Fiber Optics Patents (Class 348/359)
  • Patent number: 11668844
    Abstract: A system and method for the measurement of radiation emitted from an in-vivo administered radioactive analyte. Gamma radiation sensors may be used to determine the proper or improper administration of a radioactive analyte, and identify patient administration factors that correlate with improper administration over a set of patients so as to identify administration risk factors to improve administration of radioactive analyte. In some cases, the system employs a sensor having a scintillation material to convert gamma radiation to visible light, which enables embodiments of the sensor to be ex vivo. A light detector converts the visible light to an electrical signal. This signal is amplified and is processed to measure the captured radiation. The sensor enables collection of sufficient data to support separate application to predictive models, background comparisons, or change analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Lucerno Dynamics, LLC
    Inventors: Joshua G. Knowland, Charles W. Scarantino, Ronald K. Lattanze
  • Patent number: 11241143
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a medical device assembly. The medical device assembly described herein may include a medical device and a control unit. The medical device may include an imaging apparatus, an electrical wire coupled to the imaging apparatus, an illumination device, an illumination connector coupled to the illumination device, and a connector coupled to the electrical wire and the illumination connector. The control unit may include an electrical interface, a light source, and a port, wherein the port is configured to receive the connector to operatively couple the electrical wire to the electrical interface, and to operatively couple the illumination connector to the light source, the connector being removably attachable to the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirsten Viering, Russell Dresher, Paul Aquilino, Ryan Foss
  • Patent number: 10953797
    Abstract: A cloaking device with an object-side, an image-side, and a cloaked region is provided. A first object-side converging lens and a second object-side converging lens are positioned on the object-side, and a first image-side converging lens and a second image-side converging lens are positioned on the image-side. A coherent image guide with an object-side end optically aligned with the second object-side converging lens and an image-side end optically aligned with the second image-side converging lens is included. Light from an object positioned on the object-side of the cloaking device is focused in parallel onto the object-side end of the coherent image guide by the first object-side converging lens and the second object-side converging lens, propagates through the coherent image guide, and is focused in parallel by the second image-side converging lens and the first image-side converging lens to form an image of the object on the image-side of the cloaking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyu-Tae Lee, Mindy Zhang, Debasish Banerjee, Songtao Wu
  • Patent number: 9979938
    Abstract: An MRI-compatible video projector system with improved safety features, comprising a projector module, a liquid cooling system, comprising a coolant block of non-magnetic material disposed in or adjacent the housing of the projector and heat generating components, a coolant pump situated remotely from the projector, and coupled to the coolant block by coolant lines carrying liquid to and from the coolant block, and a projector power system situated remotely from the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Resonance Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mokhtar Ziarati
  • Patent number: 9889041
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for a medical treatment of a sclera, the device (100) comprising a curved disc or a belt (102), wherein the disc/belt is configured to be placed into the Tenon's space; the disc/belt is formed such that the inner surface of the curved disc/belt is superficially contactable to the surface of an area of the sclera so as to superficially cover said area; and the disc/belt comprises one, two, three, four, or more independent channel systems (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITAT LEIPZIG
    Inventors: Hans Peter Iseli, Mike Francke, Peter Wiedemann
  • Patent number: 9833146
    Abstract: A surgical system configured for treating tissue is provided. The surgical system includes a laser source and a laser scalpel. The laser scalpel is adapted to couple to the laser source and is operable in two modes of operation, a first mode of operation to analyze tissue of interest and a second mode of operation to treat tissue of interest. The laser scalpel includes a housing having first and second fiber optic cables extending therethrough. Each of the first and second fiber optic cables operable under the first mode of operation to collect information pertaining to at least one optical property of tissue of interest and at least one of the first and second fiber optic cables also operable under the second mode of operation to treat the tissue of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: Andy S. Lin
  • Patent number: 9782157
    Abstract: A delicate tissue retraction system having a hollow tubular retractor, a hollow tubular introducer that is removably installed within the retractor, and a navigation module that is removably installed within the introducer. The introducer has an inner passage defined by a passage wall having a width dimension that increases in size from a distal introducer end to a proximal introducer end. The navigation module has a shaft with a proximal shaft end, a middle shaft portion, and a distal shaft end, and a navigation unit mounted to the proximal shaft end. When assembled, the distal shaft end is contained generally within the introducer and the navigation module outside the introducer, and the middle shaft portion is spaced from the passage wall. The navigation module indicates the location of one or more points on at least one of the retractor and the introducer to a navigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Vycor Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore A. D. Novak, John Mangiardi
