Patents Issued in March 4, 2014
  • Patent number: 8665396
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a backlight module which includes a waveguide and a spot light source. Wherein the waveguide includes an incident face and a refractive surface adjacent to the waveguide, the light beam emitted from the spot light source will be directed toward the refractive surface, and then the light beam enters the waveguide after the light beam is refracted by the refractive surface. The present invention also discloses a liquid crystal display device incorporated with the backlight module disclosed. The backlight module can readily improve the corner vignette and enhanced with more evenly distributed brightness across the waveguide. The liquid crystal display device incorporated with the module also enjoy the evenly distributed brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: GuoFu Tang, Yu-chun Hsiao
  • Patent number: 8665397
    Abstract: There are provided light-emitting layer provided on transparent substrate and emitting light of a specific wavelength, mirror layer formed on a light exit side of light-emitting layer and including a function of reflecting light emitted from light-emitting layer, reflecting layer provided on a side of substrate in a manner to interpose light-emitting layer between mirror layer and reflecting layer; and a diffusion layer that diffuses light emitted from light-emitting layer is disposed between mirror layer and reflecting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kasano, Kouki Ichihashi
  • Patent number: 8665398
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a chassis assembly; a liquid crystal display panel; a light guide plate configured to guide light to the liquid crystal display panel; a light emitting diode (LED) module including a printed circuit board (PCB), a plurality of LED packages which are mounted on the PCB and emit light to a lateral side of the light guide plate, and a connector connected to the PCB such that the connector is located behind the light guide plate; and a white strip member disposed between the PCB of the LED module and the light guide plate. An edge portion of a bottom surface of the light guide plate is supported by the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suk Ju Choi, Kun Ho Cho, Yong Hun Kwon, Kye Hoon Lee, Gil Tae Hur, Young Min Lee
  • Patent number: 8665399
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light output device (10) comprising a plurality of light source units (18) arranged in a laminated glass structure. The light output device is characterized by a plurality of switchable liquid crystal-based (24) devices arranged to alter the beam shapes of light emitted by the light source units when in a beam shape altering mode. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling a light output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Lingli Wang, Dirk Kornelis Gerhardus De Boer
  • Patent number: 8665400
    Abstract: A pair of polarizers having different polarization efficiencies is employed for a display device. With such a pair of polarizers, the brightness may increase without deteriorating the contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Hwan Hong, Sung-Kyu Hong, Nam-Seok Lee, Kwang-Hyun Kim, Min-Jae Kim, Kyong-Ok Park
  • Patent number: 8665401
    Abstract: The disclosed invention is with regard to a liquid crystal display panel including a substrate having a plurality of layers formed thereon, and having a first surface region and a second surface region on a surface of an uppermost layer of the plurality of layers, wherein the first and second surface regions having different surface characteristics in reaction to a particular liquid, and a spacer formed on the second surface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong Hyun Kim, Jae Hong Jun
  • Patent number: 8665402
    Abstract: A Liquid Crystal (LC) panel includes a substrate and a plurality of metal layers. The substrate has a reflective area, and the metal layers are formed on the substrate. A first reflective metal layer is formed on a surface of the metal layers within a reflective area, and is processed by a mask procedure to form a plurality of first reflective bumps. A second reflective metal layer is formed on the first reflective bumps, and is processed by a mask procedure to form a plurality of second reflective bumps located between the first reflective bumps. The second reflective bumps are higher than the first reflective bumps, so as to form a reflective metal layer having an uneven surface with vertical mismatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sz-Cheng Lee, Chin-Hai Huang
  • Patent number: 8665403
    Abstract: Reflection efficiency of reflected light is improved and white display is efficiently performed in a liquid crystal display device which performs display by reflecting incident external light. A liquid crystal display device with higher visibility and higher image quality is provided. White display is performed utilizing reflected light which is efficiently scattered with the use of a pixel electrode layer whose surface has depressions and projections, whereby reflection efficiency of the reflected light can be improved and white display can be efficiently performed. Further, a liquid crystal display device with higher visibility and higher image quality can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yoshiharu Hirakata
  • Patent number: 8665404
    Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal cell substrate, a liquid crystal panel, and a liquid crystal display whose thicknesses and weights can be reduced and optical characteristics at the time of producing them are easily controlled. The liquid crystal cell substrate 10 of the present invention is a liquid crystal cell substrate including a resin substrate 11 and an optical compensation layer 12, and the optical compensation layer 12 is laminated on the resin substrate 11. The optical compensation layer 12 has a refractive index distribution satisfying nx?ny>nz, and the optical compensation layer 12 is formed by applying a material for forming an optical compensation layer to the resin substrate 11 or a base substrate that is different from the resin substrate 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Nao Murakami, Hiroyuki Yoshimi
