Abstract: An optical scanning device for scanning an optically readable record carrier (1) includes a radiation source (5), a radiation-sensitive detection system (7), and an optical scanning unit for focusing a scanning beam (3) produced by the radiation source to a scanning spot (9) on the record carrier. The scanning unit including a lens system having an optical axis (13), which lens system includes a first lens unit having a main lens (15) and a second lens unit having an auxiliary lens (17). The scanning device further includes a first detection unit involved in detection of the main lens with respect to the record carrier, and a second detection unit involved in detection of the auxiliary lens.

Abstract: A device and method permits detecting, measuring, and recording the intensity of radiation corresponding to a green plant's photoactive spectrum striking a selected site, and utilizing such information alphanumerically and graphically displaying the photoactive radiation exposure in sols incident at the site during a particular portion of a day, an entire day, a week, or an month. The photoactive radiation information provided by the invention device allows gardeners, farmers, researchers and others to match the types of trees, shrubs, crops or other plants that would grow best under the radiation conditions usually incident at the site over a desired, extended time period.

Abstract: A laser listening device detector is provided including a window of a room and a jamming mechanism abutting the window for vibrating the same upon the actuation thereof. Such vibration imparts perturbations on light directed at the window for jamming a laser listening device which is transmitting the light.

Abstract: An apparatus for housing a submergible optical sensor is provided. The apparatus comprises a sensor body having a sensor opening. The sensor body is operable to protect a sensor when submerged in a fluid. A shutter is disposed above the sensor opening. A motor couples to the shutter and can rotate the shutter. A controller couples to the motor and is operable to cause the motor to rotate the shutter such that the sensor opening is exposed when the sensor takes a measurement. The controller is further operable to cause the motor to rotate the shutter such that the shutter covers the sensor opening when the sensor is not taking a measurement.

Abstract: Very long linear large diameter rotational, and arbitrary shape conformal fiber encoders are suggested. These devices are based on detection of non-zeroth diffraction order or interference pattern of selected diffraction orders from the fiber grating. Relative and absolute position detection or movement detection can be realized. Depending on the variety of disclosed configurations of fiber encoders, fiber grating could be either a fiber Bragg grating (refractive index modulation grating), a fiber surface-relief phase grating, or fiber amplitude or amplitude phase grating. Each of these fiber gratings may have a uniform or chirped period, and the fiber grating encoders may be implemented using transmission, reflection, or Bragg angle reflection schemes. An optical fiber may be manufactured on a continuous basis by drawing it from preform. Consequently, there is really no limitation to the length of the linear fiber based encoders.

Abstract: A method of generating a color wheel index signal for use in a display system (10) that uses a spatial light modulator (14) and a color wheel (15). The index signal is compared to a reference signal associated with an input image signal so that the color wheel and the data being displayed can be synchronized (FIG. 2). The index signal is generated by placing a color-sensitive photodetector (14a) in close proximity to the spatial light modulator (14). Light filtered through the color wheel (15) illuminates both the spatial light modulator (14) and the photodetector (14a). The photodetector (14a) responds to color transitions in the filtered light, generating a pulse in response to each transition to the color to which it is sensitive.

Abstract: A thermostat for controlling the actuation of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system includes a light discriminator that determines the occupancy of an occupancy space by sensing the presence of artificial light and adjusts the temperature set point of the thermostat accordingly. The light discriminator includes a photodetection device, such as a photodiode, that provides an output current that is proportional to the radiant flux of the ambient light of the occupancy space where it is mounted. A filter circuit cancels the undesirable frequency components of the output signal of the photodiode, such as the frequency components associated with sunlight. The filtered signal is therefore representative of the artificial light used to illuminate the occupancy space. A controller adjusts the temperature set point of the thermostat in response to the filtered signal.

Abstract: Many applications of radiant energy transducer systems call for specific performance characteristics over desired fields of view or footprints on identified surfaces. Constructive occlusion utilizes a mask sized and positioned to occlude an active optical area, such as an aperture of a diffusely reflective cavity, so as to provide a tailored performance characteristic. Use of principles of constructive occlusion alone or in combination with several other techniques enable tailoring of the illumination distribution or the sensitivity profile of a radiant energy transducer system to meet the demands of specific applications. One mechanism used to further tailor performance involves a non-diffuse reflective shoulder along a peripheral section of the mask and cavity type system. Another technique involves using a retro-reflective surface, for example along a portion of the periphery of the system, to limit the angular field of view and to redirect light back into the system for emission within the desired field.

