Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring a thickness of a coating on an moving object are provided. Light is directed toward the object at a predetermined location on the object such that a portion of the light interacts with the object. A I D and/or 2D maximum intensities for at least one wavelength channel is captured that is produced by the portion of the light interacting with the object. A measured average intensity of the wavelength channel and/or intensities and their arithmetic derivatives of multi wavelength channel geometries is converted into I D (averaged) and/or 2D thickness values. Based on these values an acceptability of the coating is evaluated and thickness calculated.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of determining a dimension of a gap between an edge of an aerofoil and a surface of an engine casing, the method comprising: receiving data; generating a three dimensional model of the surface of the engine casing from the received data; identifying the edge of the aerofoil in the received data; determining a three dimensional position of a first location along the edge of the aerofoil in the received data using the identified edge; and determining a distance between the determined three dimensional position of the first location and the three dimensional model of the surface of the engine casing using an algorithm.

Abstract: Methods and systems for multi-sensor real-time alignment and calibration are disclosed herein. A vehicle includes a projector configured to project a pattern on a target location. The vehicle also includes one or more sensors. The one or more sensors are configured to capture sensor data from the target location and detect the pattern at the target location. The vehicle further includes a calibration system configured to determine whether a particular sensor of the one or more sensors is out of alignment based on a relative position of the pattern as detected by the one or more sensors. The calibration system is also configured to, based on a determination that the particular sensor is out of alignment, adjust an alignment of the particular sensor based on the sensor data and the diffractive pattern.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods and/or systems for depth mapping. In one aspect, a method of depth mapping is performed at an apparatus including a projector, a camera, one or more processors, and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes identifying one or more areas of interest in a scene in accordance with variation of depth in the scene as detected at a first resolution. The method also includes, for each area of interest: (1) applying, via the projector, a respective structured-light pattern to the area of interest; (2) capturing, via the camera, an image of the area of interest with the respective structured-light pattern applied to it; and (3) creating a respective depth map of the area of interest using the captured image, the respective depth map having a higher resolution than the first resolution.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shape measurement apparatus includes main pattern illumination parts, main image-capturing parts and a control part. The main pattern illumination parts obliquely illuminate grating pattern light in different directions toward a measurement target. The main image-capturing parts obtain a grating pattern image of the measurement target by receiving reflection light of the grating pattern light illuminated from the main pattern illumination parts and obliquely reflected by the measurement target. The control part produces height data of the measurement target using grating pattern images of the measurement target, or produces height data of the measurement target using image positions of plane images for the measurement target and texture information of the measurement target. The control part employs a grating pattern illuminated on the measurement target as the texture information to produce height data of the measurement target.

Abstract: Provided is an angle detection device including: a correction signal calculator configured to generate corrected signals from a sine signal and a cosine signal acquired from an angle detector; and an angle calculator configured to calculate an angle signal for a rotary machine from the corrected signals. When one of the sine signal and the cosine signal is defined as a first detection signal, and another one thereof is defined as a second detection signal, the correction signal calculator calculates a corrected first detection signal and a corrected second detection signal, and the angle calculator calculates the angle signal for the rotary machine from the corrected first detection signal and the corrected second detection signal.

Abstract: A defect detecting device 10 includes an overall displacement measurement unit 11 that measures, based on observation data output from an observation device that observes a target object, a displacement of an overall movement of the target object relative to an observation point at set time intervals, as an overall displacement; a specific period detection unit 12 that detects a specific period in which the measured overall displacement is in a specific state within a period in which observation is performed; a partial displacement measurement unit 13 that measures, displacements at a plurality of points set on the target object in the detected specific period, as partial displacements; and a defect detection unit 14 that detects a defect in the target object, based on the acquired at least one of the temporal changes and the spatial distributions of the partial displacements.

Abstract: A laser measuring device for remote distance measuring includes a first housing and a second housing that are pivotally coupled. A power module, a microprocessor, and sensing unit are coupled to and positioned in the first housing. The microprocessor is operationally coupled to the power module and the sensing unit is operationally coupled to the microprocessor. The sensing unit is configured to measure an angle between the first housing and the second housing. A first range finder that is coupled to the first housing is configured to measure a first distance between the first housing and a first point. A second range finder that is coupled to the second housing is configured to measure a second distance between the second housing and a second point. The microprocessor is positioned to calculate a distance between the first point and the second point.

