Patents Issued in November 9, 2004
  • Patent number: 6816208
    Abstract: This is an active matrix liquid crystal display device comprising a capacitive accumulation portion formed by overlapping a pixel electrode, an insulating layer and a common electrode for each pixel area, and a non-electrode area in a part of the pixel area which is not covered with a pixel electrode, wherein a peripheral shape of said capacitive accumulation portion on a side contacting said non-electrode area is substantially the same between the respective pixels, and a value of a storage capacity in said capacitive accumulation portion differs on a feeding side and on a termination side, the value on the feeding side being larger than the value on the termination side. Thereby, a constant aperture ratio can be maintained by changing the storage capacity value for each pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Fukami, Katsuhiko Kumagawa, Masanori Kimura
  • Patent number: 6816209
    Abstract: The present invention reduces the number of necessary steps in a thin-film-transistor manufacturing process and prevents an abnormal potential from being generated due to a leak current from another data line. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a thin film transistor comprising a gate electrode 30 disposed on a predetermined substrate and formed in a predetermined pattern, a semiconductor layer formed correspondingly to patterning of the gate electrode 30, a pixel electrode 25 interposed by the semiconductor layer, and a signal electrode 26 interposed by the semiconductor layer and disposed at a predetermined interval from the pixel electrode 25, in which the signal electrode 26 is disposed at such a position where the signal electrode prevents crosstalk running from adjacent signal lines 32b and 32c to the pixel electrode 25 via the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Takatoshi Tsujimura, Takashi Miyamoto, Osamu Tokuhiro, Mitsuo Morooka
  • Patent number: 6816210
    Abstract: A method for forming a self-aligned pixel electrode of a LCD is introduced. The LCD includes a substrate having a plurality of adjacent pixel electrode regions. A joint side is positioned between each pixel electrode region and its adjacent pixel electrode regions. First, a spacer is formed on the joint sides of the pixel electrode regions, and the spacer has an undercut profile. Then, a transparent conductive layer is formed on the substrate, and the transparent conductive layer that covers the pixel electrode regions is separated from the spacer to form a self-aligned pixel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Toppoly Optoelectronics Corp.
    Inventor: Hsin-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 6816211
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display that resists idling of a nut used for fixing a liquid crystal module in a main supporter. In the liquid crystal display a main supporter holds a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display panel. A top case encloses edges of the liquid crystal display panel and the main supporter. An inserting nut is pressed into a cross-shaped hole in the top case. A screw threads into the inserting nut and into a recess in the main supporter to fix the top case to the main supporter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: LG. Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Su Kim, Joung-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 6816212
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembling structure of a metal frame and an electric module for use in a liquid crystal display. The metal frame comprises an inside portion and a straight portion. The inside portion has a plurality of holes formed on a side of the metal frame. The electric module comprises a circuit board and at least one straight strip. The straight strip is mounted on a side of the circuit board. The straight strip has a plurality of hooks formed in positions corresponding to the holes. The hooks are adapted to be accommodated in the holes so as to assemble the electric module on the metal frame. Therefore, according to the invention, the electric module can be assembled easily on the metal frame. The grounding of the electric module electrically connects to the metal frame. The grounding characteristic of the electric module is good, and the circuits of the electric module work stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chien-Yu Lin, Chieh-Kuen Wang, Hsin-Fa Hsu
  • Patent number: 6816213
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mounting structure for mounting a liquid crystal module to a cover of a mobile terminal. The mounting structure comprises: at least a pair of first and second engagement parts, wherein the first engagement part is provided on a side portion of the liquid crystal module, while the second engagement part is provided on a side portion of a structural member of the cover, so that the paired first and second engagement parts are engaged with each other only by fitting the liquid crystal module into the structural member of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kasuhiro Kato, Masatake Baba, Michiaki Nishiyama, Fumihiko Fujishiro, Takakazu Yano, Toshihisa Ogawa, Tomoo Miwa, Yasuhiro Sato
  • Patent number: 6816214