Abstract: This invention presents a method of clearing a sensor field of debris, including liquids, through the use of an air curtain. An embodiment of this invention addresses the problem of impurity buildup in the sensing field of an optical sorter. An air curtain is created which prevents film buildup between the light sensor and the light source by blowing material and impurities, which form the film as they fall off articles being sorted, out of the sensing field.

Abstract: A push button structure that is particularly suited for gaming equipment is tolerant of the spillage of food or beverage, or of continued operation thereof by individuals with soiled hands. The push button structure has an actuatable member having an outwardly extending flange and a manipulable portion. A retaining member is provided with an opening through which is exposed the manipulable portion of the actuatable member. A protrusion is formed on the inner surface of the retaining member or on the outer surface of the outwardly extending flange of the actuatable member to prevent the surfaces from communicating with each another over a large contact area. The reduction in the contact area reduces the strength of adhesion therebetween resulting from the contaminants.

Abstract: A target acquisition apparatus (10) having a laser beam source (12), wherein associated with the laser beam source (12) is an opto-mechanical tracking device (14) having a receiver (38) for reception of the laser beam which is reflected by a target (28). For evaluation of the signals of the receiver (38) there is provided an electronic evaluation device (18) which is connected together with the opto-mechanical tracking device (14). The receiver (38) has a photovoltaic four-quadrant detector (36) by which two orthogonal spatial direction co-ordinates (X, Y) are established. In order to compensate for dissimilar performance on the part of the quadrant detectors (E1, E2, E3, E4) of the four-quadrant detector (36) as is not to be ruled out for example due to temperature-induced or ageing-induced drift, the electronic evaluation device (18) is provided with switches (S1, S2, S3, S4) for signal inversion purposes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a housing comprising a rectangular transparent planar board for placing documents to be scanned and a rectangular case for placing a scanning module. The housing comprises a plurality of clasps for fixing the transparent planar board within a flatbed scanner and comprises front, rear, left and right ends. The case comprises four upright sides and a rectangular opening installed above the four upright sides for mounting the transparent planar board. The opening comprises front, rear, left and right sides. The left and right sides of the opening each comprises an L-shaped groove for mounting the left and right ends of the transparent planar board, respectively. The front and rear sides of the opening each comprises a clasp for mounting the front and rear ends of the transparent planar board.

Abstract: A data collection method for scanning a scan window comprising one or more channels is described. In the method of the invention an integrated signal (S) is measured across a scan window including one or more channels using an integrating detector. Next, a velocity-normalized integrated signal (Sn) is determined based on the integrated signal (S) and a scan velocity.

Abstract: A housing for a portable scanning device is described having a front side and back side, with a scanning device sized to fit within the housing. A transparent platen located on the front side of the housing allows an object positioned adjacent the transparent platen to be scanned by the scanning device. A window located on the back side of the housing allows a user to view at least a portion the object positioned adjacent the transparent platen.

Abstract: A scanner includes a photodetector, and encoder and an exposure control. For each line of pixels detected by the photodetector, the exposure control starts the exposure time and then stops the exposure time after a specified amount of relative motion has been detected. Thus, variations in the amount of relative motion cause inversely proportional variations in the exposure time to ensure that exposure time for each line of pixels corresponds to the same displacement. The exposure control can compensate for unavoidable position and velocity errors encountered in a dc motor drive and thereby allows a dc motor drive to be used in low cost commercial scanning products.

Abstract: In an inventive analyzing system (e.g. liquid chromatograph), an analyzing schedule includes data on whether or not to carry out a self-check for each sample, and data on what process to follow the self-check according to the check result, in addition to data on the analyzing order and analyzing condition of a series of analyses on a plurality of samples. In carrying out the analysis according to the schedule, a self-check is carried out after an analysis of a sample for which the self-check is scheduled. In the self-check, a data collecting unit 17 collects data on the degree of degradation of expendable parts and on the wavelength error of a spectrophotometric detector 14, etc., and a checking unit 18 detects abnormality by comparing the data to preset tolerable values. For example, in the case where the process specified to follow the detection of abnormality is "stop analysis on detecting abnormality", a control unit 15 stops each part of the system so that the rest of the analyses are deferred.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method to quickly and accurately measure the luminance and luminance distribution of a light on the surface of an object so that the position of the lamp can be adjusted relative to the projector optics to obtain the best luminance available for that object. A scanning light receiver, which produces an optical image of the object whose luminance is to be tested, is set up so that it may view a substantial portion of the surface of the object. The light receiver is connected to a analyzer and control unit ("ACU") to which it sends an electronic image representing the reflected luminance of the surface during each scan. The reflected light that is detected by the light receiver is then analyzed by the ACU to determine the luminance levels and distribution across a substantial portion of the surface by measuring the voltage of each pixel detected by the light receiver measured against the voltage produced by a black level.