Abstract: A system may include one or more electronic devices. Fiber bundles may be provided to convey light. A fiber bundle may have a bend along its length. Fibers for the fiber bundle may be formed from polymer cores coated with polymer claddings. The fibers may have end faces coated with antireflection coatings. The antireflection coatings may be formed from amorphous fluoropolymer deposited from solution. The fluoropolymer may be applied to the end faces of the fibers by dipping, spraying, or by dispensing with a needle dispenser or other dispensing tool. An optical component such as a light-emitting device for a communications system, an illumination system, or a sensor system may provide infrared light that is guided through the fiber bundle.

Abstract: A method for transferring a useful layer onto a carrier substrate comprises formation of an embrittlement plane by implantation of light species into a first substrate in such a manner as to define the bounds of a useful layer between the plane and a surface of the first substrate, mounting of the carrier substrate onto a surface of the first substrate so as to form an assembly to be fractured, and thermal fracture treatment of the first substrate along the embrittlement plane in such a manner as to transfer the useful layer onto a support. During the thermal fracture treatment, the degree of peripheral adhesion is reduced at an interface between the carrier substrate and the first substrate.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead includes a nozzle plate including a nozzle, a recess in the nozzle plate, and a compliant layer that covers the recess and forms a sealed pocket that may be filled with air or another gas during use of the printhead. During actuation of a piezoelectric element during the ejection of ink from the nozzle, the sealed pocket attenuates an acoustic energy generated by the piezoelectric element, thereby reducing crosstalk to adjacent nozzles by the acoustic energy.

Abstract: An optical probe for emitting and/or receiving light within a body comprises an optical fiber that transmits and/or receives an optical signal, a silicon optical bench including a fiber groove running longitudinally that holds an optical fiber termination of the optical fiber and a reflecting surface that optically couples an endface of the optical fiber termination to a lateral side of the optical bench. The fiber groove is fabricated using silicon anisotropic etching techniques. Some examples use a housing around the optical bench that is fabricated using LIGA or other electroforming technology. A method for forming lens structure is also described that comprises forming a refractive lens in a first layer of a composite wafer material, such as SOI (silicon on insulator) wafers and forming an optical port through a backside of the composite wafer material along an optical axis of the refractive lens. The refractive lens is preferably formed using grey-scale lithography and dry etching the first layer.

Abstract: A system, and corresponding method for use, for providing a mass-producible retroreflective material, or sheeting, featuring full cube corner pins is presented. The full cube corner shaping may be provided with the use of a diamond turning tool. The diamond turning tool may be used to simultaneously manufacture a number of pins. The pins may be used to form a mold featuring a triangular or full cube corner surface formation.

Abstract: A method of amplifying a magneto-optical Kerr effect by using photon crystal structures, and a photon crystal having an amplified magneto-optical Kerr effect, and a method of fabricating the photon crystal. The method of amplifying a magneto-optical Kerr effect by using photon crystal structures includes amplifying the magneto-optical Kerr effect by fabricating a magnetic photon crystal including a crystal magnet and using a periodically-structured surface of the crystal magnet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aluminum wheel having high gloss and a method for manufacturing the same, and the method for manufacturing an aluminum wheel having high gloss includes the steps of: (i) coating a primary coating powder paints for increasing a flatness of an aluminum wheel having a rough surface and improving an adhesive force to a silver mirror coating surface, (ii) forming of silver coating layer forming a mirror surface having a high gloss and high reflectivity on the powder paints coated surface using a silver coating solution, and (iii) forming at least one transparent top coating for protecting the silver mirror surface and increasing an abrasion resistance and a saltwater resistance after the step (ii). In accordance with the present in an aluminum wheel having high gloss and high reflectivity can be manufactured in a simple processes and relative inexpensive cost.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor chip for biomedical and micro-nano structured substances and a method for manufacturing the same. The sensor chip includes plural metal nanoparticles and a porous anodized aluminum oxide film. The plural metal nanoparticles are completely contained in holes of the porous anodized aluminum oxide film and located at the bottom of the holes, and an aluminum oxide layer covering the second end of the holes has a thickness of 1 nm to 300 nm. When analytes such as biomedical molecules are provided in contact with the sensor chip, a Raman signal can be detected based on the Raman spectroscopy. The structure of the sensor chip of the present invention is uncomplicated and the manufacturing steps thereof are simple, and therefore the sensor chip of the present invention is of great commercial value. Also, a method of manufacturing the above sensor chip is disclosed.

