Abstract: A light detector measures the intensity of two different light beams, computes a ratio of an AC to a DC component for each light beam, and computes a quotient by dividing a first of the above ratios by a second of the above ratios. A light detector has a first photodetector, means, responsive to the first photodetector, for computing a first ratio of an AC component to a DC component of the intensity of a first light detected by the first photodetector, means for producing a first average value of the first ratio, a second photodetector, means, responsive to the second photodetector, for computing a second ratio of an AC component to a DC component of the intensity of the second light detected by the second photodetector, means for producing a second average value of the second ratio, and means for computing a quotient by dividing the first average value of the first ratio by the second average value of the second ratio.

Abstract: A lean detector comprises a first light source for determining the time of arrival of a container at an inspection site, a second light source for determining the time of arrival of a portion of the container at a predetermined position at the inspection site and a third light source for determining the time of arrival of another portion of the container at another predetermined position at the inspection site. The second and third light sources are perpendicular to each other. A guide rail laterally positions the container at the inspection site. Before real containers are inspected, a non-leaning test container is passed through the inspection site and the times of arrival of the corresponding second and third portions of the test container relative to the time of arrival of the container at the inspection site are determined to serve as reference values.

Abstract: An image sensor driving circuit of the matrix driving type includes a plurality of sensor elements for converting light image information into an electrical image signal, an operational amplifier circuit section for amplifying the electrical image signal and a logic circuit section for controlling the operation of the amplifier circuit section. In one embodiment, the amplifier circuit section includes a single stage operational amplifier having a pair of series-connected feed-back resistors and a trimmer capacitor connected between the interconnection between the feed-back resistors and ground, which allows to eliminate the differential signal component arising from the parasitic capacitance of the sensor element. In another embodiment, the operational amplifier is provided with an input offset compensation circuit which supplies a compensation voltage opposite in polarity to the input offset voltage of the operational amplifier, thereby preventing crosstalk from occurring.

Abstract: A single meter measures the gloss and the distinctness of image (DOI) of a painted surface for quality evaluation of the finish. A DOI signal is obtained by a prior method of focusing the reflected image of a moving shutter onto a slit and measuring the light passing through the slit. The rate of increase of the resulting signal is used as a measure of DOI. The same signal is integrated over a preset time period covering the upper part of the signal rise to yield a value proportional to gloss.

Abstract: A photocoupler comprises a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element which are optically coupled through a soft light-transmissive resin and covered by a light-blocking resin. The light-emitting element is covered by a light-transmissive protective hard resin and hence is protected against external pressure.

Abstract: Optical scanning apparatus of the invention has a scanning range with a large depth of field through the use of a plurality of light sources, which are disposed in a cluster and directed at the bar code to be read thereby increasing the amount of light at the focal plane. This increases the depth of field in which the scanner is effective. A rectangular aperture stop with a length several times the width controls the F/# and allows an increased amount of light to reach the photodetector. A rectangular receiving slit provides an elliptical field of view of the photodetector with the long axis aligned with the bars of the code to be read, so that the scanner is able to "see" a major portion of the bar or space instead of a small area which may contain printing errors. Thus the intensity of illumination on the object being scanned is maximized, while the depth of the field, and the signal to noise ratio of the receiving system is also maximized so as to enable the resolution of fine, dense, bar codes.

Abstract: A method of detecting the feeding of doubles in a high speed document counter is disclosed. Also, a method of detecting the feeding of a chain of documents as a batch of documents are fed through a feed path is disclosed.

Abstract: A wavefront sensing and compensating system for detecting and correcting for distortion in light wavefronts is described in which the wavefront is divided into a plurality of subapertures and light intensified and imaged as spots of light from each subaperture onto a detector array. The individual detector elements of the array form a plurality of electrical signals proportional to the local divergence of the vector gradient field (.gradient..sup.2 .phi.). This .gradient..sup.2 .phi. signal after interfacing or reconstruction is applied to corrective mirrors which may be of the deformable or membrane type.

Abstract: A focus detecting device comprising a light source means capable of alternating producing a pair of infrared light bundles, a light path changing means leading the infrared lights emitted alternately from the light source means toward an objective so as to pass through the periphery of the pupil of the objective through different courses, a contracting optical system arranged between the objective or a tube lens and the image forming surface of the objective or tube lens and having a positive refractive power contracting the position deviations of the infrared light images formed in positions different with the objectives to be used, a light receiving element capable of detecting the position of the infrared light image reflected from the object and a signal processing means detecting the position deviation from the in-focus position of the objective or an imaging lens with the output signal from the light receiving element, in order to enable to obtain a high detecting precision and detecting sensitivity on

Abstract: Known absolute type position encoders have poor resolution due to bits density of tracks formed on an encoding member and mechanical size of sensors opposed to the encoding member for reading absolute position data from the tracks. This invention provides a position encoder comprising a laser scanning type encoding member on which data tracks aligned at equal intervals in a moving direction of a part to be position-measured. A sensor with a single laser beam deflectable along the track is used for reading the position data. High resolution is obtained since it depends upon recorded pitch of tracks. Many data can be recorded on each track, including error correction code for the position code. It improves reliability of the encoder.

