Patents Issued in March 31, 2015
  • Patent number: 8994889
    Abstract: An object is to provide a display device with excellent display characteristics, where a pixel circuit and a driver circuit provided over one substrate are formed using transistors which have different structures corresponding to characteristics of the respective circuits. The driver circuit portion includes a driver circuit transistor in which a gate electrode layer, a source electrode layer, and a drain electrode layer are formed using a metal film, and a channel layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor. The pixel portion includes a pixel transistor in which a gate electrode layer, a source electrode layer, and a drain electrode layer are formed using an oxide conductor, and a semiconductor layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor. The pixel transistor is formed using a light-transmitting material, and thus, a display device with higher aperture ratio can be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Junichiro Sakata, Masashi Tsubuku, Kengo Akimoto, Miyuki Hosoba, Masayuki Sakakura, Yoshiaki Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8994891
    Abstract: A touch panel whose power consumption can be reduced is provided, and an increase in the manufacturing cost of the touch panel is prevented. A photosensor which includes a light-receiving element including a non-single-crystal semiconductor layer between a pair of electrodes and a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer in a channel formation region is provided. A touch panel which includes a plurality of pixels and the photosensor adjacent to at least one of the plurality of pixels is provided. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a pair of terminals. One of the pair of terminals is a reflective conductive film. Alternatively, each of the pair of terminals is a light-transmitting conductive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama
  • Patent number: 8994893
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flat panel display device, which includes a backlight system and a display panel. The backlight system includes a light source, a light homogenization mechanism, and a back frame. The back frame carries the light source and the light homogenization mechanism, and the light homogenization mechanism guides light from the light source into the display panel. The back frame includes primary assembling pieces, secondary assembling pieces, and a bracing piece for fixing a circuit board. The primary assembling pieces are connected through joining. Further, the primary assembling piece includes a joint section that forms a reinforcement structure and a circuit board is mountable and position adjustable through a bracing piece. The present invention also provides a stereoscopic display device and a plasma display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Cheng Kuo, Yu-Chun Hsiao, Chong Huang, Jia-He Cheng, Cheng-Wen Que, Quan Li, Liu-Yang Yang
  • Patent number: 8994894
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device including a backlight unit that irradiates the entire image formation region with light from light emitting diodes disposed in a concentrated manner, in order to reduce warpage of a reflection sheet to obtain uniform illumination, provided is a liquid crystal display device (1), including: a liquid crystal panel (3); a reflection sheet (6), which is disposed on a rear surface side of the liquid crystal panel (3) and is curved so as to have a concave surface facing the liquid crystal panel (3); a light emitting diode substrate on which a plurality of light emitting diodes (14) are disposed along a horizontal direction; and a support (21) for fixing the reflection sheet (6) at a curved portion of the reflection sheet (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sachiko Yamazaki, Ikuko Imajo, Masashi Baba
  • Patent number: 8994895
    Abstract: The present invention provides a backlight module and a liquid crystal display apparatus. The backlight module comprises a light guide plate; a base disposed at one side of the light guide plate; a light source disposed on the base; and a reflective element configured to reflect light rays which are emitted from the light source to a light-incident surface of the light guide plate, wherein the reflective element includes a reflective curved surface and a first reflective plane connected thereto. The backlight module and the liquid crystal display apparatus of the present invention can have a high coupling efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jianfa Huang
  • Patent number: 8994896
    Abstract: A light emitting device including a lens in which light radiated from a light source with a wide angle can effectively be oriented while a directional characteristic of the light source is expanded is provided, and a surface light source including the light emitting devices and a liquid crystal display device are provided. The surface light source is configured such that the plural light emitting devices are disposed in a central portion thereof. The light emitting device radiates the light on an optical axis A and around the optical axis A. The light emitting device includes a light source and a lens that radially expands the light from the light source. The lens includes a reflection unit at a bottom surface of the lens partially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoko Iiyama, Daizaburo Matsuki
  • Patent number: 8994897
    Abstract: There is provided a reflective liquid crystal display device including a first liquid crystal panel containing a first liquid crystal material that reflects light of a first color, a second liquid crystal panel containing a second liquid crystal material that reflects light of a second color and a third liquid crystal material that reflects light of a third color, the second and third liquid crystal materials positioned to be distinct from each other, and a light absorption layer that is bonded to a lower surface of the second liquid crystal panel, wherein the second liquid crystal panel is bonded to a lower surface of the first liquid crystal panel, and the first to third liquid crystal materials reflect light in a planar state and transmit light in a focal conic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun Ha Hwang, Seung Gon Kang, Heon Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8994898
