Abstract: A wavelength-tunable interference filter comprising a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a first reflective film provided on the first substrate, a second reflective film provided on the second substrate, the second reflective film facing the first reflective film, a first electrode provided on the first substrate, and a second electrode provided on the second substrate, the second electrode facing the first electrode, wherein the first electrode includes a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, the first electrode layer has a first in-plane internal stress which is compressive, and the second electrode layer has a second in-plane internal stress which is tensile.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary optical sensing system including at least one light source for emitting light in a first wavelength range and light in a second wavelength. An image sensor is provided for detecting light emitted from the at least one light source. The optical sensing system also includes a first optical filter disposed in a first optical path extending between the light source and the image sensor, the first optical filter configured to pass light emitted in the first wavelength range, and to substantially block light emitted in the second wavelength range. A second optical filter is disposed in a second optical path extending between the light source and the image sensor, the second optical filter configured to pass light emitted from the at least one light source in the second wavelength range, and to substantially block light emitted in the first wavelength range.

Abstract: An interference filter is provided in which a fixed mirror and a movable mirror of the interference filter are selected from an Ag—Au alloy film, an Ag—Cu alloy film, an Ag—Au—Cu alloy film, an Ag—Si—Cu alloy film, an Ag—P—Cu alloy film, an Ag—P—In—Cu alloy film, an Ag—Te—Cu alloy film, an Ag—Ga—Cu alloy film, and an Ag—In—Sn alloy film.

Abstract: A light sensing device has a first filter to block visible light in a light path. The light sensing device also has a first color sensor and a clear sensor, to detect light in the light path after the first filter. A light intensity calculator computes a measure of the intensity of visible light in the light path, based on a difference between (a) an output signal of the first color sensor, and (b) an output signal of the clear sensor. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A microplate for use within an interrogation system and a method of using the microplate are disclosed. The microplate contains within the bottom of each well, an optical waveguide grating based sensor. Approximate to each sensor is a mask having an aperture of predetermined size. The aperture regulates the light that enters and exits the sensor upon successive scans and ensures repeatable readings from the sensor. In an extended embodiment, a method of detection is disclosed that utilizes a launch and receive system while employing the aforementioned microplate.

Abstract: A method includes receiving light from a material at a digital imaging device. The method also includes filtering the light into at least three spectral bands using a filter, where different regions of the filter pass different spectral bands. The method further includes measuring the light in each of the spectral bands and determining at least one color associated with the material using the measured light in the spectral bands. The different regions of the filter could include multiple masks (where each mask passes one of the spectral bands), different areas of a linear variable filter, and/or individual filters (where each individual filter passes one of the spectral bands). The digital imaging device could include a digital camera. The filter could be formed on a detector in the digital camera, and/or a component of the digital camera could be replaced with the filter.

Abstract: A filter arrangement can transmit and/or reflect light emanating from a moving object so that the emanating light has time variation, and the time variation can include information about the object, such as its type. For example, emanating light from segments of a path can be transmitted/reflected through positions of a filter assembly, and the transmission functions of the positions can be sufficiently different that time variation occurs in the emanating light between segments. Or emanating light from a segment can be transmitted/reflected through a filter component in which simpler transmission functions are superimposed, so that time variation occurs in the emanating light in accordance with superposition of two simpler non-uniform transmission functions. Many filter arrangements could be used, e.g. the filter component could include the filter assembly, which can have one of the simpler non-uniform transmission functions.

Abstract: An optical property evaluation apparatus includes: a light conversion filter converting light emitted from an LED chip or a bare LED package, which is to be evaluated, into a different wavelength of light, and emitting a specific color of light; and an optical property measurement unit receiving the specific color of light emitted from the light conversion filter and measuring the optical properties of the received light.

Abstract: Devices (1) for monitoring light (2) coming from different areas comprise first components (10) for selecting light coming from a particular area, second components (20) for filtering the selected light, third components (30) for sensing the filtered light, and fourth components (40) for in response to an output signal of the third component (30) determining spectra of the sensed light and for calculating color parameters such as color points and/or color rendering indices from the spectra. The first components (10) may comprise light angle selectors and redirectors (11), such as rotational mirrors (110) and rotational apparatuses (112), and light angle restrictors (12), such as high aspect ratio structures with absorbing walls (120) or circular holes (121). The second components (20) may comprise filter arrays (21). The third components (30) may comprise sensor arrays (31).

