Patents Issued in April 8, 2014
  • Patent number: 8692952
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (LCD) includes a liquid crystal panel displaying an image; a first transparent plate disposed on the liquid crystal panel; a second transparent plate disposed underneath the liquid crystal panel; a support member supporting the second transparent plate and the liquid crystal panel; and a fixing member disposed on the first transparent plate, the fixing member coupled with the support member to fix the liquid crystal panel and the first and second transparent plates in place, and to protect the liquid crystal panel and the first and second transparent plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong-Man Moon, Su-Woong Lee, Sang-Yoon Paik
  • Patent number: 8692953
    Abstract: This invention relates to an LED strip fixed structure and an LCD, wherein the LED strip fixed structure includes a back panel, an LED strip and a strip fixed element, a groove used for accommodating the LED strip is formed on the strip fixed element, and light holes used for accommodating LEDs on the LED strip are formed in the groove; the fixed element is used for containing the LED strip, and is fixedly connected with the back panel. In this invention, the fixed element for accommodating the LED strip is fixed on the side wall of the back panel, so as to increase the heat dissipation channel of the LED strip; instead of arranging heat dissipation aluminum extrusion between the LED strip and the back panel, and so as to reduce the quantity of connecting pieces such as connecting screws. This invention improves the effect of heat dissipation at the backlight part of the LCD, and meanwhile simplifies the installation structure of the LED strip and lowers the cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gege Zhou
  • Patent number: 8692954
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel, a plurality of optical sheets disposed under the display panel, a light guiding plate disposed under the optical sheets and including a light guiding protrusion protruding toward a side direction from a light guiding corner, and a support frame for supporting the display panel and including a protrusion cover in the frame corner to cover the light guiding protrusion. The height of an upper surface of the protrusion cover is preferably no less than the height of an upper surface of the optical sheets. The display device prevents the problem in molding of the protrusion cover of the support frame by increasing the thickness of the protrusion cover. Accordingly, a small-sized thin film light guiding plate can be applied to the display device so that luminance of the display device can be improved, and the thickness of the display device can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-Il Lee, Nam-Jin Jang, Joo-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 8692955
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a backlight module which comprises a back-plate, the back-plate is in a L-shape and includes a first back-plate and a second back-plate; the backlight module further comprises a first radiator and a first light source used to emit red light, the first radiator is connected to the first light source; the first back-plate has a through hole, the first radiator is disposed on the outer side of the first back-plate, the first light source is inserted in the through hole and is extended to the inner side of the first back-plate. The present invention also discloses a liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yicheng Kuo, Yanxue Zhang
  • Patent number: 8692956
    Abstract: An optical structure placeable between a backlight array of point light sources and a planar display. The structure distributes light emitted by the point light sources to uniformly illuminate the plane of the display, without introducing significant viewing parallax. The emitted light is partially collimated within a preferred angular viewing range, maximizing the display's luminance when viewed from the normal direction. The structure is highly reflective, such that a substantial portion of any non-emitted light rays are internally reflected by the structure, increasing the likelihood that those rays will be subsequently emitted by the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Lorne A. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 8692957
    Abstract: A scanning backlight unit, a liquid crystal display and television and a television are provided herein. The backlight unit including a light source unit having plural groups of light sources which emit light in a main incidence direction; a control unit which controls the plural groups of light sources; and a light guiding plate having a bottom surface formed with a dispersion pattern dispersing the light received from the light source unit, wherein the dispersion pattern includes a plurality of grooves, with a groove of the plurality of grooves having a shape with a first size parallel to the main incidence direction and a second size perpendicular to the main incidence direction, and wherein the first size is larger than the second size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-hee Lee, Hyeong-sik Choi, Myung-ryul Jung, Do-hyeon Baek, Sin-wook Hyung
  • Patent number: 8692958
    Abstract: A polarization film comprising at least a polarization layer that is subject to a laminating treatment to be stretched along a predetermined laminating direction in the plane of the polarization layer to realize polarization, and an adhesive layer that is provided on a surface of the polarization layer and capable of being affixed onto a base. The adhesive layer has a maximal shrinkage resistance in the laminating direction of the polarization layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Beijing Boe Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung Hun Song
