Having Short Coherence Length Source Patents (Class 356/497)
  • Patent number: 12137976
    Abstract: An ophthalmic optical coherence tomography instrument, method, and computer-readable medium. The instrument includes a scanner defining an apparent point source for scanning sample light across a subject position and an objective having a posterior imaging configuration to project the apparent point source onto a pivot point between the objective and the subject position. The objective is settable between the posterior imaging configuration for scanning the sample light across a retina of an eye at the subject position and an anterior imaging configuration for scanning the sample light across a pivot plane. An axial region from which an interferogram is detectable extends across the pivot plane while the objective is in the anterior imaging configuration. A pupil alignment method uses the anterior imaging modality to obtain a structure position of a structure of an eye's anterior segment and then an offset between the structure position and a reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: OPTOS PLC
    Inventors: Praveen Ashok, David Evans
  • Patent number: 12130137
    Abstract: Disclosed is a Brillouin-optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)-speckle multi-mode elastography system device, including a Brillouin-OCTA sample scanning unit, a Brillouin scattering elastography system, an OCTA system, a speckle detection system, and a time sequence controller. According to the present invention, advantages that the Brillouin scattering elastography system can perform high-resolution measurement on a bulk elasticity modulus, the OCTA system can perform high-resolution structure imaging, and the speckle detection system can perform wide-field blood flow velocity measurement are utilized to perform in-situ synchronous imaging on a blood vessel structure and elasticity distribution, and to quantify a blood flow velocity, so that scientific basis and technical support are provided for early diagnoses of clinical blood vessel diseases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Inventors: Xingdao He, Jiulin Shi, Yubao Zhang, Zhongqi Hao, Jin Xu, Gang Shi
  • Patent number: 12104896
    Abstract: The invention relates to an interferometric measurement device and to an interferometric method for determining the surface topography of a measurement object (1). The essence of the invention is that the light intensities Iq(zi) of at least one other detector element q of the multi-element detector (6) are also used besides the light intensities Ip(zi) of this detector element to determine the value zp associated with a detector element p (6b) of the measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Polytec GmbH
    Inventors: Henrik Schmid, Volker Seyfried
  • Patent number: 12085387
    Abstract: An OCT system includes a broadband light source and illumination optics that projects the generated broadband light to a sample where the light is scattered from within the sample in a direction that is normal to a surface of the sample to form a sample beam and is reflected from a top surface of the sample in a direction that is normal to the surface of the sample to form a reference beam where the sample beam and reference beam co-propagate. Collection optics collect light in the sample and reference beams and project the light to an interferometric combiner. The interferometric combiner is configured to interferometrically the collected light from the sample beam and collected light from the reference beam and to project the interferometrically combined light to a spectrometer that generates spectral interferometric information to determine information about the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignees: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., ENERGETIQ TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Qingsong Wang, Shaival Vipul Buch, Huiling Zhu
  • Patent number: 12078526
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to improved systems, methods, and structures providing coherent detection of DAS. In sharp contrast to the prior art, systems, methods, and structures according to aspects of the present disclosure advantageously reduce the beating diversity terms such that required memory and bandwidth are reduced over the art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Junqiang Hu
  • Patent number: 12029482
    Abstract: An optical coherence tomography system for ocular diagnosis includes a light source unit generating and transmitting light, a light distribution unit dividing the transmitted light into first light and second light, a reference arm generating first reference light and second reference light, whose optical path length is larger than that of the first reference light, from the first light, a sample arm irradiating the second light onto a central optical axis directed towards the central portion of the eye lens to generate first measurement light and irradiating the second light onto the eye lens in an oblique direction inclined with respect to the central optical axis at a time different from the time when the first measurement light is generated, to generate second measurement light, an interference unit allowing the first reference light to interfere with the first measurement light and the second reference light to interfere with the second measurement light to generate corresponding interference signals, an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Beop-Min Kim, Hyung-Jin Kim, Byeong-Joo Song
