Imaging Patents (Class 356/456)
  • Patent number: 11828585
    Abstract: A scatterometer for measuring a property of a target on a substrate includes a radiation source, a detector, and a processor. The radiation source produces a radiated spot on the target. The scatterometer adjusts a position of the radiated spot along a first direction across the target and along a second direction that is at an angle with respect to the first direction. The detector receives radiation scattered by the target. The received radiation is associated with positions of the radiated spot on the target along at least the first direction. The detector generates measurement signals based on the positions of the radiated spot on the target. The processor outputs, based on the measurement signals, a single value that is representative of the property of the target. The processor also combines the measurement signals to output a combined signal and derives, based on the combined signal, the single value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Henricus Petrus Maria Pellemans, Arie Jeffrey Den Boef
  • Patent number: 11768107
    Abstract: A color measurement apparatus includes an opening portion forming member that is a member in which an opening portion for causing light arriving from a measurement target to enter inside the apparatus is formed, and that is arranged on a bottom surface at a time of measurement performed by the apparatus, the opening portion for causing the light arriving from the measurement target to enter inside the apparatus, an incident light processing portion that processes light incident through the opening portion, and an operation portion that is positioned on an upper surface, and that receives various operations, in which in a view from a first direction that is a vertical direction intersecting with the bottom surface and the upper surface which is the surface on the opposite side from the bottom surface and includes a display portion, the opening portion and the operation portion have an overlapping part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Haruki Miyasaka, Hisayuki Akahane
  • Patent number: 11725989
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) (10), and a microelectromechanical (MEM) optical interferometer (18), for hyper-spectral imaging and analysis. System (10) includes matrix configured collimating micro lens (16), for receiving and collimating electromagnetic radiation (60) emitted by objects (12) in a scene or sample (14); microelectromechanical optical interferometer (18), for forming divided collimated object emission beam (72) having an optical path difference, and for generating an interference image exiting optical interferometer (18); matrix configured focusing micro lens (20); micro detector (22), for detecting and recording generated interference images; and micro central programming and signal processing unit (24). Applicable for on-line (e.g., real time or near-real time) or off-line hyper-spectral imaging and analyzing, on a miniaturized or ‘micro’ (sub-centimeter [1 cm (10 mm) or less], or sub-millimeter) scale, essentially any types or kinds of biological, physical, or/and chemical, (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Green Vision Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Danny S. Moshe
  • Patent number: 11478145
    Abstract: A method performed by a multispectral or hyperspectral meibomian gland imaging device is disclosed, which comprises directing light having visible and infrared spectra from a broadband illuminator toward an everted eyelid; forming images of the everted eyelid using an imaging system; recording the images using a detection system, which separates the images into spectral channels, which include at least one visible spectral channel and at least one infrared spectral channel; displaying the recorded images to adjust the position of the subject to optimize image quality; digitally processing the recorded images to obtain spatial and spectral information; evaluating the health of at least one meibomian gland of the eyelid by analyzing the information. Also disclosed is a multispectral or hyperspectral meibomian gland imaging device, comprising a broadband illuminator directing light that covers visible and infrared spectra; an imaging system, and a detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventor: Aizhong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11422032
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device (100) for multicolor optical imaging of a sample (102) with wavelength-dependent optical path length enhancement, the device (100) comprising an optical resonator (106) for enhancing an optical path length, wherein the optical resonator (106) has a first finesse at a first wavelength and a second finesse at a second wavelength; a sample holder (104) for mounting the sample (102) in the optical resonator (106), wherein the sample holder (104) is configured to hold the sample (102) such that an optical axis (112) of the optical resonator (106) intersects with the sample (102);a first imaging system (114) for imaging the sample (102) at the first wavelength with a first imaging technique, and a second imaging system (126) for imaging the sample (102) at the second wavelength with a second imaging technique, wherein the second wavelength is different from the first wavelength; wherein the first finesse and the second finesse are chosen such that the optical resonator (106) enhances a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Technische Universität München
    Inventors: Hristo Iglev, Oliver Hayden, Reinhard Kienberger, Markus Wurzer, Albert Schletter, Johann Riemensberger
  • Patent number: 11360294
