Active Autofocus Patents (Class 250/201.4)
  • Patent number: 12095972
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for a structured-light system to estimate depth in an image. An image is received in which the image is of a scene onto which a reference light pattern has been projected. The projection of the reference light pattern includes a predetermined number of particular sub-patterns. A patch of the received image and a sub-pattern of the reference light pattern are matched based on either a hardcode template matching technique or a probability that the patch corresponds to the sub-pattern. If a lookup table is used, the table may be a probability matrix, may contain precomputed correlations scores or may contain precomputed class IDs. An estimate of depth of the patch is determined based on a disparity between the patch and the sub-pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lilong Shi, Seunghoon Han
  • Patent number: 11982882
    Abstract: A system for the color coding of objects in the field of view of a plurality of spectacle wearers includes a pair of spectacles per spectacle wearer. Liquid crystal cells of at least one spectacle lens of the spectacles are so designed that a transmission (TR) of the liquid crystal cells may be switched between high and low transmission states. The system also includes one RGB light source per spectacle wearer and means for controlling or regulating the luminance times, color and intensity of the RGB light source such that the light source for a first spectacle wearer illuminates with a first color at a time of the state of high transmission of the liquid crystal cell and the light source for a second spectacle wearer illuminates at a time of high transmission of the liquid crystal cell of their spectacles with a second color different from the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: INOPTEC LIMITED ZWEIGNIEDERLASSUNG DEUTSCHLAND
    Inventor: Ralf G. J. Knoll
  • Patent number: 11906289
    Abstract: A triangulation-based optical profilometry system for scanning a three-dimensional sample surface located at a sample plane includes a projection system; an image sensor; a processing unit; an objective lens assembly for imaging onto the image sensor a luminous line formed on the sample plane, a first direction orthogonal to an optical axis and being defined parallel to an extent of the luminous line, a second direction being defined perpendicular to the first direction; and a diaphragm defining a non-circular aperture defined by a first dimension and a second dimension greater than the first dimension, the diaphragm being rotationally oriented such that the first dimension is aligned with the first direction and the second dimension is aligned with the second direction, the objective lens assembly being arranged to form an out-of-focus image of the luminous line on the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: INSTITUT NATIONAL D'OPTIQUE
    Inventor: Francois Martin
  • Patent number: 11815626
    Abstract: A method for identifying at least one intensity peak of a specularly reflected light beam including: a step (E1) of detecting at least one intensity peak of a light beam present in a first image taken at instant t; a step (E2) of calculating a vector (N) normal to a surface at each point of the first image associated with an intensity peak detected in step (E1); a step (E3) of calculating a vector (L) of the direction of the incident light beam at each point of the first image taken at instant (t), associated with an intensity peak detected in step (E1); a step (E4) of determining the co-linearity between the normal vector (N) and the vector (L) of the direction of the incident light beam in order to identify an intensity peak of the specularly reflected light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventors: Boris Lugez, Thomas Meneyrol
  • Patent number: 11765309
    Abstract: Video capture of a subject, including: capturing video data of the subject using a first camera; capturing infrared (IR) video data of the subject using a second camera linked to the first camera, in such a manner that the first and second camera share the same field of view, wherein the second camera is sensitive to IR light for capturing the IP video data of the subject; illuminating the subject with at least one IR light source; and processing the video data from the first camera and the IR video data from the second camera to identify an outline of the illuminated subject in the video data using the IR video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: Sony Group Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Felix Sauermann
  • Patent number: 11733548
    Abstract: The invention relates to spectacles, systems and methods for visibility enhancement, including by glare suppression. The spectacles, systems and methods for visibility enhancement includes spectacles and a spectacle lens having a liquid crystal cell (LC), the transmission (TR) of which may be varied by a suitable control and the liquid crystal cell (LC) designed so that the transmission (TR) of the liquid crystal cell (LC) may be switched between high and low transmission states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Inoptec Limited Zweigniederlassung Deutschland
    Inventor: Ralf G. J. Knoll
  • Patent number: 11550054
