Patents Issued in April 29, 2008
  • Patent number: 7365830
    Abstract: There is disclosed a wafer flatness evaluation method includes measuring front and rear surface shapes of a wafer. The wafer front surface measured is divided into sites. Then, a flatness calculating method is selected according to a position of the site to be evaluated and flatness in the wafer surface is acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd., Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahito Fujisawa, Soichi Inoue, Makoto Kobayashi, Masashi Ichikawa, Tsuneyuki Hagiwara, Kenichi Kodama
  • Patent number: 7365831
    Abstract: The first commercially-available driver assist systems required a compromise between the resolution of the scanning and the extent of the scanned region, according to application. Conventional video-based systems have a good compromise between resolution and recording range, however do not generally provide direct distance information. According to the new arrangement of the object of the invention, it is possible to achieve a system, which, on installation in a road vehicle, can record complex dynamic scenes, for example the lateral 3D geometry to the road edge from the point of view of the dynamically operating vehicle and use the same to advantage on parking. According to the invention, the monitoring and measuring of the lateral environment of a vehicle is displayed on the one hand by means of a camera with the digital images and on the other hand with a computer unit which serves to provide the images with a time stamp and to buffer the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Hans Braeunl, Uwe Franke
  • Patent number: 7365832
    Abstract: A laser range finder measures the range between itself and another laser range finder by propagating a laser beam only in one way therebetween. A laser unit generates a short-pulse laser beam to be transmitted to the other laser range finder. A photodetector receives a short-pulse laser beam transmitted from the other laser range finder and detects the direction of the other laser range finder. A pointing unit adjusts the direction the laser beam generated by the laser unit is to be transmitted, into alignment with the direction of the other laser range finder. A controller stores in advance a holding time after the other laser range finder receives the short-pulse laser until the other laser range finder transmits the short-pulse laser, and calculates the range between the laser range finders from the time the short-pulse laser beam is transmitted, the short-pulse laser beam is received, and the holding time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nec Corporation
    Inventor: Teiji Kase
  • Patent number: 7365833
    Abstract: Two or more triangular apertures are employed to pass radiation from a source to a detector to reduce the amount of stray radiation received by the detector. Preferably, the two apertures are equilateral triangles oriented at 60 rotated relative to each other and have dimensions proportional to their distances from the detector. A Bessel filter is employed to reduce the effect of flicker and other rapid changes in intensity in the radiance from the source. The output of the sensor is integrated and sampled at sampling time intervals that are powers of two of time, and a reading is provided when the output of the integrator exceeds the same threshold under all radiation source intensity conditions so that the meter has a substantially constant resolution at different signal levels. Where the radiation from the source is transmitted or reflected by the sample before such radiation is detected by the detector, the instrument becomes a transmissometer or reflectometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Delta E
    Inventor: Edward Granger
  • Patent number: 7365834
    Abstract: A surface inspection of the system applies a first oblique illumination beam and may also apply a second illumination beam to illuminate a surface either sequentially or simultaneously. Radiation reflected or scattered is collected by preferably three collection channels and detected by three corresponding detector arrays, although a different number of channels and detector arrays may be used. One or both illumination beams are focused to a line on the surface to be inspected and each line is imaged onto one or more detector arrays in the up to three or more detection and collection channels. Relative motion is caused between the lines and the surface inspected in a direction perpendicular to the lines, thereby increasing throughput while retaining high resolution and sensitivity. The same detection channels may be employed by detecting scattered or reflected radiation from both illumination beams. Fourier filters may be employed to filter out diffraction at one or more different spatial frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Isabella Lewis, Mehdi Vaez-Iravani
  • Patent number: 7365835
    Abstract: To further isolate the scattered light 112 of a specific particle from the scattered light of a different particle, a pin hole device 116 can be used. The pin hole device 116 prevents unfocused light from other particles from entering the second plane 118, thus isolating a desired, focused image of one particle 110 of the sample 106. In one embodiment, the pin hole 116 has a size of several microns. At the second plane 118, a traditional imaging detection device 120 detects the defocused light. The position of the second image plane 118 is chosen for good angular resolution of the scattered light 112, and at the same time gives enough light for the imaging detection device 120 to obtain a sufficient reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sheng Wu, Yongchun Tang