  • Patent number: 8665405
    Abstract: A thin film transistor array panel includes an insulating substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged on the insulating substrate in rows and columns, a plurality of thin film transistors connected with the plurality of pixel electrodes, respectively, and a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines connected with the plurality of thin film transistors. When one data line and one pixel electrode which are connected with a single thin film transistor are referred to as a connected data line and a connected pixel electrode, respectively, the plurality of thin film transistors are positioned on a same side of the connected data line in two adjacent rows, and on alternating sides of the connected data line in every other two adjacent rows. Two boundary lines of the connected pixel electrode are overlapped with the connected data line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeo-Geon Yoon, Hyoung-Wook Lee, Mi-Ae Lee, Ho-Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 8665406
    Abstract: A display IC chip includes a plurality of sides, a plurality of output terminals, two first color short-circuit lines, one second color short-circuit line, one third color short-circuit line, and conductive wires. The two first color short-circuit lines are parallel disposed in the IC chip and coupled to a first output terminal group of the output terminals. The second color short-circuit line is disposed between and parallel with the first color short-circuit lines. The second color short-circuit line is coupled to a second output terminal group of the output terminals. The third color short-circuit line is disposed between and parallel with the first color short-circuit lines. The third color short-circuit line is coupled to a third output terminal group of the output terminals. The conductive wires are coupled the first color short-circuit lines with the first output terminal group do not cross the second and third color short-circuit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Sheng-Kai Hsu, Chih-Hsiang Yang, Meng-Ying Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8665407
    Abstract: A chip on film (COF) structure for a liquid crystal panel is disclosed, and comprises a flexible substrate, an output edge, a first wire bonding portion, two second wire bonding portions, a fan-out trace portion, and two array trace portions. A long direction of lead strips of the second wire bonding portion is parallel to the output edge, and the array trace portions connect one end of the lead strips of the second wire bonding portion to the output edge. The design of the second wire bonding portions parallel to the output edge and turning traces of the array trace portions can lower the length of the fan-out trace portion, so that it is advantageous in a design trend of narrow frame edge of a liquid crystal panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shyhfeng Chen, Minghung Shih, Meng Li
  • Patent number: 8665408
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100) according to the present invention includes a first substrate (10) including pixel electrodes (11), gate lines (G) and switching elements (12), a second substrate (20) including a plurality of signal electrodes (21) which are electrically independent of each other, and a liquid crystal layer (30) interposed between the first and second substrates. The first substrate further includes a gate driver (15) which generates gate signals to be supplied to the gate lines. The second substrate further includes an external connecting terminal section (24). A signal that has been input through the external connecting terminal section is supplied to the gate driver. The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device with a counter source structure which contributes to narrowing its frame area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kaoru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8665409
    Abstract: A display device of the present invention includes a thin film transistor in a pixel region formed over a substrate, the thin film transistor including an active layer and a gate electrode with a gate insulating film interposed between the active layer and the gate electrode, a silicon nitride film formed over the thin film transistor, a resin film formed over the silicon nitride film, an inorganic insulating film formed over the resin film; a metal layer formed over the substrate; and a sealing material formed over the metal layer, wherein the sealing material covers a region where the resin film is not formed over the silicon nitride film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hongyong Zhang, Shunpei Yamazaki, Satoshi Teramoto, Yoshiharu Hirakata
  • Patent number: 8665410
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display panel which comprises a color filter substrate and an array substrate, and further comprises a conductive sealant for bonding the color filter substrate and the array substrate. The conductive sealant includes a sealing adhesive and conductive particles, the conductive particle includes an organic resin core and a conductive coating of carbon nanotubes or graphene, the conductive coating is coated on the organic resin core, and the conductive particles are evenly distributed in the sealing adhesive. The present invention further discloses a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Wang
  • Patent number: 8665411
