Optical Modulator Patents (Class 359/237)
  • Publication number: 20130201543
    Abstract: A light modulation device comprising an optical element and at least one addressable mask disposed adjacent to the optical element. The optical element comprises at least two sub-elements, each of the at least two sub-elements having at least one optical characteristic wherein at least one optical characteristic of one sub-element is discrete from at least one optical characteristic of another sub-element. The mask comprises at least two regions corresponding to the at least two sub-elements, each of the at least two regions being individually addressable to enable its corresponding sub-element to be light transmitting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: THE TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP PLC
    Inventor: Roger Clarke
  • Patent number: 8502452
    Abstract: A light source system and method that generates stable optical power over time and temperature for use in laser scanning, turbidity sensing, airborne-particle analysis, fog and visibility monitoring, blood-gas analysis and applications where light source output intensity changes less than one-half percent over a 50° C. range. The system includes a miniature semiconductor light emitter that can be powered by two AAA alkaline batteries for more than 100 hours and is about 1 cm3 in size (TO-5 package). A semiconductor light emitter emits a beam of linearly polarized light through a coated optical element having first and second surfaces that meet at an acute angle, the first surface reflecting a portion of the light to a control system and transmitting the rest through the second surface in a direction normal to it and thereby enabling immunity to light interference in the reflected and transmitted beams and novel, error-canceling properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: USL Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John P. Downing, Jr., Dubravko Ivan Babic
  • Patent number: 8502838
    Abstract: A spoke synchronization technique allowing for lamp-pulsing synchronizes a spoke based on sub-arrays of a spatial light modulator. The lamp pulsing occurs during the spoke synchronization; and the lamp pulse for pulsing the lamp spans substantially across the entire spoke synchronization time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gregory James Hewlett, Philip Scott King
  • Patent number: 8489369
    Abstract: An improved algorithm for calculating multimode fiber system bandwidth which addresses both modal dispersion and chromatic dispersion effects is provided. The radial dependence of a laser transmitter emission spectrum is taken into account to assist in designing more effective optical transmission systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Brett Lane, Jose M. Castro
  • Patent number: 8488227
    Abstract: To include a light modulator having an anode electrode, a matching resistor, a first wire that is connected to the anode electrode and transmits to the anode electrode an input electric signal to the light modulator, a first conductor pad having a capacitor connected to the first wire, a second wire that connects the anode electrode and the matching resistor, and a second conductor pad having a capacitor connected to the second wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshitsugu Uesugi, Hiroshi Aruga
  • Patent number: 8488243
    Abstract: Stereoscopic display systems including a position-tracking system that determine the position of the stereoscopic eyewear worn by a viewer. An exemplary embodiment of the eyewear includes retro-reflective reflectors that are illuminated by an infrared illuminator proximate to or optically co-axial with a capturing camera. Suppression reflections from other reflective features in the vicinity may be achieved by control of the polarization of the infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: RealID Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. McKnight, Michael G. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8482845
    Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed in which a space between the projection system and a sensor is filled with a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Joeri Lof, Erik Theodorus Maria Bijlaart, Roelof Aeilko Siebrand Ritsema, Frank Van Schaik, Timotheus Franciscus Sengers, Klaus Simon, Joannes Theodoor De Smit, Arie Jeffrey Maria Den Boef, Hans Butler, Sjoerd Nicolaas Lambertus Donders, Christiaan Alexander Hoogendam, Marcus Adrianus Van De Kerkhof, Aleksey Yurievich Kolesnychenko, Mark Kroon, Erik Roelof Loopstra, Hendricus Johannes Maria Meijer, Jeroen Johannes Sophia Maria Mertens, Johannes Catharinus Hubertus Mulkens, Joost Jeroen Ottens, Alexander Straaijer, Bob Streefkerk, Helmar Van Santen
  • Patent number: 8477399
    Abstract: An optical device includes: a base that transmits incident light; and a first conductive film formed on one surface of the base, and that includes an indentation pattern of a predetermined period formed on a base-side surface, wherein a side portion defining an edge portion irradiated with the incident light has a form of a protrusion or a straight line as viewed from the incident side of the incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Hongo
  • Patent number: 8472102