Abstract: Assigning measuring points to fixed points includes calculating fixed point distances between fixed points in a fixed point coordinate system; determining coordinates of measuring points in a measuring point coordinate system; calculating measuring point distances between the measuring points; comparing at least two measuring point distances with the fixed point distances and identifying at least two pairs each consisting of a measuring point distance and a fixed point distance; determining a reference point in the measuring point coordinate system or in the fixed point coordinate system; determining first and second reference point parameters of the measuring points or fixed points corresponding to the pairs; determining second reference point parameters of the fixed points corresponding to the pairs in the fixed point coordinate system; identifying correspondences between the first reference point parameters and the second reference point parameters and assigning the corresponding measuring points to the co

Abstract: A surveying instrument for providing a referencing marker designed to allow Augmented Reality (AR)-device to reference their pose relative to the reference system. The invention further relates to an AR-system comprising said surveying instrument and an AR-device. The invention further relates to a method for referencing an AR-device relative to a reference system by means of said surveying instrument.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method based on an acceleration sensor and a geomagnetic sensor for determining an angular velocity of an object includes: deriving a state variable and a variance of the state variable based on an error quaternion and converting a quaternion-based rotation matrix into an error quaternion-based rotation matrix; calculating an observation matrix and an output matrix of the Kalman filter based on the error quaternion-based rotation matrix; calculating a gain of the Kalman filter based on the transferred variance of the state variable and the observation matrix of the Kalman filter after transferring the state variable and the variance of the state variable through a discretized transfer matrix; calculating a quaternion-based on a calibrated state variable and an estimated quaternion after calibrating the state variable and the variance of the state variable through the gain of the Kalman filter; and calculating angular velocity based on the quaternion.

Abstract: A navigation system is configured to identify a current location and a destination location of an airborne platform, identify a current cell in which the current location is located; identify a plurality of current neighbors associated with the current cell; calculate, for a first path from the current location to the destination location through a first current neighbor of the plurality of current neighbors, a first value of an objective function, the first value depending on whether the first path includes a predetermined navigational node; calculate, for a second path from the current location to the destination location through a second current neighbor of the plurality of current neighbors, a second value of the objective function depending on whether the second path includes a predetermined navigational node; and output the current neighbor and/or path that satisfies an objective condition based on the values.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a map indicating a layout of a location, receiving a point-of-interest (POI) data structure representing a POI, and POI metadata associated with the POI, generating an annotated floor map, based on the map, the annotated floor map including a POI indicator placed on the map at the location of the POI, the POI indicator indicating the type of the POI and the status of the POI, displaying at least a portion of the annotated floor map, in response to the client computing device moving within the location or out of the location, transmitting location information to a map selector and receiving one or more maps selected by the map selector, the one or more maps include or bound by the location information.

Abstract: An apparatus includes input circuitry and processor circuitry. The input circuitry is configured to receive, from a camera attached to a vehicle, a plurality of images as the vehicle travels along the track. The processor circuitry is configured to, for at least one of the plurality of captured images, perform feature recognition on the image, to assign an indicator to at least one recognised feature in the image indicative of a suitability of the at least one recognised feature for adjusting the position of the vehicle on the map. The processor circuitry is configured to, for each recognised feature in the image with the indicator, adjust the position of the vehicle on the map when the recognised feature is represented in the map of the track, and add a representation of the recognised feature to the map when the recognised feature is not represented in the map of the track.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for sequencing locations and events and determining routing and itineraries for the sequence. In some embodiments the system may receive a starting location, a first location, and a second location in a default order. The system may determine a sequence from the starting location for the first location and the second location. The system may generate a route for the sequence with the route having transportation directions between the starting location, the second location, and the first location indicative of the sequence. The system may display the route in a graphical user interface of an application.

Abstract: A multi-leg transport system receives a transport request and determines a number of transfer locations between the origin location and the destination. The system selects a first provider to transport the user from the origin location to a transfer location and remotely monitors the position of the user as the user travels to the transfer location. In response to determining that the travel time to the transfer location is within a threshold, the system selects a second provider to transport the user from the transfer location to either the next transfer location or the destination for the transport request.

