Abstract: A method for providing optical alignment for a visible wavelength reflective system is provided. The method includes positioning a first mirror blank on a lathe fixture. The first mirror blank comprises a single precision pinhole. The first mirror blank is secured to the lathe fixture. A first mirror is generated from the first mirror blank.

Abstract: An optical routing apparatus and method that achieves improved optical signal reintegration is disclosed. The optical routing apparatus includes an input port, such as may be provided at the end of an optical fiber. The signal may be routed to one or more of a plurality of output ports, such as may also be provided at the end of an optical fiber, each output port being configured to receive the optical signal. The routing between the input port and the output ports is accomplished with an optical switching arrangement that may shift among multiple distinct optical configurations, each configuration being such as to direct the optical signal to one of the output ports. The ports are positioned such that the input port and at least one of the output ports lie in different parallel planes, each such plane being orthogonal to a path along which the optical signal is provided by the input port or received by one of the output ports.

Abstract: An optical device capable of homogenizing luminous energy and homogenizing polarized light simultaneously, and an optical illumination system of a projector having decreased volume by using the optical device for homogenizing luminous energy and polarized light has small volume, but is able to homogenize luminous energy and transform non-polarized light a polarized light simultaneously. It is possible to attain homogeneous luminous energy and light efficiency improvement on a level, which are equal to those attained by using conventional Fly eye lens and PBS array, by using the above-described optical device for homogenizing luminous energy and polarized and the volume of the optical system can be decreased and be lightweight.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaping an optical beam bundle carrying a plurality of substantially parallel optical beams disposed in a common plane of travel. First reflective facets and second reflective facets are provided, the first reflective facets being oriented so as to deflect the optical beams of the bundle into a plurality of intermediate, substantially non-parallel optical beams. Each of the second reflective facets is spatially disposed so as to receive a respective one of the intermediate optical beams at a different respective distance from the plane of travel of the optical beam bundle. Also, the second reflective facets are oriented so as to deflect the intermediate optical beams into a bundle of substantially parallel output optical beams. In this way, the output beam can be more adapted for a particular application. In certain cases, this also achieves increased brightness of a laser beam through reduced output beam divergence and/or total cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A head-mounted display comprises monocular or binocular display chambers. Each display chamber is equipped with an optical engine that displays images. The mechanism of the optical engine is as follows: cast rays from a light source onto an LCoS device through a first polarizer, and an image is formed with rays, which reflect off the bottom of the LCoS device. The reflective rays penetrate the first polarizer and a film-coated beam splitter. With a concave mirror, the image is magnified and projected onto the surface of the beam splitter. Finally, the magnified image is formed in a viewer's eyeballs by means of the beam splitter.

Abstract: A line producing system includes an input beam of radiant energy that enters a side of a low cost, radiant energy altering device. The radiant energy emerges from the light altering device radiating in a nearly 360 degree disc pattern forming a ring of ever expanding light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reflector having a light-diffusing property which suppresses inter-object reflection over a wide angle, and giving particularly high reflectance in an intended range of viewing angle; and to provide a reflection type liquid crystal display device using the same. The reflector includes a plurality of light-reflective concave portions. Each of the concave portions is formed so that an inclination angle (an angle between a plane tangential to a point on a concave surface and the surface of the base material) is maximum on a side portion of the curved surface, and so that the direction of the side portion having the maximum inclination angle is on a far side from a view point of an observer.

Abstract: Refracting optical system 1 and 2 relatively shift the second laser beam groups together with respect to the first laser beam groups along the layering direction. The transmission/reflecting optical system for alignment 1R, 2R, 1S and 2S are used, so that the laser beam patterns comprised of the first and second laser beam groups which are emitted from the transmission/reflecting optical systems 1R, 2R, 1S and 2S are shaped to be long in the layering direction of the laser bar, and since separate optical systems are used for shift and alignment, respectively, an individual optical system has a simple configuration.

Abstract: An external cavity laser comprises a laser source, a collimation optical element, a blazed diffraction grating, a transform optical element, and a light modulator. The laser source produces a light output comprising a range of light wavelengths. The collimation optical element couples the laser source to the blazed diffraction grating. The collimation optical element collimates the light output. The blazed diffraction grating diffracts the light output into a first diffraction order. The transform optical element couples the blazed diffraction grating to the light modulator, which is located in a transform plane of the transform optical element. The transform optical element converts the first diffraction order to position in the transform plane by focusing the range of light wavelengths to the transform plane. The light modulator comprises an array of light modulating pixels selectively operable in first mode and second modes.

