Scattered Or Reflected Light Patents (Class 250/574)
  • Patent number: 7658884
    Abstract: The apparatus for deriving at least one property like turbidity or fluorescence of a sample liquid from measuring emitted light emitted from said sample liquid upon irradiation of said sample liquid with a probe light beam comprises a container for containing said sample liquid, said sample liquid forming a sample surface. It furthermore comprises a light source for generating said probe light beam directed, in an angle ?1?0° with respect to a sample surface normal, at said sample surface, and a detector adapted to detecting an intensity of said emitted light emitted through said sample surface out of said sample liquid generally along a first detection axis, said first detection axis forming an angle ?1?0° with a sample surface normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Swan Analytische Instrumente AG
    Inventor: Heinz Wagner
  • Patent number: 7650028
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for inspecting vicinally illuminated non-patterned areas of translucent materials. An initial image of the material is received. A second image is received following a relative translation between the material being inspected and a device generating the images. Each vicinally illuminated image includes a portion having optimal illumination, that can be extracted and stored in a composite image of the non-patterned area. The composite image includes aligned portions of the extracted image portions, and provides a composite having optimal illumination over a non-patterned area of the material to be inspected. The composite image can be processed by enhancement and object detection algorithms, to determine the presence of, and characterize any inhomogeneities present in the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Geroge R. Burns, Pin Yang
  • Patent number: 7630537
    Abstract: A 3-D shape measurement apparatus for grasping the state of an object with ease and accuracy is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignees: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd., Keio University
    Inventors: Isao Sato, Hirooki Aoki, Masato Nakajima, Kazuhiro Mimura, Yasuhiro Takemura, Kei Katou, Toshiharu Takesue
  • Patent number: 7616310
    Abstract: The present invention provides, for the first time, a process that meets the needs of the drug industry for measuring the particle size of nebulized aerosols simultaneously or one after another by the laser diffraction method and the cascade impactor method which is known in the art. In this way it is possible to bring the reliability of the results of the laser diffraction process according to the invention into conformity with that of the cascade impactor, and thereby obtain a process which combines the advantages of the rapid laser diffraction process with the accuracy of the otherwise time-consuming cascade impactor method. In addition to the process, apparatus for carrying out the process are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Ziegler, Herbert Wachtel
  • Patent number: 7605389
    Abstract: A particle detector includes an input port for receiving gas and particulate matter. A charging source generating positively and negatively charged species that charges at least some particulate matter in charging region, thereby generating a plurality of charged particles. A trapping region is formed having a potential energy minimum that attracts and confines the plurality of charged particles. A detector detects charged particles in the trapping region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Verionix, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris Doughty
  • Patent number: 7605361
    Abstract: A fuel property detection device for detecting a property of fuel based on a detection signal output from a photoreceptor includes a light guiding member having a reflecting surface located in direct contact with the fuel. The light guiding member includes a light emitting surface through which measurement light from a light source is emitted from the light guiding member into the fuel, a light incident surface through which the measurement light emitted from the light emitting surface and passing through the fuel enters again the light guiding member, and the reflecting surface from which the measurement light incident from the light incident surface is reflected toward the photoreceptor. The light incident surface and the light emitting surface are opposite to each other to have a space therebetween in the light guiding member, and the space is provided to be filled with the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Akikazu Uchida, Masao Kano, Noriyasu Amano
  • Publication number: 20090218526
    Abstract: An assembly which comprises (a) a duct (22) for transmission of fluids, said duct having longitudinal axis, (b) at least one emitter (301) capable of exciting a beam of radiation (21) in the form of a cone having root angles ?ex and ?ey, which may be the same or different, into a cross section area of a duct to be analysed in a direction downstream of fluid flow in the duct at an angle ?e from the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the duct, the angle ?e being between 5° to 45°, (c) a detector (23, 304) sensitive to radiation radiated by scattering centres in the fluid over at least 1% of the cross sectional area of the duct, the direction of the central axis of the emitter cone being at an angle ? to the direction of the central axis of the detector cone, the detector cone having root angles ?dx and ?dy, which may be the same or different and the detector cone having angle ?d perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the duct, the direction of the detector being downstream of fluid flow in the d
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: ETR-UNIDATA LIMITED
    Inventors: Jonathan Robert Shaw, Nigel Edward Harris, Christopher James Lloyd, Leonard Frederick George Williams
  • Patent number: 7582473
    Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing bacteria is described that includes an analyte sample preparing section for preparing an analyte sample from a specimen; a detector for detecting optical information from each particle in the analyte sample; and a controller for detecting non-fermentative bacteria on the basis of the detected optical information. A method for analyzing bacteria is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20090165549
    Abstract: A testing device is provided for testing an optical rain sensor which is designed to determine a measure of moisture by determining a reflected portion of a light beam, which testing device has a mounting device for holding the rain sensor and test equipment which is positioned in the light beam, movably, for example, the test equipment having an area which is designed to reflect a predefined portion of the light beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Ansgar Grass, Reinhold Fiess, Frank Wolf, Mathias Mannhardt, Andreas Pack
  • Publication number: 20090128821
    Abstract: In a smoke sensor, a first light-receiving element which receives light from a light-emitting element and is disposed in a position where the quantity of received light changes according to a density of smoke and a second light-receiving element which monitors the quantity of light of the light-emitting element are arranged symmetrically with respect to the light-emitting element. Furthermore, a signal from the first light-receiving element and a signal from the second light-receiving element are amplified by an identical amplifier circuit. In a microcomputer, the density of smoke is computed based on a difference between an output obtained by amplifying an output of the first light-receiving element with the amplifier circuit and an output obtained by amplifying an output of the second light-receiving element with the amplifier circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Kohichiroh SUGIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20090075391
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for the determination of the physical characteristics of a structured superficial layer of material using light scattering spectroscopy. The light scattering spectroscopy system comprises optical probes that can be used with existing endoscopes without modification to the endoscope itself. The system uses a combination of optical and computational methods to detect physical characteristics such as the size distribution of cell nuclei in epithelial layers of organs. The light scattering spectroscopy system can be used alone, or in conjunction with other techniques, such as fluorescence spectroscopy and reflected light spectroscopy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Newton Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Fulghum, JR.
  • Patent number: 7498949
    Abstract: A status information determining and outputting means updates the oldest data stored in a memory using a captured A/D value, finds a average value of six stored data items by calculation, and stores the calculated value in the memory as a current sensitivity. A status information transmitting means determines which grade of sensitivity level within a sensitivity tolerance range the current sensitivity data matches, sets a pulse spacing corresponding to the matched grade of sensitivity level, and make two pulses emit from a sensitivity data transmitting light-emitting element using the set pulse spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Nohmi Bosai Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Ito, Yoshihiro Kumakura
  • Patent number: 7493219
    Abstract: A method for discriminating particle groups comprises generating, by a particle analyzer, a particle characteristic distribution histogram in which the abscissa indicates respective channels for representing the characteristics of the particles, and the ordinate indicates the particle count; setting a valid area selection height in the particle characteristics distribution histogram; and generating an equivalent negative histogram based on the set height and the particle characteristic distribution histogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co.
    Inventors: Huan Qi, Wenjun Tong
  • Patent number: 7492459
    Abstract: An optical droplet sensor can include a light emitter, a light receiver and a light guide, and can be adhered onto an inner surface of a windshield via a light transmissive adhesive layer. The light guide can include a light entry surface and a light exit surface formed of respective convex-shaped arbitrary curved surfaces, a light entry/exit surface formed of a flat plane, and a reflecting surface that can be made of a metal film. The light emitted from the light emitter is given an optimized light distribution at the light entry surface and introduced into the light guide. The light is then reflected from the metal film-applied reflecting surface toward an outer surface of the windshield. The light totally reflected at the outer surface returns to the light exit surface and is given an optimized light distribution at the light exit surface. The light is then externally transmitted/released from the light guide and collected on a light-receiving surface of the light receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takata, Kiyomitsu Ishikawa, Yorimi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 7491928
    Abstract: A method and system for establishing extended optical traps for commercial use. The method and system employs a diffractive optical element (DOE) to process a light beam wherein the DOE includes phase information and amplitude information to create the extended optical trap. Such extended traps can be line traps and can be further expanded to two and three dimensional configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Yohai Roichman, David G. Grier, Ilias Cholis
  • Patent number: 7468523
