Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7943889 | Apparatus for improving detection efficiency of multiphoton microscopy systems by focus compensation, pupil image division, and parallel pupil rearrangement Disclosed is an apparatus for division and rearrangement of light from a source object. The apparatus splits the light from the source object, or image of the source object, and recombines it in a parallel, fashion to increase the efficiency of multiphoton microscop... | 05/17/2011 |
| 7679039 | Compositions and methods for drop boundary detection and radiation beam alignment The invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the position of a radiation beam. The apparatus includes (a) a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface, the reflective surfaces being placed to form the reflective exterior of a wedge; (... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7327452 | Light beam apparatus and method for orthogonal alignment of specimen A system for orthogonal alignment of a specimen disclosed. The system includes a light-beam illumination source, collection optics, imaging optics, and a tiltable specimen holder. The light-beam source is activated to illuminate a spot on the specimen, and the imagi... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7262805 | Focus detecting system A focus detecting system for determining the focus state of an imaging lens, such as a camera lens, is disclosed. Object light not forming an image for image production is deflected along an optical axis through a relay lens to a focus state detection unit that incl... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7209135 | Image display apparatus The invention provides an image display apparatus that efficiently adjusts a video display even when a change takes place in an input signal. The image display apparatus includes a video input device that receives a video signal, a video display that displays an opt... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7197062 | Method and apparatus to detect and decode information Briefly, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a method and apparatus to detect and decode information is provided, wherein the method includes sampling a radio frequency (RF) impulse signal to generate a sample signal and storing the sample signal for ... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7154527 | Optical device Stereoscopic device including at least two apertures, each including a light valve, a multi wavelength light sensor array and a controllable multi wavelength illumination unit, producing at least two alternating beams of light, each of the beams of light is characte... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7142241 | Image pickup device An image pickup device has an image sensor having rectangular light receiving portions arranged in a matrix, and microlenses disposed in correspondence with said light receiving portions, said light receiving portions and said microlenses being formed integrally wit... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7138970 | Method of LED life extension and end-of-life prediction A method or technique of operating the LED illumination system within a line scan camera comprises the operation of the LED illumination sources at a relatively high gain control level, less than the one hundred percent maximum or acceptable gain level, and a corres... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7136104 | Mirror box and electronic still camera A mirror box comprises a quick return mirror and an optical low-pass filter. When observing a subject image, the quick return mirror is set to a reflecting position, in which the quick return to mirror is inclined to the optical axis of a photographing lens group by... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7125126 | Eye cup adjustment device for optical apparatus such as binoculars An eyepiece member comprises an eye cup provided on the outer circumference of an eyepiece barrel that holds an eyepiece lens, the eye cup being movable relative to the eyepiece barrel along the direction of the optical axis of the eyepiece lens, and a positioning m... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7116352 | Capsule System for producing a stereoscopic image of an object, and displaying the stereoscopic image, the system including a capsule and a control unit, the capsule including a sensor assembly, a processor connected to the sensor assembly, a capsule transceiver connected t... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7099078 | Borescope with simultaneous video and direct viewing An assembly is described for connection to a borescope to simultaneously provide a virtual image for direct viewing by an observer and a video image for viewing on a display. The assembly (10) comprises a body (12) with a distal end for connection to a... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7085488 | Automatic focusing apparatus This invention has as its object to execute an optimal automatic focusing operation in both a case that attaches an importance on the focusing precision, and a case that attaches an importance on quick photographing. To this end, an apparatus includes a focus lens u... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7079219 | Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and exposure system A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including obtaining a first dimension difference or ratio which shows a dimension difference or ratio of a latent images of a first and a second focus monitor marks, or a dimension difference or ratio of a first and... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7072799 | Information processing apparatus, maintenance managing method, program, and computer-readable storing medium In an information processing apparatus which can obtain use histories of the parts in an image forming apparatus, counter values of the parts in the image forming apparatus are obtained, magnitudes of the previously obtained counter value and the presently obtained ... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7045974 | LED optical energy detection and feedback system A system for the throughput detection and feedback of optical energy for making sure of white balance of the LED array in a flat fluorescent light source when the LED array in emitting light by respectively connecting in series a selected LED lamp respectively from ... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7041950 | Image sensing element for sensing an image formed by an image sensing lens This invention realizes high-precision exposure regardless of the F-number of an image sensing lens in photography. One pixel includes a first light-receiving region (119c) which includes a region where the principal ray of an image sensing lens is inc... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7035404 | Method and apparatus for shuffle with proof, method and apparatus for shuffle verification, method and apparatus for generating input message sequence and program for same A shuffle with proof having a method for proof generating with small computational resources proportionate to the number of input encrypted messages and a corresponding method for verification. Shuffle is represented by a generalized transformation. Combining a proo... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7021587 | Dual channel fail-safe system and method for adjusting aircraft trim A system for providing automatic trim control associated with a control surface in an aircraft that utilizes at least two sensors that must agree in direction before trim adjustment is made. Each sensor is provided with a separate an independent controller channel t... | 04/04/2006 |
