Patents Examined by Renee Naphas
  • Patent number: 8912478
    Abstract: The light dose received by perishable goods is an important parameter in determining the lifetime of those goods. A light sensor is described having a photosensitive element which changes its material property according to the light dose received. This change can be detected electrically by electrodes in the light sensor. Because the change in material property is permanent, this removes the need for a memory to store a value representing the light dose received by the light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: David Tio Castro, Aurelie Humbert
  • Patent number: 8809763
    Abstract: An optical position sensor system is disclosed for determining the angular position of a rotary member having a longitudinal rotation axis that extends in an axial direction. The system includes a single light source aligned along the rotation axis. A collimating element is adjacent the light source a predetermined distance, the collimating element aligned along the rotation axis to collimate light from the light source along the rotation axis. A detection element is adjacent the collimating element a predetermined distance to receive collimated light from the collimating element and to provide a linear output. A light blocker is inserted between the collimating element and the detection element, the light blocker coupled to the rotary member to rotate therewith about the rotation axis to block portions of the collimated light from the light source and the collimating element from reaching the detection element in direct relationship to the rotary position of the light blocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Lincoln Laser Company
    Inventor: Glenn E. Stutz
  • Patent number: 8807764
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for turning off a projector. The method and apparatus identify a condition to the effect that the projector should not be powered on, identify a condition to the effect that the power draw of the projector is above a threshold value, and instruct the projector to turn off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: Robert Horsfall, Andrew David Steers
  • Patent number: 8803069
    Abstract: An electro-optical (EO) radiation collector for collecting and/or transmitting EO radiation (which may include EO radiation in the visible wavelengths) for transmission to an EO sensor. The EO radiation collector may be used with an arc flash detection device or other protective system, such as an intelligent electronic device (IED). The arc flash detection device may detect an arc flash event based upon EO radiation collected by and/or transmitted from the EO radiation collector. The EO radiation collector may receive an EO conductor cable, an end of which may be configured to receive EO radiation. A portion of the EO radiation received by the EO radiation collector may be transmitted into the EO conductor cable and transmitted to the arc flash detection device. The EO radiation collector may be adapted to receive a second EO conductor cable, which may be used to provide redundant EO transmission and/or self-test capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Kesler, Douglas M. Trout, Gary W. Scheer
  • Patent number: 8796608
    Abstract: Embodiments of dual stage active pixel devices are described herein. Other examples, implementations, and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents, a body corporate of the State of Arizona, Acting for and on Behlf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Edward H. Lee, David R. Allee, George R. Kunnen
  • Patent number: 8779348
    Abstract: Objects are to suppress reduction in current output from a photoelectric conversion device and to prevent ESD from occurring in the photoelectric conversion device without greatly increasing the number of steps for manufacturing the photoelectric conversion device. The photoelectric conversion device includes a photodiode generating current by light irradiation; an amplifier circuit including at least one MOS transistor for amplifying the current; and at least one diode which is connected in series with the photodiode in a path of the current generated in the photodiode or a path of the current amplified by at least one MOS transistor so that a bias direction of the diode is opposite to that of the photodiode. Each of the photodiode and the diode includes a stack of a plurality of semiconductor films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Tanada, Hajime Kimura
  • Patent number: 8770760
    Abstract: The rotation axis of each mirror of a DMD (4) defines an angle of 45° with respect to long and short sides of a rectangular image display area. A polarization conversion optical system (24) makes a polarization direction of light from a light source (1) arranged in one direction and projects the arranged light, and after total reflection from the critical surface (31b) of a TIR prism (3), the light is guided to the DMD (4). When the incident surface of the critical surface (31b) and the mirror incident surface of the DMD (4) are in parallel with each other, a PBS prism array of the polarization conversion optical system (24) carries out the polarization and separation of the light from the light source (1) in a direction corresponding to the long side direction of the image display area of the DMD (4) in the case of the separation of the light from the light source (1) into two linear polarizations having different polarization directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Sawai
  • Patent number: 8766162