  • Patent number: 7365836
    Abstract: An optical inspection system rapidly evaluates a substrate by illumination of an area of a substrate larger than a diffraction-limited spot using a coherent laser beam by breaking temporal or spatial coherence. Picosecond or femtosecond pulses from a modelocked laser source are split into a plurality of spatially separated beamlets that are temporally and/or frequency dispersed, and then focused onto a plurality of spots on the substrate. Adjacent spots, which can overlap by up to about 60-70 percent, are illuminated at different times, or at different frequencies, and do not produce mutually interfering coherence effects. Bright-field and dark-field detection schemes are used in various combinations in different embodiments of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Israel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel Some
  • Patent number: 7365837
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vision inspection apparatus and method using total reflection mirrors. The present invention provides a vision inspection apparatus using the total reflection mirrors comprising; a board position control module for fixing a printed circuit board; an independent lighting unit for primarily illuminating the printed circuit board; a photographing position control module for changing a reflection angle to required location coordinates of the printed circuit board; a camera for obtaining an image of the printed circuit board; a control unit including a motion controller, a lighting controller, and an to image processor to control the components; and a vision processing unit for reading the image obtained through the camera and judging whether the image is good or bad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mirtec Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joon-Young Jeong
  • Patent number: 7365838
    Abstract: An apparatus measures optical deviations caused by an aircraft canopy. In this apparatus, a light source generates a beam of light. A collimator, optically coupled to the light source, then collimates the beam of light. An optical assembly patterns the collimated beam of light into a patterned array of subaperture beams, which is directed onto an imaging screen. The patterned collimated beam of light produces images, which are electronically imaged and recorded to memory. An undistorted image results when the aircraft canopy is not placed in a path of the patterned collimated beam of light. However, a distorted image results when the aircraft canopy is placed in a path of the patterned collimated beam of light and distorts the patterned collimated beam of light. A processing unit compares the distorted image to the undistorted image to determine the optical distortions caused by the aircraft canopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Michael I. Jones
  • Patent number: 7365839
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and set of compositions are disclosed for calibrating a bio-photonic scanner. The scanner detects selected molecular structures of tissues, nondestructively, in vivo. The apparatus may include a computer, including processor and memory connecting to the scanner, including an illuminator to direct light nondestructively onto tissue in vivo, a detector to detect an intensity of a radiant response of the tissue to the light, and a probe to direct light onto the subject and receive a radiant response back into the detector. The apparatus is calibrated using a synthetic material to mimic the radiant response of live tissue, correcting for background fluorescence and elastic scattering. Dopants in a matrix of synthetic material mimic selected molecular structures of tissue. Matrix materials include a dilatant compound, and dopants include biological materials as well as K-type polarizing film powdered and mixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nu Skin International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Ferguson, Stephen J. Poole
  • Patent number: 7365840
    Abstract: A material includes various encrypted information such as product type information, product history information and authentication judging information by using an information presenting substance exhibiting line spectrums and associated with certain encrypted information corresponding to the line spectrums. Line spectrum of the information presenting substance is detected by irradiating electromagnetic waves to the material. Since the line spectrum is narrow in half-width and strong in light emitting intensity, the distinctiveness is high and therefore the encrypted information included in the material can be specified assuredly, enabling the simple and assured identification of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventors: Shinya Fukui, Yoshihito Miyako, Yasuo Kanematsu, Hiromasa Hanzawa
  • Patent number: 7365841
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for analysis of a molten material using optical emission spectrometry. The molten material may be, for example, a molten metal, such as casting iron or steel, or slag, glass, or lava. A sensitive element is used having at least one emission spectrometer and at least one excitation device to effect the excitation of the molten material and to enable the partial or complete generation of a radiation to be analyzed by a spectrometer present in the sensitive element. The sensitive element is brought into contact with the molten material and transmits information, which contains analysis elements supplied by the spectrometer. An immersion sensor is also provided for carrying at least part of the device for performing the analysis method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Heraeus Electro-Nite International N.V.