Abstract: An infrared radiation detector includes: a cryostat having a cold finger ensuring heat exchange with a cold source and a window transparent to infrared radiation to be detected; a mechanically fixed cold plane in heat exchange with the cold finger; a detector unit comprising at least a detector circuit sensitive to the infrared wavelength range to be detected, and in direct or indirect heat exchange with the cold plane; and a mechanically fixed cold shield in heat exchange with the cold plane and limiting stray radiation. The cold shield is rotationally symmetrical. An inside wall of the cold shield has a succession of reliefs distributed in at least one helical pattern. A definition axis of the helical pattern coincides with the axis of revolution of the cold shield.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a reflective optical system is disclosed that includes providing first and second mandrels that form a mandrel assembly, and positioning the mandrel assembly in an electroforming bath. The process also includes performing an electroforming operation for a predetermined period, thereby forming an optical system on the mandrel assembly. The process further involves separating the mandrel assembly from the optical system. The resulting optical system is reflective and has at least first and second elongate hollow sections each having an axis corresponding to the axis of elongation of a respective mandrel. The reflective optical system may be used as an afocal relay and used in lithography applications.

Abstract: One or more components of an x-ray target assembly are manufactured using an electroforming process. The electroforming is carried out by providing an electroforming apparatus that includes an electrolyte, a metal anode, and an electrically conductive cathode. The cathode includes an intermediate x-ray target assembly upon which the metal is to be deposited and/or an electrically conductive mold for forming a component of an x-ray target assembly. The x-ray target component (e.g., a substrate or focal track) is formed by submersing the cathode in the electrolyte and applying a voltage across the anode and the cathode to cause the metal from the anode to be electroformed on the intermediate target and/or the mold. The electroforming is continued until a desired thickness of metal is achieved. The electroforming process can be used to manufacture an x-ray target substrate, focal track, stem, barrier, or other metal layer of the target assembly.

Abstract: A method of applying to a display substrate color elements and addressing busbars in a defined alignment relative to each other includes: forming said color elements and said busbars on a surface of a transfer carrier; 10 adhering said color elements and said busbars to said display substrate; and removing said transfer carrier.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a microstructure array, such as a microlens array, and a mold for forming the microlens array, includes the steps of forming an array of microstructures with a curved profile in a discrete form on a substrate, and uniformly forming a continuous layer on the substrate and the discrete microstructures. Optically-unusable regions between the discrete microstructures, such as microlenses, can be readily reduced or eliminated by forming the continuous layer until flat portions between the microstructures disappear.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical element having a metal wire grid containing a plurality of metal wires on a substrate includes forming the metal wire grid using an electrolytic plating process.

Abstract: A method of machining a surface of a workpiece is accomplished by bringing a cutting tool into contact with the surface of the workpiece and for at least one cutting pass, i, causing relative movement between the cutting tool and the surface of the workpiece along a path in the surface of the workpiece. The path is in the nature of a mathematical function defined over a segment, C, of a coordinate system and characterized by a set of nonrandom, random or pseudorandom parameters selected from the group consisting of amplitude, phase and period or frequency.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a stamper is provided. UV light cure adhesive is sprayed on a substrate and cured to form a three-dimensional pattern. Thereafter, a stamper is formed on the substrate and the three-dimensional pattern, such that the stamper has a first pattern opposite to the three-dimensional pattern. Afterwards, the stamper is separated from the substrate and the three-dimensional pattern. The stamper is disposed in a cavity of an injection molding machine to form a light guide plate. The light guide plate has a second pattern identical with the three-dimensional pattern.

