With Optical Element Patents (Class 73/335.01)
  • Patent number: 11686877
    Abstract: An optical module includes a beam-tilting light source enclosure. The enclosure is coupled to a substrate that includes a light emitter connected thereto. The enclosure has a geometry such that the enclosure has a first surface configured to couple substantially flat to the substrate and a second surface tilted with respect to the first surface and configured to couple substantially flat to a component of an electronic device through which the light is to project. The enclosure is optically transmissive and covers the light source when coupled to the substrate. In this way, the enclosure may be assembled and used in the electronic device by coupling the first surface to the substrate and coupling the second surface to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael K. McCord, Mehmet Mutlu, Ryan J. Linderman
  • Patent number: 11366246
    Abstract: An optical module includes a beam-tilting light source enclosure. The enclosure is coupled to a substrate that includes a light emitter connected thereto. The enclosure has a geometry such that the enclosure has a first surface configured to couple substantially flat to the substrate and a second surface tilted with respect to the first surface and configured to couple substantially flat to a component of an electronic device through which the light is to project. The enclosure is optically transmissive and covers the light source when coupled to the substrate. In this way, the enclosure may be assembled and used in the electronic device by coupling the first surface to the substrate and coupling the second surface to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael K. McCord, Mehmet Mutlu, Ryan J. Linderman
  • Patent number: 10352086
    Abstract: An escape system for a sinking car and an optoelectronic component thereof are disclosed. The optoelectronic component includes a housing and an optoelectronic module. The escape system for a sinking car includes an optoelectronic component and a motherboard. A lighting unit of the escape system for a sinking car and an optoelectronic component thereof is installed on a car to emit light. After the car fell into water, by the characteristic that when light passes through a medium, the attenuation in light energy can be detected effectively because light is absorbed by that medium (such as liquid), the car sinking signal can be received and transmitted quickly, thereby actually taking the opportunities of rescue to reduce casualties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventor: Jr-Hui Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9091206
    Abstract: The present application provides an inlet air fogging system for a gas turbine engine. The inlet air fogging system may include a fogging nozzle array and a fogging control system in communication with the fogging nozzle array. The fogging control system may include a droplet size measurement system and a humidity level measurement system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Chayan Mitra, Julio Enrique Mestroni, Sandip Maity, Rachit Sharma
  • Publication number: 20150122017
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a humidity sensor, and more particularly, to a resistance film-type real-time chromogenic humidity sensor produced with a polyelectrolyte thin film. The humidity sensor according to the present invention is a chromogenic hygrometer in which a polyelectrolyte nano thin film that absorbs moisture is formed on a reflective layer, and the nano thin film varies terms of color and electrical resistance as moisture is absorbed and the thickness varies. The hygrometer according to the present invention is a dual-function hygrometer, the color and resistance of which vary. Provided is the chromogenic hygrometer in which the sensor made using a PSS-b-PMB thin film varies in color between purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red according to humidity at a very high response speed of within one minute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Moon Jeong Park, Eunyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 8950239
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided, which includes a dust detector, a voltage source, and a controller. The dust detector includes two opposing surfaces and a conductive dust sensor. The two opposing surfaces are disposed in spaced, opposing relation to allow for the passage of airflow between the surfaces, and the conductive dust sensor is disposed at a surface of the two opposing surfaces. The voltage source is configured and controlled to establish an electrostatic field at least partially between the two opposing surfaces to facilitate directing conductive particles in the airflow passing between the two opposing surfaces towards the dust sensor. The controller monitors for a leakage current within the conductive dust sensor and determines whether the leakage current exceeds a predetermined trigger level indicative of the presence of conductive dust, and if so, automatically indicates a conductive dust warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Kuczynski, Melissa K. Miller, Prabjit Singh, Heidi D. Williams, Jing Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140260604