    Inventors: Jacques Plessers, Vittorino Tusset, Marc Schyns
  • Patent number: 7365842
    Abstract: A light scanning type confocal microscope includes a light source unit that projects an excitation light beam, a scanning optical system that scans the excitation light beam, an objective lens that applies the excitation light beam to a sample, a separation optical element that separates the excitation light and detection light generated by the sample, a confocal detection unit that obtains a confocal effect, and a spectral detection device that spectrally detects the detection light. The spectral detection device has a spectroscopic element that spectrally separates the detection light, a light extracting unit that extracts light in a wavelength band from the light spectrally separated by the spectroscopic element, a detector that detects the light extracted by the light extracting unit, and a wavelength band shifting unit that shifts a wavelength band of light to be extracted by the light extracting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 7365843
    Abstract: A spectral photometer intended for integration purposes includes a measurement head equipped with illumination arrangement including at least one light source for the illumination at an angle of incidence of 45° of a measured object and located in a measurement plane, a pickup arrangement for capturing the measurement light remitted by the measured object at an angle of reflection of essentially 0° relative to the perpendicular to the measurement plane, a spectrometer arrangement including an entry aperture for the spectral splitting of the measurement light captured and fed through the entry aperture, and a photoelectric receiver arrangement exposed to the split measurement light for conversion of the individual spectral components of the measurement light into corresponding electrical signals. It further includes an electronic circuit for control of the light source and forming digital measurement values from the electrical signals produced by the photoelectric receiver arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: X-Rite Europe AG
    Inventors: Beat Frick, Paul Schenkel
  • Patent number: 7365844
    Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing epithelial neoplasia and other conditions includes, in a representative embodiment, providing the human eyes with a filter to observe the autofluorescence of a tissue sample. Using optimized wavelengths from a filtered light source, a sample is illuminated. The radiation from the sample is filtered to enhance the contrast between a normal sample and a diseased sample observable by the human eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Urs Utzinger, Ekaterina S. Svistun, Ann Gillenwater
  • Patent number: 7365845
    Abstract: An optical spectrum analyzer measures to-be-measured light while carrying out calibration processing for correcting wavelength information of spectrum data of the to-be-measured light by a wavelength information correction device through a storage device based on the spectrum data of reference light that is obtained by causing the reference light whose wavelength is known to be incident on a tunable wavelength filter from light incident devices at all times together with the to-be-measured light. Since the optical spectrum analyzer can continuously measure the to-be-measured light in a wide wavelength range at high speed while maintaining high wavelength accuracy, it can continuously obtain the spectrum data of the to-be-measured light with high wavelength accuracy even if it is installed in a place in which an environment intensely changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Anritsu Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Takahashi, Takanori Saitoh, Kenichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7365846
    Abstract: The smoke detector contains an optical measuring chamber, having a sensor arrangement (2) with at least one light source (12, 12?) and one light receiver (11), and a labyrinth system (7) with screens (16) arranged on the periphery of the measuring chamber. The light source (12, 12?) and the light receiver (11) are each arranged in a housing (14, 15; 13). The above-mentioned housings (14, 15; 13) have an elongated shape and a small window opening The at least one light source (12, 12?) and light receiver (12, 12?) are arranged in the rear part of their housings (14, 15; 13), so that between the window openings of the housings (14, 15; 13) and the light-penetrated optical surfaces of the at least one light source (12, 12?) and/or the lens of the light receiver (11) a relatively large gap is formed. This gap is preferably greater than the diameter of the above-mentioned optical surfaces, or of the above-mentioned lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kurt Hess, Urs Riedi
  • Patent number: 7365847
    Abstract: A system for automated excision of one or more samples from a sample media, including by using a device for electronically capturing one or more traits of samples in the media, using a microprocessor linked to the device to analyze the captured traits by comparison to reference databases, identifying samples of interest at location coordinates in the sample media, and automatically excising and processing the samples through the use of a novel robotic excision tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventors: Kevin Auton, Paul Thomas Ryan, David Byatt
  • Patent number: 7365848
