Abstract: This invention realizes high-precision exposure regardless of the F-number of an image sensing lens in photography. One pixel includes a first light-receiving region (119c) which includes a region where the principal ray of an image sensing lens is incident, and second light-receiving regions (119a, 119b) which do not include the region where the principal ray of the image sensing lens is incident. The first light-receiving region (119c) is sandwiched between the two second light-receiving regions (119a, 119b).

Abstract: Signals obtained from a sensor array that includes a plurality of energy transducers are processed. A converter used in this processing generates a plurality of converted signals by applying processing to signals from the energy transducers on a block by block basis, wherein the block is a sensor block comprising a prescribed number of neighboring energy transducers. The plurality of converted signals generated by the converter include a first converted signal, which includes a local mean and is generated by adding signals obtained from the sensor block, and a second converted signal, which includes difference between signals obtained from the sensor block. The converted signals produced by the converter are output simultaneously or sequentially.

Abstract: A sensor array is described comprising a substantially constant resolution portion comprising a first series of first concentric closed rings, each first closed ring comprising a monodimensional array of equally spaced sensor element location sites, each location site including at aleast one sensor element; and a spatially variant portion comprising a second series of second concentric closed rings, the second series being concentric with the first series and each second closed ring comprising a monodimensional array of equally spaced sensor element location sites, each location site having at least one sensor element, the spatially variant portion surrounding or being surrounded by the substantially constant resolution portion, and the density of sensor element location sites continuously increasing or decreasing between the substantially constant resolution portion and the spatially variant portion.

Abstract: A tiled electro-optic imaging device includes two or more tiles each tile having a two dimensional array of pixels and at least one non-linear edge, the tiles being aligned edge to edge such that pixels from the tiles are inter-digitated along the non-linear edge, whereby the visibility of the non-linear edge is reduced and the visual uniformity of the device is enhanced.

Abstract: An optical receiver (10) is constructed such that a signal receiving photodiode (12), an photometry detecting photodiode (14), a signal amplifying section (16) for amplifying the received signal, and a bias current control section (18) for controlling the bias current supplied to the signal amplifying section (16) are formed on a single substrate (20). The photodiode (12) is arranged on the optical axis of signal light to be detected and has a substantially circular photosensitive region smaller than the divergence of the signal light, whereas the photodiode (14) has a photosensitive region surrounding the photosensitive region of the photodiode (12). The bias current control section (18) actuates the signal amplifying section (16) when the signal current outputted from the photodiode (14) is at a predetermined reference value or higher.

Abstract: An optoelectronic arrangement for the detection of relative movements or relative positions of two objects, with the arrangement comprising at least four optoelectronic elements, characterized in that the optoelectronic elements are arranged in at least one first plane and in a second plane different from the first one in such a manner that at least three optoelectronic elements are arranged in the first plane and at least one optoelectronic element is arranged in the second plane. Further, a force and/or moment sensor provided with this arrangement with a first board and a second board, with the first board and the second board being elastically connected with each other and movable relative to one another. Finally, a personal computer keyboard which is provided with such a force and/or moment sensor.

Abstract: Methods for detecting and compensating for multiple optical signals produced in a multi-mode fiber system are provided. A representative method includes detecting a plurality of optical signals radiating from an end of the multi-mode fiber by a multisegment photodetector having different detector regions that detect different portions of the plurality of optical signals, and modifying detected signal by the multisegment photodetector to reduce the affects of modal dispersion among the plurality of optical signals. Other methods also are provided.

Abstract: For sensing the relative movements of an object a force sensing unit (15) comprises a stationary supporting means (6) and a cap (150) located movable relative to said supporting means as well as a force/moment sensor (1) for sensing the three possible translational and three possible rotational movements of the cap relative to said supporting means.

Abstract: Plural photodetectors for receiving light and generating detection signals. A light amount controlling portion is arranged above the photodetectors for controlling an amount of the light to the photodetectors according to an incident angle. A weighting portion for weighting sensitivities of the photodetectors respectively. The sensitivities are weighted to provide a total output characteristic of the weighted detection signals of which magnitude varies according to the incident angle. Weighting is provided by a signal processing circuit by controlling gains, or a translucent film on the photodetectors for controlling transparencies portions above respective photodetectors, or opaque films on the photodetectors for controlling amounts of the light to respective photodetectors. A first function signal may be obtained from a part of photodetectors for an air conditioner and a second function signal may be obtained from all of photodetectors for head lamp on/off controlling.

Abstract: A foveal image sensor integrated circuit comprising a plurality of CMOS active pixel sensors arranged both within and about a central fovea region of the chip. The pixels in the central fovea region have a smaller size than the pixels arranged in peripheral rings about the central region. A new photocharge normalization scheme and associated circuitry normalizes the output signals from the different size pixels in the array. The pixels are assembled into a multi-resolution rectilinear foveal image sensor chip using a novel access scheme to reduce the number of analog RAM cells needed. Localized spatial resolution declines monotonically with offset from the imager's optical axis, analogous to biological foveal vision.

Abstract: A radiation-image data readout apparatus in which the charge transferring time occurring during a readout operation utilizing a line sensor having a broad-width light-receiving portion is shortened is provided. A line sensor having two photodiode portions, each having a width of 100 um, disposed adjacently with a microscopic gap therebetween, and a charge transferring device corresponding to each photodiode portion provided on the exterior side in the width direction of each corresponding photodiode portion, are provided.

Abstract: Position sensors having an active area are assembled into an array in which the electrodes of adjacent sensors are offset and interleaved so that the electrodes are adjacent an active area, thereby avoiding dead spots. The position sensor array is position adjacent to the path of an object opposite to a source of light. As the object passes it alters the distribution of light on the position sensor array that generates signals indicative of the objects position in response to the changes in impinging light.

Abstract: A joystick composed of a stator formed by an outer cage forming an inner cubic compartment containing an inner cube oriented with its wall spaced from and substantially parallel corresponding wall of the compartment. Opposed magnets are position in cooperating relationship on opposed walls of the compartment and cube and define a gap therebetween. A floater formed by a plurality of flat actuating coils, one positioned in each gap and each thinner than the width of the gap in which it is received. Preferably the ratio of coil thickness to gap width is at least 1:3. Preferably an optical position sensor is used to monitor the relative position of the flotor and stator and is composed of at least one linear light position sensor mounted on one of the stator and flotor and a plurality of planar light beams arranged at an angle to each other on the other of the stator and flotor and directed to the linear light position sensor(s) so that the light beams traverse the linear light position sensor(s).

Abstract: An optical sensor switch system is used to effect a selection function of a scanner. The depressed switch for a selected function changes the light intensity incident on the pixels of a light sensitive panel in two steps. This change in light intensity activates the operation of the particular function. The change in light intensity is effected by shuttering the light from a source to the pixels. The pixels of the panel are divided into different sections, each designated to a particular function for the scanner.