Abstract: A color sensor for measuring light from a light source and the method for fabricating the color sensor. The color sensor includes a plurality of photodetectors, a plurality of primary color filters and a trim filter. Each primary color filter includes a layer of material between the light source and a corresponding one of the photodetectors. Each primary color filter preferentially transmits light in a corresponding band of wavelengths about a characteristic wavelength. The trim filter is located between the light source and the photodetectors and includes a layer of material that preferentially attenuates light at a first trim wavelength between two of the characteristic wavelengths. In one embodiment, the trim filter further preferentially attenuates light at a second trim wavelength, the first wavelength being less than one of the characteristic wavelengths and the second wavelength being greater than that characteristic wavelength.

Abstract: An optical navigation system having an optical navigation integrated circuit (“navigation IC”) is described. The optical navigation system may include an emitter module and a pixel array surrounding the emitter module. The optical navigation system may further include a ring optical system located on the surface of the navigation IC over the pixel array.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical fiber receiver (11) for optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEIC's) having an improved sensitivity and improved bandwidth. The improvements are achieved by subdividing the photodiodes into partial photodiodes (D1, D2), whereby each partial photodiode is connected to a respective transimpedance amplifier (20, 21), and the output signals of the individual transimpedance amplifiers are added inside a summation amplifier (30). The optical fiber received can be produced using different technologies: CMOS, BICMOS, BIPOLAR.

Abstract: A Fabry-Perot resonator apparatus and method for observing low reflectivity surfaces provides functional improvements for optical inspection and measurement systems, optical storage and retrieval systems as well as other optical systems when the a surface of interest in the resonator path has a lower than ideal reflectivity. The Fabry-Perot resonator is designed with an angle of incidence on the surface of interest deviating from normal incidence, effectively raising the reflectivity. Resonance is supported either by one or more reflectors oriented at angles with respect to the surface of interest, or by a focusing system that alters the directive angle of optical path(s) within the resonator such that the angle of incidence at an intersection of the optical path with the surface of interest is an angle other than normal. A normal incidence is maintained at the reflector(s), so that resonance is supported between the surface of interest and the reflector(s).

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of micro-lenses and a plurality of light receiving elements. Each micro-lens has a neighboring micro-lens at a respective distance that decreases with an incident angle of light converged by the micro-lens. Each light receiving element has a neighboring light receiving element at a respective distance that increases with an incident angle of light received by the light receiving element. Such position adjustment of the micro-lenses and light receiving elements enhances photo sensitivity of the image sensor.

Abstract: Described are a method and a photodetector system for determining a wavelength of light. A current generated in a photodetector in response to incident light is determined. The incident light is terminated and a decay current generated by the photodetector is determined. The wavelength of the light is determined according to the current, the decay current and a predetermined correspondence between the current and decay current as a function of wavelength and time. In one embodiment, the decay current is compared to reference decay currents to determine a matched reference decay current and the wavelength of the light is determined according to a wavelength associated with the matched reference decay current.

Abstract: A sensor for use at substrate level in a high numerical aperature lithographic apparatus, the sensor having a transparent plate that covers a sensing element and includes elements that improve coupling of radiation into the sensing element. The elements include Fresnel lenses, holographic optical elements, inverted Winston Cones, spherical lenses and surface roughening.

Abstract: A vibration sensing device, an acceleration sensing system and a method of manufacturing a vibration sensing device wherein the vibration sensing device comprises a flexible disk that is mounted symmetrically about a radial plane and has a mass located on the disk substantially symmetrical about this radial plane which exerts a force that is greater towards the edge than it is towards the centre of the disk. The vibration sensing device is sensitive to on-axis signals and insensitive to cross axis signals.

Abstract: It has been found that target optics produce non-specular, augmented optical returns when interrogated by a laser pulse. This non-specular radiation is detected by an active laser search system employing a direct-reading, thresholded focal plane detector that is able to detect non-cooperating targets with optics that employ a detector or optical element at the focal plane of their receiving optics. The pulses returned from such target optics have a width commensurate with the original transmitted pulse width, whereas passive background noise and the spread out active returns from the ground exhibit temporally long returns. By setting the sensor threshold sufficiently high, the system discriminates against noise and clutter while at the same time reducing the number of sweeps required to detect a target within the search area.

Abstract: In an optical information reading apparatus, a marker beam irradiating unit has a light beam source for emitting a light beam, a diffusing lens for diffusing the light beam emitted from the light beam source, and a collective lens for collecting the light beam diffused by the diffusing means. The marker beam irradiating unit has a pattern forming unit for forming a marker beam based on the light beam collected by the collecting means to irradiate the marker beam. The marker beam has a predetermined beam pattern indicating the reading position of the pickup unit.

