Light Wave Temporal Modulation (e.g., Frequency, Amplitude, Etc.) Patents (Class 359/238)
  • Publication number: 20110149298
    Abstract: A method of wavefront (100) analysis including applying a transform to the wavefront, applying a plurality of different phase changes (110, 112, 114) to the transformed wavefront (108), obtaining a plurality of intensity maps (130, 132, 134) wherein the plurality of different phase changes are applied to region of the transformed wavefront, corresponding to a shape of the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ICOS Vision Systems NV
    Inventors: Yoel Arieli, Shay Wolfling, David Banitt, Yosi Weitzman, Yoram Saban, Emmanuel Lanzmann, Shay Levavi
  • Publication number: 20110149363
    Abstract: A laser radar device adapted to ensure that the output from the laser is eye-safe. A means for applying spatial dither to the output of the laser source, such as a moveable optical arrangement. This causes the point of focus of the transmitted beam to traverse a target area by small amounts, reducing the overall radiation exposure at any particular point of focus, but having negligible impact on wind speed measurement for example. Alternative arrangements for ensuring eye-safety include periodically reducing the laser power density, gating the output or altering the focussing of the transmitted beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael Harris, Steven Michael Stone, Andrew Lewin
  • Publication number: 20110140744
    Abstract: A backplane for use in an electro-optic display comprises a patterned metal foil having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, coated on at least side with an insulating polymeric material and having a plurality of thin film electronic devices provided on the insulating polymeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter T. Kazlas, Joanna F. Au, Yu Chen, Nathan R. Kane
  • Publication number: 20110141540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating two delayed pulses, in particular in terahertz spectroscopy and/or in pump-probe experiments, with the following method steps: generating a pulsed beam using a beam source, in particular a pulsed laser; dividing the pulsed beam, wherein a first partial beam contains a first pulse and a second partial beam contains a second pulse; directing the two pulses onto a respective target area, wherein the first pulse directly reaches a first target area and the second pulse reaches a second target area after covering a delay path, and wherein the two target areas may coincide; using the two pulses, in particular for a measuring method; wherein a time delay of the two pulses in the respective target area is adjustable by means of a pulse repetition rate of the pulsed beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Eugen Hochrein, Martin Koch, Norman Krumbholz
  • Patent number: 7961371
    Abstract: The light beam generator 1 is provided with a laser light source 10, an optical phase modulation element 15 and others. The optical phase modulation element 15 receives coherent light output from the laser light source 10 and passed through a beam splitter 14 to modulate a phase of the light depending on a position on the beam cross section of the light, and outputs the light after the phase modulation to the beam splitter 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Taro Ando, Yoshiyuki Ohtake, Norihiro Fukuchi, Naoya Matsumoto, Haruyasu Ito
  • Patent number: 7961086
    Abstract: A method for communicating with a vehicle has a generator for producing a data stream that can indicate, street sign information, house number, lead vehicle information, traffic information, oncoming vehicle information, juxtaposed vehicle information, a voice channel, etc. vehicle information can indicate braking, low beam requests, direct or indirect traffic flow information, adjacency, partial adjacency, or presence of nearby vehicles, etc. This signal is generated by at least one of: the sign, house number, oncoming vehicle, lead vehicle, operator of the lead vehicle, operator of the oncoming vehicle, operator of the juxtaposed vehicle, a traffic control system. A device for generating such data streams is discussed, as well as, a device for receiving such data streams. Information pertinent to the people in the vehicles or operation of the vehicle can be modulated on the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventor: James Roy Bradley
  • Publication number: 20110128312
    Abstract: A pulse width modulation signal generating device which generates a pulse width modulation signal for modulating laser beam according to image data includes: a cycle signal output circuit which outputs a cycle signal having a cycle corresponding to a drawing rate for drawing the image data by the laser beam; and a pulse width modulation circuit which receives supply of the image data and the cycle signal and modulates a pulse wave having a cycle determined by the cycle signal by changing duty ratio of the pulse wave based on the image data to produce the pulse width modulation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomio IKEGAMI
  • Patent number: 7952784
    Abstract: In order to avoid firstly decidedly periodic loading of an output-buffered constant current power supply unit (17) and secondly physiological loading as a result of only intermittently appearing primary colors (R, G, B) when activating mixed light color loci, primary color light sources (11R, 11G, 11B) are energized in pulse-width-modulated fashion periodically in a temporally offset manner, but in addition in each instance, in time-parallel fashion with respect thereto, also those primary color light sources of further primary color light sources (11R, 11G, 11B) whose primary colors in the cyclic activation are not being energized at that time are likewise energized in a pulse-width-modulated manner (FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Diehl Aerospace GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhard Steffen, Till Kiewning
