Patents Issued in August 2, 2001
  • Publication number: 20010010548
    Abstract: Based on the output signal of an area sensor 1, a level adjustment circuit 2 adjusts the bias voltage fed to the transistors provided within the individual pixels of the area sensor 1 and operating in a subthreshold region and thereby adjusts the level of the output signal of the area sensor 1. According to whether the subject is illuminated with intense or dim light, the level of the output signal is lowered or raised, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kakumoto, Yoshio Hagihara
  • Publication number: 20010010549
    Abstract: A camera which records positional data, which is obtained by a GPS unit during photographing, and image data on a memory card. The camera receives the positional data representing the photographing place from the GPS unit, and records the positional data and the image data on the memory card. While the GPS unit is measuring the position to obtain the positional data to be recorded, an image pickup circuit including a CCD sensor, etc. which converts image light into an image signal, a recording circuit for recording the image signal on the memory card, an LCD monitor which is used as a view finder, a strobe unit and a printer are halted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Izumi Miyake
  • Publication number: 20010010550
    Abstract: An electronic still camera which is able to substantially lessen the amount of trouble of inserting and drawing a PC card during photographing or when image data are transferred to a host computer such as a laptop computer, and which is able to increase the number of photographing. The electronic still camera has the PC card which is inserted into or drawn out from a camera body, which has the same shape as the PC card. The PC card or the camera body shaped like the PC card is inserted into a PC card slot of the host computer to transmit and receive the image data, etc.. A camera casing including a taking lens, etc. is mounted in the camera body shaped like the PC card, and a sheet-like battery is provided in the camera body. The taking lens is capable of projecting from and retracting into the camera body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Saito, Atsushi Misawa, Takeshi Misawa
  • Publication number: 20010010551
    Abstract: An amplifying circuit comprising an amplifying element and a memory element as well as means to adjust the signal in an output terminal of said amplifying element to a known level, a measure of the corresponding level in a control terminal of said amplifying element being stored on said memory element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: BART DIERICKX
  • Publication number: 20010010552
    Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to easily and additionally write positional information of the defective pixel which is difficult to deal with using an automated writing mode, and that, without using any special writing jig in the case where a new defective pixel is occurred in a solid state image element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Takatsugu Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20010010553
    Abstract: In a CCD imaging device in which sensor sections have the vertical overflow drain (OFD) structure, a substrate bias control signal is applied to the base of a bipolar transistor via a resistor to turn on the transistor at least during a signal charge readout period. As a result, the base potential of a bipolar transistor that constitutes a clamping circuit is lowered, whereby a substrate bias that is output from a substrate bias generation circuit is lowered. Thus, the potential of an overflow barrier in the sensor sections is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: HIROAKI TANAKA, ISAO HIROTA
  • Publication number: 20010010554
    Abstract: A color imaging apparatus includes a CCD imaging device having interline transfer charge transfer paths adapted for interlaced reading and a Bayer-arranged color filter. The apparatus can be put in either of normal shooting mode and high-sensitivity shooting mode. In the high-sensitivity mode, pixel signals from two pixels arranged in the vertical direction in each photosensitive CCD array are transferred by a corresponding vertical transfer path at two times the rate in the normal mode to a horizontal transfer path where they are added together. A line of pixel signals from the horizontal transfer path is output to a preprocess circuit where pixel signals separated by one pixel in the horizontal direction are added together. This process produces a line of image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Olympus Optical Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20010010555
    Abstract: Most camera systems only record an image from a limited viewing angle. A new panoramic camera apparatus is disclosed that instantaneously captures a 360 degree panoramic image. In the camera device, virtually all of the light that converges on a point in space is captured. Specifically, in the camera of the present invention, light striking this point in space is captured if it comes from any direction, 360 degrees around the point and from angles 50 degrees or more above and below the horizon. The panoramic image is recorded as a two dimensional annular image. Furthermore, various different systems for displaying the panoramic images and distributing the panoramic images. Specifically, methods and apparatus for digitally performing a geometric transformation of the two dimensional annular image into rectangular projections such that the panoramic image can be displayed using conventional methods such as printed images and televised images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 1997
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: EDWARD DRISCOLL JR
  • Publication number: 20010010556
