Abstract: A device for generating light pulses for characterization, standardization and/or calibration of photodetectors, preferably within a flow cytometer or microscope is disclosed. The device includes emission light sources which are driven with predetermined waveform to emit light pulses. A feedback mechanism based on the provision of separate, series-connected control light sources whose emission is detected by a feedback detector is included. The device may include one or more emission groups of circularly arranged, multi-color emission light sources. To provide different intensity levels, the emission light sources or emission groups can be coupled into a light guide with different efficiencies. Uses of the device and systems or kits including the device is also provided.

Abstract: An image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes a substrate having a first pixel region and a second pixel region. The image sensor also includes a resonator structure disposed over the substrate. The resonator structure includes a first metal layer over the first pixel region and the second pixel region. The resonator structure also includes a first insulating layer over the first metal layer and the first pixel region. The first insulating layer has a first thickness. The resonator structure further includes a second insulating layer over the first metal layer and the second pixel region. The second insulating layer has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness. In addition, the resonator structure includes a second metal layer over the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer.

Abstract: A photoconductive switch for generating or detecting terahertz radiation (TR) is provided. The photoconductive switch may comprise at least a first and a second pair of electrodes (EV, EH, EGR) on a surface (SS) of a photoconductive substrate, wherein the electrodes of the first pair are separated by a first gap comprising at least a plurality of first rectilinear sections (GV) extending along a first direction (x) and the electrodes of the second pairs are separated by a second gap comprising at least a plurality of second sections (GH) extending along a second direction (y), different from the first direction. The photoconductive switch may further comprise a patterned opaque layer (PML) selectively masking portions of the gaps between the electrodes. Methods and devices for generating and detecting terahertz radiation comprising such photoconductive switches are also provided.

Abstract: An optical measurement apparatus includes a thermal insulation housing, a first light-transmissive plate, a second light-transmissive plate, a heat-conductive layer, a cooling source and a photosensor. The thermal insulation housing, the first light-transmissive plate and the second light-transmissive plate define a chamber. The heat-conductive layer is disposed in the chamber, the cooling source is coupled to the heat-conductive layer, and the photosensor is disposed outside the chamber and on one side of the second light-transmissive plate facing away from the first light-transmissive plate.

Abstract: To improve detection efficiency in a solid-state imaging element including a SPAD in which an electrode and wiring are placed in a central portion. A solid-state imaging element includes a photodiode and a light collecting section. The photodiode includes a light receiving surface and an electrode placed on the light receiving surface, and that outputs an electrical signal in accordance with light incident on the light receiving surface in a state where a voltage exceeding a breakdown voltage is applied to the electrode. The light collecting section causes light from a subject to be collected in the light receiving surface other than a region where the electrode is placed.

Abstract: A device includes at least one photoconductor configured for exhibiting an electrical resistance Rphoto dependent on an illumination of a light-sensitive region of the at least one photoconductor and at least one photoconductor readout circuit. The photoconductor readout circuit is configured for determining a differential voltage related to changes of the electrical resistance Rphoto of the photoconductor. The photoconductor readout circuit includes at least one bias voltage source configured for applying at least one periodically modulated bias voltage to the photoconductor such that the electric output changes its polarity at least once. The device further includes at least one electrical circuit configured to balance the differential voltage at a given illumination level.

Abstract: A light detection device including a substrate, a first light detector, a second light detector, and a switch element is provided. The first light detector is disposed on the substrate and includes a first active layer. The second light detector is disposed between the substrate and the first light detector and includes a second active layer. The switch element is disposed on the substrate. A horizontal projection of the second active layer on the substrate completely falls within a horizontal projection of the first active layer on the substrate. A negative electrode of the first light detector and a negative electrode of the second light detector are electrically connected to the switch element via a first metal layer.

Abstract: There is provided a light control circuit including a light detector, a frequency detector, an error amplifier, an NMOS driver and a light source. The frequency detector identifies a signal frequency according to detected voltage signals outputted by the light detector and generates a control signal accordingly. The NMOS driver changes a drive current of the light source according to an output of the error amplifier. The error amplifier changes a bandwidth thereof according to the control signal from the frequency detector to regulate a response time of the drive current of the light source.

Abstract: Various embodiments include integrated approaches to detecting attempts to breach system-level or chip-level security using photo-generated currents induced by lasers or other radiation sources. Various embodiments integrate photo-detection circuits with a secure processor or other circuit in such a manner that the response to a security attack is fast enough to prevent loss of secure or private information are described. Various embodiments include circuits capable of providing a permanent record of photocurrent detection.

Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement includes a photodiode, a dummy photodiode, an analog-to-digital converter, a first switch which couples the photodiode to an input of the analog-to-digital converter, and a second switch which couples the dummy photodiode to the input of the analog-to-digital converter.

