Abstract: A method and system for detecting and ranging targets within a scene are provided. The method can include emitting an emission signal onto the scene and receiving a return signal including echoes produced by reflection of the emission signal from the targets. The method can also include digitizing the return signal into a digital signal waveform including N real-valued samples representing the return signal at N sequential sampling times. The method can further include creating, from the digital signal waveform, an N×N second-order signal matrix having a main diagonal whose nth element is expressed in terms of the square of the nth sample of the digital signal waveform. The method can also include deriving, based on the signal matrix, time-of-flight information associated with the echoes and indicative of range information associated with the targets. The method and system can be used, for example, in lidar-based remote sensing applications.

Abstract: A light detection element includes a semiconductor substrate, a light absorbing layer of a first conductivity type formed on the semiconductor substrate, a cap layer of a first conductivity type formed on the light absorbing layer, and a semiconductor region of a second conductivity type formed within the cap layer and forming a pn junction with the cap layer. A depletion layer formed around the semiconductor region does not reach the light absorbing layer in a case where a reverse bias is not applied to the pn junction, and exceeds a position amounting to 50% of a thickness of the light absorbing layer from the cap layer side in a case where a reverse bias of 20 V is applied to the pn junction.

Abstract: A camera module includes a circuit board, an image sensor, a filter removable switch, a camera lens, and a thermally conductive structure. The circuit board has a surface. The image sensor is disposed on the surface. The filter removable switch is located over the surface. The camera lens is on the light-sensing path of the image sensor. The thermally conductive structure is contacted between the circuit board and the filter removable switch and has a channel. The image sensor is located in the channel.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for measuring quantum efficiency of a detector using a single pulse laser. Quantum efficiency of the measurement target detector may be measured from 420 nm to 1600 nm having uncertainty of 2% to 4% (K=2) by comparing the reference detector and the measurement target detector significantly different in sensitivity using a single laser pulse as a spectral light source. Also, it is possible to directly compare the two detectors with a significant difference in sensitivity through a very simple setup that causes a portion of a laser pulse output from a light source part to be absorbed by the reference detector and the laser pulse reflected from the reference detector to be irradiated to the measurement target detector.

Abstract: A flame detection system includes: an optical sensor that detects light generated from a light source; an applied voltage generating circuit that periodically applies a drive pulse voltage to the optical sensor, discharge determining portion that detects a discharge from the optical sensor, a discharge probability calculating portion that calculates a discharge probability based on a number of times of application of the drive pulse voltage and a number of times of discharge detected in the a first state in which the optical sensor is shielded from light and a second state in which the optical sensor can receive light, a sensitivity parameter storing portion storing known sensitivity parameters of the optical sensor; and a received light quantity calculating portion that calculates the received light quantity by the optical sensor in the second state based on the sensitivity parameters and the discharge probabilities calculated in the first and second states.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a detector array are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, a substrate comprises a plurality of sensing elements including a first element and a second element. The detector comprises a switching element configured to connect the first element and the second element. The switching region may be controlled based on signals generated in response to the sensing elements receiving electrons with a predetermined amount of energy.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a photon statistics of a light source using an unbalanced beam-splitter is disclosed. The method includes collecting data for photon counts for a first output path and a second output path by a first detector and a second detector, respectively, for a first time period, a first power level, and a first characteristic and collecting data for photon counts for the first output path and the second output path by the first detector and the second detector, respectively, for a second time period, a second power level, and a second characteristic; and processing outputs of the first and the second detector to determine the photon statistics.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a photodetector and a memristor coupled to the photodetector. The photodetector is configured to receive and convert optical signals to electrical signals to program the memristor to an on or off state. The apparatus further includes a ring resonator coupled to the memristor and configured to modulate light based on the on or off state of the memristor.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a photodiode, a counter, a control circuit. The photodiode is configured to cause avalanche multiplication. The counter is configured to generate a count signal as a result of counting a pulse generated by the avalanche multiplication during a predetermined period. The control circuit is configured to perform control to bring the photodiode into a waiting state in which the avalanche multiplication is possible and a stop state in which the avalanche multiplication is stopped, based on the count signal during a predetermined period.

Abstract: The apparatus (1) for agricultural crop analysis, comprises: a light source (2) for sending light radiation towards a crop; a plurality of sensors (21) for acquiring light radiation reflected by the crop and a plurality of filtering elements (22) adapted to enable complete passage only of light having frequencies within a predetermined passband. The filtering elements (22) have passbands that differ from each other and each filtering element (22) is functionally coupled with a respective sensor (21) in such a manner that the latter receives only light radiation that has traversed the former.