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for unifying steps of sealing material so that the yield and the reliability of a liquid-crystal display device become high. A starting film of scanning lines is patterned so that prismatic dummy wirings 301 for the first layer which are not electrically connected are formed in regions R1 and R2, and wirings 302 extending from the pixel section are formed in a region R3, and wirings 303 having connection end portions 303a are formed in a region R4. After an interlayer insulation film is formed, the starting film of the signal lines is patterned so that the dummy wirings 304 for the second layer are formed to embed the gaps between the wirings 301 to 303, and also the wirings 305 and the wirings 303 which extend from the pixel portion are connected to each other. This permits unification of the cross-sectional structure of the sealing material formation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hongyong Zhang
  • Patent number: 8665412
    Abstract: A display device which can ensure sufficient adhesive strength between each pair of substrates of a liquid crystal display panel and a sealing material includes: a first substrate having a predetermined integrated circuit; a second substrate on one surface of the first substrate in an overlapping manner; and an adhesive material between the first substrate and the second substrate that has an annular planar shape. The adhesive material adheres the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein an outer periphery of the adhesive material includes a zone which includes a plurality of first portions passing substantially the same position as an outer periphery of the surface of the first substrate and a plurality of second portions each connected with the two neighboring first portions and having a center portion thereof in a peripheral direction retracted toward an inner peripheral side of the adhesive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aki Tsuchiya, Takashi Yamamoto, Akira Ishii, Naoki Kikuchi, Yoshihiro Arai
  • Patent number: 8665413
    Abstract: Provided are a thin film transistor display panel, a liquid crystal display, and a manufacturing method therefor, that can prevent errors or omissions in rubbing due to a step between a pixel electrode and a data line, and the resulting light leakage, as well as increase the effective area ratio of a spacer and prevent shorts from occurring during at least some repair processes. The thin film transistor array panel includes: a first substrate; a gate line and a data line formed on the first substrate; a step preventing member formed on the data line to at least partially fill a volume positioned between the data line and a pixel electrode; and a spacer formed on the first substrate, wherein the spacer and the step preventing member comprise the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Myung Sub Lee, Ji Young Jeong, Sun-Kyu Joo, Myung Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 8665414
    Abstract: Thermochromic liquid crystal filters are fabricated by providing two polarizers oriented at offset polarity with respect to each other; providing alignment structures adjacent the inner surfaces of the polarizers; placing a plurality of spacers between the polarizers; and filling a space created by the spacers with a thermotropic liquid crystal that acts as a depolarizer in a nematic state. The filter acts as a wave block when the liquid crystal is in an isotropic state. Alternatively, the filters can be created by encapsulating a thermochromic liquid crystal with a polymer material to form a flexible film and orienting the thermochromic liquid crystal in the polymer material to create a structure that functions as a thermochromic optical filter. Such filters can control the flow of light and radiant heat through selective reflection, transmission, absorption, and/or re-emission. The filters have particular application in passive or active light-regulating and temperature-regulating films and materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: RavenBrick LLC
    Inventors: Richard M. Powers, Wil McCarthy, Matthew Bryant Kish
  • Patent number: 8665415
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus which projects exposure light from a pattern of an illuminated original onto a substrate, comprises a projection system including an optical element and configured to project the exposure light onto the substrate, an enclosure configured to enclose the projection system, and a cleaning mechanism configured to clean the optical element by irradiating the optical element with ultraviolet light under an environment in which oxygen is present within the enclosure, the cleaning mechanism including a light source configured to generate ultraviolet light, a tubular member including an exit window and configured to partially enclose an optical path between the light source and the optical element, and a regulating device configured to regulate an environment of a space inside the tubular member so that a partial pressure of oxygen becomes lower in the space inside the tubular member than in a space which is outside the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Nakayama, Shigeru Terashima, Yutaka Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8665416
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus comprises a measurement system which measures an aberration of a projection optical system. The measurement system includes a first pattern positioned on an original stage, a second pattern positioned on a substrate stage, a third pattern positioned on the original stage to align the first and second patterns, a fourth pattern positioned on the substrate stage to align the first and second patterns, a detection system which detects a relative position between the third pattern and the fourth pattern, and a controller which controls at least one of the stages to align the first pattern positioned at a position spaced apart from the third pattern by a predetermined distance, and the second pattern positioned at a position spaced apart from the fourth pattern by a predetermined distance, based on the relative position between the third pattern and the fourth pattern detected by the detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsutomu Takenaka