  • Patent number: 9706152
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transmission, manipulation, and display of infrared camera (IR) data are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a system may include an IR camera associated with a gas turbine to acquire the IR data and an IR camera data acquisition server installed at a site associated with the gas turbine and communicatively coupled to the IR camera. The IR camera server is configured receive the IR data from the IR camera. An IR camera data processing server to classify the IR data into sensitive IR data and non-sensitive IR data based at least in part on predetermined criteria. Based at least in part on the non-sensitive IR data, images are generated. The images are provided via a user interface at the site associated with the gas turbine. The sensitive IR data is encrypted to produce encrypted sensitive IR data. The encrypted sensitive IR data and the non-sensitive IR data are transmitted to a processing center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Katrina Marie Griffith
  • Patent number: 9675331
    Abstract: A delicate tissue retraction system having a hollow tubular retractor, a hollow tubular introducer that is removably installed within the retractor, and a navigation module that is removably installed within the introducer. The navigation module has a shaft with a proximal shaft end and a distal shaft end, and a navigation unit mounted to the proximal shaft end. When assembled, the distal shaft end is contained generally within the introducer and the navigation module outside the introducer. The navigation module indicates the location of one or more points on at least one of the retractor and the introducer to a navigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Vycor Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: John Mangiardi
  • Patent number: 8941746
    Abstract: Adapter (3, 5) for processing electrical signals in an installation comprising a video camera equipment (1) and a remote equipment (7). A first aim of the present invention is to provide an adapter system which allows automatically providing an output video signal that is co-timed to the master timing reference of the remote equipment. A second aim of the invention is to provide an adapter system which improves the security of the installation when power for the camera is transmitted by the remote equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Interlemo Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Keith Jenkins, Gary Wordsworth, David Pether, Philip Longhurst, Christopher Hamblin, Gareth Foster
  • Publication number: 20140078378
    Abstract: Active imaging devices can include a camera and an illuminator that provides light to the scene under observation. Most often, a laser beam combined with projector optics is used to generate a field of illumination while a telescope and a camera are use to acquire the images in its field of view. This specification demonstrates the production of a rectangular field of illumination having a highly uniform intensity distribution matching and aligned with a rectangular field of view of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Obzerv Technologies Unc.
    Inventors: Louis Demers, Jacques Godin, Martin Grenier
  • Patent number: 8675127
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a welded part on a lens barrel side that is hardened after a contact portion of a lens barrel or a contact part on the lens barrel side is softened, where the contact portion of the lens barrel and the contact part on the lens barrel side are fixed, and a welded part on a light-receiving circuit side that is hardened after a contact portion of the light-receiving circuit or a contact part on a light-receiving circuit side is softened, where the contact portion of the light-receiving circuit and the contact part on the light-receiving circuit side are fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Nakajima, Tetsuya Ogata, Kenichi Yoshimura, Kohei Shimizu, Chihiro Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140028899
    Abstract: A system for imaging an object is provided. The system includes a light source configured to emit light having a predetermined wavelength towards the object. The system further includes a metalens including a metallic film having a plurality of slits defined therethrough, the plurality of slits having a width a and a periodicity d that are both less than the predetermined wavelength, wherein the object is positioned between the light source and the metalens. The system further includes a detector configured to acquire measurements indicative of light transmitted through the metalens, and a computing device communicatively coupled to the detector and configured to reconstruct an image of the object based on the acquired measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Jung-Tsung Shen, Yuecheng Shen, Lihong Wang
  • Patent number: 8305439
