Abstract: A moving platform roll sensor system comprises an ellipsometric detector capable of detecting a polarized beam within the detector's line-of-sight, and measuring the beam's polarization state, such that the polarization state indicates the rotational orientation of the moving platform with respect to a predefined coordinate system. The ellipsometric detector comprises a venetian blind component through which the polarized beam passes, arranged such that the intensity of the exiting beam varies with its incident angle with respect to the moving platform, a polarizing beamsplitter which splits the exiting beam into components having orthogonal circular polarizations, the relative intensities of which vary with the relative polarization vector of the beam, and first and second detectors which receive the first and second orthogonal circular components and generate respective outputs that vary with the intensities of their received components.

Abstract: A system and method monitoring a plasma with an optical sensor to determine the operations of a pulsed RF signal for plasma processing including a plasma chamber with an optical sensor directed toward a plasma region. An RF generator coupled to the plasma chamber through a match circuit. An RF timing system coupled to the RF generator. A system controller is coupled to the plasma chamber, the RF generator, the optical sensor, the RF timing system and the match circuit. The system controller includes a central processing unit, a memory system, a set of RF generator settings and an optical pulsed plasma analyzer coupled to the optical sensor and being capable to determine a timing of a change in state of an optical emission received in the optical sensor and/or a set of amplitude statistics corresponding to an amplitude of the optical emission received in the optical sensor.

Abstract: A system for inspecting a sample including a detector, either a photomultiplier tube or an electron-bombarded image sensor, that is positioned to receive light from the sample. The detector includes a semiconductor photocathode and a photodiode. Notably, the photodiode includes a p-doped semiconductor layer, an n-doped semiconductor layer formed on a first surface of the p-doped semiconductor layer to form a diode, and a pure boron layer formed on a second surface of the p-doped semiconductor layer. The semiconductor photocathode includes silicon, and further includes a pure boron coating on at least one surface.

Abstract: A vehicle measurement system includes a laser projector which is designed to generate suitable laser radiation during the vehicle measurement operation, and a laser protection device which is suitable for protecting people and objects from the laser radiation. The laser projector and the laser protection device are designed as separate components and are combinable to form a laser projector having a laser protection device and are separable from one another again.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for use in determining location of a celestial body are presented. The apparatus comprises: a polarizer comprising an array of polarized light filter cells and a light sensor array. The array of polarized light filter cells comprises at least a first polarization direction and a second polarization direction different from said first polarization direction. And the polarizer thereby produces polarized light of at least first and second different polarizations. The light sensor array is configured to receive the polarized light from the polarizer and produce data indicative of a pattern of at least one of light polarization intensity and direction. The pattern is indicative of at least one of azimuth and elevation of the celestial body to be located.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a transparent surface, a light emitting device that emits light through the transparent surface, and a light sensor for receiving ambient light and providing an ambient light value. A retarder and a linear polarizer are placed between the transparent surface and the light emitting device. The retarder and linear polarizer may attenuate internal reflections from the transparent surface. The light sensor may have two channels and a second linear polarizer may attenuate the ambient light directed toward a second channel. A second retarder may be used with the second linear polarizer to attenuate the ambient light directed toward the second channel. A light detection circuit may use the difference between the two channels of the light sensor to provide the ambient light value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a package structure of an optical apparatus which includes a substrate, a light emitting device, a light sensing device, and a light barrier member. The light emitting device is disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the substrate. The light emitting device is for emitting light. The light sensing device is disposed on the substrate and is a chip scale package (CSP) device. The light sensing device is for receiving light reflected by an object. The light barrier member is disposed around a periphery of the light sensing device.

Abstract: A physical information acquisition method in which a corresponding wavelength region of visible light with at least one visible light detection unit coupled to an image signal processing unit is detected, each said visible light detection unit comprising a color filter adapted to transmit the corresponding wavelength region of visible light; a wavelength region of infrared light with at least one infrared light detection unit coupled to the image signal processing unit is detected; and, with the signal processing unit, a first signal received from the at least one visible light detection unit by subtracting a product from said first signal is corrected, said product resulting from multiplication of a second signal received from the at least one infrared light detection unit and a predetermined coefficient factor.

Abstract: Several systems for tracking one or more radiation blocking objects on a surface are disclosed. At least three radiation sensors are provided adjacent the surface and a plurality of radiation sensers are provided adjacent the surface. Radiation from at least some of the radiation sources can reach each of the radiation sensors. One or more radiation blocking objects on the surface attenuate radiation from one or more radiation sources from reaching each of the sensors. One or more polygons is calculated based on the attenuated radiation sources and the positions of the sensors. The position of the one or more radiation blocking objects is estimated and may be tracked based on the polygons.

Abstract: Provided is a position detecting apparatus, including: a scale including pattern arrays formed in different cycles in a movement direction; an obtaining unit configured to obtain signals in accordance with a the plurality of pattern arrays; a phase calculator configured to calculate a phase of signals; a synchronism calculator configured to calculate a relative positional relationship between the obtaining unit and the scale by performing synchronism calculation of the phases calculated by the phase calculator; a synchronization error calculator configured to calculate a synchronization error in the synchronism calculation; and a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the synchronism calculation is normal by comparing the synchronization error and a predetermined threshold value with each other.

