Optical Or Pre-photocell System Patents (Class 250/216)
  • Patent number: 8440953
    Abstract: A laser beam source device includes: a first light emission element and a second light emission element each of which has a light emission portion for emitting a laser beam having a fundamental wavelength, wherein the first light emission element and the second light emission element are disposed such that light emitted from the light emission portion of each of the first light emission element and the second light emission element can enter the light emission portion of the other light emission element, at least either the first light emission element or the second light emission element has the plural light emission portions, and the areas of the plural light emission portions are not uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunji Kamijima
  • Publication number: 20130112857
    Abstract: A sensor and a method of detecting a target analyte are provided. The sensor includes a substrate; a layer comprising a plurality of through holes, wherein the layer is disposed above the substrate; a first element configured to detect a target analyte; a second element that can produce a detectable signal; wherein the first element and the second element are configured to couple the target analyte between the first element and the second element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventor: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
  • Publication number: 20130112856
    Abstract: A scalable vacuum photosensor configured to simplify mass production with a housing having an evacuated first side at an ultrahigh vacuum and a second side which does not require high vacuum. The first side of the device is sealed to a base plate, having a central electron readout element, using an oxide-free sealing technique, with the deposited sealing areas serving as high voltage throughputs from the first to second sides. A conductive photocathode layer on the transparent first side converts photons to photoelectrons and concentrates the photoelectrons upon the readout. The first and second sides together form an electrostatic lens for accelerating and focusing photoelectrons upon the readout, preferably having a scintillator which generates secondary light measured by an optical detector in the second side of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventor: The Regents of the University of California
  • Publication number: 20130105697
    Abstract: Provided is a light emitting ceramic such as a wavelength conversion ceramic or a radiation-to-light conversion ceramic, which emits light when radiation or light enters the ceramic, and which has a short light emission decay time. The light emitting ceramic is obtained by applying a heat treatment in a reducing atmosphere to a ceramic containing, as its main constituent, a pyrochlore compound represented by ABOw where A includes at least one of La, Y, Gd, Yb, and Lu, and 0 to 5 mol % of Bi; B is at least one of Sn, Zr, and Hf; and w is a positive number for maintaining electroneutrality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130105671
    Abstract: A jitter sensing mechanism for a gimbaled optical sensor system. In one example, the jitter sensing mechanism includes a faceted retro-minor configured to allow a double-pass line-of-sight monitoring beam to sense line-of-sight jitter in a multi-axis gimbaled optical sensor system where the inner-most gimbal axis includes a 2:1 gain mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Lacy G. Cook, Philip T. Shimon
  • Publication number: 20130107000
    Abstract: Laser light pulses are reflected off a scanning mirror. A time-of-flight distance measurement device receives reflected light pulses and determines distances. The light pulses have abrupt changes in amplitude. Reflected pulses are differentiated to reduce sensitivity to amplitude variations. Differentiated pulses may be compressed to keep the receiver from saturating. Distance measurements are combined with location information to produce a 3D image of a surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: MICROVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Bin Xue, Robert James Jackson, Joshua O. Miller, Steve Holmes, Margaret K. Brown
  • Publication number: 20130106650
    Abstract: An optical SAR transmits toward a target an amplitude modulated optical signal. Modulation of optical signals may be performed using light emitting devices such as semiconductor laser diodes driven by a modulation signal so that the emitted optical signal intensity is amplitude modulated. Transmitted optical signals are reflected from a target, and reflected optical signals are detected by light detecting devices such as photodiodes that detect and automatically demodulate the reflected optical signals. Optical elements such as a polarizer, a lens, and a frequency filter such as a color filter may optically process the amplitude modulated optical signal before transmission and detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: David W. ROSE
  • Publication number: 20130105663
    Abstract: A member for a solid-state image pickup device having a bonding plane with no gaps and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The manufacturing method includes the steps of providing a first substrate provided with a photoelectric converter on its primary face and a first wiring structure, providing a second substrate provided with a part of a peripheral circuit on its primary face and a second wiring structure, and performing bonding so that the first substrate, the first wiring structure, the second wiring structure, and the second substrate are disposed in this order. In addition, at least one of an upper face of the first wiring structure and an upper face of the second wiring structure has a concave portion, and a conductive material forms a bottom face of the concave portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Endo, Tetsuya Itano, Kazuo Yamazaki, Kyouhei Watanabe, Junji Iwata
  • Patent number: 8431412
    Abstract: A microflow analytical system includes a laminate pump assembly connectable with one or more sources of fluid, one or more pneumatic control pumps, a mixer, and a sensor. The laminate pump assembly is adapted to deliver predetermined volumes of the fluid(s) through a plurality of flow paths which are formed within layers of the assembly. Each flow path can include an inlet valve, a pump valve, and an outlet valve each of which are controllable by the pneumatic control pumps. A series of manifolds can be formed within the layers of the pump assembly to provide for simultaneous activation of selected flow paths. Delivered fluid volumes can be mixed in the mixer which, in some embodiments, may be integral with the laminate pump assembly. The sensor can measure one or more characteristics of the mixed fluids to determine one or more properties of the fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Tokhtuev, Christopher Owen, Anna Pilipchenko
  • Publication number: 20130099103
    Abstract: A light-sensing pixel for detecting at least a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum includes a first detector element having a micro-structured surface for detecting an infrared range of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum. The light-sensing pixel further includes a second detector element for detecting a second range of wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, wherein the second range of wavelengths is shorter than the first range of wavelengths and the first and second detector element are formed monolithically on a silicon substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: SIONYX, INC.
