Scattered Or Reflected Light Patents (Class 250/574)
  • Patent number: 9541501
    Abstract: A scattered-light smoke detector includes a detector unit that operates according to the scattered-light principle. The detector unit includes a light-emitting diode (LED) to irradiate particles to be detected and a spectrally sensitive photosensor to detect the light scattered by the particles. The LED and photosensor are aligned such that a principal optical axis of the LED and a principal optical axis of the photosensor define a scattered-light angle. The LED includes a first and a second LED chip for emitting first and second light beams with light in a first wavelength range and a different second wavelength range, and an LED chip carrier arranged orthogonally to the principal optical axis. The two LED chips are arranged side-by-side on the LED chip carrier. The LED is rotated such that a chip axis extending through the two LED chips is orthogonal to an angle plane defined by the two optical axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Martin Allemann, Brigitt Schmid, Stefan Walker
  • Patent number: 9506901
    Abstract: A combined carbon monoxide and smoke detector adapted to fit into the handle of a suitcase or adaptable. The suitcase has wheels and the wheels are coupled to dynamos. Electric power generated by the dynamos is stored in a dynamo battery. The dynamo battery is wired to a charging port of a USB charger such that it is capable of charging the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. In another embodiment there is a smartphone and a carbon monoxide sensor and a smoke sensor are built into the smartphone and make use of the internal components of the smartphone to sound an alarm is carbon monoxide or smoke are detected. The dock connector of the smartphone receives electrical energy from the dynamo battery to recharge the battery of the smartphone or other electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: William K. Lewis
  • Patent number: 9501925
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for a modular alert system that includes at least one module having a top portion and a bottom portion. The at least one module provides an alarm for one or more monitored conditions, and the bottom portion and the top portion of the at least one module contains mating features. A mounting plate that has a top portion and a bottom portion contains mounting features, and the mounting features of the bottom portion correspond to the mounting features of the top portion of the module for forming a selectively secured arrangement. The system may also include at least one speaker housed within the module, and a smoke detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: White Stagg, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley Benjamin Stagg
  • Patent number: 9494530
    Abstract: A lubricant deterioration sensor mounted in a machine to detect deterioration of a lubricant of the machine, the sensor comprising a white LED for emanating white light, an RGB sensor that detects colors of received light, a clearance forming member in which an oil clearance for intrusion of the lubricant is formed, and a support member that supports the white LED, the RGB sensor, and the clearance forming member; and wherein the clearance forming member allows passage of the light emitted from the white LED, and the oil clearance is placed along an optical path from the white LED to the RGB sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Shirata
  • Patent number: 9476694
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for characterizing transparent objects (2, 3) in a transparent medium (1), said transparent objects (2, 3) presenting an optical focal area (5, 6) said method comprising the steps of: illuminating a sample comprising the objects (2, 3) to be characterized by means of a directional light (7) source, thereby inducing light intensity peaks (5, 6) at the focal area of said transparent objects; determining at least one characteristic of the light intensity peak (5, 6) induced by said object to be characterized, determining from said light intensity peak (5, 6) at least one property of said object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Universite Libre de Bruxelles
    Inventors: Frank Dubois, Catherine Yourassowsky
  • Patent number: 9460600
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a hazard detector may include a back plate and a front casing coupled to the back plate to define a housing having an interior region and an opening through which air flows into the interior region. A circuit board may be coupled to the back plate and have a plurality of components mounted thereon. A smoke chamber may be mid-mounted on the circuit board, mid-mounting being characterized in the smoke chamber extending through a hole formed in the circuit board such that a top surface of the smoke chamber is positioned above a top surface of the circuit board and a bottom surface of the smoke chamber is positioned below a bottom surface of the circuit board, whereby an interior region of the smoke chamber is accessible to smoke from both the top and bottom surfaces of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Mittleman, Andrew Goldenson, William Dong, John Benjamin Filson, Anthony Michael Fadell, Matthew Lee Rogers, Yoky Matsuoka, Samuel W. Kortz
  • Patent number: 9410882
    Abstract: A turbidimeter for measuring a turbidity of a liquid sample in a sample cuvette includes a cuvette receiving device configured to position the sample cuvette in a defined cuvette position, a light source configured to generate a parallel light beam in the sample cuvette, an annular 45° collecting mirror configured to surround the sample cuvette, a scattering body arranged concentric to the annular 45° collecting mirror, a scattering light detector arranged to receive light scattered by the scattering body, and an annular 45° concentration mirror arranged coaxially to the annular 45° collecting mirror and optically opposite to the annular 45° collecting mirror. The annular 45° collecting mirror is arranged concentric to the light beam. The annular 45° concentration mirror is configured to surround the scattering body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: HACH LANGE GMBH
