Photocells; Circuits And Apparatus Patents (Class 250/200)
  • Patent number: 12131689
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a display device, including: a plurality of sub-pixel areas, each including a pixel circuit, each pixel circuit including: a diode, configured to be in a forward-biasing state during a displaying phase of the pixel circuit for emitting light and configured to be in a reverse-biasing state in a sensing phase of the pixel circuit so as to generate a sensing voltage; a first circuit by applying gate control signals to each pixel circuit, so that each pixel circuit switches between the display phase and the sensing phase, respectively; and a second circuit including a plurality of readout circuits, each readout circuit includes an operational amplifier for reading out the sensing voltage in the sensing phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Guangzhou Tyrafos Semiconductor Tech. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping-Hung Yin, Jia-Shyang Wang, Jia-Sian Lyu
  • Patent number: 11782174
    Abstract: A radiation detector (100) includes an insulating substrate (110), which includes a material that undergoes a change in an electrical property when subjected to ionizing radiation. A conductive film (112) is disposed in relation to a surface of the substrate. The conductive film (112) has a resistance that is a function of a state of the electrical property. A resistance measuring device measures resistance across the conductive film (112). The resistance measured by the resistance measuring device indicates an amount of ionizing radiation to which the substrate (110) has been subjected. In a method of determining exposure to a type of radiation, a boron nitride substrate is exposed to a radiation environment. A resistance is measured across a conductive film disposed in relation to the boron nitride substrate. Radiation exposure is calculated as a function of the resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip Neal First, Zhigang Jiang, Thomas Michael Orlando, Elliot Christian Frey
  • Patent number: 11577341
    Abstract: A method for quality inspection of laser material processing includes performing laser material processing on a workpiece and generating, by a sensor, raw image data of secondary emissions during the laser material processing of the workpiece. The method also includes determining a quality of the laser material processing by analyzing the raw image data of the secondary emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Matthew Carl Johnson, Jessica Adele Boze
  • Patent number: 11442008
    Abstract: The systems and methods include generating polarization-switched (PS) detector and reference signals using a polarization switch controlled by a digital control signal generated by digital input/output card. A gain adjustment is performed on the PS detector and reference signals to define gain-adjusted detector and reference signals. The digital control signal is used to synchronize the gain-adjusted PS detector and reference signals to define gain-adjusted synchronized PS detector and reference signals each having respective steady-state portions. The steady state portions are used to define a measurement signal. The measurement signal is then used to calculate a stress-based characteristic of the sample being measured. The sample can be moved continuously or discretely through different measurement positions, which are synchronized with the operation of the polarization switch using the digital control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Norman Henry Fontaine, Vitor Marino Schneider, Jayantha Senawiratne
  • Patent number: 11422304
    Abstract: An optical interposer for providing optimal optical coupling between an optical transceiver interface and an external optical interface includes an interposer photonic integrated circuit (PIC) operably configured to couple an optical signal between the optical transceiver interface and the external optical interface, one or more waveguide based optical devices operably integrated on a common substrate and one or more of interposer input/output (I/O) channels operably configured with the optical transceiver interface and the external optical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Cloud Light Technology Limited
    Inventors: Chi Yan Wong, Yuk Nga Chen, Vivian Wei Ma
  • Patent number: 11383098
    Abstract: Products, compositions, systems, and methods for modifying a target structure which mediates or is associated with a biological activity, including treatment of conditions, disorders, or diseases mediated by or associated with a target structure, such as a virus, cell, subcellular structure or extracellular structure. The methods may be performed in situ in a non-invasive manner by placing a nanoparticle having a metallic shell on at least a fraction of a surface in a vicinity of a target structure in a subject and applying an initiation energy to a subject thus producing an effect on or change to the target structure directly or via a modulation agent. The nanoparticle is configured, upon exposure to a first wavelength ?1, to generate a second wavelength ?2 of radiation having a higher energy than the first wavelength ?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignees: Immunolight, LLC, Duke University
    Inventors: Tuan Vo-Dinh, Jonathan P. Scaffidi, Venkata Gopal Reddy Chada, Benoit Lauly, Yan Zhang, Molly K. Gregas, Ian Nicholas Stanton, Joshua T. Stecher, Michael J. Therien, Frederic A. Bourke, Jr., Harold Walder, Zak Fathi, Jennifer A. Ayres, Zhenyuan Zhang, Joseph H. Simmons, Stephen John Norton
  • Patent number: 11366321
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method of controlling a dimming level of dimmable optical element based on a predicted ambient light level is performed at a device including one or more processors, non-transitory memory, and a dimmable optical element. The method includes predicting a change, in a first direction, in an ambient light level at a future time. The method includes changing, at a first time in advance of the future time and in the first direction, a transmission coefficient of the dimmable optical element based on the predicted change in the ambient light level. The method includes changing, at a second time after the first time and in a second direction opposite the first direction, the transmission coefficient of the dimmable optical element based on the ambient light level at the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Anselm Grundhoefer
