Abstract: A surface grating coupler for polarization splitting or diverse includes a planar layer and an array of scattering elements arranged in the planar layer at intersections of a first set of concentric elliptical curves crossing with a second set of concentric elliptical curves rotated proximately 90 or 180 degrees to form a two-dimensional (2D) grating. Additionally, the grating coupler includes a first waveguide in double-taper shape and a second waveguide in double-taper shape respectively for split or diverse an incident light into the 2D grating into two output light to two output ports with a same (either TE or TM) polarization mode or one output port with TE polarization mode and another output port with TM polarization mode. The polarization diverse grating coupler is required to test multiple polarization sensitive photonics components and can be used with other single polarization grating coupler via a fiber array to perform wafer-level testing.

Abstract: A semiconductor image sensor module 1 at least includes a semiconductor image sensor chip 2 having a transistor forming region on a first main surface of a semiconductor substrate and having a photoelectric conversion region with a light incident surface formed on a second main surface on the side opposite to the first main surface and an image signal processing chip 3 for processing image signals formed in the semiconductor image sensor chip 2, wherein a plurality of bump electrodes 15a are formed on a first main surface, a plurality of bump electrodes 15b are formed on the image signal processing chip 3, both the chips 2 and 3 are formed to be laminated through heat dissipating means 4 and the plurality of bump electrodes 15a of the semiconductor image sensor chip 2 and the plurality of bump electrodes 15b on the image signal processing chip 3 are electrically connected.

Abstract: An image sensing system and a multi-function image sensor thereof are provided. The multi-function image sensor includes a pixel array circuit and a readout circuit. The pixel array circuit includes a plurality of pixel units. Each of the pixel units is controlled by a first control signal group in a first mode to perform a time-of-flight sensing operation and sequentially generates a plurality of first output voltages. Each of the pixel units is controlled by a second control signal group in a second mode to perform a structured light sensing operation and sequentially generates a plurality of second output voltages. The readout circuit respectively obtains a plurality of first digital information corresponding to the time-of-flight sensing operation according to the first output voltages in the first mode. The readout circuit respectively obtains a plurality of second digital information corresponding to the structured light sensing operation according to the second output voltages in the second mode.

Abstract: A light guide member includes: a light projecting side light guide part that extends in the front-and-rear direction and guides light emitted from a light projecting part to the outside of a case; a light receiving side light guide part that extends in the front-and-rear direction and is spaced apart from the light projecting side light guide part by a gap in the up-and-down direction, and guides light that enters from the outside of the case to a light receiving part; and a connecting part disposed over the gap and connecting the light projecting side light guide part and the light receiving side light guide part. The gap is provided with a reduction part at an end portion on the side of the connecting part, and a dimension of the reduction part gradually decreases toward the side of the light projecting part.

Abstract: A device includes a scattering structure and a collection structure. The scattering structure is arranged to concurrently scatter incident electromagnetic radiation along a first scattering axis and along a second scattering axis. The first scattering axis and the second scattering axis are non-orthogonal. The collection structure includes a first input port aligned with the first scattering axis and a second input port aligned with the second scattering axis. A method includes scattering electromagnetic radiation along a first scattering axis to create first scattered electromagnetic radiation and along a second scattering axis to create second scattered electromagnetic radiation. The first scattering axis and the second scattering axis are non-orthogonal. The first scattered electromagnetic radiation is detected to yield first detected radiation and the second scattered electromagnetic radiation is detected to yield second detected radiation.

Abstract: An optical pulse to voltage signal converter may include a photodetector, a front end-circuit, and a signal processor. The front-end circuit may include a tunable loading network configured to convert a stream of current pulses from the photodetector into a stream of input voltage signals, at least one tunable voltage source configured to generate at least one stream of signals with at least one select voltage, and at least one amplifier coupled to the at least one tunable voltage source. The at least one amplifier may be configured to compare the stream of input voltage signals and the at least one stream of signals with the at least one select voltage to generate at least one stream of output voltage signals with a select duty-cycle phase and duty-cycle resolution. The amplifier may be further configured to output the at least one stream of output voltage signals to the signal processor.

Abstract: A system is provided for detecting a change on a moving surface, for instance in color and/or texture, comprising: at least one light generating device for generating light to be directed to the moving surface; and at least one light sensor for capturing reflected light from the moving surface; wherein the change on the moving surface, for instance in color and/or texture, is detected based on the reflected light captured by the light sensor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reading out a pixel array are provided. An example system may be configured to represent the activity of at least two pixels in the array as at least two digital signals. Further, the example system may be configured to dynamically aggregate the at least two digital signals into one representative analog signal corresponding to the activity of the at least two pixels.

Abstract: A system may have a mobile device having at least two wheels and a distance measuring device configured to be removably attached to a frame of the mobile device, which can be a mobility assistance device, such as a walker and a wheelchair. The distance measuring device may have at least a sensing mechanism, an accumulator, and a display that are in communication with one another, with the sensing mechanism configured to monitor rotation of the at least one of the at least two wheels of the mobile device and the accumulator configured to determine the distance traveled by the mobile device based on this rotation and output the distance result on the display.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a structure including a photonic material using a movable inspection apparatus includes irradiating a section of the structure, receiving radiation diffracted from a photonic material in the section of the structure, determining a deformation of the photonic material as a function of at least one of i) an intensity of the radiation received ii) a position of the radiation received and iii) a wavelength of the radiation received, and determining if a magnitude of the deformation is higher than a threshold. If the magnitude of the deformation is higher than the threshold data is stored concerning the deformation of the photonic material; contrarily, if the magnitude of the deformation is not higher than the threshold: the inspection at the location of the photonic material is stopped and the inspection apparatus is moved in order to inspect another section of the structure.