    Inventor: SIONYX, INC.
  • Patent number: 8426795
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a screen, a reflection mirror, an adaptive optics, and a projection unit. The reflection mirror has a reflective surface facing a light incident surface of the screen, and is separated from the light incident surface by a space. The boundary of the space is defined by the edges of the reflective surface and the light incident surface. The adaptive optics is disposed on the boundary of the space. The projection unit is disposed outside the space. The adaptive optics has a light exit side facing the reflective surface of the reflection mirror, and a light incident side facing the projection unit. A projecting light is generated from the projection unit, passes through the adaptive optics for adjusting the image size formed by the projecting light, and then is projected to the reflective surface of the reflection mirror for being reflected to the light incident surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Po-Jen Chung, Tien-Pao Chen, Huang-Ming Chen, Chu-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 8426799
    Abstract: An optical control system is described which provides for more efficient operation of an optical device. The system is operable to provide an integrated output from the detection system. Accordingly, by controlling the operating time of the detection system of the optical device it is possible to match the dynamic range of the integrated output to the operational input range of an ADC means to provide a digital output value, thereby minimizing the quantization noise of the ADC means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Rapt IP Limited
    Inventor: Owen Drumm
  • Publication number: 20130092824
    Abstract: A time-of-flight 3D imaging system comprising a detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation is constructed so that the detector includes a semiconductor substrate of a first doping type, and a well in the semiconductor substrate, the well being of a second doping type. The first doping type and the second doping type are different and the well has an increasing dopant concentration in a direction parallel to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. In addition, the detector includes a detector terminal doping region which is arranged at least partly in the well in a terminal region of the well. The detection of electromagnetic radiation is based on a generation of free charge carriers by the electromagnetic radiation in a detection region of the well. The detection region has a maximum dopant concentration which is lower than a maximum dopant concentration of the terminal region of the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angew
  • Publication number: 20130092823
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first protrusion group in which protrusions protruding from a conductor surface of a substrate are arranged in a first direction with a first period, a dielectric layer that covers the conductor surface and the first protrusion group, and a second protrusion group in which metal nanoparticles are arranged on the dielectric layer in the first direction with a second period different from the first period. When one of the first period and the second period is defined as Px1, the other of the first period and the second period is defined as Px2, and the wavelength of irradiation light is defined as ?, ?>Px1>Px2 and 0<Px1?Px2<Px1/2 are satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8424111
    Abstract: Provided is a scanning near-field optical microscope capable of obtaining, in a highly sensitive manner, optical information having a spatial frequency higher than a spatial frequency corresponding to a wavelength of irradiation light. A scanning near-field optical microscope 100 according to the present invention includes: a light irradiating part 102 for emitting illumination light toward a sample 107; a light receiving part 112 for receiving light; a microstructure for generating or selectively transmitting near-field light, the microstructure being disposed on at least one of an emission side of the light irradiating part 102 and an incident side of the light receiving part 112; and an ultrahigh-wavenumber transmitting medium 108 for transmitting near-field light, the ultrahigh-wavenumber transmitting medium exhibiting anisotropy in permittivity or permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: Olympus Corporation, The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Koichi Karaki, Kimihiko Nishioka, Yasuo Sasaki, Takuya Tsukagoshi, Yoshiharu Ajiki, Isao Shimoyama, Kiyoshi Matsumoto, Tetsuro Kan, Yusuke Takei, Kentaro Noda
  • Publication number: 20130087724
