Array Or Matrix Patents (Class 250/553)
  • Patent number: 7103209
    Abstract: Noted portions of an image, such as a pin point hole in an isolated area or a pattern contour that forms a continuous boundary area, are clearly displayed by first erasing background noise by acquiring information regarding differences between an image detection signal (pixel) of each scanned position (dot) in matrix form and image detection signals of the surrounding scanned positions, and secondly, by adopting a value that is either a largest or smallest value greater than or equal to zero among a plurality of sets of information on value differences as new image information for the scanned position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: SII NanoTechnology Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuo Aita
  • Patent number: 7045974
    Abstract: A system for the throughput detection and feedback of optical energy for making sure of white balance of the LED array in a flat fluorescent light source when the LED array in emitting light by respectively connecting in series a selected LED lamp respectively from RGB LED groups in an LED array to an optical energy sensor to convert optical energy into equivalent amperage, then voltage analog signals to digital signals for a CPU to compare and solve the difference of optical energy to improve voltage output, which then regulated by a driver and fed back to the LED array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Radiant Opto-Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Fang Lin, Ming-Hsiang Yu, Jyh-Chang Lin, Yun Yun Wang, Yen Chuan Chu, Ying-Fu Wang
  • Patent number: 6984837
    Abstract: In order to improve target illumination, a light source (2) of an emitter, which has a laser diode (3) configured as an edge emitter with a wavelength of 1,550 nm, has beam forming optics (4) mounted downstream in relation thereto, which comprise a cylindrical lens (7) and a first deflection element (8) with three fields having different diffraction structures. Said deflection element are located next to one another and crosswise in relation to the first fields and which also have different diffraction structures. Said deflection element directs the partial beams to the aperture of a collimator (1) in such a way that the partial beams substantially fill said aperture. The first deflection element (8) and a mount (6) for the cylindrical lens (7) are integral and, alike the second deflection element (10), are made of plastic. Both parts are glued to opposite sides of the frontal areas of a block (5) made of glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems A.G.
    Inventors: Bernhard Gächter, Andreas Schilling, Laurent Stauffer, Urs Vokinger
  • Patent number: 6946286
    Abstract: An apparatus for identifying an unknown DNA sample. The apparatus includes a plurality of detection nodes, each of which is operable for allowing an interaction between a known DNA sample and an unknown DNA sample, and for generating an output signal if hybridization occurs between the known DNA sample and the unknown DNA sample. The apparatus further includes a decoder operative for receiving an input signal indicative of which of the plurality of detection nodes should be selected for processing and for outputting control signals which operate to activate the selected detection node. Further, each of the detection nodes includes a light source and a photodetection circuit. The photodetection circuit has a conductance value which varies if hybridization occurs between the known DNA sample and the unknown DNA sample deposited in the detection node. This change in conductance value is utilized to generate the output signal which indicates that hybridization has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: John K. Howard
  • Patent number: 6891180
    Abstract: A camera system (2) for strip-shaped exposure of a bank note (BN) having good optical properties as well as a compact construction has, symmetrically to an optical axis (OA), mirror assemblies (4a, 4b) of elliptical cross section each extending in the direction of the illuminated strip, light sources formed by LED arrays (6a, 6b), an imaging optic in the form of a SELFOC® lens assembly (8), and a photodetector array (12) onto which the illuminated strip of the bank note (BN) is imaged by the SELFOC® lens assembly (8) in a 1:1 ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Holl, Florian Holzner, Johann Schiessl, Bernd Wunderer
  • Patent number: 6853358
    Abstract: A method for driving a plasma display panel is provided in which wasteful power consumption is reduced and ion bombardment that may deteriorate cells is suppressed for a long life of cells. A ratio of lighting that is a ratio of the number of cells to be lighted to a total number of cells is detected in accordance with display data that determine contents of addressing. In accordance with the detected ratio of lighting, a waveform of a voltage pulse that is applied in the sustaining step for displaying the corresponding display data is changed so that a gradient of the voltage change at a leading edge becomes smaller for a large value of the ratio of lighting than for a small value of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display Limited
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kunii, Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6844185
