Abstract: Disclosed is an optical filter switching apparatus used in an optical instrument for converting externally input image information into video image information and outputting the video image information. The apparatus comprises: an optical filter holding section holding a first optical filter and a second optical filter; an actuator having a rotary solenoid which rotates between a first position and a second position. A rotational power transmission section transmits the rotational force of the rotary solenoid to the optical filter holding section; and a microprocessor controls the rotary solenoid of the actuator in accordance with at least one external input signal and the power level of the video image information. The rotary solenoid is rotated to at least one of the first and second positions.

Abstract: A color wheel is attached to a hub of a motor before the hub is built in the motor. In this process, portions of the hub which do not impact the rotation accuracy of the motor are held by appropriate clamping means and attaching means so that excessive stress and heat are not applied to bearings of the motor. Then, the hub with the color wheel attached thereto is assembled to the rest of components of the motor.

Abstract: A filtering system for use in, for example, a radiological imaging in a mammography apparatus. The system has a roundabout carrying a set of filtration plates. Each filtration plate is held on the roundabout by a joint. In a parked or stationary position, each plate is vertically suspended and does not contribute to any unacceptable increase in the horizontal space requirement of an X-ray tube. Each filtration plate may be presented in turn before a window for the emission of X-rays from the tube. At this position, the plate is rectified about its joint in order to occupy one position, among several possible positions, that also makes it possible, in this way, to modulate the filtration capacity of the plate.

Abstract: A projector, comprising a user replaceable color wheel.

Abstract: A filter for a display system is provided which includes a fluid chamber having a selectively moveable filtering fluid, plural electrodes being coupled with the fluid chamber to accommodate establishment of an electric field whereby the filtering fluid may be selectively positioned in an optical path.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for regulating the brightness of a light source (2), configured as an incandescent lamp, in the illumination beam path (8) of a microscope (1), the brightness of the light source (2) being modifiable by increasing or reducing the electrical power delivered to the light source (2), are characterized in that a red shift, associated with the reduction in the delivered electrical power, of the spectrum of the light emitted by the light source (2) in the illumination beam path (8) is compensated for by way of a variable optical filter (16) that brings about a blue shift of the spectrum. A color-neutral regulation of the brightness of the illuminating light is thereby achieved.

Abstract: An optical filter which can be manufactured at low cost and is excellent in optical characteristics is disclosed. The optical filter has a transparent substrate and a first layer which is formed on the surface of the transparent substrate. Here, the first layer has a first area which is substantially transparent and a second area which has colored ink and is light-amount adjustable, and the optical path lengths with respect to the first and the second areas are substantially equal.

Abstract: An adjustable color-temperature projecting device includes a light source for providing light beams, and a filtering means. The filtering means includes red, green and blue filtering sections. The blue filtering section has coatings with different transmissivitys. The intensity of blue primary color light is varied due to the different transmissivitys of the blue filtering section, so that the ratio of blue primary color light in the hybrid light is modified to cause change in color temperature with reduced loss of brightness. Then, the filtering means is moved so that the light beam is projected onto a predetermined location to obtain the desired color temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an ND filter having a gradation density distribution, the ND filter, and an aperture device and a camera having the ND filter. A structure thereof is as follows. The method of manufacturing an ND filter having at least two kinds of films on a substrate includes the steps of: forming a film of at least one layer other than an outermost layer having a gradation density distribution while rotating a slit mask integrally with the substrate; and forming a film of the outermost layer without using the slit mask.

Abstract: A filter device for transmitting an optical signal using multiple wavelengths is disclosed. The filter device includes a fixation unit fixed to a substrate, a rotation unit having a filter rotatably installed on the fixation unit, and a control means for obtaining a predetermined wavelength by controlling the rotation angle of the filter through gear combinations corresponding positions of the fixation unit and the rotation unit. The alignment and fixation of the filter are controlled simultaneously through the gearing combinations between the gear teeth on the guide rib of the rotation unit and the teeth of the spur gear fixed to the bolt.

