Abstract: An apparatus for counting hangers having a convex surface includes a housing having a central light source carried by the housing for projecting a light beam on the convex surface. A pair of spaced light detectors is positioned on the housing substantially on opposed sides of the central light source, the spaced light detectors detect light reflected from the convex surface. A detecting circuit is connected to the pair of spaced light detectors and detects the sequence of reflected light beams, and then determines whether the detected sequence is a sequence of reflected light beams characteristic of the relative displacement of the housing and the convex surface when the housing or the convex surface is displaced in substantially the direction of the space between the pair of opposed light detectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording the image of an object, for instance the earth's surface, from a flying body, in this case an earth satellite. The flying body flies over the object at an altitude. Herein, the object is scanned in lines by a line scanner. The viewing angle .alpha. of the liner scanner with respect to the direction of flight v is increased during the scanning process, whereby a higher resolution capacity is attained. Preferably several line sensors are used in the line scanner, which are arranged on a carrier, which is displaced during the flight of the flying body relative to a length in the direction of flight v. The displacement occurs by way of a cyclically functioning drive.

Abstract: A focusing error detector comprises a light source, a collimator lens for making parallel the pencil of rays emitted by the light source, an objective lens which focuses the parallel pencil of rays to form a beam spot on a data-recording disc with data tracks and guide tracks formed thereon and which receives the pencil of rays reflected from the data-recording disc, an optical system for forming a beam spot from the reflected pencil of rays incident to the objective lens, and an optical detector having a plurality of divided optical sensor blocks for receiving the formed beam spot so as to detect the focusing error of the beam spot formed on the data-recording disc on the basis of the configuration of the received beam spot.

Abstract: A focus detecting optical system including a condenser lens disposed in a vicinity of or rearwardly of a predetermined focal plane of a photographic lens, an image forming lens unit having a pair of image forming lens sections disposed symmetrically relative to a main optical axis, a light blocking member having an opening for regulating a luminous flux coming into the image forming lens unit, a first prism for refracting the luminous flux in a direction departing from the main optical axis, a second prism for refracting the luminous flux in a direction nearing the main optical axis and a light receiving element array.

Abstract: The quality of the tread of profile of railroad wheels is measured in a contactless manner by illuminating the circumferential wheel surface with a light or radiation source directing its radiation at least approximately in a radial direction onto the wheel surface to form a light intersection image or a light edge image of the wheel profile or tread. A sensor or sensors such as cameras, scan or sense these images by receiving light reflected by the wheel surface to produce analog signals representing the quality of tread or profile. These analog signals are digitized and supplied to a central processing unit for evaluation to provide information regarding the wheel quality. The illuminating and sensing can be performed while the wheel or wheel set is stationary or while it rolls through a measuring station, whereby it is not even necessary to remove a wheel from its vehicle for inspection.

Abstract: An optical sensor has a gap for a toothed modulator wheel and accurately aligned optical fibers on either side of the gap. The fibers form a U-shape to allow compact sensor design. The sensor is fabricated by inserting a single optical fiber in a mold and supporting the fiber in a U-shape such that the bottom of the U bend includes a straight portion. A thermosetting material is molded around the fiber to form a body and encapsulsate the fiber. A gap is formed by excluding or removing the resin from the region of the straight portion. A part of the straight portion of the fiber at the gap is removed so that the remaining spaced ends are inherently aligned across the gap.

Abstract: The optical and electronic equipment normally carried by an aircraft pilot's helmet is carried by a support element which is placed at a distance from the helmet and accordingly relieves the load on the pilot's head. The support element is maintained in a predetermined position location with respect to the helmet by means of a detection assembly, a computer for determining errors in positioning, a control circuit which generates signals corresponding to these errors, and a set of jacks controlled by the error signals for modifying the position of the support element with respect to the aircraft structure and cancelling the positioning errors.

Abstract: A focus detecting device which is provided with a field lens disposed on the predetermined imaging plane of an objective lens and a plurality of imaging lenses disposed rearwardly of the field lens and in which the images of the imaging lenses are sensed to thereby determine the focus adjusted state of the objective lens. A unit body integrally constitutes the units such as the field lens and the imaging lenses and has a surface for movably supporting the field lens. The unit body also has adjusting device for rotating the imaging lenses relative to the optical axis.

Abstract: A color original reading apparatus includes a focusing lens which receives a light beam containing image information and reflecting from an original document to be read and outputs a convergent light beam toward a first line image sensor. A first color separating lens is disposed in front of the first image sensor so that only a first predetermined color component of the light beam is allowed to impinge on the first image sensor. A reflecting mirror having a reflecting surface at its forward side surface and a knife edge at its forward end surface is disposed to reflect part of the convergent light beam toward a second line image sensor. The reflecting mirror is disposed not to cross the optical axis of the convergent light beam. In addition, the angle defined by the knife edge is set to be smaller than the angle defined between the reflecting surface and the optical axis.

Abstract: In order to focus light beams which are projected onto an optical recording medium, the focusing optical system is moved in a vertical direction to the surface of the recording medium. A focus error signal produced by receiving the light returning from the recording medium is compared in turn with a predetermined plurality of reference levels. A focus servo-means is operated when this signal reaches the reference level within the focus pull-in region after passing through a predetermined order of reference levels.

