Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a media support surface. A light source and a light detector are positioned in relation to a reflective surface such that when a sheet of print media covers the reflective surface, a reflected specular light component of a light beam is received by the light detector, and when the reflective surface is not covered, the reflective surface directs the reflected specular light component of the light beam away from the detector. The signal strength of the output from the light detector when receiving a diffuse light component reflected from the reflective surface is less than the signal strength of the output from the light detector when receiving the reflected specular light component that is reflected from a low reflectance print media.

Abstract: A photodetector includes a light emitting portion for applying light, a light receiving portion for sensing the light, and a light guiding member 3 for guiding the light from the light emitting portion to a surface to be measured and guiding detection light from the surface to be measured to the light receiving portion. The light guiding member has a sheet-like optical transmission medium, which is disposed at a portion facing to the surface to be measured and transmits the light by internal reflection. The sheet-like optical transmission member has an optical aperture facing to the surface to be measured.

Abstract: A discrimination device which is disposed on a conveyance path of conveyed items, such as planographic printing plates, slip sheets and the like. The discrimination device is structured with a first sensor, which detects presence or absence of the conveyed items, and second and third sensors, which identify types of the conveyed items. The first sensor can judge presence or absence of a conveyed item from whether or not irradiated light is reflected by a conveyed item. The second and third sensors discriminate between the types—the planographic printing plates and the slip sheets—by the intensity of reflected light, on the basis of a difference in surface reflectivities of the conveyed items. With these three optical sensors, it is possible to reliably identify four conveyance configurations of the conveyed items.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring characteristics of a substance is provided. The apparatus includes a light source to generate light to form an image. A splitter transmits the light from the light source to a first lens, which collimates the light. A second lens receives the collimated light and is adapted to oscillate with respect to the substance and adapted to transmit and focus the light to a focal region within the substance, such that the oscillation will cause the focal region to pass back and forth through the substance and its surfaces/interfaces. A sensor receives light reflected from the focal region and provides a signal indicative of characteristics of the substance at the focal region.

Abstract: An optical object identifying device has a light-emitting device, a first photodetector and a second photodetector. In the optical object identifying device, an angle of 10 to 30 degrees is formed between the optical axis of the light-emitting device and the surface of the sheet to be identified. Also, an angle of 10 to 30 degrees is formed between the optical axis of the first photodetector and the surface of the sheet. Further, an angle of approximately 90 degrees is formed between the optical axis of the second photodetector and the surface of the sheet. Thus, the light-emitting device, the first photodetector and the second photodetector are arranged in the optimum positions, so that the first photodetector and the second photodetector can obtain two output values varied with each of many types of sheets.

Abstract: A method of correcting for sensitivity variation of media sensors includes determining a first signal level corresponding to a first calibration media having a first glossiness; determining a second signal level corresponding to a second calibration media having a second glossiness, the second glossiness being greater than the first glossiness; and determining a corrected normalized signal level ratio of an unknown media based on the first signal level of the first calibration media and the second signal level of the second calibration media.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a device for controlling the surface of ceramic tableware products/ceramic crockery items (and the like, in accordance with the general definition provided in the introduction). The invention is characterised in that it consists, with a single equipment, in: A) providing a global diffuse illumination for the whole or for zones of the products; B) observing the product, with one or more observation means, by reflection on the latter, towards the observation means, of the global diffuse illumination or localised diffuse illumination coming from at least one light-emitting zone adapted to provide brightness on at least a selected portion of the product. The invention enables to highlight and locate, with one single apparatus, all types of defects, in accordance with multi-purpose and efficient processes even concerning sensitive aspects such as complex shape conjunction, brightness, white dots on white background, which was not possible in prior art.

Abstract: The optical characteristics of a banknote are measured by using first and second sets of optical devices positioned on respective sides of the banknote path. Each device includes a transmitter and an adjacent pair of receivers, the receivers being capable of receiving light from the adjacent transmitter which has been diffusively reflected by the banknote, and each receiver also receiving light from the transmitter of the opposed device. Calibration is carried out by moving a reference body of predetermined reflectance and transmittance characteristics into the banknote path between the devices.

Abstract: A system for inspecting components is provided. The system includes an axial lighting system that illuminates the component with axial lighting to allow one or more features of the component to be located, such as by causing protruding features to be brighter than the background and recessed features to be darker than the background. An off-axis lighting system illuminates the component with off-axis lighting in the absence of the axial lighting to allow the component to be inspected to locate one or more features, such as a bump contact.

Abstract: An optical object identification apparatus has a light emitting-side optical system (23), a light receiving-side optical system (26), and a signal processing section (29). The light emitting-side optical system (23) irradiates light from a light emitting device (21) via an objective lens (22) to a moving target object (27) such as printing paper sheets. The light receiving-side optical system (26) receives reflected light from the target object by means of the light receiving device (25) via an objective lens (24), and outputs an output signal with a waveform corresponding to the surface projections and depressions of the target object (27). The signal processing section (29) executes signal processing on the output signal by at least one signal processing method to identify the target object.

Abstract: An auto-operated dip switching mechanism includes a strong-light detector, a strong-light signal circuit, and a switching control circuit. The strong-light detector is mounted to a front end of a car to detect light projected from an opposite coming car. The strong-light detector is induced when the light projected thereto has intensity exceeded a preset value, and causes the strong-light signal circuit to produce a strong-light signal, with which the switching control circuit is immediately enabled to switch headlights of the car from high beams to low beams. And, the switching control circuit automatically switches the car from low beams to high beams when the strong-light signal circuit stops sending the strong-light signal.