    Abstract: A raindrop detection apparatus includes a light emitting unit for emitting light to an inner side of a windshield, a light receiving unit for receiving the light reflected by an outer surface of the windshield, a first lens unit which is arranged between the windshield and the light emitting unit to convert the light from the light emitting unit into parallel light, and a second lens unit which is arranged between the windshield and the light receiving unit to converge the reflected light at the light receiving unit. The second lens unit is larger than a radial cross section of the reflected light. An amount of raindrop landed on the outer surface of the windshield is detected based on an intensity of the light received by the light receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7464581
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a vacuum apparatus capable of evaluating its cleanness precisely by surely monitoring particles including deposits readily detached from the apparatus, and a particle monitoring method and program employed therein, and a window member for particle monitoring. A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1000 includes a processing chamber 100 for performing a manufacturing processing on a wafer. A gas supply line for introducing a purge gas is connected to an upper portion of the processing chamber 100, a valve 120 being installed on the gas supply line. A rough pumping line 200 with a valve a is connected to a lower portion of the processing chamber 100. Installed on the rough pumping line 200 are a dry pump 220 for exhausting a gas in the processing chamber 100 and a particle monitoring unit 210 for monitoring particles between the valve a and the dry pump 220.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Moriya, Hiroyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7458247
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a processing chamber for performing a manufacturing processing on a wafer. A gas supply line for introducing a purge gas is connected to an upper portion of the processing chamber, a valve being installed on the gas supply line. A rough pumping line with a valve a is connected to a lower portion of the processing chamber. Installed on the rough pumping line are a dry pump for exhausting a gas in the processing chamber and a particle monitoring unit for monitoring particles between the valve a and the dry pump. In the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus, after the valve is opened, the purge gas is supplied to apply physical vibration due to shock wave in the processing chamber 100 so that deposits are detached therefrom to be monitored as particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Moriya, Hiroyuki Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7446317
    Abstract: A multi-pass gas cell that operates with reflected radiation pass through a gas, the reflected radiation transmitted and received by first and second fiber optic ports that are subject to an alignment adjustment, and a mirrored viewing window having a inner reflective surface exposed to an interior of the elongated cell body for reflecting the radiation within the cell body, an outer viewing surface, and a transmittance characteristic that permits a portion of the radiation to pass through the mirrored window, from the inner reflective surface to the outer viewing surface, as a visual indicator of the alignment condition of the reflected radiation relative to the first and second fiber-optic ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Axiom Analytical, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter M. Doyle
  • Patent number: 7440144
    Abstract: An image input/output apparatus having a scanner unit disposed at an upper stage of an apparatus body and a liquid jet recording unit installed at a lower stage of the apparatus body includes a window which light passes through between the scanner unit and the liquid jet recording unit; an exposure controlling unit configured to control linear irradiation by a light source which illuminates an original platen when a maintenance mode of the recording unit is selected; and a luminous flux irradiation unit configured to irradiate a periphery of a liquid jet recording head in the above liquid jet recording unit with a luminous flux emitted from the light source passing through the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukuo Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7422693
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to methods of monitoring and controlling the processing of blood and blood samples, particularly the separation of blood and blood samples into its components. In one aspect, the invention relates to optical methods, devices and device components for measuring two-dimensional distributions of transmitted light intensities, scattered light intensities or both from a separation chamber of a density centrifuge. In embodiment, two-dimensional distributions of transmitted light intensities, scattered light intensities or both measured by the methods of the present invention comprise images of a separation chamber or component thereof, such as an optical cell of a separation chamber. In another aspect, the present invention relates to multifunctional monitoring and control systems for blood processing, particularly blood processing via density centrifugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Caridianbct, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee F. Carter, Jeremy P. Kolenbrander, James R. Ladtkow, Joseph A. Scibona, Jeffrey A. Steward, Chris Fletcher
  • Patent number: 7414255
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a Drop Counter for counting a succession of falling liquid drops. The Drop Counter includes a light emitting diode for providing a light beam directed to a falling liquid drop. A photo diode sensor is positioned in side-by-side relation with the light emitting diode and detects reflected light from the falling liquid drop. The photo diode sensor provides an output signal when reflected light is detected and further includes a counter for receiving the output signal and counting the number of times the output signals are received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Inventors: John R. Amend, Dale A. Hammond, Richard A. Hermens, W. Alexander Whitla