  • Patent number: 8665417
    Abstract: An apparatus measures properties, such as overlay error, of a substrate divided into a plurality of fields. The apparatus includes a radiation source configured to direct radiation onto a first target of each field of the substrate. Each first target (T4G) has at least a first grating and a second grating having respective predetermined offsets, the predetermined offset (+d) of the first grating being in a direction opposite the predetermined offset (?d) of the second grating. A detector is configured to detect the radiation reflected from each first target and to obtain an asymmetry value for each first target from the detected radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Fuchs, Maurits Van Der Schaar
  • Patent number: 8665418
    Abstract: A projection optical system for forming an image of a first surface on a second surface has a first imaging optical system and a second imaging optical system, and a folding member for guiding light from the first imaging optical system to the second imaging optical system. Every optical element having a power in the second imaging optical system is a refractive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Omura
  • Patent number: 8665419
    Abstract: A device for an optical arrangement includes an optical element and a holding structure. The optical element makes contact with the holding structure at six discrete contact points. Coupling elements are provided, by which it is possible to apply a force at the contact points. A component of the force is greater than the weight force of the optical element in terms of absolute value and/or direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventor: Boaz Pnini-Mittler
  • Patent number: 8665420
    Abstract: A spectral purity filter is configured to reflect extreme ultraviolet radiation. The spectral purity filter includes a substrate, and an anti-reflective coating on a top surface of the substrate. The anti-reflective coating is configured to transmit infrared radiation. The filter also includes a multi-layer stack configured to reflect extreme ultraviolet radiation and to substantially transmit infrared radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Maarten Marinus Johannes Wilhelmus Van Herpen, Wouter Anthon Soer
  • Patent number: 8665421
    Abstract: A laser-based infrared countermeasure (IRCM) system is disclosed. The IRCM system includes a set of receive optics, a dichroic filter, first and second detectors, a lens module and a laser. Receive optics are configured to receive optical information. The lens module reflects the optical information from the receive optics to the dichroic filter. The dichroic filter selectively splits the optical information to the first and second detectors. The first and second detectors, each of which is formed by a single-pixel detector, detects a potential missile threat from the optical information. Based on information collected by the first and second detectors, the laser sends laser beams to neutralize any missile threat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Owen, III, Peter Russo, Jeffrey Minch, Kevin Larochelle, Kenneth Dinndorf
  • Patent number: 8665422
    Abstract: Two charge quantities (Q1,Q2) are output from respective pixels P (m,n) of the back-illuminated distance measuring sensor 1 as signals d?(m,n) having the distance information. Since the respective pixels P (m,n) output signals d?(m,n) responsive to the distance to an object H as micro distance measuring sensors, a distance image of the object can be obtained as an aggregate of distance information to respective points on the object H if reflection light from the object H is imaged on the pickup area 1B. If carriers generated at a deep portion in the semiconductor in response to incidence of near-infrared light for projection are led in a potential well provided in the vicinity of the carrier-generated position opposed to the light incident surface side, high-speed and accurate distance measurement is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K
    Inventors: Mitsuhito Mase, Takashi Suzuki, Seiichiro Mizuno, Mitsutaka Takemura
  • Patent number: 8665423
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for investigating a sample particularly a pharmaceutical tablet. An emitter and/or the sample are initially positioned so that the emitter is at a predetermined distance and normal angle to a first point on a surface of the sample. The emitter then irradiates the sample with radiation having a plurality of frequencies in the range from 25 GHz to 100 THz at a plurality of points on the surface of the sample. Relative motion is possible between the emitter and the sample so that the surface of the sample can be tracked to maintain the predetermined distance and normal angle at each of the plurality of points, and allow radiation transmitted and/or reflected from the sample at the plurality of points to be detected. This has particular application to imaging the structure or composition of a coating on a pharmaceutical tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: TeraView Limited
    Inventors: Michael J. Withers, Bryan E. Cole
  • Patent number: 8665424
    Abstract: An optical absorption gas analyzer is provided for determining the concentration of a target gas in a sample, comprising: a chamber for containing the sample in use; an optopair, comprising a light emitting diode (LED) arranged to emit radiation into the chamber and a photovoltaic radiation detector arranged to detect radiation transmitted through the chamber from the LED and to output a corresponding detection signal SS; a temperature sensor arranged in thermal contact with the LED and the photovoltaic radiation detector, and to output a temperature signal T representing the temperature of the optopair; a memory having stored therein data representative of the baseline detection signal ST output by the optopair in the absence of the target gas as a function of the temperature of the optopair across a range of temperatures; and a processor adapted to generate a differential detection signal SA indicative of the concentration of target gas in the sample by retrieving from the memory the baseline detection sign
