Patents Examined by Ricky Shafer
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Patent number: 8147076Abstract: An object is to provide a solar ray lighting device which is capable of reducing the blocking and the shadowing of beams of light reflected by heliostats and which is capable of fixing firmly and stably a heavy and large-sized center reflector. In a beam-down type solar ray lighting device, at least three supporting blocks are assembled together to form a pyramidal shape. In addition, an outer circumferential edge of the center reflector is fixed to the supporting posts so that the outer circumferential edge of the center reflector can internally touch the supporting posts.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuaki Ezawa, Hiroo Inoue, Takashi Kawaguchi, Yuzuru Hamada
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Patent number: 8144409Abstract: A prism monomer for use in a digital light processing projection device includes a plastic triangular prism having a hypotenuse surface and a glass sheet. The glass sheet has two opposite surfaces. One surface of the glass sheet is attached to the hypotenuse surface of the plastic triangular prism and the other surface of the glass sheet is formed with an anti-reflective coating.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2008Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hsin-Li Lin, I-Pen Chien, Kuang-Wei Lin, Po-Yuan Lai
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Patent number: 8142035Abstract: A coated article such as a mirror or window is provided, the coated article including a coating supported by a glass substrate. The coating may include at least a reflective layer in certain example embodiments of this invention. In certain example embodiments, the reflective layer and/or a layer proximate thereto is selectively oxidized or oxidized in areas corresponding to draw lines or other non-uniformities in the glass substrate. This permits reflections from the coated article to be more uniform and/or less distorted.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2005Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.Inventors: Alexey Krasnov, Brent Boyce
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Patent number: 8136952Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor adapted to opto-electronically convert the image of a subject; an optical member placed in front of the image sensor; first and second piezoelectric elements placed at respective ones of both ends of the optical member; first and second driving units adapted to independently vibrate the first and second piezoelectric elements, respectively; a detection unit having first and second detecting piezoelectric elements placed adjacent to the first and second piezoelectric elements, respectively, for detecting vibration of the optical member; and a first control unit adapted to control the first and second driving units and the detection unit so as to vibrate the optical member by vibrating the first piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the second detecting piezoelectric element, or vibrate the optical member by vibrating the second piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the first detecting piezoType: GrantFiled: February 13, 2008Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ritsuo Kashiyama
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Patent number: 8134780Abstract: A prism includes a light incident portion that has first and second convex portions, the first and second convex portions each are a convex portion that refracts rays of light incident to a prism body and reduces a spread angle after incidence to the prism body via the convex portion to be smaller than that before the incidence, the spread angle is an angle between a given two of the rays, a first reflecting surface, provided on the prism body, that can reflect a first ray of light that has entered the prism body via the first convex portion, a first emitting portion, provided on the prism body, that emits, to the outside, the first ray reflected by the first reflecting surface, and a second emitting portion that emits, to the outside, a second ray of light that has entered the prism body via the second convex portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2010Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Ominato, Takeshi Kitakata, Shunsuke Ichizawa
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Patent number: 8123369Abstract: In a shaft structure of a retractable outer mirror, a shaft includes: a first member; and a second member. The first member includes: a base section having an attachment boss; a shaft section vertically arranged on the base section; and a catch part by which a catch member is caught. The second member includes: clutch parts that performs an engagement or a release of the engagement in response to rotation of a frame; and an insert portion inserted into a shaft section. The second member is fitted in with the shaft section from above a top end side of the shaft section.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2010Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Murakami CorporationInventors: Masahiko Itoh, Takanobu Matsushita, Yusuke Hagiwara
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Patent number: 8115998Abstract: In an in-line optical isolator, a first polarization separation element 91, a Faraday rotator 6 made of a BIG film, and a second polarization separation element 92 are placed in that order. The isolator further includes a first optical fiber collimator 1a being placed at the forward-beam incident side of the first polarization separation element 91 and including a collimating lens 101 and a first optical fiber 31, and a second optical fiber collimator 2a being placed at the forward-beam exit side of the second polarization separation element 92 and including a collimating lens 102 and a second optical fiber 32 connected to a fiber amplifier. Also, an edge filter 100, which transmits light emitted from the first optical fiber 31 and having a wavelength equal to an oscillation wavelength and which reflects light emitted from the first optical fiber 31 and having wavelengths shorter than this wavelength, is placed between the second optical fiber collimator 2a and the second polarization separation element 92.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2010Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: SMM Precision Co., Ltd.Inventor: Junji Iida
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Patent number: 8116019Abstract: An illumination system including at least one coherent light source, a light uniforming element, and a prism is provided. The coherent light source is capable of emitting a coherent beam. The light uniforming element is disposed on a transmission path of the coherent beam. The prism is disposed on the transmission path of the coherent beam and between the coherent light source and the light uniforming element. The prism has a light incident end and a light exit end. The light incident end has at least one incident polygonal pyramid portion protruding away from the light exit end. The prism is capable of rotating about an axis, and the axis extends from the light incident end to the light exit end. The illumination system effectively reduces the degree of the speckle phenomenon.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Young Optics Inc.Inventor: S-Wei Chen
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Patent number: 8092030Abstract: An improved mount for, and method of mounting an, optical structure is provided. The mount has a protruding member extending from a surface of the optical structure, a base element having a mounting structure for mounting the mount to another structure and an upper element extending from the base element having a first opening extending therethrough for receipt therein of at least a portion of the protruding member. The first opening defines first and second arms, each of the arms comprising a head portion and each of the head portions ending at an end. A second opening in the upper element extends through one of the head portions and the end thereof in a direction toward the other head portion, while a third opening exists in the upper element through the end of the other head portion in an orientation substantially opposite to and in communication with the second opening so that a tightening mechanism received through the second opening can be received into the third opening.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2007Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: PLX, Inc.Inventor: Zvi Bleier