    Abstract: An optical triangulation sensor for distance measurement is described herein. In accordance with one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a light source for the generation of structured light, an optical reception device, at least one attachment element and a carrier with a first groove on a lateral surface of the carrier, wherein the light source and/or optical reception device is at least partially arranged in the first groove and is held in place on the carrier by the attachment element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: RobArtGmbH
    Inventors: Vladimir Alexandrov, Harold Artés, Christoph Freudenthaler, Michael Schahpar
  • Patent number: 11551367
    Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for a structured-light system to estimate depth in an image. An image is received in which the image is of a scene onto which a reference light pattern has been projected. The projection of the reference light pattern includes a predetermined number of particular sub-patterns. A patch of the received image and a sub-pattern of the reference light pattern are matched based on either a hardcode template matching technique or a probability that the patch corresponds to the sub-pattern. If a lookup table is used, the table may be a probability matrix, may contain precomputed correlations scores or may contain precomputed class IDs. An estimate of depth of the patch is determined based on a disparity between the patch and the sub-pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventors: Lilong Shi, Seunghoon Han
  • Patent number: 11532656
    Abstract: In an imaging device, a photoelectric converter of a first pixel and a photoelectric converter of a second pixel are arranged along a first direction. At least part of a charge accumulation portion of the first pixel is disposed between the photoelectric converter of the first pixel and the photoelectric converter of the second pixel. An exit surface of a light guiding path of the first pixel is longer in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in plan view than in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sekine, Yusuke Onuki, Kazunari Kawabata
  • Patent number: 11524462
    Abstract: Apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects by means of successive layerwise selective irradiation and consolidation of layers of a build material which can be consolidated by means of an energy beam, which apparatus comprises an irradiation device adapted to guide an energy beam across a build plane, wherein a calibration device is provided comprising a positioning unit, a determination unit and a calibration unit, preferably arranged in a process chamber of the apparatus, that is adapted to at least partially reflect the energy beam, wherein the irradiation device is adapted to guide the energy beam to the calibration unit for generating a reflected part of the energy beam, wherein the positioning unit is adapted to position the irradiation device dependent on at least one parameter of the reflected part of the energy beam determined via the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: CONCEPT LASER GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Schulz, Stephan Hunze, Jens Junge
  • Patent number: 11513311
    Abstract: This invention provides a removably mountable lens assembly for a vision system camera that includes an integral auto-focusing liquid lens unit, in which the lens unit compensates for focus variations by employing a feedback control circuit that is integrated into the body of the lens assembly. The feedback control circuit receives motion information related to the bobbin of the lens from a position sensor (e.g. a Hall sensor) and uses this information internally to correct for motion variations that deviate from the lens setting position at a desired lens focal distance setting. Illustratively, the feedback circuit can be interconnected with one or more temperature sensors that adjust the lens setting position for a particular temperature value. In addition, the feedback circuit can communicate with an accelerometer that reads a direction of gravity and thereby corrects for potential sag in the lens membrane based upon the spatial orientation of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Laurens Nunnink, Rene Delasauce, William Equitz
  • Patent number: 11488995
    Abstract: In an imaging device, a photoelectric converter of a first pixel and a photoelectric converter of a second pixel are arranged along a first direction. At least part of a charge accumulation portion of the first pixel is disposed between the photoelectric converter of the first pixel and the photoelectric converter of the second pixel. An exit surface of a light guiding path of the first pixel is longer in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in plan view than in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sekine, Yusuke Onuki, Kazunari Kawabata
  • Patent number: 11422350
    Abstract: System for acquiring a digital image of a sample on a microscope slide. In an embodiment, the system comprises a stage configured to support a sample, an objective lens having a single optical axis that is orthogonal to the stage, an imaging sensor, and a focusing sensor. The system further comprises at least one beam splitter optically coupled to the objective lens and configured to receive a field of view corresponding to the optical axis of the objective lens, and simultaneously provide at least a first portion of the field of view to the imaging sensor and at least a second portion of the field of view to the focusing sensor. The focusing sensor may simultaneously acquire image(s) at a plurality of different focal distances and/or simultaneously acquire a pair of mirrored images, each comprising pixels acquired at a plurality of different focal distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Yunlu Zou, Allen Olson, Kiran Saligrama, Ruby Chen, Peyman Najmabadi, Greg Crandall