    Inventors: Barbara Haase, Manfred Battefeld, Andreas Mitreiter, Michael Kussmann, Bas De Heij, Clemens Hanschke, Wayne Perdue
  • Patent number: 9395238
    Abstract: An automated shutter for dark acclimating a sample, comprising a base and a head mounted to the base and movable between an open and closed position. The automated shutter further comprises one or more artificial light sources and one or more optical detectors disposed in said head or base, and wherein the head is contiguous with the sample when moved into the closed position. Another embodiment comprises an enclosure placed over a sample to be dark acclimatized, with one or more artificial light sources and optical detectors disposed within or closely adjacent to said enclosure which is configured to be transformed between an optically transparent state and an optically opaque state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventor: John W. Runcie
  • Patent number: 9297753
    Abstract: A photoelectric smoke sensor capable of detecting smoke with high accuracy is provided. The present invention relates to the photoelectric smoke sensor which detects smoke flowing into a housing by light. The present invention is provided with a light emitting element provided by being faced with a detection region in the housing and emitting inspection light to the detection region, a light receiving element provided at a position shifted from an optical path of the inspection light of the light emitting element by being faced with the detection region and receiving diffused light which is the inspection light having hit the smoke and diffused, so as to detect the smoke, and a reflecting member provided in the housing and deflecting and reflecting the inspection light emitted from the light emitting element so as not to enter the light receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: FENWAL CONTROLS OF JAPAN, LTD.
    Inventors: Tadayuki Shibuya, Takuya Ookawa, Masao Iguchi
  • Patent number: 9297740
    Abstract: A particle detecting device includes a frame, a chamber that is disposed within the frame, a sample injection flow path for injecting, into the chamber, a fluid that includes particles, from a first inlet opening that is provided in the frame, an adjusting mechanism that adjusts a state of the fluid within the chamber by supplying a fluid, from which the particles have been removed, into the chamber through an adjusting flow path that connects to the chamber from a second inlet opening that is separate from the first inlet opening that is provided in the frame, and a detecting mechanism that detects particles included within the fluid, by shining a light into the fluid within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: AZBIL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisaya Murakami
  • Patent number: 9275969
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to an electronic package that can include a die and a dielectric layer at least partially enveloping the die. Electrical interconnects can be electrically coupled to the die and passing, at least in part, through the dielectric layer. An optical emitter can be electrically coupled to the die with a first one of the electrical interconnects and configured to emit light from a first major surface of the electronic package. A solder bump can be electrically coupled to the die with a second one of the electrical interconnects and positioned on a second major surface of the electronic package different from the first major surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Feras Eid, Johanna Swan, Weng Hong Teh
  • Patent number: 9255882
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical imaging system (20) comprising an illumination unit (23), a detection unit (24) and a measurement chamber (21) for receiving a subject to be examined, wherein the illumination unit (23) is arranged such in relation to the measurement chamber (21) that it can illuminate a subject placed inside the measurement chamber (21), and wherein the measurement chamber (21) is provided with several fins (31, 31?) for preventing stray light from reaching the detection unit (24), the several fins (31, 31?) being arranged in such a way that at least some of the fins (31, 31?) are in the field of view of the detection unit (24) with the fins (31, 31?) being orientated such that the surfaces (31.1, 31.1?) of the fins that are subjected to illumination by stray light are not visible to the detection unit (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Scanco Holding AG
    Inventors: Kai Hassler, Martina Bucher
  • Patent number: 9243939
    Abstract: A flow volume measurement device or a flow velocity measurement device include a measurement cell including a main pipe, an incident tube that is connected to the main pipe, an emission tube that is connected to the main pipe, and a first purge-fluid supply tube that is connected to the incident tube, a purge-fluid supply unit that supplies purge fluid into the first purge-fluid supply tube of the measurement cell, a light emitting unit that emits a laser beam to the measurement cell, a light receiving unit that receives the laser beam emitted from the light emitting unit and having passed through the measurement cell, and outputs a received amount of light as a light reception signal, a calculation unit that calculates a flow volume or a flow velocity of exhaust fluid flowing in the measurement cell, based on a light reception signal output from the light receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masazumi Tanoura, Kenji Muta, Atsushi Takita, Minoru Danno, Shinichiro Asami, Kageharu Moriyama, Daishi Ueno, Ichiro Awaya, Tadashi Aoki
  • Patent number: 9228942