Abstract: Generating routes based on aggregated path data includes accumulating trajectory data from a plurality of users, wherein data entries in the trajectory data each include an origin and a destination. When a request for a route from a designated location to a particular destination is received from a particular user, one or more of the data entries are identified as relevant to the request for the route when the origin of a particular data entry is similar to the designated location and the destination of the particular data entry is similar to the particular destination. Route recommendations are generated for the particular user based on one or more data entries identified as relevant.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus can be configured to be installed in a vehicle, including a display; a wireless communication unit; and a controller operatively connected to the display and configured to receive a first destination from a mobile terminal for controlling the navigation apparatus, display route information from an origination position to the first destination received from the mobile terminal, display, on the display of the navigation apparatus, when a current position of the navigation apparatus is within a preset range of the destination, a message inquiring whether or not the first destination is a final destination, receive a new destination after an input indicating that the first destination point is not the final destination, and display, on the display of the navigation apparatus, road guidance information from the current position to the new destination point.

Abstract: Approaches presented herein enable improving electronic (e.g., GPS) navigation for a user operating a vehicle based on feedback from the user. More specifically, a verbal comment is obtained from the user and is analyzed for a navigation instruction delivery preference. A profile associated with navigation of the vehicle, which can include a user profile, a location profile, or an ambient environment profile, is modified based on the navigation instruction delivery preference. Based on the profile associated with navigation of the vehicle, a navigation instruction is synthesized and provided to the user. A dialogue can be solicited with the user to obtain additional comments from the user, based upon which the profile associated with navigation of the vehicle can be further modified.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an omni wheel mileage calibration method and apparatus, as well as a robot using the wane. The method includes: (a) calibrating the omni wheel through a linear motion to obtain a straight line calibration result; (b) calibrating the omni wheel through a rotational motion to obtain a rotation calibration result; (c) performing error verification to the straight line calibration result and the rotation calibration result along a preset movement trajectory having a loop to obtain an error verification result; (d) determining a straight line calibration corresponding to the straight line calibration result and a rotation calibration corresponding to the rotation calibration result being successful in response to the error verification result meeting a preset precision requirement. The present disclosure provides a mileage calibration method for an omni wheel system, which improves the operation precision of a robot.

Abstract: A position sensing system for a rotating object may include analog conditioning circuitry, analog to digital converter circuitry, and a controller. The analog conditioning circuitry may identify a half cycle of an analog input signal received from a sensor, which has a variable period and a variable magnitude. The analog to digital converter circuitry may process the input signal during the variable period. The controller may control the analog to digital converter circuitry to compare a magnitude of the identified half cycle of a first variable period of the input signal to a magnitude of the identified half cycle of a second variable period of the input signal. The controller may generate an output signal when a difference between the magnitude of the identified half cycle of the first variable period and the magnitude of the identified half cycle of the second variable period is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A lightweight sensor member may include a fastening hole formed through a center thereof to be fastened to a camshaft, and a plurality of detecting protrusions formed on an external peripheral surface thereof, each having a certain angular shape to the fastening hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of outputting a level of a capacitive level sensor which may be provided in a water trap of a fuel cell system and the method of outputting a level of a capacitive level sensor including a level sensor including a plurality of electrodes for measuring capacitance, and an upper electrode and a lower electrode which are able to be disposed adjacent to each other in the level sensor, including: (a) measuring a change in an output value of the lower electrode; and (b) measuring a change in an output value of the upper electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arrayed on a substrate, a readout unit configured to read out signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, and a light source unit driver configured to drive a light source unit, wherein the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements include a first element configured to receive incident light and a second element configured to be shielded from the incident light, and the light source unit driver drives the light source based on both a signal from the first element and a signal from the second element read out by the readout unit.

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: A system for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) based sensing including air data detection is disclosed. The system comprises a photonics substrate comprising a passive optical filter array configured to receive backscattered light produced in a region of interest when a light beam is emitted by a laser device, and a reference beam from the laser device. The passive optical filter array includes a plurality of optical notch filters in optical communication with each other, the optical notch filters operative for frequency selection, and a plurality of optical detectors each respectively coupled to an output of one of the optical notch filters. The passive optical filter array is operative to perform frequency spectrum decomposition of the received backscattered light into a plurality of signals for data extraction and processing to determine air data parameters.

