Luminophor Irradiation Patents (Class 250/458.1)
  • Patent number: 10107725
    Abstract: A method including: providing a sample with M components to be labeled, where M>2; labeling the components with N stains, where N<M so that at least two components are labeled with a common stain; obtaining a set of spectral images of the sample; classifying different parts of the sample into respective classes that distinguish the commonly stained components based on the set of spectral images; and determining relative amounts of multiple ones of the M components in different regions of the sample. Related apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford C. Hoyt
  • Patent number: 10107753
    Abstract: Imaging a sample that includes phototransformable optical labels (“PTOLs”) with an optical system having a diffraction-limited resolution volume (DLRV), includes providing activation radiation to the PTOLs to activate a statistical subset of the PTOLs. A density of the PTOLs of the activated subset is less than an inverse of the DLRV. Excitation radiation is provided to the activated subset to excite activated PTOLs. Radiation emitted from the activated and excited PTOLs located at different focal planes of the optical system within the sample is detected with the optical system. The preceding steps are repeated one or more times, each time activating a different statistical subset of the plurality of PTOLs. Three-dimensional locations within the sample are determined, with a sub-diffraction-limited accuracy, of the activated and excited PTOLs based on the radiation emitted from the activated and excited PTOLs that is detected from the different focal planes of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Hestzig LLC
    Inventors: Robert Eric Betzig, Harald F. Hess
  • Patent number: 10101273
    Abstract: This invention generally relates to optical devices that can collect and detect signal emissions effectively while allowing the excitation light path and the sample flow path to coexist non-obstructively in a compact format. The device has various embodiments, such as an embodiment including a plurality of reporters disposed on a sensing surface, wherein each one of the plurality of reporters is configured to react with a least one target analyte, a hyperspectral detection module configured to capture hyperspectral image data corresponding to the plurality of reporters, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the hyperspectral image data from the hyperspectral detection module and generate a temporal spectral signature corresponding to each one of the plurality of reporters from the received hyperspectral image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: FLIR Detection, Inc.
    Inventor: Shiou-jyh Ja
  • Patent number: 10101471
    Abstract: The invention relates to a characterization apparatus (1) for characterizing scintillator material (3) especially for a PET detector. A first radiation source (2) irradiates the scintillator material with first radiation (4) having a wavelength being smaller than 450 nm. Then, a second radiation source (5) irradiates the scintillator material with pulsed second radiation (6) having a wavelength being larger than 600 nm and having a pulse duration being equal to or smaller than 50 s, wherein a detection device (9) detects third radiation (12) from the scintillator material (3) during and/or after the irradiation by the second radiation. The third radiation depends on the amount of charge carriers trapped at electronic defects of the scintillator material such that it can be used as an indicator for the amount of electronic defects and hence for characterizing the scintillator material. This characterization can be performed relatively fast and in a relatively simple way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignees: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., IOFFE PHYSICAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Herfried Karl Wieczorek, Cornelis Reinder Ronda, Hans-Aloys Wischmann, Pavel Georgiyevich Baranov, Gaik Asatrian, Danil Olegovich Tolmachev
  • Patent number: 10094769
    Abstract: A substance detection sensor includes a first light source, a second light source, and a substance detector. The first light source irradiates a detection area including a plurality of target areas with reference light having a first wavelength through surface irradiation using optical scanning. The second light source irradiates the detection area with first measuring light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength through the surface irradiation using the optical scanning. The substance detector detects a specific substance in the detection area based on reflection light of the reference light from the first light source and reflection light of the first measuring light from the second light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Hirata, Yuuji Terashima, Kazuhiro Yanagi
  • Patent number: 10088641