    Abstract: An imaging device that can shorten focus searching search times and enable correct focusing in accordance with shooting conditions. An autofocus function operates when a shutter button of a digital camera is half-pressed. At this time, a current shooting mode, which was selected in advance by a photographer operating a variety of buttons, is acquired. In accordance with the acquired shooting mode, a focusing lens moves to a search start position. Also, a direction in which the focusing lens will move is decided in accordance with the shooting mode. The focusing lens is moved and an in-focus position is thereby found. Then the focusing lens is adjusted to the in-focus position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Masahiko Sugimoto, Yoshiharu Gotanda
  • Publication number: 20010010557
    Abstract: A rail groove is provided on an outer peripheral portion of a focus adjusting ring. A lens seat, supporting an image pickup lens, is attached to an escutcheon forming a main body. A plurality of engaging protrusions, provided on a front surface of the escutcheon around the lens seat, engage with the rail groove. Cam surfaces, formed on the focus adjusting ring, are brought into contact with protrusions of a bracket which mounts an imaging element. The rotational motion of the focus adjusting ring is converted into a linear or progressive motion of a bracket by the cam surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaomi Iiizumi, Toshiharu Alkawa
  • Publication number: 20010010558
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is arranged to vary the size of a focus detecting area and/or a light measuring area when the aspect ratio of an image plane is changed, so as to optimize the focus detecting area and/or the light measuring area with respect to the image plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: HITOSHI YASUDA
  • Publication number: 20010010559
    Abstract: A video camera includes a gate circuit for extracting a sharpness signal relative to an area which is set in a portion of a picture, a focus adjusting device for performing focus adjustment on the basis of the sharpness signal relative to the area, and an area selecting circuit for controlling the gate circuit to vary the area in size and determining a size of the area during a driving of a variator lens in accordance with a size of the area and a focal length used before the driving of the variator lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Masahide Hirasawa, Tatsuya Yamazaki, Hiroto Ohkawara
  • Publication number: 20010010560
    Abstract: A focal-plane shutter for digital still cameras is constructed so that a first driving member for a first blade connected to the first blade is biased by a cocking spring to rotate clockwise and a second driving member for the first blade is biased by a driving spring to rotate counterclockwise. A driving member for a second blade connected to the second blade is biased by a driving spring to rotate counterclockwise. An exposure aperture is fully opened before photographing, and when a cocking member is rotated in a clockwise direction in photographing, the first driving member is released from the holding of the cocking member and is rotated, and the exposure aperture is covered by the first blade. After that, when releasing members are separated from the iron cores of respective electromagnets, locks of locking members are released, and the driving members are rotated counterclockwise in turn. Consequently, exposure is carried out through a slit formed by the first blade and the second blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Shigemi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20010010561
    Abstract: The image of a subject obtained by photography is displayed on a display unit provided on a digital still camera. The user designates a zoom area and magnification on the displayed image of the subject. The illumination angle of a strobe light-emission unit is controlled in such a manner that a position on the subject that corresponds to the center of the designated zoom area is illuminated with strobe light. The zoom image thus obtained is brightened in emphasized fashion by the strobe light-emission unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Norio Nagai
  • Publication number: 20010010562
    Abstract: A structure for mounting a solid-state imaging device on an optical unit, which includes a metal plate having a flat surface, a backside surface opposite to the flat surface, a projected surface projected by a predetermined height from the flat surface, the projected surface being parallel to the flat surface, and at least one opening formed on the projected surface and accessible through the backside surface; the solid-state imaging device having a front surface for receiving light and a back surface, the imaging device being secured to the metal plate by means of adhesive applied at least to a corner edge portion formed by the inner circumferential surface of the at-least-one opening of the metal plate and the back surface of the imaging device when the imaging device contacts the projected surface of the metal plate; and fixing members for fixing the metal plate carrying the imaging device thereon onto the optical unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Nakagishi, Koji Sato, Isao Okuda
  • Publication number: 20010010563
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device and method for generating an auto gain control signal. When a gain of an input signal is very different from a wanted gain, an increase of an integral value is prevented by repeatedly resetting an integrator. Especially, the device can sensitively respond to a fast moving substance on a channel, by reducing a repeated reset period of the integrator. At the same time, it is possible to minimize reduction of the performance of a receiver due to a residual jitter generated by the shortened period. As a result, the receiver has an improved performance in regard to the gain variations of the whole channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Jung Sig Jun
