Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring device (6) for monitoring the environment, in particular for monitoring the environment for radioactive radiation, comprising at least one receiver for receiving measured values of an environmental variable that potentially poses a health hazard and comprising a computing unit (10) for computing a hazard warning (4.1-4.4) dependent on the measured values. The receiver is designed to receive the measured values from a plurality of spatially distributed electronic terminals (2.1-2.4), in particular from mobile telephones with an image sensor for measuring the radioactive radiation. The invention further relates to a corresponding terminal (2.1-2.4) and to a complete monitoring system with a monitoring device and numerous terminals (2.1-2.4) for measuring the environmental variable.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an optical sensor module, an optical sensing accessory, and an optical sensing device. An optical sensor module comprises a light source, a photodetector, an electrode and a substrate. The light source is configured to convert electric power into radiant energy and emit light to an object surface. The photodetector is configured to receive the light from an object surface and convert radiant energy into electrical current or voltage. The electrode is configured to detect an external circuit formed by the contact with an object surface. An optical sensing accessory and an optical sensing device comprise the optical sensor module and other electronic modules to have further applications.

Abstract: An optical isolator is provided. The optical isolator includes a printed circuit board having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The printed circuit board has a recess extending only partially through the board. The first photoelement has an active surface and is mounted relative to the first surface of the printed circuit board. A second photoelement has an active surface and is mounted relative to the second surface. The second photoelement is configured to interact with the first photoelement. At least one of the first and second photoelements has its active surface disposed at least partially in the recess. A portion of the printed circuit board is interposed between the first and second photoelements.

Abstract: The circuit of detection of light radiation includes a photodetector. The photodetector is coupled to three capacitors by means of three switches. The capacitors are parallel mounted to form a capacitive load whose value of electrical capacity changes as a function of the openings/closures of the switches. This configuration allows to stabilize the voltage present on the output terminal in the detection circuit for a wider range of illumination sustained by photodetector.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for dynamically controlling a current that is applied to a light source of an optical encoder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for simultaneous fluorescence contrasting effect in transmitted light and reflected light, having a reflected light optical path for focusing of the excitation light via a lens onto a sample, having a fluorescence signal, which extends from the sample and is directed onto the same lens, having a dichroite, an emission filter, and a detection unit for the purpose of separating the excitation light from the fluorescence signal and for detection, having a luminescent layer behind the sample and a diaphragm for partial coverage of the excitation optical path between the sample and the luminescent layer, whereby a part of the excitation optical path, which impinges onto the luminescent layer, emits light, which irradiates the sample past the diaphragm by forming an oblique transmitted light illumination.

Abstract: A proximity sensor for detecting non-contact detection of a target using a fiber optic strain sensor and a system for operating multiple such proximity sensors is disclosed. The proximity sensor includes an optic fiber that has an optic fiber strain sensor that is coupled to a mass that moves in response to the target. The mass can be a magnet that moves when a ferrous target is within the magnetic field of the magnet causing the magnet to move and apply strain to the optic fiber strain sensor. The optic strain sensor can include periodic variation in the refractive index of the optic fiber, such as a fiber Bragg grating. The proximity sensor can include a second fiber optic sensor that is sensitive to temperature or a second fiber optic strain sensor coupled to a second magnet that operates in opposition to the first magnet. A system coupling multiple proximity sensors can include an interrogator that has an optical power source and a detector, each coupled to a processor.

Abstract: A Brillouin backscattered spectrum is obtained in such a way that two optical pulse pairs each composed of two pulses of different durations and of the same phase and ? phase difference are launched into a sensing optical fiber; Brillouin backscattered lights produced by the optical pulse pairs are detected into signals for the respective optical pulse pairs; the signals are sampled with two window functions whose time widths are equal to respective pulse durations of the optical pulse pair and whose delay time is variable; each sampled signal is transformed with a predetermined transformation; products of the transformed signals are calculated; and subtraction between the products is performed.

Abstract: Imaging sensors, imaging apparatuses, and methods of driving an image sensor are provided. An image sensor can include a semiconductor substrate with a photoelectric conversion element and a charge-conversion element. The sensor can further include a capacitance switch. A charge accumulation element is located adjacent the photoelectric conversion element. At least a portion of the charge accumulation element overlaps a charge accumulation region of the photoelectric conversion element. The charge accumulation element is selectively connected to the charge-voltage conversion element by the capacitance switch.

Abstract: A laser scanner which includes a transmission subsystem and a reception subsystem. The transmission subsystem includes a light source which emits a light beam and a scanning mirror rotatable about an axis which reflects the light beam toward a scanning area and which directs return light from objects toward the reception subsystem. The reception system may include a collecting mirror dimensioned and positioned to receive the return light from the scanning mirror. The reception system may also include a dichroic or interference filter disposed between the collecting mirror and the scanning mirror. The interference filter filters the return light from the scanning mirror and provides the filtered return light to the collecting mirror. The reception subsystem also includes a light detector disposed between the interference filter and the collecting mirror, in operation the light detector receives the filtered return light reflected from the collecting mirror.