    Abstract: An optical amplifier is provided in which radiation levels experienced by an optical fiber are minimized. A sealed enclosure houses an optical fiber. An input optical signal enters on end of the fiber and an amplified output optical signal exits the other end of the optical fiber. Small particles embedded with a gas fill the interior of the enclosure. An optical pump supplies an amplification laser beam coupled to one of the ends of the optical fiber. Due to energy supplied by the amplification laser beam, the input optical signal is amplified upon exiting the optical fiber. At least a portion of the gas embedded in the small particles is released inside the enclosure when the small particles are subjected to heat to provide a gaseous interior in the enclosure that minimizes radiation levels experienced by the optical fiber due to external radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Ge Wang
  • Patent number: 10078014
    Abstract: An assembly (12) for rapid thermal data acquisition of a sample (10) includes a laser source (14), a light sensing device (26), and a control system (28). The laser source (14) emits a laser beam (16) that is directed at the sample (10), the laser beam (16) including a plurality of pulses (233). The light sensing device (26) senses mid-infrared light from the sample (10), the light sensing device (26) including a pixel array (348). The control system (28) controls the light sensing device (26) to capture a plurality of sequential readouts (402) from the pixel array (348) with a substantially steady periodic readout acquisition rate 405. The control system (28) can generate a spectral cube (13) using information from the readouts (402).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: DAYLIGHT SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Miles James Weida, Justin Kane, Daniel Forster, Jeremy Rowlette
  • Patent number: 10072984
    Abstract: Spectrometers and methods for determining the presence or absence of a material in proximity to and/or combined with another material are provided. In one particular example, a spectrometer is provided that includes a light source, a detector and an optical system. In this implementation, the light source is configured to provide an excitation incident beam. The detector is configured to detect a spectroscopy signal. The optical system is configured to direct the excitation incident beam toward a sample at a non-zero angle from a zero-angle reference. The optical system is further configured to receive a spectroscopy signal from the sample and provide the spectroscopy signal to the detector. The detector is configured to remove a spectral interference component of the spectroscopy signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: MKS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith T. Carron, Shane A. Buller, Mark A. Watson, Sean Patrick Woodward
  • Patent number: 10073188
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring a characteristic of a fluid are provided. The system includes a plurality of waveguides embedded in a substrate, and an exposed surface of the substrate comprising a portion of a side surface of at least one of the plurality of waveguides. The system also includes a sensitized coating in the at least one of the plurality of waveguides. The exposed surface is curved in a direction perpendicular to a light propagation in the waveguide. A method of fabricating a system as above is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: William Cecil Pearl, Jr., Megan Renee Pearl, David L. Perkins, Neal G. Skinner
  • Patent number: 10069042
    Abstract: A light-emitting components containing body includes plural light-emitting components, a containing body which contains the plural light-emitting components. The containing body contains the plural light-emitting components of the same rank among light-emitting components that are classified into plural ranks according to positional deviations of their light emission portions from their light emission portion reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Haji, Toshihide Maeda
  • Patent number: 10063850
    Abstract: A surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus defines main optical paths and secondary optical paths that are branched from the main optical paths A and run to a pair of fluorescence imaging elements. The apparatus picks up both visible-light images and fluorescence images, displays the images on an electronic image display unit, and allows an observer to stereoscopically observe the displayed images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: MITAKA KOHKI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10060847
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and processing signals from particles. In an exemplary method, particles may be passed through a zone of a channel, while the zone is irradiated with light. Interaction of the light with the particles may deflect light and induce photoluminescence. A deflection signal and a photoluminescence signal may be detected from the zone. Particle waveforms may be identified in the deflection signal. At least a subset of the particle waveforms may be double-peak waveforms including a pair of peaks corresponding to a particle entering and exiting the zone. Amplitudes may be obtained from the photoluminescence signal. The amplitudes may correspond to respective particles and their particle waveforms, and at least a subset of the amplitudes may correspond to the double-peak waveforms. Individual particles may be assigned as positive or as negative for an analyte based on the corresponding amplitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Yunfeng Ling, David P. Stumbo, George Carman, Denis Pristinski