Abstract: A mountable sensor assembly for mounting on the sheet metal of a vehicle assembly. The sheet metal may have an opening for mounting the mountable sensor assembly. The mountable sensor assembly may include a sensor circuit, a sensor housing with a mounting post, and a clip. The sensor housing may include a cavity that receives the sensor circuit. The sensor housing may include a mounting surface and a mounting post extending from the mounting surface. The mounting post may include a gap allowing the diameter of the post to expand and contract. A clip is configured to lock onto the mounting post and extend into the gap to expand a perimeter of the mounting post. By expanding the perimeter, the mounting post is locked through the opening in the sheet metal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnetic field sensor including at least one magnetic field sensor element configured to generate a first sensor signal in response to a magnetic field, at least one Hall sensor element configured to generate a second sensor signal in response to the magnetic field and a compensation logic configured to compensate one of the first and the second sensor signal using a respective other one of the first and the second sensor signal. In some embodiments, the at least one Hall sensor element can be vertical Hall sensor and can be arranged in a predetermined orientation.

Abstract: A flow meter system for detecting the flow of a fluid between an inlet and an outlet. A top plate is coupled to the inlet and the outlet and a sensor is configured to detect the fluid flowing therebetween. A main module is coupled between the inlet and the outlet and has a main rotor configured to be rotated by the fluid flowing through the main module. An output shaft is coupled to the main rotor such that rotation of the main rotor causes rotation of the output shaft. A first spacer is removably coupled between the main module and the outlet. The first spacer is rotorless. The top plate defines an opening that receives the output shaft. The first spacer ensures alignment between the output shaft and the opening defined in the top plate. The sensor senses rotation of the output shaft to detect the flow of fluid.

Abstract: A configuration tool is for a vortex flowmeter having a flowtube, a bluff body positioned in the flowtube for shedding vortices in the fluid, and a pressure sensor configured to obtain a signal indicative of a time-varying fluid pressure having an oscillation associated with the vortices. The configuration tool includes a processor that determines a type of fluid flowing through the flowtube based on the amplitude of the oscillation. The processor sets a fluid-type setting of the vortex meter to match the determined type of fluid. An alarming system for a control system including such a flowmeter includes a processor that assesses a density of a fluid flowing through the flowtube based on the amplitude and compares the assessed density to a fluid density configuration setting. The processor activates an alarm if the difference between the assessed density and the fluid density configuration setting exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A thermal flowmeter includes a casing, a ferrule, a measuring tube penetrating through the ferrule, a sensor for flow rate detection, a joint shaft movably supported by end portions of the casing, one end portion of the joint shaft being connected to the measuring tube and the ferrule with a through hole of the joint shaft and a hollow portion of the measuring tube communicating with each other, the other end portion of the joint shaft sticking out of the casing, and a screw thread-fitted to each of the end portions of the casing, and including a pressing portion pressing the joint shaft into an inside of the casing. A seal structure includes a first tapered surface formed on the ferrule and a second tapered surface formed on the joint shaft and fitting the first tapered surface, and is provided between the ferrule and the joint shaft.

Abstract: A thermal type flowmeter includes a sensor and a flow-rate calculating unit. The sensor includes a heater that heats a fluid to be measured. The sensor is configured to output a sensor value corresponding to a state of thermal diffusion in the fluid heated by the heater which is being driven in such a manner that a difference between a temperature of the heater and a temperature of the fluid at a location free from thermal influence of the heater is equal to a predetermined temperature difference. The flow-rate calculating unit is configured to calculate a flow rate of the fluid from the sensor value by using a flow-rate calculation equation, “sensor value=transformation coefficient A×log (flow rate)2+transformation coefficient B×log (flow rate)+transformation coefficient C”.

Abstract: An estimate of interfacial areas between the liquid and gas, liquid and wall, and gas and wall in two phase flow is determined using a standard 2D sensor in a fashion to infer 3D information about the liquid/vapor profile when the sensor length is much longer than the diameter. Cross-sectional flow areas for the gas and liquid are also estimated as a function of the axial dimension of the sensor, and the centroid of the mass in the sensor element can also be estimated. An electric capacitance tomography (ECT) system creates tomograms of the flow inside a sensor, and estimates of 3D physical area information are produced from the tomograms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a flowmeter (5) is provided. The method comprises the steps of placing a material in a flow tube (130, 130?) while exciting a vibration mode of the flow tube (130, 130?). Exciting the vibration mode of the flow tube (130, 130?) comprises the steps of periodically driving a first driver (180L) with a first signal and periodically driving a second driver (180R) with a second signal, wherein the second driver (180R) is driven essentially in phase with the first driver (180L), but wherein the first driver's (180L) drive amplitude modulated signal reaches a maximum amplitude when the second driver's (180R) drive modulated signal reaches a minimal amplitude, and the first driver's (180L) drive amplitude modulated signal reaches a minimum amplitude when the second driver's (180R) drive amplitude modulated signal reaches a maximum amplitude.

