By Partial Reflection At Beam Splitting Or Combining Surface Patents (Class 359/629)
  • Patent number: 7652824
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method and/or system for generating a dynamic image based, at least in part, on attributes associated with one or more individuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfredo Ayala, David Desmarais, Holger Irmler, Michael Ilardi
  • Publication number: 20100007964
    Abstract: A light integrating device for an illumination system and an illumination system. The illumination system includes a first light source module and a second light source module providing a first light and a second light, respectively. The device includes first and second light collecting elements and a beam splitting element. The first light travels into the first light collecting element and is split into a plurality of light groups by the beam splitting element. At least one light group travels into the second light collecting element from the beam splitting element. The second light travels into the second light collecting element, is reflected by the beam splitting element and emits out from the second light collecting element along the principle axis of the light integrating device together with the at least one light group which is split from the first light and travels into the second light collecting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: June-Jei HUANG
  • Patent number: 7643214
    Abstract: There is provided an optical device, having a light transmitting substrate (20) including at least two major surfaces parallel to each other and edges; optical means (16) for coupling light into the substrate by internal reflection and at least one reflecting, surface (22) located in the substrate which is non-parallel to the major surfaces of the substrate (20) characterized in that the optical means (16) for coupling light into the substrate is a partially reflecting surface, wherein part of the light coupled into the substrate (20) passes through the partially reflecting surface (16) out of the substrate and part of the light is reflected into the substrate (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Lumus Ltd.
    Inventor: Yaakov Amitai
  • Publication number: 20090323027
    Abstract: A light source device includes: a light source section adapted to emit a light beam; a first optical element provided with a first entrance surface to which the light beam emitted from the light source section is input, and adapted to transmit the light beam; and a second optical element provided with a second entrance surface to which the light beam transmitted through the first optical element is input, and adapted to transmit the light beam, wherein the first entrance surface is tilted towards a direction rotated around a primary axis with respect to a principal ray of the light beam input to the first entrance surface, and the second entrance surface is tilted towards a direction rotated around a secondary axis substantially perpendicular to the primary axis with respect to the principal ray of the light beam input to the second entrance surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke UCHIKAWA
  • Patent number: 7639427
    Abstract: A light collecting device adapted for a projection apparatus is provided. The light collecting device at least comprises a light collecting rod that has a body, a longitudinal direction, an incident end, and an emergent end. The incident end comprises an incident surface and a reflecting surface, in which the incident surface is adjacent to the reflecting surface to form an included angle therebetween. The emergent end is opposite to the incident end. Thus, a first light beam passes through the incident surface of the incident end and travels along the body of the light collecting rod towards the emergent end along the longitudinal direction when a second light beam enters into the body of the light collecting rod. The second light beam is reflected by the reflecting surface of the incident end towards the emergent end along the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Junejei Huang
  • Patent number: 7636200
    Abstract: To provide a projector capable of increasing F number of an illumination system without enlarging the size of the illumination system or the like. A combining lens 43a operating in cooperation with a superimposing lens 35 is provided only in a first section between a first dichroic mirror 41a and a red light reflection mirror 42a as a bending mirror on a first optical path OP1 extending from the superimposing lens 35 to a first liquid crystal display panel 61r. Thus, the F number of an illumination system 30 associated with blue light can be controlled with high degree of freedom, and the number of lenses constituting a color separation and light guide system 40 and the illumination system 30 does not increase. Moreover, the incident angle of illumination light does not become large around the first liquid crystal display panel 61r, and thus the telecentric characteristics of the illumination system 30 associated with blue light can be secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Ishibashi, Kazuhiro Nishida
  • Patent number: 7636198
    Abstract: A three dimensional viewing assembly includes a first display, a second display, and a beamsplitter. The first display is for displaying a first image. The second display is for displaying a second image. The beamsplitter is disposed at least partially between the first display and the second display, and is configured to receive, and to optically overlay, the first and second images. The beamsplitter comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a mirror. The first surface at least partially faces the first display, and the second surface at least partially faces the second display. The mirror is disposed between the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Brent D. Larson
  • Patent number: 7631972