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a surface light source device of a side light type for lighting. On lighting a fluorescent lamp, primary light is introduced into a guide plate and propagates within the guide plate. Much of the illumination light enters into any one of a number of ridges on an emission-function face, being followed by inner impingement upon a flank face, which is more remote from an incidence end face, at an entry angle greater than a critical angle &thgr; 1. Much of the light which has undergone such inner impingement is supplied to a liquid crystal display panel almost frontward via a top face. The ridges are inclined at a predetermined inclination angle &agr; with respect to the incidence end face of the guide plate. Inclination angle &agr; preferably falls within a range from 5 degrees to 45 degrees, in particular, from 15 degrees to 30 degrees. Employment of size-reduced ridges is realizable, leading to less conspicuous ridges without reducing emission function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ohsumi
  • Patent number: 6816215
    Abstract: An uncured cholesteric liquid crystal layer 18 having a cholesteric order, including nematic liquid crystal, a chiral agent and a photopolymerization initiator is formed on an alignment film 16 on a glass substrate 12. This uncured cholesteric liquid crystal layer 18 is cured by applying to it ultraviolet light with a low intensity under such conditions that one surface of the uncured cholesteric liquid crystal layer is brought into close contact with the alignment film 16 on the glass substrate 12 so that it will not come into contact with oxygen and that the other surface of the same is exposed to air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masanori Umeya
  • Patent number: 6816216
    Abstract: In a reflective type liquid crystal display unit which is provided with a reflective plate, there is provided a reflective liquid crystal display unit free from color mixture by preventing color mixing of reflected light is presented. The unit includes a substrate, a reflective layer disposed on the substrate, and a color filter, wherein the reflective layer has a plurality of reflective unit regions each of which has a first reflective surface for reflecting a light in a predetermined direction, and an inclination angle of the first reflective surface is defined so that an incident light which passes through a pixel of a determined color of the color filter to enter the first reflective surface is reflected by the first reflective surface to pass through the pixel of the same color as the color through which the incident light of the color filter has passed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Funamoto, Shigeru Aoyama
  • Patent number: 6816217
    Abstract: A liquid crystal layer is composed of a liquid crystal composition having a positive dielectric anisotropy, and the liquid crystal composition is sandwiched by a pair of transparent substrates while being twisted by 220 to 260 degrees. Also, in a liquid crystal display device having an optical compensating plate and a polarizer respectively formed above and below a liquid crystal cell, a transflector is formed on the inner surface of the transparent substrate of the liquid crystal cell, the transflector has a high-reflectivity film having a plurality of fine apertures therein, and the high-reflectivity film has a diffuse reflection surface, on the surface thereof, having a controlled reflected luminance characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehiko Sone
  • Patent number: 6816218
    Abstract: Homeotropically oriented layers and films of liquid crystals especially on polymeric substrates. The layers and films, which also can be multi-layered films comprising a homeotropically aligned anisotropic film, are preparable by application of an orientation layer to the substrate. The orientation layer can be either an organic surfactant which is fixed in a matrix of a polymeric material or an inorganic thin layer such as aluminum or Al2O3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
    Inventors: David Coates, Owain Llyr Parri, Jeremy Lewis Ward, David Joicey, Keith Wilbourn, Colum Dickson, John Scott
  • Patent number: 6816219
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel has a liquid crystal layer of liquid crystal molecules sealed between a pair of substrates having alignment films thereon. Each of the films includes first and second deposited layers, each of the layers being formed of an inorganic material by oblique deposition. The second layer is stacked on top of the first layer such that the deposited molecules of the first layer are aligned substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the deposited molecules of the second layer. The first layer is formed by oblique deposition at an oblique angle of about 60° relative to the normal of the substrate surface to align the liquid crystal molecules perpendicular to the deposited molecules. The second layer is formed by oblique deposition at an oblique angle of about 85° relative to the normal of the substrate surface to align the liquid crystal molecules parallel to the deposited molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Akagi, Tomoki Kurata, Hisashi Kadota
  • Patent number: 6816220
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate; a first signal line formed on the first substrate and extending in a direction; a second signal line intersecting the first signal line while being insulated; a pixel electrode formed in a pixel area defined by intersections of the first signal line and the second signal line, the pixel electrode having a plurality of partitions; a switching element connected to the first signal line, the second signal line, and the pixel electrode; a second substrate opposite the first substrate; a black matrix formed on the second substrate; and a common electrode formed over the second substrate having a plurality of domain defining members, wherein each domain is enclosed by the partitions of the pixel electrode and the domain defining members and has at least one long side parallel or perpendicular to the first signal line and at least one short side curved at an angle of about 30 to about 60 degrees with the first signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Soo Baek, Woon-Yong Park, Sahng-IK Jun, Il-Gon Kim, Byoung-Sun Na, Young-Mi Tak, Yu-Ri Song
