Abstract: An example embodiment includes a playback device comprising a wireless communications interface including a wireless (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) antenna), a capacitive sensor comprising an electrode that is coupled to the RF antenna, one or more processors, and a data storage having stored therein instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the playback device to perform operations. The operations include operating the playback device in a first power state, detecting that an object is in proximity to the capacitive sensor, and in response to detecting the object, adjusting operation of the playback device from the first power state to a second power state.

Abstract: A solar tracker system comprising a plurality of on sun trackers and a plurality of off sun tracker. Each tracker is selectively adjusted to achieve a desired power output of the solar power plant system in an example.

Abstract: An illumination device comprises one or more emitter modules having improved thermal and electrical characteristics. According to one embodiment, each emitter module comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured for producing illumination for the illumination device, one or more photodetectors configured for detecting the illumination produced by the plurality of LEDs, a substrate upon which the plurality of LEDs and the one or more photodetectors are mounted, wherein the substrate is configured to provide a relatively high thermal impedance in the lateral direction, and a relatively low thermal impedance in the vertical direction, and a primary optics structure coupled to the substrate for encapsulating the plurality of LEDs and the one or more photodetectors within the primary optics structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for materials (e.g., films, mixtures, and colloidally suspended in solution) including two types of particles (e.g., nanoparticles) that exhibit harmonic surface plasmon resonances (SPR), where these are referred to as harmonically paired set of particles. The present disclosure provides for harmonically paired set of particles, where the particles are separated by a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has a thickness such that direct electron transfer does not occur between the harmonically paired set of particles. The harmonically paired set of particles can be included in harmonically paired set of particle system or devices which can be a component in measurement systems or devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for indoor-outdoor detection. One example computer-implemented method for indoor-outdoor detection by an electronic device includes receiving, from an ambient light sensor in the electronic device, light intensity data. The electronic device determines an indoor-outdoor feature indicator based on the light intensity data. The electronic device determines whether the electronic device is in an indoor environment or an outdoor environment based on the indoor-outdoor feature indicator.

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 integrated circuit includes a comparator, a counter and a control circuit. The comparator is configured to generate a comparator output signal in response to a pixel output signal and a reference signal. The counter is coupled to the comparator, and configured to be enabled or disabled in response to the comparator output signal. The control circuit is coupled to the comparator, and configured to enable or disable the comparator by a first enable signal. The first enable signal is generated in response to at least the comparator output signal.

Abstract: A laser irradiation apparatus includes a stage on which a substrate is provided, a laser irradiation unit which irradiates a laser to the substrate on the stage, an image acquiring unit which acquires an image of a predetermined region of the substrate, and a control unit electrically connected to the laser irradiation unit and the image acquiring unit, where the control unit calculates a brightness value corresponding to an average value of grayscale values of the image provided from the image acquiring unit, compares a calculated brightness value with a reference brightness value, and outputs data on performance of the laser based on a result of comparing the calculated brightness value with the reference brightness value.

Abstract: An optical structure is provided. The optical structure includes an optical element and a plurality of protrusions. The optical element has a planarized top surface. The plurality of protrusions are disposed on the planarized top surface, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions independently has a size in the subwavelength dimensions.

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: An optical sensor for a delivery device having a piston that displaces a substance, such as a fluid, from a reservoir. The optical sensor has a light source and a detector array for imaging encoding features disposed along a plunger rod coupled to the piston. By virtue of the pattern of encoding features, an absolute position of the plunger rod relative to a fiducial position may be determined uniquely. Thus, the volume of fluid remaining in the reservoir, the rate of fluid delivery, and proper loading of the reservoir may be accurately ascertained. Additionally, the encoding may serve to uniquely identify a version of the reservoir which may be supplied in various versions corresponding, for example, to differing concentrations of a therapeutic agent to be dispensed.

Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system is provided. The LIDAR system includes a LIDAR transmitter configured with a first field of view and configured to transmit laser beams into the first field of view at a plurality of discrete transmission angles in order to scan the first field of view with the laser beams; a LIDAR receiver configured with a second field of view and configured to receive reflected laser beams from the second field of view and generate electrical signals based on the received reflected laser beams; and a controller configured to shift at least one of the first field of view or the second field of view based on a misalignment in order to optimize an overlap of the first field of view and the second field of view.

