Repetitious Path Patents (Class 250/235)
  • Patent number: 8829422
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus including: a MEMS mirror that deflects an optical beam output from a light source; a drive unit that drives the MEMS mirror at a constant cycle; and a photodetector device that detects the optical beam output from the light source, a deflection state of the MEMS mirror is obtained from a relationship between a phase of a drive phase signal input to the drive unit and a phase of a detection signal of the photodetector device. For example, time T is detected between output of the drive phase signal and output of the detection signal from the photodetector device, and maximum deflection angle ?m of the MEMS mirror is obtained by the equation ?m=?0/sin(2??T??/2). T is time, ?0 is an installation deflection angle of the photodetector device, and ? is a deflection frequency of the MEMS mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hideji Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20140246573
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a laser beam scanner, a light detector, a mirror, and an adjuster. The laser beam scanner is configured to scan a laser beam over a projection surface. The light detector is configured to detect the laser beam that has been scanned by the laser beam scanner and reflected by a detection object. The mirror is arranged to reflect the laser beam that has been reflected by the detection object toward the light detector. The adjuster is arranged to adjust at least one of inclination of the mirror and position of the mirror with respect to the light detector such that incident position of the laser beam on the light detector is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi TAKEDA
  • Patent number: 8822907
    Abstract: An optical position-measuring device includes a scanning bar extending in a first or second direction, and a scale extending in the other direction. The scale is offset by a scanning distance from the scanning bar in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. The device has a light source whose light penetrates the scanning bar at an intersection point of the scanning bar and scale to fall on the scale and arrive back at the scanning bar. At a detector, the light is split by diffraction into different partial beams at optically effective structures of the scanning bar and scale and combined again. A periodic signal is obtained in the detector in response to: a shift between the scanning bar and scale in the first direction due to interference of combined partial beams, and a change in the scanning distance between the scanning bar and scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Joerger, Michael Hermann, Wolfgang Holzapfel, Walter Huber
  • Patent number: 8822906
    Abstract: An optical device and method providing multi-channel bulk optical power monitoring is disclosed. The device and method may include a scanning mirror, a plurality of input optical fibers, a plurality of output optical fibers, and at least one sample optical fiber optically connected to a photodetector. The device and method may further include a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface. The first reflective surface may reflect light from the input optical fibers to the second reflective surface. The second reflective surface may reflect a first portion of the light into the output optical fibers and pass a second portion of the light to the scanning mirror. The scanning mirror may reflect samples of the second portion of the light into the at least one sample optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Calient Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shifu Yuan, Roger Jonathan Helkey, Nitin Kataria
  • Patent number: 8716641
    Abstract: A scanning imaging device has a spot light projecting section 101 that irradiates a first spot light for excitation and two second spot lights for focus detection onto a flow channel of a substrate 4 and an imaging section 102 for picking up an image of light emitted from a target of detection in the flow channel as it is excited by the first spot light. One of the second spot lights is reflected at the top surface of the flow channel and the other of the second spot lights is reflected at the bottom surface of the flow channel and a focus position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the focus position of each of the first and second spot lights in the depth direction of the flow channel such that the quantity of deviation of the focus positions of the first and second spot lights in the depth direction of the flow channel as determined by comparing the intensities of the one and the other of the second reflected lights reflected at the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8696141
    Abstract: An image projection device for displaying an image onto a remote surface. The image projection device employs a scanner to project image beams of visible light and tracer beams of light onto a remote surface to form a display of the image. The device also employs a light detector to sense at least the reflections of light from the tracer beam pulses incident on the remote surface. The device employs the sensed tracer beam light pulses to predict the trajectory of subsequent image beam light pulses and tracer beam light pulses that form a display of the image on the remote surface in a pseudo random pattern. The trajectory of the projected image beam light pulses can be predicted so that the image is displayed from a point of view that can be selected by, or automatically adjusted for, a viewer of the displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: Gerard Dirk Smits
  • Publication number: 20140027614
    Abstract: A scanning system can include an illuminator, configured to produce an illuminating beam, and a fixation unit, configured to mechanically support a sample to be measured within the illuminating beam. The illuminating beam can reflect off the sample to produce reflected light. The system can further include a sensor, positioned angularly away from the illuminator, configured to receive the reflected light. The illuminating beam can include a wavelength spectrum having a FWHM less than 100 nm. In some examples, the fixation unit can be positioned based, in part, on a position of the illuminator and the sensor. In some examples, the sensor can include at least one imaging element that produces an image of the sample. In some examples, the illuminating beam can include a calibration pattern. In some examples, the illuminating beam and the reflected light can be angularly separated between ten degrees and fifteen degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventor: Andreas Geier
  • Patent number: 8558206
    Abstract: A flexible, digital enhanced reading device (P) comprises at least one label containing encoded information, a spatially structured element placed over the label itself, defined by a material indicating predetermined temperature level and exposure time range, and comprising a material with morphological and/or structural and/or chemical and/or physical state changing properties detectable following a predetermined heat absorption; the mentioned spatially structural element is adapted to at least partially cover determined zones of said label with dimensions between 0.01% and 100% of the surface of the label itself, and comprises molecular materials and/or polymer materials and/or liquid crystals and/or mixtures of said materials in any proportion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Scriba Nanotecnologie S.R.L.