  • Patent number: 12000700
    Abstract: Examples of the disclosure relate to an apparatus (101), a wearable electronic device and an optical arrangement for optical coherence tomography. The apparatus comprises an optical coherence tomography system (103) and an optical arrangement (105). The optical arrangement comprises at least one means for beam shaping (109) configured to shape a beam of light from the optical coherence tomography system. The optical arrangement also comprises at least one minor (111) positioned so that light from the means for beam shaping is incident on the at least one minor. The at least one mirror is configured to move in at least one direction relative to the optical coherence tomography system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Michael Eggleston, Mark Earnshaw, Cristian Bolle, Flavio Pardo
  • Patent number: 12000778
    Abstract: A system and method for encapsulating commercially significant attributes of a hydrocarbon product into a single digital signature are presented. The digital signature may be generated from a physical product sample using optical techniques such as NIR spectroscopy. Digital signatures may be expressed in the form of composition, principle components derived from the spectra, or other properties derived from the original spectra which characterize, and help visualize, the variation present within the signals. Other physical property measurements and contaminant measurements may also be included in the digital signature and may be derived from the same measurement device or separate measurement devices whose output is integrated into a single digital signature. Embodiments of the invention may be used to confirm the identity of a hydrocarbon product, or to verify the composition of a hydrocarbon product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: JP3 Measurement, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Paul Little, III, Matthew Thomas, Gregg Williams, James Stephen Dixson, III
  • Patent number: 11986242
    Abstract: The invention relates to a full-field OCT method for generating an imaging of an ocular fundus (31), in which short-coherent light (22) is emitted and split into an object beam path (25) and a reference beam path (24). The object beam path (25) is directed onto the ocular fundus (33). The reference beam path (24) and a portion of the object beam path (25) reflected by the ocular fundus (31) are directed onto an image sensor (32), such that an interference between the reference beam path (24) and the object beam path (25) occurs on the image sensor (32), wherein the reference beam path (24) impinges on the image sensor (32) at an angle deviating from the object beam path (25). Before impinging on the image sensor (32), the reference beam path (24) impinges on an optical correction element (27) in order to reduce a chromatic aberration within the reference beam path (24). Intensity information and phase information is determined from a capturing of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Visotec GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Koch, Gereon Hüttmann, Helge Sudkamp, Hendrik Spahr, Dierck Hillmann, Michael Münst
  • Patent number: 11971514
    Abstract: In order to monitor the subsoil of the earth under a target zone, seismic waves coming from an identified mobile noise source are recorded by means of at least one pair of sensors disposed on either side of the target zone, time periods are selected corresponding to the alignments of the pairs of sensors with the noise source, a seismogram of the target zone is reconstructed by interferometry based on the recorded seismic waves and on the selected time periods and an image of the subsoil of the target zone is generated using the seismogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SERCEL
    Inventors: Thomas Bardainne, Baptiste Rondeleux
  • Patent number: 11964311
    Abstract: The application relates to a cleaning system configured for cleaning of cavities filled with a liquid, including fragmentation, debridement, material removal, irrigation, disinfection, and decontamination. The cleaning system includes an electromagnetic radiation system and a liquid. A treatment handpiece irradiates the liquid within a cavity with a radiation beam, producing a first vapor bubble using first pulse, and, at a different location, a second vapor bubble using a second pulse. The pulse repetition time is adjusted to ensure efficacy, for example such that an onset time of the second vapor bubble is within the first contraction phase of the first vapor bubble, when the first vapor bubble has contracted from its maximal volume to a size in a range from about 0.7 to about 0.1 of the maximal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: FOTONA D.O.O.
