Utilizing A Spectrophotometer (i.e., Plural Beam) Patents (Class 356/319)
  • Patent number: 11953434
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spectroscopic device, system, and method for measuring the concentration of one or more molecular species of interest in a gas, liquid or solid sample, where the device may be portable, may be commercially manufactured, and/or may be adapted to existing systems and/or integrated with new systems to provide optical gas sensing for such systems. The disclosed devices, systems, and methods can be particularly useful in monitoring the purity of, e.g., a certain gas species, including determining whether a gas mixture contains certain gas species above a set concentration limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: SHELL OIL COMPNY, THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mark Zondlo, Lei Tao, Da Pan, Josh Collins, Paul Guiguizian, Howard Y. Bell, Alice Margaret Sophie Elliott, Patrick Minter Killough, Bernardus Maria Geertshuis, Herie Javier Soto
  • Patent number: 11898956
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spectroscopic device, system, and method for measuring the concentration of one or more molecular species of interest in a gas, liquid or solid sample, where the device may be portable, may be commercially manufactured, and/or may be adapted to existing systems and/or integrated with new systems to provide optical gas sensing for such systems. The disclosed devices, systems, and methods can be particularly useful in monitoring the purity of, e.g., a certain gas species, including determining whether a gas mixture contains certain gas species above a set concentration limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignees: SHELL OIL COMPNY, THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mark Zondlo, Lei Tao, Da Pan, Josh Collins, Paul Guiguizian, Howard Y. Bell, Alice Margaret Sophie Elliott, Patrick Minter Killough, Bernardus Maria Geertshuis, Herie Javier Soto
  • Patent number: 11788889
    Abstract: In an illustrative configuration, a method for monitoring air quality is disclosed. The method includes accepting analyte gas into a cell and reflecting light rays into the analyte gas repeatedly across the cell into at least one sensor. The light scattered by particulate matter in the analyte gas and amount of spectra-absorption due to presence of a gaseous chemical is then measured. Based on the determined amount of spectra-absorption and the measured scattered light the gaseous chemical is then measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: PROJECT CANARY, PBC
    Inventors: Anna Ailene Scott, Yan Azdoud, Christopher Daniel Kelley
  • Patent number: 11717165
    Abstract: The invention relates to a detection apparatus (30) for determining a state of tissue. The detection apparatus (30) comprises a fluorescence spectrum providing unit (2, 3) for providing a fluorescence spectrum of the tissue, a differentiation unit (4) for generating a derivative of the fluorescence spectrum, and a tissue state determination unit (5) for determining the state of the tissue from the derivative. This allows determining the state of the tissue, even if characteristics, which are related to the state of the tissue, are only hardly visible or not visible at all in the fluorescence spectrum. The reliability of determining the state of the tissue, for instance, whether the tissue is cancerous or not, can therefore be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Manfred Mueller, Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hendriks, Gerhardus Wilhelmus Lucassen, Jeroen Jan Horikx
  • Patent number: 11692942
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for a chemical sensor architecture based on a fabric-based spectrometer. An example apparatus implementing the techniques includes a portable spectrometer device including a first fabric layer and a second fabric layer coupled to the first fabric layer to form a pouch. The second fabric layer includes a fiber fabric spectrometer substrate comprising a fiber material including one or more electronic devices, wherein the pouch is configured to receive a colorimetric substrate and the fiber fabric spectrometer substrate is configured to measure reflectance of a colorimetric substrate disposed in the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Richard Kingsborough, Alexander Stolyarov, Shane Tysk, Lauren Cantley
  • Patent number: 11684296
    Abstract: A noninvasive physiological sensor can include a first body portion and a second body portion coupled to each other and configured to at least partially enclose a user's finger. The sensor can further include a first probe coupled to one or more emitters and a second probe coupled to a detector. The first probe can direct light emitted from the one or more emitters toward tissue of the user's finger and the second probe can direct light attenuated through the tissue to the detector. The first and second probes can be coupled to the first and second body portions such that when the first and second body portions are rotated with respect to one another, ends of the first and second probes can be moved in a direction towards one another to compress the tissue of the user's finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Cercacor Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung The Vo, Kevin Hughes Pauley, Cristiano Dalvi, Sean Merritt, Jesse Chen, Jeroen Poeze, Ferdyan Lesmana, Ruiqi Long
  • Patent number: 11668893
