Abstract: A circuit for readout from for readout from a focal plane array having a number of pixels, includes, for each one pixel, an adaptive photodetector load circuit coupled to a detector for the one pixel, a trans-impedance amplifier, the detector being AC coupled to the trans-impedance amplifier, a comparator component, receiving an AC coupled output of the trans-impedance amplifier and comparing the AC coupled output to a predetermined threshold, a sample and hold ring comprising a number charge storage components connected in parallel, each one charge storage component comprising a capacitor in series with an enabling three point switching component and a pulse detection logic circuit receiving an output of the comparator component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar position tracking accuracy measurement system based on an optical lens, by which the solar position tracking accuracy of a tracker can be effectively analyzed and detected in real-time by using a technique on the basis of an astronomical analysis on the trajectory of the sun through an accurate measurement based on an optical lens, thereby establishing the reproducibility of a physical measurement method, calculating an error angle according to the vertical incidence of solar light and minimizing physical errors.

Abstract: A light receiver has a shield wall disposed facing a part of a near-side light-receiving face of a light receiving element from an end opposite from a far-side light-receiving face. The shield wall blocks a portion of reflection light from a detection object located at a distance at which the detection object reflects reflection light that causes an amount of light received by the light receiving element to be larger than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A polarization control device includes a first wave plate having a first surface profile and a second wave plate having a second surface profile complementary to the first surface profile. The optical axis of the first wave plate is orthogonal to the optical axis of the second wave plate. The first wave plate and the second wave plate are positioned to align the first surface profile with the second surface profile and maintain a constant thickness across the polarization control device. The first wave plate and the second wave plate may control polarization rotation as a continuous function of transverse position across a pupil plane of an optical system. The first wave plate and the second wave plate are separated by a sufficiently small distance so as to limit wave front distortion below a selected level.

Abstract: Provided is an analysis target region setting apparatus that can accurately set an analysis target region, based on an observation image of a sample obtained with an optical microscope and the like irrespective of texture on the sample surface when the analysis target region is set therein. The analysis target region setting apparatus according to the present invention divides the observation image into a plurality of sub-regions based on pixel information on each pixel constituting the observation image. Subsequently, consolidation information on each sub-region is calculated, and two adjacent sub-regions themselves are consolidated based on the consolidation information. According to this, it is possible to divide the observation image into sub-regions having similar pixel information with a disregard of noise attributed to the shape of a surface and the like. A user designates one sub-region from among the sub-regions finally obtained, as the analysis target region.

Abstract: An optical system for collecting distance information within a field is provided. The optical system may include lenses for collecting photons from a field and may include lenses for distributing photons to a field. The optical system may include lenses that collimate photons passed by an aperture, optical filters that reject normally incident light outside of the operating wavelength, and pixels that detect incident photons. The optical system may further include illumination sources that output photons at an operating wavelength.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes a light source unit configured to generate probe light, a bifurcating unit configured to cause Brillouin backscattered light occurring from the probe light to bifurcate into first light, which propagates through a first optical path, and second light, which propagates through a second optical path, a delay unit configured to delay one of the first light and the second light, an optical multiplexer configured to multiplex the first light and the second light to generate multiplexed light, and a coherent detector configured to perform homodyne detection of the multiplexed light and to output a difference frequency obtained as a result of the detection as a phase-difference signal.

Abstract: A light detector includes a semiconductor die that provides a photo sensor. An interference filter is formed on the semiconductor die and has a pass band corresponding to a wavelength of a light emitting diode to supply filtered light in the pass band to the photo sensor.

Abstract: A line memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, a data line pair, a sense amplifier and an output unit. The plurality of memory cells are disposed adjacent to each other in a line. The data line pair is coupled to the memory cells to sequentially transfer memory data bits stored in the memory cells to the sense amplifier. The sense amplifier is configured to amplify the memory data bits that are sequentially transferred through the data line pair by corresponding delay times which are different from each other. The output unit samples an output of the sense amplifier to sequentially output retimed data bits of the memory data bits in response to a read clock signal. The read clock signal has a cyclic period which is less than a maximum delay time among the delay times.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for checking the integrity of visual display information and has particular application to checking images displayed in an automotive vehicle, such images containing safety critical information. The image intensity is checked only to an extent commensurate with a human being able to interpret its correct meaning. Hence, images which are defective in some way yet still recognisable by the human eye are not classified as failures. In one embodiment, a part of the image containing safety critical information is segmented into smaller areas and the luminance of pixels in each segmented area is compared with a threshold brightness level and a threshold darkness level. A histogram for each area is generated and compared with a reference.

Abstract: An AD converter acquires first and second input values. A first multiplication unit multiplies a first tangent value, which is based on a first boundary angle based on a phase range of a reference value, by the reference value to calculate a first threshold value. A second multiplication unit multiplies a second tangent value, which is based on a second boundary angle based on the phase range, by the reference value to calculate a second threshold. A comparison unit determines whether the comparison value is within a particular phase range specified by the first and the second thresholds. The comparison unit determines magnitude of the comparison value when the comparison value is not within the particular phase range. A phase estimation unit updates the particular phase range to a phase range adjacent to a direction corresponding to the result of determination.