    Inventors: Fabio Biscarini, Massimiliano Cavallini, Francesco Cino Matacotta, Pierpaolo Greco, Serena Lanza, Pietro Mattiazzi, Davide Natalini
  • Patent number: 8519324
    Abstract: A laser projector displays an image based on raster scanning of a laser beam. The laser projector is capable of reliably detecting the deflection angle of a vibratory mirror used for horizontally scanning without the need for a light source other than a laser light source for displaying images even if the deflection angle is small, and also of accurately adjusting the deflection angle of the vibratory mirror to a predetermined deflection angle at the resonant frequency of the vibratory mirror without exceeding the predetermined deflection angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Tsuida
  • Publication number: 20130208277
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a laser scan device. The laser scan device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a laser light emitting unit emitting a laser beam; a scan unit irradiating the laser beam to a measurement portion of a measurement object; and a condensing unit including a spherical light collector condensing light generated by irradiating the laser beam to the measurement object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Taeg Gyum KIM
  • Patent number: 8482817
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of reading documents includes a reading unit including a light emitting element, a mechanism configured to move the reading unit, and a control unit configured to control the reading unit and the mechanism both to carry out reading by turning on the light emitting element and moving the reading unit and to temporarily stop moving the reading unit upon occurrence of a predetermined factor. The control unit sets a first current value which is caused to flow through the light emitting element when reading is carried out and sets a second current value which is less than the first current value and which is caused to flow through the light emitting element when the reading unit is temporarily stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kubozono, Yasuyuki Shinada
  • Patent number: 8451511
    Abstract: A method and device for optically scanning an object is provided. A detection device optically scans a scanning region of the object by displacing the detection device and the object relative to one another into successive scanning positions spaced apart by a scanning step size along a scanning direction in an object plane. An optical imaging device generates a plurality of scanned images by imaging a partial scanning region from the object plane onto a detection surface in an image plane in the scanning positions. The plurality of scanned images are broken down into scanned part images and are combined to generate combined result images. At least one object measurement image is selected from the combined result images in accordance with one or more predetermined selection criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Erich Haendler, Norbert Oranth
  • Patent number: 8379282
    Abstract: Disclosed are a light scanning unit and a method of synchronizing the scanning operation of such light scanning unit. The light scanning unit includes a deflection mirror that is driven to oscillate so as to deflect and scan a light beam in a bidirectional scanning path. The synchronization of a scanning operation may be made at least in part in consideration of the direction of flow of the current that is supplied to drive the deflection mirror to oscillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong-Ho Shin
  • Patent number: 8353061
    Abstract: To date, the probes of scanning near-field optical microscopes were aimed at creating electromagnetic field characteristics that are maximally localized near a nano-sized point (miniature apertures and tips, fluorescent nano-particles and molecules, dielectric and metal corners). Alternatively, the probe field, which is distributed within a larger area, can ensure the super-resolution as well. For this purpose, the field spectrum should be enriched with high spatial frequencies corresponding to small sample dimensions. As examples of such near-field probes, we propose and theoretically study the models of optical fibers with end-faces containing sharp linear edges and randomly distributed nanoparticles. These probes are more robust than the conventional probes and their fabrication is not concerned with nanoscale precision. The probes enable waveguiding of light to and from the sample with marginal losses distributing and utilizing the incident light more completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC
    Inventor: Mikhail Sumetsky
  • Patent number: 8319174
    Abstract: An exposure pattern is written on a substrate, by scanning a light spot along a trajectory over the substrate and switching it on and off according to a desired pattern. Respective spot sizes of the light for illuminating the substrate in respective parts of the trajectory according to a geometry of the pattern. Respective pitch values between successive ones of the parts of the trajectory are selected, in relation to the spot size selected for the respective parts. The light spot is scanned over the substrate along the trajectory, with the selected pitch values between the trajectory parts and a position dependent spot size along the trajectory. In an embodiment a helical trajectory is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Erwin Rinaldo Meinders, Peter Theodorus Maria Giesen
  • Publication number: 20120286146
    Abstract: A scanning system includes a synchronizing arrangement including a light guide and a photosensor. The light guide directs a light beam to a photosensor, wherein light is deflected by one or more moving elements in the scanning system into a scanning region. The light guide has a light entry region, a reflecting region for reflecting light entering the light entry region and one or more light exit faces, so that light entering the light guide through the light entry region is at least partly reflected in the reflecting region and exits through one of the exit faces. The shape and the properties of the light guide are such that for two pencils of light rays, a first pencil of light rays is spaced from the second pencil and is non-overlapping with said second pencil of light rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: DATALOGIC IP TECH S.R.L.