    Abstract: The present invention provides a COF base tape. The COF base tape includes: a connected lead being configured to connect with a connected terminal of a liquid crystal glass; an alignment mark being set on the two sides of the connected lead being configured to align with a mark of the connected terminal, an area of the alignment mark thereof being light transparency. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the COF base tape and liquid crystal display module. The embodiment of the invention of a COF base tape and manufacturing method thereof and liquid crystal display module including the same enhances the strength of the COF base tape edge and raises the accurate alignment and operationally of the COF base tap connected with liquid glass. The present invention can save the material and reduce the cost of the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Chengwen Que, Dehua Li
  • Patent number: 8994899
    Abstract: A polarizing plate includes a polarizer, a thin film on the polarizer, the thin film having an in-plane phase difference (Ro) of about 500 nm to about 3000 nm, and a coating layer disposed on one side of the thin film and having a haze value of about 15% to about 35%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Cheil Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: So-Hee Yu, Tae-Hwan Kwon, Jae-Bin Song, Hae-Ryong Chung
  • Patent number: 8994900
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the invention, there are provided a display module, a display device and a method of manufacturing the display module. The display module comprises an array structural layer and a color filter layer provided on a surface of the array structural layer. The color filter layer comprises black matrixes and color pixel layers, and the color pixel layers are formed between adjacent black matrixes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingchao Li, Jaegeon You
  • Patent number: 8994901
    Abstract: A display device in which an image with a wide color reproduction range and bright red can be displayed is provided. The display device is a display device such as, for example, a liquid crystal display device, a cathode ray tube, an organic electroluminescent display device, a plasma display panel, and a field emission display. The display device includes a display surface including a pixel having red, green, blue, and yellow sub-pixels, wherein the red sub-pixel preferably has the largest aperture area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kozo Nakamura, Shun Ueki, Tokio Taguchi, Akiko Itou
  • Patent number: 8994902
    Abstract: A display device includes; a first substrate, a second substrate disposed substantially opposite to the first substrate, a third substrate disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a color display layer disposed between the first substrate and the third substrate, the color display layer comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal, a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected to the color display layer, a color conversion layer disposed between the third substrate and the second substrate, and a third electrode and a fourth electrode electrically connected to the color conversion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Il Kim, Nam-Seok Roh
  • Patent number: 8994903
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a display panel having a plurality of pixels. The display panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate opposing each other. A liquid crystal layer is positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate. A pixel electrode is positioned on the first substrate and positioned in one pixel of the plurality of pixels. An opposing electrode faces the pixel electrode with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. At least one of the pixel electrode and the opposing electrode includes a liquid crystal inclination direction determining member. A transmission region of the pixel includes a first region and a second region that have different cell gaps of the liquid crystal layer from each other and extension directions of the liquid crystal inclination direction determining member in the first region and the second region are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Suk Yang, Ho-Jun Lee, Sang Ho Kim, Sang Yeoul Lim, Young-Min Jung, Ho Kyung Kim, Sung Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8994904
    Abstract: An electro-optic device is provided with an substrate, in which a stress relieving film formed of a doped silicon oxide film is formed between a third interlayer insulating film formed of a non-doped silicon oxide film and a pixel electrode formed of an aluminum film or the like. The stress relieving film is formed of the doped silicon oxide film, has a thermal expansion coefficient different from that of the third interlayer insulating film, comes in contact with the third interlayer insulating film, has a thermal expansion coefficient different from that of the pixel electrode, and comes in contact with the pixel electrode. The thermal expansion coefficients are in the following relation of Third Interlayer Insulating Film<Stress relieving Film<Pixel Electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Jiroku
  • Patent number: 8994905
    Abstract: The liquid crystal display device is provided with: a pair of first electrodes in wall form that at least partially overlap a pair of first structures; and a second electrode sandwiched between the pair of first electrodes, wherein the first electrodes are formed of: a wall electrode that is formed on a sidewall surface of the structure, protruding so as to be in a wall form in a direction of a normal to the first substrate and running in the longitudinal direction of the pixel; and a plane electrode that runs in a plane direction of the first substrate from a side of the wall electrode on the first substrate side in such a manner that an end portion thereof runs in proximity to the second electrode, and at least either the plane electrode or the second electrode covers the pixel display region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Takato Hiratsuka, Osamu Itou
  • Patent number: 8994906
    Abstract: A display may have a thin-film-transistor layer with a substrate layer. A layer of dielectric may be formed on the substrate layer and may have an upper surface and a lower surface. The thin-film-transistor layer may include an array of display pixels. Data lines and gate lines may provide signals to the display pixels. Gate driver circuitry in an inactive peripheral portion of the display may include a gate driver circuit for each gate line. The gate driver circuits may include thin-film transistors that are formed on the upper surface of the layer of dielectric. Signal lines such as a gate low line, a gate routing line coupled between the gate driver circuits, and a common electrode line may be formed from two or more layers of metal to reduce their widths or may be embedded within the dielectric layer between the upper and lower surfaces under the thin-film transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Chang Chang, Cheng-Ho Yu, Abbas Jamshidi Roudbari, Ting-Kuo Chang
