Abstract: An object is to reduce the size and manufacturing cost of a photodetector. In order to reduce the area where a visible light sensor and an infrared light sensor are provided, a first photodiode that detects visible light and a second photodiode that detects infrared light are arranged to overlap with each other so that visible light is absorbed first by the first photodiode, whereby significantly little visible light enters the second photodiode. Further, the first photodiode overlapping with the second photodiode is used as an optical filter for the second photodiode. Therefore, a semiconductor layer included in the first photodiode absorbs visible light and transmits infrared light, and a semiconductor layer included in the second photodiode absorbs infrared light.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the opto-electronic assembly is a hybrid integrated circuit having an array of avalanche photodiodes (APDs) that are electrically coupled to a corresponding array of transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs), with both the APDs and TIAs being mounted on a common ceramic substrate. The opto-electronic assembly further has an optical subassembly comprising an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) and an array of turning mirrors, both attached to a temperature-control unit in a side-by-side arrangement and flip-chip mounted on the substrate over the APDs. The opto-electronic assembly employs a silicon-based submount inserted between the APDs and the substrate to accommodate the height difference between the APDs and the TIAs. The submount advantageously enables the placement of APDs in relatively close proximity to the turning mirrors while providing good control of the APD's tilt and offset distance with respect to the substrate.

Abstract: An optical communication device includes a one-chip light receiving element having a plurality of light receiving sections having light receiving sensitivity to different wavelength ranges in a visible light spectrum. The photodiode has a light receiving surface, which is divided into nine blocks. For each light receiving section group in which light receiving sections have the light receiving sensitivity to an identical wavelength range, the light receiving sections are dispersedly placed in corresponding ones of the blocks.

Abstract: A flame scanning device is provided for monitoring a flame. The device includes a radiation collection and transmission element for collecting flame radiation and transmitting it to detection elements, a flame sensor element for the detection of radiation and conversion of the detected radiation into electrical signals, and an evaluation unit for the conversion of the electrical signals into flame parameters. The flame sensor element can include at least two individual detectors each with an individual central detection wavelength and a width of observation window, respectively. The individual central detection wavelength and the width of observation window are not overlapping and are covering individual regions of interest of the spectrum of radiation.

Abstract: In response to objects having relative motion within an encoding/sensing region relative to an encoder/sensor that, e.g., photosenses emanating light or performs impedance-based sensing, sensing results can indicate sensed time-varying waveforms with information about the objects, about their relative motion, about excitation characteristics, about environmental characteristics, and so forth. An encoder/sensor can include, for example, a non-periodic arrangement of sensing elements; a longitudinal sequence of sensing elements with a combined sensing pattern that approximates a superposition or scaled superposition of simpler sensing patterns; and/or IC-implemented sensing elements that include photosensing arrays on ICs and readout/combine circuitry that reads out photosensed quantities from cells in groups in accordance with cell-group sensing patterns and combines the readout photosensed quantities to obtain the sensing results.

Abstract: An encoder/sensor can obtain sensing results from objects in an encoding/sensing region; a trigger detector can respond to objects in a trigger detection region, providing respective trigger signals; and a relative motion component can cause relative motion of objects into the trigger detection region, from it into the encoding/sensing region, and within the encoding/sensing region. In response to an object's trigger signal, control circuitry can cause the encoder/sensor and/or the relative motion component to operate so that the encoder/sensor obtains sensing results indicating a time-varying waveform and processing circuitry can obtain data from the sensing results indicating a time-varying waveform. The time-varying waveform can include information resulting from the relative motion within the encoding/sensing region. The encoder/sensor and trigger detector can be implemented, for example, with discrete components or as sets of cells in a photosensing array on an integrated circuit.

Abstract: A light sensing element includes a photodiode formed on a semiconductor substrate surface, and a laminated structure formed on the photodiode, wherein the laminated structure includes a first layer formed of a silicon oxide film, a second layer formed on the first layer and formed of a silicon nitride film, and a third layer formed on the second layer and formed of a polysilicon film.