    Abstract: An integrated biomolecule sensor comprising a plurality of optical fibers whose proximal ends are held together with the end-faces arranged substantially in the same plane and oriented substantially in the same direction and which have probe polymers with different base sequences bound to the core end-face at their distal ends. The method and apparatus for fabricating the integrated biomolecule sensor, and the method and apparatus for detecting biomolecules using the integrated biomolecule sensor are also disclosed. Researchers can make their own sensors best suited for individual requirements, and detect the presence of target biomolecules quickly, without need of expensive equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Riken
    Inventors: Hideo Tashiro, Yasumitsu Kondoh, Tokuji Kitsunai, Tomoko Tashiro
  • Patent number: 6831266
    Abstract: An optical transducer includes a base member, a light source carried on a face of the base member, a light detector carried on the face of the base member, a displaceable member overlying and spaced from the light source and light detector and effective to reflect light from the light source to the light detector, and light shielding means effective to shield the light detector from exposure to the light source except for the light reflected by the displaceable member from the light source to the light detector. The light detector is configured to substantially surround the light source such as to receive light emitted in substantially all directions from the light source for reflection to the light detector by the displaceable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Phone-Or Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Paritsky, Alexander Kots
  • Patent number: 6714285
    Abstract: In order to improve target illumination a light emitter comprises several partial light sources (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d), the partial beams (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) of which are collected by means of a beam collector optic (2) and directed to the aperture of a collimator (1). The beam collector optic (2) comprises two half-mirrored sheets (12a, 12b), which each direct two similarly polarized partial beams (5a, b; 5c, d) side by side onto a polarization cube (13), where the pairs of partial beams which are polarized perpendicular and orthogonal to each other are overlaid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems A.G.
    Inventors: Bernhard Gächter, Urs Vokinger
  • Publication number: 20040046134
    Abstract: A line light source system includes a line light source formed by a number of linearly arranged light emitting elements. A pair of cylindrical lenses converges the light bundles emitted from the respective light emitting elements in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the light emitting elements are arranged, and a pinhole array limits the angle of divergence of the light bundles emitted from the respective light emitting elements with respect to the optical axis of the cylindrical lenses in a direction parallel to the direction in which the light emitting elements are arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuo Hakamata
  • Publication number: 20030230733
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor apparatus for solving a trade-off between the area, power consumption, noise and accuracy of correction of a variation correction circuit that corrects variations in resistance and threshold voltage, etc. The present invention comprises a multi-value voltage generation circuit shared by a plurality of reading circuits, a multi-value voltage bus that supplies multi-value voltages to the reading circuits and switches that select a voltage suited to variation correction from multi-value voltages, wherein the multi-value voltages are distributed from the multi-value voltage generation circuit to the plurality of reading circuits, the switches select an optimum voltage for correction in the respective reading circuits to thereby correct variations in the elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akio Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6590199
    Abstract: An optical information processing apparatus for use in optical computing, optical image processing, and the like and, more particularly, a small-sized integrated optical information processing apparatus having multiple arrays, a high pixel density and a large number of pixels. The optical information processing apparatus includes a light emitting device array 11 in which light emitting devices 6 are inserted in through holes provided in a silicon substrate for receiving light emitting devices, a semiconductor arithmetic circuit chip 17, and a glass substrate 16 provided with diffraction type optical devices. Thus, a small-sized optical information processing apparatus having multiple arrays and a high pixel density can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Kawai, Kazushi Higashi
  • Patent number: 6579495
    Abstract: A hand-held water purification system includes an outwardly-extending pen-light sized configuration of solid state devices, such as, UV-light emitting diodes, that emit ultraviolet light in the germicidal range. The system operates to turn on the solid state devices under the control of one or more switches that are, in turn, under the control of a liquid-level sensor that senses when the configuration is immersed in the water. The system may also include a timing circuit that turns the solid state devices off a predetermined time after they are turned on. In one embodiment, a battery powers the various components of the system. In an alternative embodiment, the system power is provided by a base that plugs into a conventional power outlet. The base includes a converter that converts the signal provided through the power outlet to a signal that is appropriate to power the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Hydro Photon, Inc.
