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.

Abstract: An image sensor includes pixel circuitry with a photodiode to receive light and output a pixel signal. The image sensor also includes readout circuitry with a first sample and hold transistor coupled to the pixel circuitry, and a first capacitor coupled to the first sample and hold transistor to receive the pixel signal. A second sample and hold transistor is coupled to the pixel circuitry, and a second capacitor is coupled to the second sample and hold transistor to receive the pixel signal. A first output switch is coupled to output the pixel signal from the first capacitor, and a second output switch is coupled to output the pixel signal from the second capacitor. A boost transistor is coupled to connect the first output switch and the second output switch when the boost transistor is turned on.

Abstract: A rotary encoder includes a shaft and an encoder mechanism that holds the shaft in a rotatably inserted state and detects a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the shaft. The encoder mechanism includes a substrate that rotatably holds the shaft, an insulator portion and a resistor portion provided on one surface of the substrate and alternately provided in the rotation direction of the shaft, a rotor attached to the shaft so as to be integrally rotatable with the shaft, and a slider that is attached to the rotor and alternately slidably contacts the insulator portion and the resistor portion by rotation of the shaft. The insulator portion includes a base material made of a resin, spherical silica, and a fluororesin filler.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a light sensor system for determining the proximity of electronic devices by analyzing the polarization of detected light. The light sensor system includes a plurality of light sensors each including polarizers, such as linear plane polarizers and/or circular polarizers. The filtered light sensors are each operable to detect light passing through the respective polarizers. The light sensor system further includes an unfiltered light sensor operable to detect the presence of light. The light sensor system includes a processor in operable communication with each of the light sensors, the processor operable to determine whether the detected light is polarized or non-polarized based on the accumulated data of the various polarized light sensors and unfiltered light sensor.

Abstract: One example includes an optical coupler. The optical coupler includes a waveguide formed in a first layer of a layered structure that is to propagate an optical signal. The waveguide includes an end portion. The optical coupler also includes a turning mirror that includes a bulk structure and a reflective material deposited on an angular face of the bulk structure to form a surface of the turning mirror. The bulk structure can have a greater cross-sectional size than a cross-sectional size of the waveguide, such that the angular face extends above the first layer of the layered structure and extends into a second layer of the layered structure below the first layer. The surface of the turning mirror can be arranged to reflect the optical signal that is provided from the end portion of the waveguide.

Abstract: Distributed fiber sensing system including a laser source, a circulator, a detector and an optical fiber, the circulator coupled with the laser source, the detector and the optical fiber, the laser source for generating at least two ultra-narrow linewidth interrogating pulses, the detector having a predetermined detection bandwidth for detecting back-scattered signals, the laser source including an ultra-narrow linewidth laser and a modulator, coupled with the ultra-narrow linewidth laser and the circulator, the modulator generating a plurality of pairs of interrogating pulses having a time delay, a frequency difference between two pulses of the same interrogating pair being less than the predetermined detection bandwidth and a frequency difference between two pulses not of the same interrogating pair being larger than the predetermined detection bandwidth, wherein the optical fiber can be characterized based on beat-notes between back-scattered signals originating from the pair of interrogating pulses detect

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a detector, a count value storage, and a reader. The detector includes an avalanche amplification type light receiving element that detects a photon, and a resetter that resets an output potential of the light receiving element, and outputs a digital signal that indicates the presence or absence of incidence of a photon on the light receiving element. The count value storage performs counting by converting the digital signal output from the detector to an analog voltage, and stores the result of counting as a count value. The reader outputs an analog signal indicating the count value.

Abstract: An electronic circuit comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit. The ADC circuit includes a pre-amplifying transistor and a quantizer circuit. The pre-amplifying transistor includes a base, an emitter and a collector. The pre-amplifying transistor is configured to receive an input voltage at the base that varies logarithmically; and produce an output voltage at the collector according to a comparison of a reference voltage and a difference between the input voltage and a voltage at the emitter. The quantizer circuit is operatively coupled to the pre-amplifying transistor and is configured to generate a digital value for the input voltage using the output voltage produced by the pre-amplifying transistor.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for concurrent imaging at multiple wavelengths. In one aspect, an imaging device includes at least one objective lens configured to receive light backscattered by an object, a plurality of pixel array photo-sensors, a plurality of bandpass filters covering respective photo-sensors, where each bandpass filter is configured to allow a different respective spectral band to pass through the filter, and a beam steering assembly in optical communication with the at least one objective lens and the photo-sensors. The beam steering assembly directs light received by at least one objective lens from the tissue of a subject to at least one pixel array photo-sensor in the plurality of pixel array photo-sensors. The device further permits capture of near infrared images emitted by indicator molecules.