Abstract: A method of operating a photosensor comprising: applying a bias voltage to a photosensor (12) comprising n (n>1) photo-sensitive elements (8) connected in series, and determining the photocurrent in the photosensor (12) at a time when the applied bias voltage across the photosensor maintains the photosensor at or close to the point at which it has the greatest signal-to-noise ratio. This may conveniently be done by determining the current in the photosensor at a time when the applied bias voltage across the photosensor is equal or approximately equal to n×Vbi, where Vbi is the bias voltage about which the current in a single one of the photo-sensitive elements (8), in the dark, changes sign. In an embodiment in which the photo-sensitive elements (8) are photodiodes, the bias voltage Vbi is the “built-in” voltage of the photodiodes. The photocurrent generated when n series-connected photodiodes are illuminated is approximately equal to the photocurrent generated when one photodiode is illuminated.

Abstract: A motion recognizing apparatus and method are provided. According to an aspect, a motion recognizing apparatus may include: an optical sensor configured to sense at least a portion of a subject where a motion occurs and to output one or more events in response thereto; a motion tracing unit configured to trace a motion locus of the portion where the motion occurs based on the one or more outputted events; and a motion pattern determining unit configured to determine a motion pattern of the portion where the motion occurs based on the traced motion locus.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a wavefront sensor comprising a film and a photodetector. The film has one or more structured two dimensional apertures configured to convert a phase gradient of a wavefront into a measurable form. The photodetector is configured to receive the wavefront through the one or more 2D apertures and measure the phase gradient of the wavefront.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a pixel unit and an output unit. The pixel unit includes a sensing element, a transfer transistor, a reset transistor, and an output transistor. The transfer transistor is coupled between the sensing element and a floating diffusion node. The reset transistor is coupled between a first node and the floating diffusion node. The output transistor has a control terminal coupled to the floating diffusion node and an input terminal coupled to the first node. During a readout period, the reset transistor is controlled by a reset phase to reset a level of the floating diffusion node. The output unit generates a pixel output signal at the first node according to the level of the floating diffusion node and a reference signal. During the readout period, the reference signal is at a higher level, and after the reset phase, the reference signal is at a lower level.

Abstract: An output terminal of a photoelectric conversion element included in the photoelectric conversion device is connected to a drain terminal and a gate terminal of a MOS transistor which is diode-connected, and a voltage Vout generated at the gate terminal of the MOS transistor is detected in accordance with a current Ip which is generated at the photoelectric conversion element. The voltage Vout generated at the gate terminal of the MOS transistor can be directly detected, so that the range of output can be widened than a method in which an output voltage is converted into a current by connecting a load resistor, and so on.

Abstract: Methods and systems for adaptively controlling the illumination of a scene are provided. In particular, a scene is illuminated, and light reflected from the scene is detected. Information regarding levels of light intensity received by different pixels of a multiple pixel detector, corresponding to different areas within a scene, and/or information regarding a range to an area within a scene, is received. That information is then used as a feedback signal to control levels of illumination within the scene. More particularly, different areas of the scene can be provided with different levels of illumination in response to the feedback signal.

Abstract: A stacked-type detection apparatus including a plurality of pixels arranged at small intervals is configured to have low capacitance associated with signal lines and/or driving lines. With this novel configuration, small time constant and high-speed driving capability can be achieved in the signal lines and/or driving lines. The plurality of pixels in the detection apparatus are arranged in a row direction and a column direction on an insulating substrate. Each pixel includes a conversion element and a switch element, the conversion element is disposed above the switch element. A driving line disposed below the conversion elements is connected to switch elements arranged in the row direction, and a signal line is connected to switch elements arranged in the column direction. The signal line includes a conductive layer embedded in an insulating member, the insulating member is disposed in a layer lower than an uppermost surface portion of the driving line.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a reference member, a reading unit, a first reference value setting unit, a detecting unit, a second reference value setting unit, a determining unit, and a pixel value setting unit. The reading unit obtains image data and reference data. The first reference value setting unit sets a first reference value based on the reference data. The detecting unit detects a usage state of the reading unit. The second reference value setting unit sets a second reference value in accordance with the usage state. If the determining unit determines that the first reference value is in a predetermined condition, the pixel value setting unit sets a pixel value based on the image data and the first reference value; otherwise, the pixel value setting unit sets the pixel value based on the image data and the second reference value.

Abstract: A photoluminescence measurement system can include an optical source.

Abstract: A configurable photo detector circuit comprises a photo detector array including a plurality of photo detectors coupled to a plurality of amplifiers. A method for programming a detection pattern of the configurable photo detector circuit comprises selecting a first detection pattern for the photo detector array, generating first signals to create the first selected detection pattern, and applying the first generated signals to the photo detector circuit to implement the first selected detection pattern.