  • Patent number: 7414237
    Abstract: A sensor for detecting moisture on a pane includes a coupler having prisms arranged in coupling areas for coupling light from a transmitter into the pane at an input angle and prisms arranged in decoupling areas for decoupling light reflected from the pane to a receiver at a corresponding output angle. The prisms in the coupling areas have prism surfaces perpendicular to the input angle and the prisms in the decoupling areas have prism surfaces perpendicular to the output angle. Each prism includes a prism flank. The prism flanks in the decoupling areas may be arranged parallel to the output angle. Some of the prism flanks in the decoupling areas are opaque or roughened. Alternatively, some of the prism flanks in the decoupling areas are tilted from running parallel to the output angle. Alternatively, some of the prism flanks in the decoupling areas include at least one additional superimposed prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Richwin, Thomas Weber
  • Publication number: 20080116402
    Abstract: Method and devices for measurement of scattered radiation at an optical system are disclosed. The methods can include: emitting radiation with a radiation source; passing the radiation from the radiation source through a first mask having locally varied transmission; passing the radiation from the first mask through the optical system; passing the radiation from the optical system through a second mask having locally varied transmission; measuring the intensity of the radiation having passed through the second mask with a locally resolving detector; and processing the local intensity distribution, determined by the detector, into a pupil resolved measurement result of scattered radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS SMT AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Emer
  • Patent number: 7372063
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for detecting gas bubbles in a liquid adapted to a device comprising a light source, a light detector and a data controlling and processing unit connected to a client system comprising the following steps: emitting light from the light source, acquiring successive measurements of the light intensity sensed by the light detector and calculating a variation between two successive measurements of said light intensity. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises a step which consists in comparing the variation between two successive measurements of light intensity to a threshold S. Advantageously, a warning counter is incremented by a value A when variation between two successive measurements is higher than the threshold S and decremented by a value B in the opposite case. A proportion of bubbles higher than a maximum authorized rate is detected when said warning counter exceeds a warning value C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: SC2N Societe Anonyme
    Inventor: Pascal Castro
  • Patent number: 7361922
    Abstract: A differential absorption lidar includes: a light signal generation unit for generating first, second CW light signals with first, second wavelengths having different absorption coefficients with respect to a target, a light intensity modulation unit for subjecting the first, second CW light signal to intensity modulation with a first, second CW modulation signal having a first, second frequency in a baseband, a radiation unit for multiplexing the first, second CW light signals with the intensity modulated, forming the multiplexed light signals with two wavelengths in a predetermined beam size, and radiating the light signals, a reception unit for directly detecting scattered light from the target and converting the scattered light into an electrical signal, and a signal processing unit for extracting only the first, second frequency components from the electric signal, and detecting the concentration of the target from a difference in an amplitude of time wavelengths between two signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electrick Corp.
    Inventors: Shunpei Kameyama, Yoshihito Hirano
  • Patent number: 7324004
    Abstract: A method for reducing false detects may include emitting an infrared light beam from a primary emitter to a primary monitor detector, measuring a first voltage value using a primary receive detector and setting a primary smoke alarm flag corresponding to a primary channel if the first voltage value is above a first threshold value. The method may also include measuring a second voltage value using a secondary receive detector, setting a secondary smoke alarm flag corresponding to a secondary channel if the second voltage value is above a second threshold value and setting an alarm indicating a smoke condition if the primary smoke alarm flag and the secondary smoke alarm flag are set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Wallace T. Van Winkle, Lester J. Lowery, Timothy L. Fujawa, John Lohmeier, Aileen K. McDowall, Richard K. Morey, Michael E. Patterson, Andrew D. Bunn, Maria M. Cornejo
  • Patent number: 7311849
    Abstract: The invention provides a control device for the separate collection of blood components in output from a blood centrifugation cell. The control device comprises: a support which comprises a recess for containing a duct; a visible-light emitter with a corresponding receiver, which are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the recess for containing the duct; an infrared-light emitter with a corresponding receiver, which are arranged on opposite sides with respect to the recess for containing the duct; and a processor to detect signals acquired by the two receivers, to calculate a ratio between the values of the signals, and to send signals to the means suitable to selectively send the fluid conveyed by the duct into separate collection bags, the means being able to change the bag in which the fluid is collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sorin Group Italia S.r.l.
