Patents Examined by Renee Chavez
  • Patent number: 9832407
    Abstract: An image sensor may be provided with an array of image sensor pixels formed on a substrate having front and back surfaces. Each pixel may have a photodiode that receives light through the back surface, a floating diffusion node, a charge transfer gate, and first and second reset transistor gates. A source follower transistor may have a gate coupled to the floating diffusion node and a source coupled to an addressing transistor. The pixel may be coupled to a column feedback amplifier through the addressing transistor and a column feedback reset path. The amplifier may provide a kTC-reset noise compensation voltage to the reset transistors for storage on a holding capacitor coupled between the floating diffusion and a drain terminal of the source follower. The floating diffusion may be bounded at the front surface by the transfer gate, the reset gate, and p-type doped regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Jaroslav Hynecek
  • Patent number: 9808157
    Abstract: A wearable device and external reader is provided for herein. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the wearable device or the reader is configured to receive a level of radiant energy, detect a change in the received level of radiant energy, determine that the detected change in the received level of radiant energy is indicative of a predetermined pattern of received radiant energy, and responsively operate (or cause to be operated via the external reader) one or more external devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Pletcher, Andrew Nelson, Francis Honore
  • Patent number: 9784823
    Abstract: A panoramic device for detection of laser pulses is provided, sensitive to at least two wavelengths and including a plurality of optical channels and a set of linear sensor arrays, each linear sensor array including a photosensitive area. Each optical channel includes at least two linear sensor arrays, the respective photosensitive areas of said at least two linear sensor arrays being non-contiguous, so that said at least two linear sensor arrays of each optical channel observe non-contiguous angular fields. Moreover, the optical channels are optically juxtaposed to obtain a continuous angular field of surveillance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Arnaud Beche, Bertrand Forestier, Ludovic Perruchot
  • Patent number: 9778453
    Abstract: A modular mounting system for a night vision device includes one or more night vision monoculars, each night vision monocular having an imaging tube, a housing, and a first mounting shoe at a first position on the housing. A power supply has a first fastener thereon. A helmet mount at a first location on a helmet has a second fastener thereon. A power supply interface is located at a second location on the helmet and a second mounting shoe is provided on the power supply interface. The first mounting shoe is interchangeably and removably attachable to the first fastener and the second fastener, and, the first fastener interchangeably and removably attachable to the first mounting shoe and the second mounting shoe. In a further aspect, a firearm rail interface is provided to allow the night vision monocular to alternatively be positioned on a firearm accessory rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
    Inventors: James W. Teetzel, Ned A. Dalzell
  • Patent number: 9759601
    Abstract: A device that may include a narrowband filter that is arranged to pass radiation within a main signal waveband in which a muzzle flash is expected to include energy above a first energy threshold; a first single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) arranged to detect photons of the main signal waveband during different points in time and to output first digital detection signals representative of the photons of the main signal waveband; and a signal processor that is arranged to receive the first digital detection signals and to detect, in response to at least the first digital detection signals, the muzzle flash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TECHNION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD.
