Abstract: A Dual-Side Illumination (DSI) image sensor chip includes a first image sensor chip configured to sense light from a first direction, and a second image sensor chip aligned to, and bonded to, the first image sensor chip. The second image sensor chip is configured to sense light from a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: Disclosed are examples of optical/electrical devices including a variable TIR lens assembly having a transducer, an optical lens and an electrowetting cell coupled to an exterior wall of the lens. The electrowetting cell contains two immiscible liquids having different optical and electrical properties. One liquid has a high index of refraction, and the other liquid has a low index of refraction. At least one liquid is electrically conductive. A signal causes the high index of refraction and the low index of refraction liquids to assume various positions within the electrowetting cell along the exterior wall. The properties of the optical lens, e.g. its total internal reflectivity, change depending upon the position of the respective liquids along the exterior wall. The light detection characteristics of the assembly change to receive an input light beam over a range of inputs or over a range of fields of view.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a first substrate that includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units, a second substrate that includes at least a part of a readout circuit configured to read signals based on electric charges of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and a peripheral circuit including a control circuit, and a wiring structure that is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and includes a pad portion electrically connected to the peripheral circuit via a draw-out wiring and an insulating layer. The wiring structure has, at least at a part thereof, a seal ring disposed in such a way as to surround the photoelectric conversion units and the peripheral circuit.

Abstract: An optocoupler having a transmitter module and a receiver module that are galvanically isolated from each other and optically coupled with one another and are integrated in a common housing. The receiver module has a voltage source that has a number N of partial voltage sources mutually connected in series and constructed as semiconductor diodes. Each of the partial voltage sources has a semiconductor diode having a p-n junction, and the partial source voltages of the individual partial voltage sources each deviate by less than 20% from one another. Between each two successive partial voltage sources, a tunnel diode is formed and the partial voltage sources and the tunnel diodes are monolithically integrated together and jointly form a first stack having a top surface and a bottom surface, and the number N of the partial voltage sources is greater than or equal to three.

Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes an imaging device having a single imaging sensor capturing image data within a field of view. A control within the vehicle includes an image processor and receives image data captured by the single imaging sensor and receives vehicle data via a communication bus of the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data, the control detects converging road features along the road the vehicle is travelling and determines a point of intersection where the converging road features would converge. Responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data, the control automatically corrects for misalignment of the imaging device mounted at the vehicle.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a radiation sensor, including pixels each for obtaining electric charges, includes: a control unit configured to start driving for imaging in response to radiation irradiation, and stop the driving when a first time elapses after the start of the driving; and a receiving unit configured to externally receive a predetermined instruction signal. The control unit is configured to, in response to reception of the predetermined instruction signal, control a state of the radiation sensor based on a difference between the first time and a second time from the start of the driving to the reception of the predetermined instruction signal.

Abstract: A laser scanner which includes a light source which emits a light beam and a scanning mirror rotatable about an axis which reflects the light beam through a tilted protective window toward a scanning area and which directs return light from objects toward receiving optics. The laser scanner may include a collecting mirror which receives the return light, and an interference filter disposed between the collecting mirror and the scanning mirror. The window may include an anti-reflective coating which reduces reflection of internally scattered light. The tilted window may direct the reflective component of internally scattered light into a zone where an energy light absorber is present. A bulkhead system which may include a separation baffle may be provided to prevent light incident on the interference filter at an angle which is below an acceptance angle of the interference filter.

Abstract: In the field of deviometers used for detecting and locating laser spots, and more precisely to a laser spot detector with matrix deviometer, a device comprises a readout circuit exhibiting a matrix of pixels, a matrix of photodiodes produced on a single substrate, said photodiodes each comprising an individual electrode, and a laser pulse detection device. The particular feature of the device resides in the fact that said matrix of photodiodes is hybridized on said readout circuit by way of balls made of flexible and conducting material, such as indium, placed in contact with the pixels of the readout circuit, so that said single substrate constitutes an electrode common to the set of photodiodes and that said individual electrodes are linked to said pixels by said balls.

Abstract: A level sensor assembly includes a fiber that is configured to be at least partially disposed in a tank and to be coupled to a light source and to a light detector. The fiber includes a plurality of sensing regions spaced apart along a length of the fiber. Each sensing region of the plurality of sensing regions includes a Bragg grating configured to generate a reflection spectrum responsive to incident light and a strain layer around the Bragg grating. Each strain layer is configured to induce a strain on the fiber at a respective Bragg grating based on a temperature of the strain layer such that shifts in the reflection spectra of the Bragg gratings indicate which of the sensing regions are submerged in a liquid.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for pillar array photo detectors. In one example, among others, a photo detection system includes an array of substantially aligned photo sensitive nanorods extending between first and second electrodes, and a plurality of resistance monitoring circuits coupled at different positions about the circumference of the electrodes. In another example, a photo detector includes first and second electrodes, and an array of substantially aligned photo sensitive nanorods extending between the substantially parallel electrodes. Light passing through an electrode excites electrons in the photo sensitive nanorods that are illuminated by the light.

