460 results about "Electro-optical sensor" patented technology

Affordable methods and apparatus are disclosed for inputting position, attitude (orientation) or other object characteristic data to computers for the purpose of Computer Aided Design, Painting, Medicine, Teaching, Gaming, Toys, Simulations, Aids to the disabled, and internet or other experiences. Preferred embodiments of the invention utilize electro-optical sensors, and particularly TV Cameras, providing optically inputted data from specialized datum's on objects and / or natural features of objects. Objects can be both static and in motion, from which individual datum positions and movements can be derived, also with respect to other objects both fixed and moving. Real-time photogrammetry is preferably used to determine relationships of portions of one or more datums with respect to a plurality of cameras or a single camera processed by a conventional PC.

Thin film transistors including an oxide semiconductor containing indium, gallium, and zinc are easily arranged in a matrix over a large substrate and have small characteristic variations. With amplifier circuits and driver circuits of display elements which include the thin film transistors including an oxide semiconductor containing indium, gallium, and zinc with small characteristic variations, intensity distribution of light received by the photodiodes arranged in a matrix is converted into electrical signals with high reproducibility and output, and the display elements arranged in a matrix can be uniformly driven.

Disclosed herein are new forms computer monitors and displays, and preferred embodiments utilize electro-optical sensors, and particularly TV Cameras, providing optically inputted data from the display screen or from specialized datum's on objects and / or natural features of objects, which may be illuminated using specialized light sources, such as laser pointers. The invention is a continuation of earlier applications aimed at providing affordable methods and apparatus for data communication with respect to people and computers.

Affordable methods and apparatus are disclosed for inputting position, attitude (orientation) or other object characteristic data to computers for the purpose of Computer Aided Design, Painting, Medicine, Teaching, Gaming, Toys, Simulations, Aids to the disabled, and internet or other experiences. Preferred embodiments of the invention utilize electro-optical sensors, and particularly TV Cameras, providing optically inputted data from specialized datum's on objects and / or natural features of objects. Objects can be both static and in motion, from which individual datum positions and movements can be derived, also with respect to other objects both fixed and moving. Real-time photogrammetry is preferably used to determine relationships of portions of one or more datums with respect to a plurality of cameras or a single camera processed by a conventional PC.

An OLED display including: a transparent electrode; a reflective electrode having a transparent window; a light emissive layer disposed between the transparent electrode and the reflective electrode; and a photosensor located under the transparent window of the reflective electrode to sense light produced by the light emissive layer.

A system and method for measuring orientation of an object. In the illustrative embodiment, the object is a ball (42) in a ball and socket type pointing and stabilization system. The novel system (40) includes an encoded pattern (46) applied to a portion of the surface of the ball (42), a pattern reader (44) which reads the pattern (46) off the ball (42) and outputs data representative of the pattern (46), and a processor (48) which decodes the data into orientation information. In the preferred embodiment, the pattern reader (44) is an electro-optical sensor, and the encoded pattern (46) includes a grid of dots (52) arranged in a first predetermined number of dot code cycles (58) wherein each dot code cycle (58) includes a second predetermined number of dots. The processor (48) includes an algorithm (100) which computes pitch, yaw, and roll angles from the pattern reader data.

A flat-plate lighting device comprising a lamp body and a lamp post; the lamp body related to a flat-plate frame having on its top disposed with a sheet matrix-like arrangement of a solar moudle, and on its inner-bottom connected to a light emitting area and a accommodation area with the lighting emitting area comprised of one or a plurality of lighting unit of LED and the accommodation area being related to a thicker box; the box contains a solar cell and a circuit board, the circuit board converts the sunlight energy from the solar moudle into electric energy and stored in the solar cell; the power is supplied to the lighting unit once a electro-optical sensor detects insufficient ambient luminance; and a power monitor circuit is added to the circuit board.