  • Patent number: 10054540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) comprising a support (14) having a wave guide (42) allowing the propagation of light of at least one wavelength, generating evanescent waves outwards. According to the invention, the device comprises means for receiving a liquid sample, designed to receive the liquid sample upon contact of the wave guide (42) in such a way as to impregnate the wave guide with a portion of the liquid sample, and actuatable means for breaking the contact between the liquid sample and the wave guide (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: DIAFIR
    Inventors: Hugues Tariel, Frédéric Charpentier
  • Patent number: 10048126
    Abstract: A optical base body for a spectrometer for mounting other components of a spectrometer, wherein the optical base body is produced as a sandwich construction from at least three flat elements layered on top of each other and interconnected, in particular bonded, wherein each of the flat elements has a low coefficient of thermal expansion which is substantially isotropic, at least in one isotropic plane and wherein the flat elements are layered on top of each other and interconnected such that their isotropic planes run substantially parallel to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: BRUKER AXS GMBH
    Inventors: Armin Schmidt, Jennifer Simons, Rainer Simons
  • Patent number: 10042149
    Abstract: A multi-focal selective illumination microscopy (SIM) system for generating multi-focal patterns of a sample is disclosed. The multi-focal SIM system performs a focusing, scaling and summing operation on each multi-focal pattern in a sequence of multi-focal patterns that completely scan the sample to produce a high resolution composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Hari Shroff, Andrew York
  • Patent number: 10036704
    Abstract: A fluorescence intensity analyzing and fluorescence image synthesizing system and method are disclosed. The first fluorescence intensity detection device successively detects the plurality of first fluorescence intensities according to the first timing and the second fluorescence intensity detection device successively detects the plurality of second fluorescence intensities according to the second timing, and then the picture processing device analyzes the first and second timings and synthesizes the first and second fluorescence intensity ranges into the synthesized picture according to the fluorescence intensities, whereby the image processing technology may be used to calculate the fluorescence target range and thus mark the fluorescence target range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignees: National Taiwan University, National Applied Research Laboratories
    Inventors: Rui-Cian Weng, Min-Yu Lin, Chi-Hung Huang, Yen-Pei Lu, Wen-Shiang Chen, Chia-Wen Lo
  • Patent number: 10036812
    Abstract: Laser 3D imaging techniques include splitting a laser temporally-modulated waveform of bandwidth B and duration D from a laser source into a reference beam and a target beam and directing the target beam onto a target. First data is collected, which indicates amplitude and phase of light relative to the reference beam received at each of a plurality of different times during a duration D at each optical detector of an array of one or more optical detectors perpendicular to the target beam. Steps are repeated for multiple sampling conditions, and the first data for the multiple sampling conditions are synthesized to form one or more synthesized sets. A 3D Fourier transform of each synthesized set forms a digital model of the target for each synthesized set with a down-range resolution based on the bandwidth B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignees: Blackmore Sensors and Analytics Inc., Montana State University
    Inventors: Stephen C. Crouch, Brant M. Kaylor, Zeb W. Barber, Randy R. Reibel
  • Patent number: 10031121
    Abstract: A system and a method for characterizing a crude oil sample from the weight and ultraviolet visible spectroscopy of the sample, including calculating and assigning a crude oil ultraviolet visible index and using the assigned index to calculate and assign an API gravity and/or to calculate and assign an aromaticity value of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Omer Refa Koseoglu, Adnan Al-Hajji, Gordon Jamieson
  • Patent number: 10025082
    Abstract: Various embodiments for a multi-focal selective illumination microscopy (SIM) system for generating multi-focal patterns of a sample are disclosed. The multi-focal SIM system performs a focusing, scaling and summing operation on each generated multi-focal pattern in a sequence of multi-focal patterns that completely scan the sample to produce a high resolution composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
    Inventors: Hari Shroff, Andrew York
  • Patent number: 10018562