Abstract: A biological information detection apparatus for measuring a SpO2 without contact from a distant position includes a camera that acquires an image with visible and infrared light, a first wavelength fluctuation detection section detects a temporal variation of a wavelength of an image with the visible light to generate a first wavelength difference data signal, a first amplitude detection section detects an amplitude of the first wavelength difference data signal, a second wavelength fluctuation detection section detects a temporal variation of a wavelength of an image with the infrared light to generate a second wavelength difference data signal, a second amplitude detection section detects an amplitude of the second wavelength difference data signal, a ratio calculation section calculates a ratio between the amplitudes of the first and second wavelength difference data signals, and an oxygen saturation concentration calculation section calculates an oxygen saturation concentration based on the calculated am

Abstract: An image sensor includes: a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit that converts incident light into an electric charge, the incident light being incident from one side of a substrate, and an output unit that outputs a signal caused by the electric charge, the plurality of pixels being arranged in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction; and an accumulation unit provided to be stacked on the photoelectric conversion unit on a side opposite to the one side of the substrate, the accumulation unit accumulating the signal.

Abstract: A pixel apparatus may include a pixel circuit and a voltage attenuator. The pixel circuit includes multiple pixels, each pixel including photoelectric conversion element. The pixel circuit is structured to receive incident light and output an output signal having pixel voltages in response to the received incident light. The pixel circuit operates in at least one of a quad mode outputting the output signal based on photocharges from a single photoelectric conversion element only and a multi-sum mode outputting the output signal based on photocharges from multiple photoelectric conversion elements. The voltage attenuator is coupled to the pixel circuit. The voltage attenuator can be enabled, when the pixel circuit operates in the multi-sum mode, to receive the output signal and adjust the pixel voltages of the output signal by a predetermined ratio determined by the multi-sum mode.

Abstract: A photosensitive detection unit has a composite dielectric gate MOS-C portion and a composite dielectric gate MOSFET portion. The two portions are formed above a same P-type semiconductor substrate, and share a charge coupled layer. A plurality of the photosensitive detection units are arranged on a same P-type semiconductor substrate in form of an array to obtain a detector. Adjacent unit pixels in the detector are isolated by deep trench isolation regions and P+-type injection regions below the isolation regions. During the detection, the P-type semiconductor substrate in the composite dielectric gate MOS-C portion senses light and then couples photoelectrons to the charge coupled layer, and photoelectronic signals are read by the composite dielectric gate MOSFET portion.

Abstract: A timing circuit is provided comprising a light sensing component operable to generate a raw solar signal, a solar signal regulator comprising a voltage regulator and a low-pass filter, the solar signal regulator coupled to the raw solar signal and generating a regulated solar signal, a comparator coupled to the regulated solar signal and a reference value, the comparator configured to assert a solar output signal when the regulated solar signal exceeds the reference value, and a timing circuit coupled to the solar output signal and configured to assert a timer output signal a preset delay duration after the solar output signal is asserted, and to maintain the timer output signal for a preset output duration.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for capturing an object by a movable sensor are provided. The method includes moving the sensor relative to the object and repeatedly ascertaining an instantaneous position of the sensor by a position measurement system, outputting the position to an evaluation device at a predetermined time point, repeatedly capturing the object by the sensor during a capturing time interval and outputting a measurement signal corresponding to the information captured during the capturing time interval. For at least one capturing time interval, a point in time of the capturing of the object is determined which lies within the capturing time interval, position values are ascertained and outputted at points in time which include the point in time of the capturing, and a position main value is ascertained based on the position values which approximates the position of the sensor at the point in time of the capturing.

Abstract: A spectral radiometer system, measures incoming light intensity and spectral distribution in different wavelength-bands. An additional data storage device allows recording of the measured data. The inclusive sensor system yields very high sensitivity to incoming light. Furthermore, outstanding linearity of the detector response over several orders of magnitude of incoming light is achieved. Additional benefits are ultra low power consumption and minimum size. The sensor system can be used in remote solar radiation monitoring applications like mobile solar power units as well as in long-term environmental monitoring systems where high precision and low power consumption is a necessity.

Abstract: An automatic gain control (AGC) transimpedance amplifier (TIA) uses a differential structure with feedback PIN diodes to adjust the loop gain of the amplifier automatically to maintain stability over a wide dynamic range when converting optical power using a photodiode to an electrical signal. A stable DC current derived from the photodiode current sets the voltage gain of the amplifier. The use of ultra-linear long carrier lifetime PIN diodes assures the transimpedance feedback resistance is linear. The AGC function adjusts the gain of the TIA to provide a linear stable differential transresistance controlled by the photodiode current; a linear stable AGC function using current supplied by the photodiode; an improvement of about 10 db of the transresistance dynamic range; and reduces the need for internal and external circuitry needed to provide the same function. The TIA is applicable to CATV optical systems which have very strict linearity requirements.

Abstract: This application relates to a fibre optic cable structure suitable for use as a sensing fibre optic for distributed acoustic sensing and having an improved sensitivity to transverse pressure waves. The application describes a fibre optic cable (300) having a longitudinal cable axis and comprising at least one optical fibre (301). The cable also comprises a compliant core material (303) mechanically coupled to the optical fibre(s), possible via a buffer (302) such that a longitudinal force acting on the compliant core material induces a longitudinal strain in the optical fibre(s). At least one deformable strain transformer (304) is coupled to the compliant core material and configured such that a force acting on the strain transformer in a direction transverse to the cable axis results in a deformation of the strain transformer thereby applying a longitudinal force to the compliant core material.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for up to three-dimensional scanning of target regions at high magnification are disclosed.