Abstract: A scalable architecture based in silicon on sapphire (SOS) CMOS for building an interferometric optical detection system to sense the motion of a resonating MEMS device or to detect the motion of any object to which the system is packaged. The SOS CMOS device is packaged with both vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) and MEMS devices. The optical transparency of the sapphire substrate together with the ultra thin silicon PIN photodiodes available in the SOS process allows for the design of both a Michelson-type and Fabry-Perot-type interferometer. The detectors, signal processing electronics and VCSEL drivers are built on the SOS CMOS for a complete system.

Abstract: An imaging array is integrated with region of interest selection, template storage and processing circuitry for transforming raw image data for respective pixels in terms of defined color opponencies and analyzing (e.g. by histogramming or the like) the transformed image data over respective regions of interest of arbitrary size to extract color signatures of portions of a scene. The color signatures may then be compared to templates for object recognition, tracking or other purposes.

Abstract: To facilitate the replacement of wearing parts such as rollers (36, 42) on which is received a rotary part (10), a support device (12) is designed in such a way that the wearing parts belong to an interchangeable support member (30) interposed between a fixed body (16) and the rotary part (10). Replacement takes place by coupling to the interchangeable support member (30) a replacement support member (30'), using linking structures (56), and by rotating the assembly of the two members (30, 30') by 180.degree. about the axis (14) of the rotary part. The two members are then uncoupled and the replacement support member linked to the fixed body (16) by locking structures (50).