Abstract: An electronic circuit (50) for receiving and discriminating modulated light of a specific modulation frequency or within a specific modulation frequency range includes a photodiode detector (52) responsive to light incident thereto for generating an electric current signal. A controllable shunt (54) is connected in parallel with the photodiode detector (52) and is controllable between a first operational mode in which the current is shunted, and a second operational mode in which the current is not shunted. A control circuit (56) is connected to the photodiode detector (52) and the shunt (54) for controlling the controllable shunt (54) into (a) the first operational mode, provided that the current signal does not include a signal of the specific modulation frequency or within the specific modulation frequency range, or (b) the second operational mode, provided that the current signal includes a signal of the specific modulation frequency or within the specific modulation frequency range.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring power in a laser-beam includes a transmissive diffuser for diffusely expanding the laser-beam and a photon detector for receiving the diffusely-expanded laser-beam and generating an electrical signal in response thereto. Electronic circuitry including a microprocessor is provided for interpreting the electrical signal as a measure of power in the laser-beam. A display device is provided for displaying the interpreted signal.

Abstract: A plurality of light-receiving devices dispersed over the area of an IC chip operate in response to the opening of an IC device such that switching transistors are turned on or off to prohibit the normal operation of logic circuits or logic elements, thereby securing protection against normal reading of the internal data of the opened IC device, particularly against the analysis of the IC's internal logic with an electron beam tester.

Abstract: An optical switch assembly for a two-way radio has electrical and mechanical subassemblies. The electrical portion consists an IR emitter (12) and a pair of IR receivers (14,16) strategically positioned upon a printed circuit board (10). The mechanical portion consists of a rotatable interposer mechanism (20) interconnected to a knob (35) on the radio via a shaft (28). The interposer has inner (22) and outer (24) concentric cylindrical walls. The outer wall controls the light transmitted between the emitter and one of the receivers (16), ultimately controlling the On-Off state of the radio. The inner wall has an integrated gray-scale graphic which controls the transmission of light between the emitter and the other IR receiver (14), ultimately controlling the audio output of the radio.

Abstract: A device and method for quantitative determination of an analyte in a biological sample utilizes a non-transparent support medium for retaining a chromatogenic reaction product with the medium being exposed to a source of light for transmitting therethrough a scattered, uniform response light signal which is collected at a photosensitive device whereby the amount of the analyte is correlated to the intensity of the response light signal. The response light signal may be converted to a time-duration signal proportional to light intensity to facilitate the quantitative determination.

Abstract: A majority voted multiple-fault tolerant power switch for delivering power from a power source to an intended load. The power switch includes an optical voter, which has a photo conductor array for receiving optical voter input commands from a control system and for selecting a voter output from the majority of the input commands. An electronic power switch receives power input from the power source. The power switch is controlled by the voter output. An output from the power switch is connected to the intended load. A voltage source supplies the voltage to the optical voter. An operational amplifier circuit is connected to the electronic power switch to limit over current and inhibit reverse current in the electronic power switch.

Abstract: A photosensor circuit of the present invention comprises (i) a plurality of light receiving elements for detecting incident light; (ii) a plurality of output terminals for outputting photocurrents generated in the plurality of light receiving elements; (iii) a plurality of switches for selecting connection between the light receiving element and the output element in all combinations of the plurality of light receiving elements and the plurality of output terminals; and (iv) a shift register comprised of a plurality of nodes each controlling on/off of the plurality of switches. In this arrangement, when data of off or on is input into the plurality of nodes constituting the shift register, the switches corresponding to the nodes receiving the data of off are set to be off, and the switches corresponding to the nodes receiving the data of on are set to be on.

Abstract: A photoelectric switch having a rectifier for converting a received AC voltage to a DC voltage, a transparent cover having a user friendly finger rest surface, means for generating a pulsed infrared beam across the finger rest surface, means responsive to the breaking of the pulsed infrared beam by an operator placing at least one finger on the finger rest surface to actuate a relay to generate an output signal, and means for disabling the actuation of the relay in response to the operator removing his finger from the finger rest surface restoring the continuity of the pulsed infrared beam. The photoelectric switch includes fault protection circuits which disable the relay when the AC voltage is below a predetermined voltage, when the ambient infrared background illumination exceeds a predetermined value, or when the means for generating a pulsed infrared beam fails to generate the beam.