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: BAH Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Michael Tkachuk
  • Patent number: 8665425
    Abstract: In an eccentricity measuring method according to the present invention, a first position of a light source image formed by reflection at one optical surface is measured (S2), a predetermined second position related to another optical surface is measured (S3), and a relative eccentricity between both optical surfaces is calculated based on the first and second positions (S5). Therefore, the eccentricity measuring method enables measurement of eccentricity by a same measurement optical system regardless of a radius of curvature of an optical surface of an optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Advanced Layers, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Ogura, Masahiro Okitsu, Youichi Ogawa, Kyu Takada
  • Patent number: 8665426
    Abstract: Provided is an optical thread position detection device for detecting the rotational position of threads of containers. The thread position detection device comprises at least an optical detector and a positioning device for the defined orientation of a longitudinal axis of the containers relative to the detector ,the positioning device and a defined coupling area of the container being connectable to one another. The optical detector , without coming into contact, registers items of information on at least one relative rotational position of at least one thread portion, the processor device serving to generate data on the rotational position of the container, incorporating a defined reference variable and the items of information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Gerald Huettner, Stefan Piana, Robert Schmitt, Ulrich Lappe, Gerhard Fischer
  • Patent number: 8665427
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for testing the boresight of a gimbaled camera and laser system, such as an infrared countermeasures (IRCM) system, in extreme environments. Light simulating a target is reflected through an optics system to the camera, with a portion of the light reflected back from a corner cube reflector through the optics system as a reference. A laser beam from the laser is received through the same optics system, and a position of the corner cube reflected reference and laser beam are compared in order to determine whether the camera and laser are properly aligned. A spherical shell adapted to position the camera at its geometric center keeps misaligned laser pulses from reflecting back into the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: DRS RSTA, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Young, Dharmesh G. Panchal, Alan A. Rakes
  • Patent number: 8665428
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a laser system, which has a focused laser beam and a controllable deflection assembly for controlling the transverse and/or longitudinal position of the beam focus, said method comprising the steps of directing the laser beam or a partial beam branched therefrom downstream of the deflection assembly toward an optically nonlinear medium for the purpose of generating frequency multiplied radiation, the wavelength of which corresponds to an uneven higher harmonic of the wavelength of the laser beam, activating the deflection assembly, and measuring a power of the frequency multiplied radiation while the deflection assembly is activated. The conversion efficiency of the nonlinear process by which the frequency multiplied radiation is produced is dependent upon the focusability of the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Wavelight GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fösel, Olaf Kittelmann, Klaus Vogler
  • Patent number: 8665429
    Abstract: A method for measuring intensity distribution of light includes a step of providing a carbon nanotube array having a top surface. The carbon nanotube array is located in an inert gas environment or a vacuum environment. A light source irradiates the top surface of the carbon nanotube array, to make the carbon nanotube array radiate a radiation light. An imaging element images the radiation light, to obtain an intensity distribution of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Li Jiang, Jun Zhu, Chen Feng, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8665430
    Abstract: There is provided an exposure condition determining method for determining an exposure condition for an exposure-objective substrate having a plurality of semiconductor pattern features formed by predetermined exposure on a surface thereon, the method including, irradiating an illumination light onto a surface of a substrate, which has the pattern features, detecting a diffracted light from the plurality of semiconductor pattern features of the substrate irradiated with the illumination light, and determining the exposure condition based on a variation in brightness of the detected diffracted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8665431
    Abstract: A cuvette (10) for storing a biological sample to be analyzed by means of a predefined detection technique is disclosed. The cuvette (10) is formed from a moldable material that contains particles (15a, 15b) at a concentration within a predefined range. The particles (15a, 15b) are randomly distributed, in order to form a unique pattern. Moreover, the particles (15a, 15b) have measurable physical properties, so that the unique pattern is detectable using the detection technique that is used to analyze the biological sample. The unique properties obtained by the randomly distributed particles (15a, 15b) render copying nearly impossible, since it is more complicated to distribute the particles in a predetermined pattern than to let them distribute randomly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Markus Laubscher, Pim Theo Tuyls, Milan Petkovic, Boris Skoric
