Abstract: A light receiving element and a ranging system is provided which achieve improvement of pixel characteristics while allowing variation in a breakdown voltage of an SPAD. The light receiving element includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels is arranged in a matrix, and a pixel driving unit configured to control respective pixels of the pixel array to be active pixels or non-active pixels. The pixel includes an SPAD, a transistor connected to the SPAD in series, an inverter configured to output a detection signal indicating incidence of a photon on the SPAD, a first transistor which is switched on or off in accordance with control of the pixels to be the active pixels or the non-active pixels, and a second transistor connected to the first transistor in series.

Abstract: A spectrometer device includes an optical interference filter which is designed to filter specific wavelength ranges of an incident light beam on passage through the optical interference filter. The spectrometer device also includes a detector device which is designed to detect the filtered light beam. Further, the spectrometer device includes a focusing device with a reflective surface. The focusing device is designed to focus the filtered light beam onto the detector device by reflection on the surface.

Abstract: Devices and methods for measuring color of a target coating are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a color measurement device includes a housing configured for placement on a target coating. A source connected to the housing directs a beam of electromagnetic radiation towards the target coating at an entrance angle. A spherical coordinate system is used, where the entrance angle is a polar angle measured from a zenith that is normal to the target coating surface. First and second detectors are connected to the housing at a first and second polar angle, respectively, to measure the electromagnetic radiation reflected by a target population of flakes within the target coating, where all the flakes in the target population of flakes have the same angled flake normal polar angle. The first polar angle is different than the second polar angle.

Abstract: A spectrometer apparatus is disclosed that includes at least one light source for irradiating a sample with light, an optical detection device for detecting light scattered by the sample, at least one optical filter device, which is arranged in front of and/or behind the sample, a contact sensor device for determining a contact between the sample and the spectrometer apparatus and for outputting a corresponding output signal, a control device for controlling the light source and the detection device in response to the output signal. The control device is designed such that the control device modifies at least one operating parameter of the light source and the detection device, when the output signal indicates the contact between the sample and the spectrometer apparatus. A method for operating a spectrometer apparatus is disclosed as well.

Abstract: An optical equipment having a discharge lamp for supplying light and a light valve device for projecting the light from the equipment having an air intake opening arranged on one side of the equipment. A ventilation device is associated with the air intake opening so as to draw in air from outside of the equipment through the air intake opening and a ventilation path arranged so as to extend from an outlet of the ventilation device continuously. The ventilation path includes a partition member proximate to an outlet of the ventilation device and air flow through the ventilation path is divided into a plurality of air flows by the partition member so as to cool different parts of the light valve device respectively.

Abstract: A camera includes a lens holding member for detachably holding a lens device, an image taking device for taking an image formed by the lens device, a front main body member forming a front portion of the main body of the camera, a rear main body member which forms a rear portion of the main body of the camera and is coupled to the front main body member, and a central main body member on which the lens holding member and the image taking device are mounted and which is coupled to at least one of the front and rear main body members.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for wavefront sensing that includes: employing two moiré gratings in an optical path; optically Fourier transforming a moiré deflectogram produced by the gratings; variably transmitting the transformed moiré deflectogram; and receiving an image of the variably transmitted and transformed moiré deflectogram. The variable transmission is best accomplished by transmission filter, a transmissive optic encoding intensity information upon the moiré deflectogram as a function of fringe angle. For example, the function can be a triangular transmission function centered on the (0,0) order spatial frequency spot and oriented at 45 degrees to the y-axis. The optical Fourier transform is accomplished by a lens and the variable transmission by an apodized slit.

Abstract: A display system based on a spatial light modulator (SLM). Various embodiments of the invention all involve some sort of articulating element, such that the display system has a stow position that is more compact and different from its operating position. In the operating position, the image formed by the SLM is re-oriented, if necessary, to a position suitable for viewing.

Abstract: A real-image variable-magnification viewfinder includes objective optical system having positive optical power, eyepiece optical system having positive optical power, and erecting optical system. The objective optical system has first lens unit having positive optical power, second lens unit having negative optical power, and third lens unit having positive optical power. As zooming is performed from wide-angle end to telephoto end, second and third lens units are moved so they come closer to each other. Following conditional formulae are fulfilled: −0.75<m2W<−0.3, −2<m2T<−1.05, −0.75<m3W<−0.3, −2<m3T<−1.05, l2>l3, where m2W and m2T represents lateral magnification of second lens unit at wide-angle end and at telephoto end, m3W and m3T represents lateral magnification of third lens unit at wide-angle end and at telephoto end, and L2 and L3 represent movement distance of second lens unit and of third lens unit over entire zoom range.

