Patents Examined by R. D. Shafer
  • Patent number: 5280388
    Abstract: A phase grating optical low-pass filter having wavelength selectivity consisting of a plurality of layers which are the same in refractive index at a certain wavelength and different from one another in refractive index dispersion, and has a configuration for generating a phase difference at a boundary of the layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Okayama, Syusuke Ono
  • Patent number: 5276545
    Abstract: A mirror alignment and damping device (10) maintains orthogonality between the fixed mirror and the moving mirror in an interferometric spectrometer. The device (10) includes electromagnetic motion imparting units (32, 34, 36, and 38) which have electromagnetic coils (40) and threadedly adjustable pole pieces (44). The electromagnetic motion imparting units (32, 24, 26, and 38) are preferably arranged along perpendicular axes along a base (12) in order to enable independent orthogonal tilting of the mirror (26). Each voice coil consists of a wound wire coil (40) immersed in an annular magnetic field created by permanent magnets (42) which are mounted on a mirror support (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Nicolet Instrument Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Daun, Robert R. Badeau, Jack G. Kisslinger
  • Patent number: 5274505
    Abstract: An improved electrical remote-control mirror assembly in which a externally threaded plunger (54) installed to a mirror body (3) is moved by a motor (102) to adjust the support angle of a mirror (4) secured to the mirror body. In addition to the drive system using the motor (102), another motor (103) is provided which operates independently of the motor (102) to quickly rotate the externally threaded plunger (52) forwardly and reversely. Thus, the mirror assembly according to the present invention is imparted the conventional function to adjust the mirror angle and a function to quickly tilt the mirror by means of the independent driving means. The above-mentioned independently driving means permits to quickly tilt down the mirror body for viewing the reflected image of the car rear wheel and also to quickly return the mirror body (3) to the initial position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshirou Nagayama, Takao Sekino
  • Patent number: 5274491
    Abstract: A dynamic laser diode aperture for collimating light from a laser diode within an optical scanner which increases the power of the beam to a predetermined maximum. The optical scanner includes a motor having a hollow circular shaft through which the light passes. A lens member focuses the light, and the dynamic aperture, located within a cap member within an end of the motor shaft closest to the laser, collimates the focused light. The dynamic aperture approximates the shape of the unfocused light pattern from the laser diode. In the preferred embodiment, the dynamic aperture is generally rectangular in shape and rotates with the motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Donald A. Collins, Jr., Charles K. Wike, Jr., Stephen J. Ames
  • Patent number: 5270871
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an athletic skill practice mirror which is light weight and relatively portable. The mirror can have an alignment image whereby a participant can stand in front of the practice mirror and compare his reflective image with that of the alignment image to detect and correct improper body alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Inventor: Raymond J. Florian
  • Patent number: 5268797
    Abstract: A rearview mirror apparatus for a motor vehicle, includes a mounting piece attachable to the motor vehicle; a prismatic body consisting of an intermediary part pivotally connectable to the mounting piece and a holder having an anterior opening; and a mirror element mounted in the anterior opening of the holder. The holder is symmetric relative to a longitudinal horizontal "X" axis thereof and has two bases projecting from one side thereof and the bases are positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of the "X" axis. The intermediary part has two corresponding projecting end pieces positioned to engage the two bases when the holder engages the intermediary part. The bases each have a mounting hole and one of the projecting end pieces has a threaded hole positioned so that, when the holder is engaged with the intermediary part, the holder can be secured to the intermediary part by a fixing screw engaged in the threaded hole and one of the holes of the bases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Metagal Industria e Comercio Ltda.
    Inventor: Antonio F. do E. Santo
  • Patent number: 5268790
    Abstract: A zoom lens (10) has a first lens group (12), a second lens group (14) and a third lens group (16). The first lens group relays an outside scene to an intermediate plane. The second lens group varies magnification of the relayed image from the first lens group. Also, the second lens group includes at least one diffractive optical element. The third lens group compensates for focus shift and focuses the wavefront onto the viewing plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Chungte W. Chen
  • Patent number: 5267091
    Abstract: A levitating support and positioning system (10) is provided for orienting an electromagnetic energy reflecting assembly (40). System (10) includes a reflective member (60) supported by an annular ring (50) having a plurality of superconductors (70) disposed thereon. Ring (50) is levitated above a base surface (20) by means of a plurality of electromagnetic assemblies (30), each of the electromagnetic assemblies (30) corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of superconductive elements (70), whereby the magnetic fields generated by the electromagnetic assemblies (30) are repelled by the respective superconductive elements. The orientation of the support ring (50), and the reflector therewith, is adjusted by changing the relative magnetic field strength between each of the electromagnetic assemblies (30), allowing the reflector to be directed in both elevation and azimuth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Computer Sciences Corporation
    Inventor: Peter C. Chen
  • Patent number: 5267077
    Abstract: A spherical multicomponent optical isolator having a first spherical segment lensing region, including a base, a second spherical segment lensing region, including a base, a first polarizer attached to the base of the first segment lensing region, a second polarizer attached to the base of the second spherical segment lensing region and A Faraday rotator disposed between the first and second polarizers, wherein the combination of the first and second spherical segments, the first and second polarizers and the Faraday rotator forms the spherical optical isolator having a spherical outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Greg E. Blonder
  • Patent number: 5267081
    Abstract: A rearview mirror suitable for vehicles, especially motor vehicles, is composed of a transparent substrate, preferably of soda silica glass and a rear reflection coating comprising a metal mirror layer, preferably chromium, and a dielectric triple interference layer system placed between the metal mirror layer and the transparent substrate. The triple interference layer system comprises, in contact with the metal layer, a dielectric layer having a high refractive index, e.g., titanium dioxide, a next layer having a low refractive index, e.g., silicon dioxide, and next a dielectric layer having a medium refractive index, e.g., a mixed TiO.sub.2 and SiO.sub.2 layer. With the selection of suitable layer thicknesses, a total reflection of at least 40% and a blue reflection tint, independent of the viewing angle, are attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Deutsche Spezialglas AG
    Inventor: Andreas Pein
  • Patent number: 5262879
    Abstract: A method for converting a 2-D image into a hologram is set forth. An optical scanner system which measures the primary color intensity of a selected pixel and forms an indication thereof is disclosed. The location of the pixel is output as XY coordinate data. The location and color data is stored in memory, and the memory is thereafter retrieved. A pixel is located on a blank, and a laser beam split into four equal segments is focused along four separate pathways to the pixel location. Interference fringes formed at the point of convergence on the blank enables transfer of a single pixel, and multiple pixels are transferred so that the entire image is reproduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Dimensional Arts. Inc.
