Illumination Through Lens Patents (Class 359/800)
  • Patent number: 9904059
    Abstract: A reading aid for magnifying text includes a first frame. The first frame comprises an annular wall that extends from a top to a bottom. The bottom is open. A first lens is positioned in the top. A second lens is adjustably coupled to an interior of the annular wall. The second lens is parallel planarly positioned relative to the first lens. A power module is coupled to the first frame. A plurality of lights is coupled to an upper end of the first frame. The lights are operationally coupled to the power module. The second lens is adjustably positionable relative to the first lens to obtain a magnification level required by a user. The lights are configured to illuminate a printed item positioned beneath the first frame such that the printed item is readable by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Shirley Vetrone
  • Patent number: 9025260
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for illuminating a target includes a light source configured to emit one or more light beams with a first divergence. The system further includes a lens separated from the light source. The lens is configured to substantially satisfy the sine condition without removing spherical aberrations from the one or more light beams. The lens is further configured to receive the one or more light beams with the first divergence. The lens is further configured to change the first divergence of the one or more light beams to a second divergence. The second divergence is less than the first divergence. The second divergence is greater than zero. The lens is further configured to transmit the one or more light beams with the second divergence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick Rene Destain, Terry Alan Bartlett
  • Patent number: 8914985
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light beam emission device for a measuring device for changing the optical properties of a light beam as well as to a corresponding method and to a measuring instrument which uses the light beam emission device, wherein the optical properties of the light beam can be changed automatically thereby from one state to another state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Kaiserslautern GmbH
    Inventors: Gereon Westermeyer, Christian Ritter
  • Patent number: 8837882
    Abstract: A light-based touch-sensitive surface, including a housing, a surface attached to the housing for receiving touch input, a plurality of light sources in the housing for emitting light that crosses the surface, a plurality of light receivers in the housing for detecting the light emitted by the light sources, a curved lens adjacent to the surface through which the light emitted by the light sources passes, including two substantially similarly curved exterior panels, one of which forms a curved rim for the surface, and a calculating unit in said housing, connected to the light receivers, for calculating a touch location based on an absence of light expected to be received by the receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Neonode Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Holmgren, Lars Sparf, John Karlsson, Anders Jansson, Thomas Eriksson, Joseph Shain, Niklas Kvist, Robert Pettersson
  • Patent number: 8676007
    Abstract: A light-based touch-sensitive surface, including a housing, a surface attached to the housing for receiving touch input, a plurality of light sources in the housing for emitting light that crosses the surface, a plurality of light receivers in the housing for detecting the light emitted by the light sources, a curved lens adjacent to the surface through which the light emitted by the light sources passes, including two substantially similarly curved exterior panels, one of which forms a curved rim for the surface, and a calculating unit in said housing, connected to the light receivers, for calculating a touch location based on an absence of light expected to be received by the receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Neonode Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Holmgren, Lars Sparf, John Karlsson, Anders Jansson, Thomas Eriksson, Joseph Shain, Niklas Kvist, Robert Pettersson
  • Publication number: 20130329309
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a magnifying glass with a lighting function, which includes a housing having a front side formed with an objective aperture, a rear side formed with a viewing aperture which is opposite to and in communication with the objective aperture, and a fixing portion provided therein and facing the objective aperture; a plurality of light-emitting elements fixed to the fixing portion and able to emit visible light outward of the objective aperture; and a convex lens fixed to the housing at a position corresponding to the objective aperture and in front of the light-emitting elements. Thus, the visible light emitted by each light-emitting element is refracted by the convex lens and then projected onto the surface of an object to form a light projected area on the object, wherein the light projected areas overlap with one another to illuminate the surface of the object uniformly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Kuan-Di Huang, Su-Shun Chen
  • Patent number: 8449155