    Abstract: An illumination source and a method therefor. A light source includes a light circuit configured to process light and direct light, and a lighting element optically coupled to the light circuit to provide multiple colors of light. The light circuit propagates light using light guides. The use of light guides eliminates the use of free space optical elements, enabling the creation of more compact light sources. Furthermore, the use of light guides may enable the creation of light sources with fewer mechanical restrictions, thereby making the light sources potentially more reliable and less expensive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Regis Grasser, Steven Werner Gensler, James Christopher Dunphy
  • Patent number: 8467118
    Abstract: To achieve a size-reduction of an optical module having a circuit that generates a high-frequency clock signal for controlling optical modulation by an optical modulator and to suppress radiation of electromagnetic waves from the optical module. A through-hole via is formed on a multilayer printed circuit board so as to be insulated from a plurality of grounded wiring layers by an anti-pad. A coaxial connector and an intensity modulation control IC that generates a high-frequency clock signal are provided on the multilayer printed circuit board. The high-frequency clock signal is input to the coaxial connector through a micro-strip line formed on the multilayer printed circuit board. An open stub connected to the through-hole via is provided on a wiring layer between a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer among the plurality of wiring layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Oclaro Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Osamu Kagaya, Hirofumi Nakagawa, Taichi Kogure
  • Patent number: 8466454
    Abstract: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display according to an exemplary embodiment includes a substrate main body, a plurality of organic light emitting elements formed on the substrate main body, an encapsulation thin film formed on the substrate main body thereby covering the plurality of organic light emitting elements, and a disparity barrier rib layer formed on a boundary region between the plurality of organic light emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chan-Young Park, Beom-Shik Kim, Hui Nam
  • Patent number: 8466858
    Abstract: Devices and methods for determining an operational state of a selected display device in an array of display devices. One method includes determining the operational state of a particular display device in the array by measuring an electrical characteristic of a plurality of the display devices, and determining the operational state based at least in part on the three measurements. In some embodiments, the electrical characteristic is capacitance, in other embodiments impedance can be the measured electrical characteristic. Such methods can be applied to interferometric modulator displays and other displays, including liquid crystal display displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alok Govil
  • Patent number: 8466831
    Abstract: An optical modulator comprising an input suitable to receive an optical carrier, and two Mach-Zender modulators in parallel, which constitute two different optical paths, the whole circuit constituting a third Mach-Zender modulator, the optical modulator being characterized in that: the first Mach-Zender modulator is provided with an electrode suitable to carry two signals, each obtained by the sum of the two tones fR and fD, of equal power but dephased of ?/2, and with an electrode for realizing a Single Side Band modulation of the tones fR and fD; the second Mach-Zender modulator is biased by means of a DC electrode; the third Mach-Zender modulator comprising an electrode suitable to realize the reversal of the optical carrier phase of the signals deriving from the first and the second Mach-Zender modulator, so as to suppress the optical carrier and thus obtaining only the tones fR and fD in the optical spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Selex Sistemi Integrati S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luigi Pierno, Mauro Varasi
  • Publication number: 20130148186
    Abstract: A surface plasmon polariton modulator capable of locally varying a physical property of a dielectric material to control a surface plasmon polariton. The surface plasmon polariton modulator includes a dielectric layer, including first and second dielectric portions, which is interposed between two metal layers. The second dielectric portion has a refractive index which varies with an electric field, a magnetic field, heat, a sound wave, or a chemical and/or biological operation applied thereto. The surface plasmon polariton modulator is configured to control one of an advancing direction, an intensity, a phase, or the like of a surface plasmon using an electric signal. The surface plasmon polariton modulator can operate as a surface plasmon polariton multiplexer or a surface plasmon polariton demultiplexer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130128330
    Abstract: Optical devices and systems including a polarization maintaining interconnect are disclosed. An optical assembly can include an optical component, a low-birefringence optical fiber and a polarization transformer. The polarization transformer is coupled between the optical component and the optical fiber. The polarization transformer is configured to transform between a substantially circularly-polarized light at the low-birefringence optical fiber and a substantially linearly-polarized light at the optical component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Y. FRANKEL, Vladimir S. Grigoryan, Ian B. Betty
  • Patent number: 8444272
