Abstract: A rotation information record surface of a rotary disk is disposed at an intermediate position between a fixing point of the rotary disk and a rotary shaft and a fixing position of a detection head, so that a stable gap can be obtained with a variation due to thermal expansion being reduced. In order to attain this, the fitting portion of the rotary disk is shaped to have a first fitting portion and a second fitting portion. The first fitting portion is provided for attaining satisfactory coaxiality, and the second fitting portion is adapted to form a clearance into which bonding means such as an adhesive is to be infused. With the above structure, an optimum detection position (i.e. an optimum gap position) would not be varied by a change in the ambient temperature.

Abstract: An optical navigation system. The optical navigation system includes an image sensor capable of optical coupling to a surface of an object, a data storage device, and a navigation circuit. The data storage device is capable of storing successive images captured by the image sensor. The navigation circuit includes a first digital circuit capable of determining an optical displacement estimate for a relative displacement between the image sensor and the object obtained by comparing the images, a second digital circuit capable of determining a mechanical displacement estimate for the relative displacement obtained from consideration of a mechanical characteristic associated with the optical navigation system, and a third digital circuit capable of determining an adjusted displacement estimate obtained from the optical displacement estimate and the mechanical displacement estimate.

Abstract: A photodetection device for a rotary laser system for projecting at least two fan-shaped beams tilted at a known angle with respect to a horizontal plane and having a known spreading angle, comprising at least three photodetectors arranged in a known relationship.

Abstract: Pixel electrodes on an active-matrix substrate do not overlap signal lines and scanning lines, and satisfy a relation X1>Y1, where X1 is the gap between the pixel electrodes and the signal lines, and Y1 is the gap between the pixel electrodes and the scanning lines. As a result, a large-area and high-resolution electromagnetic wave detector is realized with an improved S/N ratio, even with an active-matrix array providing a large area for the charge collecting electrodes.

Abstract: An optical transducer for determining the presence or absence of liquid or the like in a reservoir includes an electrical circuit with a pulse generator and processing electronics to filter out ambient light and compensate for temperature changes. A comparator circuit portion includes a pair of comparators that simultaneously output high and low signals when in the presence of liquid. One of the outputs can be selected to drive an indicator, pump, relay or the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for compensating for fluctuations in the light which is emitted by a light source and propogates along a light path. The device has a first light-sensitive sensor. The sensor detects the intensity of the light at a first location along the light path in a spatially resolved manner and generates electrical image signals. Furthermore, a second light-sensitive sensor is provided, which detects the intensity of the light at a second location along the light path and generates electrical output signals.

Abstract: A semiconductor light-receiving device includes: a substrate that has a first surface and a second surface facing each other; a first semiconductor layer that is formed on the first surface of the substrate and includes at least one semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a light absorption layer that is formed on the first semiconductor layer and generates carriers in accordance with incident light; a second semiconductor layer that is formed on the light absorption layer and includes at least one semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type; a first electrode part that is electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer and applies a first potential thereto; a second electrode part that is electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer and applies a second potential thereto; and a third semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type that is interposed between the first surface of the substrate and the first semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A web defect inspection system includes line scan cameras positioned across the width of a web and a dual-level out-of-focus light source for illuminating the web. An illumination surface of the dual-level light source has a bright portion adjacent a dark portion. One such dual-level light source is provided by covering a portion of a diffused light surface with an opaque material having a sharp edge. The pixels of each line scan camera are aligned with the dark to light transition of the light source so that each pixel has a no-defect brightness level equal to half of a relative brightness level of the bright portion of the dual-level light source. An image of a defect-free portion of the web consists of pixels having relative brightness levels within a pre-determined range of the no-defect brightness level. Images of defects on the web surface appear three-dimensional as bright and dark areas.

Abstract: In order to measure a characteristics of a light beam which is repetitively deflected by a light scanning device within a first range in a first direction at a first velocity, there is provided a plate formed with at least one slit extending in a direction angled from the first direction and having a constant width. The plate is moved within the first range in the first direction at a second velocity which is sufficiently lower than the first velocity. A peak value of an optical power of light passing through the slit every time is detected when the deflected light beam crosses the slit being moved, thereby obtaining peak values at plural positions in the first direction. The peak values are displayed on a screen collectively in such a manner that positions on the screen correspond to the positions in the first direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for extracting measuring signals from a multi-channel photomultiplier, characterised by the following steps: a measuring signal which is integral for the channels of the photomultiplier is extracted at the dynode in order to record the signal form and intensity of an event, and the anode signal of each channel is compared with a threshold value. If the threshold value is exceeded at a channel, the location of the detected event is determined and the associated signal form and intensity at the dynode is detected. The invention also relates to a circuit for a multi-channel photomultiplier (1), said circuit being used to carry out the method according to one of the claims 1 to 8. The circuit comprises a photocathode, a multi-channel structure for electron multiplication (dynode), and anodes (11) which are associated with the channels and are used for pixel-oriented charge amplification and collection.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus performs a plurality of times of image sensing on a subject, superpose-combines the obtained plurality of subject images into one subject image. The apparatus has an image sensing unit that converts a subject optical image into an electric signal, an optical unit that changes a view angle, and a change unit that changes the position of the optical unit by a predetermined amount so as to widen the view angle by a predetermined amount, prior to the plurality of times of image sensing.