    Inventors: Nejc Lukac, Matjaz Lukac, Matija Jezersek, Peter Gregorcic
  • Patent number: 11933610
    Abstract: A swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) apparatus includes a plurality of wavelength-tunable light sources. The SS-OCT apparatus includes a first optical coupler configured to receive an output from each of the plurality of wavelength-tunable light sources. The optical coupler is configured to split the received output from the plurality of wavelength-tunable light sources into a reference optical path and a sample optical path. The sample optical path is configured to illuminate a sample. The SS-OCT apparatus includes a second optical coupler configured to receive return optical signals from the reference optical path and the sample optical path, and to output an optical interference signal. The SS-OCT apparatus includes a detector configured to detect the optical interference signal; and a controller configured to receive an electrical signal based on the detected optical interference signal. The controller is configured to generate a depth profile of the sample using compressed sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Kenji David Clark, Shigeru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11918376
    Abstract: A module accommodates multiple superluminescent light emitting diodes, SLEDs, 12r, 12g and 12b. The SLEDs are arranged in an enclosure and output respective light beams to propagate into free space within the enclosure. The individual light beams from the SLED sources are combined into a single beam path within the enclosure using beam combiners 40r-g, 40rg-b. Each beam combiner is realized as a planar optical element, the back side of which is arranged to receive a SLED beam and route it through the optical element to the front side where it is combined with another SLED beam that is incident on and reflected by the front side. The free-space propagating combined beam is output from the module via an optical fiber 42 (or through a window).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: EXALOS AG
    Inventors: Marcus Dülk, Jean Dahdah, Stefan Gloor, Nikolay Primerov, Christian Velez
  • Patent number: 11921211
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for a rotating optical reflector. Optical systems may have a limited field of view, and so in order to expand the area that the optical system collects data from, the field of view of the optical system may be scanned across a target area. The present disclosure is directed to a rotating optical reflector, which includes a transmissive layer which refracts light onto a reflective layer, which has a normal which is not parallel to the axis about which the optical reflector is rotated. The optical reflector may be both statically and dynamically balanced, which may allow an increased size of the optical reflector, which in turn may increase the aperture of an optical system (e.g., a lidar system) using the rotating optical reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Bridger Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Aaron Roos, Michael James Thorpe, Aaron Thomas Kreitinger, Christopher Ray Wilson
  • Patent number: 11923909
    Abstract: Disclosed is a self-coherent receiver based on polarization-independent delay interferometers, relating to a technical field of optical communication, including a first beam splitter, a first circulator, a second circulator, a first polarization-independent delay interferometer, a second polarization-independent delay interferometer, a first balanced detector, a second balanced detector and an electrical signal processing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING ZHONGKE GUOGUANG QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yibo Zhao, Dong Wang, Dongsheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11921254
    Abstract: An optical seismic surveying system including, a multibeam laser source including a plurality of laser-sources, a Diffractive-Optical-Element (DOE), an imager and a processor. The laser-sources direct respective laser-beams toward a single common focal point. The DOE is located at a single common focal point and configured to split each laser-beam into a plurality of laser-beams, toward an instantaneous area of interest. The laser-beams impinging on the instantaneous area of interest produce a laser spot assemblage including a plurality of laser spots. The imager acquires a plurality of defocused images of speckle patterns produced by diffused reflections of the laser spots. The speckle pattern correspond to a respective laser spot and thus to a respective sensing point in the instantaneous area of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: ELBIT SYSTEMS LAND AND C4I LTD., SOREQ NUCLEAR RESEARCH CENTER
    Inventors: Aner Lev, Shai Mordechai Butzin, Barak Alfassi, Alon Refael Heimer
  • Patent number: 11906302
    Abstract: A method and related system for measuring a surface of a substrate including at least one structure using low coherence optical interferometry, the method being implemented with a system having an interferometric device, a light source, an imaging sensor, and a processing module, the method including: - acquiring, with the imaging sensor, an interferometric signal formed by the interferometric device between a reference beam and a measurement beam reflected by the surface at a plurality of measurement points in a field of view; the following steps being carried out by the processing module: classifying, by a learning technique, the acquired interferometric signals according to a plurality of classes, each class being associated with a reference interferometric signal representative of a typical structure; and analysing the interferometric signals to derive information on the structure at the measurement points, as a function of the class of each interferometric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: UNITY SEMICONDUCTOR
    Inventors: Jean-François Boulanger, Isabelle Bergoënd
