Patents Issued in January 2, 2007
  • Patent number: 7157660
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for thermally processing a substrate with scanned laser radiation are disclosed. The apparatus includes a continuous radiation source and an optical system that forms an image on a substrate. The image is scanned relative to the substrate surface so that each point in the process region receives a pulse of radiation sufficient to thermally process the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Ultratech, Inc.
    Inventors: Somit Talwar, Michael O. Thompson, David A. Markle
  • Patent number: 7157661
    Abstract: A laser-machining method is provided in which a laser beam is generated with an energy intensity distribution that is a Gaussian distribution. The laser beam is shaped by applying a phase modulation based on a phase distribution expressed by a first order function having a negative gradient, then by applying a phase modulation based on a phase distribution expressed by an n-th order function having a positive gradient (n is a natural number no less than 2), and the laser beam, whose energy intensity distribution has been made substantially flat through the above processes, is led to irradiate a machined body, thereby machining the machined body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Amako
  • Patent number: 7157662
    Abstract: A laser processing head collision protection apparatus includes a carrier member, and a laser processing head detachably coupled to the carrier member by a plurality of pairs of truncated cones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Link, Jan Baur
  • Patent number: 7157663
    Abstract: Conducting-fiber deicing systems and methods. In one embodiment, an assembly includes a surface subject to an accumulation of ice, the surface at least partially including a heating portion having a layer of multi-directional electrically-conductive fibers formed between first and second non-electrically conductive layers. The layer of electrically-conductive fibers is coupled to a power supply member and is adapted to conduct an electrical current such that the layer of electrically-conductive fibers, and at least one of the first and second non-electrically conductive layers of the heating portion, are raised to an elevated temperature to at least partially inhibit the accumulation of ice on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Max U. Kismarton
  • Patent number: 7157664
    Abstract: A heated laser assembly for maintaining a set point temperature of a laser. A common transistor external to the laser is positioned in thermal proximity to the laser. A thermal transfer member is positioned in thermal contact between the laser and the transistor. The transistor heats the thermal transfer member, and thus heats the laser, when the ambient temperature drops below a set point temperature. Therefore, the overall temperature range the laser must operate over is reduce through the use of a common transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryant A. Best, William G. Mahoney
  • Patent number: 7157665
    Abstract: A heat development apparatus for heat developing a heat-developable recording material from one surface side by a heating unit, while transporting the heat-developable recording material by a transportation unit, the apparatus comprising: a transportation path from a beginning end to a terminal end of a heating region in which the heat developing is made by the heating unit, the transportation path being formed in an annular path having a substantially equal length with a transportation length of the heat-developable recording material, so that the beginning end and the terminal end of the heating region are arranged in proximity with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Ohta
  • Patent number: 7157666
    Abstract: A member provided around a susceptor for mounting a semiconductor in a chamber of a semiconductor production system. The member has a face opposing the susceptor and a center line average surface roughness of the face opposing the susceptor is 0.5 ?m or less. Alternatively, the face opposing the susceptor has a thermal emissivity ? of 0.5 or lower. The member can also be a liner [4] having a supported face [4] whose area is not more than 20 percent of that of the face [4] opposing the susceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Goto, Hideyoshi Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 7157667
    Abstract: A cooking device including a cooking area, a door for closing the cooking area and a lighting system for lighting the cooking area. The lighting system includes a light source and at least one reflector arranged in the internal space of the door, which reflects light from the light source into the cooking area. In order to reduce mechanical strain applied to the light source, it is arranged outside the door and emits light towards the reflector inside the door to be reflected into the cooking area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Gramlich, Bernhard Goetz
  • Patent number: 7157668
    Abstract: An oven is disclosed having a first food preparation apparatus in the form of a convection heat source and/or a steam production assembly and/or a radiating heat source, and a second food preparation apparatus in the form of a smoking assembly. The oven can operate at least one of the food preparation apparatus simultaneously with the smoking assembly or separately from the smoking assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Alto-Shaam, Inc.
