Patents Examined by Que T. Le
  • Patent number: 10088340
    Abstract: A photoelectric encoder of the present invention includes: a scale which includes a grid scale; a light emitting portion which irradiates light toward the scale; a light receiving portion which detects an image of the grid scale of the scale; and a telecentric optical unit which is provided between the scale and the light receiving portion and forms the image of the grid scale on the light receiving portion, wherein the telecentric optical unit includes a first optical element which is disposed near the scale, a second optical element which is disposed near the light receiving portion in relation to the first optical element and is disposed so that a gap is formed between the second optical element and the first optical element, and an aperture which is provided in at least one of a face near the second optical element in the first optical element and a face near the first optical element in the second optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kimitoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 10090354
    Abstract: A light sensing unit for a light sensing circuit of an image sensor includes a first light sensing element, a first floating node and at least one coupling element. The first light sensing element is used for sensing light to obtain a light sensing result and generating a plurality of carriers accordingly. The first floating node is used for receiving and storing the plurality of carriers generated by the first light sensing element. The at least one coupling element is used for coupling the first floating node to at least one second floating node, and transmitting a part of the plurality of carriers stored in the first floating node to the at least one second floating node to be stored in the at least one second floating node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: NOVATEK Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Dong-Hai Huang
  • Patent number: 10082465
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for increasing fluorescent signals generated by biomarkers are described. This serves to increase the accuracy of results when the biomarkers are used for the detection and diagnosis of physiological conditions, such as organ function and plasma volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Pharmacophotonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruben Sandoval, Jr., Erinn Reilly, Daniel Meier
  • Patent number: 10082910
    Abstract: A gesture cell including a photodiode comprising a first layer, the first layer formed as a serpentine element on a substrate, and an optical blind configured to guide a light that is incident from a first direction on the photodiode, the optical blind being placed on the photodiode obliquely toward the first direction, wherein the serpentine element is continuously formed from multiple limbs positioned in the first directions and returning in a corresponding second direction, and each limb positioned in the first direction and the corresponding limb returning in the second direction are equally spaced apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongsup Lee, Daeho Lim
  • Patent number: 10077991
    Abstract: A device for measuring the relative displacement between two members comprises a scale grating, an illumination source, a detector portion, and an imaging portion. The illumination source outputs diffracted light components (DLC) to the scale grating. The DLC comprises desired interfering light components comprising +1 and ?1 order DLC and undesired interfering light components comprising diffraction orders that are not the +1 and ?1 order DLC. The detector portion comprises at least a first array of periodically arranged optical detector sensing areas. The illumination source light diffraction grating is positioned proximate to the scale grating and oriented relative to the scale grating such that respective sets of interference fringes formed by different respective sets of interfering light components are differently rotated about the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Norman Laman
  • Patent number: 10072973
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a light sensing system configured to determine an amount of ambient light exposure experienced by a subject. The present invention wirelessly exchanges light information between different wearable devices of the same user and/or between devices of different users. Local and/or central light profile databases are built-up by the system and are shared between the devices so that light data that is typical for a location at a specific time of day and year can be used to estimate current ambient light levels for situations in which no measurement can be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Henning Maass, Guido Josef Müsch, Xavier Louis Marie Antoine Aubert, Elsa Inger Stapel Møst, Leo Jan Velthoven, Folke Charlotte Noertemann, Mauro Barbieri, Enrique Antonio Gil Ponce
  • Patent number: 10073259
    Abstract: A microscope-based system and method for simultaneous imaging of several object planes, of a three-dimensional (3D) sample, associated with different depths throughout the sample. The system includes a polyfocal optical portion, adapted to create a plurality of optical channels each of which is associated with an image of a corresponding object plane, and a spectrally-selective portion, adapted to transform the spectral distribution of the image-forming beam of light to a corresponding spatial distribution. The image, registered by a detector, includes an image of an object plane and an image of the spatially-coded spectral distribution. The method effectuates the simultaneous multispectral imaging of the several object planes. The required data-acquisition time is several fold shorter than that taken by a conventional multispectral microscope-based imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventors: Karl Garsha, Michael Otter
  • Patent number: 10072977
