Home > Categories > Science and Technology > Computers and Electrical Engineering > Computers and Computing > optical sensing

optical sensing

From: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | Date: 2008

optical sensing in general, any method by which information that occurs as variations in the intensity, or some other property, of light is translated into an electric signal. This is usually accomplished by the use of various photoelectric devices. In one method, known as optical character recognition, a computer is given the capability of "reading" printed characters. Reflected or transmitted light from the character strikes an array of photoelectric cells, which effectively dissect it into light and dark areas. By analysis of these areas the computer is able to recognize the character, with some tolerance for less than perfect and uniform printing. Optical sensing is also used in various pattern-recognition systems, e.g., in military reconnaissance and astronomical observation; it is also used in photographic development, to enhance detail and contrast.

Author not available, OPTICAL SENSING., The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2008

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press

For permission to reuse this article, contact Copyright Clearance Center.

Related articles from HighBeam Research:

	Remote Sensing of Cirrus Cloud Particle Size and Optical Depth Using Polarimetric Sensor Measurements Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences; 12/1/2005; Ou, S C; Liou, K N; Takano, Y; Slonaker, R L; 7562 words; ... Slonaker, 2003: Remote sensing of cirrus cloud optical thickness and effective ... variability effects on the remote sensing of thin cirrus optical and microphysical properties ... McFarquhar, 2000: Remote sensing of optical and microphysical properties ...
	Detect defects optically: understanding an optical sensing system helps improve reliability. Quality; 5/1/2006; Kaitkay, Prasad Axelrod, Norman N.; 1229 words; ... circumstances. Many noncontact optical sensing systems are integrated into ... or optical system. Reliable optical sensing system performance results when the optical sensing system responds only to the ...
	Quintessence Photonics Gets Contract for High Precision Optical Sensing Lasers Wireless News; 7/18/2006; 363 words; Wireless News 07-18-2006 Quintessence Photonics Gets Contract for High Precision Optical Sensing Lasers WIRELESS NEWS-July 19, 2006-Quintessence Photonics Gets Contract for High Precision Optical Sensing Lasers (C)2006 10Meters - http:// www.10meters.com Quintessence Photonics, a ...
	Remote Sensing of Liquid Water and Ice Cloud Optical Thickness and Effective Radius in the Arctic: Application of Airborne Multispectral MAS Data Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology; 6/1/2004; King, Michael D; Platnick, Steven; Yang, Ping; Arnold, G Thomas; Et al; 8717 words; ... sensitivity of the remote sensing of cloud optical and microphysical properties ... especially true for the remote sensing of optically thin clouds (both liquid water ... McFarquhar, 2000: Remote sensing of optical and microphysieal properties ...
	Aerosol Optical Properties and Particle Size Distributions on the East Coast of the United States Derived from Airborne In Situ and Remote Sensing Measurements Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences; 3/1/2006; Reidmiller, David R; Hobbs, Peter V; Kahn, Ralph; 13433 words; ... with any new remote sensing instrument, it requires ... characterization of the optical properties and size ... we summarize the optical properties and the ... results with remote sensing measurements from ... global aerosol optical depth validation ... multiangle remote sensing observations ...
	Ford Selects IOS for Hydrogen-Sensing Systems.(Ford Motor Co, Intelligent Optical Systems Inc.)(Company)(Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc.)(Brief Article) Electric Vehicle Online Today; 9/28/2000; 266 words; Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc. (IOS) recently announced it has been selected by Ford Motor Company to develop the hydrogen-sensing system for Ford's fuel cell vehicle program. IOS is a private ... specializing in the design and development of proprietary optical communications and signal-processing ...
	Weatherford boosts Optical Sensing capabilities. (Business).(Brief Article) Fiber Optics Weekly Update; 9/20/2002; 167 words; ... delivery of a wide range of in-well optical sensing systems. The assets included ... technology applied in Weatherford's optical sensing systems--is greatly enhanced ... Weatherford's integration of its CiDRA Optical Sensing System a cquisition announced ...
	Evaluation of optical remote sensing models for crop residue cover assessment. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation; 9/1/2004; Thoma, D.P. Gupta, S.C. Bauer, M.E.; 6645 words; ... cover using remote sensing techniques has ... availability of cloud free optical imagery, and difficulties ... increased backscatter. Optical imagery is more ... than other remote sensing data products ... accuracy of published optical remote sensing models; and 3 ...
	See the light: MLX90255 linear optical array makes light work of positioning and spectrometry sensing applications.(Brief Article) Sensors Magazine; 10/1/2003; 250 words; ... OMITTED] For High Precision Sensing The MLX90255BA is a linear optical array fabricated using silicon ... applications. These include optical linear position and rotary ... scanning, mark and code reading, optical character recognition (OCR ...
	Optical pressure and temperature sensing.(New Products) Fiberoptic Product News; 1/1/2004; 120 words; ... ohlma.com Oluma's Deep Well Optical Pressure and Temperature Sensing System has exceeded customer ... unique evanescently coupled optical pressure sensor is the first ... of physically stressing an optical element. Oluma's PTS Pressure ... incorporates patented, innovative optical fiber sensors ...
	Quintessence Photonics Corporation awarded contract for high-precision optical sensing lasers based on its new internal grating technology.(CONTRACTS) Fiber Optics Weekly Update; 7/28/2006; 296 words; ... high-precision direct diode optical sensing lasers based on its recently ... lasers with Internal Gratings. Optical sensing is critically important in the ... direct diode high precision optical sensing laser for the enormous metrology ...
	An additional tool for integrity monitoring. (Optical Remote Sensing).(Ophir Corp. develops optical remote sensing system to meet requirements of recently passed integrity monitoring legislation) Pipeline & Gas Journal; 3/1/2003; Spaeth, Lisa O'Brien, Martin; 1394 words; ... for integrity monitoring--optical remote sensing. New technology is needed ... natural gas pipelines. The optical remote sensing system, duoThane, provides ... integrity management regulations. Optical remote sensing of high consequence areas ...
	Special developments in fiber sensing: optical fibers are finding new homes in the use of intrinsic fiber sensing techniques in areas ranging from 20th century battlefields, to homeland security, to deep-sea surveying and oil exploration.(Technology) Fiber Optic Technology; 9/1/2004; Sansone, Aileen Emslie, Chris; 2693 words; ... all but forgotten. Optical Fiber works for War and Peace Optical fibers are finding ... intrinsic fiber sensing techniques in areas ... exactly what it was sensing. The key to the ... property enables long optical path lengths to ... Gale had access to optical fiber in 1925, then ... open ...
	Optical remote sensing.(REMEDIATION PRODUCTS) Pollution Engineering; 4/1/2007; 82 words; Optical remote sensing (ORS) is a technique used to provide real-time, on-site information on emissions of airborne gases, aerosols and particulates from ...
	PERKIN ELMER OPTOELECTRONICS HEATS UP OPTICAL SENSING FOR AUTOMOTIVE AND OTHER APPLICATIONS. Sensor Business Digest; 4/1/2003; 3977 words; ... competing) types of optical sensors, PerkinElmer ... including making the sensing chips, components ... from a low-cost sensing solution offering ... less expensive optical components, PerkinElmer ... test systems for optical networks; lighting ... laser pump sources, optical detectors, ...