    Abstract: Provided is an observation device and a method of observing capable of clearly obtaining information relating to a boundary part where a medium inside an observation object changes. An observation device (1) is a device for observing an observation object (2) including a sensitivity factor in which a dipole moment changes by sensing an electromagnetic wave (31). An output part (11) outputs the electromagnetic wave (31) and the dipole moment of the sensitivity factor included in the observation object (2) is changed by the electromagnetic wave (31). A detector part (12) detects, of the electromagnetic wave (31) outputted from the output part (11), a signal electromagnetic wave (33) which comes through the observation object (2) and a reference electromagnetic wave (32) which bypasses the observation object (2). A control part (13) analyzes the structure of the observation object (2) based on the detection results of the detection part (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroto Kuroda, Shin Yoneya, Motoyoshi Baba, Masayuki Takasu
  • Publication number: 20130089888
    Abstract: Systems for enhancing the sensitivity of detecting an optical signal using nonlinear optics and method of performing the same. In one embodiment, a single-photon detection system includes an optical amplifier realized in a waveguide, and a photodetector coupled to an output of the optical amplifier. A light detection and ranging system includes the optical amplifier coupled to an optical source and one photodetector. In another embodiment, a photodetection system includes a plurality of optical frequency converters, coupled to an optical source, that sequentially convert a wavelength of photons of the optical source to a final wavelength, and a single-photon photodetector coupled to the optical frequency converters to detect single photons produced by the optical source. In another embodiment, an optical sensor includes an optical pump, and a transducer including an optical ring cavity coupled to the optical pump and configured to utilize optical four-wave mixing to detect an external stimulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: TELCORDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: TELCORDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130087690
    Abstract: Optical connectors, adapters, and devices with such are provided. Optical connectors can have a relatively large diameter for the optical interface. For example, optical connectors can include a collector for receiving optical signals at a large opening and providing signals to a photodiode at a small opening of the collector. Such optical connectors with a large diameter for an optical interface can advantageously provide reduced alignment tolerances and/or provide high data rates. Adapters can use a collector to convert optical data signals from a large width fiber to a smaller width fiber. An optical connector can be in a docking station, and lie underneath a bottom surface of a recess in the docking station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Apple Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130087689
    Abstract: Systems for enhancing the sensitivity of detecting an optical signal using nonlinear optics and method of performing the same. In one embodiment, a single-photon detection system includes an optical amplifier realized in a waveguide, and a photodetector coupled to an output of the optical amplifier. A light detection and ranging system includes the optical amplifier coupled to an optical source and one photodetector. In another embodiment, a photodetection system includes a plurality of optical frequency converters, coupled to an optical source, that sequentially convert a wavelength of photons of the optical source to a final wavelength, and a single-photon photodetector coupled to the optical frequency converters to detect single photons produced by the optical source. In another embodiment, an optical sensor includes an optical pump, and a transducer including an optical ring cavity coupled to the optical pump and configured to utilize optical four-wave mixing to detect an external stimulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: TELCORDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: TELCORDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130087718
    Abstract: A confocal fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) system comprising a pulsed tuneable excitation light source arranged to provide excitation radiation to an illumination area on a target, scanning means for scanning the illumination area across the target, and at least one detector for detecting fluorescent emission from the target, wherein the pulsed light source comprises a line forming unit arranged to form a line shaped illumination area of pulsed excitation light on the target, and wherein the detector comprises shutter means arranged to operate in synchronization with the pulsed light source enabling detection of time-resolved fluorescent emission intensity from the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: GE HEALTHCARE BIO-SCIENCES CORP.
