Abstract: The central idea of the present invention is that the resetting of the energy store associated with the receiver prior to every detection interval and/or prior to every exposure period, during which the energy stored in the energy store is to be changed in accordance with the output signal of the receiver so as to use the state of the energy store following the reception interval as information about the object may be avoided by setting the sensitivity of the receiver, which determines the level of the output signal at a specified electromagnetic radiation, higher in at least one instance, and lower in at least one instance between two resetting events, or by varying the sensitivity. The noise contribution provided by the resetting operations is hereby avoided, which is why the benefit of the accumulation and/or integration may be exploited across several reception intervals without this noise contribution.

Abstract: A position measuring system having a scale that includes an incremental graduation track, which extends in a measuring direction, the incremental graduation track having a periodic arrangement of graduation areas with different optical properties and a reference marking in a reference position, which has an aperiodic arrangement of graduation areas. A scanning unit including a light source and an opto-electronic detector arrangement having a reference pulse signal detection unit for generating a reference pulse signal. A periodic strip pattern results in a detection plane, which is amplitude-modulated in an area of the reference position, wherein the reference pulse signal detection unit includes several reference pulse signal detection elements, which create the reference pulse signal so that a periodic signal portion, as well as low-frequency signal portions are filtered out of the incremental graduation track to a large degree.

Abstract: An optical encoder assembly and a method for measuring a rotation angle in which optical beams are spread over the circumference of a rotating optical disk by means of optical guides (OG). In the preferred embodiment the rotating optical disk has a pair of concentrically arranged circular patterns with alternating transparent and opaque sections. Each beam is input via optical fibers to one of a pair of concentrically disposed OGs with a cylindrical shape (COGs) respectively and propagated through the optical disk to be reflected by a mirror with two concentrically disposed circular patterns of reflective and non reflective sections, reentering the COG through the optical disk in a reverse direction. The COGs then guide the light beams back to an electronic interface that converts the optical signals into electronic signals producing position information.

Abstract: An image sensor for an image processing apparatus having a color filter array with open window cells alternating with single color filter cells includes a lens array containing a plurality of microlenses, a color filter array having a plurality of open window cells and color filter cells, each corresponding to one microlens. The image sensor also includes a protection layer, and a pixel sensor array having a first photosensor sensing a first light passed through each color filter cell, a second photosensor formed under the first photosensor, sensing a second light passed through each color filter cell, a third photosensor sensing a third light passed through each open window cell, and a fourth photosensor formed under the third photosensor, sensing a fourth light passed through each open window cell.

Abstract: A wireless remote control is provided for an auto-darkening lens (ADL) system used in a welding helmet, respirator system or other device to control or to adjust settings of an ADL of a controllable light shutter. A display system facilitates providing information indicating the operative settings and/or conditions of the controllable light shutter. A wired remote control for controlling or adjusting an ADL also uses a display system with indicators to indicate the operative settings and/or conditions of the ADL. The display may include a number of indicators, an alpha-numeric display, a heads-up display or other display. The display may include discrete indicators in the peripheral field of view of one eye of a user a controllable. The invention also includes methods of using a remote control for an ADL and of making an ADL to provide for future use of a wireless remote control.

Abstract: An active pixel sensor (APS) image sensor comprises an array of pixel circuits corresponding to rows and columns of pixels, a plurality of amplifiers that buffer signals output by the array of pixel circuits, and a plurality of sample and hold circuits that read the buffered signals. A routing mechanism is positioned between the array of pixel circuits and the plurality of amplifiers.

Abstract: A vehicle rearview mirror system includes an electro-optic reflective element, an ambient light sensor that is operable to sense ambient light, a glare light sensor that is operable to sense glare light and a circuit that is responsive to the ambient glare light sensors which establishes a reflectance level of the reflective element. The circuit includes a sensor-responsive device and a controller. The sensor-responsive device produces an output that is a function of light sensed by glare and ambient light sensors. The controller connects one of the glare and ambient light sensors at a time with the sensor-responsive device to establish glare and ambient light levels and thereby the reflectance level of the reflective element. The mirror system may include a display operable to project light through the reflective element and may control the intensity of the display as a function of the glare light and ambient light.

Abstract: An improved CMOS sensor integrated circuit is disclosed, along with methods of making the circuit and computer readable descriptions of the circuit.

Abstract: A device comprising a fiber grating loop ringdown (FGLRD) system of analysis is disclosed. A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) or Long-Period grating (LPG) written in a section of single mode fused silica fiber is incorporated into a fiber loop. By utilizing the wing areas of the gratings' bandwidth as a wavelength dependent attenuator of the light transmission, a fiber grating loop ringdown concept is formed. One aspect of the present invention is temperature sensing, which has been demonstrated using the disclosed device. Temperature measurements in the areas of accuracy, stability, high temperature, and dynamic range are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improving the resolution of an electronic imaging device having an array of pixels. Sub-pixel dimension movements between an object and the array of pixels are made, and an image is formed at each position. Resulting shifted images are combined to yield an effective resolution corresponding to an array having smaller pixels. Such methods and apparatus allow optical systems with existing pixel devices to form effective images of smaller feature sizes.