Abstract: A measurement controller is electrically connected with light emitting circuits and controls the light emission of light sources. A calculator calculates reflection characteristic measurement values of a measurement object corresponding to the respective illuminators. Undetermined coefficients of a Gaussian function stored in a memory are determined using the calculated reflection characteristic measurement values, and errors created by an angle of inclination of a normal to a surface of the measurement object with respect to a center axis of a main body are corrected using the Gaussian function whose undetermined coefficients are determined to obtain corrected reflection characteristic values. Since a measurement result is corrected according to the angle of inclination of the main body with respect to the object surface, this enables a high-precision colormetry.

Abstract: A refractometric apparatus and method for monitoring the percentage of water in hydraulic and non-hydraulic fluids employ a temperature sensitive device allowing a user to obtain accurate and correct readings of various measured properties. In particular, the temperature sensitive member comprises a prism-wedge-mirror combination in conjunction with a bimetallic strip. The combination ensures the proper angular displacement of a light beam inside the refractometric apparatus and, therefore, the correct reading of a parameter to be measured.

Abstract: A projection display system that can diminish ghost images is disclosed. The projection display system includes an illumination system and an image system. The projection display system has a light source for emitting at least one light beam, and a field lens having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface having at least one reflection area. The image system utilizes the field lens and a light valve mounted adjacent to the second surface of the field lens for reflecting the light beam emitted by the light source. The light beam reflected from the light valve to the interface reflecting area is further reflected to a region outside of the light valve by the reflection area.

Abstract: The present invention captures images of a circuit chip with a time delay integration or TDI sensor. The circuit chip is on a movable stage which moves at the same rate at which the TDI sensor clocks. A pulsed laser is directed toward the circuit chip and activated in synchronisation with the clock rate of the TDI sensor such that laser is activated when the TDI sensor is imaging the object and the laser is deactivated when the TDI sensor is transferring its charge.

Abstract: A pair of openings (302) symmetrically disposed around an optical axis of the reflector (412) is formed on a contact surface of a light-transmissive plate (301) and the reflector (412) and a cooling channel (340) for introducing cooling air to a source lamp (411) through the pair of openings (302) and a first and a second cooling channel shutters (350, 360) for shutting the cooling channel (340) when the case is detached from a projector (1) are provided on a case (300). The source lamp (411) can be efficiently cooled, so that the life of the source lamp (411) can be lengthened. Even when a light-emitting tube of the source lamp (411) is exploded while using the projector (1), the fragments of the light-emitting tube do not fall outside in exchanging the light source (413), and cooling efficiency of the source lamp (411) is not impaired.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to creating motion pictures are described. Included as part of the system are cameras incorporating two taking lenses, one of which images onto film through a shutter and the other of which images onto a digital sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a traffic accident photographing device for a vehicle. The device comprises camera-fastening means for fastening a camera to the vehicle to allow the camera to photograph an actual scene upon occurrence of a collision; and shutter-pressing means for allowing a shutter of the camera fastened to the vehicle by the camera-fastening means, to be pressed by a weight member which is moved under action of inertia force generated by the collision.

Abstract: A camera and method for promoting consumer loyalty for film developing services is provided. A promotional camera including a film door latch is provided to a consumer. The latch for opening the film door is available to the consumer on the outside body of the camera, but is rendered inaccessible by a deterrent mechanism, such as an adhesive label or the like. The promotional camera is returned to a retailer for servicing including, pre-winding of the film onto a film spool prior to use. In use, after each film exposure is taken, the film advance wheel is used to rewind a single frame of film into the original film cartridge. After all pictures have been taken, the consumer returns the camera with the rewound film intact to the retailer.

Abstract: A fundus camera for photographing a fundus of an eye to be examined, in which a fixation target may be moved easily to guide a desired section of the fundus to a position intended for photographing. The fundus camera is provided with: observation means having a photographing element for picking up an image of the fundus illuminated in illumination light for observation and a monitor on which the picked-up image of the fundus is displayed; fixation target presenting means for movably presenting a fixation target in an arbitrary position, the fixation target being visually identified by the eye; designating means for designating a section of the fundus desired to be placed in the position intended for photographing on the fundus image displayed on the monitor; and control means for controlling the fixation target presenting means so as to shift a presenting position of the fixation target based on a signal indicating a designated position on the monitor.

Abstract: A camera system is provided for acquiring an image of a scene with a wide angle such as an omni-directional scene with a high resolution and for acquiring an image of a dynamic object. The camera system includes a reflecting mirror, a first imaging unit, and a second imaging unit. The reflecting mirror has a mirror surface disposed around a center axis and spread on one side of the center axis to form an opening portion. The first imaging unit is provided within a plane composed of an outer surface of the reflecting mirror and a plane extending from the outer surface of the reflecting mirror on the opening portion side. The second imaging unit is disposed opposite to the mirror surface of the reflecting mirror, and includes a number of cameras disposed on the same circumference centered at the center axis of the reflecting mirror in such a manner as to be spaced from each other at equal intervals.

Abstract: An apparatus for fixing an optidal system for use in a projection display device having a cabinet forming a casing and an optical system disposed on the cabinet for forming an image and magnifying and projecting the image.