    Abstract: An illuminating magnifying lens capable of focusing its light on objects in accordance with the present invention comprises a frame connected to a handle, and in a part of the handle jointing to the frame is defined an assembling groove in which being assembled a lamp, a battery and a light guiding member. When the magnifying lens is used to magnify the object, the projecting light of the lamp is restricted by the light guiding member and can only be emitted out from the open end of the guiding hole, plus there is projecting angle between the guiding hole and the lens element, therefore, the light of the lamp will be directed toward the object without projecting onto the lens element, thus preventing dazzling reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: Cheng-Wei Su
  • Patent number: 8416508
    Abstract: An imaging device is provided with an imaging sensor having a rectangular imaging surface, an image-forming optical system for forming an image onto the imaging surface, and a prism disposed between the image-forming optical system and the imaging sensor for bending an optical path. A mask, having a rectangular opening, limits light that is to be incident on the imaging sensor. The aspect ratio (long side/short side) of the mask rectangular opening of the mask is larger than that of the rectangular imaging surface, and the peripheral light quantity difference between the short and long sides on the rectangular imaging surface is smaller than in the case of these two aspect ratios being equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Saori, Koichiro Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8339716
    Abstract: Illumination lenses (1806, 1902, 2002, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 3006, 3100) having surfaces shaped according to given differential equations in order to distribute light in a highly controlled manner with minimum reflection losses are provided. Both primary lenses and secondary lenses are provided. The secondary lenses include outer surfaces that are defined as loci of constant optical distance from an origin at which a light source is located. Versions are provided of both the primary and secondary lenses having Total Internal Reflection (TIR) wings. These are useful in the case that narrower distributions of light are required. A method of refining the shape of the lenses to obtain more obtain lenses that produce better fidelity ideal light distributions is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Philip Premysler
  • Patent number: 8331037
    Abstract: An optical lens includes a main body having an outer convex surface and a bottom surface opposite to the outer convex surface. The bottom surface has an inner concave surface which is concave toward the outer convex surface. The outer convex surface and the inner concave surface cooperatively form two positive lens portions and a negative lens portion. The positive lens portions and the negative lens portion are arranged in a triangular configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Edison Opto Corporation
    Inventors: Mu-Yin Lu, Hung-Hsun Chou
  • Patent number: 8310771
    Abstract: An LED light converting resin composition and an LED member using the same. The LED light converting resin composition having 20˜99 wt % of transparent resin, 0.8˜60 wt % of a lighting color converting fluorescent substance, and 0.2˜20 wt % of a light diffusing bead with an average particle diameter of 0.2˜30 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventor: Hyun-Seop Shim
  • Patent number: 8152327
    Abstract: A lens for a flashlight or other lighting unit provides for focusing light from a source, such as an LED, to provide a light beam adjustable between a spot beam and a wide beam. The lens includes a lens body with a front face, a rear LED-receiving well, and a side surface extending between the front face and the rear well. The front face includes a central surface surrounded by an annular concave surface. The rear well includes a space for the LED to be adjusted in position. The rear well space is defined by a concavely-curved sidewall and a concavely-curved base. The concave curvature of the sidewall and base may be Bezier curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Coast Cutlery Company
    Inventors: David C. Brands, R. Stephen Mulder, David Lewin
  • Patent number: 8004766
    Abstract: An illuminating device is provided. The illuminating device includes a light source, a dividing unit, an optical unit and a light-distribution control unit. The dividing unit is configured to divide light emitted from the light source into light beams. The optical unit is configured to allow at least one of a travelling direction and a focal length of the light beams divided by the dividing unit to be variable. The light-distribution control unit is configured to control at least one of the travelling direction and focal length of light beams by acting on the optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumasa Tanaka, Tetsujiro Kondo, Yasushi Tatehira, Tetsushi Kokubo, Kenji Tanaka, Hitoshi Mukai, Hirofumi Hibi, Hiroyuki Morisaki
  • Patent number: 8000034
    Abstract: This invention is regarding to an innovatively designed lens that employs two holes of different shapes as light-inlet and light-outlet surfaces to direct lights. The main feature is that the light can emit out at a more focused and uniformed fashion through refraction and total reflection. On the other hands, the lens also has grooves set to allow for side lighting purposes when needed. And with the grooves, the light can emit at a wide range when multiple such lens are properly assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: Yen-Wei Ho
