Abstract: A lens control device for an inner focus lens system has a first lens group for zooming; a second lens group for focusing; a first zooming unit for controlling the second lens group for correcting the displacement of the focal plane resulting from the movement of the first lens group; a memory for memorizing the relative position of the second lens group to the first lens group in a zooming operation by the first zooming unit; a calculation unit for calculating the moving speed of the second lens group based on the memorized data, in order to maintain the focused in the course of movement of the first lens group; and a second zooming unit for controlling the second lens group according to the result of calculation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for driving a lens, having first and second movable lens groups movable along an optic-axis direction, a crank member for moving the first and second movable lens groups along the optic-axis direction in a predetermined mutual relationship, a first moving member for moving the first movable lens group along the optic-axis direction by a force received from the crank member, a second moving member for moving the second movable lens group along the optic-axis direction by the force received by the crank member and a compensating device, disposed between the second movable lens group and the second moving member, for compensating a deviation quantity of the second movable lens group from a predetermined moving quantity.

Abstract: A traffic signal light comprises an array of light-emitting diodes for producing respective light rays, and an array of lenses for propagating light rays from the light-emitting diodes toward a plurality of predetermined, distinct spatial points. The lenses are each associated with a corresponding one of the light-emitting diodes, and each lens comprises a solid body of light-propagating material defining a light-refracting surface through which the light rays from the corresponding light-emitting diode propagate. The light-refracting surface is divided into distinct light-refracting surface sections each associated to a corresponding one of the spatial points. The light-refracting surface sections have different configurations in view of deviating the light rays propagating therethrough toward the associated spatial points, respectively. Therefore, at each spatial point add the light rays deviated by the associated light-refracting surface sections of the different lenses.

Abstract: A zoom lens assembly includes a stationary lens barrel and a rotatable cam ring which is supported on the stationary lens barrel for movement in the direction of the optical axis while being rotated, and which includes at least two cam grooves. The zoom lens include first and third lens groups which are both moveable by one of the two cam grooves in the direction of the optical axis. A second lens group movable, by a second of the two cam grooves in the direction of the optical axis is also provided, as well as a focusing mechanism, for moving the second lens group to a position which is determined by focal length data derived from actual positions of the first, second, and third lens groups and object distance data detected by an object distance measuring device. A method of controlling focusing of the zoom lens includes correcting an amount of deviation from focus caused by a zooming operation, by moving the focusing lens group.

Abstract: The invention makes available an electrochromic right valve (1) with an active electrochromic layer (2) and a passive electrochromic layer (3). Between the two electrochromic layers is an electrolyte (4). Each of the electrochromic layers is connected to an associated electrode (5, 6). The active electrochromic layer can accept electrons from its electrodes and ions of a particular element from the electrolyte to become reversibly colored. The passive electrochromic layer acts as a reservoir for ions of the species concerned, donating such ions to and accepting them from the electrolyte. At the operating temperature of the electrochromic light valve, the passive layer is super-saturated with the element which provides the ions of the species concerned. The invention also covers a method of manufacturing the electrochromic light valve and uses of the valve.

Abstract: An optical apparatus, for correcting deviations from straightness of an array of laser emitters in generally aligned positions along an array direction, includes a plurality of mirrors along the light beam paths and positioned to reflect its associated light beam along a folded light beam path. Individual mirrors are selectively displaced along its associated light beam path in a direction so as to align the reflected light beams from all of the plurality of mirrors along the folded light beam path, thereby to correct for any deviation of a laser emitter from the straight, array direction line of the laser emitters. According to a preferred embodiment, a plurality of lenslets having power in at least the array direction are positioned in the light beam paths between the laser emitters and the mirrors such that each lenslet receives the light from an associated laser emitter in the array.

Abstract: Optimal winding techniques usable in various information processors are handled. An opto-electric integrated circuit is provided which is excellent in productivity and alignment for free space interconnection.A three-dimensional opto-electric integrated circuit includes an active element substrate having a two-dimensional plane on which a plurality of active elements is disposed, and a passive element formed separately from the two-dimensional plane. The passive element includes a plurality of lenses disposed in correspondence to the plurality of active elements and a plurality of recursive reflectors for performing an optical path separating operation and an optical turning-back reflective operation to allow rays of light from the active elements to sequentially pass through the lenses and to propagate through the active elements, whereby the propagation of rays of light through a free space is used to optically interconnect the active elements one to the other.

Abstract: Generally and in one form of the invention this is a periodic surface filter comprising at least one element at a surface of the filter and electronic controls to change the optical characteristics of the element. The surface filter is used as a switchable filter in a cavity for a Q-switch.

Abstract: An optical splitter arrangement is provided for accepting a light from at least one input and providing multiple light outputs of four or more, a light intensity of the outputs differing from one another no more than two dB, and a light intensity of the cumulative outputs differing no more than three dB from the light intensity of the input.