    Inventors: Yael Nemirovsky, Tomer Merhav, Vitali Savuskan, Amikam Nemirovsky
  • Patent number: 9759417
    Abstract: The light emitting diode (LED) device contains an aluminum base, a LED lighting module, a heat dissipation plate, two insulating strips, a first conductive strip, and a second conductive strip. The conductive strips are wrapped in the insulating strips, which in turn are threaded in the aluminum base. The LED lighting module is joined to the aluminum base through convenient locking mechanism. The LED lighting module has connector assemblies at its two ends. Each connector assembly contains two terminals. When the LED lighting module is locked to the aluminum base, the two terminals electrically contact the two conductive strips, respectively. As such, the aluminum base and the LED lighting module can be quickly assembled, and the heat produced by the LED lighting module is effectively conducted onto the aluminum base and completely dissipated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventor: Ruei-Hsing Lin
  • Patent number: 9754984
    Abstract: An image-sensor structure is provided. The image-sensor structure includes a substrate, a plurality of photoelectric conversion units formed in the substrate, a plurality of separated color filters formed above the substrate and the photoelectric conversion units, a first light shielding layer surrounding the separated color filters, and a first conductive polymer element blended with a low-refractive-index component filled between the individual separated color filters and between the all separated color filters and the first light shielding layer, wherein the first conductive polymer element is electrically connected to a grounding pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: VISERA TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Chung-Jung Hsu, Chin-Chuan Hsieh, Zong-Ru Tu
  • Patent number: 9746140
    Abstract: An LED lighting device of embodiment comprising an LED light source which generates an ultraviolet light or a visible light, an axisymmetric transparent member which is provided over the light source and which is transparent to visible light, and an axisymmetric light scattering member disposed in the transparent member apart from the light source. A distance of closest approach L2 between the light source and the light scattering member, and an area C of a light emitting surface of the light source satisfy the settled relation. A length L1 of the light scattering member, and an absorption coefficient ? (1/mm) of the light scattering member satisfy the settled relation. A diameter d1 of the bottom surface of the light scattering member, the distance of closest approach L2, and a refractive index n of the transparent member satisfy the settled relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA MATERIALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ohno, Mitsuaki Kato, Katsumi Hisano, Yoshinori Honguh, Masataka Shiratsuchi, Yuichiro Yamamoto, Hiromichi Hayashihara, Masatoshi Hirono, Takeshi Morino
  • Patent number: 9741756
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate including a sensor array area, a pad area, and a circuit area, a wiring layer on the pad area, and a light-shielding pattern on the sensor array area. The sensor array area includes a first area including active pixels and a second area including optical back pixels. The wiring layer is apart from the substrate by a first distance on the pad area. The light-shielding pattern includes a first portion spaced apart from the substrate by a second distance less than the first distance, a second portion disposed between the first portion and the wiring layer and extending on the same level as the wiring layer, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and integrally formed with the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-jin Ahn, Jong-cheol Shin, Min-ji Jung
  • Patent number: 9725843
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus is disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus includes control panel body that defines an opening with a circular perimeter and a diameter. The laundry treating apparatus further includes at least one light source. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a rotary knob that is configured to manipulate a rotary switch and that has an outer circumferential surface that is spaced apart from the circular perimeter of the opening to define a clearance between the rotary knob and the control panel body. The laundry treating apparatus includes further a knob decorative member that is located between the rotary knob and the circular perimeter of the opening. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a window that includes a light transmission portion through which light emitted from the at least one light source passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jinho Yang
  • Patent number: 9723972
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel McCaffrey, Jason Sproul, James McNally, Jane Bareau, Laura Keith
  • Patent number: 9726343
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a body, a light source unit disposed on the body to generate light, and a lens disposed on the body to refract light generated from the light source unit. The lens includes a light introduction portion having a light introduction surface for introduction of light and a light emission portion having a light emission surface for passage of light having passed through the light introduction portion, and the light introduction surface of the light introduction portion and the light emission surface of the light emission portion are configured to satisfy cos a1?cos ?1/cos a2?cos ?2<0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eun Hwa Kim, Ki Hyun Kim, Sung Ku Kang
  • Patent number: 9726882
