Abstract: An illumination device is provided. The illumination device includes a light source and a current path configured to transport a supply current to the light source. Further, the illumination device includes a sensor configured to contactlessly measure a current strength of the supply current in the current path and to output a measurement signal indicative of the measured current strength. The illumination device additionally includes processing circuitry coupled to the sensor and configured to determine the optical output power of the light source based on the measured current strength indicated by the measurement signal.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a sensor element includes: a plurality of mechanically coupled sensor cells, each of the plurality of mechanically coupled sensor cells having a sealed inner volume within an at least partially flexible cell housing, wherein the flexible cell housing comprises a flexible outer cover and flexible cell boundaries between adjacent sensor cells; and at least one pressure sensor element, wherein each sealed inner volume of the mechanically coupled sensor cells is fluidically coupled to at least one of the at least one pressure sensor element.

Abstract: A wafer probe alignment system includes a test probe needle including a body having a tip that is configured to make contact with a surface of a wafer at a first tip position, wherein the body is deformable and includes a sensing area that undergoes a deformation in response to at least one force, including a lateral friction force, applied to the tip; at least one sensor configured to monitor the sensing area for deformation caused by a lateral friction force and generate at least one first sensor information representative of the lateral friction force; and a controller configured to control a position of the tip, wherein the controller is configured to receive the at least one first sensor information and reposition the tip to counteract the lateral friction force in order to maintain the tip at the first tip position.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor includes a first reflective surface configured to oscillate about a first rotation axis to deflect a light beam into an environment; and a second reflective surface configured to oscillate about a second rotation axis to guide light received from the environment onto a photodetector of the LIDAR sensor. The first rotation axis and the second rotation axis extend parallel to one another. The LIDAR sensor also includes a control circuit configured to drive the first reflective surface to oscillate with a first maximum deflection angle about the first rotation axis, and to drive the second reflective surface to oscillate with a second maximum deflection angle about the second rotation axis, the first maximum deflection angle being greater than the second maximum deflection angle, and an area of the first reflective surface is less than an area of the second reflective surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for detachably coupling with a printed circuit board to transfer electromagnetic waves. The apparatus includes a coupling element. The coupling element includes a first wave transmission structure configured to receive the electromagnetic waves from the printed circuit board and to transmit the electromagnetic waves along the first wave transmission structure. The apparatus further includes a vacuum channel structure including an inlet for coupling the apparatus to a vacuum generator to generate a vacuum between a first surface of the coupling element and a second surface of the printed circuit board such that a force between the coupling element and the printed circuit board is applied.

Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system integrated in a vehicle includes a LIDAR transmitter configured to transmit laser beams into a field of view, the field of view having a center of projection, and the LIDAR transmitter including a laser to generate the laser beams transmitted into the field of view. The LIDAR system further includes a LIDAR receiver including at least one photodetector configured to receive a reflected light beam and generate electrical signals based on the reflected light beam. The LIDAR system further includes a controller configured to receive feedback information and modify a center of projection of the field of view in a vertical direction based on the feedback information.

Abstract: An illumination device is provided. The illumination device includes a light source and a current path configured to transport a supply current to the light source. Further, the illumination device includes a sensor configured to contactlessly measure a current strength of the supply current in the current path and to output a measurement signal indicative of the measured current strength. The illumination device additionally includes processing circuitry coupled to the sensor and configured to determine the optical output power of the light source based on the measured current strength indicated by the measurement signal.

Abstract: An illumination device for an optical sensor is provided. The illumination device includes a plurality of light sources and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to control the plurality of light sources to entirely illuminate a field of illumination in a first operation mode. The control circuit is further configured to control the plurality of light sources to illuminate at least one subfield of the field of illumination in a second operation mode.

Abstract: A wafer probe alignment system includes a test probe needle including a body having a tip that is configured to make contact with a surface of a wafer at a first tip position, wherein the body is deformable and includes a sensing area that undergoes a deformation in response to at least one force, including a lateral friction force, applied to the tip; at least one sensor configured to monitor the sensing area for deformation caused by a lateral friction force and generate at least one first sensor information representative of the lateral friction force; and a controller configured to control a position of the tip, wherein the controller is configured to receive the at least one first sensor information and reposition the tip to counteract the lateral friction force in order to maintain the tip at the first tip position.

Abstract: A digital light detector includes a clock signal generator configured to generate a clock signal comprised of clock pulses generated at a predetermined frequency; a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) configured to turn on and generate an avalanche current in response to receiving a photon, the SPAD including an internal capacitor coupled internally between an anode terminal and an cathode terminal; and an active quenching-recharging circuit that is triggered by the clock signal. The active quenching-recharging circuit is configured to be activated and deactivated based on the clock signal, where the active quenching-recharging circuit is configured to recharge the internal capacitor on a condition the active quenching-recharging circuit is activated, and where the active quenching-recharging circuit is configured to discharge the internal capacitor on a condition the active quenching-recharging circuit is deactivated.

Abstract: A digital light detector includes a clock signal generator configured to generate a clock signal comprised of clock pulses generated at a predetermined frequency; a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) configured to turn on and generate an avalanche current in response to receiving a photon, the SPAD including an internal capacitor coupled internally between an anode terminal and an cathode terminal; and an active quenching-recharging circuit that is triggered by the clock signal. The active quenching-recharging circuit is configured to be activated and deactivated based on the clock signal, where the active quenching-recharging circuit is configured to recharge the internal capacitor on a condition the active quenching-recharging circuit is activated, and where the active quenching-recharging circuit is configured to discharge the internal capacitor on a condition the active quenching-recharging circuit is deactivated.