    Abstract: An imaging transmitter (Tx) for free-space optical communications (FOC) includes a light source for providing modulated light, a pixel controller configured for dynamic selection of at least a portion of the modulated light to provide at least one pre-collimated FOC beam. An imaging lens assembly is for collimating the pre-collimated FOC beam to provide a transmitted FOC beam. The pixel controller controls a location of the pre-collimated FOC beam with respect to a focal surface of the imaging lens assembly so that the transmitted FOC beam is projected into a desired direction in object space that is determined by the location, or in the case that the light source is an emitting array, equivalently the transmitted FOC beam is projected into a unique angular volume described by the center line-of-sight (LOS) and instantaneous FOV (iFOV) of the emitting pixel(s) in the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Kyle Renshaw, Sajad Saghaye Polkoo
  • Patent number: 11474029
    Abstract: A spectrophotometer includes: an infrared light source; an interferometer; a first detector; and a monitor unit. The monitor unit includes: a second detector; and a light amount control unit. The light amount control unit is operable to control the infrared light source such that the amount comes closer to a target light amount, based on the signal. The infrared light source emits light having a first wavelength range and light having a second wavelength range different from the first wavelength range. The second detector includes: a first light detection element; and a second light detection element. The first light detection element outputs to the light amount control unit a first voltage corresponding to the light having the first wavelength range. The second light detection element outputs to the light amount control unit a second voltage corresponding to the light having the second wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Masataka Migita
  • Patent number: 11371936
    Abstract: A multiwavelength-light-radiating apparatus (1) includes: a light source (11) that radiates continuous light (Lc); a diffracting part (12) that diffracts the continuous light (Lc) into numerous monochromatic lights (Lm), whose wavelengths differ from one another, and emits the numerous monochromatic lights (Lm); numerous optical waveguides (2) that respectively transmit the numerous monochromatic lights (Lm) emitted from the diffracting part (12) from incident ends (21) to output ends (22) where the numerous monochromatic lights (Lm) are respectively emitted; and a sample-placement part (3) that holds numerous samples such that the output ends (22) of the numerous optical waveguides (2) respectively oppose the samples. The numerous monochromatic irradiation lights, whose wavelengths differ from one another, are arranged to be radiated simultaneously onto the numerous samples, one light per sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOYOHASHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Yuu Hirose
  • Patent number: 11369955
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to microfluidic devices and systems comprising such devices for use in the determination of sample characteristics. Certain embodiments relate to methods for determining one or more characteristics of a sample comprising a compound for in vivo use. Aptly, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to devices and methods for assessing radiopharmaceuticals and their suitability for administration to a patient in need thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: The University of Hull
    Inventors: Stephen James Archibald, Ping He, Stephen John Haswell, Nicole Pamme, Nathan Joel Brown, Mark Duncan Tarn, Richard Alexander, Mohammad Mehdi Nasr Esfahani
  • Patent number: 11328896
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sample carrier for accommodating a microscopic sample for examination or processing in a microscope system. The sample carrier is accommodatable in an accommodating device, such that the sample carrier in the accommodated state assumes a defined orientation relative to the accommodating device. The sample carrier has an individual sample carrier identifier and is designed to communicate with the microscope system and in the process to communicate the individual sample carrier identifier to the microscope system, such that a sample accommodated on the sample carrier is trackable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Berger, Simon Diemer
  • Patent number: 11307094
    Abstract: An imaging system comprises an excitation light source, a directing element positioned to direct light from the excitation light source toward a sample, a detector configured to measure incoming light from the sample, a filter cavity positioned between the sample and the detector, a first filter configured to be inserted into the filter cavity, a sine filter configured to be inserted into the filter cavity, and a processing unit communicatively connected to the detector, configured to receive image data from the detector to form an image. Methods of constructing a hyperspectral image of a sample are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Enrico Gratton, Alexander Dvornikov
  • Patent number: 11092727
    Abstract: An optical device may include a narrowband optical filter to receive a beam of light at a selected angle of incidence, wherein the beam of light is caused to be received by the narrowband optical filter at the selected angle of incidence by a steering element included in the optical device, and output a filtered beam of light associated with the beam of light, wherein a wavelength of the filtered beam of light depends on the selected angle of incidence of the beam of light on the narrowband optical filter. The optical device may include a photodiode to receive at least a portion of the filtered beam of light after the filtered beam of light is outputted by the narrowband optical filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: VIAVI Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Valton Smith, Curtis R. Hruska