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a color image has at least a first, a second, and a third illumination source, each illumination source energizable to provide continuous illumination of a first, a second, or a third wavelength band, respectively, to an optical multiplexer. The optical multiplexer is actuable to cyclically switch received light from each one of the illumination sources, in turn, to each one of at least a first, a second, and a third projector channel in a repeated sequence. The first projector channel connects to a first projector apparatus, the second projector channel connects to a second projector apparatus, and the third projector channel connects to a third projector apparatus. Each projector apparatus has a light modulator that is energizable to form an image from the light of the first, second, or third wavelength band that is cyclically switched onto its projector channel from the optical multiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Joshua Monroe Cobb
  • Patent number: 8447145
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an ultra-compact optical modulator comprising at least one resonator on a semiconductor chip. The EO modulator modulates incoming light having a certain wavelength range and comprises a waveguide layer accommodating at least one resonator having a periodic complex refraction index distribution structure defining a periodic defect band-edge and a cladding layer; and at least one electrode; the waveguide layer, the cladding layer and the electrode forming a capacitor structure; such that when an external voltage is applied to the capacitor structure the free carrier concentration in the waveguide layer is controlled, enabling a modulation of the resonator's refractive index; wherein the periodic defect band-edge is selected to be within the wavelength range, enabling a slow-light propagation of the incoming light within the waveguide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd.
    Inventors: Damian Goldring, David Mendlovic
  • Patent number: 8446342
    Abstract: A scanned beam display device scans a beam to paint an image. The beam is scanned in two dimensions and includes at least one sinusoidal component. Phase offsets are introduced to provide different scan trajectories for successive traversals of the image field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Champion, Margaret K. Brown, Mark O. Freeman
  • Publication number: 20130114120
    Abstract: A microelectrofluidic device includes: a chamber; a first fluid and a second fluid which are contained in the chamber and are not mixable with each other; and a first electrode group including a plurality of electrodes that are disposed on an inner side of the chamber, and to which a voltage is applied to change an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid, wherein the plurality of electrodes are connected to form a first electrode unit, a second electrode unit, and a third electrode unit that are independently turned on or off, and the plurality of electrodes are annular and coated with an insulating material, and adjacent electrodes are connected to different electrode units
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyu-dong JUNG, Jong-hyeon CHANG, Min-seog CHOI
  • Patent number: 8432598
    Abstract: A transparent conductor structure includes a transparent, insulating substrate and a discontinuous, transparent conducting layer established on the substrate. The discontinuous conducting layer is partitioned into a plurality of segments, each of which has a thickness ranging from about 1 nm to about 10 ?m. Two or more of the segments are connected together by i) a metal trace disposed on or between them, or ii) a mesh, formed from a plurality of metal traces, disposed across a surface of the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jong-Souk Yeo, Gregg Alan Combs, Tim R. Koch
  • Patent number: 8427732
    Abstract: An uncooled optical semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor laser outputting laser light; an electric field absorption optical modulator absorbing light depending on a voltage applied to the electric field absorption optical modulator; a monitor photodiode monitoring backlight of the semiconductor laser; an auto power control circuit feeding back current of the monitor photodiode to a bias current supplied to the semiconductor laser; and a bias circuit feeding back an average value of a light absorption current to control a bias voltage applied to the electric field absorption optical modulator. The light absorption current is generated when the electric field absorption optical modulator absorbs the laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Norio Okada
  • Patent number: 8421813
    Abstract: A display device includes a light modulating unit configured to modulate light based on a video signal, a light source configured to supply light to the light modulating unit, a detecting unit configured to detect a light amount of the light source, and a control unit configured to perform control for correcting the video signal based on the detected light amount so as to attain a color temperature and brightness that had already been set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takase
  • Patent number: 8411349
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes an optical modulation substrate, an electrical length adjusting substrate, a package containing the substrates, and a plurality of input ports for inputting high frequency electrical signals. The optical modulation substrate includes a substrate body made of an electro-optic material, a ground electrode and a plurality of signal electrodes provided on the substrate body, optical waveguides propagating lights interacting with the signal electrodes, respectively, and electrode input ports inputting the high frequency electrical signals into the signal electrodes, respectively. The signal electrode includes an interacting part, an input end part provided between the electrode input port and interacting part, and a terminal part. The electrical length adjusting substrate includes conductive lines connected to the input ports for inputting the high frequency electrical signals, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Mitomi, Yasunori Iwasaki, Yuji Hori, Kenji Aoki, Jungo Kondo