    Inventors: Erwen Mei, Ahmad Yekta
  • Publication number: 20130082182
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bolometer (10) comprising a substrate (12), a first membrane (16) formed by removing a first sacrificial layer (14) on the substrate (12), the first membrane (16) comprising a measuring element (18) for measuring an amount of incident electromagnetic radiation (R), a second membrane (22) formed by removing a second sacrificial layer (20) on the first membrane (16), the second membrane (22) enclosing the first membrane (16), a first cavity (24) formed between the substrate (12) and the first membrane (16), and a second cavity (26) formed between the first membrane (16) and the second membrane (22). The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a bolometer, as well as a thermographic image sensor and medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Peter DIRKSEN, Sjoerd HESDAHL
  • Publication number: 20130082168
    Abstract: The invention is an optical sensor for detecting a signal emitted by a light source, for use in a placement detection system, the optical sensor comprising a line-sensor having a detection line comprising a pixel line (20) consisting of pixels (21), and an optical imaging means (17) imaging the light of the light source onto a light strip being cross-directional to the detection line of the line-sensor, the optical imaging means (17) being arranged with a distance from the line-sensor, the light strip having strip-boundary transitions on each of its two edges in the direction of the detection line. The inventive optical sensor is characterized in that the detection line comprises a pixel line (20), in which there are gaps between the adjacent pixels (21), and the optical sensor has a detection range ensuring that at least one of the strip-boundary transitions always falls at least in part onto a pixel (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: Daniel Ratai
  • Patent number: 8410420
    Abstract: An optoelectronic structure includes a waveguide region, a detector region that is weakly evanescently coupled to the waveguide region, and a dielectric layer interposed between the waveguide region and the detector region and configured to provide the weak evanescent coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Michael Hochberg, Thomas W. Baehr-Jones
  • Patent number: 8410421
    Abstract: A detector surface which is based on optical signals and arranged as a flexible enveloping surface around the body in order to detect whether and where the illuminated indicator strikes the body. The detector surface composed of one or more planar optical fibers, wherein at least one layer of a planar optical fiber has photoluminescent properties, and wherein photodetectors are arranged on the planar optical fiber such that they can decouple light from the optical fiber and detect it. The planar optical fiber is designed as a film made of a transparent polymer having a thickness of 30 to 500 ?m and the photodetector is arranged at a distance from all edges of the optical fiber on the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Isiqiri Interface Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Koeppe, Richard Ebner
  • Patent number: 8410419
    Abstract: An optical navigation device includes an image sensor, a light source, and illumination optics. The image sensor generates images of a tracking surface. The image sensor has a field of view via imaging optics interposed between the image sensor and the tracking surface. The light source generates light to illuminate a portion of the tracking surface. The illumination optics are interposed between the light source and the tracking surface to direct the light from the light source toward the tracking surface. The illumination optics include an output surface with a primary region illuminated above a threshold intensity. The illumination optics are located relative to the tracking surface so that an image of the output surface excludes the primary region from the field of view of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Omid Momtahan, Michael John Brosnan
  • Publication number: 20130079068
    Abstract: A package includes a substrate with an attached emitting IC chip and receiving IC chip. The emitting IC chip includes an optical emitter, and the receiving IC chip includes a main optical sensor and a secondary optical sensor. A case is provided with a bottom portion and a peripheral wall portion to cover the IC chips, wherein the edge of the peripheral wall portion is mounted to the substrate. The bottom portion of the case includes a main opening above the main optical sensor and a secondary opening above the optical emitter. An opaque material is interposed between the case and the receiving IC chip to isolate the main optical sensor from the secondary optical sensor and delimiting a chamber containing the secondary optical sensor and the optical emitter. The chamber is optically isolated from the main optical sensor and main opening, and may be filled with a transparent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS
    Inventor: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS
  • Patent number: 8405607
    Abstract: A sensor for an optical device includes an array of pixels in rows and columns which detect and process illumination falling thereon so as to identify inputs generated by a user on a surface of the optical device. A second reset period of variable length between a black calibration phase and an integration phase occurs in a processing cycle of a frame for each pixel, wherein the length of the second reset period is adjusted based on the ambient light conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey Raynor
  • Patent number: 8405637
