Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging element including: a plurality of unit pixels each having a photoelectric conversion part, a transfer part that transfers a charge generated by the photoelectric conversion part to a predetermined region, and a draining part that drains a charge in the predetermined region; a light shielding film being formed under an interconnect layer in the unit pixels and shield, from light, substantially the whole surface of the plurality of unit pixels except a light receiving part of the photoelectric conversion part; and a voltage controller controlling a voltage applied to the light shielding film. The voltage controller sets the voltage applied to the light shielding film to a first voltage in charge draining by the draining part and sets the voltage applied to the light shielding film to a second voltage higher than the first voltage in charge transfer by the transfer part.

Abstract: In a solid-state image pickup apparatus including a pixel array having pixels each including photoelectric conversion element arranged in a matrix, a synchronization signal generation unit generates a horizontal synchronization signal to define a first horizontal period and a second horizontal period different in length from the first horizontal period. Based on the horizontal synchronization signal, a reset scanning circuit sequentially selects and resets pixels in rows of the pixel array, and a readout scanning circuit sequentially selects pixels and reads a pixel signal therefrom. In each pixel, the charge is accumulated in a charge accumulation period starting when the resetting is performed and ending when the pixel signal is read. In one vertical period, the first horizontal period and the plurality of second horizontal period both appear a plurality of times, wherein the second horizontal period appears periodically.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector is positioned on a printed circuit board (PCB) and includes a main body, a number of slots, and a number of optical fibers. The main body includes a number of light transceivers. Each of the light transceivers includes a light transmitting module and a light receiving module adjacent to the light transmitting module. One end of each of the optical fibers is optically coupled to a respective one of the light emitting modules and the light receiving modules, and the other end of each of the optical fibers is mounted on a respective one of the slots.

Abstract: An absolute rotary encoder comprises a scale having marks arranged at a first pitch; a first detector and a second detector including plural photoelectric conversion elements arranged at a second pitch smaller than the first pitch, and configured to detect a predetermined number of marks, the second detector disposed opposite to the first detector; and a computing device. The computing device is configured to generate a data string by quantizing a periodic signal output from the first detector, and obtains first angle data from the data string, to normalize amplitudes of the periodic signals output from the first and second detectors, to average the normalized periodic signal to obtain second angle data from a phase of the averaged periodic signal, and to combine the first and second angle data to generate data representing an absolute rotation angle.

Abstract: An optical sensor has a glass base having a concave portion, and a glass lid is bonded to the base and overlies the concave portion to form a cavity portion. A photoelectric conversion element id accommodated in the cavity portion. Internal wirings are each connected at one end to the photoelectric conversion element and extend through notches each formed at a corner of a peripheral edge along an outside surface of the base. The other ends of the internal wirings are connected inside the notches to external wirings that extend along an outside surface of the base and terminate in external terminals.

Abstract: A method includes collecting site specific data, collecting field data at a site of an array of photovoltaic members, determining a current tracked irradiance of the array of photovoltaic members, calculating predicted irradiance for multiple orientations based on the site specific data and the sensed field data, or sensing an actual irradiance for multiple orientations. The method further includes determining a maximum predicted irradiance from the calculated predicted irradiance or a maximum actual irradiance from the sensed irradiance. The method further includes comparing the maximum predicted irradiance or the maximum sensed irradiance with the current tracked irradiance, and re-orienting the array of photovoltaic members to an orientation having the maximum predicted or actual irradiance if the maximum predicted or actual irradiance is greater than the current tracked irradiance.

Abstract: A lighting fixture system for fluorescent lamps includes one or more fluorescent lamps and one or more ballasts configured to provide controlled power to the one or more fluorescent lamps. The lighting fixture further includes a controller wired to the fluorescent lighting fixture. The controller includes one or more relays configured to turn power provided to the one or more ballasts on and off such that the one or more fluorescent lamps turn on and off with the switching of the one or more relays. The controller further includes a logic circuit configured to control the switching of the one or more relays, wherein the logic circuit is configured to log usage information for the fluorescent lighting fixture in memory. The controller yet further includes communications electronics configured to output the logged usage information.

Abstract: A floating electrode is used to detect ions in close proximity to the electrode. The electrode is charge coupled to other electrodes and to other transistors to form a pixel that can be placed into an array for addressable readout. It is possible to obtain gain by accumulating charge into another electrode or onto a floating diffusion (FD) node or directly onto the column line. It is desirable to achieve both a reduction in pixel size as well as increase in signal level. To reduce pixel size, ancillary transistors may be eliminated and a charge storage node with certain activation and deactivation sequences may be used.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a photonically enabled complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip are disclosed. The CMOS chip may comprise a laser, a microlens, a turning mirror, and an optical bench, and may generate an optical signal utilizing the laser, focus the optical signal utilizing the microlens, and reflect the optical signal at an angle defined by the turning mirror. The reflected optical signal may be transmitted into the photonically enabled CMOS chip, which may comprise a non-reciprocal polarization rotator, comprising a latching faraday rotator. The CMOS chip may comprise a reciprocal polarization rotator, which may comprise a half-wave plate comprising birefringent materials operably coupled to the optical bench. The turning mirror may be integrated in the optical bench and may reflect the optical signal to transmit through a lid operably coupled to the optical bench.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides photodetectors and components thereof having multi-spectral sensing capabilities. In some embodiments, photodetectors of the present invention provide a first photosensitive element comprising at least one accessway extending through the element and an electrical connection at least partially disposed in the accessway, the electrical connection accessible for receiving a second photosensitive element.