    Abstract: A gesture sensing device includes one or more sensors and a processor for processing sensed voltages output from the sensors based on ambient light and/or reflected light received by the sensors. The processor determines an ambient light level and/or a distance between the target and the sensors such that, if the ambient light level exceeds an ambient light threshold and/or the distance is less than a distance threshold, the processor determines the motion of a target relative to the sensors based on the ambient light instead of the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel Eugen Tanase
  • Patent number: 8766163
    Abstract: A control circuit is applied into a projector and an operation method is provided for the projector. The projector includes a photo sensor provided for generating a sensing voltage according to light intensity sensed by the photo sensor. The control circuit includes a first voltage-comparing unit, a reference voltage generating unit and a second voltage-comparing unit. The first voltage-comparing unit is provided for comparing the sensing voltage and a first reference voltage, to generate a first comprising result. The reference-voltage generating unit is provided for generating a second reference voltage and determining whether adjusting the second reference voltage according to the first comparing result. The second reference voltage is relatively larger than the first reference voltage. The second voltage-comparing unit is provided for comparing the sensing voltage and the second reference voltage, to generate a second comparing result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventors: Jung-Chi Chen, Po-Yen Wu, Chih-Lin Wang
  • Patent number: 8759732
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to autofocus subsystems within optical instruments that continuously monitor the focus of the optical instruments and adjust distances within the optical instrument along the optical axis in order to maintain a precise and stable optical-instrument focus at a particular point or surface on, within, or near a sample. Certain embodiments of the present invention operate asynchronously with respect to operation of other components and subsystems of the optical instrument in which they are embedded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences Corp.
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Cooper, Paul C. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 8759856
    Abstract: A light emitting device includes a first layer that generates light by injection current and forms a waveguide for the light, and an electrode that injects the current into the first layer, wherein the waveguide has a first region, a second region, and a third region, the first region and the second region connect at a first reflection part, the first region and the third region connect at a second reflection part, the second region and the third region extend to an output surface, a longitudinal direction of the first region is parallel to the output surface, and a first light output from the second region at the output surface and a second light output from the third region at the output surface are output in parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masamitsu Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 8748792
    Abstract: A photosensor includes a lower electrode formed of a metal film, an amorphous silicon film disposed on the lower electrode, an n-type amorphous silicon film disposed on the amorphous silicon film, an upper electrode that is disposed on the n-type amorphous silicon film, and receives a first reference voltage, a capacitive element connected between the lower electrode and a second reference voltage, a switch circuit that inputs a first supply voltage to the lower electrode in an on-state, and puts the lower electrode into a floating state in an off-state, and a detector circuit that detects a voltage change in the lower electrode after irradiating the amorphous silicon film for a given period with light when the switch circuit is on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Miyazawa, Atsushi Hasegawa, Terunori Saitou, Kozo Yasuda, Takeshi Yonekura
  • Patent number: 8748797
    Abstract: A method is provided for demultiplexing optical signals. A first photodiode accepts first optical signals in a first range of wavelengths with second optical signals in a second range of wavelengths greater than the first range. First electrical signals are generated in the first photodiode in response to the first optical signals. A second photodiode accepts the second optical signals, and generates second electrical signals in response to the second optical signals. The first photodiode substantially absorbs photons associated with the first optical signal, and substantially passes photons associated with the second optical signals. In one aspect, the first photodiode has a first coefficient of absorption associated with the first range of wavelengths and the second photodiode has a second coefficient of absorption and a half value layer (HVL) associated with the second range of wavelengths. The first photodiode has thickness less than the HVL of the second photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation, Volex PLC
    Inventors: Patrick Decker, Subhash Roy, Igor Zhovnirovsky
  • Patent number: 8742312
    Abstract: A planar detector for use in light curtains, which generates electric signals as a function of absorbed light and is provided with a plurality of tapping points for the generated signals. The magnitude of the signals at the respective tapping points is dependent on their distance to the partial surfaces where the light is absorbed. As a function of the magnitude ratios between the signals at several tapping points, the distance ratios of the respective tapping points to those partial surfaces, where the light is absorbed, can be calculated. The detector is configured as a flexible layered structure made of organic material. The tapping points are disposed at a distance from the edges of the layered structure. Electric connection lines to the tapping points are connected along their longitudinal extension to the layered structure of the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Isiqiri Interface Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Ebner