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to multifunctional sensors for mobile applications, namely to a miniature optical sensor for remote micro- and macro-object detection and characterization. The disclosure makes it possible to reduce the size of the sensor, this provides for surface mount of the sensor in any microcircuit of a mobile device. The sensor is multifunctional, low-power, vibration-resistant. The sensor comprises at least one pair consisting of a radiation source and a corresponding radiation receiver, an optical circuit including a collimating element, a first optical element, a second optical element. The first optical element and the second optical element are interconnected by a common surface, the common surface being a semitransparent surface. The sensor may be used simultaneously as a microphone, a dust sensor, a lidar, and a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Vladimir Mikhailovich Semenov, Artem Andreevich Dolgoborodov, Anastasiia Sergeevna Suvorina, Gennady Dmitrievich Mamykin, Dmitrii Igorevich Chernakov, Vladislav Valerievich Lychagov
  • Patent number: 11334743
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for analyzing a biological sample are disclosed. A sequence of images of the biological sample from an image capture device are received from an image capture device, wherein each image of the sequence of images is acquired at a particular focal plane of the biological sample. In addition, an object map is developed from the sequence of images and the object map is analyzed to measure a three-dimensional characteristic of a particular object. The object map comprises a plurality of object map planes, each object map plane is associated with one image of the sequence of images, and pixels of the object map planes associated with the particular object in the sequence of images are assigned a unique identifier associated with the particular object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Molecular Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Avrum Cohen, Dihui Hong, Steven Luke
  • Patent number: 11269248
    Abstract: In a projector, an optical sensor including a wavelength variable interference filter is disposed in the vicinity of the optical path of illumination light that exits out of an illumination system and travels to a color separation system, and the optical sensor detects the amounts of blue light and fluorescence contained in the illumination light. A processor of the projector adjusts the amounts of blue light and fluorescence based on the result of the detection performed by the optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hirotaka Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 11248959
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a multi-spectral image printing method. The method includes the steps of:—providing a multi-spectral image;—providing a material;—determining changes in a refractive index value of the material permitting to reproduce the multi-spectral image when the material is illuminated; and—generating the changes in refractive index value in the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
    Inventors: Adam Scholefield, Martin Vetterli, Yves Bellouard, Michalina Pacholska, Gilles Baechler, Arnaud Latty
  • Patent number: 11226188
    Abstract: A low-coherence interferometer apparatus for determining information on interfaces of an object including: a polychromatic light source; an optical system generating a measurement optical beam and a reference optical beam; a delay line introducing a variable optical delay between the optical beams; detection optics combining the beams, and producing a spectral signal representative of an optical-power spectral density of the resulting interference signal; a control and processing module acquiring a plurality of spectral signals for a plurality of optical delays, determining, for each spectral signal, optical retardation information between interfering beams within a spectral measurement range, analyse the variation in the retardations, and assign the optical retardation determined on the basis of the different spectral signals to interface curves, corresponding to straight lines with positive, negative, zero or almost-zero gradient, depending on the respective optical delay of the acquisition of the spectral
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: FOGALE NANOTECH
    Inventors: Alain Courteville, Christian Neel, Charankumar Godavarthi
  • Patent number: 11204275
    Abstract: A spectrometer for detecting one or more wavelength components of sample radiation is disclosed. The spectrometer includes: a detector comprising a two-dimensional rectilinear array of pixels for generating signals representing an image based on collected sample radiation; one or more optical components arranged to form a spatial pattern based on spectral features of the sample radiation the spatial pattern including a plurality of aligned substantially parallel fringes oriented at a non-zero skew angle to the two-dimensional rectilinear array; and an analyser arranged to receive the signals and provide an output related to the one or more wavelengths. The spectrometer suppresses column/row noise in the detector. Also disclosed is a method of suppressing noise when signals are extracted and processed from detector arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Keit Limited
    Inventors: James Paul Sobol, James David Powell, Jolyon Richard Tidmarsh, David James Edmonds Denny
  • Patent number: 11200670