  • Patent number: 8994907
    Abstract: In a display unit, measures against dropping of screws can be realized at low cost. The display unit includes: a wiring substrate in which wiring that is led out from a display panel is provided; a screw that fixes the wiring substrate to the display unit; and a substrate cover that covers the wiring substrate. The substrate cover has a screw covering region that covers a head of the screw, and part of the periphery of the screw covering region is separated from the other area of the substrate cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuya Shimojoh
  • Patent number: 8994908
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a light shielding film, a color filter, an overcoat film, and an alignment film are formed in this order on a counter substrate. However, the alignment film is not formed in a seal portion. When the alignment film is subjected to photo-alignment with ultraviolet radiation, a portion of the overcoat film not covered with the alignment film is degraded by ultraviolet radiation. In order to prevent moisture penetrating from the degraded overcoat film from reaching the light shielding film to thereby alter the light shielding film and from causing the peeling of the light shielding film, the color filter is disposed below the overcoat film to block the moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chikae Matsui, Hidehiro Sonoda, Noboru Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 8994909
    Abstract: The width W1 of a groove (5a) is formed narrower than the width W2 of a groove (6a). The width W2 of the groove (6a) is formed at a prescribed width such that a sealing material (8) that overflows the groove (5a) can be formed along the groove (6a). The sealing material (8) spreads across the entirety of the groove (5a) and the groove (6a) when a color filter substrate (2) and an active matrix substrate (3) are bonded together. The groove (5a) is formed so as to be positioned within the groove (6a) in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takatoshi Kira, Tazo Ikeguchi
  • Patent number: 8994910
    Abstract: In a display panel and a method of manufacturing the display panel, the display panel includes a display substrate including a first electrode and a second electrode insulated from the first electrode and disposed on the first electrode, an opposite substrate including a third electrode facing the second electrode, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the display substrate and the opposite substrate. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules, a reactive mesogen polymer, and nano-rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Institute for Research & Industry Cooperation, PNU
    Inventors: Soon-Joon Rho, Hyeok-Jin Lee, Ji-Hong Bae, Jun-Ha Park, Hye-Lim Jang, Tae-Hoon Yoon, Dong-Han Song, Ki-Han Kim, Jung-Wook Kim
  • Patent number: 8994911
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical memory device and method for the preparation of the optical memory device based on glycerol, a very common and versatile solvent, mixed deformed helix ferroelectric liquid crystal (DHFLC) having applications in ferroelectric liquid crystal based devices, the said method comprising the steps of forming patterns of different shapes and configurations by lithographic methods to obtain an effective electrode area of at least 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventors: Prakash Jai, Ajay Kumar, Amit Choudhary, Anu Malik, Indrani Coondoo, Ashok Manikrao Biradar
  • Patent number: 8994912
    Abstract: A transparent display device includes a cholesteric liquid crystal display (LCD) panel to display an image, a first polarized sheet arranged on one side of the cholesteric LCD panel, and a first ¼ phase delay sheet arranged between the first polarized sheet and the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventors: Chiachiang Hsiao, Chihwen Chen
  • Patent number: 8994913
    Abstract: A display panel includes a substrate, an electro-optical layer and a supporting layer. The substrate includes a display area and a peripheral area surrounding the display area. A thin-film transistor (TFT) part is formed in the display area. The electro-optical layer is disposed in the display area of the substrate. The supporting layer is disposed on the electro-optical layer and faces both the display area and the peripheral area, openings being formed through the supporting layer in the peripheral area. Accordingly, the supporting layer may prevent the substrate from sagging and may protect the gate circuit part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung-Hwan Kim, Chan-Uk Jon
  • Patent number: 8994914
    Abstract: There is provided an integrated wide viewing film including: a first film having an optical axis located in-plan; and a second film having an optical axis located in a thickness direction thereof, and inclined at a predetermined angle in an in-plane direction. The IPS-LCD employing the integrated wide viewing film can be significantly improved in a contrast ratio in a diagonal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun-Won Chang, Belyaev Sergey, Malimonenko Nikolay
  • Patent number: 8994915
    Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device is provided. The optical device includes a liquid crystal cell controlling optical properties of light passing therethrough and has: a liquid crystal layer, a planar electrode located to one side of said liquid crystal layer; an electric field control structure located to the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer; and a wavefront adjustment structure configured to provide optical phase front adjustment. In some embodiments the wavefront adjustment structure is a conductive floating electrode. In other embodiments the wavefront adjustment structure is a weakly conductive structure having spatially variable sheet resistance. In other embodiments the wavefront adjustment structure a weakly conductive structure having spatially variable sheet resistance having a frequency dependent characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: LensVector Inc.