    Abstract: An optical position sensing system includes a bezel surrounding a display, a position sensor assembly, and a processor for calculating touch locations. Prismatic film may be applied to the bezel. Each optical position sensor assembly includes a body. A lens holder holds an imaging window on a first side and a single element aspherical lens on a second side. The imaging window has an inside face shaped to form a shallow convex surface. The lens holder is mounted to a front face of the body such that the lens is aligned with an opening in the body. An optical sensor is mounted to a rear face of the body and aligned with the opening. A radiation source is positioned within the body above the lens holder and behind an illumination window. A light path separator is positioned between the illumination window and the imaging window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Next Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Simon James Bridger
  • Patent number: 8405636
    Abstract: An optical position sensing system includes a bezel surrounding a display, a position sensor assembly, and a processor for calculating touch locations. Prismatic film may be applied to the bezel. Each optical position sensor assembly includes a body. A lens holder holds an imaging window on a first side and a single element aspherical lens on a second side. The lens holder is mounted to a front face of the body such that the lens is aligned with an opening in the body. An optical sensor is mounted to a rear face of the body and aligned with the opening. A radiation source is positioned within the body above the lens holder and behind an illumination window. A light path separator is positioned between the illumination window and the imaging window, so that the radiation path is optically separated from the view path of the optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Next Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Simon James Bridger
  • Publication number: 20130068936
    Abstract: A sub-mount having a photodiode region, includes a photodiode which has a first conductivity-type layer arranged in a surface portion of the sub-mount of the photodiode region to form a light-receiving surface and a second conductivity-type region arranged below the first conductivity-type layer and is configured to receive at the light-receiving surface a light emitted from a light-emitting element and convert the light into a photocurrent. A peak light-receiving wavelength at which the photocurrent of the photodiode becomes its maximum value is more than or equal to a minimum emission wavelength of the light-emitting element and less than or equal to a maximum emission wavelength of the light-emitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiteru NAGAI
  • Publication number: 20130062530
    Abstract: A biochemical material detection system is provided, which is used to detect biochemical materials. A material to be detected is placed above a sensor module in the system. A light source is guided in by a light emitting device to measure a refractive index of the material to be detected or other parameters related to the material to be detected. Furthermore, a heat source generated by the light emitting device in the system is further isolated outside the sensor module, thereby preventing the heat source from influencing a sensed result to improve the accuracy of the sensed result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventor: Yu Chih CHANG
  • Publication number: 20130062510
    Abstract: A ceramic package includes a chip mounting portion, a photodiode (PD) mounting portion, a plurality of connecting terminals, and a gold-plated portion. The chip mounting portion is a portion on which a surface-emitting laser array chip is mounted on a first ceramic layer. The PD mounting portion is provided to a second ceramic layer stacked on the positive side in a c-axis direction of the first, ceramic layer. Openings are formed at four corners of the PD mounting portion. A scale is formed on a portion that can be observed through the opening of the second ceramic layer on the surface of the positive side in the c-axis direction of the first ceramic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshishige FUJII, Satoru Sugawara
  • Patent number: 8395324
    Abstract: A solution is provided in which one or more of a plurality of light elements is alternately operated as a light emitting element and a light detecting element. For example, a system can operate a light element as a light detecting element while operating at least one other light element as a light emitting element in order to manage operation of the light elements to generate light having a set of desired attributes, evaluating an operating condition of the other light element(s), and/or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuriy Bilenko, Remigijus Gaska, Michael Shur, Alexei Koudymov
  • Patent number: 8389957
    Abstract: A system and method for metered dosage illumination in a bioanalysis or other system. In accordance with an embodiment, an illumination system or subsystem is described that can provide optimized amounts of excitation light within the short exposure times necessary to measure fast biological activity. The amount of light can be precisely measured to provide quantitative results. The light flux can also be precisely controlled to generate only a prescribed minimum amount of light, in order to reduce adverse lighting effects on both fluors and samples. Although the examples herein illustrate the providing of metered dosage illumination in the context of a bioanalysis system, the techniques can be similarly used to provide metered dosage illumination in the context of other types of system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Lumencor, Inc.