  • Patent number: 11354571
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) implements an L by M by N three-dimensional aperture function throughout a P by R by C three-dimensional source array. The IC has an input port receiving an ordered stream of independent input values from the source array, an output port producing an ordered stream of independent output values, an array of n compositor circuits, where n=L×M×N, each compositor circuit implementing a sub-function of the aperture function, dedicated pathways between the compositor circuits, delay circuits on the IC receiving values on the dedicated pathways from individual ones of the compositor circuits and providing the delayed values at later times to other compositor circuits downstream, a finalization circuit, and a control circuit operating counters and producing control signals coupled to the compositors, the delay circuits, and the finalization circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Gigantor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Ashley Mathews
  • Patent number: 11322991
    Abstract: A safety supervision system for wireless power transmission, comprising a transmitter having an optical beam generator with safe states for transmitting power to receivers that convert the beam into electrical power. The system control unit stores previously known signatures categorized by predetermined parameters associated with one or more unwanted situations, stores data from sensors, compares this stored data to the signatures, and executes one or more responses based on this comparison. The system may comprise transmitter and/or receiver malfunction detection systems adapted to monitor the transmitter and receiver control units and to cause the optical beam generator to switch to a safe state upon detection of a transmitter or receiver control unit malfunction, and may further comprise a hazard detection system preventing human exposure to beam intensity above a predefined safe level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Wi-Charge Ltd.
    Inventors: Ortal Alpert, Ran Sagi, Ori Refael Mor, Lior Golan, Yoav Biderman, Omer Nahmias, Alexander Slepoy, Zohar Levin, Eyal Conforti, Yan Rosh
  • Patent number: 11272093
    Abstract: An image capture control apparatus comprises a touch detector being capable of detecting a touch operation, a tracking unit that tracks a tracking target in a live view image captured by an image capturing unit, and a display control unit that, in response to the touch detector detecting a movement operation of moving a touch position, carries out control to display an indicator at a position, in a display, that is based on a movement amount of the movement operation, and a control unit configured to, in response to a predetermined amount of time elapsing after the touch for making the movement operation has been released, carry out control such that a tracking target determined on the basis of the position of the indicator is tracked by the tracking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11233941
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising: at least one memory and at least one processor which function as: a receiving unit configured to receive a line of sight input given by a line of sight of a user; and a control unit configured to perform control such that, in a first state in which designation of a position of a position index based on the line of sight input is unavailable, the position index is displayed at a predetermined position on a display in response to a first operation having been performed, and in a second state in which the designation of the position of the position index based on the line of sight input is available, the position index is displayed at a position based on the line of sight input on the display in response to the first operation having been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11088349
    Abstract: A display module includes a base substrate including an upper surface where a display area and a non-display area are defined, a lower surface, and a plurality of side surfaces, a circuit element layer including a planarization layer, a pixel defining layer defining an opening portion that overlaps the display area and exposes a portion of the planarization layer, a display element layer including a first electrode disposed on the planarization layer exposed by the opening part, a light emitting layer, and a second electrode, and a sealing layer disposed on the display element layer. A dam hole is defined, which is adjacent to an edge where two side surfaces of the side surfaces are connected in a plan view of the base substrate, overlaps the non-display area, and penetrates at least one of the planarization layer and the pixel defining layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Donghyun Yang, Inkyung Yoo, Sungbae Ju
  • Patent number: 11065947
    Abstract: An apparatus for tracking the location of a sunroof blind includes: a motor connected to the sunroof blind by a cable; and a controller for determining whether or not a wake-up is performed according to an electromotive force of the motor, and for correcting location information of the sunroof blind according to a determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Cheol-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 11064142
