Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus, comprising a sensor array in which a plurality of sensor units are arranged and a driving unit for driving the sensor array, wherein each sensor unit includes u detection element for detecting radiation and a sampling unit configured to be able to sample a signal from the detection element, the sampling unit is connected to a signal line configured to propagate a signal from the detection element, the driving unit uses the sampling unit to perform a first sampling driving operation and a second sampling driving operation to sample the signal propagating through the signal line, and the driving unit starts the second sampling driving operation before the completion of the first sampling driving operation and completes the second sampling driving operation after the completion of the first sampling driving operation.

Abstract: A first photodiode is integrated within at least a first layer of one or more semiconductor layers, the first photodiode comprising an active area optically coupled to a guided mode of a first waveguide to couple the first photodiode to an optical distribution network. One or more associated photodiodes are associated with the first photodiode integrated within at least the first layer in proximity to the first photodiode. An active area of a single associated photodiode or a sum of active areas of multiple associated photodiodes is substantially equal to the active area of the first photodiode. None of the associated photodiodes is coupled to the optical distribution network. Electrical circuitry is configured to generate a signal that represents a difference between (1) a signal derived from the first photodiode and (2) a signal derived from a single associated photodiode or a sum of signals derived from multiple associated photodiodes.

Abstract: An optical device includes two prisms and a beamsplitter configuration. A first of the prisms has a first surface associated with a source and a second surface oblique to the first surface. A second of the prisms has a first surface associated with a detector and a second surface oblique to the first surface. The second surface of the first prism overlaps with the second surface of the second prism to define an interface region that partially extends along at least one of the second surfaces. The prisms are optically attached at the interface region, and the beamsplitter configuration overlies the interface region. A beam emitted by the source propagates through the prisms along two optical paths and reaches the detector as two coherent beams. Beams that propagate along the two optical paths are reflected from the beamsplitter configuration and transmitted by the beamsplitter configuration exactly once.

Abstract: An optical device includes two prisms and a beamsplitter configuration. A first of the prisms has a first surface associated with a source and a second surface oblique to the first surface. A second of the prisms has a first surface associated with a detector and a second surface oblique to the first surface. The second surface of the first prism overlaps with the second surface of the second prism to define an interface region that partially extends along at least one of the second surfaces. The prisms are optically attached at the interface region, and the beamsplitter configuration overlies the interface region. A beam emitted by the source propagates through the prisms along two optical paths and reaches the detector as two coherent beams. Beams that propagate along the two optical paths are reflected from the beamsplitter configuration and transmitted by the beamsplitter configuration exactly once.

Abstract: An optical encoder is provided. The encoder includes an optical disc mounted on a shaft, the optical disc containing pit and land markings; an optical pickup unit for an optical disc that receives light from the optical disc and supplies as an output an electrical signal representative of the received light, comprising: a reading head objective lens, and dynamic steering actuators that control the focus and tracking of the reading head objective lens; a processor that receives as an input the electrical signal from the optical pickup unit and reports motion of the substrate based on the received at least one electrical signal.

Abstract: An optical coupling device can couple incident light from a fiber into waveguides, but can reduce the coupling of return light from the waveguides into the fiber. A Faraday rotator layer can rotate by forty-five degrees, with a first handedness, respective planes of polarization of incident beams, and can rotate by forty-five degrees, with a second handedness opposite the first handedness, respective planes of polarization of return beams. A redirection layer can include at least one grating coupler that can redirect an incident beam of one polarization so that the redirected path extends within the redirection layer toward a first waveguide, and can redirect an incident beam of an opposite polarization so that the redirected path extends within the redirection layer toward a second waveguide. An optional birefringent layer can spatially separate incident beam having different polarizations, so that two single-polarization grating couplers can be used.

Abstract: A system and method with AC coupling that reserves photodiode bandwidth in a biased configuration, allows optimal transimpedance amplifier performance, retains DC signal measurement capability, and does not introduce noise into the balanced detection signal.