  • Publication number: 20110123146
    Abstract: A nano-wire optical block device for amplifying, modulating, and detecting an optical signal in a large-core hollow metallized waveguide. The nano-wire optical block device comprises a substrate with a plurality of nano-wires coupled to the substrate to form the nano-wire optical block. Each properly formed nano-wire is comprised of a p-doped region, an intrinsic region, and an n-doped region. The nano-wire optical block is operable to be inserted into the large-core hollow metallized waveguide to provide at least one of amplifying, modulating, and detecting the optical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Sagi Varghese Mathai, Shih-Yuan Wang
  • Patent number: 7947973
    Abstract: An organic light-emitting device, including a substrate, an organic light-emitting element on the substrate, a sealing member on the organic light-emitting element, a ¼ wavelength layer on one surface of the substrate, the organic light-emitting element, or the sealing member, and a linear polarization layer on one surface of the substrate, the organic light-emitting element, the sealing member, or the ¼ wavelength layer, the linear polarization layer being closer to an image display surface than the ¼ wavelength layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Woo Song, Jong-Hyuk Lee, Won-Jong Kim, Yoon-Hyeung Cho, Joon-Gu Lee, Jae-Heung Ha
  • Patent number: 7944602
    Abstract: Various embodiments include interferometric optical modulators comprising a substrate layer having a thickness between about 0.1 mm to about 0.45 mm thick and a method for manufacturing the same. The interferometric modulator can be integrated together with a diffuser in a display device. The thin substrate permits use of a thicker diffuser. The thinner substrate may increase resolution and reduce overall thickness of the interferometric modulator. The thicker diffuser may provide increased diffusion and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Clarence Chui
  • Patent number: 7940449
    Abstract: A display system is based on a linear array phase modulator and a phase edge discriminator optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Alces Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David M Bloom, Matthew A Leone
  • Patent number: 7940448
    Abstract: A display system is based on a linear array phase modulator and a phase edge discriminator optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Alces Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David M Bloom, Matthew A Leone
  • Publication number: 20110096292
    Abstract: An adaptive optics apparatus includes a first light modulating unit configured to perform modulation in a polarization direction of one of two polarized light components in light emitted from a light source, a changing unit configured to rotate the light modulated by the first light modulating unit by 90 degrees, a second light modulating unit configured to modulate the light changed by the changing unit in the polarization direction, and an irradiating unit configured to irradiate a measurement object with the light modulated by the second light modulating unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichi Saito
  • Publication number: 20110096386
    Abstract: The invention makes it possible to adjust the light intensity of a laser scanning microscope laser beam in an economical manner and with high accuracy. A separate acousto-optic component can be omitted in that a light modulation section such as an electroabsorption modulator (EAM) or a semiconductor amplifier (SOA) is arranged directly at the laser diode, advisably at one of its front sides. It is nevertheless possible to control the light intensity economically and with high accuracy because the important parameters of the laser beam remain unchanged when the optical output power is changed by the light modulation section. The light modulation section is preferably formed integral with the laser diode in at least one material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Dieter Huhse, Stefan Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20110051216
    Abstract: Lighting systems comprising a spectrum former upstream from a reflective pixelated spatial light modulator (reflective SLM), the SLM reflecting substantially all of the light in the spectrum into at least two different light paths, that do not reflect back to the light source or the spectrum former. At least one of the light paths acts as a projection light path and transmits desired light out of the lighting system. The lighting systems provide virtually any desired color(s) and intensity(s) of light, and avoid overheating problems by deflecting unwanted light and other electromagnetic radiation out of the system or to a heat management system. The systems can be part of another system, a luminaire, or any other suitable light source. The systems can provide virtually any desired light, from the light seen at the break of morning to specialized light for treating cancer or psoriasis, and may change color and intensity at speeds that are perceptually instantaneous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: TIDAL PHOTONICS, INC.