    Abstract: A method for real-time detection and correction of shadowing in hyperspectral retinal images may include capturing receiving, using a processor, a hyperspectral image of a retina of a patient, detecting, by the processor, a shadow in the hyperspectral image, determining, by the processor that the shadow of the hyperspectral image exceeds a threshold, and in response to determining that the shadow of the hyperspectral image exceeds the threshold, initiating, using the processor, a capture of an additional hyperspectral image of the retina of the patient. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stefan Renard Maetschke, Noel Faux
  • Patent number: 11187656
    Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for determining a presence of at least one guest structure at a host structure. The method comprises a light-sensitive system receiving light from the host structure. The host structure hosts one or more optically active entities at at least one part of the host structure. Herein, the at least one part does not host the at least one guest structure. Furthermore, the optically active entities cause light emission from said at least one part. The method also comprises the light-sensitive system outputting a signal based on the received light. The method further comprises determining a light value based on the output signal. The light value indicates an amount of light from the host structure being incident on the light-sensitive system. The method also comprises determining on the basis of the light value at least one of a quantity and a position of the at least one guest structure at the host structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventors: Iddo Heller, Anna Elisabeth Christina Meijering, Gijs Jan Lodewijk Wuite, Erwin Johannes Gerard Peterman, Andreas Sebastian Biebricher
  • Patent number: 11054309
    Abstract: An optical module 1A includes a mirror unit 2 including a movable mirror 22 and a fixed mirror 16, a beam splitter unit 3, a light incident unit 4, a first light detector 6, a second light source 7, a second light detector 8, a holding unit 130, a first mirror 51, a second mirror 52, and a third mirror 53. The holding unit 130 holds the first light detector 6, the second light detector 8, and the second light source 7 so as to face that same side, and to be aligned in this order. A length of an optical path between the unit 3 and the detector 6 is shorter than a length of an optical path between the unit 3 and the detector 8, and a length of an optical path between the unit 3 and the source 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Tomofumi Suzuki, Kyosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Sugimoto, Yutaka Kuramoto, Katsumi Shibayama, Noburo Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 11029206
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to apparatus for measuring and characterizing performance of augmented and virtual reality waveguide structures utilizing glass substrates. The waveguide performance measuring systems generally include a light source configured to direct light towards an incoupling grating area on waveguide and one or more light detectors configured to collect light from an outcoupling grating area on a second side of the waveguide. The light source and one or more light detectors are disposed on one or more adjustable stages positioned about the waveguide. In certain embodiments, the one or more adjustable stages are configured to move in a linear fashion or revolve and/or rotate around the waveguide in an orbital motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinxin Fu, Rutger Meyer Timmerman Thijssen, Ludovic Godet
  • Patent number: 11022492
    Abstract: An optical module 1A includes a mirror unit 2 including a movable mirror 22 and a fixed mirror 16, a beam splitter unit 3, a light incident unit 4, a first light detector 6, a second light source 7, a second light detector 8, a holding unit 130, a first mirror 51, a second mirror 52, and a third mirror 53. The holding unit 130 holds the first light detector 6, the second light detector 8, and the second light source 7 so as to face that same side, and to be aligned in this order. A length of an optical path between the unit 3 and the detector 6 is shorter than a length of an optical path between the unit 3 and the detector 8, and a length of an optical path between the unit 3 and the source 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Tomofumi Suzuki, Kyosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Sugimoto, Yutaka Kuramoto, Katsumi Shibayama, Noburo Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 11012643
    Abstract: A spectral imaging system comprises: a sequential optical system providing a temporal sequence of output light beams describing the scene; a color imager receiving the output light beams and responsively generating, for each output light beam, an image signal that is spatially resolved into a plurality of color channels. The system can also comprise an image processor that collectively process the image signals to construct a spectral image of the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Spectral Imaging Ltd.
    Inventor: Nir Katzir
  • Patent number: 10955406
    Abstract: A first wavelength-shifted exit signal is interfered with a first reference beam and a second wavelength-shifted exit signal is interfered with a second reference beam. The first wavelength-shifted exit signal and the second wavelength-shifted exit signal have different wavelengths. A first and second interference pattern are captured by an image sensor in a single image capture. The first reference beam is incident on the image sensor at a first reference angle and the second reference beam is incident on the image sensor at a second reference angle different from the first reference angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Open Water Internet Inc.
