Abstract: An image intensifier device includes: an intensifier tube with at least one photocathode, a micro-channel plate and a conversion element, arranged in that order one after another, and an electric power supply module configured to supply at least one respective polarisation voltage to each of the elements of the intensifier tube. The electric power supply module extends in a region located upstream of the photocathode, on the side of the photocathode opposite to the micro-channel plate. Thus, a space is cleared located downstream of the intensifier tube in the direction of travel of the photons and of the electrons in the image intensifier device. This allows reducing the size of the image intensifier device for example by bringing an eyepiece closer.

Abstract: A measuring device includes a total internal reflection prism having a total reflection plane that an object to be measured contacts, a light source to emit light to make the light having a wavelength equal to or greater than 7 micrometers (?m) and equal to or less than 12 ?m incident on the total reflection plane, and a sensor to detect light intensity of the light reflected by the total reflection plane. In the measuring device, an equation arc ? sin ? ( n ? 2 n ? 1 ) < ? ? c < arc ? sin ? ( n ? 2 n ? 1 ) + 5. [ DEG ] is satisfied, where n1 denotes a refractive index of a base material of the total internal reflection prism for the light having a wavelength of 10 ?m, n2 denotes a refractive index of the object to be measured for the light having the wavelength of 10 ?m and n2 takes a value 1.32 or 1.44, and ?c denotes an incident angle of a center of light flux emitted from the light source.

Abstract: A variable optical transmission device (2) comprising: —ariable transmission optics (4a, 4b) capable of varying an optical transmission between an initial transmission value (TV (ti)) and a target transmission value (TVtarget), and —a control unit (5) configured to control a transmission parameter of the variable transmission optics, wherein the control unit (5) is configured to control a response duration of the variable transmission optics as a function of the initial transmission value (TV (ti)) and the target transmission value (TVtarget).

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for the formation of mirror micro-structures on radiation-sensing regions of image sensor devices. The method includes forming an opening within a front side surface of a substrate; forming a conformal implant layer on bottom and sidewall surfaces of the opening; growing a first epitaxial layer on the bottom and the sidewall surfaces of the opening; depositing a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer to fill the opening, where the second epitaxial layer forms a radiation-sensing region. The method further includes depositing a stack on exposed surfaces of the second epitaxial layer, where the stack includes alternating pairs of a high-refractive index material layer and a low-refractive index material layer.

Abstract: A laser tracking device includes an adjustment device, a telescope, and a drive device. The adjustment device modifies the emission direction of first light wave. The telescope emits the first light wave in the emission direction modified by the adjustment device. The drive device rotates the telescope based on a predicted path of a moving body. The adjustment device provides more precision in modifying the emission direction of the first light wave than in the drive device rotating the telescope. Further, the adjustment device modifies the emission direction to offset the modification of the emission direction caused by the rotation of the telescope from a time when a tracking start condition is satisfied until the moving body is detected.

Abstract: A sensing system comprising a light filtering apparatus configured to pass a first wavelength of light corresponding to an emission spectrum characteristic of Mercury. The sensing system comprises a sensor configured to receive light passed by the light filtering apparatus and produce a sensor response that is indicative of the light passed by the light filtering apparatus. The sensing system comprises a processor configured to use the sensor response to distinguish between light emitted by a fluorescent light source and light emitted by a light emitting diode.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a light receiving element and a ranging system capable of improving a pixel characteristic by responding to a change in a breakdown voltage due to a temperature change. The light receiving element includes: a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels each including an SPAD is arranged in a matrix; a pixel drive unit that controls each pixel is the pixel array to be an active pixel or an inactive pixel; a leakage current detection unit that detects a leakage current of the inactive pixel; and a voltage control unit that controls a voltage supplied to a side of an anode or a side of a cathode of the SPAD such that the leakage current has a current value within a predetermined range. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a ranging system or the like that detects a distance to a subject in a depth direction.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit having a plurality of pixels, the pixels each having: a conversion element converting incident light into photoelectrons; a floating diffusion layer electrically connected to the conversion element and converting the photoelectrons into a voltage signal; a differential amplifier circuit electrically connected to the floating diffusion layer, including an amplifier transistor to which a potential of the floating diffusion layer is input, and amplifying the potential of the floating diffusion layer; a feedback transistor electrically connected to the amplifier transistor and initializing the differential amplifier circuit; a clamp capacitance connected in series between the floating diffusion layer and the amplifier transistor; and a reset transistor connected in parallel between the floating diffusion layer and the clamp capacitance and initializing the potential of the floating diffusion layer.