Abstract: A line producing system includes an input beam of radiant energy that enters a side of a low cost, radiant energy altering device. The radiant energy emerges from the light altering device radiating in a nearly 360 degree disc pattern forming a ring of ever expanding light.

Abstract: Provided are a polarization converting device capable of downsizing parts and improving light-use efficiency, and an illumination optical system capable of obtaining illuminating light with high efficiency and superior illumination characteristics by using the polarization converting device, and a projector. A polarization splitting film is inclined at approximately 45° upward and downward with respect to an optical axis, thereby the polarization splitting film is formed in the shape of the letter V of which the apex is pointed to a direction where incident light enters. A reflective surface has such a shape that the polarization splitting film is horizontally flipped, thereby it is formed in the shape of the letter V of which the apex is pointed to a direction where a polarized component is emitted.

Abstract: An optical imaging apparatus includes an optical probe and an apparatus main body which controls and drives the optical probe via a connecting cable. The optical probe includes a low-coherence light source, a half mirror, an XY reflecting mirror scan, an objective optical system, a reflecting mirror, a modulating mirror, and a photo detector. In the optical probe, the modulating mirror and the objective optical system, as optical path length interlockingly adjusting elements, are integrally arranged to an optical path length interlockingly adjusting base, together with a reflecting-side lens. The optical probe has an advancing and regressing driving unit which advances and regresses the optical path length interlockingly adjusting base in the optical axis direction (Z direction).

Abstract: A night vision system 10 is provided for detecting objects at relatively low visible light levels. The system 10 includes light source 14. The system 10 further includes a thin sheet optical element 16 extending along a first axis 27 receiving light from the light source 14 and reflecting the light generally in a first direction. Finally, the system 10 includes a detector for receiving the light reflected off objects in the environment and generating a signal responsive to the received light.

Abstract: In a reflector comprising a reflecting film formed on a surface having depressions and protrusions, wherein each of the depressions and protrusions has a vertex and is composed of a curved surface formed so as to be convex up or convex down and a surrounding portion including a valley or a ridge surrounding the curved surface with an inflection point of the curved surface serving as a boundary between the curved surface and the surrounding portion; and wherein when the curved surface is convex up, the inflection point is on the valley side of the midpoint between the vertex and the valley, whereas when the curved surface is convex down, the inflection point is on the ridge side of the midpoint between the vertex and the ridge.

Abstract: A micro mirror structure including a plurality of individually movable mirrors. Each mirror has a generally concave shape from a top perspective at a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius and has a generally convex shape from a top perspective at a temperature of about 85 degrees Celsius. In one embodiment, the radius of curvature may be greater than about 500 mm at a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius and may be less than about −600 mm at a temperature of about 85 degrees Celsius at a thickness of about 10 microns. In another embodiment, the invention is a micro mirror structure including a plurality of individually movable mirrors arranged in an array. Each mirror includes a substrate, a diffusion barrier layer located above the substrate, and a reflective layer located above the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer generally limits the diffusion of the top reflective layer through the diffusion barrier layer.

Abstract: A rod integrator holder 6 has concave clearance grooves 67A to 67D elongated in the direction of the optical axis L, at the corners within a case 61 thereof. The clearance grooves 67A to 67D are configured such that the edges 84A to 84D of the rod integrator 8 can be prevented from coming into contact with the inner faces 66A to 66D of the case 61. The edges 84A to 84D of the rod integrator can be prevented from being broken by coming into contact with the inner faces 66A to 66D of the case 61, and the edges 84A to 84D of the rod integrator 8 and the inner faces 66A to 66D of the case 61 can be prevented from rubbing against each other to generate dust due to abrasion.

Abstract: A method to improve an extinction ratio of an optical device, the method includes positioning at least a majority of a plurality of micro-mirrors in an off-state position. A mirror assembly includes the plurality of micro-mirrors. The method also includes selectively positioning at least one of the plurality of micro-mirrors in an on-state position. In one particular embodiment, the at least one of the plurality of micro-mirrors positioned in the on-state position operates to improve an extinction ratio of an optical device.