    Inventor: Sarmishtha Satpathy
  • Patent number: 10908023
    Abstract: A conventional spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SHS) comprises a beam splitter and a pair of diffraction gratings, one in each arm of the SHS. The beam splitter separates an input beam of light into first and second sub-beams for transmission to a respective diffraction grating, and then recombines the diffracted sub-beams for focusing onto a camera. A field widened SHS enables much larger range of input angles of the original beam to be focused onto the camera, so that a broader range of wavelengths may be collected. Increasing the range of wavelengths may be provided by one or more of the following: combining the beam splitter with a field widening prism, making one diffraction grating farther from the beam splitter than the other, and placing a plurality of diffraction gratings in each arm of the SHS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: LightMachinery Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Hunter, Ian J. Miller, Hubert Jean-Ruel, Edward S. Williams
  • Patent number: 10845244
    Abstract: A common path interferometer is disclosed. The interferometer is arranged to divide an input beam into first and second beam portions directed in opposite directions around a cyclic path to form an interference pattern at a detector. The cyclic path is defined by at least two mirror regions curved in the plane of the cyclic path, such that the interference pattern represents path difference variations between the first and second beam portions. The interferometer further includes an input optic arranged in the beam path before division of the input beam into the beam portions. The input optic is configured to provide convergence to reduce the extent transversely to the plane of the cyclic path of the interference pattern at the detector. The beam and beam portions have different convergence requirements in the plane of, and transverse to the plane of, the cyclic path, which are addressed separately by the mirror regions and the input optic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Keit Limited
    Inventors: Timothy John Stephens, James Paul Sobol
  • Patent number: 10739245
    Abstract: A system, an apparatus, and a method are provided for a modular flow cytometer with a compact size. In one embodiment, the modular flow cytometry system includes the following: a laser system for emitting laser beams; a flow cell assembly positioned to receive the laser beams at an interrogation region of a fluidics stream where fluoresced cells scatter the laser beams into fluorescent light; a fiber assembly positioned to collect the fluorescent light; and a grating system including a dispersive element and a receiver assembly, wherein the dispersive element is positioned to receive the fluorescent light from the fiber assembly and to direct spectrally dispersed light toward the receiver assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Cytek Biosciences, Inc.
    Inventors: David Vrane, Ming Yan, Eric Chase, Wenbin Jiang
  • Patent number: 10573002
    Abstract: A computer implemented image processing for normalizing images is disclosed. The method comprises calculating, for each chunk of an image, a combination of the two largest contributions to the variations of color of the chunk that approximates a representation of three additive color component data elements of the each image chunk, thereby to provide a plurality of approximated image chunks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Priya Lakshmi, Jim Diamond, Peter Hamilton
  • Patent number: 10554299
    Abstract: In some examples, an apparatus receives a first measurement of a plurality of wavelength channels obtained at a first location of an optical medium, and a second measurement of the plurality of wavelength channels obtained at a second location of the optical medium. The apparatus computes a value relating to dispersion in the optical medium by correlating the first measurement and the second measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhiping Jiang
  • Patent number: 10551294
    Abstract: An observation apparatus observes an observation object moving in a flow path with a fluid, and includes a light source, a splitting unit, a combining unit, a collimator, a cylindrical lens, an objective lens, a collimator, a cylindrical lens, an objective lens, a modulation unit, an imaging unit, an analysis unit, and the like. The imaging unit includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a direction intersecting with a moving direction of an image of the observation object on a light receiving plane on which the image of the observation object moving in the flow path is formed, and receives combined light output from the combining unit to repeatedly output a detection signal indicating a one-dimensional interference image. The analysis unit generates a two-dimensional image of the observation object on the basis of the detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Hidenao Yamada, Toyohiko Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 10533844