  • Patent number: 7990622
    Abstract: A projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus comprises a manipulator for reducing rotationally asymmetric image errors. The manipulator in turn contains a lens, an optical element and an interspace formed between the lens and the optical element, which can be filled with a liquid. At least one actuator acting exclusively on the lens is furthermore provided, which can generate a rotationally asymmetric deformation of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Conradi, Boris Bittner, Sascha Bleidistel, Markus Hauf, Wolfgang Hummel, Arif Kazi, Baerbel Schwaer, Jochen Weber, Hubert Holderer, Payam Tayebati
  • Patent number: 7903354
    Abstract: Provided is an optical scanning device that can consistently obtain a light beam having a desired beam spot diameter without allowing an aperture to block parallel ray to be admitted, and that can be manufactured at lower cost. The optical scanning device has a light source that emits laser light, a collimator lens that converts the laser light emitted from the light source into parallel ray, and a lens holder that holds the collimator lens and has an aperture portion for fairing the laser light, the aperture portion being formed integrally with the lens holder. The optical scanning device also may have a collimator lens having a lens surface with which an aperture portion for fairing the laser light is brought into close contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Nakai
  • Patent number: 7880977
    Abstract: A rod lens is used for fitting in an endoscopes. The rod lens has a rod-shaped body which is made at least in a section of a flexible, transparent solid piece of plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Lederer, Frank Fuerst, Matthias Huber, Juergen Rudischhauser
  • Patent number: 7872815
    Abstract: An optical sensor for the monitoring of combustion processes in a combustion chamber comprises a lens system facing the combustion chamber, a waveguide and a sheath surrounding the lens system. The lens system has at least one essentially plano-concave lens and a double concave lens wherein the planar surface of the plano-concave lens is exposed to the combustion chamber. A method for centering one or more lenses and a waveguide in a sheath of an optical sensor for monitoring combustion processes in a combustion chamber is also disclosed that includes filling the gap between the first lens and the sheath with a soldering paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Kistler Holding AG
    Inventors: Christof Sonderegger, Kurt Vollenweider, Alex Bertholds, Andreas Braunschweiler
  • Patent number: 7869145
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for illuminating a target includes a light source configured to emit one or more light beams with a first divergence. The system further includes a lens separated from the light source. The lens is configured to substantially satisfy the sine condition without removing spherical aberrations from the one or more light beams. The lens is further configured to receive the one or more light beams with the first divergence. The lens is further configured to change the first divergence of the one or more light beams to a second divergence. The second divergence is less than the first divergence. The second divergence is greater than zero. The lens is further configured to transmit the one or more light beams with the second divergence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Patrick Rene Destain, Terry Alan Bartlett
  • Patent number: 7830611
    Abstract: A projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus comprises a manipulator for reducing rotationally asymmetric image errors. The manipulator in turn contains a lens, an optical element and an interspace formed between the lens and the optical element, which can be filled with a liquid. At least one actuator acting exclusively on the lens is furthermore provided, which can generate a rotationally asymmetric deformation of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT AG
    Inventors: Olaf Conradi, Sascha Bleidistel, Markus Hauf, Wolfgang Hummel, Arif Kazi, Baerbel Schwaer, Jochen Weber, Hubert Holderer, Payam Tayebati, Boris Bittner
  • Patent number: 7800840
    Abstract: A convex-Fresnel LED lens and a LED assembly thereof are revealed. The lens is a Fresnel lens whose optical surface on a forward side thereof is a convex surface having draft with vertical shape so that the lens in the LED assembly concentrates light emitted from a LED chip to generate light whose peak intensity is an elliptic distribution pattern. Moreover, the lens and the LED assembly thereof satisfy certain conditions. Thereby, light from the LED chip is gathered by a single lens to form a preset specific distribution pattern and is satisfying requirement of the ratio of the luminous flux that is larger than 85%. The convex-Fresnel LED lens and a LED assembly thereof are applied to lights and flashlights in mobile phones or cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: E-Pin Optical Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: San- Woei Shyu, Yi- Min Chen