  • Publication number: 20010010564
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a main body having an upper surface, and a display part which opens and closes with respect to the main body. The display part in a closed state is stacked on the upper surface of the main body and forms a generally flat parallelepiped shape together with the main body. The parallelepiped shape has a top surface, a bottom surface, and side surfaces forming an outer periphery of the parallelepiped shape. The main body has a first sloping surface joining the bottom surface and at least one of the side surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Katsuichi Goto, Hideaki Kamikakai
  • Publication number: 20010010565
    Abstract: The invention concerns a three dimensional (3D) display apparatus comprising a passive array (16) of points (a, b, c) and an array (14) representing the image to be displayed, this second array comprising a set of subarrays (A′, B′, C′) Each subarray is associated with a corresponding point of the passive array, and each point of each subarray contains an information about a point of the 3D image to display. A light ray from a point (A′5) of a subarray to the associated point (a) of the passive array virtually converges to the corresponding point (P1) of the 3D image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Chikazawa
  • Publication number: 20010010566
    Abstract: Pixel electrode fabricating processes are remarkably reduced. A pixel electrode 22 is formed without using any vacuum film forming apparatus by employing a sol-gel material and coating an insulating substrate with the sol-gel material by a spin-coating method or a dipping method, and this allows the fabricating processes to be reduced. During this course, by forming the pixel electrode before the formation of a scanning electrode 23, signal wiring lines and a TFT 24, the electrode wiring and the TFT 24 suffer no thermal damage even if they have a heat resistance temperature of about 350° C. Furthermore, by using a sol-gel material having photosensitivity, patterning processes are reduced by the elimination of the photoresist patterning process and the etching process. An investment for the equipment of a fabricating apparatus can thus be reduced to allow the cost reduction of the active matrix substrate itself to be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Izumi, Yoshimasa Chikama, Hisao Ochi
  • Publication number: 20010010567
    Abstract: A passivation layer is formed by coating a flowable insulating material on the substrate where a thin film transistor and a storage capacitor electrode, and a pixel electrode is formed on the passivation layer. A portion of the passivation layer is etched using the pixel electrode as a mask to make a groove on the thin film transistor, and then a black matrix is formed by filling an organic black photoresist in the groove. To increase the storage capacitance, a portion of the passivation layer is removed or to form a metal pattern on the storage capacitor electrode. A flowable insulating material is used as a gate insulating layer to planarize the substrate. In the case of the etch stopper type thin film transistor, a photo definable material is used as the etch stopper layer to reduce the parasitic capacitance between the gate electrode and the drain electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Soo-Guy Rho, Jung-Ho Lee
  • Publication number: 20010010568
    Abstract: A backlight assembly for a liquid crystal display device comprising lamp units each including a lamp reflector, a lamp portion attached within the lamp reflector and lamp rubbers provided on both ends of the lamp portion, and a frame for holding the lamp units. The lamp units are arranged to include means for maintaining a predetermined clearance between at least end portions of the lamp units and the frame. It is possible to easily perform assembly and exchange of lamp units and to further achieve improvements in reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: ADVANCED DISPLAY INC.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nakano
  • Publication number: 20010010569
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates between which a liquid crystal layer is interposed, a semiconductor integrated circuit device provided at a periphery of a liquid crystal layer side surface of one substrate of the pair of substrates, a frame member having a display window and covering the substrates, and a spacer provided between the frame member and the periphery of the liquid crystal side surface of the one substrate, the present invention prevents the substrate from being cracked during assembly processes thereof and improves product quality thereof by protruding one side of the spacer toward another substrate of the pair of substrates partly, disposing the semiconductor integrated circuit device along a concave part of the spacer with respect to the another substrate, and providing an adhesive at a surface of the protruded part of the spacer opposite to the liquid crystal layer side surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Hitachi,Ltd. and Hitachi Device Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Jin, Atsushi Nemoto
  • Publication number: 20010010570
    Abstract: A display module comprises: a liquid crystal panel for displaying a predetermined image; a light emitter which is arranged on the liquid crystal panel and emits light for displaying an image; and a bag which contains and fixes the liquid display panel and the light emitter. The bag includes at least an area through which an image display area of the liquid crystal panel can be seen. The bag having an opening which is sealed up, and the inside thereof is retained in a low-pressure atmosphere. Hence, the bag fixes the liquid crystal panel and the light emitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yutoku Nagasaki
