Methods Patents (Class 359/900)
  • Patent number: 7545561
    Abstract: Provided are an image display device capable of displaying a good image by suppressing yellowing of a glass substrate, and an evaluating method of the glass substrate. The image display device is formed using the glass substrate where reflectance at wavelength of 220 nm is 5% or lower. In the evaluating method of the glass substrate for the image display device, Sn++ content in the glass substrate is analyzed using reflectance at wavelength of 220 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Adachi, Hiroyasu Tsuji, Keisuke Sumida
  • Patent number: 7543950
    Abstract: A method of forming a reflector member which contributes to an improvement of the quality of the image, and a reflective structure and a liquid crystal display device to which the method is applied. The plurality of holes are formed by exposing the first photosensitive film to light and developing it. A second photosensitive film is formed on the first photosensitive film in which the plurality of holes have been formed. The reflective electrode is formed on the second photosensitive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: TPO Hong Kong Holding Limited
    Inventor: Naoki Sumi
  • Patent number: 7538923
    Abstract: Method of deflecting light includes the steps of providing a substrate and forming a supporting member on the substrate. Next forming step forms electrodes at predetermined positions on the substrate. Next forming step forms a plate-like-shaped thin film member including light reflecting means. Placing step places the plate-like-shaped thin film member on the supporting member so that an opposite surface thereof faces the electrodes. Forming step forms space regulating members on edges of the substrate for regulating a space formed above the substrate in which the plate-like-shaped thin film member is freely movable. Applying step applies predetermined voltages to the electrodes to change a tilt direction of the plate-like-shaped thin film member in accordance with the voltages applied to deflect the input light in an arbitrary direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nanjyo, Seiichi Katoh, Kouichi Ohtaka
  • Patent number: 7535622
    Abstract: A digital micromirror device (“DMD”) is used to alter the shape of light that is projected onto a stage. The DMD selectively reflects some light, thereby shaping the light that is projected onto the stage. The control for the alteration is controlled by an image. That image can be processed, thereby carrying out image processing effects on the shape of the light that is displayed. One preferred application follows the shape of the performer and illuminates the performer using a shape that adaptively follows the performer's image. This results in a shadowless follow spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: William E. Hewlett
  • Patent number: 7535614
    Abstract: An electrical window control system and method thereof are provided, wherein the system includes a variable transmission window having first and second substantially transparent substrates that define an area, and a variable transmittance material that occupies at least a portion of the area. The system further includes a power source that supplies an electrical power, at least one light source that emits light towards the variable transmission window, and at least one sensor in optical communication with the light source, wherein the at least one sensor receives at least a portion of the light that propagates through at least one of the first and second substantially transparent substrates, and communicates a signal that corresponds to the received light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Donald L. Tapley, Robert R. Turnbull
  • Patent number: 7535635
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and a transparent housing cover for a meter index for communicating optical signals through an optical port formed on a front face of the transparent housing cover, for further communicating optical signals in a straight line past one side of the meter index; and for re-directing the optical signals at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to or from an optical transceiver. The cover includes an integrally formed light pipe, the light pipe further forming the optical port near the front of the body and the light pipe extending along one side of the body and behind the meter index; and the light pipe includes a surface at a back end for reflecting light at approximately ninety degrees to and from a light transceiver positioned behind the meter index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Badger Meter, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Benson, John A. Olson
  • Patent number: 7536068
    Abstract: A micro movable element includes a micro movable substrate, a package base and an electroconductive connector. The micro movable substrate is provided with a micro movable unit that includes a frame, a pivotally movable portion, a torsion connector connecting the frame and the movable portion, and an actuator to generate driving force for the pivotal motion of the movable portion. The package base includes an internal interconnect structure. The electroconductive connector is provided between the micro movable substrate and the package base for electrically connecting the actuator and the internal interconnect structure to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Soneda, Xiaoyu Mi, Hisao Okuda, Osamu Tsuboi, Norinao Kouma, Satoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 7532372
