Patents Examined by William C. Choi
  • Patent number: 8009368
    Abstract: An aspherical fiber coupling lens applied to a photoelectric coupling module is disclosed. The spherical fiber coupling lens is a bi-convex lens with positive refraction power and having a first optical surface and a second optical surface, both are aspherical surfaces while optical features of the lens satisfy the following conditions: 0.5 < d 2 f < 1.5 ; 1.0 < R 1 - R 2 R 1 + R 2 < 2.0 ; 1.2 < ( 1 R 1 - 1 R 2 ) · f < 2.2 wherein f is the effective focal length of the lens, d2 is thickness of the lens on optical axis, Nd is refraction index of the lens, R1, R2 respectively are curvature radiuses of the first optical surface and the second optical surface of the lens. Thereby the lens has features of small focus, compact volume and high coupling efficiency so that applications of the photoelectric coupling module are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: E-Pin Optical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Che Kuo
  • Patent number: 8004748
    Abstract: A thermal lens forming element includes a first chamber serving as a control light absorbing region, which is configured as a columnar body or an N prismatic body (wherein N is an integer equal to or greater than 4) circumscribing the columnar body and filled with a control light absorbing dyestuff solution containing a solvent having a viscosity of 0 to 3 mPa·s at 160° C. or above and a ratio of the viscosity of the solvent at 160° C. to a viscosity of the solvent at 40° C. not less than 1 and not greater than 6, wherein the columnar body or the N prismatic body circumscribing the columnar body has a central axis coinciding with an optical axis of incident signal light. The first chamber is connected to a second chamber via a solution channel and a dam. The dyestuff solution and a bubble of an inert gas are confined in the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Tanaka, Shigeru Takarada, Takashi Hiraga, Ichiro Ueno, Nobutaka Tanigaki, Noritaka Yamamoto, Toshiko Mizokuro
  • Patent number: 8004777
    Abstract: An image pickup lens includes: an aperture stop; a first lens having a positive power and including a convex surface facing an object side; a second lens having a negative power and including a concave surface facing an image side; a third lens in a meniscus shape having a positive power and including a convex surface facing the image side; and a fourth lens in a meniscus shape having a negative power and including a convex surface facing the object side. The image pickup lens satisfies predetermined conditions relating to a composite focal length of the first through third lenses, a length of an air space between the third lens and the fourth lens along the optical axis, and a curvature radius of a surface of the second lens facing the image side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Eigo Sano, Takashi Kawasaki, Yuichi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8004770
    Abstract: A beam modifying unit increases both temporal pulse length and Etendue of an illumination beam. The pulse modifying unit receives an input pulse of radiation and emits one or more corresponding output pulses of radiation. A beam splitter divides the incoming pulse into a first and a second pulse portion, and directs the first pulse portion along a second optical path and the second portion along a first optical path as a portion of an output beam. The second optical path includes a divergence optical element. A first and a second mirror, each with a radius of curvature, are disposed facing each other with a predetermined separation, and receive the second pulse portion to redirect the second portion, such that the optical path of the second portion through the pulse modifier is longer than that of the first portion, and the separation is less than radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignees: ASML Holding N.V., ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Adel Joobeur, Oscar Franciscus Jozephus Noordman, Paul Van Der Veen, Arun Mahadevan Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 8004736
    Abstract: A first electrode and a sacrificial layer are sequentially formed on a substrate, and then first openings for forming supports inside are formed in the first electrode and the sacrificial layer. The supports are formed in the first openings, and then a second electrode is formed on the sacrificial layer and the supports, thus forming a micro electro mechanical system structure. Afterward, an adhesive is used to adhere and fix a protection structure to the substrate for forming a chamber to enclose the micro electro mechanical system structure, and at least one second opening is preserved on sidewalls of the chamber. A release etch process is subsequently employed to remove the sacrificial layer through the second opening in order to form cavities in an optical interference reflection structure. Finally, the second opening is closed to seal the optical interference reflection structure between the substrate and the protection structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wen-Jian Lin, Brian Arbuckle, Brian Gally, Philip Floyd, Lauren Palmateer
