Abstract: The invention concerns a vehicle headlight, comprising a two-dimensional array (2) of a plurality of electronic light emitter elements (4), which are arranged for emitting a plurality of parallel light beams (6), a collection lens (8), which is provided one focal length away essentially parallel to the two-dimensional array and positioned for receiving the light emitted by the array, and a control electronic for the light emitter elements operatively associated for energizing the light emitter elements (4) individually or in groups. This results in a headlight with variable light emission characteristics, which is mechanically particularly simple to construct, is operationally reliable, and is rapid to react.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for improving visibility in a vehicle, especially in darkness, bad weather and fog, including one or more laser headlights radiating laser light of a wavelength outside the visible spectrum into a predetermined solid angle area ahead of the vehicle, a camera which is sensitive outside the visible spectrum and used for taking images of current traffic scenes, as well as an optical display system in the vehicle for reproducing the captured images in the visible spectrum. According to the present invention, provision is made for at least two different types of laser headlights which each illuminate different parts of the solid angle area to be observed to produce an angle-dependent radiation pattern of the laser light in a simple manner.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for improving the view in vehicles, in particular at night, poor weather and fog, in which laser light is emitted at a wavelength outside the visible spectrum in a predetermined angular range, which is being observed with a camera, of which the images are provided to the vehicle operator. The laser light is emitted essentially continuously only when the headlights of the vehicle are in operation and/or when the vehicle is in motion. In this manner the vision of other traffic participants is ensured in a particularly simple manner.

Abstract: A device for vehicle lighting includes a deviating prism which deflects a light beam by approximately 180 degrees from a direction of incidence in which the light beam is emitted by a light source. A reflector is also provided which deflects the light beam so that the light beam is emitted substantially transversely to the direction of incidence.

Abstract: A vision-enhancing device for a motor vehicle has an image-recording device, an image-processing device and an image-display device, the image-processing device is configured to assign display color values for display by the image-display device to the input color values recorded by the image-recording device, certain display color values being provided for each input color value as a function of the environmental conditions.

Abstract: Poor visibility at night is a stressful and dangerous situation, dreaded by many drivers. The frequency of accidents is decidedly higher at night as a result of poor visibility, compared with driving during the day and with good visibility. An improvement of visibility at night is achieved by using systems which, in addition to the normal headlights, have two “laser headlights” which use laser diodes emitting in the near infrared range as a light source. In order to minimize the space requirement for the laser headlights in addition to the normal headlights, a device is described in which, in an inventive way, the light beam used for lighting is deflected by a deviating prism and a reflector. It is conceivable to design the device such that the reflector emits the light beam in a direction which is rotated by approximately 90 degrees with respect to the direction of incidence of the light beam into the deviating prism.

Abstract: A system for improving the visibility in vehicles, including the following: an illumination optical system (2) for continuous radiation of infrared pulsed light; an associated receiver optical system (3) for receiving reflected components of the radiated light; a display (4) for representing information obtained by the receiver optical system (3), and a device (5, 6) for determining the presence of glare in the receiver optical system (3) from a foreign vehicle illumination optical system and for changing the keying interval or duty cycle of the infrared pulsed light of the illumination optical system (2) driven with fixed keying interval in dependence upon the vehicle direction of travel in such a manner that the glare is eliminated. Therein the illumination optical system is driven is driven with a fixed keying interval depending upon the vehicle direction of travel or, in certain cases, the direction of illumination.

Abstract: Process for improving the view in a vehicle, in particular in darkness, bad weather and fog, wherein laser light with a wavelength outside of the visible spectrum is emitted in a predetermined spatial area, which is observed by a camera, of which the images are displayed to the vehicle operator. According to the invention the laser light and/or the camera is additionally used for optical communication with other vehicles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for improving visibility in a vehicle, especially in darkness, bad weather and fog, including one or more laser headlights radiating laser light of a wavelength outside the visible spectrum into a predetermined solid angle area ahead of the vehicle, a camera which is sensitive outside the visible spectrum and used for taking images of current traffic scenes, as well as an optical display system in the vehicle for reproducing the captured images in the visible spectrum. According to the present invention, provision is made for at least two different types of laser headlights which each illuminate different parts of the solid angle area to be observed to produce an angle-dependent radiation pattern of the laser light in a simple manner.