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a turbidimeter having a simple and sturdy structure which is hard to break and exhibits excellent long-term stability by reducing a number of sealing positions, wherein a cylindrical sensor head forming a measurement space is formed of an optically-transparent material. A side wall of the sensor head has accommodating spaces for accommodating a light source, transmitted light detector, and scattered light detector. An inner surface of the side wall of the sensor head is configured to serve as: an optical window for guiding inspection light to the measurement space; an optical window for guiding transmitted light to the transmitted light detector; and an optical window for guiding scattered light to the scattered light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: HORIBA Advanced Techno, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Riichiro Suzuki, Hiroko Kizaki, Aki Matsuo, Hiroshi Kanda
  • Patent number: 9228876
    Abstract: A liquid sensor system can detect whether liquid is present at a location within a tank or other container, such as an aircraft fuel tank. The system can include a sensor that has a heated negative temperature coefficient (NTC) element and a temperature compensator element. The sensor may be located within the tank. The elements can be polarized by voltages from separate voltage sources. The voltages can be compared to detect a presence or level of liquid within the tank. Only two wires may be needed to connect the sensor with components outside the tank. The system may be able to detect liquid using less than twenty five milliamps and a sensor temperature that is less than two hundred degrees Celsius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Zodiac Aerotechnics
    Inventor: Sylvain Hauzeray
  • Patent number: 9228939
    Abstract: A refractive fuel concentration detector comprises mainly a light source device and a light-sensing device. The light source device supplies light source incident on the fuel and refracts light source to the light-sensing device such that a plurality of light sensor therein would respectively output a corresponding electrophysical quantity signal based on the light quantity received. Moreover, a circuit means can be used to obtain concentration information of fuel based on the electrophysical quantity signal output by the light sensors and the tag information of those light sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: PRICEPLAY TAIWAN INC.
    Inventors: Chun-Chin Tung, Yung-Lieh Chien
  • Patent number: 9186034
    Abstract: Methods of operating a dishwasher having a treating chamber, a sump fluidly coupled to the treating chamber, a sprayer for spraying liquid in the treating chamber, a recirculation pump fluidly coupled to the sump and the sprayer to recirculate the sprayed liquid from the sump to the sprayer, and a reuse tank for storing liquid. The methods remove and store liquid that do not include sedimented soil particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Scott D. Slabbekoorn, Elliott V. Stowe, Barry E. Tuller, Chad T. Vanderroest
  • Patent number: 9182342
    Abstract: An apparatus, a system and a method use a light-emitting diode (LED) to identify the presence of a material in a gas and/or a fluid and/or to determine properties of the material. The LED and a light detector may be used to determine a chemical compound in the material. The gas and/or the fluid may be located in a chamber. A first light detector may be positioned on the opposite side of the chamber relative to the LED, a second light detector may be positioned on the same side of the chamber as the LED, and/or a third light detector may be positioned inside the chamber. Additional light detectors with coatings may enable measurements to be corrected for the effects of temperature. The light detectors may determine light reflection, light refraction, light transmission, light diffraction, light interference, light diffusion, light collimation, light absorption and/or light focusing of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: MOTION CONTROLS, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley W. Engstrand
  • Patent number: 9091573
    Abstract: A sensor device (340) for determining a flow characteristic of an object (341) being movable in an element (342) comprises a light emitting unit (344) configured for emitting light towards the element (342) and a light detecting unit (344) configured for detecting light scattered back from the element (342). The sensor device (340) comprises an optical unit (346) configured for spatially separating a light incidence element portion (348) of the element (342) and a light detection element portion (350) of the element (342) from one another, wherein the light incidence element portion (348) is associated with the emitted light inciding on the element (342) and the light detection element portion (350) is associated with the back-scattered light scattered back from the element (342) for detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Alexander Marc Van Der Lee, Jeroen Veen
  • Patent number: 9091388
    Abstract: A mounting assembly and method for installing an alarm unit are provided. The mounting assembly includes a backplate having a front face and one or more keys extending from the front face, with the backplate being configured to be secured to a wall. The mounting assembly also includes a receptacle including one or more triggers electrically connected to a power source of the alarm unit, and defining one or more hanger recesses. The receptacle is configured to receive the one or more keys of the backplate in the one or more hanger recesses such that the one or more triggers are actuated by engagement with the one or more keys and relative movement between the backplate and the receptacle. The receptacle is physically secured to the backplate via engagement with the one or more keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: WALTER KIDDE PORTABLE EQUIPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Anis Zribi, Ken Mott, John Andres, Dave Bush
  • Patent number: 9091654
