145 results about "Focal area" patented technology

A mechanically formed transducer capable of producing a non-ideal focal region is described. The transducer has a plurality of piezoelectric elements suspended in an epoxy and heat molded into a desired shape. One or more shaped irregularities in the transducer provides for a mechanically induced non-ideal focal field without the need for electronic steering or lens focusing. Systems and methods of making the same are also described.

A diode light source for theatrical and architectural lighting has a number of separate, flat, rigid panels for mounting light-emitting diodes. These emit diode light beams to a common focal area. A group of the diodes is mounted on each panel, and each panel has an inner and outer panel. A screw arrangement selectively positions the panels, with each oriented at a selected angle relative to an axis, and with each diodes group emitting diode light beams transverse to each separate panel. Each inner panel is flexibly secured to the screw arrangement. The panels hold the diodes and act as electrical circuit boards for transmitting direct electrical current to the diodes on the panels. The screw includes an elongated, externally threaded cylinder with opposed inner and outer ends that is rotatably aligned with the axis and mounted on a corresponding internally cylindrical threaded nut.

A lighting fixture is disclosed which provides a substantially uniform elongated light output, yet is powered by only a minimum number of inexpensive light emitting diodes. The lighting fixture has a curved back surface and a selected focal area to provide a substantially uniform output. Multiple LEDs may be controlled by a controller to provide special lighting effects. Each of the side surfaces and the back surface may include a reflector. The lighting fixtures preferably have flat end surfaces so they may be placed end-to-end to create an elongated light bar of any desired length.

A micro-miniature x-ray apparatus comprises: a first chip subassembly including a source of x-rays including both Bremsstrahlung photons and characteristic x-rays; a second chip subassembly including a filter for transmitting the characteristic x-rays and blocking the Bremsstrahlung photons; a third chip subassembly including a movable element for focusing or collimating the transmitted characteristic x-rays into a beam and means for controlling the position of the focusing element. In one embodiment, the controlling means include a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS). In another embodiment, the position of the movable element determines how the x-ray beam is steered to the focal area. In still another embodiment, the x-ray source includes a field emitter electron source and a target responsive to the electrons for generating x-rays. In this case, the x-ray beam is also steered by selectively energizing the anode segments. In yet another embodiment, the movable element includes a Fresnel zone plate; in still another embodiment it includes an array of poly-capillaries. Advantageously, our x-ray source, including its focusing, collimating and steering components, can be fabricated small enough to be mounted at the end of a catheter. In addition, in some embodiments it can also fabricated sufficiently inexpensively to be disposable after each use.

The invention provides multifocal lenses for correction of presbyopia. Each of the lenses of the invention provide both distance and near vision correction by providing both a first multifocal region, a monofocal region, and a second multifocal region within the same lens.

A system of stereo imagers, including image processing units and methods of blurring an image, is presented. The image is received from an image sensor. For each pixel of the image, a depth filter component is determined based on a focal area of the image and a depth map associated with the image. For each pixel of the image, a trilateral filter is generated that includes a spatial filter component, a range filter component and the depth filter component. The respective trilateral filter is applied to corresponding pixels of the image to blur the image outside of the focal area. A refocus area or position may be determined by imaging geometry or may be selected manually via a user interface.

A diode light source system for stage, theatrical and architectural lighting has numerous separate flat, rigid panels for mounting light emitting diodes that emit diode light beams to a common focal area. Each panel is mounted with a group of these diodes, and each has an outer and an inner panel. A screw arrangement selectively positions the panels, with each panel oriented at a selected angle relative to an axis, and with each group of diodes emitting diode light beams transverse to each separate panel. Each inner panel portion is flexibly secured to the screw arrangement. The panels function hold the diodes and act as electrical circuit boards to transmit direct electrical current to the diodes on the panels. The screw arrangement includes an elongated, externally threaded cylinder, with opposed inner and outer ends, rotatably aligned with the axis and mounted on a corresponding internally cylindrical threaded nut.

