Abstract: An image scanning device is provided for reading an image of an object. The image scanning device includes: a linear image sensor outputting an image signal corresponding to a received image; an imaging lens positioned between the object and the image sensor; a scanning system rotatable through a predetermined scanning range around a predetermined axis parallel to the line of image receiving elements to scan an image of the object onto the image sensor; a focusing system for adjusting a focusing condition of the image scanning device; and a controller which, based on an image signal from the image sensor, adjusts the focusing system to set an in-focus focusing condition for a portion of the object located at a substantially central portion of the scanning range.

Abstract: An imaging sensor (13) has a multiplicity of sensor elements (16). Each sensor element (16) has a light-sensitive zone (17) in which radiation is detected as a function of position. A multiplicity of storage cells (21) successively store charges detected in the light-sensitive zone (17) of each sensor element (16) in synchronism with a modulation signal which is produced by the radiation source. The imaging sensor (13) simultaneously detects and demodulates intensity-modulated radiation as a function of position. The invention makes it possible to determine a range of parameters for the object (11) being examined, thus ensuring that the object is accurately recorded for rangefinding purposes.

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus includes a focus detecting device which forms an image through a telephotographic system, onto a line sensor, and which detects a focus state of the telephotographic system based on an output from a predetermined portion of the line sensor. An assigning device which assigns the pixels to be used in detecting the focusing state in the case where the actual center of the line sensor deviates from the reference position of the telephotographic system.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus including a focus detecting device which detects a defocus amount of image optical system, a focusing device which focalizes based on the defocus amount calculated by the focus detecting device. An adjustment device which adjusts said defocus amount calculated by said focus detecting device by an adjustment value.

Abstract: Disclosed is a raster data drawing apparatus, in which a reference clock pulse signal having a predetermined period is first generated, and then a plurality of delayed clock signals are generated. Phases of the plurality of delayed clock signals are shifted by a period of time which is shorter than the predetermined period. An image is formed in a main scanning direction synchronously with one of the plurality of delayed clock signals so that the starting point of the image in the main scanning direction is adjusted.

Abstract: A night vision goggle system having an objective lens for viewing an image scene, an image intensifier tube for amplifying a received image scene, an eyepiece lens for presenting the amplified image scene produced at the output of the image intensifier tube to a user's eye, and a fiber-optic element for folding an optical path between the image intensifier tube and one of the eyepiece lens and the objective lens thereby minimizing the length and weight of the system.

Abstract: An optical seed flow monitoring system for monitoring seed flow through the primary and secondary seed tubes in an air seeding system. The primary seed tubes include a primary seed sensor having a plurality of emitter lens bodies and receiver lens bodies. Optical fibers connect the emitter lens body to an optical beam generating device and the receiver lens body to an optical beam detecting device both positioned remotely from the seed tubes. Alternately, one or more of the secondary seed tubes can include a secondary seed sensor having an emitter lens body and a receiver lens body.

Abstract: In the primary invention of this application, an optical-fiber inspection device which detects the distance to a reflection point within the DUT and the amount of reflected light by dividing into two a laser beam which is possible to be frequency-swept, making one of the divided light beams incident to an optical detector via the reference light path, while making the other of the divided light beams incident to the DUT and making the light reflected within the DUT incident to the said optical detector, and analyzing the frequency of the interference signal for the two beams obtained by the optical detector, is configured so that the final reference light is obtained by providing an optical coupler in the reference light path and, after taking out a part of the reference light and making it pass through an optical frequency shifter, combining this again with the original reference light with the said optical coupler.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus includes a telephotographic system and a focus detecting device which detects a focus state of a plurality of variable sized, symmetrically shaped focus detecting portions by designating a center of a visual field of the telephotographic system as a center of the focus detecting device. A judging device judges a narrowest focus detecting portion as being effective among the focus detecting portions and which obtains a reliability of at least a predetermined value.

Abstract: A color image reading apparatus includes a light-receiving unit in which a plurality of line sensors are disposed at equal intervals on a same substrate, an imaging optical system for imaging an object on the light-receiving unit, a blazed diffraction grating, disposed in an optical path between the imaging optical system and the light-receiving unit, for color-separating light from the object into a plurality of color light beams, and a dichroic mirror disposed in an optical path between the blazed diffraction grating and the light-receiving unit, and having at least two reflecting surfaces.

Abstract: An insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is supplied with high voltage electric power by a power supply circuit that includes a plurality of photoelectric transducers arranged to output a high voltage, low current driving signal, and an illumination component optically coupled with the photoelectric transducers and supplied with low voltage electric power, thus allowing the insulated gate bipolar transistor to be used in low voltage applications that would otherwise result in a sudden increase in switch loss and burnout of the transistor.

Abstract: An optical encoder is disclosed, that comprises a main scale 1, a light radiating means 2, and a second member 3. The main scale 1 is a first member having an optical grating 12. The light radiating means 2 radiates collimated light to the main scale 1. The second member 3 detects variations of bright images and dark images corresponding to the relative movement between the main scale 1 and the second member 3. The second member 3 comprises a glass substrate 4 and a light receiving IC chip 5. The glass substrate 4 has thin film electrodes. The light receiving IC chip 5 has a light receiving device array 51 that is in common with an index grating, is disposed on a reverse surface of the glass substrate through solder bumps 54 by face-down bonding method. A transparent resin for sealing the front surface of the light receiving IC chip is filled in a gap between the IC chip 5 and the glass substrate 4.