  • Patent number: 11347081
    Abstract: The invention relates to spectacles, systems and methods for visibility enhancement, including by glare suppression. The spectacles, systems and methods for visibility enhancement includes spectacles and a spectacle lens having a liquid crystal cell (LC), the transmission (TR) of which may be varied by a suitable control and the liquid crystal cell (LC) designed so that the transmission (TR) of the liquid crystal cell (LC) may be switched between high and low transmission states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ⋅INOPTEC LIMITED ZWEIGNIEDERLASSUNG DEUTSCHLAND
    Inventor: Ralf G. J. Knoll
  • Patent number: 11324151
    Abstract: The measurement position determination device of the present disclosure is a measurement position determination device for determining a measurement position on a board, the measurement position being for measuring height of the board on which on which a component is mounted, and includes a measurement position determination section for acquiring one or more scheduled mounting positions of the component on the board at the time of measuring the board height and determining at least one of the acquired scheduled mounting positions as the measurement position of the board height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Sugita, Jun Iisaka, Hidetoshi Kawai, Yusuke Yamakage
  • Patent number: 11284794
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for tracking movement of an eye comprises a camera system, a computer system, and an output device. The camera system generates images of the eye. The computer system stores the images and at least one of the images as a reference image. The computer system also tracks movement of the eye within a tracking range by comparing a current image with the reference image, and by determining a movement of the eye from the comparison of the current image and the reference image. The tracking range has one or more alert points. The computer system also determines an orientation of the eye relative to at least one alert point of the tracking range. The output device outputs a range indicator that indicates the orientation of the eye relative to the at least one alert point of the tracking range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Jessica Jurich, Horia Grecu, Martin Gründig, Tobias Jura Rapoport
  • Patent number: 11216677
    Abstract: To improve estimation accuracy of a self-position. Light at a predetermined wavelength is projected. An image of a reflector with a reflectance higher than a predetermined reflectance is taken by receiving reflected light of the projected light reflected by the reflector. Own orientation is estimated on the basis of the taken image of the reflector. As a result, the self-position can be highly accurately estimated on the basis of the reflector even at night. The present disclosure can be applied to an on-board system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Keitaro Yamamoto, Shinichiro Abe, Masahiko Toyoshi, Shun Lee
  • Patent number: 11067908
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus that measures a position of a mark formed between first and surfaces of a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a stage that holds and moves the substrate, a first detector that detects an image of the mark, a second detector that detects a height position of the first surface, and a processor that determines, based on the detected height position, an offset amount used to set the focus of the first detector to the mark. The processor includes a first mode in which the offset amount is determined based on a first distance set as a distance from the first surface to the mark, and a second mode in which the offset amount is determined based on a second distance set as a distance from the second surface to the mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinichi Egashira
  • Patent number: 11012086
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes an input circuit configured to receive a first analog signal output from a first sensor or a second analog signal output from a second sensor according to an operation mode and a bit stream; a filter configured to filter an output signal from the input circuit; a quantization circuit configured to generate the bit stream from an output signal of the filter; and a digital circuit configured to generate a first digital signal corresponding to the first analog signal or a second digital signal corresponding to the second analog signal by filtering the bit stream, wherein the operation mode includes a first mode selecting the first sensor and a second mode selecting the second sensor, and wherein the digital circuit refers to the second digital signal generated during the second mode to generate the first digital signal during the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Seoul National University R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Minsung Kim, Jaehoon Jun, Suhwan Kim
  • Patent number: 10935373
    Abstract: Measurement system comprising a radiation source configured to generate a measurement radiation beam, a polarizer and a grating to receive the measurement radiation beam and provide a polarized measurement radiation beam patterned by the grating, optics to form an image of the grating at a target location on a substrate. The image comprises a first part having a first polarization and a second part having a second polarization, detection optics to receive radiation from the target location of the substrate and form an image of the grating image at a second grating, and a detector to receive radiation transmitted through the second grating and produce a two output signal indicative of the intensity of the transmitted radiation for the first and second parts of the grating image respectively. Topography of the substrate can be determined from the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Nitesh Pandey