    Abstract: A system and method are used to increase alignment accuracy of feature patterns through detection of alignment patterns on both a surface layer and at least one below surface layers of an object. Visible light is used to detect alignment patterns on the surface layer and infrared light is used to detect patterns one layers below the surface. For example, reflected visible light and transmitted infrared light are co-focused onto detector after impinging on respective alignment patterns. The co-focused light is then used to determine proper alignment of the object for subsequent pattern features. This substantially increases accuracy of alignment of pattern features between layers, as compared to conventional systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Pankaj Raval, Dolores Augustyn, legal representative, Lev Ryzhikov, Walter H. Augustyn
  • Patent number: 7365849
    Abstract: A portable, scanning and analyzing apparatus that uses an integrated scan probe for the scanning operation is described. The integrated scanning probe is formed with a light emitting diode array light source and a photodiode detector array. After a test sample finishes the reaction in test strip paper, a scanner device scans the test paper to collect the optical signals at variable, consecutive intervals along the scanning path to obtain the test signal accordingly. Then, the scanner device outputs the test signal for amplification. The amplified test signals are sent to an analog/digital converter such that the amplified test signals are converted into digital signals, which are then output to a computing unit for analyzing for subjective analytical results. The computing unit couples with the controller device, wherein the controller device controls a driver device that drives the scanner device to perform the scanning operation on the test paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Taiwan Unison Biotechnology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wen Fa Yao, Chih Ming Wang, Yung Chuan Liu, Shih Yang Lo, Roger Lai, Kuang Pin Hsiung
  • Patent number: 7365850
    Abstract: A two-dimensional spectroradiometer has an optical system such as an objective optical system 2 and a relay lens 6 for receiving light rays La from a two-dimensional light source L to form an optical image i.e. a first image 2a and a second image 6a, a WBPF 12 as a transmittance wavelength variable filter having a spectral transmittance characteristic that transmittance wavelengths of the light rays La differ from each other depending on transmittance sites of the filter where the respective light rays La pass, a scanning WBPF 10 which scannably holds the WBPF 12 on an optical path forming the optical image, and an image sensor 7 for capturing the second image 6a composed of the light rays La passing through the WBPF 12 at a position corresponding to each of scanning steps of the WBPF 12 to acquire a plurality of images each having a different spectral sensitivity among pixels of the image at the position corresponding to the each of the scanning steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Sensing, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Imura
  • Patent number: 7365851
    Abstract: A method for measuring a physical function forms a symmetric composite function by combining the physical function with a reference function. The method obtains a Fourier transform of the symmetric composite function. The method calculates an inverse Fourier transform of the obtained Fourier transform, wherein the calculated inverse Fourier transform provides information regarding the physical function. The physical function can be a nonlinearity profile of a sample with at least one sample surface. The physical function can alternatively by a sample temporal waveform of a sample optical pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: The Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Aydogan Ozcan, Michel J. F. Digonnet, Gordon S. Kino
  • Patent number: 7365852
    Abstract: Methods and sub-systems for substantially optimizing the absorbance measurement in optical instruments are provided. A method comprises forming a liquid sample into a droplet extending between two opposing surfaces, passing a light beam through the sample, and varying the distance between the two opposing surfaces until a distance substantially corresponding to a optimum absorbance is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Schleifer
  • Patent number: 7365853
    Abstract: A measurement path is filled with air prior to performing actual measurement. A p-polarized light beam is caused to enter an interface, and the intensity distribution of the light beam reflected at the interface is detected by a photodiode array to obtain a reference intensity distribution of the light beam itself. Thereafter, the measurement path is filled with a target for measurement, and the intensity distribution of a light beam reflected at the interface is measured. Each of the measured distribution values are divided by the reference intensity distribution, to cancel out influences due to fluctuations in the intensity distribution of the light beam. Thereby, the position of an attenuated total reflection angle is detected with high accuracy. Because a light beam constituted by p-polarized light waves is utilized, separating means for separating the light beam reflected at the interface into p-polarized and s-polarized light waves becomes unnecessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Shu Sato, Toshihito Kimura, Hisashi Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 7365854