Abstract: A color distribution measuring optical system generates an image of an object to be measured via an imaging optical system and a color matching function filter. The color matching function filter is an optical multilayer film filter, and the angle of arrangement of the color matching function filter can be changed, with respect to an optical axis of the imaging optical system, depending on the numerical aperture of the imaging optical system by a tilt angle changing device. Various imaging optical systems can be used even when the optical multilayer filter is used.

Abstract: A hand held measurement apparatus and method for in situ optical analysis of a specific display screen or viewing box and associated ambient light environment is disclosed. The apparatus uses a plurality of input collector optics and a plurality of optical filter/photodetectors as a device to separate the light output of an individual monitor screen, display screen, or viewing box and associated ambient light environment into key optical component intensities, the analysis of which are used to optimize the probability for a correct diagnosis by a qualified viewer/analyst. The optical signals are converted into digital electrical signals, processed, and compared to previously stored information of the specific viewing display and the viewing display environment in order to determine if the combination of viewing device and viewing environment is either GO (acceptable, in compliance) or NO GO (not acceptable, non-compliant) according to industry standards or approved procedures.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for stabilising a spectrometric transducer for an optical spectrum measuring instrument by obtaining an instantaneous central wavelength of a thermally controlled tunable filter of the instrument, calibrating for a selected ambient temperature, determining a heat variance of the filter and controlling the filter to compensate for heat variance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wavelength spectroscopy device comprising, on a substrate SUB, a filter module made up of two mirrors MIR1, MIR2 that are spaced apart by a spacer membrane SP. The filter module comprises a plurality of interference filters FP1, FP2, FP3, the thickness of said spacer membrane SP being constant for any given filter and varying from one filter to another.

Abstract: An edge-emitter semiconductor laser crystal having a receptacle for sample material which can influence the crystal's laser operation. There may be separate zones of laser action within the crystal, creating respective sensing zones in the receptacle. Detection may be achieved by providing photo-diode regions within the crystal, for example.

Abstract: A discrimination filtering device includes a filter and a filter having different pass bands, a detection unit, a processing unit, and a result output unit. The detection unit detects an electromagnetic wave from an object that is the target of identification through the filters. The pass band of the filters is designed to be suitable for object discrimination. The processing unit substitutes the output from the detection unit into a discrimination function determined based on the pass band of the filters and the teaching spectrum obtained in advance to infer the group which the object belongs to based on the substituted result.

Abstract: A color detector includes a light source, a filter, and a photodetector. The photodetector outputs a signal proportional to the amount of a predetermined color of light that passes through the corresponding filter. When used in an array, each filter may have different transmission characteristics, and each color signal may have a different magnitude and/or signal-to-noise ratio. This may be corrected for by adjusting the area of each of the photodetectors and corresponding filters. In other words, the areas if the photodetectors may be configured to equalize the color signal of a reference color and thereby maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of the color signals the sensor is intended to measure. The area of the photodetector may be based on a response curve of the photodetector as a function of wavelength, a response curve of the filter as a function of wavelength, and the amount of light as a function of wavelength generated by the light source, among other factors.

Abstract: A sensor array comprises a first blue sensor and a second blue sensor; and a first green sensor and a second green sensor, wherein the blue sensors have a filter that only passes blue light, and the green sensors have a filter that only passes green light.

Abstract: A frequency modulated spectroscopy system, including a photo-detector, a band-pass filter to filter the output of the photo-detector, and a rectifier to demodulate. The band-pass filter has a relatively high Q factor. With the high Q factor band-pass filter and rectifier, a reference sinusoid is not required for demodulation, resulting in phase-insensitive spectroscopy. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments include an apparatus including a color sensor including a transmitter portion and a receiver portion, the transmitter portion including a light source operable to generate and transmit a light having a particular range of wavelengths, the receiver portion including a first detector operable to receive a first portion of the light emitted from the transmitter portion and to measure a luminance of the received first portion of the emitted light, and a second detector including a polarization filter, the second detector operable to receive a second portion of the light emitted from the transmitter after the second portion has passed through the polarization filter, and operable to measure a pure color of the received second portion of transmitted light.

