Abstract: A microscope for examining an object includes a laser light source generating pulsed light so as to illuminate the object. A measuring system including a detector is adapted to detect detection light coming from the object and the measuring system generates a measurement signal based on the detection light. The microscope includes a programmable integrated circuit including a control element and at least one of a first delay element and a second delay element. The control element is configured to generate a first control signal adapted to control the detector and the measuring system. The control element is further configured to generate a second control signal adapted to control the laser light source. The first and second delay elements are configured to delay the first and second control signals, respectively.

Abstract: A light power control system is used in a network in which a control signal is transmitted to instruct setting of a wavelength path. The light power control system is provided with a light amplifier control section configured to carry out a constant output control to a light amplifier which amplifies a light signal transmitted from a node to another node, when said node in said network receives the control signal; and a variable optical attenuator control section configured to adjust an attenuation quantity of a variable optical attenuator to attenuate a light power of the light signal on any of wavelength paths, when said node receives the control signal and moreover the light signal is transmitted on said any of wavelength paths of said node. It becomes possible to receive the data right in a receiving end by a simple unit when there is a change of the number of wavelength paths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical probe (1) suitable for miniature applications. An example application is a fiber-based confocal miniaturized microscope. The optical probe comprises a coil-based actuation system (9, 10) comprising drive coils (9) capable of displacing the distal end (3) of an optical guide (2) housed (4) by the optical probe. The probe makes use of a feedback loop which alternate between driving the displacement of the optical guide by driving a current through the drive coils and switching off the current through the drive coils, and while the drive current being switched off, measure the speed of the distal end of the optical guide. The measured speed is compared to the set-point speed, and if a difference is detected, the drive current is adjusted to eliminate, or at least bring down, this difference.

Abstract: A multi-layer device comprising a first substrate and a first electrically conductive layer on a surface thereof, the first electrically conductive layer having a sheet resistance to the flow of electrical current through the first electrically conductive layer that varies as a function of position.

Abstract: Methods create images viewable under different selected angles on optical storage devices and other photosensitive surfaces and optical storage devices with super-imposed images. Generally, a photosensitive surface is exposed with multiple diffraction patterns creating super-imposed images. These diffraction patterns create super-imposed images on the photosensitive surfaces, which can be read by either a human or a computer.

Abstract: A vehicle display system comprises a display device and an optical system for generating a virtual image for a user. Correction means distorts image information after the optical system is traversed to display the virtual image with reduced distortion. The optical system comprises at least one element that can be adjusted to change the position of the virtual image. Distortion resulting from adjustment of the adjustment element. The display system has a memory device for storing correction data that determine the distortion of the correction means as a function of the selected adjustment of the adjustment element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the visual blur of an object being viewed by an observer experiencing vibration. In various embodiments of the present invention, the visual blur is reduced through stroboscopic image modulation (SIM). A SIM device is operated in an alternating “on/off” temporal pattern according to a SIM drive signal (SDS) derived from the vibration being experienced by the observer. A SIM device (controlled by a SIM control system) operates according to the SDS serves to reduce visual blur by “freezing” (or reducing an image's motion to a slow drift) the visual image of the viewed object. In various embodiments, the SIM device is selected from the group consisting of illuminator(s), shutter(s), display control system(s), and combinations of the foregoing (including the use of multiple illuminators, shutters, and display control systems).

Abstract: A pressing mold for optical lenses, which molds a ring-zone-type diffraction lens having a plurality of concentric ring zones, the mold including: diffraction action transfer surfaces configured to form diffraction action surfaces that diffract light passing through the diffraction lens; and step transfer surfaces configured to form step surfaces that connect the adjacent diffraction action surfaces of the diffraction lens, wherein surface roughness of the step transfer surfaces is larger than surface roughness of the diffraction action transfer surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a door mirror and assembly method therefor with improved assembly performance. A housing support member, housing, and base of a manually retractable door mirror are assembled using screws, a coil spring, and a plate. During assembly, the housing support member is supported in an upside-down position by a jig, and the housing and base are placed in sequence in an upside-down position on the housing support member from above. An electric drive mechanism, fitting, housing, and base of an electrically retractable door mirror are assembled using screws. During assembly, the electric drive mechanism is supported in an upside-down position by a jig, and the fitting, housing, and base are placed in sequence in an upside-down position on the electric drive mechanism from above.

Abstract: A mirror mounting assembly for mounting a mirror on a vehicle bulkhead. The assembly includes a mirror element and a main support arm having a first end and a second end. The mirror element is connected to the first end of the main support arm. The second end of the main support arm is mountable to the vehicle. A pair of brackets are configured to conform to an engine bay side wall of the vehicle. Each bracket has a center portion and two laterally extending flanges that extend at an angle from the center portion in opposite directions. One of the flanges of each bracket is connectable to the bulkhead of the vehicle in the engine bay. A first additional support arm has a first end connected to a first one of the brackets and a second end connected to the main support arm. A second additional support arm has a first end connected to the main support arm and a second end connectable to the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microstructure device comprising multiple substrates with the components of the device formed on the substrates. In order to maintain uniformity of the gap between the substrates, a plurality of pillars is provided and distributed in the gap so as to prevent decrease of the gap size. The increase of the gap size can be prevented by bonding the pillars to the components of the microstructure. Alternatively, the increase of the gap size can be prevented by maintaining the pressure inside the gap below the pressure under which the microstructure will be in operation. Electrical contact of the substrates on which the micromirrors and electrodes are formed can be made through many ways, such as electrical contact areas, electrical contact pads and electrical contact springs.