Abstract: There is provided a lens barrel in which is mounted an actuator of a larger size than in a lens barrel of the same size, and with which a lens having a larger mass can be driven. A lens barrel 100 comprises a linear actuator 310 that is disposed more to the outer peripheral side than the outer peripheral surface of a focus lens unit 220, and has two permanent magnets 313, a yoke unit, and a coil 315; and the focus lens unit 220 that holds a focus lens 221 and is driven back and forth along the optical axis direction. The permanent magnets 313 are disposed substantially in parallel and spaced apart, with the same poles facing each other. The yoke unit includes a center yoke portion 316, a back yoke portion 317, and a yoke 318 that magnetically couples the center yoke portion 316 and the back yoke portion 317.

Abstract: A measuring device includes an illuminating unit arranged to project an illuminating light beam on a surface of a target object so as to form an illuminated region on the surface, an image sensor, and focusing optics arranged to form a focused spot on the image sensor by focusing light reflected from the illuminated region such that the position of the spot depends on the height of the surface with respect to a reference plane, wherein the device is configured to determine a height of the surface from a detected position of the focused spot, and wherein the normal of the image sensor is inclined with respect to the optical axis of the focusing optics.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual grating sensor having at least two double-sided grating structures for detecting the properties of an analyte. The dual grating sensor includes a substrate, a waveguide layer which is formed on the substrate and has at least two double-sided grating structures, and an upper cover configured on the waveguide layer, wherein a channel is formed between the upper cover and the waveguide layer for the analyte to flow therethrough. A light couples into the waveguide layer via the first double-sided grating structure, transmits in the waveguide layer, and couples out of the waveguide layer via the second double-sided grating structure, such that the properties of the analyte can be detected according to the change of the light intensities of the emergent light. The sensitivity of the dual grating sensor has an additive effect when the light passes through the first double-sided grating structure and the second double-sided grating structure.

Abstract: An optical information processing device writes and reads information on an information recording medium having recording layers. The optical information processing device includes: first and second light sources; a light condensing element that condenses light from the first and second light sources on the medium; a first photodetector that receives light reflected by the medium after being emitted from the first light source and generates a first focusing error signal; a second photodetector that receives light reflected by the medium after being emitted from the second light source and generates a second focusing error signal; and a focusing control circuit that controls the light condensing element by using the first focusing error signal in such a manner that the light from the second light source is condensed on each of the recording layers. The second focusing error signal is used to add a correction to the focusing control circuit.

Abstract: An optical system is provided and includes a light-sensing element, at least one optical lens, a reflecting unit and a first driving assembly. The reflecting unit includes a reflecting surface, configured to receive an incident light and to reflect a reflecting light. The reflecting light travels through the optical lens into the light-sensing element. The first driving assembly is configured to control the reflecting unit to move along a first axis direction, so as to adjust a focus position of the reflecting light on the light-sensing element.

Abstract: An integrated optical beam steering device includes a planar dielectric lens that collimates beams from different inputs in different directions within the lens plane. It also includes an output coupler, such as a grating or photonic crystal, that guides the collimated beams in different directions out of the lens plane. A switch matrix controls which input port is illuminated and hence the in-plane propagation direction of the collimated beam. And a tunable light source changes the wavelength to control the angle at which the collimated beam leaves the plane of the substrate. The device is very efficient, in part because the input port (and thus in-plane propagation direction) can be changed by actuating only log2 N of the N switches in the switch matrix. It can also be much simpler, smaller, and cheaper because it needs fewer control lines than a conventional optical phased array with the same resolution.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes a light source device providing incident light to a substrate, an objective lens receiving reflection light reflected from the substrate, a light splitting device disposed over the objective lens, first and second optical sensors disposed at both sides of the light splitting device, respectively, and first and second spatial filters disposed between the first optical sensor and the substrate and between the second optical sensor and the substrate, respectively. The first and second spatial filters transmit the reflection light in different forms from each other.