    Abstract: A surveillance camera that includes a device for capturing video signals and that converts the video signals to optical signals. The surveillance camera has a first component with a first aperture and a second component with a second aperture. The second component engages the first component such that the first component rotates relative to the second component. The surveillance camera has a first optical component that extends through the first aperture of the first component. The surveillance camera also has a second optical component that extends through the second aperture of the second component. The first optical component is separated from the second optical component by a gap. The first optical component is operatively connected to the device. The first optical component receives the optical signals and transmits the optical signals to the second optical component across the gap to permit a continuous rotation of the first component relative to the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: WeiCheng Cheng, Hao Wang, Xin Xu
  • Patent number: 8212887
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel unit configured to convert light into an electrical signal; a substrate having a first side on which the pixel unit is formed and a second side opposite the first side; an optical communication unit disposed on the first side of the substrate, and configured to convert a signal read out from the pixel unit into an optical signal and output the optical signal; and a cooling unit disposed on the second side of the substrate and below at least a forming area of the optical communication unit, the forming area being an area where the optical communication unit is formed, and configured to cool or dissipate heat generated in the optical communication unit and transferred through the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiko Ogasawara, Toshiyuki Sekiya
  • Publication number: 20090316113
    Abstract: A capturing apparatus includes an optical input, a fiber optic face plate arranged at the optical input, an image sensor, and optics for mapping a real image at an optical output of the fiber optic face plate onto the image sensor in a predetermined scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Förderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Juergen Ernst, Guenther Kostka, Peter Schmitt, Dieter Schmidt, Andreas Jobst
  • Publication number: 20090268081
    Abstract: An optical system includes a first set of cameras and a second set of cameras, and an optical assembly. The first set of cameras receive first light originating from each of a set of first portions of a printed circuit board. The first light transmits along a first optical path defined between each of the set of first portions and each of the first set of cameras. The second set of cameras receive second light originating from each of a set of second portions of the printed circuit board. The second light travels along a second optical path defined between each of the set of second portions and each of the second set of cameras. The optical assembly is capable of directing the first light and the second light toward the first set of cameras and the second between the printed circuit board respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Pei-Chong Tang
  • Patent number: 7535500
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus which has an optical system, the focal length of which is variable, and an image sensing element that converts an image formed by the optical system into an electrical signal, and can sense and record a moving image and still image, includes a focal length detection circuit for detecting the focal length of the optical system, and a control unit for inhibiting recording of the still image in accordance with the focal length detected by the focal length detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Kawahara
  • Publication number: 20090109314
    Abstract: A solid state image pickup device which can prevent color mixture by using a layout of a capacitor region provided separately from a floating diffusion region and a camera using such a device are provided. A photodiode region is a rectangular region including a photodiode. A capacitor region includes a carrier holding unit and is arranged on one side of the rectangle of the photodiode region as a region having a side longer than the one side. In a MOS unit region, an output unit region including an output unit having a side longer than the other side which crosses the one side of the rectangle of the photodiode region is arranged on the other side. A gate region and the FD region are arranged between the photodiode region and the capacitor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Koizumi, Akira Okita, Masanori Ogura, Shin Kikuchi, Tetsuya Itano
  • Patent number: 7501816
    Abstract: A flaw detection apparatus includes a coil for producing an alternating-current magnetic field for flowing eddy currents in a magnetic material; a magneto-optical element disposed at the center of an inner peripheral portion of the coil and having a reflective film at an end face thereof opposed to the face of the member to be flaw-detected; an optical fiber for entering light from a light source into the magneto-optical element toward the reflective film via a circulator; an optical fiber for entering reflected light reflected by the reflective film into an analyzer via the circulator; a photoelectric conversion element for converting output light of the analyzer into an electrical signal; and a computing device for processing an output signal of the photoelectric conversion element and detecting a flaw of the member to be flaw-detected, based on the rotation angle of the plane of polarization of the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Central Research Institute Of Electric Power Industry
    Inventor: Sadao Higuchi
  • Patent number: 7477312
