Abstract: An apparatus for measuring displacement between two members subject to movement relative to one another. The apparatus includes a scale defined by spaced marks provided on one of the members. A light source is arranged to illuminate the marks, wherein light reflected from the marks constitutes light signals. A light-receiving device is provided on the other of the members for receiving at least two light signals reflected from the marks in predetermined phase relationship. A determining circuit is coupled for receiving the light signals and for determining the sense of direction of the relative movement of one of the members based upon the phase relationship of the two light signals. A single optical fiber is provided for transmitting the light signals between the light-receiving device and the determining circuit. Additionally, color-encoding means are located for color-encoding the respective light signals.

Abstract: A vehicle guidance and control system has a number of trucks whose movement is controlled by a base station. Each truck periodically fixes its own position in relation to marker boards consisting of patterns of reflective coded stripes by scanning a narrow laser beam in a predetermined direction across the stripes. Using at least two boards its position can be determined by triangulation, and because the beam scans in a fixed direction, the positional accuracy can be determined by a particular stripe or edge of a stripe, and not by the size of a marker board as a whole.

Abstract: In a focus detecting apparatus wherein an imaging optical system is disposed rearwardly of the predetermined imaging plane of an objective lens to thereby form a plurality of object images on the basis of lights passed through different portions of the pupil of the objective lens and each of the object images is detected by a line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements to thereby detect the focus condition of the objective lens from the amount of deviation of each object image, a field limitation plate having a plurality of openings and an optical filter for causing the characteristics of the light passed through the openings of the field limitation plate to differ from one another are provided near the predetermined imaging plane of the objective lens. Thus, the apparatus is adaptable for different focus detection conditions and is very simple in construction.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus for aligning a semiconductor wafer with an optical mask containing a circuit pattern to be exposed onto the wafer in the fabrication of semiconductor devices by a proximity exposure apparatus.

Abstract: A package for an optical element which receives or emits light thereinto or therefrom and is bonded on a substrate is disclosed. The substrate is a transparent one. An electrode pad including a window therein is formed on the top of the substrate and the optical element is bonded on the top of the electrode pad. By this structure, light is received into or emitted from the optical element through the transparent substrate and the window formed in the electrode pad.

Abstract: There is provided a photoelectric switch in which a beam reflected by an object to be detected is received in a trigonometric manner so that any failure in the distance measurement of the object can be prevented with employment of ordinary amplification circuit for received-light signals without enlarging the figure of the dynamic range of the circuit. In the switch, a circuit for comparing the ratio of the received-light signals to a predetermined operational level includes means for setting the nearest limit point for a set range of a detecting area to be farther than an intersection of the projected light beam with a line connecting centers of light-receiving lens and received-light detecting element so that the detection of the object can be made even when the dynamic range of the amplification circuit is saturated, whereby the presence of the object in the detecting area can be always discriminated even upon the dynamic range saturation of the amplification circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a signal accumulating time control method for a signal accumulating type radiation sensing device which produces an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of incident radiation and accumulates the same. According to the improvement of the present invention, the accumulating time is controlled by successive approximation at different intervals when there happens a situation in which the accumulating time must be changed greatly.

Abstract: An optic displacement sensor includes first and second optic circuits which optic circuits include bi-directional means for a light supply path to and a light return path from a light reflecting surface means. The first optic circuit is a reference signal circuit, and the second optic circuit is a measuring signal circuit. Means are provided for directing light into the light supply paths for the pair of optic circuits, and means are provided whereby the light from the light supply paths of the pair of optic circuits is received by light reflecting means and at least partially reflected into the light return paths where it is detected. Further, the sensor includes means for adjusting the detected signal from one of the light return paths with respect to the detected light from the other light return path.

Abstract: A focus error detection device for use with a system for optically recording and reading out information, and which can produce a symmetrical focus error signal with respect to the amount of displacement of the reflecting surface of the recording medium from an in-focus position. A second cylindrical lens whose axial direction is perpendicular to the axial direction of a first cylindrical lens is provided, and lateral magnification between the position of the receiving surface of a photo detector and a conjugate plane, which is located adjacent to the in-focus position of the reflecting surface, is made uniform in each direction. By this feature, the output signal of the photo detector varies in a symmetric manner in both directions from the in-focus position of the reflection surface.

Abstract: An image position detector includes a light receiving element for receiving an image of an object and for producing an electric signal generated by the image, and a signal processing circuit for processing the electric signal and for producing a position signal representing a position of the image on the light receiving element. The light receiving element is defined by a semiconductor device having an n-type substrate and p-type region formed in the substrate. A current generated between the n-type substrate and p-type region is in relation to the distance to the image from the p-type region. The signal processing circuit receives the generated current and determines the position of the image by the level of the generated current.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive key has a radiation-propagating prism or plate between a radiation source and a radiation detector. Radiation is scattered from a top surface of the prism or plate so as to reach and activate the detector through a side surface when the top surface is touched. External radiation is free to enter the prism or plate and to leave through the side surface but this radiation is not capable of actuating the detector. In one embodiment the detector is spaced from the side surface so that it cannot be reached by external radiation. In an alternative embodiment, external radiation is subject to multiple reflections within the prism or plate and at each reflection part of the radiation is transmitted through the pertaining surface to be absorbed in a substrate layer.