Abstract: A device is provided for detecting and/or regulating an amplitude of an oscillation of an oscillatory body about an oscillation axis, wherein a change in a capacitance between at least one electrode of the oscillatory body and a stationary electrode takes place during the oscillation of the oscillatory body. The device comprises a detection circuit for detecting a signal representing a measure of the change in capacitance; and an evaluation circuit for determining information from the signal, wherein the evaluation circuit is designed to calculate the amplitude of the oscillation of the oscillatory body from the determined information and an ascertained period of the oscillation of the oscillatory body and/or to regulate the amplitude of the oscillation of the oscillatory body using the determined information and the ascertained period of the oscillation of the oscillatory body.

Abstract: A Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system integrated in a vehicle includes a LIDAR transmitter configured to transmit laser beams into a field of view, the field of view having a center of projection, and the LIDAR transmitter including a laser to generate the laser beams transmitted into the field of view. The LIDAR system further includes a LIDAR receiver including at least one photodetector configured to receive a reflected light beam and generate electrical signals based on the reflected light beam. The LIDAR system further includes a controller configured to receive feedback information and modify a center of projection of the field of view in a vertical direction based on the feedback information.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor includes a first reflective surface configured to oscillate about a first rotation axis to deflect a light beam into an environment; and a second reflective surface configured to oscillate about a second rotation axis to guide light received from the environment onto a photodetector of the LIDAR sensor. The first rotation axis and the second rotation axis extend parallel to one another. The LIDAR sensor also includes a control circuit configured to drive the first reflective surface to oscillate with a first maximum deflection angle about the first rotation axis, and to drive the second reflective surface to oscillate with a second maximum deflection angle about the second rotation axis, the first maximum deflection angle being greater than the second maximum deflection angle, and an area of the first reflective surface is less than an area of the second reflective surface.

Abstract: A device is provided for detecting and/or regulating an amplitude of an oscillation of an oscillatory body about an oscillation axis, wherein a change in a capacitance between at least one electrode of the oscillatory body and a stationary electrode takes place during the oscillation of the oscillatory body. The device comprises a detection circuit for detecting a signal representing a measure of the change in capacitance; and an evaluation circuit for determining information from the signal, wherein the evaluation circuit is designed to calculate the amplitude of the oscillation of the oscillatory body from the determined information and an ascertained period of the oscillation of the oscillatory body and/or to regulate the amplitude of the oscillation of the oscillatory body using the determined information and the ascertained period of the oscillation of the oscillatory body.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image 3DI system includes a modulator configured to generate a first modulation signal and a second modulation signal having a predetermined frequency difference, an illumination source configured to generate a light signal modulated by the first modulation signal, and a sensor core including a pixel array modulated by the second modulation signal. At least one pixel of the pixel array is configured to receive a reflected modulated light signal and to demodulate the reflected modulated light signal using the second modulation signal during an image acquisition to generate a measurement signal. The at least one pixel is configured to generate a plurality of measurement signals based on a plurality of image acquisitions taken at different sample times. A controller is configured to receive the plurality of measurement signals, and calibrate the at least one pixel of the pixel array based on the plurality of measurement signals.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image system includes a modulator configured to generate a first and a second modulation signal having a predetermined frequency difference, an illumination source configured to generate a light signal modulated by the first modulation signal, and a pixel array modulated by the second modulation signal. At least one pixel of the pixel array is configured to receive a reflected modulated light signal and generate a plurality of measurement signals based on a plurality of image acquisitions taken at different acquisition times. A controller is configured to control a phase difference between the first modulation signal and the second modulation signal by setting the first modulation frequency and the second modulation frequency to have a predetermined frequency difference greater than zero; and calculate a depth of the object based on the plurality of measurement signals, the depth being a distance from the 3DI system to the object.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image system includes a modulator configured to generate a first and a second modulation signal having a predetermined frequency difference, an illumination source configured to generate a light signal modulated by the first modulation signal, and a pixel array modulated by the second modulation signal. At least one pixel of the pixel array is configured to receive a reflected modulated light signal and generate a plurality of measurement signals based on a plurality of image acquisitions taken at different acquisition times. A controller is configured to control a phase difference between the first modulation signal and the second modulation signal by setting the first modulation frequency and the second modulation frequency to have a predetermined frequency difference greater than zero; and calculate a depth of the object based on the plurality of measurement signals, the depth being a distance from the 3DI system to the object.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image 3DI system includes a modulator configured to generate a first modulation signal and a second modulation signal having a predetermined frequency difference, an illumination source configured to generate a light signal modulated by the first modulation signal, and a sensor core including a pixel array modulated by the second modulation signal. At least one pixel of the pixel array is configured to receive a reflected modulated light signal and to demodulate the reflected modulated light signal using the second modulation signal during an image acquisition to generate a measurement signal. The at least one pixel is configured to generate a plurality of measurement signals based on a plurality of image acquisitions taken at different sample times. A controller is configured to receive the plurality of measurement signals, and calibrate the at least one pixel of the pixel array based on the plurality of measurement signals.

Abstract: A method of detecting misfire in an internal combustion engine comprises: sensing a temporal signature of a lateral displacement of the engine, performing a spectral analysis of the temporal signature of the lateral displacement to extract a magnitude of a predetermined frequency, and determining that misfiring in at least one of the plurality of cylinders has occurred based on the magnitude of the predetermined frequency. The predetermined frequency is associated with one of a plurality of orders of the engine. The one of the plurality of orders is representative of engine displacement due to in-cylinder pressures. Other methods of detecting misfire and a vehicle are also presented.