    Abstract: A method of producing a holographic screen for reconstruction of uniformly magnified three-dimensional images from projected integral photographs. The screen is produced as an array of holographic imaging elements whose center distances and focal lengths have been scaled-up uniformly by the magnification factor. In the preferred embodiment, when illuminated with a white light reference beam, the screen reconstructs a linear array comprising an alternating series of red, green, and blue vertical lines. However, when an enlarged integral photograph representative of a three-dimensional scene is correctly projected onto the screen, a uniformly magnified three-dimensional image of that scene is reconstructed. The screen may be manufactured as rectangular tiles that are assembled to form the entire screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Inventor: Stanley H. Kremen
  • Patent number: 7532376
    Abstract: Forming an actuating mechanism for a micro-scanning device includes forming a scanner chip having a scan table mounting cavity, first and second coil mounting cavities and first and second pivoting element mounting cavities, positioning a bracket in the scan table mounting cavity, and positioning a scan table in the bracket. A first frame is mounted in the first coil mounting cavity, and a second frame is mounted in the second coil mounting cavity. A first pivoting element is positioned in the first pivoting element mounting cavity. The first pivoting element includes an asymmetrical leverage connection to the first coil and the scan table. In addition, a second pivoting element is connected to the second coil and the scan table, and positioned in the second pivoting element mounting cavity. The second pivoting element includes a symmetric leverage connection or an asymmetric leverage connection to the second coil and the scan table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Lantz, Hugo E. Rothuizen
  • Patent number: 7525718
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator (SLM) includes an integrated circuit actuator that can be fabricated using photolithography or other similar techniques. The actuator includes actuator elements, which can be made from piezoelectric materials. An electrode array is coupled to opposite walls of each of the actuator elements is an electrode array. Each array of electrodes can have one or more electrode sections. The array of reflective devices forms the SLM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Pradeep K. Govil, James G. Tsacoyeanes
  • Patent number: 7525708
    Abstract: A scanner head is provided for processing a workpiece by means of a focused laser beam. The scanner head includes a first module, rotatably supported in a first direction in order to deflect the laser beam from the first direction into a second direction, preferably perpendicular to the first direction, and a second module, which is fixed to the first module and is rotatably supported in the second direction, and which has a scanner mirror capable of tilting about a first axis. An adaptive beam deflection unit, which may include an adaptive mirror, is provided in the first module. The scanner mirror is arranged in the second module so that it can rotate or tilt about a second axis, and an optical arrangement with a beam expansion element and a focusing element is arranged in the scanner head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Boettcher
  • Patent number: 7525714
    Abstract: An electrochromic window assembly is disclosed that includes a first substrate and a second substrate that is maintained in a parallel and spaced relation from the first substrate by means of a window frame and spacer. The window assembly further includes an electrochromic device mounted within the airtight chamber formed between the first and second substrates. Electrochromic device 22 may be mounted so as to provide an air chamber between first substrate 12, which is the external substrate, and electrochromic device 22. At least one of the chambers formed between substrates 12 and 14 and electrochromic device 22 may be filled with an insulating gas such as argon. Also disclosed are novel methods for manufacture of an electrochromic device for incorporation into such a window assembly. A novel electrochromic device is also disclosed having electrical bus clips secured about the entire periphery of the electrochromic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: David L Poll, Kevin L Ash, David A Theiste, Thomas F Guarr, William L Tonar
  • Patent number: 7522323
    Abstract: A method for printing a pattern from a hologram mask into a photosensitive layer on a substrate, which method includes arranging the hologram mask on a coupling element, arranging the substrate so that it is substantially parallel with the hologram mask and separated from it by an amount substantially corresponding to the focal distance of the hologram mask, reconstructing the pattern recorded in the hologram mask by scanning an exposure beam of substantially collimated across the hologram mask while continuously measuring the local separation between the hologram mask and substrate in at least two locations where the pattern is being reconstructed by scanning at least two focus beams across the hologram mask, and continuously adjusting the separation and the angle of tilt between the hologram mask and substrate in order that the pattern reconstructed from the hologram mask is accurately focussed onto the photosensitive layer on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Inventor: Francis Stace Murray Clube
