Patents by Inventor Heikki Saari

Heikki Saari has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11796887
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a capacitively controlled Fabry-Perot interferometer which comprises a first mirror layer with a first metallic thin-film layer embedded in a first insulating layer and a second mirror layer with a second metallic thin-film layer embedded within a second insulating layer. A control region in the first metallic thin-film layer is at least partly aligned in an actuation direction with a control region in the second metallic thin-film layer. The interferometer also comprises a first control electrode and a first dielectric layer, and the first dielectric layer lies between the first control electrode and at least a part of the control region of the first metallic thin-film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Heikki Saari, Martti Blomberg, Sari Elomaa
  • Publication number: 20230145952
    Abstract: A spectral imaging device comprises: an optical modifier system (SYS1) to form axial light beams (LB2) from received light beams (LB1), the axial light beams (LB2) being parallel with an optical axis (AX1) of the imaging device (500), a Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) to provide filtered axial light beams (LB3) by filtering light of the axial light beams (LB2), an image sensor (SEN1), and an array (ARR1) of lenses (LNS0,0, LNS0,1) to form a plurality of sub-images (S0,0, S0,1) on the image sensor (SEN1) by focusing light of the filtered light beams (LB3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Kai OJALA, Heikki SAARI
  • Publication number: 20220091471
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a capacitively controlled Fabry-Perot interferometer which comprises a first mirror layer with a first metallic thin-film layer embedded in a first insulating layer and a second mirror layer with a second metallic thin-film layer embedded within a second insulating layer. A control region in the first metallic thin-film layer is at least partly aligned in an actuation direction with a control region in the second metallic thin-film layer. The interferometer also comprises a first control electrode and a first dielectric layer, and the first dielectric layer lies between the first control electrode and at least a part of the control region of the first metallic thin-film layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Heikki SAARI, Martti BLOMBERG, Sari ELOMAA
  • Patent number: 10732041
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) Fabry-Perot interferometer includes a transparent substrate; a first metallic mirror structure on the transparent substrate, including a first metal layer and a first support layer; a second metallic mirror structure above the first metallic mirror structure on an opposite side of the first metallic mirror structure in view of the transparent substrate, the second metallic mirror structure including a second metal layer and a second support layer, wherein the first and the second support layer are parallel and including at least one of aluminum oxide or titanium dioxide; a Fabry-Perot cavity between the first and the second support layer, whereby the Fabry-Perot cavity is formed by providing an insulation layer on the first mirror structure, and at least partially removing the insulation layer after providing the second mirror structure; and electrodes for providing electrical contacts to the first and the second metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Heikki Saari, Bin Guo, Anna Rissanen
  • Publication number: 20200124475
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) Fabry-Perot interferometer includes a transparent substrate; a first metallic mirror structure on the transparent substrate, including a first metal layer and a first support layer; a second metallic mirror structure above the first metallic mirror structure on an opposite side of the first metallic mirror structure in view of the transparent substrate, the second metallic mirror structure including a second metal layer and a second support layer, wherein the first and the second support layer are parallel and including at least one of aluminum oxide or titanium dioxide; a Fabry-Perot cavity between the first and the second support layer, whereby the Fabry-Perot cavity is formed by providing an insulation layer on the first mirror structure, and at least partially removing the insulation layer after providing the second mirror structure; and electrodes for providing electrical contacts to the first and the second metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Heikki SAARI, Bin GUO, Anna RISSANEN
  • Patent number: 9835847
    Abstract: An arrangement for hyperspectral imaging, comprising an imaging sensor (170,270); a band-pass filter element (130,230): at least one imaging optics element (120,160,220,260) configured to form an image on the imaging sensor (170,270); and a first adjustable multi passband filter (150a,255); wherein the first (150a,255) adjustable multi passband filter is configured to be adjusted by tilting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Saari, Sami Siikanen
  • Publication number: 20170269351
    Abstract: An arrangement for hyperspectral imaging, comprising an imaging sensor (170,270); a band-pass filter element (130,230): at least one imaging optics element (120,160,220,260) configured to form an image on the imaging sensor (170,270); and a first adjustable multi passband filter (150a,255); wherein the first (150a,255) adjustable multi passband filter is configured to be adjusted by tilting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Heikki Saari, Sami Siikanen
  • Patent number: 9588334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Fabry-Perot interferometer and a method for producing the same. More specifically, the invention relates to Fabry-Perot interferometers which are controllable with one or several actuators, such as piezoelectric, electrostrictive or flexoelectric actuators. In prior art technology there is a problem to achieve a sufficiently small and uniform gap between mirrors. In the present invention an intermediate structure (85a, 85b, 95a, 95b, 81a, 81b, 91a, 91b, 98a, 98b) is used between a mirror and an actuator or between two mirrors. The method of production also includes measuring the width distribution of the gap in several phases, and providing pre-actuation of actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TEKNLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY
