Methods Patents (Class 250/459.1)
  • Patent number: 11209237
    Abstract: A toy gun capable of illuminating soft projectile being ejected therefrom, comprising a gun body, a grip assembly is fixedly attached to the gun body, and a trigger assembly mounted on the grip assembly. The gun body has a power source, a motor, a launch assembly with a launch tube, a light source and a light reflecting unit. When the trigger assembly of the toy gun is actuated, the power source activates the motor and switches on the light source. The activated motor causes the launch assembly to discharge a soft projectile in the launch tube and the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the light reflecting unit onto the soft projectile once it is discharged, thereby illuminating the soft projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Siew Buan Quek
  • Patent number: 11209367
    Abstract: Methods and systems for fluorescence imaging are described herein. The method can include: receiving a fluorescence signal including an excitation signal, a first emission signal for a first fluorophore having a first emission spectra, and a second emission signal for a second fluorophore having a second emission spectra; filtering the fluorescence signal to: isolate a first channel encompassing at least one of: a bandwidth of at least 1 nm within which an emission intensity of the first emission spectra is at least twice an emission intensity of the second emission spectra, a bandwidth having a rising edge of the first emission spectra; and at least 10% by height of a rising edge of the first emission spectra, and produce a channel including the fluorescence signal less the first channel; and directing the first channel and the resulting channel to different regions of one or more cameras for collecting fluorescence emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: YALE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yongdeng Zhang, Joerg Bewersdorf
  • Patent number: 11199689
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for microscopic evaluation (120) of a sample (2), in particular at least one uncolored object or cell sample (2), in an optical detection system (1), where the following steps are performed: providing at least two different detection information (110) about the sample (2), in particular by the detection system (1), performing an evaluation (120) of the detection information (110), in particular by an analysis means (60), on the basis of machine-learned transfer information (200), in order to determine result information (140) about the sample (2), the transfer information (200) being trained for a different detection parameterization of the detection information (110), in which the detection information (110) differs from one another in terms of at least one illumination parameter of the detection system (1), in particular in terms of polarization and/or color coding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Krueger, Mike Woerdemann, Stefan Diepenbrock
  • Patent number: 11195276
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for imaging a sample. In various embodiments, the invention provides a system comprising an image sensor, a laser for emitting excitation light for an infrared or near-infrared fluorophore, a visible light source, a notch beam splitter, a notch filter, a synchronization module, an image processing unit, an image displaying unit, and light-conducting channels. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a system comprising an image sensor, a laser for emitting excitation light for an infrared or near-infrared fluorophore, a laser clean-up filter, a notch filter, a white light source, an image processing unit, an image displaying unit, and light-conducting channels. In accordance with the present invention, the image sensor can detect both visible light and infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
    Inventors: Pramod Butte, Adam Mamelak
  • Patent number: 11194144
    Abstract: A microscopy method, and related microscope, including producing illumination radiation and directing it at a focus. The illumination radiation is switched temporally between at least two modes, such that focus modulation is effected at which temporally varying and mutually different mode fields of the illumination radiation are produced in the focus. The focus is guided at least over regions of a sample to be examined, wherein detection radiation in the sample is or may be brought about by the illumination radiation in the focus at least at a point of origin. The detection radiation is captured in a manner assigned to the at least one point of origin. In addition to the illumination radiation, at least one disexcitation beam of rays of disexcitation radiation is directed at the focus. The disexcitation radiation prevents the detection radiation from being brought about in the region that is illuminated by the disexcitation radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Netz, Thomas Kalkbrenner, Tiemo Anhut
  • Patent number: 11181490