    Inventor: Miles Maiden
  • Patent number: 6570150
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a sensor including a sensing region which senses the image of an object, and a correcting circuit which performs first processing which corrects image data based on a second region corresponding to an irradiation region in the sensing region by using correcting data based on a first region corresponding to another irradiation region in the sensing region, and second processing which performs processing on the image data based on a third region included in the second region, and which is excluded in the overlapping part between the first region and the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Tsujii
  • Patent number: 6512858
    Abstract: A scanning circuit for use with an active pixel sensor array comprises a row-address generator configured to start at a selected row-start address, stop at a selected row-stop address, and increment row addresses by a factor K. A column-address generator is configured to start at a selected column-start address, stop at a selected column stop address, and increment column addresses by a factor K. Circuitry is coupled to the row address generator and the column address generator, for storing the row-start address, the row-stop address, the column-start address, the column-stop address and the factor K. A row decoder is coupled to the row-address generator and a column selector is coupled to the column-address generator. A plurality of row select lines are coupled to the row decoder, each one of the row select lines associated with a different row in the active pixel sensor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Foveon, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard F. Lyon, Richard M. Turner, Richard B. Merrill
  • Patent number: 6495964
    Abstract: The combined light output (chromaticity) of a white light emitting LED luminaire is electronically controlled based on measurements by a single photodiode arranged to measure the light outputs of at least a plurality of the LEDs in the array. This is accomplished by measuring the light output of the LEDs in each color separately in a sequence of time pulses. For an array of red, green, and blue LEDs there are three time pulses in a measuring sequence. During each time pulse, the current for the color being measured is turned off. The response time of a typical photodiode is extremely short, so the measuring sequence can be performed in a sufficiently short time that an-observer will not detect it (e.g. 10 ms). Measured light outputs for the colors are compared to desired outputs, which may be set by user controls, and changes to the power supply for the color blocks are made as necessary. Chromaticity is thus automatically controlled without regard to the factors which may cause it to change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Subramanian Muthu, Chin Chang
  • Patent number: 6474860
    Abstract: An optical interface for data communication that can be manufactured and aligned in a cost effective manner includes an array of optical emitters and an optical receiver are positioned within a predetermined tolerance with reference to each other so as to establish an optical data communication path. To search for and determine which of the emitters of the array achieves the best alignment, the optical emitters are individually energized in a sequence, while monitoring the output signal of the optical receiver. For subsequent data communications, the optical emitter determined to achieve the best alignment is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert John Wojnarowski, Glenn Alan Forman, Yung Sheng Liu
  • Patent number: 6353217
    Abstract: In the transmitter receiver of the present invention, a light-shielding sheet is arranged in front of a light-emitting portion having a LED whose light-emitting central axis is inclined and an aperture from which only the head of the light-emitting portion is exposed is made in the light-shielding sheet. The light-shielding sheet masks the inclined side portion of the light-emitting portion to prevent a light-receiving portion from detecting the light leaking from the inclined side portion. Therefore, the light-receiving portion can detect with high accuracy a change in the amount of light emission that is produced by a change in the direction of the light-emitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Uchio, Shinichi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 6272271
    Abstract: An optical interface for data communication that can be manufactured and aligned in a cost effective manner includes an array of optical emitters and an optical receiver are positioned within a predetermined tolerance with reference to each other so as to establish an optical data communication path. To search for and determine which of the emitters of the array achieves the best alignment, the optical emitters are individually energized in a sequence, while monitoring the output signal of the optical receiver. For subsequent data communications, the optical emitter determined to achieve the best alignment is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert John Wojnarowski, Glenn Alan Forman, Yung Sheng Liu
  • Publication number: 20010006219
