Abstract: In one aspect, an object detection system is provided that adapts to the distance between the emitter and receiver. The system may utilize a range determining operation whereby the receiver will adjust an operation threshold, such as the detected signal strength required for the receiver to indicate that no object is present. The system may increase the threshold of the receiver as the strength of the received signal from the emitter increases, and upon certain conditions, decrease the threshold of the receiver as the strength of the received signal decreases. The system may utilize different receiver thresholds corresponding with different distance ranges between the emitter and receiver. By increasing the threshold of the receiver, the system may disregard low-level reflected light, thereby avoiding ignoring legitimate obstructions, while allowing the system to operate reliably over a wide physical range between the emitter and receiver.

Abstract: A method for light-to-frequency conversion comprises the steps of illuminating a photodiode by a light source, generating a photocurrent by means of the photodiode, converting the photocurrent into a digital comparator output signal depending on a first clock signal, generating a first count comprising an integer number of counts, where the generation of the first count depends on the first clock signal, generating a second count which relates to the time interval between at least two counts of the first count, and determining the frequency of a repeating pattern in the intensity of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light source and detected by the photodiode from the first count and the second count. Furthermore, a light-to-frequency converter arrangement is provided.

Abstract: A method, an inspection system and a sensing unit. The sensing unit may include a light recycling optics and a photon to electron converter. The photon to electron converter is configured to receive a first light beam emitted from the object and impinging on the partially reflective surface at a first oblique angle, absorb a first portion and reflect a second portion of the first light beam to provide a first reflected beam. The light recycling optics is configured to redirect, towards the partially reflective surface, one or more reflected beams reflected from the partially reflective surface to provide one or more recycled beams. The photon to electron converter is configured to output electrons that represents an absorbed portion of the input light beam and an absorbed portion of each one of the one or more recycled beam.

Abstract: A reflection type sensor includes a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light receiving element configured to receive reflected light from a scale having a pattern, and a transparent member configured to cover the light emitting element and the light receiving element. A predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A Time-of-Flight (ToF)-based three-dimensional (3D) image sensor includes at least two first photogates symmetrically arranged in a central portion of a pixel, at least two first gates configured to remove an overflow charge generated in the at least two first photogates, and a first gate group. The at least two first gates are arranged symmetrically in an outer portion of the pixel. The first gate group includes a plurality of gates configured to store and transmit charges generated in the at least two first photogates. The first gate group is arranged in the outer portion of the pixel.

Abstract: A light sensor having an adaptively controlled gain includes a photoelectric element, an operational amplifier, a comparator, an adaptive gain control circuit, a variable capacitor and a pulse accumulator circuit. The photoelectric element converts light energy into a photocurrent. The operational amplifier outputs an error amplified signal based on a gain multiplied by a voltage difference between an input voltage and a reference voltage. The comparator compares the error amplified signal with a voltage of a reference voltage source to output a comparison signal. The adaptive gain control circuit includes a pulse detector circuit and a gain control circuit. The pulse detector circuit detects the comparison signal and a clock signal to output a pulse detected signal. The adaptive gain control circuit outputs a capacitance modulating signal according to the pulse detected signal. A capacitance of the variable capacitor is modulated according to the capacitance modulating signal.

Abstract: A photosensitive circuit, a driving method thereof and an electronic device are disclosed. The photosensitive circuit includes a photosensitive element and a signal acquisition circuit. The photosensitive element is configured to be able to generate a photosensitive voltage signal by changing threshold characteristic of the photosensitive element according to intensity of light incident into the photosensitive element; and the signal acquisition circuit configured to convert the photosensitive voltage signal into a photosensitive current signal.

Abstract: A sensor includes a generator configured to generate a predetermined detection target, a detector configured to detect the detection target generated by the generator, and a substrate provided with the generator and the detector. The substrate includes a first portion provided with the generator, a second portion provided with the detector, a bent portion that is bent between the first portion and the second portion such that the generator and the detector face each other, and a ground pattern provided in a portion including the first portion, the second portion, and the bent portion. In the ground pattern, a ground pattern of the bent portion is narrower than a ground pattern of the first portion and a ground pattern of the second portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high frequency switch including a substrate, a pair of ground sections provided on the substrate, a center conductor provided between the pair of ground sections, and a photoconductive semiconductor element provided on the center conductor and extending between the center conductor and the pair of ground sections.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an array of optically switchable magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) arranged in columns and rows. The image sensor has first lines of transparent conductive material and second lines of conductive material. Each first line is in contact with the free layers of the MTJs in a corresponding row. Each second line is electrically connected to the fixed layers MTJs in a corresponding column. The first lines are concurrently exposable to radiation. The first and second lines are selectively biasable. In a global reset operation, biasing conditions are such that all MTJs are switched to an anti-parallel state. In a global sense operation, biasing conditions are such that, depending upon the intensity of radiation received at those portions of the first lines in contact with MTJs, the MTJs may switch to a parallel state. In selective read operations, biasing conditions are such that stored data values in the MTJs can be read.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a depth map sensor including a light source for transmitting light pulses into an image scene; an array of pixel circuits, where each pixel circuit has a photodetector and three asynchronous counters; and a control circuit to control each of a plurality of groups of the pixel circuits of the array to generate a histogram of detection events by accumulating events during eight distinct time intervals between consecutive light pulses transmitted by the light source, such that the histogram comprises eight or more histogram bins.

