Patents Examined by Richard Hanig
  • Patent number: 6924918
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes a p- or n-type semiconductor layer that is provided at an upper part of an optical waveguide path, and modulating electrodes that are provided at intervals on the semiconductor layer in an extension area of the optical waveguide path. The semiconductor layer has first regions located immediately under the modulating electrodes, and second regions located between the first regions. The second regions have separators that electrically separate the first regions from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignees: Fujitsu Quantum Devices Limited, Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Fumio Otake, Haruhisa Soda
  • Patent number: 6917457
    Abstract: A vertical optical modulator comprising: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type bonded to the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type; a dielectric layer formed between the second semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer; an antenna electrode having a plurality of conductive pieces which are formed within the dielectric layer so as to have a net-like shape as a whole, to be separated from one another at the intersections of the net-like shape, and to be in contact with both the second semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer; a first electrode electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer; and a second electrode electrically connected to the third semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Otsuka, Shigeo Yoshii, Masahiro Kitoh, Toshiya Yokogawa
  • Patent number: 6914708
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus (8) for fabricating optical film (40) by exposing a pattern such as for photoalignment, where the optical film (40) has a photosensitive layer (20) and a substrate (10). The exposure apparatus (8) directs an exposure beam from a light source (1) to a reflective polarization modulation device (88). The modulated exposure beam is then directed onto the photosensitive layer (20) for forming a pattern onto the optical film (40). A reflective surface (50) is disposed to reflect, back through the optical film (40), a portion of the exposure beam transmitted through the optical film (40), in order to obtain a photoreactive response. The source of exposure radiation and the reflective surface (50) are on opposite sides of the optical film (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Xiang-Dong Mi
  • Patent number: 6906841
    Abstract: The invention provides a color filter substrate in which light leakage ascribable to the gap of colored layers, etc. are reduced or prevented from occurring, and which is capable of displaying a color image of high quality, and a method of manufacturing the same. A color filter substrate which has pixel portions arrayed in the shape of a matrix on a substrate includes a first colored layer which is formed at parts in either of a transmission region and a reflection region adjacent to each other within each of the pixel portions, and a second colored layer which is formed in both the regions and on the whole surfaces thereof except the formation region of the first colored layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Adachi
  • Patent number: 6903860
    Abstract: A vacuum packaged electromechanical micromirror array comprises a 1st packaging substrate, a 2nd packaging substrate, a device substrate with a 1st surface and a 2nd surface, control circuitry on said 1st surface, and micromirrors on said 2nd surface. The device substrate resides on the 1st packaging substrate with electrical connections between them. The electromechanical micromirror array is sealed in a vacuum package formed by the packaging substrates. The vacuum packaged micromirror array may be used as a spatial light modulator (SLM). Methods of fabricating the vacuum packaged array are disclosed. Such methods generally involve providing a device substrate with a 1st surface and a 2nd surface, fabricating control circuitry on the 1st surface, fabricating micromirrors on the 2nd surface, providing a 1st packaging substrate, mounting the device substrate on the 1st packaging substrate by flip-chip assembly, providing a 2nd packaging substrate, and sealing the packaging substrates by glass frit sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Inventor: Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 6894823
    Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a mirror device (for a device such as an optical switch, scanner or projector) having a movable mirror structure with an attached magnet. The mirror structure is movably mounted on a base structure, which includes an actuation coil for controlling movement of the mirror structure. Another embodiment is directed to a mirror device (in a device such as an optical switch, scanner or projector) having a high mirror fill factor. The device includes a mirror mounted on a support member, which is connected to a gimbal frame. The support member includes an enlarged portion configured to at least partially extend over the gimbal frame. The mirror substantially covers the enlarged portion of the support member, thereby providing the device with a high mirror fill factor. A further embodiment is directed to a mirror support structure for a movable mirror device (in a device such as an optical switch, scanner or projector).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Corning Intellisense LLC
    Inventors: William Patrick Taylor, Jonathan Jay Bernstein
  • Patent number: 6894822
