Abstract: An unsealed optical encoder does not function properly in a fluid other than air because the optics do not function when interfaced with a medium having an index of refraction significantly higher than air. The collimating lens of an optical encoder has two refracting surfaces, at least one of the refracting surfaces being convex. An orthogonal cap of the present invention is attached over an optical encoder's collimating lens to create a sealed air cavity between the convex refracting surface of the collimating lens and the orthogonal cap. This placement of the orthogonal cap is such that the collimated light leaving the sealed air cavity may enter the surrounding medium at an angle that is normal to the surface of the medium, such as transparent oil, so that the collimated light does not bend even though the light is traveling from air to a much slower medium.

Abstract: The semiconductor device of the present invention comprises an optical transmission region, and a light receiving part for converting light propagating through the optical transmission region to an electrical signal, wherein the optical transmission region comprises a two-dimensional optical waveguide layer, and wherein at least a portion of the light receiving part is embedded in the optical transmission region, whereby the present invention can provide a semiconductor device having reduced direction dependency when light propagating through the optical transmission region is received.

Abstract: A method for operating a positioning apparatus that moves a positioning element comprises the steps of: generating a first and at least one further reference signal, the first reference signal corresponding to a first reference position and the further reference signal to a further reference position; generating a first and at least one further estimated value for the present position of the positioning drive; transferring the first reference signal and the estimated value to the positioning apparatus; establishing the first reference position using the positioning apparatus, and measuring the present position and generating a position signal that corresponds to the measured present position; transferring the further reference signal to the positioning apparatus; generating a further estimated value of the positioning drive position; transferring the further estimated value to the positioning apparatus; establishing the further reference position, and measuring a further present position and generating a furt

Abstract: Optical sensor methods and systems for detecting the edge of an object are disclosed. An optical sensor having dual equal area active regions can be provided, and a uniform light source located opposite the optical sensor, such that an occlusion of light from the uniform light source provides location determination data of an object via the optical sensor regardless of the direction of motion of the occlusion relative to the dual equal area active regions thereof.

Abstract: An automated optical inspection system with improved accuracy achieved by reducing the negative effects of extraneous light. The system includes a light trap behind a two-way mirror.

Abstract: A solid state image sensor includes an imaging circuit, a selection circuit, a signal line and an adjustment circuit. The imaging circuit has a plurality of unit cells including a photo-detection section and a first reference potential generating section which generates a first reference potential. The selection circuit selects the unit cell. The signal line is supplied with a signal potential corresponding to a signal charge from the unit cell in a read-out operation, and supplied with the first reference potential in a reset operation. The adjustment circuit operates in response to an adjustment instruction signal which is asserted in an adjustment operation following the reset operation, and applies a second reference potential to the signal line in accordance with a potential of the signal line.

Abstract: An optical receiver includes a photodiode, a variable current source, and a current mode comparator to detect a difference between current from the photodiode and current from the variable current source.

Abstract: A circuit and method are described which suppresses reset noise in active pixel sensor arrays. A circuit having a number of N? wells formed in a P? silicon epitaxial layer or a number of P? wells formed in an N? silicon epitaxial layer is provided. A pixel is formed in each of the wells so that each of the wells is surrounded by silicon of the opposite polarity and an array of pixels is formed. Means are provided for selectively combining or binning adjacent N? or P? wells. During the reset period of the imaging cycle selected groups of adjacent pixels are binned and the charge injected by the resetting of a pixel is averaged among the neighboring pixels, thereby reducing the effect of this charge injection on any one of the pixels and thus reducing the noise generated. The reset is accomplished using a PMOS transistor formed in each N? well or an NMOS transistor formed in each P? well. The selective binning is accomplished using NMOS or PMOS transistors formed in the region between adjacent wells.

Abstract: A device for detecting the angle of incidence of radiation on a radiation incidence surface (14) comprises at last two first pairs (36) of photodiodes comprising first photodiodes (30) arranged along a first axis (12) and connected in series in a pair-wise manner. Each of the first photodiodes (30) comprises a space-charge zone (32) having a space-charge zone face (34) oriented towards the radiation incidence face (14). Further, the device is provided with a a shading mask (46) arranged at a distance (44) above the space-charge zone faces (34) of the first photodiodes (30) and comprising radiation-transmitting areas (48). Each radiation-transmitting area (48) is assigned to the space-charge zone faces (34) of the two first photodiodes (30) of a first pair (36) of photodiodes.

Abstract: A light stability testing device for conducting an accurate light stability test that permits an accurate ultraviolet irradiation and an accurate visible light irradiation, the device comprising an optical sensor having a visible light measuring sensor (5) for measuring the dose of visible light, and a ultraviolet measuring sensor (6) for measuring the dose of ultraviolet ray, an optical system having a total light regulating means (331) for regulating the absolute quantity of light emitted from a light source and a ultraviolet ray regulating means (335) for regulating the dose of ultraviolet ray in light regulated by the total light regulating means, and a control unit for controlling a total light control unit that controls the total light regulating means (331) by a signal from a visible light measuring sensor (5), and the ultraviolet ray regulating means (335) by a signal from the ultraviolet measuring sensor (6).

