Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for collecting information related to operation of a breast pump device (1) comprising a pump (31) and a circuit (32) for supplying electric power to the pump (31). The apparatus (10) is accommodated in a power adapter of the device (1) and comprises a detection unit (11) that is configured to detect an electric signal on the circuit (32) of the device (1), a processing unit (12) that is configured to receive the detected electric signal from the detection unit (11) and to process the detected electric signal according to a preset routine in order to generate an information signal representative of information related to use of the device (1), and a transmission unit (13) that is configured to receive the information signal from the processing unit (12) and to transmit the information signal to an external device such as a smartphone (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for collecting information related to operation of a breast pump device (1) comprising a pump (31) and a circuit (32) for supplying electric power to the pump (31). The apparatus (10) is accommodated in a power adapter of the device (1) and comprises a detection unit (11) that is configured to detect an electric signal on the circuit (32) of the device (1), a processing unit (12) that is configured to receive the detected electric signal from the detection unit (11) and to process the detected electric signal according to a preset routine in order to generate an information signal representative of information related to use of the device (1), and a transmission unit (13) that is configured to receive the information signal from the processing unit (12) and to transmit the information signal to an external device such as a smartphone (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to an identification method carried out as follows. A surface structure and an inner structure of a body member are measured (ST1-ST4, ST7) so as to obtain a surface-structure measurement result (FPM) and an inner-structure measurement result (BVPM), respectively. The surface-structure measurement result (FPM) is compared (ST5) with a surface-structure reference result (FPR) that distinguishes an individual from other individuals. The inner-structure measurement result (BVPM) is compared (ST8) with an inner-structure reference result (BVPR) that is associated with the same individual and that distinguishes the individual from other individuals. The body member may be, for example, a finger. In that case, the surface structure comprises a fingerprint and the inner structure comprises a blood-vessel pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for copy protection of an information carrier, said system comprising a diffractive layer for delivering a speckle pattern when illuminated by a light source, a spatial filter, which is aligned with respect to the diffractive layer, for delivering a filtered optical signal from the speckle pattern and a detector array for delivering, when illuminated by said filtered optical signal, an electrical signal. Said system further comprises means for computing a cryptographic key from the electrical signal, and means for decrypting encrypted data contained in the information carrier from the cryptographic key. It finds its application in copy protection of content carriers such as optical discs or in smart cards.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhanced transmission of radiation, comprising at least one radiation source (12), a metal plate (18) with a first (20) and a second (22) surface and at least one aperture (24) provided in the metal plate (18) and extending from the first (20) to the second (22) surface, the metal plate (18) having a periodic surface topography (26) provided on at least one of the first (20) and the second (22) surfaces, and radiation (13) coming from the radiation source (12) and being incident on one of the surfaces (20,22) of the metal plate (18) interacts with a surface plasmon mode on at least one of the surfaces of the metal plate (18), thereby enhancing transmission of radiation through the at least one aperture (24) of the metal plate (18).

Abstract: An optical scanning device for scanning an information carrier. The device includes an array optical element arranged to generate an array of radiation spots from an incident radiation beam, for the scanning of the information carrier. The device further includes an aberration optical element arranged to apply a predetermined optical aberration to the radiation for correction of optical aberration in the radiation spots.

Abstract: An arrangement for read-out of information from an optical information carrier is disclosed. The system comprises a VCSEL for improving the signal-to-noise ratio of light reflected from and modulated by an information carrier. The VCSEL has a substrate that transmits the emission from the active regions of the VCSEL. Thereby, the need for beam-splitters in the detection branch of the device is completely eliminated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a personal identification method and to a corresponding apparatus. Their elements are mainly a light source emitting a beam of light towards a target, a first imaging module receiving a return beam coming back from said target and displaying an image of the target of a first type, and a second imaging module also receiving said return beam and displaying an image of the target of a second type. An identification module allows to combine the information given by said image of a first type and said image of a second type and to identify, or not, a person according to a similarity criterion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an information carrier (101) intended to be read and/or written by a periodic array of light spots, said information carrier (101) comprising a data area (105) defined by a set of elementary data areas, a first periodic structure (108) intended to interfere with said periodic array of light spots for generating a first moiré pattern, a second periodic structure (109) intended to interfere with said periodic array of light spots for generating a second moiré pattern, said second periodic structure (109) being arranged perpendicularly to said first periodic structure (108). The invention also relates to an apparatus for reading and/or writing said information carrier (101).

Abstract: The invention relates to an information carrier, and a system for positioning such an information carrier in an apparatus. This system comprises an optical element (102) for generating a periodic array of light spots (103) intended to be applied to an information carrier (101), said information carrier (101) comprising a first periodic structure (108) intended to interfere with said periodic array of light spots (103) for generating a first Moiré pattern, and a second periodic structure (109) intended to interfere with said periodic array of light spots (103) for generating a second Moiré pattern, analysis means for deriving from said first and second Moiré patterns, the angle value (S) between said periodic array of light spots (103) and said information carrier (101), and actuation means (AC1-AC2-AC3) for adjusting the angular position of said information carrier (101) with respect to said array of light spots (103), from control signals (114) derived based on said angle value (S).

