Acousto-optic Patents (Class 359/305)
  • Patent number: 12120960
    Abstract: A piezoelectric speaker (10) includes a piezoelectric film (35), a first joining layer (51), and an interposed layer (40). The piezoelectric film (35) includes a first electrode (61), a second electrode (62), and a piezoelectric body (30) sandwiched by the first electrode (61) and the second electrode (62). The first joining layer (51) is a layer having pressure-sensitive adhesiveness or adhesiveness. The interposed layer (40) is disposed between the piezoelectric film (35) and the first joining layer (51). Both principal surfaces of the piezoelectric film (35) vibrate up and down as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Komoto, Kohei Oto, Saori Yamamoto, Ryohei Oban, Tomoaki Hishiki
  • Patent number: 12072220
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a field-deployable acoustic camera system is provided for measuring a two-dimensional velocity field in a large scale flow in a turbid environment. The system includes an acoustic camera and a concentrator lens. The concentrator lens operates to reduce a spreading angle of the acoustic camera. The system is configured to apply planar cross-correlation velocimetry to collected images of native micro-bubble and/or suspended particle motion collected in turbid environments such as lake circulation, riverine, estuarine, and coastal flows, as well as turbid flows that occur near dredging operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
    Inventors: Brian C McFall, David L Young, Duncan B Bryant, Timothy L Welp
  • Patent number: 11988941
    Abstract: A fiber coupled multi-frequency shifter includes a lens adapted to receive a laser beam; and a fiber cable to distribute the laser beam to an array of optical elements, each optical element having a surface with one or more steps formed thereon; a conductive layer formed on the surface with the steps; one or more crystals secured to each step; and electrodes positioned on each surface of each crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: IntraAction Corp.
    Inventors: Khanh Le, John Lekavich, Bao Tran
  • Patent number: 11958134
    Abstract: A laser system for creating patterns on clothing includes a laser source; a phased array acousto-optic deflector (AOD) configured to control the direction and intensity of the laser beam; a computer comprising software for reading input files containing pattern designs and controlling the AOD to direct the laser beam according to the pattern designs; a fabric preparation station for washing and preparing fabric before laser treatment; a post-laser wash station for removing debris from the fabric after laser treatment; and a clothing finishing station for applying finishing touches to the fabric. The AOD includes an optical element having a surface with one or more steps formed thereon; a conductive layer formed on the surface with the steps; one or more crystals secured to each step; and electrodes positioned on each surface of each crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: IntraAction Inc.
    Inventors: Khanh Le, John Lekavich, Bao Tran
  • Patent number: 11960156
    Abstract: A system may include a laser source, an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) coupled to the laser source, an atom trap, and at least one optical medium coupled between the AOM and the atom trap. Furthermore, at least one piezoelectric transducer may be coupled to the at least one optical medium, and a beam polarization controller may be coupled to the at least one piezoelectric transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: EAGLE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Ray Lange, Randall K. Morse, Catheryn D. Logan, Curtis R. Niemeier, Dean A. Heimmermann, Peter A. Wasilousky, Christopher A. Corey, Lee Martin Burberry
  • Patent number: 11955762
    Abstract: A laser pulse energy amplification device and method, and a femtosecond laser are provided. The laser pulse energy amplification device includes a pulse amplifier and a pulse shaper that are connected in sequence. The pulse amplifier is connected to an output port of a seed laser source and is connected to the pulse shaper that outputs a femtosecond laser pulse. The seed laser source is configured to generate and input a seed laser pulse to the pulse amplifier. The pulse amplifier is configured to introduce a nonlinear phase shift into the seed laser pulse, perform energy amplification and spectral stretching, and output an energy-amplified laser pulse with a nonlinear phase to the pulse shaper. The pulse shaper is configured to measure a shape and/or the nonlinear phase of the energy-amplified laser pulse, and shape the energy-amplified laser pulse according to the shape and/or the nonlinear phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: FEMTOSECOND RESEARCH CENTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bingwei Xu, Xin Zhu
  • Patent number: 11892344
