A testing device determines the presence of substances on a surface using a sensor positioned at a known vantage point to the surface. A liquid dispenser deposits a liquid drop on the surface. A data generator after a first time interval for allowing the liquid drop to stabilize on the surface detects, via the sensor, a geometric characteristic of the liquid drop that is related to a first equilibrium contact angle of the liquid drop to the surface. The data generator after a second time interval detects via the sensor the geometric characteristic of the liquid drop that is related to a second equilibrium contact angle. The data generator compares the first and second contact angle and determines a contamination on the surface that is soluble in the liquid drop in response to a change between the first and second contact angles.

An adhering detection apparatus includes a light source to emit probe light to a light translucent object during an emission period, and to stop an emission of the probe light to the light translucent object during a non-emission period, a light receiver to receive light coming from the light translucent object during the emission period and the non-emission period of the light source, and an adhering detection processor to perform an adhering detection processing for detecting a substance adhering to the light translucent object based on light quantity of the light coming from the light translucent object and received by the light receiver, and to output a detection result of the adhering detection processing. The adhering detection processor selectively performs one or more processes depending on the light quantity of the light received by the light receiver during the non-emission period of the light source.

Certain embodiments provide a self-checking photoelectric sensor that is configured to determine a characteristic (e.g., an amount of blockage and/or wellness/decay) of an optical pathway (e.g., an electro-optical pathway). An example method generally includes increasing, over a time period that starts at a first time, a current input to a light emitting element (LEE). The method generally includes receiving, by a light detection element, an output of the LEE via the optical pathway during the time period. The method generally includes converting, during the time period, the LEE output to a voltage output. The method generally includes determining a second time in the time period when the voltage output crosses a threshold. The method generally includes determining the characteristic of the optical pathway between the LEE and the light detection element based on a difference between the second time and the first time.

A spray nozzle for dispensing cleaning solution including embedded, battery-powered ultraviolet lights is disclosed. This invention improves the detection of contaminants that need to be removed or cleaned and obviates the need to locate a separate UV light in flashlight form. In addition, this invention maintains the traditional shape of a spray bottle and nozzle without adding any cumbersome elements that would make cleaning difficult.

A sensor system includes a sensor including a sensor window; a nozzle aimed at the sensor window; a supply line to supply fluid to the nozzle; a primary reservoir to supply fluid to the supply line; a first valve actuatable to inject fluid from a first reservoir into the supply line; a second valve actuatable to inject fluid from a second reservoir into the supply line; a third valve actuatable to inject fluid from a third reservoir into the supply line; and a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor and the valves. The computer is programmed to actuate the first valve in response to determining a first condition based on data from the sensor, actuate the second valve in response to determining a second condition based on data from the sensor, and actuate the third valve in response to determining a third condition based on data from the sensor.

A device for inspecting a liquid crystal stain of a polarization plate, the device comprising a surface light source; a first polarization member; a polarization plate including a liquid crystal film; a second polarization member; and an inspection source, and a method using the device, the device and the method capable of easily inspecting liquid crystal stains generated on a polarization plate with excellent visibility.

A spectroscopic camera according to the present disclosure includes a spectroscopic section configured by a variable wavelength interference filter that selectively transmits light at a predetermined wavelength and changes the light to transmitted light, a receiving section configured to receive sensitivity information indicating a sensitivity curve in a wavelength region of a predetermined color imaged by an RGB camera, a wavelength-table generating section configured to generate, based on the sensitivity information, a wavelength table indicating a relation between the predetermined wavelength and a transmission time, which is a time for transmitting the transmitted light, an imaging section configured to acquire a spectral image formed by the transmitted light transmitted through the spectroscopic section, and a control section configured to control the spectroscopic section and the imaging section based on the wavelength table.

Systems and methods are described, and one method includes providing an optical fiber extending into a chamber with a volume of the gas; passing an optical beam, from an optical source, through the optical fiber; applying a spectral analysis to the optical beam as received after passing through the optical fiber, and outputting a corresponding spectral analysis signal; and determining, based on the output spectral analysis signal, whether a liquid is carried by the volume of the gas.

A user identification and contaminant detection system for a portable computer with the computer having a camera, an integral screen and central processing unit (CPU; a. an enclosure having at least one grasper disposed for coupling the system to the portable computer; b. a light emitter capable of generating light of with least one excitation wavelength for a contaminant present in its output spectrum with output of the emitter oriented into the field of view of the camera; c. electronic communication between the computer and the emitter; c. software loaded onto the computer capable of (1) activating the emitter, (2) comparing a scene recorded by the camera to at least one emission wavelength for the specific contaminant corresponding to the excitation wavelength, and (3) displaying an output on the computer's screen corresponding to the areas within the camera's field of view where the contaminant is present in amounts greater than a detection threshold, and (4) using the output of the camera to determine the identity of a user by their hand shape.

A vehicle and a method of managing cleanliness of an interior of the vehicle that are capable of detecting whether the interior of the vehicle has been contaminated and managing detection information. The method of managing the cleanliness of the interior of the vehicle includes detecting indoor contamination using a contamination detector including at least a camera, analyzing indoor cleanliness based on the result of the detecting, and outputting guidance information based on the analyzed indoor cleanliness. The detecting the indoor contamination includes detecting at least one object in an indoor region of the vehicle subjected to contamination detection and detecting whether contamination has occurred in the indoor region subjected to contamination detection other than a region in which the at least one object is detected.