Abstract: An optical detector system comprises a hermetic optoelectronic package, an optical bench installed within the optoelectronic package, a balanced detector system installed on the optical bench. The balanced detector system includes at least two optical detectors that receive interference signals. An electronic amplifier system installed within the optoelectronic package amplifies an output of at least two optical detectors. Also disclosed is an integrated optical coherence tomography system. Embodiments are provided in which the amplifiers, typically transimpedance amplifiers, are closely integrated with the optical detectors that detect the interference signals from the interferometer. Further embodiments are provided in which the interferometer but also preferably its detectors are integrated together on a common optical bench. Systems that have little or no optical fiber can thus be implemented.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital (ADC) converter is disclosed that uses aspects of a single-slope ramp ADC, but with jump steps in the ramp voltage to increase speed. A programmable ramp generator can be used to dynamically modify a voltage level associated with the jump step. By programming a voltage level of the jump, a user can dynamically modify the speed of the ADC during operation.

Abstract: An optical liquid sensor utilizing a light source, fiber optic cables, a light detector and an irregular transparent surface is provided to detect the presence of liquid in mist and continuous form. The sensor may be integrated into a probe designed for insertion into a pressurized fluid process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low drop-out voltage regulator circuit with a distributed output network coupled to a pixel array for use in image sensor circuitry. The regulator circuit comprises voltage regulating circuitry and a distributed output network, wherein the distributed output network comprises drive transistors disposed along and connected between a supply track and an output track. The spatial distribution of the drive transistors improves heat dissipation within the regulator circuit, and a combination of low current flow and regulated output voltage reduces IR drop across the output track. The improved heat dissipation increases device lifespan and performance, whereas the reduction in IR drop across the output track provides better pixel response, readout uniformity, and image quality.

Abstract: A tool comprising a tool body having an opening defined by interior walls extending into the tool body and a casing disposed within the opening. The tool further includes a scintillator material disposed within the casing and a first compressive member disposed within the tool body at a first axial location. The first axial location extends for a fraction of a total axial length of the casing and exerts a first radially compressive force at the first axial location.

Abstract: A pixel array including circuitry for combining charges accumulated by individual pixels in the array enables addition and/or subtraction of individual pixel values, prior to their digitization, in the pixel array.

Abstract: An image sensor includes front-side and backside photodetectors of a first conductivity type disposed in a substrate layer of the first conductivity type. A front-side pinning layer of a second conductivity type is connected to a first contact. The first contact receives a predetermined potential. A backside pinning layer of the second conductivity type is connected to a second contact. The second contact receives an adjustable and programmable potential.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are related to projection.

Abstract: An optical element is provided, which is small in distortion when at least three optical members including a resin layer sandwiched by the optical members are cemented together, has a high environmental resistance and optical performance, and has an excellent chromatic aberration correction effect. In the optical element, the resin layer is formed on one of light incident/exit surfaces of a first optical member, and a second optical member is cemented to the resin layer by a bonding material. A condition of ?g<?r is satisfied where ?r indicates an outer diameter of the resin layer and ?g indicates an effective region diameter of a surface of the second optical member which is cemented to the resin layer.

Abstract: A method of producing a solid-state imaging device includes the steps of forming on a substrate a photoelectric conversion portion that receives light on a light-receiving surface and that photoelectrically converts the received light to generate a signal charge, forming above the light-receiving surface an optical waveguide that guides light to the light-receiving surface, and forming above the optical waveguide a color filter which colors light and from which colored light is emitted to the optical waveguide, wherein, in forming the color filter, the color filter is formed from a photosensitive resin film containing a dye by performing an exposure process and then performing a development process on the film, and in forming the optical waveguide, a core portion of the optical waveguide is formed so that the core portion absorbs exposure light radiated onto the photosensitive resin film when the exposure process is performed.

Abstract: In the conventional contaminant particle/defect inspection method, if the illuminance of the illumination beam is held at not more than a predetermined upper limit value not to give thermal damage to the sample, the detection sensitivity and the inspection speed being in the tradeoff relation with each other, it is very difficult to improve one of the detection sensitivity and the inspection speed without sacrificing the other or improve both at the same time. The invention provides an improved optical inspection method and an improved optical inspection apparatus, in which a pulse laser is used as a light source, and a laser beam flux is split into a plurality of laser beam fluxes which are given different time delay to form a plurality of illumination spots. The scattered light signal from each illumination spot is isolated and detected by using a light emission start timing signal for each illumination spot.