    Abstract: A wavelength-selective polarization conversion element is disclosed which has a polarization conversion function that has been obtained by a polarization conversion element and a wavelength-selective phase plate in the past. The element includes a polarization beam splitting film and a phase plate. The film splits light and has a characteristic in which the transmittance for light with a first polarization direction and the transmittance for light with a second polarization direction are changed between a value higher than 50% and a value lower than 50% depending on wavelength region. The phase plate changes the polarization direction of light transmitted or reflected by the film between the first and second polarization directions. The element converts light in two of the first to third wavelength regions into polarized light with one polarization direction and converts light in the other wavelength region into polarized light with another polarization direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Reona Ushigome, Yu Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 7630136
    Abstract: An optical integrator having a first surface and a second surface that is used in a lithographic apparatus to modify light. The first surface is reflective, defines a volume, and is configured to be disposed in an optical illumination system along an optical axis, to surround the optical axis, and to reflect a light along a path incident upon the first surface. The second surface is disposed in the volume and has a first section of the second surface that is semi-reflective and is configured to reflect a first portion of a light along a path incident upon the first section of the second surface and to transmit a second portion of the light along the path incident upon the first section of the second surface. The second surface increases the number of reflections of the light to increase the uniformity of the intensity distribution of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Lev Ryzhikov, Abel Joobeur, Yevgeniy Konstantinovich Shmarev
  • Publication number: 20090290079
    Abstract: A multiple depth display provided for displaying images at different depths comprises a single display device (61), for displaying all of the images. An optical system (62, 63, 64) is disposed in front of the display device (61). The optical system comprises first and second spaced-apart partial reflectors (62, 63) and polarization optics (64) for providing first and second light paths for first and second images or sequences of images displayed by the device (61). The first light path (65) comprises partial transmission through the first reflector (62), partial reflection from the second reflector (63), partial reflection from the first reflector (62), and partial transmission through the second reflector (65) towards a viewing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Allan Evans, Alistair Curd, Thomas Wynne-Powell, Adrian Jacobs, Nathan Smith, Emma Walton, Gregory Gay
  • Patent number: 7623788
    Abstract: An optical transmitter for coupling and wavelength-multiplexing optical signals with a different wavelength has 3 or more light sources for emitting parallel optical signals with a different wavelength, and 2 kinds of optical components with a different optical signal reflectance arranged in an optical path of each light source for coupling into one the optical signals emitted from the light sources respectively. The reflectance or transmittance of each of the 2 kinds of optical components is set so that each optical signal has the same optical signal power when reflected off or transmitted through the optical components for being coupled together and output from the optical transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuta Takahashi, Koji Kumagai, Akihiro Hiruta
  • Publication number: 20090280559
    Abstract: A fluorescence microscopy sequencer comprises a fluid transport subsystem in which reagents are pumped through a series of multi-port valves to a mixer or one or more flow cells, or directly into the flow cell(s). The one or more multi-port valves can be mounted upon a fluids manifold having syringe tubes mounted on the opposite side. Mounted on a movable support, the manifold may be brought into and out of fluid communication with a storage block comprising the plurality of reagents. In another embodiment, the sequencer comprises a beamsplitter indexer that facilitates the quick and reliable switching of filter cubes through use of a stepper motor. In yet another embodiment, a motion control system is provided in which an inertial reference is interposed between and directly coupled to a first and second axis of control, thereby minimizing any low structural resonant frequencies and enabling high performance (high frequency response) motion control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: KOLLMORGEN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kevin McCarthy
  • Patent number: 7616380
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an optical part having an anti-reflecting membrane which is low in resistance and high in adhesion and is sharply improved in light transmittance by reducing reflectance of light, and a display apparatus using the same. According to the present invention, there are provided an optical part which transmits or partially reflects light, wherein a light receiving face or a light outgoing face has an anti-reflecting membrane which comprises inorganic oxide particles and a binder, has a thickness of 60-190 nm, and has pores of 5-200 nm in size, and a display device using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasaki, Makiko Sugibayashi, Sadayuki Nishimura, Kiyomi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7616381
