This invention is to provide a solid-state image pickup apparatus including a photoelectric conversion unit (PD), transfer switch (MTX) for transferring signal charges from the photoelectric conversion unit, capacitance for holding the transferred signal charges, and amplification transistor (MSF) for outputting a signal corresponding to the signal charges held by the capacitance. The amplification transistor includes a capacitance unit (CFD) having the first capacitance value and an additive capacitance unit (Cox) for adding a capacitance to the capacitance unit to increase the first capacitance value and obtain the second capacitance value. A signal read-out from the amplification transistor has a first read-out mode in which a signal is read out while keeping the signal charges held by the capacitance unit and additive capacitance unit, and a second read-out mode in which a signal is read out while keeping the signal charges held by the capacitance unit.

Solid-state image pickup apparatus

Digital miniature cameras and methods to manufacture thereof have been achieved. Said miniature cameras having an adjustable focusing device are intended to be used as a built-in modules in hand-held consumer electronic devices, such as e.g. mobile phones and PDAs. The cameras invented have a very small size and produce high-quality pictures. Glue is used to hold different parts together and to seal the joints. The lens is glued in the final stage of the manufacturing line, thus providing the focus setting and the sealing of the cavity that covers the image sensor. A glob top is used to cover and seal the image processor. Said glob top serves two different purposes, first, to distribute the heat away from the sensor and, second, to lock the frame, together with the lens house, into a printed circuit board. In one embodiment a cavity PCB is used to “bury” the sensor of the camera, thus reducing the overall height required. In another embodiment the image processor is mounted on a flexistrip directly underneath the image sensor die, thus reducing the total height of the camera module.

Miniature camera module

An optical test head comprises a block of material with a plurality of optical paths extending therethrough. At least one of the optical paths is an input optical path for receiving laser light and holding a lens for focusing the laser light on a workpiece that is proximate the head. At least another of the optical paths is an output path for receiving light that is reflected off of the workpiece and providing that light to a detector. (In one embodiment, several detectors are provided to direct specularly reflected light, narrow angle scattered light, wide angle scattered light and back scattered light to associated detectors.) Other optical elements can be affixed within or to the block of material. The test head can be used without requiring the individual optical elements to be aligned or adjusted.

Test head for optically inspecting workpieces

A light emitting device of the present invention includes: a laser diode group which generates a plurality of laser beams; a cylindrical light emitting element which emits incoherent light in response to the plurality of laser beams; and a light guide irradiation section which (i) guides the plurality of laser beams entered via a light incidence plane toward a light irradiation plane and (ii) irradiates the light irradiation area of the cylindrical light emitting element with the plurality of laser beams thus guided. The light irradiation plane of the light guide irradiation section has an area which is smaller than that of the light incidence plane.

Light-emitting device, illumination device, and vehicle headlight

First and second phase function curves are respectively obtained based on first and second phase functions with a wavelength having the same value as a reference wavelength lambda 1 of a first laser light being determined as a designed wavelength lambda, a phase shift element then has an inner circular side tiered phase difference pattern portion formed in annular shapes in an inner circular area on one surface thereof based on the first phase function curve and an outer circular side tiered phase difference pattern portion formed in annular shapes in an outer circular area outside the inner circular side tiered phase difference pattern portion based on the second phase function curve. A tier pitch of tiers of the inner circular side tiered phase difference pattern portion is set to a height corresponding to a phase difference of approximately 1lambda and, on the other hand, a tier pitch of tiers of the outer circular side tiered phase difference pattern portion is set to a height corresponding to a phase difference of approximately mlambda (where m is a natural number which does not include 0) or a height corresponding to a phase difference of approximately mlambda by changing a value of m in accordance with each tier.