Abstract: A micro robot that is moveable in a body includes first quantum dots.

Abstract: A photodetector device and an optical encoder device that can suppress level variation of a detection signal are provided. A photodetector device of one embodiment includes: a light receiving unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; a selector circuit that selects a first photoelectric conversion element group and a second photoelectric conversion element group, in the light receiving unit; a differential amplifier that outputs a detection signal in accordance with a difference between a first output signal of the first photoelectric conversion element group and a second output signal of the second photoelectric conversion element group; and a correction unit that corrects the detection signal based on the first output signal and the second output signal.

Abstract: A code disk is adapted to an optical absolute rotary encoder. The code disk is divided into a plurality of columns, with the plurality of columns disposed in a circumferential direction around a center position and respectively extending in a plurality of radial directions. The code disk comprises a plurality of disk sectors sequentially disposed in the circumferential direction around the center position, wherein each of the disk sectors comprises a plurality of code pieces, each of the code pieces comprises an encoded value, each of the encoded values comprises a plurality of bits adopting Manchester code, these bits are arranged in one of the radial directions, and the encoded values of two of the disk sectors are arranged as Gray code.

Abstract: A avalanche diode arrangement comprises an avalanche diode (11) that is coupled to a first voltage terminal (14) and to a first node (15), a latch comparator (12) with a first input (16) coupled to the first node (15), a second input (17) for receiving a reference voltage (VREF) and an enable input (21) for receiving a comparator enable signal (CLK), and a quenching circuit (13) coupled to the first node (15).

Abstract: An optical sensor configured to reduce a measurement time while the accuracy of the optical sensor is maintained is realized. An initial configuration circuit (19) includes a counter configured to perform counting of the number of pulse outputs from a first light-receiving unit (11) in first to nth regions obtained by dividing each cycle of a reference clock into n equal parts, determines, among the first to nth regions, a region in which a counter value is largest, and the initial configuration circuit causes a first DLL circuit (17) to perform a converging operation to the region determined.

Abstract: A calibration circuit configured to calibrate a signal of a sensing unit comprises: an amplifier, a first impedance element and a second impedance element. The amplifier has a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal. The first input terminal is coupled to a first terminal of the sensing unit, the second input terminal is coupled to a reference voltage, and the output terminal is feedback to the first input terminal and outputs the readout signal. A first terminal of the first impedance element is coupled to the first input terminal of the amplifier, and a second terminal of the first impedance element is coupled to a calibration voltage. A first terminal of the second impedance element is coupled to the first terminal of the first impedance element, and a second terminal of the second impedance element is coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier.

Abstract: A device for multispectral imaging in the infrared, suitable for detecting at at least one first and one second detection wavelength is provided. It comprises a detection matrix array comprising a set of elementary detectors of preset dimensions forming an image field of given dimensions; and an image-forming optic having a given aperture number (N) and a given focal length (F), which aperture number and focal length are suitable for forming, at any point of the image field, an elementary focal spot covering a set of at least two juxtaposed elementary detectors.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are disclosed that enable accurate and reliable measurements of wavefront aberrations with a wide dynamic range. The described wavefront sensors can be implemented at a low cost and without any moving parts. One wavefront sensor includes an optical pyramid positioned to receive a focused incoming light beam. The optical pyramid includes three facets that each allow a portion of the focused incoming light beam to exit the optical pyramid. The wavefront sensor also includes one or more imaging lenses positioned to receive light that exits each of the facets of the optical pyramid, and one or more lenslet arrays positioned to receive light from the one or more imaging lenses and to produce a plurality of focused light spots corresponding to each lenslet of the lenslet array.

Abstract: A thermal and environmental noise suppressing interface circuit which is configured to operate cold and is configured to perform biasing with suppression of noise currents from room temperature noise voltages and dc coupled rf readout of a superconducting device under test with a single coaxial cable or equivalent conductor pair. The circuit is configured to suppress the propagation of thermal and environmental noises to/from sensors operating at a different temperature from its operating and control equipment while maintaining a single input-output channel, and provides for the placement of a local grounding impedance on an intercept board.