Abstract: A filter arrangement can transmit and/or reflect light emanating from a moving object so that the emanating light has time variation, and the time variation can include information about the object, such as its type. For example, emanating light from segments of a path can be transmitted/reflected through positions of a filter assembly, and the transmission functions of the positions can be sufficiently different that time variation occurs in the emanating light between segments. Or emanating light from a segment can be transmitted/reflected through a filter component in which simpler transmission functions are superimposed, so that time variation occurs in the emanating light in accordance with superposition of two simpler non-uniform transmission functions. Many filter arrangements could be used, e.g. the filter component could include the filter assembly, which can have one of the simpler non-uniform transmission functions.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes a filter that transmits light of a predetermined wavelength; a first light receiving unit receives at least one of a first light that is output from a first light source, reflected by or transmitted through an object to be measured, and transmitted through the filter and a second light that is output from a second light source, reflected by or transmitted through the object to be measured, and transmitted through the filter, and through which a signal according to the received light travels; a second light receiving unit receives light of a different path from that received by the first light receiving unit, a difference extracting unit that obtains a difference signal between the signals traveling through the first and second light receiving units and an information generating unit that generates information of the object to be measured based on the difference signal.

Abstract: The color difference and/or chromaticness difference between target objects and background objects can be enhanced. Different colors with different color attributes mean different objects. In some cases, different chromaticness, such as saturation and hue, mean different two- or three-band ratio. The light from the surface of objects is filtered by optical system integrated with two- and three-band mixing method so that only the light in the wavelength range of the pass bands can reach optical sensors for opto-electronic sensing devices. With this kind of opto-electronic sensing devices, two- and/or three-band ratio criteria widely used in remote sensing and machine vision applications can be calculated in terms of color attributes. Multi-spectral imaging system can be replaced by this kind of sensing devices. This kind of two- or three-band mixing illumination can be used to identify, classify, and detect objects for human visual application, remote sensing, and machine vision application.

Abstract: An imaging-type near-field optical microscope mainly comprises a light source and a photodetector array. The array functions as imaging array where each cell or photodetector has subwavelength dimensions. A sample under test is disposed in optical near field of the photodetectors, e.g., on surface of the array. As a result of subwavelength dimensions and near-field effect, resolution can break the diffraction limit and even reach nanoscale. The microscope has a fast speed, works with soft sample and sample in solution, and is capable of dynamic observations. In addition, the array surface doubles as a platform for molecule manipulation.

Abstract: A color detector includes a light source configured to generate light with a spectrum of wavelengths; a plurality of filters in optical communication with the light source, wherein each filter is configured to pass a bandwidth of wavelengths around a different peak wavelength; and a plurality of photodetectors, each configured to receive light passed through a respective filter of the plurality of filters. The bandwidth of each filter is configured to Correspond to a bandwidth of a curve from a set of standard color matching functions. A method for improving color detection accuracy in a color detector includes matching a bandwidth passed by each of a plurality of color filters with a bandwidth and peak wavelength of a Commission Internationale de I'Eclairage (CIE) color matching function; and separately detecting an amount of light passed by each the filter.

Abstract: The specification describes an optical wavelength monitor/analyzer that uses a cost effective wavelength reference source. The wavelength reference source is a nominally fixed wavelength laser with inherent tunability over a very limited wavelength range, i.e. a few nanometers. Tuning is effected by changing the temperature of the laser. The limited range is useful for making multiple wavelength measurements in the context of analyzing wavelength drift in tunable optical filters.

Abstract: The measuring device comprises a lighting system, a photoelectric receiver unit and optical means. The lighting system applies light to image elements disposed in strip-shaped lighting regions (15) at a standardized angle of incidence range. The photoelectric receiver unit comprises several photoelectric line sensors (21) disposed parallel at a distance apart which are sensitized to different wavelength ranges by color filters (22) connected upstream. The optical means comprise linear optical arrays (31) which pick up the measurement light reflected by the image elements at a standardized range of angle of reflection and direct it to one of the respective line sensors (21). By means of optical screening and other structural features, cross-talk effects between adjacent image elements are largely reduced.