  • Patent number: 8004744
    Abstract: An improved ion conductor layer for use in electrochromic devices and other applications is disclosed. The improved ion-conductor layer is comprised of at least two ion transport layers and a buffer layer, wherein the at least two ion transport layers and the buffer layer alternate within the ion conductor layer such that the ion transport layers are in communication with a first and a second electrode. Electrochromic devices utilizing such an improved ion conductor layer color more deeply by virtue of the increased voltage developed across the ion conductor layer prior to electronic breakdown while reducing the amount of electronic leakage. Also disclosed are methods of making electrochromic devices incorporating the improved ion conductor layer disclosed herein and methods of making ion conductors for use in other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: SAGE Electrochromics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Samuel Burdis, Bryan D. Greer, Douglas Glenn John Weir
  • Patent number: 7999994
    Abstract: Display devices incorporating shutter-based light modulators are disclosed along with methods of manufacturing such devices. The methods are compatible with thin-film manufacturing processes known in the art and result in displays having lower power-consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV, Jasper Lodewyk Steyn, Timothy J. Brosnihan, Jignesh Gandhi, John J. Fijol, Richard S. Payne, Roger W. Barton
  • Patent number: 7999996
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an electrophoresis device comprising a hole-containing structure and a method for fabricating the same. By which electrophoretic particles are embedded into holes, the optical properties of the device can be controlled. The electrophoresis device includes a structure having inherent optical properties, thus realizing improvement in reliability and display quality. Since the electrophoresis device uses a gas or vacuum as a medium of the electrophoretic particles, it can be driven with a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Eun Jang, Jai Yong Han
  • Patent number: 7995261
    Abstract: Electromechanical light modulators and backlight providing efficient, low cost and high performance displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventors: Edward Pakhchyan, Haik Mesropian, Syuzi Pakhchyan
  • Patent number: 7995264
    Abstract: A system comprises a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of modulation elements, the spatial light modulator operable to receive an optical signal comprising one or more optical channels, wherein the elements are operable to perform an optical function on at least one of the one or more optical channels. The system further comprises two or more reset groups associated with the spatial light modulator, wherein each reset group comprises one or more elements, and wherein at least one of the one or more optical channels resides on at least two of the two or more reset groups. The system also comprises a controller operable to actuate the elements of at least one of the at least two reset groups associated with the optical channel at a different time than any one or more other reset group of the at least two reset groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kun Cindy Pan, Paul Lawrence Rancuret
  • Patent number: 7995288
    Abstract: A zoom dial mechanism includes a zoom dial mounted on a base plate so as to extend through a central hole of the base plate and so as to be turnable, a coil spring mounted on the base plate to urge the zoom dial toward a neutral position, and a push knob mounted in a central hole of the dial. The base plate has a groove concentric with the central hole. The coil spring is mounted in the groove. The mechanism further includes a first rib fixed to the dial so as to abut one end of the coil spring and a second rib fixed to the dial so as to abut the other end of the spring. The spring is compressed by the first rib when the dial is turned clockwise, and the coil spring is compressed by the second rib when the dial is turned counterclockwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Elmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Maruyama, Yusuke Doi, Hiroshi Yamakose
  • Patent number: 7988290
    Abstract: A system for determining the shape of an object and/or a distance of the object from the system includes a first plurality of light source, a second plurality of light sources, and a detector or detector array. The first plurality of light sources are disposed about a central axis and are separated from the central axis by radial distances defining an aperture in the first plurality of light sources. The system also includes an optical system adapted to provide light from the second plurality of light sources through the aperture to the object. The system may further include a computer configured to determine the shape of the object and/or the distance of the object from the system using light from the first and second plurality of light sources that is reflected from the object and received by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: AMO Wavefront Sciences LLC.
