Abstract: An image sensor controls the gain of a pixel signal on a pixel-by-pixel basis and extends a dynamic range while maintaining a S/N ratio at a favorable level. A column unit in an image sensor is independently detects a level of each pixel signal and independently sets a gain for level of the signal. A photoelectric converting region unit has pixels arranged two-dimensionally with a vertical signal line for each pixel column to output each pixel signal. The column unit is on an output side of the vertical signal line. The column unit for each pixel column has a pixel signal level detecting circuit, a programmable gain control, a sample and hold (S/H) circuit. Gain correction is performed according to a result of a detected level of the pixel signal.

Abstract: A proximity sensing device includes: a light source, a sensing unit, a light guide unit, and a window. The light source emits light, which is guided by the light guide unit to the window. The emitted light reflected by an object is received by the same window. The light guide unit includes a partial-transmissive-partial-reflective (PTPR) optical element, whereby the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the PTPR optical element, while the light reflected by the object passes through the PTPR optical element. There is only one window required.

Abstract: An image sensor package includes an image sensor chip on a package substrate, a logic chip on the package substrate and perpendicularly overlapping the image sensor chip, and a memory chip on the package substrate and perpendicularly overlapping the image sensor chip and logic chip. The logic chip processes a pixel signal output from the image sensor chip. The memory chip is electrically connected to the image sensor chip through a conductive wire and stores at least one of the pixel signal from the image sensor chip or a pixel signal processed by the logic chip. The memory chip receives the pixel signal output from the image sensor chip through the conductive wire and receives the pixel signal processed by the logic chip through the image sensor chip and the conductive wire.

Abstract: An image sensor includes: a photoelectric conversion film that performs photoelectric conversion on light having entered therein; at least two electrodes, including a first electrode and a second electrode, disposed at a surface of the photoelectric conversion film; and at least two electrodes, including a third electrode and a fourth electrode, disposed at another surface of the photoelectric conversion film.

Abstract: An encoder apparatus including a scale including a series of features defining at least one scale track and a readhead for reading the scale's features. The readhead includes at least one light source for illuminating the scale and at least one detector. The configuration of the at least one light source is such that there is a structure in the light projected toward the scale. The readhead is configured such that the structure is angled so that it is substantially misaligned with respect to the scale's features so as to reduce measurement error in the signal output by the readhead.

Abstract: A spectrometer and a spectrum measurement method thereof are provided. An analog-to-digital converter converts an amplified signal into a digital signal according to a reference voltage provided by a variable reference voltage generation circuit and amplifies the digital signal according to a target signal value, thereby approximating a signal value of the amplified digital signal to the target signal value. A control circuit outputs a spectral signal according to the amplified digital signal. A user can obtain spectrum measurement results that can be easily interpreted by the spectrometer and the spectrum measurement method thereof, without changing hardware or software, so as to improve convenience of use of the spectrometer.

Abstract: The latch detection system and latch detection method disclosed herein determines an orientation of one or more latches used to secure cargo in a cargo hold, and thus improves latch security and cargo transportation safety. To that end, aspects presented herein provide an optical latch detection system that detects whether one or more latches are in the locked or unlocked orientation. More particularly, aspects presented herein rely on a reflective laser system to determine the orientation of one or more latches based on the amount of reflected light detected by the laser system. In so doing, the disclosed latch detection system provides a reliable and repeatable option for determining the orientation of latch(es) in a cargo hold.

Abstract: A vehicle detector assembly for detecting solar radiation may include a housing, a fixed plate fixed to an upper surface of the housing in a flat form, a plurality of photo detectors bonded to a surface of the fixed plate, each being connected to a lead having a uniform one-directional inclination structure, and a detector cap fastened to the housing and transmitting sunlight.

Abstract: A light projector and a light receiver each includes a case body, a light transmission plate closing an opening in a front face of the case body, and a pair of caps closing openings in end faces of the case body. The case body includes first supports supporting side edges of the light transmission plate, the caps respectively include second supports supporting ends of the light transmission plate, the light transmission plate is supported by the first supports and the second supports with an elastic member interposed between the light transmission plate and the first and second supports, and the cap is fixed to the case body while the seal member abutting on the end face of the case body is interposed between the cap and the case body. A cured liquid sealing agent is interposed between leading ends of the seal member and the elastic member.

Abstract: Systems and methods implementing a resonance circuit, including an avalanche photodiode, in which a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit is matched with the frequency of a dynamic biasing signal of the avalanche photodiode, can be used in a variety of applications. In various embodiments, a method for blocking and/or compensating current injection associated with the parasitic capacitance of APDs operated under dynamic biasing may be substantially realized by the matching of the resonance frequency of a resonance circuit including the avalanche photodiode with the frequency of an applied dynamic biasing signal. Additional systems and methods are described that can be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a resin package including: a first lead and a second lead, each including a top surface and a bottom surface, and a first resin portion located between the first lead and the second lead and extending in a first direction; a first light emitting element and a second light emitting element arrayed on the top surface of the first lead in the first direction, the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element each including at least a first side surface; and an encapsulant located on the top surface of the first lead and covering the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element. The first side surface of the first light emitting element and the first side surface of the second light emitting element partially face each other.