Abstract: In a method of producing a stamper for roughening a substrate of an optical recording medium, a masking treatment is carried out prior to a blasting treatment, whereby a second pit forming site of a metal plate is protected such that the second pit forming site is not broken in the following blasting treatment. A mask of an adhesive sheet is attached to the second pit forming site in the masking treatment, and then a part of one major surface of the metal plate, exposed between the mask, is roughened in the blasting treatment. An original stamper of the metal plate, having a partly roughened major surface, is obtained by the blasting treatment.

Abstract: An optical waveguide apparatus includes an optical waveguide, such as an optical sheet of a two-dimensional slab waveguide, and an appropriately-shaped plated structure provided in the optical waveguide. Typically, the plated structure is constructed so as to serve as an optical-path converting unit for optically coupling the optical waveguide and an optical device, which is to be provided on or in the vicinity of the optical waveguide, or as at least a part of a via penetrating the optical waveguide.

Abstract: There are provided a thin wire grid polarizer having a high transmittance, a high quenching ratio and a high degree of polarization, and a method for producing the same at low costs. A fluoridated polyimide thin film 12, a hydrophilic thin film 13 and a hydrophobic thin film 14 are sequentially stacked on a glass substrate 11 to be pressed by a die 1 from the side of the hydrophobic thin film 14 to transfer the fine pattern of groove forming protrusions 3 of the die 1 to the hydrophobic thin film 14 and hydrophilic thin film 13 by the nano-imprinted lithography technique, and then, metal fine wires are caused to grow by plating.

Abstract: A method of producing metal ferrules and an apparatus therefore enable metal ferrules to be produced with high productivity and high dimensional accuracy by arranging a plurality of long-sized core wires. A jig receives a metal to be electroformed and is placed in an electroforming tank, a holding unit in which a plurality of core wire holder for holding core wires are held in circumferential array is installed in the electroforming tank, and the core wire holders and the holding unit are rotatable on their respective axes. It is preferable that the resistivity of the core wires be 5×10?6 ?cm or less. A core wire plated within a thin layer of metal having a resistivity of 5×10?6 ?cm or less may be used. A conductive electric discharge body may be provided on the front end of the core wire.

Abstract: A method of producing an optical element forming die, includes the steps of: cutting a base member to form a base optical surface of the base member while rotating the base member; cutting an outer circumferential surface of the base member so that an optical axis of the base optical surface is identical to a rotation center of the outer circumferential surface of the base member while rotating the base member; forming an optical surface having a predetermined pattern onto the base optical surface of the base member; forming an electroforming mold having an optical transfer surface complementary to the optical surface of the base member by electroforming wherein the electroforming is conducted with the base member; and cutting an outer circumferential surface of the electroforming mold on the basis of the outer circumferential surface of the base member.

Abstract: A method of producing a die for forming an optical element including; a positioning step to fix temporarily under the state wherein a plurality of members at least one of which has a die transfer surface are positioned with their connection surfaces being put to face each other, and an electroforming connection step to connect both members by forming an electroforming mold on a circumference of the connection surface under the state where the plural members are positioned.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal mask that facilitates easy dimensional control in the manufacturing process and can manufacture multiple metal masks having high and consistent precision. A Cr film 2 having a mask pattern 2a is formed on the surface of a glass plate 1, a dry film 4 is formed on the Cr film 2, the dry film 4 is exposed from the glass plate 1 side with the Cr film 2 as a mask, a mask pattern 4a having the same shape as that of the mask pattern 2a is formed on the dry film 4, and a metal plating layer 6 is formed on the Cr film 2. The metal plating layer 6 is separated to form a metal mask 7.

Abstract: In a method for forming a light waveguide, a light waveguide forming substrate is disposed so that a photosemiconductor thin film or a conductive thin film on the substrate is in contact with an aqueous electrolyte solution containing a film forming material having a property that solubility or dispersibility to a water solution decreases according to the pH change, and a voltage is applied between the photosemiconductor thin film or the conductive thin film and a counter electrode by light irradiation.

