Abstract: The invention relates to optical fiber communications. A multicore optical fiber comprises at least two light-guiding cores made of doped fused silica with refractive indices nc1, nc2, nck, each light-guiding core of the at least two light-guiding cores being surrounded by a respective arbitrarily shaped inner reflecting cladding made of fused silica or doped fused silica with refractive indices nc11, nc12, nclk, which are less than the refractive indices nc1, nc2, nck of respective light-guiding cores; a continuous or intermittent barrier region made of fused silica and having an arbitrary cross-sectional shape, the barrier region being formed in the space between the inner reflecting claddings and an outer cladding of fused silica with refractive index n0, the barrier region having refractive index nb, which is less than the refractive index of each of the inner reflecting claddings; and an external protective coating.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein which produce polarization-independent full color images suitable for rear-projection television sets and other multimedia displays. The system uses illumination with R, G, B light from two different light sources for each color. A viewer wears glasses with narrowband optical filters, preferably holographic filters. The R, G, B light from the light sources is slightly offset at each of the 3 emission wavelengths, with one set of R, G, B light being filtered by the holographic filter in front of the left eye of the, and the other set of R, G, B light being filtered by the holographic filter in front of the viewer's right eye.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described herein which produce polarization-independent full color images suitable for rear-projection television sets and other multimedia displays. The system uses illumination with R, G, B light from two different light sources for each color. A viewer wears glasses with narrowband optical filters, preferably holographic filters. The R, G, B light from the light sources is slightly offset at each of the 3 emission wavelengths, with one set of R, G, B light being filtered by the holographic filter in front of the left eye of the, and the other set of R, G, B light being filtered by the holographic filter in front of the viewer's right eye.

Abstract: The invention relates to light sources and displays incorporating blue laser pumped light sources that provide green light. According to a first aspect of the invention, a green light source includes a semiconductor diode laser emitting light in an optical path having a dominant wavelength within the blue spectral region, a substrate positioned in the optical path of the semiconductor diode laser, and a material coupled to the substrate. The material is selected to absorb light emitted by the semiconductor diode laser and, in response, to emit light having a dominant wavelength within the green spectral region. According to a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus includes a lighting module for a display, the lighting module includes an array of red laser light sources, an array of blue laser light sources, and an array of green light sources according to the first aspect of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to optical fiber communications. A multicore optical fiber comprises at least two light-guiding cores made of doped fused silica with refractive indices nc1, nc2, nck, each light-guiding core of the at least two light-guiding cores being surrounded by a respective arbitrarily shaped inner reflecting cladding made of fused silica or doped fused silica with refractive indices nc11, nc12, nclk, which are less than the refractive indices nc1, nc2, nck of respective light-guiding cores; a continuous or intermittent barrier region made of fused silica and having an arbitrary cross-sectional shape, the barrier region being formed in the space between the inner reflecting claddings and an outer cladding of fused silica with refractive index n0, the barrier region having refractive index nb, which is less than the refractive index of each of the inner reflecting claddings; and an external protective coating.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of an adapter for affixing useful articles upon a support system. A first article adapter is provided. In some devices, binoculars are outfitted with a connecting rod that the adapter can snap into. Other article adapters include a camera mount and a gun mount. A second support adapter can then be attached to a stand, such as a tripod, bipod, or monopod, or other support structure using known means.

Abstract: An amplifying optical fiber includes a core containing oxides of elements selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, phosphorus, bismuth, aluminum, gallium with a concentration of bismuth oxide of 10-4-5 mol %, a total concentration of silicon and germanium oxides of 70-99.8999 mol %, a total concentration of aluminum and gallium oxides of 0.1-20 mol % wherein both aluminum and gallium oxide are present and a ratio of aluminum oxide to gallium oxide is at least two, and a concentration of phosphorus oxide from 0 to 10 mol %, and provides a maximum optical gain at least 10 times greater than the nonresonant loss factor in the optical fiber. An outside oxide glass cladding comprises fused silica. The core has an absorption band in the 1000 nm region, pumping to which region provides an increased efficiency of power conversion of pump light into luminescence light in the 1000-1700 nm range.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a device for transferring the weight of an optical device to the body of the person using that optical device. In some devices, a support harness with shoulder straps is used to bear the weight of the optical device transferred by a support frame. The support frame may be temporarily attached to the optical device and/or support harness for easy assembly and disassembly. In some embodiments, the support harness is collapsible into a compact size.