Abstract: An experimental system comprises a water level indicator, a data processing module, and an experimental simulator. The water level indicator is connected to the data processing module, and the water level indicator is mounted nearby the experimental simulator when in use. The experimental simulator comprises several experimental units. Each experimental unit comprises a first pipe, a second pipe, and a third pipe, wherein the first pipe perpendicularly communicates with the second pipe, a check valve which allows water to flow out but allows no water to flow in is connected to the water outlet of the second pipe, and the third pipe perpendicularly communicates with the second pipe and is parallel to the first pipe. The heights of the third pipes of the several experimental units are in a decreasing or increasing order.

Abstract: In a submersible liquid level sensing system, a submersible transducer senses hydrostatic pressure of a liquid in which the transducer is submerged. In at least one embodiment, a pump controller controls the on/off operation of a pump in accordance with the sensed liquid level, based on an output of the transducer. The sensed liquid level is output by the transducer to the pump controller via a cable, which is covered by a ruggedized jacket configured to be slid over the cable and attached to the transducer. The jacket may be de-attached from the transducer with the jacketed cable operably connected to the transducer.

Abstract: A fill level measurement device is provided, including a first radar chip and a second radar chip that is synchronised with the first radar chip, the first and second chips each include one or more transmission channels, each configured to radiate a transmission signal, and one or more reception channels, each configured to receive a reflected transmission signal from a filling material surface; an evaluation circuit, connected to the first and second chips by a data line assembly and being configured to calculate a fill level and/or a topology of the filling material surface of a medium in a container from reflected transmission signals received from the first and second chips; and a clock line assembly that connects the first chip to the circuit and is configured to provide the circuit with a common clock signal for evaluating the reflected transmission signals received from the first and second chips.

Abstract: A Wi-Fi tank monitor ultrasonically monitors liquid fuel oil in fuel oil tanks, as well as other liquids in respective liquid tanks. A transducer is magnetically attached to the bottom of a steel oil tank which will transmit ultrasonic pulses through the bottom of the tank and into the oil or other liquid. This wave is reflected by the top of the oil in the tank and be detected by the transducer on the bottom of the tank yielding the height of the oil or other liquid.

Abstract: To provide a liquid-surface detection device having a small parts count, whereby electrolytic corrosion can be suppressed. A liquid-surface detection device has a detection part for detecting magnetism, a plurality of terminals connected by one end thereof to the detection part, a first retaining body for retaining the terminals and rotatably supporting a magnetic part, a second retaining body attached to the first retaining body, and electroconductive parts retained by the second retaining body and connected to other ends of the terminals. The first retaining body has substantially U-shaped surrounding parts for surrounding other ends of the plurality of terminals, respectively. The second retaining body has dividing parts overlapping between the surrounding parts.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ball float type liquidometer with moving indicator, comprising a ball float chamber and a ferromagnetic spherical ball float provided therein, a moving indicator outside the ball float chamber, a calibrated scale and a moving indicator guide rail, wherein the moving indicator comprises a magnetic steel member, a frame and a rolling system which is horizontally fixed and sheathed in the frame; the rolling system comprises rolling wheels provided with radial grooves along a circumferential surface, rolling bearings and shafts; the magnetic steel member is located between the ball float chamber and the frame and is fixed outside one side face close to the ball float chamber on the frame, and a magnetic pole of the magnetic steel member is directly oriented towards the ball float.

Abstract: A fluid sensor including a guide, a float, a permanent magnet, and a magnetic angle sensor. In one example, the float is constrained at least in part by the guide to move along a vertical axis. The permanent magnet is mechanically coupled to the float. The magnetic angle sensor is configured to measure an angle of a magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet and is positioned such that movement of the float along the vertical axis varies the angle of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet through the magnetic angle sensor.