  • Patent number: 10915030
    Abstract: A light spot arrangement, a surface profile measuring method and a method for calculating control data for an exposure field are disclosed. The light spot arrangement includes a plurality of measuring light spots (100) which define at least one set of orthogonal line segments, wherein the measuring light spots (100) lying on the orthogonal line segments radiate outward from a center, with each of the orthogonal line segments defined by at least four measuring light spots. With this light spot arrangement comprising at least one set of orthogonal line segments defined by measuring light spots radiating outward from a center, readings of multiple ones of the light spots (100) can be acquired in real time, and exposure can be performed with real-time focusing and leveling based on a surface profile of the wafer (200) derived from a surface fitting process carried out on the readings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: SHANGHAI MICRO ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT (GROUP) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhenhui Wang
  • Patent number: 10842374
    Abstract: An operating microscope (2, 48) for observing an eye (77) is provided. The operating microscope (2, 48) comprises a main objective (5) and a fundus imaging system (71) that is positionable in the beam path (7) between the eye (77) and the main objective (5), said fundus imaging system having an ophthalmoscopy magnifier (73). The main objective (5) of the operating microscope (2, 48) has a focal length in the range between 90 mm and 160 mm. The fundus imaging system (71) also can comprise an optics group (81), the dispersion properties of which are matched to the dispersion properties of the ophthalmoscopy magnifier (73) in such a way that the optics group (81) compensates a chromatic aberration of the ophthalmoscopy magnifier (73).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
    Inventors: Artur Högele, Christian Beder, Joachim Steffen
  • Patent number: 10835352
    Abstract: An intraoral scanner and computing system for capturing images and generating three-dimensional models. The intraoral scanner includes a handle, a mouthpiece extending from the handle, a flood illuminator projecting light from the mouthpiece, a structured light projector projecting a light pattern from the mouthpiece, and stereo camera capturing images through the mouthpiece. An optimal image of each of different materials within the captured images are combined to create a high dynamic range image. The structured light pattern in the high dynamic range image is used to determine three-dimensional measurements and create a three-dimensional model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: 3D Imaging and Simulation Corp. Americas
    Inventors: Mathieu Aubailly, Sigrid Smitt, Scott A. Mudge, Qingyun Wang
  • Patent number: 10840060
    Abstract: A scanning electron microscope of the present invention performs scanning by changing a scanning line density in accordance with a sample when an image of a scanned region is formed by scanning a two-dimensional region on the sample with an electron beam or is provided with a GUI having sample information input means which inputs information relating to the sample and display means which displays a recommended scanning condition according to the input and performs scanning with a scanning line density according to the sample by selecting the recommended scanning condition. As a result, in observation using a scanning electron microscope, a suitable scanning device which can improve contrast of a profile of a two-dimensional pattern and suppress shading by suppressing the influence of charging caused by primary charged particle radiation and by improving a detection rate of secondary electrons and a scanning method are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zhaohui Cheng, Hikaru Koyama, Yoshinobu Kimura, Hiroyuki Shinada, Osamu Komuro
  • Patent number: 10809059
    Abstract: A focusing and leveling device calculates an amount of defocus and/or tilt of a substrate and includes an illumination unit, projection-side mark plate with projection-side slit mark, projection-side imaging group, deflection prism, beam splitter, detection unit and signal processing unit. A light beam emitted from the illumination unit passes through the projection-side mark plate and is trimmed into a probe beam directed by the projection-side imaging group onto a substrate surface. The prism deflects the probe beam reflected by the surface of the substrate for a first time so that it is incident on the substrate surface and reflected for a second time onto the projection-side imaging group. The beam splitter directs the probe beam that travelled through the projection-side imaging group onto the detection unit. The signal processing unit calculates the amount of defocus and/or tilt based on a measurement spot detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SHANGHAI MICRO ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT (GROUP) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ke Lan, Shihua Wang
  • Patent number: 10775505