Abstract: Desired spectral characteristics are attained by making reflection films close enough. A variable spectroscopy device (1) has a pair of optical substrates (2, 3) opposing each other with an interval therebetween, two reflection films (5) opposing each other which are respectively disposed on opposing surfaces of the optical substrates (2, 3), two sensor electrodes (6) opposing each other which are disposed on the same surfaces as the reflection films (5) and which constitute an interval sensor for detecting an interval between the optical substrates (2, 3), and an actuator (4) which relatively moves the optical substrates (2, 3) and changes the interval between the optical substrates (2, 3). A distance between the opposing surfaces of the two sensor electrodes (6) is longer than a distance between the opposing surfaces of the two reflection films (5).

Abstract: A method for inspecting a color filter includes a first step of disposing the color filter so that the color filter is opposed to a light source, a second step of outputting, from the light source, monochromatic light of a color corresponding to one of the colors of color layers of the color filter and entering the light into the plurality of color layers, and a third step of inspecting for display unevenness in each of the color layers with light transmitted through the color layers.

Abstract: A spectral photoelectric measurement transformer comprises an array (10) of photoelectric transformer elements and dielectric interference bandpass filters (22a, 22b) disposed on a common filter support (21) connected upstream of them for sensitizing the transformer elements to different wavelength ranges of the measurement light. The bandpass filters are divided into a number of filter groups, each of which contains the same different bandpass filters within the filter group. An optical deflector element (30) spectrally shifts the effective bandpass curves of the bandpass filters of all the filter groups except one so that the effective bandpass curves of all the bandpass filters have different spectral positions. As a result, a multiplication of the filter channels effectively made available can be achieved using only a few different bandpass filters. Due to the small number of different bandpass filters, the measurement transformer is inexpensive to manufacture.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for stabilising a spectrometric transducer for an optical spectrum measuring insturument by obtaining an instantaneous central wavelength of a thermally controlled tunable filter of the instrument, calibrating for a selected ambient temperature, determining a heat variance of the filter and controlling the filter to compensate for heat variance.

Abstract: A spectroscopic device that can suppress the occurrence of cross-talk when light beams of different wavelength ranges are optically received is provided. Detected light is made incident to a dichroic minor (hereinafter referred to as “mirror”) DM1 along the perpendicular direction of a photoelectric surface 7. Accordingly, light transmitted through the mirror DM1 is made incident substantially perpendicular to the photoelectric surface 7. On the other hand, light reflected from the mirror DM1 is reflected from a main mirror surface 23. At this time, the dichroic mirror array 21 is inclined so that the mirror DM8 side having the minimum shortest wavelength is nearer to the photoelectric surface 7 than the minor DM1 side having the maximum shortest wavelength and substantially parallel to the main minor surface 23a, so that light reflected from the main mirror surface 23a is made incident to the mirror DM2 along the perpendicular direction of the photoelectric surface 7.

Abstract: A color filter with low color shift is defined by a light leakage spectrum in the dark state. The color filter is disposed between two polarizing plates so as to measure a first spectrum of dark state a(?), wherein the polarizing directions of the polarizers are orthogonal to each other. A second spectrum of dark state b(?) while the color filter is removed, and then a ratio spectrum of light leakage intensity I(?)=(a(?)/b(?)) is determined. A maximum value P1 in the ratio spectrum of light leakage intensity is determined in a wavelength region in which the ratio spectrum of light leakage intensity of green photoresist overlaps that of a blue photoresist. A maximum value P2 in the ratio spectrum of light leakage intensity is determined in a wavelength region in which the ratio spectrum of light leakage intensity of red photoresist locates.

Abstract: The invention relates to reflectance sensors built up from an optical unit, a sample analysis unit and a system control unit, and to a method of measuring the reflectance of a sample in the form of a liquid pigment preparation, and to the use of a reflectance sensor according to the invention for the measurement of the reflectance of liquid pigment preparations in various process stages during the production, further processing and use of the liquid pigment preparations.