Abstract: A filter for a display system is provided which includes a fluid chamber having a selectively moveable filtering fluid, plural electrodes being coupled with the fluid chamber to accommodate establishment of an electric field whereby the filtering fluid may be selectively positioned in an optical path.

Abstract: A color wheel including a motor body, a housing and a color filter. The housing is set to a side of the central axis of the motor body. The color filter is set on the housing. In this case, a circumferential housing surface is formed with a recess. In addition, the invention also provides a motor for a color wheel. The motor includes a motor body and a housing, both of which have the same features as those described above.

Abstract: A flexible medium for a scrolling color changer and method of making thereof. The medium is made by applying an ink using a Meyer Rod which has varying cell lengths along its length. This leaves varying size cells of ink at different locations along the length of the medium. The ink has special characteristics whereby its evaporation rate and viscosity are carefully controlled. The viscosity is such that an amount of levelling will occur will be equal to the distance between any cells, but that cell to cell levelling will not, in general, occur.

Abstract: A color setting monitoring system for a digital projector having at least two color settings includes a gamut generator, configured to control the at least two color settings of the projector, and a controller, configured to detect and store in memory an amount of time that the projector is configured in each of the at least two color settings.

Abstract: There is disclosed a light amount adjustment apparatus for adjusting a state of a flux passed through an aperture having a predetermined aperture diameter, the apparatus comprising: a light amount adjustment member in which a first region having a predetermined transmittance to the flux and a second region for blocking the flux are disposed on the same base material. In the light amount adjustment apparatus, although an optical filter is integrally constituted with a diaphragm blade, there is little positional shift of an ND filter, a shape of the ND filter has a degree of freedom, deterioration of resolution of an image is improved for use in optical apparatuses such as a photographing apparatus, optical properties are superior, the whole apparatus can be miniaturized, and cost reduction of a product can be achieved.

Abstract: A relay optical system, which focuses light from a light outgoing plane of an integrator rod into an image on a predetermined illumination area, has a first optical element for correcting at least a distortion aberration, and a second optical element for correcting at least a chromatic aberration. The first optical element includes at least one focusing lens having a non-spherical convex plane, and the second optical element includes at least one diverging lens having a spherical concave lens. The diverging lens is composed of a relatively high dispersive optical glass material having an Abbe's number of not greater than 40. The focusing lens is composed of either an acrylic resin material or an olefin resin material. This arrangement focuses light into an image as an illumination area with a high accuracy and thereby enhances the quality of a resulting displayed image in a projector based on SCR technique.

Abstract: A multi-mode color filter 400 having an inner hub region 402 used to mount the color filter 400 to a motor shaft. A first track 404 and a second track 406 of color filter segments arc formed on the color filter, as is an optional clear track 406. The first and second tracks each have a different set of color filters. One set of filters is chosen to improve image brightness, another set is selected to improve color saturation. Typically, the set of filters used to improve brightness includes one or more clear segments, while the set of filters selected to improve color saturation does not. Depending on the image being projected, the user or the display controller moves the color wheel to select a particular filter set.

Abstract: A tuneable optical filter includes a moveable filter plate and an associated optical region for filtering an input radiation beam to provide corresponding filtered output radiation. The optical region has spatially varying filtration properties. Piezoelectric actuating elements are provided for moving the filter plate and its associated optical region relative to the beam for selecting a portion of the optical region for use in filtering the beam and thereby tuning the filter. The actuating elements are operable when driven by electrical signals to repetitively engage or be in repetitively slidable contact and thereby impart a lateral force to a surface of the filter plate for moving the optical region relative to the beam in at least one dimension. The filter is especially suitable for use in optical communication systems where there arises a need for occasional system reconfiguration involving retuning optical filters of the system.

Abstract: A dimming system is provided that facilitates a wide dimming range and precise control of the dimming range. In one embodiment, the dimming system comprises a multi-aperture dimming system. The multi-aperture dimming system can be implemented in any display that utilizes a fly's eye lens array. The multi-aperture dimming system comprises a plurality of moveable attenuators. The moveable attenuators are configured to form a plurality of apertures that can be controllably opened and closed. Each of the plurality of apertures attenuates a portion of the light propagating through at least one of the lenses in the fly's eye lens array. Thus, by selectively controlling the plurality of moveable attenuators, the dimming system can control the throughput of light propagating through the fly's eye lens array, where the throughput is the percentage of light passed compared to the light passed at maximum brightness and thus is the reciprocal of the dimming ratio at a given setting.

