Color (e.g., Filter Or Spectroscope) Patents (Class 250/226)
  • Patent number: 10197386
    Abstract: A bend information computation apparatus includes a light source, a first light guide, a detection target, a second light guide, a switching member, a driver, a detector, a generator, and a bend information arithmetic operator. The detector is configured to detect first and second spectrum change. The generator is configured to calculate, based on the second spectrum change, suppression information. The bend information arithmetic operator is configured to calculate change information based on the first spectrum change and the suppression information and to compute bend information based on the change information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ken Sato
  • Patent number: 10199589
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element, including a first electrode, a second electrode, and at least one organic layer being present between the first electrode and the second electrode, in which the organic layer contains at least two kinds of compounds having the same skeletons and different substituents in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Masaaki Umehara, Tsuyoshi Tominaga, Jinwoo Kwon
  • Patent number: 10190906
    Abstract: A light sensor, for sensing an illumination of a partial area, includes a first case, a second case, a first light absorption layer and at least one sensing module. The first case includes at least one hole. The at least one hole includes an axis. The second case is fastened to the first case, and a containing space is formed between the first case and the second case. The first light absorption layer is located on the first case. The at least one sensing module is located in the containing space, and the position of the at least one sensing module is located on the axis of the hole. The at least one sensing module is used for sensing the light from the partial area which passes through the hole to obtain the illumination of the partial area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chieh-Hsin Kuo, Hung-Jui Chang, Ting-Fu Hsu, Wei-Che Lee
  • Patent number: 10192514
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel and a color calibration module. The display panel includes a display screen. The color calibration module includes a pivot end and a calibration end opposite to the pivot end. When the color calibration module rotates about the pivot end, the calibration end moves from a first position to a second position along a route unparallel to the display screen. A distance between the second position and the display screen is shorter than a distance between the first position and the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignees: Qisda (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., Qisda Corporation
    Inventors: Yung-Chun Su, Hung-Mao Chen
  • Patent number: 10180352
    Abstract: A measuring light source includes a hollow body having a diffusely reflective inner surface. Formed in the hollow body are a concave, concave mirror-shaped illumination space, a tubular light shaping space, and a concave, concave mirror-shaped light exit space, which have a shared axis. A light source for generating light is at least partially situated in the illumination space. The light exit space has a light exit. The illumination space and the light exit space with their concave mirror shapes are situated opposite one another and are connected by the tubular light shaping space. A diffusely reflecting reflective disk for reflecting the light, reflected from the inner surface of the hollow body situated in the light exit space, through the light exit to outside the hollow body is situated in the hollow body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS SPECTROSCOPY GMBH
    Inventors: Joerg Margraf, Thomas Keune
  • Patent number: 10170522
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a pixel array architecture for displays being based on a matrix of subpixels arranged in a rectilinear matrix oriented at an angle relative to a horizontal direction of the display, exhibiting a reduced pixel pitch for the subpixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ignis Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Gholamreza Chaji
  • Patent number: 10170509
    Abstract: A device may include a filter array disposed on a substrate. The filter array may include a first mirror disposed on the substrate. The filter array may include a plurality of spacers disposed on the first mirror. A first spacer, of the plurality of spacers, may be associated with a first thickness. A second spacer, of the plurality of spacers, may be associated with a second thickness that is different from the first thickness. A first channel corresponding to the first spacer and a second channel corresponding to the second spacer may be associated with a separation width of less than approximately 10 micrometers (?m). The filter array may include a second mirror disposed on the plurality of spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: VIAVI Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Georg J. Ockenfuss
  • Patent number: 10161795
    Abstract: Methods and media for compensating for irregular motion in three-dimensional spectroscopy are provided herein. Exemplary methods include: receiving a plurality of spectrographs for a series of respective locations and corresponding images of the respective locations, each spectrograph of the plurality of spectrographs being produced using a spectrographic data set of a plurality of spectrographic data sets, each of the plurality of spectrographic data sets being measured by a spectrometer and each of the corresponding images being captured by a camera at substantially the same time, the spectrometer being coupled to the camera such that the spectrometer and camera move in tandem and at least partially share the same point of view; generating a continuous image using the images; identifying a respective corresponding position in the continuous image for each spectrograph, such that each spectrograph is a measurement of the respective position; and associating each spectrograph with the respective position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: BaySpec, Inc.