| 7016110 | Microscope suitable for high-throughput screening having an autofocusing apparatus The apparatus for automatically focusing an image in a microscope includes onto an object plane includes an optical system configured to form an optical image of a sample plane to be observed, an autofocusing detection system, and a focus correction system. The auto... | 03/21/2006 |
| 7012989 | Multiple grooved x-ray generator An X-ray tube has a metal-ceramic envelope having rotatably mounted therein an anode disk, which may be axially translatable and provided with a peripheral rim surface wherein a focal track spiral groove (or multiple annular grooves) is disposed. The groove(s) inclu... | 03/14/2006 |
| 6993255 | Method and apparatus for providing adaptive illumination An illumination system (20, 72, 110, 142) for illuminating a scene comprising: an illuminator (24, 74, 116) having a plurality of substantially contiguous independently controllable light (26, 76) providing regions each of which provides light t... | 01/31/2006 |
| 6977631 | Optical scanning system with variable focus lens Apparent distance of a pixel within an optical field of view is determined. Incoming light is scanned along a raster pattern to direct light for a select pixel onto a light distance detector. The distance is sampled for each pixel or for a group of pixels. The light... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6974940 | Anti-glare rearview mirror assembly and reflectance control method of same An anti-glare rearview mirror assembly and a reflectance control method thereof are disclosed. The assembly includes an electrochromic rearview mirrors, two rearward light sensors, and a comparative controller. The sensors receiving a first rearward light from a fir... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6970410 | Focus detection in a digital focus servo system A system for determining whether a focus servo system is in focus or out of focus (i.e. open) is disclosed. A sum signal can be compared with a threshold value. If the sum signal is below the threshold value, then a focus open condition (i.e., out-of-focus) can be i... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6927906 | Binocular telescope with photographing function A binocular telescope with a photographing function includes a pair of telescopic optical systems, a casing for receiving the telescopic optical systems, and the casing has outer-side end portions. A camera system includes a photographing optical system, and a solid... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6924933 | Binoculars A mechanism for focal adjustment and dipotric deviation adjustment in binoculars. The mechanism includes: a first focal adjustment lens system; a second focal adjustment lens system; a focal adjustment shaft that performs a focal adjustment by causing the first foca... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6919883 | Charge characteristic compensating circuit for liquid crystal display panel A charge characteristic compensating circuit for a liquid crystal display panel for maintaining a charge characteristic of the liquid crystal display panel independently of ambient temperature change to prevent deterioration of images displayed. A plurality of liqui... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6917470 | Optical apparatus This invention relates to an optical apparatus for observation which is provided with drive control means for driving a variable angle prism on the basis of an output signal from vibration detecting means and in which the variable angle prism is installed between an... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6917421 | Systems and methods for multi-dimensional inspection and/or metrology of a specimen Systems and methods for assessing a dimension of a feature on a specimen are provided. A system may include an illumination system configured to scan the specimen with light at multiple focal planes substantially simultaneously. The system may also include a collect... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6909545 | Binocular vibration correcting device and binocular optical instrument Binocular vibration correcting device comprises left and right vibration-correcting optical systems that correct images by being driven in the yaw and pitch directions in accordance with vibration. Optical system holding members hold the left and right vibration-cor... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6875971 | Wafer edge exposure apparatus, and wafer edge exposure method A wafer edge exposure apparatus is provided with an optical section for radiating exposure light onto the edge of a semiconductor wafer. The optical section is provided with a focus sensor for sensing a distance from the lower end of the optical section to the edge ... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6870147 | Light stability testing device A light stability testing device for conducting an accurate light stability test that permits an accurate ultraviolet irradiation and an accurate visible light irradiation, the device comprising an optical sensor having a visible light measuring sensor (5) fo... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6831262 | Method of determining characteristic correction data for correcting output signal from image sensor There is disclosed a method of determining characteristic correction data from reference data values picked up through an image sensor by scanning a reference original a plurality of times per one photoelectric conversion element of the image sensor. A running mean ... | 12/14/2004 |
| 6665097 | Image reading apparatus When sequentially reading a plurality of documents in an image reading apparatus using, for example, an automatic document feeder, the temperature inside the apparatus rises and the refractive index of a lens or the like in an optical system changes, caus... | 12/16/2003 |
| 6525303 | Control systems and methods for synchronizing diffuse illumination with a camera A light pattern controller generates a pattern of continuous wave, modulated and/or pulsed light onto a face of a collimating element. The light beam is collimated by the collimating element and extends to a focusing element which focuses the collimated l... | 02/25/2003 |
| 6396873 | Optical device Stereoscopic device including a lenticular lens layer and light sensor array, the lenticular lens layer includes a plurality of lenticular elements, the sight sensor array includes a plurality of light sensors, wherein selected ones of the light sensors d... | 05/28/2002 |
| 6350977 | Pattern distortion detecting method and apparatus and recording medium for pattern distortion detection Sampling points are generated selectively in a prescribed portion other than the pattern edge portion of a layout pattern used in a semiconductor manufacturing process based on an input that is data of the layout pattern. Simulation results of a pattern t... | 02/26/2002 |
| 6008484 | Observer tracking directional display and observer tracking illumination system Observer tracking is provided in an autostereoscopic 3D display, for instance of the type including an LCD panel 2 behind a parallax barrier. An infrared sensor such as a position sensitive detector is provided on the LCD panel. The parallax barrier exten... | 12/28/1999 |