Abstract: An optical sensor is provided with a photodiode (D1) which receives light in a first range, including light to be detected, and a photodiode (D2) which receives light in a second range other than the light to be detected. For instance, the photodiode (D1) receives light at all the incident angles, and the photodiode (D2) has a light blocking film on an incident light path so as to selectively receive only the incident light from the oblique directions. The differential between the output from the photodiode (D1) and that from the photodiode (D2) is read out as sensor output.

Abstract: Demultiplexing systems and methods are discussed which may be small and accurate without moving parts. In some cases, demultiplexing embodiments may include optical filter cavities that include filter baffles and support baffles which may be configured to minimize stray light signal detection and crosstalk. Some of the demultiplexing assembly embodiments may also be configured to efficiently detect U.V. light signals and at least partially compensate for variations in detector responsivity as a function of light signal wavelength.

Abstract: A multi-aperture passive light sensor and method for detecting motion and edges of an object are described. The sensor may include at least two focusing lenses mounted on a spherical surface for focusing light from the object into the ends of optical fibers, the optical axis for each lens diverging at an angle from that of adjacent lenses depending on the intended application. Each lens is located closer to the end of its associated optical fiber, which is disposed coaxially to the optical axis of the lens, than the natural focal plane of the lens, thereby blurring the light received from the object. Light exiting the fibers is detected by photosensors located at the opposite end of each optical fiber, and voltage differences between the voltages generated in response to the light intensity impinging on the photosensors are used to detect motion and edges of the object.

Abstract: An analog silicon photomultiplier system includes at least one analog pixel comprising a plurality of analog photodiodes (APDs), and a capacitor, a signal generator, a phase detector, and a compensation network. The signal generator is configured to generate and propagate a sinusoidal signal concurrently along first and second transmission lines. A capacitor is loaded on the first transmission line when an APD corresponding to the capacitor detects a photon. The phase detector is coupled with the first and second transmission lines, determines a phase difference between the first transmission line and the second transmission line and calculates a number of APDs that have fired from the phase difference. The compensation network is coupled with the second transmission line and the phase detector, and comprises a plurality of compensation capacitors, wherein the compensation capacitors are loaded on the second transmission line in proportion to the number of APDs that have fired.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solar cell system including: a plurality of power generation panels that differ in the range of wavelengths of light they absorb from each other and convert light into power; a voltage detection section adapted to detect the voltage of power generated by each of the plurality of power generation panels; a reproduction section adapted to compare the voltages of the plurality of power generation panels detected by the voltage detection section so as to reproduce an audio or music signal appropriate to the comparison result; and an output section adapted to output audio or music reproduced by the reproduction section.

Abstract: This device for detecting an electromagnetic radiation, comprises a matrix of juxtaposed elementary sensors (1), each associated with a common substrate in which a sequential addressing read circuit is prepared, specific to each of the sensors, thereby constituting as many pixels, the interaction of the radiation with the sensors generating electric charges to be converted to voltage for their subsequent processing, each of the said sensors being biased via an injection transistor (2), of which one of the terminals is connected to an integration capacitance (3), storing the electric charges generated by the sensor during an integration phase, and whereof the quantity of charges is then processed for conversion to voltage. Each of the pixels of the said matrix is associated with a current limiting device (5), for limiting the current generated by each of the elementary sensors to a maximum called reference current, regardless of the radiation flux received by the pixel concerned.

Abstract: A light transmitting optical fiber shines light at a side edge portion of a hemispherical lens. The light is transmitted along the outer periphery of the lens to a second side edge portion located opposite the first side edge portion. A light sensitive component detects light at the second edge portion which light originated at the first side edge portion. The intensity of light detected at the second side edge portion is indicative of the fluid to which the lens is exposed.

Abstract: A nanowire array is described herein. The nanowire array comprises a substrate and a plurality of nanowires extending essentially vertically from the substrate; wherein: each of the nanowires has uniform chemical along its entire length; a refractive index of the nanowires is at least two times of a refractive index of a cladding of the nanowires. This nanowire array is useful as a photodetector, a submicron color filter, a static color display or a dynamic color display.