  • Patent number: 6816221
    Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal display device includes, in each pixel, a semiconductor layer of a thin film transistor, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer, a gate line formed on the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed on the gate line, and a drain line formed on the second insulating film. The bottom side of the gate line is opposed to the semiconductor layer with the first insulating film interposed therebetween, and the top side of the gate line is covered with a metal electrode formed on the second insulating film by the same process as used to form the drain line, whereby leakage electric fields from the gate line are shielded. Particularly when an IPS type liquid crystal display device using low temperature poly silicon TFTs is constructed in the above-described manner, a wide viewing angle and a bright display image are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Oke, Takahiro Ochiai, Kikuo Ono
  • Patent number: 6816222
    Abstract: In a TFT type liquid crystal display device comprising first and second transparent substrates and a liquid crystal layer which is sandwiched between the first and second substrates, the first substrate includes a plurality of video signal lines, a plurality of scanning signal lines and a plurality of pixel regions which are formed as regions surrounded by the video signal lines and the scanning signal lines, each pixel region includes at least one active element, one pixel electrode and one common electrode, and color filter layers are formed between the pixel electrodes and the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display device is substantially characterized in that the common electrodes are formed as layers above the color filters, the pixel electrodes are formed as layers below the color filters, and the color filters are superposed at least on the whole surfaces of the pixel electrodes in the pixel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kikuo Ono, Takahiro Ochiai, Ryutaro Oke, Yoshiaki Nakayoshi, Nagatoshi Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 6816223
    Abstract: The following constitution provides a vertically oriented liquid crystal display element of higher quality having almost uniform visibility in any direction attained by improving obliquely viewed visibility. The liquid crystal display element comprises a pair of substrates, transparent electrodes having predetermined patterns formed on the respective substrates, vertical orienting membranes respectively formed on the transparent electrodes and rubbed in a predetermined direction and a liquid crystal layer consisting of the liquid crystal molecules sandwiched by the substrates. The substrates are arranged such that respective transparent electrodes face each other. Series of nearly rectangular slits are formed on the respective transparent electrodes by removing portions of the electrodes in a display area formed by the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sugiyama, Yoshihisa Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6816224
    Abstract: A pixel cell array of a light valve does not rely upon photolithography to define inter-pixel spacing. Instead, adjacent pixels of the array are electronically insulated from one another by spacers formed by etching a dielectric layer conforming to sidewalls of a patterned sacrificial layer. Removal of the sacrificial layer, followed by formation of a metal layer over the dielectric spacer structures and chemical-mechanical polishing of the metal layer, completes fabrication of the array. The thickness of the spacer sidewalls, and hence inter-pixel spacing, is determined by the rate of formation of the conforming dielectric layer. This rate can be precisely controlled to produce spacer structures having a thickness of less than the minimum linewidth of a given photolithography system. In this manner, pixel arrays having significantly reduced inter-pixel spacing and correspondingly higher cell densities can be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Haydn James Gregory
  • Patent number: 6816225
    Abstract: A display device and method for fabricating a liquid crystal cell are disclosed. A liquid crystal cell includes a first substrate, and a second substrate attached to the first substrate. The first substrate has a same thickness as the second substrate. The first substrate is lapped at a first rate while concurrently lapping the second substrate at a second rate, which is different from the first rate. The first substrate and the second substrate are thinned to different thicknesses. The thinner of the first and second substrates is provided on a viewer side of a collimate and post diffuse type liquid crystal cell to reduce depixelization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Evan George Colgan, Fuad Elias Doany, Tomohito Jounai, Satoshi Maruyama, Hideo Ohkuma, Rama Nand Singh, Masaru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6816226
    Abstract: A display device comprises a pair of plastic substrates (21, 22) which are bonded together by a peripheral seal (3), and comprises cell spacers (28, 29) to space the plastic substrates apart at an active area. At least one of the substrates is provided with a functional layer (23A, 23B, 24), while an electro-optical material is present between the substrates. The spacers (28, 29) are in the form of ribs or columns, i.e. they have substantially flat contact surfaces and the peripheral seal (3) has a height (d2) of less than ¼ of the height (d1) of the spacers (d2≦0.25d1). The line (3) preferably does not comprise spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Petrus Cornelis Paulus Bouten