Abstract: A media type sensing method for an imaging apparatus includes the steps of changing a light intensity of a light source by changing a drive signal, while monitoring for an output change of a comparator; determining a drive signal value of the drive signal at a point of detection of the output change; and correlating the drive signal value to a specific media type.

Abstract: An edge detection apparatus for detecting an edge on a surface. The apparatus comprises a source of coherent radiation for generating a radiation beam and directing the beam onto the surface. A radiation detector is located so as to detect radiation diffusely reflected, but not specularly reflected, from the surface. A system is provided for causing relative scanning movement between the radiation beam and the surface. A monitor is coupled to the detector for monitoring the intensity of the detected radiation.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and device for identifying recording media in a printer. The invention utilizes fine structure of the media revealed by illumination from one or more directions to distinguish among different kinds of plain papers, coated papers, such as glossy papers, and transparency films. Multiple light sources at different incidence and/or orientation angles apply light on the test surface, and scattered light is converted into signals and then analyzed. Various metric and analysis techniques can be applied to the signals to determine the media type.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes at least one light emitting unit that emits a light, a first light receiving unit that receives specular reflection light from an illumination object when the light is incident on the illumination object with an incidence angle and specularly reflected with a reflection angle, and a second light receiving unit that receives diffuse reflection light from the illumination object when the incident light is diffusely reflected at the illumination object. The sum of the incident angle and the reflection angle is 25 degrees or less.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for discriminating between plate and interleave paper in a CTP device having a cassette with printing plates and interleave paper. The device uses a light source for illuminating the topmost object in the cassette, a first optical sensor for receiving direct light reflected from the topmost object, a second optical sensor for receiving dispersed light reflected from the topmost object, means for comparing light received by the second optical sensor with light received by the first optical sensor, and means for determining the topmost object type based on the comparison.

Abstract: A media sensing apparatus includes a media sensor including a light source for generating a light beam, and a diffuse detector positioned in relation to the light source for detecting diffuse light components reflected from a sheet of print media. A media support is provided having a detection portion. The detection portion is located such that the media sensor faces the detection portion. The detection portion is configured to direct specular light components reflected from the detection portion to the diffuse detector in an absence of the sheet of print media being interposed between the media sensor and the detection portion.

Abstract: A method of correcting for sensitivity variation of media sensors includes the steps of determining a first reflectance ratio of a first calibration media having a first glossiness; determining a second reflectance ratio of a second calibration media having a second glossiness, the second glossiness being greater than the first glossiness and determining a corrected normalized reflectance ratio of an unknown media based on the first reflectance ratio of the first calibration media and the second reflectance ratio of the second calibration media.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting removable particulates initially on a test surface or surface to be inspected. The removable particles are transferred to a portion of a tacky surface on a carrier by adhering and then removing the portion of the tacky surface from the test surface. The carrier is received by a positioning means and passed through the field of view of a surface inspection means guided by a controller. Signals from the surface inspection means are combined with coordinates from the controller to produce particle coordinates, which indicate particulates initially on the test surface. Particle coordinates on the tacky surface measured before the tacky surface is adhered and removed from the test surface can be compared with particle coordinates measured after the tacky surface is adhered and removed from the test surface.

Abstract: A method of correcting for sensitivity variation of media sensors includes the steps of determining a first reflectance ratio of a first calibration media having a first glossiness; determining a second reflectance ratio of a second calibration media having a second glossiness, the second glossiness being greater than the first glossiness and determining a corrected normalized reflectance ratio of an unknown media based on the first reflectance ratio of the first calibration media and the second reflectance ratio of the second calibration media.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and device for identifying recording media in a printer. The invention utilizes fine structure of the media revealed by illumination from one or more directions to distinguish among different kinds of plain papers, coated papers, such as glossy papers, and transparency films. Multiple light sources at different incidence and/or orientation angles apply light on the test surface, and scattered light is converted into signals and then analyzed. Various metric and analysis techniques can be applied to the signals to determine the media type.

Abstract: A dispersion light smoke detector has a structure for providing a definite measuring volume, the structure being formed as two light receivers or an imaging optical system for one light receiver.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and device for identifying recording media in a printer. The invention utilizes fine structure of the media revealed by illumination from one or more directions to distinguish among different kinds of plain papers, coated papers, such as glossy papers, and transparency films. When the medium is bond paper, by introducing light at an angle of less than approximately sixteen degrees relative to the surface, raised surface irregularities cast shadows creating a pattern rich in detail. For glossy surfaces, a high contrast image is obtained in the specular direction from normally incident illumination. The medium surface is imaged on an optoelectronic sensor to form a characteristic vector which is compared with reference vectors, corresponding to different media types, to determine the recording medium. The detection of the recording medium may then be used to change the characteristics of the printer.

Abstract: A cartridge for a data storage disk drive has a thin retroreflective marker. Light from a source is reflected from the marker almost exactly on its incident path. A planar light shaping optical structure such as a holographic light shaping diffuser (LSD) ruled or blazed diffraction grating, holographic diffraction grating, binary optics or holographic diffraction grating directs light to the detector. The LSD has degrees of angular diffusion in different orthogonal axes. This property makes possible unique identification of different types of cartridges.

Abstract: A comparison of the specular and diffused radiation reflected from a coating can be used in ratio to locate the gel point of the coating, and to monitor coating drying characteristics. This same system may be used to monitor the drying process of the coatings in a lab setting to characterize the drying process, optimize coating quality or optimize mill efficiency. A system implementing the Applicant's method uses a radiation source to illuminate a measurement location on the coating, and then provides a first and second radiation detectors to detect reflected radiation from the coating, originating from the radiation source. One of the radiation detectors is arranged to collect specular radiation. The second detector is arranged to collect only diffused radiation. The ratio of these two values represents information about the location of the gel point for the coating, and coating drying characteristics.