X-y Scanners Patents (Class 359/202.1)
  • Patent number: 11740458
    Abstract: A projector system in a head mounted display (HMD). The projector system includes a microscopic mirror. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is coupled to the microscopic mirror. The MEMS is configured to tilt the microscopic mirror at a varying scan angle in a first periodic fashion along a single scanning axis. A rotary platform is coupled to the microscopic mirror. The rotary platform is configured to rotate the microscopic mirror about a rotation axis in a second periodic fashion. A light emitter is configured to direct light into the mirror. The light emitter is configured to be modulated based on the position of the microscopic mirror due to the microscopic mirror being tilted along the scanning axis and rotated about the rotary axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Tapani Matias Alasaarela, Simo Kaarlo Tapani Tammela
  • Patent number: 11571110
    Abstract: An optical device may include an optical fiber having a fixed end and a free end a first actuator positioned at a actuator position between the fixed end and the free end and configured to apply a first force on the actuator position of the optical fiber such that a movement of the free end of the optical fiber in a first direction is caused, wherein the first direction is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber; and a deformable rod disposed adjacent to the optical fiber, and having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to a first rod position of the optical fiber and the second end is connected to a second rod position of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: VPIX Medical Incorporation
    Inventors: Kyungmin Hwang, Ki Hun Jeong
  • Patent number: 11242241
    Abstract: A system and methods for base excitation of moderately high vibration of micro-cantilevers are disclosed. A micro-cantilever may be coupled to one or more actuators adjacent its base. The actuators may comprise bulk materials, bridges, or formed wires that expand and contract by application of electric currents, due to, for example, the effect of electro-thermal heating or piezoelectric effects. Single actuators or an array of actuators may be placed around the micro-cantilever to oscillate it and apply actuation pulses. The system and methods, and adjustments of the geometrical parameters, may be performed to yield a nominal natural frequency in the system. The excitation of actuators with signals corresponding to the natural frequency may induce resonance in the system and may result in high amplitude vibrations and displacement of the cantilever tip of the micro-cantilever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: INTREPID VISIONS INC.
    Inventors: Carlo Menon, Mojtaba Komeili
  • Patent number: 11199697
    Abstract: A scanning projector for a display apparatus includes a first scanning reflector configured to steer a light beam in a first plane, a second scanning reflector configured to steer the light beam received from the first scanning reflector in a second plane, and beam relay optics configured to relay a first pupil defined at the first scanning reflector to a second pupil defined at the second scanning reflector, and to relay the second pupil to an output pupil of the scanning projector. The beam relay optics may include a concave reflector and a polarization beam splitter coupled to a scanning reflector in a triple pass configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Weichuan Gao, Brian Wheelwright, Maxwell Parsons, Daniel Guenther Greif, Scott Charles McEldowney
  • Patent number: 11016380
    Abstract: A projection video display apparatus includes: a video projection screen, having a front and a rear surface, arranged in an indoor space. The video projection screen transmits video light from behind the rear surface or in front of the front surface to display video on the front surface. The front surface functions as a video display surface. A video projecting apparatus, arranged in a side of the rear surface or the front surface, enlarges and projects the video light from the rear or front surface. The video projecting apparatus is configured by an optical scanning video projecting apparatus that forms the video by scanning video light composed of coherent light on the video projection screen. The video projection screen guides the video light from the video projecting apparatus toward a direction to the front surface, and causes part of the light in the indoor space to be transmitted therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Kazuya Ozawa
  • Patent number: 10809537
    Abstract: A waveguide display is used for presenting media to a user. The waveguide display, includes a light source, a projection assembly (PA), a source waveguide (SW), and an output waveguide (OW). The light source emits light, the PA reshapes the wavefront of the light and the SW receives the light from the PA, expands the light in a first dimension and outputs the expanded light. The SW has an adjustable curvature along the first dimension expanding the light with a curved wavefront. The OW receives the expanded light emitted from the SW, expands the expanded light in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension to form image light and outputs the image light. The wavefront curvature from the light source, the curvature of the OW along the second dimension and the curvature of the SW control a location of an image plane of the image light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wai Sze Tiffany Lam, Kyle Justin Curts, Pasi Saarikko
  • Patent number: 10802270
    Abstract: Provided is an optical scanner including: a mirror driving unit which drives a scanning mirror which reflects light from a light source based on a drive signal; an optical sensor which detects scanning light entering first and second detection positions set on both sides of a range of the maximum scan angle within the range; and a calibrating unit which calibrates the intensity of the drive signal based on the time point at which the detection is performed and the frequency and intensity of the drive signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoya Matsumaru, Kenji Nagashima
  • Patent number: 10649204
