Patents Examined by Monica T Taba
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Patent number: 11624811Abstract: An apparatus for increasing a lidar sensing distance may include a controller having a signal processor to process a noise signal. In particular, the signal processor includes: an amplifier which amplifies the noise signal, a comparator which is connected to the amplifier and receives the amplified noise signal to compare the amplified noise signal with a threshold, a digital-to-analog converter which inputs the threshold to the comparator, and an analog-to-digital converter which is connected between the amplifier and the comparator and receives the amplified noise signal from the amplifier to input the received amplified noise signal to the controller. The controller may control the digital-to-analog converter on the basis of the amplified noise signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.Inventor: Young-Kyun Kim
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Patent number: 11624901Abstract: A method and system for autofocusing an objective lens in a microscope system are disclosed. A decentered aperture is disposed in an optical path between an objective lens and an image plane of an image capturing device and a plurality of reference images are captured. Each reference image is captured when the objective lens is positioned at a corresponding z-position of a plurality of z-positions along an axis of travel of the objective lens and the optical path is at least partially occluded by the decentered aperture. At least one reference image of the plurality of the reference images is associated with a best focus position. The plurality of reference images are analyzed to develop a plurality of pattern locations, wherein each pattern location represents a position of a pattern formed on the image plane when a corresponding reference image was captured. The objective lens is positioned in accordance with the best focus position and the plurality of pattern locations.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: MOLECULAR DEVICES, LLCInventor: Matthew Chan
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Patent number: 11619762Abstract: An optical module includes a beam-tilting light source enclosure. The enclosure is coupled to a substrate that includes a light emitter connected thereto. The enclosure has a geometry such that the enclosure has a first surface configured to couple substantially flat to the substrate and a second surface tilted with respect to the first surface and configured to couple substantially flat to a component of an electronic device through which the light is to project. The enclosure is optically transmissive and covers the light source when coupled to the substrate. In this way, the enclosure may be assembled and used in the electronic device by coupling the first surface to the substrate and coupling the second surface to the component.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2022Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Michael K. McCord, Mehmet Mutlu, Ryan J. Linderman
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Patent number: 11614359Abstract: There is provided a circuit to improve the sensing efficiency of pixels that uses the induction effect of a capacitor to duplicate a voltage deviation caused by additional electrons and uses a circuit to cancel out the voltage deviation during reading pixel data thereby improving the sensing efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.Inventors: Kuan Tang, Yi-Cheng Chiu, Chia-Chi Kuo, Jui-Te Chiu, Han-Chi Liu
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Patent number: 11592330Abstract: There is provided a circuit to improve the sensing efficiency of pixels that uses the induction effect of a capacitor to duplicate a voltage deviation caused by additional electrons and uses a circuit to cancel out the voltage deviation during reading pixel data thereby improving the sensing efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.Inventors: Kuan Tang, Yi-Cheng Chiu, Chia-Chi Kuo, Jui-Te Chiu, Han-Chi Liu
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Patent number: 11592558Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to a time of flight lidar sensor system that uses a coherent detection scheme. The lidar sensor system includes a laser source, a semiconductor optical amplifier, a combiner, and a balanced detector. The laser source emits an input optical signal. The semiconductor optical amplifier receives a first portion of the input optical signal and outputs a modulated optical signal (amplified and modulated). The combiner receives a second portion of the input optical signal and a returned optical signal received responsive to transmission of at least a portion of the modulated optical signal. The combiner coherently mixes the second portion of the input optical signal with the returned optical signal and outputs mixed optical signals. The balanced detector detects the mixed optical signals and generates an output signal (e.g., a differential photocurrent), which can be used to detect a distance to a target.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLCInventors: Abdelkrim El Amili, Jacob Levy, Scott Singer, Vala Fathipour, Ayan Chakrabarty, Kamel Benboudjema, Richard Kalantar Ohanian, David Lew, George Keseyan
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Patent number: 11592331Abstract: There is provided a circuit to improve the sensing efficiency of pixels that uses the induction effect of a capacitor to duplicate a voltage deviation caused by additional electrons and uses a circuit to cancel out the voltage deviation during reading pixel data thereby improving the sensing efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.Inventors: Kuan Tang, Yi-Cheng Chiu, Chia-Chi Kuo, Jui-Te Chiu, Han-Chi Liu