Abstract: Methods and systems using one or more distributed feedback (DFB) lasers for capturing changes in the lasing environment are disclosed. Specifically, a sensor for measuring a measurand, such as pressure or temperature, or changes in a measurand, includes a fiber with at least one core, at least one fiber laser cavity formed by a single fiber grating in the core, wherein the laser operates on at least two modes along at least part of its length. The DFB laser includes a section that is bent into a non-linear shape and at least one pump laser connected to the fiber laser cavity. When the DFB laser experiences a perturbation or measurand change that changes the spacing of the modes, a change in an RF beat note is generated. This beat note can then be measured and related to the measurand change.

Abstract: The integral type Analog/Digital (AD) converter includes: a comparator configured to compare a reference voltage of a ramp waveform with an input voltage and output a comparison signal; a DLL circuit configured to generate a plurality of clock signals; a delay adjustment circuit configured to delay the comparison signal; a counter configured to count a time from starting of changing of the ramp waveform to the inversion of the outputting from the delay adjustment circuit and output the counted result as a high-order bit; and a TDC configured to latch and decode the plurality of clock signals when the output of the delay adjustment circuit is inverted and output the latched and decoded result as a low-order bit, wherein the TDC starts an operation thereof by the inversion of the comparison signal, and stops the operation thereof by the inversion of the output signal of the delay adjustment circuit.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes a light emitting part for emitting light, a stationary slit part and a rotational slit part which allow part of the light emitted from the light emitting part to pass therethrough, a light receiving part for detecting the light passing through the stationary slit part and the rotational slit part, and a support for supporting the stationary slit part. The stationary slit part includes a patterned portion in which a plurality of slits for allowing light to pass therethrough are formed, a fixed portion fixed to the support, and an elastic structure which is elastically deformable and provided between the patterned portion and the fixed portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical receiver. The optical receiver has a first photosensor and a second photosensor disposed within a substrate. The first photosensor has a first angled surface located on a first side of a depression within the substrate, and the second photosensor has a second angled surface located on a second side of the depression, opposite the first side of the depression. A plurality of blocking structures are disposed over the substrate. The plurality of blocking structures block radiation that is not incident on the first and second angled surfaces. By receiving incident radiation on the first and second angled surfaces, the first and second photosensors are able to generate directional-dependent photocurrents that vary depending upon an angle of incident radiation. Based upon the directional-dependent photocurrents, an angle of incident radiation can be determined.

Abstract: An photoelectric convertor comprises an optical coupler, a circuit board and two restricting posts fixed on the circuit board. The optical coupler defined two restricting grooves passing through its bottom surface and top surface. When the optical coupler is positioned on the circuit board, the two restricting posts are respectively engaged in the two restricting grooves. Each restricting groove has a sidewall opposite to a front surface of the optical coupler.

Abstract: A solar energy system for collecting and converting solar energy to electricity using photovoltaic devices. The system further includes reflective panels to concentrate incident solar energy onto an array of solar panels, as well as an automated sun tracking system to rotate the solar and reflective panels to follow the sun.

Abstract: An array of photon sensitive devices is configured to provide outputs. Pulse shaping circuits operate to shape a respective output of the array in a normal mode of operation and shape a calibration signal in a calibration mode of operation.

Abstract: A system for determining a sash panel position. An example system includes a linear array of light emitting elements spaced at equal distances from one another mounted on a fume hood frame. The light emitting elements generate a light path towards a sash panel such that the sash panel blocks the light path when positioned at the light emitting element. A linear array of light sensing elements is spaced at equal distances from one another on a side opposite the sash panel. The light sensing elements receive the light path generated by corresponding light emitting elements when the sash panel does not block the light path. The light sensing elements may be on modules having shift registers with bits corresponding to the light sensing elements. The shift register stores a state of the light sensing element and outputs a series of bits indicating the state of each light sensing element.

Abstract: Approaches for determining object position in a flow path are disclosed. A system includes a spatial filter having a length disposed along a longitudinal axis of the flow path and a width along a lateral axis of the flow path. The spatial filter has mask features configured to modulate light. Light emanating from objects moving along the flow path is detected. The detected light has a component along a detection axis that makes a non-zero angle with respect to the longitudinal and lateral axes. An electrical output signal that includes information about the trajectory depth of the object is generated in response to the detected light.

Abstract: An optical proximity sensor often emits light, and detects the photons in the returned light signal. Because light can be reflected and scattered by cover glass and ink layer printed on the cover glass, optical crosstalk is a concern for the optical proximity sensors. In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides an optical proximity sensor including a linear polarizer to cover the photo detector, or a polarizer to cover the light emitting device, or two polarizers to cover both the photo detector and the light emitting device. The polarizer blocks the s-polarized light and only allows the p-polarized light to pass through. Because the scattered light is predominated by the s-polarization, the optical crosstalk may be reduced.