    Abstract: A device and a method for deflecting a light beam to scan a solid angle range. The device includes: a deflection device having an adjustable micromirror, which is configured to periodically deflect a light beam in accordance with an actuating signal, in order to periodically scan a solid angle range, using the micromirror; a control device to receive a control signal that indicates a currently preferred solid angle in the solid angle range to be scanned, and to generate the actuating signal based on the received control signal; and the control device is configured to generate the actuating signal so that a maximum of a location probability density of the periodically deflected light beam is situated at the solid angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Artzner, Manuel Glueck
  • Patent number: 10606161
    Abstract: A projection video display apparatus includes: a video projection screen, having a front and a rear surface, arranged in an indoor space. The video projection screen transmits video light from behind the rear surface or in front of the front surface to display video on the front surface. The front surface functions as a video display surface. A video projecting apparatus, arranged in a side of the rear surface or the front surface, enlarges and projects the video light from the rear or front surface. The video projecting apparatus is configured by an optical scanning video projecting apparatus that forms the video by scanning video light composed of coherent light on the video projection screen. The video projection screen guides the video light from the video projecting apparatus toward a direction to the front surface, and causes part of the light in the indoor space to be transmitted therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: Maxell, Ltd., Hitachi Industry & Control Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu, Kazuya Ozawa
  • Patent number: 10571682
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) package assembly and a method of manufacturing the same is provided. The MEMS package assembly includes a substrate, a housing coupled to the substrate to form a cavity, wherein the housing includes a transparent plate disposed above and parallel to the substrate and is configured to permit a transmission of light therethrough, and a MEMS chip disposed within the cavity and including a first main surface proximal to the transparent plate and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface and coupled to the substrate. The MEMS chip is oriented such that the first main surface is tilted at a tilt angle with respect to the transparent plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ludwig Heitzer, Derek Debie, Klaus Elian, Cyrus Ghahremani, Johannes Lodermeyer, Oskar Neuhoff, Johann Strasser
  • Patent number: 10539779
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) package assembly and a method of manufacturing the same is provided. The MEMS package assembly includes a substrate, a housing coupled to the substrate to form a cavity, wherein the housing includes a transparent plate disposed above and parallel to the substrate and is configured to permit a transmission of light therethrough, and a MEMS chip disposed within the cavity and including a first main surface proximal to the transparent plate and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface and coupled to the substrate. The MEMS chip is oriented such that the first main surface is tilted at a tilt angle with respect to the transparent plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Ludwig Heitzer, Derek Debie, Klaus Elian, Cyrus Ghahremani, Johannes Lodermeyer, Oskar Neuhoff, Johann Strasser
  • Patent number: 10104399
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing 2N×2N transform units (TUs) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining a first-layer scanning order among four N×N sub-blocks of the 2N×2N TU; determining a second-layer scanning pattern for said four N×N sub-blocks; and providing scanned 2N×2N transform coefficients of the intra-coded or the inter-coded 2N×2N TU using double scanning based on the first-layer scanning order and the second-layer scanning pattern. In another embodiment, said determining the first-layer scanning order is dependent on the second-layer scanning pattern. The second-layer scanning pattern can be diagonal, horizontal or vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: HFI INNOVATION INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Hsu, Tzu-Der Chuang, Yu-Wen Huang
  • Patent number: 10054504
    Abstract: A load change detection apparatus is provided with a base member, an elastic member, a first plate, a fixing member and heat flow sensors. The elastic member deforms according to a changed load applied to the elastic member, received by the receiving member. The first plate supports a surface of the elastic member on a side of the base member. The fixing member fixes the lower plate and the elastic member to the base member. The heat flow sensors, provided between the base member and the lower plate, output signals according to heat flowing between the lower plate and the base member. The heat flows due to heat generated or heat absorbed when the elastic member changes the elasticity shape thereof. Stress occurring when the elastic member deforms, is shut off by the first plate, thus direct transmission of the stress to the heat flow sensors is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norio Gouko, Toshihisa Taniguchi, Atusi Sakaida, Keiji Okamoto, Yoshihiko Shiraishi, Masahiro Asano
  • Patent number: 10013736
    Abstract: Various examples are directed to systems, devices, and methods effective to transform an image perspective to compensate for a foreshortening effect resulting from an image taken at an angle. An image capture device may capture an image of a subject. A pitch angle of the image capture device may be determined. A transformed, stretched image may be generated by performing a linear perspective transformation of the image. At least one compression value for a portion of the transformed, stretched image may be determined based at least in part on the pitch angle. A nonlinearly transformed image may be generated based at least in part on the portion and the at least one compression value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Gordon Lee
  • Patent number: 9900571
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a LPD system having a plurality of detectors for detecting light reflected from the back surface of the screen. The detectors are positioned to detect light from one or more portions of the screen that are not directly in front of the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: PRYSM, Inc.
