Abstract: Integrated electrooptic modulator and process for the production thereof. This modulator comprises a substrate (2), a guide structure having a guiding layer (14) defining a microguide (16) for the propagation of beams, interposed between the lower and upper layers (12, 18) having indices below that of the guiding layer, a cavity (20) made in the upper layer, an active material such as an active, solid, organic polymer (26), whose index can be electrically modified and which fills the cavity and serves as an optical guide, a confinement layer (28) covering the polymer and the guide structure, the indices of the upper layer and the confinement layer being below that of the polymer, two electrodes placed on either side of the polymer, an electrode (6) being positioned between the lower layer and the substrate and the other electrode (30) is located on the confinement layer.

Abstract: A family of optical switches employ dielectric film polarizing beam splitters and switchable electro-optic retarder to produce 2.times.2 optical switches which exhibit low crosstalk characteristics while switching unpolarized or linearly polarized collimated light. The switches all contain four port modules through which light enters and leaves the switch. The port modules utilize polarizing beam splitters to separate incoming light into two orthogonal linearly polarized components. The component beams are made parallel after which each passes through an electro-optic retarder. The retarders are electrically driven so as to selectively change the polarization of either one of the two component beams, thus making the polarizations the same. Other polarizing beam splitters are disposed to direct the component beams along one of two pairs of paths as determined by their common polarization.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a liquid modulator having a photoconductive material including an image-writing plane, a liquid crystal layer laminated on the photoconductive material, a pair of electrodes sandwiching the photoconductive material and the liquid crystal layer, and a spacer inserted between the photoconductive material and one of the electrodes. Also provided are an analog writing system for analogously writing an original image in the light modulator; a digital reading system for digitally reading the image written in the light modulator; a processing section for image-processing the read image data; a digital writing system for digitally writing processed image data in the light modulator; and, an analog reading system for analogously reading an image written in the light modulator. The liquid crystal layer is either a phase-transition type liquid crystal, a p-type smectic A liquid crystal providing a storage function, or a ferroelectric liquid crystal providing a storage function.

Abstract: An optical switching device for switching linearly polarized optical signal beams includes a plurality of switching cells arranged in matrix form. Each switching cell has spatial light modulators and a polarizing beamsplitter which cooperate to propagate the optical beams received by the device to selected output ports. The device can be three-dimensionally expanded to increase the number of output ports to which the optical beams can be selectively switched, in which case the matrices can share integrally constructed polarizing beamsplitters and SLMs.

Abstract: An optically bidirectional electrically controlled optical switch having reduced light loss includes an electro-optic crystal having one set of fast and slow optical axes and having at least two light paths for receiving light beams through the crystal, the crystal exhibiting electric field induced birefringence such that a light beam passing through the crystal along a light path and having a plane of polarization oriented in a first direction may have its plane of polarization switched from the first direction to a plane of polarization oriented in a second direction. Beam splitting polarizers are disposed at each end of the electro-optic crystal and optically aligned with the two light paths. The beam splitting polarizers split the optical beam into two light beams having planes of polarization oriented in the first and second directions when transmitting light to the two light paths and combine the two light beams into a single light beam when receiving light beams from the two light paths.

Abstract: An apparatus receptive of illumination light from an illumination light source for providing a color image on a projection lens includes three displays responsive to a video signal for modulating incident lights to display respective component images, a first dichroic layer for separating the illumination light into a first component light and a first mixed light of different wavelength regions to give the first component light to one of the displays, a second dichroic layer for separating the mixed light into second and third component lights of different wavelength regions to give the second and third component lights to other two of the displays respectively, a third dichroic layer for synthesizing, out of the first, second and third information lights from the displays, the first and second information light, and a fourth dichroic layer for further synthesizing the light synthesized by the third dichroic layer with the third information light.

Abstract: A device for compensating for changes in temperature and strain in electro-optic modulators without altering the voltage field effects. Devices for modulating light intensity in response to a varying electrical signal are particularly useful with optical fiber information sensing systems. Such modulators basically receive a light signal, collimate and polarize the light, then pass it through a wave plate to cause circular polarization. The light signal then is passed through a modulator material which rotates the beam polarization in response to varying voltage signals imposed on the modulator. Unfortunately, changes in temperature and strain also change the state of polarization. I have now found that by transmitting the light signal through two equal crystals in series that are rotated 180.degree. from each other, a uniform strain or temperature change will result in canceled polarization effects. Thus, effects of changes in temperature and/or strain are canceled without affecting the voltage field effects.