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a video display system employs an array of ribbon light modulators having a reflective surface configured to reflect or diffract a beam. The beam may have a wavelength suitable for displaying a video image. The reflective surface may comprise an aluminum alloy suitable for receiving the beam, which may have a relatively high power density. In one embodiment, a method of displaying a video image comprises impinging a beam on a portion of a reflective surface of a light modulator. The beam may have a wavelength suitable for displaying a video image, and the reflective surface may comprise an aluminum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Silicon Light Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ilan Blech, Chris Gudeman, Omar S. Leung
  • Patent number: 6894825
    Abstract: An electric display device of the type wherein a dispersion liquid comprising at least a dispersion medium and electrophoretic particles is disposed in a space defined by a substrate, a partition wall disposed on the substrate, and a sealing film disposed on an upper end portion of the partition wall is produced through a process including a step of disposing a sealing film precursor, comprising a polymerizable compound, supported by a supporting member on both an exposed surface of the dispersion liquid and at least a part of the upper end portion of the partition wall in a state that the dispersion liquid is filled between adjacent partition walls, and a step of polymerizing the polymerizable compound to form the sealing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiko Takeda
  • Patent number: 6891658
    Abstract: A reflective display having a plurality of approximately hemispherical high refractive index (?1) transparent hemi-beads substantially covering and protruding inwardly from a transparent sheet's inward surface. The transparent sheet, which has an outward viewing surface, has a refractive index (?2) which can be low (i.e. ?1?1.92 and ?2?1.59). A member is selectably moved into an intense evanescent wave region at the hemi-beads' inward side to selectably frustrate substantial total internal reflection of light rays. The member can be a plurality of light scattering particles suspended in a low refractive index (?3?1.27) electrophoresis medium and electrophoretically moved into or out of the intense evanescent wave region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Michele Ann Mossman
  • Patent number: 6888660
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a spintronic device for emitting light and to a method for its operation. The device includes a cathode electrode capable of producing spin-polarized charge carrier electrons under the influence of an electric field; an anode electrode spaced from the cathode for producing spin-polarized charge carrier holes; an intermediate medium disposed between the electrodes into which the carriers are injected under the influence of an electric field and which serves as a transport medium for the carriers wherein the carriers are transported and within which the carriers react and form excitons; and a circuit between the electrodes for imparting en electric field which serves as the motive force for the carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Konrad Bussmann, Albert H. Davis
  • Patent number: 6885490
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for characterizing an optical pulse using a reduced complexity chronocyclic tomography is described. In one example, an optical pulse train is modulated using quadratic temporal phase modulation. A first spectral intensity of the optical pulse train is measured after a quadratic temporal phase modulation having a first amplitude. A second spectral intensity of the train of optical pulses is then measured in response to the quadratic temporal phase modulation having a second amplitude. At least one of the group delay and the spectral intensity associated with the train of optical pulses is computed using the first spectral intensity and the second spectral intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christophe J. Dorrer, Inuk Kang
  • Patent number: 6885496
    Abstract: A reflective display having a plurality of approximately hemispherical high refractive index (?1) transparent hemi-beads substantially covering and protruding inwardly from a transparent sheet's inward surface. The transparent sheet, which has an outward viewing surface, has a refractive index (?2) which can be low (i.e. ?1?1.92 and ?2?1.59). A member is selectably moved into an intense evanescent wave region at the hemi-beads' inward side to selectably frustrate substantial total internal reflection of light rays. The member can be a plurality of light scattering particles suspended in a low refractive index (?3?1.27) electrophoresis medium and electrophoretically moved into or out of the intense evanescent wave region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Lorne A. Whitehead, Michele Ann Mossman
  • Patent number: 6885492
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator apparatus for an optical microscope system including an optical head with a mounting flange for mounting the optical head to a port of the microscope, a DMD for generating a pattern image of light, a light source mount for receiving a source of illumination, and one or more optical elements for directing light from the source of illumination to the DMD and to direct the pattern image generated by the DMD to the microscope. A DMD controller has a digital input and is connected to the DMD for driving the individual micromirrors of the DMD to generate the pattern image. A pattern generation subsystem is configured to output pattern image data and a digital interface is connected between the digital input of the DMD controller and the pattern generation subsystem, the digital interface configured to provide a digital drive signal to the DMD controller corresponding to the pattern image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Imaginative Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Frank DeSimone, Bruce Crary