    Inventors: Jahja I. Trisnadi, Alan C. Burroughs
  • Patent number: 9891437
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a light output part that outputs modulated lights and a light scanning part that performs scanning with the modulated lights in first directions and second directions. Scanning with the respective modulated lights is performed only in ones of outward paths and return paths in the first directions, in an image plane, irradiated points of the modulated lights are arranged side by side in directions crossing the first directions, the scanning of the modulated lights is performed in the second directions for two scanning lines extending in the first directions at a time, and one of the irradiated points at a certain time is located in a position different from those of scanning tracks of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9823481
    Abstract: The present application discloses a beam combining device, which includes a reflective diffractive grating surface configured to combine a first, a second and a third incident light beam having different colors to a single diffracted mixed-color light beam when impinging on the reflective diffractive grating surface, wherein a profile of the grating surface is configured according to an optimization criterion with respect to a diffraction efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nikolay Ivanovich Petrov, Angela Liudvigovna Storozheva, Maksim Nikolaevich Khromov, Yury Mihaylovitch Sokolov, Vladislav Gennadievich Nikitin
  • Patent number: 9667928
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a LPD system having a plurality of detectors for detecting light reflected from the back surface of the screen. The detectors are positioned to detect light from one or more portions of the screen that are not directly in front of the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: PRYSM, Inc.
    Inventors: Jahja I. Trisnadi, Alan C. Burroughs
  • Patent number: 9494518
    Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively tracking a particle in a sample is disclosed. The system includes a 2-photon or confocal laser scanning microscope (LSM) and a particle-holding device coupled to a stage with X-Y and Z position control. The system also includes a tracking module having a tracking excitation laser, X-Y and Z radiation-gathering components configured to detect deviations of the particle in an X-Y and Z directions. The system also includes a processor coupled to the X-Y and Z radiation gathering components, generate control signals configured to drive the stage X-Y and Z position controls to track the movement of the particle. The system may also include a synchronization module configured to generate LSM pixels stamped with stage position and a processing module configured to generate a 3D image showing the 3D trajectory of a particle using the LSM pixels stamped with stage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Haw Yang, Kevin Welsher
  • Patent number: 9413455
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a photodetector configured to create a first electric-signal from an optical signal; a power-measuring unit configured to measure power of the optical signal according to the first electric-signal; a noise calculating unit configured to calculate noise corresponding to a specified target optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) according to the power of the optical signal, the power having been measured by the power-measuring unit, the specified target optical signal-to-noise ratio, and information representing characteristics of the photodetector; a noise generating unit configured to add the noise calculated by the noise calculating unit to the first electric-signal to generate a second electric-signal; an OSNR measuring unit configured to measure an optical signal-to-noise ratio according to the second electric-signal; and a calibration coefficient calculating unit configured to calculate a calibration coefficient used to obtain the target optical signal-to-noise ratio from the optical s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Shoichiro Oda, Yasuhiko Aoki, Jeng-Yuan Yang
  • Patent number: 9407887
    Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a display is powered on to display a projected image, and the operation of one or more display elements are ramped up until a stabilized state is reached. During said ramping up, a light source of the display is powered display at less than full power until the stabilized state is reached. While the light source is operating at less than full power, a splash screen may be displayed. After the stabilized state is reached, the light source can then be operated at or near full power. By providing a light output that is less than full power during ramp up, the display does not need to wait until the stabilized state is reached before the light source is powered on. As a result, the projector provides an output earlier in time to cue to the user that the projector is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Champion, Heng Huang
  • Patent number: 9347871
    Abstract: A laser scanning type observation apparatus includes a pulsed-laser oscillation means irradiating pulsed laser to an object, a detector receiving light from the object to output a detection signal, a means detecting pulsed-laser oscillation to output a synchronous signal, a circuit delaying the synchronous signal for an optional amount of time to output a trigger signal, a means sampling the detection signal in synchronization with the trigger signal, a memory storing the sampled detection signal, a setting unit capable of setting delay time for delaying the synchronous signal in two or more stages within one period of the synchronous signal, and a decision unit determining an optimum delay stage for image formation using data on intensities of the detection signal at the respective delay stages, wherein the setting means fixes delay time for delaying the synchronous signal at delay time corresponding to the delay stage determined by the decision unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken Fujinuma, Shintaro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9297980