Abstract: A photodetecting device is provided. The photodetecting device includes a first photodetecting component including a substrate having a first absorption region configured to absorb photons having a first peak wavelength and to generate first photo-carriers, and a second photodetecting component including a second absorption region configured to absorb photons having a second peak wavelength different from the first peak wavelength and to generate second photo-carriers. The first photodetecting component further includes two first readout circuits and two first control circuits for the first photo-carriers and electrically coupled to the first absorption region.

Abstract: A photonic aerosol particle sensor includes a microfluidic sensor chamber in which is disposed a plurality of photonic waveguide resonators each having a photonic waveguide on an underlying substrate, along a separate waveguide resonator path with a lateral width different than that of other photonic waveguide resonators. All waveguides in the plurality have a common vertical thickness of a common waveguide material having a refractive index that is larger than that of the underlying substrate material. An optical input connection couples light into the waveguide resonators. An aerosol particle input fluidically connected to the microfluidic chamber fluidically conveys aerosol particles to the chamber, and an aerosol particle output fluidically connected to the microfluidic chamber fluidically conveys aerosol particles out of the chamber.

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 vertical cavity surface emitting laser includes a gain layer configured to generate light; a distributed Bragg reflector below the gains layer; and a meta structure reflector above the gain layer and comprising a plurality of nano structures having a sub wavelength dimension.

Abstract: In some examples, an access point that leads into a safety zone of a roll unwinder or winder is monitored by a monitoring sensor system. The monitoring sensor system includes two scanners having respective measuring beams that pass over an angular region situated in the same plane extending in an opening. The access point is monitored in a pattern of multiple protection fields having various sizes and/or shapes. Multiple ones of the protection fields are encompassed by a next-larger and/or next-wider protection field, entirely or at least viewed in the width and toward the top. The scan images of the two scanners are checked for a breach of the relevant protection fields in differing, adjoining, or overlapping partial regions of the plane. Information about the permissibility of a determined protection field breach is derived by evaluation of breach patterns of breached protection fields obtained in the two partial regions.

Abstract: An electronic chip supports an optical device and electric connection zones. An insulating coating coats the electronic chip, covers the electric connection zones and exposes the optical device. An optical plugging element is at least partly fastened onto a first face of the insulating coating and is optically coupled to the optical device. Vias pass through the insulating coating from its first face to a second face opposite to the first face. Inner walls of the vias support electrically conductive paths connected to the electric connection zones of the electronic chip by electrically conductive tracks arranged on the first face of the insulating coating. The electrically conductive paths of the vias further have ends protruding onto the second face of the insulating coating.

Abstract: Plasmonic optical fibers, plasmonic optical sensors and methods of manufacturing the same. A fiber core conveys an optical signal therewithin and provides a plasmonic sensing area exposed to a fluid. The plasmonic sensing area is formed only on a section of an external surface of the fiber core. The plasmonic sensing area provides an interface within the section of the external surface for the conveyed signal to at least partially exit the fiber core and cause a modified optical signal to be conveyed in the fiber core. An optical signal generator may provide the optical signal to the plasmonic optical fiber, an optical signal receiver may discriminate the conveyed optical signal from the modified optical signal and a processor module may analyze the modified optical signal and identifies physical characteristics of the fluid present at the sensing area.

Abstract: An optical energy detector and a method for detecting a broad range of optical energy are disclosed. The detector comprising a superconducting nanowire filament on a substrate, an electrical current pulse source, a laser pulse source, a first pickup probe, and a second pickup probe for measuring the voltage across the filament. The filament is maintained below a supercomputing critical temperature. The filament is biased with an electrical current pulses slight below the critical current of the filament which creates nonequilibrium state. The filament is excited by the laser pulses, and as a result, a voltage appears after a delay time. The voltage is measured for determining the amount of the optical energy. A reference curve of the voltage and the corresponding delay time can be used for calibrating any light source.