Abstract: A method according to an aspect includes a first step of connecting a reference device to the other end of a connecting pipe, a second step of supplying a gas from one flow controller into piping, a third step of acquiring measured values of a first pressure gauge and a first thermometer, a fourth step of supplying a portion of the gas in piping into a tank, a fifth step of acquiring measured values of the first pressure gauge and the first thermometer or measured values of a second pressure gauge and a second thermometer, and a sixth step of using a Boyle-Charles' law to calculate a volume of the piping on the basis of the measured values acquired in the third step, the measured values acquired in the fifth step, and a volume of a closed space including a space in the tank when the third valve is closed.

Abstract: A weighing scale includes a case for housing electrical components; a load cell; a carriage coupled to the load cell, wherein the carriage is configured for receiving a weighing plate; wherein the at least a portion of the carriage extends over the case.

Abstract: Apparatus and related methods are provided for automatically recalibrating a SAW scale for changing environmental factors. During a period of time when there is no change to a weight applied to the scale, readings of SAW transducers which relate to weight indications and environmental factor indications are taken for two adjacent operating modes of the scale, and two calibrated weight calculations are made utilizing those readings. The difference in calibrated weight calculations is then related to a variable utilized to transform the readings into weights, which is updated, thereby recalibrating the scale.

Abstract: A distributed fiber optic cable including an elongate body and optical fibers longitudinally housed in the elongate body. The optical fibers lie in in sinusoidal paths along longitudinal surfaces of a prism. The distributed fiber optic cable can be used for sensing an acoustic wave by measuring backscattered light from a laser pulse input into the optical fibers in the fiber optic cable.

Abstract: An infrared scene generator can generate a second infrared scene representative of a first infrared scene by emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation onto a plurality of prism-coupled electrically conductive elements that modulate a portion of the beam incident thereon with surface plasmon polaritons based on parameters of the first infrared scene to yield a modulated beam that produces the second infrared scene.

Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing in which a display is mounted. The display may have an active area in which images are displayed by an array of pixels and an inactive area that is free of pixels. A color ambient light sensor may make color and luminance measurements on ambient light received through an ambient light sensor window in the inactive area of the display or elsewhere in the electronic device. The color ambient light sensor may have color ambient light sensor elements of different colors. The ambient light sensor elements may extend in a row along an edge of the display or may have other configurations. Analog-to-digital converter circuitry and switching circuitry may gather color ambient light sensor measurements and measurements indicative of whether or not the color ambient light sensor has been obscured by an external object from the light sensor elements.

Abstract: A light detection device includes a diffraction element and a light detection element. The diffraction element diffracts a beam of light that is incident on the diffraction element. The light detection element includes light receivers to receive diffracted light. The diffraction element generates beams of the diffracted light by dividing the beam of light. The light detection element determines a displacement of the beam of light relative to the diffraction element on the basis of quantities of light of the beams of the diffracted light. The light detection element determines an angle change of the beam of light relative to the diffraction element by dividing the quantity of light of one of the beams of the diffracted light.

Abstract: A SPAD control circuit for detecting a photon is provided. The SPAD control circuit includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD), a switch, a combinational circuit, and a sequential circuit. The SPAD has two terminals. The switch applies a voltage to one of the two terminals of the SPAD. The combinational circuit detects whether the SPAD is in an active state or a standby state. The sequential circuit includes a terminal that receives input of a pulse signal used to set the SPAD to the active state, a terminal that receives input of a reset-related signal, and an output terminal. The switch is controlled by an output signal output from the output terminal of the sequential circuit. An output signal of the combinational circuit is input to the terminal of the sequential circuit that receives input of the reset-related signal.

Abstract: The use of silicon or vanadium oxide nanocomposite consisting of graphene deposited on top of an existing amorphous silicon or vanadium oxide microbolometer can result in a higher sensitivity IR detector. An IR bolometer type detector consisting of a thermally isolated nano-sized (<one micron feature size) electro-mechanical structure comprised of Si3N4, SiO2 thins films, suspended over a cavity with a copper thin film reflecting surface is described. On top of the suspended thin film is a nanostructure composite comprised of graphene monolayers, covered with various surface densities of VoXy or amorphous nanoparticles, followed by another graphene layer. The two conducting legs are connected to a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) fabricated on a CMOS wafer underneath. The nanostructure is fabricated after the completion of the ROIC process and is integrate able with the CMOS process.