Patents Examined by Que Tan Le
  • Patent number: 11750945
    Abstract: An imaging and asynchronous laser pulse detector (ALPD) device, imaging cell of the imaging and ALPD device and method of use is disclosed. A detector generates an electrical signal in response to receiving an optical signal, wherein a frequency of the electrical signal is indicative of a frequency of the optical signal. A first detection/readout circuit is sensitive to a first frequency range, and a second detection/readout circuit is sensitive to a second frequency range. The first detection/readout circuit allows the electrical signal to pass from the first detection/readout circuit to the second detection/readout circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam M. Kennedy, Michael J. Batinica, Scott M. Taylor, Sean P. Kilcoyne, Paul Bryant
  • Patent number: 11738716
    Abstract: A rain and temperature sensing module including a housing having a cover plate formed of a transparent material, a printed circuit board disposed within the housing and having a light emitter, a light receiver, and a temperature sensing element disposed thereon, a transparent compound disposed within the housing and covering the light emitter, the light receiver, and the temperature sensing element, the transparent compound filling a space between the printed circuit board and the cover plate, wherein the transparent compound has a refractive index that is substantially equal to a refractive index of the cover plate, and wherein the transparent compound provides a thermally conductive medium between the cover plate and the temperature sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Mindaugas Ketlerius, Mangirdas Rasiulis, Paulius Alisauskas
  • Patent number: 11740534
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a solid-state light detection and ranging (LiDAR) transmitter includes a tunable optical metasurface to selectively steer incident optical radiation long an azimuth axis. In some embodiments, different subsets of lasers in an array of lasers are activated to generate optical radiation for incidence on the metasurface at different angles of incidence on an elevation axis for unsteered deflection by the metasurface at corresponding angles of elevation. In some embodiments, a prism is positioned relative to the tunable optical metasurface to deflect the optical radiation from the optical assembly by the optical radiation source for incidence on the metasurface at an angle of incidence that is between the first steering angle and the second steering angle, such that the optical radiation incident on the metasurface and the steered output optical radiation from the metasurface spatially overlap within the prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Inventors: Ross D. Uthoff, Apurva Jain, Gleb M. Akselrod, Matthieu Saracco
  • Patent number: 11744025
    Abstract: Provided is a photosensor in which a cable can be easily mounted on a circuit board. A photosensor is provided with: a housing; a cable; a first circuit board; and a second circuit board. A through-hole is formed in the housing. The cable is inserted into the through-hole. The first circuit board and the second circuit board are accommodated in the housing. The first circuit board is provided with a first connector. The second circuit board has a first portion and a second portion. The cable is soldered to the first portion. The second portion is provided with a second connector. The second connector is inserted into the first connector. The second circuit board connects the cable and the first circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Shunya Takahashi, Hirotaka Nakashima, Jumpei Nakamura, Tomonari Kawakami
  • Patent number: 11735681
    Abstract: An illustrative system may include a component configured to be worn on a body of a user, the component comprising a time-to-digital converter (TDC) configured to: receive, during a predetermined event detection time window that commences in response to an application of a light pulse to a target within the body, a signal triggered by an event in which a photodetector detects a photon of the light pulse after the light pulse reflects from the target; and measure, based on the receiving the signal, a time interval between when the event occurred and an end of the predetermined event detection time window. The system may further include a processor configured to determine, based on the time interval and the predetermined event detection time window, an arrival time of the photon at the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: HI LLC
    Inventors: Sebastian Sorgenfrei, Jacob Dahle, Ryan Field, Bruno Do Valle, Rong Jin
  • Patent number: 11733069
    Abstract: The range of operating angles of a position transducer is widened, and its signal-to-noise ratio is improved. The position transducer includes a light source and a detector including at least one pair of photodiodes (PDs) disposed on a predetermined circle. The detector receives light emitted from the light source to output a signal varying depending on the areas of regions where the light is received on two PDs forming a pair. The PDs are formed on separate chips, respectively, and the chips are disposed on a substrate so that one or more pairs of PDs surround the entirety of a predetermined region and have an annular shape as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignees: CITIZEN CHIBA PRECISION CO., LTD., CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari Ogata, Shougo Kimura, Kaori Funatsu
  • Patent number: 11733362