Abstract: In a confocal laser microscope, a confocal image and a non-confocal image of an observation target are generated from light reflected by the observation target, and the confocal image and non-confocal image are displayed side by side on the same screen.

Abstract: A charge coupled device (CCD) includes a low noise charge gain circuit that amplifies charge of a cell dependent upon the charge accumulated by the cell. The low noise charge gain circuit receives clocking signals, such as from an input diode, which allow charge to accumulate in a reservoir well and then flow into a receiving well. The low noise charge gain circuit also receives a voltage signal corresponding to charge accumulated on an associated cell. The amount of charge flowing into the receiving well depends on this voltage signal.

Abstract: This invention provides a photodetector for weak light and a weak light detection system including the photodetector for weak light the photodetector for weak light is comprised of a substrate on which an integrating read circuit including a PIN photodiode or an APD and an FET is mounted, wherein the entire assembly is mounted while separating the substrate from a ground potential without grounding the substrate, such a photodetector for weak light can reduce noise and ensure a high enough sensitivity enough to be able to discriminate the number of photons.

Abstract: A readout circuit (29) for reading active pixels in a sensor (10) having at least one sensor segment (11) each containing addressable pixels (12) includes a respective sample and hold unit (28) for sampling and holding an analog value associated with a corresponding pixel, and an analog multiplexer (35) in each segment having an addressable channel coupled to each sample and hold unit for carrying the corresponding held value of the respective pixel. A lookup table (38) stores addresses of predefined neighboring pixels associated with the respective pixel. An encoder (36) is responsive to one or more trigger signals for generating an address in the lookup table, and a controller (37) feeds the address to the lookup table and successively feeds the addresses of the predefined neighboring pixels output by the lookup table to the analog multiplexer.

Abstract: An object detection apparatus for a vehicle includes a light emitter covered with an emission window, a light receptor covered with a reception window, a defect detection light emitter, a defect detection light receptor and a fracture detection circuit. The light emitter emits a light in front of the vehicle. The light receptor receives the light reflected by an object. The defect detection light emitter emits a detection light into one side of at least one of the emission and reception windows. The defect detection light receptor receives the detection light transmitted through the at least on emission and reception windows at another side. The fracture detection circuit determines whether either of the emission and reception windows are fractured based on the detection light received by the defect detection light receptors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving the resolution of an electronic imaging device having an array of pixels. Sub-pixel dimension movements between an object and the array of pixels are made, and an image is formed at each position. Resulting shifted images are combined to yield an effective resolution corresponding to an array having smaller pixels. Such methods and apparatus allow optical systems with existing pixel devices to form effective images of smaller feature sizes.

Abstract: A system and method for referencing an objective lens to a desired plane of focus. In one embodiment, a dichroic element is utilized to reflect energy of one or more wavelengths that has passed through an objective lens to a detector for determining a position of the objective lens to a desired plane of focus. The objective lens may be manually and/or automatically focused to the desired plane of focus.

Abstract: Optical devices and related methods are provided. One example of the optical device includes two or more optical members joined together to form a stack. Each of the optical members in the stack includes a reflecting surface that has a corresponding slope, where the slope of each reflecting surface is different. In addition, disposed on each reflecting surface is a material that is reflective for a particular wavelength of light, so that each optical member reflects a different wavelength, and so that the optical members in the stack are able to collectively image the reflected signals onto a two dimensional detection plane.

Abstract: The present invention presents an optical encoder with increased conversion rates. Improvement in the conversion rate is a result of combining changes in the pattern recognition encoder's scale pattern with an image sensor readout technique which takes full advantage of those changes, and lends itself to operation by modern, high-speed, ultra-compact microprocessors and digital signal processors (DSP) or field programmable gate array (FPGA) logic elements which can process encoder scale images at the highest speeds. Through these improvements, all three components of conversion time (reciprocal conversion rate)—namely exposure time, image readout time, and image processing time—are minimized.