    Abstract: An optical information processing apparatus for use in optical computing, optical image processing, and the like and, more particularly, a small-sized integrated optical information processing apparatus having multiple arrays, a high pixel density and a large number of pixels. The optical information processing apparatus includes a light emitting device array 11 in which light emitting devices 6 are inserted in through holes provided in a silicon substrate for receiving light emitting devices, a semiconductor arithmetic circuit chip 17, and a glass substrate 16 provided with diffraction type optical devices. Thus, a small-sized optical information processing apparatus having multiple arrays and a high pixel density can be realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Inventors: Hideo Kawai, Kazushi Higashi
  • Patent number: 6207946
    Abstract: A variable intensity lighting system for use with a machine vision apparatus for capturing high contrast images of articles to be inspected, such as semiconductor packages, includes an LED or optical fiber element and flash lamp array configured in multiple segments which are operable to be controlled as to light output intensity by a programmable intensity control circuit operably connected to a microprocessor. The intensity control circuit includes multiple digital potentiometers operable to control selected segments of the lighting array. The control circuit is adapted to control up to 64 segments of the lighting array individually at 64 incremental intensity levels, respectively. The control circuit may include a light failure module to detect a segment failure or a reversed connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Semiconductor Technologies & Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Noor Ashedah Binti Jusoh, Tan Seow Hoon, Sreenivas Rao
  • Patent number: 6153980
    Abstract: A device, e.g., a luminaire, that includes a plurality of LEDs connected in series, and an active shunt arrangement for sensing a failure of one or more of the LEDs and for shunting current that would have otherwise flowed through a failed LED, to thereby maintain a flow of current through remaining ones of the plurality of LEDs. In one exemplary embodiment, the active shunt arrangement includes a plurality of active shunts connected in parallel across respective ones of the LEDs, and remote sense and digital control logic for detecting an open-circuit condition of the normally closed circuit, and for sequentially activating the active shunts until the normally closed circuit has been restored to a closed-circuit condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Marshall, Michael D. Pashley, Stephen Herman, Gert W. Bruning
  • Patent number: 5902993
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to present an image scanner of high performance, high reliability, and low cost, capable of realizing high image quality of reading image and suited to small size, and an illuminating apparatus of low cost capable of increasing the quantity of light for illuminating an object to be read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okushiba, Keitoku Morita
  • Patent number: 5883706
    Abstract: A multiplexer for laser range finders and the like has a plurality of laser transmitters disposed about the periphery thereof. Each of the laser transmitters transmits a beam which is substantially smaller than the return beam received by the laser receiver. The laser receiver and each of the laser transmitters are configured to have a substantially common optical axis such that laser beams transmitted by the laser transmitters substantially overlap at a plane of interest so as to provide enhanced illumination thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Santanu Basu
  • Patent number: 5880462
    Abstract: A photoelectric keyboard switch apparatus comprising a first structure to produce and detect laterally directed and longitudinally spaced first light beams at a first level in a simulated keyboard area, which is open; a second structure to produce and detect longitudinally directed, laterally spaced second light beams at or proximate to the first level, in the area, whereby the first and second light beams produce a grid-like pattern having cross-over nodes; a third structure to produce and detect third light beams at a second level or levels, whereby user's finger interruption of a third beam occurs in conjunction with finger interruption of the first and second beam at or near one or more nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Chih-Yu Hsia
  • Patent number: 5834773
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method as well as to apparatus for testing the function of microstructure elements, wherein the microstructure element is driven for testing the emission and/or mechanical properties and the corpuscles emitted or reflected by it are detected and evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Ebetech Electron-Beam Technology Vertriebs GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Brunner, Hans-Peter Feuerbaum, Jurgen Frosien
  • Patent number: 5750974