A multicontrolled, fresh beverage brewer (20) with a dispense manifold heater (104) for selectively instantaneously heating pre-heated hot water from a hot water tank (29) immediately before the preheated hot water is dispensed into the brew basket (49) in sensed temperature of the beverage within the brew basket the preheated water immediately prior to being added to the brew basket, a photosensor (106) for sensing a level of light conductance of the beverage for controlling at least one of a brew dispense valve (37), a bypass valve (38) and a brew basket drain hole closure (94) in response to photosensor sensing a level of light conductance level of the beverage, and brew basket pressurization system (50, 69, 51) for selectively pressurizing the brew basket (49) to selectively accelerate the flow rate of hot water though an ingredient within the brew basket. A rotary spray head drive (110) rotates a rotating spray assembly to provide an even distribution of hot water over the surface of the ingredient, and a spray distribution plate employs open channels of differing length (156) to channel the water to different desired location are open for easy cleaning and elimination of clogging from lime residue. A brew basket filter holder (72) insert for insertion into the filter holder has a cylindrical, water impervious wall to prevent side passage of the hot water through the layer of beverage ingredient.

Disclosed herein are TV Camera based and other electro-optical sensors and systems, providing affordable methods and apparatus for high speed determination of dimensions and other features of objects. Particular embodiments capable of fast and reliable acquisition of features of moving objects such as boards and wood products are disclosed. Preferred embodiments utilize laser triangulation range detection with at least two cameras viewing the same laser spot or line projected on the object.

A display device which incorporates a touch panel function therein can reduce the number of elements which constitute a photo sensor circuit and can accurately detect an input coordinate position without requiring a particular coordinate arithmetic circuit. In a display device which includes: a display part on which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix array; and a plurality of photo detection circuits which are arranged in a matrix array in the inside of the display part, each photo detection circuit of the plurality of photo detection circuits includes: a photo sensor which converts an incident light into a optical current corresponding to intensity of the incident light; an integral capacitance which integrates the optical current converted by the photo sensor; and a comparator to which a voltage of the integral capacitance is inputted; and the comparator includes a transistor of an open drain output type with a grounded source.

A collision avoidance system for deciding whether an autonomous avoidance manoeuvre should be performed in order to avoid a mid-air collision between a host aerial vehicle equipped with the system and an intruding aerial vehicle. At least one electro-optical sensor captures consecutive images of an intruding vehicle such that the vehicle manifests itself as a target point in the images. An image processor estimates the azimuth angle, elevation angle and a first time-to-collision estimate of the time to collision between the host vehicle and the intruding vehicle. The first time-to-collision estimate is estimated based on scale change in the target point between at least two of said consecutive images. A tracking filter is arranged to estimate a second time-to-collision estimate using the azimuth angle, the elevation angle and the first time-to-collision estimate estimated by the image processor as input parameters. A collision avoidance module is arranged to decide whether or not an avoidance manoeuvre should be performed based on any of at least one parameter, of which at least one is indicative of said second time-to-collision estimate.

An above-water system provides automatic alerting for possible drowning victims in swimming pools or the like. One or more electro-optical sensors are placed above the pool surface. Sequences of images are digitized and analyzed electronically to determine whether there are humans within the image, and whether such humans are moving in a manner that would suggest drowning. Effects due to glint, refraction, and variations in light, are offset automatically by the system. If a potential drowning incident is detected, the system produces an alarm sound, and / or a warning display, so that an operator can determine whether action must be taken.

Apparatus is provided, including an external device, including a mount, which is placed in front of an eye of a subject. A laser is coupled to the mount and configured to emit toward the eye radiation that is outside of 380-750 nm. A partially-transparent mirror is coupled to the mount. An intraocular device is implanted entirely in the subject's eye, and includes a plurality of stimulating electrodes, and an energy receiver, which receives the radiation from the laser and generates a voltage drop in response thereto. A plurality of photosensors detect photons and generate a signal in response thereto. Driving circuitry is coupled to the energy receiver and to the photosensors, and receives the signals from the photosensors and utilizes the voltage drop to drive the electrodes to apply currents to the retina in response to the signals from the photosensors. Other embodiments are also described.

An electronic imaging device is provided that includes a plurality of sensor elements, such as multiple photosensor arrays, wherein some of the sensor elements have a different numerical aperture value than the others, and wherein the sensor elements can be arranged such that their electrical signals can be combined to produce a composite electrical signal.