    Abstract: An x-ray apparatus, that may include a mount that is configured to hold a sample; an x-ray source, that is configured to direct an x-ray beam toward a first side of the sample; a detector, positioned downstream to a second side of the sample, the detector is configured to detect, during a sample measurement period, at least a part of x-rays that have been transmitted through the sample; and an x-ray intensity detector that is positioned, during a beam intensity monitoring period at a measurement position that is located between the x-ray source and the first side of the sample, so as to detect at least a part of the x-ray beam before the x-ray beam reaches the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: BRUKER TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Alex Dikopoltsev, Matthew Wormington, Yuri Vinshtein, Alexander Krokhmal
  • Patent number: 11175288
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for detecting indicators for determining diseases (disease indicators), in which aggregates of misfolded proteins play a role, and a method for selective quantitation and/or characterization of these disease indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JUELICH GMBH
    Inventors: Dieter Willbold, Susanne Aileen Funke, Eva Birkmann, Kateryna Kravchenko, Oliver Bannach, Carsten Korth, Verian Bader, Steffen Huebinger
  • Patent number: 11150185
    Abstract: The present technology is directed to the nanoparticles for use as molecular environmental sensors. The nanoparticles comprise a photoluminescence core and a plurality of ligands bound to the core and forming a quencher permeable ligand shell. The ligands comprise a reactive or charged moiety capable of being modulated between a first stand and a second state, and the proportion of ligands in each state determine the permeability of the ligand shell to a photoluminescence quencher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Chen He, David J. Weinberg, Emily A. Weiss, Jeremiah Yoonsung Kim, Chen Wang, Andrew Lee
  • Patent number: 11131631
    Abstract: A microscopy method and system includes obtaining a plurality of raw fluorescence images, respective ones of the plurality of raw fluorescence images obtained by exciting a sample using a light source at a respective irradiance value in a weak saturation region of the sample, and capturing the respective raw fluorescence image; applying a plurality of weights to the plurality of raw fluorescence images in a one-to-one correspondence so as to generate a plurality of weighted fluorescence images, wherein a respective weight is based on the respective irradiance value at which the corresponding raw fluorescence image was obtained; and linearly combining the plurality of weighted fluorescence images, thereby generating the output image having a resolution greater than a diffraction limit. Respective raw fluorescence images correspond to irradiance values different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC
    Inventors: Scott S. Howard, Yide Zhang, Cody J. Smith
  • Patent number: 11131630
    Abstract: For setting a laser-scanning fluorescence microscope to a correct alignment in which an intensity maximum of excitation light and an intensity minimum of fluorescence inhibition light coincide in a focal area of an objective lens, a structure in a sample marked with a fluorescent dye is scanned with the intensity maximum of the excitation light to generate first and second pictures of the sample, the first picture corresponding to a higher and the second picture corresponding to a lower intensity of the fluorescence inhibition light. A spatial offset of a first image of the structure in the first picture with regard to a second image of the structure in the second picture is calculated; and the intensity maximum of the excitation light is shifted with regard to the intensity minimum of the fluorescence inhibition light in the direction of the offset calculated to set the microscope to the correct alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: ABBERIOR INSTRUMENTS GMBH
    Inventors: Joern Heine, Matthias Reuss, Benjamin Harke, Lars Kastrup
  • Patent number: 11131622
    Abstract: An information processing device includes a statistical processing unit that performs statistical processing for a group of spectra obtained by applying light to a group of microparticles that exhibit one response property with respect to light, and on a basis of a result of the statistical processing, exclude a spectrum indicating an outlier from the group of spectra, and a reference spectrum calculation unit that calculates a reference spectrum using the group of spectra from which the spectrum indicating the outlier has been excluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Umetsu, Yasunobu Kato, Nobuhiro Hayashi, Naoki Ide
  • Patent number: 11118221
    Abstract: Disclosed herein in are methods and systems for determining genetic variants (e.g., copy number variation) in a polynucleotide sample. A method for determining copy number variations includes tagging double-stranded polynucleotides with duplex tags, sequencing polynucleotides from the sample and estimating total number of polynucleotides mapping to selected genetic loci. The estimate of total number of polynucleotides can involve estimating the number of double-stranded polynucleotides in the original sample for which no sequence reads are generated. This number can be generated using the number of polynucleotides for which reads for both complementary strands are detected and reads for which only one of the two complementary strands is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: GUARDANT HEALTH, INC.