    Inventor: Janus Bartelick
  • Patent number: 7157669
    Abstract: An electrical domestic appliance containing a main switch for turning the current power supply to the electrical domestic appliance on and off. The main switch having a predetermined turn-on time period during which the main switch must be actuated in order to move from the off-position to the on-position. The main switch predetermined turn-on period can be selected and adjusted by the customer through predetermined time limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Ursula Calis, Jose Ramon Garcia Jiménez, Thomas Lieb, Hans Seehuber, Bernd Stitzl
  • Patent number: 7157670
    Abstract: Improved adhesion, electrical connection, and thermal connection between an electrical heater and a wax motor element are obtained by using multiple zones of different adhesives optimized for different properties. The location of the zones and the area of the zones may be a controlled to effect a trade off between different properties and to limit the expression of the conductive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Ark-Les Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Bargholtz, Brian A. Stelloh
  • Patent number: 7157671
    Abstract: One aspect provides a capacitor having a first stack of capacitive elements a second stack of capacitive elements, wherein the first and second stacks are enclosed in separate compartments of a capacitor case that electrically isolate the electrolytes of each stack from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. O'Phelan, Brian L. Schmidt, James M. Poplett, Robert R. Tong, Richard J. Kavanagh, Rajesh Iyer, Alexander Gordon Barr, Luke J. Christenson, Brian V. Waytashek, Brian D. Schenk, Gregory J. Sherwood
  • Patent number: 7157672
    Abstract: A welded low carbon dual phase (ferrite plus martensite) and/or low carbon martensitic stainless steel PIPE having requisite yield strength and corrosion and/or erosion resistance is shown. Pipe can be manufactured up to a maximum outside diameter from finished plate or coil by utilizing a high speed-forming mill rather than using the traditional costly seamless pierced billet methods, or utilizing U-O-E or break press. An ERW technique is also used rather than utilizing the traditional laser, tungsten inert gas, gas metal arc, plasma arc, submerged arc or double submerged arc welding methods; or the parameters and procedures for ERW traditionally used to weld carbon steel pipe. Welded pipe dimensions and mechanical properties can be achieved which comply with the heat treatment process and the continuous roll forming mill's capability to produce the yield strengths and dimensional tolerances required to meet the service criteria of the pipe's intended application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Gandy Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Gandy
  • Patent number: 7157673
    Abstract: The present invention provides an induction heating apparatus including a fixing belt that heats an unfixed image on recording paper, an excitation coil that induction-heats the fixing belt, an inverter circuit that supplies power to the excitation coil, a harness that electrically connects the excitation coil and the inverter circuit. The harness is constructed of a litz wire having a resistance of the harness section of 0.016 ? or below formed by stranding several tens of wires which are conductive wires coated with an insulator into a predetermined thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Samei, Tomoyuki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7157674
    Abstract: A detector is operable to detect a displacement of a load by an ascending force based on a period of time from a time a heating output of an inverter drops from a predetermined level to a first level, to a time the heating output returns back to a second level larger than first level. Thereby, the detector distinguishes an intentional removal of the load from the displacement of the load by the ascending force. An induction heater including the detector reduces the displacement of the load by the ascending force and stops the heating of the load when the load is removed intentionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyauchi, Koji Niiyama, Yuji Fujii, Atsushi Fujita, Izuo Hirota
  • Patent number: 7157675
    Abstract: A temperature controlled heatable object is provided in which a temperature sensor is connected to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag is located within the handle of the object, and the temperature sensor is placed in contact with the object. In a first embodiment of the invention, the temperature sensor is partially imbedded within the object via a notch located in the side of the object. In a second embodiment of the invention, a temperature sensor is imbedded within a tunnel drilled within the base of the object. In a third embodiment, a temperature sensor is imbedded between the bottom of the object and a slab attached to the bottom of the object. The sensor can be located in a slot formed in either the slab or the bottom or the object. Handles and receivers for mounting the handles to the temperature controllable objects are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Imura International U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Mamoru Imura
