Abstract: In an optical rotary encoder which detects the angle of rotation of a rotary shaft by detecting the ray of light transmitting through an angle detection pattern formed on a rotary disc coupled to the rotary shaft, a deflection detection pattern (20b) is disposed on the rotary disc separately from the angle detection pattern and the direction and magnitude of deflection of the rotary shaft with respect to the center of a bearing is detected by detecting the change in the quantity of light passing through the deflection detection pattern (20b). The angle of rotation thus detected is corrected to the angle of rotation around the axis of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: An opto-electronic A/D converter comprises an input light source, an input nterferometer, and a plurality of parallel multistable interferometers the optical lengths of which are controlled by respective electrodes, the outputs of the parallel interferometers being converted by photodiodes into electrical signals which are used both to supply a digital output of the converter and as feedback signals to both the respective and an adjacent one of the parallel interferometers.

Abstract: A reflection type photoelectric switch adapted to project light to an object to be detected and sense the object on the basis of reflected light therefrom, which comprises a split-type composite light receiving unit consisting of two light receiving segments, a differential amplifer receiving the outputs of the two light receiving segments, and a waveform shaping device for discriminating the differential amplification output of the differential amplifier with a predetermined level and generating a detection output for the object.

Abstract: The device comprises a high speed oscilloscope on the screen of which is formed by scanning a light path representative of the amplitude variation as a function of the time of the signal to be processed. Each point of such path is transformed by an astigmatic optical system into a light segment of constant length projected with off-set on a strip of photodiodes so that each sensor element of the strip receives a light band of a heigth proportional to the ordinate of the corresponding point of the path. An electronic circuit reads the strip after a predetermined number of passages of the signal. The result is displayed on an oscilloscope and stored in a memory after analog-digital conversion.

Abstract: An automatic solar lighting apparatus having a reflecting means for reflecting the sunlight and a solar following sensor composed of an X-shape cross member having four side grooves, a light shielding top plate disposed on the front end of the X-shape cross member, and photosensors located in the side grooves of the X-shape cross member. The solar following sensor is controlled to be always pointed toward the sun, and the reflecting means can automatically be driven so as to reflect and direct the sunlight toward a prescribed portion for lighting.

Abstract: A particle measuring device having a light source, scanning means for optically scanning a light from the light source in a direction intersecting the direction of passage of particles to be examined in a portion to be examined through which the particles to be examined pass, means for making the shape of the scanning light applied to the particles to be examined into a shape longer than the length of the particles to be examined in the direction of passage of the particles to be examined, and light receiving means for receiving the light from the portion to be examined.

Abstract: A photosensor having an electrically insulating, translucent substrate; an opaque conductive layer formed on the substrate; an insulating layer formed on the conductive layer, and a semiconductive layer formed on the insulating layer for receiving light and providing a current corresponding thereto. A pair of electrodes are formed in contact with the semiconductor layer and define a light receiving window therebetween. The electrodes are formed so as to not substantially overlap the conductive layer. The conductive layer is supplied with a bias voltage corresponding to a polarity and an amount of carriers defining the current of the semiconductor layer and a voltage Va of a small absolute value during a non-reading period of the photosensor.

Abstract: An appliance for converting an optical reflectance measuring instrument into a transmittance measuring instrument is shaped to fit in the aperture of a probe of the reflectance measuring instrument. When used as a reflectance measuring instrument, reflectance samples are positioned over the aperture. The appliance has a fiber optic cable which receives light from the probe and carries it out through the aperture and redirects the light back toward the aperture through a position designed to receive a sample, the transmittance of which is to be measured. In the optical instrument, the light received by the probe is carried by fiber optics to a spectrometer.

Abstract: In an apparatus for scanning a transverse region of moving web, the speed of the web being scanning adjusts the clock of the camera that controls the scanning rate of the camera, to maintain a constant spacing of the scan regions, rather than vice versa, thereby allowing wide variations in web speed while maintaining constant scan region spacing. Additionally, the intensity of the web illumination is controlled as a function of web speed so that each scan region receives the same amount of light from the illumination means during each scan interval regardless of variations in web speed.

Abstract: In a scanning apparatus, a scanned transverse region of a moving web is illuminated by focused illumination from an elongate incandescent lamp with a long filament maintained in tension and supported only at its ends to prevent shadows or other luminance variations along the length of the lamp.