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a plurality of light emitting diodes; a printed circuit board on which the light emitting diodes are arranged in one row; and a rod-like projection lens disposed in front of the light emitting diodes along a light emitting direction, for irradiating an object with light in a strip-like manner. Each of the light emitting diodes is a chip-type light emitting diode which has a substantially parallelpiped shape and which comprises a light-emitting face and a pair of electrode faces. The light-emitting faces are in a plurality of planes which are perpendicular to one common plane, respectively. An optical information reader has the lighting apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoichi Sasaki, Naoki Tanai, Masaaki Suhara
  • Patent number: 5723868
    Abstract: An array of reflectors is arranged to approximately match the arrangement of a two-dimensional array of LEDs such as used in a 2-D bar code scanner. Each reflector has at least one reflecting wall for reflecting light from a respective LED, thus increasing the amount of LED light illuminating the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Welch Allyn, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Hammond, Jr., William H. Havens
  • Patent number: 5623139
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for producing images representing radiation dose distributions in order to verify the radiation dose applied to a target area. The system uses a phantom assembly constructed of material that is the radiological equivalent of live tissue. The phantom assembly has slits where radiation sensitive film can be inserted and can include a channel for an insertable radiation generating device. The treatment dose is then applied to the phantom and the radiation sensitive film records the dose. A CCD camera microdensitometer is then used to read the exposed radiation sensitive film. The CCD camera microdensitometer includes a computer system which processes the image to remove artifacts and generates isodose contours for the radiation treatment applied. In addition, several pieces of radiation sensitive film in different planes can be exposed and processed in order to produce images representing the radiation dose distribution in three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Photoelectron Corporation
    Inventor: Alan P. Sliski
  • Patent number: 5585616
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for enhancing the optical image of information-containing symbols captured off reflective surfaces/using a conventional optical scanning camera. The method involves positioning the imaging assembly of the camera atop an information-containing coded symbol located on a component surface, where the imaging assembly includes a diffuser element and LED lighting array for illuminating the symbol, illuminating the surface and the symbol, and moving the diffuser element to a location between the coded symbol and the camera lens such that only light returning directly from the symbol is able to pass through the voided region of the diffuser element, before imaging the coded element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Donald L. Roxby, Lisa M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5546496
    Abstract: There is provided an inexpensive light emitting display device which has a simple wiring structure and produces a bright screen display. A photo-transistor is connected in series with a light emitting diode. The photo-transistor is arranged so that light emitted from the light emitting diode enters into the photo-transistor. There is provided an optical guide for guiding a data signal light to the photo-transistor and an optical guide for guiding a scanning signal light to the phototransistor. Further, an optical control section has a laser diode array, a lens array, and a deflection mirror. The above-mentioned arrangement obviates the need of an electric wiring for a data signal and a scanning signal, and is able to turn on the photo-transistor with the emission light from the light emitting diode and makes the photo-transistor self-hold its conductive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Kimoto, Masumi Nakamichi, Takahiro Funakoshi, Yasuhiro Wada, Takehiro Yamamoto, Yoichi Tsuda
  • Patent number: 5532813
    Abstract: In a light-wave distance meter, a light source device emits reference modulated light beams from multiple spatially-separated light emitting areas, an optical means radiates a light beam derived from the multiple modulated light beams to the target of measurement, a light beam reception means receives the reflected return light beam from the target and converts it into an electrical pulse signal, and a distance measuring means calculates the distance to the target based on the time difference between the light beam emission and the return light beam reception. The low coherence and high intensity light beam produced by the light source device enables the extension of the maximum measurable distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Masahiro Ohishi, Fumio Ohtomo, Kazuaki Kimura, Masaaki Yabe, Yasutaka Katayama, Kazushige Koshikawa, Takeshige Saito
  • Patent number: 5517151