    Inventors: Shu Zhang, Guocai Shu, William Yang
  • Patent number: 10161794
    Abstract: A spectrophotometer diagnosis system and a method for diagnosing a spectrophotometer, wherein at least one test patch is printed in proximity to at least one non-printed substrate patch, at least one value characteristic of the at least one test patch and/or the at least one substrate patch is measured using the spectrophotometer, and at least one diagnostic score for the spectrophotometer is determined based on the at least one measured value in comparison with a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: HP Indigo B.V.
    Inventors: Lena Gurevich, Nir Guttman, Ran Waidman
  • Patent number: 10150911
    Abstract: The present specification relates to a novel compound, and a color conversion film, a backlight unit, and a display device, comprising the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Hoyong Lee, Kichul Koo, Minyoung Kang, Duy hieu Le
  • Patent number: 10120182
    Abstract: Imaging systems may include fluidic color filter elements to increase the flexibility of the system. An imaging system may include a number of fluid reservoirs with different color filter element fluids. The imaging sensor may include a number of separated color filter chambers. Fluids from the fluid reservoirs may be directed to specific color filter chambers as desired, with the option to change the color filter fluid in a chamber to a different color filer fluid at any time. To move the fluids to and from the fluid reservoirs to the color filter chambers, electrowetting may be used. The color filter chambers may be interposed between a ground electrode and a number of patterned electrodes. Voltages may be applied to the patterned electrodes to move the fluid to desired positions within the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Swarnal Borthakur, Ulrich Boettiger
  • Patent number: 10114465
    Abstract: Example virtual-reality head-mounted devices having reduced numbers of cameras, and methods of operating the same are disclosed herein. A disclosed example method includes providing a virtual-reality (VR) head-mounted display (V-HMD) having an imaging sensor, the imaging sensor including color-sensing pixels, and infrared (IR) sensing pixels amongst the color-sensing pixels; capturing, using the imaging sensor, an image having a color portion and an IR portion; forming an IR image from at least some of the IR portion from the image; performing a first tracking based on the IR image; forming a color image by replacing the at least some of the removed IR portion with color data determined from the color portion of the image and the location of the removed IR-sensing pixels in the image; and performing a second tracking based on the color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Chung Chun Wan, Choon Ping Chng
  • Patent number: 10091383
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a plurality of light sources to emit light to a target to be read from a plurality of different irradiation positions; an illumination controller to sequentially and alternately turn on or off the plurality of light sources with a blinking cycle not perceptible to the human eye; an image capturing device to photoelectrically convert, pixel by pixel, reflected light of the light emitted to the target from the plurality of light sources to capture a plurality of read images; a memory to store one or more read images of the plurality of read images being captured; and a synthesizer to synthesize preset regions of the plurality of read images using the one or more read images stored in the memory to generate a synthesized read image representing the target, the preset region of each of the plurality of read images having an image level change caused by reflected light that is smaller than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Goh, Masaki Nagase, Hiroki Shirado, Naoki Asaba, Shiho Shimosaka, Satoshi Hatanaka, Osamu Kizaki, Hiroshi Ishii, Masayuki Yabuuchi, Hideki Hashimoto, Atsushi Yoshida, Masafumi Kishi, Ayumu Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10078206
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope having an illumination beam path with wide field illumination of a sample and a first detection beam path having a spatially resolved surface receiver, which is reached by a first part of the detection light coming from the sample via the first detection beam path, or an image divider assembly for a microscope. In order to lengthen the optical path length, at least a second part of the detection light coming from the sample is masked out of the detection beam path and, via deflection means belonging to the detection beam path, is led into a second detection beam path and, preferably via further deflection means, is deflected back in the direction of the detection in such a way that detection light is applied to at least two partial regions beside one another on the surface receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Kalkbrenner, Michael Goelles
  • Patent number: 10067311
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide concomitant mechanical motion inhibition and electrical distribution for actuator modules, such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based optical actuators adapted to move and/or orient one or more lenses and/or optical devices of a camera module. A mechanical motion inhibition and electrical distribution system may include one or more flexible snubber structures disposed substantially adjacent a MEMS structure and between the MEMS structure and another component of a camera module. Each flexible snubber structure may be implemented with one or more electrical traces, flexible films, snubber films, and/or mechanical stabilizers adapted to route electrical signals to or from the MEMS structure and/or to inhibit mechanical motion of at least a portion of the MEMS structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation
    Inventors: Jim Schmieder, Roman C. Gutierrez, Guiqin Wang
  • Patent number: 10054549
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to the automatic measuring of such qualities of a printed sheet as reflectance excluding specular reflectance, reflectance including specular reflectance, e.g. gloss, transmittance, half-tone coverage, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC.