The present invention provides an attitude sensing device and method for determining an attitude of a reference axis of a package containing a fiber optic sensor sensor. The attitude sensing device comprises an electro-mechanical attitude sensor for generating an electrical signal indicative of the attitude sensor, and converter logic for converting the electrical signal into a stimulus signal. A local power source is preferably provided for the electro-mechanical attitude sensor in the converter logic. The stimulus signal is such that the fiber optical sensor is responsive to the stimulus signal to cause a variation in at least one predetermined property of an optical signal transmitted through the fiber optic sensor, the attitude of the reference axis being determinable from the variation of the predetermined property. By this approach, it is possible to use the existing fiber optic sensor within the package, along with the corresponding existing telemetry and multiplexing system, to recover the information from the electro-mechanical attitude sensor.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is employed to examine the neuronal activity and vascular response of a peripheral nerve for research or clinical purposes. An embodiment for implementing this approach has: a nerve stimulator; a tissue spectrometer; a stimulation probe adapted to apply a stimulation from the nerve stimulator to a peripheral nerve; at least one illumination optical fiber, where each illumination optical fiber is adapted to transmit a near-infrared source light to the peripheral nerve after the stimulation is applied; and a detection optical fiber adapted to collect and deliver to the tissue spectrometer a returning light from the peripheral nerve after each source light is transmitted to the peripheral nerve. The returning light has a returning intensity, and the tissue spectrometer can determine the returning intensity to provide readings of optical diffuse reflectance of the peripheral nerve after the stimulation is applied.

The invention relates to a microelectronic sensor device and a method for the investigation of biological target substances (20), for example oligonucleotides like DNA fragments. In one embodiment, the device comprises a reaction surface (RS) to which target specific reactants (10) are attached and which lies between a sample chamber (SC) and an array of selectively controllable heating elements (HE). The temperature profile in the sample chamber (SC) can be controlled as desired to provide for example conditions for a PCR and / or for a controlled melting of hybridizations. The reactant (10) and / or the target substance (20) comprises a label (12) with an observable property, like fluorescence, that changes if the target substance (20) is bound to the reactant (10), said property being detected by an array of sensor elements, for example photosensors (SE). The fluorescence of the label (12) may preferably be transferred by FRET to a different fluorescent label (22) or quenched if the target substance (20) is bound.

A photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus is in communication with an array of image photo-sensors that are organized in columns and rows and have multiple sensor types arranged in a pattern such as a Bayer pattern to detect light. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus has a photo-sensor array decimation circuit to partition the array of image photo-sensors into a plurality of sub-groups. A column averaging circuit averages the light conversion electrical signals from common color photo-sensors within the sub-groups. A row averaging circuit averages the common color adjacent light conversion electrical signals from color adjacent rows within the sub-groups in high light intensity condition. In low light conditions, a row binning circuit integrates the common color adjacent light conversion electrical signals from color adjacent rows within the sub-groups.

An object positioning solves said problems encountered in machine vision, which employs electro-optic (EO) image sensors enhanced with integrated laser ranger, global positioning system / inertial measurement unit, and integrates these data to get reliable and real time object position. An object positioning and data integrating system comprises EO sensors, a MEMS IMU, a GPS receiver, a laser ranger, a preprocessing module, a segmentation module, a detection module, a recognition module, a 3D positioning module, and a tracking module, in which autonomous, reliable and real time object positioning and tracking can be achieved.

The present invention provides very small low cost apparatus and method for determining the concentration and / or hazard from a target gas by means of optically monitoring one or more sensors that responds to carbon monoxide. The apparatus comprises a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and the photon intensity passing through the sensor is quantified by one or more photodiode(s) in a system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one sensor's response to the target gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photocurrent from the photodiode is converted to a sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristics of the sensors and is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings may be differentiated to determine the rate of change of the sensor readings and the total photons absorbed value may be used to calculated the CO concentration.There are a number of methods to compute the CO hazard and these is subject of another patent to be filed. In addition, a preferred method to meet the BSI and European CO Standards is described using two sensor systems with two different sensors each having different sensitivity within one housing. The single housing dual sensor uses one LED and two photodiodes. The novel two sensors method to meet the European (BSI) CO standard is similar to the method developed to meet the Japanese standard.The major advantages of MICROSIR over SIR are: 1. Lower cost (estimates saving of US$1.25 per sensor, 2. Better controlled gas path therefore more accurate and more precision, 3. Better getter system therefore longer life (as shown by ammonia accelerated age tests), and 4. Better RESERVOIR SYSTEM THEREFORE BETTER humidity CONTROL AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH (as shown by sensor response curves).5. The MICROSIR Edgeview is faster and meets the Japanese standard for CO and the European Standard for CO enhanced smoke, 6. More easily automated as the board of alarms use surface mount and MICROSIR is a surface mount part that attaches over surface mounted optics after the soldering, 7. small size, and 8. approved UL recognized component.The MICROSIR device can also be used to detect the CO, which may be combined with temperature and smoke in a very small package. The detection of one or more indicators such as smoke and CO; increases the sensitivity of the other indicators. Combining signals produces an improved fire detector comprising a CO sensor and a smoke sensor in one unit. The smoke detection sensor may be either ionization or photoelectric either or both may be combined with the CO sensor to provide earlier warning to fire and reduce false alarms.