  • Patent number: 7157676
    Abstract: A device (10) for thermally clamping and releasing tools (11) in shrink-fit chucks (12), having a socket (15) for a shrink-fit chuck (12), a heating unit (16) that can be moved toward and away from the mounted shrink-fit chuck (12), and a cooling unit (20) for cooling the heated shrink-fit chuck (12). The cooling unit (20) has at least one coolant distributor (21, 22) that is capable of moving in relation to the socket (15) with the mountable shrink-fit chuck (12), conveys a preferably fluid coolant, e.g. cooling water, and has outlets (23) for the coolant, which are oriented toward the socket (15) with the mountable shrink-fit chuck (12) and out of which the coolant travels under pressure to act on the outside of the socket (15) with the mountable shrink-fit chuck (12) for cooling purposes (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Bilz Werkzeugfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ruediger Steudte
  • Patent number: 7157677
    Abstract: A knife edge is disposed at a height corresponding to a section on which a sectional image (light intensity distribution) is picked up in such a manner as to intercept a part of the section of the laser light. The knife edge is irradiated with the laser light, and the sectional image of the laser light is enlarged with an image forming optics, and is picked up by a CCD. While picking up the sectional image in this manner, focusing of the image forming optics is performed. Next, the knife edge is retracted from the optical path of the laser light, the laser light is allowed to enter the CCD via the image forming optics, and the sectional image of the laser light is picked up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced LCD Technologies Development Center Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Jyumonji, Masakiyo Matsumura, Yukio Taniguchi, Masato Hiramatsu, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Noritaka Akita
  • Patent number: 7157678
    Abstract: A radiation intensity directional sensor includes a housing having an opening covered by a transparent or translucent lens element, an array of sensor elements sensitive to radiation, preferably to electromagnetic radiation in the visible and/or infrared range, and a shading element separating at least two of the sensor elements. The shading element at least partly blocks light from impinging directly on one of two sensing elements separated by the shading element. The array of sensor elements is thereby arranged for producing output signals from the at least two separated sensor elements having different amplitudes whereby the difference in amplitude is used for estimating the position of a light source in relation to the sensor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Accel AB
    Inventors: Arvydas Antanas Maldziunas, Vidamantas Ziogas
  • Patent number: 7157679
    Abstract: A scanned beam display includes compensation for pattern-dependant heating of a light source. According to some embodiments, received image data is transformed to corrected data that compensates for pattern-dependent heating of one or more light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Wine, Mark P. Helsel, Jon D. Barger, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: 7157680
    Abstract: A photon arrival time detector has the form of a photocathode 4 from which a photoelectron is ejected by an incident photon. The photoelectron is accelerated by an applied voltage to a CCD sensor 6. The voltage between the photocathode 4 and the CCD sensor 6 is time varying such that the arrival energy of the electron at the CCD sensor 6 depends upon the time of its arrival at the photocathode 4. Thus, the arrival time of the photon is represented by the intensity of the pixel event recorded by the CCD sensor 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Imperial College Innovations Limited
    Inventor: Klaus Suhling
  • Patent number: 7157681
    Abstract: Methods and means for measuring and adjusting the gain of a photomultiplier tube (PMT), or other photo-detector with electron multiplication gain, for the purpose of achieving accurate light measurement, such as in a luminescent radiation dosimeter reader. With a PMT illuminated by a light emitting diode or other light source, the PMT output signal is measured in two modes, signal integration and photon pulse counting. The measured PMT gain is calculated as the ratio of the integrated signal to the photon pulse count. The PMT high voltage may be adjusted to cause the measured PMT gain to correspond to an established calibration gain value, or the data from the PMT may be adjusted to compensate the deviation of the measured PMT gain from the calibration gain value. The light source may be a controllable light source that can be adjusted to provide a specific photon count rate output as measured by the PMT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Inventor: Wolfgang Tetzlaff
  • Patent number: 7157682