    Inventors: Ivo Panzani, Sergio Romagnoli, Ivan Rossi, Stefano Sarti
  • Patent number: 7309873
    Abstract: A raindrop sensor includes a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element and a light guide body. The light-emitting element and the light-receiving element face a transparent panel. The light guide body, which is mounted on the transparent panel, includes an input lens, an input side dividing surface, an output lens and an output side dividing surface. The input lens collimates light emitted by the light-emitting element to form an input side collimated light beam. The output lens receives the collimated light beam, which is collimated by the input lens and is reflected by a reference surface of the transparent panel, to which the raindrop attaches. The output lens converges the reflected collimated light beam toward the light-receiving element. An intersection between an imaginary extension of the input side dividing surface and an imaginary extension of the output side dividing surface is located on the reference surface of the transparent panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7301641
    Abstract: A passive sensor housing has an air gap formed therein between a collimating lens and a lens focused mirror reflecting optical light signals transmitted through the lens into the air gap within which smoke is received through screened openings in the housing. The optical light signals which are generated within an opto-electronics unit are returned thereto by reflection through the air gap into a fiber cable connected to the collimating lens of the sensor and to an optical coupler within the opto-electronic unit to which generated light signals are delivered from a light emitting diode and returned from the sensor for delivery to a receiver within which such signals are processed into an output signal reflecting smoke density within the air gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: John K. Overby, Stephen A. Mastro
  • Patent number: 7297932
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for sensing wetting of a windshield includes a first circuit, and a radiation emitter and a radiation detector both arranged on the first circuit to emit radiation toward the windshield and to detect radiation reflected from the windshield. Beam shapers parallelize the emitted radiation toward the windshield and focus radiation reflected from the windshield toward the detector. A coupling element couples the emitted radiation into the windshield and couples the reflected radiation out of the windshield. A structural element is arranged between the lens holder and the coupling element. The structural element may have retaining elements for positioning a second circuit arranged between the lens holder and the structural element relative to the windshield. The structural element may have support elements for adjustably positioning the lens holder and thereby the beam shapers relative to the first circuit and the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christos Georgiadis, Michael Röhr, Frank Hagen, Thomas Weber, Matthias Richwin
  • Patent number: 7295942
    Abstract: In a method for controlling an orienting/positioning system, the orienting system comprises at least one sensor means, an external motion detection device for detecting an externally-caused motion in the environment of the sensor means and actuator means for controlling an orienting and/or positioning action of the sensor means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Research Institute Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Joublin, Tobias Rodemann
  • Patent number: 7291856
    Abstract: A compact, long lasting sensor for measuring components such as moisture in moving sheets including paper in a papermaking apparatus employs light sources that produce radiation within defined wavelength regions of interest and the light sources are modulated at high frequencies using non-mechanical techniques. A single detector with various radiation sources can measure at all frequencies while keeping information separated. Superluminescent light emitting diode or laser diode light sources can be directly electrically modulates for improved noise rejection. These higher power and bright light sources afford excellent fiber optic launch efficiency and permits the sensor to be scanned at much faster rates over the paper being monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Frank M. Haran, Ronald E. Beselt
  • Patent number: 7265832
    Abstract: An optical system design for measuring the velocity of fluids flowing through pipes or other conduits is disclosed. The optical system is comprised of a means for delivering two beams through a window in the wall of the pipe, focused to two points aligned along an axis of the pipe and separated by a known distance, and means for detecting light that is scattered by particles carried in the fluid stream through a second window, that is disposed on the opposite side of the pipe. By measuring the time delay between detected signals, the velocity of the fluid can be determined. The delivered light beams are focused in a shallow cone of light and are blocked by an obstruction disposed behind the second window. The scattered light passes through an aperture behind the second window that surrounds the obscuration, and is focused on to a detector surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Photon Control Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Montgomery, Daryl James, David Yue Yan
  • Patent number: 7247838
    Abstract: An image processing system includes a lamp which emits light to a glass, an imaging device which captures light which is emitted from the lamp and reflected by the glass, and an optical filter, located between the glass and the imaging device, which transmits rays with a specific wavelength of the reflected light. A lens is provided in front of the imaging device, and a focus of the lens is adjusted to a point beyond the glass, and an image processor is provided which processes an image captured by the imaging device and detects moisture on the glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takenaga, Yuji Otsuka, Shoji Muramatsu, Tatsuhiko Monji, Ken Ohsumi, Isao Furusawa, Masaaki Fukuhara, Hiroyuki Kasuya