  • Patent number: 6881960
    Abstract: A gamma camera plate incorporates scintillation crystal which is sufficiently thick to effectively capture high energy radiation. The crystal is provided on its light output side with an array of light path-modifying partitions which extend partly through its thickness. These partitions define individual light collimating cells which reduce the light spreading which would otherwise prevent effective use of the plate for low energy radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Industrial Ceramics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Schreiner, George Mataraza, Csaba M. Rozsa
  • Patent number: 6879426
    Abstract: A system and method for programmable phase compensation of optical signals is disclosed. The systems and methods include the use of a polarization-independent spatial light modulator (PI-SLM), so that the state of polarization (SOP) of the incoming optical signal need not be known. The system includes a first dispersive module that spatially separates the optical signal into its frequency components. The frequency components are spread over the active area of the PI-SLM. The active area of the PI-SLM includes an array of independently programmable addressable regions capable of altering the phase of the light incident thereon. An exemplary application of the invention is chromatic dispersion compensation. By knowing the amount of chromatic dispersion in the optical signal, or alternatively, by knowing the amount of chromatic dispersion to be introduced into the optical signal downstream, the appropriate phase adjustments can be made to each frequency component of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventor: Andrew Marc Weiner
  • Patent number: 6873417
    Abstract: An optical resonance analysis system comprising a sensor means (60) and an illumination means (400) for generating non-monochromatic illumination. The illumination means (400) further comprises a means for generating illumination at a plurality of angles, a lens system for projecting said illumination at said plurality of angles (390) and a dispersive device (380) for dispersing said illumination at each of said plurality of angles so that there is a correlation between said plurality of angles and the wavelengths of said illumination such that a resonance condition is generated on said sensor mean (60) for all wavelengths generated by said non-monochromatic source simultaneously. The analysis system also comprises a detection means (90) for detecting the reflected or transmitted illumination. Another embodiment comprises an anamorphic imaging means (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Applera Corporation
    Inventors: Dar Bahatt, Jerry E. Cahill, Koichi Nishikida, Enrico G. Picozza, Paul G. Saviano, David H. Tracy, Yongdong Wang
  • Patent number: 6873449
    Abstract: An electro-absorptive-modulated laser (EAML) module includes a signal transmission line for transferring a high-frequency modulating signal from a signal source having an output impedance of 50 ? to an EA modulator in the EAML module. The signal transmission line includes a coplanar waveguide with ground plane (CPWG) having a characteristic impedance of 41.8 ?, a series resistor having a resistance of 5 ?, and a termination resistor of 50 to 150 ?. The characteristic impedance of CPWG is controlled by reducing the gap between the signal line and coplanar ground plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lim Cheng Guan, Sonomi Ishii
  • Patent number: 6870658
    Abstract: An RF power controller arrangement prevents excessive RF power-based thermal loading of an RF signal processing device, such an as acousto-optic modulator, by controllably constraining the product of the average on-duration of a baseband modulation signal and RF input power to realize no more than a prescribed value of RF energy supplied to the modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Alan Wasilousky, Robert Morris Montgomery, Pat O. Bentley
  • Patent number: 6867896
    Abstract: In one embodiment the invention provides an interferometric modulator comprising a cavity defined by two walls held by a support. The support comprises two materials such that the electrical or mechanical properties of the mechanical support differ at different locations in a cross-section of the mechanical support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: IDC, LLC
    Inventor: Mark W. Miles
  • Patent number: 6867899
    Abstract: A microscope with a light source that emits light for illumination of a specimen and with a spectrometer that receives detection light proceeding from the specimen, has an optical arrangement which has an acoustooptical component, and which directs the light of the light source to the specimen and delivers the detection light proceeding from the specimen to a spectrometer in spectrally undivided fashion. A flow cytometer and a method for examination of a specimen are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Heidelberg GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Knebel