  • Patent number: 11019326
    Abstract: A method characterizes a scanning light source configured to emit illumination propagating in any one of a plurality of directions spanning an angular range. The method includes (i) detecting, with a camera, illumination propagating at each of the plurality of directions; (ii) storing image data corresponding to a response of the camera to the detected illumination. The method also includes (iii) processing the image data to characterize at least one of the angular range, pointing accuracy, pointing jitter, a divergence of the illumination, a uniformity of the illumination, and a fidelity of a scanning pattern, formed by the scanning light source, to a predetermined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: JENOPTIK OPTICAL SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Marc D. Himel, Gunnar H. Gunnarsson, Andrea Koertvelyessy, James J. Kumler, Jan Werschnik
  • Patent number: 10996110
    Abstract: A heuristic process for color formula calculation of pigmented shades matched to a target shade, comprising the steps of i) using suitable calibration scales to compile an effect matrix for each of the ingredients included in a coloring system, ii) determining the optical materials parameters of the target shade, iii) selecting a suitable starting formula, iv) determining the color difference between the starting formula and the target shade, v) calculating a first matched color formula while taking account of the effect matrices, vi) repeating steps iv) and v) until an acceptable remaining color difference is reached, wherein the effect matrices are continually updated with shade-relevant information during ongoing operation, achieves an improvement on the existing processes for shade formula calculation, not only in terms of reducing the number of tinting steps needed but also in terms of minimizing the remaining color difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: BASF Coatings GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Bornemann, Heiner Cloppenburg, Carlos Vignolo, Jürgen Lohmann, Stuart Kendall Scott
  • Patent number: 10935428
    Abstract: A spectrum measurement apparatus includes a signal generation unit, a detector, an AD converter, and an operation unit. An external cavity laser light source includes a quantum cascade laser and a diffraction grating. The signal generation unit outputs a wavelength sweep signal repeatedly giving an instruction for sweep of a resonant wavelength selected by the diffraction grating and a pumping instruction signal repeatedly giving an instruction for on/off of pumping of the quantum cascade laser in each period of wavelength sweep based on the instruction of the wavelength sweep signal. The operation unit inputs a digital value output from the AD converter, obtains an oscillation spectrum in each period of the wavelength sweep, and integrates the oscillation spectra obtained with changing the phase of the pumping instruction signal for each period of the wavelength sweep.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: TOHOKU TECHNO ARCH CO., LTD., HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Yuji Matsuura, Naoto Shibata
  • Patent number: 10816459
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flow cell (10) comprising a fluid inlet (16) and a fluid outlet (18) separated by a sample flow-through chamber (12) comprising at least one UV-transparent window (22?), wherein the at least one UV-transparent window (22?) is made of a polymer material and has been subjected to Gamma radiation sterilisation. In one aspect, the flow cell is combustible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Cytiva Sweden AB
    Inventor: Hanno Ehring
  • Patent number: 10801887
    Abstract: A transmissive sampling module is provided, which is adapted to a spectrometer main body. The transmissive sampling module includes a light source assembly and a support base. The light source assembly is directly connected to the support base. The support base includes a tube body and at least one fixing member. The tube body surrounds an accommodating groove, and an extending direction of the tube body is not parallel to an optical path of the light source assembly, and the tube body includes a transparent portion, and the optical path of the light source assembly passes through the transparent portion and the accommodating groove. The at least one fixing member is disposed on the tube body and is adjustably protruded out of an inner surface of the tube body. A transmissive spectrometer is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: InnoSpectra Corporation
    Inventors: Kuo-Sheng Huang, Chia-Ching Tso, Tsan-Fu Tseng, Hsi-Pin Li
  • Patent number: 10788419
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for detecting agrochemicals in environments associated with agricultural equipment are described. Certain agrochemicals that are formulated for being detected using the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein are also described. The devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein are generally configured to use spectral characteristics to detect agrochemicals in an environment associated with agricultural equipment. The spectral characteristics can be analyzed in various ways to provide different types of information about the agrochemicals and/or the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Spogen Biotech Inc.