Abstract: A touchless switch using a single detector to measure ambient energy and reflected energy. The detector can detect objects in both the normal unsaturated ambient energy state or when ambient energy is saturating the detector. Discrimination between toggle motion and motion which is not intended to indicate a switch toggle operation is also provided. The detector and the emitter are mounted to a circuit board which is then mounted within a housing which has a window that allows passage of ambient energy and reflected energy. A barrier between the detector and the emitter blocks energy from being directly transmitted from the emitter to the detector. The barrier may be inserted into a groove in the window to prevent energy from the emitter from being reflected off of the inner surface of the window to the detector. Accidental triggering by ambient energy is prevented by requiring that the reflected energy be detected for a minimum amount of time.

Abstract: An optical sensor and a method of operating an optical sensor. The sensor comprises a multitude of pixels, a multitude of optical detectors, an amplifier and a switching circuit. Each of the pixels includes an optical detector for generating an electric signal representing the intensity of light incident on the pixel. The switching circuit is electrically connected in series between the amplifier and the optical detectors for conducting the electric signals from the optical detectors to the amplifier in a predetermined manner. Preferably, the switching circuit includes a multitude of switches, and each switch is used to control the transmission of the signal from a respective one of the optical detectors to the amplifier.

Abstract: A semiconductor relay has two output MOSFET pairs, each of which is series-connected with the other. Each MOSFET pair is comprised of two MOSFETs series-connected oppositely to each other, and these MOSFETs are controlled to turn on or off simultaneously. The semiconductor relay further includes a switch, which is inserted between the ground and the junction of the two MOSFET pairs. When these MOSFETs are in an off condition, said switch is closed in order to release electric charges accumulated on said MOSFETs and to increase the off-resistance of this semiconductor relay. On the other hand, when the MOSFETs are in an on condition, said switch is opened so as to connect both MOSFET pairs in series. As a result, a semiconductor relay having a high off-resistance can be obtained without increasing the on-resistance.

Abstract: A photoelectric switch includes a light emitting section emitting pulse light so that intensity of the emitted pulse light is sequentially increased. A light detecting section detects the pulse light emitted by the light emitting section. A light detection signal indicative of the received light is amplified and then integrated. A high-level light detection signal is delivered by the light detecting section when an integral value is equal to or above a threshold. A determination circuit delivers a first detection signal when a duration of the light detection signal is equal or above a predetermined values. The determination circuit further delivers a stable operation signal when a set time period is reached. The light detecting section is integrated into one-chip configuration.

Abstract: The gain uniformity of sealed microchannel plate image intensifiers (MCPIs) is improved by selectively scrubbing the high gain sections with a controlled bright light source. Using the premise that ions returning to the cathode from the microchannel plate (MCP) damage the cathode and reduce its sensitivity, a HeNe laser beam light source is raster scanned across the cathode of a microchannel plate image intensifier (MCPI) tube. Cathode current is monitored and when it exceeds a preset threshold, the sweep rate is decreased 1000 times, giving 1000 times the exposure to cathode areas with sensitivity greater than the threshold. The threshold is set at the cathode current corresponding to the lowest sensitivity in the active cathode area so that sensitivity of the entire cathode is reduced to this level. This process reduces tube gain by between 10% and 30% in the high gain areas while gain reduction in low gain areas is negligible.

Abstract: A reed switch is provided between a video camera and a battery pack circuit section. A current flowing when the video camera operates is detected by the reed switch. A video light is turned on or off on the basis of the detected current value. When the power source does not reach a specified voltage, the video light is turned off. The outer light amount when photographing is converted into an electric current by a phototransistor. When the current is less than a threshold level, the video light is lit or turned on. The threshold level is varied by a variable resistor.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion circuit which can detect only signal light from applied light, to avoid influence by disturbance light. An anode of a photodiode (1) is grounded and an input end of a tuning circuit (5) is connected to its cathode through an input terminal (3). An output end of the tuning circuit (5) is connected to an output terminal (4) through an amplifier (6). The output terminal (4) is grounded through a load resistor (7). The tuning circuit (5) is tuned with the frequency of signal light included in light (2) which is applied to the photodiode (1). A photoelectric conversion current caused by disturbance light is removed in the tuning circuit (5), so that only a photoelectric conversion current caused by signal light is detected. Switching devices are connected to the photodiode for providing current from the photodiode to the input terminals of the amplifier.

Abstract: A system for machining and for verifying the machining of substrates includes an energy beam located to impinge upon machined features of the substrates and a photodiode switching circuit matrix for detecting those portions of the energy beam which impinge upon the machined features of the substrate. The photodiode switching circuits include a current boost resistor in parallel with the photodiode which allows greater current to flow through the output diode, thereby increasing its switching speed. Pairs of photodiode circuits of the array are sequentially energized so that dual strings of outputs are produced. These outputs are then multiplexed and digitized. The digital outputs are compared in a verifier controller with a predetermined set of data to determine accuracy of the machining process. Substrates to be machined and verified can be mounted on a single X-Y table so that the machining and verification processes can be accomplished simultaneously.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for encoding the emission of radiation generating control systems such as opto-electronic switches to ensure that the radiation they detect, is that of the encoded signal they emit. This is done by testing the received signal at two time intervals; first when the output driver activates the emitter, and again when the emission ceases, to verify the coincidence of the detected signal. If first it proves true and then false, it is considered valid. Optionally, this condition must be met for many consecutive tests in order to enable a valid response. If the detector senses radiation when the emitter is inactive, an anti-coincidence signal is produced to cease further emissions until this condition ends.