Abstract: A process for making a microdevice that includes the steps of providing a base member and selectively electroforming a support member for supporting a microplatform with respect to the base member. The process also includes the steps of selectively electroforming the microplatform and forming a flexible hinge member for hingedly connecting the microplatform to the support member and allowing relative movement of the microplatform with respect to the support member. This microdevice, when compared to prior art devices, can have improved mechanical strength, rigidity, low deformation, and high planarity.

Abstract: In the method of manufacturing a ferrule, electrocasting is carried out using at least one wire 9 such as of a metal or a plastic as a mother die, and then the wire 9 is removed from the resulting electrocast product, wherein the electrocasting treatment is carried out under rotation of the wire while it is maintained static in the longitudinal direction. According to this method, neither biased thickening nor bending occurs in the electrocast products, and they are almost free from decentering of holes. Intermediate rod products obtained after the electrocasting treatment have perfectly circular cross sections. In addition, variation in the diameter of the rod products can be reduced. Besides, agitation of the electrocasting solution can be facilitated by employing a method in which agitation is achieved by forced circulation of the liquid, and further deterioration of the electrocasting working environment can be prevented.

Abstract: A method for producing a self-supporting electron-optical transparent structure that includes multi-layer strips and recesses located between the multi-layer strips. The method includes applying a first layer to a second layer, presetting a pattern by exposing or irradiating the first layer and etching the pattern out of the first layer so that partial areas of the second layer are uncovered. The method further includes galvanically applying layers to the uncovered partial areas of the second layer so that multi-layer strips are formed thereon and an electron-optical transparent structure is formed and removing the electron-optical transparent structure off the second layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing metal ferrules used as connector elements for optical fibers is characterized such that, by growth-guidance of an internal-diameter formation member whose external diameter is the same as the internal diameter of the metal ferrule to be manufactured, while a tube-shaped electroformed layer having an internal hole is being grown on the cathode side of an electroforming cistern, the electroformed layer is continuously lifted from the electroforming cistern at a specified speed. In the process of lifting the cylindrical electroformed layer while growing it, the cylindrical electroformed layer that has grown to a prescribed external diameter is cut to prescribed dimensions outside the electroforming cistern.

Abstract: An electroforming manufacturing method of a ferrule is provided, in which a position of the ferrule is accurately fixed while machining and fitting. In this method, even when the ferrule is a multiple-core type ferrule, a center portion thereof has sufficient strength. In the manufacturing method of a ferrule using electroforming, at least one dummy line is disposed in the vicinity of an electrode line. A positioning line used for accurately connecting the ferrules to each other, and another positioning line used as a reference position in machining the outside shape of the ferrule are also disposed in the vicinity of the electrode line and the dummy line, if necessary. Electroforming is carried out in this condition, and then the dummy line and positioning lines are taken out from an electroformed element to form a through hole to serve as positioning holes or to insert an optical fiber.

Abstract: A materials system or dielectric structure, for example a photonic crystal, of the invention includes a plurality of materials that are biocompatible. The materials have different indices of refraction for the wavelength of operation and are assembled into a dielectric structure having a photonic band gap in one or more directions. The assembly process yields a structure with a particular spatial arrangement of materials with different indices of refraction which is completely biocompatible and has the property of reflecting light at a particular predetermined range of frequencies, as well as other properties associated with photonic band gaps. These structures can exhibit photonic band gaps that can be engineered to be broad or narrow and be centered on different parts of the spectrum UV, visible IR or longer wavelengths. The materials used can have microwave transparency or be made to reflect microwaves.

Abstract: A cylindrical sleeve connector for mounting ferrules retaining optical fibers therein is formed with a plurality of perforations arranged in a given pattern so as to be elastically deformable within in a specified elastic region. The sleeve connector is produced, using electroforming process, on a cylindrical electroforming mandrel comprising a conductive rod with external surface texture that is equivalent to required internal surface texture of the sleeve connector and a non-conductive layer formed on the conductive rod so as to provide non-conductive segments identical in configuration with the perforations and arranged in conformity with the given pattern of perforations of the cylindrical sleeve connector.