  • Patent number: 8399559
    Abstract: The present invention provides polyurethanes including a reaction product of components including: (a) at least one polyisocyanate; (b) at least one branched polyol having 4 to 18 carbon atoms and at least 3 hydroxyl groups; and (c) at least one polyol having one or more bromine atoms, one or more phosphorus atoms or combinations thereof; compositions, coatings and articles made therefrom and methods of making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Rukavina, Robert Hunia
  • Patent number: 8396373
    Abstract: A retroreflector coupled with a polarization rotator is provided according to some embodiments. The polarization rotator can be designed and/or configured to introduce a fraction of a wavelength phase difference in a received beam of light prior to reflecting the beam of light back toward the source of the light. By switching the state of the polarization rotator a communication signal can be modulated on the return beam of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Roes, Jonathan R. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8392199
    Abstract: A clipping detection device calculates an amplitude distribution of an input signal for each predetermined period, calculates a deflection degree of the distribution on the basis of the calculated amplitude distribution, and then detects clipping of a communication signal on the basis of the calculated deflection degree of the distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takeshi Otani, Masakiyo Tanaka, Yasuji Ota, Shusaku Ito
  • Patent number: 8390676
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a playback device for a two- and/or three-dimensional illustration, having at least one light source, at least one light modulation device, a display screen, and a tracking system for tracking a virtual viewer window of a viewer plane, in which at least one viewer is located. This tracking system has a position detection system for determining the eye positions of the at least one viewer in the viewer plane, a tracking device, and a control device for activating and controlling the tracking device, and is disposed between the light modulation device and the display screen. In order to track the viewer window along an optical axis of the playback device, a focal width on the image side of an optical system of the tracking device is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: SeeReal Technologies S.A.
    Inventors: Stanislas Flon, Philippe Renaud-Goud
  • Patent number: 8384652
    Abstract: A method of operating a display includes providing light having a luminance that varies periodically, overdriving a pixel circuit of the display, and modulating the light using the pixel circuit to generate modulated light. The amount of overdrive and the phase of the light relative to the overdriving of the pixel circuit are controlled such that the modulated light has a predetermined level of uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Ching-Wen Shih, Hung-Yu Lin, Yu-Yeh Chen
  • Patent number: 8379291
    Abstract: The designed resonator system comprises a light source generating device for outputting a light source and a resonating cavity device. The resonating cavity device includes: a first waveguide with an input end for receiving the light source; a first resonator disposed adjacent to the first waveguide for receiving the light source coupled from the first waveguide in order to generate a resonating light source; a second waveguide having one end disposed adjacent to the first resonator, an adapting end for receiving the resonating light source coupled from the first resonator, and an output end; and an electro-optic modulator disposed adjacent to the other end of the second waveguide for receiving the resonating light source coupled from the second waveguide and generating an optical modulating signal by an electrical modulating signal, and the optical modulating signal is outputted from the output end of the second waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Shiuh Chao, Chih-T'sung Shih, Zhi-Wei Zeng
  • Patent number: 8380085
    Abstract: A method of processing data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of binary electronic signals and generating an optical signal by a number of lasers that is equal to or greater than the number of binary electronic signals. The optical signal is generated at one of a plurality of intensity levels, and each intensity level represents a particular combination of bit values for the plurality of binary electronic signals. The optical signal is converted into an electronic signal having the plurality of intensity levels. An apparatus for processing data is provided that includes a plurality of lasers configured to emit light at a plurality of frequencies, and a plurality of modulators configured to receive a plurality of binary electronic signals and to modulate the light emitted by the lasers. An apparatus for transmitting data is provided that includes a photo receiver and an electronic signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shalabh Gupta, Yue-Kai Huang
  • Patent number: 8373692