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor circuit having a distributed amplifier is disclosed. The CMOS image sensor circuit is constructed using a photo sensor that converts light intensity to into voltage, a reset transistor to charge the photo sensor, and a distributed amplifier to detect and read out the voltage value created by the photo sensor. The distributed amplifier is distributed in the sense that portions of the amplifier circuitry reside within individual pixel circuits that form a CMOS image sensor array. The remainder of the amplifier resides in a column read out circuit that is at the bottom of the CMOS image sensor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Zoran Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin E. Brehmer, Ozan E. Erdogan
  • Patent number: 7157683
    Abstract: A configurable current source for imager readout system that can be operated as a simple-current-source or as a cascode-current-source. The configurable current source can be operated in a simple-current-source mode during circumstances when a low power supply voltage or large output signal swing is needed to output a pixel signal. The configurable current source can also be operated in a cascode-current-source mode for reduced nonlinearity and column-wise fixed pattern noise when power from a power supply is not a limitation. The configurable current source provides design flexibility and pixel optimization for imager development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chiajen Lee, Giuseppe Rossi
  • Patent number: 7157684
    Abstract: An amplifier circuit amplifies the difference between an output voltage from a current voltage conversion circuit and a bias voltage. The current voltage conversion circuit converts a photocurrent of a photodiode which detect incoming light into a voltage. A gm-amp charges or discharges a capacity by a current corresponding to the difference between the output voltage from the amplifier circuit and a reference voltage. A field effect transistor supplies a drain current, which is controlled by voltages at the respective terminals of the capacity, to the photodiode, in order to prevent the output voltage of the amplifier circuit from being varied due to the influence of a DC photocurrent flowing in the photodiode. The gate of a field effect transistor, which is connected in parallel to a current voltage conversion resistor, has an identical voltage with the gate of the field effect transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Itoh, Naruichi Yokogawa, Takao Matsui
  • Patent number: 7157685
    Abstract: Dynamic range of a differential pixel is enhanced by injecting, synchronously or asynchronously, a fixed compensating offset (?V) into a differential signal capacitor whenever magnitude of the differential signal across the capacitor exceeds a predetermined value. The number (N) of ?V offsets made is counted. Effective differential signal capacitor voltage V(t)=Vo+N·?V, where Vo is capacitor voltage. Differential pixel signal/noise ratio is increased by dynamically maximizing operational amplifier gain AG for each differential pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Canesta, Inc.
    Inventors: Cyrus Bamji, Khaled Salama
  • Patent number: 7157686
    Abstract: An optical receiver is provided to receive light signals in a specific frequency range and transform into an electric current. The optical receiver has a photo diode with a sensitization area coated with an anti-reflection film and a filter film. The filter film allows a light of a specific frequency range to go through. In comparison with a filter lens used in prior arts, the optical receiver using the filter film has a comparatively smaller volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Hong Shiu
  • Patent number: 7157687
    Abstract: Optical devices with folded optical paths to reduce size of optical devices and optical elements in the optical devices. The folded optical paths operate by manipulating optical polarization of light. Exemplary optical switches and variable optical attenuators are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: General Photonics Corporation
    Inventor: X. Steve Yao
  • Patent number: 7157688
    Abstract: A projection system. The projection system has a light source, a relay module, an optical path switching device and an optical path transfer device. The light source emits a light beam, and the relay module relays the light beam. The optical path switching device is used to receive and switch the light beam and has at least one active area. The optical path transfer device is disposed between the relay module and the optical path switching device directing the light beam toward the optical path switching device in a first angle, and the optical path transfer device has an incident surface tilted perpendicular to an incidence of the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Chang, Albert Lin
  • Patent number: 7157689
    Abstract: An optical safety edge and control system functions correctly despite changes in ambient conditions and/or deformation of the sensor. The optical safety edge and control system automatically compensates for changes in ambient conditions and/or deformation, thus providing a simple easy to use edge sensor which reduces false responses and system failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Fraba Inc.