    Inventor: Brian M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10769505
    Abstract: An optical sensor device includes a first light source, a second light source, a sensor, and control circuitry. The first light source has a plurality of peak wavelengths in a wavelength range of 400 nm to 780 nm. The second light source emits ultraviolet light. The control circuitry adjusts a light amount of the first light source based on an output of the sensor in a state the first light source is on and the second light source is off, adjusts a light amount of the second light source based on an output of the sensor in a state the second light source is on and the first light source is off, and acquires a correction value of data output by the sensor, based on an output of the sensor in a state each of the first and second light sources is on with the light amount adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Iwanami, Nobuyuki Satoh, Hirohito Murate
  • Patent number: 10648902
    Abstract: A spectrophotometer 1 comprises a control unit 45 with a warming-up determination unit 452 that determines the completion of a warming-up based on a variation amount of a detection signal in a predetermined duration when a light detector 7 detects a light from a sample chamber without loading the sample. Specifically, the warming-up determination unit 452 calculates a difference between a signal intensity of the detection signal detected by the light detector 7 at the time when the predetermined time passes and a signal intensity of the detection signal detected by the light detector 7 at a previous time and determines that a warming-up is complete when a value of the difference is less than a first threshold value. The warming-up determination unit 452 automatically determines the completion of warming-up independently from the determination by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jumpei Zushi, Hiroyuki Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 10598598
    Abstract: Cell counters and methods of their use are disclosed herein. The cell counters include a sample mounting system that includes a base, which includes a mounted lower sample surface and a cover having a mounted upper sample surface; a bright-field light source incorporated in the cover; an objective lens mounted below the sample mounting system; optionally, a fluorescence excitation source in optical communication with the sample mounting system; and an imaging system in optical communication with the bright-field light source and the objective lens. The mounted sample surfaces are configured for repeated use, such that disposable sample cartridges are not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Denovix, Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando F. Kielhorn, Daniel A. Schieffer, David L. Ash, Kevin Kelley, Andrew William Jones
  • Patent number: 10594905
    Abstract: A spectral characteristic obtaining apparatus includes a color information obtaining unit including a plurality of spectral sensors aligned in an array direction, the spectral sensors being configured to receive light reflected from an object so as to obtain first color information of the object; a spectral characteristic calculating unit configured to estimate a spectral characteristic of the object based on the first color information by using a preset transformation matrix; a calibration color index configured to include a region of a color with a known spectral characteristic; and a transformation matrix calibrating unit configured to calibrate the transformation matrix by using second color information obtained from the calibration color index, wherein the spectral sensors are configured to obtain the second color information from the same region included in the calibration color index, while relative positions thereof with respect to the calibration color index are changed at a time of calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Taneda, Kohei Shimbo, Yoichi Kubota
  • Patent number: 10574973
    Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) for depth sensing of a local area. The DCA includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller. The transmitter illuminates a local area with outgoing light in accordance with emission instructions. The transmitter includes a fine steering element and a coarse steering element. The fine steering element deflects one or more optical beams at a first deflection angle to generate one or more first order deflected scanning beams. The coarse steering element deflects the one or more first order deflected scanning beams at a second deflection angle to generate the outgoing light projected into the local area. The receiver captures one or more images of the local area including portions of the outgoing light reflected from the local area. The controller determines depth information for one or more objects in the local area based in part on the captured one or more images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hall, Qing Chao, Byron Taylor, Xinqiao Liu
  • Patent number: 10481139
    Abstract: A detector for use in liquid chromatography is provided. The detector includes a light delivery system comprising a light source that emits one or more spectral lines of light of a light spectrum. The detector has an entrance slit configured to receive the one or more spectral lines of light and a wavelength selection module comprising a digital micro-mirror device. The digital micro-mirror device is configured to redirect the one or more spectral lines of light to a flow cell. The flow cell is optically connected to the wavelength selection module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony C. Jeannotte, Daniel Gillund, Aditya Shankar Prasad, Saksham Saxena
  • Patent number: 10435785
    Abstract: A system and method for depositing a coating may comprise a coating chemical reactor, surface activation component, and a deposition component. A target surface may be prepared for deposition with the surface activation component. The coating chemical reactor may comprise a coating chemical dispenser and a coating chemical verifier that prepares the coating chemical for deposition. The coating chemical verifier may utilize an optical excitation source and at least one optical detector, wherein chemical substances are identified by unique signatures composed of binary code. The coating chemical may be received by the deposition component to depositing the coating chemical on the target surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
