Modulating (e.g., Flicker Beam) Patents (Class 356/217)
  • Patent number: 10897560
    Abstract: An imaging system with a diffractive optic captures an interference pattern responsive to light from an imaged scene to represent the scene in a spatial-frequency domain. The sampled frequency-domain image data has properties that are determined by the point-spread function of the diffractive optic and characteristics of the scene. An integrated processor can analyze the characteristics of captured image data and select one of multiple available reconstruction kernels for transforming the frequency-domain image data into a spatial-domain image of the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Salman Kabir
  • Patent number: 10211999
    Abstract: A building management system comprising an integrated sensor and control system integrated on a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC combines sensor inputs necessary to monitor ambient light levels, light color, occupation/motion sensors, security sensors, temperature and humidity, barometric pressure, smoke and toxic substance sensors, and a processor to receive the sensor inputs and deliver control output signals to effect changes and make settings to each of the environmental systems that are monitored. The ASIC also provides human interface processing for operator control of each environmental system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventors: Bruce A Pelton, Barton A Pasternak
  • Patent number: 10098327
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a herd of animals possibly requiring medical treatment, such as cows in a feedlot. The animals are herded individually into a chute, where identification data is collected from a tag, and core temperature data is collected using a special non-contacting core temperature sensor. The animal is tagged with a color coded tag representing a range of temperatures into which that animal's temperature falls. The animal is then delivered to a pen corresponding to that range of temperatures, where appropriate medicinal treatment is automatically dosed and applied to the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Inventors: Laird W Laurence, James Derwin King, James C Lyman, Jack C Laurence, Michael R Williams, Allen Nance, Ronald B Hicks
  • Publication number: 20150108902
    Abstract: There is provided an image display apparatus including: a light source unit; at least one light modulation device configured to modulate light from the light source unit, and to emit a modulated light beam; and a sensor configured to receive diffracted light of the modulated light beam emitted from the at least one light modulation device, and to measure intensity of the modulated light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke HOMMA, Yoshihisa AIKOH, Yuji KATO, Kazumasa IKEURA, Tomomi YUNO, Shiun SAKAI
  • Patent number: 9007579
    Abstract: An optical device for measuring luminescence includes a pulse generator for generating a periodic modulation signal having rectangular pulses, a pulse duration of the pulse being variably adjustable, an illumination device and/or means for illuminating an object under investigation with excitation radiation modulated in a pulse-like manner depending on the modulation signal, and a time-of-flight camera for phase-sensitive detection of a luminescence response emitted by the object under investigation in response to the excitation radiation. The modulation signal is supplied as reference signal to the time-of-flight camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Westphal
  • Patent number: 8558998
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed of sensing an object. A first radiation is spatially modulated to generate a structured second radiation. The object is illuminated with the structured second radiation such that the object produces a third radiation in response. Apart from any spatially dependent delay, a time variation of the third radiation is spatially independent. With a single-element detector, a portion of the third radiation is detected from locations on the object simultaneously. At least one characteristic of a sinusoidal spatial Fourier-transform component of the object is estimated from a time-varying signal from the detected portion of the third radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate
    Inventors: Daniel Feldkhun, Kelvin H. Wagner
  • Patent number: 8547544
    Abstract: A multichannel photometric measurement apparatus according to one embodiment includes: a single signal generator for generating an initial signal, the initial signal containing a harmonic component for collectively generating a plurality of modulation signals; a light emitting device including a plurality of light sources that are respectively drivable by each of the plurality of modulation signals having different frequencies; a light detector for detecting a plurality of kinds of light emitted from the light emitting device; and discriminating means for discriminating a detected signal output from the light detector per frequency domain of each of the different frequencies for each of the modulation signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kumiko Horikoshi, Yasushi Ichizawa, Shigeyuki Kakuta, Kazufumi Nishida
  • Publication number: 20130147394