    Inventor: Christoph Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7157690
    Abstract: An imaging device includes at least three color filters, including first to third color filters having respectively different filtering characteristics; at least three lens systems, including first to third lens systems respectively associated with the first to third color filters; and a photodetection section. The photodetection section includes a first photodetector for receiving light transmitted through the first color filter and the first lens system, a second photodetector for receiving light transmitted through the second color filter and the second lens system, and a third photodetector for receiving light transmitted through the third color filter and the third lens system. Each of the first to third photodetectors has a two-dimensional array of photodetection cells such that centers of the photodetection cells are positioned at apices of triangles sharing respective sides with one another, where none of three corner angles of each triangle is equal to 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Nishiwaki, Michiyoshi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 7157691
    Abstract: Operation of a power-by-light valve (15) by a source (11) along an optical fibre (13) is monitored by means of optical sensors (14) from which light passes back along fibre (13) to monitoring and processing units (16, 17). The sensors (14) include fibre bragg gratings (41, 43) for detecting differential pressure across diaphragms (42) and for detecting temperature. At the input end, an optical coupler (12) supplies sensor signals to units (16, 17) which can control source (11) via a signal (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Eaton Aerospace Limited
    Inventors: Jirapong Lim, Qingping Yang, Phillip Richard Jackson, Barry Edward Jones
  • Patent number: 7157692
    Abstract: A fiber optic tester (10) broadly comprises a testing unit (16) to take measurements across two test points (27), a processing unit (18) to locate faults by analyzing the measurements, a switching unit (20) that can connect termination points (13) of a electrical circuit (12) to the test points (27) in a sequence controlled by the processing unit (18), and a fiber unit (22) to test a optical circuit (14). The tester (10) may also include an electrical harness (24) or an optical harness to connect the electrical circuit (12) to the switching unit (20) or the optical circuit (14) to the fiber unit (22). The processing unit (18) is preferably programed with interconnection information of the circuits (12,14) and internal characteristics of the tester (10). Using the interconnection information and the internal characteristics, the processing unit (18) may accurately detect faults within the circuits (12,14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: DIT-MCO International Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Taylor, Harold King, Michael Bequette, James R. Stone, Russ May
  • Patent number: 7157693
    Abstract: An optical wavelength readout system for application in optical sensing systems is disclosed. The system includes a Master unit including a wavelength swept optical source for launching light into a string of optical sensors, and a detection and processing unit for detecting and processing the light emitted by the source. The system also includes a Slave unit including a light coupling device for coupling light from the light source into the string of sensors and for coupling light reflected from the string of sensors to a detection and processing unit arranged to detect and process the reflected light. The Master unit includes a wavelength reference unit adapted to make a reference signal available to other parts of the sensing system. The reference signal represents a generally exact relation between the wavelength of the light emitted from the source and time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Optoplan AS
    Inventors: Dag Thingbo, Jon Thomas Kringlebotn, Hilde Nakstad, Erlend Ronnekleiv
  • Patent number: 7157694
    Abstract: A system to provide radiant energy of selectable spectral characteristic (e.g. a selectable color combination) uses an integrating cavity to combine energy of different wavelengths from different sources. The cavity has a diffusely reflective interior surface and an aperture for allowing emission of combined radiant energy. Sources of radiant energy of different wavelengths, typically different-color LEDs, supply radiant energy into the interior of the integrating cavity. In the examples, the points of entry of the energy into the cavity typically are located so that they are not directly visible through the aperture. The cavity effectively integrates the energy of different wavelengths, so that the combined radiant energy emitted through the aperture includes the radiant energy of the various wavelengths. The apparatus also includes a control circuit coupled to the sources for establishing output intensity of radiant energy of each of the sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Optical Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donald F. May, Jack C. Rains, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7157695
    Abstract: An optical deflection device has a movable mirror including a mirror portion to deflect a light beam, a driver, which drives the movable mirror, a control circuit, which generates a control signal to control the driver, a light intensity detector, which outputs a light intensity signal corresponding to light intensity of the light beam deflected by the movable mirror, a light intensity monitor circuit, which monitors a change with time of the light intensity signal output to output information on the change as a light intensity monitor signal, and a control signal monitor circuit, which monitors a change with time of the control signal to output information on the change as a control signal monitor signal. The control circuit generates the control signal to increase the output signal from the light intensity detector based on the light intensity monitor signal and control signal monitor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Koichiro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7157696
