Abstract: Provided is a system for detecting flame, which includes a light collecting module configured to collect light emitted from flame and sense location information and intensity information of the collected light, a memory configured to store a program for determining fire information on the basis of the sensed location information and intensity information of the light, and a processor configured to calculate intensity information and fluttering information of the flame from the intensity information of the light by executing the program stored in the memory, to calculate centroid spatial distribution information of the flame from the location information of the light, and to detect whether there is flame on the basis of at least one of the intensity information of the flame, the fluttering information of the flame, and the centroid spatial distribution information.

Abstract: An imaging device including: a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a signal charge; a node to which the signal charge is input; a transistor having a source and a drain, one of the source and the drain being connected to the node; and a capacitive element. The capacitive element including a first electrode, a second electrode and a dielectric film sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode being connected to the other of the source and the drain of the transistor, the second electrode being connected to a voltage source or a ground. The transistor is configured to switch a first mode and a second mode, a sensitivity in the first mode being different from a sensitivity in the second mode.

Abstract: An image sensor comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions that convert light incident on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate into charge; a plurality of circuit portions, controlled from a second surface that is an opposite surface of the first surface of the semiconductor substrate, for transferring the charge converted by the photoelectric conversion portions; and first separation portions that separate the photoelectric conversion portions and the circuit portions for transferring the charge converted by the photoelectric conversion portions. At least part of the first separation portions are formed such that the area of the first surface is larger than the area of the second surface of at least part of the respective photoelectric conversion portions.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor includes: a substrate including a main surface; a light emitter and a light receiver disposed on the main surface; a resin disposed on the main surface, enclosing the light emitter and the light receiver, and including a boundary surface spaced apart from the main surface; a first crosstalk alleviator disposed on the boundary surface and including a first inclined surface; and a second crosstalk alleviator disposed on the boundary surface and including a second inclined surface.

Abstract: An electronic device has pixels that form an active area of a display for displaying images for a user. A layer of black ink or other opaque material may be formed on an inner surface of a display cover layer in an inactive area of the display that does not overlap pixels. The housing may have sidewalls such as a rear housing wall that faces away from the display. Ambient light sensor windows may be formed from tapered holes or other holes. The tapered holes may be formed in the opaque material on the display cover layer, may be formed in a rear housing wall or other hosing structure, or may be formed in other portions of the electronic device. Non-tapered holes may also form windows. Tapered holes may have sidewalls with portions that run parallel to their longitudinal axes and portions that are angled relative to their longitudinal axes.

Abstract: In one respect, disclosed is a device or system for solar irradiance measurement comprising at least two irradiance sensors deployed outdoors at substantially different angles, such that, by analysis of readings from said irradiance sensors, direct irradiance, diffuse irradiance, and/or global irradiance are determined. In another respect, the disclosed device or system may additionally determine ground-reflected irradiance.

Abstract: The semiconductor device comprises an emitter of electromagnetic radiation, a photodetector enabling a detection of electromagnetic radiation of a specific wavelength, a filter having a passband including the specific wavelength, the filter being arranged on the photodetector, the emitter and/or the filter being electrically tunable to the specific wavelength, and a circuit configured to determine a time elapsed between emission and reception of a signal that is emitted by the emitter and then received by the photodetector.

Abstract: An imaging device may include single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). To improve the sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio of the SPADs, light scattering structures may be formed in the semiconductor substrate to increase the path length of incident light through the semiconductor substrate. The light scattering structures may include a low-index material formed in trenches in the semiconductor substrate. One or more microlenses may focus light onto the semiconductor substrate. Areas of the semiconductor substrate that receive more light from the microlenses may have a higher density of light scattering structures to optimize light scattering while mitigating dark current.

Abstract: An image sensor with uniform, well-controlled air gaps is provided. A structure that is at least partially filled with organic material may be formed on the image sensor. A hybrid organic/inorganic film layer may be formed over the organic material. The image sensor may then be exposed to energy, which causes the organic material to sublimate through the hybrid film layer, which itself may become a gas permeable layer when exposed to energy. After sublimation, the regions where the organic material was previously filled become air gaps with a low index of refraction. Air gaps formed in this way can be configured over photodiodes as light guides or focusing structures, as concave/convex microlenses, in between photodiodes as isolation structures, in between color filter elements to reduce crosstalk, and/or over microlenses to enhancing focusing power.

Abstract: A combination imaging system includes a housing having a base and a lid, the lid having a closed position against the base and having an open position. The imaging device further includes a contact area image sensor. The lid shields the contact area image sensor from ambient light when the lid is in the closed position. The imaging device also includes a camera. The camera includes a lens, and the field of view of the camera encompasses at least a portion of an imaging area of the contact area image sensor when the lid is in the open position. The device may be especially useful for capturing a chemiluminescent image of an electrophoretic assay result, and capturing a colorimetric image of the same result, so that non-chemiluminescent protein standards may be located with respect to chemiluminescent analytes of interest.

