Abstract: An area sensor includes: a sensor unit that emits measurement light with which a monitoring area is scanned, and detects reflected light of the measurement light; and a system controller that controls the sensor unit to output sensor information to an external device, the sensor information including object information in the monitoring area obtained based on an output signal from the sensor unit, the system controller including: a memory interface to which a portable external storage device is connectable, a sensor controller that controls the sensor unit, and a memory controller that accesses the external storage device; and a start processing unit which operates the memory controller in priority to the system controller, when the external storage device is connected to the memory interface.

Abstract: Provided are a refractive index measuring device and a refractive index measuring method. A detector (2) detects an intensity of a measuring beam transmitted through the sample. A camera (200) images a color image of the measuring beam which is dispersed into multiple colors by transmitting through the sample. A scanning processing portion (101) carries out scanning by changing an angle of receiving the measuring beam transmitted through the sample or an angle of the measuring beam incident on the sample. A wavelength specifying processing portion (102) specifies, based on the detected intensity of the detector (2) varying with the scanning by the scanning processing portion (101) and color information corresponding to a position of the measuring beam incident on the detector (2) in a color image which is imaged by the camera (200), the wavelength corresponding to each peak of the detected intensity.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and apparatus utilizing multiple detectors to measure properties related to light scattered by particles. Characteristics of particles are determined from the measured properties.

Abstract: Optical readers are disclosed in examples herein. An example optical reader including a light source to emit a light beam; and a spot pattern generator to receive the light beam and to generate a two-dimensional spot array from the light beam, the two-dimensional spot array to be directed toward a substrate having nanostructures, the two-dimensional spot array to be sensed to detect a presence or an absence of a substance of interest on the substrate.

Abstract: A method of measuring the clearance between a rotating component and a static component in a rotating machine. The method comprises installing a rub pin on an interior surface of the static component, operating the rotating machine such that the rotating component impinges on the rub pin, securing the rotating machine, and inserting an optical device to visually ascertain the length of rub pin remaining. The method reduces the time and cost of clearance determinations by avoiding disassembly or the degree of disassembly of the rotating machine required to conduct a clearance determination.

Abstract: Methods and systems that utilize 1) electromagnetic radiation energy absorbing or reflecting material of spatially distributed different optical densities and 2) wavelength dependent electromagnetic radiation energy aperturing, or both, placed near the entry to said multi-element detector, to improve detector capability to monitor intensity vs. wavelength spectra entered thereinto and provide more uniform detector output, while preferably maintaining beam angle and plane of incidence.

Abstract: Videoendoscope designs are provided including an objective and image sensor, preferably in the distal region, the image sensor having a micro-lens array with micro-lens offsets designed for a designated chief ray angle. The scope further includes a lens group having negative optical power optically arranged adjacent to the image sensor. The negative optical power serves to modify the chief ray angle characteristic of the lens group to more closely match that required by the image sensor and micro-lens array. Some designs include a non-linear distortion in the second lens group to compensate for non-linearly varying offsets in the sensor micro-lenses. Various lens group designs and sensor arrangements are provided.

Abstract: A method and device for the optical scanning of a chromatographic sample (3), where a sample plate (2) holding the sample (3) is illuminated with light from a first illumination device (13) and the light emitted by the sample plate (2) is detected by an optical detector device (15) which detects in cell form or area form, a second illumination device (14) is preferably firstly activated in a preparation step. The sample plate (2) is displaced in a first displacement direction relative to the detector device (15), illuminated by the first illumination device (13) and a first measurement image is recorded. The sample plate (2) is displaced in a second displacement direction relative to the detector device (15), illuminated by the second illumination device (14), and a second measurement image is recorded.

Abstract: A flocculation monitoring apparatus and a flocculation monitoring method are provided, and the flocculation monitoring apparatus and the flocculation monitoring method are capable of stably measuring a flocculation state of water to be treated even when the number (density) of flocs has increased. A measurement-light applying part (laser-light applying part 10) applies a measurement light to a measurement region (18) in the water to be treated (8) and a scattered-light receiving part (12) receives a scattered light due to particles of the water to be treated. A measurement value arithmetic part (arithmetic circuit 48) calculates an index related to flocculation of the water to be treated, by using an amplitude of a light reception signal acquired in the scattered-light receiving part.

Abstract: In a method and a device for position detection of a material web (2), the position of the material web (2) is determined on the basis of a marking (13) provided thereon. This marking (13) is detected by a first sensor (4), which emits a position signal (33) proportional to the position of the marking (13). The material web (2) is furthermore detected by a second sensor (5), which emits a signal proportional to the velocity of the material web (2) transversely to the movement direction (8). An output signal (7), which represents position-proportional values of the material web (2) even when the position signal (33) fails, is then calculated from the velocity signal (54) and the position signal (33).