    Abstract: A first linearly polarized bundle of rays of incident rays is converted by optical modulation with an input video signal into a second linearly polarized bundle of rays orthogonal to the first rays in polarization. The first rays pass through a polarizer before optically modulated. A second linearly polarized bundle of rays originally involved in the incident rays is reflected by the polarizer in a first direction. The second rays obtained by the optical modulation are reflected by the polarizer in a second direction. The second rays reflected in the second direction pass through another polarizer. A first linearly polarized bundle of rays involved in the reflected second rays is reflected by the other polarizer. The reflected first rays is detected by an optical sensor that is positioned outside an optical path of the second rays originally involved in the incident rays and reflected in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Uchiyama, Masato Furuya, Tatsuru Kobayashi, Ryo Nishima, Motoshi Tohda, Yoshio Fukuzaki, Takeshi Makabe, Yasuo Ishizaka, Akihiro Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8358263
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention provides a method of color control in a backlighting system comprising a plurality of light sources, a plurality of color sensors, a plurality of PWM controllers, and a video input for receiving video data. The plurality of light sources is activated during a first operative mode to produce white light. The plurality of light sources is controlled during a second operative mode to produce white light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Joh Joh Ng, Tak Meng Cheang, Boon Keat Tan
  • Patent number: 8349986
    Abstract: The present invention provides poly(ureaurethane)s including a reaction product of components comprising: (a) about 1 equivalent of at least one polyisocyanate; (b) about 0.1 to about 0.9 equivalents of at least one branched polyol having 4 to 18 carbon atoms and at least 3 hydroxyl groups; (c) about 0.1 to about 0.9 equivalents of at least one aliphatic diol having 2 to 18 carbon atoms; and (d) at least one amine curing agent, wherein the reaction product components are essentially free of polyester polyol and polyether polyol; compositions, coatings and articles made therefrom and methods of making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Rukavina, Robert Hunia
  • Patent number: 8345338
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for evaluating the qualities of the user's color vision by means of the FM chromaticity test or directly measuring the defective factors of the user causing the color blindness. Thus it modifies the color composition of a video displaying apparatus according to a numerical analysis of the color and degree of color blindness specific to each dichromatic individual, so that he may perceive the same colors as the normal person. Also discloses is an apparatus for performing the method steps described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Min Jeong, Seok-Jin Won, Sung-Dae Cho, Sang-Wook Oh, Kyoung-Ju Park, Jung-Hoon Park, Jae-Won Moon, Young-Ho Ha, Cheol-Hee Lee, Chang-Hwan Son, Jong-Man Kim
  • Publication number: 20120327503
    Abstract: An optical system may include an objective, a source of illumination, an illumination system having illumination optics configured to direct the illumination onto the objective, and at least two dynamic optical array devices located at a pupil conjugate plane and a field conjugate plane, respectively in the illumination optics. The dynamic optical array devices are configured to control one or more properties of illumination coupled from the illumination system to the objective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Amnon Manassen, Joel Seligson, Noam Sapiens
  • Patent number: 8339356
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a white color light source and a coloring light source, a detection circuit which detects a brightness of an input image signal, an image quality processing calculation circuit, a light source control circuit, and an image control circuit. The coloring light source includes a blue light source. The image quality processing calculation circuit outputs to the light source control circuit a light source control signal for (1) increasing a light intensity of the coloring light source when an average luminance of the input image signal is detected to be higher than a predetermined luminance based on a detection result of the detection circuit, and for (2) turning-on only the white color light source without turning-on the coloring light source when the average luminance of the input image signal is detected to be lower than the predetermined luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignees: Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuka Utsumi, Yasushi Tomioka, Akitoyo Konno, Katsumi Kondo
  • Publication number: 20120320442
    Abstract: A Pseudo-Return-to-Zero modulator is provided with a narrow pulse clock generator, a modulator driver, and an optical modulator. The narrow pulse clock generator generates a narrow pulse clock of order n, where one of levels occupies half a symbol period and the other level occupies (n?1) plus half a symbol period, n being equal to or more than two. The modulator driver generates an electrical signal in response to binary data and the narrow pulse clock. The optical modulator modulates an optical carrier in response to the electrical signal so that the modulated optical carrier is in a PRZ(n) format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Emmanuel Le Taillandier De Gabory
  • Publication number: 20120320341
