Abstract: An imaging device includes: a first pixel and a second pixel that are arranged along a first direction and each include a photoelectric converter, a charge accumulator, a first transistor one of a source and a drain of which is connected to the charge accumulator, and a second transistor a gate of which is connected to the charge accumulator; a first line and a second line that each extend along the first direction; a first voltage supply circuit configured to generate a voltage between a first voltage turning on the first transistor of the first pixel and a second voltage turning off the first transistor of the first pixel; and a second voltage supply circuit configured to generate a voltage between a fourth voltage turning on the first transistor of the second pixel and a fifth voltage turning off the first transistor of the second pixel.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system can emit light toward an environment and detect responsively reflected light to determine a distance to one or more points in the environment. The reflected light can be detected by a plurality of plurality of photodiodes that are reverse-biased using a high voltage. Signals from the plurality of reverse-biased photodiodes can be amplified by respective transistors and applied to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The signal from a particular photodiode can be applied to the ADC by biasing a respective transistor corresponding to the particular photodiode while not biasing transistors corresponding to other photodiodes. The gain of each photodiode/transistor pair can be controlled by adjusting the bias voltage applied to each photodiode using a digital-to-analog converter. The gain of each photodiode/transistor pair can be controlled based on the detected temperature of each photodiode.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a control circuit that includes at least one active module designed to enable an avalanche diode. The control circuit also includes at least one passive module designed to disable the avalanche diode.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to image signal processors (ISP) that include binner circuits that down-sample an input image. An input image may include a plurality of pixels. The output image of the binner circuit may include a reduced number of pixels. The binner circuit may include a plurality of different operation modes. In a bin mode, the binner circuit may blend a subset of input pixel values to generate an output pixel quad. In a skip mode, the binner circuit may select one of the input pixel values as the output pixel pixel. The selection may be performed randomly to avoid aliasing. In a luminance mode, the binner circuit may take a weighted average of a subset of pixel values having different colors. In a color value mode, the binner circuit may select one of the colors in a subset of pixel values as an output pixel value.

Abstract: A rearview assembly for a vehicle is provided that includes: a housing configured for mounting to the vehicle; a rearview element disposed in the housing that displays images of a scene exterior of the vehicle; a light sensor assembly disposed in the housing; and a controller for receiving the electrical signal of the light sensor and for adjusting a brightness of the images displayed by the rearview element. The light sensor includes a light sensor for outputting an electrical signal representing intensity of light impinging upon a light-receiving surface of the light sensor, and a secondary optical element configured to receive light, wherein the light passes through the secondary optical element to the light sensor, the secondary optical element including a tint material that is substantially color neutral for attenuating light passing therethrough.

Abstract: A device and a method for detecting a distance from a balloon to an ingot tank is provided. The device comprises a set of photoelectric transmitting tube and photoelectric receiving tube which are arranged in a height range of a balloon, Wherein a light beam between the photoelectric transmitting tube and the photoelectric receiving tube is arranged to be tangent to an appropriate balloon, and is used for detecting whether the balloon is located at an appropriate position according to a number of pulses received by the photoelectric receiving tube in one period of rotation of the balloon.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a sensor system having a structure having a reflective surface, wherein the structure is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. Channels provide respective paths from an entry into the channels to the reflective surface. A shroud selectively block ones of the channels to provide an operational configuration and a calibration configuration.

Abstract: A sealed encoder module for mounting onto a machine so as to measure relative displacement of first and second parts of the machine. The sealed encoder module can comprise, a scale, a readhead comprising a scale signal receiver, and an integral protective housing which encapsulates at least the scale and said scale signal receiver. The sealed encoder module can be configured to determine and output diagnostic information regarding a scale signal detected by the readhead.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a road debris blocking system that provides a barrier to road debris at a surveying sensor. The vehicle includes a vehicle body and a processor. A road debris blocking device moves between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration relative to the vehicle body. An actuator moves the road debris blocking device between the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration. A wheel angle sensor provides a signal to the processor indicative of a wheel angle. A memory module is communicatively coupled to the processor that stores logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the system to receive the signal from the wheel angle sensor and instruct the actuator to move the road debris blocking device from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration based on the signal.

Abstract: A light sensor is provided that includes an exposed light transducer for accumulating charge in proportion to light incident thereon over an integration period; and a light-to-pulse circuit in communication with the exposed light transducer, the light-to-pulse circuit operative to output a pulse having a pulse width based on the charge accumulated by the exposed light transducer. The light-to-pulse circuit may include a one shot logic circuit that contributes to generation of the pulse. The light sensor may include an input/output pad, a capacitor provided at the input/output pad for blocking static electricity, an input low pass filter provided at the input/output pad for blocking electromagnetic interference, and/or a bandgap voltage reference circuit connected to a power source having a supply voltage level in a range of about 3.3V to about 5.0V, and for generating a set of stable reference voltages throughout the supply voltage level range.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including an enclosure configured to receive an endoscope having an electromagnetic radiation sensor. The apparatus also includes an electromagnetic radiation source having at least a portion disposed within the enclosure. The electromagnetic radiation source is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation based on a calibration instruction. The electromagnetic radiation sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation when at least a portion of the endoscope is coupled to the enclosure.