  • Patent number: 7522355
    Abstract: In the case where a lens unit where two ore more transparent resin lenses are combined is constituted, at least one transparent resin lens contains infrared absorbent. When the lens unit is assembled, an infrared laser is emitted to a joined portion between the transparent resin lens and the other transparent resin lens. As a result, the emitted infrared ray is absorbed by the infrared absorbent, so that the transparent resin lenses are welded to each other. An opaque lens barrel which holds the entire lens unit and the transparent resin lenses are joined by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta OPTO, Inc.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Uehira, Akihiko Matsumoto, Katsushi Watanabe, Toshiyuki Majima
  • Patent number: 7518770
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for image projecting and/or material processing having a deflection device (3) for variably deflecting a light beam (2) emanating from a light source (1) onto a projection area or a processing area (7), a modulation device (4) for modulating an intensity of the light beam (2) and a control unit (5) which is connected to the modulation device (4) and by means of which the modulation device (4) can be triggered to modulate the intensity of the light beam (2) according to input data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Harald Schenk
  • Patent number: 7517099
    Abstract: A blind spot safety system includes a side view mirror assembly. The side view mirror assembly includes a mirror housing attached to an automobile, a power supply, an adjustment motor, a mirror adjustment mechanism, and an adjustable mirror. A blind spot mirror track is incorporated into the mirror housing. The track's distal end is co-located with the blind spot mirror port. The blind spot mirror is slidingly attached inside the track. The blind spot motor and linkage assembly are attached to the mirror housing, the blind spot mirror and power supply. A signaling circuit is attached to the power supply and the blind spot motor, and it relays signals from the automobile computer, directing the blind spot mirror to extend or retract. A defroster prevents freezing and a proximity detector monitors blind spots and directs the operation of hazard indicators attached to the side view mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventor: Arthur Andre Hannah
  • Patent number: 7518792
    Abstract: An automatic telescope (10) capable of determining an orientation without requiring input from a user or any external source. The telescope (10) preferably includes a database (22) to store astronomical information, a processor (24) to control a drive mechanism (18), a vision device (30) to sense bright stars, and a motion sensor (32) to generate a motion signal. When the vision device (30) is slewed from alignment with a first bright star to a second bright star, the motion signal is preferably representative of a measured angle between the first and second bright stars. This process is preferably repeated for several bright stars to generate several measured angles. The processor (24) can then use the measured angles to identify the bright stars and determine the orientation of the telescope (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Bushnell Inc.
    Inventor: Rick McWilliams
  • Patent number: 7519248
    Abstract: A method comprises computing an interference pattern between a simulated design input optical signal and a simulated design output optical signal, and computationally deriving an arrangement of at least one diffractive element set from the computed interference pattern. The interference pattern is computed in a transmission grating region, with the input and output optical signals each propagating through the transmission grating region as substantially unconfined optical beams. The arrangement of diffractive element set is computationally derived so that when the diffractive element set thus arranged is formed in or on a transmission grating, each diffractive element set would route, between corresponding input and output optical ports, a corresponding diffracted portion of an input optical signal incident on and transmitted by the transmission grating. The method can further comprise forming the set of diffractive elements in or on the transmission grating according to the derived arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: LightSmyth Technologies Inc
    Inventors: Dmitri Iazikov, Thomas W. Mossberg, Christoph M. Greiner
  • Patent number: 7515319
    Abstract: A lens-less system for analyzing an optical spectrum includes a sophisticated volume hologram for separating an incident diffuse optical signal into wavelength channels without aid of an external collector lens and a detector for receiving and detecting light dispersed by the sophisticated volume hologram. Other systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research corp.