    Abstract: Device and method for inspecting a polychromatic region, such as a polychromatic pattern, on a moving workpiece. The method includes device includes a solid-state light source, preferably a light emitting diode, adapted to emit light in a range of wavelengths for illuminating the polychromatic region. Photodetectors are positioned relative to the workpiece to intercept light from the light source reflected by the polychromatic region. Each of the photodetectors is adapted to detect reflected light within a corresponding one of a plurality of bands defined within the range of wavelengths. The method includes detecting intensities of the light reflected from the polychromatic region within different wavelength bands in the range of wavelengths and evaluating a ratio of the intensities for comparison with a standard ratio to ascertain a variation in the evaluated ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Gaon
  • Patent number: 7365855
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical sensing device, which comprises a light source emitting a light; a beam splitter; an SPR sensor unit comprising a sensing surface; and a detecting mechanism; and a converting unit converting the first beam and the second beam from the optical device into a two-dimensional interference fringe pattern. From the above-mentioned configuration, an extra phase shift of a detection beam in SPR phase measurement is obtained. The differential measurement approach has shown to achieve a sensitivity figure significantly better than the best result that can be obtained from the prior art in the field of the measurement based on an SPR sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Ho Pui Ho, Chi Lok Wong, Shu Yuen Wu, Wing Cheung Law, Chinlon Lin, Siu Kai Kong
  • Patent number: 7365856
    Abstract: An image data set acquired by an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system is corrected for effects due to motion of the sample. A first set of A-scans is acquired within a time short enough to avoid any significant motion of the sample. A second more extensive set of A-scans is acquired over an overlapping region on the sample. Significant sample motion may occur during acquisition of the second set. A-scans from the first set are matched with A-scans from the second set, based on similarity between the longitudinal optical scattering profiles they contain. Such matched pairs of A-scans are likely to correspond to the same region in the sample. Comparison of the OCT scanner coordinates that produced each A-scan in a matching pair, in conjunction with any shift in the longitudinal scattering profiles between the pair of A-scans, reveals the displacement of the sample between acquisition of the first and second A-scans in the pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Everett, Keith E. O'Hara
  • Patent number: 7365857
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for adjusting the polarizations of the components of an input beam to reduce leakage caused by imperfections in an interferometer are disclosed. The apparatus includes an interferometer positioned to receive an input beam that includes two components having different frequencies and different polarizations, the interferometer including a polarizing beam splitter positioned to spatially separate the input beam into two intermediate beams, the first intermediate beam corresponding to the first component and the second intermediate beam corresponding to the second component, where imperfections in the interferometer cause leakage of one of the components into the intermediate beam corresponding to the other of the components. The apparatus further includes a polarization compensator that includes at least one retardation plate positioned to adjust the polarizations of the components of the input beam to reduce the leakage caused by the imperfections in the interferometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Zygo Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lowell Holmes, Andrew Eric Carlson
  • Patent number: 7365858
    Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems for phase measurement which address the problem of phase noise using combinations of a number of strategies including, but not limited to, common-path interferometry, phase referencing, active stabilization and differential measurement. Embodiment are directed to optical devices for imaging small biological objects with light. These embodiments can be applied to the fields of, for example, cellular physiology and neuroscience. These preferred embodiments are based on principles of phase measurements and imaging technologies. The scientific motivation for using phase measurements and imaging technologies is derived from, for example, cellular biology at the sub-micron level which can include, without limitation, imaging origins of dysplasia, cellular communication, neuronal transmission and implementation of the genetic code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Christopher M. Fang-Yen, Gabriel Popescu, Changhuei Yang, Adam Wax, Ramachandra R. Dasari, Michael S. Feld
  • Patent number: 7365859
