Abstract: The present disclosure provides an imaging optical system. In one aspect, the imaging optical system includes, among other things, a light bending element configured to substantially separate electromagnetic radiation into at least two portions, and configured to redirect the at least two portions of said electromagnetic radiation into substantially different directions.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate provided with an effective pixel region including a light receiving section that photoelectrically converts incident light; an interconnection layer that is provided at a plane side opposite to the light receiving plane of the semiconductor substrate; a first groove portion that is provided between adjacent light receiving sections and is formed at a predetermined depth from the light receiving plane side of the semiconductor substrate; and an insulating material that is embedded in at least a part of the first groove portion.

Abstract: Described is an arrangement for registering light, comprising: a MOS-transistor structure having a first source/drain region, a second source/drain region, and a bulk region at least partially between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region, wherein the bulk region has a doping type different from another doping type of the first and the second source/drain regions, wherein in the bulk region charge carriers are generated in dependence of light impinging on the bulk region, wherein the generated charge carriers control a current flowing from the first source/drain region to the second source/drain region via at least a portion of the bulk region.

Abstract: A pixel master-slave photodiode bias control amplifier system is disclosed. The pixel master-slave photodiode bias control amplifier system may include a master pixel and one or more slave pixels. The slave pixel(s) may be connected to a portion of the master pixel. In this manner, components may be shared between/among the master pixel and the slave pixel(s); thus, for example, optimizing the component count of the pixel master-slave photodiode bias control amplifier system and the size occupied by the pixel master-slave photodiode bias control amplifier system.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes multiple pairs that each include a light emitting element and a light receiving element configured to receive light emitted from the light emitting element, and, in response to optical axes formed in a region between the light emitting elements and the light receiving elements entering a blocked state, senses a sensing target moving in the region. In an initial state, sensing is performed using a sensing optical axis composed of a portion of the optical axes, and when an optical axis of the sensing optical axis used in sensing in the initial state is blocked, the number of optical axes included in the sensing optical axis is increased so as to expand the sensing optical axis.

Abstract: An image sensor and an operating method thereof are disclosed. The image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion portion configured to receive plural lights, except for a light of first wavelength, to generate an electric charge; and a second photoelectric conversion portion configured to receive the light of the first wavelength to generate an electric charge, wherein at least a portion of the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion is spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An M2 value beam profiling apparatus and method is described. The M2 value beam profiler comprises an optical axis defined by a focussing lens assembly and a detector, wherein the focussing lens acts to create an artificial waist within an optical field propagating along the optical axis. The beam profiler also comprises a multiple blade assembly having a first set of blades located at an artificial waist position and a second set of blades longitudinally separated along the optical axis from the artificial waist position. The multiple blade assembly therefore provides a means for selectively passing the blades through the location of the optical axis. Employing these measured widths allows for the M2 value of the optical field to be determined.

Abstract: Embodiments related to the manufacturing of an imager device and an imager device are disclosed. Embodiments associated with methods of an imager device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A boroscope has a first end and a second end and the first end of the boroscope has an optical fiber, a light source, a lens, a beam expander and a transmissive diffractive optical element. The optical fiber extends from the first end of the boroscope to the second end of the boroscope. A laser optical fiber extends from the lens at the first end of the boroscope to the second end of the boroscope and a laser source is arranged to direct a laser beam into the laser optical fiber. The beam expander is provided between the laser optical fiber and the lens and the lens is provided between the beam expander and the transmissive diffractive optical element. The transmissive diffractive optical element is arranged to produce a laser beam with a predetermined shape and a focal length probe extends from the first end of the boroscope.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring state variables with at least one fiber-optic sensor, containing at least one optical coupler, at least one filter element and at least one photoelectric converter, where the optical coupler, the filter element and the photoelectric converter are integrated on a substrate, and the filter element contains at least one Bragg grating which is designed to supply the light portion reflected by the Bragg grating to the photoelectric converter.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes: a pixel array unit that has a plurality of pixels 2-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a plurality of signal lines arranged along a column direction; A/D conversion units that are provided corresponding to the respective signal lines and convert an analog signal output from a pixel through the signal line into a digital signal; and a switching unit that switches or converts the analog signal output through each signal line into a digital signal using any of an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted, and an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to a signal line other than the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted.