    Abstract: A device configured for low-energy ultrasonic 2D Fourier transform analysis, comprising: (i) a first layer comprising an array of piezoelectric pixels; (ii) a second layer comprising an array of piezoelectric pixels; (iii) a third layer, positioned between the first and second layers, comprising a bulk ultrasonic transmission medium; wherein the second layer of array of piezoelectric pixels is in the Fourier plane of an input signal of the first layer array of piezoelectric pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventor: Amit Lal
  • Patent number: 11813697
    Abstract: A laser system for creating patterns on clothing includes a laser source; a phased array acousto-optic deflector (AOD) configured to control the direction and intensity of the laser beam; a computer comprising software for reading input files containing pattern designs and controlling the AOD to direct the laser beam according to the pattern designs; a fabric preparation station for washing and preparing fabric before laser treatment; a post-laser wash station for removing debris from the fabric after laser treatment; and a clothing finishing station for applying finishing touches to the fabric. The AOD includes an optical element having a surface with one or more steps formed thereon; a conductive layer formed on the surface with the steps; one or more crystals secured to each step; and electrodes positioned on each surface of each crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: IntraAction Corp
    Inventors: Khanh Le, John Lekavich, Bao Tran
  • Patent number: 11769855
    Abstract: Provided is a micro light emitting device and a display apparatus having the micro light emitting device. The micro light emitting device includes a first-type semiconductor layer provided on a substrate, a superlattice layer provided on the first-type semiconductor layer, a current blocking layer provided on a side portion of the superlattice layer, an active layer provided on the superlattice layer and the current blocking layer, and a second-type semiconductor layer provided on the active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyungwook Hwang, Junsik Hwang, Seogwoo Hong
  • Patent number: 11757532
    Abstract: A telecom system is disclosed with a laser controlled by an acousto-optic deflector including an optical element having a surface with one or more steps formed thereon; a conductive layer formed on the surface with the steps; one or more crystals secured to each step; and electrodes positioned on each surface of each crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: IntraAction Corp.
    Inventors: Khanh Le, John Lekavich, Bao Tran
  • Patent number: 11726233
    Abstract: An optical sensor system, comprising refractory plasmonic elements that can withstand temperatures exceeding 2500° C. in chemically aggressive and harsh environments that impose stress, strain and vibrations. A plasmonic metamaterial or metasurface, engineered to have a specific spectral and angular response, exhibits optical reflection characteristics that are altered by varying physical environmental conditions including but not limited to temperature, surface chemistry or elastic stress, strain and other types of mechanical load. The metamaterial or metasurface comprises a set of ultra-thin structured layers with a total thickness of less than tens of microns that can be deployed onto surfaces of devices operating in harsh environmental conditions. The top interface of the metamaterial or metasurface is illuminated with a light source, either through free space or via an optical fiber, and the reflected signal is detected employing remote detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Urcan Guler, Alexander V. Kildishev, Krishnakali Chaudhury, Shaimaa Ibrahim Azzam, Esteban E. Marinero-Caceres, Harsha Reddy, Alexandra Boltasseva, Vladimir M. Shalaev
  • Patent number: 11491737
    Abstract: An optical element includes an optical material including a first edge and an opposing second edge. The optical element further includes a plurality of micro-channels arranged within the optical material. Each of the micro-channels of the plurality of micro-channels extends from the first edge to the second edge of the optical material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph M. Wahl, Richard Gentilman
  • Patent number: 11462478
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first substrate; a dielectric layer disposed over the first substrate and a conductive layer disposed in the dielectric layer; a second substrate bonded to the dielectric layer, wherein the second substrate has a first surface facing the first substrate and a second surface opposite to the first substrate; a connecting structure penetrating the second substrate and a portion of the dielectric layer and electrically coupled to the conductive layer; a vent hole penetrating the second substrate from the second surface to the first surface; a first buffer layer between the connecting structure and the dielectric layer and between the connecting structure and the second substrate; and a second buffer layer covering sidewalls of the vent hole and exposed through the first surface of the second substrate. The first buffer layer and the second buffer layer include a same material and a same thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Ching-Kai Shen, Yi-Chuan Teng, Wei-Chu Lin, Hung-Wei Liang, Jung-Kuo Tu