Abstract: An optical sensor for appropriately updating a crosstalk value is provided with: a photon-counting type of first light-receiving unit for receiving target object reflected light and cover panel reflected light; and a determination circuit that determines whether or not the target object reflected light is received by the first light-receiving unit, on the basis of a first received light pulse signal that is based on at least one of the target object reflected light and the cover panel reflected light, and a reference pulse signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photosensor device, which can cancel a dark current in 1-2 milliseconds. This photosensor device utilizes a small capacitor to quickly accumulate and transform the dark current to a dark-current voltage. Based on the dark-current voltage and an environment temperature, a calibration voltage can be obtained. By cancelling the calibration voltage from the sensed voltage to get a light voltage, which can be amplified to a lux signal. The process is very quick and sensitive, so the photosensor device can be used in an environment under a low luminance.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes an avalanche multiplying photodiode, a signal generation unit that includes a control unit configured to control an applied voltage to the photodiode and generates a photon detection pulse based on an output generated by incidence of a photon to the photodiode, and a counter that counts the photon detection pulse output from the signal generation unit, and the counter outputs a setting value detection signal when a count value of the photon detection pulse reaches a predetermined setting value, and in response to receiving the setting value detection signal, the control unit controls the applied voltage to the photodiode so as to stop generation of an avalanche current in the photodiode.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes at least one photodetector configured to be reverse biased at a voltage exceeding a breakdown voltage by an excess bias voltage. At least one control unit is configured to adjust the reverse bias of the at least one photodetector. A method of operating an optical sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: Examples of capturing and processing image data are described. A device may include a camera including a camera sensor that includes a plurality of tiles that each include four sub-tiles. The camera may also include a color filter array coupled to the camera sensor and including a plurality of red, blue, and green color filters. A first sub-tile of each tile may include a phase detection pixel coupled to a microlens shared with at least one other pixel of the tile and an imaging pixel not coupled to a second microlens different from the first microlens. The device may also include a processor coupled to the camera and configured to control one or more first exposure settings of the phase detection pixel and control one or more second exposure settings of the non-phase detection pixel. Control of the second exposure settings is independent from control of the first exposure settings.

Abstract: A receiving circuit and an optical receiver including the receiving circuit are disclosed. The receiving circuit includes first and second input terminals, a FET, first and second TIA circuits, and a control circuit. The first and second input terminals each receive a current signal. The FET has first and second current terminals respectively connected to the first and second input terminals, and a control terminal. The first and second TIA circuits respectively are connected to the first and second current terminals, and convert the current signals to first and second voltage signals. The control circuit generates a control signal for application to the FET control terminal in accordance with a difference between the first and second voltage signals. The optical receiver includes the receiving circuit and each of first and second photodetectors for respectively supplying first and second current signals to the first and second input terminals of the receiver.

Abstract: An imaging element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first photoelectric conversion section and a second photoelectric conversion section that are stacked in order from light incident side and that selectively detect and photoelectrically convert light beams of different wavelength bands, and the second photoelectric conversion section is disposed at an interval narrower than a pixel pitch of the first photoelectric conversion section.

Abstract: A barristor-based photodetector is disclosed. The photodetector according to an embodiment comprises: a substrate; a gate electrode which is laminated on the substrate; a first electrode and a second electrode which are laminated on the substrate and spaced apart from the gate electrode; a graphene layer which is formed between the substrate and the second electrode and extends toward the first electrode; and a gate insulating layer which is formed between the gate electrode and the graphene layer.

Abstract: An example circuit includes a light detector and a biasing capacitor having (i) a first terminal that applies to the light detector an output voltage that can either bias or debias the light detector and (ii) a second terminal for controlling the output voltage. The circuit includes a first transistor connected to the second terminal of the biasing capacitor and configured to drive the output voltage to a first voltage level above a biasing threshold of the light detector and thereby biasing the light detector. The circuit includes a second transistor connected to the second terminal of the biasing capacitor and configured to drive the output voltage to a second voltage level below the biasing threshold of the light detector and thereby debiasing the light detector. The second voltage is a non-zero voltage that corresponds to a charge level of the biasing capacitor.

Abstract: An optical module includes a beam-tilting light source enclosure. The enclosure is coupled to a substrate that includes a light emitter connected thereto. The enclosure has a geometry such that the enclosure has a first surface configured to couple substantially flat to the substrate and a second surface tilted with respect to the first surface and configured to couple substantially flat to a component of an electronic device through which the light is to project. The enclosure is optically transmissive and covers the light source when coupled to the substrate. In this way, the enclosure may be assembled and used in the electronic device by coupling the first surface to the substrate and coupling the second surface to the component.