    Inventors: AmirAli Talasaz, Stefanie Ann Ward Mortimer, Helmy Eltoukhy
  • Patent number: 11112593
    Abstract: In some instances, an apparatus can include a light sensitive imaging sensor having a surface to receive a fluid sample, a body to be moved relative to the light sensitive imaging sensor and having a surface to touch a portion of the fluid sample, and a carrier to move the body toward the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor to cause the surface of the body to touch the portion of the fluid sample, so that as the surface of the body touches the portion of the fluid, the surface of the body (i) is parallel to the surface of the light sensitive imaging sensor, and (ii) settles on top of the fluid sample independently of motion of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventor: Alan Marc Fine
  • Patent number: 11103861
    Abstract: Disclosed are N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and 4-pyridinol-derived pincer ligands and metal complexes containing these ligands. These compounds can be used to photocatalyticaly reduce CO2 to CO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignees: The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama, University of Mississippi
    Inventors: Elizabeth T. Papish, Jared Heath Delcamp
  • Patent number: 11084839
    Abstract: Provided herein are a symmetrical pincer metal and bimetallic complexes. The symmetrical pincer metal complex includes a structure according to Formula I: wherein M is a metal; each N and N? is independently nitrogen or carbon; Z is selected from the group consisting of CH, C, and N; n is 0-3; each L is independently a neutral or charged ligand; and each R is independently an alkyl, Nx, CH2TMS. The symmetrical bimetallic complex includes a structure according to Formula II: wherein M is a metal; each N and N? is independently nitrogen or carbon; Z is selected from the group consisting of CH, C, and N; n is 0-3; each L is independently a neutral or charged ligand; and wherein each R is independently an alkyl, Nx, CH2TMS. Also provided herein is a method of catalyzing a reaction including administering one or more of the compounds disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: Mississippi State University, University of Mississippi
    Inventors: Thedford Keith Hollis, Charles Edwin Webster, Jared H. Delcamp
  • Patent number: 11086119
    Abstract: A fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy method with time-correlated single-photon counting includes using excitation light pulses separated in each case by a measurement interval to excite a sample to emit fluorescence photons. A detector signal that represents the captured fluorescence photons is generated. Detection times are determined based on the detector signal. Imaging is performed based on the detection times. The detection times of all captured fluorescence photons are compiled in a first data memory, common to a plurality of image pixels. The detection times of only those fluorescence photons which were captured in a predetermined number within the respective measurement intervals are compiled in a second data memory, common to the same plurality of image pixels. The detection times compiled in the data memories are combined within a calculation step. The results of the calculation step are stored in a third data memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Hecht, Bernd Widzgowski
  • Patent number: 11079373
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods that include co-culturing a cell and a microparticle that includes a capture ligand, in a culture medium under conditions in which a biomarker produced by the cell is bound by the capture ligand. Such methods may further include detecting (e.g., by flow or mass cytometry) complexes that include the microparticle, the capture ligand, the biomarker, and a detection reagent. The methods may further include determining the proportion or number of cells among a heterogeneous cell population that produced the biomarker and/or the level of biomarker secreted by such cells. Compositions, systems and kits are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Dolly B. Tyan, Ge Chen
  • Patent number: 11067552
    Abstract: A multi-core sensor system is provided. The multi-core sensor system can intelligently determine whether the reason for an abrupt dramatic change in sensor data is a sub-sensor fault or sudden pollution, so as to increase reliability of detected data of the sub-sensor. The multi-core sensor system can automatically determine whether the repair is needed when a device fault occurs, so as to ensure the continuity of sub-sensor detected data, which has significant value for continuous monitoring required for a haze treatment operation. In addition, human and material resources for device maintenance may be saved, thereby reducing waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: NOVA FITNESS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shitian Kou, Michael Jun Xu, Shuaishuai Jia, Jiangshan Song, Shuchun Si
  • Patent number: 11059977
    Abstract: Provided is a near-infrared-absorbing dye increasing a visible light transmittance and having a near-infrared blocking characteristic. The near-infrared-absorbing dye has an absorption characteristic measured by dissolving the dye in dichloromethane satisfying the following requirements. ?In an absorption spectrum at a wavelength of 400 to 800 nm, there is a maximum absorption wavelength ?max in a wavelength region of 670 nm or more. ?The following relational expression is established between a maximum absorption constant ?A with respect to light with a wavelength of 430 to 550 nm and a maximum absorption constant ?B with respect to light with a wavelength of 670 nm or more, where ?B/?A?65. ?In a spectral transmittance curve, an average transmittance of light with a wavelength of 430 to 460 nm is 94.0% or more when a transmittance at the maximum absorption wavelength ?max is set to 1%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: AGC Inc.