    Inventors: Tapani Antila, Jussi Mäkynen, Christer Holmlund, Jarkko Antila, Jyrki Ollila, Heikki Saari
  • Patent number: 9581499
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for optical measurement of a target, wherein the target is illuminated, either actively illuminated, reflecting ambient light, or self illuminating, and a measurement light beam received from the target or through it is detected. The prior art optical measurement systems generally include mechanical filter wheels and photomultiplier tubes, which cause the equipment to be expensive, large-sized and often not sufficiently accurate and stable. The objective of the invention is achieved with a solution, in which the illuminating light beam and/or measurement light beam is led through a Fabry-Perot interferometeror a set of two or more Fabry-Perot Interferometers, and the Fabry-Perot interferometer or a set of two or more Fabry-Perot Interferometersis controlled into different modes during the measurement of a single target. The invention can be applied inoptical measurements where, for example, reflectance, absorption of fluorescence of the target is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Teknologian tutkimeskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Heikki Saari, Christer Holmlund, Uula Kantojarvi, Rami Mannila, Antti Lamminpaa, Pekka Teppola
  • Patent number: 9255844
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for optical measurement of a target, wherein the target is illuminated, either actively illuminated, reflecting ambient light, or self illuminating, and a measurement radiation beam received from the target or through it is detected. The measurement system has optical fibers for guiding radiation from/to target positions. Radiation of several target positions is simultaneously filtered by a Fabry-Perot interferometer and detected by a row detector, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT
    Inventors: Mikko Juuti, Heikki Saari, Heimo Keranen, Jouko Malinen
  • Publication number: 20150124263
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Fabry-Perot interferometer and a method for producing the same. More specifically, the invention relates to Fabry-Perot interferometers which are controllable with one or several actuators, such as piezoelectric, electrostrictive or flexoelectric actuators. In prior art technology there is a problem to achieve a sufficiently small and uniform gap between mirrors. In the present invention an intermediate structure (85a, 85b, 95a, 95b, 81a, 81b, 91a, 91b, 98a, 98b) is used between a mirror and an actuator or between two mirrors. The method of production also includes measuring the width distribution of the gap in several phases, and providing pre-actuation of actuators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Tapani Antila, Jussi Mäkynen, Christer Holmlund, Jarkko Antila, Jyrki Ollila, Heikki Saari
  • Publication number: 20140218736
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for optical measurement of a target, wherein the target is illuminated, either actively illuminated, reflecting ambient light, or self illuminating, and a measurement light beam received from the target or through it is detected. The prior art optical measurement systems generally include mechanical filter wheels and photomultiplier tubes, which cause the equipment to be expensive, large-sized and often not sufficiently accurate and stable. The objective of the invention is achieved with a solution, in which the illuminating light beam and/or measurement light beam is led through a Fabry-Perot interferometer or a set of two or more Fabry-Perot Interferometers, and the pass band of the Fabry-Perot interferometer or a set of two or more Fabry-Perot Interferometers is controlled during the measurement of a single target. The invention can be applied in optical measurements where, for example, reflectance, absorption of fluorescence of the target is measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Teknologian tutkimeskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Heikki SAARI, Christer HOLMLUND, Uula KANTOJARVI, Rami MANNILA, Antti LAMMINPAA, Pekka TEPPOLA
  • Patent number: 8792100
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for optical measurement of a target, wherein the target is illuminated, either actively illuminated, reflecting ambient light, or self illuminating, and a measurement light beam received from the target or through it is detected. The prior art optical measurement systems generally include mechanical filter wheels and photomultiplier tubes, which cause the equipment to be expensive, large-sized and often not sufficiently accurate and stable. The objective of the invention is achieved with a solution, in which the illuminating light beam and/or measurement light beam is led through a Fabry-Perot interferometer or a set of two or more Fabry-Perot Interferometers, and the Fabry-Perot interferometer or a set of two or more Fabry-Perot Interferometers is controlled into different modes during the measurement of a single target. The invention can be applied in optical measurements where, for example, reflectance, absorption of fluorescence of the target is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Teknologian Tutkimu Skeskus VTT
    Inventors: Heikki Saari, Christer Holmlund, Uula Kantojarvi, Rami Mannila, Antti Lamminpaa, Pekka Teppola
  • Patent number: 8780356
    Abstract: An imaging spectrometer includes a Fabry-Perot interferometer and an image sensor having color-sensitive pixels. The interferometer has a first transmission peak and a second transmission peak (PEAK2). A method calibrating the spectrometer includes providing first calibration light, which has a narrow spectral peak, obtaining first detector signal values from the image sensor by coupling the first calibration light into the spectrometer when the reference spectral peak is near a first spectral position, obtaining second detector signal values from the image sensor by coupling the first calibration light into the spectrometer when the reference spectral peak is near a second spectral position, providing second calibration light, which has a broad bandwidth, and obtaining third detector signal values from the image sensor by coupling the second calibration light into the spectrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Heikki Saari, Jussi Mäkynen, Christer Holmlund, Uula Kantojärvi, Jarkko Antila, Rami Mannila