Abstract: There is provided an optical system for a spatial light modulator. The system comprises a light source for emitting an unpolarized light, a separator for separating a first linearly polarized light having a specified plane of polarization from the unpolarized light and polarizer for rotating the plane of polarization of the first linearly polarized light at a specified angle different from the specified angle to obtain a second linearly polarized light, wherein the second linearly polarized light is adopted as a reading light. Also provided is a method of photomodulation, comprising the steps of separating a light in the region of a specified wavelength from an unpolarized light, separating a first linearly polarized light having a specified plane of polarization from the light and obtaining a second linearly polarized light by rotating the plane of polarization of the first linearly polarized light at a specified angle.

Abstract: In a raster output scanner, a system for using one original beam and one facet of a rotating polygon to generate a scan line which can be turned on to have three levels of intensity. The original beam is first separated into two beams in a beam splitter. The resultant beams are polarized ninety degrees apart, and directed to the modulator. The beams are a sufficient distance apart so that the A/O modulator can modulate each beam with a minimum of crosstalk. The output beams are then brought together and combined into one beam without optical interference because the beams are polarized ninety degrees apart. The beam can have several levels of intensity and be used to create several levels of gray scale at the output.

Abstract: In a raster output scanner, a system for using one original beam and one facet of a rotating polygon to generate two consecutive scan lines. The original beam is first separated into two beams in a beam splitter. The resultant beams are polarized ninety degrees apart, and directed to the modulator. The beams are a sufficient distance apart so that the A/O modulator can modulate each beam with a minimum of crosstalk. The output beams are then brought together to within one scan line separation by a beam recombiner, which is a reversed beam splitter. The beams can be brought together to this close proximity without optical interference because the beams are plarized ninety degrees apart.

Abstract: A cinematographic system records motion-picture images on an elongate information recording medium which includes either a charge storage layer or a light modulating layer. The recorded images are reproduced and projected onto a screen. If the charge storage layer is employed, the motion-picture images are recorded as corresponding electric charge images photoelectrically converted from optical images, and if the light modulating layer is employed, image information corresponding to the motion-picture images is recorded under an electric field depending on electric charge images photoelectrically converted from optical images.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a light modulator, an analog writing system for analogously writing an image of an original in the light modulator, a digital reading system for digitally reading the written image out of the light modulator, a processing section for processing the read image data, a digital writing system for digitally writing the processed image in the light modulator, and an analog reading system for analogously reading the image written on the light modulator. The light modulator includes a photoconductive material, a liquid crystal layer laminated on the photoconductive material, and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the photoconductive material and the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer can provide a storage function so as to enable the reading and writing of the image from the same direction.

Abstract: A charge latent image recording medium includes an electrode, a dielectric member, a member suppressing a transfer of charges, and a photoconductive member laminated in the order without any gaps therebetween. A system for reading a charge latent image recorded in a recording member includes means for projecting a first electromagnetic radiation beam along a path extending to the recording member, means projecting a second electromagnetic radiation beam approximately along the path for reading the charge latent image, guiding means disposed in the path changing electric resistance thereof along the path threthrough, in response to the first electromagnetic radiation beam projected thereto, for guiding an electric field of charges of the charge latent iamge.

Abstract: A laser sensor protector is provided comprising a nonlinear dynamic device which has a flat broad band reflectance covering the entire visible range in the on-state and allows for good optical quality and high transmittance (80-90) in the off-state. The device can be constructed using electro-optic materials or nonlinear optical materials. If electro-optical materials, i.e., those for which the refractive index can be controlled by an external field, or nonlinear optical materials, i.e, those for which the refractive index can be controlled by the light intensity, are used to construct the present invention, it is possible to achieve dynamic switching, that is, the device is clear in the off-state and it is highly reflective over a broad band in the on-state.

Abstract: A color imaging system for use as an electronic still camera, for example, includes a color separator for separating the optical image of a subject from a lens into a plurality of different color images, an optical shutter selectively openable for transmitting the optical image of the subject to the color separator, a photoconductive layer for converting the different color images into respective electric charge images, and an information recording medium for recording images corresponding to the electric charge images under an electric field developed between the photoconductive layer and the information recording medium. The timing with which the optical shutter is opened and the timing with which the electric field is generated by the power supply, are controlled by a control unit depending on imaging conditions selected by the user. The color imaging system also has an optical viewfinder for allowing the user to visually observe the optical image of the subject introduced by the lens.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises first electrode, color-separation filter, recording, carrier generation, carrier transport, and second electrode layers which are laminated in order of mention. The recording layer and carrier generation layer may be separated at a given space. The recording layer comprises carrier retaining layer or a photo-modulation layer. Light image from an object is projected on the carrier generation layer through the first electrode, color-separation, and recording layers via an object lens enters the carrier generation layer. Carrier generated in the carrier generation layer in response to the light image are transported to the second electrode in response to application of a given voltage between the first and second electrodes. Discharge caused by application of the given voltage transfers a latent carrier image to the recording layer. The first electrode, color-separation filter and recording layers may be used for recording medium.