  • Patent number: 11296785
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for fiber optic line continuity detection. The apparatus comprises an optical input connectable to a first optical fiber of a fiber optic line, an optical output connectable to a second optical fiber of the fiber optic line an optical interface unit configured to transmit and receive optical signals; and an optical switch having a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration the optical switch is configured to pass optical signals received at the optical input to the optical interface unit and to pass optical signals received from the optical interface unit to the optical output. Whereas, in the second configuration the optical switch is configured to pass optical signals received at the optical input to the optical output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Roberto Magri, Alberto Deho
  • Patent number: 11281069
    Abstract: A beam positioner includes a first acousto-optic (AO) deflector (AOD) comprising an AO cell and a transducer attached to the AO cell, and a wave plate optically contacted to the first AOD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James Brookhyser, Kurt Eaton
  • Patent number: 11146241
    Abstract: Acoustic wave devices are disclosed. The devices include a substrate, a bi-layer reflector and an acoustic wave resonator. The bi-electric reflector is above the substrate and includes a first layer that has a first acoustic impedance, and a second layer that has a second acoustic impedance lower than the first acoustic impedance. The first layer has a first surface that includes a floating region that provides a ceiling of a cavity. The second layer is on top of the floating region of the first layer. The acoustic wave resonator is on top of the second layer of the bi-layer reflector. The acoustic wave resonator includes a piezoelectric layer, an electrode and a counter-electrode such that application of a radio frequency voltage between the electrode and the counter-electrode creates acoustic resonance waves in the piezoelectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
    Inventors: Tuomas Pensala, Tapani Makkonen
  • Patent number: 10996540
    Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to developing an acousto-optic device (AOD) using an alpha-barium borate (?BBO) crystal. An AOD using ?BBO enables high-resolution microlithographic patterning. The AOD includes a slab of ?BBO coupled to an RF transducer that drives an acoustic wave through the crystal structure. A laser source emits a beam of light that is incident on the crystal surface. The propagated acoustic wave acts as a diffraction grating that diffracts the incident wave. Using an ?BBO crystal allows for high resolution of light in the ultraviolet and visible spectra. The low speed of acoustic wave propagation through the crystal allows for more laser spots to be imaged than AODs made using other types of crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Mycronic AB
    Inventor: Nur Ismail
  • Patent number: 10908477
    Abstract: Methods and systems of altering optical reflection via dynamic control of an ultrasonic/acoustic guided wave field in an acousto-optical wave conductor are described. Ultrasonic/acoustic waves transmitted by an acousto-optical wave conductor are used to modify the ability of the acousto-optical wave conductor to propagate light waves via the acousto-optical wave conductor when a light beam impinges onto one surface of the acousto-optical wave conductor. A one-way optical device may be produced by using a dynamic tuning approach to modify the sound field via mode and frequency choice (and possibly beam focusing and steering as well) in order to produce special light reflection and transmission effects. Oscillations in stress (and mass density) along the acousto-optical wave conductor and possibly across the thickness of the acousto-optical wave conductor may serve as a special acousto-optic Bragg diffraction grating that alters the nonspecular reflection of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Joseph L. Rose, Akhlesh Lakhtakia
  • Patent number: 10418775
    Abstract: The invention relates to an external cavity tunable laser with dual beam outputs. The first laser cavity of the tunable laser comprises a first laser cavity mirror, a laser gain medium, an intracavity collimating lens, an active optical phase modulator, a tunable acousto-optic filter, a tunable Fabry-Perot tunable filter, a second reflection mirror all disposed inside a laser cavity sequentially, and a laser driver and control system. The laser cavity beam reflected by the first laser cavity mirror enters the tunable acousto-optic filter to generate a zeroth order diffracted beam as the first laser output beam. The laser cavity beam reflected by the second laser cavity mirror enters the tunable acousto-optic filter to generate a zeroth order diffracted beam as the second laser output beam. The tunable laser further comprises a wavelength locker outside the laser cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: GP PHOTONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Peiliang Gao
