Abstract: A driver circuit outputs a result of classifying and counting photons based on one or more energy levels to a column line. The driver circuit includes a multiplexer for receiving the result from a counter, a driving inverter for receiving a signal from the multiplexer and a power supply, and a switch connected between the power supply and an input terminal of the driving inverter.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device includes a packaged part and a core component. The core component includes a chip subcarrier and an optoelectronic chip. The device also includes a connecting plate that forms a coplanar waveguide transmission line together with the ground through a high-frequency transmission line and an isolation dielectric. The coplanar waveguide transmission line and a low-frequency line are connected to the packaged part and the core component and are configured to transmit a high-frequency signal and a low-frequency signal between the packaged part and the core component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe providing a compact solution to provide high dynamic range imaging (HDRI or simply HDR) for an imaging pixel by utilizing a control node for resetting a floating diffusion node to a reference voltage value and for selectively transferring an image charge from a photosensitive element to a readout node. Embodiments of the invention further describe control node to have to a plurality of different capacitance regions to selectively increase the overall capacitance of the floating diffusion node. This variable capacitance of the floating diffusion node increases the dynamic range of the imaging pixel, thereby providing HDR for the host imaging system, as well as increasing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the imaging system.

Abstract: There is provided a light detector having a light-receiving unit including a light-receiving element of a photon-counting type that receives incident light and outputs a binary pulse indicating presence or absence of photon incidence, and an integrating unit that calculates an output value in which a total of pulse widths of pulses is integrated over a measurement period.

Abstract: A sub pixel includes a photodetector and a column line output circuit. The photodetector is configured to output an electrical signal based on a detected amount of photons. The column line output circuit is configured to generate an output signal based on the electrical signal. The output signal is one of a current from a current source and a comparison signal indicative of binary output data.

Abstract: The disclosed scanner allows detecting decay time characteristics of light emitted by a luminescent marking on an item which is transported, even at high speed, on a distribution/production line. The detection zone of the scanner's light sensor has a shape elongated along a path of the moving item, and the responsivity of the light sensor, within the wavelength range of the emitted luminescence light, is uniform over the detection zone. The control unit of the scanner is further operable to adapt the drive current, or drive voltage, powering its excitation light source to accordingly adapt the intensity of the excitation light delivered to the marking so that its light sensor can reliably measure the corresponding luminescence light response, and thus accurately determine a corresponding decay time value.

Abstract: A quantum-yield measurement device 1 comprises a dark box 5; a light generation unit, having a light exit part 7, for generating the pumping light L1; a light detection unit, having a light entrance part 11, for detecting light to be measured L2; an integrating sphere 14, having a light entrance opening 15 for the light L1 to enter and a light exit opening 16 for the light L2 to exit; and a movement mechanism 30 for moving the sphere 14 within the box 5 such that a container 3 attains each of a first state of being located inside of the sphere 14 and a second state of being located outside of the sphere 14 and, causing the opening 15 and opening 16 to oppose the part 7 and part 11, respectively, in the first state.

Abstract: An image sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. The image sensor includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units that are horizontally arranged and selectively emit electric signals by absorbing color beams.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging device including: a pixel unit including a pixel disposed in a plane and a driving unit. The pixel includes an accumulating section configured to detect a physical quantity, and accumulate a charge corresponding to the physical quantity, a transfer section configured to transfer the charge from the accumulating section, a converting section configured to convert the charge into a voltage, an output section configured to output a signal of the voltage converted by the converting section, a reset section configured to reset the potential of the converting section, and a connecting section connected to the converting section. The driving unit is configured to transfer a signal for giving an instruction to transfer the charge, and a connecting signal for controlling connection and non-connection. The driving unit makes the charge transferred in a state of the converting sections being connected to each other.

Abstract: A method and system for optoelectronic receivers utilizing waveguide heterojunction phototransistors (HPTs) integrated in a CMOS SOI wafer are disclosed and may include receiving optical signals via a top surface of a photonically-enabled CMOS chip; and generating electrical signals in the chip utilizing one or more HPTs that detect optical signals. The HPTs may comprise a base and a split collector, with the split collector comprising a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer and a germanium layer. The thickness of the germanium layer may be such that carriers in the base do not interact with defects from an interface between the SOI layer and the germanium layer. The electrical signals may be amplified by amplifiers, the outputs of which may be utilized to bias the HPTs by a feedback network. An electrode formed longitudinally in the direction of light travel through the HPTs may bias the base of the HPTs.

