Abstract: Disclosed is a high frequency switch including a substrate, a pair of ground sections provided on the substrate, a center conductor provided between the pair of ground sections, and a photoconductive semiconductor element provided on the center conductor and extending between the center conductor and the pair of ground sections.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an array of optically switchable magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) arranged in columns and rows. The image sensor has first lines of transparent conductive material and second lines of conductive material. Each first line is in contact with the free layers of the MTJs in a corresponding row. Each second line is electrically connected to the fixed layers MTJs in a corresponding column. The first lines are concurrently exposable to radiation. The first and second lines are selectively biasable. In a global reset operation, biasing conditions are such that all MTJs are switched to an anti-parallel state. In a global sense operation, biasing conditions are such that, depending upon the intensity of radiation received at those portions of the first lines in contact with MTJs, the MTJs may switch to a parallel state. In selective read operations, biasing conditions are such that stored data values in the MTJs can be read.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a depth map sensor including a light source for transmitting light pulses into an image scene; an array of pixel circuits, where each pixel circuit has a photodetector and three asynchronous counters; and a control circuit to control each of a plurality of groups of the pixel circuits of the array to generate a histogram of detection events by accumulating events during eight distinct time intervals between consecutive light pulses transmitted by the light source, such that the histogram comprises eight or more histogram bins.

Abstract: A micro robot that is moveable in a body includes first quantum dots.

Abstract: A photodetector device and an optical encoder device that can suppress level variation of a detection signal are provided. A photodetector device of one embodiment includes: a light receiving unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; a selector circuit that selects a first photoelectric conversion element group and a second photoelectric conversion element group, in the light receiving unit; a differential amplifier that outputs a detection signal in accordance with a difference between a first output signal of the first photoelectric conversion element group and a second output signal of the second photoelectric conversion element group; and a correction unit that corrects the detection signal based on the first output signal and the second output signal.

Abstract: A code disk is adapted to an optical absolute rotary encoder. The code disk is divided into a plurality of columns, with the plurality of columns disposed in a circumferential direction around a center position and respectively extending in a plurality of radial directions. The code disk comprises a plurality of disk sectors sequentially disposed in the circumferential direction around the center position, wherein each of the disk sectors comprises a plurality of code pieces, each of the code pieces comprises an encoded value, each of the encoded values comprises a plurality of bits adopting Manchester code, these bits are arranged in one of the radial directions, and the encoded values of two of the disk sectors are arranged as Gray code.

Abstract: A avalanche diode arrangement comprises an avalanche diode (11) that is coupled to a first voltage terminal (14) and to a first node (15), a latch comparator (12) with a first input (16) coupled to the first node (15), a second input (17) for receiving a reference voltage (VREF) and an enable input (21) for receiving a comparator enable signal (CLK), and a quenching circuit (13) coupled to the first node (15).

Abstract: An optical sensor configured to reduce a measurement time while the accuracy of the optical sensor is maintained is realized. An initial configuration circuit (19) includes a counter configured to perform counting of the number of pulse outputs from a first light-receiving unit (11) in first to nth regions obtained by dividing each cycle of a reference clock into n equal parts, determines, among the first to nth regions, a region in which a counter value is largest, and the initial configuration circuit causes a first DLL circuit (17) to perform a converging operation to the region determined.

Abstract: A calibration circuit configured to calibrate a signal of a sensing unit comprises: an amplifier, a first impedance element and a second impedance element. The amplifier has a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. The first input terminal is coupled to a first terminal of the sensing unit, the second input terminal is coupled to a reference voltage, and the output terminal is feedback to the first input terminal and outputs the readout signal. A first terminal of the first impedance element is coupled to the first input terminal of the amplifier, and a second terminal of the first impedance element is coupled to a calibration voltage. A first terminal of the second impedance element is coupled to the first terminal of the first impedance element, and a second terminal of the second impedance element is coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier.

Abstract: A device for multispectral imaging in the infrared, suitable for detecting at at least one first and one second detection wavelength is provided. It comprises a detection matrix array comprising a set of elementary detectors of preset dimensions forming an image field of given dimensions; and an image-forming optic having a given aperture number (N) and a given focal length (F), which aperture number and focal length are suitable for forming, at any point of the image field, an elementary focal spot covering a set of at least two juxtaposed elementary detectors.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are disclosed that enable accurate and reliable measurements of wavefront aberrations with a wide dynamic range. The described wavefront sensors can be implemented at a low cost and without any moving parts. One wavefront sensor includes an optical pyramid positioned to receive a focused incoming light beam. The optical pyramid includes three facets that each allow a portion of the focused incoming light beam to exit the optical pyramid. The wavefront sensor also includes one or more imaging lenses positioned to receive light that exits each of the facets of the optical pyramid, and one or more lenslet arrays positioned to receive light from the one or more imaging lenses and to produce a plurality of focused light spots corresponding to each lenslet of the lenslet array.