Abstract: A wavefront control apparatus includes a detector configured to detect a signal generated from a medium onto which light is irradiated, and a controller configured to control a wavefront of the light based on an output of the detector. The controller performs first processing for forming a first wavefront of the light based on the signal generated from a first measurement position in the medium, and second processing for forming a second wavefront of the light based on the signal generated from a second measurement position different from the first measurement position in the medium onto which the light having the first wavefront is irradiated.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus, including: a photoelectric conversion element; an amplifier transistor configured to output a voltage corresponding to electric charges generated by the photoelectric conversion element; a load transistor configured to supply a bias current to the amplifier transistor; and a voltage supply unit configured to input one of a first voltage and a second voltage, which have different voltage values, to a control node of the load transistor via an input capacitor. In the imaging apparatus, a current value of the bias current to be supplied by the load transistor at a time when the second voltage is input to the control node via the input capacitor is larger than a current value of the bias current to be supplied by the load transistor at a time when the first voltage is input to the control node via the input capacitor.

Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting structure with an electrode layer, a light-transmitting body, a reflective layer and a metal bump. The light-transmitting body covers the light-emitting structure, and has a first side surface and a second side surface which are substantially perpendicular to each other. The reflective layer covers the first side surface without covering the second side surface. The metal bump is directly formed on the electrode layer.

Abstract: A color filter array may include a plurality of color filters arranged two-dimensionally and configured to allow light of different wavelengths to pass therethrough. Each of the plurality of color filters includes at least one Mie resonance particle and a transparent dielectric surrounding the at least one Mie resonance particle.

Abstract: Image intensifiers may include a photocathode that emits photoelectrons in proportion to the rate photons impact the photocathode. The photoelectrons are multiplied using a microchannel plate that includes a plurality of microchannels. Photoelectrons are scattered by the microchannel plate when the photoelectrons strike the surface of the microchannel plate rather than enter one of the microchannels. Electron scatter within an image intensifier results in a halo or bloom around bright or luminous objects. Halo or bloom may be minimized by reducing the electron scatter within the image intensifier. Deposition of an anti-scattering layer on the surface of the microchannel plate within the image intensifier can absorb photoelectrons that fail to enter a microchannel and may thus reduce the incidence of halo or bloom.

Abstract: Provided is a distance measuring device and a method of measuring a distance. The distance measuring device detects light reflected by an object, generates an electrical signal based on the detected light, detects whether the electrical signal is saturated or not by comparing the electrical signal with a reference value, controls a magnitude of the electrical signal based on whether the signal is saturated, and calculates a distance to the object using the electrical signal.

Abstract: A photodetector circuit includes: a photodetector transistor; a current output transistor; a switching transistor; and a first capacitor. The source of the photodetector transistor, the gate of the current output transistor, and the first terminal of the first capacitor are connected to one another. The source of the current output transistor, the drain of the switching transistor, and the second terminal of the first capacitor are connected to one another. The photodetector transistor has a drain connected to a reference potential line, and upon receiving light when the photodetector transistor is in an off state, the source of the photodetector transistor collects electric charges generated by an internal photoelectric effect. The current output transistor has a drain connected to a power line which can have a first power supply potential and a second power supply potential. The switching transistor has a source connected to a photodetection line.

Abstract: A sensing device includes a first array of sensing elements, which output a signal indicative of a time of incidence of a single photon on the sensing element. A second array of processing circuits are coupled respectively to the sensing elements and comprise a gating generator, which variably sets a start time of the gating interval for each sensing element within each acquisition period, and a memory, which records the time of incidence of the single photon on each sensing element in each acquisition period. A controller controls the gating generator during a first sequence of the acquisition periods so as to sweep the gating interval over the acquisition periods and to identify a respective detection window for the sensing element, and during a second sequence of the acquisition periods, to fix the gating interval for each sensing element to coincide with the respective detection window.

Abstract: A system for illuminating a sample with a spectrally filtered illumination source includes an illumination source configured to generate a beam of illumination having a first set of wavelengths. In addition, the system includes a wavelength filtering sub-system, a sample stage, an illumination sub-system, a detector, and an objective to focus illumination from the surface of one or more samples and focus the collected illumination to the detector. Further, the wavelength filtering sub-system includes one or more first dispersive elements positioned to introduce spatial dispersion into the beam, a spatial filter element, and one or more dispersive elements positioned to remove spatial dispersion from the beam. The spatial filter element is further positioned to pass at least a portion of the beam including a second set of wavelengths, wherein the second set of wavelengths is a subset of the first set of wavelengths.