Abstract: Provided is a calibration source IR assembly for an IR detector including an IR focal plane. The calibration assembly includes a rotatable spectral filter wheel optically coupled to an IR focal plane of the detector, the filter wheel having a plurality of areas each of at least a minimum size. At least one area being a calibration area, the calibration area including: a substrate having a first side facing the IR focal plane and a second side opposite from the first side; a light transmitting edge section disposed between the first side and the second side; and at least one light redirector disposed at least partially within the substrate, the light redirector structured and arranged to receive light from the edge and to redirect the light out the first side. A light source optically coupled to the edge section. An IR detector including the improvement of such a calibration source IR assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A method for determining the optimal colorant thicknesses and linear combinations for integral illuminant-weighted CIE color-matching filters is provided. A reflectance colorimeter for configuring printers may be designed using this method.

Abstract: A system and method for multimode imaging of at least one sample is disclosed. The system includes at least one light source; an optical system selected responsive to a mode of operation of the imaging system; and a detector capable of selective reading of pixels. The at least one sample is moved elative to the optical system using a sample movement technique selected from the group consisting of step sample moving and continuous sample moving. The method includes the steps of (1) selecting a mode of operation for the imaging system; (2) transmitting light from at least one light source through an optical system selected in response to the mode of operation for the imaging system; (3) moving the at least one sample relative to the optical system using a sample movement technique selected from the group consisting of step sample moving and continuous sample moving; and (4) selectively reading pixels with a detector.

Abstract: A low cost calorimeter wherein a linear taper potentiometer proportions the current through sample and reference solid state light sources in a near logarithmic fashion. The position of the potentiometer slider is proportional to the absorbance of the solution in the sample path when the light intensity of the two paths is balanced. The light intensity may be balanced visually or with a simple electronic comparator.

Abstract: A system for determining the concentration of an analyte in a liquid sample comprising a detection unit for detecting light intensities which are radiated from subareas of a detection area of a test element as well as an evaluation unit which determines a frequency distribution for the detected light intensities wherein the frequency distribution has at least one first maximum caused by unwetted subareas or at least one reference area and a second maximum caused by wetted subareas and selects at least one light intensity on the basis of the frequency distribution and determines the concentration of the analyte from the at least one selected light intensity.

Abstract: In a method for determining color and/or density values for use in monitoring and regulating a printing process in a printing apparatus, specifically in a sheet-fed offset printing press, measuring areas of a printed sheet are measured photoelectrically during the printing process, directly in or on the running printing apparatus. From the measured values obtained in the process, the color and/or density values for the relevant measuring areas are formed. From the measurement, measured value deviations caused directly in the printing process with respect to a measurement outside the printing process can be corrected computationally.

Abstract: A readhead for illuminating a sample carrier and receiving light from the sample carrier, including a housing for receiving a sample carrier, an array of light sources mounted within the housing in a fixed position relative to the sample carrier, and including first and second light-emitting diodes for emitting substantially monochromatic light of a two different wavelengths, a light guide mounted in the housing between the light-emitting diodes and the sample carrier, and a light detector coupled to receive light from the sample carrier. The readhead also includes a light source for directing excitation light of a predetermined wavelength to the sample carrier, and a light filter positioned between the sample carrier and the light detector and adapted to prevent passage therethrough of the excitation light. The readhead allows both fluorescence spectroscopy and reflectance spectroscopy to be conducted on the sample carrier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for characterizing objects. The method includes the steps of illuminating the object with incident red light having at least some wavelengths between 620 nms and 650 nms and detecting red light fluorescence from said object having a wavelength greater than visible wavelengths greater than that of the incident wavelengths, for example by using a filter. An apparatus including a source of red incident light, a detector for longer wavelength fluorescent light and a means for physically removing the detected objects from the rest is also provided. An embodiment of the present invention may be used in a mine, for example, to separate gem stones from less valuable ore rock or in prospecting to detect the presence of gems. In this embodiment the detection is not possible with the naked eye alone.