Abstract: The invention concerns with an exposure control mechanism for use in an image pickup apparatus in which a diaphragm aperture formed by a plurality of diaphragm blades moving straightforward in opposite directions is covered by an ND filter, and intends to prevent deterioration of image quality caused by diffraction even in an image pickup device having a small picture size and a short pixel pitch. The image pickup apparatus comprises an exposure control mechanism for adjusting the quantity of light flux entering a shooting lens system. The exposure control mechanism comprises a diaphragm made up of diaphragm blades movable on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis in opposite directions to define a diaphragm aperture, and an ND filter made up of at least two ND filter elements having different transmittances.

Abstract: A color wheel module for an image display device prevents the motor from being damaged during balancing processes. The color wheel module includes a spindle, a motor, a carrier, a connection ring and a color wheel. The motor drives the spindle to rotate. The carrier is mounted onto the spindle and is driven by the spindle for rotation. The color wheel includes a plurality of color filters bonded onto the connection ring, and then the bonded color filters and the connection ring are mounted onto the carrier. Thus balancing of the color wheel may be done before it is mounted on the carrier to avoid damaging the spindle and the motor resulting from adding or removing substance during the balancing process.

Abstract: A color wheel including a motor, a color filter and a washer. The color filter is set on the motor. The washer is set both on the motor and the color filter and the color filter is set between the washer and the motor. A recess is formed between a circumferential edge of an outer surface of the washer and the color filter. In addition, the invention also provides a washer of a color wheel.

Abstract: A variable bandwidth tunable optical filters comprised of two transparent optical substrates, upon each of which is deposited a linearly variable multilayer interference filter coating which varies in total thickness from end to end in a wedged fashion. This wedge imparts a corresponding variation of the center wavelength of the filter bandpass with respect to the linear position of the coated filter substrates. The variable bandpass tunable filter can be adjusted to a specific center wavelength by moving the filter pair together linearly through the incident beam. The bandwidth of the filter pair is maximized when the two filters are spectrally aligned, and is determined by the bandwidth of the individual filters. The variable bandwidth of the tunable filter can be adjusted by introducing a relative linear offset between the linearly variable filter pair.

Abstract: Units for projection of profiled images and for floodlighting suffer from a tradeoff between the quality of the illuminated field and efficiency. The hue, saturation, and intensity must be continuously controllable, and the quality of the illuminated field must be even. According to the invention the optical components have been refined according to a general principle which enables the use of efficient elliptical reflectors without a reduction in quality for both purposes. Each color is controlled by relatively moveable filters having a comblike structure in which the design of the individual teeth compensates for the interaction of the many variables. The intensity is controlled by mechanical dimmers which are designed according to the same principles. This construction will also improve the quality of condenser type projection systems.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical apparatus includes a monolithic optical filter array having a first optical filter element. The monolithic optical filter array also includes a second optical filter element proximate to the first optical filter element. The second optical filter element is detuned relative to the first optical filter element.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical apparatus includes a monolithic optical filter array haiving a first optical filter element. The monolithic optical filter array also includes a second optical filter element proximate to the first optical filter element. The second optical filter element is detuned relative to the first optical filter element.

Abstract: A rotary optical filter apparatus containing an optical filter is integrated with a sirocco type cooling fan having a plurality of fan blades. The cooling fan is supported by a rotary holder of the optical filter apparatus so as to be integrally rotatable with the optical filter. The cooling fan inhales an air from its center part and discharges thus inhaled air from its outer peripheral part due to an action of the fan blades upon rotating, so as to make an airflow along the filter face and cool the optical filter.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for converting a monochrome night vision or other electro-optical device into one that provide a sensation of full color, including from red to blue with white and black. Preferred apparatus of the invention comprise an electro-optical viewing device, particularly a mono-chromatic night vision device, that comprises a plurality of light filters. A first light filter system is positioned at a light-input end of the device, and a second light filter system is positioned at a light-output end of the device, whereby the plurality of filters systems provide to a viewer a sensation of full color, including from red to blue with white and black.

