Patents Examined by Tony Ko
  • Patent number: 11762318
    Abstract: An automatic detection method for a paper size is disclosed. a plurality of mark points is set on a paperweight along a paperweight direction that is different from a feeding direction. The disclosure senses a plurality of row images combining into a scan image during a paper passing between the paperweight and an image sensor, determines an edge length of the paper based on a range of the mark points covered by the paper, and determines a paper size based on the edge length. The disclosure can effectively detect the paper size without any additional sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: CAL-COMP ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yung-Sen Cheng, Tzu-Cheng Chang
  • Patent number: 11754443
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device including at least one photoconductor configured for exhibiting an electrical resistance dependent on an illumination of a light-sensitive region of the photoconductor; and at least one photoconductor readout circuit, where the photoconductor readout circuit includes at least one voltage divider circuit, where the voltage divider circuit includes at least one reference resistor Rref being arranged in series with the photoconductor, where the photoconductor readout circuit includes at least one amplifier device, where the photoconductor readout circuit includes at least one capacitor arranged between an input of the amplifier device and an output of the voltage divider circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TRINAMIX GMBH
    Inventors: Bertram Feuerstein, Robert Gust, Darren Richard Gould, Sebastian Valouch
  • Patent number: 11756968
    Abstract: An image sensor device including: a first digital pixel including a first photodetector and first memory cells to store a first digital signal corresponding to a first output from the first photodetector; and a second digital pixel including a second photodetector and second memory cells to store a second digital signal corresponding to a second output from the second photodetector, the second digital pixel is adjacent to one side of the first digital pixel, the first memory cells and the second memory cells are connected with a plurality of bit lines, the first memory cells are connected with a first word line and a third word line, the second memory cells are connected with a second word line and a fourth word line, the second word line is between the first and third word lines, and the third word line is between the second and fourth word lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seoksan Kim, Minwoong Seo, Myunglae Chu, Jong-Yeon Lee, Min-Jun Choi
  • Patent number: 11747196
    Abstract: Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors have recently been developed for a wide range of applications, including imaging and communications. An improved detection system is disclosed, whereby the detectors are monolithically integrated on the same chip with Josephson junctions for control and data processing. This enables an enhanced data rate, thereby facilitating several new and improved applications. A preferred embodiment comprises integrated digital processing based on single-flux-quantum pulses. An integrated multilayer fabrication method for manufacturing these integrated detectors is also disclosed. Preferred examples of systems comprising such integrated nanowire photon detectors include a time-correlated single photon counter, a quantum random number generator, an integrated single-photon imaging array, a sensitive digital communication receiver, and quantum-key distribution for a quantum communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: SeeQC, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Jafari-Salim, Daniel Yohannes, Oleg A. Mukhanov, Alan M. Kadin
  • Patent number: 11747175
    Abstract: A utility pole location specifying system according to the present disclosure includes a cable (20) containing a communication optical fiber disposed in a utility pole (10), a receiving unit (331) configured to receive an optical signal containing a characteristic pattern of the utility pole (10) from at least one communication optical fiber contained in the cable (20), and a specifying unit (332) configured to specify a location of the utility pole (10) based on the characteristic pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihide Yoda, Yoshiaki Aono, Koji Asahi
  • Patent number: 11743595
    Abstract: A pixel array uses two sets of pixels to provide accurate exposure control. One set of pixels provide continuous output signals for automatic light control (ALC) as the other set integrates and captures an image. ALC pixels allow monitoring of multiple pixels of an array to obtain sample data indicating the amount of light reaching the array, while allowing the other pixels to provide proper image data. A small percentage of the pixels in an array is replaced with ALC pixels and the array has two reset lines for each row; one line controls the reset for the image capture pixels while the other line controls the reset for the ALC pixels. In the columns, at least one extra control signal is used for the sampling of the reset level for the ALC pixels, which happens later than the sampling of the reset level for the image capture pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorgen Moholt
  • Patent number: 11733408
    Abstract: A radiation detector includes a semiconductor layer having opposing first and second surfaces, anodes disposed over the first surface of the semiconductor layer in a pixel pattern, a cathode disposed over the second surface of the semiconductor layer, and an electrically conductive pattern disposed over the first surface of the semiconductor layer in interpixel gaps between the anodes. At least a portion of the electrically conductive pattern is not electrically connected to an external bias source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: REDLEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Krzysztof Iniewski, Michael K. Jackson, Michael Ayukawa