    Abstract: An example imaging system includes a digital conversion circuit and a plurality of pixel circuits each having a photodiode, a biasing circuit, a charge-to-voltage converter, and a switch. The photodiode is configured to generate charges in response to light or radiation. The biasing circuit includes an operational amplifier having an input signal port for receiving a bias reference signal which controls a bias current flowing through an internal circuit of the operational amplifier. The charge-to-voltage converter is configured to accumulate the charges drained by the biasing circuit and convert the accumulated charges into a corresponding output voltage. The switch configured to selectively couple the charge-to-voltage converter to at least one data line. The digital conversion circuit is configured to generate a digital correlated signal sample for each pixel circuit using a difference between a digital signal sample and a digital reset level sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Arundhuti Ganguly, Gerhard P. Roos, Ivan Mollov
  • Patent number: 10951311
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a visible light communication transmitter, a visible light communication receiver, a visible light communication system, and a method of visible light communication, which are suitable for colour shift keying (CSK), as well as providing a method of CSK. The transmitter comprises at least six graphene-based light emitting devices of different peak transmission wavelengths from each other. The receiver comprises a corresponding number of graphene-based photodetectors of different peak reception wavelengths from each other. A system according to the disclosure comprises such a transmitter and such a receiver, wherein each respective one of the different peak reception wavelengths of the six graphene-based photodetectors corresponds to a respective one of the different peak transmission wavelengths of the graphene-based light emitting devices. Such a system allows a method of visible light communication with a colour constellation of at least six base colours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignees: VESTEL ELEKTRONIK SANAYI VE TICARET A.S., OZYEGIN UNIVERSITESI
    Inventors: Burhan Gulbahar, Gorkem Memisoglu
  • Patent number: 10880035
    Abstract: A system is disclosed to identify authorized EO devices and unauthorized EO devices within a scene. The system responds with a variety of response actions including sending warning messages of the unauthorized EO devices, recording images and position of the unauthorized EO device. The system can further be configured to hamper the operation of the unauthorized EO devices detected within the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Timothy Bradley
  • Patent number: 10873707
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of ensuring the accuracy of a proper main light emission amount. A flash device can change an emission color temperature by changing a ratio of light emission between light sources different in emission color temperature. A photometry unit measures a luminance of light reflected from an object by preliminary light emission of the flash device. It is selected whether to perform second preliminary light emission at a color temperature changed according to at least one of spectral characteristics information of the light source, shooting condition information, and photometric value information obtained by first preliminary light emission, and determine a main light emission amount based on a photometric result obtained by second preliminary light emission, or to determine the main light emission amount based on a photometric result obtained by first preliminary light emission without performing second preliminary light emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshifumi Osawa
  • Patent number: 10797194
    Abstract: A three-terminal avalanche photodiode provides a first controllable voltage drop across a light absorbing region and a second, independently controllable, voltage drop across a photocurrent amplifying region. The compositions of the absorbing region and the amplifying region may be optimized independently of each other. In the amplifying region, p-doped and n-doped structures are offset from each other both horizontally and vertically. Directly applying a voltage across a controlled region of the photocurrent path increases avalanche gain by shaping the electric field to overlap the photocurrent density. The resulting high-gain, low-bias avalanche photodiodes may be fabricated in integrated optical circuits using commercial CMOS processes, operated by power supplies common to mature computer architecture, and used for optical interconnects, light sensing, and other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Xiaoge Zeng, Zhihong Huang, Di Liang
  • Patent number: 10746925
    Abstract: Grating couplers and methods of fabricating a grating coupler. The grating coupler may include a plurality of grating structures arranged on a substrate and a layer arranged over the grating structures. The grating structures are composed of a first material characterized by a first refractive index with a real part. The layer is composed of a second material characterized by a second refractive index with a real part. The real part of the second refractive index is greater than the real part of the first refractive index of the first material for electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in a range of 1 micron to 9 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Ajey P. Jacob, Yusheng Bian
  • Patent number: 10564042
    Abstract: A method of interferometric optical sensing via spatial demodulation includes emitting a laser beam; splitting the laser beam into a reference beam and an interrogation beam; converting a desired signal into a change in the optical path of the interrogation beam via an optical sensor; and capturing the reference beam and the interrogation beam via a camera, wherein the interrogation beam is incident to the camera at a first angle and the reference beam is incident to the camera at a second angle different from the first angle, thereby causing an interference pattern at the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Brandon F. Redding, Allen R. Davis, Clay K. Kirkendall, Anthony Dandridge
  • Patent number: 10481338
    Abstract: An optical fiber sensor measuring apparatus includes a base portion, and a measuring optical fiber laid in the base portion. Adjacent linear portions of the measuring optical fiber are in contact with each other. The base portion may be plate-like. The measuring optical fiber may have the linear portion and a folded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin-ichirou Tezuka