  • Patent number: 10401704
    Abstract: A wavefront of a light beam that exits an acousto-optic material is estimated; a control signal for an acousto-optic system that includes the acousto-optic material is generated, the control signal being based on the estimated wavefront of the light beam; and the control signal is applied to the acousto-optic system to generate a frequency-chirped acoustic wave that propagates in the acousto-optic material, the frequency-chirped acoustic wave forming a transient diffractive element in the acousto-optic material, an interaction between the transient diffractive element and the light beam adjusting the wavefront of the light beam to compensate for a distortion of the wavefront of the light beam, the distortion of the wavefront being at least partially caused by a physical effect in the acousto-optic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Robert Jay Rafac
  • Patent number: 10386696
    Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination apparatus (100), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one laser light source (10) for producing excitation light, at least one wavelength conversion element (20), which is designed to receive excitation light from the at least one laser light source (10) in the form of an excitation-light light bundle, at least one optical imaging element (30a, 30b, 30c; 31; 32), which images light, which is emitted in the visible wavelength range by the wavelength conversion element (20), in the form of at least one light distribution or one partial light distribution (LVa, LVb, LVc, LVd, LVe), and at least one beam-deflecting device in the beam path between the at least one laser light source (10) and the at least one wavelength conversion element (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: ZKW GROUP GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Reinprecht, Michael Riesenhuber
  • Patent number: 10288546
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present teachings provide a system for performing cytometry that can be operated in three operational modes. In one operational mode, a fluorescence image of a sample is obtained by exciting one or more fluorophore(s) present in the sample by an excitation beam formed as a superposition of a top-hat-shaped beam with a plurality of beams that are radiofrequency shifted relative to one another. In another operational mode, a sample can be illuminated successively over a time interval by a laser beam at a plurality of excitation frequencies in a scanning fashion. The fluorescence emission from the sample can be detected and analyzed, e.g., to generate a fluorescence image of the sample. In yet another operational mode, the system can be operated to illuminate a plurality of locations of a sample concurrently by a single excitation frequency, which can be generated, e.g., by shifting the central frequency of a laser beam by a radiofrequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: OMEGA BIOSYSTEMS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Eric D. Diebold, Keegan Owsley, Jonathan Lin
  • Patent number: 10288701
    Abstract: Provided is an optically pumped atomic magnetometer that can separate and acquire magnetic information of spatially different places at the same time by one probe beam. The optically pumped atomic magnetometer includes a cell containing alkali metal atoms, a pump beam optical system introducing pump beams including circularly polarized light component to different locations of the cell, a probe beam optical system introducing a probe beam including linearly polarized light component to the cell, a detection unit detecting a signal reflecting a rotation angle of a plane of polarization of the probe beam after intersecting with the pump beams, and an information acquisition unit acquiring information related to a magnetic field intensity of each of the different locations from the detected signal. The pump beam optical system includes a modulation unit modulating the pump beams so that one of frequencies and phases of the pump beams is different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuo Kobayashi, Yosuke Ito, Sunao Ichihara, Natsuhiko Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10181838
    Abstract: An elastic wave apparatus includes a piezoelectric substrate including a main surface and a polarization axis direction having a tilt angle with respect to the main surface, an IDT electrode provided on the main surface, and at least one line on the main surface and between an end edge of the main surface and the IDT electrode. A relationship a?316|cos(?)|?m is satisfied where a denotes a distance from the end edge of the main surface to the IDT electrode and b?28 ?m where a dimension of the line along a direction connecting the end edge to the IDT electrode is defined as a width, b denotes the width of the line when one line is provided, and b denotes the sum of the widths of multiple lines when the multiple lines are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Ajima
  • Patent number: 10148251