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing light from a light source. The method includes the steps of measuring a predetermined set of characteristics of the light source and detecting flicker when the predetermined set of characteristics exceed a corresponding flicker fusion threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: DIGNITY HEALTH
    Inventor: Stephen L. Macknik
  • Patent number: 8417959
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and/or method of identifying a user comprising illuminating a user with electromagnetic energy to induce luminescence and producing an output data signal. A reference data signal corresponding to the luminescence of a selected user may be identified and compared to the output data signal. In such a manner, an identification may be made as to whether a selected user is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Ralph Henry Hill, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130016344
    Abstract: A configurable hybrid superheterodyne spectrum analyzer for deriving process state parameters from detected modulated light emitted by a plasma receives and conditions the electric signals converted from the modulated light for subsequent superheterodyne mixing at a specific intermediate frequency (IF) that is lower than the frequency of the modulated light. Signal conditioning includes filtering noise, aliasing and DC and/or amplifying or de-amplifying the signal. Once mixed, the superheterodyne signal is further filtered by an IF filter to define the signal bandwidth characteristics relevant to the process state parameters. The IF filter may configurably employ multiple filter functions such as Gaussian filtering of increasing widths and/or comb filtering for multiple passbands in the frequency spectrum. Finally, the IF mixed and filtered signal is digitized with respect to the specific intermediate frequency using an IF digitizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Larry Bullock, Andrew Weeks Kueny, Mark Anthony Meloni
  • Publication number: 20120257197
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed of sensing an object. A first radiation is spatially modulated to generate a structured second radiation. The object is illuminated with the structured second radiation such that the object produces a third radiation in response. Apart from any spatially dependent delay, a time variation of the third radiation is spatially independent. With a single-element detector, a portion of the third radiation is detected from locations on the object simultaneously. At least one characteristic of a sinusoidal spatial Fourier-transform component of the object is estimated from a time-varying signal from the detected portion of the third radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventors: Daniel Feldkhun, Kelvin H. Wagner
  • Publication number: 20120206720
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a laser system, which has a focused laser beam and a controllable deflection assembly for controlling the transverse and/or longitudinal position of the beam focus, said method comprising the steps of directing the laser beam or a partial beam branched therefrom downstream of the deflection assembly toward an optically nonlinear medium for the purpose of generating frequency multiplied radiation, the wavelength of which corresponds to an uneven higher harmonic of the wavelength of the laser beam, activating the deflection assembly, and measuring a power of the frequency multiplied radiation while the deflection assembly is activated. The conversion efficiency of the nonlinear process by which the frequency multiplied radiation is produced is dependent upon the focusability of the laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventors: Matthias Fösel, Olaf Kittelmann, Klaus Vogler
  • Patent number: 8184280
    Abstract: Disclosed is a controllable light angle selecting device that includes a fixed light selecting means for transmitting light within a limited acceptance angle, optically connected to at least one light redirecting means capable of achieving a variable angular difference between light entering said light redirecting means and light exiting said light redirecting means. Also disclosed is a photometer employing such controllable light angle selecting device and arranged in the path of light between a light source and at least one light measuring sensor arranged to receive at least part of the light exiting from the controllable light angle selecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Eduard Johannes Meijer, Ties Van Bommel, Rifat Ata Mustafa Hikmet
  • Patent number: 8184279
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for measuring one or more sinusoidal Fourier components of an object. A structured second radiation is generated by spatially modulating a first radiation. The structured second radiation illuminates the object, The structured second radiation is scaled and oriented relative to the object. The object produces a third radiation in response to the illuminating. A single-element detector detects a portion of the third radiation from multiple locations on the object substantially simultaneously for each spatial modulation of the first radiation and for each orientation of the second radiation. A time-varying signal is produced based on said detected portion of the third radiations. One or more characteristics of the one or more sinusoidal Fourier components of the object are estimated based on the time-varying signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a Body Corporate
    Inventor: Daniel Feldkhun
  • Patent number: 8120765