  • Publication number: 20140176729
    Abstract: An imaging spectrometer includes a Fabry-Perot interferometer and an image sensor having color-sensitive pixels. The interferometer has a first transmission peak and a second transmission peak (PEAK2). A method calibrating the spectrometer includes providing first calibration light, which has a narrow spectral peak, obtaining first detector signal values from the image sensor by coupling the first calibration light into the spectrometer when the reference spectral peak is near a first spectral position, obtaining second detector signal values from the image sensor by coupling the first calibration light into the spectrometer when the reference spectral peak is near a second spectral position, providing second calibration light, which has a broad bandwidth, and obtaining third detector signal values from the image sensor by coupling the second calibration light into the spectrometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Heikki SAARI, Jussi MÄKYNEN, Christer HOLMLUND, Uula KANTOJÄRVI, Jarkko Antila, Rami MANNILA
  • Publication number: 20140071451
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for optical measurement of a target, wherein the target is illuminated, either actively illuminated, reflecting ambient light, or self illuminating, and a measurement radiation beam received from the target or through it is detected. The measurement system has optical fibres for guiding radiation from/to target positions. Radiation of several target positions is simultaneously filtered by a Fabry-Perot interferometer and detected by a row detector, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT
    Inventors: Mikko JUUTI, Heikki SAARI, Heimo KERANEN, Jouko MALINEN
  • Patent number: 8233147
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spectrometer for material analysis and to a control method for a spectrometer. The spectrometer includes a radiant source (140) formed by multiple single radiation sources (141) having different central wavelengths, for generating a measuring signal, a measurement object (100) containing a material to be analyzed, at least one electrically tunable Fabry-Perot filter (120, 220) for the band pass filtering the measuring signal by at least two pass bands, and a detector (300, 400) for detecting said filtered measuring signals received from the measurement object (100). The spectrometer has: means (312) for modulating each of the single radiation sources (141) and correspondingly means (307, 309) for demodulating the detected signals such that the signal from each single radiation source can be distinguished from each other in the detector (300, 400); and means for detecting (300, 400) and demodulating (306, 307) multiple pass hands simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventor: Heikki Saari
  • Patent number: 8130380
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spectrometer, a spectrometric method and detector, and a new use of an interferometer. The spectrometer comprises a Fabry-Perot interferometer (120), to which light can be guided from the object (100) being investigated, in order to produce an interference image, and a detector (130) at which the interference image is aimed. The transmittance of the interferometer (120) is spectrally sliced to at least two separate wavelength bands. For its parts, the detector (130) is arranged to detect the interference image from at least two separate wavelength bands spatially. The detector is arranged to detect the said wavelength bands simultaneously, by exploiting the response of the image elements of the detector, calibrated as a function of the mirror gap of the interferometer, in order to detect simultaneously at least two different orders of the interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventor: Heikki Saari
  • Publication number: 20120038928
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for optical measurement of a target, wherein the target is illuminated, either actively illuminated, reflecting ambient light, or self illuminating, and a measurement light beam received from the target or through it is detected. The prior art optical measurement systems generally include mechanical filter wheels and photomultiplier tubes, which cause the equipment to be expensive, large-sized and often not sufficiently accurate and stable. The objective of the invention is achieved with a solution, in which the illuminating light beam and/or measurement light beam is led through a Fabry-Perot interferometer or a set of two or more Fabry-Perot Interferometers, and the Fabry-Perot interferometer or a set of two or more Fabry-Perot Interferometers is controlled into different modes during the measurement of a single target. The invention can be applied in optical measurements where, for example, reflectance, absorption of fluorescence of the target is measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMESKESKUS VTT
    Inventors: Heikki Saari, Christer Holmlund, Uula Kantojarvi, Rami Mannila, Antti Lamminpaa, Pekka Teppola
  • Publication number: 20100245832
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spectrometer, a spectrometric method and detector, and a new use of an interferometer. The spectrometer comprises a Fabry-Perot interferometer (120), to which light can be guided from the object (100) being investigated, in order to produce an interference image, and a detector (130) at which the interference image is aimed. The transmittance of the interferometer (120) is spectrally sliced to at least two separate wavelength bands. For its parts, the detector (130) is arranged to detect the interference image from at least two separate wavelength bands spatially. The detector is arranged to detect the said wavelength bands simultaneously, by exploiting the response of the image elements of the detector, calibrated as a function of the mirror gap of the interferometer, in order to detect simultaneously at least two different orders of the interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: VALTION TEKNILLINEN TUTKIMUSKESKUS
    Inventor: Heikki Saari