Abstract: An optical position-measuring device for determining a relative position of scales includes a light source, the scales and a detector. The scales are movable relative to each other along measurement directions and disposed in different planes in crossed relation to each other, and each have a graduation having grating regions which are arranged periodically and have different optical properties. At the first scale, the illumination beam is split into sub-beams, the sub-beams subsequently impinge on the second scale and are reflected back toward the first scale, and the reflected-back sub-beams strike the first scale again, where they are recombined, so that a resulting signal beam subsequently propagates toward the detector. The measuring graduation of one or more of the scales is configured as a two-dimensional cross grating which has a filtering effect that suppresses disturbing higher diffraction orders.

Abstract: An optical operating fluid detector for optical detection of operating fluid for a hand-guided garden, forestry and/or construction machining appliance includes a light source, an operating fluid line and a light receiver. The light source is designed for radiation of rays of light. The operating fluid line is designed for optical interaction of rays of light from the light source with operating fluid in line for the optical detection of operating fluid. The light receiver is designed for differing reception of rays of light from the line in dependence on the presence or the absence of operating fluid in the line. The operating fluid detector has an optical deflecting device. The deflecting device is designed for deflection of rays of light from the light source to the operating fluid line and/or for deflection of rays of light from the line to the light receiver.

Abstract: An optical fiber module is provided and includes an optical fiber structure, a light-absorbing area and a photoelectric sensor in a housing. The optical fiber structure collectively arranges a plurality of first optical fibers to form at least one optical fiber bundle with a tapered end, and a second optical fiber is connected to the tapered end of the optical fiber bundle to converge the optical fiber bundle to the second optical fiber. The light-absorbing area corresponds to an end of the second optical fiber, such that the light-absorbing area absorbs scattering signals escaped and scattered when signals are transmitted from the plurality of first optical fibers to the second optical fiber. The photoelectric sensor is arranged corresponding to the plurality of first optical fibers to receive target signals escaped and refracted when the signals are transmitted from the second optical fiber to the plurality of first optical fibers.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a light receiving element and a ranging system to reduce power consumption. A light receiving element includes a pixel which includes an SPAD, a first transistor configured to set a cathode voltage of the SPAD at a first negative voltage, a voltage conversion circuit configured to convert the cathode voltage of the SPAD upon incidence of a photon and output the converted cathode voltage, and an output unit configured to output a detection signal indicating the incidence of the photon on the SPAD on the basis of the converted cathode voltage. The present technology is applicable to a ranging system that detects a range in a depth direction to a subject, for example.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a detector array are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, a substrate comprises a plurality of sensing elements including a first element and a second element, and a switching region therebetween configured to connect the first element and the second element. The switching region may be controlled based on signals generated in response to the sensing elements receiving electrons with a predetermined amount of energy.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus for an optical system configured to output redundant outputs, where the optical system includes at least one optical device configured to receive an optical signal; at least one optical transducer, wherein each at least one optical transducer is configured to receive the optical signal from the at least one optical device and convert the optical signal to an electrical signal; and at least one electronic device configured to receive each electrical signal and output the redundant outputs.

Abstract: A detector system which can be switched between single photon counting and charge integrating mode depending on the application, the photon flux and energy. Although the space for electronics in a pixel or strip detector system is very limited (as each channel is limited by the pixel size), the reconfiguration of the analog chain and the logic/counter in this smart way yields to have a detector system allowing both modes of operation and, therefore, effectively combining the characteristics of an Eiger® single photon counting system and a Jungfrau® charge integrating pixel detector system into one single detector. Depending on the application, the flux and the photon energy, the operator is enabled to switch between single photon counting and charge integrating mode of operation.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a plurality of pixels including a photodiode configured to perform avalanche multiplication, and a signal processing circuit configured to generate a signal. The signal processing circuit includes a control circuit, a counter, and an illuminance determination circuit. The control circuit is connected to the photodiode and a generation circuit configured to generate a pulse signal, and controls a state between a first state, and a second state, in accordance with the pulse signal. The counter counts the number of periods in which avalanche multiplication occurs, among a plurality of periods in the first state. The illuminance determination circuit determines whether a count value of the counter has reached a threshold value. The signal processing circuit includes a circuit configured to set a frequency of the pulse signal in accordance with a result of determination performed by the illuminance determination circuit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to electrical circuits and methods. According to a specific embodiment, the present invention provides a voltage compensation mechanism for one or more single-phone avalanche diodes (SPADs). A reference voltage is generated based at least on an operating voltage of the SPADs. The reference voltage is coupled to a charge pump that generates a compensation voltage for the diodes. There are other embodiments as well.

Abstract: A composite pane and in particular a composite vehicle pane with an integrated light sensor, includes an outer pane and an inner pane that are joined to one another via at least one thermoplastic intermediate layer, and at least one light sensor with at least one light-sensitive surface that is arranged between the outer pane and the inner pane, wherein the light-sensitive surface faces the outer pane and a holographic optical element is arranged between the light-sensitive surface and the outer pane, and the holographic optical element is implemented as a hologram for incident-angle-dependent diffraction of the incident light.