  • Patent number: 6816227
    Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal display with gray scales is disclosed which includes a substrate, a patterned first conductor disposed over the substrate, and a layer including a cholesteric liquid crystal material dispersed over the first patterned conductor. The display further includes a patterned second conductor disposed over the lay including cholesteric liquid crystal, and control means for applying voltages across particular portions of the patterned first and second conductors to cause electric fields to portions of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer to directly change its reflectance into a plurality of reflectance. The gray scale of the display can be obtained by a single pulse voltage independent of the initial state of the said display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xiang-Dong Mi, Stanley W. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 6816228
    Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus is provided with a substrate holding an electro-optical material, and a plurality of wires that have routing wire portions formed in a region of the substrate other than a region opposing the electro-optical material. The routing wire portion of each of the wires has a first portion and a second portion that is narrower than the first portion. In an inspection process of the liquid crystal apparatus having such a configuration, a plurality of inspection terminals for supplying predetermined drive signals to the wires are brought into contact with the second portions of the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Uehara
  • Patent number: 6816229
    Abstract: An image recording device for exposing a sheet of photosensitive material is disclosed. The device has a plurality of roller pairs disposed upstream and downstream with respect to a conveyance direction of the photosensitive material. The plurality of roller pairs nip and convey the photosensitive material, ensuring flatness of the material at an exposure position. The device also has a support member that supports a back surface of the photosensitive material. The device also has a plurality of pressing members, disposed between pressing roller pairs, which press the photosensitive material against the support member. The device also has a release mechanism which causes the nipping and release of nipping by at least one of the roller pairs and the pressing and release of pressing by the pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takehisa Oono
  • Patent number: 6816230
    Abstract: There is disclosed an exposure control method in a lithography system having a resist coating and developing apparatus, a wafer transferring mechanism and an exposure control apparatus. The exposure control method in the lithography system includes the steps of transmitting data of temperature for heat-treating a resist film in the resist coating and developing apparatus to the exposure control apparatus; determining and controlling exposure time based on the temperature data; and exposing the resist film on a wafer which is moved or transferred by the wafer transferring mechanism during the determined exposure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong-Kill Lim
  • Patent number: 6816231
    Abstract: Disclosed is an exposure method and apparatus (aligner) for exposure wherein there is reduced a physical load put on a driving mechanism which moves a supporting device for supporting a mask and an exposure object which has a photosensitive material, and the structure of the driving mechanism is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Ekisho Sentan, Fijutsu Kaihatsu Center
    Inventors: Susumu Tsujikawa, Yukio Taniguchi, Hirotaka Yamaguchi, Masakiyo Matsumura
  • Patent number: 6816232
    Abstract: To provide a low-stiffness air spring function without increasing the size of the equipment, a support frame, which supports a first gas chamber that is filled with a gas and that supports an object using the gas, is modified so that there is a second gas chamber, connected to the first gas chamber, provided within the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Takahashi, Koji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6816233
    Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus having an exposure mode for exposing a mask to transfer a pattern image of the mask onto a photosensitive substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuro Sugita
  • Patent number: 6816234
    Abstract: An illumination system for illuminating a surface by use of light from a light source. The system includes an emission angle conserving optical unit having a lens array, for receiving light from the light source, and a diffractive optical element for diffracting light to produce a desired light intensity distribution on a predetermined plane. The diffractive optical element is disposed at or adjacent to a position which is optically conjugate with a light exit surface of said emission angle conserving optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiko Tsuji
  • Patent number: 6816235