    Inventors: Noriaki Miyake, Satoshi Okada, Jun Irisawa, Teppei Konishi, Keigo Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11035844
    Abstract: An image processing device (2A) comprises: an input means for inputting a brightfield image representing cell morphology in a tissue section, and a fluorescence image representing, by fluorescent bright spots, the expression of a specific protein in the same range of the tissue section; a first generation means for generating a cell image obtained by extracting a specific site of a cell from the brightfield image; a second generation means for generating an image obtained by extracting bright spot regions from the fluorescence image, creating a brightness profile for each bright spot region, and generating a fluorescent particle image obtained by extracting the fluorescent particles in the bright spot regions on the basis of the fluorescence profile for one fluorescent particle, which serves as a fluorescence bright spot source; and a calculation means for superimposing the cell image and the fluorescent particle image on one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Watanabe, Shuji Ichitani, Kohsuke Gonda, Noriaki Ohuchi, Mika Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11009463
    Abstract: Fluorescence imaging based on stimulated emission. In one example a system includes an excitation source (110) that excites fluorescent markers (122) in a sample (120) with an excitation beam (112), a stimulation source (130) that stimulates the excited fluorescent markers (122) to produce stimulated emission (124), and an objective lens (150) that receives the stimulation beam (132) and the stimulated emission (124). The system further includes a phase shifting and attenuation apparatus (200) configured to receive the stimulation beam (132) and the stimulated emission (124) from the objective lens (150), to attenuate the stimulation beam (132), and to induce a relative phase shift between a reference beam (optionally being at least a portion of the stimulation beam) and the stimulated emission, thereby causing constructive interference between the reference beam and the stimulated emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: CALICO LIFE SCIENCES LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Gregory York, Sanjay Ramesh Varma
  • Patent number: 11009400
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods for spectrally resolving light from fluorophores having overlapping fluorescence spectra in a sample. Methods according to certain embodiments include detecting light with a light detection system from a sample having a plurality of fluorophores having overlapping fluorescence spectra and spectrally resolving light from each fluorophore in the sample. In some embodiments, methods include estimating the abundance of one or more of the fluorophores in the sample, such as on a particle. In certain instances, methods include identifying the particle in the sample based on the abundance of each fluorophore and sorting the particle. Methods according to some embodiments includes spectrally resolving the light from each fluorophore by calculating a spectral unmixing matrix for the fluorescence spectra of each fluorophore. Systems and integrated circuit devices (e.g., a field programmable gate array) for practicing the subject methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Peter Mage, Keegan Owsley
  • Patent number: 10993646
    Abstract: Systems, devices, kits, and methods are provided herein in the form of example embodiments that relate to calibration of medical devices. The medical devices can be sensors adapted to sense a biochemical attribute. The embodiments can be used to determine calibration information specific to an individual medical device. The embodiments can determine the calibration information by reference to one or more parameters obtained during manufacturing of the medical device. The embodiments can also determine the calibration information by reference to in vitro testing of the medical devices. The embodiments also apply to systems incorporating those medical devices in their use in the field. Also described are embodiments of modifications to surfaces of sensor substrates, such as through applied radiation and/or the creation of a well, to aid in the placement and/or sizing of a sensor element on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Scott, Christopher J. Bennell, Claire Bhogal, Katie A. Cranfield, Marc B. Taub, Bree M. Winter, Owen D. Reynolds, Jean-Pierre Babka, Dharmendra S. Patel, Christopher A. Thomas, Udo Hoss, Mark S. Yahnke, Tahir S. Kahn
  • Patent number: 10995914
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a white light illumination system using InGaN-based orange nanowires (NWs) LED, in conjunction with a blue LD for high speed optical wireless communications. By changing the relative intensities of an ultrabroad linewidth orange LED and narrow-linewidth blue LD components, a hybrid LED/LD device achieves correlated color temperature (CCT) ranging from 3000 K to above 6000K with color rendering index (CRI) values reaching 83.1. Orange-emitting NWs LED are utilized as an active-phosphor, while a blue LD was used for both color mixing and optical wireless communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Boon S. Ooi, Bilal Janjua, Chao Shen, Chao Zhao, Tien Khee Ng
  • Patent number: 10983271
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to optical conductors comprising one or more fibrillar organic supramolecular species including an association of triarylamines, methods of preparation and applications thereof as optical and plasmonic waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, UNIVERSITÉ DE STRASBOURG