Abstract: A portable field optics maintenance kit fit into the form of a cloth wallet. An easily portable compact wallet accessory to properly maintain and clean optics that are used in the field away from where most optics cleaning kits are stored.

Abstract: A flat panel display includes a backlight with a plurality of lasing elements. A light distributor distributes light from the lasing elements across the flat panel display. In edge-lit backlights, the light distributor may be a light guide. In direct-lit backlights, the light distributor may be one or more light diffusers that randomize the polarization of light. A polarization enhancement film increases the polarization of light from the light distributor by allowing light of a first polarization to pass through the film and reflecting light that is not of the first polarization back into the backlight. The light reflected back into the backlight is randomly re-polarized within the backlight. An array of light modulators arranged across the flat panel display modulates light emitted by the backlight.

Abstract: Laser lit flat panel displays are disclosed including edge-lit and direct lit backlights. In certain embodiments, laser assemblies are selected to obtain bandwidth distributions to reduce speckle.

Abstract: Laser lit flat panel displays are disclosed including edge-lit and direct lit backlights. In certain embodiments, laser assemblies are selected to obtain bandwidth distributions to reduce speckle.

Abstract: Laser lit flat panel displays are disclosed including edge-lit and direct lit backlights. In certain embodiments, laser assemblies are selected to obtain bandwidth distributions to reduce speckle.

Abstract: A flat panel display includes a backlight with a plurality of lasing elements. A light distributor distributes light from the lasing elements across the flat panel display. In edge-lit backlights, the light distributor may be a light guide. In direct-lit backlights, the light distributor may be one or more light diffusers that randomize the polarization of light. A polarization enhancement film increases the polarization of light from the light distributor by allowing light of a first polarization to pass through the film and reflecting light that is not of the first polarization back into the backlight. The light reflected back into the backlight is randomly re-polarized within the backlight. An array of light modulators arranged across the flat panel display modulates light emitted by the backlight.

Abstract: The invention relates to light sources and displays incorporating blue laser pumped light sources that provide green light. According to a first aspect of the invention, a green light source includes a semiconductor diode laser emitting light in an optical path having a dominant wavelength within the blue spectral region, a substrate positioned in the optical path of the semiconductor diode laser, and a material coupled to the substrate. The material is selected to absorb light emitted by the semiconductor diode laser and, in response, to emit light having a dominant wavelength within the green spectral region. According to a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus includes a lighting module for a display, the lighting module includes an array of red laser light sources, an array of blue laser light sources, and an array of green light sources according to the first aspect of the invention.

Abstract: An optical system for a confocal microscope comprising: an illumination pattern (1) irradiating an object (6) with light rays reflected thereby, a beam splitter (2) for passing the light rays from the illumination pattern (1) in the direction of the object (6) and for deflecting the light rays reflected by the object (6) in a focal plane (7) in the direction of a detector (3) for detecting an image of the object (6), and a (4, 5, 8) between the beam splitter (2) and the object (6), at least one lens of the lens assembly (4, 5, 8) being arranged movable for shifting the focal plane (7) at the object (6), is configured such that at least one lens of the lens assembly (4, 5, 8) is an aspherical lens and the movable lens (4) of the lens assembly (4, 5, 8) is located distal from the object (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to lasers and fiber optics. An amplifying optical fiber operating at a wavelength in the range of 1000-1700 nm comprises an oxide glass core to provide amplification and at least one oxide glass cladding. According to the invention the core contains oxides of elements selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, phosphorus, bismuth, aluminum, gallium at concentration of bismuth oxide of 10-4-5 mol %, concentration of silicon and germanium oxides, taken together or separately, of 70-99.8999 mol %, concentration of aluminum and gallium oxides, taken together or separately, of 0.1-20 mol % concentration of phosphorus oxide from 0 to 10 mol %, and provides a maximum optical gain at least 10 times greater than the nonresonant loss factor in the optical fiber. An outside oxide glass cladding comprises fused silica.

Abstract: Laser lit flat panel displays are disclosed including edge-lit and direct lit backlights. In certain embodiments, laser assemblies are selected to obtain bandwidth distributions to reduce speckle.

Abstract: Laser lit flat panel displays are disclosed including edge-lit and direct lit backlights. In certain embodiments, laser assemblies are selected to obtain bandwidth distributions to reduce speckle.