    Abstract: An intensity controlling circuit device can correct variation in intensity of light beams, due to tolerance occurred in each of a plurality of LED-array chips, emitted by LEDs provided in each of the LED-array chips. The intensity controlling circuit device is connected to at least one LED-array chip comprising a plurality of LEDs and slave transistors corresponding to each of the LEDs. The intensity controlling circuit device comprises an intensity controlling circuit connected to the respective LED-array chip. The intensity controlling circuit comprises a first transistor provided between a power source and a constant current generating unit so as to supply a current to the LED-array chip, and an intensity adjusting unit having a second transistor connected to the first transistor in parallel and a controlling unit for controlling the on/off state of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kubota
  • Patent number: 5477322
    Abstract: In a spectrophotometer, a light source is provided in the form of a multiplicity of light emitting diodes which transmit light through an entrance slit to irradiate an oscillating grating. The light is dispersed by the grating toward an exit slit which transmits a narrow bandwidth of light to irradiate a sample. As the grating oscillates, the wavelength transmitted through the exit slit is scanned through a selected spectrum. The diodes in the array each emit light in a different wavelength band so that the diodes as a group emit light throughout the selected spectrum. As the grating oscillates, the diodes are energized and extinguished in sequence so that no more than two diodes will be energized at any given instant of time and the energized diode will be emitting light at the wavelength dispersed by the grating to the exit slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: NIRSystems Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald R. Webster
  • Patent number: 5432470
    Abstract: There is disclosed on optoelectronic integrated circuit comprising, a plurality of channels each including an optical receiving device for converting a received optical signal to an electric signal, and an amplifier for amplifying an output signal of the optical receiving device, the channels being integrated on the same semiconductor substrate, electric power source nodes of at least two of the amplifiers of the respective channels being connected to a common electric power source node, and the common electric power source node being connected through a resistor element to an electric source power supply terminal for supplying an electric source power to the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Goro Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5329113
    Abstract: An optoelectronic switching node is disclosed wherein two input optical beams can be switched in the sense that they can be regenerated in either one of two output spatial locations in response to input control signals. Each one of the input optical beams is coupled to a resonant cavity detector which generates a current when its corresponding optical beam impinges on its resonant cavity. Output optical beams are regenerated by two inversion channel lasers each one of which has emitter, source and sub-collector terminals and is bistable in the sense that it can be switched on and off by currents delivered into and taken out of its source terminal. Heterojunction field effect transistors are used to selectively couple the currents generated by the resonant cavity detectors to the source terminals of the lasers in order to turn them on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Geoffrey W. Taylor, Timothy A. Vang
  • Patent number: 5257086
    Abstract: A spectrophotometer includes an array of light emitting diodes configured for activation in successive Hadamard encodement patterns, a diffraction grating, an optical slit, a detector and electronic controls including a computer. In operation, the diffraction grating disperses and collimates radiation from the array and directs selected spectral components through the slit onto the detector whereupon the computer performs a Hadamard analysis on the detector signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: D.O.M. Associates Int'l
    Inventors: William G. Fateley, Andrzej Rys, Radoslaw Sobczynski
  • Patent number: 4963933
    Abstract: An erase bar for a xerographic printer, copier or the like has a row of light emitting diodes for illuminating a row of pixels across the photosensitive medium of the printer. Each LED is located in the bottom of a cavity. Next to the bottom of the cavity are concave reflective walls which reflect light emitted transversely from the LED toward an open end of the cavity. Reflective walls of the cavity provide multiple bounces of some of the light. Absorptive walls nearer the open end of the cavity absorb some of the light. These features combine to illuminate a pixel of desired shape and with approximately uniform intensity of illumination. Additional uniformity may be provided by passing the illumination through a window that is at least partly absorbing for smoothing out differences in intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Brownlee
  • Patent number: 4953155
