Abstract: A low cost optical system which incorporates a low ultraviolet output tungsten halogen light source and solid state photodetectors and circuitry in such a way as to provide reliable fluorometric test results. The attainment of reliable results using such components is made possible by incorporating highly ultraviolet transmissive optics to maximize ultraviolet light throughput and by using solid state circuitry together with a filter wheel having both light blocking and light passing regions in a manner which fully accounts for noise and dark signals associated with solid state photodetectors.

Abstract: An intgeral printhead includes a single fiber optic faceplate substrate to which are connected light emitting diode arrays, driver circuits for selectively controlling the energization of the light emitting diodes and interconnecting conductive lines all disposed on the same fiber optic faceplate substrate which thereby provides the optical lens system for the light emitting diodes and a supporting substrate to which the active components are mounted and electrically interconnected by the conductive lines.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed to an optical system for a CCD light sensor based camcorder. A plastic lens mechanism focuses outside light onto the CCD light sensor. An infrared filtering member in the optical path between the outside light and CCD light sensor attenuates the infrared portion of the spectrum from the outside light. A second filtering mechanism in the optical path between the outside light and CCD light sensor attenuates a portion of the spectrum from the outside light having a wavelength shorter than a cutoff wavelength. As a result, only a portion of the outside light in a pass band between the cutoff wavelength and the infrared portion of the spectrum reaches the CCD light sensor.

Abstract: An improved periscopic viewfinder for use following an afocal zoom section in a still electronic imaging camera. The viewfinder features an infrared detector for sensing scene intensity to provide strobe quenching information, visual displays, and a relay section comprising a symmetrical pair of new achromats for aberration control and field flattening purposes.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector in the form of a two-element relay system which transforms and matches the numerical apertures of an entering beam to that of the acceptance numerical aperture of the exiting optic where in general the numerical apertures can be different. In preferred form, the connector is a pair of spherical balls with their surfaces in contact at a point along an optical axis extending through the centers of the balls. The radii of the spherical balls and their material composition are such that they operate to image fibers or the like one onto the other with their numerical apertures matched when each of the fibers are in optical contact with a respective one of the spherical balls at a point along the optical axis opposite the point of contact. The radii and indices of refraction of the spherical balls can be adjusted to assure that optics with different numerical apertures are optimally coupled.

Abstract: An improved operating microscope includes a beamsplitter for splitting a portion of the visible image of the object, and an image enhancement device for performing image enhancement techniques on the split portion of the visible image. The enhanced visible image is then combined in real time with the unenhanced visible image so that a surgeon using the operating microscope sees the combined image. The combination provides automatic correlation of the enhanced image with the visible image. The present invention may be retrofit to existing microscopes, which in a preferred embodiment are binocular stereoscopic operating microscopes.

Abstract: An improved microscope features real time generation of combined visible and converted images. The converted image is of an object which is obscured by a layer of material which is opaque to visible light, but which is substantially transparent to non-visible penetrating radiation. In an operating microscope application, the invisible penetrating radiation may be radiation of wavelength greater than 620 nm, to which blood is transparent. The converted visible image made using the reflected penetrating radiation will show tissues underlying a layer of blood, which otherwise would obscure the tissues from being viewed by a surgeon. The converted and visible images are combined to generate a combined image which is more useful than would be the reflected penetrating radiation image alone. Image enhancement techinques may be employed to enhance the converted image.

Abstract: An optical system for affecting the anamorphic compression or expansion of a light beam includes at least one optical prismatic element structured to twice affect the total internal reflection of an incident input light beam and the refraction of the exiting output light beam such that the direction of the exiting output light beam is substantially parallel to the direction of the incident input light beam.

Abstract: An elongated optical system for use as a camera viewfinder. The system comprises four lens groups and four mirrors arranged around the second group to fold the system optical axis and provide for proper image orientation. Group power distribution is of form negative, positive, positive, and then positive with the first and second group structured to form an intermediate real image which is then viewable via the third and fourth groups. The viewfinder overall, however, is substantially afocal.

