Abstract: A comparator includes: a first amplifying unit that includes a differential pair configured with a pair of transistors which are first and second transistors, and amplifies a difference of signals input to each of the gate electrodes of the first and second transistors, to output; a second amplifying unit that amplifies the signal output from the first amplifying unit; a third transistor that connects the first transistor to a power source voltage; a fourth transistor that connects the second transistor to the power source voltage; a fifth transistor that connects a connection point of gate electrodes of the third transistor and the fourth transistor to a drain of the third transistor; and a sixth transistor that connects a connection point of gate electrodes of the third transistor and the fourth transistor to a drain of the fourth transistor.

Abstract: A system and method for automated analysis of a membrane filter obtained from an air quality monitoring apparatus used for sampling airborne respirable fibres such as asbestos and synthetic mineral fibres is described. The system comprises capturing a macroscale image a membrane filter and analysing macroscale image using a computer vision method to determine a countable area of the membrane filter and one or more excluded regions within the countable area of the membrane filter. These excluded regions comprise membrane filter grid lines, air bubbles and large particulate matter. The slide is then placed on a robotic XY stage of a digital phase contrast microscope which is used to capture at least one magnified phase contrast image at each of 20 or more sample locations located across the filter member. The sample locations are selected such that a field of view at each sample location does not contain an excluded region.

Abstract: A position detection encoder includes a scale that has a position detection pattern and a linear pattern that is formed in a direction parallel to a length direction of the position detection pattern; and a position detector generating a position detection signal with a different value due to a displacement of the position detection pattern in the length direction. In the position detector, a position confirmation pattern is formed that includes two markers arranged at an interval equal to or less than an offset tolerance value for a positional relationship of the position detector and the scale in a width direction of the position detection pattern.

Abstract: A rotation calculating system, comprising: a first optical characteristic acquiring device, configured to acquire optical characteristics for at least one feature of a first target device; and a calculating unit, configured to calculate rotation for a first rotating device based on the optical characteristics of the feature of the first target device. The first rotating device is a wheel, and the first target device is the wheel.

Abstract: An optical detection assembly can include: a light-emitting device and a photoelectric conversion device installed in parallel on a substrate, where light generated by the light-emitting device is irradiated onto an object, and the photoelectric conversion device is configured to convert a reflected light of the object into an electrical signal; and a housing formed by light shielding material installed on the substrate, where the housing includes a first chamber for accommodating the light-emitting device, a sidewall that separates the light-emitting device and the photoelectric conversion device, and at least one emitting light opening at the top of the first chamber and having an axis inclined at a tilt angle.

Abstract: A position-measuring device for determining an absolute position includes a measuring scale and a scanning unit that is movable relative to the measuring scale along at least one measuring direction. To generate a scannable signal pattern, the measuring scale has a measuring graduation which includes a raster of stripe elements arranged along the measuring direction at a measuring-scale longitudinal period. For the encoding of an absolute position, the stripe elements have a periodic structure having a measuring-scale transverse period along a transverse direction that is oriented perpendicular to the measuring direction. For scanning the signal pattern, the scanning unit has a two-dimensional detector system having a plurality of detector elements, which includes multiple detector columns having a plurality of detector elements in each case.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid state imaging device and an electronic device from which a holding unit for holding information in a pixel can be eliminated. When a charge distribution unit distributes a pixel signal SIG to a first ADC, a pixel signal representing only reflection light is divided for allocation. When the charge distribution unit distributes a pixel signal SIG to a second ADC, a pixel signal representing background light and reflection light (partial) is divided for allocation. When the charge distribution unit distributes a pixel signal SIG to a third ADC, a pixel signal representing background light and reflection light (the rest) is divided for allocation. During a period in which no signal is acquired, a discharge transistor functions as an overflow portion for releasing electrical charge. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid state imaging device used for an imaging device.

Abstract: A display device includes: a display panel including a display region where a user image is displayed and a measurement region; a transparent front panel disposed on a front side of the display panel; a bonding layer provided between the display panel and the front panel to avoid a first space and cover the display region, and bonding the display panel and the front panel together; and a component placed in the first space, the component including a detector configured to detect a physical property of the measurement region in the first space and flexible print circuits with the detector mounted thereon, and the flexible print circuits extending from the first space to an outside of an interspace between the display panel and the front panel.

Abstract: A laser alignment system is used to align an output fiber with a fiber laser, for example, when coupling a feeding fiber to a process fiber using a beam coupler or switch. The alignment system includes a laser alignment apparatus that is coupled at a first end to the output fiber and at a second end to a beam dump/power meter. The alignment apparatus defines a light passage and a light capture chamber along the light passage. When light is not aligned into the core of the output fiber, at least a portion of the light passing out of the output fiber will be captured by the light capture chamber and detected by a photodetector in optical communication with the light capture chamber. By monitoring the readings of the photodetector, the output fiber may be properly aligned with the laser light from the fiber laser.