    Abstract: The present disclosure a biochip including a side emitting-type light-emitting device, in which the bio-chip includes: a light-emitting device for emitting light from a fluorescent material; reflective layers provided over and under the light-emitting device so as to emit light from the sides of the light-emitting device; and reaction regions formed by etching of flanking regions of the light-emitting device. In the biochip, light emitted from the sides of the light-emitting device causes a biochemical reaction in the reaction regions. According to the present disclosure, light emitted from the light-emitting device moves only laterally without being transferred to the top or bottom of the bio-layer, and is transferred to the reaction regions formed by etching of flanking regions of the light-emitting device, so that a biochemical reaction in the reaction regions can be more efficiently performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: OPTOLANE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Do Young Lee, In Gyun Jeon
  • Patent number: 10019550
    Abstract: We describe a quantitative PCR (qPCR) instrument for combined qPCR and melt curve (dissociation and/or association curve) analysis. The instrument has at least one optical channel; a fluorescence excitation source; a fluorescence detector; an electronic analog signal amplifier having an input coupled to an output of the fluorescence detector; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having analog input coupled to an output of the analog signal amplifier. The instrument further comprises a quantified automatic gain control (AGC) loop coupled between the signal output of the fluorescence detector and the analog input of the ADC. The AGC loop is configured to apply a determined, numerical gain value to a fluorescence signal for the analog input of the ADC. The instrument also includes a system to scale a digital output of the ADC responsive to the numerical gain value and to provide a digital fluorescence level signal from the scaled digital output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Epistem Limited
    Inventors: Benjamin David Cobb, David Andrew Barr
  • Patent number: 10007109
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides wavelength discriminating imaging systems and methods that spatially separate (over different depths) the wavelength constituents of an image using a dispersive lens system or element, such that this spectral information may be exploited and used. The wavelength constituents of an image are deconstructed and identified over different depths using a dispersive lens system or element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
    Inventors: Mehrdad Abolbashari, Faramarz Farahi
  • Patent number: 9995919
    Abstract: A method for the optical detection of an illuminated specimen, wherein the illuminating light impinges in a spatially structured manner in at least one plane on the specimen and several images of the specimen are acquired by a detector in different positions of the structure on the specimen. An optical sectional image and/or an image with enhanced resolution is then calculated. The method includes generating a diffraction pattern in the direction of the specimen in or near the pupil of the objective lens or in a plane conjugate to the pupil. A phase plate with regions of varying phase delays is dedicated to the diffraction pattern in or near the pupil of the objective lens or in a plane conjugate to said pupil, and different phase angles of the illuminating light are set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schwertner, Ralf Wolleschensky, Michael Kempe
  • Patent number: 9989465
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-channel fluorescence detecting system for detecting a plurality of fluorescence labeled analytes. The multi-channel fluorescence detecting system comprises a light source, a light filter device, a dual branch light guide tube, and a detector. The light source comprises a plurality of sub light sources for respectively providing an excitation light. The plurality of sub light sources are a plurality of single color Light emitting diodes (LEDs) which can be selectively turned on or off. The light source generates a plurality of lights with full width at half maximum (FWHM) wavelengths formed in a non-overlap manner. With the disposition of the plurality of sub light sources, the accuracy for detecting the specific analytes is raised, the light flux with a specific wavelength band is effectively raised (without raising the light flux of the full wavelength band), the structure is simplified, and the manufacturing cost is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: TAIGEN BIOSCIENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hung-Jen Kao
  • Patent number: 9989436
    Abstract: Method and device for detecting the location and magnitude of a leak in a pipe by measuring aberrant electromagnetic radiation from within the pipe. A probe comprising three orthogonally oriented coils coupled to a control unit and an electrode are inserted into a pipeline trailing a metered wire. The coils detect an anomalous current flow when a leak is encountered, enabling the magnitude and location of the leak to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Willowstick Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Val Kofoed, Michael Jessop