  • Patent number: 11903642
    Abstract: A method for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve, includes the steps of (i) generating light energy with a light source; (ii) positioning a balloon substantially adjacent to the treatment site, the balloon having a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior that receives a balloon fluid; (iii) receiving the light energy from the light source with a light guide at a guide proximal end; (iv) guiding the light energy with the light guide in a first direction from the guide proximal end toward a guide distal end that is positioned within the balloon interior; and (v) optically analyzing with an optical analyzer assembly light energy from the light guide, wherein the light energy that is analyzed moves in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Bolt Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Cook, Eric Schultheis
  • Patent number: 11883098
    Abstract: A device and a method for determining an ocular aberration of at least one eye of a user are disclosed. The device contains a wavefront sensing unit for measuring at least one optical wavefront with at least one light beam, from which an ocular aberration of the at least one eye of the user is determined. The device further contains at least one diffractive element for generating multiple diffraction orders in the light beam in two meridians in a manner that the multiple diffraction orders are spatially separated on the wavefront sensing unit and in the eye of the user. The device and the method allow generating an ocular defocus map in a one-shot assessment in real-time, especially by employing an automated measurement of the ocular aberrations with regard to different eccentricities of the eye of the user in two meridians.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH
    Inventors: Nikolai Suchkov, Siegfried Wahl
  • Patent number: 11878365
    Abstract: Methods of determining at least one parameter of an irradiation device of an apparatus for additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects may include generating an energy beam and guiding the energy beam across a structured test surface, generating a signal by detecting radiation that is emitted from the test surface, and determining the at least one parameter based on a frequency spectrum of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Concept Laser GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Dicken, Ann-Kathrin Kleinschmidt, Tim Klaussner, Bertram Gaerber
  • Patent number: 11868054
    Abstract: A measurement system is provided for use in optical metrology measurements. The measurement system comprises a control system which processes raw measured data indicative of spectral interferometric signals measured on a sample in response to illuminating electromagnetic field incident onto a top portion of the sample and comprising at least one spectral range to which said sample is substantially not absorbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Nova Ltd.
    Inventors: Gilad Barak, Amir Shayari
  • Patent number: 11838057
    Abstract: A method for operating an optical modulator includes receiving a narrowband radio frequency (“RF”) signal. The method further including, responsive to receiving the narrowband RF signal, modulating the narrowband RF signal using a double sideband suppressed carrier (“DSBSC”) modulation scheme to generate a DSBSC optical signal. The method further including transmitting the DSBSC optical signal to an optical transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: James D. Franklin
  • Patent number: 11803960
    Abstract: Global and local alignment energies are used in an image contrast metric. The image contrast metric can be used to find optical targets. Some pixels from a gradient magnitude image and a context range image from an optical image can be used to determine the image contrast metric. A heatmap from the image contrast metrics across part of a wafer can then be used to make a list of targets. Upper and lower confidence values can be applied to rank the available targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KLA Corporation
    Inventors: Huan Jin, Xiaochun Li, Sangbong Park, Zhifeng Huang
  • Patent number: 11779211
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fluorescent fundus camera which is one kind of ophthalmological diagnostic equipment, using a blue excitation light beam when a contrast medium appears in the retinal vessels. When an abnormal blood vessel is present, the contrast medium leaks into the retina or appears as color in tissues surrounding the retina, and the presence of damage to the retina and the appearance of abnormal neovascularization can be found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: AIINSIGHT INC.
    Inventors: Hanjo Kwon, Keun Heung Park
  • Patent number: 11774289
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) interferometer is provided. The MEMS interferometer includes a pair of movable mirrors that are positioned along perpendicular axes, wherein each of the pair of movable mirrors is coupled to a mechanism. The mechanism includes an electrostatic actuator driving a displacement amplification mechanism, and the displacement amplification mechanism driving each of the pair of the movable mirrors. The MEMS interferometer includes a beam splitter that is positioned at an intersection of the perpendicular axes extending through each movable mirror and the beam splitter. The MEMS interferometer also includes a metasurface microbolometer placed in line with the beam splitter to measure an intensity of a recombined beam from the pair of movable mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Dwight W. Swett
  • Patent number: 11747204