Abstract: Provided is an optical sampling apparatus that samples light to be measured having a pulse waveform, including a sampling light output section that outputs a first sampling light and a second sampling light, both having pulse waveforms of a spectrum different from that of the light to be measured; a first sampling section that includes a first nonlinear optical medium, which causes a nonlinear optical effect by causing at least a portion of the light to be measured and the first sampling light to pass therethrough and outputs light generated by the nonlinear optical effect, and that outputs at least a portion of the light generated by the nonlinear optical effect as a first output light; and a second sampling section that includes a second nonlinear optical medium, which causes a nonlinear optical effect by causing at least a portion of the first output light and the second sampling light to pass therethrough with a temporal overlap in order to output light generated by the nonlinear optical effect, and that

Abstract: Embodiments of a spectrophotometer and methods of use a spectrophotometer are disclosed.

Abstract: A wavelength of an optical source is monitored by first and second adjacent detectors on a common base. A bulk reflective component has first and second partially reflective surfaces that respectively direct first and second portions of energy from the source to the first and second detectors. A wavelength discriminator is positioned between the first detector and first surface. An optical isolator downstream of the reflective component prevents radiation from the source and exiting the component from being coupled to the detectors and back to the source.

Abstract: An illumination arrangement for a color measurement device includes a linear arrangement of light emitting diode chips (11) packed tightly along a narrowly defined path. A plurality of light emitting diode chips within at least one region of the path emit light of substantially the same color and are directly covered together with a resin in which a converter material is included for the conversion of the light emitted by the light emitting diode chips of the plurality thereof into at least one other wavelength range. An illumination light with cosine characteristic is emitted from a surface of the resin. UV light emitting regions and non-UV light emitting regions as well as regions including color filters and/or polarization filters may be provided. The illumination arrangement may include white emitting regions and narrow band emitting regions constructed especially for color density measurement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the IR-spectrometric analysis of a solid, liquid or gaseous medium. The device includes a process probe, which has a reflection element. The device additionally includes a linear variable filter, at least one detector element, and a control/evaluation unit. At least one light source is also provided, the light of which is coupled into the reflection element via a collimating optics. At least one optical waveguide having a light input section and a light output section is provided. The light is guided via the light output section of the optical waveguide into a defined region of the linear variable filter. The detector element and the linear variable filter are arranged movably relative to one another over approximately the length of the linear variable filter. The control/evaluation unit determines the spectrum of the medium on the basis of the measured values delivered from the detector element.

Abstract: A method for determining the optimal colorant thicknesses for integral CIE color-matching filters is provided. According to a computational study, a four band filter of the present invention provides a best approximation to the CIE XYZ color-matching functions with the least cost.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for wafer level calibration of imaging sensors and for imaging sensors that have been calibrated at the wafer level. The quantum efficiency spectrum measurement is calculated for calibration pixels (or other region of interest) using spatially separated monochromatic light having a spectral range. The results of the quantum efficiency spectrum measurement are stored, for example in anti-fuse memory cells on the imaging sensor. An imaging system, such as a camera, utilizes an imaging device with the calibrated imaging sensor.

Abstract: Ambient light analysis methods, imaging devices, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one aspect, an ambient light analysis method includes emitting light using a source, first filtering the light of the source providing first filtered light, first receiving the first filtered light using an imaging device, providing a first response of the imaging device to the first filtered light, second filtering ambient light providing second filtered light, second receiving the second filtered light using the imaging device, providing a second response of the imaging device to the second filtered light, and determining information regarding a spectral power distribution of the ambient light using the first response and the second response.

Abstract: A greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness is achieved by optically assessing the condition of a gas discharge lamp. Herein, a system and method of optically assessing lamp condition includes measuring the intensity of emitted light within two portions of the emitted spectrum. One portion of the lamp's spectrum is selected such that the intensity of emitted light from that portion remains relatively constant as the lamp ages. The second portion of the lamp's spectrum is selected such that the intensity of the emitted light varies measurably as the lamp ages. A ratio is computed between the two intensities. Comparing this ratio to a reference ratio provides information of the relative present condition (i.e., age) of the lamp being tested. Associating the lamp with location data is a further aspect. Important advantages are the ability to predict relative lamp age, and thus avoid both premature lamp replacement and pre-failure lamp cycling.