    Inventors: Nicolas Giuseppone, Joseph John Armao, IV, Gero Decher
  • Patent number: 10955344
    Abstract: A method for determining a degree of damage to hair is provided in the form of various embodiments. Said method can comprise the following steps: during the exposure of a hair sample to UV light (for example by employing a UV-LED), detecting fluorescence light emitted by the hair sample, determining a fluorescence intensity by employing the detected light, and determining the degree of damage to the hair using said fluorescence intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Georg Knuebel, Antje Gebert-Schwarzwaelder, Annika Koenen, Astrid Kroos, Melanie Moch, Wilfried Howorka
  • Patent number: 10955349
    Abstract: A fluorescence observation device for observing fluorescence from an observed subject including a negative switching fluorescent substance that undergoes a transition from a deactivated state to an activated state triggered by activation light, and is excited by pump light when in the activated state includes: a first intensity-modulating unit that intensity-modulates the activation light at a frequency f1; a second intensity-modulating unit that intensity-modulates probe light at a frequency f3 different from the frequency f1, the probe light inducing stimulated emission of the observed subject; a light-receiving unit that receives fluorescence from the observed subject irradiated with the pump light, and the intensity-modulated probe light and activation light; and a sensing unit that senses a component with a frequency of f1±f3 in a reception-light signal from the light-receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumihiro Dake
  • Patent number: 10955347
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, comprising illuminating an area of a wood fibre web by directing ultraviolet light to an area of the web by an ultraviolet light source, capturing an image of at least part of the illuminated area by an imaging device comprising a colour filter, transmitting image data of the captured image to an image data processing device, and analysing if the captured image comprises a fluorescent liquid stain emitting fluorescent light passed through the colour filter. The invention further relates to a machine vision system and a computer program product for detecting fluorescent liquid stains from a wood fibre web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Procemex Oy
    Inventors: Jari Ritoniemi, Markus Ritoniemi
  • Patent number: 10951844
    Abstract: A time-of-flight detection pixel includes a photosensitive area and at least two assemblies. Each assembly includes: a charge storage area; a transfer transistor configured to control charge transfer from the photosensitive area to the charge storage area; and readout circuit configured to non-destructively measure a quantity of charges stored in the charge storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventor: Francois Roy
  • Patent number: 10935492
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a characteristic of a photoluminescent (PL) layer comprises: a light source that generates an excitation light that includes light from the visible or near-visible spectrum; an optical assembly configured to direct the excitation light onto a PL layer; a detector that is configured to receive a PL emission generated by the PL layer in response to the excitation light interacting with the PL layer and generate a signal based on the PL emission; and a computing device coupled to the detector and configured to receive the signal from the detector and determine a characteristic of the PL layer based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Avishek Ghosh, Byung-Sung Kwak, Todd Egan, Robert Jan Visser, Gangadhar Banappanavar, Dinesh Kabra
  • Patent number: 10927099
    Abstract: Provided herein are unsymmetrical bis(azolium) salts, unsymmetrical CCC-NHC metal complexes, and methods of forming the same. The unsymmetrical bis(azolium) salts include a central aryl ring that is substituted with two heterocyclic rings in an ortho, meta, or para fashion. The unsymmetrical CCC-NHC metal complexes include metalated unsymmetrical bis(azolium) salts. The method of forming the unsymmetrical CCC-NHC metal complexes includes reacting a dihalogenated benzene with a first azole to form a mono(azole)benzene, reacting the mono(azole)benzene with a second azole to form an unsymmetrical bis(azole)benzene, alkylating the unsymmetrical bis(azole)benzene to form an unsymmetrical bis(azolium) salt, and metalating the unsymmetrical bis(azolium) salt to form the unsymmetrical CCC-NHC metal complex. Also provided are a bis-ligated CCC-NHC metal complex and an unsymmetrical bimetallic complex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Mississippi State University
    Inventors: Thedford Keith Hollis, Charles Edwin Webster
  • Patent number: 10894974
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for the detection of rare mutations and copy number variations in cell free polynucleotides. Generally, the systems and methods comprise sample preparation, or the extraction and isolation of cell free polynucleotide sequences from a bodily fluid; subsequent sequencing of cell free polynucleotides by techniques known in the art; and application of bioinformatics tools to detect rare mutations and copy number variations as compared to a reference. The systems and methods also may contain a database or collection of different rare mutations or copy number variation profiles of different diseases, to be used as additional references in aiding detection of rare mutations, copy number variation profiling or general genetic profiling of a disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: GUARDANT HEALTH, INC.
