Abstract: Optical reader apparatus for reading data on a data carrier. A housing defines a data carrier slot having an optical data window at a prearranged position. An optical reading means is mounted within the housing for reading data scanned past the optical data window. A door assembly is mounted in a hinged relation to the housing means opposite the optical read window. The door has closed and open positions and permits access to the optical data window in the open position. The door assembly carries a resilient pressure spring. The resilient pressure spring urges a data carrier passing through the data carrier slot into optical reading contact with the optical data window. The door assembly mounts the resilient spring member within a frame for easy removability. The resilient pressure spring carries an optical compensation member on a forward surface thereof so that the optical compensation member is presented to the optical data window when a data carrier is not present.

Abstract: A barcode identification system is shown that includes a user operable personal computer for creating print jobs. The personal computer is coupled to a number of printers for printing the data for a job in a selected format on a record member such as a tag, label or the like. The system employs modular software. During the initialization of each of the software modules, the system determines whether the module includes a key identification that matches a system key and if not, the operation of the software module is limited to a demonstration mode if that mode is allowable. A data entry routine aids the user entering valid data for a selected format. In response to a print command, the data entered by the user is combined with the selected format to form a job. The job is then sent to a spooler which distributes the job to one of the barcode printers of the system.

Abstract: A microwave oscillator is shown to include an oscillator having an output and a control port and a feedback circuit disposed between the output and the control port of the oscillator. The feedback circuit includes a modulated laser, having an input and an output, the input responsive to a portion of a signal from the output of the oscillator and a photo detector having an input and an output, the input of the photo detector responsive to a signal from the output of the modulated laser delayed by a predetermined amount of time. The feedback circuit further includes a detector having a first and a second input and an output, the first input of the detector responsive to a signal from the output of the photo detector, the second input responsive to a portion of the signal from the output of the oscillator shifted in phase to be in phase quadrature with the signal at the first input of the detector and the output of the detector coupled to the control port of the oscillator.

Abstract: A light source (12) emits radiation which is maintained at a desired intensity by use of a photodetector which views the radiation and has a fixed relationship between incident radiation and output photodetector (18) current. Intensity of the radiation is established by varying electric current applied to the source, via a feedback loop (42, 24, 22, 34), to attain a reference value of the photodetector current, the photodetector current being representative of the desired value of radiation intensity. This procedure may be performed first in an air environment with a specific optical assembly of source and photodetector to establish the reference value of photodetector current for a desired value of radiation intensity. Thereupon, the optical system may be operated in a vacuum environment, and a monitoring of the photodetector current establishes the desired value of radiation intensity.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is provided for reducing the effects of laser noise and for improving modulation transfer function in scanning a surface of a photoconductive plate with a spot of light through use of a time-light intensity integration method. The method comprises pulse synchronization or infrared synchronization to control activation and deactivation of signal detection laser light beams.

Abstract: In a symbol reading device, at least two laser beams having different optical path lengths, and, therefore, different focal positions are used to scan a symbol surface. The two laser beams are produced from a single beam issuing unit, and only one beam at a time scans the symbol surface. Furthermore, stationary reflecting mirrors are used to create the two laser beams of different focal length, reducing the number of moving mechanisms and the overall complexity of the device.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to image intensifier tubes of the proximity focusing type, wherein it especially concerns the positioning of a primary screen with respect to a slab of microchannels. An image intensifier tube comprises a sealed chamber containing a primary screen and a slab of microchannels. The slab of microchannels is fixed to the body of the chamber. According to one characteristic, the primary screen is fixed to the slab, from which it is kept at a distance by means of at least one insulating shim. The result thereof is greater precision and greater uniformity of the spacing between the primary screen and the slab of microchannels.

Abstract: The cylindrical container inner surface tester extracts image information about the opening portion and the deformation of the inner surface of a test cylindrical container through an image recognizing technique, and checks the circularity of the opening portion of the container. According to the image information, it specifies the position of a test cylindrical container as a predetermined position. Since it sequentially checks a series of cylindrical containers, the adjacent point between the containers must be identified. Then, the cylindrical container inner surface tester identifies the adjacent point of cylindrical containers through calculations and logical operations according to the image information.

Abstract: In a pixel array having an array of pixel elements, a plurality of row select lines, a plurality of column select lines, and a plurality of signal lines, a pixel element is disclosed for minimizing dead space in an overall imager matrix which includes many pixel arrays. The pixel element includes a phototransducer device for detecting light, transmitting light or emitting light and a pair of series switching transistors coupled between the phototransducer device and a predetermined signal line. In addition, the pixel element includes at least one configurable transistor which is independent of the pair of switching transistors. This configurable transistor is interconnected with other configurable transistors from other pixel elements throughout the array in order to implement desirable functions, for example scanning circuitry, and amplification circuitry such that the dead space of each pixel array and, consequently, the overall imager array is minimized.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical output control IC and a optical input amplifier IC for the E/O equipment of an optical parallel transmission system wherein only channels put to use can be driven and circuit driving current is prevented from flowing through the other channels which are not put to use. m parallel arrays of LED driver circuits 4.sub.1 to 4.sub.m each including n LED driver circuits and one reference voltage supply circuit are accommodated in an LED driver IC. Power supply terminals VH 2 and VL 3 for supplying a clamp potential and a substrate potential respectively of LED driver IC 1, and circuit driving power supply terminals VA and VB for operating the circuits are provided separately for each parallel array, and power supply terminals VH 2 and VL 3 are provided in common to all of the circuits while driving power supply terminals VA 7.sub.1 to 7.sub.m and VB 8.sub.1 to 8.sub.m are provided independently for individual parallel arrays of LED driver circuit 4.sub.1 to 4.sub.