Abstract: An extended length of optical fiber having an offset core with an inscribed Bragg grating is used a distributed sensor in combination with an optical frequency domain reflectometer (OFDR) to enable measurement small-scale (e.g., sub-millimeter) contortions and forces as applied to the fiber. The offset core may be disposed in a spiral configuration around the central axis of the optical fiber to improve the spatial resolution of the measurement. A reference surface exhibit a predetermined texture (in the form of a series of corrugations, for example, that may be periodic or aperiodic, as long as known a priori) is disposed adjacent to a longitudinal portion of the sensor fiber. The application of a force to the combination of the plate and the fiber creates a local strain in the grating formed along the offset core of the fiber that results in a shift in the Bragg wavelength of the grating.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a photodiode, a generation circuit, a first control circuit, and a second control circuit. The photodiode is configured to perform avalanche multiplication. The generation circuit is configured to generate a control signal. The first control circuit is configured to be controlled by the control signal to be in a standby state where the avalanche multiplication by the photodiode is possible and in a recharging state for returning the photodiode having performed the avalanche multiplication to the standby state. The second control circuit is configured to count a number of periods in which the avalanche multiplication has occurred among a plurality of periods of the standby state by using the control signal and a signal corresponding to an output of the photodiode.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: a photodiode configured to generate charge in response to incident light within an exposure period; and a quantizer configured to perform at least one of a first quantization operation to generate a first digital output or a second quantization to generate a second digital output, and output, based on a range of an intensity of the incident light, one of the first digital output or the second digital output to represent the intensity of the incident light. The first quantization operation comprises quantizing at least a first part of the charge during the exposure period to generate the first digital output. The second quantization operation comprises quantizing at least a second part of the charge after the exposure period to generate the second digital output.

Abstract: A system, method and mirror are provided in order to more reliably detect the presence of an object, such as a person. In the context of a system, the system includes a sensor configured to emit signals having a predefined wavelength and to detect a reflection of the signals having the predefined wavelength. The system also includes a reflective surface positioned relative to the sensor such that the signals emitted by the sensor are directed toward the reflected surface. The system further includes a filter associated with the reflective surface and positioned relative to the sensor such that the signals emitted by the sensor are also directed toward the filter. The filter is configured to attenuate at least signals having the predefined wavelength.

Abstract: A circuit is provided and includes first to second switching units, a sensing unit, and first to second capacitive units. The first switching unit and the second switching unit are alternately turned on in response to, respectively, a first control signal and a second control signal that have different voltage levels. First terminals of the first and second switching units are coupled to each other. A sensing unit generates a sensing voltage, in response to light, at the first terminals of the first and second switching units. The first capacitive unit generates a first voltage, in response to the sensing voltage, at a second terminal of the first switching unit. The second capacitive unit generates a second voltage, in response to the generating the sensing voltage, at a second terminal of the second switching unit.

Abstract: A fibre optic cable structure (300) suitable for fibre optic sensing with an improved sensitivity to an environmental parameter is described. The structure (300) includes an optical fibre (301) and a bend inducer (304) responsive to the environmental parameter to control bending of the optical fibre. The bend inducer (304) is configured to adopt a first configuration, that induces a first curvature of the optical fibre, at a first value of the environmental parameter and to adopt a second configuration at a second, different, value of the environmental parameter that induces a second, different, curvature of the optical fibre. By action of the bend inducer (304) a change in value of the environmental parameter imparts a bending force on the optical fibre.

Abstract: Optical unit for a projective optical metrological system, which receives a light signal coming from a light constellation comprising a number of light sources; the optical unit includes: an optoelectronic image acquisition system and a first and a second optical circuit, which receive the light signal and are traversed by a first and a second optical beam, respectively. The first and the second optical circuits direct, respectively, at least a first part of the first optical beam and at least a first part of the second optical beam on the optoelectronic image acquisition system, so as to cause the simultaneous formation of two different images of the constellation in the optoelectronic image acquisition system. The optical unit further includes an electronic processing unit coupled to the optoelectronic image acquisition system, which determines a number of quantities indicative of the position and/or attitude of the light constellation with respect to the optical unit, based on the two images.

Abstract: The present application relates generally to silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) detector arrays. In one aspect, there is a system including an array of cells each including a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) reverse-biased above a breakdown voltage of the SPAD. The system may further include a trigger network configured to generate pulses on a trigger line in response to SPADs of the array undergoing breakdown. The system may still further include a pulse-width filter configured to block pulses on the trigger line whose pulse width is less than a threshold width.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for referencing a near-field measurement, e.g. in a scanning probe microscope.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a light source to emit light, a light sensor to detect reflection of the emitted light and distance determination circuitry responsive to reflected-light detection within the light sensor. The light sensor includes a photodetector having a photocharge storage capacity in excess of one electron and an output circuit that generates an output signal responsive to light detection within the photodetector with sub-hundred nanosecond latency. The distance determination circuitry measures an elapsed time based on transition of the output signal in response to photonic detection within the photodetector and determines, based on the elapsed time, a distance between the sensing device and a surface that yielded the reflection of the emitted light.

Abstract: This invention is concerning easily installing an encoder main unit to a disk unit disposed on a shaft, without contacting a light-receiving element and an LED. An encoder installing structure and method using a spigot unit according to this invention are a configuration and method including: a shaft end which is a spigot inserting portion of a motor shaft of a motor; a disk unit which is fitted in an outer periphery of the shaft end so as to be fitted as a first spigot fitting portion and includes a disk; a screw hole which is formed at a shaft center of the shaft end along a shaft direction of the motor shaft.

Abstract: Methods of processing a viscous ribbon include supplying a molten material from a supply vessel. Methods include forming the molten material into the viscous ribbon. The viscous ribbon travels along a travel path. Methods include receiving thermal light energy produced from the viscous ribbon. Methods include generating an image of the viscous ribbon from the thermal light energy. Methods include detecting a defect of the viscous ribbon from the image.