    Inventors: AmirAli Talasaz, Stefanie Ann Ward Mortimer
  • Patent number: 10876970
    Abstract: This disclosure includes an imaging system that is configured to image in parallel multiple focal planes in a sample uniquely onto its corresponding detector while simultaneously reducing blur on adjacent image planes. For example, the focal planes can be staggered such that fluorescence detected by a detector for one of the focal planes is not detected, or is detected with significantly reduced intensity, by a detector for another focal plane. This enables the imaging system to increase the volumetric image acquisition rate without requiring a stronger fluorescence signal. Additionally or alternatively, the imaging system may be operated at a slower volumetric image acquisition rate (e.g., that of a conventional microscope) while providing longer exposure times with lower excitation power. This may reduce or delay photo-bleaching (e.g., a photochemical alteration of the dye that causes it to no longer be able to fluoresce), thereby extending the useful life of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventor: Reto P Fiolka
  • Patent number: 10871447
    Abstract: Sensor devices for quantifying luminescent targets are described herein. An example device comprises a light source for exciting the targets, thus generating luminescence signals and a detector for detecting these signals, resulting in a detected signal which comprises a desired signal originating from the targets and a background signal. It moreover comprises a bleaching device for bleaching of at least part of the sources generating the background signal and a processor configured to trigger the bleaching device to start bleaching, and to trigger the light source for exciting the remaining luminescent targets which are not bleached, and to trigger the detector for detecting the luminescence signal of the remaining luminescent targets, so as to generate a measurement signal representative for the quantification of the luminescent targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Imec VZW
    Inventors: Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Willem Van Roy, Tim Stakenborg, Pol Van Dorpe
  • Patent number: 10838155
    Abstract: The optical fiber coupler array can be capable of providing a low-loss, high-coupling coefficient interface with high accuracy and easy alignment between a plurality of optical fibers (or other optical devices) with a first channel-to-channel spacing, and an optical device having a plurality of closely-spaced waveguide interfaces with a second channel-to-channel spacing, where each end of the optical fiber coupler array can be configurable to have different channel-to-channel spacing, each matched to a corresponding one of the first and second channel-to-channel spacing. Advantageously, the refractive indices and sizes of both inner and outer core, and/or other characteristics of vanishing core waveguides in the optical coupler array can be configured to reduce the back reflection for light propagating from the plurality of the optical fibers at the coupler first end to the optical device at the coupler second end, and/or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Chiral Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Il'ich Kopp, Jongchul Park, Jonathan Singer, Daniel Neugroschl
  • Patent number: 10837759
    Abstract: A three-dimensional measuring device includes a human detection information receiver for receiving information from a human detection sensor that detects a person present within a detection range, a laser emitter for irradiating a region including the object with the laser beam, a laser emission controller for controlling power of the laser beam irradiated from the laser emitter to first power and second power lower than the first power, an image capturing device for imaging the object, on which the laser beam is irradiated, and acquiring image data, and a point-group-data generator for generating, based on the image data, three-dimensional point group data of a region including the object. When the human detection information receiver receives, from the human detection sensor, first information indicating that a person is absent from the detection range, the laser emission controller controls the power of the laser beam to the first power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Wakabayashi, Makiko Hino, Hirosada Horiguchi, Daisuke Ishida
  • Patent number: 10823682
    Abstract: A wafer measurement apparatus for measuring a bonding strength of a bonded wafer includes a wafer holder to hold a bonded wafer into which a blade is inserted and where a crack occurs, a lighting assembly including a light source, a light source controller to select the light source of the lighting assembly for detection of the crack reflected in the bonded wafer, on photographing conditions, a photographing assembly to photograph the bonded wafer by using the photographing conditions corresponding to a wavelength of the light source, on sensitivity of the wavelength of the light source, and a calculator to select one photographing condition, transmit the selected photographing condition, and calculate bonding strength, on a crack distance from a blade edge, extracted from an image of the bonded wafer, to a crack edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takamasa Sugiura, Fumitaka Moroishi, Masato Kajinami
  • Patent number: 10823551