Abstract: A parcel detection system works in connection with a stream of parcels, such as might be encountered in connection with bulk mail sorting apparatii. A presence of multiple parcels traveling adjacent one to another is detected with a line scan charge coupled device. A transducer array is disposed perpendicularly to the stream flow. Specular illumination of edges of the parcels is completed to facilitate capturing an image in the CCD array. An analog signal, obtained from the array, includes information representative of a number of adjacent parcels. This information is processed to provide a signal representative of a number of parcels traveling adjacent to one another in the stream.

Abstract: A photosensor is provided with a control circuit that is capable of varying the frequency of light pulses which energize a light source of the sensor. When four consecutive light pulses result in an identical status of a light sensitive component, the frequency of light pulses is slowed to conserve energy. However, when a change in state is recognized by the circuitry of the present invention, the frequency of light pulses is increased in order to more rapidly determine whether or not a change of status has actually occurred. This permits the photoelectric sensor to conserve energy while also being able to rapidly determine whether or not the light path of the photoelectric sensor has changed state from obstructed to unobstructed or, conversely, from unobstructed to obstructed.

Abstract: A turbidity sensor is provided with a light source and a plurality of light sensitive components which are disposed proximate a conduit to measure the light intensity directly across the conduit from the light source and at an angle therefrom. The conduit is provided with a plurality of protrusions extending radially inward from the walls of the conduit to discourage the passage of air bubbles through the light beam of the sensor. The direct light beam and scattered light are compared to form a relationship that is indicative of the turbidity of the liquid passing through the conduit. The rate of change of turbidity is provided as a monitored variable.

Abstract: The present invention is to make a switch out of two diodes to read out a third photosensitive transducer which integrates and stores the photon-generated carriers. The switching diodes are arranged so that during their on time, the switching resistance remains linear and constant throughout the photosensitive transducer readout time independent of the number of photon-generated carriers that are stored in the photosensitive transducer. To maintain a low constant on resistance, the two switching diodes in series are pulsed simultaneously with complementary pulses applied to the two terminals of the series diodes to forward bias them during the readout period. The third is a photosensitive transducer, which is connected to the series node of the switching diodes such that the photosensitive diode is always in a reversed bias condition, whether it is in a readout or integration mode.

Abstract: A photoelectric sensor is adapted for use in specific applications which require the additional attachment of a circular polarizer. A piece of circular polarizer material is general disc-shaped with two planar surfaces and a peripheral circular surface. The outer periphery of the disc-shaped circular polarizer is encapsulated within a generally annular molded rim. The molded rim is provided with a protrusion that is generally circular and extends from one of the generally flat surfaces of the rim material. The protrusion facilitates the attachment of the rim to the operative face of a photoelectric sensor through the process of ultrasonic welding. Advantages achieved by this device include the facilitated attachment of the circular polarizer to a photoelectric sensor, the protection of the outer peripheral edges of the laminations of the circular polarizer and the avoidance of distortions of the circular polarizer during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: Position, velocity and direction of movement of a linear motor is determined by a fiberoptic encoder comprised of first and second fiberoptic bundles. The first ends of each of the bundles have their fibers arranged within a narrow elongated slit, the fibers of each bundle being distributed substantially along the entire length of the slit and further so that the fibers of the bundles are substantially interspersed with one another along said slit. One of the bundles conveys light directed upon the opposite end of the bundle to a surface adjacent said slit and along which the linear motor is moving. The remaining bundle conveys light reflected from the surface to a sensor which converts the intensity of the reflected light into an electrical signal. Changes in the reflectivity of the surface, which may be the etched stator of a linear motor system are utilized to determine the position of the linear motor along the stator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of driving a thin film transistor type optical sensor, having a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer, a thin film semiconductor layer, an ohmic contact layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode.The thin film transistor type optical sensor is driven by providing the gate electrode with a threshold voltage for a thin film transistor provided adjacent to the thin film transistor type optical sensor or a voltage based on the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A mirror (10) with a pair of vertical dazzle light attenuation zones (24 and 26). Each zone consists of stripes (24a, 24b, . . . 24n, 26a, 26b, . . . 26n) capable of dynamically adjusting the widths and the attenuation intensity of the attenuation zones (24 and 26). The mirror (10) has a multi-layered structure containing a liquid crystal (32). The positions and widths of the stripes are controlled manually via adjustment pushbuttons (20 and 22), or automatically, in response to the intensity of the incident light. When a driver sees during night driving the reflection of the dazzling light in the non-attenuated areas of the mirror, the driver's head is slightly moved, or the driver manually shifts by pushbuttons (20 and 22) the groups of the attenuated stripes (24 and 26) to the position where the dazzling light (L) will be covered by these stripes. The localized attenuation of the mirror's surface will not disturb the overall view observed by the driver through the rearview mirror (10).

Abstract: A low cost optical sensor using ordinary non-coherent light reads the polymer content of a processed polymer solution and gives a go/no-go signal in response thereto. The system shuts down in response to the no-go signal. There are no moving parts to pick up or be fouled by polymer.

Abstract: An optical blur filter having a substantially conical shape is used in imaging apparatus to limit high spatial frequencies incident upon an image sensor, and thereby to reduce undersampling artifacts. By having a conical shape, the filter images a circular blur pattern upon an array of adjacent photosites. A conical shape with a distinct vertex images an annular pattern, and a flattened vertex fills in the central region of the pattern.