    Abstract: An elastic wave apparatus includes a piezoelectric substrate including a main surface and a polarization axis direction having a tilt angle with respect to the main surface, an IDT electrode provided on the main surface, and at least one line on the main surface and between an end edge of the main surface and the IDT electrode. A relationship a?316|cos(?)|?m is satisfied where a denotes a distance from the end edge of the main surface to the IDT electrode and b?28 ?m where a dimension of the line along a direction connecting the end edge to the IDT electrode is defined as a width, b denotes the width of the line when one line is provided, and b denotes the sum of the widths of multiple lines when the multiple lines are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Daisuke Ajima
  • Patent number: 9971568
    Abstract: An optical system uses a birefringent medium disposed within an optical cavity, receives an input beam that may be non-coherent or coherent, and produces a randomization energy from the input beam, by creating birefringent induced beam subdivisions each cavity traversal, where after a threshold number of beam traversals have occurred, a randomized energy distribution is created. That randomized energy distribution is read by a photodetector and converted into a random number by a randomization processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Carol Y. Scarlett
  • Patent number: 9891499
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an acousto-optic modulator includes an acousto-optic medium and a piezoelectric transducer. The acousto-optic medium has a configuration of a hexahedron. The acousto-optic medium has surfaces D, E, F, G and H. The piezoelectric transducer is provided on a surface C of the acousto-optic medium. The surface D opposes the surface C and has respective four sides shared by the surfaces E, F, G and H. Four angles defined between the surface D and the surfaces E, F G and H each is other than 90°. At least one of eight angles defined between each pair of the surfaces C, E, F, G and H is other than 90°. The each pair has one shared side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakamura, Hayato Goto, Mamiko Kujiraoka, Kouichi Ichimura
  • Patent number: 9857583
    Abstract: Aspects herein describe an optical delay controller which introduces a desired delay into an optical signal. To do so, the optical delay controller includes multiple reflective surfaces (e.g., mirrors) that establish a closed loop on which an input signal propagates. The optical delay controller includes an output interface that outputs a delayed version of the input optical signal where the delay corresponds to the circumference of the closed loop. For example, the optical delay loop may use a Brewster window as the output interface which permits the optical signal propagating in the closed loop to exit the loop. Moreover, the optical delay loop may include one or more actuators that move the reflective surfaces forming the closed loop relative to each other. Changing the distance between two mirrors changes the delay introduced by the optical delay loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Morteza Safai, Gary E. Georgeson
  • Patent number: 9810391
    Abstract: A bending light device for a vehicle diffracting light emitted from a light source and deflecting the light at a desired angle and in a desired direction may include an ultrasonic light deflector configured to diffract light incident thereon in a selected direction by emitting an ultrasonic beam to the incident light, a light reflection unit configured to reflect light emitted from a light source to the ultrasonic light deflector, a projection lens configured to project light incident thereon after passing through the ultrasonic light deflector to radiate the light outside, and a converging lens arranged between the ultrasonic light deflector and the projection lens and configured to converge the light having passed through the ultrasonic light deflector on the projection lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kwang Min Ko
  • Patent number: 9724782
    Abstract: Laser systems and methods insert a settling time before and after each tooling action. A peak AOD excursion generally occurs at the transition in velocity between inter-feature moves and tooling moves. This transition occurs both before tooling (on the approach to the tooling location) and after tooling (on the departure from the completed tooling location to the next location). By adding a settling delay on each end of the tooling period, the AOD excursion is allowed to settle to a lower value. This then allows higher inter-tooling velocities (for high throughput) while keeping the AOD travel excursion within the bounds of the system's AOD configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Unrath
  • Patent number: 9645116