  • Patent number: 7245379
    Abstract: An optical detection device is provided for analysing analytes in a liquid suspension or solution that can detect and process a large number of wavelengths of incident and fluorescent light simultaneously, which is small in size and can be easily adapted to different investigation requirements. In one embodiment an optical detection device comprises a light supplying means (45), an analyte handling means (78), a light directing means (19), and detection means, integrated on planar substrate devices (40), (20), and (30), (30?), respectively. A plurality of optical waveguides are integrated in the substrate devices to direct light emitted by the light supplying means (45) through the different sections of the optical detection device to the detection means. The analyte handling means (78) comprises an analyte channel (70) for the liquid flow of the analyte suspension or solution and an analyte sorting means (72) comprising several sorting channels (72?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: ProImmune Limited
    Inventor: Nikolai Franz Gregor Schwabe
  • Patent number: 7242017
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device to detect and/or characterize individual moving objects having very small dimensions which comprises a photo electric sensor having at least one light beam emitter and one light beam receiver in which the objects that are to be measured move through the optical path of the photo electric sensor, a first number of optical waveguides whose inputs are connected to the light beam emitter, the light beams emitted by the outputs of the optical waveguides forming the optical path of the photo electric sensor, a second number of optical waveguides whose inputs pick up the light beams emitted by the optical waveguides and whose outputs are connected to the light beam receiver, the outputs of the optical waveguides and the inputs of the optical waveguides being arranged in the form of a ring on a common plane, and an evaluation unit which is coupled to the light beam receiver and records the change in light intensity of the photo electric sensor produced by the objects passing through
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin Arnold, Norbert Irmer
  • Patent number: 7230260
    Abstract: A raindrop sensor for sensing water attached to a second surface of a transparent body includes a light emitting element, a light guide body, a light receiving element, and an abnormality determining device. The light emitting element is provided in a first surface side of the transparent body for emitting light toward the transparent body. The light guide body is mounted on a first surface of the transparent body for guiding the light. The light receiving element is provided in first surface side of the transparent body for receiving the reflected light, which is reflected by the second surface of the transparent body. The light receiving element outputs a signal based on an amount of the reflected light received. The abnormality determining device determines an abnormality of the light guide body by comparing a value indicated by the signal with an index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Tarui
  • Patent number: 7224454
    Abstract: An analyzing probe for insertion into numerous different environments to determine at least one characteristic of particulate matter suspended in a fluid stream of a test sample. Preferably, the analyzing probe includes a minimal amount of optical elements such as lenses that are subjected to the conditions of the environment of the fluid stream to be tested. Further, the analyzing probe is preferably designed so that it can be readily manufactured, operated and installed by relatively unskilled laborers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Hamilton Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajagopal Vijayakumar, Sylvain Dominique Masset
  • Patent number: 7211787
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for moving a particle using a device comprising a substrate (4), a wave guide (2) and a grating (6) formed on the wave guide, in which: light with wavelength ? is injected into the wave guide, the light transmitted through the guide is diffracted to a medium (14) with an index nsup in which the particle is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Stephanie Gaugiran, Jerome Hazart
  • Patent number: 7208723
    Abstract: An image processing system that detects foreign matter on a glass window of a vehicle and objects in front of the vehicle. The system includes an image processor, a first lamp, and a second lamp. On/off control of the first and second lamps is controlled by the image processor. Light from the first lamp is reflected from the outer sauce of the glass when raindrops are present on the outside of the glass. Light from the second lamp is reflected from the inner surface of the glass when moisture is present on the inside of the glass. Any reflected light goes through a lens and an optical filter with prescribed optical characteristics to an image device. The lens is focused to a point beyond the window so that the image processor an also detect objects in front of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takenaga, Yuji Otsuka, Shoji Muramatsu, Tatsuhiko Monji, Ken Ohsumi, Isao Furusawa, Masaaki Fukuhara, Hiroyuki Kasuya
  • Patent number: 7199388
    Abstract: The present invention aims at attaining a liquid surface level detecting apparatus, which can be used in various detection targets and usage environments without selecting a detection target, can efficiently irradiate a light to a liquid surface level detecting unit and detect a variation in a light reception amount of a light receiving means at a high sensibility, and can be excellent in durability, easy to manufacture, and be actually used. By placing a light shielding means 14 so as not to directly irradiate the light from a light emitting means 12 to a light receiving means 13, the light from the light emitting means is scattered by an optically scattering means 16, and a part of that scattering light is radiated to an outside by the liquid surface level detecting unit on a light radiating means (an optically transmitting member) 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Naoyuki Omatoi