Abstract: A solution for packaging an optoelectronic device by aligning an optical element with respect to the package is provided. After initial placement of the optical element on the device package, an emitted light pattern can be measured and compared to a target light pattern. Subsequently, the position of the optical element can be adjusted. The emitted light pattern can be repeatedly compared to the target light pattern until the emitted light pattern is within an acceptable range of error and the optical element can be secured to the device package.

Abstract: A neural imaging system may include an imaging array, an image data processor operably coupled to the imaging array to process image data received from the imaging array, and a beam angle separator disposed between the imaging array and an object being imaged. The beam angle separator may be configured to separate an object beam reflected from the object being imaged into a plurality of reference beams each having different angular separation with respect to the object beam. The image data processor may be configured to generate image data of the object for each one of the reference beams to correspond to a respective different depth within the object.

Abstract: Adaptive communications focal plane arrays that may be implemented in, e.g., a specially-configured camera that can be utilized to receive and/or process information in the form of optical beams are presented. A specialized focal plane array (FPA) having a plurality of optical detectors is utilized, where one or more optical detectors are suppressed such that data is not allowed to be output from the one or more suppressed optical detectors, and only a significantly smaller number or subset of optical detectors receiving optical beams are allowed to output data. In this way, the rate at which data is to be output by an adaptive communications FPA (ACFPA) can be significantly reduced.

Abstract: A signal is monitored that provides an indicator of disturbance affecting a hard disk drive. In response to determining that the indicator of the disturbance satisfies a threshold, a lattice recursive least squares computation is applied to the signal to determine at least one notch frequency. A notch filter is formed using the at least one notch frequency. The notch filter is used by a servo controller loop that positions a read/write head over a disk of the hard disk drive. The notch filter is applied to the servo control loop for subsequent positioning of the read/write head.

Abstract: A circuit system includes a current sensor circuit, a subtractor circuit, a multiplier circuit, and a divider circuit. The current sensor circuit generates a current sense signal that indicates a current through an inductor. The circuit system generates a current value based on the current sense signal. The subtractor circuit determines a voltage difference across the inductor. The multiplier circuit multiplies the voltage difference by a time period that the voltage difference is applied across the inductor to generate a product. The divider circuit divides the product by the current value to generate an estimated inductance of the inductor.

Abstract: In some aspects, a flow cytometer system is provided that includes beam shaping optics positioned to manipulate a light beam and produce a resulting light beam that irradiates the core stream at the interrogation zone of the flow cell. The beam shaping optics include an acylindrical lens positioned to receive and focus light in a direction of a first axis orthogonal to a direction of light travel, and a cylindrical lens positioned to receive the light output from the acylindrical lens and to focus the light output from the acylindrical lens in a direction of a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and to the direction of light travel. The resulting light beam output has a flat-top shaped intensity profile along the first axis, and a Gaussian-shaped intensity profile along the second axis. Related methods of shaping a light beam at an interrogation zone of a flow cell are also provided.

Abstract: An optical assembly is provided. The optical assembly includes a light transmitting terminal, a light receiving terminal, an optical component located between the light transmitting terminal and the light receiving terminal, a collimating unit located between the optical component and the light transmitting terminal, and a focusing unit located between the optical component and the light receiving terminal. The collimating unit includes a first lens located between the optical component and the light transmitting terminal, and a field lens located between the first lens and the optical component and configured to absorb an alignment error between the light transmitting terminal and the first lens. The focusing unit includes a second lens located between the optical component and the light receiving terminal.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus 10 includes an imaging panel 11 formed by arranging imaging element units 20 included in one pixel or a plurality of pixels, in a two-dimensional matrix form. Each of the imaging element units 20 includes an imaging element 30 which converts an incident electromagnetic wave to a current, and a current/voltage conversion circuit 40A which converts the current from the imaging element to a voltage.