  • Patent number: 10483423
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a layer of channel material, source and drain electrodes configured to enable a flow of electrical current through the channel material, and a layer of quantum dot material configured to generate electron-hole pairs on exposure to electromagnetic radiation to produce a detectable change in the electrical current indicative of one or more of the presence and magnitude of the electromagnetic radiation. The layer of quantum dot material is positioned between the channel material and a layer of conductive material. The layers of channel and conductive material have work functions such that respective built-in electric fields are created at the interfaces between the layer of quantum dot material and the channel and conductive material. The electric field at each interface acts in the same direction to promote separation of the electrons and holes of the electron-hole pairs to facilitate production of the detectable change in electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: EMBERION OY
    Inventors: Richard White, Alexander Bessonov, Piers Andrew, Mark Allen, Elisabetta Spigone, Michael Robert Astley
  • Patent number: 10459190
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit; an image clipping unit configured to clip a predetermined area from each of images; an analyzing unit configured to analyze the sequentially clipped predetermined areas and generate an analysis result indicating an identified subject; an autofocus (AF) target determination unit configured to determine an AF target in the images based on the analysis result; an AF mode determination unit configured to select and determine an optimal AF mode based on the analysis result and a determination result; a touch panel; an input detection unit; and an imaging control unit configured to repeat control of moving a position of the predetermined area, causing the analyzing unit to analyze the predetermined area of a latest image, causing the AF target determination unit to determine the AF target, and causing the AF mode determination unit to select and determine the optimal AF mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Suzuki, Keiji Kunishige, Akira Yukitake, Takeshi Kawawa, Yoichiro Okumura
  • Patent number: 10401744
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for calibrating an encoder which includes a scale and a light receiving unit configured to receive light reflected by the scale, and detects a change in relative position between the scale and the light receiving unit, the method comprising a measurement step of measuring a deformation amount of a surface shape of the scale, a specifying step of specifying, based on a measurement result in the measurement step, a range which includes a portion of a surface of the scale, where the deformation amount exceeds a threshold, and within which a detection value of the encoder is corrected, and a determination step of determining a correction value for correcting the detection value of the encoder within the range specified in the specifying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Sentoku, Yoshinori Ohsaki, Osamu Morimoto, Takahiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10350936
    Abstract: A document storage system for removably storing individual documents. A shelved cabinet has a track receptacle mounted to the lower shelf surface adjacent the cabinet front. The track receptacle has a plurality of tracks extending from the cabinet front to the cabinet rear. Each track has an open slot extending from the front to the rear of the cabinet. The track also has a rearwardly extending lip providing a rearwardly directed open notch. The cabinet further includes a back with an inner surface and a pair of ohmic conductors mounted on the inner surface and extending laterally thereof. An electronically searchable flexible file folder has a thin main body portion and a header secured to the top of the main body portion. The header is dimensioned to be removably received in any track of the track receptacle with the main body portion slidably received in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: MICRODATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shengbo Zhu, Su Shiong Huang
  • Patent number: 10344037
    Abstract: Described herein, are FL118 core structure platform compounds, matter of compositions, formulation, methods and uses for treating cancer or other human diseases. Chemical modifications of the FL118 structure are employed alone or in combination with other anti-cancer agents to preclude or reverse refractory cancer phenotypes and for unique personalized cancer treatment (personalized medicine or as Obama called precision medicine) through application of a series of structural relevant individual FL118 platform-derived analogs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Canget BioTek Pharma LLC
    Inventors: Fengzhi Li, Xiang Ling
  • Patent number: 10304392
    Abstract: A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a display panel including a display region and a non-display region and a housing accommodating the display panel therein. The device also includes a light sensing unit interposed between the display panel and the housing, the light sensing unit facing the display panel in the non-display region. The light sensing unit is configured to detect light that is totally reflected from the display panel and is emitted from a side of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheol Hwan Eom
  • Patent number: 10302574