    Abstract: Optical system comprising a motor, an optical element, an optical detector, and a linkage that connects operation of the motor to movement of the optical element and the optical detector relative to one another. The linkage may include a shaft and a drive element that operatively connects the shaft to another part of the linkage. In some embodiments, the drive element may include a clamp having a base and a retainer that compressively secure the drive element to the shaft by engagement of a cylindrical surface region of the shaft with the base and engagement of a flat surface region of the shaft with the retainer. In some embodiments, the drive element may include a collar secured to the shaft with a fastener disposed in threaded engagement with a transverse hole defined by the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin E. Jones
  • Patent number: 9728574
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor has a pixel array provided with a plurality of unit pixels arranged in a matrix shape of rows and columns. Each of the unit pixels includes a photocharge generation means for generating photocharges by absorbing an external light; and a sensing node for receiving the photocharges transferred from the photocharge generation means, wherein the sensing node of the unit pixel in a previous scan line is shared with a sensing node of a unit pixel in a current scan line in response to a line select signal of the current line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V., CARL ZEISS AG
    Inventor: Oh-Bong Kwon
  • Patent number: 9726560
    Abstract: An optical sensor, an optical encoder, a torque detection apparatus, and an electric power steering apparatus less affected by fluctuations in the amount of detected light and with an improved resolution are provided. The optical sensor includes a first polarizing layer that splits incident light to light with a first polarization direction, a first photoreceiver that receives first polarized light split by the first polarizing layer, a second polarizing layer that splits the incident light to light with a second polarization direction, and a second photoreceiver that receives second polarized light split by the second polarizing layer. The first photoreceiver and the second photoreceiver are positioned alternatingly and spaced uniformly with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Oguchi, Kunihiko Sasao, Sumio Sugita
  • Patent number: 9711752
    Abstract: Provided is a display apparatus. The display apparatus includes a display panel, a back cover disposed on a rear side of the display panel, the back cover having a curved shape of which both ends protrude forward, and a fixing part fixing the back cover to maintain the curved shape of the back cover. The display panel is curved in a shape corresponding to that of the back cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Moungyoub Lee, Sangdon Park, Choongsuk Park, Inkeun Ryu, Hyukjin Nam, Seunghyun Yun, Jaehyun Sung, Jaegi Lee
  • Patent number: 9696002
    Abstract: A tail light device for a vehicle is provided in which a stop lamp, blinkers and a tail lamp are arranged in a common housing. The device allows for reducing component parts and making the device smaller. There are provided a stop lamp reflector for reflecting light through an inner surface thereof from a light source for a stop lamp, and a blinker reflector for reflecting light through an inner surface thereof from a light source for a blinker. The stop lamp reflector and the blinker reflector are attached to the housing in such a way as to be spaced apart from each other. Tail lamp reflection surfaces for reflecting light from the light source for the tail lamp, are formed on outer surfaces of the stop lamp reflector and the blinker reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hayato Ohashi, Ryuhei Soeta, Eikichi Momma
  • Patent number: 9695990
    Abstract: An arrangement for light emission has at least one LED light-emitting means (110) in an elongate arrangement, a support element (120), which supports the LED light-emitting means (110) and a light emission element (130) which can be connected to the support element (120). The light emission element (130) is designed to modify the light emission characteristic of the LED light-emitting means (110) to give the light emission characteristic of at least one fluorescent tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Zumtobel Lighting GmbH
    Inventors: Patrick Gassner, Michael Spiegel
  • Patent number: 9696009
    Abstract: A filtering media for refrigerated display merchandiser for use with a refrigerated food merchandiser and which is ordinarily exposed to prevailing ambient light. The filtering media is at least a partial a cylindrical element that encircles a fluorescent light or LED light strip disposed within the merchandiser. A translucent sheet which functions as filter media to prevent harmful light from reaching the foods stuffs is disposed about the cylindrical element. The sheet is held in position via an arcuate element or with other means that retains the sheet in position. More than one sheet can be positioned on the cylindrical element which, itself, may be either transparent or translucent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Leo D. LaRose
  • Patent number: 9689717
    Abstract: Phase estimation apparatus processes sensor signals from sensors to estimate a phase of a periodically varying state of an object, such as position of a moving object. A phase estimation processor applies a first correlation calculation to simultaneously collected samples of the sensor signals to generate first quadrature values, where the first correlation calculation employs variable calculation values, and applies a phase calculation to the first quadrature values to generate the phase estimation. A pre-quadrature calibration circuit applies respective second correlation calculations to respective sequences of samples of the sensor signals individually to generate second quadrature values for each of the sensor signals, and applies phase and/or magnitude calculations to the sets of second quadrature values to generate the variable calculation values for the first correlation calculation, thereby compensate for the error component and improve accuracy of the estimated phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Novanta Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Remillard, Bruce A. Horwitz