Abstract: A light receiver has a shield wall disposed facing a part of a near-side light-receiving face of a light receiving element from an end opposite from a far-side light-receiving face. The shield wall blocks a portion of reflection light from a detection object located at a distance at which the detection object reflects reflection light that causes an amount of light received by the light receiving element to be larger than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: Multifunction autofocus for automated microscopy includes automatic coarse focusing of an automated microscope by reflective positioning, followed by automatic image-based autofocusing of the automated microscope performed in reference to a coarse focus position. In some aspects, the image-based autofocusing utilizes astigmatism in microscope optics for multi-planar image acquisition along a Z axis direction of a microscope. In some other aspects, the image-based autofocusing utilizes astigmatism in microscope optics in combination with chromatic aberration for multi-planar image acquisition along the Z axis direction.

Abstract: An optical lens assembly, which has an optical axis, includes, at least one dual molded lens element having two plastic parts with different colors. The dual molded lens element includes a transparent portion and a light absorbing portion, wherein the transparent portion has an optical effective region. The dual molded lens element has an outer diameter surface connecting a first side surface and a second side surface of the dual molded lens element, the transparent portion is arranged from an optical effective region of the dual molded lens element to the outer diameter surface and surrounds the dual molded lens element, thus the transparent portion is a part of the outer diameter surface, and the light absorbing portion is located on one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the dual molded lens element.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides a method that improves SMR throughput in vibration in storage systems. In one implementation, the method comprises receiving a write command to write data on a first track in a band of a storage medium, performing a vibration detection scheme to identify vibration events, determining if a number of vibration events is above a predetermined threshold, skipping the first track responsive to determining the number of vibration events is above a predetermined threshold, seeking to a second track adjacent to the first track, increasing an OCLIM on the second track adjacent to the first track from a default OCLIM to an increased OCLIM, and shifting the writer center on the second track adjacent to the first track.

Abstract: An optical method of displaying an expanded color image comprising extracting from input light bearing said colored image a first spectral portion and a second spectral portion such that together the two portions contain sufficient information for the image to be displayed in substantially its original colors, separately expanding the two spectral portions each in two dimensions and recombining the expanded spectral portions to display the expanded color image.

Abstract: A CPU detects an image displacement amount using a signal acquired from an image sensor and converts a defocus amount using a conversion factor. The CPU predicts a future image-plane position of a moving object based on data on the defocus amount, time and a lens position. The CPU corrects the conversion factor using the data. The CPU predicts the future image-plane position of the moving object using the corrected conversion factor.

Abstract: A servo includes a servo casing, a servo cover connected to the servo casing, a circuit board, a light emitting member, and a light guide. The servo cover and the servo casing defines a receiving space. The circuit board is received in the receiving space. The light emitting member is arranged on the circuit board and electrically coupled to the circuit board. The light emitting member is capable of emitting light according to signals indicative of a motion state from the circuit board. The light guide includes a light incident surface that is located adjacent to the light emitting member, and a light exit surface that is exposed to an external surface of the servo cover.

Abstract: An LED driver includes a current driver receiving a reference voltage providing a charging current for driving channel output(s) of an LED panel. A pre-charge circuit includes a voltage selector having a first and second select input, a control input receiving a pre-charge voltage select signal based on a next ON/OFF state that is after a current sub-period, and a voltage selector output for switchably outputting a higher voltage level (V_H) when the next state is OFF and a lower level (V_L) when the next state ON. An enable circuit has an enable input receiving an enable signal active during a break time of the current sub-period for driving the channel output when enabled with a pre-charge current to V_H or a relatively higher voltage level when the next state is OFF, and to V_L or a relatively lower voltage level when the next state is ON.

