A method of controlling pixels (134) of at least one spatial light modulator (114) is disclosed. The spatial light modulator (114) has a matrix of pixels (132). Each pixel (134) is individually controllable. The method comprises the following steps: receiving at least one image (331), (342); defining at least one image segment (333) within the image (331),(344); assigning at least one gray scale value to each image segment (333),(348); assigning at least one pixel (134) of the matrix of pixels (132) to each image segment (333),(350); assigning a unique modulation frequency to each gray scale value assigned to the at least one image segment (333),(352); controlling the at least one pixel (134) of the matrix of pixels (132) assigned to the at least one image segment (333) with the unique modulation frequency assigned to the respective image segment (333),(354).

Solar trackers that may be advantageously employed on sloped and/or variable terrain to rotate solar panels to track motion of the sun across the sky include bearing assemblies and other mechanical features configured to address mechanical challenges posed by the sloped and/or variable terrain that might otherwise prevent or complicate use of solar trackers on such terrain.

Solar trackers that may be advantageously employed on sloped and/or variable terrain to rotate solar panels to track motion of the sun across the sky include bearing assemblies and other mechanical features configured to address mechanical challenges posed by the sloped and/or variable terrain that might otherwise prevent or complicate use of solar trackers on such terrain.

Aspects of the subject disclosure include a pressure-sensing device consisting of a housing including a membrane and one or more piezoresistive elements disposed on the membrane to sense a displacement due to a deflection of the membrane. A first set of electrodes is disposed over the membrane, and a second set of electrodes is disposed on a permeable port of the device at a distance from the membrane. The first and second sets of electrodes form an electrostatic actuator to exert a repulsive force onto the membrane to reduce the deflection of the membrane.

Aspects of the subject disclosure include a pressure-sensing device consisting of a housing including a membrane and one or more piezoresistive elements disposed on the membrane to sense a displacement due to a deflection of the membrane. A first set of electrodes is disposed over the membrane, and a second set of electrodes is disposed on a permeable port of the device at a distance from the membrane. The first and second sets of electrodes form an electrostatic actuator to exert a repulsive force onto the membrane to reduce the deflection of the membrane.

A device for positioning a functional trihedron of a star tracker in a reference trihedron tied to a structure on which the star tracker is mounted comprises: a fixing interface to connect the device to the star tracker, a set of geometric markers configured to, by means of an optical measurement instrument tied to the structure, position a marker tied to the device in the reference marker tied to the structure, an optical simulator comprising a set of optical markers to be measured by the star tracker, making it possible to position the functional trihedron of the star tracker in the trihedron tied to the device, the measurements of position of the functional trihedron in the trihedron tied to the device, and of position of the trihedron tied to the device in the reference trihedron, making it possible to position by calculation the functional trihedron in the reference trihedron.

A device for positioning a functional trihedron of a star tracker in a reference trihedron tied to a structure on which the star tracker is mounted comprises: a fixing interface to connect the device to the star tracker, a set of geometric markers configured to, by means of an optical measurement instrument tied to the structure, position a marker tied to the device in the reference marker tied to the structure, an optical simulator comprising a set of optical markers to be measured by the star tracker, making it possible to position the functional trihedron of the star tracker in the trihedron tied to the device, the measurements of position of the functional trihedron in the trihedron tied to the device, and of position of the trihedron tied to the device in the reference trihedron, making it possible to position by calculation the functional trihedron in the reference trihedron.

A system and method includes an array position sensing detector. The array position sensing detector includes a lateral effect position sensing detector element and a summing amplifier. The lateral effect position sensing detector element produces an output coupled with the summing amplifier through a switch.

A system and method includes an array position sensing detector. The array position sensing detector includes a lateral effect position sensing detector element and a summing amplifier. The lateral effect position sensing detector element produces an output coupled with the summing amplifier through a switch.

Aspects of the embodiments are directed to non-contact systems, methods and devices for optical detection of objects in space at precise angles. This method involves the design and fabrication of photodiode arrays for measuring angular response using self-aligned Schottky platinum silicide (PtSi) PIN photodiodes (PN-diodes with an intrinsic layer sandwiched in between) that provide linear angular measurements from incident light in multiple dimensions. A self-aligned device is defined as one in which is not sensitive to photomask layer registrations. This design eliminates device offset between “left” and right” channels for normal incident light as compared to more conventional PIN diode constructions.