    Abstract: A system includes first and second radiation sources, first and second detectors, a signal digitizer, a controller, and an analyzer. The first and second radiation sources generate respective first and second beams of radiation to irradiate a target. The first beam and second beams each include a first wavelength operated at a first modulation frequency and a second wavelength operated at a second modulation frequency. The first and second detectors each include a photo-sensitive element that generate first or second detection signals, a Faraday shielding enclosure, a signal amplifier, and a frequency mixer to frequency-adjust the first or second detection signals. The controller provides timing information to inform an activation scheme of the first and second radiation sources and corresponding radiation detection events at the first and second detectors. The analyzer analyzes the first and second detection signals and determines at least amplitude and phase information of the scattered radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Scott M. Hendrickson, Jeremiah J. Wathen, Michael J. Fitch, David W. Blodgett, Vincent R. Pagan
  • Patent number: 11737662
    Abstract: Disclosed is a visual imaging device based on PS-OCT for early demineralization and caries of dental hard tissues, comprising a laser light source for emitting a laser light, a coupler for receiving and dividing the laser light emitted by the laser light source into a reference laser light and a detection laser light; wherein the reference laser light backtracking to the coupler and the detection laser light backtracking to the coupler are coupled and then passed through a transmission grating and a convex lens to input as an optical signal into a linear CCD detector for converting the optical signal into an electrical signal which is then input to a computer control system and collected by a built-in capture card; and the computer is configured to perform a three-dimensional reconstruction of an image and perform two-dimensional cross-section image analysis; and the computer control system is connected to the scanning galvanometer to control a vibration of the scanning galvanometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: XUANWU HOSPITAL, CAPITAL MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ying Zhao, Yuhao Bai
  • Patent number: 11733034
    Abstract: A fast measurement method for micro-nano deep groove structure based on white light interference, including: establishing a white light interference system, using the white light interference system to measure the structure of the groove, the CCD camera collects and obtains multiple groups of groove interferograms and the serial number corresponding to each groove interferogram in each group; processing each group of groove interferograms of the groove sample to obtain the maximum contrast of each group of groove interferograms and the 3D reconstruction diagram of the local structure; extracting the interface reconstruction diagram in the 3D reconstruction diagram of the local structure according to each group of the groove interferograms; after splicing the interface reconstruction diagrams corresponding to all groups of groove interferograms, obtaining a 3D structural reconstruction diagram of the groove sample, and measuring the depth and width of the groove sample according to the 3D structural reconstruc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kexin Zhang, Yiyong Liang, Guozhong Li
  • Patent number: 11727561
    Abstract: Automated and objective methods for quantifying a retinal characteristic include segmenting an optical coherence tomography retinal image into a plurality of layered retinal regions, and quantifying the retinal characteristic for each region as normalized to a range defined by the characteristic value in the vitreous region and in the retinal pigment epithelium region. Such methods are useful for detecting occult ocular pathology, diagnosing ocular pathology, reducing age-bias in OCT image analysis, and monitoring efficacy ocular/retinal disease therapies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Shlomit Schaal, Ayman El-Baz, Amir Reza Hajrasouliha
  • Patent number: 11716985
    Abstract: A method for remediating developmentally delayed plants within a field of crops using at least one work vehicle during a field operation. The method comprises identifying delayed plants within the field with a sensor on the work vehicle and generating, with a processor, location data associated with the location of the delayed plant with the field. Upon arriving at the location of the delayed plant with the work vehicle, the delayed plant is remediated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Noel W. Anderson, Larry L. Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 11713960
    Abstract: A method for measuring a surface of an object including at least one structure using low coherence optical interferometry, the method including the steps of acquiring an interferometric signal at a plurality of measurement points in a field of view and, for at least one measurement point, attributing the interferometric signal acquired to a class of interferometric signals from a plurality of classes, each of the classes being associated with a reference interferometric signal representative of a typical structure; and analysing the interferometric signal to derive therefrom an item of information on the structure at the measurement point, as a function of its class.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: UNITY SEMICONDUCTOR
    Inventors: Jean-François Boulanger, Isabelle Bergoënd
  • Patent number: 11692906
    Abstract: A method for determining geometrical parameters of a soft contact lens comprises the steps of providing an OCT imaging device comprising an OCT light source; providing a soft contact lens arranging the soft contact lens relative to the OCT imaging device so light coming from the OCT light source impinges on the back surface of the soft contact lens; generating a three-dimensional OCT image of the soft contact lens; from the three-dimensional OCT image determining a plurality of edge points located on the edge of the soft contact lens, connecting adjacent ones of the edge points by individual straight lines; summing up the lengths of all individual straight lines to a length U of the approximated circumference of the soft contact lens; from the length U determining a diameter D of the lens according to D=U/?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Tonn