    Abstract: The optical glass of the present invention comprises a composition in terms of weight ratio within the range of 0 to 14.8 wt % of SiO2, 30 to 60 wt % of B2O3, 0 to 17.5 wt % of Al2O3, 0 to 0.4 wt % of Li2O, 0 to 3 wt % of Na2O, 0 to 3 wt % of K2O, 0 to 5 wt % of MgO, 0 to 30 wt % of CaO, 0 to 30 wt % of SrO, 0 to 35 wt % of BaO, where RO (MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO) is 8 to 35 wt %, 0 to 20 wt % of ZnO, 0 to 6.5 wt % of La2O3, 0 to 15 wt % of Gd2O3, 0 to 15 wt % of Y2O3, 0 to 10 wt % of Ta2O3, 0 to 9.5 wt % of ZrO2, 0 to 1 wt % of As2O3, and 0 to 0.5 wt % of Sb2O3; and has a refractive index (nd) of 1.52 to 1.65, an Abbe number (vd) of 55 to 61, and an 80% transmission wavelength (at a thickness of 10 mm including no reflection loss) of 330 nm or shorter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kido, Masahiko Sugisaki, Shizuo Matsumaru
  • Patent number: 6816236
    Abstract: A projection optical system is disclosed that includes six lens groups, four of which are positioned in pairs symmetrically about a stop. The second and fifth lens groups, in order from the object side, may be positioned symmetrically about the stop but are also adjustable asymetrically about the stop in order to adjust the magnification of the projection optical system. The first and sixth lens groups, in order from the object side, function to make the projection optical system substantially telecentric on both the object side and the image side, respectively. Also disclosed is a projection and light exposure apparatus that uses the projection optical system of the present invention. The projection and light exposure apparatus automatically detects the image magnification and, based on the detection result, adjusts the positions of the second and fifth lens groups G2 and G5 as a unit so as to maintain a specified magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryoko Otomo
  • Patent number: 6816237
    Abstract: An imaging optical instrument causes light emitted from a plurality of light sources arranged adjacent an object to image on recording surfaces of a photosensitive or thermosensitive material. The optical instrument includes a two-sided telecentric optical system having a first lens disposed adjacent an entrance end of a lens barrel, and a second lens disposed adjacent an exit end of the lens barrel, and an aperture stop disposed adjacent a meeting point of a rearward focus of the first lens and a forward focus of the second lens. The aperture stop has an aperture formed centrally thereof for allowing passage of beams that should contribute to image formation, and a refracting portion surrounding the aperture for refracting beams that should be intercepted and causing these beams to leave the lens barrel from the exit end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Ueyama
  • Patent number: 6816238
    Abstract: A long-stroke movement is fed-through into a vacuum chamber by providing a sliding seal over an aperture in the vacuum chamber wall. The object to be moved, which may be a mask or wafer table in a lithographic apparatus, within the vacuum chamber is connected to or mounted on the sliding seal and moved by movement of the sliding seal. The sliding seal may be a plate, a bowl or a labyrinth of interleaved plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Theodorus H. J. Bisschops, Jakob Vijfvinkel, Hermanus M. J. R. Soemers, Johannes C. Driessen, Michael J. M. Renkens, Adrianus G. Bouwer
  • Patent number: 6816239
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a stage which moves with an object thereon. A surface position detector is arranged to detect a surface position of the object at a timing that is asynchronous to a reference signal, and is provided for controlling the stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiko Iwanaga
  • Patent number: 6816240
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image-forming device for processing photosensitive media. The photosensitive media is of the type that includes microcapsules that encapsulate imaging material such as coloring material. The image-forming device includes a photobleaching system that is adapted to eliminate or minimize undesired coloration in a final print.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Alphonse D. Camp, John L. Pawlak
  • Patent number: 6816241
    Abstract: A compact, lightweight instrument for non-invasive blood analyte determination employs a light source incorporating an assembly of LED's interconnected within a thermally stable substrate. A large diameter mixer couples the signal to a fiber optic probe for delivering the signal to a tissue measurement site. Back-diffused light is collected and dispersed across an array of photo detectors in a miniature spectrometer instrument. A high-speed DSP executes an algorithm for predicting concentration of a target analyte, which is output to a LCD display. Instrument control is by means of keypad or voice recognition. High conversion efficiency of the light source results in extremely low power dissipation and virtually no heat generation, making incorporation of the light source and the spectrometer into a single unit practicable. High-speed pulsing of the signal allows application of high-sensitivity, synchronous detection techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Sensys Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Dragan Grubisic
  • Patent number: 6816242
    Abstract: System and method for performing Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) on a Device Under Test (DUT) using Gaussian pulses. A signal is received comprising an initial Gaussian pulse and one or more reflected pulses from the DUT. Each pulse is characterized by determining a set of estimated parameters, permuting the estimated parameter set to generate one or more permuted parameter sets, generating linear equations from the parameter sets, including parameter variables for the corresponding Gaussian pulse, and determining values for the parameter variables by solving the linear equations. The determined parameters characterize the Gaussian pulse. If there are N parameters to determine and M permutations generated, where M is greater than or equal to N, M+1 linear equations are solved to overdetermine the N parameters. The determined parameters of the initial pulse and the one or more reflected pulses are useable to perform TDR analysis on the DUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Shie Qian, Nanxiong Zhang