Abstract: An optical isolator includes: an input-side lens converting an operating light incident in a forward direction via an optical fiber input end into parallel light beams; an input-side polarizer disposed on a right hand of the input-side lens; a Faraday rotator rotating a polarization plane of the operating light having been converted into the parallel light beams; an output-side polarizer disposed on an output side of the Faraday rotator; an output-side lens transmitting the operating light having passed through the output-side polarizer; an optical filter blocking light leakage and transmitting the operating light; an optical fiber output end that the operating light exits; and a housing accommodating the input-side lens, the input-side polarizer, the Faraday rotator, the output-side polarizer, the output-side lens, the optical filter and the optical fiber output end therein to enclose them.

Abstract: Embodiment of the present invention provides various types of optical measurement scaleplates, optical measurement apparatus and method using the optical measurement scaleplates for position measurements. In one embodiment, an optical measurement scaleplate has a substrate and a plurality of marking units each being borne on the substrate at a predetermined position. Each marking unit includes a plurality of optically detectable marking elements. Each of said marking elements has an element value defined a permutation of the element value of each of the marking elements in said marking unit, and each unit value corresponds to a physical quantity. On the substrate there is defined a first direction. The physical quantity includes a first distance between a reference position and said predetermined position along the first direction.

Abstract: The invention provides the art with novel image sensor pixel designs comprising stacked, pinned photodiodes. The stacked pinned photodiodes provide pixels with greatly increased dynamic range. The stacked pinned photodiodes also allow improved color discrimination for low light imaging, for example utilizing pixels with no overlaying color filter array.

Abstract: A photosensor is provided with a sensor circuit assembly. The sensor circuit assembly includes alight emitter, a light receiver, a light-emitter support, a light-receiver support, and a connecting part. The light emitter and the light receiver face each other. The light-emitter support extends from and supports the light emitter. The light-receiver support extends from and supports the light receiver. The connecting part connects one end of the light-emitter support with one end of the light-receiver support. The connecting part includes a seal and a connection terminal that protrudes from the seal. The connection terminal includes a first press-contact part, and a first pressure part that presses the first press-contact part in a press-contact direction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for locally measuring strains within a measurement volume that comprises a test body formed from a homogeneous material of known mechanical properties and ellipsoidal in shape intended to be included in the measurement volume, at least one measurement optical fiber for measuring deformation embedded within said test body and means for linking the at least one measurement optical fiber to a system designed to stimulate the at least one measurement optical fiber, detect signals coming from the fibers and, by means of an electronic system capable of carrying out calculations, determine strains from at least one of the detected signals and known mechanical properties.

Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including a substrate having a surface over which a plurality of photodiodes are formed, and a protection film that is transparent, has a water-proofing property, and includes a side wall part vertical to the surface of the substrate and a ceiling part covering a region surrounded by the side wall part, the side wall part and the ceiling part surrounding a region where the plurality of photodiodes are arranged over the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel charge mode readout circuits and associated methods of signal processing. The devices and methods of the invention allow for the improved processing of stored signals by a charge mode readout amplifier, wherein the readout level may be shifted to a desired range and wherein a fully differential output swing may be imparted. The invention advantageously employs a single pair of capacitors to serve the dual roles of modulating amplifier gain and level shifting the output.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a method for calibrating an instrument is provided. The instrument includes an optical system capable of imaging florescence emission from a plurality of reaction sites. The method includes performing a region-of-interest (ROI) calibration to determine reaction site positions in an image. The method further includes performing a pure dye calibration to determine the contribution of a fluorescent dye used in each reaction site by comparing a raw spectrum of the fluorescent dye to a pure spectrum calibration data of the fluorescent dye. The method further includes performing an instrument normalization calibration to determine a filter normalization factor. The method includes performing an RNase P validation to validate the instrument is capable of distinguishing between two different quantities of sample.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a femtowatt sensitivity optical detector is provided using one or more photodiodes, intended as a replacement for the photomultiplier based photon counting unit.

Abstract: An imager may include depth sensing pixels that provide an asymmetrical angular response to incident light. The depth sensing pixels may each include a substrate region formed from a photosensitive portion and a non-photosensitive portion. The depth sensing pixels may include mechanisms that prevent regions of the substrate from receiving incident light. Depth sensing pixel pairs may be formed from depth sensing pixels that have different asymmetrical angular responses. Each of the depth sensing pixel pairs may effectively divide the corresponding imaging lens into separate portions. Depth information for each depth sensing pixel pair may be determined based on the difference between output signals of the depth sensing pixels of that depth sensing pixel pair. The imager may be formed from various combinations of depth sensing pixel pairs and color sensing pixel pairs arranged in a Bayer pattern or other desired patterns.