    Inventor: Gabriele Corrain
  • Publication number: 20120212718
    Abstract: An apparatus measures positions of marks on a lithographic substrate. A measurement optical system comprises illumination subsystem for illuminating the mark with a spot of radiation and a detecting subsystem for detecting radiation diffracted by the mark. A tilting mirror moves the spot of radiation relative to the reference frame of the measurement optical system synchronously with a scanning motion of the mark itself, to allow more time for accurate position measurements to be acquired. The mirror tilt axis is arranged along the intersection of the mirror plane with a pupil plane of the objective lens to minimize artifacts of the scanning. The same geometrical arrangement can be used for scanning in other types of apparatus, for example a confocal microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Arie Jeffrey Den Boef
  • Patent number: 8237103
    Abstract: A mechanical galvanometer tilt control system includes two beam detection sensors that detect vertical displacement caused by the horizontal rotation of a galvanometer and the vertical rotation of a photoconductive drum. The galvanometer may be in communication with a mirror holder that holds a mirror. The mirror holder may be operable to horizontally rotate the mirror as the mirror reflects a light beam onto a photosensitive image forming surface of the photoconductive drum. The two beam detection sensors receive the reflected light beam as the galvanometer generates one or more forward-going and one or more reverse-going scanlines on the photosensitive image forming surface. The mechanical galvanometer tilt control system may further determine an amount of vertical correction required to correct for the vertical displacement caused by the rotation of the galvanometer and the rotation of the photoconductive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas G. Keithley
  • Publication number: 20120168605
    Abstract: An optical tracking system can include at least one scanning detector having a scanning mirror and one or more fixed photo-detectors located near the scanning mirror. The scanning mirror can be configured to deflect a light beam from a source towards a retroreflective target and the photodetectors are configured to collect a portion of the light beam that is retroreflected from the target. A scanning optical detector apparatus may optionally comprise a substrate, a scanning mirror having at least one portion monolithically integrated into the substrate, and one or more photodetectors monolithically incorporated into the substrate. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with 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 claims' scope or meaning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: Mirrorcle Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Veljko Milanovic
  • Patent number: 8117010
    Abstract: A detection system which provides for continuous background estimation removal from a sequence of spectra. A panoramic field of regard may be partitioned into a large number of fields of view (FOVs). An FOV may have a chemical vapor cloud. The small FOV may maximize detection of the cloud. Such detection may require removing the spectral characteristics other than that of the target cloud. This may amount to removal of background spectra with an estimated background developed from one or more FOVs which may or may not be similar to the background of the FOV with the target cloud. A number of estimated background spectra of the other FOVs may be used individually to greatly increase the detection probability of the target chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl Busch, Kwong Wing Au, Michael John Flanagan, Saad J. Bedros, Mirela Onorica Popa
  • Patent number: 8022347
    Abstract: A surface-emitting laser array includes a plurality of surface-emitting laser devices arranged in an array. An optical system includes a plurality of optical devices to guide a light beam composed of lights emitted from the surface-emitting laser array to a target surface to be scanned. A light-intensity-control-device switching unit places one of light-intensity control devices having different light transmittances at a predetermined position in an optical path of the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hibiki Tatsuno, Kenichi Ono, Tomoaki Suga, Naoto Watanabe, Nobuyuki Arai
  • Patent number: 8023162
    Abstract: A scanning technique for imaging sites in an array includes illuminating or irradiating sites in lines of the array, and collecting returned radiation from the sites for imaging. The sites are sequentially scanned by means of confocally directed radiation lines from source optics. The orientation of the radiation lines with respect to the lines of sites in the array is such that the distance between nearest edges of sites in adjacent lines is greater than lines through those edges in a direction parallel to the radiation lines used for scanning. The resulting system experiences less crosstalk and a greater ability to distinguish between neighboring sites in resulting images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Kain
  • Patent number: 7995260
