Abstract: A system and method of calibrating a laser tracker is provided. The system includes a support system for quickly and easily moving an artifact to a desired position and orientation and for holding the artifact in the position and orientation. An adjustable alignment mirror is coupled to a first end of the artifact so that the more accurate ranging system of the laser tracker can be isolated to determine a reference length of the artifact. Additional measurements are then taken to exercise one or more error source within the tracker. The support system includes a positioner and a support beam for positioning and supporting the artifact. The artifact is coupled to the support beam using kinematic clamps that are designed to reduce or eliminate errors associated with over-constraining the artifact.

Abstract: Disclosed are a scanner system and a method for recording surface geometry and surface color of an object where both surface geometry information and surface color information for a block of the image sensor pixels at least partly from one 2D image recorded by the color image sensor. A particular application is within dentistry, particularly for intraoral scanning.

Abstract: A multispectral sensor array can include a combination of ranging sensor channels (e.g., LIDAR sensor channels) and ambient-light sensor channels tuned to detect ambient light having a channel-specific property (e.g., color). The sensor channels can be arranged and spaced to provide multispectral images of a field of view in which the multispectral images from different sensors are inherently aligned with each other to define an array of multispectral image pixels. Various optical elements can be provided to facilitate imaging operations. Light ranging/imaging systems incorporating multispectral sensor arrays can operate in rotating and/or static modes.

Abstract: An optical emission spectrometer has an excitation device for a sample to be examined, a dispersive element for spectrally decomposing light emitted by an excited sample, a multiplicity of photodiodes, which are arranged such that different spectral components of the emitted, decomposed light are detectable with different photodiodes, and a multiplicity of electronic readout systems for the photodiodes. A respective electronic readout system has a charge storage assembly comprising a plurality of individual charge storage devices, wherein the charge storage devices are interconnectable in cascading fashion, with the result that charges flowing in from an associated photodiode successively fill the charge storage devices. The respective electronic readout system can be used to read the charges of the individual charge storage devices of the charge storage assembly and/or the charges of subsets of the charge storage devices of the charge storage assembly.

Abstract: A photographing optical lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element with negative refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power, and an object-side surface and an image-side surface thereof are aspheric. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface, wherein an object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof are aspheric, and at least one of the object-side surface and the image-side surface thereof has at least one inflection point.

Abstract: Embodiments of a hybrid imaging sensor and methods for pixel sub-column data read from the within a pixel array.

Abstract: A detecting method of optically detecting a surface defect of a moving steel material includes an irradiation step of irradiating an examination target part with illumination light beams from different directions by two or more distinguishable light sources whose light emission durations are set based on at least an allowable positional displacement of an image, the two or more distinguishable light sources repeatedly emitting light such that their light emission timings thereof do not overlap each other; and a detection step of obtaining images by reflected light beams of the respective illumination light beams and detecting a surface defect in the examination target part by executing subtraction processing between the obtained images.

Abstract: Provided is an image sensor comprising a color separation element. The image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of a first pixels, a plurality of second pixels, and a plurality of third pixels; color separation elements configured to direct light in a second wavelength band travel toward the second pixels and direct a mixture light in a first wavelength band and light in a third wavelength band travel toward the first pixels or the third pixels; and a color filter layer including a first color filter, a second color filter, and a third color filter, wherein the pass bandwidth of the second color filter is greater than the pass bandwidth of each of the first and third color filters.

Abstract: An access protection system comprises a first safety sensor, a second safety sensor, and an electronic control device that is in signal connection with the first and second safety sensors. The first and second safety sensors are laser scanners that each form a safety protected field and that each form a first detection protected field in operation and that are arranged such that the first detection protected fields do not overlap at least regionally. The electronic control device is configured to trigger a safety function on a penetration of an object into the safety protected field of the first and/or second safety sensors and to change the operating state of the access protection system when a penetration of the object is determined both into the first detection protected field of the first safety sensor and into the first detection protected field of the second safety sensor.

Abstract: A solar tracking device having: a primary optical sensor (30); at least two auxiliary optical sensors (70a, 70b); and a housing. The housing has an upper surface (80) with a central hole (100; 62; 82) below which the primary sensor (30) is disposed and light wells (22; 25), disposed laterally around the central hole (100; 62; 82), in which each of the respective auxiliary sensors (70a, 70b) is disposed. Each light well (22; 25) has a bottom surface (15) on which the associated auxiliary sensor (70a, 70b) is disposed, an aperture (84) in the upper surface, and sidewalls (22) connecting the upper surface and the bottom surface. One of the sidewalls (22) is a light-reflective surface (25) disposed parallel to a tangent of the central hole, all other sidewalls being light-absorbing.

