Patents Examined by Robert E Tallman
  • Patent number: 11106056
    Abstract: The apparatus and design method of a subzonal multifocal diffractive (SMUD) lens is described herein. The apparatus includes a plurality of annular concentric zones. Each zone are further divided into at least two subzones, where the division of the subzones is arbitrary, but the division is consistent with respect to radius squared r2 across all zones. The subzone phase profile is independent with each other within the same zone, and can be optimized to achieve a desired splitting ratio among all foci.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Aizhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11099367
    Abstract: A freeform surface off-axial three-mirror imaging system comprising a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, a tertiary mirror, and a detector. The secondary mirror comprises a first freeform surface and a second freeform surface. Each reflective surface of the primary mirror, the first freeform surface, the second freeform surface and the tertiary mirror is an xy polynomial freeform surface. The freeform surface off-axial three-mirror imaging system comprises a first effective focal length and a second effective focal length different from the first effective focal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Zhu, Rui-rui Tang, Guo-Fan Jin, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 11086186
    Abstract: Variable transmission covering systems that can be used, for example, to control the amount of light passing through a window in a building. Using transmissive electrophoretic media that can switch between a first and second optical state, the invention can be used to change the color and/or transmissivity of a structure (or structures) that is placed in front of an object. In some embodiments, the variable transmission system can change transmission and color on command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Ana L. Lattes, Stephen J. Telfer
  • Patent number: 11086195
    Abstract: A camera module includes a housing accommodating a lens module, a driving unit including a magnet disposed on the lens module and a coil disposed to face the magnet, a yoke generating attractive force with the magnet, a first ball member accommodated in a first receiving space disposed between the lens module and the housing, and pressed by the attractive force, and a second ball member accommodated in a second receiving space disposed between the lens module and the housing, and pressed by the attractive force. A length of the first receiving space in an optical axis direction is different from a length of the second receiving space in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Hyeon Jeong, Nam Ki Park, Yeun Ho Jung, Young Bok Yoon, Sung Hoon Kim, Yoo Chang Kim, Jae Hyuk Kim
  • Patent number: 11067730
    Abstract: An optical filter may include a substrate made of a material including an optically transparent matrix material and nano-photonic material with icosahedral or dodecahedral symmetry dispersed in the matrix material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventor: Djuro Koruga
  • Patent number: 11061246
    Abstract: A laser pointer may include a laser beam emission unit to emit a laser beam; a housing; a shake detection sensor; a shake correction mechanism to change a direction of the laser beam, and a movable member including an accommodation portion arranged to face a window formed in one surface of the fixed body. The shake detection sensor is housed in the movable member, the fixed body, or the housing. The shake correction mechanism may include an attachment adjusting member housed together with the laser beam emission unit in the accommodation portion while surrounding a side periphery of the laser beam emission unit; a movable member support mechanism; and a movable member drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Sue
  • Patent number: 11054562
    Abstract: An illumination system is provided that includes a light source configured to emit a first handedness polarization of light onto a body, the first handedness polarization of light having at least one of a circular and an elliptical polarization. The body reflects a second handedness polarization of light. An optical filter is configured to at least one of absorb and reflect the second handedness polarization of light and transmit the first handedness polarization of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: William L. Tonar, David J. Cammenga, Kurtis L. Geerlings
  • Patent number: 11056803
    Abstract: An optical device may include an optic disposed in an optical path. The optical device may include a mount to dispose the optic in the optical path. The optical device may include a plurality of spring clamps to attach the optic to the mount. The spring clamp, of the plurality of spring clamps, may include a body, a spring, and a screw. The screw may be to attach to the mount and to compress the spring. The spring may be to dispose a leading edge of the body against the optic. The spring clamp may be to maintain the optic in the optical path for a thermal cycle of at least between approximately ?50° C. and approximately 130° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: Yong Yin, Bryed Billerbeck, Felix Brunner, Yves Netzer
  • Patent number: 11048102
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to therapeutic intervention in patients with eye-length-related disorders to prevent, ameliorate, or reverse the effects of the eye-length-related disorders. Embodiments of the present invention include methods for early recognition of patients with eye-length-related disorders, therapeutic methods for inhibiting further degradation of vision in patients with eye-length-related disorders, reversing, when possible, eye-length-related disorders, and preventing eye-length-related disorders. Additional embodiments of the present invention are directed to particular devices used in therapeutic intervention in patients with eye-length-related disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: The Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Neitz, Maureen Neitz
  • Patent number: 11041983
    Abstract: A nano-structure layer is disclosed. The nano-structure layer includes a plurality of nano-photonic structures that are configured in a first configuration such that light incident upon the nano-structured layer below a cutoff angle passes through the nano-structured layer and light incident upon the nano-structured layer above the cutoff angle is reflected back in direction of the incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Antonio Lopez-Julia, Venkata Ananth Tamma
  • Patent number: 11042076
    Abstract: A camera module includes an upper housing coupled to a lower housing to form an inner space, a lens module provided in the inner space and including a heating element, and a substrate configured to supply power to the heating element, wherein the lens module includes an inner barrel comprising one or more lenses, an outer barrel which is coupled to a portion of the inner barrel in an optical axis direction, and a holder in which the outer barrel is fixed, wherein the substrate is fixed to a portion of the holder, wherein the heating element is disposed between the inner barrel and the outer barrel, and is connected to the substrate by a power connection line, and wherein the power connection line is connected to the substrate through a coupling hole in the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo Young Ha, Sang Hyo Seo, Dae Seob Kim, Cheong Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 11042073
