Patents Examined by Tarifur Chowdhury
  • Patent number: 9880359
    Abstract: There is provided an adapter tip to be employed with an optical-fiber inspection microscope probe and an optical-fiber inspection microscope system suitable for imaging the optical-fiber endface of an angled-polished optical-fiber connector deeply recessed within a connector adapter. The adapter tip or microscope system comprises a relay lens system having at least a first relay lens which is disposed so as to directly receive light reflected from the optical-fiber endface during inspection, the lens axis of the first relay lens being offset relative to the optical-fiber endface so as to deviate light reflected from the optical-fiber endface towards the optical-fiber axis of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: EXFO INC.
    Inventors: Etienne Morin-Drouin, Robert Baribault
  • Patent number: 9880029
    Abstract: A fiber optic transducer is provided. The fiber optic transducer includes a fixed portion configured to be secured to a body of interest, a moveable portion having a range of motion with respect to the fixed portion, a spring positioned between the fixed portion and the moveable portion, and a length of fiber wound between the fixed portion and the moveable portion. The length of fiber spans the spring. The fiber optic transducer also includes a mass engaged with the moveable portion. In one disclosed aspect of the transducer, the mass envelopes the moveable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Avalon Sciences Ltd.
    Inventors: James Kengo Andersen, Eric Lee Goldner, Agop Hygasov Cherbettchian, Gerald Robert Baker, David T. Beatson
  • Patent number: 9880100
    Abstract: An electronic field enhancement element includes: a metal layer; a dielectric layer provided on the metal layer; and a plurality of fine metal structures provided on the dielectric layer. A refractive index n of the dielectric layer satisfies n?=n+i? and is in a range of 1?n<1.46, wherein a complex refractive index of the dielectric layer is n?, an imaginary unit is i, and an extinction coefficient is ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Sugimoto, Megumi Enari, Tetsuo Mano
  • Patent number: 9880053
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an encoder which is arranged on an optical path of light incident from an object and which has a plurality of regions with first light transmittance and a plurality of regions with second light transmittance lower than the first light transmittance, a dispersive element which is arranged on an optical path of at least one part of light after passage through the encoder and which spatially shifts the at least one part of the light in accordance with wavelength, and at least one image pickup device which is arranged to receive light after passage through the dispersive element and light without passage through the dispersive element and which acquires a first image, in which light components for respective wavelengths spatially shifted by the dispersive element are superimposed, and a second image based on the light without passage through the dispersive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takamasa Ando, Tsuguhiro Korenaga
  • Patent number: 9880142
    Abstract: A photonic sensor system includes: a photodetector; a signal processor coupled to the photodetector; and a sensor structure configured to provide fluid-response selectivity, spatially distribute light, and to receive light from a light source and convey light to the photodetector. The sensor structure includes a plurality of fluid sensitive interferometric nanostructure layers manufactured on a substrate; wherein the plurality of fluid sensitive interferometric nanostructure layers includes alternating high and low porosity layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Wajdi Mohammad Ahmad, Nasr Alkadi, John Andrew Westerheide, Glen Peter Koste, Sachin Narahari Dekate
  • Patent number: 9880055
    Abstract: A spectroscopic camera is provided with a pair of reflecting films, and a wavelength variable interference filter including an electrostatic actuator which can change a size of the gap between the pair of reflecting films, an imaging unit which includes a plurality of pixels which is disposed in a two-dimensional array structure, and receives the light transmitted to the wavelength variable interference filter, and a received-light wavelength acquiring unit which acquires a central wavelength of the light which is incident on the pixel with respect to each of the pixels in the imaging unit, in which the received-light wavelength acquiring unit acquires the central wavelength based on an incidence angle in a position where the light which is received in each of the pixels is incident to the pair of reflecting films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Sano, Nozomu Hirokubo
  • Patent number: 9874474
    Abstract: A biometric sensor that measures biometric information and a biometric analysis system including the biometric sensor are provided. The biometric sensor may include: a light source configured to emit light toward a region of interest of an object under examination, the light being diffused at the region of interest; a collimator that includes a though-hole and is configured to collimate the diffused light received from the region of interest; and a spectrometer configure to analyze the diffused light transmitted by the collimator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., IMEC TAIWAN
    Inventors: Seongho Cho, Chaokang Liao, Dongho Kim
  • Patent number: 9874432
    Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatus and methods of measuring pressure within pipes implemented in a well drilling operation. Methods and apparatus may include a single path optical interferometer having a sensing portion attachable to a location on a conduit and a dual path optical interferometer having a sensing portion attachable to the conduit, where the sensing portions are effectively collocated. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc
    Inventor: Ronald L. Spross
  • Patent number: 9874655
    Abstract: A technique facilitates formation evaluation with downhole devices which may include fluid analyzers having atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) systems. According to an embodiment, a fluid analyzer of a downhole tool may be positioned in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The downhole tool comprises a downhole flowline for receiving a sample fluid. Additionally, the fluid analyzer comprises a flowline positioned to receive the sample fluid for analysis by the atomic absorption spectroscopy system. The atomic absorption spectroscopy system has a light source to generate light and to excite atoms of a substance in the sample fluid. The atomic absorption spectroscopy system also comprises a detector to measure how much light has been absorbed by the substance, thus enabling the atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeo Daito, Tsutomu Yamate
  • Patent number: 9874435
    Abstract: Measuring systems and methods using the same may be provided. For example, the measuring system including a first reference member located at one of a first target member and a second target member, the first and second target members being configured to make a relative movement with respect to each other and the first reference member having a first length, a second reference member located at the other of the first target member and the second target member and having a second length, and a measuring unit located at a distance from the first reference member and the second reference member, the measuring unit configured to measure a relative location of one of the first reference member and the second reference member with respect to the other may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sangwook Park, Sang-Hyun Park, Taekyu Son, Sangdon Jang
  • Patent number: 9870669
    Abstract: A security device for verifying an authenticity of a security doc-ument comprises an at least partially transparent multilayer substrate with a first surface and a second surface. A first pattern is arranged on the first surface. This first pattern is derivable using a first seed pattern. A second pattern is arranged on the second surface. This second pattern is derivable using a second seed pattern. The security device furthermore comprises a third pattern arranged between a first and a second substrate layer. The third pattern is derivable using an inversion of the first pattern, an inversion of the second pattern, and a non-inverted third seed pattern. Transmit lances and reflectivities of the patterns are selected such that in a reflection viewing mode, only the first or second seed pattern is visible, respectively. In a transmission viewing mode, only the third seed pattern is visible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: ORELL FÜSSLI SICHERHEITSDRUCK AG
    Inventor: Sylvain Chosson
  • Patent number: 9865182
    Abstract: Disclosed are fibers comprising one or more branded fibers which exhibit surface markings in a repeated pattern along the length of the branded fibers. The branded fibers can be incorporated into yarns or fiber bands to represent supply chain information of the yarns, fiber bands, and/or articles made from the yards or fiber bands. In a specific example, branded fibers can be incorporated into an acetate tow band The branded fibers can be recovered from a cigarette filter, the repeated pattern decoded, and supply chain information associated with the acetate tow used to make the cigarette filter, such as manufacturer, customer, ship to location, and even the acetate tow bale, can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Andrew Ervin McLeod, Brian Douglas Seiler, Scott Gregory Gaynor, Michael Joseph Pearce, Kevin Todd Barham, James Andrew Dickenson, Clarissa Tatum
  • Patent number: 9863760
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automated determination of a reference point of an alignment mark on a substrate of a photolithographic mask, which method comprises the following steps: (a) performing a first line scan within a start region of the substrate in a first direction on a surface of the substrate, the alignment mark being arranged within the start region, for locating a first element of the alignment mark; (b) performing a second line scan within the start region in at least a second direction, which intersects the first direction, on the surface of the substrate for locating a second element of the alignment mark; (c) estimating the reference point of the alignment mark from the located first element and the located second element of the alignment mark; and (d) imaging a target region around the estimated reference point of the alignment mark in order to determine the reference point of the alignment mark, with the imaging being carried out at a higher resolution than the performance of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Budach, Ralf Schönberger, Michael Jöst
  • Patent number: 9863885
