Certain aspects pertain to a cloud detector comprising a first detector module directed to a first region of the sky and a second detector module directed to a second region of the sky. Each detector module has a tube enclosing one or more sensing elements. The one or more sensing elements of the first detector module are configured to take weather condition readings from the first region of the sky. The one or more sensing elements of the second detector module are configured to take weather condition readings from the second region of the sky. In one aspect, the cloud detector is configured to detect cloud cover based on these weather condition readings. In some cases, the one or more sensing elements comprise an infrared radiation detector (e.g., thermopile) for measuring infrared radiation intensity and a photosensor element for measuring sunlight intensity.

Provided are an optical receiver that can realize a reduction in the variation of sensitivity in the ultraviolet light region and a reduction in noise in the visible light region and the infrared light region, a portable electronic device, and a method of producing an optical receiver. The first light-receiving device (PD1) and the second light-receiving device (PD2) of the optical receiver (1) are each constituted by forming a second conductivity-type N-type well layer (N_well) on a first conductivity-type P-type substrate (P_sub), forming a first conductivity-type P-type well layer (P_well) in the N-type well layer (N_well), and forming a second conductivity-type N-type diffusion layer (N) in the P-type well layer (P_well). The P-type substrate P_sub, the N-type well layer (N_well), and the P-type well layer (P_well) are electrically at the same potential or are short-circuited.

A light sensor having an adaptively controlled gain includes a photoelectric element, an operational amplifier, a comparator, an adaptive gain control circuit, a variable capacitor and a pulse accumulator circuit. The photoelectric element converts light energy into a photocurrent. The operational amplifier outputs an error amplified signal based on a gain multiplied by a voltage difference between an input voltage and a reference voltage. The comparator compares the error amplified signal with a voltage of a reference voltage source to output a comparison signal. The adaptive gain control circuit includes a pulse detector circuit and a gain control circuit. The pulse detector circuit detects the comparison signal and a clock signal to output a pulse detected signal. The adaptive gain control circuit outputs a capacitance modulating signal according to the pulse detected signal. A capacitance of the variable capacitor is modulated according to the capacitance modulating signal.

Driver-detection technology includes various systems, methods, and apparatuses. For example, an active infrared (IR) sensor might be affixed in the driver's footwell of a motor vehicle and detect the driver's entry into the vehicle. The detection of the driver by the IR sensor is usable to personalize motor-vehicle features, such as seat position, steering-wheel position, interior lighting, radio controls, mirror angles, and touch-screen configuration, among others.

A complex optical proximity sensor includes a substrate, a light emitter coupled to the substrate, an application-specific integrated circuit chip coupled to the substrate with a proximity sensor thereon, a barrier disposed between the application-specific integrated circuit chip and the light emitter, and an ambient light detection chip manufactured in advance and then coupled to the application-specific integrated circuit chip thereon with a pre-determined height. Also, with the manufacturing method of the complex optical proximity sensor, the detection angle of the ambient light is thereby maximized and the one of the proximity sensor is thereby minimized.

A method for adjusting an ambient light sensor includes: acquiring a color temperature of light received by the ambient light sensor; and adjusting an output light intensity of the ambient light sensor according to the color temperature to enable output light intensities of the ambient light sensor to be consistent under received light with different color temperatures. The ambient light sensor includes: an acquiring device, configured to acquire a color temperature of light received by the ambient light sensor; and an adjuster, configured to adjust an output light intensity of the ambient light sensor according to the color temperature acquired by the acquiring device to enable output light intensities of the ambient light sensor to be consistent under received light with different color temperatures.

An optical difference detector includes a first APD and a second APD, a first voltage application unit that applies a first bias voltage to the first APD and a second voltage application unit that applies a second bias voltage to the second APD, a differential amplifier that is connected in parallel to the first APD and the second APD and amplifies a difference between a first signal current output from the first APD and a second signal current output from the second APD, and a feedback control unit that controls the second bias voltage so that a low frequency component of a first monitoring current in the first APD and a low frequency component of a second monitoring current in the second APD are equal.

Described herein are technologies pertaining to computing the solar irradiance distribution on a surface of a receiver in a concentrating solar power system or glint/glare emitted from a reflective entity. At least one camera captures images of the Sun and the entity of interest, wherein the images have pluralities of pixels having respective pluralities of intensity values. Based upon the intensity values of the pixels in the respective images, the solar irradiance distribution on the surface of the entity or glint/glare corresponding to the entity is computed.

In order to provide an optical sensor that can accurately sense a direction of movement of an object to be sensed even in a case where disturbance light is present, an optical sensor of the present invention includes: a light-emitting element; a circularly-segmented light-receiving element group (RDPD), including light-receiving elements circularly provided at edges of a region on which reflected light from an object to be sensed reflecting light emitted by the light-emitting element is incident, for generating respective photocurrents upon receiving the reflected light; and a gesture circuit section for sensing a direction of movement of the object to be sensed upon receiving the photocurrents generated by the light-receiving elements included in the circularly-segmented light-receiving element group (RDPD).

An inspection apparatus includes a light emitting unit, a first lens, an aperture unit, a second lens, a light receiving unit, and an inspection unit. The light emitting unit emits irradiation light to an object to be inspected. The first lens changes a divergence level of the irradiation light which is emitted from the light emitting unit and is transmitted through the first lens. The aperture unit has an opening which narrows the irradiation light transmitted through the first lens. The second lens condenses the irradiation light passing through the opening, toward the object. The light receiving unit is disposed between the aperture unit and the second lens. The light receiving unit includes plural light receiving elements which receives reflected light obtained by the irradiation light being emitted to the object and then being transmitted through the second lens.