Abstract: A sensor is disclosed that provides measurements in multiple degrees of freedom without significantly increasing size, complexity, or cost. The sensor can include a light component in support of a first light source operable to direct a first beam of light, and a second light source operable to direct a second beam of light. The sensor can also include an imaging device that can directly receive the first beam of light and the second beam of light and convert these into electric signals. The imaging device and the light component can be movable relative to one another. The sensor can further include a light location module and/or a position module configured to receive the electric signals and determine locations of the first beam of light, the second beam of light on the imaging device and a relative position of the imaging device and the light component.

Abstract: An image sensor is provided. In one aspect, the image sensor includes a pixel coupled to an output line. The pixel includes a photodiode configured to generate electrical charges in response to light and a supply circuit configured to supply a voltage to the photodiode to keep a voltage of the photodiode at or above a threshold level in an integration time. In another aspect, the pixel includes a supply circuit configured to selectively supply voltage to the photodiode in a first charge holding capacity and a second charge holding capacity.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and apparatuses for forming and using pixels for image sensors. In one embodiment, an image sensor is disclosed. The image sensor includes an optically sensitive material; a plurality of electrodes proximate the optically sensitive material, including at least a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode; and a charge store. The first electrode is coupled to the charge store, and the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to provide a bias to the optically sensitive material to direct photocarriers to the charge store. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.

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: An imaging system has an imager comprising a plurality of jots. A readout circuit is in electrical communication with the imager. The readout circuit can be configured to facilitate the formation of an image by defining neighborhoods of the jots, wherein a local density of exposed jots within a neighborhood is used to generate a digital value for a pixel of the image.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes: a pixel array unit that has a plurality of pixels 2-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a plurality of signal lines arranged along a column direction; A/D conversion units that are provided corresponding to the respective signal lines and convert an analog signal output from a pixel through the signal line into a digital signal; and a switching unit that switches or converts the analog signal output through each signal line into a digital signal using any of an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted, and an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to a signal line other than the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted.

Abstract: An image sensor comprising: a plurality of pixels that are each provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions and a microlens, and that are configured to read out signals that have been subjected to pupil division, the plurality of pixels each being provided with a light guide that is located between the microlens and the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions, wherein a maximum width of a shape of a cross section, the cross section being parallel with an image sensing surface of the image sensor, of the light guide in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions that form a pair are arranged is greater than a maximum width of the shape of the cross section in an direction that is orthogonal to the arrangement direction.

Abstract: Imaging sensors, imaging apparatuses, and methods of driving an image sensor are provided. An image sensor can include a semiconductor substrate with a photoelectric conversion element and a charge-conversion element. The sensor can further include a capacitance switch. A charge accumulation element is located adjacent the photoelectric conversion element. At least a portion of the charge accumulation element overlaps a charge accumulation region of the photoelectric conversion element. The charge accumulation element is selectively connected to the charge-voltage conversion element by the capacitance switch.

Abstract: An example fuel quantity indicating system includes a fuel tank, optical sensors mounted inside the fuel tank that each include a sensor chip and a diaphragm that deflects when ambient pressure differs from a reference pressure of the sensor chip, an optical fiber bundle that has an optical fiber connected to each of the optical sensors for guiding light to each of the optical sensors, and a processor connected to the optical fiber bundle for receiving outputs of the optical sensors indicative of respective pressures, and for determining a fuel level measurement of the fuel tank based on the outputs of the optical sensors.

Abstract: An optical scanning system including an optical scanning device, and a photoreceiver device. The optical scanning device includes: a first waveguide array including a plurality of first waveguides; and a first phase shifter for adjusting phases of light propagating through the plurality of first waveguides to change an emission direction of emission light from the plurality of first waveguides. The photoreceiver device includes: a second waveguide array including a plurality of second waveguides configured to receive reflected light and propagate the received reflected light; and a second phase shifter for adjusting phases of the received reflected light propagating through the plurality of second waveguides to change a reception direction of the reflected light received by the plurality of second waveguides. An array pitch of the plurality of first waveguides in the optical scanning device differs from an array pitch of the plurality of second waveguides in the photoreceiver device.