Abstract: The present invention relates to integrated optic modulator devices and methods for their fabrication. Lithium niobate substrates have waveguides fabricated in them for propagating light energy, preferably in Mach Zhender architectures. The waveguides are bordered by adjacent electrode metallizations of low resistivity, such as copper and silver, to provide the devices with high gain bandwidth products to reduce the cost of drive electronics and simplify processing procedures. Gain bandwidth products exceed 4.5×105.

Abstract: Method and apparatus by which misshapen crown caps on beverage containers, such as bottles traveling along high-speed bottling lines, may be detected. Bottles are arranged to travel directly beneath a magnetic proximity sensor head placed at a station along a conveyor. A photodetector indicates when a crown cap is properly positioned with respect to the magnetic proximity sensor. In the presence of a crown cap, the sensor head generates a signal having characteristic shapes indicative of properly shaped caps or those that are misshapen. The signal is monitored via algorithms for the presence of the characteristic shapes anticipated for properly shaped and misshapen crown caps and commands are generated in response to detecting reject crown caps.

Abstract: A full-field, geometrically-desensitized interferometer (GDI) instrument incorporates a combination of reflecting and refracting optics to perform beam splitting and recombining operations for surface profilometry. Symmetrically-positioned inbound and outbound optical subassemblies typically are arranged to direct inbound collimated beams from a light generator to the profiled surface of a test object and to direct outbound reflected beams to an imaging device as a single recombined outbound interference beam. Every point on the detector has a corresponding point on the object from which reflected illumination originated from both reflected beams. The optical path difference between the two inbound beams or between the two reflected outbound beams can be substantially independent of field position.

Abstract: The height-of-fill of a container comprising a body having an optically detectable feature, and contents filling the body up to a fill level, at least a measuring portion of the container extending from the optically detectable feature to the fill level being capable of transmitting electromagnetic radiation, is determined by illuminating at least the measuring portion of the container with electromagnetic radiation; forming an image of part of this measuring portion of the container; and analyzing the image by data processing means to identify: (a) a first region having a first intensity that varies in accordance with the properties of the optically detectable feature; and (b) a second region having a second intensity that varies in accordance with the optical properties of the contents below the fill level, and determining the distance between a point within the first region and the upper edge of the second region, thereby determining the height-of-fill.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods particularly suitable for use in electro-optical metrology and other applications to measure and monitor the refractive index of a gas in at least one measurement path and/or the change in optical path length of the measurement path due to the gas while the refractive index of the gas may be fluctuating due to turbulence or the like and/or the physical length of the measuring path may be changing. More specifically, the invention employs multiple pass interferometry to provide measurements of dispersion of the refractive index, the dispersion being substantially proportional to the density of the gas, and/or measurements of dispersion of the optical path length, the dispersion of the optical path length being related to the dispersion of the refractive index and the physical length of the measurement path.

Abstract: Interferometric apparatus and method by which polarization effects and stage yaw and pitch are substantially reduced. A beam redirecting means selected from the group consisting of corner mirrors, prisms, diffractive elements, holographic elements, and combinations thereof are fixedly mounted on a body capable of rectilinear motion for movement therewith. The measurement beam path to and from the redirecting means is folded at least once so that incoming and outgoing beam segments are spatially separated and substantially parallel to one another and the reference beam.

Abstract: Polarization preserving optical systems for use in deviating plane polarized beams through preselected angles without changing their linear state of polarization. The optical systems have a variety of applications and are particularly suitable for use in the field of distance measuring interferometry (DMI) to enhance measurement accuracy by reducing undesirable polarization effects that can introduce errors associated with an otherwise present undesirable polarization rotation found in classical retroreflectors. Prismatic optical elements are preferably used to construct assemblies which can include polarization beam splitting coating arrangements and/or birefringent materials to enhance the extinction ratio between orthogonally polarized beams propagating through such systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for providing orthogonally polarized light beams for use in precision metrology applications such as in the measurement of length or length changes using interferometric techniques. An input beam is introduced to a multifaceted anisotropic optically active acousto-optical crystal for travel through an interactive region where it experiences two acoustic beams that diffract it via small angle Bragg diffraction to form two orthogonally polarized internal beam components that are separated by a small angle of divergence and subsequently become external beam components available outside of the acousto-optical crystal for use in anticipated downstream applications. The acousto-optical crystal preferably is a uniaxial crystal comprising TeO.sub.2.

Abstract: Interferometric apparatus and method for measuring and monitoring intrinsic optical properties of a gas, especially the reciprocal dispersive power of the gas, so that information about the gas properties can be used in downstream applications, such as interferometric distance measuring instruments, to increase accuracy by correcting for refractive index of the gas and especially environmental and air turbulence effects in the measurement path. The apparatus comprises a concentric measurement cell having an inner chamber containing a vacuum surrounded by an outer occupied by the gas. Wavelength selective mirrors are arranged at each end of the measurement cell and operate in conjunction with plane mirror interferometers to change the phase of orthogonally polarized components of light beams of different wavelength introduced in the measurement cell from opposite ends of the cell.

Abstract: Compact dual focal length cameras are disclosed having wide angle and telephoto modes of operation. The ratio of telephoto to wide angle ratios is at least 3 to 1, but is typically higher so that the cameras can be used in conjunction with binoculars to take telephoto pictures that give the same visual appearance as when the same scenes are observed through binoculars. Compactness and increased focal length are achieved via four mirror arrangements one preferred embodiment of which wraps around the camera film plane and uses a single constant angular velocity shutter for providing both wide angle and telephoto exposure times. Compact, single-use, medium telephoto cameras are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hot sprue bushing is provided for transporting plasticized material from an injection nozzle to a mold cavity while controlling the temperature of the plasticized material. This hot sprue bushing comprises an elongate body having a head, a stem and a distal end portion, and a through passage extending therethrough from end to end through the head, stem and distal end portion of the body for transporting plasticized material through the hot sprue bushing from the heat to the distal end portion thereof. The distal end portion of the body bears a first engaging device, and the head of the body is of greater cross-section than the stem so that the head provides a first abutment surface extending outwardly of the stem. An electrically powered heater is wrapped around the stem of the head in heating conducting relationship therewith.