    Abstract: An observation device 1 comprises a light source unit 10, a biaxial scanning system 20, a wavefront modulation unit 30, an optical branching unit 40, a light detection unit 50, a wavefront detection unit 60, a control unit 70, and the like. The wavefront modulation unit 30 presents a compensating phase pattern for compensating for an aberration of input light and a branching phase pattern for splitting the input light into first and second beams. The wavefront detection unit 60 receives inputted light and detects a wavefront of the inputted light. The compensating phase pattern for compensating for the wavefront aberration is feedback-controlled in loop processing that includes the detection of a wavefront distortion of the light by the wavefront detection unit 60, the adjustment of the phase pattern by the control unit 70 according to the result of detection, and the presentation of the phase pattern by the wavefront modulation unit 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hongxin Huang, Takashi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20120019814
    Abstract: Described herein is an improved sensing system (30) and its method of operation. The system (30) includes a camera (16) for viewing an external scene, the camera comprising one or more detector(s) and has a field of view (40) which overlaps with the path (32) of a pulsed laser (12). The laser path (32) and radiation from the scene viewed (40) share a beamsplitter (36) and a window (38). In order to substantially reduce back-scattered radiation from the laser path (32) affecting operation of the detector(s) of the camera (16), the detector(s) is (are) switched in accordance with the operation of the laser (12) to be ‘off’ or non-receiving when the laser (12) is ‘on’ or firing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: John MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20120019815
    Abstract: A multichannel photometric measurement apparatus according to one embodiment includes: a single signal generator for generating an initial signal, the initial signal containing a harmonic component for collectively generating a plurality of modulation signals; a light emitting device including a plurality of light sources that are respectively drivable by each of the plurality of modulation signals having different frequencies; a light detector for detecting a plurality of kinds of light emitted from the light emitting device; and discriminating means for discriminating a detected signal output from the light detector per frequency domain of each of the different frequencies for each of the modulation signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kumiko Horikoshi, Yasushi Ichizawa, Shigeyuki Kakuta, Kazufumi Nishida
  • Publication number: 20110122402
    Abstract: An optical device for measuring luminescence includes a pulse generator for generating a periodic modulation signal having rectangular pulses, a pulse duration of the pulse being variably adjustable, an illumination device and/or means for illuminating an object under investigation with excitation radiation modulated in a pulse-like manner depending on the modulation signal, and a time-of-flight camera for phase-sensitive detection of a luminescence response emitted by the object under investigation in response to the excitation radiation. The modulation signal is supplied as reference signal to the time-of-flight camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventor: Peter Westphal
  • Publication number: 20110102780
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a spatial light modulator comprising an array of channels includes selecting a plurality of channel sets; operating each of the channel sets to provide corresponding output radiation; providing a detector for measuring the output radiation; determining a plurality of intensity values, each representing an intensity of the output radiation provided by a different one of the channel sets; providing a correction factor for each of the channels sets, wherein each correction factor remains constant during a subsequent recalibration of the spatial light modulator; modifying each determined intensity value in accordance with a corresponding one of the correction factors; determining a difference between one of the modified intensity values and a target intensity value; and reducing the determined difference by adjusting a control level of at least one channel in the channel set corresponding to the one of the modified intensity values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventor: Valentine A. Karassiouk
  • Publication number: 20110013179
    Abstract: A controllable light angle selecting device (100) is provided. It comprises a fixed light selecting means (110) adapted to transmit light incident thereon within a limited acceptance angle, optically connected to at least one light redirecting means (120) capable of obtaining a variable angular difference between light entering said light redirecting means (120) and light exiting said light redirecting means. A photometer, comprising a controllable light angle selector arranged in the path of light between a light source and a light measuring sensor is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Eduard Johannes Meijer, Ties Van Bommel, Rifat Ata Mustafa Hikmet
  • Publication number: 20100321675