  • Patent number: 7193233
    Abstract: A flowmeter has a variable area, vertically-oriented duct through which flows fluid whose flow rate is to be determined. A float in the duct assumes a position in the duct that depends on the flow rate of fluid in the duct. A window is located at an end of the duct in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the duct. A transducer unit projects a light beam through the window and along the axis toward the float. The transducer includes a light sensor that detects light returned by the float by reflection or some other mechanism to the transducer unit. The intensity or other characteristic of the returned light indicates the position of the float in the duct, from which the fluid flow rate may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: The Futurestar Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Smith, Quentin Smisek, Haresh Lakhan
  • Patent number: 7167099
    Abstract: A compact particle sensor for detecting suspended particles includes a housing, a light source, a light receiver and a plurality of optical elements. The housing provides a test chamber and includes at least one opening for admitting particles into the test chamber, while simultaneously substantially preventing outside light from entering the test chamber. The light source is positioned for supplying a light beam within the test chamber. The plurality of optical elements are positioned to direct the light beam from the light source to the receiver, which is positioned to receive the light beam supplied by the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Kadwell, Greg R. Pattok
  • Patent number: 7157727
    Abstract: A content detecting apparatus uses a signal from a light-receiving part receiving light projected from a light emitting part to detect ink in an ink cartridge. The light-emitting part and the light-receiving part are arranged with differing optical axes. The ink cartridge has reflecting parts for reflecting projected light from the light-emitting part so the projected light reaches the light-receiving part when remaining content is present when the ink cartridge is properly set and with an inclined interface located in a path along which projected light from the light-emitting part reaches the light-receiving part, for switching between permeation and reflection according to the presence and/or absence of remaining content. The inclined interface is permeated along the path with projected light form the light-emitting part when remaining content is present and reflects projected light from the light-emitting part out of the path when remaining content is absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hitotoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 7127356
    Abstract: A single-particle optical sensor, which has high sensitivity and responds to relatively concentrated suspensions, uses a relatively narrow light beam to illuminate an optical sensing zone nonuniformly. The zone is smaller than the flow channel so that the sensor responds to only a fraction of the total number of particles flowing through the channel, detecting a statistically significant number of particles of any relevant diameter. Because different particle trajectories flow through different parts of the zone illuminated at different intensities, it is necessary to deconvolute the result. Two methods of deconvolution are used: modified matrix inversion or successive subtraction. Both methods use a few basis vectors measured empirically or computed from a theoretical model, and the remaining basis vectors are derived from these few. The sensor is compensated for turbidity. Several embodiments are disclosed employing light-extinction or light-scattering detection, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Particle Sizing Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Nicoli, Paul Toumbas
  • Patent number: 7122784
    Abstract: A stabilizer for placement between a rain or moisture sensor unit and a vehicle windshield to compensate for incongruency between the moisture sensor unit and an optical coupler located between the moisture sensor unit and the windshield. The stabilizer includes a planar section of support tape having two bonding surfaces and being resiliently compressible in a transverse direction, adhesive material affixed to both bonding surfaces and a removable release tape affixed to the first bonding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dave Peterson
  • Patent number: 7122820
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and a combined visibility measuring and precipitation measuring instrument for determining visibility, amount of precipitation and type of precipitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Vaisala Impulsphysik GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Engel, Klaus Heyn
  • Patent number: 7115893
    Abstract: A sensor having an input to an interferometer. The input may receive emissions from a detected fluid. The output of the interferometer may be focused on an array of light detectors. Electrical signals from the detectors may go to a processor. The output of the processor may include a spectrum of the detected fluid. Also, the identity of the fluid may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Roland A. Wood
  • Patent number: 7105849
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for quantifying the oil and water fractions of a multi-phase flow stream and their respective flow rates. The hydrocarbon fractions are determined based on information gathered on their respective refractive indices when exposed to particular wavelengths of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Technology Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: David F. Prelewitz