Systems and methods are provided for measuring spectral hemispherical reflectance. One embodiment is a system that includes a laser that emits a beam of light, and an optical chopper disposed between the laser and a sample. The chopper blocks the beam while the chopper is at a first angle of rotation, redirects the beam along a reference path while the chopper is at a second angle of rotation, and permits the beam to follow a sample path through the chopper and strike the sample while the chopper is at a third angle of rotation. The system also includes a hollow sphere that defines a slot through which the sample path and reference path enter the sphere. The hollow sphere includes a spectral hemispherical reflectance detector, a mount that receives the sample at the sphere, and an actuator that rotates the sphere about an axis that intersects the sample.

An optical module includes: a measuring device including a measuring portion that measures light reflected at a measurement position of a measurement target, a light source that radiates light onto the measurement position in a direction crossing a measurement optical axis oriented from the measurement position to the measuring portion, and a window through which light incident on the measuring portion passes; and a shutter that opens and closes the window of the measuring device. The shutter is provided with a reference object disposed closer to the measuring portion side than the measurement position on the measurement optical axis, on a face of the shutter facing the measuring portion when closing the window, and the optical module includes a light guide that guides the light from the light source to the reference object when the window is closed by the shutter.

A system for monitoring a petrochemical installation is disclosed. The system can include an optical imaging system comprising an array of optical detectors. The system can comprise processing electronics configured to process image data detected by the optical imaging system. The processing electronics can be configured to detect a target species based at least in part on the processed image data. The processing electronics can further be configured to, based on a detected amount of the target species, transmit an alarm notification to an external computing device over a communications network indicating that the target species has been detected at the petrochemical installation.

Radiation sensor including a detection assembly and a chopper assembly, which are mechanically coupled to delimit a main cavity; and wherein the chopper assembly includes: a suspended movable structure, which extends in the main cavity; and an actuation structure, which is electrically controllable to cause a change of position of the suspended movable structure. The detection unit includes a detection structure, which faces the main cavity and includes a number of detection devices. The suspended movable structure includes a first shield of conductive material, which shields the detection devices from the radiation, the shielding of the detection devices being a function of the position of the suspended movable structure.

A color measurement apparatus includes an opening portion that is formed in an opening portion forming member arranged in a bottom portion of the apparatus and causes light arriving from a measurement target to enter inside the apparatus, a light emission portion that emits light for measurement toward the measurement target, and a shutter unit that is configured to switch between a closed state in which the opening portion is covered, and an open state in which the opening portion is open, and that has a reflection reference surface at a position facing the opening portion in the closed state as a reference of reflectance, in which the shutter unit is disposed such that the shutter unit is configured to switch to, in addition to the closed state and the open state, an exposed state in which the reflection reference surface is exposed outside the apparatus.

An endoscopic imaging system for use in a light deficient environment includes an imaging device having a tube, one or more image sensors, and a lens assembly including at least one optical elements that corresponds to the one or more image sensors. The endoscopic system includes a display for a user to visualize a scene and an image signal processing controller. The endoscopic system includes a light engine having an illumination source generating one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation and a lumen transmitting one or more pulses of electromagnetic radiation to a distal tip of an endoscope.

An optical head for receiving an incident light is provided. The optical head comprises a reflective diffuser and a reflector disposed to face the reflective diffuser. The reflective diffuser is disposed in an optical path of the incident light and shields the reflector from the incident light. The reflective diffuser converts the incident light to scattered light having a Lambertian pattern. The reflector has an optical output section that transmits the scattered light and a reflective section that reflects the scattered light to the reflective diffuser and/or the other portions of the reflective sections. An optical system using the optical head is also provided.

The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector for mating a first group of one or more optical fibers (102) with one or more corresponding optical fibers in a second group of one or more optical fibers (103). The optical fiber connector includes a shutter (105), which prevents the ingress of debris into the connector, and provides an optical reference surface with which to calibrate optical fibers that are inserted into the connector. The optical fiber connector finds application in the general optical fiber field, and more particularly finds application in the medical field in which it may be used to connect optical fibers in a photonic needle application.

A color measurement apparatus includes an opening portion forming member that is a member in which an opening portion for causing light arriving from a measurement target to enter inside the apparatus is formed, and that is arranged on a bottom surface at a time of measurement performed by the apparatus, an incident light processing portion that processes light incident through the opening portion, a shutter unit that is a unit configured to be displaced between a closed position at which the opening portion is covered, and an open position at which the opening portion is open, and that includes a reflection reference surface used as a reference of reflectance at a position facing the opening portion, and a detection section that detects changes in a detection signal to be output in accordance with displacement of the shutter unit.

In one embodiment, an infrared (IR) imaging system for determining a concentration of a target species in an object is disclosed. The imaging system can include an optical system including an optical focal plane array (FPA) unit. The optical system can have components defining at least two optical channels thereof, said at least two optical channels being spatially and spectrally different from one another. Each of the at least two optical channels can be positioned to transfer IR radiation incident on the optical system towards the optical FPA. The system can include a processing unit containing a processor that can be configured to acquire multispectral optical data representing said target species from the IR radiation received at the optical FPA. Said optical system and said processing unit can be contained together in a data acquisition and processing module configured to be worn or carried by a person.