    Abstract: An optical system, adapted for providing an image beam, including a light source, a beam splitting/combining device, and a light valve is provided. The light source provides an illumination beam. The beam splitting/combining device includes a first polarizing beam splitter (PBS), a second PBS, a quarter wave plate (QWP), and a reflector. The first PBS reflects a first illumination beam of the illumination beam from the light source and the second illumination beam from the light source passes through the first PBS. The second illumination beam from the first PBS passes through the second PBS and the QWP, reflected by the reflector, passes through the QWP, and reflected by the second PBS. The light valve converts the first illumination beam from the first PBS and the second illumination beam reflected by the second PBS into the image beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Himax Display Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Shen, Chia-Yu Hu, Chun-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 7616382
    Abstract: The image observation apparatus includes a first image-forming element and a second image-forming element each of which forms an original image, and an optical system configured to introduce light fluxes from the first and second image-forming elements to an exit pupil position of the optical system where an eye of an observer is placed. The optical system includes an optical surface as a single surface that reflects the light flux from the first image-forming element and transmits the light flux from the second image-forming element. The first image-forming element and the second image-forming element respectively form a first original image and a second original image that correspond to different viewing fields from the exit pupil position. The apparatus combines plural original images to enable observation of one combined image and that can suppress generation of light scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Inoguchi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Kenichi Saito, Motomi Tsuyuki, Masakazu Tohara
  • Patent number: 7612822
    Abstract: A multispectral image capturing apparatus has different spectral sensitivity characteristics of at least four bands. Three primary bands of the at least four bands have spectral sensitivity characteristics of standard RGB. At least one auxiliary band of the rest of the at least four bands excluding the three primary bands has a spectral sensitivity characteristic of a narrower bandwidth than bandwidths of the RGB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takeyuki Ajito, Toru Wada, Yasuhiro Komiya
  • Patent number: 7613373
    Abstract: An optical relay system (200) includes a scanned light source (206) and a substrate guided relay (204). The substrate guided relay (204) includes an input coupler (201), an output coupler (203), and an optical substrate (202) disposed therebetween. A light homogenizing relay device (208) is disposed between the scanned light source (206) and the substrate guided relay (204). The light homogenizing relay device (208) is configured to receive a light beam (207) from the scanned light source (206). The light homogenizing relay device (208) makes at least one copy (209) of the light beam (207), and delivers the light beam (207) and the at least one copy (209) to a light receiving surface (210) of the input coupler (201), thereby effectively creating a larger input beam while retaining the angular spread of the initial light beam (207).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Dean DeJong
  • Patent number: 7605981
    Abstract: A display unit which displays a plurality of objects viewed as being located at different depthwise positions by the viewer so as to exhibit an image with depthwise feeling, includes: a single display portion including a far-distant display zone and a near-distant display zone, a polarized beam splitting element in front of the near-distant display zone, a polarized beam changing element in front of the far-distant display zone, and a total reflection mirror for reflecting an image beam emitted from the far-distant display zone, onto the polarized beam splitting element. An image beam emitted from the far-distant display zone is transmitted through the polarized beam changing element, then is reflected at the total reflection mirror, and thereafter is reflected by the polarized beam splitting element before it is viewed by the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Displays, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Adachi, Osamu Itou, Shinichi Komura
  • Patent number: 7605979
    Abstract: A device for directing radiation to a layer (1) is described. The device includes a first optical element (L1) for focusing a first radiation beam (B1) originating from a first radiation source (S1) onto said layer, a second optical element (L2) for focusing a second radiation beam (B2) originating from a second radiation source (S2) onto said layer. The wavelengths of the radiation from said first and said second radiation source are different from each other. The first and second optical element are jointly movable with respect to said radiation sources, wherein the focal points of the two radiation beams at least substantially coincide with various movements of the first optical element and the second optical element with respect to the radiation sources. The second optical element (L2) has an aperture (A2) which allows optically undisturbed passage of the first radiation beam (B1). In this way a compact and light configuration of L1 and L2 is achieved as well as an improved radiation beam quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Jacobus Hermanus Maria Neijzen, Helmar Van Santen
  • Publication number: 20090251788
