Abstract: In a method of driving a ferroelectric liquid crystal display, a blanking pulse of width 2t.sub.s followed, after a delay of n.multidot.t.sub.s (where n is an integer), by a writing pulse of width t.sub.s and of opposite polarity to the blanking pulse are applied to successive row address lines at intervals of 2t.sub.s. Pairs of bipolar data pulses of width t.sub.s are applied to column address lines so that the data pulses coincide with the blanking pulse applied to the ith row and the writing pulse applied to row i-(n+1)/2 for odd values of n and to row 1-(n+2)/2 for even values of n. The data pulse amplitude may be varied in order to obtain variable grey levels in the display.

Abstract: An amplifier/filter combination including a fibre amplifier (4) and a fibre reflection/transmission filter (5) coupled to said amplifer. The fibre amplifier amplifies an input signal (1) in response to pump light (2) received from a laser. Preferably the fibre filter (5) is a chirped Bragg fibre filter which is arranged to filter out the unabsorbed portion of the pump light from the output amplified signal and which reflects the unabsorbed portion (7) of the pump light back to the amplifier (4) for re-absorption therein. The amplified signal (6) is transmitted by the filter (5) to a receiver.

Abstract: A display method and apparatus in which a two-dimensional display constituting a perspective view of a three-dimensional surface consists of an array of discrete points appearing to model the surface. An aircraft pilot is provided with a display of ground terrain ahead of his aircraft using stored data representing the terrain.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical sensor for testing a biochemical sample. The sensor includes a resonant mirror device 1 and a prism 2 disposed adjacent the device 1 for coupling an input beam of light to the device 1. The input beam of light having a comb spectrum with a uniform spacing between adjacent lines or bands of the spectrum is produced by a comb spectrum source 10. The comb spectrum may be produced by a diode laser with multiple longitudinal modes. The input beam of light is polarized by a polarizer 4 to provide equal TE and TM components. The resonant mirror device is arranged in the paths of said input beam of light such that resonance is excited for at least one of said components, An analyser 11 is arranged to receive said components of the beam of light reflected from the device 1 for producing an output beam having a spectrum including a series of bright and/or dark lines or bands corresponding to the lines or bands of the comb spectrum of the input beam.

Abstract: A combined bipolar junction transistor and an optical modulator comprising a plurality of semiconductor layers providing an optical mirror for the modulator, a collector for the transistor formed upon the plurality of semiconductor layers, the collector also forming an optical absorber of the modulator, a base of the transistor formed upon the collector, an emitter of the transistor formed upon the base and a metallic contact for the base, the metallic contact providing a function of an optical reflector for the modulator.

Abstract: In a vestigial sideband modulator, an i.f. signal is modulated with a video input and the extreme part of one of the sidebands is removed to provide the right frequency response shape for transmission. The signal for transmission is usually produced by mixing the i.f. signal with an oscillator signal known as the heterodyne signal which differs from the desired carrier frequency by the i.f. frequency, and filtering the signal with a subsequent channel filter to remove any unwanted heterodyne oscillator components and the unwanted sum or difference product. To avoid the need for such a channel filter, the filtered video-modulated i.f. signal is demodulated to quadrature baseband components using the i.f. oscillator, and quadrature components at carrier frequency are modulated with these baseband components to produce on combination a v.s.b. modulated video output at carrier frequency.

Abstract: A semiconductor radio-frequency power detector comprises, in a stack, an ohmic contact layer, undoped layer of a first semiconductor material, such as GaAs, of thickness l.sub.1, an undoped layer of a second semiconductor material, such as AlGaAs, of larger band gap than the first semiconductor material, the thickness of the layer being such that transport in the layer is primarily by intraband tunnelling, a second undoped layer of the first semiconductor material of thickness l.sub.2, where l.sub.2 >20l.sub.1, and a second ohmic contact layer. The difference between the thicknesses of the layers of the first semiconductor material gives rise to asymmetry in the current density/applied voltage characteristic for the device. An n+ layer may be incorporated in the second layer of the intrinsic first material to reduce "band bending" and to increase the current density.

Abstract: In a method of driving liquid crystal cells in an active matrix addressed display of the resistively-coupled transistor type whereby interlacing of alternate rows of pixels is achieved, rows N-1, N+1, N+3, - - - of the cells are addressed in sequence in a first field period by applying transistor turn-on pulses to the associated row address lines while reference signals are applied to the row address lines associated with rows, N, N+2, N+4, - - - in sequence, the turn-on pulse for the row N-1 and the reference signal for the row N being coincident. During a second field period of the transistor turn-on pulses are applied to the address lines for rows N, N+2, N+4, - - - while reference signals are applied to the address lines for rows N-1, N+3, N+5, - - - the turn-on pulse for the row N and the reference signal for the row N+1 being coincident. The reference signal may be of two different magnitudes which alternate at the line rate or at the frame rate of a television video signal.

Abstract: An optical fiber coil assembly comprising two optically interconnected optical fiber coils or coil parts (22, 23) rigidly supported in predetermined positional relationship by respective rigid support means so constructed and arranged that static or quasi-static pressure (P) applied to the assembly produces a decrease in the path length of one of the coils or coil parts, and an increase in the path length of the other.