  • Patent number: 9983115
    Abstract: A particle detection system with a detection mechanism that includes detectors positioned to detect two different ranges of fluorescence produced by particles in the fluid in a flow chamber. Each of the detectors is arranged to generating a trigger signal whenever fluorescence is detected. The system and related method enhance the accuracy and sensitivity of blue-green algae monitoring by utilizing imaging flow cytometry combined with particle analysis and the measurement of the ratio of each particle's phycocyanin to chlorophyll b detected by using the two detectors configured for detection of two different fluorescence ranges, one associated with the phycocyanin and the other associated with the chlorophyll b. Captured images are be used in comparison to known images of a library of images using a support vector machine classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Fluid Imaging Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian K. Sieracki, Peter Wolfe, William H. Nelson, Kent A. Peterson
  • Patent number: 9983135
    Abstract: An active-source-pixel, integrated device capable of performing biomolecule detection and/or analysis, such as single-molecule nucleic acid sequencing, is described. An active pixel of the integrated device includes a sample well into which a sample to be analyzed may diffuse, an excitation source for providing excitation energy to the sample well, and a sensor configured to detect emission from the sample. The sensor may comprise two or more segments that produce a set of signals that are analyzed to differentiate between and identify tags that are attached to, or associated with, the sample. Tag differentiation may be spectral and/or temporal based. Identification of the tags may be used to detect, analyze, and/or sequence the biomolecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Quantum-Si Incorporated
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Rothberg, Ali Kabiri, Jason W. Sickler, Brett J. Gyarfas, Jeremy Lackey, Gerard Schmid
  • Patent number: 9981878
    Abstract: A multi-functional material composition comprising a zirconia host and containing a luminescent lanthanide oxide additive, in particular dysprosia (Dy2O3), wherein the lanthanide oxide additive is effective both in stabilizing the zirconia and providing for luminescent temperature sensing, and a method of determining a remaining useful life-time for the luminescent material composition from the proportion of a monoclinic phase (m) in the material composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Sensor Coating Systems Limited
    Inventors: Jörg Peter Feist, John Rayment Nicholls
  • Patent number: 9976956
    Abstract: A method for determining a variable of a sample is provided. At least one sensor substance is brought into contact with the sample and excited to luminesce by means of an electromagnetic excitation signal. The sensor substance is such that a relaxation time of its luminescence behavior depends on the variable of the sample to be determined. The electromagnetic excitation signal has a defined time-dependence, it is, for example, a frequency-modulated signal or a pulse sequence, in which distances between pulses are varied over the duration of the excitation signal. The time dependence of the luminescence response of the sensor substance is detected and an output signal is generated therefrom by integrating over specified time-intervals. An instant of time, relative to the time-dependence of the excitation signal, is determined, at which a step occurs in the time-dependence of the output signal. The value of the variable is determined from said instant of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: PreSens—Precision Sensing GmbH
    Inventors: Gregor Liebsch, Damian Andrzejewski
  • Patent number: 9976917
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method suitable for analyzing the temperature control of a device which is supposed to establish a defined temperature in a micro-environment, said method comprising a first Optical Temperature Verification step which comprises a) providing one or more thermochromatic liquid crystals in a micro-environment, wherein each thermochromatic liquid crystal has a specific event temperature, b) providing one or more temperature dependent luminophores in a micro-environment, c) varying the temperature in the micro-environments and irradiating the micro-environments with light, d) recording the luminescence of the one or more temperature dependent luminophores when the event temperature of the one or more thermochromatic liquid crystals is reached in the micro-environment and wherein said method preferably comprises a second Optical Temperature Verification step, which comprises the following a) providing one or more temperature dependent luminophores that were used in the First
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: QIAGEN INSTRUMENTS AG
    Inventors: Dirk Leber, Stephan Baehler, Hansueli Meyer
  • Patent number: 9976957