    Abstract: An optical method of measurement and an optical apparatus for determining the spatial position of at least one luminous object on a sample. A sequence of at least two compact luminous distributions of different topological families is projected onto the sample, and light re-emitted by the luminous object is detected. At least one optical image is generated for each luminous distribution on the basis of the light detected. The optical images are analyzed to obtain spatiotemporal information regarding the light re-emitted by the luminous object, or location of the luminous object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Bioaxial SAS
    Inventor: Gabriel Y. Sirat
  • Patent number: 10816616
    Abstract: A system for magnetic detection of an external magnetic field is described. The system includes a controller configured to control components of the system. The controller is configured to control an optical excitation source and a RF excitation source to apply pulse sequences to a magneto-optical defect center material such that in the excitation pulses of a first pair of RF excitation pulses have a first phase difference, the excitation pulses of a second pair of RF excitation pulses have a second phase difference, and the second phase difference is different from the first phase difference. The controller computes a combined magnetometry curve as a function of the RF excitation frequency based on a difference between a measured value of a first light detection signal and a measured value of a second light detection signal. The controller sets the first phase difference and the second phase difference based on the combined magnetometry curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arul Manickam, Peter G. Kaup, Gregory Scott Bruce
  • Patent number: 10799129
    Abstract: A biological information measuring device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a light source that, in operation, emits irradiation light for irradiating a test portion of a subject; a light detector that, in operation, detects light from the subject and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the light; and a control circuit that, in operation, determines a power of the irradiation light emitted by the light source, and that, in operation, measures biological information related to a blood flow at the test portion based on the electrical signal. The control circuit, in operation, detects a distance between the light source and the test portion based on the electrical signal, and determines the power of the irradiation light such that the power of the irradiation light is increased as the distance increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teruhiro Shiono, Takamasa Ando
  • Patent number: 10801063
    Abstract: Disclosed herein in are methods and systems for determining genetic variants (e.g., copy number variation) in a polynucleotide sample. A method for determining copy number variations includes tagging double-stranded polynucleotides with duplex tags, sequencing polynucleotides from the sample and estimating total number of polynucleotides mapping to selected genetic loci. The estimate of total number of polynucleotides can involve estimating the number of double-stranded polynucleotides in the original sample for which no sequence reads are generated. This number can be generated using the number of polynucleotides for which reads for both complementary strands are detected and reads for which only one of the two complementary strands is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: GUARDANT HEALTH, INC.
    Inventors: Helmy Eltoukhy, AmirAli Talasaz, Stefanie Ann Ward Mortimer
  • Patent number: 10796120
    Abstract: A system and method for authenticating an item, including a photoluminescent material disposed on or in a substrate and capable of absorbing an incident radiation from a radiation source and emitting an emitted radiation having a spectral signature with a decay time after removal of the radiation source, and a photoauthentication device capable of being disposed in contact with the substrate and including the radiation source and a camera, where, in connection with providing the incident radiation and measuring the emitted radiation, the photoauthentication device is translated across the substrate while the photoauthentication device is disposed in contact with the substrate, and after translation across or over the substrate and the radiation source is not providing the incident radiation, the photoauthentication device is static with respect to the substrate and the camera is disposed over the photoluminescent material emitting the emitted radiation when the emitted radiation is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Spectra Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Nabil Lawandy
  • Patent number: 10793916
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for the detection of rare mutations and copy number variations in cell free polynucleotides. Generally, the systems and methods comprise sample preparation, or the extraction and isolation of cell free polynucleotide sequences from a bodily fluid; subsequent sequencing of cell free polynucleotides by techniques known in the art; and application of bioinformatics tools to detect rare mutations and copy number variations as compared to a reference. The systems and methods also may contain a database or collection of different rare mutations or copy number variation profiles of different diseases, to be used as additional references in aiding detection of rare mutations, copy number variation profiling or general genetic profiling of a disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: GUARDANT HEALTH, INC.