    Inventors: Seamus Curran, Nigel Alley, Kang-Shyang Liao, Amrita Haldar
  • Patent number: 10422690
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an ambient light acquisition method, an ambient light acquisition device, and an ambient light analysis method. An ambient light acquisition method includes acquiring an ambient light parameter of a target area, converting the ambient light parameter into a protocol type parameter in accordance with a predetermined wired communication protocol; and transmitting the protocol type parameter to an ambient light analysis device through a wired communication route corresponding to the predetermined wired communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Oppie Lighting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xingzhi Gong, Yalong Liu
  • Patent number: 10393660
    Abstract: An apparatus and method which measure the concentration of suspended, dispersed or dissolved materials in a fluid. The invention utilizes two light emitters, a light filter or dichroic mirror, a lens and an imaging sensor. The apparatus evaluates the magnitude of the fluorescence light emitted by the materials when excited by a light of suitable wavelength, and uses the magnitude in a correlation to determine the concentration of the materials to be measured. The apparatus further evaluates the magnitude of transmitted or scattered light from another light emitter, which is used through a correlation, in combination with the correlation for the fluorescence magnitude, to determine the concentration of the materials when fluorescence light alone cannot determine the concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Inventor: Jianfeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 10393582
    Abstract: A method refocuses on an optical assembly target surface, using at least one beam originating from a short-pulse optical source, having at least one optical system for focusing the beam on the surface. Refocusing occurs after learning reference conditions for which the assembly is considered as focused. A focusing signal is detected representing a time overlap of pulses between a beam reflected and a reference beam not reflected by the surface, one of the beams delayed by a delay line. The optical path on which the delay line is placed is varied, on the basis of the reference conditions, to cause the focusing signal to reach or exceed a predetermined threshold. The focus is adjusted on the basis of the path variation between the reference conditions and the conditions for which the focusing signal reaches or exceeds the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, UNIVERSITE DE LILLE 1, ISEN
    Inventor: Arnaud Devos
  • Patent number: 10394691
    Abstract: A method enables users to resolve errors in a data flow. The method displays a user interface (UI) that includes a flow diagram having a plurality of nodes, receives user specification of a validation rule for a first node of the plurality of nodes in the flow diagram, and determines that an intermediate data set violates the validation rule. In response to determining that the first intermediate data set violates the validation rule, the method identifies errors corresponding to rows in the intermediate data set, and displays an error resolution UI that provides information about the errors. The error resolution UI includes a natural language summary region providing a synopsis of the errors, an error profile region graphically depicting the errors, a data flow trace region providing lineage of the errors in the flow, and a data region displaying data for a subset of columns from the intermediate data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Tableau Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Lee Cole, Heidi Lap Mun Lam
  • Patent number: 10107685
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating calibrated color data of a target using color measurement instruments distributed in the network comprising the steps A) generating at least one standard instrument profile for the color measurement instruments distributed in the network to correct photometric and wavelength scale differences, and B) generating at least one geometry instrument profile for the color measurement instruments distributed in the network to correct geometry scale differences. The method can be used in applications where color measurement instrument networks are used, particularly in robotic systems where color measurement instruments are integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventor: Wilhelm Kettler
  • Patent number: 10060891
    Abstract: A system and method for the substantially continuous measurement of the total alkalinity of a sample solution, which includes, equilibrating a sample solution and a gas at a chosen CO2 fugacity across a gas permeable membrane, measuring the equilibrium pH of the equilibrated solution in an optical cell using a spectrophotometric pH indicator and calculating the total alkalinity of the solution from the equilibrium pH measurement of the solution and a known partial pressure of CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Robert H. Byrne, Xuewu Liu
  • Patent number: 10048128
    Abstract: Methods and systems for spectrometer dark correction are described which achieve more stable baselines, especially towards the edges where intensity correction magnifies any non-zero results of dark subtraction, and changes in dark current due to changes in temperature of the camera window frame are typically more pronounced. The resulting induced curvature of the baseline makes quantitation difficult in these regions. Use of the invention may provide metrics for the identification of system failure states such as loss of camera vacuum seal, drift in the temperature stabilization, and light leaks. In system aspects of the invention, a processor receives signals from a light detector in the spectrometer and executes software programs to calculate spectral responses, sum or average results, and perform other operations necessary to carry out the disclosed methods. In most preferred embodiments, the light signals received from a sample are used for Raman analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: KAISER OPTICAL SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Wiegand, James M. Tedesco, Joseph B. Slater, Francis Esmonde-White, Darren Schipper
  • Patent number: 10018643