    Abstract: A light scanning device is provided. The light scanning device includes: an oscillating mirror which oscillates rotationally and reflects a light beam to be scanned over a scanning range, the scanning range including a first scanning range and a second scanning range set across a center of the scanning range; a detection unit including a light receiving face, on which the light beam is incident, to detect the light beam; and first and second stationary mirrors which reflect the light beam reflected by the oscillating mirror to the first scanning range and the second scanning range, respectively, to be incident on the light receiving face, wherein an incident pattern of the light beam reflected by the first stationary mirror incident on the light receiving face is different from an incident pattern of the light beam reflected by the second stationary mirror incident on the light receiving face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Nakashima, Naoki Abe
  • Patent number: 7956319
    Abstract: A mirror device including: a mirror arranged on a substrate, supported by a hinge, and arranged substantially parallel to the substrate; a plurality of address electrodes for deflecting the mirror to an ON state, an OFF state, or an oscillating state; and a drive circuit for applying a voltage to the plurality of address electrodes. The mirror device is controlled such that a voltage can be applied to a corresponding address electrode to deflect the mirror, and oscillation in the oscillating state can be started from a state of the deflected mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii, Hirotoshi Ichikawa, Kazuma Arai
  • Patent number: 7956318
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source, a light deflector for deflecting and scanning a light beam from the light source, a scanning imaging optical system for imaging the light beam via the light deflector onto a scanned face, a light beam detecting device for detecting a position of the light beam, a separation optical system provided in the light beam detecting device for separating the light beam into a plurality of separation light beams in a sub-scanning direction, a plurality of light detectors provided in the light beam detecting device to be disposed in different positions in the sub-scanning direction, and a plurality of light receiving sections provided in the light detectors, respectively, at least one light receiving section provided in the light detector being disposed such that the end portion on a side for detecting the separation light beam has a predetermined angle to the end portion of the other light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Masuda
  • Patent number: 7943896
    Abstract: A mechanical galvanometer tilt control system includes two beam detection sensors that detect vertical displacement caused by the horizontal rotation of a galvanometer and the vertical rotation of a photoconductive drum. The galvanometer may be in communication with a mirror holder that holds a mirror. The mirror holder may be operable to horizontally rotate the mirror as the mirror reflects a light beam onto a photosensitive image forming surface of the photoconductive drum. The two beam detection sensors receive the reflected light beam as the galvanometer generates one or more forward-going and one or more reverse-going scanlines on the photosensitive image forming surface. The mechanical galvanometer tilt control system may further determine an amount of vertical correction required to correct for the vertical displacement caused by the rotation of the galvanometer and the rotation of the photoconductive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas G. Keithley
  • Patent number: 7928357
    Abstract: The invention provides a scanning platform for high speed scanning of microarrays. The platform uses a novel flexible a metal strip/wheel linear driving system to convert rotary movement of motors into linear movement, thereby drives movement of a stage/microarray in the direction of scanning. The platform of the present invention provides high movement speed, high resolution, and low return deviation. It is also simple in structure and low in manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: CapitalBio Corporation
    Inventors: Xianhua Wang, Hui Zhu, Guoliang Huang, Jing Cheng
  • Patent number: 7889341
    Abstract: A multiphoton-excitation laser scanning microscope capable of efficiently collecting fluorescence emitted from a specimen to acquire a brighter multiphoton-excitation fluorescence image is provided. This multiphoton-excitation laser scanning microscope includes a multiphoton-excitation laser light source for emitting ultrashort pulsed laser light, a light-scanning unit configured to scan a specimen with the ultrashort pulsed laser light emitted from the multiphoton-excitation laser light source in two dimensions, an objective lens configured to focus the ultrashort pulsed laser light scanned by the light-scanning unit on the specimen, a collector lens disposed opposite the objective lens, with the light-scanning unit disposed therebetween, to collect fluorescence emitted from the specimen, and a light detector configured to detect the fluorescence collected by the collector lens. The collector lens has a higher numerical aperture and a larger field number than the objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Araki, Yasunari Matsukawa, Hiroshi Sasaki, Makio Ueno
  • Patent number: 7859687