  • Patent number: 8692959
    Abstract: Provided is an optical layered body that includes a polyester base, a primer layer formed thereon, and a hard coat layer formed on the primer. The polyester has a retardation of not less than 8000 nm, and a difference (nx?ny) of 0.07 to 0.20 between a refractive index (nx) in a slow axis direction that is a high refractive index direction and a refractive index (ny) of a fast axis direction that is orthogonal to the slow axis direction, a refractive index (np) of the primer, the refractive index (nx) in the slow axis direction of the polyester, and the refractive index (ny) in the fast axis direction of the polyester satisfy ny<np<nx, and a refractive index (nh) of the hard coat, the refractive index (nx) in the slow axis direction of the polyester, and the refractive index (ny) in the fast axis direction of the polyester satisfy ny<nh<nx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Shinohara, Seiichi Isojima, Hiroki Nakagawa, Gen Furui
  • Patent number: 8692960
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (100) according to the present invention has a pixel (P), which includes red, green, blue and yellow subpixels (R, G, B and Y). The chromaticity of the yellow subpixel (Y) is outside of a triangle that is defined by connecting together the respective chromaticities of the red, green and blue subpixels (R, G and B). And the respective aperture areas SR, SG, SB and SY of the red, green, blue, and yellow subpixels (R, G, B and Y) and the respective transmittances TR, TG, TB and TY of their associated red, green, blue, and yellow color filters (CR, CG, CB and CY) satisfy the inequality TY>[(SR+SG+SB+SY)(TR+TG+TB)?3(SR×TR+SG×TG+SB×TB)]/3SY.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Fujii
  • Patent number: 8692961
    Abstract: A liquid crystal device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first substrate including a slit electrode that has slit-like apertures to form line-like patterns substantially in a same direction as either source wires or gate wires; a second substrate including a light shielding film that extends in a same direction as the line-like patterns of the slit electrode, and that has an overlap area with either the source wires or the gate wires, and that is arranged that color filter films are partitioned to prevent color mixture when displayed in a single color. A non-opposed area to the light shielding film is formed at an end of the slit electrode in a width direction that a transmittance may not be reduced due to the light shielding film in the areas where the light shielding film and the slit electrode are arranged in an overlapped manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Yonemura
  • Patent number: 8692962
    Abstract: A diffusion sheet includes: a substrate having a first principal surface and a second principal surface; and structures each in a convex shape formed randomly on the first principal surface or the second principal surface of the substrate. The structures have an identical or almost identical height. The structures have an aspect ratio h/r, where r denotes an average radius of the structures and h denotes an average height of the structures, of more than 0.85 and not more than 1.50. The structures have a filling factor of not less than 60% and not more than 80%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Shibata, Jun Sasaki, Hirofumi Tsuiki, Akihiro Horii, Noriyuki Hirai, Hiroshi Mizuno, Satoko Asaoka, Kanako Hashimoto, Yasuyuki Kudo, Saori Hayashi, Teiichi Miyauchi, Satoshi Sekino, Makoto Aoki
  • Patent number: 8692963
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a transflective LCD comprises pixels each comprising a first polarizing layer; a second polarizing layer; a first substrate layer and a second substrate layer opposite the first substrate layer; the first and second substrate layers are between the first polarizing layer and the second polarizing layer; a liquid crystal material between the first and second substrate layers; an over-coating layer adjacent to the first substrate layer; the over-coating layer comprises at least one opening for a transmissive part; a remainder of the over-coating layer forms in part a reflective part; a patterned in-cell retarder adjacent to the first substrate layer; the patterned in-cell retarder covers at least a portion of the reflective part; a reflective layer between the over-coating layer and the second substrate layer; the reflective layer substantially covers the reflective part; the patterned in-cell retarder is between the reflective layer and the first substrate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Pixel Qi Corporation
    Inventors: Ruibo Lu, Mary Lou Jepsen
  • Patent number: 8692964
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compensation films of a vertically-aligned liquid crystal display. Upper and lower compensation films asymmetrically differ in refractive index from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee-Wook Do, Ki-Chul Shin, Sung-Min Kang, Seung-Hee Lee, Ji-Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8692965
    Abstract: A method for forming an alignment layer is disclosed, to prevent light leakage generated by a physical contact between a rubbing roll and a substrate, which includes preparing a substrate; coating an alignment material on the substrate, for initial alignment of liquid crystal; applying an electric field or a magnetic field to the alignment material, for determination of alignment direction in the alignment material; and curing the alignment material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Dong Kim, Hyun Sik Seo, Kwang Hoon Shin
  • Patent number: 8692966
