Abstract: A microscope body is adapted to compensate for the deliberately introduced 0.6 percent lateral color of an infinity corrected microscope objective. This compensation of the lateral color by the microscope body is done without introducing objectionable axial color aberration. The microscope body is typically a trinocular body which provides an image to binocular eyepieces for observation by a user or alternatively to both the eyepieces and to a focal plane of a camera.

Abstract: The disclosure hereof calls for the shearing of a thin film dispersion of magnetic particles. Magnetic fields, selectively perpendicular to the plane of shear or the direction of shear, control the degree of clumping experienced by the dispersion particles.

Abstract: An oblique observation attachment for use in conjunction with a microscope comprising a repositionable planar mirror and a plano-elliptical mirror; or a second planar mirror incorporated into an elliptical track follower in a predetermined configuration operable in a three axis cartesian coordinate system to provide hands-free, fixed focus, optical inspection of populated planar subjects on an X-Y oriented stage such as the soldered joints of hybrid micro-electronic circuits or printed circuit wiring boards.

Abstract: Magneto-optical printing head for generating a grey-scale image on a recording substrate has a magneto-optical light-switching mask with light-switching elements which are switched thermomagnetically by the simultaneous positive or negative effect of heat pulses selectively generated from thin-film resistors applied to the light-switching elements. A magnetic field is applied to a coil between two possible states with in each case the direction of magnetization either parallel or antiparallel to the surface normals, whereby individual time control of the light-switching elements in n possible steps is effected by the single switching of all light-switching elements into the (first) starting state by the action of the positive magnetic field generated by the coil and subsequent switching into the second state by means of a second static magnetic field whose direction is opposite to that of the magnetic field of the coil, and by the action of heat pulses of n-1 point in time.

Abstract: A photometer for use with a microscope having an object plane an image plane and an optical axis between said planes. The photometer includes an optical dividing means adapted to be disposed in the optical axis between the microscope object and image planes, and a reflective element having a reflecting surface. A pin hole occluder is adapted to be arranged on the opposite side of the optical dividing means to the reflective element. An optical imaging device provides an image of the pin hole occluder on the reflecting surface. A semi-reflective element is provided for reflecting light from the light source to the optical dividing means. A detector is arranged in an optical axis including the semi-reflective element, the pin hole occluder, the optical dividing means, the optical imaging device and reflective element.

Abstract: A positioning mechanism for positioning an auxiliary optical device relative to a main optical device, and the auxiliary optical device. Thje positioning mechanism includes a positioning member and a positioning recess which are provided on one and the other of the main and auxiliary optical devices, respectively so as to be engaged with each other with a clearance. Each of the positioning member and the positioning recess includes a leding side face portion and a trailing side face portion being opposite to and in alignment with the leading side face portion in a direction of relative movement of the main and auxiliary optical devices. The trailing side face portions of the positioning member and the positioning recess have a configuration which allows the trailing side face portions not to contact with each other when the relative movement is effected at a speed faster than a predetermined speed.

Abstract: A polarization rotation compensator and an optical isolator using the same are described. The optical isolator comprises a first birefringent wedge plate; a polarization rotation compensator composed of a combination of a half-wave plate whose principal axis is inclined at an angle of .theta./2 with respect to the plane of polarization of the incident light and a quarter-wave plate whose principal axis is inclined at an angle of .theta. with respect to the plane of polarization of the incident light; a Faraday rotator; and a second birefringent wedge plate; wherein the Faraday rotator, quarter wavelength plate, and half-wavelength plate are respectively arranged in the order of propagation of the backward light or of the forward light.

Abstract: A drive coupling device for transmitting a rotational drive force from an optical instrument such as a camera body to another optical instrument such as an exchangeable lens has a construction which couples driving and driven coupling members steadily while centerizing the center axes of the driving and driven coupling members for efficient drive force transmission. A flat male engaging portion having a top surface and parallel side walls is formed on the driving coupling member while a slotted female engaging portion having a concave bottom wall and parallel side walls is formed on the driven coupling member. With the optical instruments connected to each other, the male engaging portion is brought into engagement with the female engaging portion under a force of a spring.

Abstract: A linear light valve array having transversely driven, discretely addressable, electro-optic gates which selectively change the polarization of incident light is disclosed. The array has a plurality of spaced gates. Each gate includes a planar light receiving top surface which receives incident polarized light, and first and second spaced parallel electrode receiving surfaces that are arranged substantially normal to the top receiving surface. Discretely addressable electrodes are formed on such receiving surfaces. In response to an applied voltage, the electrodes of a gate establish a transverse electric field which changes the plane of polarization of light passing through the gate and substrate. In another aspect of this invention, a method of making such a linear light valve array is disclosed. In accordance with this method, a strip of photoresist material is formed on a wafer of electro-optic material. Grooves are then cut in the wafer on each side of the strip.