    Inventors: Ali Adibi, Chao Ray Hsieh, Arash Karbaschi, Omid Momtahan
  • Patent number: 7515367
    Abstract: A digital micromirror device (“DMD”) is used to alter the shape of light that is projected onto a stage. The DMD selectively reflects some light, thereby shaping the light that is projected onto the stage. The control for the alteration is controlled by an image. That image can be processed, thereby carrying out image processing effects on the shape of the light that is displayed. One preferred application follows the shape of the performer and illuminates the performer using a shape that adaptively follows the performer's image. This results in a shadowless follow spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, LLC
    Inventor: William E. Hewlett
  • Patent number: 7515334
    Abstract: A microscopy system comprises a microscopy optics and a stand supporting the microscopy optics. The stand has a plurality of hinges, of which a first group comprises a position detecting sensor for sensing a hinge position and a second group comprising an actuator for the change of the hinge position. In an automatic control mode, the actuators are controlled in dependence of signals of the position detecting sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Haisch
  • Patent number: 7511885
    Abstract: An optical system includes multiple cubic crystalline optical elements and one or more uniaxial birefringent elements in which the crystal lattices of the cubic crystalline optical elements are oriented with respect to each other to reduce the effects of intrinsic birefringence and produce a system with reduced retardance. The net retardance of the system is reduced by the cancellation of retardance contributions from the multiple cubic crystalline optical elements and the uniaxial birefringent element. The optical system may be used in a photolithography tool to pattern substrates such as semiconductor substrates and thereby produce semiconductor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: James P. McGuire, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7508608
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an optical identification element is provided, wherein a removable plate or substrate having photosensitive material fabricated thereon, one or more gratings are written on the photosensitive material, then lines are etched to create one or more separate optical identification elements. The one or more gratings may be written by exposing the photosensitive material to ultraviolet (UV) light. The lines may be etched to create the one or more separate optical identification elements by photolithography to define/create the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Illumina, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. Kersey, John A. Moon, Martin A. Putnam
  • Patent number: 7502175
    Abstract: An aspherical lens formed of a high-refractivity low-dispersion glass, which is useful for constituting a compact and high-function image-sensing optical unit and which is formed by precision press-molding, the optical glass having a refractive index (nd) of over 1.83 and an Abbe's number (?d) of 40 or more and comprising, by mol %, 20 to 45% of B2O3, 5 to 24% of La2O3 and 22 to 42% of ZnO but containing no Li2O, the aspherical lens having an optical thin film formed on a surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Kazutaka Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7490945
    Abstract: A folding assembly for a vehicle side mirror that employs specialized ramped détentes. The folding assembly includes a pivot tube and a pivot spring rotatably coupled to a case frame and rigidly coupled to a base frame. The base frame includes a series of ramped détentes that are seated within corresponding recesses in the case frame. The inside angle (?1) of the ramps of the détentes is steeper than the outside angle (?2) of the ramps of the détentes according to a predetermined formula so that when the case frame is rotated relative to the base frame, and the détentes move out of their recesses, the force of the rotation is distributed along the entire length of the ramp to increase the durability performance of the mirror and thus its longevity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Visiocorp Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Ryan Proctor
  • Patent number: 7486893
    Abstract: The disclosed technology provides a dynamic interconnection system which allows to couple a pair of optical beams carrying modulation information. In accordance with the disclosed technology, two optical beams emanate from transceivers at two different locations. Each beam may not see the other beam point of origin (non-line-of-sight link), but both beams can see a third platform that contains the system of the disclosed technology. Each beam incident on the interconnection system is directed into the reverse direction of the other, so that each transceiver will detect the beam which emanated from the other transceiver. The system dynamically compensates for propagation distortions preferably using closed-loop optical devices, while preserving the information encoded on each beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: David M. Pepper, Richard P. Berg
  • Patent number: 7481545
    Abstract: In a method of forming a device so as to include a reflective surface at a specific angle to an incident optical axis, a region of a first major surface of a substrate is exposed to an anisotropic etchant to form a surface having the specific angle with respect to the first major surface, but the etched surface is then used as a mounting surface. That is, rather than anisotropically etching a reflective surface, the etching provides the mounting surface and the second major surface of the substrate functions as the reflective surface when the fabricated device is properly mounted. The substrate may be a <100> silicon wafer having a 9.74 degree off-axis cut. Then, a 45 degree mirror is formed by the process. When the reflector is used in an optical device, the <111> crystalline plane will be generally parallel to the surface of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Tak Kui Wang