    Abstract: A system and method for imaging of a sample, e.g., biological sample, are provided. In particular, at least one source electro-magnetic radiation forwarded to the sample and a reference may be generated. A plurality of detectors may be used, at least one of the detectors capable of detecting a signal associated with a combination of at least one first electro-magnetic radiation received from the sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation received from the reference. At least one particular detector may have a particular electrical integration time, and can receive at least a portion of the signal for a time duration which has a first portion with a first power level greater than a predetermined threshold and a second portion immediately preceding or following the first portion. The second portion may have a second power level that is less than the predetermined threshold, and extends for a time period which may be, e.g., approximately more than 10% of the particular electrical integration time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Seok-Hyun Yun, Brett Eugene Bouma, Guillermo J. Tearney, Johannes F. deBoer
  • Patent number: 7365860
    Abstract: A system for forming an anodized coating on at least a portion of a substrate thereby creating an anodized substrate is disclosed. The system includes a bath, a coating thickness monitor, at least one probe and at least one controller. The coating thickness monitor includes at least one radiation source directed at at least a portion of the anodized substrate; at least one probe for capturing at least a portion of the radiation reflected and refracted by the anodized coating on the anodized substrate, the captured radiation being at least a portion of the radiation directed the anodized substrate from the radiation source; and at least one detector in communication with the at least one probe, the at least one detector capable of processing the captured radiation to allow a determination of at least the thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sensory Analytics
    Inventor: Joseph K. Price
  • Patent number: 7365861
    Abstract: An apparatus having a wavefront measuring device (1, 2, 7), which is designed to determine a wavefront tilt in one or more non-parallel transverse directions perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical imaging system, at a plurality of measurement points which are mutually offset in the direction of the optical axis. An evaluation unit (5) determines a telecentricity error value from the wavefront tilt measurement values obtained by the wavefront measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Wegmann
  • Patent number: 7365862
    Abstract: A method for generating a mask for use with a light measurement system that includes a light source for projecting light onto an object, and an imaging sensor for receiving light reflected from the object. The method includes determining a profile of the object to be inspected, and generating an electronic mask based on the determined object profile. The electronic mask has an electronic opening having a profile defined to substantially match the determined object profile as viewed from one of the light source and the imaging sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qingying Hu, Kevin George Harding, Joseph Benjamin Ross, Donald Wagner Hamilton
  • Patent number: 7365863
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for allowing analysis results of scan data to have supplemental geometry and various measurements generated from the supplemental geometry or mutual common relations between geometric tolerances, and when the scan data changes, the analysis results according to the related data are recalculated in real time in order to simplify the repetitive inspection process according to the scan data changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Inus Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Seock Hoon Bae, Dong Hoon Lee, Seung Yob Kim, Sung Woo Cho
  • Patent number: 7365864
    Abstract: The present invention measures a structure including multiple narrow metallic regions, each being disposed between neighboring regions comprising a second, non-metallic material. One step of the method is exciting the structure by irradiating it with a spatially periodic excitation field made up of excitation stripes in order to generate a thermal grating. Other steps are diffracting a probe laser beam off the thermal grating to form a signal beam; detecting the signal beam as a function of time to generate a signal waveform; and determining at least one property of the structure based on a thermal component of the signal waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Advanced Metrology Systems LLC
    Inventors: Michael Gostein, Alexei Maznev
  • Patent number: 7365865
    Abstract: In a printing apparatus having full-color and monochrome print processes and a method therefor, whether a page to be printed is color or monochrome is checked. The presence of an immediately preceding page which is successively printed before a page to be printed that is determined to be monochrome, and the attribute of the immediately preceding page are determined. The presence of a succeeding page which is successively printed after the page to be printed, and the attribute of the succeeding page are determined. The number of pages corresponding to the determination results is set. The print process of the page to be printed is decided on the basis of the presence of succeeding pages corresponding to the number of pages and their attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kidani, Hironobu Kitabatake, Yuichi Hosoda
  • Patent number: 7365866