    Abstract: A 360°-image is formed on the object-side surface (doughnut-shaped) 15 of an optical fiber array 13. The image is applied from the element-side surface 16 of the array, which is substantially rectangular, to an imaging element 11 that is rectangular. The image that has been photographed is converted in accordance with the image signals generated at the object-side surface. Hence, the entire surface of the imaging element 11 can serve as effective photographing region. In addition, the image of the camera, which is formed on the center part of the object-side surface 15, is not transmitted to the imaging element 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7440702
    Abstract: A multiplexer of a transmission section generates a clock signal by multiplying a reference clock signal of a digital image signal by a predetermined number ‘K’. A parallel digital image signal is converted into a serial digital signal on the basis of the clock signal, and the serial digital signal is converted into an optical signal in an optical transmission section for transmitting. A demultiplexer extracts a reception clock signal from a serial digital reception signal which is converted into an electric signal in an optical reception section of a reception section, the serial digital reception signal is converted into a parallel signal and a signal corresponding to the parallel digital image signal on the basis of the reception clock signal, and a clock signal corresponding to the reference clock signal is recovered by multiplying the reception clock signal by ‘1/K’.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Imai
  • Patent number: 7289153
    Abstract: The present invention has an object of realizing highly reliable search with high precision by obtaining a clear view image over a wide view. In particular, a reflection mirror is formed so as to correspond to an image pick-up element at a focus surface of a converging lens of an image pick-up camera and the image pick-up camera is arranged to be capable of freely performing scanning by a scanning mechanism portion. As a result, with the image pick-up camera kept performing linear scanning, the reflection mirror performs triangular scanning in a direction opposite to the scanning direction of the image pick-up camera for every frame cycle T and a light wave taken in by the converging lens is introduced to the image pick-up element for every one frame, thereby to obtain a static view image. The desired object is thus achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Hayashi, Keizo Fujibayashi, Naoki Hosaka, Tetsuo Sado
  • Patent number: 6917762
    Abstract: An optical transmission system for compensating for transmission loss includes a transmitting apparatus for serializing a plurality of n (n is a natural number)-bit channel data received from the outside in response to a predetermined clock signal, converting the serialized channel data and the predetermined clock signal into a current signal whose magnitude changes corresponding to an error detection signal, and outputting optical signals having optical output power corresponding to the magnitude of the current signal, a first optical fiber for transmitting the optical signals, a receiving apparatus for recovering the n-bit channel data and the predetermined clock signal from the optical signals received through the first optical fiber, detecting transmission loss generated when the optical signals are transmitted and received, optically converting the transmission loss, and outputting the optically converted transmission loss as the error detection signal, and a second optical fiber for transmitting the opt
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Sub Kim
  • Publication number: 20040218085
    Abstract: An image pickup device according to the present invention comprises (1) a fiber optical plate constituted by bundling a plurality of optical fibers, including a core and a cladding covering an outer periphery thereof and having a light incident surface and a light-emitting surface inclined with respect to the optical axis direction of a plurality of optical fibers; (2) a plurality of columnar crystals having light permeability, formed on the light-emitting surface of the fiber optical plate; and (3) a solid-state image pickup device having photoelectric converters arrayed and formed in two-dimensional fashion on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate and optically coupled to a plurality of columnar crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Takeo Sugawara, Yoshio Natsume
  • Patent number: 6774947
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus has a lens, an optical fiber and a scanning stage. The tip end of an optical fiber is disposed on a surface for forming a subject image by the lens via the scanning stage. The scanning stage can rotate horizontal and vertical scanning motors to move the tip end of the optical fiber along the subject image forming surface in horizontal and vertical directions. Moreover, during photographing of a subject, an image processor drives and controls the motors via a stage controller to successively move the tip end of the optical fiber in the horizontal and vertical directions. During movement, a detection signal from a photodetector disposed on the terminal end of the optical fiber is successively extracted, and a signal level is written into a memory together with information indicating the tip end position of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Mutsumi Corporation Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Muto
  • Publication number: 20040008271
    Abstract: An imaging device has a zoom lens system having a plurality of lens units and forming an optical image of an object so as to continuously optically zoom by varying distances between the lens unit; and an image sensor converting the optical image formed by the zoom lens system to an electric signal. The zoom lens system has from an object side, a first lens unit being overall negative and including a reflecting surface that bends a luminous flux substantially 90 degrees; and a second lens unit disposed with a variable air distance from the first lens unit, and having an optical power, and wherein at least one lens element made of resin is included in the entire lens system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: MINOLTA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hagimori, Yasushi Yamamoto, Genta Yagyu, Kazuhiko Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 6666272