    Abstract: A method for analyzing the crystal structure of a polycrystalline semiconductor material is described. According to one embodiment, the method includes exciting the material to make the material emit a luminescent signal, detecting, at each point of a mesh in a preset spatial region of the material, the luminescent signal at a variable polarization angle, in a frequency band of width greater than or equal to the width of the bandgap of the material, estimating, at each point of the mesh in the preset spatial region of the material, from the signal detected for said point of the mesh, a data characteristic of the modulation of the luminescent signal, modelled by a sum of sine waves, as a function of the polarization angle, and representing the characteristic data over all of the points of the mesh in the preset spatial region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE—CNRS, ELECTRICITÉ DE FRANCE—EDF
    Inventors: Laurent Lombez, Jean-François Guillemoles, Amaury Delamarre
  • Patent number: 10250274
    Abstract: A sample and hold system, for capturing and reading at least one input signal. The system comprises a readout device, a controller, an array of segments comprising a plurality of unit cells and a dummy unit cell, and segment switches between the segments and the readout device. The controller is adapted for controlling the system such that: during an acquisition phase a trace of samples is taken from the input signal and held in the unit cells; during a readout phase the samples in the unit cells or in the dummy unit cells of a segment are read out by readout device; after opening or closing the segment switches the dummy unit cell, is the first cell which is read out by the readout device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Saad Ahmad, Volodymyr Seliuchenko, Sharath Patil, Darrell Livezey, Marcelo Mizuki
  • Patent number: 10236404
    Abstract: Discussed is a back sheet for a solar cell module. The back sheet includes a base member and a first layer formed on one surface of the base member, the first layer including a resin. A reflector is formed in at least a portion of the back sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Seeun Hong, Byongsu Kim, Hwanyeon Kim, Youngsik Lee
  • Patent number: 10180507
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for fast gain regulation in a gamma-ray spectroscopy instrument. The system includes a detector configured to generate a signal indicative of energy arriving at the detector, and a processor configured to determine one or more system performance indicators. The system also includes a controller configured to compute a first gain correction term based on one of more system performance indicators and change the device gain based on the computed first gain correction term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert A. Adolph
  • Patent number: 10128286
    Abstract: A pixel sensor having a main photodetector and a parasitic photodiode and a method for reading out that pixel sensor are disclosed. The pixel sensor is read by reading a first potential on a floating diffusion node in the pixel sensor while the floating diffusion node is isolated from the main photodiode. The pixel sensor is then exposed to light such that the floating diffusion node and the photodetector are both exposed to the light. A second potential on the floating diffusion node is then readout while the floating diffusion node is isolated from the main photodiode. After the first and second potentials are readout, a third potential on the floating diffusion node is readout. The main photodiode is then connected to the floating diffusion node, and a fourth potential on the floating diffusion node is readout. First and second light intensities are determined from the readout potentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: BAE Systems Imaging Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Boyd Fowler
  • Patent number: 10126131
    Abstract: Location functionality to determine the geospatial location of a PV module is described. This functionality may be performed at the PV module site itself as well as remote from the PV module site. The location functionality may involve the analysis of data collected from the location of the PV module or modules being analyzed as well as data from locations of other PV modules, which are not being analyzed. This data, from other PV modules may be gathered, recorded, and used as a benchmark, or for some other purpose in embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick L. Chapman, Julianne Frances Haugh, Kelly Mekechuk, Eric Roesinger
  • Patent number: 10123397
    Abstract: Provided is a light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture including a light engine, a plurality of LEDs, an LED driver, and a near field communication (NFC) electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) circuit. The NFC EEPROM circuit provides an avenue for storing information pertaining to the LED light fixture that is easily accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wan Fong, Eric Lavigne, Yaseen Ahmed Waheed
  • Patent number: 10082529
    Abstract: In an approach for estimating solar array power generation for an installation of a solar array, a processor determines a location of an installation of a solar array. A processor determines, over a course of a specified time interval, a path of traversal of a source of energy relative to the location of the installation of the solar array. A processor scans an area surrounding the solar array. A processor estimates, based, at least in part, on the path of traversal of the source of energy and the area surrounding the solar array, an amount of power to be generated by the solar array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ben Z. Akselrod, Anthony Di Loreto, Steve McDuff, Kyle D. Robeson
  • Patent number: 10020689
    Abstract: Provided are a power transmitting device, a power receiving device, a power supply system, and a power supply method able to supply electric power by emitting electromagnetic waves. A power transmitting device comprises: a calculating unit for calculating the maximum value for the emitted output of electromagnetic waves meeting exposure standards on the basis of a response delay time measured by the communication link between the power transmitting device and a power receiving device; a power transmitting unit for transmitting power via a power supply link with the power receiving device at an output not exceeding the maximum value; an anomaly detecting unit for detecting an anomaly in the power supply link on the basis of communication with the power receiving device via the communication link; and an output control unit for controlling the output on the basis of the detection of an anomaly in the power supply link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daiju Nakano, Nobuyuki Ohba, Kohji Takano