    Abstract: Substrate-guided relays that employ light guiding substrates to relay images from sources to viewers in optical display systems. The substrate-guided relays are comprised of an input coupler, an intermediate substrate, and an output coupler. In some embodiments, the output coupler is formed in a separate substrate that is coupled to the intermediate substrate. The output coupler may be placed in front of or behind the intermediate substrate, and may employ two or more partially reflective surfaces to couple light from the coupler. In some embodiments, the input coupler is coupled to the intermediate substrate in a manner that the optical axis of the input coupler intersects the optical axis of the intermediate substrate at a non-perpendicular angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: MICROVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Christian Dean DeJong, Karlton D. Powell, Mark O. Freeman, Joshua O. Miller
  • Patent number: 7593160
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of compacting an optical system comprising multiple optical channels. The method comprises providing one or more beam splitters and a plane mirror located one after the other along the principal ray in order to divert split-off beams into separate optical channels. Each of the separate optical channels is arranged on a consecutive level perpendicular to the principal ray. This arrangement allows the optical system to occupy a minimal volume and to fit into a confined space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventor: Ehood Shoavi
  • Publication number: 20090232180
    Abstract: A laser system comprises first and second laser sub-cavities each including a gain medium arranged to produce volume gain gratings. The laser system further includes a beam combiner arranged to combine emission from each cavity and direct emission from one cavity to the other. As a result a stale, phase-locked coherently combined emission system is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: IMPERIAL INNOVATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Michael John Damzen
  • Publication number: 20090225433
    Abstract: A system for simultaneously producing multiple images substantially identical images on multiple separate detector planes is disclosed. A reflective spatially beam-splitting element preferably comprising multiple reflective areas is preferably placed at a location substantially coincident with the pupil or aperture of the system. In non-diffraction limited systems, each area preferably comprises an actual cross section that is circular or has the rotational symmetry (or a multiple thereof) of the number of images to be formed. In diffraction limited systems, all of the areas preferably comprise actual cross sections that have the same shape, size and orientation with respect to the incoming optical beam. Each individual actual cross section may be due to the shape of each area, optionally in combination with a mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Contrast Optical Design & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Tocci
  • Patent number: 7583446
    Abstract: An electronically adjustable, combinational color filter device is provided for generating color light. Incoming light is split in a polarizing beam splitter/combiner into a first and a second element of light. One or more wave plates operate to modify the polarization state of the first element of light, and one or more dichroic reflective filters reflect portions of the first element of light having a predetermined wavelength. Similarly, one or more wave plates operate to modify the polarization state of the second element of light, and one or more dichroic reflective filters reflect portions of the second element of light having a predetermined wavelength. Reflected portions of the first element and the second elements of light are combined in the polarizing beam splitter/combiner to create color light. A spatial light modulator may be used to create color images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC
    Inventors: Scott P. Campbell, Bing Wen
  • Publication number: 20090213468
    Abstract: An interferometer includes a means for splitting, at a splitting location, an input light beam into a first beam and a second beam; and means for recombining, at a recombination location, the first beam and the second beam. The interferometer is designed such that the first beam will travel a first optical path length (OPL) from the splitting location to the recombination location, and the second beam will travel a second OPL from the splitting location to the recombination location and such that when the input light beam has bean modulated at a data rate comprising a time interval, then the difference in optical path lengths between the first OPL and the second OPL is about equal to the time interval multiplied by the speed of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: OPTOPLEX CORPORATION
    Inventor: YUNG-CHIEH HSIEH
  • Publication number: 20090213457
    Abstract: An illumination device for a microscope has a variable working distance (d, d?), at which an object is illuminated obliquely from two different directions. Light from a light source is split into at least two illumination beam paths. In order to adapt to the different working distances, the light is subjected to an angle change before splitting or, if after splitting, then respectively by the same amount in both beam paths. A deviating element with at least two reflective surfaces is arranged in one of the illumination beam paths to induce a change in an angle at which one of the illumination beam paths strikes the object, in the same sense as another illumination beam path. The reflective surfaces may be arranged so that the illumination beam paths strike essentially the same region of the optical axis even with different working distances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Leica Microsystems (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Haw Chong Soon, Manfred Kuster
  • Publication number: 20090190229
    Abstract: A rotatable optical beamsplitter comprises an optically-transparent material and a partially-reflective layer. The optically-transparent material has a unitary spherical exterior surface. The partially-reflective layer is located at least partially within the optically transparent material. The spherically shaped optical beamsplitter demonstrates reduced optical distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: Gorden Videen