Abstract: A device for checking a windshield wiper blade of a motor vehicle, includes an at least partially transparent body having a contact side which is designed for contacting with the windshield wiper blade to be checked; a light-incidence side which is designed to allow light to enter into the body; and a light-exit side. The at least partially transparent body is designed in such a way that light entering the body through the light-incidence side is reflected at least partially at the contact side, and reflected light exits the body through the light-exit side.

Abstract: Described herein is an improved displacement transducer, a closed loop control system incorporating the same, and an improved method of manufacturing of manufacturing a displacement transducer. The improved transducer has several advantages, including improved manufacturability; improved fluid flow within the sensor and reduced cavitation as a result; and the enablement of closed loop control for assisted manual or fully automatic displacement.

Abstract: A technique for acquiring target's coordinates for industrial dimensional metrology involves a target that serves both as a 2D contrast target and a 3D contact target, and a metrology tool. The target has proximal and distal surfaces, at least some of which being primarily flat and facing a common normal direction. At least 3 mm separate the proximal and distal surfaces in the normal direction. Reflectivity factors of the distal and proximal surfaces differ by at least 20%. Risers connecting pairs of the proximal and distal surfaces are sufficiently undercut so that none of the risers are in view at nominal viewing angles. At least two reference edges are defined where risers meet proximal surfaces. The tool has meeting features for registration with the edges and primarily flat surfaces, in at least two registered positions, to permit a retroreflector of the tool to acquire coordinates the target centre.

Abstract: Embodiments of an active or laser polarimeter are disclosed that transmit multiple independent and tunable temporally-multiplexed polarization states and record or image, at video rates if necessary, the polarized intensity or irradiance reflected or transmitted by objects illuminated by those states, and apply the recorded data to material and/or object classification and recognition using classification algorithms that exploit features of polarization signatures dependent on material type, texture, and/or object shape. The polarimeter also generally records and utilizes one or more passive polarization measurements in order to realize a hybrid active-passive polarimeter. The polarimeter channels are configured and tuned to access multi-dimensional signature spaces specified by existing signature models and/or measurements, with polarization-modulator settings derived by a newly-disclosed subspace-projection algorithm that maximizes a target contrast parameter.

Abstract: A sky kaleidoscope system includes a polarizing film, a first plastic plate having a first transparent design, and a second plastic plate having a second transparent design. The polarizing film is sandwiched between the first plastic plate and the second plastic plate. The first and second transparent designs are photoelastic and/or light diffracting. The sky kaleidoscope may be held up to the sky and the plastic plates and polarizing film may be looked through to view resulting rainbow colors in the first or second transparent design.

Abstract: A particle analyzer is intended to accurately obtain an aspect ratio and a major axis length or a minor axis length of particles being dispersed in a dispersion medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting an integrated circuit is an apparatus for inspecting an integrated circuit having a semiconductor substrate and a circuit portion formed on a front face a side of the semiconductor substrate. The apparatus comprises a light generation unit for generating light L for irradiating the integrated circuit, a wavelength width adjustment unit, for adjusting the wavelength width of the light irradiating the integrated circuit, an irradiation position adjustment unit for adjusting the irradiation position of the light irradiating the integrated circuit, and a light detection unit for detecting the light from the integrated circuit when the light from the light generation unit irradiates the circuit portion through a rear face of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A color measuring device and a color measuring method according to the present invention includes an imaging unit, a first image of a color chart and a second image accompanied with the color chart are obtained by the imaging unit, the second image being a predetermined code indicating control information about the color measuring device, the control information is obtained based on the obtained second image, and operation of the color measuring device is controlled based on the obtained control information.

Abstract: Increasing the precision of process monitoring may be improved if the sensors take the form of traveling probes riding along with the flowing materials in the manufacturing process rather than sample only when the process moves passed the sensors fixed location. The probe includes an outer housing hermetically sealed from the flowing materials, and a light source for transmitting light through a window in the housing onto the flowing materials. A spatially variable optical filter (SVF) captures light returning from the flowing materials, and separates the captured light into a spectrum of constituent wavelength signals for transmission to a detector array, which provides a power reading for each constituent wavelength signal.

Abstract: A cylindrical package includes a cylindrical housing; a pedestal at a bottom of a cylindrical space surrounded by the cylindrical housing; an optical splitter in the cylindrical space and over the pedestal; a first photodetector in the cylindrical space and over the pedestal, wherein the first photodetector is configured to be optically coupled to the optical splitter; and a second photodetector in the cylindrical space and over the pedestal, wherein the second photodetector is configured to be optically coupled to the optical splitter.