The present disclosure relates to a sensor having pixels, each pixel having photodiodes having each a terminal coupled to a first node associated with the photodiode; and an amplifier having a first part and, for each photodiode, a second part associated with the photodiode. The first part includes an output of the amplifier and a first MOS transistor of a differential pair. Each second part includes a second MOS transistor of the differential pair having its gate coupled to the first node associated with the photodiode the second part is associated with; a first switch coupling a source of the second transistor to the first part of the amplifier; and a second switch coupling a drain of the second transistor to the first part of the amplifier.

An optical sensor, especially an artificial retina, that includes at least one photosensitive cell. Each cell includes a integration capacitor, a read circuit the operation of which depends on the charge of the integration capacitor, at least one MOS transistor operating subthreshold, and the drain-source current of which influences the charge on the integration capacitor, and at least one photodiode operating in photovoltaic mode and connected to the gate of this transistor, such that the drain-source current of the MOS transistor depends on the optical power received by the photodiode.

A photometer and a method of performing photometric measurements with this photometer are described. The photometer comprises a photodetector providing a detector signal corresponding to an intensity of light received by the photodetector; and measurement electronics including: an amplifier and a signal processing device configured to determine and to provide a measurement result based on a measurement signal determined by the signal processing device as or based on an amplified detector signal provided by the amplifier. The signal processing device is configured to determine the measurement signal: a) as or based on the amplified detector signal provided by the amplifier being a multistage amplifier including a transimpedance converter and a voltage to current amplifier; and/or b) in form of a noise reduced signal determined by subtracting a previously determined noise offset included in the amplified detector signal from the amplified detector signal.

Provided is an optical sensor including: a first photodetector including a first photodiode and having a first wavelength sensitivity characteristic; a first resistor having one end connected to a cathode of the first photodiode, and another end connected to a ground point; a second photodetector including a second photodiode and having a second wavelength sensitivity characteristic; a second resistor having one end connected to a cathode of the second photodiode, and another end connected to the ground point; and an amplifier circuit having a first input terminal connected to the first photodiode, a second input terminal connected to the second photodiode, and an output terminal configured to output a potential based on a potential of the first input terminal and a potential of the second input terminal, and using, as an operating power supply, electric power generated by electromotive force of the first photodetector and the second photodetector.

A data output device is provided. The data output device includes a converter circuit configured to generate a conversion signal based on an output signal; a boosting circuit configured to generate a boosting signal based on the output signal; and an output circuit configured to generate the output signal based on an input signal and a feedback signal, the feedback signal being based on the conversion signal and the boosting signal.

A sensor device according to the present technology includes: a pixel array unit in which a plurality of pixel units each having one or a plurality of pixels and capable of generating a gradation signal indicating intensity of a light reception amount and an event signal indicating a change in the light reception amount is two-dimensionally arranged; and a row control unit that can sequentially execute in rows selection of a pixel from which the event signal is to be read and selection of a pixel from which the gradation signal is to be read at different timings.

Light detection devices and related methods are provided. The devices may comprise a reaction structure for containing a reaction solution with a relatively high or low pH and a plurality of reaction sites that generate light emissions. The devices may comprise a device base comprising a plurality of light sensors, device circuitry coupled to the light sensors, and a plurality of light guides that block excitation light but permit the light emissions to pass to a light sensor. The device base may also include a shield layer extending about each light guide between each light guide and the device circuitry, and a protection layer that is chemically inert with respect to the reaction solution extending about each light guide between each light guide and the shield layer. The protection layer prevents reaction solution that passes through the reaction structure and the light guide from interacting with the device circuitry.

The present invention relates to alternative equipment for solar energy prospecting with a focus on low cost, low complexity in installation, operation and maintenance, and high reliability. A low-cost solarimetric station consists of compact equipment capable of providing global irradiance measurements and estimates for direct and diffuse components, as well as hemispheric photographs, with acceptable levels of uncertainty. The pyranometer periodically provides global irradiance information to the system, and the camera records photos of the sky. Using machine learning algorithms, and based on that information, the equipment provides estimates for direct and diffuse irradiance components. The equipment has other meteorological sensors, GPS, and wireless communication facilities. The equipment has an energy supply and management system consisting of a photovoltaic module, charge controller, and battery, which provide the energy necessary for the station to operate.

An optical sensing circuit and an optical sensing method are provided. The optical sensing circuit includes a first photosensitive unit, a second photosensitive unit, an arithmetic unit, and a control unit. The first photosensitive unit and the second photosensitive unit provide a sensing current during a light sensing period. The arithmetic unit generates a combined current according to the sensing current during the light sensing period. The control unit generates a first sensed value and a second sensed value according to the combined current.

The disclosure provides an optical system, an optical sensing unit and an optical sensing module. The optical system is used for forming a plurality of light spots on a plurality of photosensitive regions separated from each other. The optical system includes: a lens for receiving a first light beam and converging the first light beam; a first light-transmitting layer located under the lens, for refracting the converged first light beam into a plurality of second light beams, the plurality of second light beams being used for forming the plurality of light spots on the photosensitive regions, wherein each light spot in the plurality of light spots covers a part of the plurality of photosensitive regions; and a second light-transmitting layer located under the first light-transmitting layer, wherein the plurality of second light beams are respectively incident on the plurality of photosensitive regions through the second light-transmitting layer.