Abstract: A CMOS type semiconductor image sensor module wherein a pixel aperture ratio is improved, chip use efficiency is improved and furthermore, simultaneous shutter operation by all the pixels is made possible, and a method for manufacturing such semiconductor image sensor module are provided. The semiconductor image sensor module is provided by stacking a first semiconductor chip, which has an image sensor wherein a plurality of pixels composed of a photoelectric conversion element and a transistor are arranged, and a second semiconductor chip, which has an A/D converter array. Preferably, the semiconductor image sensor module is provided by stacking a third semiconductor chip having a memory element array. Furthermore, the semiconductor image sensor module is provided by stacking the first semiconductor chip having the image sensor and a fourth semiconductor chip having an analog nonvolatile memory array.

Abstract: A proximity sensor which is capable of facilitating a measure against crosstalk for different sets is provided. The proximity sensor includes a light emitting device, and a light receiving device including a plurality of light receiving parts, wherein the light receiving device has a function of arbitrarily selecting any of the plurality of light receiving parts.

Abstract: A demodulation system for 3D-matrix multi-channel fiber optic sensing includes a wavelength swept optical source that generates an incident light, an optical frequency domain reflector and a balanced detector connected with the wavelength swept optical source through a fiber circulator. The optical frequency domain reflector includes a first optical path and a second optical path with a frequency shifter arranged on one or both of the optical paths. The optical frequency domain reflector outputs incident light to an optical switch module. The optical switch module selectively transmits the incident light to a sensor network as well as transmits the reflection light from the sensor network to the optical frequency domain reflector.

Abstract: A system for maintaining the locking range of an injection locked laser array within range of a frequency of a master laser includes first and second photodetectors. An injection locked laser array has a locking frequency range around a free running frequency controlled in response to a control signal. The laser array produces respective beams phase modulated at relative unique frequencies. A mask, has apertures with shapes, sizes, and positions identical to the shapes, sizes and positions of the lasers in the laser array. A first master laser produces a beam at a first frequency coupled to the laser array and illuminating the mask. A second master laser produces a beam at a second frequency separated from the first frequency by substantially the locking range of the laser array coupled to the laser array and illuminating the mask.

Abstract: A method for generating high power pulsed RF waveforms comprises the steps of charging a transmission line in a pulse forming network with a high-voltage and discharging the voltage on the transmission line to ground utilizing a gallium nitride photoconductive switch.

Abstract: An encoder includes a disc having one or more slit arrays having multiple slits aligned in a circumferential direction of the disc, and an optical module positioned to face a portion of the slit array such that the slit array moves relative to the optical module in the circumferential direction of the disc. The optical module includes two or four light sources aligned along a direction corresponding to the circumferential direction and one or more light receiving arrays aligned along the direction corresponding to the circumferential direction, the light sources are positioned to irradiate light upon a portion of the slit array, and the light receiving array includes multiple light receiving elements positioned to receive the light irradiated by the light sources and light affected by actions of the slits.

Abstract: Provided are a unit pixel, an image sensor including the same, a portable electronic device including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same. The method of manufacturing includes: forming a photoelectric conversion region in a substrate; forming, in the substrate, a first floating diffusion region spaced apart from the photoelectric conversion region of the substrate, and a second floating diffusion region spaced apart from the first floating diffusion region; forming a first recess spaced apart from the first floating diffusion region and the second floating diffusion region by removing a portion of the substrate from a first surface of the substrate; filling the first recess to form a dual conversion gain (DCG) gate that extends perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly from the first surface of the substrate; and forming a conductive layer to fill an inside of the first recess.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a space-based instrument which provides continuous coronal electron temperature and velocity images, for a predetermined period of time, thereby improving the understanding of coronal evolution and how the solar wind and Coronal Mass Ejection transients evolve from the low solar atmosphere through the heliosphere for an entire solar rotation. Specifically, the present invention relates to using a 6U spherical occulter coronagraph CubeSat, and a relative navigational system (RNS) that controls the position of the spacecraft relative to the occulting sphere. The present invention innovatively deploys a free-flying spherical occulter, and after deployment, the actively controlled CubeSat will provide an inertial formation flying with the spherical occulter and Sun.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of operating a detection sensor array. The detection sensor array has multiple detection sensors. Each detection sensor of the multiple detection sensors has an enabled state and a disabled state, and each detection sensor of the multiple detection sensors is configured to detect and identify electromagnetic radiation when in the enabled state and not to detect and identify electromagnetic radiation when in the disabled state. The detection sensor array also has a test state in which all of the multiple detection sensors operate in the enabled state when the detection sensor array is in the test state. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.