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a detector (110) containing: at least one longitudinal optical sensor (114), wherein the longitudinal optical sensor (114); and at least one evaluation device (140), wherein the evaluation device (140) is designed to generate at least one item of information on a longitudinal position of the object (112) by evaluating the longitudinal sensor signal of the longitudinal optical sensor (114). Also disclosed herein are articles containing the detector (110), and methods for optical detection of objects using the detector (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Trinamix GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Valouch, Ingmar Bruder, Robert Send, Christoph Lungenschmied, Wilfried Hermes, Erwin Thiel, Stephan Irle
  • Patent number: 10763145
    Abstract: A rotation mechanism is configured to rotate a wafer including an etched region which is to be etched at least partially. An etching mechanism etches the etched region. A thickness measurement function is configured to generate time-dependent thickness data by measuring a thickness of the etched region. An etching control function is configured to stop the etching mechanism when a representative value of thickness of the etched region reaches a target thickness value. A thickness calculation function is configured to calculate the representative value of thickness for each unit period in which the wafer is rotated N times, where N is a natural number, based on measurement values of the time-dependent thickness data in a measurement section being a range measured during the unit period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10682040
    Abstract: An endoscope apparatus including an imaging section that includes a phase difference detection element for implementing phase detection autofocus, and acquires a captured image; a phase difference calculation section that calculates a phase difference based on a signal output from the phase difference detection element; a lens position selection section that selects a lens position that is either a near point-side lens position or a far point-side lens position based on the phase difference, the near point-side lens position and the far point-side lens position being discrete lens positions set in advance; a driver section that changes a lens position of the imaging section to the lens position selected by the lens position selection section; and a control section that controls an intensity of illumination light that is applied to an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji Higuchi, Koichiro Yoshino
  • Patent number: 10665734
    Abstract: An image sensor comprising: a plurality of pixels that are each provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions and a microlens, and that are configured to read out signals that have been subjected to pupil division, the plurality of pixels each being provided with a light guide that is located between the microlens and the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions, wherein a maximum width of a shape of a cross section, the cross section being parallel with an image sensing surface of the image sensor, of the light guide in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions that form a pair are arranged is greater than a maximum width of the shape of the cross section in an direction that is orthogonal to the arrangement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kohei Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10656507
    Abstract: A measurement device and method for focusing and leveling are disclosed. The device includes a measuring optical path and a first monitoring optical path. Measuring light in the measuring optical path interacts with a wafer and is then incident on a measuring detector to form thereon a measuring mark. First monitoring light in the first monitoring optical path is incident on a measuring detector to form thereon a first monitoring mark. An error in a measurement result of the wafer that arises from a drift of the measuring detector can be eliminated by compensating for a vertical deviation of the wafer obtained by subtracting a drift of the first monitoring mark from a displacement of the measuring mark. In this way, measurement accuracy and stability can be improved by monitoring and correcting the drift of the measuring detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (Group) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qi Cheng, Feibiao Chen, Xuting Wu
  • Patent number: 10644049
    Abstract: In an imaging device, a photoelectric converter of a first pixel and a photoelectric converter of a second pixel are arranged along a first direction. At least part of a charge accumulation portion of the first pixel is disposed between the photoelectric converter of the first pixel and the photoelectric converter of the second pixel. An exit surface of a light guiding path of the first pixel is longer in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in plan view than in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sekine, Yusuke Onuki, Kazunari Kawabata
  • Patent number: 10634894
    Abstract: System for acquiring a digital image of a sample on a microscope slide. In an embodiment, the system comprises a stage configured to support a sample, an objective lens having a single optical axis that is orthogonal to the stage, an imaging sensor, and a focusing sensor. The system further comprises at least one beam splitter optically coupled to the objective lens and configured to receive a field of view corresponding to the optical axis of the objective lens, and simultaneously provide at least a first portion of the field of view to the imaging sensor and at least a second portion of the field of view to the focusing sensor. The focusing sensor may simultaneously acquire image(s) at a plurality of different focal distances and/or simultaneously acquire a pair of mirrored images, each comprising pixels acquired at a plurality of different focal distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Yunlu Zou, Allen Olson, Kiran Saligrama, Ruby Chen, Peyman Najmabadi, Greg Crandall