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Patent number: 11585694Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor for a terahertz imaging system, comprising an array of terahertz radiation receivers; and an array of terahertz radiation transmitters having the same pitch as the array of receivers, located between the array of receivers and an analysis zone located in the near field of the transmitters, and configured such that each transmitter emits a wave towards both the analysis zone and a respective receiver of the array of receivers.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2019Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: TIHIVEInventor: Hani Sherry
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Patent number: 11569396Abstract: An optical sensor package includes an IC die including a light sensor element, an output node, and bond pads including a bond pad coupled to the output node. A leadframe includes a plurality of leads or lead terminals, wherein at least some of the plurality of leads or lead terminals are coupled to the bond pads including to the bond pad coupled to the output node. A mold compound provides encapsulation for the optical sensor package including for the light sensor element. The mold compound includes a polymer-base material having filler particles including at least one of infrared or terahertz transparent particle composition provided in a sufficient concentration so that the mold compound is optically transparent for providing an optical transparency of at least 50% for a minimum mold thickness of 500 ?m in a portion of at least one of an infrared frequency range and a terahertz frequency range.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventor: Enis Tuncer
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Patent number: 11561131Abstract: A determination method determines a difference voltage between a breakdown voltage and a bias voltage. A temperature compensation unit provides temperature compensation for the gain of the APD by controlling the bias voltage based on the difference voltage. The bias voltage is “Vr”, and the gain of the APD to which the bias voltage is applied is “M”. The slope and intercept of the regression line having “(1/M)×(dM/dVr)” as an objective variable and “M” as an explanatory variable in data indicating the correlation between the bias voltage and the gain are obtained. “?V” calculated by substituting the slope into “a” in the Equation (1), substituting the intercept into “b” in the Equation (1), and substituting a gain to be set in an avalanche photodiode of a light detection device into “Md” in the Equation (1) is determined as the difference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2019Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.Inventor: Hironori Sonobe
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Patent number: 11552201Abstract: Disclosed is an optical package assembly. The optical package assembly includes a substrate (100), a light sensor chip (200), and a protection portion. The protection portion and the light sensor chip (200) both are fixed to the substrate (100), the light sensor chip (200) is packaged in the protection portion, a plane on which the light sensor chip (200) is located intersects with a plane of the substrate (100), and the protection portion includes a light entering region. Further disclosed is a mobile terminal.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2021Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.Inventor: Wanglai Yang
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Patent number: 11543293Abstract: A GePD having uniform sensitivity in C and L bands is provided and a photodetector in which deterioration of a common-mode rejection ratio is curbed is provided. A photodetector according to an embodiment includes one or a plurality of sets of two photodiodes to which a differential signal is input, a monitor connected to each of the two photodiodes and configured to measure a photocurrent, and a voltage supply configured to control a voltage applied to each of the two photodiodes, and the voltage supply controls the voltage applied to each of the two photodiodes so that the photocurrent measured by the monitor connected to one of the two photodiodes is equal to the photocurrent measured by the monitor connected to another one of the two photodiodes.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATIONInventor: Kotaro Takeda
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Patent number: 11543291Abstract: An analog front-end circuit includes an array of pixel circuits. Each pixel circuit includes an event counter and a power consumption circuit. The event counter is configured to count photons incident at the pixel circuit. The power compensation circuit includes an event rate circuit and a current sink circuit. The event rate circuit is configured to determine a rate of photon detection events at the pixel circuit. The current sink circuit is configured to pass a compensation current selected based on the rate of photon detection events at the pixel circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDInventors: Rakul Viswanath, Sachin Aithal
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Patent number: 11543292Abstract: Low-frequency Noise Cancellation Method for Optical Measurement Systems. The present disclosure provides a low frequency noise cancellation method for optical measurement system, An optical measurement system has a transmitter to drive an LED and a receiver connected to a photodiode. The LED driver will generate a pulse signal to drive the LED and act as the radiation source for the optical measurement. Consequently, the receiver will convert the received photo-diode current to a voltage signal. The signal will then be digitized by an ADC for further processing. A current DAC circuit IDAC is added at the front of the receiver and has the same timing control with the LED driver to cancel the DC portion of the received current.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited CompanyInventors: Jinhua Ni, Hui Shen