Abstract: A color wheel comprises a motor, a plurality of filter segments and an obstructing plate. The motor has a rotating casing. Protruding from the center of an upper side of the rotating casing, there is a rotating shaft. One end of each fan-shaped filter segment is in contact with the rotating shaft, and one side of its lower surface has a formation of a glue area to be glued onto an upper side of the motor, forming a rear clearance from the upper side. The filter segments are joined to each other to become a ring shape surrounding the rotating shaft. A center hole of the ring-shaped obstructing plate is mounted on the rotating shaft, keeping a clearance from the filter segment. On the outside of the obstructing plate is a ring recess. The invention provides ways of heat insulation and radiation for the filter segments, to enhance product quality.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for tuning an optical filter system of the sort including a filter element which is tuned according the angle of incidence (AOI) of light incident on the filter element by changing the angle of incidence of the light beam incident on the filter element, rather than by rotating the filter element itself. A scan relay changes the angle of the beam incident upon the filter element. An add/drop filter utilizes two scan relays and several mirrors to add, drop, and pass signals without rotating the filter element.

Abstract: An actuator mechanism for a tunable optical filter unit that filters a selected wavelength band of the input light from a DWDM input light. The input light comprises a plurality of wavelength bands or optical channels of light, each of which are centered at a respective channel wavelength. The actuator mechanism exerts a substantially linear force to strain or stress a tunable optical filter element to a desire reflection wavelength(s). A controller, in accordance with a control algorithm, provides a drive signal to the actuator mechanism in response to a command signal and a feedback signal indicative of the center wavelength of the desired optical channel(s) to be filtered. The actuator mechanism includes a drive mechanism that translates linearly a slide in response to the drive signal.

Abstract: A stage lighting instrument having a high-intensity light source or lamp coupled with a concave reflector, and a projection optical system having a lens system that includes a well-defined aperture stop. The lens system forms a real image of the light source near the aperture stop. A color filter and dimming system may be located within the lens system so that the color filter and dimming elements occupy a volume of space near the aperture stop and within the real image of the light source. By locating the color and dimming apparatus near the aperture stop and within the volume occupied by a real image of the light source, superior color mixing, dimming and integration is achieved using simple, unpatterned filters and a simply-shaped dimmer panel. A color filter and dimming system may alternatively be located as close to the light source as possible so that a real image of the color filter and dimming elements is formed near the aperture stop where the image of the light source is formed.

Abstract: A rotary optical filter apparatus containing an optical filter is integrated with a sirocco type cooling fan having a plurality of fan blades. The cooling fan is supported by a rotary holder of the optical filter apparatus so as to be integrally rotatable with the optical filter. The cooling fan inhales an air from its center part and discharges thus inhaled air from its outer peripheral part due to an action of the fan blades upon rotating, so as to make an airflow along the filter face and cool the optical filter.

Abstract: A variable photo-visual telescope filter that consists of filter disc (24 and FIG. 5), mounted in a protective housing (FIG. 4). The photo-visual filter is sandwiched between a telescope eyepiece at one end (Prior Art 10) and a telescope eyepiece holder (Prior Art 14) at the back of a telescope. The filter disc consists of a hard, clear material, imbedded with colors. The colors are concentrically arranged on the filter disc (24). The filter housing has an indicator window (22), which shows an abbreviation of the color being filtered (30). Filter colors are varied be slowly turning a rotary knob (18) which is attached to the filter disc (24). The rotary knob turns the enclosed filter, independent of the filter housing.