    Abstract: A moisture meter detects one or more conditions within an environment. The moisture meter includes a housing and one or more detection pins structurally supported by the housing. The detection pins being can measure moisture. The moisture meter further includes a sensing probe structurally supported by the housing. The sensing, probe being can measure humidity within the environment. Operation of one of the one or more detection pins and the sensing probe does not interfere with operation of the other of the one or more detection pins and the sensing probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Christopher James Elliott Ranwell
  • Publication number: 20140102190
    Abstract: A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor for detecting moisture may include a sensor housing, FBG cable, water-swellable bead(s), and retaining mechanism. The housing secures the FBG cable and water-swellable bead. The retaining mechanism, such as one or more wire(s), placed adjacent to the FBG cable may be utilized to minimize lateral displacement of the water-swellable bead(s). The water-swellable bead(s) may swell as they absorb water, thereby causing the FBG to be strained to allow the detection of liquid moisture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: University of Houston
    Inventors: Gangbing Song, Siu Chun Michael Ho, Ren Liang
  • Patent number: 8602640
    Abstract: A sensing system is configured to detect physical parameters of a fluid sample. In particular, the sensing system is configured to detect the dew point of the fluid by reducing temperature of a sensing medium and detecting the fluid condensate on a sensing surface by directing light from a light source to the sensing surface and detecting the light reflected off the sensing surface onto a light detector. The light source and the light detector are on the opposite side of the sensing medium from the sensing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Entegris—Jetalon Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald P. Chiarello, Christopher Andrew Wacinski, Charles Eric Boyd, Stewart Robin Shearer
  • Publication number: 20130319110
    Abstract: Modulation amplitude used for frequency modulation of laser light is set to a1 (<a2) (S1), and laser light is irradiated to a sample state in that state. When moisture concentration is calculated based on secondary harmonic synchronous detection signal that is obtained by synchronous detection of detection signal from transmitted light, the effects of interfering moisture in the optical chamber is ignored, and moisture concentration of the gas to be measured in the sample cell is obtained (S2). If, for example, a high vacuum is created inside the sample cell and the concentration becomes less than the detectable limit (“YES” in S3), the modulation amplitude is switched to a larger amount a2 (S4). By so doing, the detection sensitivity to interfering moisture in atmosphere at atmospheric pressure is increased, and the concentration of interfering moisture is calculated based on the secondary harmonic synchronous detection signal (S5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumiaki OTERA
  • Patent number: 8534116
    Abstract: A system for measuring size segregated mass concentration of an aerosol. The system includes an electromagnetic radiation source with beam-shaping optics for generation of a beam of electromagnetic radiation, an inlet sample conditioner with adjustable cut-size that selects particles of a specific size range, and an inlet nozzle for passage of an aerosol flow stream. The aerosol flow stream contains particles intersecting the beam of electromagnetic radiation to define an interrogation volume, and scatters the electromagnetic radiation from the interrogation volume. The system also includes a detector for detection of the scattered electromagnetic radiation an integrated signal conditioner coupled to the detector and generating a photometric output, and a processor coupled with the conditioner for conversion of the photometric output and cut-size to a size segregated mass distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: PNC Bank, National Association
    Inventors: Xiaoliang Wang, Jugal Agarwal, George J. Chancellor, James Evanstad, Anthony E Hase, Sreenath Avula, James E. Farnsworth, David A Lieder
  • Patent number: 8268629
    Abstract: A system and method for characterizing a liquid hydrocarbon fuel having unknown or variable composition is described and shown herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: dTEC Systems L.L.C.