Abstract: Disclosed are a photosensitive assembly, a method for manufacturing the same, and an electronic device. The photosensitive assembly includes a light-transmissive substrate, a light sensor, and a vibration member. The light sensor is disposed on a side of the light-transmissive substrate, and the vibration member is configured to drive the light-transmissive substrate to vibrate, such that a photosensitive area of the light-transmissive substrate is in an undulated shape.

Abstract: An image sensor comprising a BJT pixel circuit, a biasing circuit and a comparator. The BJT pixel circuit comprises a BJT; a charging selection circuit, configured to control a first storage capacitor to be charged in a first reset time and to control a second storage capacitor to be charged to a second reset time; a discharging selection circuit, configured to control the first storage capacitor to be discharged by the BJT in a first exposure time to generate a first output voltage, and to control the second storage capacitor to be discharged by the BJT in a second exposure time to generate a second output voltage; a biasing circuit, configured to provide voltage decreasing and voltage increasing to the second output voltage to generated adjusted images; and a comparator, configured to compare the first output voltage and the adjusted voltages.

Abstract: An optical semiconductor element includes an optical receiver including a first semiconductor layer, a heater for heating the first semiconductor layer; and a monitor. A first semiconductor layer that absorbs light and generates electric carriers; a heater for heating the first semiconductor layer; and a monitor including a second semiconductor layer in which dark current is changed by heat generated by the heater.

Abstract: A luminometer (400) includes a light detector (630) configured to sense photons (135). The luminometer (400) includes an analog circuit (915a) configured to provide an analog signal (965) based on the photons (135) emitted from assay reactions over a time period and a counter circuit (915b) configured to provide a photon count (970) based on the photons (135) emitted from the assay reactions over the time period. The luminometer (400) includes a luminometer controller (905) configured to, in response to an analog signal value of the analog signal (965) being greater than a predetermined value, determine and report a measurement value of the photons (135) emitted from the assay reactions over the time period based on the analog signal value of the analog signal (965) and a linear function (1010). Optionally, the linear function (1010) is derived from a relationship between the analog signal (965) and the photon count (970).

Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) apparatus includes an emitter array comprising a plurality of emitter units configured to emit optical signals responsive to respective emitter control signals, a detector array comprising a plurality of detector pixels configured to be activated and deactivated for respective strobe windows between pulses of the optical signals; and a control circuit configured to provide a strobe signal to activate a first subset of the detector pixels while leaving a second subset of the detector pixels inactive.

Abstract: The system can include: a container 110, a set of sensors 120, and a controller 130. The system can optionally include a robot 140. However, the system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The system functions to monitor and/or maintain a fullness level of a container. The system can additionally or alternatively function to enable robotic picking out of the container (e.g., in a pick-and-place setting). The system can additionally function to maintain candidate objects within reach of the robot's end effector to increase robot uptime while minimizing the extent of the robot's required motion (e.g., in the z-axis).

Abstract: A plurality of photodetectors form a light receiving group, and a plurality of the light receiving groups form one pixel. A light receiving array is provided with one or more of such pixels. The photodetectors each output a pulse signal in response to irradiation of a photon. A measuring unit is provided for each of the plurality of light receiving groups. The measuring unit generates time information representing an elapsed time from an irradiation timing input from outside and light quantity information acquired at each of one or more timings identified from the time information, in accordance with the pulse signal output from the light receiving group. The number of the photodetectors outputting the pulse signal among the plurality of photodetectors belonging to the light receiving group is used as the light quantity information.

Abstract: A plurality of photodetectors form a light receiving group, and a plurality of the light receiving groups form one pixel. A light receiving array is provided with one or more of such pixels. The photodetectors each output a pulse signal in response to irradiation of a photon. A measuring unit is provided for each of the plurality of light receiving groups. The measuring unit generates time information representing an elapsed time from an irradiation timing input from outside and light quantity information acquired at each of one or more timings identified from the time information, in accordance with the pulse signal output from the light receiving group. The number of the photodetectors outputting the pulse signal among the plurality of photodetectors belonging to the light receiving group is used as the light quantity information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for nonuniformity correction (NUC) for a sensor having an avalanche photodiode (APD) array and an integrated circuit. The sensor can include anode bias control module, a passive mode module, and an active mode module. DC photocurrent from the APD array can be measured and used for controlling an anode reverse bias voltage to each element in the APD to achieve a nonuniformity correction level less than a selected threshold.

Abstract: A single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) has a cathode coupled to a high voltage supply and an anode coupled to a first node. A photodetection circuit includes: a first n-channel transistor having a drain coupled to the first node, a source coupled to ground, and a gate coupled to a third node; a second n-channel transistor having a drain coupled to the first node, a source coupled to ground, and a gate coupled to a second node; and an inverter having an input coupled to the first node and an output coupled to an intermediate node. A current starved inverter has an input coupled to the intermediate node and an output coupled to the second node, a logic gate has inputs coupled to the intermediate node and the second node, and an output coupled to the third node.