    Inventors: Armen Zohrabyan, Karen Asatryan, Tigran Galstian, Vladimir Presniakov, Amir Tork, Aram Bagramyan
  • Patent number: 8994916
    Abstract: A double-sided maskless exposure system and method consists of light sources which includes two light wavelength segments, maskless optical engines in which a 2D spatial light modulation (spatial light modulator) device, such as DMD, is generating a plurality of pixel array of the pattern, vision system, moving substrate and computer control system. The double-sided maskless exposure system at least includes two maskless optical engines with auto-calibration function which can correct any alignment error in-line. Each optical engine is for each side of the substrate. The optical engines are aligned each other in pairs and are simultaneously patterning on each side of the moving substrate. The system also includes a manipulator for moving, stepping or scanning the optical engines, relative to the substrate so that it can create a contiguous whole image on the both sides of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventors: Wenhui Mei, Weichong Du, Lujie Qu
  • Patent number: 8994917
    Abstract: An article support is constructed to support an article. The article support includes a back fill structure constructed to supply and extract a thermal buffering fluid to and from the article support. The back fill structure is connected to an extraction duct that is constructed and arranged to extract at least a gas phase of the thermal buffering fluid from the back fill structure. The back fill structure is connected to a supply duct, constructed and arranged to supply a liquid phase of the thermal buffering fluid to the back fill structure. The back fill structure is arranged to have the thermal buffering fluid brought in a combined liquid and gas phase to thermally connect with the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Joost Jeroen Ottens, Johannes Henricus Wilhelmus Jacobs
  • Patent number: 8994918
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring thermo-mechanically induced reticle distortion or other distortion in a lithography device enables detecting distortion at the nanometer level in situ. The techniques described use relatively simple optical detectors and data acquisition electronics that are capable of monitoring the distortion in real time, during operation of the lithography equipment. Time-varying anisotropic distortion of a reticle can be measured by directing slit patterns of light having different orientations to the reticle and detecting reflected, transmitted or diffracted light from the reticle. In one example, corresponding segments of successive time measurements of secondary light signals are compared as the reticle scans a substrate at a reticle stage speed of about 1 m/s to detect temporal offsets and other features that correspond to spatial distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Sogard
  • Patent number: 8994919
    Abstract: A control system for controlling a position or position related quantity of an object is provided. A measurement system is configured to measure a position or position related quantity of the object. A controller is configured to provide a control signal on the basis of the measured position or position related quantity. A actuator actuates the object on the basis of the control signal. A filter unit, which may be a partial order filter unit, filters the measured position or position related quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hans Butler, Marc Wilhelmus Maria Van Der Wijst, Cornelius Adrianus Lambertus De Hoon
  • Patent number: 8994920
    Abstract: Optical radiation patterns at two wavelengths, an “imaging” wavelength and a “masking” wavelength, are superimposed on a photochromic layer, wherein the masking wavelength induces optical absorbance in the layer, allowing the imaging wavelength to transmit only through narrow transmittance zones where the masking-wavelength radiation has an optical null. The patterns are preferably formed as a focal-point array. At each focal point a focused-radiation spot at the imaging wavelength is superimposed with an annular-radiation spot at the masking wavelength. The spots may be generated by an array of microlenses with focal points proximate the layer. (Several novel types of dual-wavelength microlenses are disclosed.) Alternatively, the focused-radiation spots may be generated in separate optical paths for the two wavelengths, and optically combined at the photochromic layer by means of beam-combining and projection optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8994921
    Abstract: A scatterometer for measuring a property of a substrate includes a focus sensing arrangement including an arrangement (65) that directs a first beam of radiation onto a focusing arrangement, to be detected by a focus sensor arrangement (61). A focus controller (67) provides control signals representative of the relative positions of the focusing arrangement (15, 69) and the substrate (W), which are required to focus the first beam of radiation on the substrate. An actuator arrangement adjusts the position of the focusing arrangement dependent on the control signals. An irradiation arrangement directs a second beam of radiation onto the substrate using the focusing arrangement, a measurement detector (18) detecting the second radiation beam after reflection from the substrate. A focus offset arrangement adjusts the focus produced by the focusing arrangement to compensate for an offset between the focusing of the first beam of radiation and the second beam of radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Johan Maria Van Boxmeer, Nicolass Antonius Allegondus Johannes Van Asten, Arnold Sinke, Marnix Aldert Tas, Johannes Cornelis Maria Timmermans, Jascha Van Pommeren