    Abstract: An optoelectronic crossbar switch 50 for selectively connecting signals on a plurality of optical fiber channels 52 to a given number of output receivers 30-36. Each optical fiber channel is split into a different number of optical fibers 56(a-h) which are arranged into an array having a plurality of rows and columns. Each row contains a fiber from each channel. A current summation network 58 is provided for each row and advantageously employs a plurality of selectively activatable detectors 60-74. The detectors are held in their open circuit state via a CMOS multiplexer 80 so as to minimize crosstalk between addressed and nonaddressed detectors. The switch 50 construction also minimizes the number of required components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Gregory L. Tangonan, Vincent L. Jones, Stephen R. Forrest
  • Patent number: 4949972
    Abstract: An automatic target shooting system for determining projectile location relative to a target, calculating a score based upon the location and displaying a replica of the target with an indication of the location of the projectile relative to the target and the score. A target support structure defines a target area with criss-crossing X-Y-type coordinate light beams extending thereacross between light emitter devices and light receiving devices which generate output signals indicative of the location of a projectile during passage through the target area. The output signals are utilized by a computer device to identify the location of the projectile relative to the target and score the shot in accordance with the location. A replica of the target is displayed on a CRT screen with an indication of the location of the shot thereon and the score for the shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Max W. Goodwin
    Inventors: Max W. Goodwin, Thomas T. Melsheimer
  • Patent number: 4923298
    Abstract: In a device for measuring the speed of moving light-scattering objects by means of laser beams, with which a periodic intensity distribution (4) is produced at the measuring point (3), and by means of a detecting device (5, 7; 8, 9, 10) for light scattered by the object, it is possible to produce the periodic intensity distribution in a simple fashion with a laser diode array (1) in which a plurality of laser diodes are arranged at a defined separation from one another. Light emitted by the laser diode is focussed at the measuring point (3) with a focusing optical system (2). In addition, when measuring speed it is possible to discriminate direction by arranging the laser diode array (1, 13) such that no emission occurs in at least one such location (11') of the laser diode (11), so that an asymmetric intensity distribution is produced at the measuring point (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Federal Republic of Germany, represented by the Federal Minister for Economics, who is in turn represented by the President of the Physical-Technical Federal Institute
    Inventors: Dietrich Dopheide, Michael Faber, Gerhard Reim, Guenter Taux
  • Patent number: 4868912
    Abstract: A touch panel system having enhanced touch detection which distinguishes between deliberate actuations of the touch system and accidental and other false actuations. The system has a display surface surrounded by a multiplicity of light emitting elements and light receiving elements that define a grid of intersecting light paths. The display surface is scanned by sequentially enabling selected pairs of the light emitting and light receiving elements. False actuation rejection involves the use of one or more of three techniques: ignoring touches which fail to block a minimum number of contiguous beams in both axes, ignoring touches which block in excess of a specified maximum number of contiguous beams in either axis, and ignoring touches which are of a duration of less than a minimum specified time. The minimum and maximum size constraints on the size of the object touching the screen, and the minimum contact time are programmable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Digital Electronics
    Inventor: Roger W. Doering
  • Patent number: 4864515
    Abstract: A unique electronic sensing screen apparatus for automatically measuring various parameters of moving projectiles. Projectiles pass between an artificial or natural light source and light sensors, resulting in signals from the sensors, which are processed into data showing projectile profiles or photo-like images, shock waves, velocity, angle of attack, and dispersion. The apparatus provides quick turn-around times between parameter measurements, such as those of many projectiles fired in rapid succession, and readily usable results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Leslie L. Deck
  • Patent number: 4818847
    Abstract: Apparatus for optically reading printed information by radiating light onto printed information to be reflected thereby, receiving the reflected light through an optical system and converting the image of the reflected light into a corresponding electric signal. The light source employs red light emitting diodes which radiate highly bright red light having a wavelength peak at about 660 nm so that the image sensor can receive a highly contrasting reflected light from the information printed in black on a white base. The light source further or alternatively employs infrared light emitting diodes for radiating the light having a peak wavelength at about 925 nm so that the image sensor can also received a highly contrasting reflected light from information printed in black on a blue or green base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Hara, Atutoshi Okamoto, Toshiyasu Sakai, Tadao Oshima, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Hiromitsu Takai