Abstract: A system for electro-hydrodynamically extracting energy from wind includes an upstream collector that is biased at an electric potential and induces an electric field. An injector introduces a particle into the electric field. The wind drag on the particle is at least partially opposed by a force of the electric field on the particle. A sensor monitors an ambient atmospheric condition, and a controller changes a parameter of the injector in response to a change in the atmospheric condition.

Abstract: The solid-state imaging device includes light collecting elements each of which includes a first light-transmissive film group and a second light transmissive film group adjacent to each other. The first light-transmissive film group and the second light transmissive film group have mutually different effective refractive index distributions for guiding at least two types of incident light rays to the light receiving element.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device comprises: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements each having a photo-sensing surface; insulation films; a plurality of light-guiding portions arranged above the insulation films, each of the plurality of light-guiding portions guiding light on the photo-sensing surface of each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; and boundary portions, each of the boundary portions defines a boundary between the adjacent light-guiding portions and is formed of a material lower in refractive index than a material that forms the plurality of light-guiding portions, wherein a width of each of the boundary portions is not more than half a shortest wavelength in a wavelength range of visible light, and a height from a lower surface to an upper surface of each of the plurality of light-guiding portions is not less than double a longest wavelength in the wavelength range of visible light.

Abstract: Techniques are generally described for a lock system. An example lock system includes a lock with a lock module that controls a lock mechanism. The lock is configured to transmit optical signals to a key. The key reflects the optical signals back to the lock. The key is configured to encode the optical signals with a combination. The lock module is configured to determine whether the combination is valid. The lock module actuates the locking mechanism when the key is determined to be valid.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are related to projection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of coordinated in-pixel light detection is provided. In one aspect, the method includes implementing an N-number of avalanche photodiodes inside a pixel circuit of a light detection circuit. The method also includes coordinating an output of the N-number of avalanche photodiodes through a counter circuit. The method further includes reducing a deadtime of the light detection circuit by a factor of ‘N’ through the N-number of avalanche photodiodes and the counter circuit operating in concert. The method furthermore includes measuring an intensity of a light through the light detection circuit. N-number of avalanche photodiodes is in a common well of a semiconductor technology. N-number of avalanche photodiodes is fabricated on a deep submicron semiconductor technology. A fill factor of the pixel circuit improves and a deadtime reduces through fabrication of the avalanche photodiodes in a common well. Also, a photon count rate increases through reducing the deadtime.

Abstract: An Integrated Laser Field Conjugation System (ILFCS) for end-to-end compensation of high-energy laser for propagation through turbulence with non-cooperative target. ILFCS using interferometric slaving technique and stand-alone adaptive optical systems to effect pre-compensation of amplitude and phase aberrations in turbulent medium, providing pre-compensation for aberrations in a laser amplifier. Performing compensation functions in low-power beam paths, increasing capability, reducing cost, reducing size compensation components for phase correction devices. Pre-compensating low-power master oscillator beam for aberrations in both high-power amplifier and turbulent propagation path-to-target with configuration enabling wavefront sensing of aberrations. Can be configured to perform phase compensation, or compensation of phase/amplitude aberrations. Capability to compensate aberrations in master oscillator beam.

Abstract: This is generally directed to systems and methods for reduced metal lines and control signals in an imaging system. For example, in some embodiments a pixel cell of an imaging system can operate without a row select transistor, and therefore can operate without a row select metal control line. As another example, in some embodiments a pixel cell can share its reset transistor control line with a transfer transistor control line of another pixel cell. In this manner, an imaging system can be created that averages a single metal line per pixel cell. In some embodiments, operation of such reduced-metal line imaging systems can use modified timing schemes of control signals.

Abstract: A photodiode includes a photosensitive area and a polarizing grating located in front of the photosensitive area. The polarizing grating is formed by a plurality of galvanically conducting filaments.