    Inventors: Thomas Coleman, Frederick Wolf, James E Bruya
  • Patent number: 8253093
    Abstract: An optoelectronic detector and method of using same. In order to avoid any condensation on a surface, it has been known to heat such a surface. However, heating an optoelectronic detector will create a stronger hissing noise due to the greater dark current that is caused thereby. The invention is intended to avoid any condensation on an optoelectronic detector without airtight encapsulation. To this end, the detector is cooled and equipped with a sensor for the determination of a current value of one of the variables ambient humidity and ambient dew point temperature and a control unit that is connected with the sensor and designed to control the cooling device in dependence of such a value. By taking into account the ambient humidity or, respectively, the dew point temperature in the control of the cooling device, condensation on the detector can be avoided. An airtight encapsulation of the detector and the cooling device is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH
    Inventors: Mirko Liedtke, Matthias John
  • Patent number: 8172457
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a sensor for determining the hydrocarbon dew point in a gas, in particular in a gaseous fuel. According to the invention a roughened condensation surface is provided on a planar measurement surface of a transparent body. Light is shone onto the roughened condensation surface through the transparent body and the intensity of the light reflected back into the transparent body is measured. The hydrocarbon dew point temperature can be inferred from changes in the intensity of the light which is reflected back when heating or cooling the condensation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Bartec Benke GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Boehm
  • Patent number: 8047055
    Abstract: A system for measuring size segregated mass concentration of an aerosol. The system includes an electromagnetic radiation source with beam-shaping optics for generation of a beam of electromagnetic radiation, an inlet sample conditioner with adjustable cut-size that selects particles of a specific size range, and an inlet nozzle for passage of an aerosol flow stream. The aerosol flow stream contains particles intersecting the beam of electromagnetic radiation to define an interrogation volume, and scatters the electromagnetic radiation from the interrogation volume. The system also includes a detector for detection of the scattered electromagnetic radiation an integrated signal conditioner coupled to the detector and generating a photometric output, and a processor coupled with the conditioner for conversion of the photometric output and cut-size to a size segregated mass distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: TSI, Incorporated
    Inventors: Xiaoliang Wang, Jugal K. Agarwal, George John Chancellor, James Evanstad, Anthony E. Hase, Sreenath Avula, James E. Farnsworth, David A. Lieder
  • Patent number: 7932490
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating size segregated aerosol mass concentration in real time and using a single detector. A beam of electromagnetic radiation is passed through a particle stream made of a test or field aerosol. The single detector outputs an electrical signal proportional to the electromagnetic radiation scattered thereupon. The electrical signal may be conditioned to produce an integrated signal for measuring radiation scattered from all the particles in the interrogation volume, a pulse height from an individual particle within the volume, and/or a time-of-flight measurement from the individual particle. The integrated signal can be correlated to particle mass concentration. The pulse height signal and the time-of-flight signal may be converted to infer the size of the individual particle. Attendant size distributions for the particle sizes may also be obtained. Using known or assumed particle properties, the mass concentration may be estimated from the size distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: TSI, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoliang Wang, Jugal Agarwal, George John Chancellor, James Evenstad
  • Patent number: 7770433
    Abstract: The humidity detector comprises a housing adapted to hold a humidity sensor towards the windscreen of a vehicle or any other type of window. A flexible printed circuit board is arranged between the humidity sensor and the windscreen and provides a connection between the humidity sensor and further circuitry of the detector. The humidity sensor is located under a cap, which is engaged by a glider member. A spring pushes the glider member towards the windscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Sensirion AG
    Inventors: Urs Rothacher, Felix Mayer, Moritz Lechner, Vincent Hess
  • Publication number: 20090301191
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting at least one chemical component, the device comprising a light-reflecting substrate or light-reflecting background and a superior detecting layer containing at least one component swellable in the presence of the component to be detected, the detecting layer consisting of a homogeneous material and the component to be detected comprising water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: SUD-CHEMIE AG
    Inventors: Stefan Dick, Mandy Erdmann, Inge Kramer, Michael Haubs
  • Patent number: 7553450