  • Patent number: 7480086
    Abstract: An optical pattern generator includes one or more multi-faceted rotating optical elements that introduce an offset that is rotation insensitive. The component that generates the offset is rotationally symmetric around the rotational axis of the optical element. Thus, as the optical element rotates, the effect of the offset component does not change. In addition, rotating optical elements may be designed to counteract unwanted optical effects of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Reliant Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard C. DeBenedictis, C. David Nabors, George Frangineas
  • Patent number: 7480096
    Abstract: Embodiments of modifying an optical characteristic of a screen are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory J. May, Brian S. Dixon
  • Patent number: 7477433
    Abstract: A hologram-recording method including recording a reflection-type volume hologram onto an optical recording medium by irradiating the optical recording medium with a modulated beam obtained by spatially modulating a laser beam and a diffused beam obtained by diffusing the modulated beam, coaxially but from different sides of the optical recording medium, respectively. The invention provides a hologram-recording method, an optical recording medium, and a hologram-recording device that enables on-demand recording of a reflection-type volume hologram which reliably prohibits forgery or alteration with a simple device configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Yasuda, Yasuhiro Ogasawara, Jiro Minabe, Katsunori Kawano, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Hisae Yoshizawa, Koichi Haga
  • Patent number: 7471431
    Abstract: A hologram device records information of an interference fringe of signal light and reference light onto a hologram recording medium and reproduces the recorded information by emitting the reference light onto a recording area of the hologram recording medium. The hologram device includes a recording/reproducing controller performing a recording operation of the information concurrently with a reproducing operation of previously-recorded information, and an error detector detecting an error in the previously-recorded information reproduced concurrently with the recording operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Hayashi, Nobuhiro Kihara, Muneyasu Maeda
  • Patent number: 7468839
    Abstract: A backlight unit having a polarization film for performing the function of a reflective polarization film, wherein the backlight unit includes a light source, an optical film and a polarization film. The light source emits a light having a certain wavelength, the optical film is located proximate to the light source to transmit the light outputted from the light guiding plate in a certain direction, and the polarization film is located proximate to the optical film. Here, the polarization film has a UV curing resin and lines disposed on the UV curing resin, and polarizes the light transmitted from the optical film. The backlight unit manufactures the polarization film by using an UV curing resin and a metal substance, and thus the manufacture period of the polarization film may be reduced enabling the polarization film to be manufactured in great quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Hoon Lee, Sang Gon Lee, Kang Yoon Kim, Chang Jong Kim, Kab Jin Hwang
  • Patent number: 7460305
    Abstract: A heads-up display that includes a scanner and a projection assembly. The scanner generates an image by sweeping a beam of electromagnetic energy, and the projection assembly directs the image into a predetermined viewing space having a region with a substantially uniform intensity profile. Such a heads-up display can often be made smaller than a conventional heads-up display, and can often generate an image having a higher quality than an image generated by a conventional display. Furthermore, one can often calibrate and recalibrate such a display without physically modifying or replacing a component of the display or of a vehicle incorporating the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Karlton D. Powell, Hakan Ürey, Amjad Malik, Russell J. Hannigan
  • Patent number: 7460303
    Abstract: A diffuser is disclosed which transmits or reflects incident light into a specific range of angles. In a preferred embodiment, this light is uniformly scattered throughout a cone of angles. The diffuser consists of two parts. The first part diffracts or reflects light into a specific offset angle. The second part, in the preferred embodiment, uniformly scatters the light through a range of angles, which is centered on the offset angle. The diffusers have utility in applications such as screens for wrist watches, computers, calculators, and cell phones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Aztec Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Cowan, Kenneth A. Haines
  • Patent number: 7458694
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making retroreflective sheeting and other articles prepared from casting a moldable synthetic resin onto a tool having a microstructured surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Smith
  • Patent number: 7457037