    Abstract: To provide a height detection apparatus capable of detecting height information of a subject surface even in a narrow area, the height detection apparatus includes: an illumination optical system for illuminating the subject surface with a light flux emitted from a light source unit; an imaging optical system for causing the light flux reflected on the subject surface to form an image as a line image on an imaging surface; and a light detection unit disposed on the imaging surface. A light detection surface of the light detection unit is positioned in a plane rotated about a rotational axis, the rotational axis being an axis which is perpendicular to an optical axis of an optical element positioned optically closest to the light detection unit among optical elements constituting the imaging optical system, and is perpendicular to the line image to be formed by the imaging optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikutarou Mitsutake
  • Patent number: 7838818
    Abstract: The invention provides a light-stimulus illumination apparatus comprising a light source for emitting light-stimulus laser light; a scanning unit including at least one acousto-optic device for scanning the light-stimulus laser light emitted from the light source in a direction intersecting an optical axis; and a control unit for controlling the scanning unit. The control unit controls the scanning unit so that the light-stimulus laser light irradiates a plurality of spatially separated regions in a time-division manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Kanegae, Tatsuo Nakata
  • Publication number: 20100245769
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for multimodal functional imaging based upon photoacoustic and laser optical scanning microscopy. In particular, at least one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a contact lens in combination with an ultrasound transducer for purposes of acquiring photoacoustic microscopy data. Traditionally divergent imaging modalities such as confocal scanning laser opthalmoscopy and photoacoustic microscopy are combined within a single laser system. Functional imaging of biological samples can be utilized for various medical and biological purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Hao F. Zhang, Shuliang Jiao
  • Publication number: 20100245770
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for multimodal functional imaging based upon photoacoustic and laser optical scanning microscopy. In particular, at least one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a contact lens in combination with an ultrasound transducer for purposes of acquiring photoacoustic microscopy data. Traditionally divergent imaging modalities such as confocal scanning laser opthalmoscopy and photoacoustic microscopy are combined within a single laser system. Functional imaging of biological samples can be utilized for various medical and biological purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Hao F. Zhang, Shuliang Jiao
  • Patent number: 7798955
    Abstract: Excitation light ?ex is two-dimensionally scanned onto the living body tissue in the form of condensed light using an x-axis scanning mirror, a y-axis scanning mirror, and a condenser lens, whereby the excitation light ?ex is cast onto the living body tissue. This allows fluorescence observation with a relatively low output intensity of a laser light source. Furthermore, a white light image is generated by scanning the white light in the same way, thereby enabling fluorescence observation in the same observation region and at the same timing as with normal observation. This enables fluorescence observation of a sufficient area which allows the user to distinguish living body tissues in an endoscope observation image while suppressing deterioration in the laser light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushige Ishihara, Toshiaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7773281
    Abstract: A beam irradiation apparatus includes: an optical element which changes a travel direction of a laser beam by being rotated in a predetermined direction; an actuator which rotates the optical element in the direction; a refractive element which is disposed in the actuator and rotates in association with rotation of the optical element; a servo beam source which emits a servo beam to the refractive element; a photodetector which receives the servo beam refracted by the refractive element and outputs a signal according to a position where the servo beam is received; and a power adjustment circuit which adjusts emission power of the servo beam source. The power adjustment circuit adjusts the emission power so that a reception amount of the servo beam in the photodetector becomes constant based on an output signal from the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd, Sanyo Optec Design Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Maeno, Atsushi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7692138
    Abstract: A combination confocal and scanning probe microscope system permits accurate location of a sample within the field of view as the sample translates from one type of microscope to the other. Alternate embodiments permit both microscopes to view the same sample location at the same time. Further alternate embodiments include a confocal and a probe microscope integrated into a common optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventors: David James Ray, Nicholas Gregory Doe, Terence Rogers Lundy
  • Publication number: 20100053743
    Abstract: Apparatus for real-time three-dimensional laser scanning microscopy, where single-photon fluorescence light, multi-photon fluorescence light, and higher order harmonics generated in the sample are detected. The excitation light is focused into the sample in a three-dimensional matrix of focal points. Real-time three-dimensional image acquisition is obtained by fast scanning in the xy plane only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Massimo Galimberti, Francesco Saverio Pavone
