Abstract: An optical turning film has a first surface including an array of prisms. The array has a plurality of first prisms, with each of the first prisms having a first prism configuration, and a plurality of second prisms, with each of the second prisms having a second prism configuration different from the first prism configuration. The optical film also has a second surface opposing the first surface, and light rays incident to the first surface are directed by the plurality of first prism and the plurality of second prisms along a direction substantially parallel to a viewing axis.

Abstract: An optical pulse observing device enables the clear observation of indirect laser light of pulse laser light. The optical pulse observing device to be used by a user for observing pulse illumination light directly or indirectly, includes an optical shutter means that operates for alternate opening and closing in synchronism with periodic pulses of the pulse laser light so as to open only during the duration of pulses of the pulse laser light to pass pulse laser light and external light.

Abstract: A rod lens array having a structure in which a large number of rod lens elements are combined into one unit while the large number of rod lens elements are arrayed in a plurality of rows. The number N of lens rows and the degree m of overlapping of images are selected to satisfy the relation: {3(N−1)N/16}1/2<m≦{N(N+1)(28−N)/(9−N)}1/2/4 when m is equal to X0/D, in which D is the diameter of each lens, and X0 is the radius of a view field generated by each lens.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a digital micromirror device (16) disposed within a housing (11), the housing having an opening (13) which is sealed by a lid (17). The lid includes a metal frame (21), a radiation transmissive window element (41) supported in an opening (23) provided through the frame, and a chrome layer (42) provided on one side of the window element. The chrome layer has an aperture (43) through it, and the edge portion (61) of the chrome layer adjacent the aperture forms with respect to the window element an acute angle (62) which is larger than in pre-existing devices. A technique for forming this acute angle involves the use of a positive photoresist material (101).

Abstract: A beam splitter for a digital camera splits light passed through a photographing lens into beams directed to a CCD and a finder optical system. The beam splitter includes at least one optical element provided with a beam splitting surface that is inclined with respect to an optical axis of the photographing lens, and a multi-layer film including a plurality of layers of dielectric materials is formed on the beam splitting surface. The multi-layer film is configured such that the beam splitting surface exhibits a substantially constant reflectivity at least for visible light that is incident on the beam splitting surface at any incident angle within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A technique of setting powers and shape of beams to allow optical solitons to exist on WDM beams in fibers.

Abstract: An image receiving device for an X-ray detector including a carrier plate having at least one rounded corner, a sensor arranged on the carrier plate and having at least one side proximate the rounded corner, and signal lines extending from the side of the sensor proximate the rounded corner. The signal lines are connected to the carrier plate and define an acute angle with the side of the sensor proximate the rounded corner. The sensor is structured and arranged such that an image is receivable by an entire surface thereof.

Abstract: A backlit display device (118) for the automatic viewing of lenticular image cards (62) comprising an illumination source (56) which by design selectively illuminates individual images formed onto lenticular media. The display's illumination source (56) directs light through the lenticule side of the lenticular image card (62) in conformance to the card's viewing distance (54) and selected viewing angle (72) to sequentially illuminate each image in turn.

Abstract: A 3D shape measurement method and a device using the method eliminate harmful influences of periodic inconstancy in the phase shift method. Optical intensity patterns following periodic functions of sine waves are irradiated on an object while shifting the phases thereof. Based on the image picked up from the object, the 3D shape of the object is measured. In this method, a plurality of optical intensity patterns following periodic functions with varying wavelengths are projected onto the object so as not to interfere with each other. The least common multiple of the wavelengths of the periodic functions is larger than the extent having periodic inconstancy within the image pickup area.