Abstract: The optical analysis system (20) for determining an amplitude of a principal component of an optical signal comprises a multivariate optical element (10) for reflecting the optical signal and thereby weighing the optical signal by a spectral weighing function, and a detector (9, 9P, 9N) for detecting the weighed optical signal. The optical analysis system (20) may further comprise a dispersive element (2) for spectrally dispersing the optical signal, the multivariate optical element being arranged to receive the dispersed optical signal. The blood analysis system (40) comprises the optical analysis system (20) according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for shifting at least one light spot (903), said system comprising: —a phase-modulator (906) for generating, from an input light beam, a light beam which is phase-modulated according to a controllable phase profile, —an array of apertures (902) for generating said at least one light spot (903) from said phase-modulated light beam, a change of the phase profile implying a shift of said at least one light spot (903).

Abstract: The invention relates to an identification method carried out as follows. A surface structure and an inner structure of a body member are measured (ST1-ST4, ST7) so as to obtain a surface-structure measurement result (FPM) and an inner-structure measurement result (BVPM), respectively. The surface-structure measurement result (FPM) is compared (ST5) with a surface-structure reference result (FPR) that distinguishes an individual from other individuals. The inner-structure measurement result (BVPM) is compared (ST8) with an inner-structure reference result (BVPR) that is associated with the same individual and that distinguishes the individual from other individuals. The body member may be, for example, a finger. In that case, the surface structure comprises a fingerprint and the inner structure comprises a blood-vessel pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for optical coherence tomography comprising the steps of: providing of a reference light beam and a measurement light beam, combining of the reference light beam and the measurement light beam to provide a combined light beam, modulating of the reference light beam, sampling of the combined light beam to measure an amplitude of an intensity variation for each sampling position, adding of the amplitudes to provide an intensity signal for one picture element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system comprising an information carrier 11 having an optical identifier 12, and an apparatus 10, wherein the apparatus prior to accessing the information carrier verifies if the optical behavior of the optical identifier is consistent with authentication information 17 present in the information carrier. The authentication is performed by challenging the optical identifier with a least one light beam 14, detecting a resulting speckle pattern 16 on a detector 15 as a corresponding response, and comparing it with the authentication information 17. Access to the information carrier can be made conditional to a successful authentication, in particular by encrypting user-information 20 present in the information carrier, and thereby providing a strong copy protection scheme. The invention can be applied for example to optical disks or smart cards. The invention further relates to the information carrier, the apparatus, a method for the authentication and a computer program.

Abstract: The invention relates to an information carrier (801) comprising: a data layer (802) intended to store a set of elementary data, a layer (803) comprising an array of apertures (804) placed parallel to said data layer (802) for generating an array of light spots intended to be applied to said data layer (802). The invention also relates to a system and apparatus for reading such an information carrier.

Abstract: A compact backlight system for illuminating a display device (12) has a light-emitting panel (1) with a front wall (2) and an opposed rear wall (3) and with edge surfaces (4, 5). At least one of the edge surfaces (4) is light-transmitting. The backlight system has a light source (6) comprising a limited number of LEDs. Light from the light source (6) is coupled into the light-emitting panel (1) via the edge surface that is light-transmitting. According to the invention, the light-emitting panel (1) is wedge-shaped, and the surface area Si of the light-transmitting edge surface (4) and the surface area Sr of the opposite edge surface (5) fulfill the relation: 1<(Sr/Si)<10, preferably 1.5<(Sr/Si)<5. Light travelling for the first time from the light-transmitting edge surface through the light-emitting panel (1) towards the opposite edge surface (5) cannot be coupled out of the light emitting panel (1).

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus equipped with an improved alignment system, is presented herein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a radiation system for providing a projection beam of radiation, a support structure for supporting a patterning device that configures the projection beam according to a desired pattern, a substrate holder for holding a substrate, projection system for projecting the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate, and an alignment system. The alignment system includes a radiation source for illuminating at least one mark which is usable for alignment on a substrate and an imaging system for imaging light which has interacted with the at least one mark to generate alignment information.

Abstract: An optical head (10) using a variable optical component (10), which component comprises bendable nano-elements (3) that can be switched between a bent and non-bent state by means of a driver-field applied between electrodes (1, 2). In the bent state the nano-elements absorb radiation and therefore adapt the radiation intensity distribution of the radiation beam passing the component.

Abstract: Provided is a method and an apparatus for detection of objects below the surface of diffuse scattering media, in particular blood capillaries in organs such as the skin of human beings, using Orthogonal Polarized Spectral Imaging (OPSI), according to the invention comprising the steps of: imaging the object in question at at least two different angles so as to obtain a shift of position in the imaging plane; and subsequently comparing relative shifts of objects in the two images so as to obtain coordinates of the imaged objects with respect to the organ surface.