    Inventors: Charles E. Campbell, Stephen W. Farrer, Daniel R. Neal, William S. Powers, Thomas D. Raymond, James Copland
  • Patent number: 7986470
    Abstract: An annular aperture stop includes a first annular portion and a second annular portion. The first annular portion extends and slowly tapers towards the center of the aperture stop. The second annular portion extends inwards from the first portion and sharply tapers off to the innermost boundary of the aperture stop and defines a tapering angle. The radial thickness of the second portion is smaller than a predetermined tolerance of about 0.035 mm of the inner diameter of the aperture stop. The tapering angle is smaller than a predetermined threshold of about 70 degrees, whereby the innermost boundary of the aperture stop is protected from flashes during molding the aperture stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hou-Yao Lin
  • Patent number: 7978395
    Abstract: A capacitive MEMS device is formed having a material between electrodes that traps and retains charges. The material can be realized in several configurations. It can be a multilayer dielectric stack with regions of different band gap energies or band energy levels. The dielectric materials can be trappy itself, i.e. when defects or trap sites are pre-fabricated in the material. Another configuration involves a thin layer of a conductive material with the energy level in the forbidden gap of the dielectric layer. The device may be programmed (i.e. offset and threshold voltages pre-set) by a method making advantageous use of charge storage in the material, wherein the interferometric modulator is pre-charged in such a way that the hysteresis curve shifts, and the actuation voltage threshold of the modulator is significantly lowered. During programming phase, charge transfer between the electrodes and the materials can be performed by applying voltage to the electrodes (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Felnhofer, Evgeni Gousev
  • Patent number: 7978397
    Abstract: In an information display panel, in which display media are sealed between a transparent front substrate and a rear substrate, and, in which the display media, to which an electrostatic field is applied from electrodes arranged respectively to the front substrate and the rear substrate, are made to move so as to display information such as an image, the rear substrate is constituted by a flexible material, and a metal electrode is formed on the rear substrate by a patterning process using a vapor deposition and a sputtering or a metal electrode is formed on the rear substrate by effecting a patterning process to a metal film formed by a vapor deposition or a sputtering. In this manner, it is possible to obtain an information display panel, which can improve a flexibility of the rear substrate with the electrode by an inexpensive cost, achieve an easy handling of the substrate and decrease a panel breakage due to a detachment of two substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo Sakurai
  • Patent number: 7978399
    Abstract: A constitution of the display device of the invention is shown in the following. The display device includes a pixel unit including TFTs of which the active layer contains an organic semiconductor material for forming channel portions in the opening portions in an insulating layer arranged to meet the gale electrodes. The pixel unit further includes a contrast media foamed on the electrodes connected to the TFTs for changing the reflectivity upon the application of an electric field, or microcapsules containing electrically charged particles that change the reflectivity upon the application of an electric field. The pixel unit is sandwiched by plastic substrates, and barrier layers including an inorganic insulating material are provided between the plastic substrates and the pixel unit. The purpose of the present invention is to supply display devices which are excellent in productivity, light in weight and flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yasuyuki Arai
  • Patent number: 7973993
    Abstract: A flat panel display includes a first substrate, a thin film transistor formed on the first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a light controller formed on the second substrate, wherein the light controller is electrically connected to the thin film transistor, wherein the light controller includes an opening plate having a plurality of first openings and a light blocker moving horizontally with respect to the opening plate to selectively pass light through the first openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Don-Chan Cho, Jae-Byung Park, Jong-Hyuk Kang, Sung-Jin Hong, Yu-Kwan Kim, Seul Lee
  • Patent number: 7974001
    Abstract: There are provided a display element and electronic paper. The display element includes a structure having a cylindrical shape and including a void inside, and at least two display regions formed on a side face of the structure and colored with different colors. The use of the display element for electronic paper can improve a response rate while lowering driving voltage, and can improve a contrast ratio by increasing a packing fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Moon Lee, Yongsoo Oh, Hwan-Soo Lee, Jeong Bok Kwak, Sung Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 7973995
    Abstract: A nanostructured optoelectronic device is provided which comprises a nanostructured material and a host material intermingled with the nanostructured material. The host material may have a higher index of refraction than the nanostructured material. The host material's index of refraction may be chosen to maximize the effective active area of the device. In an alternative embodiment, the host material comprises scattering centers or absorption/luminescence centers which absorb light and reemit the light at a different energy or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Bandgap Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Marcie R. Black, Brent A. Buchine
  • Patent number: 7967457
    Abstract: This invention provides a manner to achieve affordable solar energy, as well as other technologies. It does so by improving control grids (for addressing and alignment) in solar concentrators and optical equipment in general. Thus troublesome and expensive grid material like Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) can be replaced by more manageable, hardier, and more cost effective nanotubes; or a carbon grid simply laid down by ordinary photocopy (Xerographic) reduction techniques. The instant invention relates to improvements in the control (addressing and alignment) grid for Solar Energy Concentrators; and similar equipment such as Optical Switches; and Display devices such as Dynamic Reflection, Illumination, and Projection equipment; as well as display equipment in general. The control grid acts to address and align active optical elements such as mirrored balls, multipainted balls, electrophoretic, and magnetophoretic cells in solar concentrators; and in other equipment. Fabrication of the grids is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Inventor: Mario Rabinowitz