    Inventor: Frank S. Davis
  • Patent number: 5262892
    Abstract: In an optical isolator, first, second and third birefringent crystals shaped in a flat plate are arranged in order in a forward direction in which a light beam advances and formed in ratios 1:1:1 in thickness. One magneto-optical member is interposed between the first and second birefringent crystals and another magneto-optical member may be arbitrarily disposed between the second and third birefringent crystals. Since the birefringent crystals are equal in thickness, the optical isolator can be readily produced with a high accuracy without much labor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Shinkosha
    Inventor: Noriyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5258363
    Abstract: A high efficiency integrating sphere that can be used in a large variety of scientific instruments. The sphere having an efficiency gain obtained by using a superconducting material, acting as a perfect reflector, on the inside hollow surface of the sphere. The sphere is operated with a delay between the incident and sensed light, heretofore not possible, and yielding substantial improvement in the signal-to noise ratio of the integrating sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Troy Investments Inc.
    Inventor: Aharon Z. Hed
  • Patent number: 5257128
    Abstract: This invention relates to a microscope stage assembly for use in combination with magnification apparatus. The stage assembly includes a support assembly, temperature control assembly and fluid control assembly. The stage assembly provides for continuous visual observation of an object being magnified while at the same time controlling the thermal and fluid environment of the object. Physical and chemical changes to an object can be viewed continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Diller, Douglas B. Walcerz
  • Patent number: 5255024
    Abstract: The eyedrop alignment glasses have a slot in the lenses thereof. Over each slot is provided a pivotable slide member having a bore therein which aligns with the slot. The tip of a dropper is engaged within the bore, with the slide being movable to center the tip over the user's eyeball. Further, the glasses are adjustable in distance from the user's eyeball to accommodate dropper tips of varying length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Inventor: Charles W. Jensen
  • Patent number: 5253115
    Abstract: A rearview mirror with an operating condition display to be positioned in front of a driver's seat within the passenger cabin of a vehicle is composed of an operating display provided with an operating condition display portion visible through the windshield by illumination of preselected portions thereof and a rearview mirror which is capable of being adjusted to a predetermined angle of use with respect to the operating condition display construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Inventor: Yasushi Ueno
  • Patent number: 5251058
    Abstract: In a raster output scanner, a system for using one original beam and one facet of a rotating polygon to generate a scan line which can be turned on to have three levels of intensity. The original beam is first separated into two beams in a beam splitter. The resultant beams are polarized ninety degrees apart, and directed to the modulator. The beams are a sufficient distance apart so that the A/O modulator can modulate each beam with a minimum of crosstalk. The output beams are then brought together and combined into one beam without optical interference because the beams are polarized ninety degrees apart. The beam can have several levels of intensity and be used to create several levels of gray scale at the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas D. MacArthur
  • Patent number: 5251057
    Abstract: In a raster output scanner, a system for using one original beam and one facet of a rotating polygon to generate two consecutive scan lines. The original beam is first separated into two beams in a beam splitter. The resultant beams are polarized ninety degrees apart, and directed to the modulator. The beams are a sufficient distance apart so that the A/O modulator can modulate each beam with a minimum of crosstalk. The output beams are then brought together to within one scan line separation by a beam recombiner, which is a reversed beam splitter. The beams can be brought together to this close proximity without optical interference because the beams are plarized ninety degrees apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Guerin, Melvin E. Swanberg
  • Patent number: 5245474
    Abstract: The optical filter device comprises a stack of thin layers exhibiting a sequences h and g which defines a fractal organization. This device makes it possible to obtain spectrum lines which are extremely fine and very well resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale d'Electricite
    Inventors: Genevieve Chabassier, Jean-Michael Gabriagues, Frederic Heliodore, Alain Le Mehaute, Jacques Mouchart, Philippe Sautet
  • Patent number: 5245480
    Abstract: Disclosed is an outside rearview mirror for a vehicle which has a mirror base adapted to be mounted to a car body, and a mirror housing mounted to a support plate. The support plate is fastened foldably to the mirror base by a joint. The mirror housing has the form of a frame surrounding a mirror glass which is mounted by an adjustment device to the rearward face of the support plate. A cap is detachably clamped to the front face of the support plate and continues the outer contour of the mirror housing. Thereby the transfer of vibrations from the mirror housing to the mirror glass is cut down to a minimum and shifted to a frequency range which does not influence the perception of the image the mirror glass is presenting to the driver of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Hohe KG
    Inventor: Herwig Polzer