Abstract: A pixel array uses two sets of pixels to provide accurate exposure control. One set of pixels provide continuous output signals for automatic light control (ALC) as the other set integrates and captures an image. ALC pixels allow monitoring of multiple pixels of an array to obtain sample data indicating the amount of light reaching the array, while allowing the other pixels to provide proper image data. A small percentage of the pixels in an array is replaced with ALC pixels and the array has two reset lines for each row; one line controls the reset for the image capture pixels while the other line controls the reset for the ALC pixels. In the columns, at least one extra control signal is used for the sampling of the reset level for the ALC pixels, which happens later than the sampling of the reset level for the image capture pixels.

Abstract: Systems and methods reduce aberrations in a wavefront imaged by an optical system having a non-linear detector. A wavefront of electromagnetic radiation from an object imaged to the non-linear detector is encoded. Data from the non-linear detector is digitally converted to form a digital representation of the image captured by the non-linear detector. The detected image is linearized to form a linearized image. The linearized image is filtered to reverse effects of wavefront coding to form a final image.

Abstract: A biometrics authentication system capable of achieving high precision and high safety is provided. A biometrics authentication system includes: a light source applying light to a living organism; a microlens array section condensing light from the living organism, and including a plurality of microlenses each having a different refractive power; an image pickup device obtaining image pickup data on a plurality of layers of the living organism on the basis of light condensed by the microlens array section; and an authentication section performing authentication of the living organism on the basis of image pickup data on the plurality of layers of the living organism.

Abstract: An image reader (A) includes a conductive case (1), a substrate (3) and a plurality of light receiving elements. The image reader (A) further includes a first electrode (10) formed at the case (1) and a second electrode (11) formed on the substrate (3). The case (1) is formed with an accommodation recess (1g), in which a conductive contact member (20) is provided. The conductive contact member (20) is held in contact with the first electrode (10) and the second electrode (11) to electrically connect the two electrodes to each other while separating the first electrode (10) and the second electrode (11) from each other.

Abstract: A photocontrol device includes a housing assembly and a flexible circuit board assembly. The housing assembly defines an enclosure cavity. The flexible circuit board assembly includes a flexible substrate and a photocontrol circuit mounted on the flexible substrate. The circuit board assembly is disposed in the enclosure cavity in a bent position.

Abstract: A photo sensor includes a first substrate, a switching element and a second substrate. The switching element is disposed at the first substrate and defined by a control electrode, and first and second current electrodes. The switching element includes a channel disposed between the first and second current electrodes. The channel has a first length to receive an incident external light. The second substrate includes a light receiving unit that is disposed corresponding to the channel. The light receiving unit has a second length longer than the first length and shorter than a third length of the control electrode.

Abstract: Optical tracking systems, method, and devices are described in which optical components detect light within a substantially planar region adjacent to a user device. Tracking logic may receive signals output by the optical components and determine coordinates associated with a movement of a pointing object through the substantially planar region. The tracking logic may then provide for translation of the coordinates into an action on a display, such as, for example, a movement of a cursor or other icon on the display.

Abstract: A control device or a method monitors access of at least one body or one person to an access area, the device comprising at least one emitting element that emits light radiation into the access area, at least one receiving element that receives the light radiation, and at least one means which generates a diffused light field that emits the light radiation, which is emitted into the access area, in the form of a planar light field, where on the receive side, a detection element for the diffused detection of the light field and a transferring means for transferring the light detected in a diffused manner to the receiving element are provided.

Abstract: A system and method for performing optical navigation addresses M×N photosensitive elements of an image sensor array to capture first frames of image data of a navigation surface when set to a first operational mode such that each of the first frames of image data includes M×N sampled signals, and addresses at most the M×N photosensitive elements of the image sensor array to capture second frames of image data of the navigation surface when set to a second operational mode such that each of said second frames of image data includes less than M×N sampled signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing non-linear, passive quenching of avalanche currents in Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (APDs) is provided. A non-linear, passive, current-limiting device is connected in series with the APD and a bias source. The non-linear, passive, current-limiting device rapidly quenches avalanche currents generated by the APD in response to an input photon and resets the APD for detecting additional photons, using a minimal number of components. The non-linear, passive, current-limiting device could comprise a field-effect transistor (FET), as well as a junction FET (JFET) a metal-oxide semiconductor FET (MOSFET), or a current-limiting diode (CLD) connected in series with the APD and the bias source.