Abstract: An optically bistable device, such as a symmetric self electro-optic effect device (S-SEED), is forced into a metastable state prior to the incidence of an optical input signal thereto, thereby increasing the sensitivity of the optically bistable device to the optical input signal, reducing both the switching time and the optical input signal energy required to switch the device. The metastable state is entered into by one of three techniques: (1) turning off the bias voltage V.sub.0 of the device with optical bias beams on then turning on the bias voltage V.sub.0 with the optical bias beams off; (2) applying a predetermined voltage to a node in the device, the predetermined voltage being substantially the metastable state voltage or V.sub.0 /2; or (3) subjecting the device to equal intensity optical bias beams having a wavelength longer than the exciton wavelength.

Abstract: Position responsive apparatus for determining the proper characteristics of an object within its field of view utilizing a pair of crossed detector arrays, one of which operates to detect the position of an image of the object as it moves in a first direction with respect to a first of the arrays and the other of which observes the desired characteristic of the object at successive positions of the image.

Abstract: A radiation scanning system is used with a radiation detector that has a predefined aperture stop. A first relay lens disposed to form a first image of the radiation detector a predefined distance from the aperture stop and a second relay lens is located a predetermined distance from the first relay lens and disposed to form a second image of the radiation detector onto a line scanning apparatus. The line scanning apparatus includes a rotor having a plurality of reflective planar facets disposed uniformly around its circumference. Each of the reflective planar facet has a normal substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor. The rotor is interposed between the second relay lens and the second image of the radiation detector and has its axis of rotation intersecting the optical axis of the second relay lens and disposed in such a way that as the rotor is rotated the second image is caused to move in a substantially circular locus.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprises an image pickup element, a displacement member for displacing an image incident upon the image pickup element relative to the image pickup element, and a control circuit for controlling the operation of the displacement member in response to the output of the image pickup element.

Abstract: A light deflector such as a polygon mirror deflects a synchronizing light beam and a scanning light beam which are applied thereto at different angles. A first focusing optical system is disposed between the light deflector and an object to be scanned by the scanning light beam for focusing the scanning light beam on the object. A synchronizing signal generator including a reference grating plate generates a synchronizing signal from the synchronizing light beam applied to the reference grating plate. A second focusing optical system is disposed between the first focusing optical system and the reference grating plate for focusing the synchronizing light beam applied through the first focusing optical system on the reference grating plate. Image information is read from the object or read on the object based on the synchronizing signal.

Abstract: An optical sensor comprises a probe (10) and an annular optical element (13) coupled optically to a pair of optical fibres (18). Light transmitted down one fibre is reflected around the element (13) and back up the other fibre to a photodetector. The level of light received by the photodetector is dependent upon the amount of light lost from the element (13) as a result of characteristics of the surrounding medium. The presence or absence of a surrounding liquid medium may thus be sensed and a motor (34) operated to suck liquid up through the probe, when the liquid is present.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion array is comprised of a longitudinal semiconductor substrate formed with a plurality of doped regions electrically isolated from one another and equidistantly aligned in the longitudinal direction of the substrate.

Abstract: A high-power solid state relay uses optically-controlled shunt and series solid state switches between a photodiode array and an output device to provide enhanced turn-off and transient immunity characteristics and an optically-controlled charging network connected to the switched load to enhance the turn-on characteristics of the relay.

Abstract: A technique for verifying that indicia, such as print indicia, are provided at the correct location(s) on an object. Relative movement between the object and a sensor is provided. If sensed indicia are located at an expected position on the object, an indicia-bearing object is vertified. One or more samples of a proper object are scanned to establish a template which defines those locations at which indicia on the samples are located. This template is used subsequently to verify the presence of proper indicia-bearing objects.

Abstract: In a system for detecting the position of an objective lens which is movably suspended and can be moved along a predetermined direction, a mirror is fixed to the objective lens and is moved with the objective lens along the predetermined directions. A fixed base is so arranged to face the mirror and light emitting element and photodetectors are arranged along the predetermined direction or the fixed base. Cylindrical light shielding member is located between the photodetectors and the element and a differential amplifier is connected to the photodetectors.