    Abstract: An irreversible humidity exposure dose indicator device, including a housing sealed at a first end thereof and adapted at a second end thereof to admit ambient gas ingress into an interior volume containing chromogenic material. The chromogenic material in contact with water irreversibly absorbs such water to produce a change whose extent is correlative of cumulative exposure of the device to humidity. The device may be configured as an indicator card including an intermediate permeable membrane coated on a first side thereof with a layer of a deliquescent solid and being in contact on a second side thereof with a layer containing a reactive indicator, with a water-permeable layer adjacent to the layer containing the deliquescent coating, enclosed within a water-impermeable transparent enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Appealing Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir J. Attar, Dan Edward Stark
  • Patent number: 7509839
    Abstract: A kit includes at least one of: a substance for one of ingestion by a human body and application to one of the skin, the mucous membranes, hair, and the nails; a cosmetic applicator; and a makeup accessory. The kit also includes at least one of: an indicator of ambient humidity; and a sensor of ambient humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventor: Albert Duranton
  • Patent number: 7508044
    Abstract: An end face sensor device and a method of producing the sensor device, where the sensor device has flexibility or bendability independent of its shape and is suitable for constructing various devices with desired shapes. The end face sensor device is characterized in that a receptor portion is formed on an end face of a filiform body, the receptor body receiving information from a subject and outputting it as different information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ideal Star Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Kasama, Kenji Omote, Satoshi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 7461551
    Abstract: A window fog detecting apparatus has an optical type fog detecting sensor for optically detecting fog occurring at a window glass, a humidity sensor for detecting a relative humidity of air at an interior side of the window glass, and a sensor output correcting unit. When a fog occurrence at the window glass is determined based on the output values of the optical type fog detecting sensor, the sensor output correcting unit corrects the relative humidity detected by the humidity sensor based on output values of the optical type fog detecting sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Kataoka, Teruo Oda
  • Patent number: 7339168
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the detection of water vapor in a natural gas background. The system includes a light source operating in a wavelength range such as, 1.877-1.901 ?m, 2.711-2.786 ?m, or 920-960 nm, passes through the natural gas to be detected by a detector. In one embodiment, the light source is a tunable diode laser and the moisture level is determined by harmonic spectroscopy. In other embodiments, a VCSEL laser is utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: SpectraSensors, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy Dean May
  • Patent number: 7260507
    Abstract: An improved method for determining whether a measurement point, measured using a differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) system, represents a plume point or a non-plume point. Concentration path lengths (CPL's) for a plurality of measurement points are determined. An average non-plume CPL, CPL, is provided. For each measurement point, a standard deviation, CPLsd, is calculated based on first order error propagation and it is determined that the measurement point represents a non-plume point when the Hooshmand decision rule (HDR) is met. The HDR is given by, ( cpl - CPL _ CPL sd ) 2 > ( T ) 2 , where cpl is the corresponding CPL of the measurement point being tested and T is a threshold standard deviation level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Hooshmand Mahmood Kalayeh
  • Patent number: 7168316
    Abstract: A humidity meter with non-contact temperature measurement capability, including a humidity meter contained at least partially in a housing and having outputs relating to measured humidity parameters including humidity and ambient temperature, an output display contained in the housing, for displaying measurements to a user, a non-contact optically-based temperature sensing device coupled to the housing, having an output related to sensed temperature, and circuitry contained in the housing for processing both the humidity meter outputs and the temperature sensing device output, and transmitting the processed output to the output display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Extech Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald W. Blakeley, III
  • Patent number: 6938482
    Abstract: A humidity sensor element for a humidity sensing device includes a rigid, p doped silicon substrate, a non-porous terminal on one side of the substrate, a porous terminal on a second side of the substrate, and a layer of polyphenylsulfone between the porous terminal and the substrate. The sensor elements displays improved linear response with humidity changes and very low hysteresis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventor: Gerald Schultz
  • Patent number: 6926439
    Abstract: A dew point hygrometer for determining the dew point of a gas in which a displaceable transparent film is in contact with the gas and forms a condensation surface. The film is placed on a temperature control device controlling its temperature and an optic fiber, emits light on the film and reflected light is detected in another optic fiber, the two optical fibers being positioned at an angle with respect to the film. Condensation formed on the film changes the light transmitted by the film which is periodically displaced so that a new uncontaminated regions are exposed to the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Optiguide Ltd.