Abstract: A clamp circuit can control a clamp transistor such that a change in a photodiode current detection voltage signal in an optical receiver circuit can control the clamp transistor to change state when a difference of a clamp voltage and the photodiode current detection voltage signal exceeds a threshold voltage of the clamp transistor. Using a feedback loop, the clamp circuit can accurately clamp a current when the photodiode current is larger than a detect current threshold.

Abstract: A contact lens includes a sensing electrode, detection circuitry, and a lens. The sensing electrode senses an impedance that changes based upon overlap of an eyelid. The detection circuitry is coupled to the sensing electrode and configured to measure the impedance via the sensing electrode. The detection circuitry is configured to generate a control signal indicative of a gaze direction of the eye based upon the electrical impedance. The lens is integrated into the contact lens and has an optical power that is adjustable. The lens is coupled to adjust the optical power in response to the control signal output from the detection circuitry and which is indicative of the gaze direction.

Abstract: A system for controlling lighting includes a control module coupled to a driver, a light source coupled to the driver, a first sensor configured to cooperate with the control module to detect occupancy and control the power delivered to the light source according to a signal provided by the first sensor, and a second sensor configured to cooperate with the control module to detect ambient light and control the power delivered according to a signal provided by the second sensor. A GUI executing on a controller device wirelessly coupled to the control module communicates with the control module to configure the operation thereof, executes on a touch-sensitive display configured to facilitate user interaction with the controller, and creates one or more control groups. The GUI is also operable to control the driver to control the state of the light source.

Abstract: According to one implementation, an optical observation system includes an optical fiber and at least one detection system. The optical fiber has at least one curved portion as a sensor for inputting light which has occurred in a test region. The optical fiber inputs the light from the at least one curved portion and transmits the light. The at least one detection system detects the light transmitted by the optical fiber. Further, according to one implementation, an optical observation method includes: inputting light, which has occurred in a test region, from at least one curved portion of an optical fiber and transmitting the light; and detecting the light transmitted by the optical fiber.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a light-emitting diode arrangement is provided. The light-emitting diode arrangement includes a first substrate with a first light-emitting diode which is arranged on the first substrate such that light emitted by it radiates in a main emission direction of the light-emitting diode arrangement, and a second substrate with a second light-emitting diode which is arranged on the second substrate such that light emitted by it radiates in the main emission direction of the light-emitting diode arrangement. The second substrate is arranged above the first substrate, such that the second substrate at least partly covers the first substrate.

Abstract: A method for operating a photoelectric barrier as well as a photoelectric barrier with at least one first and one second optoelectronic machine guard. The first optoelectronic machine guard has a first transmitter and the second optoelectronic machine guard has a second transmitter and receiver unit. The transmitters of the first optoelectronic machine guard are successively activated during a run of a first cycle so as to emit a single light pulse, and the transmitters of the second optoelectronic machine guard are successively activated during a run of a second cycle so as to emit a single light pulse. The cycles occur substantially simultaneously. A duration of the first cycle is lengthened or shortened by the duration of a first phase offset ?A and that the duration of the second cycle is lengthened or shortened by the duration of a second phase offset ?B.

Abstract: An opto-mechanical fuse is provided. The opto-mechanical fuse includes a chassis component, an extrusion disposed on a monitored component proximate to the chassis component and a sensor. The sensor includes an optical conductor mounted to the chassis component to assume one of an optically transmitting state and an optically non-transmitting state in both power-on and power-off conditions. An assumption of the optically non-transmitting state by the optical conductor occurs due to an interaction of the optical conductor and the extrusion resulting from a predefined magnitude of deflection of the monitored component.

Abstract: A method of controlling the performance of a night vision device includes storing, in memory of the night vision device, a plurality of performance configuration parameters, and after the storing, applying at least one of a hardware lock and a software lock to the night vision device such that at least some of the plurality of performance configuration parameters stored in the memory cannot be changed.

Abstract: A light intensity detection method includes: determining whether light intensity detection needs to be performed; detecting whether there is a finger touch in an optical detection region of an optical fingerprint sensor if light intensity detection needs to be performed, wherein the optical detection region is located in at least one part of a display region of a display; enabling a light intensity detection function if no finger touch is detected, and collecting light intensity data by using the optical fingerprint sensor; and processing the collected light intensity data, and calculating a value of current ambient light intensity according to the light intensity data.

Abstract: A system includes a tracker configured to collect solar irradiance and attached to a rotational mechanism for changing a plane of the tracker and a controller. The controller is programmed to store a plurality of positional and solar tracking information and detect a first amount of DHI and a first amount of DNI at a first specific point in time. If the first amount of SHI exceeds the first amount of DNI, the controller is programmed to calculate a first angle for the tracker to maximize an amount of irradiance received by the tracker. Otherwise, the controller is programmed to calculate the first angle for the tracker based on a position of the sun associated with the first specific point in time and the plurality of positional and solar tracking information.

Abstract: An optical filter, a sensor device including the optical filter, and a method of fabricating the optical filter are provided. The optical filter includes one or more dielectric layers and one or more metal layers stacked in alternation. The metal layers are intrinsically protected by the dielectric layers. In particular, the metal layers have tapered edges that are protectively covered by one or more of the dielectric layers.