  • Patent number: 8665432
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) includes a substrate and a plurality of nano-pillars, each of the plurality of nano-pillars having a first end attached to the substrate, a second end located distally from the substrate, and a body portion extending between the first end and the second end, in which the plurality of nano-pillars are arranged in an array on the substrate, and in which each of the plurality of nano-pillars is formed of a polymer material that is functionalized to expand in the presence of a fluid to cause gaps between the plurality of nano-pillars to shrink when the fluid is supplied onto the nano-pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Min Hu, Michael Josef Stuke, Zhiyong Li, Wei Wu, Fung Suong Ou, Shih-Yuan Wang, Lars Helge Thylen
  • Patent number: 8665433
    Abstract: A method of performing Raman spectroscopy, and an apparatus for performing the method, including irradiating, with laser light, a trace amount of a target substance disposed on a painted surface, receiving reflected laser light and a Raman return signal from the trace amount of the target substance, processing the Raman return signal using, at least, a spectrograph and camera to obtain a Raman signature for the target substance, and identifying the target substance based on the Raman signature for the target substance and a database of Raman signatures. The laser light wavelength may be selected based on a ratio of Raman return signal power to fluorescence power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Exelis Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan E. Da Re, Howard N. LaValley, Jeromy Paul Rezac, James E. Pendell Jones
  • Patent number: 8665434
    Abstract: A system and method for performing Raman spectroscopy using a heterodyne detection scheme are described. The heterodyne detection scheme can combine a modulated portion of radiation having passed through a sample to be analyzed with a reference radiation to produce a combined frequency signal. At least a portion of the reference radiation can be filtered out of the combined frequency signal, resulting in a filtered frequency signal. Information related to the sample can be determined based upon the filtered signal. The determined information can then be analyzed to determine a chemical composition of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: Mordehai Margalit, Ariel Lipson
  • Patent number: 8665435
    Abstract: A contact probe includes a stylus and an optical detector configured to detect a posture of the stylus optically. An illumination subject portion is formed on the stylus and has three or more reflection surfaces. The optical detector includes three or more fibers, a light source, a condenser lens group, and a wavelength detector. The wavelength detector calculates posture information of the stylus on the basis of wavelength variations of reflection light beams that are caused by variations of intervals between the condenser lens group and the three or more reflection surfaces, respectively. The contact probe acquires coordinates of a position of the contact to the object to be measured on the basis of posture information obtained by the optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Hidaka
  • Patent number: 8665436
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for determining a piece of polarisation information on a measurement point of a target sample, the device comprising: —a light source capable of emitting a rectilinearly polarised light beam in a predefined direction, the light beam being intended to be reflected by the measurement point of the target sample; —a unit for computing the piece of polarisation information on the measurement point using the beam reflected by the target sample; -a waveguide for guiding the incident beam towards the target sample and the reflected beam towards the computing means; and —a unit for rotating the polarisation, capable of rotating two orthogonal polarimetric components of the incident beam exiting the waveguide and two orthogonal polarimetric components of the reflected beam before passing through the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique—CNRS
    Inventors: Dominique Pagnoux, Frédéric Louradour, Jérôme Desroches, Alain Barthelemy, Julien Brevier
  • Patent number: 8665437
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transformation process in which the conversion of charge materials to a product takes place along a transformation interface from the crystal and/or grain and/or phase and/or pore surface into the charge material, wherein one or more chemical elements in the charge materials is released and/or incorporated and/or rearranged and wherein the conversion of the charge materials takes place along advancing transformation interfaces. The charge materials are identified on the basis of at least one optical, in particular microscopic, analysis with respect to their phases and/or phase components and/or their phase morphology, structure, texture and/or their chemical composition. On the basis of these variables, reference functions for the charge materials, which describe the conversion of the charge materials in the process, are assigned and used for establishing the process parameters of the transformation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Vai Metals Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Fischer, Heinrich Rochus Mali, Johannes Leopold Schenk, Stefan Schuster, Bernhard Hailu Spuida, Kurt Wieder, Franz Winter
  • Patent number: 8665438
    Abstract: A color sensing apparatus includes an optical system that produces a spatially uniform light beam independent of the use of a diffusion chamber, and a color sensor that senses reflected light of a reflection of the spatially uniform light beam, wherein the optical system includes a light integrator with a tapered inlet surface and a lens secured to an exit plane thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephan R. Clark, Brett E. Dahlgren