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of printing presses, and specifically to a method and apparatus for visually inspecting a web moving on a printing press using a CMOS based image recording device and preferably a LED light source.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring optoelectronic characterstics of an organic light emitting diode, comprising a computer, a power supply and a cavity. The cavity comprises a tooling, on which at least one photodiode is mounted. The computer is used to control the power supply for lighting up the organic light emitting diode, so as to control the optoelectronic characteristic measuring equipment for measuring a brightness generated by the organic light emitting diode. Thereby, the automatic measurement is attained.

Abstract: An arithmetic circuit, which is retained by each pixel in a conventional image sensor, is shared by each column. Signal processing circuits of different configurations are provided on signal transmission paths in an upward direction and a downward direction of a vertical signal line for extracting an image signal from each pixel, whereby image output processing and arithmetic processing are performed completely separately by the different circuit blocks. Thus, image quality of an actual image is improved and optimum design for arithmetic processing is made possible. Specifically, an I-V converter circuit unit, a CDS circuit unit and the like are provided on the image output side. A current mirror circuit unit, an analog memory array unit, a comparator unit, a bias circuit unit, a data latch unit, an output data bus unit and the like are provided on the arithmetic processing side.

Abstract: A light wavelength meter (10) able to accept light into a light diverter (16) and impart to it a transverse displacement characteristic which can be detected in a light detection unit (20) connected to a processor (22). Optionally, a light diverger (18) may be provided to enhance angular resolution. The light diverter (16) and the light diverger (18) may either transmit or reflect the light. The light diverter (16) may particularly include a diffraction grating (116, 156), Fabry-Perot interferometer (216), multiple slit plate (316), or an acousto-optical unit (416).

Abstract: An electronic tilt switch for controlling an electrical circuit such as a vehicle hood lamp circuit according to the angle of inclination of the tilt switch. The tilt switch includes a housing, a sliding element, and a solid state electronic sensor, which can comprises a Hall effect sensor or a photo-optical interrupter. The sliding element moves within an axial bore of the housing according to the angle of inclination of the tilt switch. The solid state electronic sensor is mounted to one axial end of the housing and is capable of determining when the sliding element slides past a predetermined position within the bore. This allows the tilt switch to determine whether the vehicle hood has been opened or shut, and is used to turn the lamp on or off accordingly. The housing, sliding element, sensor, and associated electronics can all be environmentally sealed within a single package, which can additionally include one or more molded in connectors.

Abstract: An optically scanning apparatus and defect inspection system able to detect a defect with a high resolution and able to greatly shorten the inspection time. An radiation beam generated from a light source is converted to a light beam array of an m×n matrix by a two-dimensional diffraction grating. The light beams of the light beam array are focused into micro spots by an objective lens and projected on a sample. Therefore, a two-dimensional light spot array of an m×n matrix is formed on a sample. The sample stage rotates and moves rectilinearly in an r direction, so the sample surface is scanned by the m×n matrix of light spots. As a result, the sample surface is spirally scanned by a light beam of a belt shape of the scan width, so can be scanned at a high speed. Further, the beams reflected by the sample surface are received by light receiving elements separated by light blocking members, so a confocal optical system is formed and as a result the resolution of detection of defects becomes much higher.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for compensating a photo-detector allows both regulation and monitoring of the photo-detector to be performed with a common digital controller. The controller accepts input of monitored operational parameters including received signal strength and temperature. The controller provides as an output a bias control signal which regulates a positive the positive or negative side bias voltage power supply for the photo-detector. The controller maintains the bias voltage to the photo-detector at levels which optimize the gain and signal-to-noise ratios for the photo-detector thereby facilitating the decoding of the received signal over a broad range of signal strengths and temperatures. The controller includes a corresponding digital signal strength and temperature compensators the outputs of which summed with a summer to provide the bias control signal.

Abstract: A solid image pick-up apparatus having a plurality of sensor cells each of the sensor cells having a photoelectric converting device, includes a plurality of holding capacitances for holding signals from the plurality of sensor cells, a plurality of first switches for transferring signals of the plurality of holding capacitances, a plurality of blocking areas for connecting outputs of the plurality of first switches each blocking area connecting the outputs of a predetermined number of at least two of the first switches, a common signal line, and a plurality of second switches for transferring signals of the plurality of blocking areas to the common signal line.

Abstract: The present invention includes an ATR crystal system comprising: an ATR crystal, one face of the ATR crystal forming a portion of an interior surface of a containment vessel, a radiation source for creating a beam or radiation, the radiation sources optically connected to an input area of the ATR crystal; and a detector for recording the beam of radiation, the detector optically connected to an output area of the ATR crystal. The present invention also includes a method of sample analysis utilizing an ATR crystal embedded in a containment vessel comprising the steps of: providing a containment vessel having an ATR crystal embedded therein; generating a monochromatic beam of light; transmitting the beam to an input of the ATR crystal; transmitting the beam from an output of the ATR crystal to a detector; and recording a signal from the detector.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and device for identifying recording media in a printer. The invention utilizes fine structure of the media revealed by illumination from one or more directions to distinguish among different kinds of plain papers, coated papers, such as glossy papers, and transparency films. Multiple light sources at different incidence and/or orientation angles apply light on the test surface, and scattered light is converted into signals and then analyzed. Various metric and analysis techniques can be applied to the signals to determine the media type.