  • Patent number: 7771074
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for projecting a linear optical marking onto at least one boundary of a room, such as floor surface for example, comprising a light source (12) that emits laser radiation along an optical axis (16) as well as a cuboid lens (14) connected in series with the light source, penetrated by the optical axis and reflecting as well as refracting the radiation. To facilitate fanning and reflecting of light originating from the light source through constructively simple means, the invention proposes that provided in the frontal surface (20) is a channel-shaped depression (40) and provided in the rear surface (22) is a projection (24), both of which are geometrically designed and arranged so that the radiation can be totally reflected and that totally reflected radiation striking the depression can be fanned out, where the optical marking runs to both transverse surfaces of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Stabila Messgerate Gustav Ullrich GmbH
    Inventors: Gabriel Kallabis, Daniel Busam
  • Patent number: 7768572
    Abstract: An iris recognition camera is provided which includes a driving barrel configured to support a lens, a moving unit configured to reciprocatingly move the driving barrel to perform both focus and zoom operations, and a position sensor configured to detect a position of the driving barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Se Woong Park
  • Publication number: 20090059396
    Abstract: An illumination system including at least one first light source, a prism and a light uniforming device is provided. The first light source is capable of providing a first beam. The prism is disposed on a transmission path of the first beam, and has four first facets. Two of the first facets are opposite to each other, and the other two first facets are opposite to each other. The first beam passes through one of the first facets and is totally internally reflected by another first facet opposite to the one of the first facets. The light uniforming device is disposed on the transmission path of the first beam from the another first facet. The cost of the illumination system is lower, and the illumination system has high flexibility of the light source design and can provide illumination with high brightness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Shun Liao, S-Wei Chen, Sung-Nan Chen, Chao-Shun Chen, Mei-Ling Chen
  • Patent number: 7489448
    Abstract: An optical scanning device provides a radiation source (2,200), a collimator lens (4,40), an objective (7,90) for converting a beam (5,30?) to a scanning spot at the position of an information layer (101) of a record carrier (1,100). The device also includes an electrowetting cell (6). The electrowetting cell (6) acts such that a beam (5,30?) enters the objective (7,90) at a predetermined height of an entrance pupil of the objective (7,90) independent of the position of the objective (7,90) and that the beam (5,30?) forms a predetermined angle at the entrance pupil of the objective (7,90) with the optical axis (8). In this way the rim intensity may be kept constant over the entrance pupil of the objective (7,90).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hendriks, Johannes Joseph Hubertina Barbara Schleipen, Stein Kuiper
  • Patent number: 7486450
    Abstract: A high-performance lens system including lens elements of small diameters for projecting on to a screen or the like in an enlarged fashion images from light valves such as mainly DMDs (Digital Micromirror Devices) for forming images by changing reflecting directions of light is provided. A lens system includes, sequentially in that order from a magnifying side, a first lens group which makes up a substantially afocal optical system as a whole and a second lens group having a positive refractive power as a whole, the second lens group being configured to include, sequentially in that order from a magnifying side thereof, a first sub-lens group or 2a lens group having a negative refractive power as a whole and a second sub-lens group or 2b lens group having a positive refractive power as a whole, and depending upon applications, a third lens group made up of a single positive lens element is provided in the vicinity of a light valve such as a DMD on a contracting side of the second lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsuro Kawakami, Yasuyuki Tejima
  • Patent number: 7441909
    Abstract: An optical assembly for a projection system includes an objective lens and a retro-focus lens. Then objective lens and retro-focus lens share one or more lens elements. A method of projecting an image comprises directing light from a light source to one or more modulators and projecting a modulated light beam using an optical assembly that includes an objective lens and a retro-focus lens that share one or more lens elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott Lerner, James W. Ring, Brett E. Dahlgren
  • Patent number: 7411742
    Abstract: A focusing lens for an LED is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Sekonix Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Ho Kim, Shung-Hoon Hwang, Hee-Joong Lee
  • Patent number: 7400459