    Inventor: AmirAli Talasaz
  • Patent number: 10775127
    Abstract: A toy gun capable of illuminating soft projectile being ejected therefrom, comprising a gun body, a grip assembly is fixedly attached to the gun body, and a trigger assembly mounted on the grip assembly. The gun body has a power source, a motor, a launch assembly with a launch tube, a light source and a light reflecting unit. When the trigger assembly of the toy gun is actuated, the power source activates the motor and switches on the light source. The activated motor causes the launch assembly to discharge a soft projectile in the launch tube and the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the light reflecting unit onto the soft projectile once it is discharged, thereby illuminating the soft projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventor: Siew Buan Quek
  • Patent number: 10734594
    Abstract: To provide a light-emitting element which uses a fluorescent material as a light-emitting substance and has higher luminous efficiency. To provide a light-emitting element which includes a mixture of a thermally activated delayed fluorescent substance and a fluorescent material. By making the emission spectrum of the thermally activated delayed fluorescent substance overlap with an absorption band on the longest wavelength side in absorption by the fluorescent material in an S1 level of the fluorescent material, energy at an S1 level of the thermally activated delayed fluorescent substance can be transferred to the S1 of the fluorescent material. Alternatively, it is also possible that the S1 of the thermally activated delayed fluorescent substance is generated from part of the energy of a T1 level of the thermally activated delayed fluorescent substance, and is transferred to the S1 of the fluorescent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Seo, Hiromi Seo, Tatsuyoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10732112
    Abstract: A system and method for self-checking a fluorometer for failure or deteriorated performance includes fluorescent reference standards mounted on a support to move with respect to one or more fixed fluorometers. The intensity of the fluorescent emission of the fluorescent reference standard is initially measured with the fluorometer, and, after a prescribed interval of usage of the fluorometer, a test measurement of the intensity of the fluorescent emission of the fluorescent standard is taken with the fluorometer. The test measurement is compared to the initial measurement, and failure or deteriorated performance of the fluorometer is determined based on a deviation of the test measurement from the initial measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Gen-Probe Incorporated
    Inventors: Haitao Li, David Opalsky, R. Eric Heinz, Norbert D. Hagen
  • Patent number: 10714295
    Abstract: A photocathode structure, which can include one or more of Cs2Te, CsKTe, CsI, CsBr, GaAs, GaN, InSb, CsKSb, or a metal, has a protective film on an exterior surface. The protective film includes one or more of ruthenium, nickel, platinum, chromium, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, or an alloy thereof. The protective film can have a thickness from 1 nm to 10 nm. The photocathode structure can be used in an electron beam tool like a scanning electron microscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Gildardo R. Delgado, Katerina Ioakeimidi, Frances Hill, Gary V. Lopez Lopez, Rudy F. Garcia
  • Patent number: 10703966
    Abstract: A chromic luminescent composition and method for fabricating the composition are disclosed. The chromic luminescent composition comprises at least one or more non-luminescent materials and one or more luminescent materials. The one or more non-luminescent materials having absorption spectra that at least partially overlap with the spectrum of incident electromagnetic radiation. The one or more luminescent materials convert at least a portion of energy of incident electromagnetic radiation to a lower energy wavelength. The one or more non-luminescent materials and the one or more luminescent materials are selected such that, when subsequently exposed to incident electromagnetic radiation, color and brightness are substantially modulated through absorption and emission as a function of incident electromagnetic radiation. Also disclosed are a chromic luminescent textile and a method for fabricating the textile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: BAMBU VAULT LLC
    Inventors: Satish Agrawal, Louis Cincotta, Edward D. Kingsley, Nancy Lane
  • Patent number: 10706519
    Abstract: A vehicle detection system and method is disclosed. The vehicle detection system can comprise an imaging device arranged on a vehicle and at least one light source that is configured to illuminate a target area arranged beneath the vehicle to excite at least one reactive agent contained within a fluid sample disposed at the target area. A detection device is coupled to the imaging device and configured to detect an intensity of light reflected from the target area and generate an output signal indicative of a color characteristic of the at least one reactive agent. An electronic data processor is communicatively coupled to the imaging device, light source, and detection device, and is configured to associate the detected color characteristic of the at least one reactive agent with a fluid system of the vehicle, and display a location of the fluid system on an operator interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas L. Kennedy, David J. Meyers
  • Patent number: 10684211
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present teachings provide a system for performing cytometry that can be operated in three operational modes. In one operational mode, a fluorescence image of a sample is obtained by exciting one or more fluorophore(s) present in the sample by an excitation beam formed as a superposition of a top-hat-shaped beam with a plurality of beams that are radiofrequency shifted relative to one another. In another operational mode, a sample can be illuminated successively over a time interval by a laser beam at a plurality of excitation frequencies in a scanning fashion. The fluorescence emission from the sample can be detected and analyzed, e.g., to generate a fluorescence image of the sample. In yet another operational mode, the system can be operated to illuminate a plurality of locations of a sample concurrently by a single excitation frequency, which can be generated, e.g., by shifting the central frequency of a laser beam by a radiofrequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: OMEGA BIOSYSTEMS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Eric D. Diebold, Keegan Owsley, Jonathan Lin