    Abstract: A device for measuring floating micro-organisms and an air conditioner including a device for measuring floating micro-organisms are provided. The device for measuring floating micro-organisms may include an air flow path through which air including floating micro-organisms may flow, a first main body provided at a first side of the air flow path and having a first space and a second space, a second main body provided at a second side of the air flow path and in which a collecting portion to collect the floating micro-organisms may be provided, a light emitter provided in the first space that emits a predetermined wavelength range of light toward the collecting portion, and a light receiver provided in the second space that detects a fluorescence signal generated from light which acts on riboflavin contained in the floating micro-organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jihyun Kim, Bongjo Sung, Yeekyeong Jung, Sanggu Lee
  • Patent number: 9978812
    Abstract: The organic EL display panel includes: a substrate; and an organic electroluminescent element disposed on the substrate, the organic electroluminescent element including, in the given order: an anode; a light-emitting layer; and a cathode, the light-emitting layer including multiple light-emitting portions, the multiple light-emitting portions each providing a luminescent color different from the luminescent color of the adjacent light-emitting portion, the multiple light-emitting portions each containing a luminescent dopant material, the concentration of the luminescent dopant material in each light-emitting portion changing in the thickness direction of the light-emitting portion and being at a local maximum in the vicinity of a first interface on the anode side and in the vicinity of a second interface on the cathode side, the local maximum in each light-emitting portion being 20% by weight or higher of the total weight of the light-emitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichi Kawato, Takashi Ochi, Satoshi Inoue, Yuhki Kobayashi, Kazuki Matsunaga, Katsuhiro Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9968258
    Abstract: Devices for use in fluorescence or luminescence lifetime imaging include a chip featuring an imaging region that includes a photodetector for receiving optical signals, and a time-to-digital converter for providing digital phase output based on the received optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Tufts University
    Inventors: Jian Guo, Sameer Sonkusale
  • Patent number: 9970814
    Abstract: A device for processing items, in particular items in a production sequence, in different processing steps, has at least one sensor arrangement having a plurality of sensors, wherein at least one item is measured in a detection mode by at least a partial quantity of the sensors as the detection means, wherein an impacting of the at least one item with an irradiation means is determined by a control means while considering a result of the measuring procedure of the at least one item; and wherein the at least one item is irradiated in an irradiation mode by at least a further partial quantity of the plurality of sensors as the irradiation means. If appropriate, at least part of the method is repeated with a renewed measuring, determination and/or irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Tilman Orth, Jonas Gruenewald, Christian Weimer
  • Patent number: 9964485
    Abstract: A diffuse reflectance spectroscopy system for determining an optical property of a specimen and a method for operating the same are provided. The system includes: a light emitting unit comprising a light emitting terminal, the light emitting unit configured to emit steady light; an optical medium arranged at one end of the device, the optical medium being controllable to switch between multiple optical states and configured to deliver the steady light to the specimen through the optical medium in different optical states, wherein the optical medium comprises a first surface in contact with the light emitting terminal of the light emitting unit and a second surface for contact with the specimen; and a detecting module comprising one or more receiving terminals for receiving light scattered from the specimen for determining the optical property of the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHENG KUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Sheng-Hao Tseng
  • Patent number: 9955921
    Abstract: An initial set of parameters for operating one or more detection tools is automatically derived and subsequently adjusted so that each detection tool is more or less sensitive to signal characteristics in a region of interest. Detection tool(s) may be applied to physiological signals sensed from a patient (such as EEG signals) and may be configured to run in an implanted medical device that is programmable with the parameters to look for rhythmic activity, spike activity, and power changes in the sensed signals, etc. A detection tool may be selected and parameter values derived in a logical sequence and/or in pairs based on a graphical representation of an activity type which may be selected by a user, for example, by clicking and dragging on the graphic via a GUI. Displayed simulations allow a user to assess what will be detected with a derived parameter set and then to adjust the sensitivity of the set or start over as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: NeuroPace, Inc.