  • Patent number: 11735402
    Abstract: A measurement method includes: (a) measuring an emission intensity for each wavelength of light detected from a plasma generated in a plasma processing apparatus at each different exposure time by a light receiving element; (b) specifying, with respect to each of a plurality of different individual wavelength ranges that constitutes a predetermined wavelength range, a distribution of the emission intensity in the individual wavelength range measured at an exposure time at which an emission intensity of a predetermined wavelength included in the individual wavelength range becomes an emission intensity within a predetermined range; (c) selecting a distribution of the emission intensity in the individual wavelength range from the distribution of the emission intensity specified in (b); and (d) outputting the distribution of the emission intensity selected for each individual wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi Kubo, Kippei Sugita, Yuhei Shimatsu
  • Patent number: 11733463
    Abstract: A fiber-optic system for use in optical sensing includes a multicore sensing fiber having at least two cores of which each of the at least two cores has a first core diameter, and a multicore lead-in fiber having at least two cores including a position corresponding with the position of the at least two cores of the multicore sensing fiber. Each of the at least two cores of the multicore lead-in fiber have a second core diameter. The second core diameter is substantially larger than the first core diameter. The system further includes an alignment means for aligning the multicore sensing fiber and the multicore lead-in fiber so that the lead-in fiber and the multicore sensing fiber are configured for coupling radiation between the fibers through the cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignees: FBGS TECHNOLOGIES GMBH, FBGS INTERNATIONAL NV
    Inventors: Christian Voigtlander, Johan Vlekken, Bram Van Hoe, Jan Van Roosbroeck, Eric Lindner
  • Patent number: 11735677
    Abstract: A dynamic photodiode detector or detector array having a light absorbing region of doped semiconductor material for absorbing photons. Electrons or holes generated by photon absorption are detected with a construction of oppositely heavily doped anode and cathode regions and a heavily doped ground region of the same doping type as the anode region. Photon detection involves switching the device from reverse bias to forward bias to create a depletion region enclosing the anode region. When a photon is then absorbed the electron or hole thereby generated drifts under the electric field induced by the biasing to the depletion region where it causes the anode-to-ground current to increase. Furthermore, the detector is configured such that anode-to-cathode current starts to flow once a threshold number of electrons or holes reaches the depletion region, where the threshold may be one to provide single photon detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ActLight SA
    Inventors: Maxim Gureev, Denis Sallin, Serguei Okhonin
  • Patent number: 11720059
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system that provides a holographic layer as a micro-lens array and/or a color filter array in an imager. The method of writing the holographic layer results in overlapping areas in the hologram for corresponding adjacent pixels in the imager which increases collection of light at the pixels, thereby increasing quantum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Mokhnatyuk
  • Patent number: 11715226
    Abstract: A liquid level detection system of detecting a target container includes a main body, an optical sensor, a fan and an operational processor. The main body has a supporting platform whereon the target container is disposed. The optical sensor is disposed above the supporting platform and adapted to output a detection image containing the target container. The fan is disposed on the main body and faces the supporting platform. The operational processor is electrically connected to the optical sensor, and adapted to analyze the detection image generated within an operation period of the fan and further to acquire an effective feature of the target container inside the detection image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Guo-Zhen Wang, Tse-En Peng
  • Patent number: 11714172
    Abstract: A light reception device comprises a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels including a photosensitive element configured to generate a signal in response to detection of a photon by the photosensitive element, wherein the plurality of pixels include a first pixel having a first sensitivity to detect a first photon incident on the first pixel and a second pixel having a second sensitivity to detect a second photon incident on the second pixel, wherein the second sensitivity is lower than the first sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Ozawa, Hayato Kamizuru
  • Patent number: 11709078
    Abstract: A Bragg grating optical fiber sensor for measuring temperatures and deformations and a method for manufacturing same, the manufacturing method including ablating a mechanical coating over a portion of an optical fiber so as to form an opening extending radially over the entire thickness of the mechanical coating, and inscribing a Bragg grating into the optical fiber through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Rudy Desmarchelier, Guillaume Laffont
  • Patent number: 11703636