    Abstract: An object characteristics measurement apparatus of the invention includes a surface acoustic wave device. The surface acoustic wave device includes: an interdigitated electrode that is formed on a first surface on a piezoelectric substrate, excites an elastic wave, and receives reflection based on the elastic wave; a reflector that has a third surface and a fourth surface between the interdigitated electrode and a second surface orthogonal to the first surface in a propagation direction of the elastic wave; a reaction field that is formed between the interdigitated electrode and the reflector, in which the measured object is to be loaded; and a propagator that is formed between the reflector and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: JAPAN RADIO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Yoshimura, Hiromi Yatsuda
  • Patent number: 9448100
    Abstract: Provided is a signal processing apparatus including: a transducer that performs scanning through the interior of an object and acquires received waveform data of a plurality of scanlines; an intensity screening unit that outputs a high intensity position at which signal intensity calculated from the received waveform data is higher than a first predetermined value; a correlation calculation unit that calculates a correlation value in a constant-width division for received waveform data of a first scanline and of a second scanline having a predetermined correlation with the first scanline; a position extraction unit that extracts, as a candidate position of a singular region, a position which corresponds to a high intensity position and for which the correlation value is lower than a second predetermined value; and an image processor that performs signal processing of generating image data of the object on the basis of the received waveform data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Nagae, Hirofumi Taki, Toru Sato
  • Patent number: 9400404
    Abstract: An acousto-optical filter element (114) is provided which has an acousto-optical crystal (118) having an acoustic signal transmitter (120) for generating acoustic signals in the acousto-optical crystal (118). The acousto-optical crystal (118) is designed to selectively spatially deflect light of a target wavelength from an input light beam (116) entering into the acousto-optical crystal (118), as a function of a high frequency applied to the acoustic signal transmitter (120), and to thereby produce a target light beam (126) having the target wavelength. In addition, the acousto-optical filter element (114) includes a spatial filter element (132) which is located in the target light beam (126) and is designed to selectively suppress the intensity of the target light beam (126) in a plane perpendicular to the propagation direction of the target light beam (126).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Hilmar Gugel, Volker Seyfried
  • Patent number: 9299733
    Abstract: An image sensor is formed by a pixel array including a plurality of pixels. Certain ones of the pixels include, above their active areas, a first optical grating formed of periodically spaced apart parallel strips separated from the active area by a first insulator. Those pixels further include, in another metal level, a second optical grating formed of periodically spaced apart parallel strips separated from the first grating by a second insulator. The second optical grating is laterally shifted with respect to the first grating in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the parallel strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventor: Flavien Hirigoyen
  • Patent number: 9130130
    Abstract: A light emitting device containing a semiconductor light emitting component and a phosphor, the phosphor is capable of absorbing a part of light emitted by the light emitting component and emitting light of a wavelength different from that of the absorbed light, is provided. A straight line connecting a point of chromaticity corresponding to a spectrum generated by the light emitting component and a point of chromaticity corresponding to a spectrum generated by the phosphor is substantially along a black body radiation locus in a chromaticity diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: NICHIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Shimizu, Kensho Sakano, Yasunobu Noguchi, Toshio Moriguchi
  • Patent number: 9104087
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for manipulating electromagnetic radiation such as laser beams. A method and apparatus for correcting magnification chromatic aberration utilizes one or more dispersive lenses such that long wavelength components are magnified less than short wavelength components. A telecentric relay is preferred to achieve this aim. Further, the use of polarizers to block the undesired zeroth order components of diffraction emanating from acousto-optic deflectors (AODs) is disclosed. Furthermore, specific designs of AOD including narrow transducer AODs which produce a diverging acoustic wave and AODs having two transducers and a selection switch are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: UCL Business PLC
    Inventors: Paul Anthony Kirkby, K. M. naga Srinivas Nadella, Robin Angus Silver
  • Patent number: 9074936