  • Publication number: 20090190230
    Abstract: An optical beamsplitter comprises an optically-transparent material and a partially-reflective layer therein. The optically-transparent material has a cylindrically shaped exterior surface which provides advantages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventor: Gorden Videen
  • Publication number: 20090185279
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that comprises: an optical path splitting element; an optical system including a variable-optical-power element which is substantially immobile in an optical axis direction and a reflective surface; and an image pickup surface, the variable-optical-power element, the optical system, and the image pickup surface being arranged so that a ray from an object side is divided into two rays by the optical path splitting element, at least one of the rays enters the optical system, and is reflected by the reflective surface to return to the optical path splitting element, and the ray strikes on the image pickup surface via the optical path splitting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventor: Hisashi Goto
  • Patent number: 7559671
    Abstract: An illumination system including a beam splitter, a first lamp, a second lamp, a first reflector, a second reflector, and a light uniforming element is provided. The first and the second lamp emit a first beam and a second beam to the beam splitter, respectively. A part of the first beam reflected by the beam splitter and a part of the second beam passing through the beam splitter constitute a third beam, and the other part of the first beam passing through the beam splitter and the other part of the second beam reflected by the beam splitter constitute a fourth beam. The first reflector and the second reflector reflect the third beam and the fourth beam, respectively. The light uniforming element is disposed on transmission paths of the reflected third beam and the reflected fourth beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Tsung Lee, Ya-Ling Hsu, Chin-Yuan Cheng
  • Publication number: 20090168053
    Abstract: An optical system for acquiring fast spectra from spatially channel arrays includes a light source for producing a light beam that passes through the microfluidic chip or the channel to be monitored, one or more lenses or optical fibers for capturing the light from the light source after interaction with the particles or chemicals in the microfluidic channels, and one or more detectors. The detectors, which may include light amplifying elements, detect each light signal and transducer the light signal into an electronic signal. The electronic signals, each representing the intensity of an optical signal, pass from each detector to an electronic data acquisition system for analysis. The light amplifying element or elements may comprise an array of phototubes, a multianode phototube, or a multichannel plate based image intensifier coupled to an array of photodiode detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Cytonome, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. GILBERT, Edward SINOFSKY, Manish DESHPANDE
  • Patent number: 7554664
    Abstract: Laser Scanning Microscope with an illumination beam path for illumination of a sample and a detection beam path for wavelength-dependent recording of the light from the sample, whereby filters for selection of the detection wavelengths are provided, characterized in that at least one graduated filter spatially variable in regard to the threshold wavelength between the transmission and reflection is provided in several partial beam paths for the selection of the wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microimaging GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Wolleschensky, Wolfgang Bathe, Joerg Steinert, Dieter Huhse
  • Patent number: 7551359
    Abstract: A beam splitter apparatus comprises a beam splitter and a plurality of prisms disposed about the beam splitter. The beam splitter apparatus is configured to split an incident laser beam into a plurality of beamlets exhibiting substantially equal energy and traversing substantially equal optical path lengths through the beam splitter apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Andrew J. Murnan, Dean Faklis
  • Patent number: 7548677
    Abstract: An interactive display that uses a planar radiation guide (such as a planar light guide) to perform display and/or imaging. The planar radiation guide has a radiation propagation portion and a radiation interface portion. The radiation propagation portion propagates the radiation by the principles of total internal reflection (with perhaps some minor leakage). The planar radiation guide also has a radiation interface portion where radiation is more apt to exit or enter the planar radiation guide. The interactive display performs both display and imaging, while the planar radiation guide is used to perform at least one (but perhaps both) of the display and imaging operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen N. Bathiche, Dana Lu Silverstein
  • Publication number: 20090147369
    Abstract: A laser marking device (1) includes a laser light source (24) that emits a laser beam, and a beam splitter (230) receiving the laser beam and allowing a part of the laser beam to be reflected thereat and a remaining part of the laser beam to be transmitted therethorogh. The beam splitter (230) has an unpolarized film (233a, 233b) into which the laser beam is entered to divide the laser beam into a plurality of laser beams that travels in different directions, at a predetermined rate regardless of change of a polarized characteristic of the laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Kazunori Matsushita, Takashi Nishimura, Noritaka Tadano, Yutaka Ito
  • Patent number: 7545570