Abstract: In a method of forming a micron-size field emitter, an array of conductive tips is formed on a substrate. A layer of dielectric material is formed on the substrate to a thickness substantially equal to the height of the tips, but forming a protuberance over each tip. A conductive grid layer is deposited over the dielectric layer, forming corresponding protuberances, followed by a layer of resist material which is of sufficiently low viscosity so that it flows off the grid layer at the protuberances leaving the protuberances substantially unprotected. The grid and dielectric layers in the protuberances are then etched away to reveal the tips through the resulting apertures in the grid and dielectric layers. The apertures are thereby automatically aligned with the tips without the need for lithographic processes.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes a resonant mirror device 1, and a prism 2 disposed adjacent the device for coupling a beam of light into the device 1. The device 1 and the prism 2 are mounted on a rotatable platform. A beam of light is produced by He-Ne laser 3 and is linearly polarized with equal TE and TM components by a polarizer 4 arranged at 45.degree. to TE and TM axis. A lens 6 is arranged in the path of the linearly polarized beam of light for focussing the beam of light onto the device thereby providing simultaneously a range of angles of incidence at which the beam of light can be coupled into said device. The platform on which the device 1 and the prism 2 are mounted, is rotated to a position, at which the angle of incidence of beam of light coupled into the device is such that a resonance is excited in said device for at least one of said components. The beam of light reflected from the device is passed through an analyser 11 arranged at 90.degree. to the polarizer 4.

Abstract: An optical sensing system (e.g. hydrophone) includes a plurality of laser light sources for producing light signals of different frequencies which are combined by a Bragg cell and launched into a single optical fibre leading to an optical sensor array arrangement. This sensor array arrangement includes a plurality of optical sensors separated by redirecting means for redirecting light signals along an optical fibre in time displaced relationship to an optical detector.

Abstract: This invention describes a technique for improving the sensitivity of a resonant mirror sensor which has particular applications in areas involving sensing at an interface such as immunosensing using immobilized antibodies. By the introduction of a Bragg grating structure in the sensor, there is produced enhanced dispersion and hence enhanced sensitivity in the region close to the band edge. This improves the detection limit of the sensor without changing the composition or involving the sensor size and allows more sensitive operation at reduced incident angles.

Abstract: The relative position (M) of two members (33, 34) is sensed by scanning (S) an optical beam (25) over an encoded pattern (20) carried by one of the members, and by using a read head (21) secured to the other member to receive an optical signal transmitted from the encoded pattern (20). This optical signal is received by an optical position sensor to discriminate from the frequency of the signal, the position of the read head (21) relative to the encoded pattern (20). As the relative position is detected from the frequency of the signal rather than its intensity, components can be replaced without recalibration. The optical beam (25) is scanned by using a light source of variable wavelength which is passed through a device, such as a diffraction grating or a gradient index lens, for deflecting the beam (25) dependent on its wavelength.

Abstract: A wiper mechanism (7), especially suitable for cleaning the curved lens (6) of a multirole turret, comprises a wiper (8) which is acted on centrifugally when the mechanism (7) is operated to cause the wiper (8)to be moved from a "parked" position (dashed outline) to an "operating" position (full outline) in which it wipes-clean the surface of the lens (6).

Abstract: A dielectric resonant oscillator for use in frequency conversion of X-band signals comprises a dielectric `puck` (1) of high dielectric constant mounted on a printed circuit board (3) adjacent a stripline conductor (5). The puck (1) forms a resonant cavity to signals in the stripline and the system oscillates typically at X-band. The puck (1) has an inherent temperature compensating dielectric/temperature characteristic which generally compensates temperature dependent circuit characteristics. However the substrate (3) dielectric/temperature characteristic (FIG. 1 ) upsets the balance, the substrate (3) being coupled to the cavity by the electric field. The balance is regained by introducing a metallic pad (7) under the puck of (1) half the puck diameter thus bringing the temperature driven variation to 1.25 ppm. A further development provides two or more radial extensions (9) of the pad (7) which shift unwanted hybrid modes away from the wanted TEM mode and prevent mode jumping and consequent instability.

Abstract: A microwave horn antenna comprising a hollow cylindrical horn (11) having a rear section of tapered internal dimension extending towards a tubular radiation open end. The open end incorporates a number of parallel-sided slots (17), which extend at angles of 45 degrees to the horn axis. The slots (17) terminate at the open end in semi-circular cut-out portions (17B). A dielectric lens (19) is fitted over the open end of the horn. The antenna provides a wide beamwidth of approximately 90 degrees over a frequency ban of 8 to 18 GHz.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a free standing perovskite lead scandium tantalate film. A film of lead scandium tantalate is formed on a layer of MgO deposited on a sapphire substrate. The MgO layer is etched by phosphoric acid thereby releasing the lead scandium tantalate film from the substrate.

Abstract: A miniature non-return valve comprises a circular recess with an inlet at its center, an annular groove coaxial with the recess and communicating with the recess at a number of points within the groove, and an outlet duct communicating with the groove. Fluid entering the inlet passes through the recess, the annular groove and the outlet duct substantially unimpeded, whereas fluid entering the outlet duct forms a vortex in the recess so that flow of that fluid to the inlet is inhibited. Control fluid may be fed into the recess to initiate or enhance formation of the vortex. The inlet and the circular recess may be provided in first and second substrates, respectively, and the annular groove and the outlet duct may be provided in a third substrate, all by a micromachining process, the substrates being bonded together in a stack. The substrates may be formed of silicon.

Abstract: An display arrangement 16 comprises a two dimensional imaging array 3. Each column of the image array 3 is read sequentially by an electronic circuit 11. This energizes a one dimensional LED array 12 in dependence upon the received radiation. A motor 9 rotates a mirrored surface of a polygon 18 such that the image of the LED array is scanned. An observer viewing the LED array 12 via eyepiece 13 appears, due to persistence of visions, to see a complete image.