  • Patent number: 10613352
    Abstract: The invention relates to spectacles, system and methods for visibility enhancement by glare suppression. The spectacles, system and methods for visibility enhancement by glare suppression includes a spectacle lens having a liquid crystal cell (LC) the transmission (TR) of which can be switched between transmitting and blocking. Furthermore, the spectacles comprise an eye tracker (ET) which can detect the viewing direction of the eye. spectacles, system and methods further include at least one sensor (IL, IR) for measuring the brightness of the visible light incident on it, said sensor being arranged on the eye side of the spectacle lens and measuring the brightness entering through the at least one spectacle lens in a spatially resolved manner. The sensor can determine the brightness of the visible light incident on it from the viewing direction of the eye detected by the eye tracker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: INOPTEC LIMITED ZWEIGNIEDERLASSUNG DEUTSCHLAND
    Inventor: Ralf G. J. Knoll
  • Patent number: 10599215
    Abstract: A display device includes a two-dimensional array of pixels configured for outputting a respective pattern of light. The two-dimensional array of pixels defines an optical axis. The display device also includes an eye tracker that includes a first reflector positioned to intersect the optical axis; a first lens that is located off the optical axis; and an optical sensor configured to collect light, that is from the first reflector and has passed through the first lens, for determining a position of an eye of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Youngshik Yoon
  • Patent number: 10591710
    Abstract: System for acquiring a digital image of a sample on a microscope slide. In an embodiment, the system comprises a stage configured to support a sample, an objective lens having a single optical axis that is orthogonal to the stage, an imaging sensor, and a focusing sensor. The system further comprises at least one beam splitter optically coupled to the objective lens and configured to receive a field of view corresponding to the optical axis of the objective lens, and simultaneously provide at least a first portion of the field of view to the imaging sensor and at least a second portion of the field of view to the focusing sensor. The focusing sensor may simultaneously acquire image(s) at a plurality of different focal distances and/or simultaneously acquire a pair of mirrored images, each comprising pixels acquired at a plurality of different focal distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: LEICA BIOSYSTEMS IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Yunlu Zou, Allen Olson, Kiran Saligrama, Ruby Chen, Peyman Najmabadi, Greg Crandall
  • Patent number: 10552971
    Abstract: A method can measure the size of an object using a terminal having two cameras. The method includes obtaining, by a terminal using a first camera, a first image that includes a to-be-measured object, and obtaining, using a second camera, a second image that includes the to-be-measured object, where the first camera and the second camera are disposed in a same plane. The method also includes comparing locations of the to-be-measured object in the first image and in the second image, so as to obtain a total location offset of the to-be-measured object. Additionally, the method includes receiving a measurement point selection instruction entered by a user based on the first image, and calculating a distance between selected measurement points according to the total location offset, a distance between a center of the first camera and a center of the second camera, and a focal length of the first camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xinggang Gu, Shaojun Chen, Shisheng Zheng
  • Patent number: 10527833
    Abstract: A surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus includes an objective optical system having an optical axis and emits two focusing beams in parallel with the optical axis toward the objective optical system. If a focal point of the objective optical system agrees with a surgical field, the two focusing beams converge to a single spot on the surgical field, and if disagrees with the surgical field, form two spots on the surgical field. According to the state of the spots, it is possible to quickly determine with naked eye or on a monitor whether or not the focal point is on the surgical field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: MITAKA KOHKI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10444545
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for visual enhancement. The system suppresses glare and includes a spectacle lens having a liquid crystal cell, the transmission of which can be switched between high and low transmission states. The system also includes at least one sensor for measuring the brightness of the visible light incident on it, the sensor being arranged on the eye side of the spectacle lens and measuring the brightness entering through the at least one spectacle lens. The system also includes a closed loop control circuit for regulating the transmission of the liquid crystal cell so that the times of the state of high transmission become shorter with increasing glare. The system includes a display for controlling the lighting times and the luminous intensity of the display during the state of high transmission of the liquid crystal cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: INOPTEC Limited Zweigniederlassung Deutschland