A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, comprising: establishing a focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region; creating a focal region image for the focal region by scaling the original image within the focal region by a focal region magnification; creating a shoulder region image for the shoulder region by scaling the original image within the shoulder region by a shoulder region magnification, the shoulder region magnification being less than the focal region magnification; and, overlaying the focal region image and the shoulder region image on the original image to thereby generate the presentation.

The present invention is a Solar Concentrator composed of a generally V shaped trough of reflective Fresnel steps. Said Fresnel reflective steps concentrate the sunlight entering the mouth of the V shaped trough and parallel to its' central axis into a central focal area. By disposing a solar energy receiving element at the central focal area of sunlight concentration a preferred embodiment as a concentrating solar energy collector is realized. Various types of solar energy receiving structures are shown that serve to convert the concentrated sunlight into other forms of useful energy to realize the preferred embodiment as a concentrating solar energy collector.

A method of high spatial resolution imaging a structure in a sample comprises: marking the structure with molecules of a fluorescent dye; selecting a first wavelength for excitation light which excites the molecules of the fluorescent dye via a multi photon process for spontaneous emission of fluorescent light; focussing pulses of the excitation light into the sample to excite those molecules of the fluorescent dye present in a focal area of the focussed excitation light; selecting a second wavelength shorter than the first wavelength for de-excitation light which de-excites excited molecules of the fluorescent dye prior to their spontaneous emission; during a plurality of the pulses of the excitation light, continuously directing the de-excitation light onto the sample to de-excite excited molecules of the fluorescent dye, which are located outside an measurement area which is a fraction of the focal area; and recording the fluorescent light spontaneously emitted by the molecules of the fluorescent dye in the sample.

An antenna system includes an antenna feed aligned with a subreflector and a main reflector. The subreflector has a concave surface defining a vertex. A main reflector having a concave surface is aligned with the subreflector to define an antenna focal area at the vertex of the subreflector. The antenna feed may be a phased array or fixed antenna feed. The antenna system may further include a controller cooperating with the phased array antenna feed for beamsteering or beamforming. The controller may cooperate with the phased array antenna feed to define and steer multiple beams, at different frequencies, for example.

An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object includes a beam former that provides a phase velocity adjustment function for producing an ultrasonic image with a programmable phase velocity. The ultrasonic image scanning system further includes a beam profile analysis function for calculating an optimal phase velocity with a user controller to adjust the phase velocity until a scan image of best image quality is achieved. Alternately, the system may provide an automatic phase velocity-scanning controller for automatically scanning through a range of phase velocities and selecting a best phase velocity generating a scanning image of a best quality. The system further includes a region of interest (ROI) controller for a user to select a region for scanning with a specific focal area for optimizing the phase velocity. The system may further provide a maximum gradient analyzer for selecting an image of a best quality in optimizing the phase velocity. A digital controller may also provide a real time programmable control by applying different control algorithms with combination of phase velocity and attenuation adjustment. A hardness computational processor is implemented to determine a tissue hardness using the phase velocity and in combination with the attenuation parameter.

An x-ray analysis system with an x-ray source for producing an x-ray excitation beam directed toward an x-ray analysis focal area; and a sample chamber for presenting a fluid sample to the x-ray analysis focal area. The x-ray excitation beam is generated by an x-ray engine and passes through an x-ray transparent barrier on a wall of the chamber, to define an analysis focal area within space defined by the chamber. The fluid sample is presented as a stream suspended in the space and streaming through the focal area, using a laminar air flow and / or pressure to define the stream. The chamber's barrier is therefore separated from both the focal area and the sample, resulting in lower corruption of the barrier.

