Abstract: An image acquisition device includes a spatial light modulator modulating irradiation light, a control unit controlling a modulating pattern so that first and second light converging points are formed in an observation object, a light converging optical system converging the irradiation light, a scanning unit scanning positions of the first and second light converging points in the observation object in a scanning direction intersecting an optical axis of the light converging optical system, and a photodetector detecting first observation light generated from the first light converging point and second observation light generated from the second light converging point. The photodetector has a first detection area for detecting the first observation light and a second detection area for detecting the second observation light. The positions of the first and second light converging points are different from each other in a direction of the optical axis.

Abstract: An object detector includes a light-emitting system and a light-receiving system. The light-emitting system includes a light source including a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed in one-axis direction. The light-emitting system emits light. The light-receiving system receives the light emitted from the light-emitting system and reflected by an object. The plurality of light-emitting elements emits a plurality of light beams to a plurality of areas differing in the one-axis direction. The amount of light to illuminate some of the plurality of areas is different from the amount of light to illuminate other area other than the some of the plurality of areas.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for forming one-way light transmissive layers implementing optical light scattering techniques in those layers, and to objects, object portions, lenses, filters, screens and the like that are formed of, or that otherwise incorporate, such one-way light transmissive layers. Processes are provided by which to form, or otherwise incorporate, one or more one-way light transmissive, or substantially transparent, object portions or layers in solid or hollow objects Individual one-way light transmissive layers are formed of substantially-transparent sub-micrometer spheres, including micro-particles and/or nano-particles, with nano-voids incorporated between them.

Abstract: A method for ambient light subtraction providing a sensor having an emitter, a receiver, and a processor; performing a first sampling process, during which the emitter does not emit signals, the receiver receives a first ambient light signal converted into a first data set by the processor; performing a second sampling process, during which the emitter emits a detecting signal, the receiver receives a second ambient light signal and the detecting signal converted into a second data set by the processor; performing a third sampling process, during which the emitter does not emit signals, the receiver receives a third ambient light signal converted into a third data set by the processor; deriving an average value by calculating the average of the first data set and the third data set; and deriving a difference value by calculating the difference between the second data set and the average value.

Abstract: An image intensifier sensor for acquiring, amplifying and displaying images and including a vacuum envelope, the image intensifier sensor including a photocathode arranged for releasing photoelectrons into the vacuum envelope upon electromagnetic radiation acquired from the images which impinges the photocathode, an anode, spaced apart from and in facing relationship with the photocathode, arranged for receiving the photoelectrons and converting the photoelectrons for displaying the images on the basis thereof, and a power supply unit for providing power to the image intensifier sensor, wherein the image intensifier sensor further includes potting material, wherein the potting material comprises a foam compound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-invasive biometric sensor including a light source, an organic photodetector, and a detector. The light source is configured to irradiate light in a desired (and/or alternatively predetermined) wavelength range to a body part. The organic photodetector is configured to sense the light in the desired (and/or alternatively predetermined) wavelength range in response to the light in the desired (and/or alternatively predetermined) range being transmitted through the body part. The detector is configured to determine biomedical information of the body part based on an amount of the light sensed by the organic photodetector.

Abstract: In accordance with heat received from a target object, a visible light absorption element 10 changes a frequency component of visible light to reflect or transmit. The visible light absorption element 10 possesses a resonance frequency included in a visible light frequency region. The visible light absorption element 10 absorbs visible light of the resonance frequency. The visible light absorption element 10 thermally deforms due to temperature change to thereby change the resonance frequency, and absorbs visible light of the changed resonance frequency.

Abstract: A solar tracker assembly is provided which includes a support column, a torque tube or torsion beam connected to the support column, a mounting mechanism attached to the torque tube or torsion beam, a drive system connected to the torque tube or torsion beam, and a spring counter-balance assembly connected to the torque tube or torsion beam. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly comprises a bearing housing and a bushing disposed within the bearing housing and configured to be slideably mounted onto the torque tube or torsion beam, and one or more compressible cords made of a flexible material. The compressible cords are located between the bushing and the bearing housing and provide damping during rotational movement of the solar tracker assembly. An exemplary spring counter-balance assembly is provided including at least one top bracket and at least one bottom bracket, at least one spring, a damper, and a bracket.

Abstract: A modulation monitoring system is disclosed for use with an imaging system that includes a variable focal length (VFL) lens, an objective lens, a camera, and a VFL lens controller which is configured to control the VFL lens to periodically modulate its optical power and thereby periodically modulate a focus position of the imaging system over a plurality of Z heights along a Z height direction. The modulation monitoring system comprises a VFL-traversing light source, comprising a light source configured to provide VFL-traversing light along a modulation monitoring light path through the VFL lens, and a modulation signal determining portion comprising an optical detector configured to receive the VFL-traversing light, and to provide at least one optical detector signal that corresponds to the modulated optical power of the VFL lens. The modulation monitoring portion outputs a least one modulation monitoring signal based on the at least one optical detector signal.