    Inventor: Ralf G. J. Knoll
  • Patent number: 10429175
    Abstract: Current techniques for measuring chemical expansion in thin film structures are too slow, too imprecise, or require synchrotrons. In contrast, nanoscale electrochemomechanical spectroscopy (NECS) can be used to make nanoscale measurements at time scales of seconds with simple contact or non-contact sensors. In a NECS measurement, a sample, such as thin-film oxide structure, is subjected to a temporally modulated stimulus, such as a sinusoidally alternating voltage. The stimulus causes the sample to expand, contract, deflect, or otherwise deform. A sensor, such as a contact probe or optical sensor, produces an electrical signal in response to this deformation that is correlated with the temporal modulation of the stimulus. Because the stimulus and deformation are correlated, the temporal modulation of the stimulus can be used to filter the deformation signal produced by the sensor, producing a precise, sensitive measurement of the deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jessica G. Swallow, Krystyn J. Van Vliet, Harry L. Tuller, Sean R. Bishop, Jae Jin Kim, James F. Smith
  • Patent number: 10408601
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a visualization system for performing optimized optical coherence tomography (OCT) by determining the absolute distance between the OCT source and a sample. The present disclosure also provides a method for optimizing OCT, which includes determining an absolute distance between the OCT source and a sample using data relating to the focal length or position of an autofocus imager lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Hugang Ren, Lingfeng Yu
  • Patent number: 10393514
    Abstract: Measurement system comprising a radiation source configured to generate a measurement radiation beam, a polarizer and a grating to receive the measurement radiation beam and provide a polarized measurement radiation beam patterned by the grating, optics to form an image of the grating at a target location on a substrate. The image comprises a first part having a first polarization and a second part having a second polarization, detection optics to receive radiation from the target location of the substrate and form an image of the grating image at a second grating, and a detector to receive radiation transmitted through the second grating and produce a two output signal indicative of the intensity of the transmitted radiation for the first and second parts of the grating image respectively. Topography of the substrate can be determined from the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Nitesh Pandey
  • Patent number: 10394143
    Abstract: A topography measurement system comprising a radiation source configured to generate a radiation beam, a spatially coded grating configured to pattern the radiation beam and thereby provide a spatially coded radiation beam, optics configured to form an image of the spatially coded grating at a target location on a substrate, detection optics configured to receive radiation reflected from the target location of the substrate and form an image of the grating image at a second grating, and a detector configured to receive radiation transmitted through the second grating and produce an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Nitesh Pandey, Arie Jeffrey Den Boef, Heine Melle Mulder, Willem Richard Pongers, Paulus Antonius Andreas Teunissen
  • Patent number: 10317327
    Abstract: A particle characterization apparatus is disclosed comprising: a sample cell for holding a sample, a light source for producing a light beam for illuminating the sample in the sample cell, thereby producing scattered light by the interaction of the light beam with the sample; a focussing lens for focussing the light beam within the sample; and a detector for detecting the backscattered light along a detection optical path that intersects the focussed light beam within the sample. The intersection of the light beam and the detection optical path in the sample define a detection region. The apparatus comprises an optical arrangement for varying the volume of the detection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Malvern Panalytical Limited
    Inventor: Jason Cecil William Corbett
  • Patent number: 10281410
    Abstract: A method of testing can include providing a first beam having a first focal length and a second beam having a second focal length that is less than the first focal length to a stage region to provide a first reflected beam and a second reflected beam from the stage region. The first reflected beam can be detected among the first reflected beam and the second reflected beam reflected from the stage region. The second reflected beam can be detected among the first reflected beam and the second reflected beam reflected from the stage region. A first image can be generated from the first reflected beam and a second image can be generated from the second reflected beam. The first image and the second image can be combined to provide a 3D image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Ho Rim, Yu Sin Yang, Chung Sam Jun, Yun Jung Jee
  • Patent number: 10281745