    Abstract: An observation device 1 comprises a light source unit 10, a biaxial scanning system 20, a wavefront modulation unit 30, an optical branching unit 40, a light detection unit 50, a wavefront detection unit 60, a control unit 70, and the like. The wavefront modulation unit 30 presents a compensating phase pattern for compensating for an aberration of input light and a branching phase pattern for splitting the input light into first and second beams. The wavefront detection unit 60 receives inputted light and detects a wavefront of the inputted light. The compensating phase pattern for compensating for the wavefront aberration is feedback-controlled in loop processing that includes the detection of a wavefront distortion of the light by the wavefront detection unit 60, the adjustment of the phase pattern by the control unit 70 according to the result of detection, and the presentation of the phase pattern by the wavefront modulation unit 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Hongxin Huang, Takashi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7791719
    Abstract: An optical system measures scene inhomogeneity. The system includes a mirror for receiving radiance of a field-of-view (FOV) of a scene, and reflecting a portion of the radiance to an optical detector. A controller is coupled to the mirror for changing the FOV. The optical detector provides a signal of the reflected portion of radiance of the scene. A processor determines scene inhomogeneity, based on amplitude of the signal provided from the optical detector. The controller is configured to modulate the FOV at a periodic interval, using a sinusoidal waveform, a pulse code modulated waveform, or a pseudo-random waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Lent Cohen, David James Crain, Richard James Hertel
  • Publication number: 20090316141
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for measuring one or more sinusoidal Fourier components of an object. A structured second radiation is generated by spatially modulating a first radiation. The structured second radiation illuminates the object, The structured second radiation is scaled and oriented relative to the object. The object produces a third radiation in response to the illuminating. A single-element detector detects a portion of the third radiation from multiple locations on the object substantially simultaneously for each spatial modulation of the first radiation and for each orientation of the second radiation. A time-varying signal is produced based on said detected portion of the third radiations. One or more characteristics of the one or more sinusoidal Fourier components of the object are estimated based on the time-varying signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
    Inventor: Daniel Feldkhun
  • Publication number: 20090303467
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining intensities and peak wavelengths of light. The apparatus comprises one or more pairs of sensing units for sensing the light, a first sensing unit of a pair configured to sense a first intensity of the light in a first predetermined wavelength range with a first predetermined spectral responsivity and a second sensing unit of a pair configured to sense a second intensity of the light in the first predetermined wavelength range with a second predetermined spectral responsivity. The apparatus further comprises a processing system operatively connected to the one or more pairs of sensing units; the processing system configured to determine the intensity and peak wavelength for each of the one or more predetermined wavelength ranges of the light according to one or more predetermined functional relationships between each of the first intensity and second integral.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Ian Ashdown, Shane Robinson, Marc Salsbury
  • Publication number: 20090290148
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device for automatically calibrating a light intensity measurement device. The device (1) includes an optical switch (3) for switching a route of output from an optical intensity modulator (2), an optical attenuator (5) arranged on a first waveguide (4), a second waveguide (6), a light intensity measurement device (7), a control device (8) for receiving light intensity information measured by the light intensity measurement device (7) and controlling the signal to be applied to the optical intensity modulator (2), and a signal source (9) for receiving a control signal of the control device (8) and adjusting the signal to be applied to the optical intensity modulator (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2006
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kawanishi, Masayuki Izutsu, Takahide Sakamoto, Masahiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7545488
    Abstract: An light-emitting diode (LED) meter capable of analog presentations is disclosed. The LED meter includes an LED and a reflective object. The reflective object is capable of reflecting light emitted from the LED. The reflective object is also capable of being moved to and for along a path. The LED meter also includes means for selectively enabling the LED to emit light continuously for a duration that is proportional to a magnitude of measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Randall R. Heisch
  • Publication number: 20090128660