  • Patent number: 10014727
    Abstract: Provided are a power transmitting device, a power receiving device, a power supply system, and a power supply method able to supply electric power by emitting electromagnetic waves. A power transmitting device comprises: a calculating unit for calculating the maximum value for the emitted output of electromagnetic waves meeting exposure standards on the basis of a response delay time measured by the communication link between the power transmitting device and a power receiving device; a power transmitting unit for transmitting power via a power supply link with the power receiving device at an output not exceeding the maximum value; an anomaly detecting unit for detecting an anomaly in the power supply link on the basis of communication with the power receiving device via the communication link; and an output control unit for controlling the output on the basis of the detection of an anomaly in the power supply link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daiju Nakano, Nobuyuki Ohba, Kohji Takano
  • Patent number: 10008885
    Abstract: Provided are a power transmitting device, a power receiving device, a power supply system, and a power supply method able to supply electric power by emitting electromagnetic waves. A power transmitting device comprises: a calculating unit for calculating the maximum value for the emitted output of electromagnetic waves meeting exposure standards on the basis of a response delay time measured by the communication link between the power transmitting device and a power receiving device; a power transmitting unit for transmitting power via a power supply link with the power receiving device at an output not exceeding the maximum value; an anomaly detecting unit for detecting an anomaly in the power supply link on the basis of communication with the power receiving device via the communication link; and an output control unit for controlling the output on the basis of the detection of an anomaly in the power supply link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daiju Nakano, Nobuyuki Ohba, Kohji Takano
  • Patent number: 9964670
    Abstract: An inorganic optical element, including: a birefringent film 12 having a columnar structure; and a protective film 13 formed on the birefringent film 12, wherein a component of the protective film 13 enters a gap of the birefringent film 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: DEXERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Oowada
  • Patent number: 9908474
    Abstract: An electro-optic rearview mirror system is provided. The electro-optic rearview mirror system includes an inside electro-optic rearview mirror element and an outside electro-optic rearview mirror element in series with the inside electro-optic rearview mirror element. A drive circuit is in electrical communication with the inside electro-optic rearview mirror element and the outside electro-optic rearview mirror element and includes a first power operational amplifier and a second power operational amplifier, both of which are configured as voltage followers. The drive circuit is configured to apply overvoltage to the inside electro-optic rearview mirror element if the outside electro-optic rearview mirror element is shorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert R. Turnbull, G. Bruce Poe
  • Patent number: 9804548
    Abstract: A medium carrying device includes a carrying part that carries a continuous print medium, a detection part that includes a light emitting part and a light receiving part arranged sandwiching a carrying path, and that detects the print medium carried on the carrying path according to a light amount that is received by the light receiving part, and a control part that controls operations of the carrying part and the detection part, wherein the control part sets a first emitted light amount of the emitted light of the light emitting part used in image formation to the print medium by performing a light amount measurement using the light emitting part and the light receiving part in a state where the print medium is carried to a first position, and sets a threshold light amount that is used in detecting a boundary position between the first region and the second region by the detection part through performing another light amount measurement by obtaining a receiving light amount of the light receiving part with t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Kato, Kyosuke Nakazato
  • Patent number: 9739645
    Abstract: A method of distributed fiber optic sensing is described in which an optical fiber (104) is interrogated with electromagnetic radiation; back-scattered radiation is detected; and the returns are processed to provide a measurement signal (310) for each of a plurality of longitudinal sensing portions of the optical fiber. The method comprises analyzing the measurement signals of a first subset of longitudinal sensing portions to provide a first zone (306a) having a first sensing function and analyzing the measurement signals of at least a second subset of longitudinal sensing portions to provide at least a second zone (306b) having a second, different, sensing function. The different sensing functions may include detecting different events of interest. In some embodiments the geometry of the fiber may provide different sensing zones (406a, 406b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: OPTASENSE HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: David John Hill, Magnus McEwen-King
  • Patent number: 9689540