    Abstract: Disclosed is a three-dimensional shape measuring apparatus using a diffraction grating, comprising: a light splitter installed in a traveling direction of a light generated from a light source unit and configured to reflect a portion of the light along a first path and transmit a portion of the light along a second path; an image sensor unit configured to receive a light traveling along the first path and reflected from a measurement target having at least one hole, and measure the shape of the measurement target; and a diffraction grating disposed on at least one light path among a light path between the light source unit and the light splitter, a light path between the measurement target and the light splitter, and a light path between the measurement target and the image sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: KOH YOUNG TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Jang Il Ser
  • Patent number: 10481313
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus that includes a polarizing filter of a slit type in which polarization characteristics are improved is realized. A polarizing unit (10) of an image capturing apparatus (100) includes a first polarizer layer (120a) and a second polarizer layer (120b) that hold a dielectric layer (14) therebetween, and a plurality of slits (13) that are arranged at regular intervals in a predetermined direction are formed in each of the first polarizer layer (120a) and the second polarizer layer (120b). A forming material of each of the first polarizer layer (120a) and the second polarizer layer (120b) and a forming material of a wiring layer that controls an operation of a light receiving unit (11) are selected from Al, Si, Cu, Au, Ag, Pt, W, Ti, Sn, In, Ga, Zn, and a compound or alloy that contains at least one of the foregoing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Honda, Takashi Nakano, Suguru Kawabata, Takahiro Takimoto, Kazuhiro Natsuaki, Masayo Uchida, Masaaki Uchihashi
  • Patent number: 10413253
    Abstract: Provided is a medical image processing apparatus including: a data acquisition unit configured to respectively acquire a plurality of medical images representing an object including at least one target at a plurality of different time points; and an image processor configured to generate, based on the acquired plurality of medical images, a diagnostic image showing a degree of change that has occurred in the at least one target over the plurality of different time points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-hun Oh, Gye-hyun Kim, Jae-sung Lee, Min-su Cheon
  • Patent number: 10370464
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing: a pigment dispersion liquid with which an optical filter layer having the functions of both a color filter and a near-infrared cut filter can be formed by performing a development step once, and with which a thin filter achieved by using a single-layer configuration instead of a conventional two-layer configuration can be fabricated; and a colored resin composition containing the pigment dispersion liquid. The present invention provides a pigment dispersion liquid containing one or more organic color pigments selected from the group consisting of pigment red, pigment green, pigment blue, pigment yellow, and pigment violet, an infrared absorbing dye having a maximum absorption wavelength in a wavelength range of 750-2000 nm, and an oil-soluble organic solvent or an aqueous medium, and a colored resin composition containing the dispersion liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON KAYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Tone, Takashi Yoshimoto, Satoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10337920
    Abstract: An interference fringe pattern generator forms an interference fringe pattern from the light rays diffused from a region of an object positioned against a background. A planar array of detector pixels is arranged to capture an image of the interference fringe pattern. A storage medium records information indicative of intensity values of the image of the interference fringe pattern captured by a selected group of pixels of the planar array of detector pixels. The information is recorded as a function of the optical path difference values traversed by the diffused light rays through the interference fringe pattern generator for each of the pixels in the selected group of pixels. A processor determines the spectral characteristics of the object based on the information indicative of the intensity values recorded by the storage medium and the optical path difference values traversed by the diffused light rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: CI SYSTEMS (ISRAEL) LTD.
