Abstract: An apparatus and associated method using a light source selectively emitting an incident beam. A thin film is disposed in a path of and responsive to the incident beam to produce a reflected beam. A light-sensing probe is capable of detecting the reflected beam. Ambient environment logic responsive to the light-sensing probe compares a position of the reflected beam to an expected position to make a characteristic determination of a selected ambient environment through which the incident beam propagated.

Abstract: There is provided an optical sensor device that, even when the frame is slimmed, can cause the sensor unit to leave or enter the frame smoothly, as well as can accommodate position shifts of the image display panel caused by activation and resulting heat generation thereof. An optical sensor device 1 includes a main body frame 2, a sensor unit 3 including an optical sensor 108, guide members 16 configured to guide the sensor unit 3, and drive means configured to move the sensor unit 3 to a measurement position. The sensor unit 3 is provided with, on both sides thereof, slide members 31. The sensor unit 3 moves obliquely forward along slopes 162 formed on front portions of the guide members 16, and a shading member 9 disposed on the sensor unit 3 contacts a display screen 101a of the image display panel. After making a measurement, the sensor unit 3 moves obliquely backward and is stored in the main body frame 2.

Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) and a measurement circuit including a capacitance. The circuit is operable to discharge a known portion of the charge on the capacitance upon each detection of a SPAD event within a time period, such that the charge remaining on the capacitance at the end of the time period corresponds to the number of SPAD events detected within the time period. A time resolved imaging apparatus includes an array of such pixel circuits. A method of counting photon detection includes sensing photons with a SPAD device and discharging a known portion of the charge on a capacitance upon each detection of a SPAD event within a time period.

Abstract: In one aspect, an optical device comprises a monolithic optical module which includes a first total internal reflection (TIR) surface, a second TIR surface adjacent the first TIR surface, and a first optical port aligned with the first internal optical beam dividing interface. An interface between the first TIR surface and the second TIR surface forms a first internal optical beam dividing interface. An exterior surface of the first TIR surface and an exterior surface of the second TIR surface form a generally V-shaped notch on the monolithic optical module. A first optical beam entering the monolithic optical module through the first optical port and incident on the first internal optical beam dividing interface is partially reflected by the first TIR surface to travel in a first direction as a second optical beam and partially reflected by the second TIR surface to travel in a second direction as a third optical beam. The second direction is generally opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to quickly and precisely correct the measured value for light reception power to the actual value with few resources, by installing a correction device for a light reception power monitor for signal light in an optical module. The correction device is equipped with a correction table which is referenced when correcting the measured value for the light reception power of signal light, and in this correction table multiple correction values are stored in advance on the basis of the correspondence relationships between multiple reference values and multiple actual values. In the correction table, for segments wherein the change in the actual values with respect to the change in the measured values is small, the interval between the reference values is made smaller and more correction values are stored than for segments wherein the change in the actual values with respect to the change in the measured values is large.

Abstract: A synthetic focal plane imaging system senses electromagnetic radiation as a distribution of energy over time rather than as a distribution of energy over space. A spatial context independent of the energy detection is developed. The synthetic focal plane imaging system includes an aperture, a mask, an electromagnetic sensor, and a computer configured to receive sample energy data and shutter modeling data from the mask to generate hyperspectral images. The synthetic focal plane imaging system incorporates a spiral rotating mask to create theta-space rotational masking architectures resulting in simple cyclical linear equations that can be processed quickly and efficiently to generate the hyperspectral images. The system captures image content at multiple wavelengths, electronically processes the resulting data as an image cube with stacked layers of images. Each layer corresponds to a particular wavelength of the imaged object with the same physical locations arranged on top of each other to form the stack.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a manufacturing process includes generating a measurement data by analyzing emission intensity of plasma emission light using a measurement device, the plasma emission light being generated when a plasma gas of a manufacturing process device is changed from an energy level corresponding to a high energy state to an energy level corresponding to a low energy state, generating a compensated value based on the measurement data, the compensated value being generated by offsetting a sensitivity change that is caused due to pollution of the manufacturing process device and the measurement device or measurement locations of the measurement device, and monitoring the manufacturing process based on the compensated value.

Abstract: A proximity and light sensing device including a radiation emitter for proximity sensing positioned on a substrate. The device further includes a radiation detector positioned on the substrate, the radiation detector configured to detect radiation from the emitter. An ambient light detector is also positioned on the substrate and around the radiation emitter so as to form a border around the radiation emitter and detect off-axis ambient light rays.

Abstract: An optoelectronic component includes a carrier on which at least one first light-emitting semiconductor chip and one first light-absorbing semiconductor chip connected antiparallel to the at least one first light-emitting semiconductor chip, at least one second light-emitting semiconductor chip and one second light-absorbing semiconductor chip connected antiparallel to the at least one second light-emitting semiconductor chip, wherein the semiconductor chips are arranged on the carrier such that light from each light-emitting semiconductor chip falls on at least one of the light-absorbing semiconductor chips not connected to the respective light-emitting semiconductor chip, and the light-absorbing semiconductor chips are formed as protection diodes.