Abstract: A photoelectric switch having a light projector element (L) and a first oscillation circuit (2) for driving the light projector element by use of pulses includes a second oscillation circuit (4) and a coupling circuit (3) for coupling the second oscillation circuit with the first oscillation circuit. The second oscillation circuit sweeps an oscillation frequency of the first oscillation circuit at a predetermined period to vary the oscillation frequency of the first oscillation circuit in a periodical manner.

Abstract: A photo-electric converter according to the present invention has a switching element connected between a photosensitive element and a photo-electric converting circuit and another switching element connected in parallel with the photosensitive element, and an output from the photo-electric converting circuit obtained by turning on and off the switching element is analogue-to-digital converted and arithmetically processed. Thereby an offset voltage in the photo-electric converter circuit can be corrected and an accurate output can be obtained by the photo-electric conversion.

Abstract: An electron-beam information exchange apparatus adapted to effect information exchange in incoming light signals and outgoing light signals by utilizing electron beams. The apparatus has a plurality of electron beam generating means for generating electron beams according to the incoming light signals; a plurality of electron beam deflecting means for independently deflecting individual electron beams emitted from the electron beam generating means; and a plurality of electron beam detecting means for reproducing information from the thus-deflected electron beams to generate the outgoing light beams. The electron beam detecting means controls the electron beams so that each of the electron beams is made incident upon a desired one of said electron beam detecting means. Also, the electron beam generating means are semiconductor devices for generating electron beams.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting and indicating the commencement of inhalation by a patient under test includes a housing through which a gas flow due to the inhalation is directed. A light source and a light receptor positioned adjacent to transparent portions of the housing define a light path between them which transversely intersects the gas flow, the receptor being adapted to provide an output signal in response to incident light from the source. A movably positioned vane mounted inside the housing and normally biased to a position substantially clear of the light path, moves to a position progressively blocking the light path upon commencement of gas flow due to inhalation. Means responsive to a change in the receptor output signal resulting from blockage of the light path provides indication of the flow due to the inhalation commencement.

Abstract: A solid state relay includes a diode for emitting light, a photothyristor circuit responsive to the light from the diode for turning on and outputting a first output signal, the photothyristor circuit having two photothyristors connected to each other in parallel in an opposing direction and a triac circuit responsive to the photothyristor circuit for turning on and outputting a second output signal.

Abstract: A mode control circuit is particularly useful in controlling the operation of an passive infrared appliance switch. When power is first applied to the control, a first output signal is emitted which places the switch in one mode of operation. If the power is then removed and reapplied within a short time, the control emits a second output signal placing the switch in a second mode of operation. However, if the power is removed for a long enough time, the control will emit the first signal when the power is reapplied.

Abstract: There is provided a photoelectric switch in which a beam reflected by an object to be detected is received in a trigonometric manner so that any failure in the distance measurement of the object can be prevented with employment of ordinary amplification circuit for received-light signals without enlarging the figure of the dynamic range of the circuit. In the switch, a circuit for comparing the ratio of the received-light signals to a predetermined operational level includes means for setting the nearest limit point for a set range of a detecting area to be farther than an intersection of the projected light beam with a line connecting centers of light-receiving lens and received-light detecting element so that the detection of the object can be made even when the dynamic range of the amplification circuit is saturated, whereby the presence of the object in the detecting area can be always discriminated even upon the dynamic range saturation of the amplification circuit.

Abstract: A motor starter includes a line contactor having a coil connected to a control circuit. The control circuit includes one or more remote pushbutton stations which are connected in a control loop by fiber optic tubes. Operation of the motor can be controlled separately from each pushbutton station.

Abstract: A light-emitting diode of a photo-coupler is energized and de-energized through a connection to a switching means. Radiation from the light-emitting diode directed toward a photosensitive means of the photocoupler, reduces the resistance of the photosensitive means to rendering a switching transistor conductive. The switching transistor is connected to and controlled by the photosensitive means. When the switching means is open, the switching transistor remains conductive for a predetermined time period due to a transient phenomena of a resistance change of the photosensitive resistor.