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Theranos IP Company, LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Holmes, Chinmay Pangarkar, Samartha Anekal, John K. Frankovich, Michael Chen, Timothy Smith
  • Patent number: 9952101
    Abstract: A spectroscopic measurement apparatus includes a light source, an integrator, a first spectroscopic detector, a second spectroscopic detector, and an analysis unit. The integrator includes an internal space in which a measurement object is disposed, a light input portion for inputting light to the internal space, a light output portion for outputting light from the internal space, and a sample attachment portion for attaching the measurement object. The first spectroscopic detector receives the light output from the integrator, disperses the light of a first wavelength region, and acquires first spectrum data. The second spectroscopic detector receives the light output from the integrator, disperses the light of a second wavelength region, and acquires second spectrum data. The first wavelength region and the second wavelength region include a wavelength region partially overlapping each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Kengo Suzuki, Kazuya Iguchi
  • Patent number: 9915606
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for characterizing a sample-product X by spectral analysis by means of a novel spectrometer II using information acquired by means of a first spectrometer I.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Topnir Systems SAS
    Inventors: Didier Lambert, Claude Saint Martin, Sanchez Miguel, Bernard Ribero
  • Patent number: 9891107
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an optical imaging system that defines an optical path. In an aspect, the optical imaging system includes a first optical sub-system configured to substantially image, at a focus plane, electromagnetic radiation emanating from an object plane, a slit element at the focus plane to extract a line image from the electromagnetic radiation, a second optical sub-system configured to collimate, at a center plane, the electromagnetic radiation from the slit element, a dispersive element at the center plane with variable dispersive properties, a third optical sub-system configured to image the collimated electromagnetic radiation from the center plane to an image plane, and a detecting element at the image plane. In one example, the slit element is mechanically movable into and out of the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: WAVEFRONT RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9880106
    Abstract: An abnormality detector for a light source includes a laser diode which emits an excitation light and a fluorescent substance which is excited by the excitation light to generate a fluorescent light. The abnormality detector includes a first photo sensor which is sensitive to a wavelength of the excitation light, a second photo sensor which is sensitive to a wavelength of the fluorescent light, a first current-voltage conversion circuit which outputs a first detection signal based on an output of the first photo sensor, a second current-voltage conversion circuit which outputs a second detection signal based on an output of the second photo sensor, and a determination unit which determines whether an abnormality occurs based on the first detection signal and the second detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: KOITO MANAUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9870753
    Abstract: A rearview assembly for a vehicle is provided that includes: a housing configured for mounting to the vehicle; a rearview element disposed in the housing that displays images of a scene exterior of the vehicle; a light sensor assembly disposed in the housing; and a controller for receiving the electrical signal of the light sensor and for adjusting a brightness of the images displayed by the rearview element. The light sensor includes a light sensor for outputting an electrical signal representing intensity of light impinging upon a light-receiving surface of the light sensor, and a secondary optical element configured to receive light, wherein the light passes through the secondary optical element to the light sensor, the secondary optical element including a tint material that is substantially color neutral for attenuating light passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Barry K Nelson, Jon H Bechtel, Daniel G McMillan, Spencer D Reese
  • Patent number: 9770196
    Abstract: A sensing system and method for sensing a component in a liquid is disclosed. The system comprises a microfluidic channel, the microfluidic channel comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the microfluidic channel is open at the first end and closed at the second end. The system also comprises at least one measurement sensor positioned adjacent the first end, the measurement sensor being arranged for detecting a measurement signal and a reference sensor positioned in the microfluidic channel adjacent the second end, the reference sensor being arranged for detecting a reference signal of the liquid. The system further is configured for combining the measurement signal and the reference signal so as to filter out background influences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: UNIVERSITEIT GENT, IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Roeland Baets, Eva Ryckeboer
  • Patent number: 9766369
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to select from multiple optical detectors and/or multiple detector amplifiers to form combinations of detectors and amplifiers as part of an optical detection system. The selection may be based on minimizing noise equivalent power (NEP) of the optical detector or a combination of an optical detector and a detector amplifier over a desired temperature range. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Raj Pai, Marian Morys, Homi Phiroze Cooper, John Thomas
  • Patent number: 9702688
    Abstract: A shape measuring apparatus includes: an irradiating part configured to irradiate work with a linear line laser, the irradiating part including: a light source configured to produce light; and an optical element configured to linearly spread the light from the light source and generate the line laser, the optical element being constructed rotatably around an optical axis of the line laser; and an imaging part configured to image the line laser reflected by the work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Saito, Ichiro Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 9696204
