Abstract: An interdental cleaner with a rod-like support which has a cleaning device in an axial end region. The cleaning device includes a cover on the support made of a soft-elastic plastic, and structuring is formed on the outside of the cover having a plurality of fingers protruding with radial components from the cover, which fingers are made of the same material as the cover and are connected as one piece thereto. The structuring additionally has a bristle edging with a plurality of bristle bundles protruding with radial components from the cover and/or individual bristles which are each formed from pre-produced bristles embedded in the cover and/or in the support.

Abstract: An interdental cleaner with a rod-like support which has a cleaning device in an axial end region. The cleaning device includes a cover on the support made of a soft-elastic plastic, and structuring is formed on the outside of the cover having a plurality of fingers protruding with radial components from the cover, which fingers are made of the same material as the cover and are connected as one piece thereto. The structuring additionally has a bristle edging with a plurality of bristle bundles protruding with radial components from the cover and/or individual bristles which are each formed from pre-produced bristles embedded in the cover and/or in the support.

Abstract: Image sensor, which comprises a plurality of pixels arranged as a pixel array with rows and columns and at least one read-out arrangement for reading out the pixels row by row. The columns are grouped into blocks with a certain number N of columns. Each read-out arrangement comprises N column read out circuits and an addressing circuit for with at least two groups of addressing lines for addressing the blocks. The blocks are selectively addressed by the groups of addressing lines in a way that a read-out sequence of blocks addressed by the groups is continuous across all blocks.

Abstract: A circuit for resetting and reading out a pixel cell of a CMOS image sensor is proposed. The circuit allows for reading out the pixel cell at least two times during a main integration interval, thereby generating at least two pixel signals. The circuit further comprises means for combining the at least two pixel signals to an output signal. The means for combining are operable to combine the at least two pixel signals weighted in dependence on a saturation level of the pixel cell. A method for controlling the circuit for reading out the image sensor is also proposed.

Abstract: An image sensor circuit comprises a pixel cell array having a plurality of pixel cells arranged along a plurality of column lines, a plurality of readout circuits connected to said column lines, each of which comprises an analog-to-digital converter and a multiplexer for selectively applying an output signal of one of said column lines to said analog-to-digital converter. Between two of said column lines which are connected to a first one of said readout circuits located at a first side of said pixel cell array, there is a column line which is connected to a second one of said readout circuits located at a second side of said pixel cell array opposite to said first side.

Abstract: An image sensor circuit comprises at least one pixel cell for providing an output signal which is variable according to illumination of said pixel cell between a maximum and a minimum level, an analogue-to-digital converter for converting output signals from said pixel cell into digital data, and an offset signal source for providing an offset signal having a level between said maximum and minimum levels. The analogue-to-digital converter is fully differential and is connected to said pixel cell and to said offset signal source.

Abstract: An image sensor circuit comprises at least one pixel cell for providing an output signal which is variable according to illumination of said pixel cell between a maximum and a minimum level, an analogue-to-digital converter for converting output signals from said pixel cell into digital data, and an offset signal source for providing an offset signal having a level between said maximum and minimum levels. The analogue-to-digital converter is fully differential and is connected to said pixel cell and to said offset signal source.

Abstract: A circuit for resetting and reading out a pixel cell of a CMOS image sensor is proposed. The circuit allows for reading out the pixel cell at least two times during a main integration interval, thereby generating at least two pixel signals. The circuit further comprises means for combining the at least two pixel signals to an output signal. The means for combining are operable to combine the at least two pixel signals weighted in dependence on a saturation level of the pixel cell. A method for controlling the circuit for reading out the image sensor is also proposed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for initializing a control of a supply voltage of a light source, such as a laser diode, the light source being arranged in a first circuit configuration having an associated first reference voltage level or the light source being arranged in an alternative second circuit configuration having an associated alternative second reference voltage level, the method comprising the steps of gradually changing the supply voltage into the direction of the first reference voltage, measuring a light emission of the light source while gradually changing the supply voltage, if no light emission is measured: starting the control of the supply voltage of the light source after the first reference voltage has been reached and if a light emission is measured gradually changing the supply voltage into the direction of the second reference voltage and starting the control of the supply voltage of the light source after the second reference voltage has been reached.

Abstract: An image sensor circuit comprises a pixel cell array having a plurality of pixel cells arranged along a plurality of column lines, a plurality of readout circuits connected to said column lines, each of which comprises an analog-to-digital converter and a multiplexer for selectively applying an output signal of one of said column lines to said analog-to-digital converter. Between two of said column lines which are connected to a first one of said readout circuits located at a first side of said pixel cell array, there is a column line which is connected to a second one of said readout circuits located at a second side of said pixel cell array opposite to said first side.