    Abstract: An externally actuatable tieback connector for establishing fluid communication and force resisting connection of a conduit to a subsea wellhead having an internal locking geometry. The tieback connector has a body structure that is adapted for landing on a wellhead, with a part thereof extending into the wellhead and carrying a split lock ring. A lock energizing element, moveable relative to the body structure, has a locking position expanding the lock ring into locking and pre-load force transmitting engagement with the internal locking geometry of the wellhead and an unlocking position releasing the tieback connector from the wellhead. One or more drive members extend from the lock energizing element and are exposed externally of the connector body and wellhead for engagement and actuating movement by a lock actuating tool such as a ROV or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shiva P. Singeetham, Russell E. McBeth, Robert B. Baten
  • Publication number: 20020176018
    Abstract: A method for the deployment of long distance telecommunications services over existing cable television operator networks. Provides bypass of long distance telecommunications services directly from residential and commercial customers utilizing a bypass specific device. This device will route long distance communications, in a specific format defined in this application, to a cable operator network. Local telecommunications service are placed directly to the existing local exchange operator network. Digital information traffic directed from residential and commercial customers are directed to and managed by a specific device located in a cable television operators central office. This device is specifically tuned for digital information traffic defined in this application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: David Edward White, Herbert Frank Primosch, Joseph Leonard Fattizzi, Gregory Socrates Rahman
  • Patent number: 6448544
    Abstract: A low noise, high spatial resolution, high dynamic range (high intensity resolution) image detection system for use in medical imaging applications such as x-ray mammography systems, scientific imaging systems such as x-ray crystallography and astronomy, industrial quality-control systems, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Brandeis University
    Inventors: Martin J. Stanton, Walter Phillips, Alex Stuart, Charles Ingersoll
  • Patent number: 6195016
    Abstract: A fiber optic display sign has an optical system with enhanced light efficiency so that the display system is suitable for outdoor use. A number of fiber optics have light receiving ends arranged in a compact bundle for receiving an image from an image generator, the fiber optics coupling the image to the output ends thereof for display. An array of lenses is positioned adjacent the output ends of the fiber optics for directing or aiming the light from the fiber optics to control the viewing angle of the image displayed. The array of lenses may be fixed with respect to the output ends of the fiber optics or the lens array may be movable with respect thereto so as to vary the viewing angle. The image generator employs a light source formed of a densely packed array of white light emitting diodes to provide enhanced brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Advance Display Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Shankle, Gregory L. Heacock, Steven J. Shankle
  • Patent number: 6101337
    Abstract: An optical system includes an photographic lens, a fiber optical plate, and an image pickup member. The photographic lens forms the first image in the vicinity of the entrance end surface of the fiber optical plate, and after the first image is transmitted through the fiber optical plate, the second image is formed in the vicinity of the exit end surface of the fiber optical plate. The image pickup member is disposed to coincide in size with the second image. The first image is demagnified to a desired image size determined by the image pickup member and thereby the photographic lens is downsized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuzi Ogata
  • Patent number: 5835142
    Abstract: A direct contact type image sensor includes an optical fiber array plate including a transparent substrate and an optical fiber array and having a lower face brought into close contact with an original document. A semiconductor image sensor chip including a photosensor array is mounted on an upper face of the optical fiber array plate by transparent photo-setting and insulating resin. A circuit conductive layer is formed on an upper face of the transparent substrate, and a bump electrode is formed on a lower face of the semiconductor image sensor chip so as to be brought into contact with the circuit conductive layer. A light source is provided for illuminating the original document. The optical fiber array plate is formed, on the upper face, with a slit for allowing light from the light source to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuro Nakamura, Masahiro Nakagawa, Eiichiro Tanaka, Shinji Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 5828410