Abstract: A photodetector is described along with corresponding materials, systems, and methods. The photodetector comprises an integrated circuit and at least two optically sensitive layers. A first optically sensitive layer is over at least a portion of the integrated circuit, and a second optically sensitive layer is over the first optically sensitive layer. Each optically sensitive layer is interposed between two electrodes. The two electrodes include a respective first electrode and a respective second electrode. The integrated circuit selectively applies a bias to the electrodes and reads signals from the optically sensitive layers. The signal is related to the number of photons received by the respective optically sensitive layer.

Abstract: An active photosensing pixel is disclosed, in which a two-terminal photosensing transistor has a first terminal coupled to a first node, a second terminal coupled to a first selection line and a control terminal connected to the second terminal. A driving transistor has a first terminal coupled to a first reference voltage, a second terminal coupled to an output line and a control terminal connected to the first node. A reset transistor has a first terminal connected to the first node, a second terminal coupled to a second reference voltage and a control terminal coupled to a second selection line.

Abstract: A photosensitive control system includes a light source device configured to provide a directional light beam and a photosensitive device which includes at least one pre-arranged photosensitive unit. Also, the photosensitive control system has a light guide device configured between the light source device and the photosensitive device for guiding the light beam to the at least one photosensitive unit and therefore the photosensitive device produces a sensing signal. In addition, the photosensitive control system includes a controller configured to receive the sensing signal and provide control data in accordance with the sensing signal.

Abstract: Nanostructure array optoelectronic devices are disclosed. The optoelectronic device may have one or more intermediate electrical contacts that are physically and electrically connected to sidewalls of the array of nanostructures. The contacts may allow different photo-active regions of the optoelectronic device to be independently controlled. For example, one color light may be emitted or detected independently of another using the same group of one or more nanostructures. The optoelectronic device may be a pixilated device that may serve as an LED display or imaging sensor. The pixilated device may have an array of nanostructures with alternating rows and columns of sidewall electrical contacts at different layers. A pixel may be formed at the intersection of a row contact and a column contact. As one example, a single group of one or more nanostructures has a blue sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, and a red sub-pixel.

Abstract: An encoder includes a disk including a first track and a second track each being ring-shaped and provided with a rotary grating, and a first detector and a second detector that are fixedly disposed so as to respectively face the first track and the second track each provided with a fixed grating that detects diffracted interfering light. A plurality of slits of the first track are formed as curved slits. The first detector facing the first track is disposed at a position where a tangent of each of the slits included in the diffraction grating of the first track becomes parallel to a tangent of each of the slits included in the diffraction grating of the second track at a position where the second detector faces the second track.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a matrix optical sensor including: a matrix of pixels (6ij), each pixel (6ij) being identified by a row address and a column address; and a plurality of programmable units for reading the pixels (6ij), each connected to at least one column of pixels and each being configured: to enable storage of at least one row address during a step of programming the sensor (1); to receive a row address; and for some read address values, to compare the received row address to the programmed row address, and if they are equal to enable reading of the value of the corresponding pixel (6ij).

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for harvesting energy from electromagnetic radiation are provided including harvesting energy from electromagnetic radiation. In one embodiment, a device includes a substrate and one or more resonance elements disposed in or on the substrate. The resonance elements are configured to have a resonant frequency, for example, in at least one of the infrared, near-infrared and visible light spectra. A layer of conductive material may be disposed over a portion of the substrate to form a ground plane. An optical resonance gap or stand-off layer may be formed between the resonance elements and the ground plane. The optical resonance gap extends a distance between the resonance elements and the layer of conductive material approximately one-quarter wavelength of a wavelength of the at least one resonance element's resonant frequency. At least one energy transfer element may be associated with the at least one resonance element.

Abstract: An interactive device of improving image processing. The interactive device includes a processing module and a control circuit. The processing module includes a substrate, an image sensor for generating a plurality of pixel signals, and an estimation unit for determining a static parameter of at least one image object of the image based on the plurality of pixel signals. A transmission interface is used for serially outputting a control signal based on the static parameter determined by the estimation unit. The interactive device also includes a controller for controlling operation of the interactive device based on the control signal based on the static parameters corresponding to each image object. The image sensor, the estimation unit, and the transmission interface are all formed on the substrate.

Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation detection device including multiple elementary detectors (32, 320) grouped into one or more sub-assemblies (300) each including several elementary detectors (32, 320), where each elementary detector (32, 320) is connected by an interconnection (32.1, 320.1) to an impedance-matching device (33), characterised in that: the impedance-matching device (33) is common to all the elementary detectors (32, 320) of a single sub-assembly (300), in each sub-assembly (300) the interconnections (32.1, 320.1) have roughly the same resistance value.