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that performs an output processing based on document data including a command to refer to an external resource is disclosed. The image processing apparatus includes an output data processing unit that reads document data from a storage device and performs an output data processing, an analysis unit that analyzes the document data, an external resource obtaining unit that performs a processing to obtain an external resource through a network according to an analysis result of the analysis unit, and a print processing setting unit that is capable of making a setting not to output external resources. When the print processing setting unit makes a setting not to output external resources, the output data processing unit analyzes the document data inputted and generates output data without using the external resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Takamiya
  • Patent number: 7365867
    Abstract: A received document sorting control method for an image processing device that has a facsimile communication unit for communications via Internet, and receives documents by means of the facsimile communication unit, comprising: previously setting prescribed condition information for judging whether or not a received document is subject to automatic sorting, and for judging a prescribed sorting method in a case that automatic sorting is to be implemented; and checking contents of transmission identification information transmitted by a sender on the basis of the prescribed condition information, and controlling automatic sorting processing for a document received in a communication, in accordance with the corresponding prescribed sorting method, if the document received in the communication is judged to be subject to the automatic sorting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Saitoh, Yoshihiro Maei, Yoshiharu Sagiya, Hideki Fujii, Hirotaka Kawabata
  • Patent number: 7365868
    Abstract: In order to reduce the total time needed to print data produced by application software, producing of data and printing of the data are performed in parallel. In the parallel processing mode, the application software outputs data part by part in the same order as the order in which the data is printed by a printer on printing paper in a printing direction, that is, in a direction from the top to the bottom of the page. A printer driver declares to an OS (Operating System) that the OS should perform processing in an unbanding mode, and banding is performed by the printer driver. In the parallel processing mode, data of an area is printed when data of a next area is being scanned, and thus the total time from the start of a copying process to the end of printing is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Tomomatsu
  • Patent number: 7365869
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first memory for storing image data, a second memory for storing image forming conditions, an image output unit for outputting the image data stored in the first memory under the image forming conditions stored in the second memory, and command means for generating a command of discarding the image data being output from the image output unit. The apparatus also has a controller. If a command of discarding the image data is generated by the command means, the controller discards the image data stored in the first memory, while it maintains the associated image forming conditions stored in the second memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sumiyama, Junko Natsume, Kazuo Inui
  • Patent number: 7365870
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise driver-independent, printer-independent systems and methods for providing collated, face-up printer output. These embodiments may utilize a page-independent spool index file that may be manipulated to produce collated, face-up printer output that may not be available through a system's hardware or drivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc
    Inventor: Andrew Rodney Ferlitsch
  • Patent number: 7365871
    Abstract: An image capture, conversion, compression, storage and transmission system provides a data signal representing the image in a format and protocol capable of being transmitted over any of a plurality of readily available transmission systems and received by readily available, standard equipment receiving stations. In its most comprehensive form, the system is capable of sending and receiving audio, documentary and visual image data to and from standard remote stations readily available throughout the world.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventor: David A. Monroe
  • Patent number: 7365872
    Abstract: In a network facilitating print functions, a means for rendering a print job intended for a remote printer on a client computer using stored administrative settings is provided. Transparently to the client's applications, the client computer keeps the stored remote printer's administrative settings synchronized with those stored on the print server. Using the stored administrative settings, the client renders the print job to a native printer language directly cognizable by the printer before sending this rendered file to the print server for forwarding to the printer. By queuing these remote print jobs, the online status of the respective print server is also transparent to the client's applications, facilitating off-line printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Lawrence, Steven Kiraly
  • Patent number: 7365873
    Abstract: Color image data is inputted, flag data indicative of attributes (character image, figure image, mesh image) of each pixel of an inputted image is generated, image processes, an enlargement, and a reduction according to the flag data are executed, the processed data is outputted to a printer, and an image of a high quality is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Ohta