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for retrofitting known solar simulator systems to allow the exit beam to be changed in size and location without changing the other fundamental functions of the main optical elements. The solar simulator system is provided with means for de-magnifying the exit beam to provide higher power densities at the illumination plane. By adding or replacing one final optical element, the system user can change the location of the illumination plane and the size of the illumination area. This change in size can increase or decrease the power density of the exit beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Douglas R. Jungwirth, Philip T. Chiu
  • Patent number: 9640706
    Abstract: A multi-junction photovoltaic cell includes a substrate and a back contact layer formed on the substrate. A low bandgap Group IB-IIIB-VIB2 material solar absorber layer is formed on the back contact layer. A heterojunction partner layer is formed on the low bandgap solar absorber layer, to help form the bottom cell junction, and the heterojunction partner layer includes at least one layer of a high resistivity material having a resistivity of at least 100 ohms-centimeter. The high resistivity material has the formula (Zn and/or Mg)(S, Se, O, and/or OH). A conductive interconnect layer is formed above the heterojunction partner layer, and at least one additional single-junction photovoltaic cell is formed on the conductive interconnect layer, as a top cell. The top cell may have an amorphous Silicon or p-type Cadmium Selenide solar absorber layer. Cadmium Selenide may be converted from n-type to p-type with a chloride doping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Woods, Rosine M. Ribelin, Prem Nath
  • Patent number: 9627538
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) with improved electrical performance and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. A FinFET includes a substrate having a top surface and an insulation. At least a recessed fin is extended upwardly from the top surface of the substrate, and at least a gate stack is formed above the substrate, wherein the gate stack is extended perpendicularly to an extending direction of the recessed fin, and the recessed fin is outside the gate stack. The insulation includes a lateral portion adjacent to the recessed fin, and a central portion contiguous to the lateral portion, wherein a top surface of the lateral portion is higher than a top surface of the central portion. A top surface of the recessed fin is lower than the top surface of the central portion of the insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Yen-Liang Wu, Yu-Cheng Tung, Jhen-Cyuan Li, Shui-Yen Lu
  • Patent number: 9625750
    Abstract: A display device includes a first housing containing a display panel between a backlight and the first housing, the backlight includes a light source substrate, and a second housing that holds the light source substrate, the second housing includes a back surface portion and a first side wall portion protruded in a front surface direction of the backlight from the back surface portion, the light source substrate is fixed to an inside of the first side wall portion, an opening is provided in the first side wall portion so as to overlap the light source substrate, the first housing includes a front surface frame portion and a second side wall portion protruded in a back surface direction of the backlight from the front surface frame portion, a projected portion is provided in an inside of the second side wall portion, and the projected portion is fitted into the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Arita
  • Patent number: 9540018
    Abstract: A railway installation monitoring system may include: a laser generator that is provided on a train; a camera that is operated in connection with the laser generator so as to be capable of monitoring a railway installation and of acquiring image information data that is measured; a three-dimensional image information conversion device that uses the image information data acquired by the laser generator and the camera and converts the data into three-dimensional image information; a position determination unit that determines the position of the railway installation to be measured; a signal processing device that sends an operating command for the laser generator or/and the camera; and an overall data processing device that processes, analyzes, interprets, or stores the image information data, the three-dimensional image information, or the data transmitted from the position determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SMARTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Soonbae Jeong, Taejin Kim, Gi-don Kim, Hyounwoo Kim
  • Patent number: 9484380
    Abstract: A back side illumination image sensor includes a substrate including a front side and a back side opposite to the front side, a plurality of sensing elements formed in the substrate, a plurality of isolation structures isolating each element, and a plurality of cambered surfaces formed on the back side of the substrate. The cambered surfaces are formed correspondingly to the sensing elements, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Cheng-Yu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9378446
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, wherein the RFID tag includes an antenna, and wherein at least one amorphous silicon or organic photovoltaic solar cell is integrated with the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alanson P. Sample, Yuri A. Sylvester
  • Patent number: 9311848
    Abstract: An organic light emitting display and a driving method thereof, which can effectively detect degradation information of pixels in a display. An organic light emitting display includes a pixel unit and a degradation detector. The pixel unit has a plurality of pixels positioned at intersection portions of scan lines and data lines. The degradation detector divides the pixel unit into a plurality of first blocks each including a plurality of pixels, and detects degradation information for each second block including a plurality of first blocks. In the degradation detector, the second blocks are divided so that each second block shares one or more first blocks with another second block adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min-Ha Keum