Abstract: Image display easels are provided with mechanical and optical features that permit them to be used for advertising, marketing, and other such purposes. The easels display multi, 3D, and animated visual effects that can be easily changed as needed by the user while easily achieving the alignment needed for such effects.

Abstract: A display and viewing unit, for use with a printed insert card bearing at least one pair of interlaced images and having a reference edge, comprises a base bearing flexible fingers and a cover member having at least one transparent lenticulated section, a seating area for receiving the printed insert card, and an abutment against which the reference edge of the card can be placed. The base and the cover member pivot relative to one another between an open position and a closed position in which the flexible fingers lie adjacent the seating area, and in which the base and the cover member snap fit together to keep them in this closed position. Also, in this closed position, a slot is left between the base and the cover member so that the card can be inserted between them and viewed through the lenticulated section. The display permits cards to be readily inserted and removed.

Abstract: A method for making display products that generate special visual effects with autostereographic, dynamic, alternating, animated, and morphed images used in conjunction with lenticulated arrays for marketing and informational purposes. The special imaging effects, which can be integrated with discrete lenticulated container structures for data storage media and other contents, are achieved by digitally sampling and formatting source images with resampling procedures and then generating a merged image file that serves as the digital input for color printers or digital printing presses. The sampled images are printed on substrates along with registration lines or on preperforated stock preformatted for use with a corresponding lenticulated component. Afterwards, the images are separated from the substrate by either cutting them from the substrate using the printed registration lines as guides or breaking them out along the preperforated lines.

Abstract: Endodiagnostic methods utilize differential thermal relaxation and IR and visible imaging to differentiate between normal and abnormal interior body structures and tissue. With the use of a separate or integrated visible endoscope, an interior body site to be examined is visualized and then the area of interest is flooded with a cooling liquid. Upon contact with the area of interest, an immediate cooling of the flush site takes place, thus providing a temperature differential of approximately 25 degrees Fahrenheit of the cooled site compared to surrounding body-temperature tissue. As the area warms back to the surrounding tissue temperature, abnormal areas can be visualized because their temperature warms at a different rate compared to normal structure or tissue. As time progresses the contrast between normal and abnormal reaches a maximum and then declines as both relax back to body temperature.

Abstract: Electro-optical devices comprising a multifaceted anisotropic acousto-optical crystal for transforming a single-frequency beam comprising two individual linearly-orthogonally, polarized input beams into an output beam having two linearly-orthogonally, polarized principal output beams having frequencies that differ from each other and the input beam where the input beam preferably is a laser of frequency, f.sub.L. While the directions of propagation of the individual input beams are preferably parallel, and the directions of propagation of the principal output beams are preferably parallel, they need not be and instead the individual input beams and the principal output beams may beneficially have their own predetermined angle of divergence or convergence, respectively.

Abstract: Compact dual focal length cameras are disclosed having wide angle and telephoto modes of operation. The ratio of telephoto to wide angle ratios is at least 3 to 1, but is typically higher so that the cameras can be used in conjunction with binoculars to take telephoto pictures that give the same visual appearance as when the same scenes are observed through binoculars. Compactness and increased focal length are achieved via four mirror arrangements one preferred embodiment of which wraps around the camera film plane and uses a single constant angular velocity shutter for providing both wide angle and telephoto exposure times. Compact, single-use, medium telephoto cameras are also disclosed.

Abstract: Polarization interferometric method and apparatus for high-speed measurement of the distance between two surfaces, the first of which is part of a substantially transparent element and the second of which is part of a test object. In a first step, a lens (2) directs a light beam (3) through a polarizing component (4) towards the first surface at an oblique angle of incidence. The measurement beam may be positioned on the surface under test (35, 35a) with an in-line optical system or a normal incidence one. In a next step, the polarized light beam (5) reflects back through the transparent element by means of the combined effect of reflections from the first surface of the transparent element and from the surface of the test object (30). In a further step, a polarization-sensitive intensity detector (12) and a phase detector (13) measure the strength and relative phase of the polarization components defined by the plane of incidence.

Abstract: Dual channel Endodiagnostic apparatus and methods by which infrared emissions within the range including 2 to 14 micrometers may be visualized in the form of encoded images to permit differential analysis. The endoscopic apparatus has an IR channel and a visible channel. The IR channel comprises a refractive objective lens for forming a real image of interior structure of interest, a relay system consisting solely of refracting elements for transferring the real image to an intermediate image plane conjugate to the objective image plane, and a refracting coupling lens for forming a final image of the intermediate image in a detector plane in which an IR detector sensitive in the range including 2 to 14 micrometers may be placed near the proximal end of the apparatus. The IR and visible channels are arranged to visualize substantially the same subject matter.

Abstract: Optical arrangements are provided by which observers of flat containers or display boxes, such as compact disc (CD) jewel boxes, can be presented with different information when looking at one of the box's surfaces from different angular perspectives. Advantageously, parallax effects are compensated where the size of the observable images and the viewing distance create undesirable visual artifacts. Horizontally and vertically oriented lenticulated panels are used in combination with interlaced images to convey the differently coded views without the need for physically manipulating such boxes as in the past to see equivalent information. Printed informational inserts are provided with interlaced images and reference surfaces for alignment purposes which is achieved either with control of fit or via resiliently flexible arrangements for urging the inserts into positions of proper alignment.