Abstract: Apparatus for optically coupling a plurality of optical fibers in predetermined combinations. Each optical fiber fits into and is supported by an expanded-beam type optical component that is optically structured to collimate, or nearly collimate, the output from an optical fiber when the fiber is located at, or nearly at, the focus of the optical component. The optical components fit into a housing that is adapted to receive and support them such that at least one of the components is nominally aimed in a first direction and the other optical components are nominally aimed in a direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for testing the optical throughput or efficiency of lens structures adapted to be used in pairs to make a connection between optical fibers by imaging one fiber end, serving as input, via the connector pair into the end of the other fiber end, serving as output. The apparatus comprises structure by which the output beam of a nominally perfect connector half is presented to a lens structure under test while a reflecting surface simulating a fiber end is positioned in the test structure under conditions of actual use. The simulating beam is focused by the test lens structure onto the reflecting surface after which it is reflected along a path travelling oppositely to its entering direction. Structure is provided for comparing the energy content of the beam emerging from the test structure with that presented to it whereby the optical efficiency of the lens structure is determined.

Abstract: A viewfinder assembly fabricated virtually exclusively of injection molded plastics includes a housing, four lens groups, four mirrors for folding the optical path and providing for proper image orientation, and mirror retainers. All of the components are structured to snap-fit together such that the optical components of the assembly are automatically nominally positioned when placed connected in the housing. Adjustment features for lens tilt and framing are also provided and, as well, means for displaying visual information in the viewfinder field.

Abstract: A stereoscopic optical system for use in a camera to simultaneously photograph two separated views of a three-dimensional scene with lenticular type film and a viewing system by which the stereo pairs recorded on the lenticular film can be projected and combined on a screen so that they can be seen in proper stereo relief with spectacles having orthogonally polarized lenses. The stereoscopic optical system comprises a dual optical path for providing the two separated views of the scene. The two separated views of the scene are optically encoded through the use of orthogonal polarizers and are then combined to travel along a single system optical path through the use of a polarizing beamsplitter. An objective taking lens images the combined encoded scene views through an apertured polarizing mask which spatially separates the two separate views so that each travels along separate paths to the film.

Abstract: A method for forming an optical layer having an aspheric surface on a given surface area of a glass optical element to change the optical performance characteristics of the glass element. A cavity having a shape complementary to that of the aspheric surface is first formed in a tool and afterwards plated with at least one metal release layer preferably of silver. The cavity is then filled with a UV curable epoxy and then brought into registration with the optical element. The epoxy is then hardened by exposure of the epoxy to ultraviolet radiation. Tool and element are then separated and the metal release layer, which adheres to the epoxy, is then chemically removed.

Abstract: Electro-optical apparatus for verifying the authenticity of security labels of the type having a series of lenticules of predetermined spatial frequency formed thereon. The apparatus is structured to accept and support a security label to be verified so that the lenticules thereof lie in a flat or nearly flat plane. A laser beam is directed at the flat plane at a predetermined angle of incidence so that the lenticules of the security label in the flat plane diffract the laser beam into a series of wavefronts which reinforce one another to form a diffraction pattern having principle maxima that are separated by equal or nearly equal angles.

Abstract: A holographic interferometric method for determining dimensional differences between two objects having complementary shapes. The first step of the method is to construct a hologram of one of the objects using radiant energy of predetermined temporal and spatial coherence. The hologram of the one object is then reconstructed in a well-known manner and operates to diffract radiant energy incident thereto into n-number of wavefronts where -a.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.+a and a is an integer. A reflected wavefront is then formed from the other object by directing thereat radiant energy substantially identical to that used to either construct or reconstruct the hologram. Then, the other object wavefront is directed onto the hologram to reconstruct the hologram again by transmitting therethrough the other object wavefront. The hologram operates to diffract the other object wavefront into n-number of wavefronts where -a.ltoreq.n.ltoreq.+a and a is an integer. A predetermined n.sup.