Abstract: A photo-to-photo transducer is composed by laminating a photoconductive layer member and a photo-modulation layer member including liquid crystals of scattering type each other and disposing the members between two transparent electrodes. The transducer is operated as follows: a specified voltage is applied across the electrodes to operate the photo-modulation layer member in the vicinity of operation threshold level thereof; an electro-magnetic radiation beam for writing information is projected onto the photoconductive layer member through the electrode at the side thereof; and an electro-magnetic radiation beam for reading the information is projected onto the photo-modulation layer member through the electrode at the side thereof, thus the electro-magnetic radiation beam for reading the information is modulated accordingly with intensity of the electro-magnetic radiation beam for writing the information.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing information carried by an electro-magnetic radiation beam. The apparatus includes a charge holding member for storing a charge latent image, a generator for generating an electro-magnetic radiation beam which is a superimposition of a plurality of electro-magnetic radiation beams with different wavelength ranges, a filter for separating the superimposed beam into the plurality of electro-magnetic radiation beams and a photo-conductive member provided adjacent to the charge latent image holding member and having an impedance which varies according to the intensity of each of the plurality of beams separated by the filter. Charge latent images corresponding to each of the plurality of beams are thus recorded on the charge latent image holding member. The charge latent images thus recorded on the charge latent image holding member are reproduced by means of a photo-modulation member provided instead of a photo-conductive member.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator is disclosed, in which a low dark resistance single-crystal plate is used which is formed of Bi.sub.12 MO.sub.20 (where M is Si, Ge or Ti) or similar type crystal, doped with phosphorus (P) in the range of 0.03.ltoreq.P.ltoreq.0.2 in atomic percentage to provide a dark resistivity far lower than that of an undoped crystal, and a high dark resistance layer, which is of the same crystal structure as that of the single-crystal plate and lattice-matched therewith and has photoconductivity, electro-optic effect and a high dark resistivity, is provided on the light incident side of the single-crystal plate. A tapered low dark resistance single-crystal plate may be used which is formed of Bi.sub.12 MO.sub.20 (where M=Si, Ge, or Ti) or similar sillenite type crystal, doped with phosphorus (P) in the range of 0.03.ltoreq.P.ltoreq.0.

Abstract: A spatial light modulating element including an electrooptic and photoconductive single crystal plate, a light-transmitting insulating layer provided on at least one of opposite surfaces of the electrooptic and photoconductive single crystal plate, and a pair of electrodes provided for applying an electric field to the insulating layer and the single crystal plate. The insulating layer is formed from a uniaxial single oxide crystal which is crystallographically oriented such that the insulating layer exhibits neither birefringence, nor an electrooptic effect in a direction of the electric field. The insulating layer may be a LiNbO.sub.3, LiTaO.sub.3 or TiO.sub.2 (rutile) single crystal plate cut normal to the (001)-axis.

Abstract: A laminate, electro-optic rearview mirror assembly is disclosed which is protected against scattering fragments while reducing risk of laceration if broken/damaged, against ultraviolet (UV) radiation degradation, and against fogging or misting in high humidity conditions.

Abstract: An optical light beam position control system utilizes Kerr cells and Lummer-Gehrcke plates to produce sets of optical phased linear arrays for beam positioning and beam monitoring. The system controls a light beam in the vertical and horizontal axes by the means of two optical phased linear array generators with associated monitoring and positioning optics.

Abstract: There is provided a recording medium for recording information in a form of a charge latent image. The recording medium comprises, at least, an electrode through which an electro-magnetic radiation beam passes, a photo-conductive layer (hereinafter abbreviated in a PCL) whose resistance varies when the beam is applied thereto and an insulation layer (hereinafter abbreviated in an IL), the electrode and the layers being laminated to each other. There is further provided an apparatus for recording an image as a charge latent image on the medium described above. The apparatus comprises a guide for guiding an electro-magnetic radiation beam through the electrode, an auxiliary electrode arrangeed to face the madium so as to interpose the PCL and the IL between the electrodes and an unit for applying an electric field across the electrodes. There is still further provided an apparatus for reproducing information prerecorded as a charge latent image on the medium.