  • Publication number: 20010010571
    Abstract: A reflection-type liquid crystal display according to the invention includes two glass substrates, a transparent electrode provided on one glass substrate, an insulator film which is provided on another glass substrate and on which an uneven structure is formed, a reflecting electrode provided on the insulator film, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a side of the transparent electrode and a side of the reflecting electrode. The insulator film includes a first insulating layer in which a large number of depressions isolated as surrounded by protrusions are irregularly arranged and a second insulating layer covering the insulating layer entirely. The protrusions are all connected in a network, so that if some of these protrusions have weaker adherence with an underlying layer, they can be supported by the surrounding protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kanou, Yuichi Yamaguchi, Teruaki Suzuki, Hironori Kikkawa
  • Publication number: 20010010572
    Abstract: A pixel electrode for driving liquid crystal is formed on a planarization insulator film covering a thin film transistor, and a vertical alignment film without rubbing treatment is formed on the pixel electrode. An alignment control window that has electrode-free portion is formed in a common electrode, and a vertical alignment film is formed on the common electrode without rubbing treatment. The liquid crystal having negative dielectric constant anisotropy is controlled in an initial direction of the substantially normal direction without pretilt. Upon applying a voltage, the tilt of the alignment is controlled in the direction of a slanting electric field at the edge of the pixel electrode and the edge of the alignment control window, so that pixel division is performed. Since rubbing treatment is not performed, electrostatic breakdown of the thin film transistor is prevented and, because a black matrix is eliminated, aperture ratio is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventors: Norio Koma, Kiyoshi Yoneda, Tetsuji Omura
  • Publication number: 20010010573
    Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal display device including first and second substrates, a liquid crystal composition layer provided between the first and second substrates, a plurality of drain lines and gate lines formed on the first substrate and crossing each other in a matrix form, a plurality of reference lines formed on the first substrate, and a plurality of pixels formed by adjoining the drain lines and the gate lines. At least one pixel electrode is formed in each pixel with the pixel electrode having first and second layers. An area of the first layer is smaller than that of the second layer, and a ratio of an overlapped area between the first layer and one of the reference lines to an area of the first layer is greater than that between the second layer and the one of reference lines to an area of the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Masuyuki Ohta, Masahiro Ishi, Kikuo Ono, Nobuyuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20010010574
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates, a plurality of gate bus lines and data bus lines on the first substrate, the gate bus lines being perpendicular to the data bus lines, a plurality of pixels defined by the gate bus lines and the data bus lines, the pixels having a plularity of regions, at least a pair of electrodes in each region having a common direction, and a plurality of liquid crystal molecules between the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Komatsu Hiroshi
  • Publication number: 20010010575
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer sealed between the first and second substrates. A first group of electrodes are formed on the first substrate, and a second group of electrodes are formed on the second substrate at staggered positions with respect to the first electrodes, the electrodes extending in the form of linearly elongated strips in a direction parallel to the substrate surfaces. A liquid crystal display apparatus of a transverse electric field drive type is thus provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hidefumi Yoshida, Takashi Sasabayashi, Yohei Nakanishi, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Publication number: 20010010576
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate being disposed opposite the second substrate and being disposed a first distance apart, each of the substrates having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the substrates, the liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules; a first electrode formed on the inner surface of the first substrate, the first electrode having a first width; and a second electrode formed on the inner surface of the first substrate, the second electrode having a second width, and spaced apart from the first electrode by a second distance, the first electrode and the second electrode being capable of aligning the liquid crystal molecules using an electric field produced between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first distance is greater in length than the second distance, and the first an
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Seug Hee Lee, Seok Lyul Lee, Woo Ho Choi, Jung Yeal Lee
  • Publication number: 20010010577