Abstract: A device and method for providing an optical guide of a pixel to guide incoming light to/from a photo-conversion device of the pixel to improve the optical crosstalk immunity. The optical guide includes an optically reflecting barrier formed as a trench filled with a material which produces reflection. The trench fill material may have an index of refraction that is less than the index of refraction of the material used for the trench surrounding layers to provide a light reflective structure or the trench fill material may provide a reflection surface.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer, in which an emission spectrum of the light source is measured. Based on the measured emission spectrum, a threshold is set to allow only an outstanding spectral intensity in a specific wavelength region to be greater than the threshold. Then, a ratio between the setup threshold and a peak spectral intensity in the specific wavelength region greater than the threshold is calculated. Then, an electric-charge accumulation time for a light-receiving element corresponding to a wavelength region equal to or less than the threshold is set at an upper limit of electric-charge accumulation time causing no saturation in any light-receiving element. Based on the ratio between the threshold and the peak spectral intensity in the specific wavelength region greater than the threshold, an electric-charge accumulation time for the light-receiving element corresponding to the specific wavelength region greater than the threshold is set.

Abstract: A system for identifying a characteristic of a printing media includes a light source module that has a light emitting diode (LED) and an aspheric lens and a light detection module that has a photodetector and an aspheric lens. The light source module and light detection module are oriented with respect to a printing media such that the focusing points of the respective aspheric lenses are located at a common position on the printing media. The system differentiates between printing media types by applying light to the surface of the printing media and measuring the light that is reflected from the surface.

Abstract: An image sensor has image sensor ICs mounted linearly thereon. Each of the image sensor ICs comprises a light receiving device circuit array having light receiving devices, a reset circuit device array, and a plurality of switches. The light receiving devices have output terminals that output output signals in accordance with an amount of light received. The reset circuit device array initializes the output terminals of the light receiving devices in an initialization mode. The switches drive the reset circuit device array and are configured to be maintained in a conductive state during an accumulation period so that an initialization potential is outputted by the output terminal of each of the light receiving devices of one of only a first one of the linear image sensor ICs, only a last one of the linear image sensor ICs, and all of the linear image sensor ICs.

Abstract: An arrangement for the detection of the illumination radiation in a laser scanning microscope, wherein a portion of the illumination radiation is coupled out and detected at the main color splitter, wherein light transmitted through the main color splitter is advantageously detected and/or a portion of the illumination radiation is coupled out and detected before coupling into a light-conducting fiber and/or a portion of the illumination radiation is coupled out and detected at a beam splitter arranged downstream of a light-conducting fiber.

Abstract: An enhanced toner area coverage (ETAC) sensor may be calibrated to adjust for changes in LED intensity by determining a functional relationship between specular developed mass per unit area (DMA) values and diffuse readings obtained from the sensor. Specular and diffuse readings are obtained from an ETAC sensor that senses reflected light from toner patches generated with incrementally increasing densities on the photoreceptor belt. The specular readings in a particular range and their corresponding diffuse readings are selected for the calibration computations. Reflected ratios are computed from the specular readings and used to determine specular DMAs. The specular DMAs and selected diffuse readings define a set of points for which a functional relationship is determined.

Abstract: An RC receiver device and an ambient light photosensor (ALPS) device are mounted on a single mounting device (e.g., circuit board or lead frame substrate) such that they are part of a single composite assembly. This reduces the amount of space that is consumed in electronic devices in which the assemblies are installed, which allows the electronic devices to be made smaller in size. In addition, implementing both the RC receiver device and the ALPS device in a single composite assembly lowers costs associated with manufacturing, assembling and shipping the composite assembly.

Abstract: In a wound scanning apparatus and method, a beam or sheet of light is scanned on a wound and reflections of the scanned beam or sheet of light interacting with the wound at a plurality of points thereof is detected. The detected reflections are processed into data representative of the wound. The data or a representation thereof is reproduced in a human understandable form.

Abstract: Disclosed are an in-line monitoring apparatus, an optical receiver and a method for monitoring an input power of an optical signal in which one or more power monitoring stages, for example can measure the input power over an extended input power range. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an avalanche photodiode (“APD”) configured to receive the optical signal and an input configured to bias the APD. It also includes one or more power monitoring stages coupled to the input in parallel with the APD for generating one or more measurement signals in-situ. In one embodiment, a range selector selects which one of the one or more power monitoring stages is to provide a measurement signal indicative of the input optical power. The power monitoring stages can provide for a wide range of linear current measurements as well as a range of measurable currents to monitor low-powered optical signals.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to configure a photodetector (10) such that no disadvantages are created for processing low luminous intensities on detectors known in prior art, especially when monolithically integrating the evaluation electronics. Said aim is achieved by a photodetector for processing low luminous intensities, comprising a monolithically integrated transimpedance amplifier and monolithically integrated evaluation electronics. An actual photocell component (20) is assigned to the chip face onto which the light preferably falls. Electronic circuit components (30) are arranged on the opposite chip face. Electrical connections (40) between the photocell and the electronic circuit are provided with an extension in the direction running perpendicular to the chip normal.