    Abstract: There is provided an optical apparatus including a reflection panel unit including a reflection-type optical modulation element, a prism unit including a polarization optical apparatus for outputting a light beam modulated by the reflection-type optical modulation element and a color synthesis prism for receiving, synthesizing and outputting the light beams from the polarization optical apparatus, and a first fixing member for fixing the reflection panel unit to the prism unit, wherein the first fixing member includes a first surface and a second surface intersecting the first surface, and wherein the reflection panel unit and the prism unit include a third surface and a fourth surface to which the first surface and the second surface are adhered via adhesion layers, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Aikoh
  • Patent number: 8335034
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical device comprising a pair of specifically designed plate-like diffractive optical elements successively arranged in parallel to each other. Placing the two diffractive optical elements in succession and in parallel to each other in a certain distance, the combination optically corresponds to a single diffractive optical element, and it can perform similar tasks, acting as a lens, an axicon, a phase shifter, or a spiral phase plate. If one of the diffractive optical elements is rotated with respect to the other around a common central axis, the property of the optical device, like the focal length, the refractive power, helical index, or phase shift changes continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Medizinische Universitat Innsbruck
    Inventors: Stefan Bernet, Monika Ritsch-Marte
  • Patent number: 8331024
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a temporal depolarization assembly. The depolarization assembly operates to produce light that, over some period of time, is depolarized. The depolarization assembly includes first and second variable retarders. The variable retarders are operated to produce a retardance that varies in time. In addition, the modulator axis of a first one of the variable retarders is held at an angle to the modulator axis of the second one of the variable retarders. The frequency at which the retardance of the variable retarders varies is selected to be some fraction of the integration time of a sensor associated with the polarization assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Rainer M. E. Illing
  • Patent number: 8331006
    Abstract: Illuminating light (B2, B3) for a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) micro-display (210) is provided by an illuminating unit (100). The illuminating unit (100) has a waveguiding substrate (7) and a plurality of light out-coupling features (F30). The substrate (7) has two substantially parallel surfaces (41,42). Light coupled into said substrate (7) is reflected several times on the surfaces (41,42) of the substrate (7) by total internal reflection (TIR) before being coupled out of the substrate (7). Thus a portion (102) of said substrate (7) may act as an optical integrator for smoothing out variations in spatial intensity distribution of light propagating within said substrate (7). The out-coupling efficiencies of the out-coupling features (F30) may be selected to minimize vignetting and/or to minimize stray light effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Tapani Levola
  • Patent number: 8331009
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for mixing colors in a display unit with pixels that are arranged like a raster. According to said method, each pixel is provided with at least three color mirrors which are disposed behind or next to each other and are formed by transparent receptacles whose interiors are connected to reservoirs via ducts, while a colored liquid, e.g. a red liquid, as well as a fully transparent medium that is immiscible with colored liquid can be moved into the color mirrors and the reservoirs thereof, the fully transparent medium having the effect of making the color of the background in the color mirror appear white, for example. According to the invention, color is mixed by alternately moving the colored liquid and the fully transparent medium into the color mirrors in a rapid sequence, the time fraction during which the colored liquid or the fully transparent medium is located in the color mirror being controllable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: ASPRE AG
    Inventor: Friedrich-Josef Sacher
  • Patent number: 8310750
    Abstract: A waveform shaping circuit enhances a rise of a waveform of a voltage applied to a load and includes an input unit to which the voltage is input; a supply unit configured to apply the voltage input from the input unit to the load; a first resistor connected in series between the input unit and the supply unit; a second resistor branch-connected to a portion between the input unit and the supply unit; and a stub connected to the first resistor or the second resistor and including a transmission path of a given length configured to shuttle the voltage by transmitting and reflecting the voltage as a voltage wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Setsuo Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8305677