    Abstract: Disclosed is a polarizing, transparent optical product, the structure of which comprises a basic transparent substrate of an inorganic or organic material and, on at least one part of the external surface of said basic substrate, a polarizing coating. Said polarizing coating is fixed, in a stable manner, to said substrate and has a stratified structure which includes: a polymer layer, which is fixed to the external surface of said substrate, directly or via a coupling under-layer; a film of colorant(s) having polarizing properties, on said polymer layer; and a protective layer on said film of colorant(s). Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing such a polarizing, transparent optical product. The invention may be used for any type of substrate material, inorganic or organic, thermoplastic or thermoset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: David Henry
  • Patent number: 7457035
    Abstract: Embodiments of sensing light are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Peter J. Fricke, Timothy D. Emmerich, Roshan B. Baliga
  • Patent number: 7453622
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a first layer of electrically conductive material may be disposed in a recess in a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) base. An electrically charged gel network may be disposed in the recess on the first layer of electrically conductive material. A second layer of electrically conductive material may be disposed in the recess on the cross-linked co-polymer gel network. A functionalizer may be disposed on the first and the second layers of electrically conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Choong Kooi Chee
  • Patent number: 7445733
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to eliminate drawbacks of conventional multi-layered antireflection films, that is, that a lot of time is required in the formation of a transparent conductive thin film and a low-refractive index layer leading to low processing speed, the corrosion resistance of the transparent conductive thin film is unsatisfactory, and the reflectance over the whole visible light region is not constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumihiro Arakawa, Hiroko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7445348
    Abstract: A reflector having a structure in which a high refractive index layer, a low refractive index layer, and a metal layer mainly composed of silver or aluminum are sequentially arranged on a polymer base. The reflector can realize a higher reflectance than the conventional reflective bodies by using a polymer base wherein the atoms measured by XPS which constitute the surface of the polymer base are substantially identical with those constituting the inside of the polymer base. Furthermore, such a reflector can be used for a reflector, a reflector under a light-guiding plate, a backlight device and a liquid crystal display. The polymer base can be obtained by bringing a polymer base and a liquid into contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Koichi Shimada, Katsuhiko Koike, Shin Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7446915
    Abstract: A diffuse reflector comprises a substrate (20) having an asymmetric, reflective, periodic surface relief microstructure formed such that, under illumination by a multiplicity of wavelengths in a plane of incidence or illumination lying along the axis of asymmetry, substantially all the said wavelengths are preferentially scattered or guided into a single, common viewing zone offset from the direction of specular reflection hereinbefore defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: De La Rue International Limited
    Inventors: Brian William Holmes, Kenneth John Drinkwater
  • Patent number: 7443592
    Abstract: A container for producing a graphical image. The container includes a container wall with front and rear portions. A label is included that extends about the circumference of the container with an inner surface contacting an exterior surface of the rear portion of the container wall and contacting an exterior surface of the front portion of the container wall. The label includes a block out grid made up of alternating block out lines and transparent viewing gaps on the outer or inner surface of the label. The view gaps provide a line of sight to subset of the segments of an interlaced image provided on or proximate to the rear portion of the container wall when the block out grid is positioned near the front portion of the container wall. The label may be used to create an air gap between the block out grid and the interlaced image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Genie Lens Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Raymond, Seth Weiss
  • Patent number: 7436564
    Abstract: A light scanning apparatus makes a light beam scan along a main scanning direction on an effective scanning region having a predetermined width. A deflector includes an oscillation mirror which deflects the light beam and makes the light beam scan a second scanning range which contains but extends beyond a first scanning range corresponding to the effective scanning region A detector detects the scanning light beam which moves through a position outside the first scanning range but within the second scanning range, and outputs a detection signal A controller drives the oscillation mirror based on the detection signal and accordingly adjusts the amplitude of the oscillation mirror, and stops driving the oscillation mirror when the detection signal is not outputted from the detector even though a light source is turned on to emit the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Gomi, Yujiro Nomura, Ken Ikuma
  • Patent number: 7433125