Abstract: Platelike first transparent members 321 and platelike second transparent members 322 are prepared. Each first transparent member has substantially parallel first and second surfaces (film forming surfaces). A polarization splitting film 331 is formed on the first film forming surface. A reflecting film 332 is formed on the second film forming surface. The films are not formed on the surfaces of the second transparent members 322. A plurality of the first transparent members 321 and a plurality of the second transparent members 322 are adhered alternately. A block is cut from the so-adhered transparent members at a prescribed angle to the surfaces and the cut surfaces thereof are polished to obtain a polarization beam splitter array 320.

Abstract: A projection screen comprising; a substrate having a generally flat forward surface; a diffusion layer formed of a plurality of generally equally spaced apart concave features forming micro lenses; a layer of reflective material deposited on a rearward facing surface of the diffusion layer; the diffusion layer laminated to the forward facing surface of the substrate so that the layer of reflective material is sandwiched therebetween.

Abstract: An optical turning film has a first surface including an array of prisms. The array has a plurality of first prisms, with each of the first prisms having a first prism configuration, and a plurality of second prisms, with each of the second prisms having a second prism configuration different from the first prism configuration. The optical film also has a second surface opposing the first surface, and light rays incident to the first surface are directed by the plurality of first prism and the plurality of second prisms along a direction substantially parallel to a viewing axis.

Abstract: An optical element (10, 10′, 10″) for deflecting light beams (18, 19), which enter and re-emerge from the latter, in such a way that their angle of emergence (&ggr;) is limited, in particular for use as a luminaire-cover, having a plate-like core (11, 11′, 11″) of transparent material which on one side is occupied by microprisms (12, 13) that taper—starting from their root (15)—forming furrows (22), wherein all of the top surfaces (14) of the microprisms form the light-entry face and the other side (21) of the core forms the light-emergence face, and wherein the top surfaces (14) of the microprisms are formed convexly or concavely in a continuous or non-continuous manner, and also a method for producing the optical element (10, 10′, 10″).

Abstract: An illumination system having a rod integrator and an objective for imaging an object field onto an image field, which has an entry surface, an exit surface, and reflecting side surfaces. A lens-free interspace with an axial size of at least 30 mm is in the objective. A plane within this interspace is optically conjugate to the plane of the entry surface. All rays starting from a central field within the entry surface that are not reflected at the side surfaces have smaller ray heights in the lens-free interspace in relation to the optical axis than all the rays starting from the central field that are reflected at the side surfaces; the ratio of the field width to the width of the entry surface is at most 0.7. The ratio of the field height to the height of the entry surface is at most 0.7.

Abstract: A device is proposed to symmetrize the radiation from one or from several linear optical emitters. The device possesses per emitter 1, 1a, 1b a cylindrical lens optical unit 2, 2a, 2b with one or more cylindrical lenses, which collimate each light beam in the y-direction, where by rotating at least one of the cylindrical lenses around the z-axis or by providing a discontinuous diffracting element, each light beam is diffracted at a different diffraction angle in the y-direction. The device additionally contains a director-collimator optical unit 3, which collimates each light beam in the x-direction and diffracts at different diffraction angles so that the main beams of the individual light beams in the x-direction converge at a specified distance from the emitter and run parallel in the y-direction. Finally, the device has a redirecting optical unit 4 which compensates for the diffraction of the light beam in the x-direction caused by the director-collimator optical unit 3.

Abstract: In an image projector having at least one projection beam that is actuated in the raster mode and in the calligraphic mode for representing a raster component and a calligraphic component of a total image that is projected onto a display, to attain a higher image brightness and a sharper image contrast during projection in non-darkened rooms, the at least one projection beam is a laser beam (19) that is split into two linearly-polarized partial beams (21, 21′), with the two partial beams (21, 21′) being subjected to a separate modulation and deflection such that the one partial beam (21′) writes the raster component and the other partial beam writes the calligraphic component. The two partial beams (21, 21′) are projected simultaneously onto the display; the partial beams may be optically superposed prior to being projected.

Abstract: A microlens configuration having a substantially circular form is constituted of a part of one circle or aspheric curve at any section when a section is taken at a face which is vertical to a major axis or a minor axis of the microlens configuration. A laminate for transfer includes a concave and convex pattern having concave and convex forms of a transfer master pattern, in which a number of such configurations as mentioned above are arranged, transferred to a substrate to be transferred, and a thin film layer laminated on the concave and convex surface thereof wherein a surface of the thin film layer opposite to a surface in contact with a provisional support is used as a bonding face to an application substrate.