Abstract: A tube is attached inside a container and forms an inlet aperture. A transparent bulb is sealed over the end of the tube. A fiber optic probe is inserted into the tube and bulb. The fiber optic probe is connected to a fiber optic transmitter and receiver, which sends a beam of light down the probe. The beam of light reflects off the contents of the container and the reflected light is received by the fiber optic probe. The fiber optic transmitter and receiver compares the light intensity of the reflected light with the light intensity of the light beam. Changes in this radio indicate there has been a change in the contents of the container.

Abstract: A pattern position detecting method and an apparatus comprises spatial coherence variable means for illuminating a two-dimensional pattern formed on a wafer and its vicinity through a projection lens under the state that spatial coherence of pattern illumination light is elevated in one direction with respect to said two-dimensional pattern and lowered in the other direction perpendicular to said one direction. Two-dimensional reflection images from the pattern and its vicinity obtained through the lens are image-formed by an image-formation optical system. The intensity distribution of the two-dimensional reflection light is detected by light-intensity-distribution detection means so that a detection signal produced from this detection means indicates the position of the two-dimensional pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a broken line up yarn, wherein a fine beam is adapted to travel widthwise across a row of line up yarns while it is radiated toward the yarns to cause flickerings which are photoelectrically converted to instantly count the current value for the number of yarns. The current value is compared with a standard threshold value, and if the current value is different from the threshold, an alarm signal is emitted indicating an abnormal condition. The present invention can be used as a broken yarn detecting technique for devices dealing with many line up yarns such as a warp knitting machine, a loom, a warping machine and so on.

Abstract: A system is provided for the high speed reading of an image formed on the CCD sensor where the useful zones are formed of bands parallel to one of the directions of the matrix, and separated from each other by a gap without useful video information, each band and each gap being formed of several scanning lines, the geometrical arrangement of the bands on the matrix being known beforehand. The lines of each gap are transferred in succession into the register and the corresponding noise signals are not taken into account. The lines of each band are also transferred in succession so as to provided, pixel by pixel, the video signals summated in analog form for the band considered. The system applies more particularly to multichannel recording systems with streak camera.

Abstract: An automatic faucet control including a radiation emitter directing radiation into the area of a sink where hands are to be washed and a detector positioned to receive radiation reflected from the hands to activate the water supply. The flow of water terminates when the hands are removed.

Abstract: An arrangement for testing a cylindrical object, which may be constituted either by a reflective or refractive element capable of focusing collimated light into a focal line or by an elongated filament, employs cooperation of the element and of the filament, with a laser beam directed onto the element. The filament, especially an optical fiber, extends along the focal line of the element, so that a portion of the laser beam aimed at the element and focused thereby into a waist region extending along the focal line and thus onto the filament, is reflected back to the element and recollimated thereby for travel back along the path of the original laser beam, whereupon the return light beam is caused to interfere with the original laser beam and thus to provide an interferogram that can then be evaluated to obtain information about the magnitude and location of any deviations of the object being tested from its ideal shape.

Abstract: A compact optical scanner includes a base unit and a scan unit. The base unit includes an optical source such as a laser and an optical path directing a beam emitted by the laser to a scan mirror which is located in and supported by the scan unit. As the scan mirror rotates, the optical beam is reflected back to the base unit from which it is emitted as a beam scanning to and fro in a scan plane. The scan unit is supported by reference to the base unit such that the oscillation axis of the scan mirror is substantially and preferably parallel to the scan plane.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit to amplify a signal generated by the varying conductance of a photoconductor and to bias the photoconductance for optimum performance. A transistor means, with base input being proportional to the photoconductor's conductance and output being 180.degree. out of phase with the input is coupled to an operational amplifier where said output is further amplified. Part of this inverted amplified output is then used to bias the photoconductor, immediately offsetting a changed voltage across the photoconductor and keeping voltage across the photoconductor constant.

Abstract: In a pattern generating system for scanning a pattern on a surface of a workpiece with a laser beam modulated by drawing data so as to form a pattern corresponding to design pattern data, a plurality of through holes are formed at predetermined positions of the workpiece. Beams transmitted through the through holes are directed to a sensor for generating a detection output representing positions of the transmitted beams. A computer generates position data of the through holes on the basis of the detection output and calculates a positional error and a deformation amount of the workpiece. A correcting device corrects the drawing on the basis of the positional error and the deformation amount.

Abstract: A photosensor provided with a transistor having a bias element connected between the emitter and the collector, a light emitting element connected in series to said transistor, and a photosensitive element for receiving light emitted by said light emitting element and transforming it into electric current, with one end connected with said transistor. Owing to this construction, since only two interface lines are needed, one being the line for feeding the transistor with electric power and the other being the line of taking out the output of said photo sensitive element, the number of interface lines is reduced and thus the realization is simplified. Since the current flowing through the photosensitive element is so controlled that it is amplfiied and applied to the light emitting element, the output of the photosensitive element is considerably increased.