    Abstract: A light quantity distribution control element includes a substrate of 20 mm×20 mm×3 mm made of a material that transmits light, such as optical glass or acryl, and a antireflective structure provided on a surface of the substrate. As the antireflective structure, a conical antireflective structure of a pitch of 0.15 ?m (periodic structure having conical convexities) is formed. This corresponds to a antireflective structure having a pitch of a wavelength or less in the ultraviolet band (150 nm to 400 nm) at the time when ultraviolet light is used as incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motonobu Yoshikawa, Yoshiharu Yamamoto, Yasuhiro Tanaka, Michihiro Yamagata, Hiroshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7430070
    Abstract: A method of calibrating angle drift of a laser radar system is provided, in one aspect of the present invention. The method includes, providing a plurality of virtual fiducials into an xy scanner; and providing a plurality of auxiliary laser sources into the xy scanner. The method also includes, routing a plurality of auxiliary laser beams from the plurality of auxiliary laser sources into the xy scanner; and calibrating an angular position of a plurality of laser directing means. The methods provides creating a calibration signal for updating the angular position of a plurality of scanning mirrors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David C. Soreide, Jonathan M. Saint Clair, Ordie D. Butterfield, Mitchell D. Voth
  • Patent number: 7429116
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a projection objective (22) of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus (10). The projection objective (22) comprises at least one mirror (M1 to M6) that each have a mirror support (241 to 246) and a reflective coating (26) applied thereon. First imaging aberrations of a pre-assembled projection objective are measured. Before the coating (26) is applied, the mirror supports (241 to 246) are provided with a desired surface deformation (34). If the mirrors (M1 to M6) are not reflective for projection light without the coating (26), measuring light is used that has another wavelength. Alternatively, two identical mirror supports (246) may be provided. One support having a reflective coating is part of the pre-assembled projection objective whose imaging aberrations are measured. The other support is provided with surface deformations before coating and mounting the support into the objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT AG
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Mann, Stephan Muellender, Johann Trenkler, Hartmut Enkisch
  • Patent number: 7428094
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a spatial light modulator. The method includes forming cavities in a first substrate and fabricating electrodes on a second substrate. The method also includes bonding the first substrate to the second substrate and forming a mirror plate from a portion of the first substrate. The mirror plate has an upper surface and a lower surface. The method further includes forming a hinge coupled to the mirror plate and forming a reflective surface coupled to the upper surface of the mirror plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Miradia Inc.
    Inventors: Shaoher X Pan, Xiao Yang
  • Patent number: 7428088
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus which is free from any deterioration of drawing performance and which can be miniaturized and simplified in overall configuration, and an image forming apparatus using the optical scanning apparatus are provided. The optical scanning apparatus includes: a light source unit; an incident optical system for guiding a light beam emitted from the light source unit to a deflecting unit; and an imaging optical system for guiding the light beam deflected by the deflecting unit onto a surface to be scanned. The incident optical system includes an anamorphic condenser lens having a refractive power in a main scanning cross section and a refractive power in a sub-scanning cross section which are different from each other, and the imaging optical system has a refractive power with which a deflective surface of the deflecting unit or a vicinity of the deflective surface and the surface to be scanned are made in conjugate relation with each other, and also satisfies a conditional expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Ishibe
  • Patent number: 7426067
    Abstract: A micro-electromechanical device or MEMS having a conformal layer of material deposited by atomic layer deposition is discussed. The layer may provide physical protection to moving components of the device, may insulate electrical components of the device, may present a biocompatible surface interface to a biological system, and may otherwise improve such devices. The layer may also comprise a combination of multiple materials each deposited with great control to allow creating layers of customizable properties and to allow creating layers having multiple independent functions, such as providing physical protection from wear and providing electrical insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Colorado
    Inventors: Victor M. Bright, Jeffrey Elam, Francois Fabreguette, Steven M. George, Nils Hoivik, Yung-Cheng Lee, Ryan Linderman, Marie Tripp
  • Patent number: 7422336
    Abstract: A vehicle side mirror that can visually confirm the blind spot of the main mirror without providing a prism or a fresnel lens on the window glass is provided. The vehicle side mirror is equipped with mirror housing attached to the side of the vehicle body and main mirror attached to the rear surface of mirror housing. The first sub-mirror that reflects the blind spot at the front side of the vehicle is provided on the side surface of mirror housing so as to face the vehicle body and second sub-mirror that reflects the blind spot at the center side of the vehicle is provided at the bottom portion of the rear surface of mirror housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Iinuma, Daichi Kinoshita