Abstract: The invention concerns a vehicle headlight, comprising a two-dimensional array (2) of a plurality of electronic light emitter elements (4), which are arranged for emitting a plurality of parallel light beams (6), a collection lens (8), which is provided one focal length away essentially parallel to the two-dimensional array and positioned for receiving the light emitted by the array, and a control electronic for the light emitter elements operatively associated for energizing the light emitter elements (4) individually or in groups. This results in a headlight with variable light emission characteristics, which is mechanically particularly simple to construct, is operationally reliable, and is rapid to react.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for improving the view in vehicles, in particular at night, poor weather and fog, in which laser light is emitted at a wavelength outside the visible spectrum in a predetermined angular range, which is being observed with a camera, of which the images are provided to the vehicle operator. The laser light is emitted essentially continuously only when the headlights of the vehicle are in operation and/or when the vehicle is in motion. In this manner the vision of other traffic participants is ensured in a particularly simple manner.

Abstract: A system for improving the visibility in vehicles, including the following: an illumination optical system (2) for continuous radiation of infrared pulsed light; an associated receiver optical system (3) for receiving reflected components of the radiated light; a display (4) for representing information obtained by the receiver optical system (3), and a device (5, 6) for determining the presence of glare in the receiver optical system (3) from a foreign vehicle illumination optical system and for changing the keying interval or duty cycle of the infrared pulsed light of the illumination optical system (2) driven with fixed keying interval in dependence upon the vehicle direction of travel in such a manner that the glare is eliminated. Therein the illumination optical system is driven is driven with a fixed keying interval depending upon the vehicle direction of travel or, in certain cases, the direction of illumination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for picture recording that is used in image sensors in robotics, navigation and surveillance systems. Said device comprises a lighting device having several series connected lasers as a light source and a dispersing lens as well as an optical element with which high luminance laser light is emitted while complying with safety regulations.

Abstract: An integrated semiconductor circuit arrangement composed of a substrate with an electrical portion, configured, for example, of an integrated circuit in planar CMOS or bipolar technology, an optical connecting layer disposed thereabove which includes at least one integrated (connecting) light waveguide, and an electro-optical and/or opto-electrical transducer disposed in a recess in the substrate, electrically connected to the integrated circuit and opticallly coupled to the light waveguide.

Abstract: An optical multiplexer is disclosed which comprises three waveguides, one for admitting or emitting light and two for receiving light. Each waveguide has an end face. One of the receiving waveguides has an optical layer on its end face which is disposed at an angle to the optical axis of that waveguide. The waveguides are juxtaposed so that their optical axes intersect substantially at the end face of the one receiving waveguide. The optical layer transmits part of the light into the one receiving waveguide. The remainder of the light is reflected into the other receiving waveguide. The intervening space at least partly bounded by the end faces of the waveguides have an index of refraction different from the waveguides themselves.

Abstract: A fiber optic star coupler which is suitable, in particular, for monomode optical waveguides. This is realized by a multiple taper coupler configured as a hollow cylinder.

Abstract: An optical coupling element is provided between a semiconductor transmitter, a semiconductor receiver and a lightwave guide. The optical coupling is effected through microoptics which are adjustable in a simple way. Such a coupling element is useful particularly as a subscriber's connection in an optical waveguide duplex or multiplex communication system and uses a reflective planar surface with a reflection which is responsive to the wavelength to pass light to the transmitted and reflected light to be received.

Abstract: A high-resolution Bragg-cell receiver for monitoring and/or analyzing the frequency of RF signals comprises a lightwave guide arrangement with discrete photodiodes coupled thereto which is substituted for a photodiode array. The guide has closely spaced inlets for light from the Bragg-cell and fanned-out outlets for coupling to the discrete photodiodes.