    Inventors: NICHOLAS B. MACKINNON, CALUM E. MACAULAY, ULRICH STANGE
  • Publication number: 20110051215
    Abstract: A system and method for producing a 16-QAM-modulated signal are disclosed. The methodology, in an exemplary expedient, generally comprises splitting light from a CW laser into two parts; modulating the first part with a first signal and modulating the second part with a second signal; phase shifting the modulated second part by about ?/2; combining the modulated first part with the phase shifted and modulated second part to produce a four-level modulated signal; phase modulating the four-level modulated signal with a third signal with a phase modulation of about (0, ?/2) to produce an 8-QAM-modulated signal, and thereafter modulating that signal with a fourth signal with a phase-modulation of about (0, ?) to produce the 16-QAM-modulated signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Xiang Zhou
  • Patent number: 7898716
    Abstract: According to particular embodiments, a system comprises one or mores light sources, a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) system, and a controller. A light source is configured to generate light, and the DMD system comprises DMD regions configured to modulate the light. The controller is configured to repeat the following for a number of iterations: instruct each light source to scroll the light across the DMD system at a current amplitude level; instruct one or more DMD regions to operate as one or more active regions that modulate a first portion of the light to generate an image; and instruct the remaining DMD regions to operate as an amplitude modulation region that receives a second portion of the light, the second portion of the light transitioning from a previous amplitude level to the current amplitude level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instuments Incorporated
    Inventor: Philip Scott King
  • Patent number: 7891818
    Abstract: A projection system that includes a singe light modulation device and a plurality of light sources of different wavelengths. Each wavelength of light is incident on the light modulation device at a spatially distinct location and a temporally distinct time. The use of a scanning mirror allows the projection system to sequentially form, in full-color, each of the columns or rows of an image. The projection system is characterized by the reduction of color separation or the rainbow effect due to the rendering of each column or row in full color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Robert R. Christensen, Bret D. Winkler, Dennis Elkins, Allen H. Tanner
  • Publication number: 20110019258
    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: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tapani Levola
  • Patent number: 7874680
    Abstract: A projector includes: a light source unit which supplies coherent light; a spatial light modulating unit which modulates the coherent light supplied from the light source unit according to an image signal; a projection optical system which projects light modulated by the spatial light modulating unit; and a light shifting unit disposed on an optical path of the projection optical system to shift light in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Susumu Aruga
  • Patent number: 7876852
    Abstract: According to the invention, a very narrow-band transfer signal (LS) is generated by serially connecting a frequency modulator (2) and an amplitude modulator (4). The frequency modulator (2) is operated at a modulation index which at least largely suppresses the carrier signal (TS) while the amplitude modulator (4) suppresses the broadband portion of the spectrum by fading out the transfer signal (LS) during frequency-shift keying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Robert Schimpe
  • Publication number: 20110007378
    Abstract: A vehicle indication system is proposed having an optical system (1), having a first indication device (2) and having a second indication device (3), wherein the optical system is intended to indicate information, which is provided by the first indication device, in an at least partially transparent or translucent form, wherein the optical system is intended to indicate information, which is provided by the second indication device, in an at least partially reflective form, wherein the optical system has a first area (6), the light transmission coefficient and light reflection coefficient of which are variable, and wherein the optical system has a second area (4), the light reflection coefficient of which is provided in a reduced form by means of a non-reflective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Kay Lackmann, Frank Schliep
  • Publication number: 20100328749