    Inventor: Igor Zlochin
  • Patent number: 6881585
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present method includes the steps of introducing a volume of a sample into a vapor delivery line and volatilizing at least a portion of the volume as it is carried through the vapor delivery line. At least a portion of the volatilized volume contacts a sensor element, which produces a signal that is monitored to reveal information about the sample. All components upstream of the sensor element are substantially free of sorbent materials so that the sample volume does not contact a substantially sorbent material before contacting the sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, James Claude Carnahan, Ralph Joseph May, John Patrick Lemmon
  • Patent number: 6833555
    Abstract: For adjusting output voltages of a turbidity sensor which is used for measuring the turbidity of a medium by means of a radiation at least partially propagating through the medium being emitted from a sender and being received by a receiver, ohmic loads for the receiver on its output side are adjusted such that desired output voltages are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Elektromanufaktur Zangenstein Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Johann Schenkl
  • Publication number: 20040244482
    Abstract: A humidity sensor element for a humidity sensing device includes a rigid, p-doped silicon substrate, a non-porous terminal on one side of the substrate, a porous terminal on a second side of the substrate, and a layer of polyphenylsulfone between the porous terminal and the substrate. The sensor element displays improved linear response with humidity changes and very low hysteresis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GERALD SCHULTZ
  • Patent number: 6822742
    Abstract: A system for remote quantitative detection of fluid leaks from a natural gas or oil pipeline by use of an airborne platform; including at least one laser light source for nearly simultaneous illuminating two or more target fluids and a background, wherein the two or more target fluids are characterized by two or more absorption wavelengths, and wherein the background has a different wavelength than either of the two or more target fluids. The illumination source is pointed based on a positioning system while in a geometric area along a path two or more target fluids are scanned for using the illumination sources. A signal detector detects the two or more target fluids using quantitative signal processing. Also included are a controller, a path planning and path finding tool for the positioning of the airborne platform, and a communicator for communicating the presence of the detected leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hooshmand M. Kalayeh, Gustavo R. Paz-Pujalt, John P. Spoonhower
  • Publication number: 20030079541
    Abstract: An optical sensor with alternating layers of high refractive indices and low refractive indices which resist delamination through the use of an interlayer bonding layer between the high refractive index layers and the low refractive index layers. Further the use of an overlay that covers substantially all of the alternating layers of high refractive indices may be used. The interlayer bonding layer and the overlay does not detract from the response time or accuracy of the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Mecham, Kristie L. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6250134
    Abstract: The apparatus for determining the dew-point and/or the content of vapor in the air, particularly for the use in radio sondes, comprises a dew-point mirror assembly, including a source of light, a reflector, a cooling element thermally coupled to the reflector, a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the reflector, and a detecting sensor for receiving the light emitted by the light source and reflected by the reflector. The detecting sensor is located in a temperature stabilized region of the apparatus and optically coupled to the reflector by means of a light wave conductor. The light source is an incandescent lamp. A sensor head is provided that receives the reflector, the cooling element, the light source, and the input end of the light wave conductor. The sensor head is heated by means of an active heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Meteolabor AG
    Inventor: Paul Ruppert
  • Patent number: 6223543
    Abstract: A control system for a cooling system for reducing humidity levels in a gas such as ambient air is provided. The cooling unit includes at least one of a compressor and a chiller, and cooling coils are connected to the cooling unit. A fan blows the gas onto the cooling coils. A fan speed controller is connected to the fan and variably controls the speed of the fan. A dry bulb temperature sensor is in thermal communication with the gas and connected to the controller, and a moisture sensor is in communication with the gas and connected to the controller. The speed of the fan is determined by the controller based on signals received from the dry bulb temperature sensor and the moisture sensor. By varying the speed of the fan, the moisture content of the gas can be modified much more precisely than by conventional air conditioning methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Heat-Timer Corporation
    Inventor: David Sandelman
  • Patent number: 6212951
    Abstract: A Doppler flow velocity measuring unit wherein an optical unit including a laser and a photodetector is removably mounted on a pipeline is disclosed. The optical unit is attached to a pipe that is affixed to the pipeline at right angles to the flow in the pipeline. The pipe includes a shutoff valve that closes the pipe, permitting the optical unit to be removed from the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Alexandr Mikhailovich Derevyagin