Abstract: An image capturing system comprises a first image capturing module, a second image capturing module and a depth map processing/generating device. The first image capturing module having a first lens, a first aperture and a first image sensor generates a first image corresponding to a first optical-wavelength range. The second image capturing module having a second lens, a second aperture, a third aperture and a second image sensor generates a second image of the first optical-wavelength range and a third image of a second optical-wavelength range. The depth map processing/generating device generates a first depth map according to the parallax of the scene observed in the first image and the second image, and generates a second depth map according to the difference/ratio of sharpness/blur between the second image and the third image, therefore wider range of resolving the object distance and accuracy of the image could be both considered.

Abstract: A three-dimensional mounting method for successively laminating N number of upper-layer joining materials includes positioning a first upper-layer joining material relative to a lowermost-layer joining material by recognizing an alignment position of the lowermost-layer joining material and a lower face alignment position of the first upper-layer joining material by a two-field image recognition unit, storing positional coordinates of the alignment position of the lowermost-layer joining material, positioning an (n+1)-th upper-layer joining material relative to an n-th upper-layer joining material by recognizing an upper face alignment position of the n-th upper-layer joining material and a lower face alignment position of the (n+1)-th upper-layer joining material, storing positional coordinates of the upper face alignment position of the n-th upper-layer joining material, recognizing an upper face alignment position of the N-th uppermost-layer joining material, and storing positional coordinates of the upper

Abstract: An optical lens assembly, which has an optical axis, includes, at least one dual molded lens element having two plastic parts with different colors. The dual molded lens element includes a transparent portion and a light absorbing portion, wherein the transparent portion has an optical effective region. The dual molded lens element has an outer diameter surface connecting a first side surface and a second side surface of the dual molded lens element, the transparent portion is arranged from an optical effective region of the dual molded lens element to the outer diameter surface and surrounds the dual molded lens element, thus the transparent portion is a part of the outer diameter surface, and the light absorbing portion is located on one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the dual molded lens element.

Abstract: An aberration correction device (3) corrects wave front aberration arising in an optical system that includes an object lens (4) disposed in an optical path for light beams output by a coherent light source (1). The aberration correction device (3) has a symmetrical aberration correction element (3a) that corrects symmetrical aberrations, which are the wave front aberrations that are symmetrical with respect to the optical axis among the wave front aberrations generated in the optical path, and an asymmetrical aberration correction element (3b) that corrects asymmetrical aberrations, which are wave front aberrations that are asymmetrical with respect to the optical axis, generated in light beams incident obliquely on the object lens (4).

Abstract: A 3D localization microscopy system, 4D localization microscopy system, or an emitter tracking system arranged to cause a phase difference between light passing to or from one part of the objective relative to light passing to or from another part of the objective, to produce a point emitter image which comprises two lobes, a separation between which is related to the position of the emitter relative to the objective of the imaging system, and in the 4D system a further property of which image or of said light to or from the objective is related to another location independent property of the emitter.

Abstract: An optical signal emitter includes a transmitting lens; a lens supporting portion, extending from an edge of the transmitting lens to defined a containing space surrounded by the transmitting lens and the lens supporting portion; a lens carrier, for carrying the transmitting lens and the lens supporting portion, wherein a coupling surface is defined on the lens carrier and at least a part of the lens supporting portion is coplanar with the lens carrier with respect to the coupling surface; a light transmitter, disposed in the containing space and coaxially with the transmitting lens, so as to define an light transmission path for light passing through coupling surface by an alignment between the light transmitter and the transmitting lens; at least one engagement portion, disposed on the coupling surface; at least one magnet, disposed on the lens carrier.

Abstract: Technology for detecting a change in a configuration position of one or more elements in an illumination system is described. A light source generates an illumination signal, and an element of the system directs a portion of the light of the signal back to a light detector. In one example, the portion of light is reflected back to the light detector. By monitoring an output signal of the light detector based on the directed light, control circuitry can detect that a position of an element of the system has changed. In one example, an off-the-shelf integrated circuit laser diode package including a monitor photodiode can be used with a reflective element. In one example, the reflective element is a tilted optical element. Changes can be detected in the configuration of one or more optical elements of the illumination system which are outside the laser diode package.

