Abstract: An optical transceiver and/or optical network, and methods of monitoring optical transceivers, may be useful for increasing the dynamic range and/or determining the received signal strength and/or link budget of the optical transceiver and/or a different optical transceiver in the optical network. The circuitry generally comprises a photodiode configured to generate a first current responsive to an optical signal, a current mirror configured to produce a second current equal or proportional to the first current, and a nonlinear element configured to produce a first voltage from the first current.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes a scale having diffraction gratings formed at predetermined pitches in a measurement axis direction, a detection head relatively movable with respect to the scale, the detection head including a light source portion configured to irradiate the scale with light, and a plurality of receiver portions configured to receive light reflected by or transmitted through the diffraction gratings of the scale, at different phases, and a signal processing device configured to perform signal processing to light reception signals output from the receiver portions of the detection head, to produce quadrature differential signals. The signal processing device is configured to calculate alignment adjustment monitor signals corresponding to a Lissajous radius of the quadrature differential signals in order to detect misalignment of the detection head with respect to the scale.

Abstract: An image matrix sensor having a plurality of individual detection structures associated with respective pixels, each individual detection structure including a photodiode having at least one solar cell mode operating range, a first amplifier stage constantly supplied with power and receiving, as an input, a voltage dependent on the voltage of the photodiode which falls within said range; and a second amplifier stage linked to the output of the first amplifier stage and supplied with power in a different manner according to whether or not the first amplifier stage is read.

Abstract: The invention provides imaging apparatus and methods useful for obtaining a high resolution image of a sample at rapid scan rates. A rectangular detector array having a horizontal dimension that is longer than the vertical dimension can be used along with imaging optics positioned to direct a rectangular image of a portion of a sample to the rectangular detector array. A scanning device can be configured to scan the sample in a scan-axis dimension, wherein the vertical dimension for the rectangular detector array and the shorter of the two rectangular dimensions for the image are in the scan-axis dimension, and wherein the vertical dimension for the rectangular detector array is short enough to achieve confocality in a single axis.

Abstract: Provided herein is an encoder including a position detecting device provided with a gear mechanism and an optical encoder device. A housing includes a bearing holder provided between a first housing portion and a second housing portion of the housing. The bearing holder serves as a partition wall portion configured to separate the gear mechanism from the optical encoder device. If the gear mechanism is separated from the optical encoder device, abrasion powder or grease can be reliably prevented from scattering from the gear mechanism to adhere to constituent parts of the optical encoder device.

Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with an image sensor for capturing digital images. The image sensor may be used as part of image-sensor-based ambient light sensing circuitry for producing ambient light sensor readings. The image-sensor-based ambient light sensing circuitry may include a reference array. The reference array may be formed from an array of light sensor elements that are matched to elements in the image sensor but that are covered with a light blocking material. Control circuitry can measure current flow into the reference array and the image sensor array and can use current measurements from these arrays in producing a calibrated ambient light sensor reading. The control circuitry may make current measurements by measuring a decay time associated with the voltage of a discharging capacitor. A comparator, pulse generator, and switch may be used in periodically recharging the capacitor. The capacitor may be adjusted to ensure accurate readings.

Abstract: A back sheet comprises an interconnect circuit coupling a plurality of solar cell tiles. A tiled solar cell, comprising a solar cell and encapsulating and glass layers, is inserted into the solar cell tiles. Each solar cell is individually addressable through the use of the interconnect circuit, The interconnect circuit is programmable and allows for dynamic interconnect routing between solar cells. As such, the dynamic interconnect routing may be configured so as to create strings of solar cells such that solar cells with an output specification are matched to solar cells with similar output specifications.

Abstract: One sensor pixel includes amplifying transistor, coupled between first bias line and data line; switch transistor, operated by control line and coupled between data line and gate of amplifying transistor; storage capacitor, coupled to second bias line; and sensor being coupled to gate of amplifying transistor. Another sensor pixel includes first amplifying transistor coupled between first bias line and data line; second amplifying transistor being coupled between second bias line and data line; switch transistor being operated by control line and being coupled between data line and gates of first and second amplifying transistors; storage capacitor coupled to gates of first and second amplifying transistors; and sensor coupled to gates of first and second amplifying transistors. Trap-assisted absorption, variable capacitor described for sensor pixels, and also biasing to reduce flicker and aging, and to compensate for aging, described for sensor pixels.

Abstract: A proximity sensor with multi-directional movement detection is provided. The proximity sensor may include an ASIC chip; at least three light sources configured to emit light in a particular sequence; and a photo detector configured to receive light and generate an output signal. The multi-directional proximity sensor may have a first proximity sensor with at least one side surface and a second proximity sensor connected to the first proximity sensor configured to detect object movement over a plane substantially parallel to the at least one side surface of the first proximity sensor. The multi-directional movement detection proximity sensor may include a PCB, in which more than one proximity sensor may be disposed on the PCB and operatively integrated to detect multi-directional movement.

Abstract: An optical proximity sensor and housing for the same are disclosed. The housing is provided with at least two support structures and at least two modules. A first of the support structures transfers vertical forces applied to one end of a module to an opposite end of the opposite module. A second of the support structures inhibits a pivoting of the modules about the first support structure.

Abstract: Disclosed are a ramp signal generator and an image sensor. The ramp signal generator includes: a comparator comparing a first bias voltage input to a first input terminal and a second bias voltage input to a second input terminal and outputting a ramp signal from an output terminal; a ramp signal adjustment unit including a plurality of switched capacitors made up of switches and capacitors connected in series, and connected in parallel between a first input terminal of the comparator and an output terminal of the comparator; and a controller switching the switches of the plurality of switched capacitors to adjust the ramp signal output from the comparator such that the ramp signal becomes nonlinear over time.