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Patent number: 11530947Abstract: Described herein is an electronic device, including a pixel and a turn-off circuit. The pixel includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) having a cathode coupled to a high voltage node and an anode selectively coupled to ground through an enable circuit, and a clamp diode having an anode coupled to the anode of the SPAD and a cathode coupled to a turn-off voltage node. The turn-off circuit includes a sense circuit coupled between the turn-off voltage node and ground and configured to generate a feedback voltage, and a regulation circuit configured to sink current from the turn-off voltage node to ground based upon the feedback voltage such that a voltage at the turn-off voltage node maintains generally constant.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2021Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) LimitedInventor: John Kevin Moore
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Patent number: 11525707Abstract: A linear rotary encoder includes a pair of rotational surfaces. A contact belt has a first end coupled to a first rotational surface in the pair and a second end coupled to a second rotational surface in the pair. The contact belt is driven to rotate around the pair of rotational surfaces by a driving force applied to media to move the media from the first end toward the second end. An encoding scale is coupled to an inner surface of the contact belt. A reader is positioned to read the encoding scale as the contact belt rotates around the pair of rotational surfaces. The reader generates an output signal indicating a position of the media based on reading of the encoding scale.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.Inventor: John Peter Duffield
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Patent number: 11523069Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an N×M terahertz detector array imaging system based on a Schottky contact rasterization structure. The rasterization is introduced into the Schottky barrier diode, so that the rasterized Schottky contact resonates with the terahertz waves, the plasma resonance effect is enhanced, and the detection sensitivity of the array unit can be further improved. Moreover, there is no need to use an antenna, which can effectively avoid the problems such as large loss of the on-chip antenna, low gain efficiency, and difficulty in verifying through DRC design rules; and the chip area is greatly reduced, which greatly reduces the production cost. Finally, by adjusting the rasterization structure parameters of the array detector unit during the design process, the detector array can realize monochromatic array imaging or multicolor array imaging, which provides a new solution for the realization of low-cost, high-performance terahertz array cameras and terahertz imagers.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Guangdong University of TechnologyInventors: Jianguo Ma, Shaohua Zhou
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Patent number: 11519782Abstract: There is provided an optical power measurement method, an offset calibration method and an optical power meter that is adapted to apply the offset calibration method. The optical power measurement method, the offset calibration method and the optical power meter are characterized in that two temperature sensors are used for more accurate predictions of the optical power offset. A first temperature sensor is positioned to read a temperature of the photodiode and a second temperature sensor is positioned to read a temperature of the PCB ground plane.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: EXFO Inc.Inventor: Nelu Radu
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Patent number: 11520019Abstract: A light signal detection device includes a light receiving optical system configured to receive a reflection signal reflected from an object when irradiation light emitted from an irradiation unit hits the object and reflects from the object; and circuitry configured to binarize the received reflection signal using a first threshold value, based on a determination of whether the reflection signal is equal to or greater than the first threshold value; binarize the received reflection signal using a second threshold value set with a given value similar to a noise signal value, based on a determination of whether the reflection signal is equal to or greater than the second threshold value; and measure a time difference between a time of emitting the irradiation light from the irradiation unit and a time of receiving a reflection signal equal to or greater than the first threshold value or the second threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuma Matsuura, Yuuta Yoshino, Takefumi Takizawa, Soichiro Yokota, Jun Kishiwada, Hiroyoshi Sekiguchi, Tadashi Nakamura
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Patent number: 11509322Abstract: A light sensor circuit, which comprising a photodiode and a voltage follower. By setting the voltage follower to reduce the influence from the junction capacitance of the photodiode, a required time of a repeat integration module will not be influenced by the photodiode to efficiently keep the performance and the accuracy of the analog to digital converting device when the light sensor circuit is used to the analog to digital converting device in repeat operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Sensortek Technology Corp.Inventors: Jer-Hau Hsu, Ming-Huang Liu, Kian-Fu Wong