Abstract: A circuit includes sensing unit, first and second group of switches, capacitor, and readout circuit. The sensing unit is configured to receive light and generate sensing voltage at sensing node in response to the light. The first group of switches is coupled to the sensing node, and configured to generate first transfer voltage to first node and generate first auxiliary voltage to second node. The second group of switches is coupled to the sensing node, and configured to generate second transfer voltage to third node and generate second auxiliary voltage to fourth node. The capacitor is coupled to the first group of switches, and configured to store charges generated from the sensing unit. The readout circuit is configured to read at least one of the first transfer voltage and the first auxiliary voltage, and read at least one of the second transfer voltage and the second auxiliary voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light conductor for sensory purposes, comprising at least one crack, wherein a longitudinal direction of the crack relative to a direction of propagation of the light conductor includes an angle of incidence (?), and wherein the crack is delimited by two boundary surfaces, each of which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the crack, the two boundary surfaces including an opening angle (?), said opening angle (?) being greater than 0°.

Abstract: An encoder includes a base portion, a scale portion that is provided to be relatively rotatable with respect to the base portion, and has a plurality of marks, an imaging element that is disposed in the base portion, and images the marks, and an estimation portion that performs template matching on a captured image in the imaging element by using a reference image, in which the plurality of marks include a first mark and a second mark, and the estimation portion counts the number of pixels of the imaging element corresponding to a rotation angle of the scale portion with respect to the base portion until a position of the second mark is detected from detection of a position of the first mark, and performs calibration on the basis of the counted number of pixels and the rotation angle.

Abstract: A cross-scale wide-spectrum particle size plugging formula granularity analysis method includes: performing a size classification on a plugging material of a plugging formula; obtaining a particle size distribution of the plugging material by performing procession on each particle plugging material via a laser granularity analysis method and an imaging granularity analysis method, according to difference sizes thereof; obtaining the particle size distribution of the plugging formula by a weighted summation way, according to a granularity interval and an addition of each particle plugging material.

Abstract: An optical system comprises a detector to determine one or more intensities of light impinging on one or more locations of the detector and an optical element to direct light towards the detector along a detection axis. The detector and optical element are coupled together by three or more substantially flat flexures respectively defining three or more flexure planes parallel to the detection axis. The three or more substantially flat flexures maintain an alignment of the optical element to the detector with changes in temperature.

Abstract: An optical element for generating diffraction orders for an encoder apparatus, in which the optical element includes an array of diffraction features arranged such that the spacing between the centres of adjacent diffraction features varies irregularly from one pair of adjacent features to the next.

Abstract: An improved optical encoder uses an optical pick-up unit that provides for degrees of freedom in the tracking and focus axes that are unavailable in conventional optical encoders thereby improving the encoders' performance. In an embodiment the encoder employs an optical disc marked with pits and lands which may be arranged in a spiral pattern. The optical disc is mounted on the shaft whose motion is to be monitored by the optical encoder. The encoder may be arranged to read the markings on the optical disc using the three-beam pickup method.

Abstract: Quantum resolution imaging methods and devices are disclosed herein. The quantum resolution imaging device comprises an optical component provided to receive incoming radiation, a mode separating structure for separating the received incoming radiation into multiple modes, and an imaging array having multiple array elements for measuring an energy level of each mode to construct an image of the received incoming radiation as it comes in contact with a surface of one of the array elements.

Abstract: A photodiode sensor device and systems. The photodiode sensor device includes a housing portion. The housing portion includes a cylindrical enclosure. A window is disposed at a first end of the housing portion. A filter wheel is within the housing portion. A motor positioned within the housing is adjacent the filter wheel opposite the window. The motor is attached to the filter wheel. A photodiode sensor within the housing portion intermediate the first photodiode sensor and the window. The first photodiode sensor receives filtered light incident on the window and transmit a signal associated with sensed parameters of the filtered light. Also, a hemispherical dome for diffusing the light to a collimating lens has a grating, a focusing lens, and a linear detector array. An exit port transmits light to the collimating lens. The sensor array is opposite the grating for sensing the diffused light.

Abstract: A capture settings for one or more image capture devices may be determined. The capture setting may define one or more aspects of operation for the image capture device(s). The aspect(s) of operation for the image capture device(s) may include one or more aspects of operation for a processor of the image capture device(s), an image sensor of the image capture device(s), and/or an optical element of the image capture device(s). A machine-readable optical code may be generated based on the capture setting and/or other information. The machine-readable optical code may convey the capture setting for the image capture device(s) such that a first image capture device capturing a first image including the machine-readable optical code may: (1) identify the machine-readable optical code within the first image; (2) determine the capture setting conveyed by the machine-readable optical code; and (3) operate in accordance with the capture setting.