    Abstract: A system for performing high-speed, high-resolution imaging cytometry includes a scanning region that is illuminated by light including at least first and second wavelength bands. The system also includes a cell transport mechanism that transports a cell through the scanning region such that the cell is illuminated. The system further includes a set of at least one linear light sensor, and an optical system that selectively directs light emitted from the cell to two portions of the linear light sensor set such that emitted light in a third wavelength band is primarily directed to a first portion of the linear light sensor set, and emitted light in a fourth wavelength band is primarily directed to a second portion of the linear light sensor set. The system repeatedly takes readings of light falling on the linear light sensor set while the cell is transported through the scanning region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Heng, Paul Patt
  • Patent number: 9068946
    Abstract: A fine particle measuring apparatus is provided. The fine particle measuring apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect light emitted from a fine particle and a processing unit having a memory device storing instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to calculate a corrected intensity value of the detected light and generate spectrum data based on the corrected intensity value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nao Nitta
  • Patent number: 9049753
    Abstract: A smart metered light fixture including a light source. The light fixture includes a surge protection device with a monitor that indicates when surge protection fails. The light fixture includes a power supply monitor configured to collect real-time AC current, voltage, and power factor measurements from a power supply. An operational characteristic monitor monitors an operational characteristic of the light source, such as current consumption, wattage, real-time temperature, a brightness level, and/or an efficiency of the light fixture. A communication device positioned between the power supply receives information from the monitors and wirelessly transmits information regarding the monitored operational characteristic and information and/or power supply measurements to a remote user equipment. The communications device may also receive control instructions from the remote user equipment for controlling aspects of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: APPALACHIAN LIGHTING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: James J. Wassel, John R. Roney
  • Patent number: 8992860
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating diffusion effects. Diffused regions of a segmented flow of multiple, miscible fluid species may be vented off to a waste channel, and non-diffused regions of fluid may be preferentially pulled off the channel that contains the segmented flow. Multiple fluid samples that are not contaminated via diffusion may be collected for analysis and measurement in a single channel. The systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating diffusion effects may be used to minimize or eliminate diffusion effects in a microfluidic system for monitoring the amplification of DNA molecules and the dissociation behavior of the DNA molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Murphy, Scott Corey, Alex Flamm, Ben Lane, Conrad Laskowski, Chad Schneider
  • Patent number: 8994942
    Abstract: An interference object is identified in a scatter volume of an optical fire detector, which operates according to the scattered light principle. To achieve a higher level of interference protection using a simple structure in a compact fire detector, a common scatter volume is used instead of separate scatter volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Vollenweider
  • Patent number: 8952821
    Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, a smoke detector utilizes a reflected-light signal and sensed ambient light to determine the presence of smoke particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Valor Fire Safety, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Erdtmann
  • Patent number: 8947244
    Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, a smoke detector utilizes broadband light with a plurality of wavelengths to determine the presence of smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Valor Fire Safety, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Erdtmann
  • Patent number: 8947243
    Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, a smoke detector comprises a housing, a light source, one or more light detectors, and an evaluation circuit for determining the presence of smoke particles outside the housing based on light emitted from and reflected back into the housing, as well as light emitted within the housing without emission therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Valor Fire Safety, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Erdtmann
  • Publication number: 20140374630
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a microfluidic flow analyzer for pathological detection. The microfluidic flow analyzer comprises plurality of buffer channels, sample channel, central flow channel, plurality of exciting optical channels and plurality of receiving optical channels. The plurality of exciting optical channels and the plurality of receiving optical channels are placed at predetermined angle to the central flow channel. The plurality of exciting optical channels excite cell in the sample solution flowing through the central flow channel. The cell being excited produces one or more optical signals. The one or more optical signals are received by the plurality of receiving optical channels. The microfluidic flow analyzer comprises plurality of detectors placed on each of the plurality of receiving optical channels for detecting one of the one or more optical signals. The detected optical signal is sent to a computing unit for pathological detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Taslimarif Saiyed, Sudip Mondal, Anil Prabhakar, H. Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 8913132
