A spot shape detection apparatus for detecting the spot shape of a laser beam oscillated from a laser oscillator includes: a focusing leans for focusing the laser beam oscillated by the oscillator; a rotary body (mirror holder) in which a plurality of mirrors for reflecting the laser beam having passed through the focusing lens are disposed on concentric circles; a drive source (motor) for rotating the rotary body at a predetermined period; a beam splitter for branching return beams of the laser beam reflected by the plurality of mirrors of the rotary body; an imaging unit which is disposed in a direction in which the return beams are branched by the beam splitter and which images spot shapes of the return beams; and a display unit for displaying images obtained by imaging by the imaging unit, in relation with the plurality of mirrors.

An eye-tracking system comprises one or more optical sources configured to emit infrared light with a narrow spectral linewidth toward an eye of a user and one or more shuttered optical sensors configured to receive infrared light reflected off the eye of the user. A controller is configured to pulse the one or more optical sources on and off, such that a pulse-on duration is less than a duration needed to fully thermalize each optical source. The controller is also configured to open the shuttered optical sensor for a detection duration based on the pulse-on duration. A conformation of the user's eye may be indicated based on infrared light received at the shuttered optical sensor during the detection duration.

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.

Disclosed herein is a method comprising: sending radiation pulses (i), i=1, . . . , M one by one toward an object and toward an image sensor as the image sensor moves nonstop in a first direction with respect to the object; and for each value of i, capturing with the image sensor a partial image (i) of the object using radiation of the radiation pulse (i) that has transmitted through the object. The image sensor comprises N active areas. Each active area of the N active areas comprises multiple sensing elements. For each value of i, the radiation pulse (i) has a pulse duration during which the image sensor travels a distance shorter than a width measured in the first direction of any sensing element of the image sensor. M and N are integers greater than 1.

A light sensor includes a primary lens, and a light device spaced from the primary lens. A control structure is disposed between the primary lens and the light device. An actuator is coupled to the control structure to move the control structure relative to the primary lens and the light device to control the passage of light between the primary lens and the light device. The light sensor may include a light emitting sensor having an array of individual light emitters, or a light detecting sensor having a light detector. The control structure may include an array of secondary bi-telecentric lenses for use with the light emitting sensor, or a plate having an aperture extending therethrough for use with the light detecting sensor.

A spot shape detection apparatus for detecting the spot shape of a laser beam oscillated from a laser oscillator includes: a focusing leans for focusing the laser beam oscillated by the oscillator; a rotary body (mirror holder) in which a plurality of mirrors for reflecting the laser beam having passed through the focusing lens are disposed on concentric circles; a drive source (motor) for rotating the rotary body at a predetermined period; a beam splitter for branching return beams of the laser beam reflected by the plurality of mirrors of the rotary body; an imaging unit which is disposed in a direction in which the return beams are branched by the beam splitter and which images spot shapes of the return beams; and a display unit for displaying images obtained by imaging by the imaging unit, in relation with the plurality of mirrors.

A method and a device for measuring absorbed energy-momentum symmetry in which radiant energy W.Math.sr.sup.1.Math.m.sup.2.Math.nm.sup.1 is compared directly against its absorbed impinging momentum kg.Math.m.Math.s1 in a manner that will provide an experimental basis for asymmetrical anomalies that may or may not exist within a measurable range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

With the object of preventing deterioration of or damage to a photodetector caused by excessive light by more reliably preventing the excessive light from entering the photodetector, a microscope of the present invention is provided with a high-sensitivity detector, such as an HPD, a GaAsP, an EM-CCD or the like, that detects observation light coming from a specimen, a box-shaped casing that has an opening that allows contained items to be placed therein and removed therefrom and that covers the high-sensitivity detector, a door that can close off the opening of the casing, a switch that restricts light detection by the high-sensitivity detector by turning on and off a drive voltage to be applied to the high-sensitivity detector, and an opening restricting mechanism that allows the opening of the casing in the closed state imposed by the door to be opened only when the light detection by the high-sensitivity detector is restricted by the switch.

A light sensor includes a primary lens, and a light device spaced from the primary lens. A control structure is disposed between the primary lens and the light device. An actuator is coupled to the control device to move the control device relative to the primary lens and the light device to control the passage of light between the primary lens and the light device. The light sensor may include a light emitting sensor having an array of individual light emitters, or a light detecting sensor having a light detector. The control structure may include an array of secondary bi-telecentric lenses for use with the light emitting sensor, or a plate having an aperture extending therethrough for use with the light detecting sensor.

An optical sensing device for using light to locate objects or features in a field of view comprises a light source; a controllable lens having two states and being controllable between them, for example a multifocal lens having two or more foci for focusing light from the light source; and a sensor able to sense light reflected from an object, to determine information of the object. The use of two or more foci adds dynamic range to optical sensing to allow for reliable detection over a wide range of distances.