  • Publication number: 20100044556
    Abstract: A oscillating member device comprises: an oscillation system containing of a oscillating member and an elastic support, a driver unit for supplying a driving force to the oscillation system according to a driving signal, a waveform generator for generating periodic signals at a prescribed frequency, a driving signal generator for generating the driving signals in accordance with the periodic signals and an amplitude control level, and a oscillating amplitude detector for detecting a oscillating amplitude of the oscillating member; and practicing a control loop for controlling the amplitude control level according to a difference between a target oscillating amplitude and a detected oscillating amplitude detected by the oscillating amplitude detector, and the gain thereof; the oscillating member device comprising a gain adjuster for adjusting a gain of the control loop, and the gain of the gain adjuster being set based on the amplitude control level in a state that the oscillating amplitude of the oscillating
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazufumi Onuma
  • Publication number: 20100012825
    Abstract: The invention provides imaging apparatus and methods useful for obtaining a high resolution image of a sample at rapid scan rates. A rectangular detector array having a horizontal dimension that is longer than the vertical dimension can be used along with imaging optics positioned to direct a rectangular image of a portion of a sample to the rectangular detector array. A scanning device can be configured to scan the sample in a scan-axis dimension, wherein the vertical dimension for the rectangular detector array and the shorter of the two rectangular dimensions for the image are in the scan-axis dimension, and wherein the vertical dimension for the rectangular detector array is short enough to achieve confocality in a single axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenyi Feng, Theofilos Kotseroglou, Mark Wang, Alexander Triener, Diping Che, Robert Kain
  • Patent number: 7618465
    Abstract: The invention relates to a near-field antenna comprising a dielectric shaped body having a tip. The shaped body is characterized in that at least the surface of the tip is metallized, thereby enhancing the sensitivity of devices comprising the near-field antenna, for example, spectroscopes, microscopes or read-write heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Klein, Filip Kadlec, Petr Kuźel
  • Patent number: 7619795
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a laser light source that emits a laser beam; a light deflector that deflects the laser beam; a scan-imaging optical system that focuses the laser beam deflected from the light deflector on a scanning surface to optically scan the scanning surface; a diffractive optical element receives the laser beam and diffracts a portion of the laser beam as a diffracted light; and a detecting unit that detects the diffracted light. The laser light source is a surface-emitting laser light source. Moreover, the diffractive optical element is made of plastic material having a linear expansion coefficient within a temperature variation range of the optical scanning device nearly equal to a rate of wavelength change of an emission wavelength of the laser light source within the temperature variation range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Masuda
  • Patent number: 7612330
    Abstract: An optical scanning probe is provided and includes an optical scanning element which scans a subject with light, and a signal switching section for switching a drive signal for making the optical scanning element perform optical scanning. The optical scanning element includes a movable portion having a micro mirror which is displaced in a first rotating direction and a second rotating direction, and first and second drivers which apply physical acting forces to the movable portion. The signal switching section has a function for switching a driving preparation signal for attracting the movable portion in either the first rotating direction or the second rotating direction into a scanning drive signal for attracting the movable portion in the first rotating direction and the second rotating direction alternately. The maximum voltage of the driving preparation signal is set value to be higher than the maximum voltage of the scanning drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Ogikubo
  • Patent number: 7604922
    Abstract: A process of providing a hydrophobic property to the surface of a plate, and a process of providing a hydrophilic property to the surface by irradiating energy light (radiation) on the surface of the plate, which is provided with the hydrophobic property are provided Variations in the accumulated illumination intensity of radiation on the surface of the plate are controlled to 20% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Hirai, Hironori Hasei
  • Patent number: 7594965
    Abstract: The inhomogeneous energy distribution at the beam spot on the irradiated surface is caused by a structural problem and processing accuracy of the cylindrical lens array forming an optical system. According to the present invention, in the optical system for forming a rectangular beam spot, an optical system for homogenizing the energy distribution of the shorter side direction of a rectangular beam spot of a laser light on an irradiated surface is replaced with a light guide. The light guide is a circuit that can confine emitted beams in a certain region and guide and transmit its energy flow in parallel with the axis of a path thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20090236495
