Abstract: A sensor device (100) comprises an emitter device (106) arranged to emit electromagnetic radiation and having an emission region associated therewith. The sensor device (100) also comprises a detector device (108) arranged to receive electromagnetic radiation and having a detection region associated therewith, and an optical system (122). The emission region is spaced at a predetermined distance from the detection region. The optical system (122) defines a plurality of principal rays, a number of the plurality of principal rays intersecting the detection region. The number of the plurality of principal rays also intersect the emission region.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a focus detecting device and an electronic device that can adjust the maximum value and the minimum value of sensitivity in phase detection pixels. The focus detecting device and an electronic device each include a microlens, a photoreceptor configured to receive light entering through the microlens, a light shield film provided between the microlens and the photoreceptor and configured to limit an amount of light on the photoreceptor, and a light shield wall provided vertical to the light shield film. The light shield wall or the light shield walls having a predetermined height are provided on any one or both of surfaces of the light shield film facing the photoreceptor and the microlens. The present technology can be applied to an imaging device configured to detect a focus by detection of phase difference.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip (IC). The IC comprises a first phase detection autofocus (PDAF) photodetector and a second PDAF photodetector in a substrate. A first electromagnetic radiation (EMR) diffuser is disposed along a back-side of the substrate and within a perimeter of the first PDAF photodetector. The first EMR diffuser is spaced a first distance from a first side of the first PDAF photodetector and a second distance less than the first distance from a second side of the first PDAF photodetector. A second EMR diffuser is disposed along the back-side of the substrate and within a perimeter of the second PDAF photodetector. The second EMR diffuser is spaced a third distance from a first side of the second PDAF photodetector and a fourth distance less than the third distance from a second side of the second PDAF photodetector.

Abstract: An action recognition system is illustrated. The action recognition system has an annular body, at least one light emitting unit, at least one light sensing unit and an action recognition module. The annular body is worn on a movable part of a user. One end of the light emitting unit is exposed on an inner side of the annular body, wherein the light emitting unit emits a first light beam illuminating at least a portion of the movable part. One end of the light sensing unit is exposed on the inner side of the annular body. The light sensing unit operatively senses a second light beam reflected by the at least portion of the movable part and generates a light sensing signal. The action recognition module is configured to operatively determine an action of the user according to the light sensing signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides improved optical systems for particle processing (e.g., cytometry including microfluidic based sorters, drop sorters, and/or cell purification) systems and methods. More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous micro-lens array optical detection assemblies for particle (e.g., cells, microscopic particles, etc.) processing systems and methods (e.g., for analyzing, sorting, processing, purifying, measuring, isolating, detecting, monitoring and/or enriching particles.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a first substrate including a pixel array, a second substrate including a readout circuit configured to read out a signal from the pixel array, and a drive terminal to which a drive potential is externally applied. The readout circuit includes a first node to which the drive potential is supplied from the drive terminal via an electrically conductive line arranged in the pixel array, and a second node to which the drive potential is supplied from the drive terminal without going through the pixel array.

Abstract: In some aspects, a flow cytometer system is provided that includes beam shaping optics positioned to manipulate a light beam and produce a resulting light beam that irradiates the core stream at the interrogation zone of the flow cell. The beam shaping optics include an acylindrical lens positioned to receive and focus light in a direction of a first axis orthogonal to a direction of light travel, and a cylindrical lens positioned to receive the light output from the acylindrical lens and to focus the light output from the acylindrical lens in a direction of a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and to the direction of light travel. The resulting light beam output has a flat-top shaped intensity profile along the first axis, and a Gaussian-shaped intensity profile along the second axis. Related methods of shaping a light beam at an interrogation zone of a flow cell are also provided.

Abstract: A device for detecting light intensity, a display screen and a mobile terminal are provided. The device for detecting light intensity includes a controller, and a first photosensitive sensor and a second photosensitive sensor which are electrically coupled to the controller, the first photosensitive sensor and the second photosensitive sensor being spaced apart and located in a same illumination environment, and the controller is configured to, when an external beam illuminates the first photosensitive sensor, perform calculation based on a difference value between illumination parameters of the first photosensitive sensor and the second photosensitive sensor to obtain a light intensity of the external beam.

Abstract: A photon-accounting system for use with a flow cytometry system is disclosed which includes a signal shaping sub-system, including a differentiator configured to generate a differentiated output of photodiode signals into corresponding zero-crossings each associated with one of the received photons, a comparator configured to receive the differentiated signal and compare to a threshold to thereby generate a comparator output digital signal associated with the crossing of the differentiated signal about the threshold, a front-end synchronization system adapted to receive and synchronize the comparator generated digital signal to a clock, thereby generate synchronized photon data with the clock and associated with the asynchronized photodiode signal, and a timestamping system adapted to receive the synchronized data as a bit stream and generate a timestamp associated with each photon data.

