Melexis Nv

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC

Barco N.v.

Olivier Charlier

Roger Diels

William R Betts

Peter Gerets

Dirk Maes

Francois Laulanet

Mustafa Badaroglu

A method and apparatus is described for producing high brightness, e.g. multicolor light, whereby a region of a wavelength conversion element and a light source producing excitation light are moved relative to each other so that said region is exposed to the excitation light at different times and in a progressive movement that scans across a part of the entire surface of the wavelength conversion element. The wavelength conversion element can be cooled by air or with a liquid.

Rotating wavelength conversion element

The present invention provides a method to compensate for the sensitivity drift of a magnetic field sensor for sensing a magnetic field. The magnetic field sensor comprises at least four electrodes. The method comprises a first step where a first set of two electrodes is used to bias the sensor and a second set of two electrodes is used to sense an output signal of the magnetic field sensor, and a second step where the second set of two electrodes is used to bias the sensor and the first set of two electrodes is used to sense an output signal of the magnetic field sensor. The method is characterized in that at least one of the first or the second step is subdivided in at least a first sub-step and a second sub-step. A reference magnetic field has first magnetic field parameters, e.g. a first amplitude and/or direction, in the first sub-step and second magnetic field parameters, a second amplitude and/or direction, in the second sub-step. An output signal is sensed in the first and in the second step, and within the first or the second step an output signal is sensed in the first and the second sub-step.

Method of auto calibrating a magnetic field sensor for drift and structure therefor

A self-calibrating infrared (IR) sensing device having the capability to measure the attenuation effects of surface contamination on the transmission window and to adjust the gain of the sensor accordingly so as to counter the attenuation. The IR sensing device includes an IR sensor mounted in a housing having an IR transparent window that allows IR radiation originating from outside the housing to be directed toward the sensor. The IR sensor includes a thermally isolated area of IR-absorbing material coupled to a temperature measuring unit. IR radiation impinging on the sensor is absorbed, thereby raising the temperature of the IR absorbing material. The temperature measuring unit measures the increase in temperature and generates a proportional electronic signal indicative of the temperature. The electronic signal is received and processed by a processor. An IR radiator is also included within the sensing device housing. When activated, the radiator emits IR radiation that passes through the window and is lost to the outside if there is no contamination. If the surface of the window is contaminated, the radiation raises the temperature of the contaminants. This increase in temperature results in a return signal (i.e., IR emissions from the contaminants) that is detected by the sensor. A mirror element is also included within the sensing device. The mirror element focuses radiation from the remote target onto the sensor, and it reflects IR radiation emitted by the IR radiator onto the window. The magnitude of the return signal indicates the amount of contaminant on the surface of the window. The return signal is detected and measured by the IR sensor, and is used to signal a warning and/or determine the amount of gain necessary to compensate for the loss of true signal caused by the presence of the contamination.

IR sensor with reflective calibration

A self-calibrating infrared (IR) sensing device having the capability to measure the attenuation effects of surface contamination on the transmission window and to adjust the gain of the sensor accordingly so as to counter the attenuation. The IR sensing device includes an IR sensor mounted in a housing having an IR transparent window that allows IR radiation originating from outside the housing to be directed toward the sensor. The IR sensor includes a thermally isolated area of IR-absorbing material coupled to a temperature measuring unit. IR radiation impinging on the sensor is absorbed, thereby raising the temperature of the IR absorbing material. The temperature measuring unit measures the increase in temperature and generates a proportional electronic signal indicative of the temperature. The electronic signal is received and processed by a processor. An IR radiator is also included within the sensing device housing. When activated, the radiator emits IR radiation that passes through the window and is reflected by an external mirror onto the IR sensitive element. If the surface of the window is contaminated, a portion of the reflected signal is absorbed and the attenuated signal is detected by the sensor. The relative magnitude of the attenuated signal indicates the amount of contaminant on the surface of the window. The attenuated signal is detected and measured by the IR sensor, and is used to signal a warning and/or determine the amount of gain necessary to compensate for the loss of true signal caused by the presence of the contamination.

A self-calibrating infrared (IR) sensing device having the capability to measure the attenuation effects of surface contamination on the transmission window and to adjust the gain of the sensor accordingly so as to counter the attenuation. The IR sensing device includes an IR sensor mounted in a housing having an IR transparent window that allows IR radiation originating from outside the housing to be directed toward the sensor. The IR sensor includes a thermally isolated area of IR-absorbing material coupled to a temperature measuring unit. IR radiation impinging on the sensor is absorbed, thereby raising the temperature of the IR absorbing material. The temperature measuring unit measures the increase in temperature and generates a proportional electronic signal indicative of the temperature. The electronic signal is received and processed by a processor. An IR radiator is also included within the sensing device housing. When activated, the radiator emits IR radiation that passes through the window and is lost to the outside if there is no contamination. If the surface of the window is contaminated, the radiation raises the temperature of the contaminants. This increase in temperature results in a return signal (i.e., IR emissions from the contaminants) that is detected by the sensor. The magnitude of the return signal indicates the amount of contaminant on the surface of the window. The return signal is detected and measured by the IR sensor, and is used to signal a warning and/or determine the amount of gain necessary to compensate for the loss of true signal caused by the presence of the contamination.

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Brussels, Belgium

Olivier Charlier