    Abstract: An optical system is disclosed that includes a housing that has an interior, a reflective interior surface, and a first opening. The optical system further includes a spatial light modulator that is disposed proximate the first opening and a light source that is disposed within the interior of the housing. The spatial light modulator modulates the light that is emitted by the light source to form image rays. The optical system further includes a first light redirecting film that is disposed proximate the first opening between the spatial light modulator and the light source. The first light redirecting film recycles at least a portion of the light that is emitted by the light source. The optical system further includes an optically absorptive film that is disposed proximate the first opening between the spatial light modulator and the viewing position. The optically absorptive film receives the image rays from the spatial light modulator and displays the received image rays to the viewing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Guido Hitschmann, Kay-Uwe Schenke
  • Publication number: 20100321615
    Abstract: An optical pulse shaper includes an optical delay line; a spatial light modulator placed at the Fourier plane of the optical delay line having a spectral amplitude spatial light modulator; a spectral phase and polarization ellipticity spatial light modulator; and a spectral polarization rotator; and a controller configured to independently control an amplitude, a phase and polarization ellipticity, and a linear polarization of an optical pulse. A method for shaping an optical pulse is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Joshua J. THORNES, Robin A. REEDER, Steven R. WILKINSON
  • Patent number: 7856155
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a light modulator using a thin plate having a thickness of 20 ?m or less and capable of stably holding a conductive film suppressing troubles such as resonance phenomenon of microwaves in a substrate and pyro-electric phenomenon and to provide a method of fabricating the light modulator. The light modulator includes: a thin plate (10) formed of a material having an electro-optic effect and having a thickness of 20 ?m or less; a light waveguide (11) formed on the front or rear surface of the thin plate; and modulation electrodes (13, 14) formed on the front surface of the thin plate to modulate light passing through the light waveguide. The light modulator further includes a reinforcing plate (16) bonded to the rear surface of the thin plate and a conductive film (17) continuously formed in the range from the side surface of the thin plate to the side surface of the reinforcing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Shinriki, Katsutoshi Kondou, Tsutomu Saitou
  • Patent number: 7854505
    Abstract: The present invention provides photonic crystal devices, device components and methods for preventing transmission of electromagnetic radiation from one or more laser sources or laser modes so as to provide an optical shield for protecting a users eyes or an optical sensor. The present invention also provides dynamic photonic crystals and devices incorporating dynamic photonic crystals for optically modulating the intensity of one or more beams of electromagnetic radiation and other optical switching applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Brian T. Cunningham, Dennis W. Dobbs
  • Publication number: 20100309541
    Abstract: A dual display is disclosed, including a first electrowetting display device and a second electrowetting display device, and a reflection transmission switching device therebetween, wherein the first electrowetting display device and the second electrowetting display device have a function of displaying images and can be switched to a transmissive mode. The invention further provides a dual display, comprising a first substrate, a second substrate opposite the first substrate, a first patterned electrode and a second patterned electrode disposed on the first substrate, a reflective layer disposed on the first patterned electrode, a first patterned hydrophobic layer over the first patterned electrode, a second patterned hydrophobic layer over the second patterned electrode, a wall defining a pixel of the dual display, a first non-polar liquid disposed on the first patterned hydrophobic layer, and a second non-polar liquid disposed on the second patterned hydrophobic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kuo-Lung Lo, Pei-Ju Su, Wei-Yuan Cheng, Jyh-Wen Shiu, Hsin-Hung Lee
  • Publication number: 20100302499
    Abstract: An image display device for optically displaying an image is disclosed. This device includes: a light source; an imaging-light generator converting light emitted from the light source, into imaging light representative of the image to be displayed to a viewer, to thereby generate the imaging light; and an exit-pupil controlling unit configured to control a position of an exit pupil of the image display device. The exit-pupil controlling unit includes: an electrically controllable element configured to diffract the imaging light incoming from the imaging-light generator, at an electrically-variable diffraction angle; and a controller configured to electrically control the diffraction angle of diffracted light emitted from the electrically controllable element, to thereby control the position of the exit pupil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsuyoshi WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20100302619