The invention discloses a photographing method, and relates to the field of data processing. The photographing method is used for solving a problem that photographing operation is complicated. According to the technical scheme, multiple images are obtained through photographing in one step, a depth map is calculated, and one photographing operation is performed by a user according to clarity of the multiple images so that the image with the highest clarity in a focal area can be obtained, and the image with the blurring effect can also be generated. The photographing method can be applied to a scene of electronic terminal photographing.

A method of exciting an optical transition in a narrowly limited area of a material comprising the steps of focusing an excitation light beam whose wavelength is tuned to the optical transition to be excited into a focal area extending beyond a focal point; splitting up a de-excitation light beam which is at least somehow influencing the optical transition into at least two partial beams; focusing the at least two partial beams of the de-excitation light beam out of different directions onto the focal point to form a spatially extending interference pattern in the focal area; adjusting a relative phase of the at least two partial beams of the de-excitation light beam so that the interference pattern has an intensity minimum at the focal point and a plurality of intensity maxima on different sides of the focal point; and aberrating the wave fronts of the at least two partial beams of the de-excitation light beam so that the intensity maxima of the interference pattern on different sides of the focal point are spatially expanded without eliminating the intensity minimum at the focal point.

The invention relates to apparatus for controlling the processing of blood into blood components, particularly components for stroboscopic LED light sources for centrifuges. The stroboscopic apparatus comprises a first light source with reflective surfaces spaced around a central illumination axis, and light-emitting diodes spaced away from the axis radially outward from the reflective surfaces. An additional light source comprises a modified parabolic reflector surrounding a light emitting diode, the parabolic reflector having walls spaced outwardly from an axis of symmetry such that focal points fall radially outwardly from a center of the LED, forming a circular focal area. A controller that energizes the diodes for selected periods of time comprises a pair of switches connected in series, with an LED connected between the switches. One of the switches is connected to ground and is closed at the end of a period of illumination.

A method, system, and computer program product for analyzing project testing practices of an organization is provided. In one embodiment, a consultant is provided with a set of documents utilized for initiating the testing practices assessment process as well as with a testing assessment questionnaire. The questions in the questionnaire are tailored to a select number of key focal areas and provide the consultant with a standardized set of questions leading to repeatability of the process and quantization of results and recommendations. The consultant is also provided with a spreadsheet for entering the consultant's observations and the organization's answers to the questionnaire. A graphical representation of maturity levels for a select number of sub-levels for at least one of the key focal areas is generated based on the consultant's entries in the spreadsheet.

An infrared light unit for a motor vehicle includes a light source, a reflector having two focal regions and a lens. The light source is in one of the focal regions and produces a pool of reflected light in the other focal region, and the lens converts this pool of light into a beam projected on the road. The light unit includes, between the reflector and the lens, a filter which is opaque to visible light and transparent to infrared light, and which is movable between a position out of the path of light going from the reflector to the lens, and an active position in which all or most of the light going from the reflector to the lens passes through the filter.

A concentrating solar collector is disclosed, comprising: A nested main frame and reflector carriage with vertically folding reflectors in a Fresnel-type array, using a one-piece pre-formed panel. A hand-winch operated cable system provides for a full range of reflector altitude adjustment. A one-piece, pre-formed reflector panels provide for pre-aligned mounting of reflective material. An alignment guide allows assessment of solar tracking alignment without gazing toward the focal area. A flattop receiver for heating smaller flat-bottomed pots and pans or for direct griddle cooking, and an adjustable rack for positioning larger cooking vessels in the focal area for use as direct receivers. Also described is a method for making one-piece, pre-formed reflector panels. One embodiment has a lower frame portion substantially forming a rolling chassis. An additional embodiment describes lower frame structure for a fixed location installation.

A deflector for a gas turbine engine combustor. The combustor includes a liner defining a combustion zone and a mixer assembly configured to supply the combustion zone with a predetermined mixture of fuel and air. The deflector includes a deflector body configured to couple to the liner. The deflector body includes a first surface configured to reflect thermal radiation to a predetermined focal area, and an aperture extending through the deflector body and configured to receive the mixer assembly therethrough.