Abstract: A system for activating an operating element with respect to a moving substrate comprises a tracking line formed on the substrate, the tracking line having an activation mark formed therein which reflects light of an intensity which is distinguishable from that reflected from the remainder of the tracking line. A photosensor is mounted in relation to the tracking line to sense the intensity of light reflected from the tracking line when the substrate is moving. The photosensor generates an output signal indicative of the passage of the activation mark with respect to the photosensor. The output signal is utilized to activate the operating element.

Abstract: A passive collector/detector system is described for automatic response to laser range-finder radiation, the response being with capability to determine the general direction from which the range-finder radiation is incident.

Abstract: A photoelectric displacement detecting apparatus for measuring a length from a repeated number of bright and dark portions of light formed by the repetitions of overlappings of slits in respective slit rows during a relative movement between a main scale and an index scale, the apparatus comprising reference marks provided on the main scale at suitable intervals, a mark detecting device provided on the index scale, identification marks provided in spaces between the reference marks for identifying these spaces, and an identification mark reading device actuated by the mark detecting device. An identification mark ascertaining device is provided for comparing the identification mark read by the identification mark reading device with the identification mark preset by a mark selecting-setting device and ascertaining whether both identification marks coincide with each other or not.

Abstract: A rotary encoder includes a train of gears meshed together in a multi-stage so as to reduce the driving number successively and encoders provided with the gear shafts in desired stages in order to count the number of revolutions of a power input shaft. The driving wheel and its corresponding driven wheel between desired two stages of the train of the gears are formed into such intermittent feed means as permitting idling of the driving wheel by cutting off suitable parts of the meshing portion of at least either one of the driving wheel and driven wheel in accordance with the reduction ratio required in driving number between the desired two stages. The present invention can thus provide economical and highly-accurate rotary encoders of the absolute type, which has a wide counterable range, without need for especially-high accuracy with respect to their designing accuracy, the machining accuracy of their gears, assembling accuracy and the like.

Abstract: In an optical head for focusing a light beam on an optical disk, a collimated laser beam is focused on the optical disk by an objective lens and is reflected from the optical disk. The reflected laser beam is directed to the prism through the objective lens and is refracted by the prism so that a beam width of the laser beam emerged from the prism is reduced. Part of the laser beam emerged from the prism is shielded by a shield plate and the other part of the laser beam is directed to a photodetector for detecting a focusing state of the objective lens.

Abstract: The linear incremental measuring system comprises an incremental scale, a scanning unit for generating two analog signals, which are displaced in phase in a direction depending on the direction of the scanning movement, and a processor for generating digital signals from the analog signals and for delivering said digital signals to a bidirectional counter, which is used to control a display device and/or a control device. In order to detect in a simple manner the velocity of the scanning movement relative to the scale and to generate a voltage that is proportional to that velocity and can be used to control a machine, digital signals derived from the analog signals are delivered to a digital-to-analog conversion circuit, which delivers an analog voltage that is proportional to the velocity of the scanning movement and has a polarity that is dependent on the direction of that movement.

Abstract: A high-resolution image sensor uses integrated arrays of photosensitive elements in connection with a lens system which projects, onto the arrays, an erect, unmagnified, unreversed real image of the object being sensed (such as a line of a document). The arrays are staggered in two or more rows so that a single, large integrated array need not be used, yet the entire width of the document line can be covered by photosensitive elements while a 1:1 ratio is maintained between object size and image size. The real image is produced on the two or more rows of arrays by two or more optical systems which have a large depth-of-focus to allow for some variation in object distance. The sensor has a high image quality and is capable of detecting color.

Abstract: A light pen which includes a transparent rod at its pointing end through which light is directed to a photodetector that is fixedly positioned within the light pen. The rod is spring loaded and axially slidable in response to applied pressure, resulting in different light intensities being applied to the photodetector and further resulting in an output voltage generated by the photodetector that is directly related to the applied pressure.

Abstract: A two-dimensional energy position detector includes an array of wedge-shaped anodes arranged in an alternating sequence. Each of the anodes is connected to a multiplexer which is controlled by a sequencer to place the signals from the anodes in a predetermined sequence onto a multiplex output line. A data processor may then analyze the signal on the multiplex output line to determine the position of energy incident on the anodes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting focus condition of an imaging optical system is disclosed.