Optical pickup device

An optical information apparatus of the present invention includes: an optical pick-up head including: a light source; a diffraction unit; a condensing unit; a beam splitter; a photodetector; and a tracking error signal generator. An optical recording medium has tracks arranged substantially at a constant pitch. An average of a pitch is tp. When a main beam is placed on the track, a first sub-beam and a second sub-beam are placed between the tracks. The tracking error signal generator performs a differential arithmetic operation with respect to signals output from a light-receiving portion receiving the main beam to generate a first push-pull signal, performs a differential arithmetic operation with respect to signals output from the light-receiving portions receiving the first sub-beam and the second sub-beam to generate a second push-pull signal, and performs a differential arithmetic operation with respect to the first push-pull signal and the second push-pull signal to generate a tracking error signal, in a case where an amplitude of the first push-pull signal obtained at the pitch tp is fluctuated when the light beam is scanned in a direction orthogonal to the tracks of the optical recording medium.

Optical pick-up head, optical information apparatus, and optical information reproducing method

An optical pick-up for use in optical disk devices comprises an objective lens having an outer ring formed therearound and a lens holder for positioning and holding the objective lens, the lens holder having first and second inner walls between which an annular shoulder portion is formed, and plural recesses formed on the annular shoulder portion as reservoirs into which excess adhesive agent is collected when adhesive agent is applied to a gap defined between the first inner wall and the outer ring of the objective lens. Various structures for collecting excess adhesive agent are also disclosed.

Mounting structure of objective lens for optical pick-up used for optical disk device

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a stable tracking control even if the rotational center of an information recording medium is not located on an extension line of the transfer direction of a light concentrating means. SOLUTION: This optical head includes: a semiconductor laser for emitting a light beam; an objective lens 202 for concentrating the light beam on an optical disk 205; a transfer means for transferring the objective lens 202 between the outermost circumference and the innermost circumference of a recording area of the optical disk 205 along the optical disk 205; and a photodetector 214 for detecting the light beam returned from the optical disk 205. The photodetector 214 includes a plurality of areas divided by a division line. The division line is set parallel to the tangential direction of a track in the predetermined position on a transfer line 206 of the objective lens 202 between the outermost circumference and the innermost circumference of the recording area, and the plurality of areas are divided by a lateral division line which intersects the division line, respectively into a 1st area on which the light beam mainly including a tracking component is incident and a 2nd area on which the light beam not including the tracking component is incident. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Optical pickup head device, optical information device, and optical information reproducing method

In order to make it possible to reproduce information recorded on an optical recording medium without causing deterioration in the information, a semiconductor laser driving device includes: a semiconductor laser; a photodetecting element for receiving a part of light emitted from the semiconductor laser and converting the part of light into an electric signal corresponding to a light amount; a laser driving circuit for inputting a driving signal into the semiconductor laser in such a manner that an average value of the electric signal coincides with a given target value; and a high-frequency superimposing control section for controlling an amplitude of the high-frequency signal. The high-frequency superimposing control section controls the amplitude in such a manner that a peak-to-average ratio that is a ratio of a peak value of the electric signal with respect to the average value of the electric signal does not increase above a given reference value.

Semiconductor laser driver, optical head device, optical information processor, and optical record medium

An optical detector comprising a semiconductor chip (1) for converting received light into an electric signal, and a resin body (2) sealing the semiconductor chip (1) and having translucency, wherein the optical detector further comprise a protector (3), which covers at least the light transmission region (11), through which light is transmitted, of the surface of the resin body on which the light falls. Covering the light transmission region (11) by the protector (3) that is less in reactivity with light than the resin body (2) suppresses deformation of the resin body (2) due to light, thus suppressing degradation of the optical characteristics of the optical detector.

Tomotada Kamei

Papers

Optical pick-up head, optical information apparatus, and optical information reproducing method

Mounting structure of objective lens for optical pick-up used for optical disk device

Optical pickup head device, optical information device, and optical information reproducing method

Semiconductor laser driver, optical head device, optical information processor, and optical record medium

Optical detector, optical head device, optical information processing device, and optical information processing method