    Inventors: Rosana Esteller, Felice Sun
  • Patent number: 9958398
    Abstract: Apparatus and corresponding methods for measuring a plurality of parameters of a cut gemstone while it is positioned at a single measurement location. Apparatus comprise a plurality of light sources, each configured to emit light at a different one of a plurality of emission wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths such that the emitted light illuminates at least part of the measurement location. Apparatus further comprise a sensor assembly configured to sense light at a plurality of sensing wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths for measuring the plurality of parameters. The sensed light is received at the sensor assembly from the measurement location as a result of illumination of a cut gemstone located at the measurement location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: De Beers UK Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas Matthew Davies, Siobhan D'Gama, Peter Stanley Rose, Maxwell Ralph Willis
  • Patent number: 9958387
    Abstract: In a computer-implemented method and system for capturing the condition of a structure, the structure is scanned with a three-dimensional (3D) scanner. The 3D scanner generates 3D data. A point cloud or 3D model is constructed from the 3D data. The point cloud or 3D model is then analyzed to determine the condition of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: James M. Freeman, Roger D. Schmidgall, Patrick H. Boyer, Nicholas U. Christopulos, Jonathan D. Maurer, Nathan L. Tofte, Jackie O. Jordan, II
  • Patent number: 9956464
    Abstract: A ball bat barrel has an interior surface and a luminescent layer on the interior surface. The luminescent layer, upon being charged, emits light that indicates tampering with the interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventors: Richard E. Moritz, Brent R. Slater, Sean S. Epling, Mark A. Fritzke, Robert T. Thurman, Ty B. Goodwin, Joshua S. Stenzler
  • Patent number: 9949645
    Abstract: A fluorescence imaging apparatus including: a processor comprising hardware, configured to: specify a processing condition to be used to process a fluorescence image in accordance with treatment-details information indicating specifics of a treatment to be performed on a biological tissue; in a case where a first processing condition is specified, identify a first fluorescence region in the fluorescence image having a predetermined first fluorescence intensity based on the first processing condition; in a case where a second processing condition is specified, identify a second fluorescence region in the fluorescence image having a predetermined second fluorescence intensity based on the second processing condition; and generate a superimposed image by superimposing the first fluorescence region or the second fluorescence region that is identified, with a return-light image at a region in the return-light image corresponding to the first fluorescence region or the second fluorescence region, respectively, that
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromi Shida, Yasushige Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9946058
    Abstract: A microscope apparatus comprises: a distribution measurement apparatus which—with respect to an observation region wherein a sample is arranged which comprises a fluorescent material that is activated when irradiated with an activating light of a prescribed wavelength, and that emits fluorescence when irradiated in an activated condition with an exciting light of a wavelength that differs from that of the activating light—obtains a fluorescent picture image by conducting irradiation with the exciting light, and measures a fluorescent intensity distribution of the observation region; an irradiation intensity setting apparatus which sets irradiation intensities of the activating light for respective portions of the observation region based on the fluorescent intensity distribution; and a picture image formation apparatus which obtains a plurality of the fluorescent picture images by multiply repeating operations comprising an operation wherein the observation region is irradiated with the activating light at th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ichiro Sase
  • Patent number: 9936908
    Abstract: A light source emits light into a first portion of a living body. Functionalized particles within the body are configured to specifically bind to a target analyte, and upon receiving the emitted light, undergo a reaction that separates a detectable label from the functionalized particle. A sensor device is configured to detect a response signal from a second portion of the living body that is indicative of an abundance of the detectable label in the second portion. A control system uses the sensor device to obtain sensor data indicative of the response signal from the second portion of the living body detected by the sensor device during a measurement interval, and determines a presence or absence of the target analyte within the first portion of the living body based in part on the obtained data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Victor Marcel Acosta, Jerrod Joseph Schwartz, Russell Norman Mirov
  • Patent number: 9931039
    Abstract: A method of achieving instrument independent measurements for quantitative analysis of fiber-optic Raman spectroscope system, the system comprising a laser source, a spectroscope and a fiber optic probe to transmit light from the laser source to a target and return scattered light to the spectroscope, the method comprising transmitting light from the laser source to a standard target having a known spectrum, recording a calibration spectrum of the scattered light from the standard target, comparing the known spectrum and the calibration system and generating a probe and/or probe-system transfer function, and storing the transfer function. Further provided is a method of performing real-time diagnostic Raman spectroscopy optionally in combination with the other disclosed methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Zhiwei Huang, Khek Yu Ho, Mads Sylvest Bergholt, Wei Zheng, Khay Guan Yeoh, Shiyamala Duraipandian