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display device including: a first substrate; a second substrate; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and the second substrates; a first polarization plate placed on a side of the first substrate; a second polarization plate placed on a side of the second substrate; and a pixel electrode and a common electrode which are provided on the side of the second substrate on which the liquid crystal layer is placed, in which: at least one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode is interdigital; and the liquid crystal layer has flexoelectric coefficients e11 and e33, both absolute values of which are +7 pC/m or less. Accordingly, a flicker intensity in an IPS liquid crystal display device is suppressed to such a degree as not to influence display quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Oka, Shinichi Komura, Hirotaka Imayama, Takeshi Sato, Osamu Itou
  • Patent number: 8692967
    Abstract: A pixel array including a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of sub-pixel is provided. Each of the sub-pixel arranged in the nth row includes a first switch, a second switch, a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, and a third switch, wherein the first switch and the second switch are electrically connected to the nth scan line and the mth data line, the first pixel electrode is electrically connected to the first switch, the second pixel electrode is electrically connected to a signal output terminal of the second switch. The first pixel electrode has a first aperture above the signal output terminal. The third switch is electrically connected to the (n+1)th scan line and the second pixel electrode, and the second pixel electrode has a second aperture above a floating terminal of the third switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Tien-Lun Ting, Yu-Ching Wu, Yi-Cheng Li, Wen-Hao Hsu, Jenn-Jia Su
  • Patent number: 8692968
    Abstract: Provided are a chip component mounting structure and a chip component mounting method, wherein when a plurality of chip components having different heights are mounted on a substrate via an anisotropic conductive film, position gaps which occur when the chip components are pressure-bonded to the substrate are prevented, and the chip components can be accurately mounted to the substrate at target positions; and a liquid crystal display device provided with the substrate. In the chip component mounting structure, a position fixing resin (4) for maintaining the orientation of chip components (2) which are pressure-bonded to a substrate (1) via an anisotropic conductive film (7) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8692969
    Abstract: The color filter may include a pixel unit having a plurality of sub-pixels of different colors, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels respectively include flat plate metal layers and a plurality of color PDLC layers on the flat plate metal layers, and the plurality of color PDLC layers each include a polymer, a plurality of liquid crystal drops dispersed in the polymer, and a plurality of color display materials mixed in the liquid crystal drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-eun Jang, Gae-hwang Lee, Kyu-young Hwang, Jae-eun Jung
  • Patent number: 8692970
    Abstract: Disclosed is a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device which is a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal alignment film to which an alignment regulating force is imparted by a photo-alignment treatment, including: a film forming step of forming a film containing a polymer whose main chain is cleaved by irradiation with light; a photo-alignment step of imparting an alignment regulating force to the film formed in the film forming step by irradiation of the film with light in an atmosphere of a temperature lower than 100° C.; and a removing step of removing a low-molecular weight component generated by cleaving the main chain of the polymer through the light irradiation after the light irradiation. Also disclosed is a liquid crystal display device manufactured by the manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichi Uchino, Noboru Kunimatsu, Hidehiro Sonoda, Chikae Matsui, Yuko Matsumoto, Tomio Yaguchi, Toshiki Kaneko, Jun Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8692971
    Abstract: A 2D and 3D switchable display device includes a display panel, and a liquid crystal lens disposed on the display panel. The liquid crystal lens includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, an insulating layer, a liquid crystal layer, and a third electrode. The first electrode, disposed on one side of the first substrate facing the second substrate, has a slit. The second electrode is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and substantially corresponding to the slit of the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chung-Hsiang Chiu
  • Patent number: 8692972
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image printing device includes an actuating unit for moving a grating structure, a print head for transferring a plurality of target image data onto corresponding positions of the grating structure, a first detecting module, a second detecting module, and a controller coupled to the print head, a first photosensitive component of the first detecting module, and a second photosensitive component of the second detecting module for controlling the print head to print some of the plurality of target image data onto the grating structure according to comparison between first optical intensity signal generated by the first detecting module and second optical intensity signal generated by the second detecting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hiti Digital, Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Yue Wu
  • Patent number: 8692973
    Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus projects a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate using a projection system. The apparatus has a liquid supply system to supply a liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate. The apparatus also has a fluid removal system including a chamber to hold liquid and having an open end adjacent to a volume in which fluid will be present. The open end removes, through a pressure differential across-the open end when liquid is present in the chamber, substantially only liquid from the volume when liquid in the volume is adjacent to the open end but not gas from the volume when gas in the volume is adjacent to the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Nikon Corporation, Nikon Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 8692974
    Abstract: A method of measuring aberration present in a lithographic apparatus comprising the following steps. Modulating a radiation beam using a reflective patterning device. Projecting the radiation beam using a projection system. Detecting the projected radiation using a sensor. Measuring aberration via interference in the detected radiation beam. The radiation beam is tilted away from the optical axis of the projection system prior to entering the projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Jacobus Matheus Baselmans
  • Patent number: 8692975
    Abstract: The present invention provides a measurement apparatus which measures an imaging performance of an optical system to be measured, the apparatus including a first reference substrate which is placed on an object plane of the optical system to be measured, and has periodic patterns arranged in accordance with a plurality of object heights, a second reference substrate which is placed on an image plane of the optical system to be measured, and has apertures which pass light from the periodic patterns, a detection unit configured to detect an intensity of the light which comes from the periodic patterns and has passed through the apertures, a driving unit configured to drive at least one of the first reference substrate and the second reference substrate, and a processing unit configured to perform a process for obtaining the imaging performance of the optical system to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Kuramoto
  • Patent number: 8692976
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate via a projection optical system and liquid. A liquid immersion member having a lower surface and a recovery port at its lower surface side supplies liquid to form a liquid immersion region below the projection optical system and recovers the liquid via the recovery port. First and second tables, on which a substrate is mountable, are positionable opposite to the lower surface of the liquid immersion member. A drive system moves the first and second tables below the projection optical system relative to the liquid immersion member to replace one of the tables positioned opposite to the lower surface of the liquid immersion member with the other of the tables, whereby the liquid immersion region is transferred from the one to the other of the tables while the liquid immersion region is maintained below and in contact with the projection optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Akimitsu Ebihara
  • Patent number: 8692977
    Abstract: Systems and methods for inspection are provided utilizing a wide angle optical system. The optical system includes a wide angle input lens group and an output lens group. The wide angle input lens group is configured to receive wide-angle radiation, e.g., having an angular spread of 60 degrees or more, from an object surface, and produce imagable radiation. The wide angle input lens group is arranged such that no intermediate focused image is formed within or after the wide angle input lens group. The output lens group is configured to receive the imagable radiation from the wide angle input lens group and focus the imagable radiation onto an image plane to image at least part of the object surface. A detector receives the image of the at least part of the object surface and, based on the received image, detects, for example, contamination on the object surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Lev Ryzhikov, Yuli Vladimirsky, James H. Walsh
  • Patent number: 8692978
    Abstract: A method of determining a defect in a grid plate of an encoder-type position measurement system, the method including providing an encoder-type position measurement system to measure a position of a movable object with respect to another object, the encoder-type position measurement system including a grid plate and an encoder head, measuring a quantity of light reflected on each of the two or more detectors, using a combined light intensity of the reflected light on the two or more detectors to determine a reflectivity signal representative for the reflectivity of the grid plate at the measurement location, and determining a presence of a defect at the measurement location on the basis of the reflectivity signal of the grid plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Toon Hardeman
  • Patent number: 8692979
    Abstract: A sensor module (1) for measuring the distance to a target and/or the velocity of the target (50), the sensor module (1) comprising at least one laser source (100), at least one detector (200) being adapted to detect modulated laser light and at least one control element the control element (400) being adapted to vary the focus point of the laser light and/or the intensity of the laser light and/or the direction of the laser light. The control of the laser light emitted by the laser source (100) either by active optical devices as variable focus lenses or controllable attenuators or passive optical elements in combination with arrays of laser sources (100) and detectors (200) enable flexible and robust sensor modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Holger Moench, Mark Carpaij, Alexander Marc Van Der Lee, Stefan Schwan, Meng Han, Marcel Franz Christian Schemmann