Abstract: This detecting and/or monitoring device (2) is intended to be mounted on optically invisible objects and to be placed substantially parallel to the general direction of said objects. The detecting and/or monitoring device (2) comprises at least one electrically or optically conductive linear element (3) and an insulating sheath (4) covering the linear element. The insulating sheath (4) comprises at least one first face (5) having at least one substantially flat portion (5a) intended to be mounted on said objects.

Abstract: An analog-digital conversion circuit (ADC1) includes: a capacitor (C1); a charge and discharge control section (6) that puts, into the capacitor (C1), an electric charge corresponding to an input current of a first period and that causes an electric charge corresponding to an input current of a second period to be discharged from the capacitor (C1); and a digital conversion section (5) that converts an amount of electric charge of the capacitor (C1) into a digital signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an absolute encoder including a scale on which a first mark and a second mark are arrayed, a detector configured to detect light from the scale, and to output periodic signals in which peak values, including a first peak value corresponding to the first mark and a second peak value corresponding to the second mark and smaller than the first peak value periodically appear, and a processor configured to obtain a code sequence by binarization of the first peak value and the second peak value in the periodic signals output from the detector, wherein the processor has a function of performing calibration so that the first peak value becomes larger than a threshold for the binarization and the second peak value becomes smaller than the threshold.

Abstract: An object detector includes a light source; an optical system that converts a light beam emitted from the light source into a predetermined state; a deflector that deflects and scans the light beam passing through the optical system, and that irradiates the light beam onto an object; and a photo detector that detects reflected light or scattered light. A first size of a light emitting region of the light source is different from a second size of the light emitting region, wherein the first size is a first width of the light emitting region in a first direction, and the second size is a second width of the light emitting region in a second direction. One of the first direction and the second direction corresponding to a smaller one of the first size and the second size coincides with a direction in which angular resolution is higher.

Abstract: A pixel matrix is arranged in line of pixels. Each pixel is either in a first state or in a second state. The matrix mainly contains pixels in the second state. Each line of pixels is tested in order to determine whether it contains or not a pixel in a first state. The result from this test for each line is sent into a receiver. The lines including at least one pixel in the first state are more accurately analyzed in order to determine the position of this or these pixel in the line.

Abstract: An electrical insulation configuration for an electrical device having a power circuit includes a first insulation device to provide a level of basic insulation between the power circuit and a user, and an additive insulation device in series with the first insulation device, the additive insulation device to increase the level of basic insulation to a level of double insulation or reinforced insulation between the power circuit and the user.

Abstract: An optical encoder light shielding plate has a plurality of bridge parts provided in parallel, each of the plurality of bridge parts having a metallic layer, and a slit formed between the plurality of bridge parts. The slit is configured to have light incident therefrom. In the metallic layer, a master-side surface on an exposed surface side of a conductive master body is arranged on a light incident direction side. The metallic layer is obtained such that a plurality of cavities are provided in parallel on the exposed surface of the conductive master body. A voltage is applied while the conductive master body is dipped in an electrolytic solution. The metallic layer is electrodeposited on the exposed surface of the conductive master body in the cavities.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel is disclosed. The pixel may include a photodiode having a first region with a first potential and a second region with a second, higher potential, with the second region being offset in depth from the first region in a semiconductor chip. A storage node may be positioned at substantially the same depth as the second region of the photodiode. A storage gate may be operable to transfer charge between the photodiode and the storage node.

Abstract: The device for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes comprises a CMOS optical sensor; an analog processing unit connected to the optical sensor; an analog/digital conversion unit connected to the analog processing unit; a logic control unit connected to the CMOS optical sensor, the analog processing unit and the analog/digital conversion unit; and a data-processing unit connected to the logic control unit and the analog/digital conversion unit. The CMOS optical sensor and at least one of the analog processing, analog/digital conversion, logic control and data processing units are integrated in a single chip. The data processing unit processes the digital signals corresponding to the image acquired by the CMOS sensor and extracts the optically coded data.

Abstract: Among other things, techniques and systems are provided for identifying when a pixel of an image sensor is in an idle period. A flag is utilized to differentiate when the pixel is in an idle period and when the pixel is in an integration period. When the flag indicates that the pixel is in an idle period, a blooming operation is performed on the pixel to reduce an amount of electrical charge that has accumulated at the pixel or to mitigate electrical charge from accumulating at the pixel. In this way, the blooming operation reduces a probability that the photosensitive sensor becomes saturated during an idle period of the pixel, and thus reduces the likelihood of electrical charge from a pixel that is not intended contribute to an image from spilling over and potentially contaminating a pixel that is intended to contribute to the image.

Abstract: A method of operating an avalanche photodiode includes providing an avalanche photodiode having a multiplication region capable of amplifying an electric current when subject to an electric field. The multiplication region, in operation, has a first ionization rate for electrons and a second, different, ionization rate for holes. The method also includes applying the electric field to the multiplication region, receiving a current output from the multiplication region, and varying the electric field in time, whereby a portion of the current output is suppressed.