  • Patent number: 9933351
    Abstract: An airborne biological particle monitoring device collects particles floating in air. The monitor includes a camera sensor, illumination source, and quantum-dot illumination source. The camera sensor captures a first image of the particles when the collected particles are illuminated by the illumination source. The camera sensor captures a second image of the particles when the collected particles are illuminated by the quantum-dot illumination source. The first and second images are analyzed to identify the collected particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Scanit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Kent, Pedro Manautou, An-Chun Tien
  • Patent number: 9933365
    Abstract: Disclosed are calibration apparatuses for fluorescent microscopy instruments and methods of making and using them. Specifically, disclosed are calibration apparatuses with a fluorescent layer, such as photoresist, deposited on a substrate, with an optional layer of a reflective material, such as chrome. Illumination of the fluorescent and/or reflective layers, and detection and analysis of the resulting emissions allows evaluation of the instrument with respect to both reflective and fluorescent channels. Selection of appropriate fluorescent materials for the one or more fluorescent layers allows the evaluation of an instrument with respect to different fluorophores, as would be used with an instrument capable of two color detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Bei-Shen Sywe, Mark Borodkin, Chuan Gao, Liana Ilkova, Devin Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9927417
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high reflectivity integrating cavity and device to amplify and detect luminescent emissions produced by small concentrations of materials to be analyzed. Femto or nano molar concentrations of a material can be placed within the high reflectivity integrating cavity. At least the interior surface of the high reflectivity integrating cavity can comprise a coating that, at a designated wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, is transparent and non-absorbing to such designated wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. In addition to the isotropic field induced by the interior surface of the high reflectivity integrating cavity, the high reflectivity of the interior surface of the high reflectivity integrating cavity leads to very large effective optical path lengths within the interior of the high reflectivity integrating cavity, thereby amplifying the luminescent emissions produced by the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Vladislav Victorovich Yakovlev, Edward S. Fry, John David Mason, Joel Nathan Bixler, Michael Thomas Cone, Brett Harrison Hokr
  • Patent number: 9921156
    Abstract: A system and method for determining fluorescence decay in a biological sample is provided. The method includes acquiring optical signal data from at least a part of a biological sample undergoing fluorescence, assembling the optical signal data into a set of spatial time-series data, and converting the set of spatial time-series data into a set of spatial frequency time-series data. The method also includes applying a spatial filter to the set of spatial frequency time-series data to yield a set of filtered frequency-series data, the spatial filter configured to separate, from the set of frequency-series data, fluorescence signals consistent with a non-diffuse component and converting the set of filtered frequency-series data into a set of filtered time-series data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventor: Anand T. N. Kumar
  • Patent number: 9921468
    Abstract: An X-Y table with a position-measuring device includes a table which is disposed on a support and is movable on the support so that altogether the table is positionable in a plane parallel to an underlying stationary base. Two groups of scanning heads are disposed on the support. For position measurement in two directions, a respective one of the scanning heads directs light through a respective transmissive scale attached along an edge of the table such that a respective reflective scale, which is stationary relative to a processing tool disposed above the table, reflects the light through the respective transmissive scale back to the respective scanning head. In a central position of the table, the two groups are in positional correspondence with the transmissive scales, and, in either of two edge positions of the table, only one of the two groups is in positional correspondence with the transmissive scales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Holzapfel, Joerg Drescher, Markus Meissner, Ralph Joerger, Bernhard Musch, Thomas Kaelberer
  • Patent number: 9921154
    Abstract: System, including methods and apparatus, for performing a multiplexed digital assay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Yann Jouvenot, Serge Saxonov, Simant Dube, John Frederick Regan
  • Patent number: 9915622
    Abstract: Systems configured to inspect a wafer are provided. One system includes an illumination subsystem configured to direct pulses of light to an area on a wafer; a scanning subsystem configured to scan the pulses of light across the wafer; a collection subsystem configured to image pulses of light scattered from the area on the wafer to a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to integrate a number of the pulses of scattered light that is fewer than a number of the pulses of scattered light that can be imaged on the entire area of the sensor, and wherein the sensor is configured to generate output responsive to the integrated pulses of scattered light; and a computer subsystem configured to detect defects on the wafer using the output generated by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corp.
    Inventors: Anatoly Romanovsky, Ivan Maleev, Daniel Kavaldjiev, Yury Yuditsky, Dirk Woll, Stephen Biellak, Mehdi Vaez-Iravani, Guoheng Zhao