    Abstract: A camera system for detecting the surroundings of a vehicle through a vehicle window pane (1), having a camera (2) having an image sensor (4), a first optical radiation (6) generated by the vehicle surroundings detectable by a sensor surface (10) of the image sensor (4), and a radiation source (3) for emitting a second optical radiation (7). At least a portion of the emitted second optical radiation (7) is detectable by the sensor surface (10) of the image sensor (4), and the portion of the second optical radiation (7) detected by the sensor surface (10) is a function of a state of window pane (1). The first and second optical radiation (6, 7) are jointly detectable via at least one partial area (8, 9) of the sensor surface (10). A method is also provided for detecting the surroundings of a vehicle employing the camera system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Seger, Gerald Franz
  • Patent number: 8914197
    Abstract: There is provided an optical raindrop detector including a light source, a light guide, an image sensor and a processing unit. The light source alternatively emits light with different brightness values. The light guide has an incident surface, a detection surface and an ejection surface, wherein the light source emits incident light into the light guide via the incident surface, and a plurality of microstructures are formed on the ejection surface to reflect the incident light to become scattered light toward the detection surface. The image sensor receives reflected light formed by raindrops in front of the detection surface reflecting the scattered light to penetrate the light guide and eject from the ejection surface, and generates image frames corresponding to the different brightness values of the light source. The processing unit calculates differential images of the image frames to accordingly identify rain intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Chia Chen, Horng-Goung Lai, Feng-Cheng Yang, Hui-Hsuan Chen, Ching-Lin Chung, Ming-Tsan Kao
  • Patent number: 8907802
    Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, a smoke detector determines the presence of smoke particles outside its housing based on measurements of light detected at different wavelengths and corrected based on an ambient light level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Valor Fire Safety, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Erdtmann
  • Publication number: 20140339445
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides improved optical systems for particle processing (e.g., cytometry including microfluidic based sorters, drop sorters, and/or cell purification) systems and methods. More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous micro-lens array optical detection assemblies for particle (e.g., cells, microscopic particles, etc.) processing systems and methods (e.g., for analyzing, sorting, processing, purifying, measuring, isolating, detecting, monitoring and/or enriching particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: CYTONOME/ST, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Charles Sharpe, Donald Francis Perrault, JR.
  • Patent number: 8878683
    Abstract: A light receiver device, which is particularly suited for a smoke detector, has a flat substrate, a light receiver mounted on a front side of the substrate, and a shielding device present on at least a back side of the substrate opposite the front side. The shielding device is configured to at least partially shield against electromagnetic interference radiation impinging on the light receiver through the substrate. False alarms are thereby reduced, while the sensitivity of the light receiver is simultaneously increased. The shielding device is formed with a metal strip inserted through the substrate from the front side to the back side, and bent over a recess on the back side provided therefor, so that the light receiver is protected against interference radiation even on the back side. There is also provided an assembly method for producing a light receiver device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Urs Riedi
  • Publication number: 20140264096
    Abstract: The present application is directed to methods and apparatus for multi-axis optical measurements of a fluid stream flowing or contained in an optically transparent measurement chamber. Sonic energy is directed into the fluid in the measurement chamber to clean interior surfaces of the measurement chamber and promote homogenization of the fluid. Optical measurements may be taken of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Dale Brost, Justin Caplinger, Amy Foster, Keith Moffatt, Wade Peterson
  • Patent number: 8836938
    Abstract: The description relates to a standard for wavelength and intensity for spectrometers, particularly for calibrating and testing measurement heads in spectrometers which are usable primarily in the near infrared region (NIR) of the spectrum. The standard comprises a holder and a plate body arranged in the holder. The plate body is made of transparent plastic with high strength and dimensional stability over a large temperature range. The plastic has distinct absorption bands throughout the entire NIR range and has a chemical structure and composition ensuring an extensive moisture barrier against water absorption and water release in a reliable and stable manner over time. The plate body advantageously comprises an amorphous, transparent copolymer based on cyclic and/or linear olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Schebesta, Nico Correns, Lutz Freytag, Michael Rode
  • Patent number: 8828737
    Abstract: Methods for using focused light scattering techniques for the optical sensing of biological particles suspended in a liquid medium are disclosed. The optical sensing enables one to characterize particles size and/or distribution in a given sample. This, in turn, allows one to identify the biological particles, determine their relative particle density, detect particle shedding, and identify particle aggregation. The methods are also useful in screening and optimizing drug candidates, evaluating the efficacy and dosage levels of such drugs, and in personalized medicine applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Invitrox, Inc.