    Abstract: To shorten the length of an electric wiring between a capacitor and a PD, and to improve high frequency characteristics. An optical module of the present invention includes a light receiving element disposed at such a position that light from an optical transmission path is received on a light receiving surface in a state that the light receiving surface faces the optical transmission path; a spacer jointed to the optical transmission path and to the light receiving element in such a manner that a gap between the optical transmission path and the light receiving element is kept at a predetermined distance that light from the optical transmission path is allowed to enter the light receiving surface; and a capacitor electrically connected to the light receiving element, and disposed along with the light receiving element on a surface of the spacer on the same side as that joined to the light receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Taro Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10072949
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a main body; a rotary member rotatably mounted upon and enclosing at least a portion of the main body, the rotary member including a first region corresponding to a first attribute and a second region corresponding to a second attribute, the first and second regions being alternately arranged on one face of the rotary member; a sensor module configured to acquire attribute information corresponding to at least a partial region of the rotary member as the rotary member is rotated; and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to confirm a change in at least one of the first attribute and the second attribute and to determine at least one of a rotated angle and a rotated direction of the rotary member based on the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-Hun Eom, Tae-Gyun Kim, Hee-Young Yun, Hee-Woong Yoon
  • Patent number: 10072921
    Abstract: A spectroscopic beam profile metrology system simultaneously detects measurement signals over a large wavelength range and a large range of angles of incidence (AOI). In one aspect, a multiple wavelength illumination beam is reshaped to a narrow line shaped beam of light before projection onto a specimen by a high numerical aperture objective. After interaction with the specimen, the collected light is passes through a wavelength dispersive element that projects the range of AOIs along one direction and wavelength components along another direction of a two-dimensional detector. Thus, the measurement signals detected at each pixel of the detector each represent a scatterometry signal for a particular AOI and a particular wavelength. In another aspect, a hyperspectral detector is employed to simultaneously detect measurement signals over a large wavelength range, range of AOIs, and range of azimuth angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Jiyou Fu, Noam Sapiens, Kevin A. Peterlinz, Stilian Ivanov Pandev
  • Patent number: 10066986
    Abstract: A light sensor includes a primary lens, and a light device spaced from the primary lens. A control structure is disposed between the primary lens and the light device. An actuator is coupled to the control structure to move the control structure relative to the primary lens and the light device to control the passage of light between the primary lens and the light device. The light sensor may include a light emitting sensor having an array of individual light emitters, or a light detecting sensor having a light detector. The control structure may include an array of secondary bi-telecentric lenses for use with the light emitting sensor, or a plate having an aperture extending therethrough for use with the light detecting sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ariel Lipson, Itai Afek, Michael Slutsky
  • Patent number: 10067404
    Abstract: Embodiments of a novel control device and associated techniques for controlling a light path length of a resonator to allow resonance in a mode of higher strength are described herein. The control device includes: a drive section that moves at least one reflecting unit in the resonator; and a control section that controls a light path length of the resonator, by causing the drive section to move the at least one reflecting unit so that the laser light that enters into the resonator changes from a state in which the laser light resonates in a first mode of the plurality of modes to a state in which the laser light resonates in a second mode different from the first mode, on the basis of a detection result of a reflected light from the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Goro Fujita, Kenji Tanaka, Kunihiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10066988
    Abstract: The detection device comprises a photodetector configured to transform an electromagnetic signal into a representative electric signal. The detection device also comprises an amplifier having a first input terminal connected to a first terminal of the photodetector. An integration capacitor is connected to the output terminal of the amplifier and to the first input terminal of the amplifier. A first source of a reference voltage is connected to a second input terminal of the amplifier. A second source of a detector voltage is connected to a second input terminal of the photodetector. The first and second voltage sources are correlated so as to correlate the noise components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SOCIÉTÉ FRANÇAISE DE DÉTECTEURS INFRAROUGES—SOFRADII
    Inventor: Frédéric Salvetti
  • Patent number: 10066968