Abstract: An electrically switched device wherein arbitrary optical filters can be rapidly switched into, or out of, an optical path. The switchable filter includes a prism substrate (106), a moveable filter plate (108) with a switchable gap (112) between it and a wall (150) of the prism, and a mechanism (512) for moving the filter plate (108) into and out of contact with the prism (106). When the moveable filter plate (108) is sufficiently far from the prism (106), a ray of light (102) traversing through the prism (106) is totally reflected from the prism's wall (150) and there is no filtering of the light. When the filter plate (108) is brought into contact with the prism wall (150), such that the gap (112) between them is negligible, the ray of light (102) passes through the prism wall and into the filter plate (108). The plate (108) then modifies the light spectrum and returns the light back to the prism (106) where it further reflects and then passes out of the prism toward the point of focus.

Abstract: An actuator mechanism for a tunable optical filter unit that filters a selected wavelength band of the input light from a DWDM input light. The input light comprises a plurality of wavelength bands or optical channels of light, each of which are centered at a respective channel wavelength. The actuator mechanism exerts a substantially linear force to strain or stress a tunable optical filter element to a desire reflection wavelength(s). A controller, in accordance with a control algorithm, provides a drive signal to the actuator mechanism in response to a command signal and a feedback signal indicative of the center wavelength of the desired optical channel(s) to be filtered. The actuator mechanism includes a drive mechanism that translates linearly a slide in response to the drive signal.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an improved filter or illumination device. In order to achieve the above object, an illumination device is provided having multiple optical color filters wherein a first time period, required for at least one of the multiple optical color filters to pass across a light path, is different from a second time period, required for each of the other optical color filters to pass across the light path. According to another aspect of this invention, an illumination device has multiple optical color filters and an optical member wherein a boundary, which extends in a direction, is provided between one of the multiple optical color filters and another one of the multiple optical color filters, and the optical member includes an inlet for receiving light from the optical color filters, wherein the inlet extends in a first direction corresponding to the direction of the boundary when the boundary crosses the light path, for a greater distance than the inlet extends in a second direction.

Abstract: A projector particularly for projecting light in infinite colors, comprising a pair of light sources arranged side by side and inserted in a single luminaire, a single dimmer element, a single color changer and a single diffuser element being arranged after the lamps, in order to obtain in output a light beam determined by the sum of the light beams emitted by the light sources arranged side by side.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for regulating the brightness of a light source (2), configured as an incandescent lamp, in the illumination beam path (8) of a microscope (1), the brightness of the light source (2) being modifiable by increasing or reducing the electrical power delivered to the light source (2), are characterized in that a red shift, associated with the reduction in the delivered electrical power, of the spectrum of the light emitted by the light source (2) in the illumination beam path (8) is compensated for by way of a variable optical filter (16) that brings about a blue shift of the spectrum. A color-neutral regulation of the brightness of the illuminating light is thereby achieved.

Abstract: An inexpensive and efficient tunable electromagnetic filter is disclosed, having a wide range of tunable frequencies, comprising a holder with a number of filters mounted on the holder. The frequency of the filter is altered by moving the holder relative to a beam striking the holder so that one of the filters is filtering the beam. The frequency to be filtered may be easily and quickly changed, without altering the structure of the filter. In one embodiment the tunable filter is a disk rotatable by a motor with a number of fixed frequency filters mounted around the periphery of the disk. The filter is surrounded by four fibers providing and receiving beams, as with known add-drop filters.

Abstract: This invention relates to invention relates to a method for filtering and a variable slope optical filter for in-line use with an optical amplifier signal. The filter has a wavelength response that is substantially linear in slope within a band of operation wavelengths of the amplifier; the slope of the filter in an operating band of wavelengths is between zero and a only one of a positive or negative number; furthermore the filter has an amplitude response that has an opposite and counter slope as a function of wavelength to that of a gain tilt of the amplifier within the operation band of wavelengths. Relative movement between the filter and the optical amplifier signal is provided to vary the slope of the filter by means of varying the amplitude wavelength response of the filter.

Abstract: In a reflected-light type fluorescence microscope having a turret type filter cassette capable of switching a plurality of excitation filters, a plurality of barrier filters, and a plurality of dichromatic mirrors and selecting a desired set of excitation filter, barrier filter, and dichromatic mirror upon rotation of a turret to perform fluorescence observation of a specimen, the excitation filters, barrier filters, and dichromatic mirrors are directly mounted on the turret. The turret has a shape obtained by cutting the sharp portion of a polyhedral pyramid (for example, octahedral pyramid) having a rotation axis as its central axis along a plane perpendicular to the central axis. The eight equiangular conical surfaces make 45° with the illumination and observation optical axes. Through holes are formed in the 45° conical surfaces to assure an optical path.

