A method (400) for identifying precipitation (50) includes the steps of: providing (410) a lighting unit (10) having a first photosensor (32), a second photosensor (34), and a controller (22), where the first and second photosensors are vertically spaced by a first distance; receiving (430), by the first photosensor, a first light signal from the precipitation at a first time point (T1); receiving (440) by the second photosensor, a second light signal from the precipitation at a second time point (T2); calculating (450) the amount of time between the first light signal and the second light signal; and calculating (460), based on the first distance and the calculated amount of time between the first light signal and the second light signal, a velocity of the precipitation.

A method (400) for identifying precipitation (50) includes the steps of: providing (410) a lighting unit (10) having a first photosensor (32), a second photosensor (34), and a controller (22), where the first and second photosensors are vertically spaced by a first distance; receiving (430), by the first photosensor, a first light signal from the precipitation at a first time point (T1); receiving (440) by the second photosensor, a second light signal from the precipitation at a second time point (T2); calculating (450) the amount of time between the first light signal and the second light signal; and calculating (460), based on the first distance and the calculated amount of time between the first light signal and the second light signal, a velocity of the precipitation.

A yo-yo has at least one sensor configured to measure a parameter related to movement of the yo-yo, a transmitter configured to transmit the measured parameter to the computing device. A server is configured to determine a trick performed with the yo-yo based on the measured parameter, and to communicate the determination to one or more computing devices of different players.

A system shines a series of light stripes across an area. A target object passes through the area and light is reflected to the system from the light stripes as it passes through. Based on the timing of the received light from each of the light stripes, the system calculates the position and velocity of the target object.

A system shines a series of light stripes across an area. A target object passes through the area and light is reflected to the system from the light stripes as it passes through. Based on the timing of the received light from each of the light stripes, the system calculates the position and velocity of the target object.

The present invention provides a sensor system with which a change in the state of a workpiece which has occurred in a conveyance process can be detennined. The sensor system comprises: a plurality of sensors positioned along a line and measuring data indicating that a workpiece being conveyed upon the line has passed thereby; a plurality of slave units respectively connected to the plurality of sensors and acquiring the data measured by the plurality of sensors; and a master unit connected to the plurality of slave units. The master unit comprises: a storage part for storing the data in association with information which relates to the timing at which the data was measured; and a determination part for comparing the data transmitted from two or more of the plurality of slave units using the information which relates to the timing, and determining a change in the state of the workpiece.

The present invention provides a sensor system with which a change in the state of a workpiece which has occurred in a conveyance process can be detennined. The sensor system comprises: a plurality of sensors positioned along a line and measuring data indicating that a workpiece being conveyed upon the line has passed thereby; a plurality of slave units respectively connected to the plurality of sensors and acquiring the data measured by the plurality of sensors; and a master unit connected to the plurality of slave units. The master unit comprises: a storage part for storing the data in association with information which relates to the timing at which the data was measured; and a determination part for comparing the data transmitted from two or more of the plurality of slave units using the information which relates to the timing, and determining a change in the state of the workpiece.

Disclosed are method and electronic components for: i) electronically extracting a sequence of values from a measurement signal corresponding to a position of a moving object, wherein the sequence of values indicates the position of the moving object at corresponding time increments; ii) electronically determining at least one of an estimate for a velocity of the moving object and an estimate for an acceleration of the moving the object based on a plurality of the values in the sequence of values; and iii) electronically correcting a value in the sequence of values to substantially reduce the effect of processing and signal delays based on one or both of the velocity and acceleration estimates.

Systems and methods for analyzing laser beam characteristics in high-speed laser motion systems, wherein the characteristics include laser travel speed, velocity, and acceleration, wherein the high-speed laser motion systems comprise a laser for generating a laser beam, comprising determining a location of the first pin-hole sensor within the predetermined field of view; determining a location of the second pin-hole sensor within the predetermined field of view; defining a travel distance of the laser beam; measuring the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor; and dividing the travel distance by the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor to calculate the velocity of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the second pin-hole sensor.

Systems and methods for analyzing laser beam characteristics in high-speed laser motion systems, wherein the characteristics include laser travel speed, velocity, and acceleration, wherein the high-speed laser motion systems comprise a laser for generating a laser beam, comprising determining a location of the first pin-hole sensor within the predetermined field of view; determining a location of the second pin-hole sensor within the predetermined field of view; defining a travel distance of the laser beam; measuring the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor; and dividing the travel distance by the amount of time to travel from the location of the first pin-hole sensor to the location of the second pin-hole sensor to calculate the velocity of the laser beam between the first pin-hole sensor and the second pin-hole sensor.