Abstract: A method is described for multiple persons operating lasers to cooperatively project a pointillistic graphical image onto a remote surface. The visibility of the projected image depends on aiming the lasers with accurate relative displacements. Invariant features of the specific remote landscape where the image is to be projected are used as guideposts for maintaining these displacements. A set of transparent images is distributed to the laser operators, designating for each a spot to illuminate, superimposed on a scaled representation of the background landscape. In the preferred embodiment, each transparent image is used as a reticle, mounted into a monocular at its internal focal plane with the designated illumination spot centered on-axis. A laser is also rigidly attached to the monocular, with their optical axes parallel. Each operator aims his/her laser by visually sighting through the monocular so as to align transparent and direct views of the target landscape.

Abstract: Miniature planar IR waveguides of thickness 30–50 ?m, consisting of 12-mm long, 2-mm wide strips of Ge supported on ZnS substrates and tapered quasi-tapered waveguides, tapered from a thickness of 1 mm at the ends to a minimum of 1–100 ?m at the center, are disclosed. The surface sensitivity is increased as a function of incidence or bevel angle. The tapered waveguide improves the efficiency of the optical coupling both into the waveguide from an FTIR spectrometer, and out of the waveguide onto a small-area IR detector. The tapering makes it possible to dispense with using an IR microscope couple light through the waveguide, enabling efficient coupling with a detector directly coupled to an immersion lens. This optical arrangement makes such thin supported waveguides more useful as sensors, because they can be made quite long (e.g. 50 mm) and mounted horizontally.

Abstract: Miniature planar IR waveguides of thickness 30-50 &mgr;m, consisting of 12-mm long, 2-mm wide strips of Ge supported on ZnS substrates and tapered quasi-tapered waveguides, tapered from a thickness of 1 mm at the ends to a minimum of 1-100 &mgr;m at the center, are disclosed. The surface sensitivity is increased as a function of incidence or bevel angle. The tapered waveguide improves the efficiency of the optical coupling both into the waveguide from an FTIR spectrometer, and out of the waveguide onto a small-area IR detector. The tapering makes it possible to dispense with using an IR microscope couple light through the waveguide, enabling efficient coupling with a detector directly coupled to an immersion lens. This optical arrangement makes such thin supported waveguides more useful as sensors, because they can be made quite long (e.g. 50 mm) and mounted horizontally.