Abstract: An optical fiber with one or more microgratings is disclosed. Methods and apparatus are described for making an optical fiber with one or more microgratings. Methods and apparatus are described for an optical fiber with one or more microgratings Optical sensing methods and an optical sensing system effectively decouple strain range from the laser tuning range, permit the use of a smaller tuning range without sacrificing strain range, and compensate for ambiguity in phase measurements normally associated with smaller tuning ranges.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor including a plurality of pixels formed in and on a semiconductor substrate and arranged in a matrix with N rows and M columns, with N being an integer greater than or equal to 1 and M an integer greater than or equal to 2. A plurality of microlenses face the substrate, and each of the microlenses is associated with a respective pixel. The microlenses are arranged in a matrix in N rows and M columns, and the pitch of the microlens matrix is greater than the pitch of the pixel matrix in a direction of the rows of the pixel matrix.

Abstract: A light-receiving apparatus (1a) includes a counting unit (11), a setting unit (12), and an acquiring unit (13). The counting unit is configured to measure a detection number of times that represents the number of times incidence of a photon to a light-receiving element has been detected within an exposure period and to output a counted value. The setting unit is configured to set a cycle of updating time information in accordance with an elapsed time during the exposure period. The acquiring unit is configured to acquire the time information indicating a time at which the counted value reaches a threshold before the exposure period elapses.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of thin lens elements, each of the plurality of thin lens elements including a plurality of scatterers configured to concentrate light of a partial wavelength band among light incident on the image sensor. The image sensor further includes a micro lens array configured to concentrate light of another wavelength band wider than the partial wavelength band, and a sensing element configured to sense light passing through the plurality of thin lens elements and the micro lens array.

Abstract: Position sensor for a mechanical device, including: an optical emitter arranged for projecting an incident radiation on a positioning track of the mechanical device provided with multiple optical sections; an optical detector arranged for detecting a reflected radiation coming from the positioning track and for generating a corresponding measurement signal; an electronic processing unit arranged for calculating, on the basis of such measurement signal, a reflectance value indicative of the reflectivity of the zone of the positioning track hit by the incident ray so as to distinguish the different optical sections of the positioning track. The position sensor also comprises a signaling module arranged for sending a warning signal as a function of the reflectance value, in order to provide to the user indications relative to the level of deterioration of the optical sections of the positioning track.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a self-checking photoelectric sensor that is configured to determine a characteristic (e.g., an amount of blockage and/or wellness/decay) of an optical pathway (e.g., an electro-optical pathway). An example method generally includes increasing, over a time period that starts at a first time, a current input to a light emitting element (LEE). The method generally includes receiving, by a light detection element, an output of the LEE via the optical pathway during the time period. The method generally includes converting, during the time period, the LEE output to a voltage output. The method generally includes determining a second time in the time period when the voltage output crosses a threshold. The method generally includes determining the characteristic of the optical pathway between the LEE and the light detection element based on a difference between the second time and the first time.

Abstract: Devices disclosed herein feature a Wide camera with a Wide field of view (FOVw), a folded Tele camera with a Tele field of view (FOVT) smaller than the FOVw and including an optical path folding element (OPFE). The device may be configured to rotate the OPFE to thereby shift FOVT relative to FOVw in response to recognition of an object or subject of interest detected in FOVw or FOVT. The device can have high resolution in this overlapping FOV either by fusing the Wide and Tele images or by capturing and saving the Tele image.

Abstract: A linear encoder for numeric-control machine tools is provided that includes: a substantially rectilinear section-bar, which is adapted to be fixed on the structure of the machine tool; a substantially rectilinear scale strip, which is fixed on the section-bar so as to extend along the section-bar parallel to the section-bar longitudinal axis; a movable slider which is fitted/mounted on the section-bar so as to be able to move along the section-bar parallel to the section-bar longitudinal axis and skimming the scale strip, and which is adapted to be rigidly fixed to the movable piece of the machine tool; an electronic reading apparatus which is at least partially placed aboard the movable slider and is adapted to read the position of the movable slider on the scale strip; and a thermal-stabilization device which is adapted to bring and maintain substantially the whole scale strip stably at a predetermined target temperature.

Abstract: An optical proximity sensor that increases a degree of freedom in an arrangement position is provided. The optical proximity sensor includes: a light detecting unit comprising a light detecting element on a substrate, a first transparent unit that covers the light detecting element, and a light-shielding unit that covers the first transparent unit; and a light emitting unit comprising a light emitting element on the substrate, a second transparent unit that covers the light emitting element, and the light-shielding unit that covers the second transparent unit, in which the light-shielding unit causes at least any of the first transparent unit and the second transparent unit to be exposed from a side surface of a package of the optical proximity sensor.

Abstract: A rotary encoder for a valve comprises a rotatable code plate and an optical detector module comprising one or more optical detectors. The code plate defines a set of voids arranged along a set of one or more concentric circular arcs about an axis of rotation. The voids define an angle-dependent pattern over the set of arcs, the pattern comprising a plurality of distinct sectoral elements (A-O, X). At least two of the sectoral elements, located in non-adjacent sectors of the code plate, are identical, but the pattern is non-repeating over a single full rotation of the code plate about the axis. Each optical detector is aligned with a respective concentric circular arc of the code plate. A controller processes time-varying output signals from the optical detectors to determine successive positions of the rotatable code plate.