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a composite film structure, the method includes determining a desired morphology for a metallic layer of the composite film structure, selecting a first metal substrate based on the determining, transferring a graphene layer onto the first metal substrate, depositing the metallic layer on the graphene layer to achieve the desired morphology, and removing the first metal substrate from the graphene and the deposited metallic layer to form the composite film structure. A surface energy difference between the first metal substrate and the deposited metallic layer results in the desired morphology of the metallic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Californa
    Inventors: Aliaksandr Zaretski, Darren J. Lipomi, Alex Savtchenko, Elena Molokanova, Mark Mercola
  • Patent number: 9863815
    Abstract: A method and a system for measuring an optical asynchronous sample signal. The system for measuring an optical asynchronous sampling signal comprises a pulsed optical source capable of emitting two optical pulse sequences with different repetition frequencies, a signal optical path, a reference optical path, and a detection device. Since the optical asynchronous sampling signal can be measured by merely using one pulsed optical source, the complexity and cost of the system are reduced. A multi-frequency optical comb system using the pulsed optical source and a method for implementing the multi-frequency optical comb are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: BEIHANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zheng Zheng, Xin Zhao, Lei Liu, Jiansheng Liu
  • Patent number: 9861286
    Abstract: A wearable device for use with a smart phone or tablet includes LEDs for measuring physiological parameters by modulating the LEDs and generating a near-infrared multi-wavelength optical beam. At least one LED emits at a first wavelength having a first penetration depth and at least another LED emits at a second wavelength having a second penetration depth into tissue. The device includes lenses that deliver the optical beam to the tissue, which reflects the first and second wavelengths. A receiver is configured to capture light while the LEDs are off and while at least one of the LEDs is on and to difference corresponding signals to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the optical beam reflected from the tissue. The signal-to-noise ratio is further increased by increasing light intensity of at least one of the LEDs. The device generates an output signal representing a non-invasive measurement on blood within the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Omni Medsci, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohammed N. Islam
  • Patent number: 9864173
    Abstract: A spot scanning imaging system with run-time alignment includes a beam scanning device configured to linearly scan a focused beam of illumination across a sample, one or more detectors positioned to receive light from the sample, and a controller communicatively coupled to the beam scanning apparatus, the sample stage, and the one or more detectors. The controller is configured to store a first image, transmit a set of drive signals to at least one of the beam scanning device, the sample stage, or the one or more detectors, compare at least a portion of the second sampling grid to at least a portion of the first sampling grid to determine one or more offset errors, and adjust at least one drive signal in the set of drive signals based on the one or more offset errors such that the second sample grid overlaps the first sample grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Jamie M. Sullivan, Wenjian Cai, Kai Cao
  • Patent number: 9859677
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods of generating multi combs can be used in a variety of applications. In various embodiments, a passive resonator can be disposed in the laser cavity of a mode-locked laser to generate a nested frequency comb. The passive resonator can be a sample under investigation, where a characteristic of the sample is determined using the generated nested frequency comb. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Ladan Arissian, Jean-Claude Diels
  • Patent number: 9857223
    Abstract: An interferometer system comprising an optical detector including a substrate and a two-dimensional array of pixels disposed on the substrate is provided. The interferometer system may further comprise an interferometer disposed proximate the optical detector without an optical element between the interferometer and the optical detector. The interferometer may include a first plate positioned proximate the substrate and extending over the two-dimensional array of pixels, a second plate spaced apart from the first plate, the first and second plates defining an optical gap between them, and at least one actuatable spacer positioned between the first plate and the second plate and configured to space apart the first and second plates from one another and to selectively alter a thickness of the optical gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall W. Zywicki, David C. Mann, Andre D. Cropper
  • Patent number: 9857226
    Abstract: An integrated microgrid imaging polarimeter comprises a repeating pattern of wiregrid polarizers in a new 2×4 array that improves image resolution and quality by increasing the spatial bandwidth available for each Stokes image despite that the new repeating pattern is larger than prior art 2×2 arrays. An example embodiment has polarization orientations of the wiregrid polarizers in each 2×4 array, beginning from an arbitrary top left polarizer of each array and continuing clockwise, as: 45 degrees; zero degrees; 315 degrees; 90 degrees; zero degrees; 45 degrees; 90 degrees; and, 315 degrees. The disclosure includes an analysis showing development of the new 2×4 array and supporting its improved performance over prior art 2×2 arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Daniel A. LeMaster, Keigo Hirakawa