Abstract: A lens sheet of the present invention comprises: a lens layer having a plurality of unit lenses, each of which is adapted to fully reflect a part of an incident light beam on a fully reflecting portion so as to emit it from a light emitting portion, arranged in a one- or two-dimensional direction on a light emitting side; and reflection attenuating layers for reflecting the light beam incident from an incident light side and attenuating the light beam incident from the light emitting side, the reflection attenuating layers being formed of a material, which can form the layers via a vacuum film forming method, on the fully reflecting portion.

Abstract: An optical unit (20, 30) for color projection display system that has three SLMs (21, 31) and three projection lenses (27, 37). Each SLM (21, 31) receives light of a different primary color, which it modulates to form images for that color. Each SLM (21, 31) and its associated projection lens (27, 37) provides a “channel” for that color of the final image, with the channels being converged out of the projection lenses (27, 37) to the viewing screen.

Abstract: A reflective display having a plurality of approximately hemispherical high refractive index (&eegr;1) transparent hemi-beads substantially covering and protruding inwardly from a transparent sheet's inward surface. The transparent sheet, which has an outward viewing surface, has a refractive index (&eegr;2) which can be low (i.e. &eegr;1≈1.92 and &eegr;2≈1.59). A member is selectably moved into an intense evanescent wave region at the hemi-beads' inward side to selectably frustrate substantial total internal reflection of light rays. The member can be a plurality of light scattering particles suspended in a low refractive index (&eegr;3≈1.27) electrophoresis medium and electrophoretically moved into or out of the intense evanescent wave region.

Abstract: A reflective material obtained by covering at least one side of a sheet-like base material with a resin layer comprising reflective beads and colored beads colored with desired color shade. The reflective material can be given any desired color shade from light tones to dark tones, and exhibits excellent reflectivity and visibility.

Abstract: An optical touch panel includes a plurality of light-emitting elements, reflectors for reflecting lights from the plurality of light-emitting elements, and a plurality of light-receiving elements for receiving reflected lights from the reflectors. The plurality of light-emitting elements and the plurality of light-receiving elements are arranged alternately along two adjacent sides of a rectangular position-detecting surface, and the reflectors are arranged along the other two adjacent sides of the position-detecting surface, respectively. A drive controller causes the plurality of light-emitting elements to light in a predetermined order to thereby cause ones of the light-receiving elements arranged on opposite sides of each of the plurality of light-emitting elements to receive reflected lights from the reflectors.

Abstract: A zoom optical system comprises a plurality of optical elements. The plurality of optical elements include a first optical element having two refracting surfaces and a plurality of reflecting surfaces formed in a transparent body, being arranged such that a light beam enters an inside of the transparent body from one of the two refracting surfaces and, after being successively reflected from the plurality of reflecting surfaces, exits from the other of the two refracting surfaces, and/or a second optical element having a plurality of surface mirrors integrally formed and decentered relative to one another, being arranged such that an incident light beam exits therefrom after being successively reflected from reflecting surfaces of the plurality of surface mirrors, and a third optical element composed of a plurality of coaxial refracting surfaces.

Abstract: An optical touch panel includes a plurality of light-emitting elements, reflectors for reflecting lights from the plurality of light-emitting elements, and a plurality of light-receiving elements for receiving reflected lights from the reflectors. The plurality of light-emitting elements and the plurality of light-receiving elements are arranged alternately along two adjacent sides of a rectangular position-detecting surface, and the reflectors are arranged along the other two adjacent sides of the position-detecting surface, respectively. A drive controller causes the plurality of light-emitting elements to light in a predetermined order to thereby cause ones of the light-receiving elements arranged on opposite sides of each of the plurality of light-emitting elements to receive reflected lights from the reflectors.

Abstract: A night vision system 10 is provided for detecting objects at relatively low visible light levels. The system 10 includes an infrared light source 14. The system 10 further includes a thin sheet optical element 16 extending along a first axis 27 receiving light from the infrared light source 14 and reflecting the light generally in a first direction. Finally, the system 10 includes an infrared camera for receiving the light reflected off objects in the environment and generating a video signal responsive to the received light.