    Abstract: An operating room magnifier is adapted to utilize an operating room light source and may be sterilized to allow use on a sterile field. The magnifier comprises a base, a neck, and a lens frame. The lens frame holds a lens and receives a light connected to the light source, providing a light beam to an object held under the magnifying glass. The light source may be a known fiber optics light source commonly used in operating rooms, or a special dedicated light source. The magnifier is particularly useful in identifying microsurgical instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Gracie L. Welch
  • Patent number: 7333276
    Abstract: An optical element that condenses light emitted from a light source has: an entrance surface where the light enters; an exit surface from which the light entering inside via the entrance surface; and a reflection surface that directs, to the exit surface by total reflection, part of the light entering the inside via the entrance surface. The reflection surface has an axis of symmetry of sixfold or higher-order-fold rotation. The optical element fulfills conditional formula: 0.3<a/b<1.4, where a denotes the maximum length of the exit surface in the direction perpendicular to the axis of symmetry; and b denotes a surface gap on the axis of symmetry between the entrance surface and the exit surface. As a result, an optical element can be provided which achieves highly efficient condensation at low costs and with simple configuration and also which achieves compactification by reducing the diameter of the optical element for the size of the light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Keiko Ikuno, Kenji Konno
  • Patent number: 7248413
    Abstract: A microscopic lens, of size approximately 1 micron is used for its optical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Stephen R. Quake, James P. Brody
  • Patent number: 7222991
    Abstract: The invention provides a light source (1, 200), especially a portable light source (1, 200) used to illuminate a medical or precision mechanical working area, with a casing (2), with a light diode (4) held by the casing (2), with a primary focusing lens (6, 6a) held by the casing (2) in the direction of emissions (2a) from the light emitting diode (4), with a secondary focusing lens (8) held by the casing (2) positioned behind the primary focusing lens (6, 6a) in the direction of emissions (2a) from the light emitting diode (4), and that has a largely cylindrical recess (10), with the characteristic that a floor (12) of the recess (10) facing the primary focusing lens (6, 6a) is curved in the direction of the primary focusing lens (6, 6a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Sigma Dental Systems Emasdi GmbH
    Inventor: Steve Becker
  • Patent number: 7221824
    Abstract: An optical head for equipping the distal end of a flexible optical fiber bundle, designed to be urged into contact with an analyzing surface and including optical elements for focusing an excitation signal into a so-called excitation focal point located at a specific depth beneath the analyzing surface and for sampling a signal backscattered by the excitation focal point which is carried back by the fiber bundle. The head includes an optics-holder tube wherein are inserted on one side the distal end portion of the fiber bundle and on the other optical elements, the latter including a plate placed in contact with the end of the fiber bundle whereof the index is close to that of the fiber core and a focusing optical block, an output window being further provided adapted to provide index adaptation so as to eliminate parasitic reflection occurring on the analyzing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Mauna Kea Technologies
    Inventors: Frederic Berier, Stephane Bourriaux, Magalie Genet, Bertrand Viellerobe, Alexandre Loiseau, Benjamin Abrat
  • Patent number: 7175299
    Abstract: An efficient system and method for zooming the light from a flashlight is disclosed. Multiple refractive lenses are translated in unison to allow zooming of the light while reducing the size and weight of the required lenses. In another aspect, a meniscus lens is used to reduce the amount of light lost from a light-emitting diode (LED). One method includes providing a light source in a housing and translating a lens arrangement substantially along a light path of a light beam generated by the light source. The lens arrangement includes at least two refractive lenses separated by a gap, a size of the gap being maintained during translation of the lens arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventors: Alan Uke, Steven Wright
  • Patent number: 7023626
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device for focusing a laser beam, comprising a source of emission of a laser beam, for example a substantially elliptic and astigmatic laser beam, a focusing lens of the laser beam and first aperture adapted to select a central portion of the laser beam. The first aperture is directly applied on the focusing lens, and comprises a coating made of a substantially opaque material which are applied (for example, by spraying, sputtering, evaporation, printing, painting) on a peripheral portion of a front surface of the focusing lens so as to allow the propagation of the central portion of the laser beam and obstruct the propagation of a surrounding portion of beam. The device of the invention is extremely simple from the constructive point of view, and is inexpensive and small-sized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: DATALOGIC S.p.A.