    Abstract: For an optical device as a transmission-type scanning optical microscope having a pinhole or a slit for limiting the amount of a detected light beam, a method of moving a scanning beam without moving an observation sample to be scanned is realized. A scanning beam from a beam scanning mechanism that has passed through an observation sample is focused onto a reflection plate, and is then returned back again to the observation sample. A light beam that has returned back from the sample is further fed back to the beam scanning mechanism, and then, the light beam that has been limited through a fixed pinhole or a slit is detected with a photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI-LG DATA STORAGE, INC.
    Inventor: Shigeharu Kimura
  • Patent number: 9230325
    Abstract: 3-D model acquisition of an object is performed using two planar mirrors and a camera. According to some embodiments, 3-D reconstruction is achieved by recovering the scene geometry, including the equations of the mirrors, the camera parameters and the position of the markers, which give the location and orientation of the subjects. After establishing the geometry, a volume intersection algorithm is applied to build a 3-D model of the subject. Camera parameters and spatial constraints of the mirrors may be initially unknown. Camera parameters may be solved with reference to the object and references in the object. Further, distance from the camera to at least one point on the object may be determined once camera parameters are solved. Markers having fixed relative positions may be provided on the object for reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
    Inventors: Bo Hu, Jacek Antoni Wojtczak, Christopher Brown
  • Patent number: 9188776
    Abstract: An embodiment of a scanning optical system comprises: an optical source providing a beam of pulsed light of ultra-short pulse duration; a deflector for deflecting the beam through a scan angle; a lens system including a focusing objective for focusing the deflected beam; a dispersion compensating device for reducing dispersion-related distortion of a pulse of the beam by the lens system, the dispersion compensating device including a deformable, dispersive mirror and an actuator device for the mirror; and a controller for controlling the actuator device to change a shape of the mirror in accordance with the scan angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Klaus Vogler, Claudia Gorschboth, Christof Donitzky
  • Patent number: 9188846
    Abstract: A scanning-type image display devices includes: a light source; a scanning unit that scans light beams emitted from light source to display an image on a projection plane; and a control unit that controls the emission time of the light beam from the light source for each pixel of the image, and that also controls the emission time for each pixel depending on the scanning angle of the scanning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Imai
  • Patent number: 9116349
    Abstract: An image display device having a scanning characteristic excellent in the linearity without being upsized is provided. The image display device includes: an optical scanning unit that scans a light emitted from a light source in a first direction and a second direction of an image plane due to a rotational movement of reciprocation of a reflecting surface of the light; and an optical system enlarges a scanning angle of the scanned light, in which the optical system has a free curved surface lens on an optical scanning unit side, and has a free curved surface mirror on an image plane side. The free curved surface mirror may be arranged so that the first direction is substantially parallel to a first plane defined by an incident optical beam and a reflected light in the free curved surface mirror when the optical scanning unit remains static in the center of the scanning range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 9036231
    Abstract: A micromirror and micromirror array may have a first stationary structure, and a mirror structure connected to a first pivoting structure that pivots the mirror structure relative to the first stationary structure about a first axis of rotation. A first comb drive pivots the mirror structure about the first axis of rotation. The first comb drive has a first portion attached to the stationary structure and a second portion attached to the mirror structure, the first portion being electrically isolated from the second portion. The micromirror or micromirror array may be mounted to a Through Silicon Via (TSV) wafer having electrical connections that extend between a first side and a second side of the TSV wafer such that the first and second portions of each comb drive are electrically connected to the electrical connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Tiansheng Zhou
  • Patent number: 9001402
    Abstract: A miniature projector is provided that comprises: a means for providing at least three different light beams of different color; and a means for scanning the light beams; wherein the scanning means is adapted to scan the light beams according to a pattern from a first edge to an ending edge in the screen to form an image, the pattern being a wave pattern of scan lines such that amplitudes oscillates along a first axis as the beams progressively scan along a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the wave pattern is a composite of a vertical scan profile and horizontal scan profile and the vertical scan profile has a cyclic wobulation corresponding to the amplitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventor: Mark Francis Rumreich