Abstract: A production method of a solid-state imaging device in which microlenses are arranged adjacent to each other on a substrate, includes: a first process of forming first microlenses on a surface of the substrate leaving space therebetween for providing second microlenses; and a second process of applying an overcoating material onto the surface of the substrate on which the first microlenses are formed, drying the overcoating material, exposing the overcoating material to light using a gray scale mask, and developing the exposed overcoating material, so as to form second microlenses in the space between the first microlenses adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A rotary encoder and an optical wheel for the rotary encoder are provided. The rotary encoder further includes a light source module, a code plate and an optical sensor module. The light source module is coupled with the code plate. The optical wheel is rotary, and has imaging elements arranged annularly; at least one of the imaging elements is coupled with the code plate. The optical sensor module is coupled with at least one of the imaging elements. The light source module emits lights to the code plate, and the lights passing through the code plate forms an image which is then transmitted to the optical sensor module via the imaging element. When the optical wheel rotates, the image moves accordingly. The optical sensor module senses that the image moves. A method for generating a zeroing signal of a rotary encoder and a liner encoder are also provided.

Abstract: An absolute rotary encoder comprises: a rotary member which includes a cylindrical surface on which a plurality of marks are arranged at a predetermined pitch in a circumferential direction; a light source configured to emit a light toward the cylindrical surface; a detector configured to detect a predetermined number of marks of the plurality of marks; and a computing device configured to obtain an absolute rotation angle of the rotary member based on an output from the detector. The detector is configured to output a signal corresponding to the predetermined number of marks and having an uneven period resulting from a geometrical layout of the light source, the cylindrical surface, and the detector. The computing device is configured to correct the signal using correction data so as to reduce unevenness of the period, and to obtain the absolute rotation angle of the rotary member using the corrected signal.

Abstract: Provided is a proximity sensor using a photosensor, which is easy to use and reduced in power consumption. In the proximity sensor, a first photosensor is used to detect a change in amount of ambient light entering the first photosensor, which is caused when a finger is coming close thereto, and a detection signal is output based on a result of the detection. The photosensor includes, for example, one or a plurality of PN junction elements connected in parallel.

Abstract: Various aspects of the subject technology provide systems and methods for transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal from a desired location on the surface of a photoconversion material by simply directing a laser beam or other energy beam to the desired location on the photoconversion material. In one aspect, the laser beam causes electrons in the photoconversion material to accelerate and emit the RF signal by forming a dead region on the photoconversion material that the electrons must flow around. In one aspect, the dead region has an asymmetrical shape to prevent a cancellation effect and produce a net positive RF signal. Various aspects of the subject technology also provide systems and methods for drawing a circuit element on the photoconversion material by tracing one or more dead regions on the photoconversion material with a laser beam or other energy beam to construct the circuit element.

Abstract: A light source unit includes an excitation light source and a luminescent wheel on which luminescent light emitting areas including, on a reflecting surface, red and green luminescent materials which respectively emit light of red and green wavelength band, when receiving excitation light, and a diffuse transmission area which diffuses and transmits excitation light, are aligned end to end in a circumferential direction. An excitation light incident surface of a luminescent material layer of the luminescent wheel has a surface with a plurality of projecting bodies. Regular quadrangular pyramids are arranged thereon in a matrix with outer boundaries of bottom portions of adjacent regular quadrangular pyramids contacting each other. The pyramids rise at a rising angle of at least 30°, and a length of one side of an outer boundary of the bottom portion of the pyramid is between 10 and 100 ?m.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array unit that includes a plurality of pixels arranged two dimensionally and a plurality of read-out signal lines used for reading out pixel signals from the plurality of pixels; test voltage applying units that are disposed at the read-out signal lines and apply test voltages of various voltage levels to the read-out signal lines; a reference voltage generating circuit that includes a MOS transistor used for generating a reference voltage and can change an operating point of the MOS transistor; and an operating point control unit that controls a process of adjusting the operating point of the MOS transistor based on the test voltages and the reference voltage.

Abstract: An origin location detection circuit in an encoder. The encoder includes a scale on which an origin pattern indicating an origin is provided and a detection head relatively displaceable with respect to the scale. The origin location detection circuit includes a comparator for generating an origin signal indicating a location of the origin from an output voltage signal, which is output from a detector of the detection head and has been affected by involvement of the origin pattern; a DC voltage detection circuit smoothing the output voltage signal; and a differential amplifier circuit performing differential amplification of the output voltage signal and a DC voltage signal output from the DC voltage detection circuit. A differential amplifier signal of the differential amplifier circuit is input to the comparator.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor (10) for monitoring a working area (42) is provided, the working area (42) being located within a detection area (20) of the sensor (10) and in a first distance from the sensor (10), wherein the sensor (10) comprises an illumination unit (22) with a light source (24) for at least partially illuminating the working area (42), and an object detection unit (30) for detecting forbidden objects in the working area (42), wherein an illumination control (28) of the illumination unit (22) is configured to, during a startup period, initially activate the illumination unit (28) with a lower power such that a provisional working area (40, 40a-c) in a second distance from the sensor (10) less than the first distance is illuminated at most with a predetermined maximum light output; test whether there is a forbidden object intrusion into the provisional working area (40, 40a-c); and if no forbidden object intrusion is detected, activate the illumination unit (28) with a higher power such that th

Abstract: An oscillating liquid lens and imaging system and method employing the lens are provided. The liquid lens includes a substrate with a channel opening extending through the substrate. A liquid drop is disposed within the channel and is sized with a first droplet portion, including a first capillary surface, protruding away from a first substrate surface, and a second droplet portion, including a second capillary surface, protruding away from a second substrate surface. The liquid lens further includes an enclosure at least partially surrounding the substrate, and including a chamber. The liquid drop resides within the chamber, and the liquid lens includes a second liquid disposed within the chamber in direct or indirect contact with the liquid drop, and the liquid lens further includes a driver for oscillating the liquid drop within the channel.