Abstract: A fluorescence detection device includes: a light source that emits excitation light in a first direction; a base unit (30) to which the light source is attached; an opening (30a) that is provided on a side in the first direction of the base unit (30) with respect to the light source; a cantilever (31) that is cantilevered to the base unit (30) to extend from an inner edge of the opening (30a) toward a center side of the opening (30a); an optical path conversion unit (20) that is fixed to a free end of the cantilever (31), converts a traveling direction of the excitation light emitted from the light source into a second direction different from the first direction, and irradiates a measurement object with the excitation light turned in the second direction; and a photodetection element that is disposed on a side of the opening (30a) opposite to the measurement object and detects fluorescence passing through the opening (30a) in fluorescence emitted from the measurement object irradiated with the excitation li

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided that may facilitate multibeam coherent detection and/or speckle mitigation. For example, some embodiments provide for multiple simultaneous independent speckle realizations in light reflected from an actively illuminated target while also may simultaneously provide reference beams inherently aligned to each speckle. These tools and techniques may facilitate coherent detection of light returned from a target. In some cases, this may provide the basis for substantial speckle mitigation. With the addition of illumination phase or frequency modulation and/or intelligent algorithmic methods, some designs may utilize the multiple speckle returns to actively mitigate speckle noise, and can further be used to separately measure speckle phase to implement interferometric resolution surface tilt measurement and/or surface imaging. These tools and techniques may be utilized for other purposes related to multibeam coherent detection and/or speckle mitigation.

Abstract: Provided is a reproducing apparatus including: an optical system that obtains a signal light by radiating light emitted from a light source and generates a reference light from the light emitted from the light source, with respect to a recording medium, and that generates first to fourth groups of the signal light beams and the reference light beams, with respect to the superposed light in which the signal light and the reference light are superposed onto each other; a light receiving unit that receives light beams of the first to fourth groups of the signal light beams and the reference light beams respectively through first to fourth light receiving elements; and a reproduction signal generation circuit that calculates a first differential signal and a second differential signal, and that generates a reproduction signal by performing an arithmetic operation using the first and second differential signals.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes a light emitting device, a first lens, a second lens, a light receiving device, and an inspection device. The light emitting device emits a light beam. The first lens is disposed such that an optical axis thereof extends in one direction and changes divergence of the light beam having been emitted from the light emitting device and passing therethrough. The second lens is disposed such that an optical axis of the second lens extends in the one direction. The light beam having exited the first lens and passing through the second lens is condensed on the inspection object by the second lens. The light receiving device is disposed between the first lens and the second lens and receives at least part of the reflected light beam. The inspection device detects a reflection characteristic in accordance with a result of light reception.

Abstract: A method of making an energy-assisted magnetic recording apparatus is provided. The method comprises the step of aligning a first wafer including a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) with a second wafer including a plurality of magnetic recording heads, such that an emitting region of each of the plurality of VCSELs is disposed over a light redirecting structure of a corresponding one of the plurality of magnetic recording heads. The method further comprises the step of bonding the first wafer to the second wafer.

Abstract: Processing a two dimensional (2D) barcode using a mobile telecommunications terminal having an image scanner includes obtaining a scanned image of the 2D barcode from the image scanner, decoding the image to obtain data, including a web address, and associating an identifier with the decoded web address, such that the identifier is identifiable by a remote proxy server to obtain information relating to the use of the barcode. A browser of the mobile terminal transmits a web page request including the decoded web address and the identifier. The web page request may be identified as originating from a 2D barcode at a server in a mobile telecommunications network. The request is received from a mobile terminal, an inserted identifier is identified in the request, and a record is saved, the record including an identifier of the mobile terminal or a user of the mobile terminal and the web page address.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: providing a light source unit including a laser diode; providing a slider having a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section thereon, the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section including a magnetic pole, an optical waveguide, and a plasmon generator, the magnetic pole and the optical waveguide both extending toward an air bearing surface, the plasmon generator being located between the magnetic pole and the optical waveguide; driving the laser diode to allow a light beam to be emitted therefrom, the light beam including both a TE polarization component and a TM polarization component; performing an alignment between the light source unit and the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head section, based on a light intensity distribution of the TE polarization component in the light beam which has been emitted from the laser diode and then passed through the optical waveguide; and bonding the light source unit