    Abstract: System and method for simultaneous display of multiple images using a single light modulator array. A preferred embodiment comprises a light source that produces a light with desired spectral characteristics, a color filter optically coupled to the light source, and an array of light modulators optically coupled to the color filter. The color filter filters light from the light source to produce light of desired wavelengths and the array of light modulators simultaneously displays multiple images onto a display plane. Portions of the array of light modulators are designed so that each portion can independently display an image and the light source provides needed light to display the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David Joseph Mehrl, James N. Malina
  • Publication number: 20100303122
    Abstract: Disclosed are resonant optical modulators, and methods of use thereof, that achieve constant photon populations in the resonator by simultaneously modulating at least two variable modulation parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Milos Popovic
  • Patent number: 7839553
    Abstract: A light source module for a scanning projection apparatus is provided. The light source module includes a plurality of point light sources and at least one light blocking unit. Each point light source is capable of providing a color light beam. The color light beams are combined into a combined light beam and the colors of the color light beams are different. The at least one light blocking unit is capable of being inserted into a transmission path of at least one of the color light beams at a fixed frequency to block a portion of the color light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Chu-Ming Cheng, Shang-Yi Wu
  • Publication number: 20100290025
    Abstract: The invention extends classical time-invariant optical design to include optical amplitude modulated light, using tools from communications theory. Effects of dispersion are derived from first principles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: David H. Parker
  • Patent number: 7830578
    Abstract: A complex micromirror or LCD array device that performs complex optical or electro-optical transforms is described. Both real and imaginary parts of a light beam are modulated in amplitude to give a spatially and temporally modulated beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Inventors: Jeremy Branson, Richard L. Garwin
  • Publication number: 20100277697
    Abstract: A system comprises two or more light sources comprising a first light source and a second light source, each light source of the two or more light sources configured to provide light of a particular wavelength, wherein a first wavelength of a first light provided by the first light source differs from a second wavelength of a second light provided by the second light source, and wherein the first light has a first radiant energy that experiences roll-off. The system further comprises a controller configured to modulate an attribute of each light source to compensate for the roll-off, the modulation comprising modulating an attribute of the first light source, and the modulation further comprising modulating an attribute of the second light source, the modulation of the second attribute being different from the modulation of the first attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Walter Marvin Duncan, Benjamin Lowell Lee
  • Publication number: 20100277779
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light modulating device, comprising a SLM and a pixelated optical element, in which a group of at least two adjacent pixels of the SLM in combination with a corresponding group of pixels in the pixelated optical element form a macropixel, the pixelated optical element being of a type such that its pixels comprise a fixed content, each macropixel being used to represent a numerical value which is manifested physically by the states of the pixels of the SLM and the content of the pixels of the pixelated optical element which form the macropixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: SeeReal Technologies S.A.
    Inventors: Gerald Futterer, Bo Kroll, Steffen Buschbeck
  • Publication number: 20100277785
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromagnetic beam converter and a method for conversion of an input beam of electromagnetic radiation having a bell shaped intensity profile a(x,y) into an output beam having a prescribed target intensity profile l(x?,y?) based on a further development of the generalized phase contrast method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET
    Inventor: Jesper Gluckstad
  • Patent number: 7826037
    Abstract: A system is used to perform fast and slow applications, for example fast application can be pulse trimming. The system includes a radiation source, an electro-optical modulator, and a beam splitter. The radiation source is configured to generate a polarized beam of radiation. The electro-optical modulator, formed of crystalline quartz, is configured to modulate the beam of radiation. The beam splitter is configured to direct a first portion of the beam to a beam dump and to form an output beam from a second portion of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Huibert Visser, Oscar Franciscus Jozephus Noordman, Henri Johannes Petrus Vink, Marcus Gerhardus Hendrikus Meijerink, Koenraad Remi André Maria Schreel, Cornelis Cornelia De Bruijn