Abstract: Influence of external light is suppressed. With a photodetector including a photodetector circuit which generates a data signal in accordance with illuminance of incident light and a light unit which overlaps with the photodetector circuit, a first data signal is generated by the photodetector circuit when the light unit is in an ON state, a second data signal is formed by the photodetector circuit when the light unit is in an OFF state, and the first data signal and the second data signal are compared, so that a difference data signal that is data of a difference between the two compared data signals is generated.

Abstract: Patterning planar photo-absorbing materials into arrays of nanowires is demonstrated as a method for increasing the total photon absorption in a given thickness of absorbing material. Such a method can provide faster, cheaper, and more efficient photo-detectors and solar cells. A thin nanowire can absorb many more photons than expected from the size of the nanowire. The reason for this effect is that such nanowires support cylindrical particle resonances which can collect photons from an area larger than the physical cross-section of the wire. These resonances are sometimes referred to as Mie resonances or Leaky Mode Resonances (LMRs). The nanowires can have various cross section shapes, such as square, circle, rectangle, triangle, etc.

Abstract: A novel micron-scale lens, a microlens, is engineered to concentrate light efficiently onto an area of interest, such as a small, light-sensitive detector element in an integrated electronic device. Existing microlens designs imitate the form of large-scale lenses and are less effective at small sizes. The microlenses described herein have been designed to accommodate diffraction effects, which dominate the behavior of light at small length scales. Thus a new class of light-concentrating optical elements with much higher relative performance has been created. Furthermore, the new designs are much easier to fabricate than previous designs.

Abstract: A light sensing panel includes a scan line transmitting a scan signal, a power source line transmitting a bias voltage, a readout line transmitting a light sensing signal and a light sensing device. The light sensing device includes a control electrode that is electrically connected to the scan line to receive the scan signal, a first current electrode that is electrically connected to the power source line to receive the bias voltage, and a second current electrode that is electrically connected to the readout line to apply a light sensing signal to the readout line when the light sensing signal senses an external light. The light sensing panel requires only one thin film transistor in order to detect a position wherein the external light is incident. Therefore, electrical coupling between devices is reduced and aperture ratio is increased, thereby enhancing a display quality.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring status information from a light based indicator system (e.g., stack lights, status lights, traffic lights or safety lights, etc.). At least one light sensor is positioned adjacent to an existing light indicator system, the existing light based indicator system having at least one indicator light to be monitored. A monitoring device at a location remote from the existing light based indicator system receives signals from the at least one light sensor indicative of a status of the at least one indicator light.

Abstract: An imaging system comprises a first charge-coupled device (CCD), a second CCD, and a processor. The first CCD is configured to receive one or more light flashes, record a first set of data based on the light flashes, shift the first set of data in a first direction, read out the first set of data, and read out continuously. The second CCD is configured to receive the one or more light flashes, record a second set of data based on the light flashes, shift the second set of data in a second direction opposite to the first direction, read out the second set of data, and read out continuously. The processor, coupled to the first CCD and second CCD, is configured to determine a time and a location of the one or more light flashes based on the first set of data and the second set of data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modulation device for use in a charged particle multi-beamlet lithography system. The device includes a body comprising an interconnect structure provided with a plurality of modulators and interconnects at different levels within the interconnect structure for enabling connection of the modulators to one or more pattern data receiving elements. A modulator includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an aperture extending through the body. The electrodes are located on opposing sides of the aperture for generating an electric field across the aperture. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a first conductive element formed at a first level of the interconnect structure and a second conductive element formed at a second level of the interconnect structure. The first and second conductive elements are electrically connected with each other.

Abstract: An optical examination device (10) adapted to be at least partially inserted into a turbid medium is provided. The optical examination device comprises a shaft portion (21) adapted to be inserted into the turbid medium, the shaft portion (21) comprising a tip portion (22) adapted to be the foremost portion during insertion into the turbid medium. At least one light source device adapted to emit abeam (11) of broad-band light is provided in the region of the tip portion (21). The beam (11) of broad-band light comprises different wavelength bands (2a, 2b, . . . , 2n) which are differently modulated. At least one photodetector (27a, 27b, 27c) for detecting broad-band light is provided in a region adapted to be inserted into the turbid medium of the shaft portion (21).