Abstract: A sensing and regulating apparatus for use with a tool such as a welding torch guided along a bevel, an oxygen cutting head, a chisel, a milling cutter, or a nibbling machine, comprises an optical apparatus projecting a light ray on a reference line where it delineates a spot which is diffused particularly toward a receiver consisting of elements sensitive to light. The spot of light falling on the receiver supplies two adjustment signals according to its position and its width. These signals are used to control elements carrying the optical apparatus so that the apparatus continually follows the reference line and so that it always remains at the same distance from the reference line. The movements of the optical apparatus control the associated working tool so that its path is equal, or homothetic, to that of the optical apparatus as a result of the reference line.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a binocular artificial vision system including left and right hand video cameras providing left and right video signals to a stereo correlator providing a correlated distance signal at the output thereof. The left and right hand video cameras have overlapping fields-of-view, the stereo correlator derives a quality of correlation signal as well as a range distance signal from the left and right video signals, and means are provided to vary the effective eyebase of the video cameras in response to the quality of correlation signal.

Abstract: A noiseless rotary detent switch, wherein a ferromagnetic projection passes in close proximity to a magnetic pole, in combination with a first photoelectric detector for detecting the leading and trailing edges of said projection and a second photoelectric detector for detecting the presence or absence of said projection, the magnetic attraction between said projection and said pole providing the noiseless detent action and said first and said second photoelectric detectors providing electric signals for actuating switches in a sequence corresponding to that of the direction of rotation of said rotary switch.

Abstract: A light-sensitive device is disclosed for separately detecting light of two different wavelength bands. Such a device can be used in optical data communication. The separate detection is accomplished by two separate pn junctions which are disposed on two different sides of a substrate and are optically in series. The pn junction lying in front in the light path responds to light of, e.g., 850 nm, but not to light in the range from 950 nm to 1,650 nm. The substrate acts as a filter and passes the light of longer wavelength while blocking the 850-nm light, so that the second pn junction is only reached by light in the range from 950 nm to 1,650 nm.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device for vertical focusing of a specimen 23 in which an enlarging condenser lens 11 is placed between a light source 12 and a half mirror 7 in an automatic focus detecting system so that an enlarged image 24 of the light source is presented to an objective 1 of the focusing microscope M.

Abstract: An optical encoder apparatus is disclosed comprising a light source, a lens for focusing and collimating light emitted from the light source, a cap for receiving and aligning the light source and the lens, a scale movable relative to the cap including alternating opaque and translucent regions for blocking and transmitting light emitted from the light source, an array of a plurality of photodiodes for converting light emitted from the light source into electrical signals, a mask mounted in a fixed position between the scale and the photo transducer array, including in the mask alternating opaque and translucent regions arranged to act in concert with the movable scale to modulate the light received by the photo transducers, a mounting post for mounting the optical encoder apparatus, a receptor for attaching to the cap including a deck for receiving and aligning the photo transducer array, and including a cavity for receiving the mounting post, and a clamp for securing the receptor, and therefore the optical e

Abstract: A scanning laser beam is directed in a circular scanning pattern, perpendicular to the surface of a part that moves across the scan pattern. Reflected light received solely from part edges or other surface discontinuities is compared with a number of preselected threshold levels. When reflection intensity attains any one of the selected threshold levels, an event is triggered, and the beam position at the time of the event, together with the intensity level triggering the event, are recorded, so as to provide information limited to the part edges and other surface discontinuities.

Abstract: A "mouse"-type position indicating control apparatus has a two-part housing comprising an apertured base and a cover which contains a ball, a portion of which projects through the aperture in the base to support and transport the housing along a support surface. A one-piece molded mounting block rests on the base for holding the ball in position over the aperture while accommodating universal rotation thereof. Code wheel shafts have the opposite ends thereof journaled in bearing grooves in the support block for frictional engagement with the ball for indicating orthogonal components of rotation. Photoelectric transducer elements are mounted on the mounting block. A cap plate covers the mounting block and retains the shafts and photoelectric elements in place. Retaining members on the cover engage the plate for clamping the mounting block against the base. The apparatus is assembled without the use of fasteners or tools except for securing the base to the cover.

Abstract: The front end of an optical receiver circuit (10) is of the type having a field-effect device transimpedance amplifier (16,21) which receives at its input (14) the photocurrent of a photodiode (12). A field-effect device shunt impedance (26) to protect against amplifier overloading is connected between the input and ground through a decoupling capacitor (28). The shunt (26) is controlled by a controller (30), which has its input connected to the output (24) of the amplifier (16) and its output connected to the gate of the shunt (26). The controller (30) compares the output (24) of the amplifier (16) to a threshold reference voltage for determining whether to activate the shunt (26) and regulates the gate voltage of the shunt (26) by means of an AGC amplifier. A direct current feedback resistor (32) is connected between the output (24) of the amplifier (16) and the source of the shunt (26). This prevents the d.c.