  • Patent number: 7821698
    Abstract: A light pulse positioning apparatus with dispersion compensation includes an acousto-optical device and a dispersive element optically coupled thereto. The dispersive element is placed and oriented in relation to the acousto-optical device to spatially and temporally disperse the light pulse and thus compensate, respectively, a spatial dispersion and a temporal dispersion caused by the acousto-optical device. The acousto-optical device can include one or more acousto-optical deflectors for one-dimensional or two-dimensional laser pulse positioning. The dispersive element can be a prism placed in front of the acousto-optical device. In a two-dimensional configuration, a single prism, if properly oriented, is sufficient for dispersion compensation of both acousto-optical deflectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventors: Shaoqun Zeng, Qingming Luo, Chen Zhan, Xiaohua Lv
  • Patent number: 7817324
    Abstract: The projector has an intensity-modulable light source to emit a light beam onto a projection surface, as well as an optical switch connected after the light source for intensity modulation of the light beam emitted by the light source, and a control unit to control intensity modulation of the light source and the optical switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventor: Jan Oliver Drumm
  • Patent number: 7813022
    Abstract: A light irradiation apparatus includes a light modulation element which modulates a phase of an incident light beam to obtain a V-shaped light intensity distribution having a bottom portion of a minimum light intensity, and an image formation optical system which applies the modulated light beam from the light modulation element to an irradiation target surface in such a manner that the V-shaped light intensity distribution is provided on the irradiation target surface. The light modulation element has such a complex amplitude transmittance distribution that a secondary derivative of a phase value of a complex amplitude distribution becomes substantially zero at the bottom portion of the V-shaped light intensity distribution in an image space of the image formation optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Advanced LCD Technologies Development Center Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20100245975
    Abstract: By selectively placing color filters with different transmittance spectrums on an array of modulator elements each having the same reflectance spectrum, a resultant reflectance spectrum for each modulator element and it's respective color filter is created. In one embodiment, the modulator elements in an array are manufactured by the same process so that each modulator element has a reflectance spectrum that includes multiple reflectivity lines. Color filters corresponding to multiple colors, such as red, green, and blue, for example, may be selectively associated with these modulator elements in order to filter out a desired wavelength range for each modulator element and provide a multiple color array. Because the modulator elements are manufactured by the same process, each of the modulator elements is substantially the same and common voltage levels may be used to activate and deactivate selected modulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: William J. Cummings
  • Publication number: 20100245967
    Abstract: According to the invention, a very narrow-band transfer signal (LS) is generated by serially connecting a frequency modulator (2) and an amplitude modulator (4). The frequency modulator (2) is operated at a modulation index which at least largely suppresses the carrier signal (TS) while the amplitude modulator (4) suppresses the broadband portion of the spectrum by fading out the transfer signal (LS) during frequency-shift keying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Schimpe
  • Publication number: 20100231999
    Abstract: An optical unit for dynamically shaping a wavefront is disclosed, having light modulation cells disposed regularly in cell fields, and locally influencing partial light waves in a propagating light wavefront. Each cell field is connected to a cell controller separately adjusting the optical behavior of the light modulator cells. Serially-disposed fields, each having modulator cells, are located in the light path of the light wavefront. Cell control means adjust the modulator cells in a first cell field such that the modulator cells discretely implement a phase shift having a continuous phase value, and in a second cell field such that the modulator cells implement a prism function having a continuous directional value for the partial light waves. A focusing means for the emitted wavefront is also located in the light path of the optical unit, guiding the partial light waves at an output pupil of the optical unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: SEEREAL TECHNOLOGIES S.A.