Abstract: An operation for removing a core wire during the manufacture of an electrodeposited layer of a metal ferrule for an optical fiber is omitted, so that manufacturing costs can be reduced. Various corrections are applied while measuring the concentricity and circularity of the inside diameter and outside diameter of an electrodeposited layer during manufacture of an electrodeposited layer of a ferrule for an optical fiber, so that precision of the concentricity and circularity of the inside diameter and the outside diameter of the electrodeposited layer is improved. The objective of the present invention is to provide—using the ferrules—a connector that is excellent in connection performance and that enables construction of an optical system having many channels.

Abstract: A process for producing a precision component is provided. In one embodiment of the process comprising adhering a resist on a surface of a metal material, forming resist coated parts and metal exposed parts by exposure to light and developing, and etching the metal exposed parts alone to form perforated parts or indented parts, the process is characterized in that a) at least a thin copper layer is included as a surface on which a resist is adhered, b) at least a nickel layer which is in contact with said copper layer is included, c) precision parts made by removing precise amount of metal are formed from said nickel layer, and d) the thickness of said thin copper layer is sufficiently thin to be made disappeared at the exposed metal surface parts by a nickel etching solution when said nickel layer is etched.

Abstract: A process for producing an article with a microstructure includes the steps of forming a primary relief structure on a surface of a substrate, applying a photo resist on the substrate, exposing part of the photo resist using a photo mask so as to form a microstructure pattern, developing the microstructure pattern in the exposed photo resist, thereby allowing access to a part of the primary relief structure from the photo resist, and thereby forming a patterned surface with a microstructure relief that is bounded by the exposed part of the primary relief structure and by remainder of the photo resist on the substrate, and forming a metal layer on the patterned surface to form the article having the microstructure with a profile corresponding to the microstructure relief on the patterned surface.

Abstract: The process according to the invention reduces the effort required to shape a glass piece. In this process a liquid glass piece is provided on a structured supporting surface of an electrically conducting base. A voltage is applied across the liquid glass piece by connecting a voltage source between a contact position on the liquid glass piece and the electrically conducting base. The apparatus for performing the process has an electrically conducting base on which the liquid glass piece is supported and a device for applying a voltage between a contact position on the liquid glass piece and the electrically conducting base.

Abstract: An electroplated structure for a field emission display device and method for forming an electroplated structure for a field emission display device. In one embodiment, the present invention forms a molded structure over selected portions of a flat panel display device. Next, the present embodiment deposits an electroplating seed layer over the molded structure. After the deposition of the electroplating seed layer, the present embodiment electroplates material onto portions of the electroplating seed layer such that an electroplated structure is formed at desired regions of the flat panel display device. In such an embodiment, the present invention provides an electroplated structure which contains substantially no polyimide material. As a result, the present embodiment eliminates the cost and production of outgassed contaminants associated with prior art structures.

Abstract: An optical mounting for an optical component includes an inner, preferably multi-part, portion that abuts the optical component and an outer frame, which are connected together by a plurality of spring hinge beams. The spring hinge beams and other portions of the optical mounting are produced galvanoplastically.

Abstract: The present invention's device and method of manufacturing metal ferrules used as connector elements for optical fibers is characterized such that, by growth-guidance of an internal-diameter formation member whose external diameter is the same as the internal diameter of the metal ferrule to be manufactured, an electroformed layer having a cylindrical internal hole is grown on the cathode side of a electroforming cistern and said cylindrical electroformed layer is grown to a prescribed external diameter in the process of lifting such electroformed layer from the aforementioned electroforming cistern, and such that said cylindrical electroformed layer, when outside the aforementioned electroforming cistern, is cut to prescribed dimensions.