  • Patent number: 11686572
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an OCT imaging system to reduce or eliminate frequency-domain aliasing artifacts. The frequency is shifted using a carrier frequency to define a sampling range substantially centered on the carrier frequency. An image of the sample is generated from a displayed imaging range that consists of a subset of the frequencies within the sampling range. Furthermore, the system may be configured to determine the carrier frequency such that a Nyquist frequency corresponding to the shifted frequency is extended beyond either an upper or a lower bound of an OCT quality envelope corresponding to the first portion of light. Additionally, the carrier frequency may be determined such that a lower bound of the OCT quality envelope is greater or less than a zero-frequency DC limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Ninepoint Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Eman Namati, Muhammad Al-Qaisi, Matthew A. Sinclair, Benedikt Graf, David Vader
  • Patent number: 11650406
    Abstract: A microscopic imaging method of phase contrast (PC) and differential interference contrast (DIC) based on the transport of intensity equation (TIE) includes capturing three intensity images along the optical axis; solving the TIE by deconvolution to obtain the quantitative phase; obtaining the intensity image under the DIC imaging mode according to the DIC imaging principle; and obtaining the corresponding phase image of PC imaging mode according to the PC imaging principle. The method can endow the bright-field microscope with the ability to realize PC and DIC imaging without complex modification of the traditional bright-field microscope. In addition, it has the same imaging performance as the phase contrast microscope and differential interference contrast microscope, which are expensive, complex-structure, and has strict environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Chao Zuo, Qian Chen, Jiasong Sun, Yuzhen Zhang, Guohua Gu
  • Patent number: 11638520
    Abstract: An ophthalmic imaging system including an ocular lens and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging module is provided. The OCT imaging module is able to image both retina and anterior segment of eyes by switching a lens group into and out of the OCT light path. The OCT imaging module includes a retina imaging mode and an anterior segment imaging mode. In the retina imaging mode, there exists an intermediate image plane located between the ocular lens and the OCT imaging module. From the retina imaging mode, anterior segment imaging is achieved by inserting a switching lens group into the optical path inside the OCT imaging module or replacing the whole OCT imaging module of the retina mode, wherein, after the insertion, there exist a new intermediate image plane located inside the OCT imaging module and a conjugate of the entrance pupil of the OCT imaging module located between the ocular lens and the OCT imaging module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: SVISION IMAGING LIMITED
    Inventors: Heng Wu, Xianzhao Peng, Nanfan Cheng
  • Patent number: 11631185
    Abstract: A method for non-contact modal analysis uses an optical sensing device such as a video camera. Unlike traditional modal analysis, requiring accelerometers or force sensors to measure the modal characteristics of a structure, the inventive system uses pixel displacement measurements from the optical sensor to characterize the modal properties of the device under test. The input or reference signal is measured by an independent data acquisition system and is synchronized with the response motion captured in video recordings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: RDI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Ralph Piety, Jeffrey R. Hay, Douglas A. Mann
  • Patent number: 11602276
    Abstract: A target image to be corrected is generated by arranging partial images acquired by scanning a tissue of a living body with light and temporally continuously receiving the light from the tissue. A processor of a medical image processing device performs detecting position shift amounts, acquiring a component, and correcting. In the process of detecting position shift amounts, the processor detects the position shift amounts between the partial images (S3). In the process of acquiring, the processor acquires an assumed result of at least one of a component in the position shift amount caused by movement of the tissue, and a component in the position shift amount caused by a shape of the tissue (S4). In the process of correcting, the processor corrects a position of each of the partial images based on the component in the position shift amount (S7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Kumagai, Ryosuke Shiba
  • Patent number: 11604060
    Abstract: Examples of the disclosure relate to an apparatus (101), a wearable electronic device and an optical arrangement for optical coherence tomography. The apparatus comprises an optical coherence tomography system (103) and an optical arrangement (105). The optical arrangement comprises at least one means for beam shaping (109) configured to shape a beam of light from the optical coherence tomography system. The optical arrangement also comprises at least one mirror (111) positioned so that light from the means for beam shaping is incident on the at least one mirror. The at least one mirror is configured to move in at least one direction relative to the optical coherence tomography system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Michael Eggleston, Mark Earnshaw, Cristian Bolle, Flavio Pardo
  • Patent number: 11602271