Abstract: Photo-sensors, such as photo-diodes, are formed using regions with cross-sections that increase the overall quantum efficiency of the resulting photo-sensor. The cross-sections have additional (e.g., interior) side-wall interfaces, and, in some embodiments, an additional, relatively shallow bottom interface. The increased total side-wall area and any additional shallow bottom area increase the total photo-junction volume located near the surface of the device. As a result, a greater fraction of photons having relatively small absorption lengths (e.g., blue light) will be absorbed within a photo-junction, thereby increasing the quantum efficiency for those photons. The present invention enables photo-sensors to be implemented with more uniform spectral response.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a gas having distinct infrared radiation absorption characteristics. The apparatus includes a spectral source/bolometer for conducting an electrical current and for producing an infrared radiation. The source/bolometer is disposed along an axis and has a temperature and a characteristic resistance, and the characteristic resistance is a predetermined function of the temperature. A return reflector is disposed along the axis beyond the gas such that at least a portion of the infrared radiation passing through the gas is reflected back through the gas to the source/bolometer. The apparatus also includes a driver/detector for driving a current through the source/bolometer, for determining the characteristic resistance, and for detecting the gas from a variation of the characteristic resistance.

Abstract: A radiation image read out method and apparatus including stimulating a divalent europium activated cesium halide phosphor screen wherein the halide is at least one of chloride and bromide, that has been exposed to a radiation image, detecting light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation, and erasing the phosphor screen by exposing it to erasing light emitted by at least one laser source.

Abstract: An infrared camera with lower dissipation power, a wide range of operating environment temperature, and a shorter warmup is provided. The infrared camera includes a plurality of device operating-temperature setting circuits setting respective device operating temperatures different from one another, a device operating-temperature setting switch for selecting one of the output of the device operating-temperature setting circuits, and a temperature sensor, and performs imaging by switching the connection target of the device operating-temperature setting switch according to a measurement by the temperature sensor, that is to say, according to the temperature inside an enclosure and selecting an operating temperature for an imaging device among a plurality of device operating-temperature settings.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for communications networks. A method, includes deploying a communication link, at least a portion of which is protected against active equipment failure, that includes a splitter-combiner communicatively coupled between a data drop/add device and a headend. The systems and methods provide advantages because a communication network can be protected, at least in-part, against active equipment (e.g., data drop/add device) failure, passive equipment (e.g., optical fiber) failure, and/or equipped for non-intrusive expansion of the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reading a radiation image that has been stored in a photostimulable phosphor screen including a divalent europium activated cesium halide phosphor wherein the halide is at least one of chloride and bromide. The screen is scanned by a laser spot having a diameter which is less than 100 micrometer.

Abstract: A method for reading a radiation image that has been stored in a photostimulable phosphor screen. The phosphor screen includes a divalent europium activated cesium halide phosphor wherein the halide is at least one of chloride and bromide. Light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation is separated from stimulation light using a filter including a dye.

Abstract: A system for improving the resolution of nuclear medicine gamma cameras. A pixellated crystal scintillator is optically connected to position sensitive photomultiplier tubes. Photons incident on the crystal scintillator travel a distance through the crystal that is directly proportional to the energy level of the photon before converting to photoelectrons. The system uses this depth of interaction information to classify the received photons according to their energy levels. Images may then be displayed using information from only those photons that are within the selected energy class.

Abstract: A method for constructing a thin-film infrared photodetector includes providing a thin film including ferroelectric polymer, and applying at least one electrically conductive coating to the polymer so that the coating is nonuniform in surface conductivity to thereby provide an area of higher surface resistance connected to an output region by an area of lower surface resistance.

Abstract: To capture digital moving image information supplied from a digital VTR and to generate high quality still image data files, a programmable controller executes program instructions to determine whether an image capturing operation has been activated and to determine whether the extracted frame is valid/appropriate. If so, a header is appended, based on various video transmission standards such as NTSC or PAL, to the extracted frame data, thereby generating an image file. The frame data following this header is then recorded to the recording medium, such as a disk, for subsequent signal processing by the programmable controller.

Abstract: In an electronic still camera has a lens barrier, a mode switching instruction for switching a photography mode, in which an image signal representing an object image fetched by a photographic lens unit is output as a video signal by an image signal processing unit, and a reproduction mode, in which a reproduced signal processing unit is operated to supply the video signal to an LCD monitor, is issued on the basis of an output of a barrier switch to be turned on or off responsive to an opening or closing movement made by the lens barrier. Thus, a user-friendly electronic imaging apparatus enabling ready selection of the photography mode or reproduction mode can be provided.