Abstract: An optical power monitor device includes a first optical fiber, including a core and a cladding surrounding the core and being at least one of an incidence-side optical fiber and a launch-side optical fiber connected to each other at a connection point, which is constituted by a curve portion and a linear portion between the curve portion and the connection point, a low refractive index layer that is provided in at least a portion of the linear portion on an outer side of the cladding and has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the cladding, and a first optical detector that is provided at a position close to at least the curve portion.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement comprises a photo detector (2) for detecting electromagnetic energy and a signal generating means (4, 6, 12, 16) being suitable for generating a sequence of events wherein an event interval of the sequence depends on the detected electromagnetic energy. The signal generating means (4, 6, 12, 16) is coupled downstream of the photo detector (2). A counting means (30, 32, 34, 36) for measuring a time period until a given number of events has been generated is coupled downstream of the signal generating means (4, 6, 12, 16).

Abstract: A coincidence resolving time readout circuit is described. An analog SiPM sensor for detecting photons and generating an SIPM output signal is provided. An ADC is configured to provide multiple threshold values for converting the analogue SiPM output signal to digital values. A time to digital converter configured to receive multiple digital values from the ADC and timestamp the digital values.

Abstract: A spectroscopic measurement device includes a light receiving element that receives light and outputs a light receiving signal, a variable amplification circuit that amplifies the light receiving signal which is input, and a dark voltage correction unit that calculates a correction coefficient that is a rate of change of a dark voltage value with respect to gains, based on an output value of the variable amplification circuit with each value of two or more gains which are equal to or greater than a predetermined value in an environment where no light is incident on the light receiving element.

Abstract: A angle detection system, includes a first member pivotally coupled to a second member. An optical cable connecting an optical transmitter provided on the first member and an optical receiver provided on the second member is used by an angle detection engine to determine signal loss of an optical signal provided by the optical transmitter through the optical cable to the optical receiver. The angle detection engine then determines, based on the signal loss, a first angle of the second member relative to the first member. The angle detection engine then performs an instruction based on the first angle.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: plural photodiodes formed in different depths in a unit pixel area of a substrate; and plural vertical transistors formed in the depth direction from one face side of the substrate so that gate portions for reading signal charges obtained by photoelectric conversion in the plural photodiodes are formed in depths corresponding to the respective photodiodes.

Abstract: An optical communication device includes a support substrate, an optical waveguide, and a detector. The optical waveguide includes a first cladding layer that is formed on the support substrate, and is composed of silicon oxide or a material containing silicon oxide; a second cladding layer formed on the first cladding layer; and a core that is formed within the second cladding layer or between the first cladding layer and the second cladding layer, and is composed of silicon or a silicon-containing material. The detector contacts a part of the core, and is adapted to detect an intensity of light propagating through the core.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes a light source, a plurality of diffraction gratings including grating faces on which a plurality of grooves are disposed in parallel, and a light-receiving unit configured to receive the light diffracted at the plurality of diffraction gratings. The diffraction gratings include a first diffraction grating that is a first-stage diffraction grating adjacent to the light source, a third diffraction grating that is a last-stage diffraction grating adjacent to the light-receiving unit, and a second diffraction grating that is an output-stage diffraction grating of the first-stage diffraction grating and an input-stage diffraction grating of the last-stage diffraction grating. The diffraction gratings are disposed such that the ratio of the first gap to the third gap equals the ratio of the second gap to the fourth gap, and a length of the first gap differs from a length of the second gap.

Abstract: A distributed sensing optical fiber cable is proposed. An optical fiber is positioned at the center of the cable and includes a core region, at least one cladding layer surrounding the core region, a protective coating covering the at least one cladding layer, and a tight buffer of elastomeric thermoplastic material disposed to surround the protective coating. The remainder of the cable structure includes a pair of strength members disposed longitudinally on either side of the optical fiber (the strength members formed of a glass-based, memory-less material) and a hard plastic jacket formed to encase the optical fiber and the pair of strength members, the plastic jacket preferably exhibiting an essentially rectangular profile.

Abstract: A light irradiation device includes at least one irradiation unit including a reflective surface which is disposed in a concave inner surface formed to have a substantially arc shape and into which a wire member is inserted, and a light source which is configured to emit light toward the wire member and is disposed so as to face the reflective surface in a direction of an optical axis of the emitted light, and an insertion portion configured to interiorly form an insertion path for inserting the wire member into the reflective surface. The reflective surface is disposed such that a center of the substantially arc shape is eccentric with respect to a center of the insertion path.

Abstract: An optical apparatus including a semiconductor substrate; a first light absorption region supported by the semiconductor substrate, the first light absorption region configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; one or more first switches controlled by a first control signal, the one or more first switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the first control signal; one or more second switches controlled by a second control signal, the one or more second switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the second control signal; and a counter-doped region formed in a first portion of the first light absorption region, the counter-doped region including a first dopant and having a first net carrier concentration lower than a second net carrier concentration of a second portion of the first light absorption region.