    Abstract: A system and method for operating an electronic device used in light processing. A method comprises altering a spatial relationship between a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a light incident on the SLM, shifting light modulator states of a first portion of light modulators to a second portion of light modulators, and placing a third portion of light modulators in the SLM into a performance degradation-reducing mode. The amount of shifting performed is proportional to the amount of change in the spatial relationship. The method allows for a change in light modulators used to modulate the light, thereby preventing the overuse of some of the light modulators, which may help to prevent degradation of the light modulators. The performance degradation reducing mode may help to further reduce or even reverse the performance degradation of the light modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Terry Alan Bartlett, James Anthony Strain, Paul L. Rancuret
  • Patent number: 8305689
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light source apparatus or the like provided with a structure that can block reflected return light also when an emitting end side of an optical isolator is a space. The light source apparatus comprises a light source section, a guide section, and an optical module. The optical module includes a collimator, an optical isolator, and an oblique-beam blocking section. The collimator outputs collimated light with a predetermined beam diameter as a forward propagating beam. The optical isolator is a polarization-independent optical isolator that introduces the collimated light from a first end and outputs this collimated light from a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoki Kakui, Kazuo Nakamae, Shinobu Tamaoki
  • Patent number: 8306375
    Abstract: A first exemplary aspect of the present invention is a wavelength-tunable optical transmitter including: a semiconductor substrate (101); a wavelength-tunable light source that is formed on the semiconductor substrate (101) and includes at least a first reflector (102) of a wavelength-tunable type and a gain region (104); a semiconductor optical modulator formed on the semiconductor substrate (101); a first semiconductor optical waveguide (105c) that is formed on the semiconductor substrate (101) and smoothly connected to the wavelength-tunable light source; a second semiconductor optical waveguide (105d) that is formed on the semiconductor substrate and smoothly connected to the semiconductor optical modulator; a waveguide coupling region (108) in which the first and second semiconductor optical waveguides are collinearly coupled with a length LC that is not equal to m/2 (m: integer) times a complete coupling length LC0; and a second reflector (113) formed at an end of the waveguide coupling region (108).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoaki Kato
  • Patent number: 8297759
    Abstract: A display system comprising a light source and a plurality of switchable elements, wherein each element is switchable at an element switching frequency in accordance with an element control signal between an “on” state in which light is directed from the light source onto a display, and an “off” state in which light is not directed onto a display. The light source being configured to generate a pulsed light source output at a light source pulse frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Digital Projection Limited
    Inventor: Dermot J. Quinn
  • Publication number: 20120262612
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electro optical sensor, which comprises a light source generating device, an electro optical modulator, a supporting module, and an image capturing module. The light source generating device emits a light beam. After the electro optical modulator modulates the light beam, the modulated light beam emits onto a subject. The supporting module includes a transparent substrate, supporting the subject and allowing the modulated light beam to incidentally emit into the transparent substrate. The image capturing module converts the light beam reflected from the supporting module into a video signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: YONG TONG ZOU, HAU WEI WANG, DING KUN LIU
  • Patent number: 8284474
    Abstract: An Interferometric Modulator (IMod) is a microelectromechanical device for modulating light using interference. The colors of these devices may be determined in a spatial fashion, and their inherent color shift may be compensated for using several optical compensation mechanisms. Brightness, addressing, and driving of IMods may be accomplished in a variety of ways with appropriate packaging, and peripheral electronics which can be attached and/or fabricated using one of many techniques. The devices may be used in both embedded and directly perceived applications, the latter providing multiple viewing modes as well as a multitude of product concepts ranging in size from microscopic to architectural in scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Miles
  • Publication number: 20120249895
    Abstract: There are provided an optical device including a dimming cell capable of performing low illumination imaging without varying an optical path length, and an imaging device using the optical device. The optical device includes a cell having a containing layer between a first transparent substrate disposed on a light incident side and a second transparent substrate which is disposed on a light emitting side and faces the first transparent substrate, a variable transmittance section provided in a first region of the containing layer and allowing light transmittance to be varied within a predetermined range, and a fixed transmittance section provided in a second region different from the first region as seen from the light incident side and having a light transmittance higher than that of the variable transmittance section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Keita Kaifu