    Abstract: A distance-measuring apparatus includes an optical window incorporating a first polarizing filter that polarizes reference light and a second polarizing filter that polarizes incident light in a direction inclined at 90 degrees relative to a polarization direction of the first polarizing filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki Takahashi, Atsushi Watanabe, Minoru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11732884
    Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a wiring substrate, a base member provided on the wiring substrate, a light-emitting element array that has a first side surface and a second side surface facing each other, that has a third side surface and a fourth side surface facing each other and connecting the first side surface and the second side surface, and that is provided on the base member, a drive unit that is provided on the wiring substrate at a side of the first side surface and drives the light-emitting element array, a first circuit element that is provided on the base member at the side of the first side surface, a second circuit element that is provided on the base member at a side of the second side surface and has a larger occupation area on the base member than the first circuit element, and wiring members that are provided at a side of the third side surface and at a side of the fourth side surface and extend from an upper surface electrode of the light-emitting element array toward an outer side of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sakai, Daisuke Iguchi, Takeshi Minamiru, Yoshinori Shirakawa, Tomoaki Sakita, Tsutomu Otsuka
  • Patent number: 11725983
    Abstract: A light receiving device according to the present disclosure includes: a light receiving element that generates a signal in response to reception of a photon; a readout circuit that reads out a signal generated by the light receiving element; and a protection circuit that is provided between the light receiving element and the readout circuit and protects a circuit element of the readout circuit from overvoltage. Further, a distance measuring device according to the present disclosure includes a light receiving device of the above configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuki Nishino
  • Patent number: 11722145
    Abstract: Methods and systems for analog-to-digital conversion using two side branches that may be operated with overlapped timing such that a sampling phase may be overlapped with a previous conversion phase. Some embodiments provide a method of successive approximation A/D converting, comprising sampling a first signal onto a first capacitor that is configured to selectively couple to an analog input of a comparator, sampling a second signal onto capacitors that are coupled to a second analog input of the comparator and configured for charge redistribution successive approximation A/D conversion; carrying out, based on the first signal and the second signal, a charge redistribution successive approximation A/D conversion using the capacitors; and while carrying out the charge redistribution successive approximation A/D conversion based on the first and second signals, sampling a third signal onto a third capacitor that is configured to selectively couple to the analog input of a comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Forza Silicon Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Van Blerkom
  • Patent number: 11721949
    Abstract: In some implementations, a semiconductor wafer includes a plurality of optical emitters, wherein an optical emitter, of the plurality of optical emitters, is associated with a receiver conducting medium for receiving wireless power transfer, wherein the receiver conducting medium is configured to couple to a wireless power transfer component for wireless power transfer at a common resonant frequency, and wherein the receiver conducting medium is configured to power the optical emitter to provide an optical output when the wireless power transfer is applied at the common resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventor: Chien-Yao Lu
  • Patent number: 11722109
    Abstract: An optical module includes an optical receiver with a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transimpedance amplifier (TIA) and a digital signal processing (DSP) circuit. The DSP circuit is integrated with the CMOS TIA and facilitates adaptability of the CMOS TIA, and the CMOS TIA can adapt by using information provided by the DSP circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Jiawen Zhang, Delong Cui, Afshin Momtaz, Kun Chuai, Jun Cao
  • Patent number: 11713999
    Abstract: A device including a plurality of epitaxial chips is disclosed. An epitaxial chip can have one or more of a light source and a detector, where the detector can be configured to measure the optical properties of the light emitted by a light source. In some examples, one or more epitaxial chips can have one or more optical properties that differ from other epitaxial chips. The epitaxial chips can be dependently operable. For example, the detector located on one epitaxial chip can be configured for measuring the optical properties of light emitted by a light source located on another epitaxial chip by way of one or more optical signals. The collection of epitaxial chips can also allow detection of a plurality of laser outputs, where two or more epitaxial chips can have different material and/or optical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alfredo Bismuto, David I. Simon, Jason Pelc
  • Patent number: 11714001