    Abstract: An OCT imaging system may include an OCT light source operable to emit an OCT light beam, and a beam splitter operable to split the OCT light beam into a sample beam, transferred to a sample arm waveguide, and a reference beam, transferred to a reference arm waveguide. The sample arm waveguide and the reference arm waveguide may be coupled together within a cladding, wherein the cladding improves a calibration of a generated OCT image by fixing axial movement of the sample arm and reference arm waveguides relative to one another. By routing long reference and sample arm waveguide fibers together in the OCT system using a sheath/cladding, OCT image offset due to asymmetrical fiber stretching can be minimized or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Holland, Muhammad K Al-Qaisi
  • Patent number: 11596303
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging device (100) for imaging a target, the imaging device (100) comprising a Scheimpflug imaging system (102) and an Optical Coherence Tomography, OCT, imaging system (104), where the Scheimpflug imaging system (102) comprises a camera (112) and a lens system (108), and the OCT imaging system (104) comprises an imaging optical element and a detector (122). The imaging device (100) further comprises a light source (106) adapted to provide a light beam suitable for operation of the Scheimpflug imaging system (102) and the OCT imaging system (104). The lens system (108) of the Scheimpflug imaging (102) system is configured to provide an adjustable focal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL
    Inventors: Yaochun Shen, Yalin Zheng, Samuel Lawman, Xiaoran Li
  • Patent number: 11562919
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for measuring a surface topography of a semiconductor chip are disclosed. In an example, a method for measuring a surface topography of a semiconductor chip is disclosed. A plurality of interference signals and a plurality of spectrum signals are received by at least one processor. Each of the interference signals and spectrum signals corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of positions on a surface of the semiconductor chip. The spectrum signals are classified by the at least one processor into a plurality of categories using a model. Each of the categories corresponds to a region having a same material on the surface of the semiconductor chip. A surface height offset between a surface baseline and at least one of the categories is determined by the at least one processor based, at least in part, on a calibration signal associated with the region corresponding to the at least one of the categories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sicong Wang, Xiaoye Ding
  • Patent number: 11549798
    Abstract: A measuring device determines a distance between a processing head for a laser processing system configured to process a workpiece with a laser beam and the workpiece. The measuring device includes an optical coherence tomograph to measure a distance between the processing head and workpiece. In the optical coherence tomograph, measuring light generated by a measuring light source and reflected by the workpiece interferes with measuring light reflected in a reference arm with two or more reference stages. The stages include a first reference stage configured such that the measuring light reflected therein travels a first optical path length, and a second reference stage configured such that the measuring light reflected therein travels a second optical path length different from the first length, wherein the measuring light reflected by the workpiece interferes with reflected measuring light of the first reference stage and reflected measuring light of the second reference stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: PRECITEC GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Matthias Strebel
  • Patent number: 11543232
    Abstract: An apparatus for oral imaging has a light source energizable to generate a light frequency signal ranging from a minimum to a maximum frequency. An image acquisition apparatus scans the generated light frequency signal to successive positions on a sample surface and to combine a returned signal from each successive position with the generated light frequency signal. The image acquisition apparatus has a detector that obtains a beat frequency signal from the combined returned signal and the generated light frequency signal. A processor that is in signal communication with the detector generates a processed beat signal from the combined signals, wherein the processed beat signal is indicative of the distance from the tunable laser source to the sample surface at the corresponding position. A display is in signal communication with the processor and is energizable to display distance data according to the processed beat signal for each scanned position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: DENTAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chuanmao Fan, Victor C. Wong
  • Patent number: 11536562
    Abstract: An analysis apparatus includes an acquisition part that acquires a plurality of interference images of the object to be measured from the interference measurement apparatus, a calculation part that calculates a sine wave component and a cosine wave component of an interference signal for each pixel in the plurality of interference images, respectively, an error detection part that detects an error between a first Lissajous figure constructed on the basis of the sine wave component and the cosine wave component for each pixel and an ideal second Lissajous figure, a correction part that corrects the sine wave component and the cosine wave component for each pixel on the basis of the error, and a geometry calculation part that calculates surface geometry of the object to be measured on the basis of the corrected sine wave component and cosine wave component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corp.
