Abstract: A surgical laser tool comprises an output member that includes an output laser fiber, a probe tip, and electrical contacts. The probe tip is attached to a distal end of the output laser fiber. Electromagnetic energy transmitted through the output laser fiber is discharged through the probe tip. The electrical contacts are supported at a proximal end of the output member.

Abstract: A sensor for sensing the angular position of a rotor includes a code disk rotatable with the rotor. A first light guide is rotatable with the rotor. The light guide directs light from a light source through the code disk to a detector. A second light guide has first and second arms directing light from a light source to the detector. A light modulator modulates the light directed from one of the first and second arms to the detector. A method for determining the angular position of the rotor includes providing the code disk with a plurality of individual designation areas located near the outer peripheral edge of the disk. Each designation area has a plurality of digital bits. The detector detects the digital bits from a selected portion of the code disk. The selected portion is functionally related to the angular position of the rotor. A bit center is determined for each bit of the selected portion.

Abstract: An optical encoder assembly has an encoder sensor, a code strip, and a base having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the encoder sensor is mounted on one of either the first portion or the second portion and the code strip is mounted on the other portion. An optical encoder assembly has a base having an upper base and a lower base, the upper base joined to the lower base with at least one flexible beam, an encoder sensor mounted to one of the upper base or the lower base, and a code strip mounted to the other of the upper base or the lower base. A method includes mounting an encoder sensor to a first mating surface on the first side of a base, mounting a code strip to a second mating surface on the second side of the base with the first and second sides of the base connected by at least one flexible beam, and attaching the base to an object to be measured such that deflections between the first and second mating surfaces can be measured using the encoder sensor.

Abstract: An optical touch module is adapted to provide a touch area. At least one sensor is disposed at a corner of the touch area. The optical touch module includes at least one light emitting element and at least one waveguide element. The waveguide element is disposed on at least one side of the touch area, for guiding and emitting light rays provided by the light emitting element to the touch area. Each waveguide element includes a light incident surface and a light emitting surface. The light incident surface faces the light emitting element. The light emitting surface faces the touch area. Thereby, the light rays emitted from the light emitting element are distributed on the touch area through the waveguide element, so as to lower the luminance of the light emitting element and reduce the current consumption.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are related to photonic-interconnect systems for reading data from and writing data to memory cells of memory chips at approximately the same time. In one embodiment of the present invention, A photonic-interconnect system comprises a photonic interconnect coupled to a photonic device. The photonic interconnect is coupled to the memory chip and is configured to encode a first data set stored in the memory cells into a first set of electromagnetic signals at approximately the same time, decode a second data set encoded in a second set of electromagnetic signals at approximately the same time, and store the second data set in the memory cells. The photonic device is configured to transmit the first set of electromagnetic signals out from the photonic interconnect and transmit the second set of electromagnetic signals into the photonic interconnect.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device, apt to generate and process optical codes at least one wavelength, comprising P inputs s, with 1?s?P, and P?1, and N outputs k, with 1?k?N and N?1, characterized in that it is apt to simultaneously generate and process Nc?2, made of C chips with time interval ?, with C?2, characterized in that the transfer function Tsk(f) from the input s to the output k satisfies the following formula: where: Fv is a transfer function of an optical filter, for v=0, 1 . . . , V?1, av is a constant value, for v=0, 1, . . . , V?1 Ssk is an integer number (Ssk?Z), Nk is a constant value, for k=2, . . . N, and V is a positive integer number with 1?V?log2N. The invention further relates to a set of optical codes, apt to be generated, in particular, by such optical device, and to networks and apparatus comprising such optical device.

Abstract: A photosensor module is composed of a light-receiving element module accommodating a light-receiving element, and a light-emitting element module accommodating a light-emitting element, which modules are separate, paired components. One of the paired light-receiving element module and light-emitting element module is mounted on a printed circuit board of a board unit, which is fixed to an end surface of a motor. After a code wheel is attached and fixed to the motor shaft along the axial direction of the motor shaft, a generally L-shaped module holder, which accommodates the other of the paired light-receiving element module and light-emitting element module, is mounted to the board unit. Thus, the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are positioned such that these elements face each other via the optical modulation track portion of the code wheel.