  • Patent number: 4763903
    Abstract: An automatic target shooting system for determining projectile location relative to a target, calculating a score based upon the location, and displaying a replica of the target with an indication of the location of the projectile relative to the target and the score. A target support structure defines a target area with criss-crossing X-Y-type coordinate light beams extending thereacross between light emitter devices and light receiving devices which generate output signals indicative of the location of a projectile during passage through the target area. The output signals are utilized by a computer device to identify the location of the projectile relative to the target, and to score the shot in accordance with the location. A replica of the target is displayed on a CRT screen with an indication of the location of the shot thereon and the score for the shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Max W. Goodwin
    Inventors: Max W. Goodwin, Thomas T. Melsheimer
  • Patent number: 4675575
    Abstract: A light string system is provided having a plurality of mono-color or bi-color light-emitting diodes electrically connected thereto. Each light-emitting diode has a generally elongated, hollow envelope mounted thereover, and the envelope is substantially filled with light-conducting optical spheres or even fragments. The envelope may be additionally filled with light-conducting epoxy, light-conducting liquid or light-conducting gas and sealed for improved light transmission and dispersion characteristics. The light-emitting diodes may include an improved base with light-emitting diode leads disposed approximately perpendicular to the axis of the envelope for bulb stability and for enabling the bulb to stand upright on the branches. Both the envelope and the optical spheres include light-conducting glass or plastic material. The spheres may be either hollow or spherical and may be of a uniform or a mixed size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: E & G Enterprises
    Inventors: Elmer L. Smith, Gerold E. McLarty, Geraldine L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4589745
    Abstract: A line exposure array of light emitting diodes arranged in spaced apart relationship with respect to each other along the longitudinal axis thereof and geometrically configured to provide a substantially uniform exposure of a photosensitive material without underexposed stripes appearing on those areas of the photosensitive material immediately adjacent the spaces between the light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: William T. Plummer
  • Patent number: 4567347
    Abstract: A measurement head in an arc welding machine modulates the light intensity of a laser light beam with a modulating signal of 50 KHz or higher, and radiates the laser light beam onto an object to be measured while changing the direction of laser beam emission in one plane. A light receiving unit in the measurement head changes its direction of detecting a reflected beam in the same plane. Angles at which the light beams are emitted and detected are detected at the time a modulated signal component is detected from an output from the light receiving unit. The position of a bright spot produced on the surface by the radiated laser light beam is computed from the detected angles based on the principle of triangulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: NTT Gijutsu Iten Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Giichi Ito, Ichizo Nakano, Yuichi Shimizu, Kosaku Mukai, Saiju Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4551629
    Abstract: A photo detector array module is disclosed which comprises a stack of semiconductor chips having integrated circuitry on each chip. To permit the emplacement of photo-detectors on the focal plane end, and of thin film circuitry on the back plane end, each plane is etched to cut back the semiconductor material, then covered with passivation material, and thereafter lapped to uncover the ends of electrical leads on the chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Irvine Sensors Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Carson, Stewart A. Clark
  • Patent number: 4542397
    Abstract: Small scale integrated chips are fabricated from a semiconductor wafer and subsequently pretested and formed into large area arrays with self aligning and self locking characteristics due to the axial orientation of the semiconductor wafer and geometries employed for the chips based upon the wafer orientation, whereby the spacing of abutting chip edges in an array may be less than 7 .mu.m. The chips are fabricated from <110> axial wafer, e.g., silicon <110> axial wafer, wherein the chip boundaries are aligned with vertical {111} planes of the crystalline material so that each of the chips formed from the wafer may be defined within parallelogrammatic like geometries defined by these planes and their intersections. The term "parallelogrammatic like geometries" means all geometric shapes capable of being formed with various vertical {111} planes within the crystalline structure of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David K. Biegelsen, Dirk J. Bartelink