Abstract: A photocell system includes a current control circuit that provides an offset voltage. Each photocell in a photocell array includes an opto-electrical converter receives the offset voltage such that the opto-electrical converter establishes a DC operating point. In one embodiment, each photocell includes the current control circuit. In an alternate embodiment, a single current control circuit provides the offset voltage for the entire photocell array.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for correcting for gain changes in detectors in a guided vehicle. In one version of the invention, an on board light source is used to generate a reference set of detector gains, which are stored in computer memory. The on board light source is then pulsed at subsequent times and the signals generated by the detectors are compared to the reference set of detector gains to determine whether any gains have changed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for detecting the opening angle of the shutter (light or dark sector) of an adjustable rotating shutter (1) arranged in a film camera. Said shutter comprises a circular-segment-shaped or circular-sector shaped shutter wing (2) which is driven by a shutter motor via a shutter shaft (20), and also comprises an adjustable shutter adjustment wing (3) arranged in a coaxial manner in relation to the shutter wing (2) and which can be displaced in relation to said shutter wing by means of a shutter adjustment wing motor (33). According to the invention, the position of the shutter wing (2) and the position of the shutter adjustment wing (3) are detected during a rotation of the rotating shutter (1) and the difference between the two positions forms a value for the shutter opening angle or the light or dark sector of the rotating shutter (1).

Abstract: A device for examining the optical properties of surfaces having at least one first radiation device emitting radiation at least at one first predetermined spatial angle to a surface to be examined, at least one first detector device for capturing the radiation emitted to and reflected back from the surface, wherein the detector device allows a local resolution of detected radiation and is positioned at least at a second predetermined spatial angle relative to the surface. At least one spatial angle at which the radiation device and/or the detector device are positioned, is variable.

Abstract: A frame shuttered CMOS image sensor with simultaneous array readout. An array of CMOS pixels are printed on a silicon substrate. Within each pixel is a light sensitive region comprising a photo sensitive diode for converting photons into electrical charge and at least three transistors to permit reading of reset electrical charges and collected electrical charges and for re-setting the photosensitive diode. The sensor includes an array of signal and re-set readout capacitors located on the substrate but outside of the pixel array. Metal conductors printed in said substrate connect each pixel in said pixel array with a signal capacitor and a re-set capacitor in array of signal and re-set readout capacitors. Transistor switches printed in said substrate but outside of said pixel array are used to isolate the signal and re-set capacitors from each other and from the pixels.

Abstract: A photosensitive apparatus, such as scanner, includes a plurality of pixels, each pixel having associated therewith a set of photosensors, each photosensor filtered to record a primary color. The photosensors are exposed to light of each primary color separately, thereby deriving test signals. A cross-color correction factor for the pixel is derived from the test signals. The cross-color correction factor is used in processing signals output from the pixel when an image is being recorded, so as to isolate the effects of signal crosstalk between closely-spaced photosensors of different colors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device to detect individual moving objects having very small dimensions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photodetectors array that will be hybridized on a readout circuit (30) and realized from a wafer of semiconducting material (11). The wafer is divided into pixels (12), each pixel forming a photodetector, the pixels being separated from each other by separation means formed in the wafer and comprising a photogrid for photodetectors, each photodetector having a connection pad (18) to hybridize the photodetectors array to the readout circuit.

Abstract: System for scanning a surface, including a light source producing an illuminating light beam; an objective lens assembly, located between the light source and the surface; at least one light detector; an apodizator located between the light source and the objective lens assembly; and a relay lens assembly located between the apodizator and the objective lens assembly, wherein the light source produces an image of the illuminating light beam on the apodizator, the apodizator blocks at least a portion of the illuminating light beam, the relay lens assembly images the blocked illuminating light beam at an entrance pupil of the objective lens assembly, and wherein at least one of said at least one light detector, detects light reflected from said surface.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises: an imaging section including a plurality of unit pixel portions arranged along a row direction and a column direction, each of the plurality of the unit pixel portions including a charge storage section, a reset section for resetting the charge storage section, a photoelectrical conversion section, a transfer section for transferring the charge, which is photoelectrically converted by the photoelectrical conversion section, to the charge storage section, and a signal outputting section for outputting a signal corresponding to the charge stored in the charge storage section, and is provided so as to share at least a part thereof with at least a part of the reset section; a vertically scanning section for vertically scanning the plurality of unit pixel portions on a row basis: and a driving voltage control section for controlling a driving voltage.