    Abstract: A frequency registration deviation is quantified for a field spectrum collected during analysis by a spectroscopic analysis system of a sample fluid when the spectroscopic analysis system has deviated from a standard calibration state. The field spectrum is corrected based on the frequency registration deviation using at least one spectral shift technique, and a concentration is calculated for at least one analyte represented by the field spectrum using the corrected field spectrum. Related systems, methods, and articles are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SPECTRASENSORS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiang Liu, Gary Yeh, Adam S. Chaimowitz, William Jenko, Alfred Feitisch
  • Patent number: 9535448
    Abstract: A chromatic processor and a computational process which includes the steps of assigning values to wavelengths of a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; using electromagnetic emitters for emitting waves having some of those wavelengths; expanding the number of waves available to the computational process by controlling the electromagnetic emitters input to a blended wave output; and combining some of the available waves in order to obtain new wave(s) representing new value(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Key
  • Patent number: 9535053
    Abstract: A system of measuring hemoglobin and bilirubin parameters in a whole blood sample using optical absorbance. The system includes an optical-sample module, a spectrometer module, an optical fiber module optically connecting the optical-sample module to the spectrometer module, and a processor module. The optical-sample module has a light-emitting module having a LED light source, a cuvette and a calibrating-light module. The processor module receives and processes an electrical signal from the spectrometer module and transforms the electrical signal into an output signal useable for displaying and reporting hemoglobin parameter values and/or total bilirubin parameter values for the whole blood sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Nova Biomedical Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Cafferty, Scott P. Cionek
  • Patent number: 9528932
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light integrating cavity device, such as an integrating sphere, for measuring diffuse reflectance of a sample. A light trap is movable within a light scattering cavity of the device for controlling specular reflections during measurements. The light trap may be rotatable around the sample under test inside the cavity so that specular reflections off the sample can be included or excluded from the measurement. The sample may also be placed at the outside against a measurement port, and a measurement instrument is moveable on a rotating arm within or outside of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Westboro Photonics
    Inventor: Tim Moggridge
  • Patent number: 9508765
    Abstract: A photodiode array detector used for detecting light which has undergone wavelength separation by a spectroscopic element, the photodiode array detector including: a light receiving element array wherein, taking a plurality of light receiving elements which detect light of the same wavelength range as one unit, a plurality of such units are arrayed in the direction of dispersion of said wavelength; and a charge accumulation time setting unit which sets different charge accumulation times for the plurality of light receiving elements within the one unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michiaki Owa
  • Patent number: 9476767
    Abstract: The wavelength of a spectrometer is calibrated by using a commercial Ho glass filter. The spectrometer includes a light source including a D2 lamp and not including a mercury lamp, and a reference wavelength input unit for inputting, as a reference wavelength, a wavelength of a specific absorption peak separately measured for an Ho glass filter to be used. To calibrate the wavelength of the spectrometer by using the wavelength of a specific emission line peak of the D2 lamp and the reference wavelength input by the reference wavelength input unit, the wavelength calibration unit holds a conversion table showing a theoretical relationship between the number of control pulses for rotating a diffraction element and the corresponding wavelength of diffracted light, and calibrates the number of control pulses from the conversion table by the wavelength calibration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Tsuji, Hiroyuki Togo
  • Patent number: 9459143
    Abstract: A spectroscopic device includes a lamp house accommodating a light source inside, a spectrometer configured to disperse light from the lamp house, a temperature measurement means for measuring a temperature of the spectrometer, a heating means for heating the spectrometer, a storage means and a control unit. The storage means stores the detection temperature of the temperature measurement means at a time when an optical axis is stable in the spectrometer in a state where the light source is illuminated. The control unit is configured to control operation of the heating means, and to cause the heating means to operate, when the light source is illuminated from a light-off state, until a detection temperature of the temperature measurement means reaches the detection temperature stored in the storage means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahide Gunji
  • Patent number: 9423302
    Abstract: A stray light ratio computation unit computes the stray light ratio at a specified wavelength based on the quantity of light at the specified wavelength computed by light quantity computation unit in a state where there is no sample having absorption in the light path and the quantity of light at the specified wavelength computed by light quantity computation unit when the light is transmitted through a sample having absorption at the specified wavelength. Stray light quantity computation unit computes the quantity of stray light at each wavelength through computations using the stray light ratio at the specified wavelength and different unique values for each wavelength (for example, different coefficients for each wavelength, stored in coefficient storage unit).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michiaki Owa