  • Patent number: 8994922
    Abstract: Provided is a barrel support device for supporting a lens barrel. The barrel support device may include a guide frame configured to laterally support the lens barrel and tilt with the lens barrel, a rotation guide on a first end of the guide frame, the rotation guide being ring shaped and configured attach the lens barrel to the guide frame, and a ring-shaped tilting frame configured to support a second end of the guide frame and tilt the guide frame, wherein the guide frame, the rotation guide, and the tilting frame are configured to allow the lens barrel to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hyun Park, Sang Joon Hong, Sang Don Jang, Oui Serg Kim, Dong Seok Baek
  • Patent number: 8994923
    Abstract: In measurement of a positional information in the XY plane of a fine movement stage held by a coarse movement stage, an encoder system is used including a head which is placed facing a grating placed on a surface substantially parallel to the XY plane of the fine movement stage and irradiates a measurement beam on the grating. Then, the fine movement stage is driven individually or integrally with the coarse movement stage by a drive system, based on the positional information measured by the encoder system. In this case, the head of the encoder system can be placed in proximity to the fine movement stage (the grating), which allows a highly precise measurement of the positional information of the fine movement stage by the encoder system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 8994924
    Abstract: A drive system drives a movable body, based on measurement results of a first measurement system which measures the position of the movable body in an XY plane by irradiating a measurement beam from an arm member on a grating placed on a surface parallel to the XY plane of the movable body. In this case, because a configuration in which the arm member irradiates a measurement beam on the grating is employed, there is no adverse effect due to the drive of the moving body, unlike the case when an encoder system is arranged on a stage surface plate. Accordingly, it becomes possible to drive the movable body with good precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Shibazaki
  • Patent number: 8994925
    Abstract: Optical range finders are configured to transmit optical bursts toward a target and detect a corresponding received burst. DC offset in the received burst due to square law detection can be offset based on a difference between high pass and low pass filtered portions of the received burst. Edge records associated with bursts can be obtained, and correlated with a reference signal or waveform to obtain a range estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: PulsedLight, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Alden Lewis
  • Patent number: 8994926
    Abstract: An optical sensor includes a driver, light detector and echo canceller. The driver is adapted to selectively drive a light source. The light detector is adapted to produce a detection signal indicative of an intensity of light detected by the light detector. The echo canceller is adapted to produce an echo cancellation signal that is combined with the detection signal produced by the light detector to produce an echo cancelled detection signal having a predetermined target magnitude (e.g., zero). The echo canceller includes a coefficient generator that is adapted to produce echo cancellation coefficients indicative of distance(s) to one or more objects, if any, within the sense region of the optical sensor. The optical sensor can also include a proximity detector adapted to detect distance(s) to one or more objects within the sense region of the optical sensor based on the echo cancellation coefficients generated by the coefficient generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Dyer
  • Patent number: 8994927
    Abstract: A measuring device for the measurement of a distance to a target object has a beam source which is designed as an electrical-optical component and which emits a transmission beam. A detector, which is designed as a further electrical-optical component, receives a reception beam that is reflected and/or scattered by the target object. A beam splitting lens is configured to deflect the transmission and/or reception beam. Alternatively or additionally, the measuring device includes a beam shaping lens is configured for shaping the transmission and/or reception beam. A lens support is configured to accommodate the electrical-optical components. The lens support also accommodates the beam splitting lens and/or the beam shaping lens. The lens support has a first wafer for accommodating the electrical-optical components and a second wafer for accommodating the beam splitting lens, and/or the beam shaping lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Lieu-Kim Dang
  • Patent number: 8994928
    Abstract: A laser radar device mounted on a vehicle includes a first laser emission part configured to generate a measuring laser beam by using a laser beam emitted from a laser source and to illuminate a predetermined area in a front traveling direction and a second laser emission part configured to generate a measuring laser beam by using the laser beam emitted from the laser source. A beam spread angle, viewed from a side of the vehicle, of the measuring laser beam generated by the second laser emission part is larger than a beam spread angle, viewed from a side of the vehicle, of the measuring laser beam generated by the first laser emission part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuya Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8994929
    Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for measuring seismic parameters, such as ground force, of a seismic vibrator used for generating seismic signals through a geological formation are provided. The seismic vibrator has a base plate positionable adjacent a ground surface of the geological formation. A sensor pad may be provided with an optical cable positionable between the base plate of the seismic vibrator and the ground surface of the geological formation, a laser for passing a light through the optical cable, and a detector for detecting disturbances in the laser light whereby a ground force applied to the ground surface may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert Martindale Lupton, William Eric Westwood
  • Patent number: 8994930
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a blood sample is provided that includes the steps of: providing a blood sample having one or more of each first and second constituents; admixing a colorant with the sample, which colorant is operative to cause the first constituents and second constituents to fluoresce and absorb light; illuminating at least a portion of the sample; e) imaging a portion of the sample; determining a fluorescence value for each the first constituents and second constituents; determining an optical density value for each of the first constituents and second constituents; and identifying the first constituents and the second constituents using the determined fluorescence and optical density values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Abbott Point of Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Levine, Stephen C. Wardlaw, Niten V. Lalpuria, Darryn W. Unfricht
  • Patent number: 8994931
    Abstract: A paper sheets identification apparatus to identify the monetary kinds of paper sheets and to determine whether or not they are genuine provides for a simplified and general purpose detection to be performed irrespectively of the difference in the portions of each of such sheets in which their optical characteristics are arranged. The paper sheets identification apparatus includes a light emitting element; a light receiving element disposed opposite to the light emitting element with the transport path of such sheets interposed therebetween; a plurality of reflective mirrors to conduct light emitted from the light emitting element to the light receiving element; and a guide to move at least one of the reflective mirrors to the direction crosswise to the transport direction of such sheets within a surface in parallel with the carriage surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi-Omron Terminal Solutions, Corp.
    Inventors: Akira Mori, Yuka Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 8994932
    Abstract: A method for providing images using a multimodal nonlinear optical microscope is disclosed. The method includes providing a foundation femtosecond laser beam, generating a first femtosecond laser beam and a second femtosecond laser beam corresponding to the foundation femtosecond laser beam, combining the first femtosecond laser beam and the foundation femtosecond laser beam to generate a first combination femtosecond laser beam, and generating a coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) signal based on the first combination femtosecond laser beam. A multimodal nonlinear optical microscopy platform is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ji-Xin Cheng, Hongtao Chen, Mikhail Slipchenko, Haifeng Wang
  • Patent number: 8994933
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for characterizing a replica tape which has been embossed, compressed or cast on a surface of a material to be measured to replicate that surface. The replica tape is secured between first and second holding components such that a compressible surface of the replica tape is secured against the first holding component. A light source transmits light through the second holding component, the replica tape and the first holding component. An image sensor measures intensity of the light respectively transmitted through at least two measurement points of the compressible surface of the replica tape. A processing unit converts the measured light intensity transmitted through the at least two measurement points into at least two data values each respectively relating to a measurement statistic of the replica tape at a corresponding one of the at least two measurement points, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: DeFelsko Corporation
    Inventors: Leon Vandervalk, Robert V. Stachnik, James Edward Davis
  • Patent number: 8994934
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method for detecting and identifying unknown targets. At least one region of interest comprising an unknown target in a sample scene may be targeted using SWIR spectroscopic techniques. A region of interest may be surveyed to thereby determine whether or not a human is present. This surveying may be achieved my assessing LWIR data, data acquired from motion sensors, and combinations thereof. If no human is present in a region of interest, the region may be interrogated using Raman spectroscopic techniques to thereby obtain a Raman data set representative of the region of interest. This Raman data set may be assessed to thereby identify said unknown target. This assessment may be achieved by comparing the Raman data set to a reference data sets in a reference database, where each reference data set is associated with a known target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ChemImage Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Nelson, Patrick Treado, Robert Schweitzer, Robert D'Agostino
