Abstract: Compact optical sources and methods for producing short and ultrashort optical pulses are described. A semiconductor laser or LED may be driven with a bipolar waveform to generate optical pulses with FWHM durations as short as approximately 85 ps having suppressed tail emission. The pulsed optical sources may be used for fluorescent lifetime analysis of biological samples and time-of-flight imaging, among other applications.

Abstract: A control unit of an electronic component mounting apparatus controls a component imaging unit so as to move an electronic component that is held by the holding unit, when the holding unit is moved in a direction, which is oblique to a conveyance direction of a substrate and is close to the substrate, by a movement mechanism unit.

Abstract: A component imaging unit of an electronic component mounting apparatus has three area cameras, and each of visual fields are common to each other regardless of the area cameras. When the imaging form of the component imaging unit is set to a first mode, a component recognition unit recognizes the electronic components held by the holding unit, based on an image imaged by one area camera. Meanwhile, when the imaging form is set to a second mode, in the component imaging unit, the component recognition unit recognizes the electronic component held by the holding unit, based on each of images, each of which is imaged by three area cameras.

Abstract: A control unit of an electronic component mounting apparatus controls a component imaging unit so as to image an electronic component that is held by the holding unit when the holding unit is subjected to an acceleration movement or a deceleration movement by a movement mechanism unit.

Abstract: In a control unit of an electronic component mounting apparatus, when an imaging form of a component imaging unit is set to a first mode, a component recognition unit recognizes a first electronic component based on an imaged image due to a first imaging element of the component imaging unit, and recognizes a second electronic component based on an imaged image due to a second imaging element of the component imaging unit. Meanwhile, when the imaging form is set to a second mode, the component recognition unit recognizes the electronic components based on an image in which the imaged image by the first imaging element is combined with the imaged image by the second imaging element.

Abstract: A control unit of an electronic component mounting apparatus controls a component imaging unit so as to move an electronic component that is held by the holding unit, when the holding unit is moved in a direction, which is oblique to a conveyance direction of a substrate and is close to the substrate, by a movement mechanism unit.

Abstract: A component imaging unit of an electronic component mounting apparatus has three area cameras, and each of visual fields are common to each other regardless of the area cameras. When the imaging form of the component imaging unit is set to a first mode, a component recognition unit recognizes the electronic components held by the holding unit, based on an image imaged by one area camera. Meanwhile, when the imaging form is set to a second mode, in the component imaging unit, the component recognition unit recognizes the electronic component held by the holding unit, based on each of images, each of which is imaged by three area cameras.

Abstract: A control unit of an electronic component mounting apparatus controls a component imaging unit so as to image an electronic component that is held by the holding unit when the holding unit is subjected to an acceleration movement or a deceleration movement by a movement mechanism unit.

Abstract: Charge coupled devices (CCDs) can be placed next to each in a tiled array to reproduce a larger image. The seams between the CCDs in a tiled CCD array can be reduced by placing fiber optic arrays on top of each CCD in the CCD array. The fiber optic arrays have numerous optical fibers that are tilted with respect to the plane of the CCDs. The optical fibers can retrieve electromagnetic radiation falling in gaps between the tiled CCDs. The optical fiber arrays substantially reduce the seams that appear in the image. Electronic pixel binning configurations can be adjusted to accommodate the placement of the optical fibers. The fiber optic arrays can have beveled edges near the gaps between adjacent CCDs to image light in the gaps. Techniques for reducing the dead zone between CCDs in a tiled array and for forming fiber optic arrays on a common plane are also provided.