A ground based launch detection system consisting of a sensor grid of electro-optical sensors for detecting the launch of a threat missile which targets commercial aircraft in proximity to a commercial airport or airfield. The electro-optical sensors are configured in a wireless network which broadcast threat lines to neighboring sensors with overlapping field of views. When a threat missile is verified, threat data is sent to a centrally located processing facility which determines which aircraft in the vicinity are targets and send a dispense countermeasure signal to the aircraft.

A ground based launch detection system consisting of a sensor grid of electro-optical sensors for detecting the launch of a threat missile which targets commercial aircraft in proximity to a commercial airport or airfield. The electro-optical sensors are configured in a wireless network which broadcast threat lines to neighboring sensors with overlapping field of views. When a threat missile is verified, threat data is sent to a centrally located processing facility which determines which aircraft in the vicinity are targets and send a dispense countermeasure signal to the aircraft.

Embodiments of the invention are related to electro-optical implantable sensors, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes an implantable medical device including a housing defining an interior volume, the housing comprising a housing wall and defining an aperture. The implantable medical device can include an optical sensor assembly coupled to the housing wall. The optical sensor assembly can occlude the aperture in the housing wall. The optical sensor assembly can include an electro-optical module including an optical excitation assembly and an optical detection assembly. The optical sensor assembly can also include a chemical sensing element configured to detect a physiological analyte by exhibiting a change in optical properties. An optical window can be disposed between the electro-optical module and the chemical sensing element. The optical window can be configured to allow the transmission of light between the electro-optical module and the chemical sensing element. Other embodiments are also included herein.

An EO sensor is configured to time multiplex a primary optical channel that provides high detection sensitivity to maintain high SNR and a multi-filtered optical channel that provides detection in different measurement bands (e.g. spectral, polarization, amplitude or phase). The channels may, for example, be time multiplexed based on range to target or within each integration period of the EO sensor. The multi-filtered optical channel uses a field directing array to sample the FOV to form different optical sub-channels that are filtered by different optical filters. These sub-channels may be spatially multiplexed onto different sub-regions of the detector or may be time multiplexed onto the entire detector. The light modulator used to time multiplex the primary and multi-filtered optical channels may be used to time de-multiplex spatially overlapping regions of the FOV onto a pixel of the detector in order to detect high spatial resolution images with low resolution detectors.

A scintillator system is provided to detect the presence of fissile material and radioactive material. One or more neutron detectors are based on 6LiF mixed in a binder medium with scintillator material, and are optically coupled to one or more wavelength shifting fiber optic light guide media that have a tapered portion extending from the scintillator material to guide light from the scintillator material to a photosensor at the tapered portion. An electrical output of the photosensor is connected to an input of a first pre-amp circuit designed to operate close to a pulse shape and duration of a light pulse from the scintillator material, without signal distortion. The scintillator material includes a set of scintillation layers connected to the wavelength shifting fiber optic light guide media that guide light to the photosensor. Moderator material is applied around the set of scintillation layers increasing detector efficiency.

The present invention is directed to novel optical sensors and novel methods for sensing optical radiation. The novel optical sensors and the novel optical sensing methods are used, for example, for controlling the operation of automatic faucets and flushers. The novel sensors and flow controllers (including control electronics and valves) require only small amounts of electrical power for sensing users of bathroom facilities, and thus enable battery operation for many years. A passive optical sensor includes a light detector sensitive to ambient (room) light for controlling the operation of automatic faucets or automatic bathroom flushers.