    Inventor: Dario Cabib
  • Patent number: 10311892
    Abstract: An apparatus for decoding an encoded audio signal, includes a spectral domain audio decoder for generating a first decoded representation of a first set of first spectral portions, the decoded representation having a first spectral resolution; a parametric decoder for generating a second decoded representation of a second set of second spectral portions having a second spectral resolution being lower than the first spectral resolution; a frequency regenerator for regenerating every constructed second spectral portion having the first spectral resolution using a first spectral portion and spectral envelope information for the second spectral portion; and a spectrum time converter for converting the first decoded representation and the reconstructed second spectral portion into a time representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Sascha Disch, Frederik Nagel, Ralf Geiger, Balaji Nagendran Thoshkahna, Konstantin Schmidt, Stefan Bayer, Christian Neukam, Bernd Edler, Christian Helmrich
  • Patent number: 10254529
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for calibrating an image sensor array in a microscopic imaging system are provided. The method includes: performing a vignetting effect calibration and correction on the image sensor array, such that pixels acquired by all sub-field-of-view image sensors for capturing a scene with a same radiant exitance have a same gray level; performing a light encoding on a temporal-spatial union structure using a spatial light modulator, to establish correspondences of a plurality of feature points between an image space and a physical space; performing a light decoding on the temporal-spatial union structure, to acquire pixel coordinates of the plurality of feature points in an image plane and physical coordinates of the plurality of feature points in a plane of the spatial light modulator; acquiring a homography relationship according to the pixel coordinates and the physical coordinates, acquiring a global coordinate mapping according to the homography relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Qionghai Dai, Jingtao Fan
  • Patent number: 10235624
    Abstract: An information processing method and apparatus, the method including: training a Deep Neural Network (DNN) by using an evaluation object seed, an evaluation term seed and an evaluation relationship seed (101); at a first input layer, connecting vectors corresponding to a candidate evaluation object, a candidate evaluation term and a candidate evaluation relationship to obtain a first input vector (102); at a first hidden layer, compressing the first input vector to obtain a first middle vector, and at a first output layer, decoding the first middle vector to obtain a first output vector (103); and determining a first output vector whose decoding error value is less than a decoding error value threshold, and determining a candidate evaluation object, a candidate evaluation term and a candidate evaluation relationship corresponding to the determined first output vector as first opinion information (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Kang Liu, Huaijun Liu, Yanxiong Lu, Juhong Wang, Tingting Liu, Liheng Xu, Jun Zhao
  • Patent number: 10088762
    Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is a machine that applies a desired pattern onto a substrate, usually onto a target portion of the substrate. A lithographic apparatus can be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits (ICs). The lithographic apparatus has an inspection apparatus with an EUV radiation source. The radiation source emits a radiation beam that includes coherent radiation of a specific wavelength. The beam propagates to illumination optical system, which focuses the radiation beam into a focused beam of illuminating radiation. The illumination optical system illuminates a three-dimensional product structure on the substrate, which scatters the illuminating radiation. On the surface of a detector, the radiation scattered by the product structure forms a diffraction pattern that is used to reconstruct data describing the three-dimensional product structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Stefan Michiel Witte, Kjeld Sijbrand Eduard Eikema
  • Patent number: 9841593
    Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining a plurality of images of a sample includes a sample device suitable for holding a liquid sample; a first optical detection assembly including a first image acquisition device, the first optical detection assembly having an optical axis and an object plane, the object plane including an image acquisition area from which electromagnetic waves can be detected as an image by the first image acquisition device; one translation unit arranged to move the sample device and the first optical detection assembly relative to each other; and an image illumination device, wherein the apparatus is arranged to move the sample device and the first optical detection assembly relative to each other along a scanning path, which defines an angle theta relative to the optical axis, wherein theta is in the range of about 0.3 to about 89.7 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Tom Olesen, Martin Christian Valvik, Niels Agersnap Larsen, Rasmus Helmsby Sandberg
  • Patent number: 9835436
    Abstract: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) apparatuses and methods include a first electro-magnetic radiation (EMR) source providing EMR to a first optical path associated with a sample and a second optical path associated with a reference. A multi-beam generator unit (MBGU) generates first and second EMR beams having different wavelength contents. A scanning system illuminates the sample with the first and second EMR beams, at a first and second time, at a first and second location. An interference module generates interference signals based on received EMR returning from the reference and the first and second EMR beams returning from the sample. A detector generates detection signals based on received interference signals and a processor generates OCT data based on the processed detection signals. In some embodiments, three EMR beams having different wavelength contents with linearly independent vectors illuminate at least one same location of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Tomey Corporation