  • Patent number: 8692980
    Abstract: A vehicular collision avoidance system comprising a system controller, pulsed laser transmitter, a number of independent ladar sensor units, a cabling infrastructure, internal memory, a scene processor, and a data communications port is presented herein. The described invention is capable of developing a 3-D scene, and object data for targets within the scene, from multiple ladar sensor units coupled to centralized LADAR-based Collision Avoidance System (CAS). Key LADAR elements are embedded within standard headlamp and taillight assemblies. Articulating LADAR sensors cover terrain coming into view around a curve, at the crest of a hill, or at the bottom of a dip. A central laser transmitter may be split into multiple optical outputs and guided through fibers to illuminate portions of the 360° field of view surrounding the vehicle. These fibers may also serve as amplifiers to increase the optical intensity provided by a single master laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Scientific Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Gilliland, Roger Stettner, Laurent Heughebaert, Bart Goldstein
  • Patent number: 8692981
    Abstract: An evaluation device, measuring arrangement and method for path length measurement. The evaluation device for path length measurement is configured to evaluate a measured signal which represents an intensity of a sequence of pulses of electromagnetic radiation as a function of time. The sequence of pulses has a repetition rate. The evaluation device is configured to determine a phase difference between a component of the measured signal, the component oscillating with a frequency, and a reference signal which oscillates with the frequency. For this purpose, the evaluation device generates, for example by frequency mixing, a first signal and a second signal which have another phase difference, such that the first signal and the second signal each oscillates with another frequency which is different from said frequency, and that the other phase difference has a predetermined relation to the phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss AG
    Inventors: Bernd Spruck, Frank Hoeller, Cristina Alvarez Diez
  • Patent number: 8692982
    Abstract: A fluid observation apparatus for performing a method for observing a fluid by PIV. The method for observing a fluid includes capturing an image of inorganic particles in a fluid for flow observation by irradiating the fluid for flow observation passing through a flow channel with light, the fluid for flow observation containing inorganic particles to be observed each having a planar surface, a dispersion medium to be observed, and a viscosity modifier. The fluid for flow observation is high-viscosity non-Newtonian slurry containing inorganic particles. The fluid for flow observation may be a simulated fluid for a fluid for flow analysis. The simulated fluid closely resembles the particle size of inorganic particles to be analyzed and the viscosity of the fluid for flow analysis. The fluid for flow analysis contains the inorganic particles to be analyzed and a dispersion medium to be analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Yoshioka, Satoshi Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8692983
    Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial optical, laser-based measuring systems and method are disclosed. An optical, laser-based, or LIDAR measuring apparatus is comprised of a radiation receiver/transmitter, a beam-forming optical element, a beam steering device comprised of a deviation optical element and at least one actuator used to steer the deviation optical element in response to drive signal(s) from a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Chapman, Wyatt L. Hendrick, Paul N. Smith, Howard Fein
  • Patent number: 8692984
    Abstract: A test instrument comprises plural first optical signal sources at a first wavelength and a distributor coupled to the plural first optical signal sources to supply the signals produced to a multi-fiber test port. Additional second wavelength signal sources may be provided, and a second test instrument for use at a second end of the link under test may be provided, to effect testing of the optical link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: J. David Schell, Seymour Goldstein, Harlan Kassler, Jackson Salling
  • Patent number: 8692985
    Abstract: Methodology of determining refractive index and extinction coefficient of a prism shaped material, including simultaneously for a multiplicity of wavelengths using an easy to practice technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. Synowicki, Greg K. Pribil, Andrew C. Martin
  • Patent number: 8692986
    Abstract: Inspection of EUV patterned masks, blank masks, and patterned wafers generated by EUV patterned masks requires high magnification and a large field of view at the image plane. An EUV inspection system can include a light source directed to an inspected surface, a detector for detecting light deflected from the inspected surface, and an optic configuration for directing the light from the inspected surface to the detector. In particular, the detector can include a plurality of sensor modules. Additionally, the optic configuration can include a plurality of mirrors that provide magnification of at least 100× within an optical path less than 5 meters long. In one embodiment, the optical path is approximately 2-3 meters long.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Ho Chuang, Richard W. Solarz, David R. Shafer, Bin-Ming Benjamin Tsai, David L. Brown
  • Patent number: 8692987