    Inventor: Guido Maurizio Oliva
  • Patent number: 7012766
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a first off-axis illumination source for providing a first illumination field at a surface of an illumination modulator such that when the modulator is in a first non-activated mode a zero-order reflected illumination field is directed toward a first illumination blocking device, and when the modulator is in a second activated mode one first order reflected illumination field is directed toward an imaging surface while another first order reflected illumination field is directed toward a second illumination blocking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: AGfa Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen F. Sagan
  • Patent number: 7006306
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for providing prescribed illumination. Some embodiments provide lenses that include a two-dimensional beam-forming lens-profile where the profile acts to deflect light rays from a light source into a relatively narrow output beam. A zone of higher refractive index than that of the area outside the profile is enclosed where the higher refractive-index zone admits the light rays, a transverse axis of revolution is further included and extends transversely across and outside of the lens-profile so that the transverse axis extends generally laterally with respect to a luminous centroid-direction of the output beam. The lens further includes a surface of revolution formed by circularly sweeping the lens-profile about the axis of revolution forming a circumferential beam from the output beam emitted by said surface of revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Light Prescriptions Innovators, LLC
    Inventors: Waqidi Falicoff, William A. Parkyn, Jr., Yupin Sun, Juan Carlos Minano, Pablo Benitez
  • Patent number: 6958865
    Abstract: A microscopic lens, of size approximately 1 micron is used for its optical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Stephen R. Quake, James P. Brody
  • Patent number: 6955442
    Abstract: A magnifying apparatus includes a seat, an intermediate member, a first spring-loaded hinge connecting one end of the intermediate member to the seat, a cover, a second spring-loaded hinge connecting an opposite end of the intermediate member to the seat, a catch provided at the seat for grasping the cover at a closed configuration of the apparatus and releasing the cover and the intermediate member from the closed configuration of the apparatus for movement to an open configuration by the action of the spring-loaded hinges. There is a movable light emitter at the seat having a first configuration for illuminating an object in a space defined by the seat, intermediate member and cover at the open configuration, and a second configuration for illuminating a remote object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: C. C. & L Company Limited
    Inventor: Sik-Leung Chan
  • Patent number: 6934097
    Abstract: A rod integrator holder 6 has concave clearance grooves 67A to 67D elongated in the direction of the optical axis L, at the corners within a case 61 thereof. The clearance grooves 67A to 67D are configured such that the edges 84A to 84D of the rod integrator 8 can be prevented from coming into contact with the inner faces 66A to 66D of the case 61. The edges 84A to 84D of the rod integrator can be prevented from being broken by coming into contact with the inner faces 66A to 66D of the case 61, and the edges 84A to 84D of the rod integrator 8 and the inner faces 66A to 66D of the case 61 can be prevented from rubbing against each other to generate dust due to abrasion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Fujinon Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6933487
    Abstract: An image reader for reading an image drawn on a paper or a sheet-like recording medium, an image processor provided with the image reader, such as a copying machine, a scanner and the like, and a fiber lens to be applied to those devices. The image processor has to be large in the whole size of device to read both sides of an original. Therefore, the image processor of the present invention comprises an image reader (10a) on the upper side of transport path and an image reader (10b) on the lower side of that respectively. In order to downsize the device, it is necessary to shorten the diameter of optical fiber (140) of the fiber lens (14) installed in the imager reader as light receiving means. In this case, the optical fiber (140) is provided with a light-absorbing layer 8 (143) around of the optical fiber (140) in order to restrain the crosstalk and the flare phenomenon. The illuminance of light source means (15) installed in the image reader gets smaller as the device is downsized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuroh Nakamura, Masaichiro Tatekawa
  • Patent number: 6917481
    Abstract: A rod integrator holder comprises a wall constituting at least a part of an intermediate portion interposed between a rod integrator in an illumination optical system or a holding member for the rod integrator, and an optical member disposed downstream the rod integrator or a holding member for the optical member. The intermediate portion tightly closes a space between a light entrance end of the optical member and a light exit end of the rod integrator against surroundings thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Shimizu, Tadashi Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 6894839