Abstract: The present invention relates to a apparatus for quantitative continuous real-time monitoring to monitor a continuous reaction of biochemical reagent and the reaction, such as DNA. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a miniaturized apparatus for real-time monitoring of biochemical reaction, which comprises capillary tubes (100) wherein biochemical reaction mixture flow; a thermal conduction block (120) which is coiled with capillary tube several rounds in order and composed of several blocks for temperature control of which temperatures are different from each other for heating or cooling the biochemical reaction mixture which flow in capillary tube, and a temperature controller which controls the temperature of above temperature control block; a radiation part (130) to radiate the reaction mixture flowing through the capillary tube and a light receiving section (140) which receives and measures the intensity of the fluorescence generated from the capillary tubes.

Abstract: There is herein described a Transmedian Storage and Transfer Device (TSTD) that will provide a more useful system for information storage, retrieval, and computation. This is achieved by increasing the speed and storage capacity beyond that provided by existing computers and related systems. To obtain these benefits, the TSTD utilizes a spherical surface for information storage along with a system detector that can be point-like, line-like, or spherical. Further more, multiple spheres can be incorporated into the TSTD thus resulting in a sphere matrix.

Abstract: A system includes an objective lens, an imaging module, and a measurement module. The objective lens is configured to receive light emitted by a light source, focus the emitted light onto a target object, and receive light reflected by the target object. The imaging module is configured to receive a first portion of the reflected light. The measurement module is configured to receive a second portion of the reflected light and includes a photo detector and an astigmatic lens configured to direct the second beam onto the photo detector.

Abstract: A photodetector detecting reflected light components from an optical medium, the photodetector including a first detector divided into eight sections detecting the reflected light components and converting the light components into electrical signals, a first calculating portion calculating a first tracking error signal from the electrical signals by a differential push-pull method, a second calculating portion calculating a first focusing error signal by an astigmatism method and calculating a second tracking error signal by a differential phase detection method from the electrical signals converted by the first detector; a second detector divided into four sections detecting the reflected light components reflected by the optical recording medium to convert the light components into electrical signals; and a third calculating portion calculating a second focusing error signal by the astigmatism method and calculating a third tracking error signal by the differential phase detection method from the electrica

Abstract: An autofocus imaging apparatus (200) for three-dimensional imaging on a surface of a flexible media mounted on a cylindrical drum (104) includes a carriage (210) which moves parallel to a surface of the drum and an imaging stage (208) mounted on the carriage. The imaging stage includes a displacement sensor (112) for measuring a distance to the surface of the flexible media; imaging optics (216) for producing a three-dimensional image on the flexible media; and an autofocus drive (220) for changing a focus of the imaging optics. Encoders (256, 260) provide data on the drum and carriage position. A controller (116) receives and processes data from the displacement sensor and the encoders. A computer (236) receives data from the controller, processes controller data, and transmits instructions to the controller. The controller receives computer instructions and transmits focus commands to the autofocus drive or the imaging stage.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing apparatus is provided, including a container, a display, a control unit and an optical film. The container contains a photosensitive material. The display has a plurality of display units. Each of the display units is capable of emitting a light beam. The control unit is capable of controlling the display units. The optical film is capable of projecting the light beams emitted from the display units onto the photosensitive material, forming a plurality of projected patterns. An arranging sequence and an arranging direction of the projected patterns are substantially the same as an arranging sequence and an arranging direction of the display units.