    Inventor: Don Gabriel
  • Patent number: 8804120
    Abstract: A fine particle analyzing apparatus includes a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate a fine particle that flows in a flow path with a laser beam, and a detection unit configured to detect light emitted from the fine particle that is irradiated with the laser beam. In the fine particle analyzing apparatus, the light irradiation unit includes at least a light source that is composed of a semiconductor laser, an optical fiber that converts a beam pattern of the laser beam generated from the light source into a top-hat type beam pattern, and a light source driving control unit configured to supply driving current, which is obtained by superimposing high-frequency current on direct current, to the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hironobu Tanase, Mitsuru Toishi
  • Patent number: 8773272
    Abstract: A light scattering type smoke sensor includes a sensor body, light-emitter for emitting light toward an open smoke-sensing space and outputting a light-received signal according to the amount of scattering light received, and a fire judging unit for judging whether fire occurs or not on the basis of the amount of received light determined on the basis of the outputted light-received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hochiki Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20140186215
    Abstract: A dew condensation sensor is described, including a nano-composite for generating local surface plasmon resonance, a light reflecting member disposed on one side of the nano-composite, a protection layer laminated on the light reflecting member, a light source/light receiver disposed facing the nano-composite, a spectroscope (or photo-detector) for detecting the light reflected by the light source/light receiver, a controller connected to the light source/light receiver and the spectroscope (or photo-detector) and used for overall control thereof, and a display unit connected to the controller. The dew condensation sensor detects occurrence of dew condensation based on the variation in the absorption spectrum, the absorption intensity or the reflected-light intensity of the local surface plasmon resonance of the nano-composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: NIPPON STEEL & SUMIKIN CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuzo Shinta, Yasufumi Matsumura, Yasushi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 8717184
    Abstract: A sensor device detects an object, in particular for optically detecting smoke particles. The sensor device contains a transmitting device for emitting transmit radiation, a receiving device for receiving receive radiation having scattering radiation that is generated by an at least partial scattering of the transmit radiation by the object, and for outputting a measurement signal indicative of the receive radiation, a signal modification device for modifying the measurement signal and for outputting a modified measurement signal, a level of the modified measurement signal increasing after the transmitting device has been switched on, and a calibration device for monitoring the modified measurement signal. The calibration device is embodied such that a reaching of a predefined signal level for the modified measurement signal can be detected and that a time interval between the switching on of the transmitting device and the reaching of the predefined signal level can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Aebersold, Ke Wei Bi, Hu Lin Wang
  • Patent number: 8709356
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating diffusion effects. Diffused regions of a segmented flow of multiple, miscible fluid species may be vented off to a waste channel, and non-diffused regions of fluid may be preferentially pulled off the channel that contains the segmented flow. Multiple fluid samples that are not contaminated via diffusion may be collected for analysis and measurement in a single channel. The systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating diffusion effects may be used to minimize or eliminate diffusion effects in a microfluidic system for monitoring the amplification of DNA molecules and the dissociation behavior of the DNA molecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Canon U.S. Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Murphy, Scott Corey, Alex Flamm, Ben Lane, Conrad Laskowski, Chad Schneider
  • Patent number: 8701746
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining liquid depth information in a condensate pan of a climate control unit are provided. The systems and methods radiate a light beam into a liquid contained in a condensate pan associated with a climate control unit. The light beam is detected at a point of the condensate pan that is below a surface of the liquid. Information related to the depth of the liquid is determined based at least in part on the detected light beam. The systems and methods disclosed herein can determine if liquid depth in a condensate pan is greater than a threshold depth and can control evacuation of the liquid from the condensate pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel J. Rohr
  • Patent number: 8705038