    Inventor: Luc Choulet
  • Patent number: 10054550
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for spectroscopic determination of one or more optical properties of a gemstone. An imaging device may include one or more light sources configured to illuminate one or more portions of the gemstone, and one or more photo detectors configured to detect reflected light from the portions of the gemstone in response to the illumination. An analysis module may be communicatively coupled to the imaging device, and configured to analyze the reflected light to determine the optical properties of the portions of the gemstone. The optical properties may include at least one of a clarity, color, fluorescence, birefringence, dichroism, and brilliance of the portions of the gemstone. In some examples, an optical fingerprint of the gemstone may be created based on one or more determined optical characteristics of the portions of the gemstone, where the optical fingerprint may uniquely identify the gemstone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Yansong Gu
  • Patent number: 10048192
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first polarizer arranged to receive light emanating from an object moving along a trajectory. The first polarizer polarizes the light emanating from the object along a first polarization direction. A waveplate that has an optical retardance that varies as a function of position along the trajectory receives light from the first polarizer. The slow axis of the waveplate is at a first angle with respect to the first polarization direction. A second polarizer is arranged to receive light from the waveplate. The second polarizer polarizes light along a second polarization direction. At least one detector receives light from the second polarizer and provides an electrical output signal that varies with time according to intensity of the light received from the second polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Inventor: Alex Hegyi
  • Patent number: 10050179
    Abstract: An LED module 101 is provided with an LED chip 200 that includes a sub-mount substrate 210 made of Si and a semiconductor layer 220 laminated on the sub-mount substrate 210. The module also includes white resin 280 that does not transmit light from the semiconductor layer 220 and that covers at least part of a side of the sub-mount substrate 210, where the side is connected to the surface on which the semiconductor layer 220 is laminated. These arrangements enhance the brightness of the LED module 101.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiko Kobayakawa
  • Patent number: 10016120
    Abstract: A curvature sensor is to be mounted along detection target to allow a curvature of the detection target. The sensor includes a light source, a light guide to guide light from the light source and sensing parts having light absorbability. The sensing parts include absorption bands having different intrinsic absorption patterns and characteristic absorption bands having intrinsic characteristic absorption patterns in the absorption bands. A light detector allows residual light not absorbed by the characteristic absorption bands to be detected, the residual light being included in light of bands corresponding to the characteristic absorption bands and radiated to the sensing parts from the light source. A calculator computes a curvature of the detection target based on a rate of change in the residual light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromasa Fujita, Ken Sato
  • Patent number: 9989416
    Abstract: A portable color measurement device 10 is described. The device 10 has a body 20 including a light source 30 and a sensor 40. The body 20 includes a measurement zone 21 to accommodate, within the body 20, an element 100 to be measured for color. The light source 30 is configured to emit light along a path within the body 20 to the sensor 40. The measurement zone 21 is substantially in the path. The portable color measurement device is configured to measure properties of an accommodated element 100 in dependence on one or more outputs of the sensor 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Inventor: Andrew Hugh Lauriston
  • Patent number: 9983059
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spectroscopy device, including an analysis zone for receiving a sample; at least one light-emitting diode arranged to emit a light beam towards the analysis zone, having a luminous intensity spectral profile in a working wavelength interval; unit for varying with time the luminous intensity spectral profile emitted by the diode in the working wavelength interval of the diode; a detector, arranged to receive, during a variation with time of the luminous intensity spectral profile emitted by the diode, the light beam emitted by the diode and having crossed the analysis zone, and supplying a detection signal of the light beam emitted by the diode and received by the detector, in the form of a signal which depends on at least one characteristic representative of the luminous intensity spectral profile of the light-emitting diode. Application to derivative spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ARCHIMEJ TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Mejdi Nciri, Eric Christian Belarbre, Henri Leung
  • Patent number: 9962244
    Abstract: Disclosed are a scanner system and a method for recording surface geometry and surface color of an object where both surface geometry information and surface color information for a block of said image sensor pixels at least partly from one 2D image recorded by said color image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: 3SHAPE A/S