Abstract: A photo sensor capable of reducing the distortion of signals output from the photo sensor to output a correct measured value and an organic light emitting display using the same. The organic light emitting display includes a pixel unit formed on a transparent substrate to display an image in response to scan signals and data signals, a scan driver generating the scan signals to transmit the scan signals to the pixel unit, a data driver generating the data signals to transmit the data signals to the pixel unit, and a photo sensor including a sensing unit sensing brightness of ambient light to output a sensing signal and a control unit for receiving the sensing signal to output a brightness control signal for controlling brightness of the image.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a first electrode, a second electrode with a first opening portion, a light blocking layer with a second opening portion, an organic EL layer including a light emitting unit and being formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a light receiving unit. The light blocking layer is positioned in the first electrode or between the first electrode and the second electrode, and in plan view from the subject side, the light blocking layer overlaps the first opening portion and the second opening portion is positioned within the first opening portion, and the light receiving unit is positioned further from the subject side than the second electrode, and in plan view from the subject side, the light receiving unit is positioned within the second opening portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a radiation detector comprising a pixel element, the pixel element comprising: a first diode element having a node capacitance associated therewith, the element being operable to pass electrical charge therethrough between terminals thereof in response to incident radiation; and an auxiliary charge storage reservoir, wherein the detector is operable by means of charge transfer between the auxiliary charge storage reservoir and a first terminal of the first diode element to reduce a rate at which an electrical potential VX of the first terminal changes in response to a cumulative amount of incident radiation.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) circuit; and an adjustment voltage generator. The CDS circuit has a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The first capacitor has a first electrode and a second electrode. The second capacitor has a third electrode and a fourth electrode. The CDS circuit is configured to hold a voltage corresponding to light intensity as a signal voltage. The adjustment voltage generator is configured to supply an adjustment voltage to the CDS circuit. A first signal voltage is supplied to the first electrode, and a second signal voltage is supplied to the third electrode. The second electrode and the fourth electrode are commonly connected and supplied with the adjustment voltage from the adjustment voltage generator.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device comprises a p-type region, an n-type buried layer formed under the p-type region, an element isolation region, and a channel stop region which covers at least a lower portion of the element isolation region, wherein the p-type region and the buried layer form a photodiode, and a diffusion coefficient of a dominant impurity of the channel stop region is smaller than a diffusion coefficient of a dominant impurity of the buried layer.

Abstract: The imaging device includes a sensor substrate, a light-blocking substrate, a light-collecting substrate, a sealing material, and a light-transmitting member. The light-transmitting member includes a light-transmitting base disposed to be in contact with either the sensor substrate or the light-blocking substrate, and a light-transmitting resin which is filled between the base and the sensor substrate or the light-blocking substrate. A void is formed in at least a part of a space between the sealing material and the light-transmitting member.

Abstract: The invention provides an ambient light sensing device and an ambient light sensing method. The ambient light sensing device includes at least one pixel, a read out circuit, and a combination unit. The invention detects ambient light to obtain plural lower resolution exposure values corresponding to different dynamic ranges respectively, and combines the plural lower resolution exposure values to generate a higher resolution code combination, indicating the result of ambient light detection.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable handheld characteristic analyzer used to analyze chemical compositions in or near real-time. The analyzer may include a portable housing, at least one optical computing device arranged within the portable housing for monitoring a sample, the at least one optical computing device having at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the sample and thereby generate optically interacted light, at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the sample, and a signal processor communicably coupled to the at least one detector for receiving the output signal, the signal processor being configured to determine the characteristic of the sample and provide a resulting output signal indicative of the characteristic of the sample.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section that forms an image on a recording material, a human detecting device that detects a person including an optical sensing unit that converts only an upward light of incident light to the optical sensing unit to an electric signal, and a controller unit that controls the image forming section based on the electric signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring a card slot is provided. The apparatus is for monitoring a card slot for the presence of unauthorised objects or devices and comprises a photon coupled interrupter having a light source configured for placement at a first side of the card slot to be monitored, the light source being configured to emit light across the card slot; a light sensor configured for placement at a side of the card slot opposite to the first side, the light sensor being configured to sense light from the light source that has propagated across the card slot; and control circuitry for controlling the light source to emit light and for determining the presence of an object or device in the card slot from a signal output from the light sensor.