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed, and include: (a) separating an input electromagnetic waveform into a plurality of intermediate waveforms, each of the intermediate waveforms being spatially separated from one another; (b) dispersing frequency components of each intermediate waveform onto different regions of a spatial light modulator and modulating at least some of the dispersed frequency components with the spatial light modulator; and (c) recombining the dispersed frequency components for each of the intermediate waveforms to produce a plurality of temporally shaped output waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Keith A. Nelson, Kenan Gundogdu, Katherine W. Stone, Daniel B. Turner
  • Patent number: 9069228
    Abstract: An acousto-optic device having a wide range of diffraction angle and an optical scanner, a light modulator, and a display apparatus using the acousto-optic device are provided. The acousto-optic device includes a core layer having a periodic photonic crystal structure in which unit cells of predetermined patterns are repeated, a first clad layer on a first surface of the core layer, the first clad layer having a refractive index that is different from a refractive index of the core layer, a second clad layer on a second surface of the core layer, the second surface being opposite the first surface, the second clad layer having a refractive index that is different from the refractive index of the core layer, and a sound wave generator configured to apply surface acoustic waves (SAW) to the core layer, the first clad layer, the second clad layer, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-hoon Han, Wan-joo Maeng
  • Patent number: 8997572
    Abstract: A probe for use with an imaging system, including a scanning device configured to receive a first light beam from a light source, a beam-divider configured to split the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams, and a focusing device configured to focus each of the second light beams on respective locations in an object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventors: Lihong Wang, Liang Song, Konstantin Maslov, Bin Rao
  • Patent number: 8917442
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides various systems and methods for focusing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) within a diffusion medium, such as a turbid medium. A diffusion medium is irradiated with EMR. The EMR may be modulated by an acoustical wave focused on a focus volume within the diffusion medium. The EMR may be modulated by a beat frequency or other function of multiple focused acoustical waves. The EMR may be modulated at a harmonic of a fundamental frequency of one or more acoustical waves. A filter may filter the emerging EMR to remove all but specifically modulated EMR scattered from the focus volume. The modulated EMR may be focused and/or used for various purposes, including imaging. In some embodiments, the modulated EMR may be reflected and/or amplified by a phase conjugating mirror. Furthermore, in some embodiments, acoustical phase conjugation may be used to focus an acoustical wave on a focus volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Baym, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8908725
    Abstract: The invention relates to an external cavity tunable laser. The laser comprises an extracavity collimating lens arranged outside a laser cavity, and a laser output mirror, a laser gain medium, an intracavity collimating lens, an active optical phase modulator and a tunable optical filter all arranged sequentially inside the laser cavity. The laser further comprises an active polarization rotator arranged behind the tunable optical filter, a polarization beam splitter arranged behind the active polarization rotator, a first etalon and a first total reflection mirror arranged in the direction vertical to the optic axis of a laser cavity output lens, a second etalon and a second total reflection mirror arranged in the direction of the optic axis of the laser cavity output lens, and a laser drive and control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: Peiliang Gao
  • Patent number: 8896909
    Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to improved acousto-optic deflectors (AODs). In particular, it relates to compensation for subtle effects not previously addressed by AOD designers. A shifting center of gravity is described and addressed using advanced power equalisation strategies. Denser writing brushes are provided by using a two-dimensional array of beams with corrections for factors such as angle of incidence at the AOD interface. The compensation and dense brush features can be used separately or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Micronic AB
    Inventors: Torbjörn Sandström, Hans Martinsson
  • Patent number: 8891157
    Abstract: The technology described applies an extended frequency range of over one octave to drive an acousto-optic deflector, thereby defying a design rule of thumb that limited bandwidth to just under one octave. A combination of extended frequency range and well-timed beam blanking reduces the proportion of a so-called chirp signal that is consumed by beam blanking. This increases the working, effective portion of the sweep signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Micronic AB
    Inventor: Torbjorn Sandstrom
  • Patent number: 8873131