  • Publication number: 20150036203
    Abstract: A micromirror including a first layer having a first main extension plane, and a second layer having a second main extension plane, the first main extension plane and the second main extension plane being situated parallel to one another, the first layer and the second layer being sectionally connected to one another via at least one connection area, at least one spring element being implemented in the first layer, a movably suspended mirror plate being implemented in the second layer, the mirror plate having a mirror surface on a first side parallel to the main extension plane and being connected on an opposing second side via the connection area to an anchor of the spring element, a part of the spring element on the second side of the mirror plate being movably situated in relation to the mirror plate. A two-mirror system having such a micromirror is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Heiko Nitsche, Frederic Njikam Njimonzie, Wolfram Schock, Joerg Muchow, Helmut Grutzeck, Zoltan Lestyan
  • Patent number: 8933862
    Abstract: A light field display device comprising an array of light field display elements, each display element comprising: a beam generator for generating an output beam of light; a radiance modulator for modulating the radiance of the beam over time; a focus modulator for modulating the focus of the beam over time; and a scanner for scanning the beam across a two-dimensional angular field, the scanner comprising a biaxial electromechanical scanning mirror comprising: a mirror, a platform, an inner frame, and an outer frame; the mirror attached to the platform via a post, the platform attached to the inner frame via a first pair of hinges, and the inner frame attached to the outer frame via a second pair of hinges; the first pair of hinges arranged substantially orthogonally to the second pair of hinges, thereby to allow biaxial movement of the mirror; the extent of the mirror larger than the extent of the inner frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Paul Lapstun
  • Patent number: 8922858
    Abstract: A motion control system and a method for biosensor scanning which scans a light beam spot over one or more of the biosensors supported by a microplate with an optical scanner system, the method including: defining a scan path for an optical scanner including selecting axes representing properties of the scan path and selecting a time series, calculating a piecewise polynomial function of time between each point in the time series; and scanning the light beam spot over one or more biosensors according to the defined scan path, as described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Cameron John Tovey
  • Patent number: 8905553
    Abstract: A method of detecting a scanning angle range of a laser beam of a laser projector is provided. First, a photo sensor is disposed between first and second positions on a projection mirror. Then, a laser beam emitted from the laser projector scans back and forth between the first and second positions, so that the photo sensor receives the laser beam sequentially at first and second scanning time points to generate first and second sensing signals, respectively. If an actual time interval between the first and second sensing signals conforms to an expected time interval, an actual scanning angle range of the laser beam is determined as normal. If the actual time interval does not conform to the expected time interval, the actual scanning angle range of the laser beam is determined as abnormal and the laser projector stops emitting the laser beam. A laser projector is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Tse Lin, Kai-Wen Cheng
  • Patent number: 8890843
    Abstract: An apparatus is operated to determine the location of at least one object on a touch surface of a light transmissive panel. In the apparatus, an illumination arrangement introduces radiation into the panel for propagation by internal reflection between the touch surface and the opposite surface, so as to generate a grid of intersecting radiation paths in a sensing area, and a detection arrangement measures the transmitted energy in the radiation paths. A data processor then determines, based on the transmitted energy, the location based on an attenuation of two or more radiation paths caused by the object touching the touch surface within the sensing area. In the apparatus, the illumination arrangement generates at least a subset of the radiation paths by sweeping at least one beam of radiation along the touch surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Flatfrog Laboratories AB
    Inventors: Ola Wassvik, Tomas Christiansson
  • Patent number: 8879135
    Abstract: A device for deflecting a light beam in two different directions includes a mirror and a first rotating actuator element configured to rotate about a first axis as a function of a first actuation signal. A second rotating actuator element is disposed opposite to the first rotating actuator element along the first axis and configured to rotate about the first axis as a function of a second actuation signal. A first spring element is connected to the first rotating actuator element and, off-axially with respect to the first axis at a predetermined first distance thereto, to the mirror in a rest position of the mirror. A second spring element is connected to the second rotating actuator element and to the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk-Oliver Fehrer, Ingo Boehm
  • Patent number: 8873123