Abstract: An imaging system has an imager comprising a plurality of jots. A readout circuit is in electrical communication with the imager. The readout circuit can be configured to facilitate the formation of an image by defining neighborhoods of the jots, wherein a local density of exposed jots within a neighborhood is used to generate a digital value for a pixel of the image.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus including a detector comprising a detecting unit and a reading circuit, the detecting unit including pixels, each of which including a conversion element, the reading circuit which includes a connecting unit that is electrically connected to a signal wire transferring an electric signal and that electrically connects the signal wire to a node, and which performs a reading operation to output the electric signal from the pixel. A control unit controls an operation of the reading circuit, and a sensing unit senses the end of radiation irradiation based on an output of the reading circuit, which is acquired during the period of an accumulation operation of the detector. The control unit starts establishing the electrical connection between the signal wire and the node through the connecting unit based on the sensed irradiation end, and retains the electrical connection until the start of the reading operation.

Abstract: A position detecting system, which comprises: a position information providing apparatus, comprising a light emitting-out side, having at least one position information region distributed on an outer surface of the light emitting-out side, wherein light has position information from the position information region when the light emits out from at least part of the light emitting-out side; a transceiver, for receiving the light with the position information; and a processor, for determining a relative position between the transceiver and the position information providing apparatus according to the position information received by the transceiver.

Abstract: A single-photon receiver and method for detecting a single-photon are presented. The receiver comprises a SPAD that receives a gating signal having a fundamental frequency in the 100 MHz to multiple GHz range. The receiver further comprises a two-stage frequency filter for filtering the output of the SPAD, wherein the filter has: (1) a notch filter response at the fundamental frequency; and (2) a low-pass filter response whose cutoff frequency is less than the first harmonic of the fundamental frequency. As a result, the frequency filter removes substantially all the frequency components in the SPAD output without significant degradation of the signal quality but with reduced complexity, cost, and footprint requirement relative to receivers in the prior art.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel the conformist single pixel of a larger array. The image sensor pixel can be a large one, such as larger than 100 ?m. The image sensor pixel has readout notes on multiple sides thereof, e.g. on to work for sides, that are symmetrically located on the pixel. The readout notes are simultaneously read out to read out a part of the image from the pixel.

Abstract: A method and circuit for injecting charge into a circuit node, comprising (a) resetting a capacitor's voltage through a first transistor; (b) after the resetting, pre-charging the capacitor through the first transistor; and (c) after the pre-charging, further charging the capacitor through a second transistor, wherein the second transistor is connected between the capacitor and a circuit node, and the further charging draws charge through the second transistor from the circuit node, thereby injecting charge into the circuit node.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a photodetector system including a multi-junction detector having a first junction configured to generate a first current when irradiated with a first optical radiation component within a first spectral range, and at least a second junction configured to generate a second current when irradiated with a second optical radiation component within a second spectral range that is different than the first spectral range. The photodetector system also comprises a microprocessor adapted to generate a first indication related to a first characteristic of the first optical radiation component based on the first current, and generate a second indication related to a second characteristic of the second optical radiation component based on the second current.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a proximity sensing method for proximity sensing unit in a mobile device. The proximity sensing method comprises steps of comparing a sensed value of the proximity sensing unit with a predetermined offset value or a first predetermined range to determine if the sensed value is smaller than the predetermined offset value or if the sensed value is within the first predetermined range; and providing an offset value for confirming if an object is near the mobile device according to the determination that if the sensed value is smaller than the predetermined offset value or within the first predetermined range.

Abstract: A photodetector including: a photodiode having a body made of semiconductor material delimited by a first surface, the body forming a first electrode region; a dielectric region, set on top of the first surface and delimited by a second surface; at least one channel extending within the dielectric region, starting from the second surface; and a first metallization, which is set on top of the second surface and is in electrical contact with the first electrode region.

Abstract: Numerous embodiments of interactive control systems, methods of making the same, and devices incorporating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a light-resistant material; light-transmissive holes penetrating in a light-transmissive pattern through the light resistant material; and a lens disposed adjacent to the light-transmissive pattern.

Abstract: An optical level sensor (1) includes: mounting means (11) mounting the sensor (1) to a ceiling of the tank (9); a sensor tube (12, 12.1) provided with support and guidance elements (4) extending with at least three radially distributed positions inside the tank (9) and which collect support and guide optical fibers (3, 3.3, 3.4) to different heights of the tank (9), with each optical fiber (3) having a number of input sides (3.3) and a number of turns forming sensor heads between two input sides (3.3), for a different level (19); the corresponding support and guidance element (4) bending the fiber (3, 3.3, 3.4) in turns forming sensor heads of a small radius r around at least one corresponding guideway (4.3).