    Abstract: The system with branched optical fibers provides diagnostics and measurement of static and/or dynamic parameters in structures and structural elements. The system includes a structural material or element having a branched optical fiber embedded therein. The branched optical fiber includes a primary optical fiber segment and at least one secondary optical fiber segment branching therefrom. One or more fiber Bragg grating sensors are arranged on, and are in optical communication with, the primary optical fiber segment and the at least one secondary optical fiber segment. A signal analyzer receives signals generated by the fiber Bragg grating sensors representative of a magnitude of the physical parameter of the structural element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventor: Samir Mekid
  • Patent number: 10067056
    Abstract: An optical sensor including an irradiation system including at least one light irradiator, the at least one irradiator including a surface emitting laser array having a plurality of light-emitting units, and a lens disposed in an optical path of the plurality of rays of light emitted from the plurality of light-emitting units to cause light exit directions of at least two of the plurality of light-emitting units to be not parallel to each other, such that the at least one irradiator irradiates a same point of a test object with a plurality of rays of light that are not parallel to each other. The optical sensor also including a detection system configured to detect the plurality of rays of light that are emitted from the irradiation system and propagated inside the test object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Fujiwara, Toshihiro Ishii, Yoichiro Takahashi, Toshihide Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10067400
    Abstract: A system includes an objective lens, a viewing device, a control circuit, a first filter assembly, a light amplification assembly, and a second filter assembly. The control circuit is configured to transmit control signals for controlling a wavelength range of light filtered by a filter assembly. The first filter assembly is optically coupled to the objective lens, and is configured to receive light via the objective lens and filter the light into a first filtered light of a first wavelength range based on a first control signal received from the control circuit. The light amplification assembly is optically coupled to the first filter assembly, and is configured to receive the first filtered light and amplify the first filtered light into amplified light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: Bobby D. Foote, Jeffrey E. Crow
  • Patent number: 10067338
    Abstract: An optical fiber scanner including: an optical fiber that guides illumination light; a piezoelectric element that is disposed at an intermediate position on the optical fiber in the long-axis direction and that displaces, due to a bending vibration, an emission end of the optical fiber in a direction intersecting the long axis; a wiring part that is electrically bonded to the piezoelectric element at a location between the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; a tube-shaped electrically conductive frame that has an inner hole for accommodating the piezoelectric element and the optical fiber; and a holding section that fixes the frame and the piezoelectric element and that conducts electricity between the frame and the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiro Okazaki, Yasuaki Kasai, Hiroshi Tsuruta, Hirokazu Yokota, Kazutoshi Kumagai
  • Patent number: 10069574
    Abstract: An optical system, an optocoupler, and an isolation device are provided. The disclosed optical system includes at least one photodetector that receives light energy and converts the light energy into one or more electrical signals. The disclosed optical system further includes a comparator module that receives the one or more electrical signals from the at least one photodetector and compares the one or more electrical signals against two different reference values to determine whether a power supply fault condition has occurred for a light source that emitted the light energy and to determine a logic signal conveyed to the at least one photodetector via the light energy emitted by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: HongLei Chen
  • Patent number: 10066971
    Abstract: A rotation angle detection apparatus includes a rotator having a track unit to detect the rotation angle of a rotation axis; a detection unit disposed in correspondence with the track unit; a rotation angle calculation unit for calculating the rotation angle of the rotation axis based on signals generated by the detection unit; a rotation speed calculation unit for calculating the rotation speed of the rotation axis; and an abnormality detection unit for detecting an abnormality. The abnormality detection unit includes a frequency analyzing unit for calculating the frequency characteristic of the signals; a storage unit for storing the number of the signals per revolution of the rotator; a signal frequency calculation unit for calculating a signal frequency; and a determination unit for detecting the abnormality in the detection apparatus, when the frequency characteristic includes a component of a higher order than the signal frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Nishioka, Shunichi Odaka, Keisuke Imai
  • Patent number: 10069566
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion assembly is proposed. The photoelectric conversion module comprises three parts, photoelectric conversion module, a printed circuit board (PCB) and a hybrid cable. The photoelectric conversion module comprises an interposer, at least one optical element configured on the interposer, and an optical bench for the printed circuit board and the interposer configured thereon. Electrical wires are used for coupling to the printed circuit board. An optical ferrule is used for engaging with the photoelectric conversion module and an optical fiber component. A plug is used for electrically connecting the printed circuit board. A first lens array is configured under the interposer. A mirror is configured under the first lens array. A second lens array is configured left side of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: AQUAOPTICS CORP.
    Inventors: Chia-Chi Chang, Tung-An Lee, Shih-Jye Yo