    Inventors: Franck E. M. Jaillon, Naoko Hara, Tsutomu Ohmori, Chihiro Kato
  • Patent number: 9784681
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be provided that can efficiently detect the amplitude and phase of a spectral modulation. Such exemplary scheme can be combined with self-interference fluorescence to facilitate a highly sensitive depth localization of self-interfering radiation generated within a sample. The exemplary system and method can facilitate a scan-free depth sensitivity within the focal depth range for microscopy, endoscopy and nanoscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes F. de Boer, Mattijs De Groot
  • Patent number: 9759662
    Abstract: An examination device implements examination of matter to a large object without moving the device as a whole. The intensity of Raman scattering light obtained by laser irradiation of the object to be examined is detected to detect an attached state of an attached matter on the object to be examined. Based on a laser light irradiation position imaged and a visible image captured by a camera, the laser light irradiation position and a pixel of the camera are associated with each other, whereby irradiation area information is generated. Based on the attached state of the attached matter and the irradiation area information, an image of the attached matter present in an area imaged by the pixel of the camera is generated, and the visible image captured by the camera and the image of the attached matter are synthesized to generate a synthesized image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Akihito Nishizawa, Daisuke Yoshida, Junji Shiokawa
  • Patent number: 9759178
    Abstract: There are provided a plug built-in type optical measurement probe capable of obtaining a more accurate measurement value, and an optical measurement device provided with the same. A spark section and a light receiving section are held by a plug main body while being arranged next to each other in a protruding manner such that an end face of a holder is arranged at a position where discharge light from the spark section does not enter the field of view of the light receiving section. Accordingly, the light receiving section can be held in a manner protruding from the plug main body, and entering of the discharge light from the spark section can be restricted by the holder of the light receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: SHIMADZU CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoji Hiraoka, Nobuyuki Iwai, Tetsuya Nagai, Isao Azumagakito, Satoru Okada
  • Patent number: 9714827
    Abstract: A lithographic process is used to form a plurality of target structures (92, 94) distributed at a plurality of locations across a substrate and having overlaid periodic structures with a number of different overlay bias values distributed across the target structures. At least some of the target structures comprise a number of overlaid periodic structures (e.g., gratings) that is fewer than said number of different overlay bias values. Asymmetry measurements are obtained for the target structures. The detected asymmetries are used to determine parameters of a lithographic process. Overlay model parameters including translation, magnification and rotation, can be calculated while correcting the effect of bottom grating asymmetry, and using a multi-parameter model of overlay error across the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Maurits Van Der Schaar, Kaustuve Bhattacharyya, Hendrik-Jan Hidde Smilde
  • Patent number: 9683891
    Abstract: A spectrometer for sampling interferograms in two dimensions offering a large spectral band and high spectral resolution with a relative compactness. The spectrometer includes a refracting surface, an array of detecting elements and an array of diffusion elements capturing means at the refracting surface of an interferogram delivered from two interference beams (F1, F2) and forming interference lines parallel to each other along the transverse axis (Ox) of the interferogram within the plane (xOy) of the refracting surface, the array of detection elements being parallel to the plane of the refracting surface and arranged to detect the spatial distribution of the interferogram, wherein the array is a two-dimensional array over an entirety of which the detections elements are disposed equidistantly, and wherein interference lines exhibit an angular shift with the capturing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITE DE TECHNOLOGIE DE TROYES
    Inventors: Yassine Hadjar, Sylvain Blaize, Aurelien Bruyant, Gilles Lerondel, Pascal Royer
  • Patent number: 9671287
    Abstract: Described herein is a hyperspectral imaging system in which a polarizing beam splitter, a Wollaston prism, an optical system, and a plane mirror are arranged on an optical axis of the imaging system. An imaging detector is provided on which radiation is focused by an imaging lens. The Wollaston prism is imaged on itself by the optical system and the plane mirror so that translation of the Wollaston prism in a direction parallel to a virtual split plane of the prism effectively provides an optical path length difference that is the same for all points in the object field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LAMBDA-X
    Inventor: Didier Beghuin
  • Patent number: 9619907
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a microparticle analyzing apparatus including a detecting portion configured to simultaneously detect a fluorescence generated from a microparticle in plural wavelength regions and a displaying portion configured to display thereon detection results in the plural wavelength regions in a form of a spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitsugu Sakai
  • Patent number: 9551654
