Abstract: The color sensing circuit includes a light detector to receive light and to generate a signal that is dependent on the received light. The light detector includes a first electrode coupled to a first node and a second electrode coupled to a second predetermined signal. A storage device is provided that includes a first node and a second node coupled to the second predetermined signal. A first switch is provided that selectively couples the first node with the first electrode of the storage device based on a charge control signal. A signal processing circuit is provided that includes a first electrode and an output to generate an output signal that represents the light received by the light detector. A second switch is also provided that selectively couples the first electrode of the storage device with the first electrode of the signal processing circuit based on an evaluate control signal. The signal processing circuit selectively asserts the charge control signal and evaluate control signal.

Abstract: A defect inspection apparatus includes an illumination optical system which sets a transmission illumination region and a reflection illumination region on an inspection target surface of a mask, first and second imaging units having first and second visual fields which are set on the inspection target surface, an imaging optical system that provides images, which are present on the first and second visual fields, on the first and second imaging units, a defect detection unit which detects a defect of the mask on the basis of the images provided on the first and second imaging units, and a control unit which controls a positional relationship between setting positions of the transmission illumination region and the reflection illumination region and setting positions of the first and second visual fields.

Abstract: A three-grating type photoelectric encoder includes a second grating formed on a scale and first and third gratings disposed on a side of a detector. A part of at least the first grating is shifted in a direction of a measurement axis by P/(2n) (wherein P is a grating pitch, n is the order of a harmonic component to be removed) in order to remove a harmonic component of the nth order. This encoder can be improved with high accuracy by removing harmonic components without increasing manufacturing costs.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image sensor capable of making waveforms of image signals, which are outputs from photoelectric converting elements, flat, and capable of acquiring image information in high precision. The image sensor includes: a plurality of photoelectric converting elements; a plurality of selecting switches provided in correspondence with the photoelectric converting elements; a scanning circuit for ON/OFF-controlling the selecting switches; a differential amplifier for amplifying a difference voltage between an electric signal entered from the photoelectric converting elements and a reference voltage; and a resistor electrically connected to two input terminals of the differential amplifier.

Abstract: A multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor is describes having a first indicating portion disposed at each of the light emitting and receiving units comprising a plurality of first indicating elements being in the same row of each of the light emitting and receiving elements with no-interference to each of the light emitting and receiving elements, a second indicating portion disposed at one of the light emitting and receiving units and comprising a plurality of second indicating elements being out of the same row of one of the light emitting and receiving elements of the units having the second indicator portion with no-interference to one of the light emitting and receiving elements of the units having the second indicator portion and an indicating control portion for turning on the plurality of the first indicating elements of the first indicating portion to show the first and second rows of the units when the binary signal indicating the first status is outputted by the status output circuit and indicating

Abstract: A method for investigating transport processes in a preferably biological specimen, a laser light beam (2, 3) being guided by means of a scanning apparatus line by line over the specimen within definable specimen regions, and the light proceeding from the specimen being detected by means of a detection apparatus, is characterized, in the interest of the capability of investigating, with high accuracy, processes within the specimen that proceed on a short time scale, in that both an image production light beam (5) for the purpose of observing the specimen and a manipulation light beam (4) for the purpose of manipulating the specimen are used as the laser light beam (2, 3), the image production light beam (5) preceding the manipulation light beam (4) in such a way that pixels of the specimen not yet manipulated by the manipulation light beam (4) are illuminated with the image production light beam (5).

Abstract: A system to provide radiant energy of selectable spectral characteristic (e.g. a selectable color combination) uses an integrating cavity to combine energy of different wavelengths from different sources. The cavity has a diffusely reflective interior surface and an aperture for allowing emission of combined radiant energy. Sources of radiant energy of different wavelengths, typically different-color LEDs, supply radiant energy into the interior of the integrating cavity. In the examples, the points of entry of the energy into the cavity typically are located so that they are not directly visible through the aperture. The cavity effectively integrates the energy of different wavelengths, so that the combined radiant energy emitted through the aperture includes the radiant energy of the various wavelengths. The apparatus also includes a control circuit coupled to the sources for establishing output intensity of radiant energy of each of the sources.

Abstract: A laser light actuation system for remotely and selectively actuating a function of a known apparatus. The system includes a laser module adapted to produce a known laser light signal, which is preferably sparsely modulated, the signal being suitable for transmission over a long distance. The system also includes a receiver module adapted to receive and detect the known laser light signal. The receiver module is also adapted to selectively produce an actuation signal in response to the known laser light signal to selectively actuate such an apparatus. The receiver module includes a timer operatively associated with the receiver module to selectively limit the time of actuation of such an apparatus in response to the laser light signal. A laser light actuation method for remotely and selectively actuating a function of a known apparatus.

Abstract: An operational amplifier including a pair of differential input transistors is provided with a feedback resistor switching circuit and a variable current source. When a loaded optical disk is a DVD-ROM, the feedback resistor switching circuit reduces a gain of the operational amplifier and the variable current source selects a large current (of, for example, 1 mA) as a common bias current supplied to the differential input transistors. When the loaded optical disk is a DVD-RAM with low reflectance and low recording/reproducing speed, the feedback resistor switching circuit enhances the gain of the operational amplifier and the variable current source selects a small current (of, for example, 0.5 mA) as the common bias current.

Abstract: Signals from an imager pixel photodetector are received by an amplifier having capacitive feedback, such as a capacitive transimpedance amplifier (CTIA). The amplifier can be operated at a low or no power level during an integration period of a photodetector to reduce power dissipation. The amplifier can be distributed, with an amplifier element within each pixel of an array and with amplifier output circuitry outside the pixel array. The amplifier can be a single ended cascode amplifier, a folded cascode amplifier, a differential input telescopic cascode amplifier, or other configuration. The amplifier can be used in pixel configurations where the amplifier is directly connected to the photodetector, or in configurations which use a transfer transistor to couple signal charges to a floating diffusion node with the amplifier being coupled to the floating diffusion node.