Abstract: A main scale 10 has protrusive grating 12 of a thin film of e.g. Cr formed on a base member 11. The base member 11 and the Cr thin film constitute a reflecting face which is set to provide the sufficient quantity of received light on a light receiving side. The protrusive grating 12 can be formed accurately by photo-etching the thin film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reference mark detector for use with a metrological scale or encoder (10) having a patterned reference mark rm movable relative to the reference mark detector. The detector may comprise a photodetector array (20) for detecting the patterned reference mark, the array comprising at least two sets of detector elements A and B each set being formed as a pattern which relates to the pattern of the reference mark. The two sets may be separate rows of photodectors or different elements of the same row of photodetectors. The pattern is preferably irregular.

Abstract: An electrostatic deflector for a particle beam apparatus comprises opposing deflector plates that face one another across a particle beam gap and are electrostatically chargeable. Each deflector plate comprises its own voltage driver, which has a DAC and amplifier. Digital electronics receives an input digital code that expresses the complementary voltages to be applied to opposing deflector plates. When the input digital code is determined to provide a non-linear output response voltage from a DAC, the digital electronics provides an output digital code with a different digital code that provides a linear response from the DAC while providing the same differential voltage between the first and second deflector plates.

Abstract: An encoder in a motor system measures radial movement and translational movement of a disk with a single integrated sensor disposed on a microprocessor chip. The encoder measures position information and eccentric movement of the disk by the integrated sensor. The measured positional information and eccentric movement information are then combined generating single corrected positional information of the disk. The corrected single positional information may be provided to a user in standard format for operation of the motor system.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the absolute position of a linear or rotary actuator. A code plate having a series of digital words thereon is associated with the linear or rotary actuator. Each of the digital words consists of a plurality of bits, each bit consisting of a series of parallel encoder elements, each in the shape of a wedge. One or two optical sensor heads would be used in conjunction with a signal processor to determine the exact position of the code plate, and, in turn, the linear or rotary actuator. The exact position of each of the sensor heads with respect to the code plate is determined based upon the value of optical signals reflected off of the wedge-shaped elements and detected by each of the optical sensors.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of some aspects of the invention provide an optical decoding device including: a splitting device having first, second, and third, terminals; a nonlinear element; and an attenuator, wherein the second and third terminals are associated with an optical loop including the attenuator and the nonlinear element, the nonlinear element being displaced from a mid-point of the optical loop, and wherein the decoding device is able to receive multiple encoded signals via the first terminal, to decode at least one of the encoded signals and to provide a decoded signal at the first terminal in response to the at least one encoded signal. Exemplary embodiments of further aspects of the invention provide an optical code responsive device for decoding optical encoded signals, codes, and/or symbols, for header processing, for header reading, for address decoding and/or for optical packet routing.

Abstract: Working with an information system operating an application—are an imager, a coded data source, and a computer-readable signal-bearing medium signal (FIG. 1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 91, 92, 93) connected to the information system where light from the data source—which represents data—is detected by the imager which inputs a signal—which represents the light—to the information system; where a use component of the medium causes the data to be made available to the application with the application being specified by the data; and where: the image can be from a plurality of imagers signal connected to the information system; the coded data source can be from a plurality of coded data sources; the application can be from a plurality of applications operated by the information system; and the medium can have a plurality of components which cause uses of data, management of imagers, and output signals.

Abstract: An encoder includes a housing, a light source coupled to the housing, and a light sensor coupled to the housing and positioned to receive a light beam from the light source. The encoder also includes a wheel having opaque and transmissive sections which may be positioned to pass through the light beam before it reaches the light sensor. The encoder further includes a floating aperture piece, which defines at least one aperture. The aperture is positioned so that the light beam must pass through it before reaching the light sensor. The floating aperture piece slidably engages the housing while allowing a loose tolerance between a position of the wheel and a position of the housing, thereby substantially eliminating a positioning error between the aperture and the wheel.