Abstract: Electroforming is performed in an electroforming bath with a cathode of a metal wire member immersed in an electroforming solution to electrodeposit nickel around the aluminum alloy wire member. The aluminum alloy wire member is removed by dissolution with an alkaline solution from an obtained nickel electroformed product. Accordingly, a nickel cylinder is obtained, which has a through-hole formed corresponding to the wire member. The cylinder is cut into those having a predetermined length. The outer circumference is subjected to cutting based on the through-hole to obtain a ferrule. The inner diameter accuracy of the through-hole of the ferrule is determined by the outer diameter accuracy of the wire member.

Abstract: Mounting and alignment structures for optical components allow optical components to be connected to an optical bench and then subsequently aligned, i.e., either passively or actively, in a manufacturing or subsequent calibration or recalibration, alignment or realignment processes. The structures comprise quasi-extrusion portions. This portion is “quasi-extrusion” in the sense that it has a substantially constant cross section in a z-axis direction as would be yielded in an extrusion manufacturing process. The structures further comprise at least one base, having a laterally-extending base surface, and an optical component interface. At least one armature connects the optical component interface with the base. In the preferred embodiment, the base surface is securable to an optical bench.

Abstract: A writable optical disc has an information writing track, and a guiding track for introducing a laser beam to the information writing track. The guiding track has prepit information recorded thereon, the prepit information including at least address information of the optical disc. The prepit information is recorded on the guiding track at a position where interference of adjacent guiding tracks with the prepit information is prevented. The information writing track is a groove track, and the guiding track is a land track.

Abstract: Manufacturing couplers for optical fibers having thin precision dimensions for precision alignment and low-loss coupling of optical fiber segments are disclosed. The couplers can be formed by depositing material on a precision mandrel, removing the mandrel, and then further machining the couplers if necessary. Design variations include simple sleeves and sleeves having ends that are flanged outward so that the ends taper to the correct diameter.

Abstract: Surface relief holograms are prepared by directly impressing them into aluminum and other hard metal substrates, without the need to preheat or otherwise soften the substrate. A holographic embossing shim is prepared from a master and possesses a unique combination of surface configuration, hardness, and strength. The embossing shim can be mounted on a cylindrical support. In one embodiment, the shim is used to emboss a hardenable material, which is later hardened to form a tool.

Abstract: Methods of providing diffusing risers on a fresnel lens die having a plurality of optical facets, wherein adjacent optical facets are separated by a riser, the method including the steps of depositing a difflusing layer on the plurality of optical facets and the risers, and selectively removing the diffusing layer from the plurality of optical facets, wherein the diffusing layer remains substantially intact on the risers. The diffusing layer can be deposited in an electrolyte bath substantially free of grain refiners.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for continuously adjusting the anode/cathode distance for controlling uniformity of deposition. The entire cathode head is mounted on a lead screw which, when manually turned, moves the cathode head in or out in relation to the anode basket. Alternatively, the lead screw mechanism is driven by a servo motor and is suitably controlled by a computer which monitors the voltage and current in the electroforming cell and adjusts the screw accordingly. The present invention also includes an apparatus and method for a hinged, coated, metal clamping mechanism for fixturing a master against a backplate. To avoid plating of the metallic clamping ring, the metal is coated with a suitable substantially non-conductive, substantially non-chipping, extremely thin material.

Abstract: A microstructured mold with at least one open cavity is produced from a solid body (metal, ceramic, glass, stone or monocrystalline material) by precision mechanical machining, additive or subtractive structuring. The cavity is filled and the mold covered by a flowable material and the solidified flowable material is separated from the mold giving a microstructure element. Alternatively, the top portion of the solidified flowable material is removed to expose the surface of the mold and the solidified material filling the cavity. A layer of conductive material is applied to the exposed surface and remaining solidified material. Then the conductive layer and the remaining solidified material are separated from the mold to provide a structure with a shape complementary to the mold. A layer of metal is electrodeposited on the complementary structure and, finally, the metal layer is separated to produce a metallic microstructure element.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the production of highly diffusive or absorptive metal surfaces. A dendritic crystal structure surface layer of metal is electrodeposited on a substrate, using a bipolar pulse plating technique. This metal surface layer may then be oxidized to provide a highly anti-reflective surface.