    Abstract: An acousto-optic device includes an acousto-optic medium having a multi-layer nanostructure; and a sonic wave generator configured to apply sonic waves to the acousto-optic medium having the multi-layer nanostructure. The acousto-optic medium having the multi-layer nanostructure includes a second layer formed of at least two materials that have different dielectric constants and alternate with each other; and a first layer disposed on a first surface of the second layer and formed of a first material, and/or a third layer disposed on a second surface of the second layer and formed of a fourth material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-hoon Han, Wan-joo Maeng, Sang-yoon Lee, Hong-seok Lee
  • Publication number: 20140313569
    Abstract: An illumination device for illuminating a target to be combated includes a laser light source for emitting light along a beam path, a first modulator in the beam path and configured to manipulate a direction of the beam path in a first plane, a phase plate in the beam path having a variety of different optical thicknesses, and a control device connected to the light source and the first modulator and is configured to activate the first modulator using different frequencies, so that the beam path is deflected over a control period of time up to a first angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: MBDA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf PROTZ
  • Patent number: 8848277
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting the seed laser in a laser produced plasma (LPP) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light system are disclosed in one embodiment, a Bragg AOM is used as a switch on the beam path from the seed laser to other optical components and ultimately to an irradiation site. Power is applied to the Bragg AOM and pulses from the seed laser are thus deflected onto the desired beam path rather than passing straight through the Bragg AOM. Once the pulses have passed through the Bragg AOM, power to the Bragg AOM ceases, so that any reflections from the irradiation site will pass straight through the Bragg AOM and will not be deflected back to the seed laser. Use of the Bragg AOM rather than components previously used results in lower power consumption and better protection for the seed laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Richard L. Sandstrom, Jonathan D. Grava
  • Patent number: 8831050
    Abstract: A tunable laser, including: a laser resonant cavity; a laser gain medium; an intra-cavity collimating lens; an acousto-optic tunable filter; a device exciting sound waves in an acousto-optic crystal; a radio frequency signal source providing radio frequency energy for the energy transducer and adjusting the oscillation wavelength of the laser resonant cavity by changing radio signal frequency; an optical phase modulator disposed between the intra-cavity collimating lens and the acousto-optic crystal; an optical etalon disposed between the optical phase modulator and the laser gain medium; a wavelength locker disposed at one of zero-order diffraction optical paths of intra-cavity light; a pigtailed collimator coupling laser output light to an optical fiber; a pumping source exciting the laser gain medium; a phase modulator driver for driving the optical phase modulator; and a signal control processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: GP Photonics, Inc.
    Inventor: Peiliang Gao
  • Publication number: 20140240812
    Abstract: Provided is an acousto-optic device including an elastic medium; a meta structure formed on a first surface of the elastic medium, and an elastic-wave generating unit which generates an elastic wave in the elastic medium. The meta structure includes a first layer and a second layer that is formed on the first layer. The at least one of the first layer and the second layer includes a predetermined repetitive pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicants: AJOU UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY COOPERATION FOUNDATION, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung-hoon HAN, Wan-joo MAENG, Won-taek SEO, Hoon SONG, Hae-kwan OH, Kee-keun LEE
  • Patent number: 8810886
    Abstract: A display system includes a coherent light source that can emit a coherent light beam, a de-speckling device configured to distort a wavefront of the coherent light beam to produce a distorted coherent light beam, and a two-dimensional array of light modulators that can selectively modulate the distorted coherent light beam to select a plurality of pixels for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Spatial Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vlad Novotny, Gabriel Matus, Michel Combes
  • Publication number: 20140204454
    Abstract: A first acousto-optic deflector receives a laser beam. The first acousto-optic deflector diffracts the received laser beam along a first axis. A second acousto-optic deflector receives the diffracted laser beam. The second acousto-optic deflector diffracts the received diffracted laser beam along a second axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Yonggang Li, Islam A. Salama, Chong Zhang