Abstract: A variable optical attenuator, or VOA, includes a movable focusing mirror and an actuator integrated on a substrate or within a MEMS. The actuator moves the mirror within a range of motion to reflect, focus and steer a light beam. One embodiment further includes an input and an output photonic component, such as wave guides or optical fibers. The wave guides or optical fibers may have angled endfaces and be positioned to reduce the required operating range of motion of the mirror. The mirror may be a Fresnel mirror, a concave mirror, a diffractive mirror or a concave diffractive mirror. In certain embodiments the mirror is moved in at least two dimensions to steer the light beam to form a trajectory having at least two dimensions.

Abstract: An optical switch includes two optical input terminals, two optical output terminals, two reflecting devices and a movable device. The optical input terminals are used to receive light rays. The two reflecting devices are positioned at fixed positions, and the movable device reflects light rays. When the position of the movable device moves, the light rays are reflected by one of the reflecting devices and are selectively output from the optical output terminals.

Abstract: An optical device which is suitable for use in a projection display comprises a spatial light modulator, such as a liquid crystal device, with a microlens array disposed on its front surface. The microlenses are of convergent type, such as lenticules. The spatial light modulator is of the reflective type and comprises a plurality of rear reflectors, each of which has convergent optical power in at least one direction. The reflectors are arranged such that, for a given direction of illumination, each reflector forms an image of the aperture A of a microlens on the aperture B of another microlens or at a different position on the same microlens. When used in, for example, a projection display, light losses caused by vignetting are reduced.

Abstract: A laser beam with an annular or ring shaped intensity distribution, such as a TEM01* beam, is scanned across the surface of a photosensitive thin film to directly produce changes of refractive index in selected regions of the film. This method is suitable for producing channel waveguides for planar lightwave circuits, where the refractive index profile (solid curve) of such a waveguide is more uniform than the prior art refractive index profile (dashed curve) produced by a TEM00 laser beam, and has a reduced bend loss.

Abstract: A display includes a light source and a filter positioned to receive light from the light source. An electronically controlled mirror can direct light through the filter in a first mode of operation and not through the filter in a second mode of operation. The display can be utilized in an avionics display system with night vision equipment. The electronically controlled mirror can be a reversible electrochemical mirror (REM).

Abstract: A two element low energy source front projection screen for pictorially displaying upon a front face of the screen an image projected onto the front face from a projector comprised of a metallic support sheet having a front reflective surface and a sheet of lenticular lenses which overlays the front reflective surface of the support sheet. The lenticular lenses provide a focal point of reflective light on their surface in a narrow bright serpentine line separated from each other by dark regions. This optical arrangement is perceived by the eye as the brightness of the bright lines rather than the average brightness of the whole region.

Abstract: An image-forming system with enhanced gray levels, including: a primary beam of light having a primary intensity value, a secondary beam of light having a secondary intensity value significantly less than the primary intensity value; a first modulator array of discrete devices receiving the primary beam of light and producing an output with coarse gray levels, a second modulator array of discrete devices receiving the secondary beam of light and producing an output with fine gray levels; a controller for synchronously controlling the first and the second modulator array; and optics that combine the output with fine gray levels and the output with coarse gray levels to form an image with the enhanced gray levels.

Abstract: The light which is input from an optical fiber to a first port is output to an optical path. The light which is input from the optical path to a half mirror is branched into two, and is output to the optical paths. The light which is output to the optical path reaches to and is reflected from a first reflecting mirror, and returns to the half mirror by an optical path. The light which is input to the half mirror by the optical path is branched into two, and is output to the optical paths. The light which is output to the optical path reaches to and is reflected from a second reflecting mirror, and returns to the half mirror by an optical path. The light which is input to the half mirror by the optical path is branched into two, and is output to the optical paths. The light which is output to the optical path is output from a second port to an optical fiber, and the light which is output to the optical path is output from a third port to an optical fiber.