Abstract: An assembly includes a solar cell to convert light into electric power, a radio frequency (RF) transmitter to convert electric power from the solar cell to RF energy and transmit the RF energy, and a mounting interface to mount the assembly to a window or transparent surface, wherein the solar cell is oriented to receive the light through the window or transparent surface. The transmitted RF energy may be adequate to power one or more RF self-powered devices and/or may include light level information. The light level information may include a measure of the light entering through the window and/or available light in a space of the building. The light level information may be implemented as an ON/OFF signal or a measure of the light level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a single-photon counting imaging system and a single-photon counting imaging method.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for obtaining 3D information using a photodetector array. The apparatus for obtaining 3D information includes: a light source unit configured to generate an optical signal of a predetermined wavelength band; a light transmission optical lens unit provided on a path of the optical signal and configured to emit the optical signal output from the light source unit in parallel or at a predetermined angle; an optical scanning unit configured to scan the light output from the light transmission optical lens unit to a surface of an object to be measured; a light reception optical lens unit configured to collect the light reflected from the surface of the object; and a photodetection unit configured to convert collected optical signals into respective electrical signals by arraying one or more photodetectors such that light reception portions thereof are collected at a center.

Abstract: An image pickup unit includes: a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion device and a field-effect transistor; and a readout control line and a signal line that are disposed in a peripheral region of the photoelectric conversion device and are connected to the transistor. The readout control line includes a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer that are laminated and are electrically connected to each other. The first wiring layer is electrically connected to a gate electrode of the transistor, and the second wiring layer is provided in a same layer as the signal line.

Abstract: A submersible fluorometer (10), includes: an excitation module (40) for exciting the fluorophore; and a detection module (42) for detecting the light emitted by the excited fluorophore, wherein the excitation module (40) includes a first light source (44) including a first UV LED and having a first wavelength lower than 300 nm, the excitation module (40) includes a second light source (46) including a second UV LED and having a second wavelength lower than 300 nm, the first and second wavelengths being different from each other, and the fluorometer includes an electronic circuit having a plurality of printed circuits positioned one below the other.

Abstract: A method for detecting light amount uniformity is applicable to a light-emitting device including a plurality of light-emitting elements. First, the light-emitting device is placed in a sensed region of a photo-sensing apparatus. Then, the following steps are executed N times: during the nth execution, turning on the (n+i×N)th light-emitting element, where i is 0 or a positive integer, n is less than or equal to N, and n and N are positive integers; detecting light emission of the light-emitting element with the photo-sensing apparatus to produce a scanned image; and finally, comparing whether the bright spots corresponding to the light-emitting elements in the scanned images produced through the N steps are consistent, and outputting an output signal indicating whether the light-emitting device is normal or abnormal.

Abstract: A detection system for detecting a fluorescent layer formed in a fluorescent layer forming system is disclosed. The detection system of the present invention includes a light source module, a light detecting module and a light transmitting module, wherein the light source module emits a detecting light to a fluorescent layer, the detecting light is then converted by the fluorescent layer to a light to be detected, the light to be detected is received by the light detecting module, and detection data are formed. A control instruction is transmitted to the fluorescent layer forming system according to the control instruction to control the fluorescent layer forming system, such that a desired fluorescent layer is formed on an object, and optical property of fluorescent layers in each fabrication is consistent.

Abstract: A drop detector assembly is provided including an ejection element to eject a fluid drop, a light guide to selectively receive light scattered off of the fluid drop, and a light detector formed in the light guide to detect light received by the light guide.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for detecting and indicating laser radiation comprising a laser device (36) producing the laser radiation, such as rotation lasers or line lasers, and an indicating device (22) with at least one laser beam detector and at least one indicating element (26, 28, 30) which indicates the detected laser radiation. In order to precisely indicate the position of the laser radiation to be detected using uncomplicated circuitry, it is proposed that the at least one laser beam detector and the at least one indicating element are the same component in form of an LED (26, 28, 30).

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: An optical-electrical converting device includes a substrate, an electrical circuit layer, at least one auxiliary pad, and an optical-electrical converting lens. The electrical circuit layer includes at least one circuit portion. The optical-electrical lens includes at least one first supporting portion and at least one second supporting portion. Each of the at least one first supporting portion is positioned on a respective one of the at least one first circuit portion, and each of the at least one second supporting portion is positioned on a respective one of the at least one auxiliary pad. The electrical circuit layer and the at least one auxiliary pad are arranged on the substrate. The thickness of the at least one first circuit portion layer is substantially equal to the thickness of the at least one auxiliary pad.