Abstract: Image sensor, which comprises a plurality of pixels arranged as a pixel array with rows and columns and at least one read-out arrangement for reading out the pixels row by row. The columns are grouped into blocks with a certain number N of columns. Each read-out arrangement comprises N column read out circuits and an addressing circuit for with at least two groups of addressing lines for addressing the blocks. The blocks are selectively addressed by the groups of addressing lines in a way that a read-out sequence of blocks addressed by the groups is continuous across all blocks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a recording or playback apparatus for optical recording media with a compatible laser diode circuit, which can be used both for controlling the light power of a multiple laser diode with a joint monitor diode and for a number of lasers each with a monitor diode respectively assigned to a laser. The compatible laser diode circuit has a small number of terminal contacts, which corresponds to the number of terminals that is required as the minimum for a multiple laser diode with a joint monitor diode. This is achieved by providing at a terminal a means for detecting the wiring of the laser diode circuit, the output of which is connected to a logic circuit which is intended for configuring the laser diode circuit in a way corresponding to the wiring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to optical recording media, which has a tracking device, a four-quadrant detector, two summation points and a phase comparator for tracking in accordance with the differential phase detection method, and also various delay elements that can be set by a control device. The object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus of this type which exhibits the best possible compensation of the error in the track error signal and thus in the tracking signal, the said error being caused on account of the lens movement. To that end, the invention provides for analogue delay elements to be arranged upstream and digital delay elements to be arranged downstream of the summation points. The present invention is suitable for apparatuses for reading from and/or writing to optical recording media, such as CD, CDI, CD-ROM, DVD, CDR and others.

Abstract: In order to compensate for so-called clipping effects, it is proposed, in an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to an optical recording medium in which the light power of a laser diode (1) is to be set to a plurality of light power levels,to perform a calibration to a specific light power level (LP2) before the actual regulation of the light power. On account of the calibration, the instantaneous gradient of the characteristic curve which describes the dependence of the laser light power on the laser diode current can be inferred in order, on the basis of this information, to take account f a change—caused, for example, by ageing r clipping effects—in the characteristic curve gradient in the course of the subsequent regulation of the light power of the scanning beam generated by the laser diode (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to optical recording media, which has a tracking device, a four-quadrant detector, two summation points and a phase comparator for tracking in accordance with the differential phase detection method, and also various delay elements that can be set by a control device. The object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus of this type which exhibits the best possible compensation of the error in the track error signal and thus in the tracking signal, the said error being caused on account of the lens movement. To that end, the invention provides for analogue delay elements to be arranged upstream and digital delay elements to be arranged downstream of the summation points. The present invention is suitable for apparatuses for reading from and/or writing to optical recording media, such as CD, CDI, CD-ROM, DVD, CDR and others.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for initialising a control of a supply voltage of a light source, such as a laser diode, the light source being arranged in a first circuit configuration having an associated first reference voltage level or the light source being arranged in an alternative second circuit configuration having an associated alternative second reference voltage level, the method comprising the steps of gradually changing the supply voltage into the direction of the first reference voltage, measuring a light emission of the light source while gradually changing the supply voltage, if no light emission is measured: starting the control of the supply voltage of the light source after the first reference voltage has been reached and if a light emission is measured gradually changing the supply voltage into the direction of the second reference voltage and starting the control of the supply voltage of the light source after the second reference voltage has been reached.

Abstract: In order to compensate for so-called clipping effects, it is proposed, in an apparatus for reading from and/or writing to an optical recording medium in which the light power of a laser diode (1) is to be set to a plurality of light power levels, to perform a calibration to a specific light power level (LP2) before the actual regulation of the light power. On account of the calibration, the instantaneous gradient of the characteristic curve which describes the dependence of the laser light power on the laser diode current can be inferred in order, on the basis of this information, to take account f a change—caused, for example, by ageing r clipping effects—in the characteristic curve gradient in the course of the subsequent regulation of the light power of the scanning beam generated by the laser diode (1).

Abstract: An apparatus for scanning optical recording media, having a detection unit with a photodetector and a reference voltage associated therewith, an evaluation unit having an input, and a connection disposed between the detection unit and the input of the evaluation unit. In such scanning apparatuses, voltage coupling is usually provided between the detection unit and the input of the evaluation unit. Such a coupling arrangement has the disadvantage that the two units must operate in approximately the same voltage range. In the scanning apparatus according to the present invention it is not necessary for the detection unit and the evaluation unit to operate in substantially the same voltage range. According to the present invention, the evaluation unit has a controller, that holds the input of the connection at the value of a reference voltage of the detection unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the reproduction or recording of data or information with a photodetector and digital error signal and evaluation signal processing. The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the reproduction or recording of data or information which requires little outlay despite digital evaluation signal processing and a considerable capability of adaptation to different scanning speeds. The invention is based on the principle of enabling digital evaluation signal generation with an analog-to-digital converter known from audio technology, even though the data rate of the data or high-frequency signal requires an analog-to-digital converter for the radio-frequency or for the video signal band. An analog-to-digital converter for the audio frequency band can be used to generate a digital evaluation signal by the analog-to-digital converter having fed to it not the high-frequency signal directly but rather at least one envelope of the high-frequency signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement for a laser control loop with automatic adaptation to the monitoring signal polarity. Use is made of a single-phase method which consists in that a signal produced by the monitor during the starting phase of the laser control loop is compared with a reference value, and in accordance with the result of the comparison the signal produced by the monitor is fed directly or inverted to the comparator for controlling the light power of the laser during the starting phase of the laser control loop. A signal is produced which initially feeds the comparator for controlling the light power the inverted monitoring signal, or directly feeds the monitoring signal, in a fashion always independent of the monitoring signal polarity, but dependent on the polarity of a reference value, and feeds it in a non-inverted fashion in the case of a monitoring signal running up to the reference value.