    Abstract: A system for increasing the useful viewing angle in an array of video display units, also called a video wall, comprising the duplication of an outer marginal strip of the displayed image on adjacent video display units, a cylindrical lens structure mounted over the frame of each video display units and outer strip, with a spatial compression of a portion of outer strip, or the duplication of the image in an outer marginal strip of the displayed image in adjacent video display units, and a spherical lens placed over the entire viewing surface and frame of each video display unit. With proper selection of lens parameters and aforementioned image modifications, the invention produces a magnified image that obscures the image of the frame between adjacent video display units and gives the effect of a single large display over an increased viewing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: Raoul E. Drapeau
  • Patent number: 5467204
    Abstract: A liquid crystal light valve and a various information processors is provided. The processors have the liquid crystal light valve in which information formed in a liquid crystal layer and corresponding to address light can be read as an optical signal and can be directly read as an electric signal.A liquid crystal light valve has a glass substrate, an antireflection film, a transparent electrode, an opposite electrode, an optical waveguide, a photoconductive layer, a light interrupting layer, an orientational film, a spacer and a liquid crystal layer. The optical waveguide is composed of a lower clad layer, a core layer and a clad layer. A light source and a photodetector are connected to both ends of the optical waveguide. For example, the light source is constructed by a laser, a light emitting diode (LED), etc. The light source is connected to the optical waveguide such that a polarized wave can be guided to the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akitsugu Hatano, Tsuyoshi Okazaki, Yukihiro Sumida, Takashi Nojima, Hidehiko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 5450243
    Abstract: An image pickup device using a solid-state image sensor adapted to provide an optical component having a multiple curved surface, polyhedral surface, symmetric cylindrical surface, axially symmetric aspherical surface or asymmetric refracting surface in an objective lens system, or lengthen a shape of an image formed on an exit end face of an illuminating optical system in a direction parallel to a scanning direction of the solid-state image sensor, or select an angle made by a line segment connecting between the centers of individual exit end faces of two illuminating optical systems with the scanning direction of the solid-state image sensor to .+-.40.degree. or less, or extend a shape of an aperture of a stop in a direction parallel to the scanning direction of the solid-state image sensor, in order to make it possible to fabricate the device in a small size and at a low cost and eliminate moire and false color without reducing resolving power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kimihiko Nishioka
  • Patent number: 5414459
    Abstract: The instant invention is a display system that provides visual stimuli to a patient who is undergoing diagnostic treatment within a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. The system utilizes a pair of lightweight fiber optic video glasses having a hollow chamber wherein a prism with mirrors splits a visual image supplied through a fiber optic cable connected to an LCD projector. The projector uses a series of lenses for coupling a signal received from a video interface which monitors the use of an external VCR or television utilizing a standard NTSC format video signal. The visual image is projected onto the inner surface of reflective lenses which allows the patient to view the image as well as see through the lens providing a HUD type display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Inventor: Paul Bullwinkel
  • Patent number: 5309241
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for allowing television systems using solid-state image sensors to be compatible with a multiplicity of television standards. Scenes conforming to a standard which specifies a format aspect ratio or a specific number of active scan lines per frame are input into the anamorphic television system. The anamorphic television system modifies these scenes to take optimum advantage of the resolution of the solid-state image sensor. The anamorphic television system alters the dimensions of the scene along the horizontal and/or vertical axis so that the scene conforms to the format aspect ratio of the solid state image sensor and/or to the number of active scan lines per frame as specified in the applicable standard. The solid-state image sensor converts the optical information into an electrical signal. This electrical signal is retrieved from the solid-state image sensor by timing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Loral Fairchild Corp.
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Hoagland
  • Patent number: 5304791
    Abstract: A photon emitting high speed event detector provides for the optimum detection and location of high speed events such as strobe light sources, pulsed laser, gunfire, and lightning. The detector includes a focal plane array, a control circuit and a cueing sensor. The focal plane array is capable of receiving and storing photons which are emitted from a device. The focal plane array is continuously switched by the control circuit between an integrate (charging) and non-integrate (clearing) state until a high speed event is detected by the cueing sensor. During the charging state, incident photon energy is stored by the focal plane array. Upon detection of an event, the cueing sensor instructs the control circuit to hold the focal plane array in the integrate state and the control circuit reads out the stored charge which can be provided to a video monitor for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Ail Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Migliaccio