    Abstract: The invention relates to spectacles. Said spectacles comprise a spectacle lens having a liquid crystal cell (LC) the transmission (TR) of which can be switched between transmitting and blocking. Furthermore, the spectacles comprise an eye tracker (ET) which can detect the viewing direction of the eye. They further comprise at least one sensor (IL, IR) for measuring the brightness of the visible light incident on it, said sensor being arranged on the eye side of the spectacle lens and measuring the brightness entering through the at least one spectacle lens in a spatially resolved manner. The sensor can determine the brightness of the visible light incident on it from the viewing direction of the eye detected by the eye tracker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Inoptec Limited Zweigniederlassung Deustchland
    Inventor: Ralf G. J. Knoll
  • Patent number: 10267903
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing speckle noise in a system comprising a sensor for detecting electro-magnetic radiation backscattered from a target, comprising: illuminating the target with a first illuminating beam having a first optical path; illuminating the target with a second illuminating beam having a second optical path different to the first optical path; capturing at the sensor first and second backscattered radiation components associated with respectively the first and second illuminating beams, each of the backscattered radiation components comprising a speckle pattern; and taking a time-averaged measurement of the intensities of the first and second backscattered radiation components; wherein the capturing step is carried out within an integration time ? of the sensor, such that the time-averaged intensity measurement results in a decrease in speckle noise present in a signal representing the backscattered radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: ITI SCOTLAND—SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE
    Inventors: Damien Weidmann, Neil Angus Macleod
  • Patent number: 10248859
    Abstract: A viewfinder apparatus includes a window on which a reference mark is disposed; a photography unit (e.g., an eye imaging camera) configured to photograph eyes of a user via the window; and a controller configured to detect a location where the photography unit has been moved, based on a location of the reference mark included in a first image captured by the photography unit before the photography unit is moved and a location of a reference mark included in a second image captured by the photography unit after the photography unit is moved, wherein the controller tracks the eyes of the user by using the detected location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-won Lee, Chong-sam Chung, Sung-hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 10249467
    Abstract: A device for collimation or focusing of a relativistic electron packet, obtained in particular by laser-plasma acceleration, including a gas cloud and a laser capable of emitting a laser pulse focused in the gas cloud in order to create therein a wave of focusing electric and magnetic fields. The invention also relates to a device for emission of a collimated or focused relativistic electron packet. The invention further relates to a collimation or focusing method for a relativistic electron packet, and to methods for emission of a collimated or focused relativistic electron packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignees: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE, ECOLE NATIONALE SUPÉRIEURE DE TECHNIQUES AVANCÉES
    Inventors: Cédric Thaury, Rémi Lehe, Victor Malka, Emilien Guillaume
  • Patent number: 10148943
    Abstract: A method for acquiring an image comprises acquiring a first image frame including a region containing a subject at a first focus position; determining a first sharpness of the subject within the first image frame; identifying an imaged subject size within the first image frame; determining a second focus position based on the imaged subject size; acquiring a second image frame at the second focus position; and determining a second sharpness of the subject within the second image frame. A sharpness threshold is determined as a function of image acquisition parameters for the first and/or second image frame. Responsive to the second sharpness not exceeding the first sharpness and the sharpness threshold, camera motion parameters and/or subject motion parameters for the second image frame are determined before performing a focus sweep to determine an optimal focus position for the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Florin Nanu, Alexandru Malaescu
  • Patent number: 10139705
    Abstract: In one embodiment of an enclosure device, a camera casing and light source casing are secured to a plate frame, and the enclosure device is configured to be mounted to an arm, such as a robotic welding arm. A shutter mounting arm may also be secured to the plate frame. A flap may be pivotally mounted to the distal end of the shutter mounting arm, such that the flap may be actuated between a first and second position by an actuator cooperatively engaged with the flap. The first position may be defined as to protect a camera lens positioned in the camera casing and a light source lens positioned in the light source casing. The second position may be defined as to not obscure a line-of-sight from either the light source and/or the camera to the work piece on the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: LINCOLN GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Brad J. Goddard, Mark A. Hann