  • Patent number: 6816243
    Abstract: Techniques for monitoring optical waveguides are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: OmniGuide Communications
    Inventors: Max Shurgalin, Yoel Fink, Steven G. Johnson, Mihai Ibanescu
  • Patent number: 6816244
    Abstract: To determine the type of unknown optical fiber, an automatic fiber fusion-type splicer is used having movable clamps, electrodes, camera devices and background illumination, coupled to electronic circuits containing control, driver, and interface circuits. A fiber portion is imaged to allow the fiber core to be distinguished in the captured image, both when the fiber is cold and when it is heated. From a first fiber picture in a heated state, a first light intensity profile is determined along a line perpendicular to the fiber. The profile derivative is compared to derivatives of known light intensity profiles. Similar procedures are performed for the cold fiber. Based on the comparing operations, the type of the tested fiber is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Sasan Esmaeili
  • Patent number: 6816245
    Abstract: A method of measuring optical fiber-drawing tension, containing: measuring oscillation of an optical fiber when drawing; determining a fundamental oscillation frequency of the optical fiber based on peak frequencies contained in spectrum components of oscillation waveform; and converting the fundamental oscillation frequency into tension applied to the optical fiber being drawn; wherein the determination of the fundamental oscillation frequency is performed through specifying, as a harmonic oscillation series group, a group of peak frequencies containing at least two peak frequencies, in which an interval between zero (0) and first peak frequencies, an interval between first and second peak frequencies, . . . , and an interval between (n−1)th and nth peak frequencies (where n is a natural number) are equal to each other, from among the peak frequencies in the spectrum components, to carry out the method based on the peak frequencies in the specified harmonic oscillation series group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Naka, Hiroyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6816246
    Abstract: The present invention provides an inexpensive and convenient method and apparatus for measuring light transmittance of an optical lens having refractive power. The method comprises obtaining the light transmittance of an examined lens from a value corresponding to a ratio between the intensity of measured light detected by a light detector when the examined lens is placed in the path of the measured light emitted from a light source and an intensity of measured light detected by the light detector when there is no lens undergoing examination placed in the path of the measured light so that the measured light does not pass through an examined lens and provides a baseline value. Specifically, the present invention focuses (converges) the measured light at or in a vicinity of a position where the examined lens is disposed when the examined lens is placed in the path of the measured light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Hisanori Akiyama, Toshiro Yoda
  • Patent number: 6816247
    Abstract: In a moiré method for measuring the distortion of an optical imaging system in which and object grid having a two-dimensional object pattern is arranged in an object plane of the imaging system and an image grid having a two-dimensional image pattern is arranged in an image plane of the imaging system, these patterns are configured in the form of, for example cross-hatched patterns or checker board patterns, are adapted to suit one another such that a two-dimensional moiré fringe pattern that may be detected by a two-dimensional, spatially resolving, detection device is created when the object grid is imaged onto the image grid using the imaging system. Distortion components of the imaging system may be simultaneously determined along two differently oriented, in particular, two mutually orthogonal, image directions from a two-dimensional moiré fringe pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT AG
    Inventors: Joachim Heppner, Juergen Massig, Michael Arnz, Michael Kuechel, Juergen Penzing, Uwe Schellhorn
  • Patent number: 6816248
    Abstract: A hand-held automatic refractometer comprises a linear scanned array having a plurality of photoelectric cells and an optical system for directing light onto the array, the particular photoelectric cells of the array which are illuminated by said light being determined by the index of refraction of a sample substance placed on a sample surface of a prism of the optical system. A reflective surface is arranged close to the array at an acute angle thereto for directing primary light from the sample-prism boundary to the array, and for redirecting stray reflected light from the array back onto the array. The disclosed refractometer has a compact design wherein the linear array extends in a direction substantially parallel to the prism sample surface. The prism is mounted in a housing and the sample surface faces upward to allow access through a sample well of the housing, while the array is mounted in the housing facing in a downward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Reichert, Inc.