  • Patent number: 8665439
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing cell cytometry mitigate or eliminate the effects of refraction that result from interfaces between materials having different refractive indices. Solid materials, such as the walls of a flow path, which materials are disposed between a nominal focal point and an objective lens, are formed of a material having a refractive index between 1.30 and 1.40 inclusive. The refractive index of a liquid material, such as an immersion fluid or a fluid carrying, suspending, or bathing an analyte, may be adjusted to have a refractive index closer to that of surrounding solid materials and, in particular, within 0.02 of the refractive index of the surrounding solid materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Microbix Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Luscher
  • Patent number: 8665440
    Abstract: A spectral imaging system comprises a plurality of spectral units arranged in an array, each spectral unit of the plurality of spectral units comprising: a microlens having an optical axis; a spectral filter having a center wavelength and aligned with the optical axis; a fiber optic bundle, the fiber optic bundle having a curved light receiving surface and a planar light output surface, wherein the curved light receiving surface is aligned with the optical axis; and a plurality of pixel sensors configured to receive light from the planar light output surface of the fiber optic taper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
    Inventors: Iouri V. Kompaniets, Tomasz Jannson, Ranjit Pradhan
  • Patent number: 8665441
    Abstract: A device and method for measuring an optical characteristic of a fluid. The device, typically a densitometer includes a set of optical elements that include a light source, a collimating lens, a focusing lens, and a receiver, wherein a gap exists between the collimating lens and the focusing lens so as to allow the fluid to pass in between the lenses, and wherein at least one of the optical elements is tilted with respect to an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Nathan A. Levy, Ziv Gilan, Niv Shemtov
  • Patent number: 8665442
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring the isotope ratio of one or more trace gases and/or components of gas mixtures such as different gas species present in a gas mixture. The system includes a resonant optical cavity having two or more mirrors and containing a gas, the cavity having a free spectral range that equals the difference between frequencies of two measured absorption lines of different gas species in the gas, or of two different isotopes, divided onto an integer number. The system includes a continuous-wave tunable laser optically coupled with the resonant optical cavity and a detector system for measuring an absorption of laser light by the gas in the cavity. The detector system includes a photo-detector to measure an intensity of the intra-cavity light, or both a photo-acoustic sensor to measure photo-acoustic waves generated in the cavity and a photo-detector to measure an intensity of the intra-cavity light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Li-Cor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergeui Koulikov, Alexander Kachanov
  • Patent number: 8665443
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a block for a physics package of an atomic sensor is provided. The block comprises one or more sections of optically transparent material defining a vacuum sealed chamber, and including a plurality of transmissive and reflective surfaces to define a plurality of light paths intersecting the vacuum sealed chamber. The one or more sections of optically transparent material include a first monolithic section defining at least a portion of the vacuum sealed chamber. The first monolithic section includes a first portion disposed across a first light path of the plurality of light paths such that light in the first light path is incident on the first portion of the first monolithic section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Christina Marie Schober, James A. Vescera, Jennifer S. Strabley
  • Patent number: 8665444
    Abstract: The shape of a prism is set such that an excitation light beam that enters the prism to cause surface plasmon resonance to be generated is not irradiated onto the corners of the prism after being totally reflected within the prism. The angle of a surface that the excitation light exits the prism is set to an angle at which the excitation light beam is not totally reflected. Thereby, the excitation light beam returning to a light source, and being scattered within the prism are prevented, and therefore the accuracy of measurements can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Hakamata
  • Patent number: 8665445
    Abstract: A diagnostic system for an optical touch control module and an automatic diagnostic method thereof are disclosed. The diagnostic system is used for testing an optical capturing module of the optical touch control module. The diagnostic system includes a controlling module, a first test element, a second test element, and a rotary fixture. The first and the second test element are disposed on a touch surface for allowing the optical capturing module to capture a first and a second test signal. The rotary fixture is used for contacting to the optical capturing module, wherein the controlling module determines whether an image signal captured by the optical capturing module has the first and the second test signal. If not, the controlling module controls the rotary fixture to rotate the optical capturing module to adjust a capturing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Lin-Husng Chang, Yu-Yen Chen, Po-Liang Huang, Kai-Chung Cheng