A photoelectric conversion device comprising a first substrate in which a photoelectric conversion portion is arranged and a second substrate stacked on the first substrate is provided. The second substrate comprises a surface on which a circuit block and a functional cell connected to the block are arranged. Wiring layers including a first layer and a second layer arranged between the first layer and the first substrate are arranged between the first substrate and the surface. The first layer includes first power lines extending in a first direction and arranged in a predetermined period in a second direction, and the second layer includes second power lines arranged in a predetermined period. The functional cell is arranged between two power lines of the first power supply lines, and arranged to fit in a region of any one of the second power lines.

According to an embodiment, an image sensor using photon counting includes: a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in one pixel; pulse generators which are respectively connected to the plurality of sub-pixels, and are configured to generate pulse signals based on electric signals generated based on photons incident on the plurality of sub-pixels; a synchronizer and serializer configured to synchronize and serialize pulse signals respectively output from the pulse generators; and a counter configured to count and output a number of the pulse signals that are synchronized and serialized.

A lens module for autofocus of a camera in passive mode includes a lens barrel containing a first lens, a second lens, a pressure sensor, an image sensor, and a processor. In the passive autofocus mode, the first lens is located at a first end of the lens barrel and moves within the lens barrel when a distance to a target object changes. The pressure sensor between the first and the second lenses senses both pulling and pushing pressures which the first lens applies. The image sensor is adjacent to an end of the lens barrel and is behind the first and second lenses. The processor can apply formulas to calculate a distance between the target object and the lens module.

A socket includes a first base member that includes a module mount unit allowing a module including an imaging device and an object to be placed thereon and an electric connector that electrically connects the imaging device to an external apparatus, a second base member having an opening, and an engagement unit that causes the first base member to be engaged with the second base member under a condition that the module placed on the module mount unit is sandwiched by the first and second base members. When the first base member is engaged with the second base member by the engagement unit under a condition that the module placed on the module mount unit is sandwiched by the first base member and the second base member, the electric connector is electrically connected to the imaging device, and the object receives illumination light from a light source through the opening.

The invention describes a system for or recording the usage of a firearm and helping a user during usage of the firearm using multiple sensors to gather various information. The system includes a plurality of sensors to record various usage and status data of the firearm. The system further includes a communication module communicatively coupled to the sensors. The communication module is further connected to a processor. The system further includes a memory, a clock chip and an information disseminating device that includes a communication port. The plurality of sensors are configured to gather various information about a firearm device that may be a pistol, a revolver, a gun, etc. after being attached to the firearm device. In addition to the operational information, some of the sensors out of the plurality of sensors may gather information about surrounding environment of the firearm like lighting conditions, wind flow etc. to help a user of the firearm device to use it efficiently.

A back-illuminated solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate, a shift register, and a light-shielding film. The semiconductor substrate includes a light incident surface on the back side and a light receiving portion generating a charge in accordance with light incidence. The shift register is disposed on the side of a light-detective surface opposite to the light incident surface of the semiconductor substrate. The light-shielding film is disposed on the side of the light-detective surface of the semiconductor substrate. The light-shielding film includes an uneven surface opposing the light-detective surface.

An articulated device may include a first steerable multi-linked mechanism and a second steerable multi-linked mechanism. The second steerable multi-linked mechanism may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links and a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link. The articulated device may include a camera located within at least a portion of the second link and a protective shield connected to a distal end of the second link. The protective shield may surround at least a portion of the camera.

An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor including a first semiconductor substrate on which a photodiode is arranged, a second semiconductor substrate on which a storage element is arranged, and a connection unit configured to electrically connect the photodiode and the storage element, a first transfer unit configured to transfer pixel signals of a first pixel group to the storage element, a first readout unit configured to read out the pixel signals of the first pixel group, a second transfer unit configured to transfer pixel signals of a second pixel group to the storage element, and a second readout unit configured to read out some of the pixel signals of the second pixel group, wherein an image of one frame is generated by composing the pixel signals of the second pixel group and the first pixel group.

A device and a method to measure the concentrations of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in tissue around a tumor via near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy with a photonic mixer device (PMD) is described.

A dual-column-parallel image CCD sensor utilizes a dual-column-parallel readout circuit including two pairs of cross-connected transfer gates to alternately transfer pixel data (charges) from a pair of adjacent pixel columns to a shared output circuit at high speed with low noise. Charges transferred along the two adjacent pixel columns at a line clock rate are alternately passed by the transfer gates to a summing gate that is operated at twice the line clock rate to pass the image charges to the shared output circuit. A symmetrical Y-shaped diffusion is utilized in one embodiment to merge the image charges from the two pixel columns. A method of driving the dual-column-parallel CCD sensor with line clock synchronization is also described. A method of inspecting a sample using the dual-column-parallel CCD sensor is also described.