    Abstract: A system for selectively blocking electromagnetic energy. The system includes a first mechanism for employing a perforated component to pass a beam characterized by a first property and reject a beam characterized by a second property. A second mechanism selectively alters a beam passed by the first mechanism so that upon reflection, the beam exhibits the second property. In a specific embodiment, the first property corresponds to a first polarization, and the second property corresponds to a second polarization. In the specific embodiment, the perforated component includes a beamsplitter having a first perforated metallic plate. The second mechanism includes a quarter-wave plate having a second perforated metallic plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: David D. Crouch
  • Patent number: 7540616
    Abstract: Light emitting diodes (LEDs) emit light at a first wavelength. A phosphor material close to LEDs converts at least some of the light to a second wavelength. The light at both wavelengths passes through a light collecting unit. A reflecting polarizer transmits both wavelengths in a first polarization state and reflects light at both wavelengths in a second, orthogonal, polarization state. Light reflected by the reflective polarizer is directed back towards the phosphor material without any substantial increase in angular range. The resulting output light beam contains polarized light at the first and second wavelengths. In some embodiments, an array of LEDs includes LEDs that emit light at a first wavelength and others that emit light at a second wavelength. The phosphor material is disposed on the LEDs emitting the light at the first wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Arlie R. Conner
  • Patent number: 7535647
    Abstract: Optical instruments having, inter alia, optics to process wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to produce an interferogram. The instruments include an optical path and optical elements positioned along this path for splitting and recombining the wavelengths which interfere with each other to produce a plurality of different fringes of different wavelengths. The optics include matched gratings which are positioned along the optical path outside of the interferometer optics to produce first and second sets of spectrally dispersed beams. The interferometer optics includes a beam splitter and first and second mirrors. In two embodiments the beam splitter has an internal surface including three zones. The instruments can all include a detector for detecting the interferogram and means for processing the detected interferogram to produce spectral information that is spatially distributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Inventors: Leonard John Otten, III, Gavin R. G. Erry
  • Publication number: 20090122414
    Abstract: There is provided an optical device, including a light-transmitting substrate having two major surfaces and edges, an optical element (16) for coupling light waves into the substrate by total internal reflexion, and a plurality of partially reflecting surfaces (22a, 22b, 22c) carried by the substrate. The partially reflecting surfaces are parallel to each other and are not parallel to any of the edges of the substrate. At least one of the partially reflecting surfaces (22a, 22b, 22c) does not intersect with at least one of the two major surfaces, and the optical element (16) intersects with at least one of the two major surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Lumus Ltd.
    Inventor: Yaakov Amitai
  • Patent number: 7532401
    Abstract: An integrated optical filter apparatus, which can be used for a miniaturized waveguide and can reduce crosstalk between adjacent signals. The integrated optical filter apparatus includes a first optical filter reflecting a light beam of a first wavelength and transmitting a light beam of a second wavelength from an externally incident light beam, and a second optical filter facing the first optical filter and reflecting the light beam of the first wavelength reflected by the first optical filter to the first optical filter. The light beam of the first wavelength is reflected by the first optical filter at least twice to remove noise within the light beam of the first wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seong-mo Hwang, Hong-seok Lee, Young-chan Kim
  • Patent number: 7532407
    Abstract: A projection type image display apparatus is provided which includes a housing to hold an optical system including multi-lenses, a polarized-light conversion element and the color separation portion. The housing operates to provide an optical path between a light source, located outside the housing, and penetration-type image display elements and an optical synthesizing portion also located outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hirata, Masahiko Yatsu
  • Patent number: 7522343
    Abstract: An interferometer includes a means for splitting, at a splitting location, an input light beam into a first beam and a second beam; and means for recombining, at a recombination location, the first beam and the second beam. The interferometer is designed such that the first beam will travel a first optical path length (OPL) from the splitting location to the recombination location, and the second beam will travel a second OPL from the splitting location to the recombination location and such that when the input light beam has been modulated at a data rate comprising a time interval, then the difference in optical path lengths between the first OPL and the second OPL is about equal to the time interval multiplied by the speed of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Optoplex Corporation
    Inventor: Yung-Chieh Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7515343
    Abstract: The invention provides an image projection system including a first light source and a second light source. Light from the first light source is limited to a finite number of limited wavelength intervals. An imaging device is adapted for modulating light from the first and second light sources. A beam combiner is provided to combine light from the light sources and direct the combined light to the imaging device. Modulated light from the imaging device is directed to a lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Oerlikon Trading AG, Trubbach