Abstract: In a method for prescribing an essentially linear ramp with a prescribable slope by a quantity, and which is clock-pulse-controlled and which describes the ramp by an increment per clock interval, the ramp is described by a number of regular increments and by at least one first and one second irregular increment. The regular increments exhibit a value corresponding to the prescribable slope. The irregular increments exhibit a value deviating from the prescribable slope. The first irregular increment is a first increment describing the ramp and the second irregular increment is a last increment describing the ramp.

Abstract: A method of converting an analog signal to a digital signal includes (a) filtering the analog signal to the range 0≦fx≦fB; (b) sampling the filtered signal at a rate fS>>fN, where fS is the sampling frequency, fN=2fx is the Nyquist frequency of the sampled signal, and fB≦fS/2 is the constrained signal bandwidth; (c) converting the sampled signal to an optical sampled signal: (d) converting the optical sampled signal from a temporal signal to a spatial signal; (e) illuminating a smart pixel array with the spatial signal; (f) processing the spatial signal with an error diffusion neural network to produce a 2-D binary image; and (g) averaging rows and columns of the 2-D binary image using a digital low pass filter and a decimation circuit.

Abstract: A system and method for performing low-power analog-to-digital conversion in digital imaging system utilizing a time-indexed multiple sampling technique is presented. The analog-to-digital converter is switched off when the digital image signal resulting from an exposure time selected from a plurality of exposure times satisfies a threshold value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing optical serial-to-parallel conversion of an optical data pulse stream having a multiplicity of data pulses, wherein the data pulse stream is formatted into a series of data pulses and an associated timing pulse which is out of phase with the data pulses, the data pulses are propagated along a forward path in a waveguide, the timing pulse is counter-propagated and collided with the data pulses thereby producing second harmonic generation from the collision, and the pulses travelling perpendicularly to the forward path are collected at a plurality of locations along the forward path to produce a parallel output.

Abstract: A digital height encoder on a turret stockpicker is used to determine platform height. A pair of fixed reference switches are provided, one to reset a digital height memory to a predetermined height value each time the switch transitions either on or off, the other at a predetermined height near the staging point of telescoping masts for initial calibration of the encoder and for verification of proper operation during normal operations. If the height measurement indicated by the encoder upon the transition of the second or verificaiton switch is not within predetermined limits, an error signal is generated and recalibration will be required. Motion of the platform is also required if the control handle is in the upward direction and the platform has not reached its predetermined upper limits.

Abstract: A method for remotely detecting the angular position of a rotatable code wheel is provided by generating two sine wave modulated light beams which are orthogonally polarized with respect to each other. The beams are combined and then directed through a polarization filter mounted on the code wheel. The combined beam incurs a phase shift with respect to a reference signal which depends upon the position of the code wheel. The combined polarized beam provides angular position resolution between zero and ninety degrees, but lacks quadrant resolution. Two other light beams are directed to a two channel digital mask pattern imprinted on the code wheel. The mask pattern encodes these latter beams with "on" or "off" pulses to provide quadrant resolution. The beams are converted to digital electric signals which are received by a programmable read oly memory (PROM). The PROM provides an output corresponding to the angular position of the code wheel to a display.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical sensor readhead (10) which includes a glass substrate (14) that contains buried ion diffused optical transmission channels (12) for supplying light to and receiving reflected light from optical encoder bands (22) of an optical encoder (20). In the disclosed arrangements, each optical transmission channel (12) is associated with a specific optical encoder band (22) and includes fourteen spaced apart optical waveguides (36) which are located along one edge (18) of the substrate (14) and which are dimensioned and positioned to supply light to and receive light from the associated optical encoder band (22). Located at the oppositely disposed edge (16) of the substrate (14) are input and output optical waveguides (40, 42, and 44), which couple optical energy into and out of the optical transmission channel (12).