    Inventors: Claudia B. Jaffe, Steven M. Jaffe, David Larsen
  • Patent number: 8389921
    Abstract: An image sensor in accordance with embodiments disclosed herein includes an array of imaging pixels, an insulator layer, and a plurality of metal reflectors. The array of imaging pixels are disposed within a semiconductor layer, where each imaging pixel in the array of imaging pixels includes a photosensitive element configured to receive light from a backside of the image sensor. The insulator layer is disposed on a frontside of the semiconductor layer and the plurality of metal reflectors are disposed within the insulator layer to reflect the light to a respective photosensitive element. A width of each of the plurality of metal reflectors is equal to a width of a metal reflector at the center of the array multiplied by a scaling factor, where the scaling factor is dependent on a distance of the metal reflector from the center of the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Nozaki, Fei Wu
  • Patent number: 8389924
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a detector comprising first and second lenses for use with respective first and second sensing means; each lens comprising a plurality of Fresnel facets having respective fields of view adapted such that the fields of view of the first lens are alternately arranged with the fields of view of the second lens such that the fields of view of the first lens are adjacent only to, but do not overlap with, the fields of view of the second lense in a single direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Pyronix Limited
    Inventors: Juan Sebastian H. Stromberg, Craig Leivers
  • Publication number: 20130048839
    Abstract: A reflective minor includes a reflective film, a light-transmitting base and a light-transmitting adhesive layer. The reflective film includes a first connection surface and a plurality of reflection structures opposite to the first connection surface. Each reflection structure protrudes away from the first connection surface. The light-transmitting base includes a light penetration surface and a second connection surface opposite to the light penetration surface. The light-transmitting adhesive layer is disposed between the reflective film and the light-transmitting base and connected to the first connection surface and the second connection surface. An optical touch device is also provided in the present invention. Thus, the reflective minor as well as the optical touch device are easy to be manufactured and accordingly have a lower production cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Hui-Hsuan Chen, Hung-Ching Lai
  • Publication number: 20130050694
    Abstract: A Raman spectrometer includes a light source (12), a sensor element (14) and a detector (10), where the sensor element (14) includes an active surface (24), which active surface (24) is coated with a layer (26) of inert material to be placed in contact with the sample (4). A sensor element (14) includes an active surface (24) which is coated with a layer (26) of inert material. A method for obtaining a Raman spectrum using such a sensor element (14) includes the following steps: a) providing a sensor element (14), comprising an active surface (24) which is coated with a layer (26) of inert material and placing the layer (26) of inert material in contact with a sample to be analysed; b) illuminating the sensor element (14) with monochromatic light; and c) detecting surface enhanced Raman scattering by the sensor element (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITEIT LEIDEN
    Inventors: Kjeld Gertrudus Hendrikus Janssen, Thomas Hankemeier
  • Patent number: 8384175
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a method for manufacturing a solid state imaging device, the method including: forming a plurality of first semispherical lens bodies; forming a second transparent resin layer; and forming a second lens body. The plurality of first semispherical lens bodies are respectively formed on a plurality of photodiode layers formed on a principal surface of a semiconductor substrate. The second transparent resin layer is a resin layer having an etching rate higher than that of the first lens body, and is formed so that the semiconductor substrate including the plurality of first lens bodies is covered with the second transparent resin layer. The second lens bodies are formed on a surface except the top part of each of the first lens bodies by etching an entire surface of the second transparent resin layer until top parts of the first lens bodies are exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hajime Ootake
  • Patent number: 8384009
    Abstract: An optical member including high refractive index layers having a great refractive index and low refractive index layers having a small refractive index, which are each relatively thin as compared with an optical length, disposed alternately in the lateral direction as to an optical axis. Each width of the high refractive index layers and the low refractive index layers is equal to or smaller than the wavelength order of incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Toda
  • Patent number: 8385618
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for determining the energy of a laser. In particular, the invention relates to an initial determination of a laser energy and the monitoring of the laser energy preferably of an excimer laser for use in a refractive laser system for treatment of any eye. An apparatus for determining an energy of an excimer laser comprises a tool comprising an area being ablated with a plurality of laser pulses of said excimer laser using at least one predetermined multi spot ablation pattern, said ablation area comprising a specific ablation area being as large as the ablation area or smaller, an image capturing means for capturing at least one image comprising at least said specific ablation area of the tool; an analyzing means for analyzing said at least one image, wherein the size of the specific ablation area provides a measure of the energy of the excimer laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Youssefi, Birgit Lutzenberger, Julia Hoff, Ernst Hegels
  • Publication number: 20130037693
    Abstract: An optical system used with a laser apparatus may include a focusing optical system, a beam splitter, and an optical sensor. The focusing optical system has one or more focus, for focusing a laser beam outputted from the laser apparatus. The beam splitter is disposed between the focusing optical system and the one or more focus of the focusing optical system. The optical sensor is disposed on a beam path of a laser beam split by the beam splitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: GIGAPHOTON INC.
    Inventors: Masato Moriya, Miwa Igarashi, Osamu Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20130037729
    Abstract: For determining the distribution of a substance, a measuring front is formed of a first and a second optical signal. Intensities of the first and second optical signals, over a depth of the measuring front which is smaller than the diffraction limit at the wavelengths of the first and second optical signals, increase so steeply that a portion of the substance in a measurement state in which a measurement signal is available from the substance increases from essentially zero due to transferring the substance by means of the first optical signal into the measurement state, and decreases to essentially zero again due to transferring the substance by means of the second optical signal back out of the measurement state. The measuring front is moved over a measurement region. The measurement signal is recorded for different positions of the measuring front in the measurement region and assigned to these positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
    Inventor: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Wissenschaften e.V.