    Abstract: A solution is provided comprising boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) in a liquid solvent. An optical waveguide, such as an optical fiber, is contacted with the solution so as to form a layer of the solution supported on at least a portion of the optical waveguide. The liquid solvent is then removed from the layer of the solution supported on the optical waveguide in order to form a coating of the BNNTs on the optical waveguide. Further provided is a BNNT coated optical waveguide for use as a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventors: Jingwen Guan, Huimin Ding, Ping Lu, Stephen Mihailov, Benoit Simard
  • Patent number: 11703379
    Abstract: A device includes a scattering structure and a collection structure. The scattering structure is arranged to concurrently scatter incident electromagnetic radiation along a first scattering axis and along a second scattering axis. The first scattering axis and the second scattering axis are non-orthogonal. The collection structure includes a first input port aligned with the first scattering axis and a second input port aligned with the second scattering axis. A method includes scattering electromagnetic radiation along a first scattering axis to create first scattered electromagnetic radiation and along a second scattering axis to create second scattered electromagnetic radiation. The first scattering axis and the second scattering axis are non-orthogonal. The first scattered electromagnetic radiation is detected to yield first detected radiation and the second scattered electromagnetic radiation is detected to yield second detected radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Chewn-Pu Jou, Feng Wei Kuo, Huan-Neng Chen, Lan-Chou Cho
  • Patent number: 11695024
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photodiode group, a second photodiode group, a first transfer transistor group, a second transfer transistor group, a floating diffusion region of a substrate in which electric charges generated in the first photodiode group are stored, and a power supply node for applying a power supply voltage to the second photodiode group. A barrier voltage is applied to at least one transfer transistor of the second transfer transistor group. The power supply voltage allows electric charges, generated in the second photodiode group, to migrate to the power supply node, and the barrier voltage forms a potential barrier between the second photodiode group and the floating diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Fujita, Yunki Lee, Eunsub Shim, Kyungho Lee, Bumsuk Kim, Taehan Kim
  • Patent number: 11692855
    Abstract: In some examples, a microstructured fiber comprises a cladding material surrounding at least one core material, wherein the at least one core material comprises an array of discrete devices contacted in parallel. A method of producing a microstructured fiber may include 3D-printing a fiber preform, thermally drawing the fiber preform into a fiber that preserves the cross-sectional geometry of the fiber preform, and axially patterning the fiber into a microstructured fiber comprising an array of discrete devices contacted in parallel. In some embodiments, microstructured fibers may be integrated into a sensory textile that includes at least one of an electrooptic portion, a sonar portion, a magnetic gradiometer portion, and a piezogenerating portion. In some embodiments, microstructured fibers may be formed into an in-fiber integrated quantum device circuit or an in-fiber ion trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Alexander Gumennik, Mengxin Zheng, Camila Faccini de Lima, Veda Narayana Koraganji
  • Patent number: 11686612
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical pulse detection device, the device comprising a sensor having a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising: a receiver configured to receive optical pulses and generate an electrical signal, an event detection unit comprising a frequency filter having an adjustable cut-off frequency defining a passband for the event detection unit, the adjustable cut-off frequency being such that the upper bound of the passband is greater than or equal to 1 Megahertz, the detection unit being configured to detect variations in the electrical signal generated by the receiver only when the frequency in the frequency domain of said variations is within the passband of the event detection unit, and a timing unit configured to date each change in the electrical signal detected by the event detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Ludovic Perruchot, Thierry Midavaine, Guillaume Bloom, Jérôme Achart, Marc Thillot, Tugdual Perrot, Vincent Ligeret
  • Patent number: 11678032
    Abstract: A capture setting for one or more image capture devices may be determined. The capture setting may define one or more aspects of operation for the image capture device(s). The aspect(s) of operation for the image capture device(s) may include one or more aspects of operation for a processor of the image capture device(s), an image sensor of the image capture device(s), and/or an optical element of the image capture device(s). A machine-readable optical code may be generated based on the capture setting and/or other information. The machine-readable optical code may convey the capture setting for the image capture device(s) such that a first image capture device capturing a first image including the machine-readable optical code may: (1) identify the machine-readable optical code within the first image; (2) determine the capture setting conveyed by the machine-readable optical code; and (3) operate in accordance with the capture setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: David Newman, Jeffrey Youel, Joseph VanDalsem