Abstract: The image sensor has a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns to form a pixel array, each pixel column having a column bitline. The image sensor includes a column readout for each column bitline and at least one additional column readout. The additional column readout may be selectively connected to one of the column bitlines. In one embodiment, a defective column readout can be isolated and the additional column readout used as a replacement.

Abstract: A system for optical navigation includes an optical navigation sensor integrated circuit (IC) configured to generate image information for use in navigation sensing and a collapsible structure which sets the distance between the optical navigation sensor IC and a navigation surface and which can be expanded or collapsed as needed. The collapsible structure includes a collapse system configured to allow the collapsible structure to be in an expanded state or a collapsed state. The collapse structure has a smaller profile dimension in the collapsed state than in the expanded state. The collapsible structure is placed in the expanded state for navigation sensing and in the collapsed state for storage and/or charging.

Abstract: A multi-substrate package assembly having a first substrate, a second substrate and a package, each with a number of bond pads. The package includes a cavity for receiving either or both of the first and second substrates, with a number of bond pads positioned along at least part of the periphery of the cavity. The first substrate and the second substrate are preferably positioned in the cavity of the package, with selected bond pads of the first substrate and second substrate electrically connected to selected bond pads of the package. In some embodiments, the bond pads of the first substrate are only connected to bond pads on one or more sides of the cavity, and the bond pads of the second substrate are only connected to bond pads on one or more of the remaining sides of the cavity. The packaging assembly of the present invention can be used in many applications, including spectrally tunable optical detectors.

Abstract: There is provided a light receiving circuit capable of preventing an output variation of the light receiving circuit due to a change in ambient temperature with a simple configuration. The light receiving circuit is provided with a photodiode 4 for LD power monitoring and an I-V amplifier 5 connected with a feedback resistor 13, wherein a light receiving section 16 of the photodiode 4 is covered with a protective film 19. Temperature dependences between a light transmittance of the protective film 19 in accordance-with a shift of a wavelength of a laser beam due to a change in ambient temperature, and a resistance value of the feedback resistor 13 are set in such a way that they may be mutually compensated and an output voltage from the light receiving circuit may be constant for a temperature change.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to operate a pixel circuit within an active pixel image sensor in a common gate amplifier mode. A bias voltage is applied to a row select transistor in a pixel circuit, and the row select transistor is operated in a common gate amplifier mode. Moreover, the row select transistor can be operated in the common gate amplifier mode for a reset period. An integrated photo current is transferred from a sense capacitor to a capacitor coupled between a drain of the row select transistor and a sense node. Also, a row select voltage is applied to the row select transistor, and the pixel circuit is operated in a common source amplifier mode for a readout period.

Abstract: An image sensing system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor and a logic and control circuit. The imaging sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements formed on a semiconductor substrate and is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle proximate the windshield of the vehicle and has a forward field of view to the exterior of the vehicle through an area of the windshield. The logic and control circuit comprises an image processor for processing image data derived from the imaging sensor. The logic and control circuit generates at least one control output. The image sensing system detects lane markers on a road being traveled by the vehicle and present in the field of view of the imaging sensor.

Abstract: An optical transducer device including an optical transducer element having preliminary and fine-adjustment openings, a printed circuit board, a motor shaft, a hub mounted to the motor shaft, and a sensor/emitter element that forms a sensor gap. The optical transducer element is positioned by, pre-positioning the shaft in the preliminary opening of the optical transducer element such that the peripheral edge is located outside the sensor gap, and laterally sliding the optical transducer element so that the motor shaft is positioned in the fine-adjustment opening of the optical transducer element such that the peripheral edge at least partially reaches into the sensor gap. The optical transducer element is then pressed onto the hub. Prior to positioning the optical transducer device, the circuit board is soldered to the device components, thereby protecting the optical transducer element from the negative effect of heat and solder residue.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes a code strip having a first side, a second side, a first track comprising indicia thereon, and a second track comprising indicia thereon. The code strip is moveable along a displacement path with respect to the optical encoder. A light source positioned on the first side of the code strip directs light toward the code strip. A first detector element is positioned on the second side of the code strip and is generally aligned with the first track of the code strip. A second detector element is positioned on the second side of the code strip and is generally aligned with the second track of the code strip. The second detector element is also positioned so that the second detector element is located a spaced distance along the displacement path from the first detector element.

Abstract: Disclosed are an in-line monitoring apparatus with a temperature compensator, an optical receiver and a method for stabilizing gain of an avalanche photodiode (“APD”) over an extended range of input power values and across temperature variations. The apparatus can include one or more power monitoring stages coupled in parallel to the APD for generating one or more measurement signals in-situ. The apparatus also includes a temperature compensator configured to adjust an operational parameter for the APD as a function of temperature and the measurement signal. The temperature compensator adjusts the bias to maintain a substantially uniform gain across temperature variations to facilitate an increased sensitivity with which to monitor the input power at lower levels than if the temperature compensator did not adjust the bias in response to the temperature. One of the power monitoring stages can be configured to monitor the low-powered optical signals.

Abstract: An optical module includes a light emitting element, a connector part that supports one end of an optical fiber and optically couples the optical fiber to the light emitting element, and a monitoring light receiving element that has a characteristic to increase photosensitivity with an increase in an ambient temperature, and receives a part of components of light emitted from the light emitting element.