  • Patent number: 8742317
    Abstract: A visible light receiver circuit, which reduces the influence of ambient light, has a simple configuration, and generates low noise, is provided. The visible light receiver circuit includes a photoelectric conversion unit. The photoelectric conversion unit includes a photodiode having a cathode connected to a power source, a resistor connected in series to an anode of the photodiode, and a nonlinear resistive circuit connected in parallel to the resistor. The nonlinear resistive circuit includes, for example, a series circuit including a Zener diode and a resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kousuke Nakamura, Masashi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8735798
    Abstract: An electro-optical (EO) radiation collector for collecting and/or transmitting EO radiation (which may include EO radiation in the visible wavelengths) for transmission to an EO sensor. The EO radiation collector may be used with an arc flash detection device or other protective system, such as an intelligent electronic device (IED). The arc flash detection device may detect an arc flash event based upon EO radiation collected by and/or transmitted from the EO radiation collector. The EO radiation collector may receive an EO conductor cable, an end of which may be configured to receive EO radiation. A portion of the EO radiation received by the EO radiation collector may be transmitted into the EO conductor cable and transmitted to the arc flash detection device. The EO radiation collector may be adapted to receive a second EO conductor cable, which may be used to provide redundant EO transmission and/or self-test capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc
    Inventors: James R. Kesler, Douglas M. Trout, Gary W. Scheer
  • Patent number: 8735799
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical touch panel including a support plate, a light emitting element, an optical fiber, an optical sensing element and a control unit. The optical fiber is arranged on the support plate in a bending manner. A light beam generated by the light emitting element is transmitted through the optical fiber and received by the optical sensing element. When the optical fiber is touched by an object, an optical return is generated within the optical fiber and received by the optical sensing element. As a result, the control unit obtains a contact location where the object located according to the receiving time of the light beam, the receiving time of the optical return and the conduction velocity of the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8729512
    Abstract: An optical coupling element includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element which receives emitted light from the light emitting element. The optical coupling element contains a silicone resin and includes a light transparent resin which covers the light emitting element and the light receiving element and transmits the signal light emitted from the light emitting element to the light receiving element (for example, a specific light transparent gel resin) and a light reflection resin which covers a circumference of the light transparent resin. To the light transparent resin, a dye which absorbs light having a shorter wavelength than a predetermined wavelength range including a light emitting wavelength of the light emitting element is added in a concentration of 0.7% by weight or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Hashizume, Masami Ebihara
  • Patent number: 8723093
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array with a plurality of pixels. Two or more rows of pixels in the pixel array share a control line in the pixel array, and pixels of the two or more rows of pixels that are in a same column of the pixel array are connected to provide output to different column readout lines. A method includes providing a control signal over a control line within a pixel array to pixels in two or more rows of the pixel array, and reading out signals from the pixels in the two or more rows at a same time over different column readout lines. An image sensor includes a pixel array with a plurality of pixels, and two or more columns of pixels in the pixel array may share a control line in the pixel array for receiving a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Inventor: Alexander Krymski
  • Patent number: RE45033
    Abstract: A projector includes: a first solid-state light source device which includes a first solid-state light source emitting main excitation light, and a fluorescent layer converting main excitation light to light including a first color light component and a second color light component different from the first color light component, and emitting converted light; a second solid-state light source device which includes a second solid-state light source emitting a third color light component different from the first color light component and the second color light component; a light modulation device modulating the first color light component, the second color light component, and the third color light component in accordance with image information; a projection optical system projecting the modulated light components from the light modulation device as a projection image; and a third solid-state light source device which includes a third solid-state light source emitting auxiliary excitation light, wherein the fluo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Miyamae, Shuji Narimatsu