Abstract: Optical systems are disclosed which are capable of generating and rapidly changing time delays of electrical signals for true time delay beam formation and beam steering and for signal processing applications. The systems utilize an interferometer configuration. A first optical modulator in a first leg of the interferometer is used to modulate coherent light with the signal to be delayed. In a second leg of the interferometer, a second optical modulator provides beam steering to a prism stack, which produces a set of plane reference waves having a range of orientations required to generate a desired range of time delays. Preferably the optical modulators are acousto optic Bragg cells. Alternatively, a stack of lens pairs or diffractive optical elements or a holographic optic element may be used in place of the prism stack. The modulated optical signal from the first leg interferes on an array of photodiodes with the reference waves from the second leg.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical modulator includes an active region including a multi quantum well structure. Thereby, it is possible to absorb laser light having two polarization wave modes to a high degree as well as increase the number of quantum wells without fracturing the crystal, thereby providing a modulator having no polarization plane dependency and an increased extinction ratio. Further, a plurality of electrodes, each having an aperture, are provided at an upper surface and an electrode having the same number of apertures as on the upper surface is provided at a lower surface opposite the other electrodes. Multiple laser light beams incident from the apertures at the upper surface are respectively modulated and output from the apertures at the opposing lower surface. Therefore, in the active region, laser light beams including both TE and TM modes are absorbed or transmitted by the modulator without dependency on their respective polarization planes.

Abstract: A magneto-optic element is employed to create an optical attenuator, an optical modulator and a magnetic field strength sensor. The magneto-optic element exhibits a multiple domain structure in a state where no magnetic field is applied, wherein magnetization components in adjacent domains of the element along a direction in which a light beam travels are different from one another. The optical attenuator further includes apparatus for applying a magnetic field of variable strength to the magneto-optic element. The optical modulator further includes apparatus for applying a modulated magnetic field to the magneto-optic element. The magnetic field strength sensor operates by placing the magneto-optic element in the vicinity of an object to be measured. A light beam is directed from an input optical fiber onto the magneto-optic element and the element diffracts the light beam. A portion of the light beam exiting the element impinges on a reflector and is received by a second optical fiber.

Abstract: A field glass having means for alternatively observing additional information, an information carrier or an information deflecting means being disposed in the beam path, the information carrier or information deflecting means being disposed within the housing of the field glass and adapted to be brought into and out of the beam path between the objective and eyepiece.

Abstract: Generally and in one form of the invention this is a periodic surface filter comprising at least one element at a surface of the filter and electronic controls to change the optical characteristics of the element. The surface filter comprising and electronically tunable electro-optic material to alter the resonant frequency of the element.

Abstract: Generally and in one form of the invention this is a periodic surface filter comprising at least one element at a surface of the filter and electronic controls to change the optical characteristics of the element. Other methods and devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A zoom lens system using inexpensive plastic lens materials and having a good aberration performance and good optical performance includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power and a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group being variable during zooming, wherein 37<(F.sub.I .multidot.f.sub.bT /D.sub.T .multidot.f.sub.bW)<48; and 2.5<D.sub.T /N.sub.nI <3.5 where f.sub.I is focal length of the first lens group, f.sub.bT is back focus distance at a telephoto position, f.sub.bW is back focus distance at a wide angle position, D.sub.T is distance between the first lens group and the second lens group at a telephoto position, and N.sub.nI is refractive ratio of the lens having a negative refractive power in the first lens group.

Abstract: An electro-optical system such as an image display system and a method of displaying images are described. Laser beams of three primary colors are emitted from three lasers in a time sharing mode. These laser beams are directed onto the same optical path and then separately given optical information from the same optical modulating device in accordance with images of the respective primary colors. By this structure, displacement of constituent color images can be effectively avoided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electro-optical element and its manufacturing method ideal for use in defect inspection devices for liquid crystal display substrates used in liquid crystal display panels. The electro-optical element of this invention possesses an electro-optical element, dielectric reflective film, transparent electrode, and transparent supporting substrate. These are united together by adhering the dielectric reflective film and transparent electrode edge to the electro-optical element. The electro-optical element is manufactured by consecutively affixing the transparent sheet with the transparent electrode, the electro-optical element, and transparent film with the dielectric reflective film to the transparent supporting substrate.

Abstract: A rearview mirror system for a vehicle having an electrochromic reflective element and heating means for uniformly heating substantially the entire reflectance surface in order to promote uniform coloration of the reflectance surface to a desired reflectance level. The reflective element is illustrated as an all solid-state electrochromic element having a large area reflectance surface for use as the exterior mirrors of a truck or other large vehicle. The application of energy to the heater can be controlled on the basis of a low ambient light condition and an ambient temperature that is low but not necessarily freezing, such as between 5.degree. C. and 20.degree. C. The heater can be resistance film that is evenly covering a surface of the reflective element and divided into first and second regions by an insulating break in the resistance film. Energy may be applied to one region in order to heat the reflectance element at a high rate to remove frost and dew.

Abstract: A compact image display system in which the optical pathway is folded and thereby extended between the image source and the imaging optics of the system. The image display system may be used in place of computer or television screens, and may further be affixed to a frame so that it is wearable by a human user as either a monocular or binocular device.