    Abstract: A slide feeder, a slide system and a slide feeding method are disclosed. Conventional slide feeders are incapable of feeding the same slide mounts repeatedly to an external appliance with no help by a human hand, accordingly are unsuited to a scanning work at a high speed and incapable of separating slides stably at a feeding time. To overcome these problems, the present invention comprises feeding slide mounts stocked in a first slide stock section to an external appliance and stocking slide mounts discharged from the external appliance into a second slide stock section in a first operation mode, and feeding and stocking the slide mounts reversely in a second operation mode. Furthermore, the slide mounts are carried in a feeding direction with a rotating force of a roller. Moreover, the slide mounts are separated with a separating pad at a feeding time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Tahara, Kiyotaka Dochi
  • Publication number: 20010010578
    Abstract: A scanning exposure system to expose an objective wafer has a light source; a slit-shaped window having a length in a first direction greater than a width in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a photomask having an exposure opening therein, the exposure opening having a length along a longer direction greater than a width along a narrower direction perpendicular to the longer direction, the longer direction being aligned parallel to a projection of the first direction on the photomask, the objective wafer being exposed to the light source through the slit-shaped window and the exposure opening during a scanning operation by a relative motion of the photomask with respect to the slit-shaped window in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20010010579
    Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus is able to monitor changes in transmissivity of the projection optical system so as to provide a high degree of control over the exposure illuminance to produce precision printing of circuit patterns on a substrate. A referencing member, having reference marks and a window section for determining the illuminance of the transmitting exposure beam, is provided on the sample stage for the substrate. During scanning/exposure process, any positional deviation of projection optical system is checked by the alignment system by comparing reticle marks on the reticle with reference marks on the sample stage illuminated with alignment beams. Simultaneously, illuminance of exposure light passing through the projection optical system is checked to determine if there is any change in the transmission coefficient of the optical system, and illumination power is adjusted to provide near real-time compensation for any change in transmissivity in the optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Nishi
  • Publication number: 20010010580
    Abstract: An apparatus has a pulse light source for emitting light pulses with varying light quantities, an illumination optical system for radiating the light pulses from the source onto a predetermined illumination region on a mask on which a transfer pattern is formed, and a projection optical system for projecting an image of the pattern onto a predetermined exposure region on a substrate, and which synchronously scans the mask and the substrate during the projection. The apparatus includes a measuring device for detecting intensities of the light pulses radiated onto the substrate during the scanning and measuring an integrated light quantity on each of a plurality of partial regions in the exposure region on the substrate on the basis of a detection signal of the intensities, wherein the partial regions are defined by a scanning speed of the photosensitive substrate and an oscillation interval of the light pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Kazuaki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20010010581
    Abstract: A light source 1 is connected to a first terminal of an optical branch coupler 2, and a first optical sensor 3 is connected to a second terminal. A second optical sensor 4 is connected to a fourth terminal, and a master optical connector 7 is connected to a third terminal. While a measured optical fiber 5 is connected to the master optical connector 7, the power of light received by the first optical sensor 3 and the power of light received by the second optical sensor 4 are detected. The insertion loss and return loss of the optical fiber 5 are computed from the power values of received light detected by a measurement unit 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Rikihiro Iida
  • Publication number: 20010010582
    Abstract: A carriage securing structure for an image processor, including a stop which is linked by a captive coupling to a bottom plate of a casing so that it does not come off the bottom plate and an engagement member provided in a carriage. The carriage is secured by the stop engaging the engagement member. With the engagement being released, a through hole through which the stop is inserted encloses the hole in the bottom plate and does not degrade the appearance of the apparatus, and dust, or the like, is prevented from entering the casing through the hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Eiichi Hayashi, Tetsuo Obata, Hideyuki Sekiguchi, Akira Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20010010583
    Abstract: An optical pickup device in which a light beam radiated from a semiconductor laser element is converted by a collimator lens into collimated light beam which is converged by an objective lens so as to be illuminated on an optical disc. A beam shaping element having a hologram pattern on its incident surface and/or its radiating surface is provided on a divergent optical path of the radiated light beam from the semiconductor laser element between the semiconductor laser element and the collimator lens for shaping the light beam radiated from the semiconductor laser element for forming a beam spot of an optimum shape on the optical disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Ando
  • Publication number: 20010010584
    Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus includes an optoelectronic device, a mounting portion, a frame member surrounding a periphery of the mounting portion, and an optical component. The optical component is placed on an optical component placement portion. The frame member includes a pair of first side walls and a pair of second side walls. Each of the pair of second side walls has a recessed portion and a protruded portion. The optical component is disposed between the protruded portions, and is fixed with an adhesive filled in the recessed portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Hideyuki Nakanishi, Toru Tsuruta, Ryuma Hirano
  • Publication number: 20010010585
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a Raman amplifier for Raman-amplifying optical signals by supplying pumping light to an optical fiber through which the optical signals propagate, and an optical transmission system having this Raman amplifier in a repeater section. In a Raman amplifier, pumping light output from a light source for optical pumping is supplied to a Raman amplification optical fiber through an optical multiplexer. Optical signals input from an upstream end portion to the Raman amplification optical fiber suffer transmission loss while propagating through the Raman amplification optical fiber, and are also Raman-amplified by the Raman amplification optical fiber. The Raman amplification optical fiber has a polarization coupling means for inducing coupling between the polarization components of propagation light, e.g., a twist applied to the glass portion of the Raman amplification optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Nishimura, Eisuke Sasaoka, Toshiaki Okuno
  • Publication number: 20010010586
    Abstract: A group of semiconductor laser diodes 1 outputs fundamental-wave lights controlled so that each wavelength thereof is double the wavelength of a light for wavelength multiplexing transmission. The fundamental-wave lights are provided to a light receiver 2, and then to a group of wavelength conversion elements 3, wherein the fundamental-wave lights are converted into lights each having half the wavelength of each fundamental-wave light. The group of wavelength conversion elements 3 outputs lights including the converted lights each having half the wavelength of each fundamental-wave light and the fundamental-wave lights. The outputted lights are passed through a group of fundamental-wave optical eliminators 4 typified by an optical filter for passing the converted lights and eliminating the fundamental-wave lights, a guiding part 5, and then an optical multiplexer 6, and then guided to a transmission medium 7.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Satoshi Furusawa, Susumu Morikura
  • Publication number: 20010010587
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal through an optical transmission line to reduce the effects of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). The WDM signal includes a plurality of light signals multiplexed together. The WDM signal is transmitted through the optical transmission line so that the intensity per light signal is higher than an intensity threshold at which stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) occurs for a single light signal individually transmitted to the optical transmission line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: TAKASHI MIYAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20010010588
    Abstract: A galvano mirror system includes (1) a galvano mirror, (2) a mirror holder having a front portion to which the galvano mirror is mounted and a rear portion opposing to the front portion, (3) a stator which rotatably supports the mirror holder, (4) first and second reflecting surfaces provided to the rear portion of the mirror holder, and (5) first and second photo sensors provided to the stator. Each photo sensor includes a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device. A controller of the galvano mirror system detects the rotational position of the mirror holder according to on a difference in outputs of the light-receiving devices of the first and second photo sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Suguru Takishima, Toshio Nakagishi
  • Publication number: 20010010589
    Abstract: A laser imaging device is provided with a laser source that emits a laser beam including a plurality of wavelength components. The wavelength components are divided by a dividing optical system, and at least two wavelength components are extracted and each of which is directed to a beam dividing element. Each wavelength component are divided into a plurality of beams, and independently modulated by the modulating optical systems. The beams having different wavelengths are directed to respective scanning optical system, and deflected thereby to scan in different areas on an objective surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Iizuka
  • Publication number: 20010010590
    Abstract: A solid type EC mirror with improved corrosion resistance of its reflecting metal film is provided. On one surface (i.e., rear surface as viewed from the side on which light is incident) of a glass substrate are successively laminated an ITO transparent electrode film and an EC device consisting of three layers of an anode compound film, a solid electrolyte film and a cathode compound film. On the surface thereof are further successively laminated a high reflecting metal material film and a high corrosion resistant metal film. Since the high reflecting metal material film is covered with the high corrosion resistant metal film, a corrosion prevention effect against corrosion by moisture permeating from outside is enhanced and an offset width of the EC mirror can be reduced and a range of effective field of view can be enlarged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Takuo Mochizuka