Abstract: A feedback controlled laser diode communication device is disclosed that, as is common, has a laser diode that is modulated in response to an input signal to generate an optical signal, encoding the input signal. Spatially variable passband filter material, however, is arranged to receive at least a portion of the optical signal generated by the laser diode, preferably from the rear facet, and at least one detector is used to detect the thus filtered optical signal. Control circuitry then controls a wavelength of the laser diode based upon the response of the detector(s) to thus provide feedback control. As such, the device is particularly applicable to maintaining the tight channel spacings found in wavelength division multiplexed systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to various arrangements of optical and electronic components to form a high-resolution helmet mounted display (HMD) or other compact display device utilizing one or more reflective mode display devices for the generation of imagery, including those utilizing micro mirror technology.

Abstract: Devices for using optical filters in a filter holder that enable optical filters to be simply, conveniently, and flexibly interchanged.

Abstract: A lens system having a magnification changing function comprises a plurality of lens units, an aperture diaphragm, and a low-pass phase filter. At least one lens unit contributing to the magnification changing function is disposed on the image side of the aperture diaphragm. The low-pass phase filter is disposed appropriately away from the image plane. In one aspect, most of the magnification changing function is executed by the lens units disposed on the object side of the low-pass phase filter. In another aspect, the low-pass filter is constructed to be movable along the optical axis or inside or outside the optical path. In still another aspect, the low-pass filter has a variable characteristic. In further different aspect, the characteristic of the low-pass filter is determined so as to optimize the low-pass effect.

Abstract: A combination color filter having at least two dual-hue color-changing absorptive substrates. A desired hue and saturation is achieved by using light absorbing gels for a plurality of selected hues, preferably the three subtractive primary colors. The unique arrangement of transparent part, saturation parts and continuously graded saturation parts allow fast color bumping between any two primary colors without flash of white and presence of other intervening colors.

Abstract: A camera has a rear cover part, and a rotatable counter dial with a numerical scale of exposure count indicia to be successively viewed. Each of the indicia has the same color. A label on the rear cover part is superimposed to the counter dial and has the same color as the indicia to render the indicia invisible in order to prevent them from being viewed. The label includes a viewing portion that is not the sane color as the indicia and is arranged to be superimposed successively to the indicia when the counter dial is rotated. As a result, the indicia are made successively visible in order to permit them to be successively viewed. Eye-readable information is imprinted on the label, and the counter dial is transparent to permit the information to be visible through the counter dial in order to be read.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inspecting the quality of a Nd-YAG laser beam after encountering an optic in a laser marking machine is provided. The apparatus includes a bezel that houses a filter medium that significantly increases the visible power intensity between the threshold-of-visibility to the point of saturation of a beam when viewed with an infrared electroviewer. The apparatus of the present invention is held in the path of the laser beam, and the beam is inspected with an infrared electroviewer. Occlusions in the power range of the beam found between the increased range of threshold-of-visibility to saturation point caused by imperfections in the optics can then be seen with an infrared electroviewer.

Abstract: A camera has a rear cover part, a label on the rear cover part, and a numerical scale of exposure count indicia to be successively viewed. The numerical scale of exposure count indicia is located on the label, and each of the indicia has the same color. A color-absorbing optical filter is rotatable superimposed to the indicia and is a color that absorbs the color of the indicia to render the indicia invisible in order to prevent them from being viewed through the filter when light is reflected from the indicia to the filter. The filter includes a viewing portion that is arranged to be superimposed successively to the indicia when the filter is rotated and does not absorb the color of the indicia. As a result, the indicia are successively visible through the viewing portion in order to permit them to be successively viewed. Eye-readable information on the label is a color that is transmitted through the filter to permit the information to be read when light is reflected from the information to the filter.