    Abstract: A rapid method for characterizing and identifying microorganisms using Focal-Plane Array (FPA)-Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is disclosed. Multi-pixels spectral images of unknown microorganisms spectra are analyzed and compared to spectra of reference microorganisms in databases. The method allows rapid and highly reliable identification of unknown microorganisms for the purpose of medical diagnosis, food and environmental control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: MCGILL UNIVERSITY, HEALTH CANADA
    Inventors: Ashraf Ismail, Jonah Prevost Kirkwood, Jacqueline Sedman, Andrew Ghetler, Tom Pinchuk, John Austin, Lorraine Gour
  • Patent number: 9538926
    Abstract: Speckle contrast optical tomography system provided with at least one point source and multiple detectors, means for providing different source positions, the point source having a coherence length of at least the source position-detector distance and means for arranging the source position-detector pairs over a sample to be inspected, the system being further provided with means for measuring the speckle contrast; the speckle contrast system of the invention thus capable of obtaining 3D images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignees: FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUES, WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Turgut Durduran, Claudia Valdes, Anna Kristoffersen, Hari M. Varma, Joseph Culver
  • Patent number: 9523850
    Abstract: Scanning apparatus includes a scanner, which is configured to scan over a field of view falling within a predefined angular range. An interference filter is positioned between the scanner and the field of view and is configured to pass light within a predefined wavelength range that is incident on the interference filter at angles within the predefined angular range, while reflecting the light within the predefined wavelength range that is incident on the interference filter at an angle that is outside the predefined angular range. An ancillary optical element communicates optically with the scanner at a wavelength within the predefined wavelength range via a beam path that reflects from the interference filter at the angle that is outside the predefined angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Alexander Shpunt
  • Patent number: 9506740
    Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT] are provided. In particular, a system and method for calibration of spectral interference signals using an acquired calibration signal are provided. The calibration signal may be logarithmically amplified to further improve the accuracy of the calibration. From the calibration signal, a series of more accurate calibration data are calculated. An acquired spectral interference signal is calibrated using these calibration data. Moreover, systems that include logarithmic amplification of the spectral interference signal and variable band-pass filtering of the spectral interference signal are provided. Such systems increase the dynamic range and visualization capabilities relative to conventional spectral domain OCT systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: The Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Inventors: Mark Brezinski, Bin Liu, Ehsan Azimi
  • Patent number: 9470579
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for calibrating spectral measurements taken of one or more targets from an aerial vehicle. Multiple photo sensors may be configured to obtain spectral measurements of one or more ambient light sources. The obtained spectral measurements of the one or more ambient light sources may be used to calibrate the obtained spectral measurements of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: SLANTRANGE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Ritter, Michael Milton
  • Patent number: 9400868
    Abstract: A method, computer program and system to identify peaks generated by different physical ions in a solution including substances by analyzing mass and intensity coordinates of all peaks in a set of mass spectra measured with errors for a certain concentration c of the solution is here disclosed. The peaks in different mass spectra are associated to a same ion if they are sufficiently ‘close’ according to specific discrimination criteria that go beyond the proximity of mass values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Marcello Vitaletti
  • Patent number: 9390468
    Abstract: An imaging system having a first laser emitting a light beam to illuminate the object is provided. The system includes first and second beam splitters. The first beam splitter combines a first light beam portion and a third light beam portion emitted from a second laser to form a first interference pattern. The second beam splitter combines a second light beam portion and a fourth light beam portion to form a second interference pattern. The system includes digital cameras generating raw image data based on the first and second interference patterns, and a computer processing the raw image data to obtain synthetic image plane data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Melvin S. Ni, Joseph Marron, James Wes Irwin
  • Patent number: 9304121
    Abstract: Method, apparatus and arrangement according an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be provided for generating an image of at least one portion of an anatomical structure. For example, the portion can have an area greater than about 1 mm2, and the image can have a resolution a transverse resolution that is below about 10 ?m. For example, light can be scanned over such portion so as to generate first information which is related to the portion, where the light may be provided through a diffraction arrangement to generate a spectrally dispersed line. Method, apparatus and arrangement according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be provided for positioning a radiation or optical beam within an anatomical structure based on signals generated by scanning a portion of the structure using the same or a different beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Guillermo J. Tearney, Dvir Yelin, Brett E. Bouma