Polaritonic hot electron infrared photodetector that detect infrared radiation. In one implementation, the polaritonic hot electron infrared photodetector includes a first contact layer, a second contact layer, a first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer, and a conductor layer. The first dielectric layer is coupled between the first contact layer and the second contact layer. The second dielectric layer is coupled between the first dielectric layer and the second contact layer. The conductor layer is coupled between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. Infrared radiation incident upon the conductor layer is operable to create hot carriers that are injected from a conduction band of the conductor layer to a conduction band of the second contact layer.

An optical shutter apparatus has a baseplate that defines an aperture in a plane and that has at least first and second tabs that extend outward from the plane. At least a first linear actuator is coupled to the first tab and drives a magnetic shaft between the first and second tabs according to an electrical signal. A shutter blade is coupled to the magnetic shaft and is linearly translatable along a translation path in the direction of the plane between a first and a second position, wherein the shutter blade blocks at least a first portion of the aperture in the first position and unblocks the first portion of the aperture in the second position.

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.

An optical head for receiving incident light is provided. The optical head comprises a transmissive cosine corrector and a reflector disposed to face the transmissive cosine corrector. The transmissive cosine corrector is disposed in an optical path of the incident light and shields the reflector from the incident light. The transmissive cosine corrector 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 transmissive cosine corrector and/or the other portions of the reflective sections. An optical system using the optical head is also provided.

A sensing device comprising an electromagnetic sensor having a surface with a plurality of different electromagnetic radiation interception areas arranged one above the other, one or more controllable flaps adapted to cover one or more of the different electromagnetic radiation interception areas preventing the electromagnetic sensor from intercepting electromagnetic radiation on the covered electromagnetic radiation interception areas, at least one control mechanism adapted to maneuver the controllable flaps so as to change the covered electromagnetic radiation interception areas and a plurality of lenses located in front of the electromagnetic sensor, each having a different focal length. One of the lenses has a certain focal length and focuses electromagnetic radiation to at least one of the different electromagnetic radiation interception areas, and another of the lenses has a different focal length and focuses electromagnetic radiation to another electromagnetic radiation interception area.

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.

This patent document provides optical shutter devices based on electromagnetically activated shutters using a printed circuit board (PCB) structure to provide a coil that generates a magnetic field to move a permanent magnet in and out of an optical aperture integrated as part of the PCB structure to open and close the passage of light through the optical aperture.

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.

An electronic device uses one or more infrared sensors to detect infrared light from a person's body (e.g., a user's finger) to initiate a function of the electronic device. According to an implementation, the housing of the electronic device includes a flexible portion that opens an aperture in response to external pressure (e.g., a user pressing down on the flexible portion) to allow infrared light from the person's body to reach an infrared sensor. When the infrared sensor detects the infrared light, it generates a signal in response. A processor of the electronic device receives the signal and, in response, initiates a function of the electronic device. The function may be any function that the electronic device is capable of performing, such as a power-on function, a camera function, changing the speaker volume, and launching an application.

According to an aspect, a detection device includes: a light source device; an object placement member on which an object to be detected is placed; a liquid crystal shutter having divided regions; and an optical sensor having detection regions arranged in a plane. One of the detection regions includes one or more photodetection elements. The light source device includes a light-shielding wall disposed between two adjacent light-emitting elements out of the light-emitting elements. The divided regions in the liquid crystal shutter are each capable of being switched between a light-transmitting state and a non-light-transmitting state for each of the divided regions, and the light-emitting elements are each capable of being switched between a lit state and an unlit state for each of the light-emitting elements. The respective light-emitting elements, the respective divided regions of the liquid crystal shutter, and the respective detection regions overlap when viewed in the first direction.