    Inventors: Bo Esbech, Christian Romer Rosberg, Mike Van Der Poel, Rasmus Kjaer, Michael Vinther, Karl-Josef Hollenbeck
  • Patent number: 9964440
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus has a substrate and a spectrally selective detection system, and a cover. The spectrally sensitive detection system is sandwiched between the substrate and the cover. The spectrally selective detection system includes a generally laminar array of wavelength selectors optically coupled to a corresponding array of optical detectors located within the substrate. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Earl M. Jensen, Mei H. Sun, Kevin O'Brien
  • Patent number: 9960844
    Abstract: An example photodiode emulator circuit includes: a first current source circuit; first and second transistors having sources coupled together and coupled to an output of the first current source circuit, a drain of the second transistor coupled to a first node; a third transistor coupled between a drain of the first transistor and a replica load circuit; a second current source circuit coupled to the first node; a capacitor coupled between the first node and electrical ground; and a fourth transistor having a source coupled to the first node and a drain that supplies an output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Mayank Raj, Yohan Frans, Kun-Yung Chang
  • Patent number: 9933546
    Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus for estimating a parameter includes a light source configured to emit an optical signal, and an interferometer including a first reflector assembly having at least one reflective surface and a second reflector assembly having a plurality of individual reflective surfaces facing the at least one reflective surface. At least one of the first reflective assembly and the second reflector assembly is moveable in response to a stimulus, the plurality of individual reflective surfaces disposed at a fixed location relative to each other, each individual reflective surface defining a different optical cavity length relative to the first reflector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Carl M. Edwards, Ian Turner
  • Patent number: 9929206
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for an imaging device including an array of photo-sensitive areas is disclosed. In one aspect the integrated circuit includes a first multi-layer structure and a second multi-layer structure arranged over a first and a second photo-sensitive area, respectively. The second multi-layer structures each have a bottom and a top reflective structure and a spacer layer arranged therebetween. The spacer layer has a thickness such that the multi-layer structure selectively transmits a narrow range of wavelengths of electro-magnetic radiation. The bottom and top reflective structures include a stack of alternating layers of a first and a second material. Thickness and/or material of the alternating layers of the first multi-layer structure differ from thickness and/or material of the alternating layers of the second multi-layer structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: IMEC vzw
    Inventors: Bart Vereecke, Deniz Sabuncuoglu Tezcan, Philippe Soussan, Nicolaas Tack
  • Patent number: 9921402
    Abstract: An optical filter includes a first substrate which has a support portion, a second substrate which is supported by the support portion, a first optical film which is provided on the first substrate, and a second optical film which is provided on the second substrate to face the first optical film. The first substrate and the second substrate are fixed to each other by bonding a first bonding film which is provided on the entire region of a support surface of the support portion supporting the second substrate and a second bonding film which is provided on at least a region (opposing surface) facing the entire region of the support surface from a supported surface of the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9897543
    Abstract: A technique for determining whether or not a fluorescent material exhibits a directionally dependent property, such as anisotropy or chirality, involves illuminating the particle at its excitation wavelength to stimulate fluorescent emission at both a full-frequency (fundamental) wavelength and a half-frequency wavelength. The ratio of the full-frequency signal strength to the half-frequency signal strength provides an indication of the sample's directionally dependent property. This half-frequency spectral analysis can be used to sort anisotropic particles suspended in fluid flowing through a flow cytometer. For instance, the present technique may be used to separate racemic mixtures of chiral enantiomers of cells, pharmaceutical compounds, and other samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA
    Inventors: Anjan Kr. Dasgupta, Sarita Roy
  • Patent number: 9885604
    Abstract: To provide an optical sensor, an electronic apparatus, etc. that suppress reduction of spectroscopic characteristics. The optical sensor includes a light receiving element, an optical filter 140 that transmits a light having a specific wavelength of incident lights with respect to a light receiving region of the light receiving element, and an angle limiting filter 120 that limits an incident angle of the incident light transmitted through the optical filter 140.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Uematsu, Yoshiyuki Terashima, Yoichi Sato, Atsushi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 9874434