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the power frequency of a light source includes a photo-sensitive transistor, a modulators and a logic unit. The photo-sensitive transistor generates an electrical signal that is responsive to light incident thereon from the light source. The modulator generates a modulated signal based on the electrical signal that toggles at a rate substantially proportional to the power frequency of the light source. The logic unit is coupled to receive the modulated signal and determine its toggling frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Tiejun Dai, Sohei Manabe, Hongtao Yao, Jingzhou Zhang, Liping Deng
  • Patent number: 7368292
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying explosive or other target materials includes the steps of irradiating a first location and a second location spaced apart from the first location from a sample suspected of including explosives with ultraviolet, visible or infrared light, measuring reflected light emanated from the first sample location (R1) and reflected light emanated from the second sample location (R2), and calculating a normalized difference in reflectivity (?R/ R), wherein R=(R1+R2)/2 is an average reflectivity. A differential reflection spectrum (DRS) is then generated for the sample where ?R=R2?R1 is the difference of the reflectivities of the first and the second sample location. One or more explosives if present are identified in the sample based on comparing the DRS for said sample to at least one reference DRS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolf E. Hummel, Ann Marie Fuller, Claus Schollhorn, Paul H. Holloway
  • Patent number: 5936724
    Abstract: A flicker photometer has beam generating means (1, 8 and 4) for generating two beams of light of different colors. Light from the beams is viewed at the viewing means, and the intensity of light of one beam relative to that of the other beam can be adjusted by adjustment means comprising an attenuating filter (20) which is movably mounted in the path of one beam. Movement of the filter relative to the beam alters the degree to which the beam is attenuated, and is achieved using an electric motor (22). The motor provides a relatively easy means of adjusting the filter position, and can be used to provide coarse and fine adjustments in response to suitable signals from an optical encoder. The motor also enables the filter, along with the beam generating means, to be mounted on a movable table for use in enabling the photometer to accommodate both short and long-sighted subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: The Howard Foundation
    Inventors: Richard Andrew Bone, John Thomas Landrum, Wenlue Huang, Carlos Manuel Orta
  • Patent number: 5618495
    Abstract: The invention relates to colorimetric titration method, a titrator and colorimeter device. The titrating apparatus comprises radiant energy means for producing radiant energy. The device includes means for modulating an amplitude of an intensity of the radiant energy at a modulation frequency. The radiant energy is partially absorbed by an adjacent solution within a sample beaker having a color indicator dissolved therein. Radiant energy focusing means focuses the modulated radiant energy transmitted through the sample and beaker on radiant energy detection means. The radiant energy detection means produces a transmitted signal wherein an intensity of the transmitted signal is directly proportional to the intensity of transmitted energy. Filtering means filters the transmitted signal, such that a center frequency of the filtering means matches the modulation frequency of the radiant energy means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Inventors: Andrew S. Mount, Douglas Paul, Alfred P. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 4857735
    Abstract: A spectrophotometer incorporating a pulsed light emitting diode as a source of radiation. The light emitting diode emits substantially monochromatic light thus negating the need for a separate wavelength control. The spectrophotometer may incorporate a pair of light emitting diodes for performing bichromatic spectrophotometric determinations. The light emitting diodes are pulsed with a duty cycle and pulse amplitude such that it is possible to obtain a higher amplitude pulse than the light emitting diode could sustain at a continuous voltage input level. Continuous voltages at this level would damage the light emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Inventor: Hans G. Noller
  • Patent number: 4184768
    Abstract: Pulsed light and readily measurable pulsed electrical energy are independently applied to a solid black, conductive sample in a gas-filled photoacoustic cell, each causing the black sample to heat. The heating of the black sample causes a pressure wave in the cell, which can be detected and measured. By adjusting the pulsed electrical energy, the pressure wave resulting from the pulsed electrical energy can be made to relate to the pressure wave resulting from the pulsed light in a predetermined manner. The pulsed light input intensity can then be measured in electrical units based on the measurable input of the electrical energy pulses. In this manner, the invention can be used as a radiometer. A second application for the present apparatus is in calibrating photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) cells. The PAS cell can be self-calibrated by discontinuing the light pulses and relating the pressure wave output to the electrical energy pulse input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1980
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: John C. Murphy, Leonard C. Aamodt