Abstract: Provided is a photodetector including a light receiving portion that accumulates and outputs the amount of received observation light as electric charges; an offset portion that adds an offset signal to an output signal from the light receiving portion; an AD conversion portion that AD-converts the sum of the output signal and the offset signal obtained by the offset portion; a control unit that controls the AD conversion portion such that it A-D converts said sum when the light receiving portion is charged and discharged; and an offset correcting portion that corrects the offset signal by adjusting the value of the offset signal contained in the black level value such that the black level value obtained by the AD conversion portion from said sum when the capacitor is discharged becomes equal to a predetermined target value.

Abstract: A variable-wavelength interference filter includes: a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a first reflection layer provided on a surface facing the second substrate, of the first substrate; a second reflection layer which is provided on a surface facing the first substrate, of the second substrate, and faces the first reflection layer via an inter-layer gap; and an electrostatic actuator which flexes the second substrate in a direction toward the first substrate and thus changes the inter-layer gap. The first reflection layer and the second reflection layer have a reflectance characteristic showing a higher reflectance to light with a second wavelength that is shorter than a first wavelength, than a reflectance to light with the first wavelength.

Abstract: The output of an avalanche photodiode (APD) comprises a “photocurrent” component comprising photon initiated events resulting from the interaction of photons with the APD and a “dark current” component comprising dark carrier events arising in the APD even when the APD is not exposed to light. Differences in the pulse height distributions of photon initiated events and dark carrier initiated events are used to statistically discriminate between photocurrent and dark current components of APD output.

Abstract: Various systems and methods of monitoring laser safety by sensing contact of the system with a sample are provided. The system includes a focusing element for focusing an incident light from a laser light source onto a sample, an optical element having a collection zone for collecting a signal from the sample, a reflected light sensor for sensing a reflected light from the sample, wherein the reflected light sensor is located outside the collection zone of the optical element and on an inner surface of a housing of the system, an electrical circuit operably connected to the reflected light sensor and the laser light source and configured to control power to the laser light source in accordance with the reflected light sensed by the reflected light sensor and a spectral analyzer for processing the signal. Methods and other systems are also described and illustrated.

Abstract: Schemes are described to produce quasi-static charge separation, Terahertz radiation, and programmable magnetic field generation using linearly-polarized light in unbiased, transparent insulators. The methods exploit a recently-observed magneto-electric optical nonlinearity that produces intense magnetization in undoped, homogeneous dielectrics. Analysis reveals that strong magnetic effects can be induced at modest optical intensities even with incoherent light. Consequently, efficient solar power conversion is feasible without the semiconductor processing or electron-hole pair generation that is required in conventional photovoltaic cells. Additionally, conditions and techniques are described to generate intense THz radiation in unbiased substrates and large magnetic fields orientated transverse to the direction of propagation of light, without the need for any external permanent magnetic or electromagnetic apparatus.

Abstract: A light determination circuit having a laser module and a detection circuit is provided. The detection circuit comprises a threshold voltage determination unit, a comparison unit and a switch unit. The threshold voltage determination unit determines a threshold voltage corresponding to the laser module. The comparison unit is for comparing a voltage level at a first node of the laser module with the threshold voltage to output a switch signal. The switch unit is controlled by the switch signal to switch the voltage level at an output end of the detection circuit. When the laser module is conducted, the voltage level at the first node is lower than the threshold voltage, the switch signal controls the switch unit, such that the output end outputs a high level voltage and vice versa.

Abstract: Optical computing devices are disclosed. One exemplary optical computing device includes an electromagnetic radiation source configured to optically interact with a sample and at least two integrated computational elements. The at least two integrated computational elements are configured to produce optically interacted light and further configured to be associated with a characteristic of the sample. The optical computing device further includes a first detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light from the at least two integrated computational elements and thereby generate a first signal corresponding to the characteristic of the sample.

Abstract: Optical computing devices are disclosed. One exemplary optical computing device includes an electromagnetic radiation source configured to optically interact with a sample and first and second integrated computational elements arranged in primary and reference channels, respectively. The first and second integrated computational elements produce first and second modified electromagnetic radiations, and a detector is arranged to receive the first and second modified electromagnetic radiations and generate an output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the sample.