Abstract: An image-forming system with enhanced gray levels, including: a primary beam of light having a primary intensity value; a secondary beam of light having a secondary intensity value significantly less than the primary intensity value; a first modulator array of discrete devices receiving the primary beam of light and producing an output with coarse gray levels; a second modulator array of discrete devices receiving the secondary beam of light and producing an output with fine gray levels; a controller for synchronously controlling the first and the second modulator array; and optics that combine the output with fine gray levels and the output with coarse gray levels to form an image with the enhanced gray levels.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a light source for supplying illumination light, a reflection type display element for modulating the illumination light into image light by reflecting the light, an illumination optical system for guiding the illumination light to the reflection type display element, and a projection optical system for guiding the image light to an observer. The image light is incident on the projection optical system via at least a portion of said illumination optical system. The projection optical system includes a member for correcting an optical path length difference between rays of the image light caused when the image light is incident on the projection optical system via at least a portion of the illumination optical system.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is disclosed suitable for overlapping a plurality of radiation beams at the input end of an optical waveguide device, such as an optical fiber or fiber laser. The optical apparatus includes a plurality of deflecting facets, where each deflecting facet is oriented so as to deflect incident beams of radiation so that the deflected beams emanate from a virtual multi-beam radiation point source. An output relay optical system captures the deflected beams and causes them to overlap at the input end of the optical waveguide device. Input relay optical systems, which may be tiltable plane parallel plates, may be disposed between sources of the radiation beams and be used to redirect the radiation beams so that they emanate from a virtual multi-beam radiation point source. Methods for adjusting components of the optical apparatus to fine-tune the positions and directions of the radiation beams for more precise overlapping are also disclosed.

Abstract: An image-forming system with enhanced gray levels, including: a primary beam of light having a primary intensity value; a secondary beam of light having a secondary intensity value significantly less than the primary intensity value; a first modulator array of discrete devices receiving the primary beam of light and producing an output with coarse gray levels; a second modulator array of discrete devices receiving the secondary beam of light and producing an output with fine gray levels; a controller for synchronously controlling the first and the second modulator array; and optics that combine the output with fine gray levels and the output with coarse gray levels to form an image with the enhanced gray levels.

Abstract: A compact image pickup optical system capable of providing a clear image of minimal distortion even at a wide field angle, and an image pickup apparatus using such an image pickup optical system. The image pickup optical system forms an object image on the surface of an image pickup device (8). At least a rear optical unit (4) is provided on the image side of a pupil plane (1). The rear optical unit (4) has at least one reflecting surface decentered such that the whole surface is tilted with respect to an axial principal ray (2) defined by a light ray emanating from the object center and passing through the pupil center to reach the image center. The reflecting surface has a rotationally asymmetric surface configuration that corrects rotationally asymmetric decentration aberrations caused by decentration, thereby reducing rotationally asymmetric aberrations of the object image.

Abstract: A lenticular screen component of a rear projection display screen has lenticular elements formed on a viewer surface. Identical lenticular elements cover the entire lenticular screen component and are repeated horizontally at a constant displacement. A given lenticular element includes a pair of reflective side portions and a refractive tip portion interposed between the side portions. One of the pair of side portions forms a sloped region at a joint between the one side portion and a side portion of an adjacent lenticular element. The sloped region is at an angle in a range between 5 and 15 degrees with respect to the first axis. The one side portion is covered with a reflective coating in at least a region of the one side portion that includes the joint. The pair of reflective side portions reflects light rays incoming from a projector towards the refractive tip portion for refracting the reflected light rays via a surface of the refractive tip portion facing a viewer.

Abstract: An enhanced illumination system for a micro-display comprises an illuminator for a reflective display panel having a light source and a prism. The prism has a first substantially planar face proximate to the light source and to the display panel, so that light propagates from the light source into the prism through the first face and is redirected to the display panel through the first face. A second face of the prism is positioned opposite the light source so that light reflected from the display panel impinges on the second face and propagates to imaging optics. The illuminator may also include an auxiliary prism optically coupled to the second face of the first prism to correct for astigmatism of the reflected light from the display panel and a beam splitter between the first prism and the auxiliary prism.

Abstract: A night vision system 10 is provided for detecting objects at relatively low visible light levels. The system 10 includes an infrared light source 14. The system 10 further includes a thin sheet optical element 16 extending along a first axis 27 receiving light from the infrared light source 14 and reflecting the light generally in a first direction. Finally, the system 10 includes an infrared camera for receiving the light reflected off objects in the environment and generating a video signal responsive to the received light.

Abstract: A diffusing reflector provides high diffusion efficiency and superior reflection characteristics. The diffusing reflector includes a substrate, a resin film on the substrate, and a metal film formed on the resin film. The resin film indudes multiple adjacent polygonal columns that have upper end sloping surfaces with a maximum inclination angle of 12 degrees or less.