    Inventors: Keshav D. Sharma, Kyle R. Bleyle
  • Patent number: 6816249
    Abstract: The broadband brightfield/darkfield wafer inspection system provided receives broadband brightfield illumination information via a defect detector, which signals for initiation of darkfield illumination. The defect detector forms a two dimensional histogram of the defect data and a dual mode defect decision algorithm and post processor assess defects. Darkfield radiation is provided by two adjustable height laser beams which illuminate the surface of the wafer from approximately 6 to 39 degrees. Each laser is oriented at an azimuth angle 45 degrees from the orientation of the manhattan geometry on the wafer, and 90 degrees in azimuth from one another. Vertical angular adjustability is provided by modifying cylindrical lens position to compensate for angular mirror change by translating an adjustable mirror, positioning the illumination spot into the sensor field of view, rotating and subsequently moving the cylindrical lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher R Fairley, Tao-Yi Fu, Gershon Perelman, Bin-Ming Benjamin Tsai
  • Patent number: 6816250
    Abstract: A method for measuring irregularities on the outer surface of an article employs an apparatus to obtain qualitative information regarding a first portion of the outer surface of the article, which can be used to generate a visual representation of a first portion of the outer surface of the article. Then, the article is moved by a predetermined amount, and the apparatus is again used to generate a visual representation of a second portion of the surface of the article. This process is repeated to obtain a plurality of visual representations that together span across a predetermined amount of the surface of the article. Then, the plurality of visual representations are processed to generate a single comprehensive enlarged visual representation of a relatively large surface area of the article, which is preferably shaded, colored, or otherwise highlighted to illustrate the irregularities that are formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Shuster, Dana M. Combs, Donald K. Cohen
  • Patent number: 6816251
    Abstract: An electronic media edge defect detector in one form has plural light sources and detectors arranged to direct and receive deflected light from the side edge margins and outer edge margins of the electronic media. The detected light is analyzed to detect the presence of defects. Individual wafers may be raised while in a cassette and turned during the inspection without removing the wafers from the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Daitron, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J Swan, Thomas J. Hafner, John Howells
  • Patent number: 6816252
    Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining information on critical dimensions and overlay accuracy of features in a semiconductor structure comprises a light source, a detector and an optical means defining a first optical path and a second optical path. The first optical path and the second optical path are oriented in correspondence with the respective orientations of diffracting patterns provided on the semiconductor structure to obtain the required information without the necessity of rotating the semiconductor structure. This insures a significantly higher throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernd Schulz
  • Patent number: 6816253
    Abstract: The invention discloses a substrate holder (8) that is configured to receive a substrate (20) and can be utilized to determine the thickness deviation of a substrate from the standard thickness of a specific substrate type. The substrate holder (8) comprises a one-piece frame having a flat upper surface (42). An opening (30) that defines a peripheral rim (32) is provided in the substrate holder (8). Receiving elements (34) on which spheres are provided are shaped onto the peripheral rim (32) of the opening (30). A substrate (20) placed into the substrate holder (8) thus comes to rest on the upper surfaces of the spheres. The support elements (34) are arranged on the peripheral rim of the opening (30) in such a way that they lie at the vertices of an equilateral triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems Semiconductor GmbH
    Inventors: Carola Blaesing-Bangert, Ulrich Kaczynski
  • Patent number: 6816254
    Abstract: A flow cell clamp for clamping a flow cell body generally includes a flow cell retainer operatively arranged to hold a flow cell body and a U-shaped clamping member operatively arranged to apply a clamping force to the flow cell body for holding the flow cell body securely within the flow cell retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Richert, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Pastwik
  • Patent number: 6816255
    Abstract: A method of leak-testing an electroluminescent device includes enclosing at least one light emitting diode (LED) including LED material in a housing of the electroluminescent device such that at least a surface portion of the LED material is in contact with atmosphere within the housing, and measuring photo-oxidation of the LED material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus Johannes Gerardus Mank, Peter Van De Weijer
  • Patent number: 6816256
    Abstract: A characteristic response of a medium to an excitation transient of predetermined duration which causes the medium to emit a series of signals over a period of time which is long relative to the duration of the excitation transient is assessed. The signals are detected and the duration of each interval between successive signals is measured. A relationship relating the interval between the excitation transient and the emission of each signal to the interval between each signal and the preceding signal in the series is derived to represent the characteristic response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: The Victoria University of Manchester
    Inventor: Christopher J. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 6816257
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a fluorescent substance tagged to a microparticle are described. The device comprises a single capillary flow carrier system for transporting the microparticle past a selected location, a source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating the substance tagged to the microparticle, and a detection system for measuring fluorescent light emitted from the substance at the selected location. The method comprises transporting the microparticle to a selected location, irradiating a fluorescent substance tagged to the microparticle, and measuring the fluorescent light emitted from the fluorescent substance at the selected location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Guava Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Philippe J. Goix