    Abstract: Modulating graphene's optical conductivity with an electrolyte nanopatterning technique reduces or eliminates scattering loss caused by rough edges from etching. This technique uses a resist mask patterned with features as small as 30 nm to shield graphene from ions in an electrolyte. It can provide a carrier density variation of about 1014 cm?2 across a length of just 15 nm. And it can be combined with a technique of growing or transferring graphene on atomically smooth hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) to increase graphene's carrier mobility, e.g., to 10,000 cm2/(V·s) or more. The resulting graphene metamaterials can be used to make voltage-tunable electro-optical devices, such as beam-steering devices, electro-optical switch and modulators, and reconfigurable holograms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Cheng Peng, Dirk Englund
  • Patent number: 11019999
    Abstract: There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for enhancing the illumination of structures of the eye using predetermined scan patterns of an illuminating light beam. The systems, apparatus and methods further provide for obtaining enhanced single images of multiple structures of the eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Lensar, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary P Gray, Rudolph W. Frey, Richard Ty Olmstead, Steven E. Bott, James Strobel
  • Patent number: 11022776
    Abstract: A lens barrel includes: a lens frame that holds a lens and is movable in the optical axial direction of the lens; and a moving mechanism that moves the lens frame in the optical axial direction. The moving mechanism includes: a feed screw; a drive source that rotates the feed screw; a biasing member that biases the lens frame toward direction side; a nut on the direction side of the lens frame that is screwed with the feed screw; and a low-friction member between the nut and the lens frame in the optical axial direction. At least one of a friction coefficient between the lens frame and the low-friction member or a friction coefficient between the nut and the low-friction member is smaller than a friction coefficient between the lens frame and the nut when the lens frame is in contact with the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventor: Kohei Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11022791
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining a first optical assembly including a first optical element and a first flexible membrane. The first optical element has a first optical element surface and a second optical element surface that is opposite to the first optical element surface. The first flexible membrane has a first membrane surface and a second membrane surface that is opposite to the first membrane surface. The first optical element is a geometric phase optical element or a polarization volume hologram optical element. The second optical element surface of the first optical element is coupled with at least a first portion of the first membrane surface of the first flexible membrane. The method also includes coupling the first optical element with the first flexible membrane attached thereto to a target substrate. Also disclosed is an optical assembly comprising the first optical element and the first flexible membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Babak Amirsolaimani, Scott Charles Mceldowney, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 11016286
    Abstract: A light beam irradiation device includes a light source unit that emits a light beam, a reflection mirror and a driving unit that swings the reflection mirror under supply of a driving signal, and comprises the light deflection unit receiving and reflecting the light beam emitted from the light source unit using the reflection mirror, a light deflection angle detection unit that includes a light reception surface that receives the light beam reflected by the reflection mirror, the light deflection angle detection unit detecting a position of the light beam on the light reception surface at a frequency equal to or higher than four times a resonance frequency of the light deflection unit and outputting a detection signal indicating the position, and an operation control unit that corrects the driving signal on the basis of the detection signal and outputs the corrected driving signal to the light deflection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Matsui, Haruyoshi Toyoda, Munenori Takumi, Kazutaka Suzuki, Kazuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11016287
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator (SLM) having improved étendue, and methods of fabricating and operating the same are described. Generally, the SLM includes pixels each including a tensile membrane suspended over a surface of a substrate by posts at corners thereof. The tensile membrane includes an electrostatically deflectable piston and flexures through which the piston is coupled to the posts. A platform having first light reflective surfaces is supported above and separated from the piston by one or more central posts extending from the piston to the platform, and a face-plate including a second light reflective surface is suspended over the platform. The face-plate includes plurality of apertures through which the first light reflective surfaces are exposed. Electrostatic deflection of the piston brings light reflected from the first light reflective surfaces into constructive or destructive interference with light reflected from the second light reflective surface. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SILICON LIGHT MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alexander Payne
  • Patent number: 11009673
    Abstract: An apparatus having an optical structure, ridges and an electrostatic actuator with a cantilever electrode is described, wherein the ridges connect the optical structure to a supporting structure and the electrostatic drive is implemented to deflect the optical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Frank Wippermann, Andreas Reimann, Nicolas Lange, Andreas Braeuer
  • Patent number: 11009689
    Abstract: An observation device includes a stage, an imaging optical system that includes an objective lens, a detection section that includes displacement sensors that detect a vertical position of a cultivation container, an imaging optical system controller that controls the imaging optical system driving section to move the objective lens in an optical axis direction on the basis of the vertical position of the cultivation container, and a horizontal driving section that moves the stage in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction and reciprocates the stage in the main scanning direction, in which the detection section detects the vertical position of the cultivation container at a forward position in a movement direction of the observation region with reference to the position of the observation region of the imaging optical system with respect to the cultivation container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Wakui
  • Patent number: 11009761
    Abstract: A grayscale color electronic paper have a plurality of pixel structural units, each of them has a base color layer and a grayscale adjusting layer. The base color layer is able to display two or more colors. Colors displayed by the grayscale adjusting layer corresponds one-to-one to the colors displayed by the base color layer. The base color layer and the grayscale adjusting layer have respective driving structures. The base color layer can display colors such as black, white, red, green, blue, cyan, magenta and yellow; and the grayscale adjusting layer has multi-level grayscales, and each level of the gray scale has a steady state at a zero electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: DALIAN DKE LCD CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinggang Zhao, Lina Zhang, Zhiling He