    Abstract: Described herein are techniques that improve the collection and readout of charge carriers in an integrated circuit. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to integrated circuits having pixels with a plurality of charge storage regions. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to integrated circuits configured to substantially simultaneously collect and read out charge carriers, at least in part. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to integrated circuits having a plurality of pixels configured to transfer charge carriers between charge storage regions within each pixel substantially at the same time. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to integrated circuits having three or more sequentially coupled charge storage regions. Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to integrated circuits capable of increased charge transfer rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Quantum-Si Incorporated
    Inventors: Eric A. G. Webster, Todd Rearick, Thomas Raymond Thurston
  • Patent number: 11714218
    Abstract: Systems, methods and devices are for optical imaging are described. A system includes a light source and a light detection unit. The light source includes a light-emitting device and a first spectral filter opposite the light emitting device. The first spectral filter includes at least one dielectric filter and has a first angular dependence of a transmission passband. The light source further includes at least one reflector adjacent side surfaces of the light emitting device. The light detection unit includes an optical sensor and a second spectral filter opposite the optical sensor. The second spatial filter has a second angular dependence of a transmission passband that is matched to the first angular dependence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Rob Jacques Paul Engelen, Varun Dev Kakkar
  • Patent number: 11714171
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to limitation of noise on light detectors using an aperture. One example implementation includes a system. The system includes a lens that focuses light from a scene toward a focal plane. The system also includes an aperture defined within an opaque material. The system also includes a plurality of waveguides. A given waveguide of the plurality has an input end that receives a portion of light transmitted through the aperture, and guides the received portion toward an output end of the given waveguide. A cross-sectional area of the guided portion at the output end is greater than a cross-sectional area of the received portion at the input end. The system also includes an array of light detectors that detects the guided light transmitted through the output end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, David Hutchison
  • Patent number: 11714273
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for microscope auto-focusing. In one example, a a method for microscope auto-focusing comprises: acquiring a plurality of contrast samples of an imaged subject; modeling a contrast distribution based on the plurality of contrast samples; acquiring an additional contrast sample based on the contrast distribution; modeling a corrected contrast distribution based on the additional contrast sample and the plurality of contrast samples; and focusing the imaged subject based on the corrected contrast distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Araceli Biosciences Inc.
    Inventor: Shiou-jyh Ja
  • Patent number: 11710754
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor is provided. The solid-state image sensor includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements. The solid-state image sensor also includes a modulation layer disposed above the photoelectric conversion elements, and the modulation layer has a plurality of modulation segments. The modulation layer includes a plurality of first sub-layers and a plurality of second sub-layers having different refractive indexes. From the top view of the modulation layer, the modulation segments form a first group and a second group, and the second group is adjacent to the first group. The arrangement of the first sub-layers and the second sub-layers in the first group is different from the arrangement of the first sub-layers and the second sub-layers in the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: VISERA TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY LIMIIED
    Inventors: Yu-Chi Chang, Pin-Chia Tseng, Zong-Ru Tu
  • Patent number: 11703576
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include a method for operating a LIDAR sensor, comprising repeatedly performing measurements in a respective measurement time window (M), at the beginning of which at least one measurement light pulse (A) having at least one predefined wavelength is emitted by the LIDAR sensor, and determining whether a light pulse (A?) having the at least one predefined wavelength is detected by the LIDAR sensor within the measurement time window (M), wherein a time interval (D1, D2, D3) between two consecutive measurement time windows (M) is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: OSRAM Beteiligungsverwaltung GmbH
    Inventor: Andre Nauen
  • Patent number: 11703385
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light sensor with dark current elimination. A dark current from a covered photodiode and a sensed current from a photodiode are respectively transformed to a dark voltage and a sensed voltage by a controlled integration circuit. A reverse capacitor receives the dark voltage and the sensed voltage to cancel out for each other, and outputs a corrected sensing voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: LUXSENTEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wen-Sheng Lin, Sheng-Cheng Lee, Yueh-Hung Ho, Chih-Wei Lin, Chen-Hua Hsi