    Inventors: Bo Kroll, Armin Schwerdtner, Gerald Futterer
  • Publication number: 20100232007
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a wavefront corrected high-energy beam of electromagnetic energy. In the illustrative embodiment, the system includes a source of a first beam of electromagnetic energy; an amplifier for amplifying said beam to provide a second beam; a sensor for sensing aberration in said second beam and providing an error signal in response thereto; a processor for processing said error signal and providing a correction signal in response thereto; and a spatial light modulator responsive to said correction signal for adjusting said beam to facilitate a correction of said aberration thereof. In more specific embodiments, the source is a laser and the sensor is a laser wavefront sensor. A mirror is disposed between said modulator and said sensor for sampling said beam. The mirror has an optical thin-film dielectric coating on at least one optical surface thereof. The coating is effective to sample said beam and transmit a low power sample thereof to said means for sensing aberration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Robert W. Byren, William B. King, David M. Filgas
  • Publication number: 20100220376
    Abstract: An optical modulator and an optical transmission system convert continuous light of a multiple wavelength light source, which generates the continuous light with a fixed and complete phase but different frequencies, to a modulator driving signal so as to generate a light subcarrier with each frequency at the center and modulate the continuous light to the light subcarrier by using the modulator driving signal. In the case where an optical modulation is carried out by an optical IQ-modulator, transmitting data, for example, is converted to two parallel data A(t) and B(t), an I phase signal, in which the data A(t)+B(t) are modulated with a clock signal with a frequency ?, and a Q phase signal, in which the data A(t)?B(t) are modulated with a clock signal with a ?/2 phase shifted, are generated, and the I phase signal and the Q phase signal are applied to electrodes of the optical IQ-modulator, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Takayuki Kobayashi, Akihide Sano, Yutaka Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20100214640
    Abstract: This optical mask is an optical mask which applies spatial intensity modulation to input light in a beam cross-section and outputs a light after being subjected to the modulation, and when regions A0 to Ap defined by circumferences with p radiuses r1 to rp (p is an even number, rp>rp?1> . . . >r2>r1, and rp?rp?1>rp?1?rp?2> . . . >r3?r2>r2?r1>r1) around a predetermined position are set in order from an inner side, a region Am (m is an even number not less than 0 and not more than p) is a light transmission region, and a region An (n is an odd number not less than 0 and not more than p) is a light shielding region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Taro Ando, Yoshiyuki Ohtake, Takashi Inoue, Naoya Matsumoto, Haruyoshi Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20100214641
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a light modulation optical system having a first element which forms a desired light intensity gradient distribution to an incident light beam and a second element which forms a desired light intensity minimum distribution with an inverse peak shape to the same, and an image formation optical system which is provided between the light modulation optical system and a substrate having a polycrystal semiconductor film or an amorphous semiconductor film, wherein the incident light beam to which the light intensity gradient distribution and the light intensity minimum distribution are formed is applied to the polycrystal semiconductor film or the amorphous semiconductor film through the image formation optical system, thereby crystallizing a non-crystal semiconductor film. The pattern of the first element is opposed to the pattern of the second element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Advanced LCD Technologies Dev.Ctr. Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yukio Taniguchi, Masakiyo Matsumura, Noritaka Akita
  • Publication number: 20100215365
    Abstract: The optical modulator comprises an optical branching unit branching incident light into a first signal light and a second signal light; a first Mach-Zehnder modulator modulating the first signal light; a second Mach-Zehnder modulator modulating the second signal light; a phase shifter giving a fixed phase shift to the phase of the output light from the second Mach-Zehnder modulator; and an optical multiplexer multiplexing the output light from the first Mach-Zehnder modulator and the output light from the phase shifter. The phase shifter gives the phase shift so that the two input lights to the optical multiplexer have a phase difference of 60 degrees, and the first and second Mach-Zehnder modulators are driven by three-level signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Fukuchi
  • Publication number: 20100208326
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing electrically tintable window glass with a variety of sizes and functionalities is described. The method comprises: (a) providing a large format glass substrate; (b) fabricating a plurality of electrically tintable thin film devices on the large format glass substrate; (c) cutting the large format glass substrate into a plurality of electrically tintable pieces, each electrically tintable piece including one of the plurality of electrically tintable thin film devices; (d) providing a plurality of window glass pieces; (e) matching each one of the plurality of electrically tintable pieces with a corresponding one of the plurality of window glass pieces; and (f) laminating each of the matched electrically tintable pieces and window glass pieces. The lamination may result in the electrically tintable device either being sandwiched between the glass substrate and the window glass piece or on the surface of the laminated pieces. The electrically tintable device is an electrochromic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Byung-Sung Leo KWAK, Dieter HAAS, Stefan BANGERT, Nety M. KRISHNA, Winfried HOFFMANN