  • Patent number: 8994935
    Abstract: A laser alignment apparatus includes a central compartment, a plurality of laser modules, a power supply cord, and a ceiling attachment system. Each of the plurality of laser modules is connected around the central compartment through a rod end bearing of the plurality of laser modules, where a bearing ring of the rod end bearing allows users to pivot, rotate, and tilt a laser device of each of the plurality of laser modules. The power supply cord provides the necessary power to the laser device of each of the plurality of laser modules from an external power source. The ceiling attachment system secures the central compartment with the connected plurality of laser modules to an existing ceiling. The laser device of each of the plurality of laser modules can be activated for alignment purpose within a screen printing machine or any other machines that required precise alignments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Greg Cunningham Kinney
  • Patent number: 8994936
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a pattern matching method, which is used in measurement process for line width measuring machine, comprising: reading a standard pattern used for matching on the at least one predetermined position of a measured sample; respectively comparing each standard pattern of the measured sample with prestored multiple designed original images corresponding to the standard pattern; determining that the pattern matching is successful if the standard pattern on the measured sample successfully compares with at least one designed original image, and proceeding with the subsequent line width measurement process; otherwise, determining that the pattern matching is failed. The present invention also discloses a corresponding pattern matching method and a line width measuring machine. According to the embodiment of the present invention, it can improve the accuracy and the success rate of the pattern matching when measuring the line width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Yung-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 8994937
    Abstract: A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy calibration curve generating system includes a SERS sensor, which includes a substrate and a plurality of sensing members formed on the substrate. Each of the sensing members includes a plurality of SERS signal amplifying structures. An inkjet dispensing device is to dispense different concentrations of a solution including a known analyte of interest onto the respective sensing members to form a concentration dependent array. A Raman spectrometer is to interrogate the concentration dependent array. A processor is operatively connected to each of the inkjet dispensing device and the Raman spectrometer. Computer-readable instructions are embedded on a non-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium and are executable by the processor. The computer-readable instructions are to automatically generate an intensity profile as a function of concentration for the concentration dependent array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Devin Alexander Mourey, James William Stasiak, Zhiyong Li
  • Patent number: 8994938
    Abstract: A Raman spectrometer including a laser excitation source, edge filters, and detection optics that direct light into a spectrograph. A spectrograph containing a dispersive element and optics that directs various wavelengths of light onto a segmented diffractive MEMS light modulator array. The MEMS array, depending on actuation state, directs light either to or away from a single detector. Control electronics drive the MEMS light modulator for either sequential wavelength measurement or multiplexed wavelength measurement (Hadamard for example).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Day, Malcolm C. Smith, Peidong Wang
  • Patent number: 8994939
    Abstract: Optical radiation from a sample is received by the slit and it is passed through an aperture in a reflective plane of a folding mirror towards a curved reflective surface of a collimating mirror. The slit and the curved reflective surface have a common optical axis. The reflective plane and the curved reflective surface face each other. The optical radiation passed through the folding mirror is collimated by the curved reflective surface. The collimated optical radiation is directed to the reflective plane of the folding mirror by the curved reflective surface. The collimated optical radiation is reflected in a direction other than the common optical axis of the slit and the curved reflective surface by the reflective plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Specim, Spectral Imaging Oy Ltd
    Inventor: Esko Herrala
  • Patent number: 8994940
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fine particle measurement apparatus including a light condensing unit that condenses irradiated light irradiated to a sample flow where fine particles pass through and directly propagates the light without scattering, and scattered light scattered by the fine particles to an optical receiver divided into a plurality of regions; a position controller that controls the relative positions of members of an optical path; and a control unit that detects positions of condensing spots of the irradiated light and the scattered light based on signal intensities of each region of the optical receiver, and controls the position controller such that the positions of the condensing spots of the irradiated light and the scattered light match with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Suguru Dowaki, Shingo Imanishi, Gakuji Hashimoto, Shunpei Suzuki