Abstract: A method and a device for reducing the extrinsic dark count of a superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD), it comprises the steps of: integrating a multi-layer film filter on the superconducting nanowire single photon detector; the multi-layer film filter is a device implemented by a multi-layer dielectric film and having a band-pass filtering function. The extrinsic dark count is the dark count triggered by optical fiber blackbody radiance and external stray light. The superconducting nanowire single photon detector comprises: a substrate having an upper surface integrated with an upper anti-reflection layer and a lower surface integrated with a lower anti-reflection layer; an optical cavity structure; a superconducting nanowire; and a reflector. The present invention is easy to operate, and only needs to integrate the multi-layer film filter on the substrate of the SNSPD to filter non-signal radiation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a macro-micro composite grating ruler measuring system based on conversion and amplification in vertical and horizontal directions. The macro-micro composite grating ruler includes a grating ruler, a macro-micro reading system moving with respect to the grating ruler, and a counting and image processing module. The macro-micro reading system faces grating strip datum and is parallel to the grating ruler. The system further includes a measuring reference line. The measuring reference line obtained by the image sensor together with grating strips forms an image overlap in the counting and image processing module. The measuring reference line and the grating strip jointly include an angle ?. With the foregoing configuration, the present invention is compatible with the existing incremental grating rulers and absolute grating rulers, so is highly applicable.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus and an imaging system which can reduce the occurrence of darkening and decrease deterioration in CDS performance are provided. The solid-state imaging apparatus has: a pixel unit including a photoelectric conversion unit for generating a signal by a photoelectric conversion; an amplifier unit for amplifying the signal generated by the photoelectric conversion unit; and a limiting circuit for limiting a level of an output signal from the amplifier unit. The pixel unit outputs a noise signal under a reset state during a first period and outputs a pixel signal under a non-reset state during a second period. The limiting circuit limits the level of the output signal from the amplifier unit in the first period, lower than the level of the output signal from the amplifier unit in the second period.

Abstract: A semiconductor photomultiplier (SPM) device is described. The SPM comprises a plurality of photosensitive elements, a first electrode arranged to provide a bias voltage to the photosensitive elements, a second electrode arranged as a biasing electrode for the photosensitive elements, a plurality of quench resistive elements each associated with a corresponding photosensitive element, a plurality of output loads each having a capacitive load operably coupled to a resisitive load in a parallel configuration between first and second nodes; each first node is common to one of the photosensitive elements and the corresponding quench element; and a third electrode coupled to the second nodes of the output loads to provide an output signal from the photosensitive elements. The outputs loads fully or partially correct an overshoot of an output signal on the third electrode.

Abstract: There is provided a photoelectric switch capable of reducing a size of a whole device while suppressing light amount irregularity and color irregularity of detected light. The photoelectric switch includes: a surface mount LED, configured to generate a light containing a plurality of color components with different hues; an optical shield disposed between the surface mount LED and a light projecting lens to shield the light around an optical opening passing the light from the surface mount LED to the light projecting lens; a light receiving element configured to selectively receive the light to generate a plurality of light reception signals; a controller configured to control a light projecting amount of the surface mount LED based on the light reception signal.

Abstract: A pixel comprises a high-response photodiode that collects photocharge, a first transfer gate that enables the charge to be transferred off the high-response photodiode, completely emptying it onto a low-response photodiode, a second transfer gate enables the charge to be transferred off the low-response photodiode, completely emptying it onto floating diffusion, a third transfer gate for anti-blooming; the floating diffusion collects the transferred charge creating a change of voltage, a means of resetting the floating diffusion. A source-follower is modulated by the voltage on floating diffusion to control bit-line voltage and column-amplifier output. In examples, photocharge is integrated onto both the high-response photodiode and onto the low-response photodiode.

Abstract: An electronic circuit including a current conveyor connected to a load is provided. The load delivers at least one first voltage output and one second voltage output. Such a circuit is noteworthy in that the second voltage output has what is called a non-linear behavior relative to the magnitude of the input current of the electronic circuit in a given range.

Abstract: A wearable illumination activity recording apparatus (1) includes a processing unit (11), a light sensing unit (12) and a motion sensing unit (13). The light sensing unit (12) is electrically connected to the processing unit (11) and outputs a light sensing signal (LS) to the processing unit (11). The motion sensing unit (13) is electrically connected to the processing unit (11) and outputs a motion sensing signal (MS) to the processing unit (11). The processing unit (11) determines whether the wearable illumination activity recording apparatus (1) is indoors or outdoors according to the light sensing signal (LS), and determines whether the wearable illumination activity recording apparatus (1) is in motion or not according to the motion sensing signal (MS). When the wearable illumination activity recording apparatus (1) is outdoors and in motion, the processing unit (11) records an illumination-receiving time.

Abstract: The light power monitoring device includes: a first optical fiber; a second optical fiber connected to the first optical fiber; a low-refractive-index resin layer which covers (i) a connection between the first and the second optical fibers and (ii) a predetermined region of the second optical fiber which region extends from the connection toward a forward-propagating-light-output side; a high-refractive-index resin layer which covers a region of the second optical fiber which region is not covered by the low-refractive-index resin layer; and an outputted light detecting device which is provided at a position corresponding to an end of the low-refractive-index resin layer which end is located on the forward-propagating-light-output side of the second optical fiber or at a position which is away toward the forward-propagating-light-output side of the second optical fiber from the position corresponding to the end of the low-refractive-index resin layer.

Abstract: A positron emission tomography (PET) photosensor output circuit configured to be operably coupled to a PET photosensor system is provided that includes a plurality of regional circuit portions and a summing portion. Each regional circuit portion is configured to be operably coupled to a corresponding photosensor system region and includes an input portion, a first branch, and a second branch. The first branch includes a delay unit and a switch. The second branch includes a sensor unit configured to place the switch in a closed position when a signal received via the input portion satisfies a threshold and to place the switch in an open position when the signal received via the input portion does not satisfy the threshold. The summing portion is configured to receive corresponding regional circuit outputs from the regional circuit portions, and to combine the regional circuit outputs to provide a summed output.