Abstract: A solar tracking system and method that use a tube that admits solar radiation and one or more photodetectors for generating a signal related to an intensity of solar radiation at a distal end of the tube. The system has a scan unit for periodically executing a certain scan pattern in an elevation angle El and in an azimuth angle Az of the shielding tube. A processing unit in communication with the photodetector determines an on-sun orientation of the shielding tube based on a convolution of the signal obtained while executing the scan pattern with a trained convolution kernel. The on-sun orientation thus found can be used to update the orientation of one or more solar surfaces, e.g., reflective or photovoltaic surfaces.

Abstract: A photoelectric converting module includes a circuit board, at least one light emitting/receiving unit and an optical coupler both mounted on the circuit board. Each light emitting/receiving unit includes a light emitter and a light receiver, the light emitter and the light receiver each include at least one positioning projection. The optical coupler includes positioning parts to engage with the positioning projections for aligning the optical coupler with the light emitting/receiving unit precisely.

Abstract: An image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes a red (R) pixel, a green (G) pixel, a blue (B) pixel and an infrared (IR) pixel, and R, G and B filters respectively disposed at the R, G and B pixels. The image sensor also includes an IR pass filter disposed at the IR pixel and an IR filter stacked with the R, G and B filters, wherein the IR filter cuts off at least IR light with a specific wavelength. Furthermore, a method of forming an image sensor is also provided.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive apparatus is configured to define a touch surface on a panel by propagating diverging energy beams (e.g. of radiation) across the touch surface inside the panel. Two rows (20A, 20B) of components (2, 3) of a first type that emits energy as a diverging beam and a second type that detects energy are functionally connected to the panel at opposite ends of the touch surface. The rows (20A, 20B) are defined by consecutive component blocks (B) that each contain only components (2, 3) of one type and are defined by type and number of included components. Each row (20A, 20B) comprises a respective sequence (S) of two component blocks (B) of different types and is defined by systematically repeating the sequence (S) along the respective opposite end.

Abstract: To provide a solid-state imaging device with short image-capturing duration. A first photodiode in a pixel in an n-th row and an m-th column is connected to a second photodiode in a pixel in an (n+1)-th row and the m-th column through a transistor. The first photodiode and the second photodiode receive light concurrently, the potential in accordance with the amount of received light is held in a pixel in the n-th row and the m-th column, and the potential in accordance with the amount of received light is held in a pixel in the (n+1)-th row and the m-th column without performing a reset operation. Then, each potential is read out. Under a large amount of light, either the first photodiode or the second photodiode is used.

Abstract: A solid state imaging element including a drive circuit and a pixel unit with pixels arranged in a matrix form. The pixels include a photoelectric conversion element configured to convert light incident thereupon into a charge and to accumulate the charge, a charge holding unit connected to the photoelectric conversion element, and a floating diffusion region. The drive circuit transfers a first portion of the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element to the charge holding unit and concurrently transfers a second portion of the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element to the floating diffusion region. Electronic global shutter is realized by transferring charge from the photoelectric conversion elements of each of the pixels at substantially the same time.

Abstract: A dynamic phase acquisition device includes a light collecting opening, a semi-reflecting and semi-transmitting mirror, a phase shifter, a polarizer, a plane reflector, a photosensing element and a phase processor. In the dynamic phase acquisition device, light passes through the light collecting opening to the semi-reflecting and semi-transmitting mirror, and then is divided into two channels. One channel of the light sequentially passes through the phase shifter, the polarizer to the photosensing element, to form a first image; the other channel of the light, after being reflected by the plane reflector, directly passes through the polarizer to the photosensing element, to form a second image. The photosensing element sends the first image and the second image to the phase processor, and the phase processor obtains phase data; and a leading or lagging phase shift range of the phase shifter is 1 degree to 20 degrees.

Abstract: A light sensor assembly includes a base configured to be fixedly mounted to a housing of a light fixture. The base holds contacts configured to be electrically connected to terminals of the light fixture. A photocell module is provided on the base and includes a photocell electrically connected to the contacts. A sensor lid is coupled to the base. The sensor lid has a lightpipe directing light from an exterior of the sensor lid to the photocell. The sensor lid is variably positionable at different angular positions relative to the base to change an orientation of the lightpipe relative to the photocell.

Abstract: An image sensor is provided. In one aspect, the image sensor includes a pixel coupled to an output line. The pixel includes a photodiode configured to generate electrical charges in response to light and a supply circuit configured to supply a voltage to the photodiode to keep a voltage of the photodiode at or above a threshold level in an integration time. In another aspect, the pixel includes a supply circuit configured to selectively supply voltage to the photodiode in a first charge holding capacity and a second charge holding capacity.