Abstract: An image sensor module is installed in a sensing device, and is used to detect a reflected light of an object. The image sensor module includes a carrier, a light sensing element, and a package body. The light sensing element is disposed on a substrate. The carrier is disposed on the substrate in the sensing device. The light sensing element is installed in the carrier, and is electrically connected with the substrate via multiple solder balls. The package body is installed on the carrier, and has a reflecting and diverting element, which is located between the light sensing element and the object and is used for reflecting reflected light of the object and diverting the reflected light towards a receiving direction of the light sensing element. The light sensing element receives the reflected light and generates a corresponding sensing signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing an isolated high-speed digital interface for communicating high-speed digital data within a vehicle. In architecture, the interface includes one or more input terminals and one or more output terminals. Each output terminal being associated with one of the one or more input terminals without any electrically conductive path existing between the output terminal and the input terminal, and instead the input terminal and the output terminal are coupled to one another by an optical coupling. The present invention can also be viewed as a method that can be broadly summarized by the following steps, providing at least one input terminal for receiving data and providing at least one output terminal. Wherein the output terminal is associated with the one input terminal without any electrically conductive path existing between the output terminal and the input terminal, are coupled to one another by an optical coupling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detection system for the detection of movements of a movable object. The detection system may comprises: a light emitting device (S) for emitting light, a reflecting unit (5) being arranged in functional connection with the movable object and being adapted for reflecting the emitted light, a plurality of detectors (D1 to D4) for detecting the reflected light and outputting detection signals for determining a movement of the movable object. When reflecting the emitted light, the reflecting unit causes a light spot to be incident on the plurality of detectors, and the plurality of detectors are arranged in a predetermined manner so as to be located completely inside the light spot irrespective of any movement of the movable object. The present invention further relates to a method of detecting movements of the movable object, and an IC having implemented therein the detection system.

Abstract: A fiber fuse detecting apparatus provides early detection of a fiber fuse generation in an optical fiber that propagates laser light, preventing the damage from expanding. It comprises light input means arranged on a laser light incidence side of the optical fiber that inputs at least a portion of reverse direction propagation light propagating in a reverse direction to light incidenting the optical fiber, light receiving means that photo-electrically converts light input by the light input means, electric filter means that extracts from an output signal of the light receiving means a prescribed frequency band component that contains a periodic signal due to fiber fuse, detecting means that detects change of or a prescribed value in output level of the electric filter means, and warning means that emits a warning signal in response to a detection output of the detecting means. The laser light to the optical fiber is stopped or reduced by means of the warning means.

Abstract: An absolute position measuring encoder having an ABS/INC integrated pattern obtained by integrating an absolute pattern and an incremental pattern together is provided. The absolute position measuring encoder includes an imaging optical system (lens) designed to generate an amplitude difference between a light and dark signal derived from the absolute pattern and light and dark signal derived from the incremental pattern, and a signal processing system (comparator) for separating a received light signal from the ABS/INC integrated pattern into an absolute pattern signal and an incremental pattern signal by utilizing the amplitude difference. Accordingly, an absolute pattern signal and an incremental pattern signal can be separated off from the ABS/INC integrated pattern at a high speed with a simple processing circuit.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a conversion unit including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel including a conversion element, an output switch element, and an initialization switch element; an output drive circuit controls an output operation; an initialization drive circuit controls an initialization operation; and a readout circuit performs a signal sample-and-hold operation and a reset operation. A control unit performs termination of the output operation of a certain row and start of the output operation of another row after the termination of the reset operation, the start of the signal sample-and-hold operation after the termination of the output operation of the certain row and the start of the output operation of the other row, the start of the reset operation and the initialization operation after the termination of the signal sample-and-hold operation, and the termination of the reset operation after the termination of the initialization operation.

Abstract: A volumetric error compensation measurement system and method are disclosed wherein a laser tracker tracks an active target as the reference point. The active target has an optical retroreflector mounted at the center of two motorized gimbals to provide full 360 degree azimuth rotation of the retroreflector. A position sensitive detector is placed behind an aperture provided at the apex of the retroreflector to detect the relative orientation between the tracker laser beam and the retroreflector by measuring a small portion of the laser beam transmitted through the aperture. The detector's output is used as the feedback for the servo motors to drive the gimbals to maintain the retroreflector facing the tracker laser beam at all times. The gimbals are designed and the position of the retroreflector controlled such that the laser tracker always tracks to a pre-defined single point in the active target, which does not move in space when the gimbals and/or the retroreflector makes pure rotations.

Abstract: A CCD image sensor includes vertical CCD shift registers and gate electrodes disposed over the vertical CCD shift registers. The gate electrodes are divided into distinct groups of gate electrodes. The CCD image sensor is adapted to operate in an accumulation mode and a charge transfer mode, an accumulation mode and a charge shifting mode, or an accumulation mode, a charge transfer mode, and a charge shifting mode. The charge transfer mode has an initial charge transfer phase and a final charge transfer phase. The charge shifting mode has an initial charge shifting phase and a final charge shifting phase.

Abstract: An electronic device can include different components providing different functionality. Some electronic devices can include a proximity sensor for determining when a user's face is near the device. The sensor can include an emitter and a detector that are separated by a foam block to limit cross-talk between the emitter and detector. A sheet can be placed over the foam block to define openings for each of the emitter and detector. Some electronic devices can also include a camera. A glass cover secured to the device enclosure can protect the camera. To improve an adhesive bond between the glass cover and a metal enclosure, an ink layer can be placed between an adhesive and the glass. In addition, the camera or another component may need to be grounded to ensure proper operation. During assembly, however, the position of the camera can shift due to closing an enclosure. A grounding assembly that maintains contact with the camera in its initial and final positions can be provided.