    Abstract: The invention provides a test device or “phantom” for use in conjunction with medical imaging modalities. In one embodiment, the phantom replicates the attenuation and absorption properties of joint articular cartilage. The phantom is useful for quality assurance of images of joints obtained using an array of medical imaging modalities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Synarc, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. White, Manish Khotari, Richard A. Carano
  • Patent number: 7157697
    Abstract: An ion detector for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising one or more microchannel plates and an anode arranged to receive electrons emitted from the one or more microchannel plates. The anode preferably has a smaller diameter than the microchannel plates and is preferably arranged at a distance of at least 15 mm from the microchannel plates. One or more focusing lenses may be provided intermediate the microchannel plates and the anode. The anode preferably comprises two portions separated by an electrically insulated layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Micromass UK Limited
    Inventors: Robert Harold Bateman, Jeff Brown, Daniel James Kenney
  • Patent number: 7157698
    Abstract: This invention relates to tandem mass spectrometry and, in particular, to tandem mass spectrometry using a linear ion trap and a time of flight detector to collect mass spectra to form a MS/MS experiment. The accepted standard is to store and mass analyze precursor ions in the ion trap before ejecting the ions axially to a collision cell for fragmentation before mass analysis of the fragments in the time of flight detector. This invention makes use of orthogonal ejection of ions with a narrow range of m/z values to produce a ribbon beam of ions that are injected into the collision cell. The shape of this beam and the high energy of the ions are accommodated by using a planar design of collision cell. Ions are retained in the ion trap during ejection so that successive narrow ranges may be stepped through consecutively to cover all precursor ions of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Thermo Finnigan, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Alekseevich Makarov, John Edward Philip Syka
  • Patent number: 7157699
    Abstract: A multiplexed mass spectrometer system includes an array of mass analyzers and a data acquisition system. Each mass analyzer is associated with one or more data channels, and the data acquisition system selectively reduces the number of data channels through combinations of particular channels to define data acquisition modes for the molecular characterization of the samples. The selective reduction in channels can be achieved, for example by software manipulation of the acquired data or by combining the detected signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Zheng Ouyang, Robert G. Cooks
  • Patent number: 7157700
    Abstract: An apparatus for identification of chemical species by measurement of mobility as a function of high electric field and for generating unique compound-dependent signatures based on ion mobility at a plurality of peak RF voltages for a given compensation. The resulting detection data is compared against a library of data in order to identify a detected chemical species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sionex Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Kaufman, Raanan A. Miller, Erkinjon G. Nazarov, Gary A. Eiceman, Evgeny Krylov
  • Patent number: 7157701
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of design for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer that is compact and has high mass resolution over a broad range of ion masses. This method of design, for the high-resolution analysis of analyte ions in the time-of-flight mass spectrometer, includes decreasing the strength of the time-dependent extraction potential according to a predetermined continuous function so as to spread out the energy distribution of the ions and achieving high mass resolution over a broad range of masses without altering the time dependence or magnitude of the applied potentials, across the acceleration region and ion mirror, and the time-dependent extraction potential, and not changing the physical dimensions of the mass spectrometer. Using this method of design, mass resolution of approximately or greater than 10,000 can be achieved over approximately five orders of magnitude of mass for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer having a total overall length of less than 46 cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Mississippi State University Research and Technology Corporation
    Inventor: David R. Ermer
  • Patent number: 7157702
    Abstract: A three dimensional atom probe comprising a sharp specimen (10) coupled to a mounting means (12) where emission of charged particles is caused by application of a potential to the specimen tip (10) such that charged particles are influenced by filtering electrodes (206, 204) before impingement on a detection screen (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Imago Scientific Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Tye Travis Gribb
  • Patent number: 7157703