Abstract: An solid state image pickup device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions (PD1, PD2) for generating carriers by photoelectric conversions to accumulate the generated carriers, an amplifying unit for amplifying the carriers, being commonly provided to at least two photoelectric conversion regions, a first and a second transfer units (Tx-MOS1, Tx-MOS2) for transferring the carriers accumulated in the first and the second photoelectric conversion regions, respectively, a first and a second carrier accumulating units (Cs1, Cs2) for accumulating the carriers flowing out from the first and the second photoelectric conversion regions through a first and a second fixed potential barriers, respectively, and a third and a fourth transfer units (Cs-MOS1, Cs-MOS2) for transferring the carriers accumulated in the first and the second carrier accumulating units to the amplifying unit, respectively.

Abstract: Method and system for generating electromagnetic radiation wherein one or more attributes of the electromagnetic radiation are adjusted based on a characteristic of the object being illuminated. The object characteristic can be obtained based on a sensed property of the object and used to adjust the attribute(s) of the electromagnetic radiation accordingly.

Abstract: A surface mount type light-emitting unit includes a light-emitting device. A first lead is connected electrically to a first electrode of the light-emitting device. A second lead is connected electrically to a second electrodc of the light-emitting device. A clear insulator seals the light-emitting device, a section connecting the first electrode to the first lead and a section connecting the second electrode to the second lead. An end of the first lead, forming a reflecting section, is molded into a cup-shaped portion having a flat bottom. The light-emitting device is bonded to the flat bottom. A surface of the reflecting section opposed to the flat bottom is exposed to a surface of thc insulator.

Abstract: A single, hard-mounted set of optics is utilized to replace a two field-of-view system for directed countermeasures. It includes within one continuous but distorted field of view the capability to detect, acquire and characterize targets at the edge of the field while precisely tracking with high target fidelity at the field center. With multiple targets, both tracking of a primary target and acquisition of a secondary target can occur simultaneously, greatly improving countermeasure effectiveness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a determination of a physical state of an optical device by measuring a response signal. At least two subsequent measurements are executed. Therefore, a first optical signal is transmitted to the optical device, wherein a first optical property of said first signal is varied according to a first function of the time. A second optical property of a first response signal returning from the optical device is measured over the time and a first result function of the second optical property of the first response signal over the first optical property of first optical signal is established. Further, a second optical signal is transmitted to the optical device, wherein the first optical property of said signal is varied according to a second function of the time that is different from the first function of time.

Abstract: The optical image reader is versatile since it can be assembled for use in a variety of reader applications, such as an ultra high definition reader, a high definition reader, a standard reader and an ultra long range reader. In addition to a housing enclosing an image sensor, an adjustable objective lens assembly for focusing an image of a target on the image sensor and a light source for illuminating and/or targeting the target, the reader includes a light shaping optical element array comprising optical elements assembled together as an integral unit and adapted to be fixed to the housing for shaping and directing light on the target. The optical elements are mounted on a panel, which is adapted to be fixed to the reader housing either permanently, or releasably to permit replacement of the panel on the housing.

Abstract: An encoder having a code scale and an emitter detector module is disclosed. The code scale includes alternating reflective and opaque stripes. The emitter-detector module includes a light source that generates light and directs a portion of the generated light to the imaging element and a photodetector that generates a signal representing an intensity of light having a linear polarization in a predetermined direction received by the photodetector, the light source and the photodetector are encapsulated in a transparent medium, wherein there is a gap between the transparent medium and the code scale. The predetermined direction is chosen to reduce the intensity of light received by the photodetector that is reflected from an interface between the transparent medium and the gap. A polarization filter can also be included in the light source to further improve the rejection of the light reflected from the interface of the transparent medium and the gap.

Abstract: A method for inspecting an object using a structured light measurement system that includes a light source for projecting light onto a surface of the object and an imaging sensor for receiving light reflected from the object. The method includes determining a position of at least one of the light source and the imaging sensor with respect to the object based on at least one of a three-dimensional model of the object and a three-dimensional model of the structured light measurement system.

Abstract: An electrostatic recording body is constructed by laminating a glass substrate transmissive of recording light, a first conductive layer transmissive of recording light, a photoconductive layer exhibiting conductivity by receiving recording light, an insulating dielectric layer, and a second conductive layer transmissive of readout light, in this order. DC voltage is applied to the electrostatic recording body by a power source to charge both conductive layers, and an object is irradiated with light from a recording light irradiating means, thereby recording a electrostatic latent image at an interface between the photoconductive layer and the dielectric layer. Then, the conductive layers are short-circuited and charged at the same potential, thereby redistributing electrical charges.

Abstract: An alignment system for a lithographic apparatus has a source of alignment radiation; a detection system that has a first detector channel and a second detector channel; and a position determining unit in communication with the detection system. The position determining unit is constructed to process information from said first and second detector channels in a combination to determine a position of an alignment mark on a work piece, the combination taking into account a manufacturing process of the work piece. A lithographic apparatus has the above mentioned alignment system. Methods of alignment and manufacturing devices with a lithographic apparatus use the above alignment system and lithographic apparatus, respectively.