    Abstract: A position-measuring system includes a plurality of scanning units for the optical scanning of at least one measuring standard, the scanning units being coupled optically to a plurality of light sources and a plurality of detectors. Disposed between the scanning units and the detectors are a plurality of demultiplexers, via which in each case at least two scanning units are coupled to one detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Holzapfel
  • Patent number: 9866718
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a first light source configured to emit visible light; a second light source configured to emit invisible light; and a light guide section configured to reflect the light emitted by the first light source and the second light source in a longitudinal direction towards a direction of a reading area of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Itagaki
  • Patent number: 9857535
    Abstract: A method of packaging a multi-channel optical receiver module and a package of the same are provided. The method includes installing a first lens on a sub-mount; aligning an optical block including a plurality of filters on the sub-mount; installing the aligned optical block on the sub-mount; aligning a second lens on the sub-mount; installing the aligned second lens on the sub-mount; and coupling the sub-mount to a TO-stem. The aligning of the optical block transmits light incident through the first lens to the plurality of filters, transmits light beams transmitted through the plurality of filters to an object lens, monitors positions of and intervals between the light beams transmitted through an infrared (IR) camera and aligns the optical block so that the intervals between the light beams transmitted through the plurality of filters are identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Young Soon Heo, Hyun Seo Kang, Keo Sik Kim, Jeong Eun Kim, Ji Hyoung Ryu, Hyoung Jun Park
  • Patent number: 9857307
    Abstract: In improved nonoplasmonic resonator (NPR) structure includes a silicon substrate having an upper surface, and a plurality of columns of silicon extending up from the substrate upper surface. Each of the columns includes a sidewall and terminates at an upper end. An insulation material is disposed on the sidewalls and upper ends of the columns. For each of the columns, the insulation material terminates in a bulge at an upper end of the column. A conductive layer is disposed on the insulation material along the column sidewalls and upper ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: OPTOKEY, INC.
    Inventors: Fanqing Frank Chen, Robert P. Chebi
  • Patent number: 9851256
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation sensing. The apparatus includes a radiation detection sensor including a plurality of micromechanical radiation sensing pixels having a reflecting top surface and configured to deflect light incident on the reflective surface as a function of an intensity of sensed radiation. In some implementations, the apparatus has equal sensitivities for at least some of the sensing pixels. In some implementations, the apparatus can provide adjustable sensitivity and measurement range. The apparatus can be utilized for human detection, fire detection, gas detection, temperature measurements, environmental monitoring, energy saving, behavior analysis, surveillance, information gathering and for human-machine interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: MP HIGH TECH SOLUTIONS PTY LTD
    Inventors: Marek Steffanson, Donald James Bone
  • Patent number: 9847442
    Abstract: Photovoltaic structures are provided with field-effect inversion/accumulation layers as emitter layers induced by work-function differences between gate conductor layers and substrates thereof. Localized contact regions are in electrical communication with the gate conductors of such structures for repelling minority carriers. Such localized contact regions may include doped crystalline or polycrystalline silicon regions between the gate conductor and silicon absorption layers. Fabrication of the structures can be conducted without alignment between metal contacts and the localized contact regions or high temperature processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wilfried E. Haensch, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Devendra K. Sadana, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Patent number: 9846076
    Abstract: A spectroscopic sensor comprises an interference filter unit, a light detection substrate, and a separator. The interference filter unit has a cavity layer and first and second mirror layers opposing each other through the cavity layer and selectively transmits therethrough a predetermined wavelength range of light according to its incident position from the first mirror layer side to the second mirror layer side. The light detection substrate has a light-receiving surface for receiving light transmitted through the interference filter unit and detects the light incident on the light-receiving surface. The separator extends from the cavity layer to at least one of the first and second mirror layers and optically separates the interference filter unit as seen in a predetermined direction intersecting the light-receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Katsumi Shibayama, Takashi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 9831373
    Abstract: In order to provide a single-unit sensor which serves as both an illuminance sensor and a proximity sensor, the sensor (1) includes a light receiving element section (E1), an infrared cut-off filter (IRcutF), and a switching section (SWS) for switching spectral characteristics of the light receiving element section (E1). The infrared cut-off filter (IRcutF) has an opening, and an infrared light receiving P-N junction (PDir) is provided at a location deeper in a substrate than a visible light receiving P-N junction (PDvis).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Inoue, Tadamasa Kimura