    Abstract: Illuminating light is two-dimensionally scanned without changing the ability to focus illuminating light on a specimen. A microscope has a spatial light modulator for the wavefront of illuminating light from a light source; a scanner having two mirrors independently pivoted about two non-parallel axes; a relay optical system guiding the illuminating light, whose traveling direction has been changed by the scanner, to an objective optical system; and an adjusting unit that moves a wavefront modulation region of the modulator, in which an image is formed, in response to pivoting of the mirrors, such that an image at the pupil position of the objective optical system assuming that the mirrors are stopped is moved opposite to the direction of movement of the image relayed to the pupil position of the objective optical system assuming that the mirrors are pivoting while the image on the spatial light modulator is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Murayama
  • Patent number: 8866870
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for controlling from a first location a laser at a second location are disclosed. Laser orientation data is determined at a first location. The laser orientation data is communicated to the second location. Video data is received from the second location that includes imagery of a laser beam emitted by a laser, and the imagery is presented on a display at the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140293391
    Abstract: A projector includes: a laser light generating unit that emits laser light including image information; a laser light scanning unit that scans the laser light emitted by the laser light generating unit at a predetermined scan angle to project an image on a transparent display plate; and a scan control unit that sets a scan driving voltage, which determines the scan angle, according to an atmospheric pressure of an area in which the laser light scanning unit is disposed and supplies the scan driving voltage to the laser light scanning unit to control fluctuations in the scan angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro HASHIMOTO, Atsuya HIRANO
  • Publication number: 20140240809
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light field display device (300) comprising an array of light field display elements (310) populating a display surface, each display element (310) comprising: a beam generator (522) for generating an output beam of light; a radiance modulator (524) for modulating the radiance of the beam over time; a focus modulator (530) for modulating the focus of the beam over time; and a scanner (504, 506) for scanning the beam across a two-dimensional angular field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Paul Lapstun
  • Patent number: 8736935
    Abstract: An optical deflection unit for targeted radiation, e.g., produced by laser or superluminescent diodes, in scanning, ophthalmological measuring and therapy systems, comprises a deflection mirror, a position sensor and a control unit, which form a control circuit for minimizing the deviation of the actual positions, detected by the position sensor, from the desired positions of the deflection mirror, whereby the optical deflection unit comprises a deflection mirror, oscillatingly movable by means of non-contacting electromagnetic drives around at least one rotation axis, and which is positioned in the direction of the, at least, one rotation axis between at least two bearings. The optical deflection unit is designed may also be used for beam guidance in high and ultrahigh vacuum installations, such as UV and EUV exposure installations for semiconductor lithography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Gerard Antkowiak, Thomas Pabst, Ralf Ebersbach, Heino Weigand, Martin Hacker
  • Publication number: 20140126033
    Abstract: An image display device having a scanning characteristic excellent in the linearity without being upsized is provided. The image display device includes: an optical scanning unit that scans a light emitted from a light source in a first direction and a second direction of an image plane due to a rotational movement of reciprocation of a reflecting surface of the light; and an optical system enlarges a scanning angle of the scanned light, in which the optical system has a free curved surface lens on an optical scanning unit side, and has a free curved surface mirror on an image plane side. The free curved surface mirror may be arranged so that the first direction is substantially parallel to a first plane defined by an incident optical beam and a reflected light in the free curved surface mirror when the optical scanning unit remains static in the center of the scanning range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 8717655
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light output unit that outputs light and a light scanning unit that includes at least one light reflection part reflecting the light output from the light output unit, and scans a display surface in a first direction at a first speed and scans the surface in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction at a second speed lower than the first speed with the light reflected by the light reflection part, wherein a drawable region in which an image can be formed on the display surface by scanning with the light has at least two parts of a part in which a length of the drawable region in the first direction increases, a part in which the length decreases, and a part in which the length is maintained constant from a first side toward a second side in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Ishida, Yasushi Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 8717638
    Abstract: An optical scanner includes: a light reflecting section having light reflectivity; a movable section which includes the light reflecting section and can be displaced; two link sections connected to positions of ends of the movable section, the positions facing each other; a supporting section supporting the link sections; and a displacement providing section turning the two link sections, wherein each link section includes a turnable drive section, and a shaft section connecting the movable section and the drive section and bending in a thickness direction of the movable section by turning of the drive section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 8710471