Abstract: An analog to digital converter, adapted to convert an optical analog signal to an equivalent optical digital signal being one of x optically presented digital numbers defined by an n-bit digital word, where X=2.sup.n. The optical analog signal is light having an intensity variable over a range from a minimum to a maximum value. The analog to digital converter comprises a linear array of comparator means, a linear array of logic means, and a linear array of decoding means. The linear array of comparator means is responsive to the light at a plurality of input positions, x, and produces binary threshold signals which respresent a one-dimensional spacial reference having a length of corresponding to the magnitude of the sensed intensity. The linear array of logic means is responsive to the binary threshold signals and produces an optical index signal which is a one-point spacial reference having a location, an index postion, corresponding to the length of the one-dimensional spacial reference.

Abstract: An electro-optical displacement sensor comprises an optical source including a plurality of optical grating lines for producing from an incident optical signal a transmitted optical signal having a spatially periodic intensity pattern. Optical sensing means receives the transmitted signal as an input across a plurality of optical receptors, each of which receptors provides an output signal corresponding to the amplitude of the transmitted signal as sensed by the receptor. The receptors are spaced one from the other by a distance different from the fundamental spatial wavelength of the transmitted signal. Signal conditioning means derive a signal vector from the receptor output signals, the signal vector than being processed to derive first and second independent component signals. The component signals are then combined to produce an interpolated phase signal corresponding to the interpolated position of the grating lines relative to the optical receptors.

Abstract: An optically powered resolver for detecting an optical property of an encoder at a plurality of encoding sites on the encoder, to permit determination of the position or other state of the encoder. Each encoding site is capable of receiving an optical encoder input signal and of modulating the encoder input signal to produce an optical encoder output signal. The resolver includes a photocell for converting the optical input signals into corresponding electrical input signals, and an energy storage circuit for storing a portion of the energy of the electrical input signals. The resolver also includes an interrogation circuit for interrogating a selected encoding site with an encoder input signal in response to the receipt of an optical input signal by the resolver. Interrogation means provides an optical output signal corresponding to the resulting encoder output signal.

Abstract: A control system suitable for incorporating in control panels and effecting remote control of apparatus includes a light guide bus system including input and output light guides and optical switches carried on a removable optical bridge member bridging in use the input and output light guides so that the switches may be selectively connected into the bus system. Each switch is of a known optically encoding type which on operation of that switch passes its particular control code into the light guide bus system for subsequent decoding and appropriate control of the apparatus.

Abstract: An optical displacement sensor has an optically detectable coded track movable relative to a mask. The track is illuminated by light conducted by an optical fibre from a remote light source and the image of the track is focussed by a mirror on to the aperture of a second fibre. The mirror is mechanically movable to scan the image of the code over the fibre end to produce light pulses in the fiber which can be decoded at a remote receiver. The mirror is actuated electrically by electric energy from a photo-voltaic cell illuminated by light from a third fiber. Bits in the coded track are only partially opaque but the mask is fully opaque so the edges of the mask can be recognized by the receiver as the mirror is scanned.

Abstract: An analog position indicating optical encoder is provided including: an element (1) with a band (2) having a transparency which substantially is complete with respect to two wavelengths (1.sub.1 and 1.sub.2) but varies as a function of the angular or linear distance for a third wavelength (1.sub.3) at wavelength which is between the above-said two wavelengths (1.sub.1 and 1.sub.2); light emitting means (3.sub.1,3.sub.2,3.sub.3) emitting three light beams (7.sub.1,7.sub.2,7.sub.3) at the above said wavelengths (1.sub.1,1.sub.2,1.sub.3); a first optical coupler (5,6) mixing the beams (7.sub.1,7.sub.2,7.sub.3); optical bidirectional transmission means of the optical fiber type (B); a second optical coupler (18,19) dividing into three beams (20.sub.1,20.sub.2,20'.sub.3) the light leaving the means (B) after being reflected by the optical element (13) and after passing through the band (2); three readers (23.sub.1,23.sub.2,23.sub.3) responsive to the wavelength (1.sub.1,1.sub.2, and 1.sub.