Abstract: A high temperature microscope having an optical system and a chamber system is disclosed. Frictional rotation of the peep window provided in the chamber system is caused together with frictional rotation of a first flange, in which the peep window is provided, and a second flange, which surrounds the first flange and is surrounded by a stationary third flange. It is thus possible to greatly delay the limit of the period, during which observation of the object can be made, due to fogging of the peep window. Double wall sealing ring members are provided between the first and second flanges and between the second and third flanges of the chamber of the high temperature microscope. The space between the double wall sealings can be evacuated through an inverted T-shaped ventilation hole provided in the second flange. Thus, the chamber can be evacuated to a superhigh vacuum higher than the vacuum degree obtainable in the chamber of the prior art high temperature microscope.

Abstract: An acousto-optic tunable filter configuration and a method for the operation thereof, whereby the tuning range is extended. A non-collinear acousto-optic tunable filter crystal has a first transducer bonded to one transducer face of the crystal and a single transducer bonded on the opposite crystal face which crystal face is cut so as to be parallel to the first transducer. The first transducer operates at a center frequency f.sub.1 and the second transducer operates at a center frequency f.sub.2. By launching acoustic waves having a center frequency f.sub.1 into the crystal from the crystal's first side acoustic waves propagate in a first direction such that the interaction of the acoustic wave with the light results in the absorption of a phonon. Acoustic waves having a center frequency f.sub.

Abstract: A stereoscopic microscope has an objective opposed to an object to be examined, having its optic axis in a horizontal plane and projecting a parallel light beam, a pair of imaging optical systems for right and left eyes disposed rearwardly of the objective, a pair of optical devices having an even number of reflecting surfaces inclining the optic axes of the imaging optical systems so as to provide a predetermined angle of depression and a predetermined convergence angle, an erector rotatable about the optic axes inclined by the optical devices for the adjustment of the eye width, and a pair of eyepieces for enlarging and observing the image of the object to be examined therethrough.

Abstract: An electrochromic display device is disclosed which utilizes a display substrate having a transparent substrate and a display electrode formed on the substrate which is to be displayed by an electrochromic material. A counter substrate is provided with a counter electrode which faces the display electrode and is spaced therefrom. An electrolyte is provided in the space between the display electrode and the counter electrode. The device is structured such that the counter substrate has through-holes as well as a conductive material which extends through each of the through-holes and is in direct contact with a transparent electrode on the display substrate so that the transparent electrode of the substrate is conductively connected to the electrode on the rear side of the counter substrate.

Abstract: An instrument includes a main housing, carrying laterally adjustable eyepieces, and a probe housing which is connected to the main housing by means of a flexible joint or coupler. This flexible joint allows relative articulation and rotation of the two housings, and is provided with locking means for selectively locking and unlocking the joint. The joint area is enclosed with a liquid sealing boot; and operating levers for the lock may be actuated through the boot. The optics include left and right proximal lens systems disposed in respective eyepieces, distal left and right lens systems disposed at the distal end of the probe housing, and inter-connecting elongated flexible image conducting fiber bundles which pass through the flexible coupling. The distal lens systems are mounted with their optical axes converging toward each other to enable depth perception of the area to be viewed.

Abstract: An optical logic element in which energy absorption is approximately constant is described.

Abstract: An unpolarized light beam is split into two orthogonal polarized beams. Each polarized beam is attenuated by passing it through the sequence of a first polarization rotator, an analyzer, and a second polarization rotator. The attenuated beams are combined to yield a beam with the desired type or space-orientation of polarization.

Abstract: A device, such as a flashlight, spotlight, or reading light, for emitting an incident beam of light wherein the intensity and color of an incident beam of light emitted from the device can be manually modulated or adjusted. The device utilizes a variable density filter system which is manually adjustable and which incorporates a pair of optical linear polarizing filters or lenses which are mounted so that the emitted beam of light must pass through the polarizing filters. The filter system is adapted to produce at one extreme a high transmittance value when the axes of the polarizing filters are parallel. At the opposite extreme a very high extinction density is achieved when the axes of the polarizing filters are oriented so as to be essentially normal or perpendicular with each other. Varying optical densities are produced at settings between these two extremes.

Abstract: A microscope includes a generally L-shaped motion box and an optical support located on a horizontal leg of the motion box. A binocular tube is fixed to the optical support. An objective changer is guided in the horizontal leg of the motion box and supports a first objective for stereoscopic observation and a second objective. The second objective is the objective of a conventional microscope. A beam splitter connected directly downstream of the second objective distributes the incident light into the two observation channels of the microscope. With this stereomicroscope, a single manipulation switches from normal stereoscopic observation to binocular observation with much greater magnification.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system comprising a semiconductor laser and an optical instrument collimating the laser light. In accordance with the invention, the semiconductor laser and the optical instrument are accommodated in separate holders which are adjusted relative to one another in such a way that a criterion relating to the laser light is optimally fulfilled. After completion of the adjustment, the two holders, both forming the external housing of the entire system, are joined to one another.

Abstract: An improved sensor magnifying glass apparatus having a magnifying glass element (1) held in a holder element (4) and comprising a cylindrical portion (2) with a superposed convex curved lens portion (3) that is rotationally symmetrical with the cylinder axis (19). A plotter coil (11) is secured to the cylindrical portion (2) in the region between that portion's circumferential face and the course of a peripheral light ray (20') through the cylindrical portion (2) that enters the lens portion (3).