Micheels, Don J Lee
-
Patent number: 9285275Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for measuring the spectral intensity and phase of a light pulse having an arbitrary time duration. The apparatus includes: a nonlinear mixing means for generating a signal light pulse expressed by the following Formula (? denotes an operator representing general nonlinear mixing, and ? denotes a coefficient which is proportional to a nonlinear susceptibility in the nonlinear mixing) by nonlinearly mixing a reference light pulse having an electric field Er(t??) delayed by an optical delay means and a measurement target light pulse having an electric field E0(t); and Er(t??)+?Er(t??)?E0(t) an imaging spectrum device for spectrally splitting the signal light pulse and outputting a Fourier transform signal expressed by the following Formula (F denotes a symbol indicating Fourier transform, * denotes a complex conjugate, and R denotes a symbol indicating a real part), |F[Er(t??)]|2+|?F[Er(t??)?E0(t)]|2+2R{?F[Er(t??)]*·F[Er(t??)?E0(t)]}.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2013Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: INTER-UNIVERSITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE CORPORATION NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF NATURAL SCIENCESInventors: Takao Fuji, Yutaka Nomura
-
Patent number: 9285270Abstract: A spectroscopic module 1 is provided with a spectroscopic unit 8 and a photodetector 9 in addition to a spectroscopic unit 7 and a photodetector 4 and thus can enhance its detection sensitivity for light in a wide wavelength range or different wavelength regions of light. A light-transmitting hole 4b is disposed between light detecting portions 4a, 9a, while a reflection unit 6 is provided so as to oppose a region R in a light-absorbing substrate 2, whereby the size can be kept from becoming larger. Ambient light La is absorbed by the region R in the substrate 2. Any part of the light La transmitted through the region R in the substrate 2 is reflected to the region R by the unit 6 formed so as to oppose the region R, whereby stray light can be inhibited from being caused by the incidence of the light La.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2011Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.Inventors: Katsumi Shibayama, Takafumi Yokino