Abstract: A system and a method for producing an adjustable light pattern are provided herein. The system may include: a transmitter configured to illuminate a scene with a patterned light being adjusted based on predefined criteria; a receiver configured to receive reflections of the adjusted patterned light; and a computer processor configured to control the adjustment of the patterned light and further analyze the received reflections, to yield a depth map of objects within the scene, wherein the transmitter may include: a light source configured to produce a light beam; a first reflector tiltable approximately along a line on an x-y plane in a Cartesian x-y-z coordinate system; and a second reflector tiltable along a z-axis in said coordinate system, wherein the reflectors are tilted along their respective axes back and forth so as to divert the light beam for creating the adjusted patterned light.

Abstract: A method for managing a dynamic range of an optical detection device illuminated by a modulated optical radiation, the method including: generating a detection signal from the modulated optical radiation; generating, based on the detection signal, a histogram including a plurality of histogram classes; comparing a chosen maximum value and a value of each histogram class of the plurality of histogram classes; and stopping a generation of the histogram in response to a determination that the value of any one of the plurality of histogram classes is equal to the maximum value.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an imaging optical system. In one aspect, the imaging optical system includes, among other things, a light bending element configured to substantially separate electromagnetic radiation into at least two portions, and configured to redirect the at least two portions of said electromagnetic radiation into substantially different directions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a current amplification circuitry and a driving method thereof, and a fingerprint detection device. The current amplification circuitry includes a voltage control circuit, a plurality of first current amplification circuits, and a second current amplification circuit. The voltage control circuit provides a voltage control signal to the plurality of first current amplification circuits. The first current amplification circuit includes a current mirror, and the current mirror is coupled to a voltage input terminal, the voltage control circuit, and a first input terminal of the second current amplification circuit. The first current amplification circuit amplifies a current from the voltage input terminal according to the voltage control signal provided by the voltage control circuit, and provides the amplified current to the second current amplification circuit.

Abstract: There is provided a measurement system that measures the volume of a drug solution that fills a needle-shaped recess of a mold. A measurement unit of the measurement system measures respective heights of a plurality of measurement points which are stored in a storage unit and are preset on a plane parallel to the mold, in a direction orthogonal to the plane. A surface shape calculation unit calculates a three-dimensional shape of the surface of the drug solution on the basis of the heights of the plurality of measurement points measured by the measurement unit. A volume calculation unit calculates the volume of the drug solution that fills the needle-shaped recess on the basis of the three-dimensional shape of the surface of the drug solution calculated by the surface shape calculation unit and the shape of the needle-shaped recess of the mold.

Abstract: An encoder scale includes a tabular base material and an optical pattern provided above one surface of the base material, a first region and a second region being disposed side by side above the optical pattern. The first region includes a resin layer disposed above the base material and including photosensitive resin and a metal film disposed above the resin layer and formed of a metal material. The surface of the first region is configured mainly by a first surface having a normal line in the thickness direction of the base material. The surface of the second region is configured mainly by a second surface inclined with respect to the first surface.

Abstract: An image sensor may include phase detection pixels that gather phase detection data. The phase detection pixels may be formed in phase detection pixel groups with two or more phase detection pixels covered by a single microlens. Each phase detection pixel may have an asymmetric angular response to incident light. Phase detection pixels may be covered by diffractive lenses. A diffractive lens may cover a phase detection pixel pair to improve angular separation between the pixels. A diffractive lens may partially cover a phase detection pixel in a phase detection pixel pair to shift the angular response and account for an off-axis chief ray angle of the phase detection pixel pair.

Abstract: In optical receivers, extending the transimpedance amplifier's (TIA) dynamic range is a key to increasing the receiver's dynamic range, and therefore increase the channel capacity. Ideally, the TIA requires controllable gain, whereby the receiver can modify the characteristics of the TIA and/or the VGA to process high power incoming signals with a defined maximum distortion, and low power incoming signals with a defined maximum noise. A solution to the problem is to provide TIA's and VGA's with reconfigurable sizes, which are adjustable based on the level of power, e.g. current, generated by the photodetector.

Abstract: A configurable light sensor comprising an array of photocells. The light sensor measures ambient light reflected from a surface in area to be monitored. A lens directs the light onto the array of photocells. A microcontroller reads each individual photocell and processes the signals from the photocells according to one or more of the methods disclosed herein. The light sensor is configurable in that the area that monitored by the light sensor is customized to match the area lit by an associated light source. The configuring process defines an active area to be monitored, by determining which subset of photocells in the array, referred to as the active set of photocells, corresponds to the area being illuminated by the light fixture. The light sensor is subsequently able to monitor the defined active area and to report sensor output values based on measurements made from the photocells monitoring the active area.