Abstract: A rotary encoder includes a rotor, a stator, and a casting compound. The casting compound has a first surface facing the stator. The first surface has a first predetermined shape and is fixed in relation to the stator. The casting compound has a second surface facing away from the stator, the second surface having a second predetermined shape.

Abstract: A plasmonic field-enhanced photodetector is disclosed. The photodetector may generate photocurrent by absorbing surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) generated by combining surface plasmons (SPs) with photons of a light wave.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device is provided. The photoelectric conversion device comprises a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element, an output unit configured to output a signal for generating an image from each of the plurality of pixels, a detection unit configured to detect a maximum value and a minimum value of each of signals output from pixels included in a predetermined pixel group among the plurality of pixels; and a switching unit configured to allow the output unit or the detection unit to selectively process the signals output from the plurality of pixels. The detection unit and the switching unit are disposed for each of the plurality of pixels.

Abstract: One example device comprises a plurality of emitters including at least a first emitter and a second emitter. The first emitter emits light that illuminates a first portion of a field-of-view (FOV) of the device. The second emitter emits light that illuminates a second portion of the FOV. The device also comprises a controller that obtains a scan of the FOV. The controller causes each emitter of the plurality of emitters to emit a respective light pulse during an emission time period associated with the scan. The controller causes the first emitter to emit a first-emitter light pulse at a first-emitter time offset from a start time of the emission time period. The controller causes the second emitter to emit a second-emitter light pulse at a second-emitter time offset from the start time of the emission time period.

Abstract: A telescoping sensor mount capable of systematically extending a sensor above a crop growth canopy. The telescoping sensor mount of the invention includes a foldaway tripod support system and is further capable of being powered with solar energy. The sensor mount and support are capable of extension and retraction and provide a solid base support for the sensors.

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: System and methods for analyzing single molecules and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An integrated device may include multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which when excited, emits radiation. The integrated device includes a surface having a trench region recessed from a portion of the surface and an array of sample wells, disposed in the trench region. The integrated device also includes a waveguide configured to couple excitation energy to at least one sample well in the array and positioned at a first distance from a surface of the trench region and at a second distance from the surface in a region separate from the trench region. The first distance is smaller than the second distance. The system also includes an instrument that interfaces with the integrated device. The instrument may include an excitation energy source for providing excitation energy to the integrated device by coupling to an excitation energy coupling region of the integrated device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a plurality of single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). The semiconductor device may include sensing single-photon avalanche diodes that are sensitive to incident light and dark single-photon avalanche diodes that are shielded from incident light. The dark single-photon avalanche diodes may be used to measure one or more parameters for the semiconductor device such as breakdown voltage, dark count rate, and quench resistance. Processing circuitry may optimize a bias voltage for the semiconductor device based on information regarding one or more sensor parameters obtained using the dark single-photon avalanche diodes.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) sensing apparatus together with a projector subassembly is provided. The 3D sensing apparatus includes two cameras, which may be configured to capture ultraviolet and/or near-infrared light. The 3D sensing apparatus may also contain an optical filter and one or more computing processors that signal a simultaneous capture using the two cameras and processing the captured images into depth. The projector subassembly of the 3D sensing apparatus includes a laser diode, one or optical elements, and a photodiode that are useable to enable 3D capture.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate, thin lenses disposed on a first surface of the substrate and configured to concentrate lights incident on the first surface, and light-sensing cells disposed on a second surface of the substrate, the second surface facing the first surface, and the light-sensing cells being configured to sense lights passing through the thin lenses, and generate electrical signals based on the sensed lights. A first thin lens and second thin lens of the thin lenses are configured to concentrate a first light and a second light, respectively, of the incident lights onto the light-sensing cells, the first light having a different wavelength than the second light.

Abstract: A self-calibration time-to-digital converter (TDC) integrated circuit for single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) based depth sensing is disclosed. The circuit includes a SPAD matrix with a plurality of SPAD pixels arranged in m rows and n columns, the SPAD pixels in each column of SPAD pixels are connected by a column bus; a global DLL unit with n buffers and n clock signals; and an image signal processing unit for receiving image signals from the column TDC array. The circuit can also include a row control unit configured to enable one SPAD pixel in each row for a transmitting signal; a circular n-way multiplexer for circularly multiplexing n clock signals in the global DLL unit; a column TDC array with n TDCs, each TDC further comprises a counter and a latch, the latch of each TDC is connected to the circular n-way multiplexer for circular multiplexing.