    Abstract: A projection illumination installation for EUV microlithography includes an EUV synchrotron light source for producing EUV used light. An object field is illuminated with the used light using illumination optics. The object field is mapped into an image field using projection optics. A scanning device is used to illuminate the object field by deflecting the used light in sync with a projection illumination period. The result is a projection illumination installation in which the output power from an EUV synchrotron light source can be used as efficiently as possible for EUV projection illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Dinger, Markus Hauf
  • Publication number: 20140092459
    Abstract: There is provided a scanning microscope so configured that when the position of the exit pupil of an imaging optical system and a position conjugate to the exit pupil change, the position of the rotation center of a scanned light flux is moved and follows the changed exit pupil position. A scanning microscope includes a light source, an objective lens, and a scan unit. The scan unit includes first to fourth deflectors, and the deflection angle of illumination light deflected off each of the first to fourth deflectors is so controlled that the pivotal point of the illumination light deflected off each of the first and second deflectors and the pivotal point of the illumination light deflected off each of the third and fourth deflectors substantially coincide with the exit pupil of the objective lens or a position conjugate to the exit pupil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro MIZUTA
  • Patent number: 8659813
    Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a beam scanner may comprise a nanophotonics chip to provide a scanned output beam. The nanophotonics chip comprises a substrate, a grating in-coupler formed in the substrate to couple a beam from a light source into the substrate, a modulator to modulate the beam, and a photonic crystal (PC) superprism to provide a scanned output beam that is scanned in response to the modulated beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Wyatt O. Davis, Taha Masood
  • Patent number: 8643924
    Abstract: Two-dimensional optical scanner includes: a first acousto-optical deflector (AOD) and a second AOD that deflects light according to a signal; a first driving unit that rotates the first AOD around axis perpendicular to a first plane including the light on and light from the first AOD; a first prism that is arranged adjacent to an emission end of the first AOD and compensates angular dispersion of the light; a second driving unit that rotates the second AOD around axis perpendicular to a second plane including the light on and light from the second AOD and perpendicular to the first plane; a second prism that is arranged adjacent to an emission end of the second AOD and compensates angular dispersion of the light; and a relay lens that allows the emission end of the first AOD and an incident end of the second AOD to be optically conjugate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Naobumi Okada
  • Patent number: 8625082
    Abstract: A display apparatus is provided which, when projecting a video onto a curved surface of an object for display, can realize an undistorted display of the video. The measuring means outputs the distance information representing the distance to the object. Based on the distance information produced by the measuring means, the curved surface contour is detected with high precision. According to at least the detected curved surface contour distortions, pixels of the display image are unevenly rearranged to correct the video information before it is output. This arrangement realizes an undistorted display of video when the video is projected onto the curved surface of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoki Kobori, Satoshi Ouchi, Koji Hirata, Hidehiro Ikeda, Kazuo Shikita
  • Patent number: 8599459
    Abstract: An image display apparatus that displays an image by scanning of coherent light includes: a light source portion that emits the coherent light; a scanning portion that scans the coherent light; a concave reflection portion having a concave surface from which the coherent light is reflected; and an incident position changing unit that changes an incident position of the coherent light onto the concave surface in a curvature direction of the concave surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Uchikawa
  • Patent number: 8587853
    Abstract: A two-dimensional optical scanner and an image display apparatus are provided. The optical scanner includes: a movable portion having a mirror portion, and a first driving portion which is configured to oscillate the mirror portion around a first axis; a second driving portion which is configured to oscillate the movable portion around a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; and a driving controller which is configured to drive the first driving portion in a first driving method and is configured to drive the second driving portion in a second driving method different from the first driving method. While the first driving portion oscillates the mirror portion around the first axis, the second driving portion oscillates the movable portion around the second axis, so that the mirror portion reflects a beam of light incident to the mirror portion such that the two-dimensional optical scanner performs a two-dimensional scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Takeda