  • Patent number: 7365874
    Abstract: A printer is provided for authenticating a replaceable ink cartridge. The printer includes a processor. The replaceable ink cartridge can be releasably coupled to the processor and includes a first integrated circuit (IC). A printhead is interfaced to the processor and is configured to print ink supplied from the ink cartridge. A second IC is interfaced to the processor and, together with the processor, can be used to authenticate the first IC and therefore the ink cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Simon Robert Walmsley, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7365875
    Abstract: It enables a user to confirm an already designated area without changing layers. Image data of plural layers is generated on a same image, and an image area being a target of editing is designated on the image data of each layer. Then, if the image area of one layer is designated, a CRT controller causes a CRT to display the image area of each layer designated before the image area of the one layer is designated, in a predetermined display method different from a display method for the designated image area of the one layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Mochizuki, Takayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7365876
    Abstract: In a method for generating a color match between a target object having a plurality of different target color values and a source object, a target color space with target color locations to be correlated with target color values is generated for the target object. For the source object, a source color space having a plurality of source color locations is generated, wherein the source color locations are correlated with a source color value, respectively. For each target color location a position in the vicinity of a similar source color location is determined within the source color space. The spacing of this position from the similar source color location is determined, and, based on the spacing, the source color value correlated with the similar source color location is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: CGS Publishing Technologies International GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Weidner
  • Patent number: 7365877
    Abstract: Process for the processing of image data which represent the color values of an image, to achieve optimal color reproduction of the image by an image reproduction system, especially by a photographic printer or photolab in response to the image data. In an exemplary embodiment, the image data which represent first positions in a first color space are received. The first positions are transformed into transformation positions which represent positions in a second color space; and the response of the image reproduction system to the image data is modeled with a model image reproduction system such that the model image reproduction system outputs the response as model positions which represent the color values produced by the model image reproductions system in response to the input of the image data as positions in a second color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Imaging Solutions A.G.
    Inventors: Roland Meier, Erwin Heimgartner, Peter Zolliker
  • Patent number: 7365878
    Abstract: Conventional technology does not permit adequate color adjustment easily for various kinds of images. This invention eliminates this disadvantage by outputting a preview image of the input image according to image data, acquiring information about unadjusted color which represents the color to be adjusted and which is contained in said preview image, causing the printer (printing apparatus) 20 to print more than one color among from the color and its neighboring colors represented by said information about unadjusted color based on the information about unadjusted color which has been acquired, specifying the information about adjusted color which represents more than one printed color as the standard information at the time of color adjustment, and generating the adjusted image data which expresses the adjusted image to be printed by the printer 20 from the image data based on the information about unadjusted color and the information about adjusted color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7365879
    Abstract: A method for determining a set of n-dimensional colorant control signals that map to a point P in an m-dimensional color space where n>m, including determining a forward device model that maps n-dimensional colorant control signals to m-dimensional color space signals; determining a set of n-dimensional colorant control signal simplexes that span a domain of the forward device model; and determining a set of range space simplexes in the m-dimensional color space corresponding to the set of n-dimensional colorant control space signal simplexes by mapping the vertices of the n-dimensional colorant control signal simplexes into the m-dimensional color space using the forward device model. The method also includes specifying a point P in the m-dimensional color space; and determining the set of n-dimensional colorant control signals that map to the point P in the m-dimensional color space, by performing m sequential slicing processes through the set of range space simplexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gustav J. Braun, John R. D'Errico, Kevin E. Spaulding, Douglas W. Couwenhoven