An apparatus comprising a first portion and a second portion wherein the first portion includes sides shaped to direct a guided electromagnetic planar waveguide mode to a focal region outside of the first portion. The second portion is adjacent the first portion and contains at least a part of the focal region. The first portion and the second portion are structured and arranged to provide a depth of focus adjacent to the focal region. The depth of focus may be in the range of about 300 nm to about 2000 nm.

A hearing-aid apparatus using ultrasonic waves is inserted and mounted within an external auditory meatus of an ear, generates an ultrasonic wave band signal by single side band amplitude modulation of a sound signal that is received through a microphone, and outputs the ultrasonic wave band signal and a carrier signal that is used for single side band amplitude modulation as an ultrasonic wave signal to a transfer medium in a predetermined beam direction. Therefore, the ultrasonic wave signal forms a focal area in a damaged hearing organ area, the ultrasonic wave band signal is restored to a sound signal by nonlinear characteristics of a transfer medium in the focal area, and the damaged hearing organ detects the sound signal.

The present invention relates to a torso-positioning and target-locating apparatus using medical imaging apparatus for treating a living body or tissue with shockwaves originating from at least two sources to a focal area within the living body or tissue.

In a STED fluorescence light microscope pulses of excitation light (3) are applied to a sample, which excite fluorescent entities contained in the sample for fluorescence, and which are focused on at least one focal area. Further, de-excitation light (12) is applied to the sample, which de-excites the excited fluorescent entities and which comprises an intensity zero point in the at least one focal area, as a continuous wave. Fluorescence light emitted by the excited fluorescent entities in the sample is registered after each pulse of the excitation light (3) and overlapping with applying the de-excitation light (13) with high temporal resolution between consecutive pulses of the excitation light (3).

A digital camera and method or algorithm that quickly determines if there are objects in a focus region of the camera that are nearer to or farther from the current focus position. Multiple focusing zones are used along with a technique that compares data from each of the focusing zones to determine distance relationships between objects in different zones.

A motor vehicle headlamp comprises a light source, a reflector possessing first and second focal regions, and a converging lens. The source is located in the first focal region and the lens possesses a focus situated in the second focal region. The reflector and the lens have axes which are essentially coincident defining the optical axis of the headlamp. The headlamp is intended to generate a light beam exhibiting high intensity along the optical axis and a limited extension below the optical axis. A first area of the reflector extending in the vicinity of an axial vertical plane generates, in a focal plane of the lens, images of the source the center which is substantially offset with respect to the focus of the lens, while two second areas of the reflector located on either side of said first area generate, in the same focal plane, images of the source the centers of which pass close to or onto the focus of the lens.

An optical system is configured for projecting an image having a quasi-flat-topped intensity profile from a laser-beam having a Gaussian intensity profile. The optical system includes a diffraction limited lens for focusing the laser beam and one or more optical elements that introduce aberration into the beam before the beam is focused. The aberration introduced causes the Gaussian intensity profile to be changed to the quasi-flat-topped intensity profile at some position in a focal region of the diffraction-limited lens.

Apparatus for forming a single or a plurality of threedimensional optical traps, the apparatus comprising: a. A collimated light source that is directed onto an array of focalizing refractive or diffractive elements providing a single or a plurality of focal areas, and b. An array of reflective elements, placed opposite to the said focalizing elements described in a), which reflect back the light into the said focal area. The invention also relates to a method for using this apparatus.

A solar concentrator comprises a pair of concentric reflectors having a spindle toroid geometry for focusing the collected solar radiation into a ring-shaped focal area, as opposed to the “point” or “line” focus of prior art configurations. In a preferred embodiment, each reflector is formed of a plurality of curved petals that are disposed in a contiguous, keystone arrangement that requires no additional fixturing to hold the petals in place. Such an arrangement reduces the weight, complexity and cost of the final solar concentrator structure.