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Patent number: 8083360Abstract: A hand held mirror includes a body having a first and second body portion. The second body portion is arranged at a variable angle of between 0 and 50 degrees from the plane of the first body portion. A convex mirror is attached to the underside of the second body portion such that when the hand-held mirror is attached to the body of the user and raised or tilted slightly, the user has a view of the activities behind the user. The hand-held mirror may be attached to a piece of clothing or other article worn by the user including a glove or strap worn around the hand or lower wrist of the user. In addition, the hand-held mirror may include an additional device such as a watch, temperature gauge, altimeter, cell phone, radio, GPS, heart rate monitor, mapping device or turn signal indicator.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2008Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Inventor: Kevin Bartlett
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Patent number: 8075143Abstract: A foreign substance removing apparatus that can provide the desired vibration amplitude to a light transmitting member, without using a large driving voltage. The foreign substance removing apparatus removes foreign substances adhered to a surface of an optical member disposed in a light ray incident path and includes a piezoelectric element fixed to a first plane of the optical member, a circular disk fixed to a second plane, opposite from the first plane, of the optical member so as to face the piezoelectric element, and a driving unit for applying an AC voltage to the piezoelectric element to cause the optical member to elastically vibrate in a direction perpendicular to the planes thereof, thereby removing the foreign substances adhered to the surface of the optical member.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2007Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kosuke Fujimoto
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Patent number: 8047666Abstract: An asymmetrical mirror lens, usable on front fenders of school buses and similar vehicles, which has a plurality of mirror sections, each having a distinct constant radius of curvature to reduce image distortion. Optional sections located between sections of the constant radius of curvature have a step-wise changing radii of curvature to smooth the image sizes as an object moves across the mirror lens.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2010Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Rosco Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Englander, Julian Serer
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Patent number: 8035872Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an image combiner and an image display device which can easily have a wide field of view and reduce a thickness of a substrate while reducing loss of light intensity by means of a PBS. An image combiner includes a substrate transparent to visible light; and a polarization beam splitter installed in the substrate to reflect a light flux introduced into the substrate from an image-display element and to make the light flux incident on an exit pupil outside the substrate. An exit angle ?0 at which a principal ray of the light flux emitted from a center of a display surface of the image-display element is emitted from a surface of the substrate toward a center of the exit pupil satisfies a condition of 3°??0.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2005Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Yumiko Ouchi
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Patent number: 8016436Abstract: There is provided a vehicle door mirror capable of restraining whistling sounds produced by an airflow passing through a gap between a mirror base and a mirror housing when the vehicle is running. A vehicle door mirror is formed by rotatably supporting a mirror housing on a mirror base. A concave part is formed in a downward surface of the mirror housing that is rotated relative to the mirror base in a state in which the downward surface faces to an upward surface of the mirror base. Protrusions are formed in the entire region of the concave part. The protrusions project to a position close to the upward surface of the mirror base beyond the position of the outside portion of the concave part of the downward surface. The cross section of a front edge of the concave part is formed so as to be rounded.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Murakami CorporationInventor: Masayuki Sugiyama
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Patent number: 8004761Abstract: A stereo projection optical system includes a polarization converter, a 2-way wheel, a retarder, and an image engine. The polarization converter is configured for converting an incident light into a polarized light which have single polarization. The 2-way wheel includes a reflective region and a transmissive region. The reflective region is configured for reflecting the polarized light and the transmissive region is configured for transmitting the polarized light. The retarder is positioned to receive an emergent light from one of the reflective region and the transmissive region. The image engine is positioned to receive light output of the 2-way wheel and the retarder and configured for emitting the light output comprising spatial information. The stereo projection optical systems provide viewers three-dimensional images formed by two alternative polarized light beams whose polarizations are perpendicular to each other utilizing the 2-way wheel.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: I-Pen Chien, Yuan-Yu Lin
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Patent number: 7982954Abstract: Disclosed herein are light collectors for use in projection applications. The light collectors gather light from surface emitting sources (e.g., LEDs) of differing color (or same color in some embodiments) using input lightpipes. A light collection system splits the light into orthogonal linear polarization states and efficiently propagates the light by use of a polarizing beamsplitter (PBS) and a reflecting element. Further, the light collection system may efficiently homogenize the light using an output lightpipe in a lightpath from the output of the PBS and the reflecting element. In addition, the light collection system may present a single, linear polarization at the output through the use of a half-wave switch (LC cell) in some embodiments or ColorSelect filter in other embodiments. The light collection system may be integrated into a single, monolithic glass, plastic or combination glass/plastic assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2007Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: RealD Inc.Inventors: Miller H. Schuck, Michael G. Robinson
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Patent number: 5428472Abstract: An optical scan device comprising a light source and an optical diffraction grating element movable relatively to the light source, which is designed to substantially linearly scan a recording medium in a predetermined direction with a uniform light amount of a light beam emitted from the light source as the optical diffraction grating element moves relatively to the light source. The optical diffraction grating element comprising diffraction gratings having a configuration in which grooves and flat lands each positioned between the adjacent grooves are successively alternately formed, wherein the diffraction gratings have the same groove depth, groove width and groove tilt angle in order to obtain a constant 0th-order diffraction efficiency and first-order diffraction efficiency in the optical diffraction grating element while the pitches of the diffraction gratings are made different by setting a different land width for each diffraction grating.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1993Date of Patent: June 27, 1995Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takahiro Miyake, Yoshio Yoshida, Yukio Kurata