Abstract: The optical monitoring of a standing wave by an optical probe (5) in the region of the overlap beween an incident and reflected monochromatic light beam in the region of the surface of a substrate consisting of a transparent (2) and an opaque (1) layer faciliates an optical holographic image with improved lateral resolution. The lateral resolution is limited by the optical fields in the edge region of the probe (11) and not directly by the expansion of the probe aperture. The lateral resolution is additionally increased by the one-sided coating of the probe and narrowing the probe aperture in the direction of the incident light beam.

Abstract: A fiber optic pressure transducer having enhanced resolution and dynamic range includes a fiber optic core having one or more gratings written onto it, a birefringence structure for enhancing the birefringence of the core, and a structure for converting isotropic pressure forces to anisotropic forces on the fiber core. Several different embodiments of prestressing structure are disclosed (both extrinsic and intrinsic). Several different embodiments of structure (both extrinsic and intrinsic) for converting isotropic pressure to anisotropic pressure are also disclosed. The fiber optic pressure transducer according to the invention is advantageously used in conjunction with a light source and a spectral demodulation system in order to detect pressure ambient to the fiber optic pressure transducer based on the wavelength and shift of spectral peaks.

Abstract: Photodiodes are situated in a row over a line segment having a predetermined width. Current generated by at least one of the photodiodes is converted into voltage by a resistor. This voltage is amplified by first MOSFETs that are connected at drains thereof in parallel to a source of voltage with a resistor between the adjacent two thereof. This voltage is amplified by second MOSFETs that are connected at drains thereof in parallel to the source of voltage. The first MOSFETs produce a first output signal that id dependent on the position at which the incident light fall on the photodiodes. The second MOSFETs produce a second output signal that is independent from the position of the incident light. A divider calculates a ratio between the first and second output signals. This ratio is indicative of information of the position of the incident light.

Abstract: A system for monitoring strain in concrete structures comprises a frame for mbedding in the structure with first and second ends of the frame proximate an edge of the structure, a fiber-optic cable mounted on the frame and extending substantially from the frame first end to the frame second end, a light source in communication with a first end of the cable, a light detector in communication with a second end of the cable, and an information processor in communication with the light detector. The cable is adapted to propagate light from the source to the detector, and the processor is adapted to identify strain in the structure from data generated by the detector.

Abstract: A control device (3) for monitoring the travel of two superimposed paper webs (1, 2) in a paper processing machine has a thin stationary plate (4) arranged at the edge of the paper webs (1, 2) that extends between both paper webs in the direction of travel of the paper. Reflection-sensitive photoelectric sensors (5, 6) are arranged on opposite sides of the plate (4) so that the light rays (5a, 6a) from both sensors are projected from opposite directions upon the corresponding paper web (1, 2) and the plate (4) located behind the paper web.

Abstract: A simple, novel and reliable two-dimensional, cantilever based fiber optic acceleration and vibration sensor, able to measure constant and/or variable acceleration, velocity, displacement, and frequency spectrum simultaneously in two perpendicular directions is presented. The sensor has a long live-span, high sensitivity, wide dynamic range and linear response in both directions. According to one aspect of the present invention, the two-dimensional fiber optic accelerometer includes an elongated light conducting elastic member with a round cross-section which first end is coupled to a light emitting source. The elastic member can be an optical fiber, and is mounted on a support structure in such a way that its second end forms a cantilever. A lens focuses the light irradiated from the elastic member onto a dual axis position photosensor. Thus, the lens, the elastic member and the photosensor form an optical lever.

Abstract: A wavelength-portion controllable optoelectronic switch ("Opsistor") capable of rapid switch frequencies fabricated as a monolithic integrated circuit is disclosed. The Opsistor is comprised of two inverse parallel photodiodes in close proximity, preferably on a monolithic silicon substrate, such that the anode of one photodiode is electrically connected via a first conductor to the cathode of the second photodiode, and the cathode of the first photodiode is electrically connected via a second conductor to the anode of the second photodiode. The voltage-phase of the Opsistor is determined by the relative illumination to the Opsistor's two photodiodes and is rapidly switchable. As a receiving device for data signals, the Opsistor receives programming signals from a transmitter light source.

Abstract: An opto-coupler comprising an LED and a photo-transistor whose collector resistor is connected in parallel with a diode comprising the emitter-base junction of a second transistor. This diode prevents saturation of the photo-transistor and at the same time, the current through the emitter-base junction diode of the second transistor is amplified by the gain of the second transistor to achieve and optimum signal output level across the collector resistor of the second transistor. The emitter-base junction diode of the second transistor prevents the photo-transistor from saturating and, in so doing, improves the rise and fall times of the collector current of the photo-transistor. The operation of the photo-transistor in a nonsaturation mode and the optimization of its rise and fall times for its collector currents result in an improvement in the data rate of the input signal that can be accommodated by the opto-coupler circuit.