    Abstract: Provided is an electron beam system, in which an electron beam emitted from an electron gun is irradiated to a stencil mask, and the electron beam that has passed through the stencil mask is magnified by an electron lens and then detected by a detector having a plurality of pixels so as to form an image of the sample. Further provided is an electron beam system, in which a primary electron beam emitted from an electron gun is directed to a sample surface of a sample prepared as a subject to be inspected, and an electron image formed by a secondary electron beam emanated from the sample is magnified and detected, wherein an NA aperture is disposed in a path common to both of the primary electron beam and the secondary electron beam. An electron lens is disposed in the vicinity of a sample surface, and in this arrangement, a crossover produced by the electron gun, the electron lens and the NA aperture may be in conjugate relationships relative to each other with respect to the primary electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Mamoru Nakasuji, Tohru Satake, Nobuharu Noji, Shoji Yoshikawa, Takeshi Murakami
  • Patent number: 7157704
    Abstract: A method of operating a corona discharge device includes producing a high-intensity electric field in an immediate vicinity of at least one corona electrode and continuously or periodically heating the corona electrode to a temperature sufficient to mitigate an undesirable effect of an impurity, such as an oxide layer, formed on the corona electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Kronos Advanced Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor A. Krichtafovitch, Jacob Oharah, John Thompson
  • Patent number: 7157705
    Abstract: A handheld infrared camera having a lens assembly, an electric energy source and a handling elements for recording and handling information received via the lens assembly has an essentially elongate housing. The lens assembly is mounted at one end of the housing, the other end portion of which is formed as a user handle, the longitudinal axis of which preferably is inclined relative to the optical axis of the lens assembly to form an angle (?alpha) with the optical axis. There are provided manual control elements for allowing single hand operation of the camera, and a visual control elements is intended to be viewed when holding and operating the camera away from the eye and the body of a user. The camera is advantageously provided with elements for wireless transmission of information from the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: FLIR Systems AB
    Inventors: Torbjörn Hamrelius, Tomas Lannestedt
  • Patent number: 7157706
    Abstract: A continuously variable diaphragm or swappable fixed aperture for use in thermal infrared cameras, which aperture or diaphragm can be cooled to cryogenic temperatures. The invention contemplates mounting aperture control means, if necessary, in a vacuum or extending the control mechanism through a vacuum in a thermally isolated manner to avoid radiation load on the photocell. The inventive method implements such a diaphragm and control system. The invention makes possible the object of using a single thermal infrared camera under a wide variety of target-scene radiation conditions that may be rapidly changing, with interchangeable or zoom camera lenses requiring matching or different size cold stops, and under other such dynamic situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Opto-Knowledge Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nahum Gat, John Dwight Garman
  • Patent number: 7157707
    Abstract: A radiation detector, a method for manufacturing a radiation detector, and a sensor module having a radiation detector. The radiation detector may include a thermopile chip having a diaphragm, a first cavity formed underneath the diaphragm, a thermopile structure formed on the diaphragm and an absorber layer applied to the thermopile structure, a cover chip, which has a second cavity on its bottom and is attached to the thermopile chip in such a way that the diaphragm having the thermopile structure and the absorber layer is located between the first cavity and the second cavity and, a filter plate attached to the cover chip via an adhesive layer of a defined layer thickness for transmitting infrared radiation of a defined wavelength range. Spacer means, for example, spacers may be provided for the defined layer thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ronny Ludwig
  • Patent number: 7157708
    Abstract: A readout circuit for a bolometer type sensor including a pair of back-to-back temperature sensing diodes connected in an electro-thermal feedback loop including a semiconductor amplifier circuit located in an intermediate stage between a detector stage and a heat bath stage and wherein the heat generated by the amplifier equalizes the temperature between the intermediate stage and the detector stage. The readout circuitry also includes circuitry for removing local threshold voltage variations and low frequency 1/f noise components in the readout signal while providing high temperature sensitivity and relatively high voltage gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Nathan Bluzer
  • Patent number: 7157709
    Abstract: An infrared sensor package has a dielectric support which is molded from a plastic material to have a sensor mount for securing a pyroelectric element as well as an IC mount for securing an IC chip that processes a signal from the pyroelectric element. The support is molded over to be integral with metal parts. The metal parts include sensor conductors for interconnection of the pyroelectric element with the IC chip, and I/O conductors for interconnection of the IC chip with I/O pins. The sensor conductors as well as the I/O conductors are both molded into and integrally with the dielectric support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Taniguchi, Yuji Takada, Masahiro Kodoh, Masato Shinotani, Hisanobu Tanaka, Atsushi Hironaka