  • Patent number: 9823121
    Abstract: A measurement wafer device for measuring radiation intensity and temperature includes a wafer assembly including one or more cavities. The measurement wafer device further includes a detector assembly. The detector assembly is disposed within the one or more cavities of the wafer assembly. The detector assembly includes one or more light sensors. The detector assembly is further configured to perform a direct or indirect measurement of the intensity of ultraviolet light incident on a surface of the wafer assembly. The detector assembly is further configured to determine a temperature of one or more portions of the wafer assembly based on one or more characteristics of the one or more light sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Mei Sun, Earl Jensen, Kevin O'Brien
  • Patent number: 9805237
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cancelling noise caused by the flicker of ambient lights are provided. Such noise cancelling systems and methods may be incorporated in a laser-based barcode scanning device. In one example, a barcode scanning device includes a light source, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a noise cancelling circuit. The light source is configured to emit a beam of light. The first sensor is configured to detect a first optical signal indicative of light reflecting off of a barcode. The reflected light may originate from the light source and from at least one ambient light source in the vicinity of the barcode scanning device. The second sensor is configured to detect a second optical signal indicative of light originating from the at least one ambient light source. The noise cancelling circuit is configured to obtain a noise-cancelled scanning signal from the first and second optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen Feng, Jie Ren, Jun Lu, Haiming Qu, Qing Zhang
  • Patent number: 9807317
    Abstract: An ultra-weak light multispectral imaging method and an ultra-weak light multispectral imaging system, which can realize multispectral two-dimensional imaging of an ultra-weak light object by constituting a linear array from single-photon detectors of all response wavelengths and combining it with light-splitting technology. The ultra-weak light multispectral two-dimensional imaging system realizes high-resolution optical modulation by adopting the compressive sensing (CS) theory and the digital light processing (DLP) technology and using a linear array single-photon detector as a detection element; the ultra-weak light multispectral two-dimensional imaging system comprises a light filter, a first lens (1), a DMD control system, a second lens, a spectrophotometer, a linear array single-photon detector consisting of a plurality of single-photon detectors with different response wavelengths, and a central processing unit; and the sensitivity of the system can reach the single-photon level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Center for Space Science and Applied Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Guangjie Zhai, Keming Du, Chao Wang, Wenkai Yu
  • Patent number: 9784614
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for measuring a color of a non-solid colored sample includes an integrating sphere having a sensor port, a sample port, and a plurality of registration marks affixed to an interior surface of the integrating sphere, outside a periphery of the sample port, a camera positioned near the sensor port, and a plurality of filters positioned between the integrating sphere and camera. An optical axis of the camera extends from the camera, through at least one of the plurality of filters, through the sensor port, to the sample port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: DATACOLOR HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Hong Wei
  • Patent number: 9782544
    Abstract: A supplemental device comprising: a connector configured to attach the supplemental device to an injection device in use; a sensor configured to generate sensor output dependent on an intensity of light on the sensor and having a field of view directed at a surface area of the injection device in use, the surface area being external to the supplemental device; a light source configured to generate illumination which in use can be directed out of the supplemental device onto the surface area; a shield configured to limit the field of view of the sensor such that the field of view is entirely directed at the surface area in use; and a processor configured to use the sensor output generated when illumination from the light source is reflected from the surface area to determine a property of the injection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Heumann, Gertrud Blei
  • Patent number: 9778105
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing Raman spectral analysis of a sample is described, comprising a coherent light source, an first optical chain to direct the coherent light to impinge on the sample, a second optical chain to direct the scattered light onto a diffraction grating, and a third optical chain to direct the diffracted light onto detection array. The diffraction grating is a stairstep with a metalized surface, and a plurality of metalized stripes on a flat surface is disposed in a direction orthogonal to the long dimension of the stairsteps. The region between the flat surface and the stairstep is transparent. The zeroth-order fringe is selected by a slit and directed onto camera. The resultant interferogram is Fourier transformed to produce a representation of the Raman spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Gregory W. Auner, Changhe Huang, Christopher M. Thrush, Michelle Brusatori