    Abstract: An apparatus used to calibrate microtiter plate readers. The apparatus includes one or more structures having two exterior surfaces wherein one of the exterior surfaces is coated with a coating selected to establish on that surface a reflection loss that mimics reflection loss at an air-liquid interface, and the other of the two exterior surfaces is coated with a coating selected to establish a reflection loss on that surface that mimics the reflection loss at a bottom surface of a microtiter plate. The apparatus may be a single layer, a multi-layered composition or a container. The apparatus is an artifact that may be used to calibrate a plate reader by mimicking a solution-filled microtiter plate. The artifact may be used for a plurality of liquids, including water. The artifact produces reflection losses more closely mirroring reflection losses expected for a liquid-filled microtiter plate well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Artel, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Curtis, John Thomas Bradshaw
  • Patent number: 8692988
    Abstract: Micro cuvette assembly for examining biological samples has a first partial plate with one or more first cuvette surfaces and a second partial plate opposite the first and which also has one or more second cuvette surfaces. In an active position of the assembly, the second cuvette surfaces are arranged parallel and in register with the first cuvette surfaces and are spaced apart from the first cuvette surfaces whereby one or more micro cuvettes are formed. The first and second partial plates also have openings arranged in register with the cuvette surfaces and transparent bodies are provided as the cuvette surfaces. The first and second plates are completely penetrated by these openings and the transparent bodies are manufactured from a different material than the partial plates and span the openings close to a first surface of the partial plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Tecan Trading AG
    Inventors: Walter Gotschy, Josef Grassel, Fritz Payr, Markus Schürf
  • Patent number: 8692989
    Abstract: A method of completing a hydrocarbon lateral well in a target shale formation. The method uses a data log generated from an optical flow cell assembly to identify areas in the lateral well of high free gas porosity. By evaluating such data, an operator can group “like” rock, determine stage length and variation in stage length, and determine perforation cluster spacing and location. The flow cell assembly can also be used in a completion program to assist in the steering of a lateral well being drilled below the target formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Lewis J. Dutel
  • Patent number: 8692990
    Abstract: The invention provides a technique for increasing the illumination intensity of probe light in a diffusely scattering sample without increasing the power of the probe beam. Generally, an optical filter is used which permits a collimated probe beam of light to pass through to the sample, but which reflects back towards the sample much of the backscattered scattered probe light emerging at a wider range of angles. In particular embodiments a collimated laser beam is delivered to the sample through a multi-layer dielectric filter covering a portion of the sample. The filter is transmissive to the laser light at normal incidence, but reflective at shallower angles of incidence characteristic of the backscattered light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: The Science and Technology Facilities Council
    Inventor: Pavel Matousek
  • Patent number: 8692991
    Abstract: A method for determining a paint formulation includes: obtaining target color information for a target color, identifying a plurality of toners and corresponding concentrations of the toners in a paint formula that can be used to produce a paint having a color that is similar to the target color, and modifying the paint formula by removing one of the identified toners having a lowest concentration to produce a modified paint formula that can be used to produce a paint having a color that is similar to the target color, and determining if the modified paint formula meets user specified acceptance criteria. An apparatus that can be used to perform the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Michael Beymore, Jon David Whitby
  • Patent number: 8692992
    Abstract: Present embodiments include a bandage sensor having an electrically conductive adhesive transfer tape layer as a Faraday shield. The electrically conductive transfer tape layer may be used in lieu of a fully metallic Faraday shield. The present embodiments also include a sensor cable having one or more conductive polymer EMI/RFI shields in place of a fully metallic EMI/RFI shield. Methods for manufacturing and remanufacturing such sensors and cables are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: David P. Besko
  • Patent number: 8692993
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flow cytometer (10) for in vitro assaying of human or animal whole blood and to an investigation method using the flow cytometer. Enhanced detection properties are achieved by it relative to the prior art cytometers of the same kind. Here, automated beam positioning is also solved. To these ends, collection of light scattered by the cellular components of human or animal whole blood and its transmission to suitable optical sensing elements take place by a coupling member with a particular end construction, in particular through one or more optical fiber bundles. Preparation of a blood sample for the assay, that is, mixing up said human or animal whole blood with appropriate reagents is performed by a hydro-pneumatical unit (12) of a particular design. Moreover, the actual assaying takes place in a flow cell (22) of a particular construction, which assists to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the present flow cytometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Diatron MI ZRT.