    Abstract: An illumination optical system has superior image formation capabilities, and can radiate a linear beam with excellent illumination uniformity and a narrow line width having a large aspect ratio; the illumination optical system comprises an afocal beam expander system which expands an beam illuminated from a laser light source; a linear beam-forming lens system having at least refractive power in a second direction which is substantially at a right angle to at least a first direction, the linear beam-forming lens system converting the beam, illuminated from said beam expander system, to a linear beam having its long side in said first direction; a lens array section having a plurality of element lenses, arranged along said first direction; and a condenser optical system which illuminates a processed face by reconnecting images of said linear beam from each of said element lenses thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Sugiyama, Miyuki Masaki, Takehito Yagi
  • Patent number: 6859335
    Abstract: The present invention contemplates a programmed displacement to prolong the usage life of UV crystal for deep UV generation by displacing step by step the crystal with interval between steps much shorter than the degradation time of the crystal. Meanwhile, the present invention contemplates the programmed displacement to obtain stable UV generation by avoiding defect locations of the crystal. Further, the present invention contemplates the programmed displacement to achieve optimal stability in UV power for each layer of UV ablation in photo-refractive surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Inventors: Ming Lai, Zhimin Qu, Mehrdad Mohebi
  • Patent number: 6825996
    Abstract: There is provided a sample inspection casing capable of easily and surely inspecting an object to be inspected. The sample inspection casing 1 includes: a sample mounting table 5 for mounting thereon an object 11 to be inspected; a prism cut portion 14 serving as an optical path changing portion for allowing the object 11 on the sample mounting table 5 to be irradiated with illuminating light; and an image magnifying lens 15 for transmitting light, which is reflected on the object 11 on the sample mounting table 5, to magnify an image of the object 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Watanabe, Isamu Kaneko
  • Patent number: 6801364
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projection lens comprising a lens assembly that has at least one first narrowing of the group of light beams. A lens with a non-spherical surface is located in front of and/or behind the first narrowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT AG
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Schuster
  • Patent number: 6796040
    Abstract: A line laser device, comprising a light source for emitting a laser beam, a light emitting unit having optical means for projecting the laser beam from the light source in fan-like shape, an optical member arranged on the fan-shaped laser beam and for forming a spot light on a part of the fan-shaped laser beam, and support means for supporting the optical member so that the spot light formed on the fan-shaped laser beam can be shifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Fumio Ohtomo, Jun-ichi Kodaira
  • Publication number: 20040004773
    Abstract: An imaging device, such as an EEM, includes an electric/magnetic lens used to focus pulsed electrons emitted from an object on to a target plane. Before a pulse of emitted electrons reaches the lens, electrons are spatially separated in dependence on their respective kinetic energies and are then subject to a time varying electric field that keeps the final focal plane constant for a wide variety of different energy electrons. The electric field compensates for variations in the image focal length caused by a spread in kinetic energies, causing the electrons to be focused proximate the target plane, reducing chromatic aberration. The varying electric field may be provided by varying an electric potential at the lens by, for example, varying a voltage supplied to an electrode at the lens. This potential effectively varies the focal strength of the lens in time, in order to compensate for variations in kinetic energies of electrons arriving at the lens, effectively keeping the image plane position constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventor: Anjam Khursheed
  • Patent number: 6597522
    Abstract: An optical system for imaging the surface of the bottom of a well of a microtiter plate made of a transparent material. This surface has an analysis preparation. The optical system comprises an enlarging lens and an incident-light illumination formed by a ring-shape, diffuse light source. The incident light illumination is arranged concentrically with the optical axis. The microtiter plate is illuminated from the backside by an approximately dot-shaped light source, which is arranged behind the diffuser disk and centered in relation to the optical axis. Reflections and material flaws in the area located outside of the measuring area to be evaluated are thus made invisible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Werner Freber
  • Patent number: RE39024
    Abstract: To use a beam splitting optical system smaller than the conventional beam splitters and to set a longer optical path between a concave, reflective mirror and an image plant. A light beam from an object surface travels through a first converging group to enter a beam splitter, and a light beam reflected by the beam splitter is reflected by a concave, reflective mirror to form an image of patterns on the object surface inside the concave, reflective mirror. A light beam from the image of the patterns passes through the beam splitter and thereafter forms an image of the patterns through a third converging group on an image plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Tomowaki Takahashi