  • Patent number: 9748305
    Abstract: An image sensor is provided including a photo sensor layer including a plurality of photo-sensing cells; a color separation layer disposed on the photo sensor layer and including color separation elements embedded in a transparent spacer layer; and a micro lens array arranged on the color separation layer, the micro lens array including a plurality of micro lenses. The color separation layer separates light by wavelength. The micro lens array concentrates incident light onto the plurality of color separation elements. The color separation elements include: a first main splitter which transmits light of a first primary color onto first photo-sensing cells which faces the first main splitter and diffracts and/or refracts light of colors other than the first primary color onto photo-sensing cells adjacent to the first photo-sensing cell; and a plurality of first auxiliary splitters which are arranged surrounding the first main splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Changgyun Shin
  • Patent number: 9733196
    Abstract: Provided are a foreign material detecting device and method for detecting only a foreign material on a surface of a substrate except for a foreign material on a lower surface of the substrate in a manufacturing process of a transparent substrate passing light therethrough, such as a glass substrate used in a flat panel display (FPD) such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a plasma display panel (PDP), etc., a sapphire wafer used in some of semiconductors, or the like, and in a pattern forming process in a manufacturing process of the FPD and the semiconductor using the transparent substrate. More particularly, provided are a foreign material detecting device and method for detecting only a foreign material on a surface of an ultra-thin transparent substrate having a thickness of 0.3 T or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Nanoprotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung Seok Lee, Yeong Ryeol Kim, Cheul Ock Chae, Jin Yong Kim, Soung Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 9733179
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for determining chlorophyll content of a plant sample. The method includes emitting light at a first wavelength and a second wavelength into a plant sample with a chlorophyll meter; detecting the light after passing through the plant sample; generating an optical value responsive to a ratio of the percentage of transmitted light through the plant sample for the first wavelength and the second wavelength; and determining chlorophyll content based on the optical value compared with an optical/absolute chlorophyll relationship that was determined by a matched combination of extraction method, extraction solvent, spectrophotometric equation, and spectrophotometer resolution, wherein the optical/absolute relationship is one of a plurality of different optical/absolute relationships that a user may select from for different species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: APOGEE INSTRUMENTS, INC.
    Inventor: Bruce Bugbee
  • Patent number: 9727985
    Abstract: A technique is disclosed to calculate a new pixel value of a particular color of second-viewpoint color image data in such a manner that a difference between the new pixel value of the particular color of the second viewpoint and the pixel value of the particular color of the first-viewpoint color image data maintains correlation with a sum of a difference between the pixel value of a first color component of the second-viewpoint color image data and the pixel value of the first color component of third-viewpoint color image data and a difference between the pixel value of a second color component of the second-viewpoint color image data and the pixel value of the second color component of the third-viewpoint color image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Ishiga, Kiyoshige Shibazaki, Muneki Hamashima, Susumu Mori
  • Patent number: 9726335
    Abstract: A phosphor device of an illumination system, which emits a first waveband light, includes a substrate and a first phosphor layer. The first phosphor layer includes a first phosphor agent and a second phosphor agent. The first phosphor agent is formed on the substrate for converting the first waveband light into a second waveband light. The second waveband light comprises a first color light and a second color light. The second phosphor agent is distributed over the first phosphor agent for converting the first waveband light into the second color light so as to increase the luminous intensity of the second color light. Therefore, the luminous intensity of the second color light can be effectively increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Keh-Su Chang, Yen-I Chou, Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 9702689
    Abstract: A method for providing film-thickness analysis with a spectrophotometer includes configuring an illuminator to emit a light beam at a film deposited on a substrate surface, configuring a linear sensor to receive light reflecting off the deposited film on the substrate surface via a gradient index lens and a linear variable filter, and configuring a processor to determine thickness of the film based on spectral reflectivity of the film received from the linear sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Bonino, Robert P. Herloski, Jason M. LeFevre