    Abstract: Apparatus for thermally processing a substrate includes a source of laser radiation comprising a plurality diode lasers arranged along a slow axis, optics directing the laser radiation from the source to the substrate, and an array of photodetectors arranged along a fast axis perpendicular to the slow axis and receiving portions of the laser radiation reflected from the substrate through the optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: DEAN JENNINGS, TIMOTHY N. THOMAS
  • Patent number: 7589316
    Abstract: A scanning beam assembly comprising: a beam generator to generate a beam of radiation, an oscillating reflector configured to deflect the beam at varying angles of excursion to yield a scanned beam that scans a field of view, an optical detector that detects light reflected from the field of view, the detector including at least one of an adjustable gain and adjustable sensitivity, and a controller programmable to control the gain and/or sensitivity of the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Dunki-Jacobs
  • Patent number: 7586086
    Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging device comprising means for generating two images which are filtered differently by a mask (304) and for combining same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Inventor: Vincent Lauer
  • Patent number: RE41374
    Abstract: A MEMs scanning device has a variable resonant frequency. In one embodiment, the MEMs device includes a torsion arm that supports an oscillatory body. In one embodiment, an array of removable masses are placed on an exposed portion of the oscillatory body and selectively removed to establish the resonant frequency. The material can be removed by laser ablation, etching, or other processing approaches. In another approach, a migratory material is placed on the torsion arm and selectively stimulated to migrate into the torsion arm, thereby changing the mechanical properties of the torsion arm. The changed mechanical properties in turn changes the resonant frequency of the torsion arm. In another approach, symmetrically distributed masses are removed or added in response to a measured resonant frequency to tune the resonant frequency to a desired resonant frequency. A display apparatus includes the scanning device and the scanning device scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Wine, Mark P. Heisel, Jon D. Barger, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: RE41375
    Abstract: A MEMs scanning device has a variable resonant frequency. In one embodiment, the MEMs device includes a torsion arm that supports an oscillatory body. In one embodiment, an array of removable masses are placed on an exposed portion of the oscillatory body and selectively removed to establish the resonant frequency. The material can be removed by laser ablation, etching, or other processing approaches. In another approach, a migratory material is placed on the torsion arm and selectively stimulated to migrate into the torsion arm, thereby changing the mechanical properties of the torsion arm. The changed mechanical properties in turn changes the resonant frequency of the torsion arm. In another approach, symmetrically distributed masses are removed or added in response to a measured resonant frequency to tune the resonant frequency to a desired resonant frequency. A display apparatus includes the scanning device and the scanning device scans about two or more axes, typically in a raster pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: David W Wine, Mark P Helsel, Jon D. Barger, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Patent number: RE42033
    Abstract: A single step multi-section exposure scanning method for a scanner. The scanner includes a photo-sensor and a stepper motor. The photo-sensor has N rows of sensor cells that correspond to each primary color. The scanning device is driven forward an exposure distance for each revolution of the stepper motor. The single step multi-section exposure scanning method includes the following steps. First, the photo-sensor moves forward one exposure distance. One row of sensor cells is exposed after moving every 1/Nth of the exposure distance. Thereafter, analogue voltages obtained through the exposed row of sensor cells are transmitted to an analogue/digital converter. The above process is repeated until the entire document is scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventors: Rong-Ji Liu, Kuo-Jeng Wang, Tom-Chin Chang
  • Patent number: RE42774
    Abstract: A single step multi-section exposure scanning method for a scanner. The scanner includes a photo-sensor and a stepper motor. The photo-sensor has N rows of sensor cells that correspond to each primary color. The scanning device is driven forward an exposure distance for each revolution of the stepper motor. The single step multi-section exposure scanning method includes the following steps. First, the photo-sensor moves forward one exposure distance. One row of sensor cells is exposed after moving every 1/Nth of the exposure distance. Thereafter, analogue voltages obtained through the exposed row of sensor cells are transmitted to an analogue/digital converter. The above process is repeated until the entire document is scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Transpacific Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Rong-Ji Liu, Kuo-Jeng Wang, Tom-Chin Chang