  • Publication number: 20130038872
    Abstract: A probe includes an optical system which irradiates a site of a biological tissue and receives light emitted from the site, and an imaging device. The imaging device is disposed ahead of the optical system closer to the end of the probe. The probe rotates the incident direction of the light and the imaging direction of the imaging device around a rotation axis directed to the longitudinal direction of the probe while fixing an angle between the incident direction and the imaging direction. The optical system receives the light from the site which always falls in the field of view of the imaging device, or brought with a time lag into the field of view of the imaging device as a result of rotation, the light being incident in the direction normal to, or inclined away from the rotation axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventors: Katsumi Fujiwara, Hiroyuki Katsurada, Yuichi Atarashi
  • Publication number: 20130037728
    Abstract: An analyzer includes a flow cell having a flow channel through which a sample passes. A light source excites at least a first particle type in the sample in one or more excitation region(s), and a detector detects light emitted by the excited particle. A spatial filter defines detection regions, wherein light emitted by the particle is transmitted to the detector, and interspersed shielded regions, wherein such light is at least partially blocked from reaching the detector. The light emitted by the excited particle has a response time ?1, and the sample may also contain a component that is excited by the light source and that has a response time ?2<?1. The excitation region(s) and the detection regions are arranged to provide a time delay between excitation and detection, the time delay tailored to isolate light emitted by the first particle from light emitted by the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Peter Kiesel, Richard H. Bruce, Michael Bassler
  • Publication number: 20130037701
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a standby circuit. The standby circuit is coupled to an electric device for providing a standby voltage to the electric device when the electric device is not turned on. The standby circuit includes a light emitting module and an energy converter. The light emitting module receives an AC current and is driven by the AC current to generate light. The energy converter receives the light generated by the light emitting module and converts the light into the standby voltage. Therefore, the present invention can simplify the design of traditional standby circuit in a television.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: LIEN CHANG ELECTRONIC ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHUN-KONG CHAN, CHIN-NAN LAI
  • Publication number: 20130040380
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to biological optimization systems for enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and methods of use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventor: University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8373111
    Abstract: An optical sensing device includes a shell, a partition structure, a pivot, a shading member, at least one light emitting member and at least one optical sensing member. The shell is formed with a black-body condition space having an arrangement chamber and a shading chamber adjacent to and communicated with the arrangement chamber. The partition structure partitions the arrangement chamber into a light emitting chamber and at least one optical sensing chamber. The pivot is set in the shading chamber. The shading member is located in the shading chamber and pivotally connected to the pivot. When the optical sensing device is tilted, the shading member is rotated in accordance with a tilting azimuth. The light emitting member is located in the light emitting chamber and projects a light beam. The optical sensing member is located in the optical sensing chamber and senses the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Edison Opto Corporation
    Inventors: Peng-Yu Chen, Chung-Ping Feng
  • Publication number: 20130033734
    Abstract: A device (100) for variable deflection of light is described, encompassing a micromechanical mirror arrangement (14) having a plurality of light-reflecting mirror actuators (18, 20, 22, 24, 26), and a control unit (32) with which the mirror actuators (18, 20, 22, 24, 26) are controllable into different reflection positions in order to vary the light deflection. The device (100) has a back-reflection structure (60), systematically adapted to the mirror arrangement (14), for reflecting back onto another portion of the mirror actuators (18, 20, 22, 24, 26), in targeted fashion, the light reflected onto the back-reflection structure (60) from one portion of the mirror actuators (18, 20, 22, 24, 26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventor: Frank Schreiber
  • Publication number: 20130032701
    Abstract: A submount is used for disposing an illuminant element or a light-receiving element having an optical axis. The submount is disposed at a plane and has a main body. The main body includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is approximately parallel to the plane and far away from the plane. The second surface is approximately parallel to the plane and adjacent to the plane. A disposing part of the first surface is tilted with respect to the second surface at a predetermined angle. The illuminant element or the light-receiving element is disposed on the disposing part. The optical axis of the illuminant element or the light-receiving element is tiled with respect to a normal of the second surface at the predetermined angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Chih-Cheng CHEN, Jin-Shan Pan