Abstract: Pixel-level monolithic optical element configurations for uncooled infrared detectors and focal plane arrays in which a monolithically integrated or fabricated optical element may be suspended over a microbolometer pixel membrane structure of an uncooled infrared detector element A monolithic optical element may be, for example, a polarizing or spectral filter element, an optically active filter element, or a microlens element that is structurally attached by an insulating interconnect to the existing metal interconnects such that the installation of the optical element substantially does not impact the thermal mass or thermal time constant of the microbolometer pixel structure, and such that it requires little if any additional device real estate area beyond the area originally consumed by the microbolometer pixel structure interconnects.

Abstract: In an illuminance sensor, a photoelectric converter (1) includes three photosensors (PS), and each photosensor (PS) outputs a current as a difference between photocurrents generated in two photodiodes (PDA, PDB) having different light reception characteristics. Ratios between light receiving areas of the two photodiodes (PDA, PDB) in the three photosensors (PS) are different from each other, and the sum of positive currents among output currents of the three photosensors (PS) is constant for a given illuminance, regardless of the type of light source. A computation control unit (7) obtains illuminance based on the sum of the positive currents among the output currents of the three photosensors (PS).

Abstract: Provided is an illuminance sensor in which a consumption current is independent of an illuminance level of incident light. Amplifiers (21 to 24) and a subtraction circuit (25) are driven by a constant current source (not shown). The subtraction circuit (25) outputs a differential voltage between output voltages of a photodetector element (15) and a photodetector element (16). Based on the differential voltage, a sample/hold circuit (30) performs sampling or holding of a voltage at one end of a capacitor (13). A switch (28) is ON when an output voltage of the subtraction circuit (25) starts to change, thereby fixing the voltage at the one end of the capacitor (13) to a reference voltage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a charged-particle multi-beamlet lithography system for transferring a pattern onto the surface of a target using a plurality of charged particle beamlets. The system includes a beam generator, a beamlet blanker array, a shielding structure and a projection system. The beam generator is arranged for generating a plurality of charged particle beamlets. The beamlet blanker array is arranged for patterning the plurality of beamlets in accordance with a pattern. The beamlet blanker array comprises a plurality of modulators and a plurality of light sensitive elements, a light sensitive element being arranged to receive pattern data carrying light beams and to convert the light beams into electrical signals. The light sensitive elements are electrically connected to one or more modulators for providing the received pattern data.

Abstract: A charged particle lithography system for transferring a pattern onto the surface of a target. The system comprises a beam generator for generating a plurality of charged particle beamlets, the plurality of beamlets defining a column, a beam stop array having a surface for blocking beamlets from reaching the target surface and an array of apertures in the surface for allowing the beamlets to reach the target surface, and a modulation device for modulating the beamlets to prevent one or more of the beamlets from reaching the target surface or allow one or more of the beamlets to reach the target surface, by deflecting or not deflecting the beamlets so that the beamlets are blocked or not blocked by the beam stop array.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling transmission of signals and data via means of infrared (IR) light for a wind turbine includes a plurality of IR data communication elements configured to provide unidirectional and bidirectional IR data exchange between non-rotating portions of the wind turbine and the rotatable wind turbine hub.

Abstract: An ADC includes: a single circuit capable of generating reference voltages that are constant and then decreasing over time, according to discrete values, including: a constant current source; a resistive bridge connected to the current source, the voltages of the bridge forming the reference voltages; a voltage source capable of producing a decreasing voltage on a node of the bridge; contact breaker for the connection of the voltage source to said node, a circuit including: means for comparing a voltage for conversion with the reference voltages; means for selecting the reference voltage whereof the value, when it is constant, is immediately higher than the voltage for conversion; means for counting a number of time units necessary for the reference voltage selected to become lower than the voltage for conversion during the decrease thereof; and means for storing, on the one hand a reference associated with the constant reference voltage which is immediately lower than or equal to the voltage for conversi

Abstract: A laser receiver detects a thin beam of laser light and distinguishes between the beam of laser light and an omni-directional pulse of light from a strobe by the use of an additional photo-detector. The device takes into account the possibility that the additional photo-detector could be illuminated simultaneously with the main photo-detectors at the end of the main photo-detectors closest to the additional photo-detector.