Abstract: A thermal and environmental noise suppressing interface circuit which is configured to operate cold and is configured to perform biasing with suppression of noise currents from room temperature noise voltages and dc coupled rf readout of a superconducting device under test with a single coaxial cable or equivalent conductor pair. The circuit is configured to suppress the propagation of thermal and environmental noises to/from sensors operating at a different temperature from its operating and control equipment while maintaining a single input-output channel, and provides for the placement of a local grounding impedance on an intercept board.

Abstract: The present invention introduces an arrangement for enhancing the performance of an electronic circuit comprising a phototransistor (Q). Either a common-collector or a common-emitter connected phototransistor (Q) has a main resistor (RL), and at least one external bias resistors (RL2, RL3, RL4), each in parallel to one another. The microcontroller may directly control the voltage outputs or act via respective switches (S1, S2) regarding each respective resistor. When the electronic circuit with the phototransistor (Q) is switched on, at least one of the external bias resistors (RL2, RL3, RL4) are switched on. The voltage output rise time is short, and when the bias has been set, the external bias resistor(s) are disconnected functionally. This means that during the actual measurement with the electric circuit, only the main resistor (RL) is used in the connection.

Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement comprises a photodiode and a converter arrangement including an integration amplifier, a comparator amplifier, an integration capacitor and a comparator capacitor. An offset of the integration amplifier is corrected in that the integrator output signal is compared with a high and a low comparison voltage to repetitively adjust an offset trim value. The use of two comparison thresholds creates noise immunity.

Abstract: An optical sensing circuit includes a first, a second, and a third optical sensing element and a sampling circuit. The first sensing element provides a first current from a first node to a second node according to an ambient light and a sensing signal. The second optical sensing element drains a second current from the second node to the first node according to the ambient light and the sensing signal. The third optical sensing element is coupled between the first node and the second node. The third optical sensing element receives a first color light, and transmits the first current to the second node or transmits the second current to the first node according to the first color light. The sampling circuit is turned on according to the sampling signal to output a detection signal based on the voltage level of the second node.

Abstract: In embodiment, a measurement circuit forms a compensation signal that is representative of disturbances that are received while the measurement circuit is not receiving a signal to be measured, then the circuit removes the compensation signal from the measurement signal before measuring the value of the measurement signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include an array of single-photon avalanche diode pixels. The single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) pixels may include a SPAD coupled to a supply voltage terminal via first and second reset paths. The first reset path may be a fast reset path that provides the SPAD with a short recovery time. The second reset path may be a slower reset path that provides the SPAD with a longer recovery time, but is used to ensure the SPAD is quenched even when the quench resistance associated with the first reset path is low. Logic circuitry may selectively activate the first or the second resets to quench and reset the SPAD. A SPAD pixel may also include one or more switches that keep nodes in the SPAD pixel at a constant voltage when the SPAD pixel is inactive.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a device and a method for detecting a light intensity. The device includes a photosensor, an input circuit, an amplification circuit, a feedback circuit, a storage circuit, and an output circuit. The photosensor is coupled to a first voltage signal terminal and a first node. The input circuit provides a first voltage signal to the first node according to an input signal. The amplification circuit provides, to a second node, a second voltage signal from a second voltage signal terminal according to the voltage of the first node. The feedback circuit couples the first node to the second node according to a reset signal. The storage circuit stores a voltage difference between the first node and the second node. The output circuit reads the voltage of the second node according to a read signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for autofocusing an objective lens in a microscope system. A self-calibrating autofocus system includes a light source, a decentered aperture, and image-capturing device. The system may be connected to the microscope system so that the light source generates a light on an optical path that includes the objective lens and a plate having a reference surface proximal to a sample holding component. The image capturing device images a reflection of light from the reference surface as the objective lens moves to a series of z-positions. A reference calibration slope is generated for the objective lens by determining positions of the images taken at the z-positions of the objective lens. At least one image having a particular attribute corresponds to a best focus position. The objective lens is moved to predicted best focus or preferred offset from calibrated best focus using the reference calibration slope.

Abstract: A photosensitive transistor or voltage-mode device which comprises a gate electrode, a layer of ambipolar two-dimensional material such as graphene and a layer of photoactive semiconducting material forms a junction with the ambipolar two-dimensional material. The photoactive semiconducting material and the ambipolar two-dimensional material are configured so that there is a non-screening gate voltage interval where an interface voltage at the junction between the photoactive semiconducting layer and the ambipolar two-dimensional material can be changed by applying to the gate electrode a gate voltage which falls within the non-screening gate voltage interval. The non-screening gate voltage interval comprises a flat-band gate voltage at which the interface voltage is zero. An electrical shutter can be operated at this gate voltage.