    Inventors: Bálint Tibor Mendele, Attila Zsolt Tremmel, Péter Tóth-Miklós, Péter Kovács, László Lehel Laczó, Miklós Zsolt Svarcz
  • Patent number: 8692994
    Abstract: A system is configured to measure two separately polarized beams upon diffraction from a substrate in order to determine properties of a grating on a substrate. Linearly polarized light sources are passed via a fixed phase retarder in order to change the phase of one of two orthogonally polarized radiation beams with respect to the other of the two beams. The relative phases of the two radiation beams and other features of the beams as measured in a detector gives rise to properties of the substrate surface. The grating and the initial linear polarization of the radiation beam are angled non-orthogonally relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Alexander Straaijer
  • Patent number: 8692995
    Abstract: An optical system for testing IR or UV sensors, comprises input optics, output optics having a reticule disposed on the associated optical axis, a radiation source which emits radiation in the visual spectral region and in the infrared or ultraviolet spectral regions, and a beam splitter for simultaneously visualizing an object scene illuminated by the radiation source with the reticule through the output optics into the eye of an observer. The input optics comprise a lens, the imaging properties of which in the visual spectral region are equal to the imaging properties in the infrared or ultraviolet spectral region, and the beam splitter is a dichroic beam splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Jochen Barth
  • Patent number: 8692996
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a state of a traffic signal. In one embodiment, a traffic signal state detector includes a lens, a color sensor, and a processor. The color sensor is configured to identify a plurality of colors of light directed to the color sensor by the lens, and a field of view of the color sensor is restricted based on dimensions of a traffic signal. The processor is coupled to the color sensor. The processor is configured to determine a color of light emitted by the traffic signal based on the colors of light identified by the color sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mesa Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Clint A. Davis
  • Patent number: 8692997
    Abstract: A gas or particulate sensor is provided for the detection of at least two target gases and/or particulates. The sensor comprises: a chamber for containing a gas sample under test; a first optical measurement channel configured for the detection of a first target gas or particulate within the gas sample, and a second optical measurement channel configured for the detection of a second target gas or particulate within the gas sample, each optical measurement channel comprising a respective optopair which comprises a radiation source adapted to emit radiation and a radiation detector adapted to output a signal in response to detected radiation; and focusing optics able to form an image of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: BAH Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Michael Tkachuk, Michael Gouzman
  • Patent number: 8692998
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for in-depth fluorescence imaging using two-photon fluorescence imaging in turbid media. The apparatus includes a detector which can significantly enhance the use of a detection method that allows to efficiently collect scattered fluorescence photons from a wide area of the turbid sample. By using this detector it is possible to perform imaging of turbid samples, simulating brain tissue at depths up to 3 mm, where the two-photon induced fluorescence signal is too weak to be detected by previous means used in conventional two-photon microscopy. The detector separates the excitation and detection optics which allows a more efficient collection of fluorescence and enhancing the possible imaging depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Enrico Gratton, Alexander Dvornikov, Viera Crosignani
  • Patent number: 8692999
    Abstract: A method of minimizing fringe print-through in a phase-shifting interferometer, includes the steps of: (a) determining multiple transfer functions of pixels in the phase-shifting interferometer; (b) computing a crosstalk term for each transfer function; and (c) displaying, to a user, a phase-difference map using the crosstalk terms computed in step (b). Determining a transfer function in step (a) includes measuring intensities of a reference beam and a test beam at the pixels, and measuring an optical path difference between the reference beam and the test beam at the pixels. Computing crosstalk terms in step (b) includes computing an N-dimensional vector, where N corresponds to the number of transfer functions, and the N-dimensional vector is obtained by minimizing a variance of a modulation function in phase shifted images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene Olczak
  • Patent number: 8693000
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein employ multiple phase-contrast images with various relative phase shifts between light diffracted by a sample and light not diffracted by the sample to produce a quantitative phase image. The produced quantitative phase image may have sufficient contrast for label-free auto-segmentation of cell bodies and nuclei.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Evgenia Mikhailovna Kim, Robert John Fikins, Chulmin Joo
  • Patent number: 8693001
    Abstract: An image of an object can be synthesized either from the Fourier components of the electric field or from the Fourier components of the intensity distribution. Imaging with a lens is equivalent to assembling the Fourier components of the electric field in the image plane. This invention provides a method and a means for lensless imaging by assembling the Fourier components of the intensity distribution and combining them to form the image with the use of amplitude splitting interferometer. The angular spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation consists of wavefronts propagating at different angles. The amplitude of each wavefront is split and interfered with itself to create sinusoidal fringe patterns having different spatial frequencies. The sinusoidal fringe patterns are combined to form an image of the object. This method applies to coherent and incoherent light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventor: John Farah