  • Publication number: 20010010591
    Abstract: A differential interference contrast microscope including an illuminating light source 61, a polarizer 62 for converting an illumination light ray into a linearly polarized light, a polarized light separating means 63 for dividing the linearly polarized light ray into two linearly polarized light rays having mutually orthogonal vibrating directions, an illuminating optical system 64, 65 for projecting the two linearly polarized light rays onto an object 66 under inspection, a polarized light combining means 69 for combining the two linearly polarized light rays on a same optical path via an inspecting optical system 67, 68, an analyzer 70 for forming a differential interference contrast image on an imaging plane 71.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Kenichi Kusaka
  • Publication number: 20010010592
    Abstract: A stereomicroscope has an objective system, a zoom system, and an eyepiece system. The zoom system consists of two systems that are juxtaposed at the same height. This arrangement reduces the vertical size of a body (2) of the stereomicroscope, allows an observer to easily see a target below the stereomicroscope with the naked eye as and when required, and improves workability when an assistant microscope (7) is attached to the stereomicroscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Mitaka Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsushige Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20010010593
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tunable optical filter having a variable wavelength characteristic of transmittance. The tunable optical filter includes first and second polarizers each having a transmission axis determining a polarization axis of transmitted polarized light, a birefringent element having an optic axis determining a phase difference given between two orthogonal components of transmitted polarized light, and a Faraday rotator for giving a variable Faraday rotation angle to transmitted polarized light. The birefringent element and the Faraday rotator are provided between the first and second polarizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Takafumi Terahara, Nobuhiro Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20010010594
    Abstract: An optical low-pass filter used in association with an imaging element which has a plurality of pixels arranged in vertical and horizontal direction with regularity, is provided with first through third birefringent plates arranged in the order from a light incident side. The low-pass filter separates an incident ray into four rays, a separation width of the rays in the vertical direction being &dgr;v, and a separation width of the rays in the horizontal direction being &dgr;h. A separation angles of the first through third birefringent plates are &thgr;, (&thgr;−90°) and 0°, respectively, and separation widths of the first through third birefringent plates are (&dgr;v×sin &thgr;), (&dgr;v×cos &thgr;) and &dgr;h, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Oono
  • Publication number: 20010010595
    Abstract: A vehicular electrochromic rearview mirror system includes an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and at least one exterior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly. Each mirror assembly includes an electrochromic reflective element that assumes a partial reflectance level in response to a signal applied thereto. A drive circuit applies a drive signal to each of the electrochromic reflective elements. The drive circuit may include a digital controller, a master drive circuit responsive to the digital controller to apply a first drive signal to one of the electrochromic reflective elements and a slave drive circuit responsive to the digital controller to apply a second drive signal to a second of the electrochromic reflective elements. The second drive signal may be derived from the first drive signal. The drive circuit may include a digital controller and a switching power supply controlled by the digital controller to produce a drive signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Eric J. Hoekstra, Kenneth L. Schierbeek
  • Publication number: 20010010596
    Abstract: The present invention discloses the structure of the array lens that at least any one of the diagonal size, vertical size and lateral size of lens cell is set to almost 1/(4.5 or more) for each corresponding size of the display elements, the structure that the diagonal size of lens cell is set to almost 0.18 inch or less, the structure that the total number of lens cells is set to almost 240 or more and the structure that the lens focal distance of lens cell is set to almost 30 mm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ohuchi, Masahiko Yatsu, Taro Imahase, Tomohiro Miyoshi, Yasuo Otsuka, Takesuke Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20010010597
    Abstract: In a method for forming a planar microlens according to the present invention, a wet etching is conducted to a glass substrate for a stamper while it is covered with a mask. After the etching is conducted and the mask is removed a wet etching is conducted again to the glass substrate to form densely arranged concave portions thereon, and thereby a stamper is obtained. An uncured resin is applied on the forming surface of the stamper, a glass substrate for a planar microlens array (MLA) is pressed thereto, and thereby the uncured resin is formed. The uncured resin is cured by applying an ultraviolet irradiation thereto and the stamper is released therefrom. The resin layer is removed by a reactive ion etching and whereupon the substrate is etched in a form corresponding to the form of the resin layer, and whereby an all-glass microlens of high precision is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventors: Kenjiro Hamanaka, Kiyotaka Sasaki, Takashi Tagami