    Abstract: A particle detection unit including a detection chamber and a duct detector is disclosed. The duct detector is disposed within the detection chamber. The duct detector has a rod with a first and a second end where the first end is distal the second end. A reflector may be attached to the rod adjacent the first end. A sensor and emitter device may be attached to the rod and spaced apart from the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel G. Farley, Anthony J. Capowski
  • Patent number: 8697008
    Abstract: A method and device for periodically perturbing the flow field within a microfluidic device to provide regular droplet formation at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Andrew Clarke, Nicholas J. Dartnell, Christopher B. Rider
  • Patent number: 8681012
    Abstract: A detector (101) for detecting smoke from a fire and generating an alarm has a detection chamber (105) in which a light source (111) and a light detector (113) are arranged. In normal use, the light detector (113) only receives light from the light source that has been scattered by the presence of smoke in the chamber (105). When testing the detector (101), the light detector (113) receives light from the light source (111) by presenting a reflecting surface (129a) of a rotor member (129) to reflect light from the light source (111) towards the light detector (113). In normal use, the rotor member (129) is positioned so that the reflecting surface (129a) no longer reflects light from the light source (111) towards the light detector (113).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Marshell Electrical Contractors Limited
    Inventors: Mark Patrick Murray, Mark John Downes
  • Publication number: 20140061449
    Abstract: Disclosed is a portable handheld characteristic analyzer used to analyze chemical compositions in or near real-time. One method of using the analyzer to determine a characteristic of a sample includes directing the handheld characteristic analyzer at the sample, the handheld characteristic analyzer having at least one integrated computational element arranged therein, activating the handheld characteristic analyzer, thereby optically interacting the at least one integrated computational element with the sample and generating optically interacted light, receiving the optically interacted light with at least one detector arranged within the handheld characteristic analyzer, generating an output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the sample with the at least one detector, receiving the output signal with a signal processor communicably coupled to the at least one detector, and determining the characteristic of the sample with the signal processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ola Tunheim, Marshall E. Webster, Alexis Wachtel, II, Robert P. Freese, James R. MacLennan
  • Patent number: 8647859
    Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing bacteria is described that includes an analytic sample preparation section for preparing an analytic sample by treating a specimen so as to generate a morphological difference between Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria, a detector for detecting optical information from each particle contained in the analytic sample and an analyzing section for detecting Gram-positive bacteria contained on the basis of the detected optical information. A method for analyzing bacteria is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20140016117
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of determining turbidity and concentration simultaneously a sample by irradiating the sample with a single incident wavelength and simultaneously measuring wavelength shifted (IE) and unshifted (EE) light emitted. A relative volume of light emitted from two phases may be determined, wherein the two phases comprise a first Rayleigh and Mie scattering and fluorescent phase associated with suspended particles, and a second, non-scattering but fluorescent phase associated with suspending solution. Volumes of the phases and/or concentrations of specific fluorophores or Raman active species are calculated from the volume of light emitted by the first phase relative to the total volume of light emitted from the first and second phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Joseph Chaiken, Jerry Goodisman
  • Publication number: 20130292587
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for the detection of the level of the different phases present in at least one tube or vessel intended for filling the different wells of a microplate-format container for an automated analysis system. The apparatus is equipped with a fixing portion arranged to allow it to be itself held and/or handled instead of a microplate-format container, and carries out this detection by measuring the variation in wavelength of light reflected on a point zone of the content of the tube, during a displacement of the tube along an optical reader or of the optical reader along the tube in a rectilinear movement in a known manner. Such a device or method is also operated by illumination with monochromatic light and detection of the amount of reflected light, with the phase differences being recognized by the sudden variation in the amount of reflected light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: CYBIO FRANCE SARL
    Inventors: Daniel Frayssinhes, Yves Loire