    Inventors: Johannes Edlinger, Claus Heine-Kempkens
  • Publication number: 20090086191
    Abstract: A gas detector is provided. The gas detector includes a measurement source of optical radiation, a reference source of optical radiation, a measurement detector configured to provide an output signal indicative of a gas of interest, a reference detector configured to provide an output signal at least partially independent of the gas of interest, a measurement optical path extending from the measurement source to the reference and measurement detectors, and a sample region for receiving a gaseous sample. The sample region is located along the measurement optical path. A window is positioned in the measurement optical path downstream from the measurement source and upstream from the reference and measurement detectors. The window is partially transparent to optical radiation and partially reflective to optical radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventor: L. Rodney Bristol
  • Publication number: 20090080085
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are used for controlling electromagnetic radiation pulse duration in a lithographic apparatus. A dividing element is arranged to divide an electromagnetic radiation pulse into a first portion and a second portion. A prism receives, refracts, and subsequently emits the first portion of the electromagnetic radiation pulse. A directing element is arranged to direct the first and second portions of the electromagnetic radiation pulse parallel to a common optical axis. The first portion combines with the second portion to form a combined radiation beam pulse. The combined radiation beam pulse has a longer pulse duration than the divided electromagnetic pulse and experiences no corresponding loss in intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Hako BOTMA
  • Patent number: 7508590
    Abstract: An optical system for a digital light projection system is provided. The optical system comprises a plurality of LED arrays, wherein each LED array comprises a plurality of LEDs. The optical system also comprises an optical concentrator element positioned substantially adjacent to each of the LED arrays, wherein each concentrator element reflects light emitted from the plurality of LEDs within the corresponding LED array so as to provide substantially uniform light at an output surface of each concentrator element. The optical system preferably further comprises an optical combiner element, wherein the output surface of each concentrator element is optically aligned with a corresponding side of the combiner element, and wherein the combiner element chromatically combines the substantially uniform light provided at the output surface of each concentrator element so as to form color-combined light at an output surface of the combiner element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Scram Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Shanley, Christopher T. Cotton
  • Publication number: 20090067043
    Abstract: An optical system for viewing an object has a plurality of lenses and a main optical axis coincident with the centers of the lenses. The optical system further comprises a low magnification optical subsystem that is operative to view the object at a first magnification and a high magnification optical subsystem that is operative to view the object at a second magnification that is higher than the first magnification. The high magnification optical subsystem has a high magnification optical axis along which light rays that are received from the main optical axis are transmitted. A movable element is locatable on the high magnification optical axis and is movable in directions transverse to the axis for receiving and transmitting light rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Siu Wing LAU, Zhuan Yun ZHANG, Yiu Ming CHEUNG, Chi Ping HUNG
  • Publication number: 20090067056
    Abstract: The present invention provides half-mirrored parts and methods for creating half-mirrored parts. A half-mirrored part according to one particular embodiment of the present includes: a formable reflective layer and a formable transparent or translucent layer, wherein the formable reflective layer is on one side of the transparent or translucent layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis Lee Marx
  • Publication number: 20090052046
    Abstract: The invention provides an optical device, including a light-transmitting substrate, optical means for coupling light into the substrate by total internal reflection, and a plurality of partially reflecting surfaces carried by the substrate, characterized in that the partially reflecting surfaces are parallel to each other and are not parallel to any of the edges of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: LUMUS LTD.
    Inventor: Yaakov Amitai
  • Patent number: 7495198
    Abstract: A method for improving nighttime visual awareness of a pilot flying an aircraft carrying an air-to-air missile including one or more one gimbaled imaging sensor. The method includes providing a helmet for the pilot, a helmet tracking system for determining the attitude of the helmet relative to the aircraft, and a helmet-mounted display. The method also includes determining a current imaging sensor viewing direction of the imaging sensor of the air-to-air missile, sampling an image from the imaging sensor of the air-to-air missile and displaying the image on the helmet-mounted display. The determining and the displaying are performed so that the image displayed on the helmet-mounted display viewed by the pilot is spatially aligned with the scene viewed by the imaging sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsafrir Ben Ari