    Inventor: Shimpei Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11530982
    Abstract: Fourier Transformation Spectrometer, FT Spectrometer, comprising: A double beam interferometer, comprising: At least one beam splitter unit (622; 623; 624, 625, 626, 627; 636; 673, 674, 675) for splitting an incident light beam (EB) of a spatially expanded object into a first partial beam (TB1) and a second partial beam (TB2); at least a first beam deflection unit (630; 641; 651; 661; 697) designed to deflect the first partial beam (TB1) at least a first and a second time, wherein the second beam deflection unit (630) is designed to also deflect the second partial beam (TB2) at least at first and a second time; or the double beam interferometer comprises a second beam deflection unit (642; 652; 662) designed to deflect the second partial beam (TB2) at least a first and a second time, wherein the beam deflection unit is also designed to at least partially spatially overlay the first partial beam (TB1) and the second partial beam (TB2), and the respectively first and second deflection of the first partial beam
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventors: Klaus Körner, Alois M. Herkommer
  • Patent number: 11512941
    Abstract: An analysis apparatus includes an acquisition part that acquires a plurality of interference images based on lights having a plurality of different wavelengths from an interference measurement apparatus, a removing part that outputs an interference component by removing a non-interference component included in an interference signal for each pixel in the plurality of the interference images, a conversion part that generates an analysis signal by performing a Hilbert transformation on the interference component, and a calculation part that calculates a distance between a reference surface and a surface of an object to be measured by specifying a phase gradient of a wavelength of light radiated onto the reference surface and the surface of the object to be measured on the basis of the interference component and the analysis signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shimpei Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11501420
    Abstract: Aspects relate to reconstructing phase images from brightfield images at multiple focal planes using machine learning techniques. A machine learning model may be trained using a training data set comprised of matched sets of images, each matched set of images comprising a plurality of brightfield images at different focal planes and, optionally, a corresponding ground truth phase image. An initial training data set may include images selected based on image views of a specimen that are substantially free of undesired visual artifacts such as dust. The brightfield images of the training data set can then be modified based on simulating at least one visual artifact, generating an enhanced training data set for use in training the model. Output of the machine learning model may be compared to the ground truth phase images to train the model. The trained model may be used to generate phase images from input data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: PerkinElmer Cellular Technologies Germany GmbH, PerkinElmer Health Sciences Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaupo Palo, Abdulrahman Alhaimi
  • Patent number: 11489313
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a wavelength-tunable laser and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is configured to control the wavelength-tunable laser such that an output wavelength of the wavelength-tunable laser performs a zigzag in time. The wavelength-tunable laser is capable of rapidly and densely scanning wavelengths across a broad spectral range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
    Inventor: Brian Stern
  • Patent number: 11471039
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for obtaining high-resolution 3-D images of a sample over a range of wavelengths, optionally with polarisation-sensitive detection. In preferred embodiments a spectral domain OCT apparatus is used to sample the complex field of light reflected or scattered from a sample, providing full range imaging. In certain embodiments structured illumination is utilised to provide enhanced lateral resolution. In certain embodiments the resolution or depth of field of images is enhanced by digital refocusing or digital correction of aberrations in the sample. Individual sample volumes are imaged using single shot techniques, and larger volumes can be imaged by stitching together images of adjacent volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Cylite Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Steven James Frisken, Trevor Bruce Anderson, Armin Georg Segref, Grant Andrew Frisken
  • Patent number: 11464408
    Abstract: Retinal imaging systems and related methods employ a user specific approach for controlling the reference arm length in an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging device. A method includes restraining a user's head relative to an OCT imaging device. A reference arm length adjustment module is controlled to vary a reference arm length to search a user specific range of reference arm lengths to identify a reference arm length for which the OCT image detector produces an OCT signal corresponding to the retina of the user. The user specific range of reference arm lengths covers a smaller range of reference arm lengths than a reference arm length adjustment range of the reference arm length adjustment module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Notal Vision Ltd.
    Inventors: Amit Pascal, Omer Rafaeli, Yair Alster, Gidon Goren-Gratzyani