Abstract: An apparatus is formed from a double active layer silicon on insulator (DSOI) substrate that includes first and second active layers separated by an insulating layer. An electrostatic comb drive is formed from the substrate to include a first comb formed from the first active layer and a second comb formed from the second active layer. The comb drive may be used to impart a tilting motion to a micro-mirror. The method of manufacturing provides comb teeth exhibiting an aspect ratio greater than 1:20, with an offset distance between comb teeth of the first and second combs that is less than about 6 ?m.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a polarizer utilizes a support, which is coated with a photoresist. A carbon nanotube film is located over the photoresist, and one portion of the carbon nanotube film is submerged in the photoresist. Metal or semi-metallic particles are deposited over the carbon nanotube film and the photoresist, which is removed. The carbon nanotube film with the metal particles or semi-metallic particles is adhered to a substrate to obtain the polarizer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a micromechanical component is described, including the steps of: forming a first etch stop layer on a base substrate, the first etch stop layer being formed in such a way that it has a first pattern of through-cutouts; forming a first electrode-material layer on the first etch stop layer; forming a second etch stop layer on the first electrode-material layer, the second etch stop layer being formed in such a way that it has a second pattern of through-cutouts differing from the first pattern; forming a second electrode-material layer on the second etch stop layer; forming a patterned mask on the second electrode-material layer; and carrying out a first etching step in a first direction and a second etching step in a second direction counter to the first direction in order to etch at least one first electrode unit out of the first electrode-material layer and to etch at least one second electrode unit out of the second electrode-material layer.

Abstract: An optical material is described. The optical material includes at least one layer of a metamaterial. Each layer of metamaterial includes a matrix material and a plurality of nano-particles. The plurality of nano-particles are geometrically arranged in an array within the matrix material such that the layer of metamaterial has a high positive refractive index based on a cooperative plasmon effect at a predetermined electro-magnetic radiation (EMR) wavelength relative to the refractive index of the matrix material without the nano-particles.

Abstract: Identical plastic hemispheres are first treated with organic solvent, which is smeared by a pillow of microporous silicon rubber to achieve a slippery surface upon the hemispheres. The slippery surface upon the hemispheres may comprise a layer of melted plastic. Hemispheres are then placed under an application chamber, where hot gas under pressure softens, deforms and transports a sheet of marker foil over the hemisphere. Two hemispheres are then joined together by use of asymmetric voids and a clip pin inserted, while under compression, into the hemispheres.

Abstract: High-precision monolithic optical assemblies are formed using low-cost standard optical components, such as wedge plates and/or wedge second surface mirrors. By rolling and/or shifting the components relative to each other with matched optical surfaces in contact, a precise alignment solution is found for a particular optical assembly. The resulting arrangement of components can be bonded or held together so as to form a high-precision monolithic optical assembly, which can be inserted into an optical system, according to the assembly's function. The functionality of the monolithic optical assembly can be independent of the optical system in which it is used.

Abstract: Techniques and devices based on optical resonators made of nonlinear optical materials and nonlinear wave mixing to generate RF or microwave oscillations using an active opto-electronic loop.

Abstract: A method of assembling a retroreflective device comprising arranging a first, a second, and a third reflective surface normal to one another; observing an angular relationship between the reflective surfaces; adjusting the angular relationship between the reflective surfaces; and adjoining the reflective surfaces with supporting members and an adhesive, wherein the supporting members are of substantially the same material as the substrate of the reflective surfaces, have a cross-sectional shape that is complimentary to the edges of the reflective surfaces, and are arranged along the adjacent edges of the reflective surfaces.

Abstract: A driver for driving an optical deflector includes a mirror, a movable frame for supporting the mirror, a support body surrounding the movable frame, and a first group of piezoelectric actuators and a second group of piezoelectric actuators alternating with the first group of piezoelectric actuators. A first drive voltage for the first group of piezoelectric actuators has first repeated waves each with a first rising period. A second drive voltage for the second group of piezoelectric actuators has second repeated waves each with a second falling period corresponding to the first rising period of the first drive voltage and a second rising period corresponding to the first falling period of the first drive voltage. Frequencies of the first and second repeated waves exclude natural frequencies of a mechanically-vibrating system of the mirror with respect to the axis thereof depending upon the piezoelectric actuators.

Abstract: A lens, such as a lens for use in a wafer-level camera, is made by forming a polymeric material with at least one master to form a pre-final lens. The pre-final lens forms a majority of a final volume of the lens. The pre-final lens is allowed to harden, during which it may sag or shrink. An aliquot of polymeric material is added to the lens and formed with the same master with a spacer, or with a second master, to form a first surface layer that provides correction between the pre-final lens shape and a final desired lens shape. In an embodiment, the surface layer has similar or identical index of refraction to the pre-final lens. In an embodiment the lens is formed on a substrate. In an embodiment, a send master, or master pair, are used to form a lens having upper and lower curvature, with a second aliquot of polymeric material forming a second surface layer on a surface of the lens opposite to the first surface layer.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes: a movable section which has a light reflecting member with a light reflecting surface and which is rotatable around the central axis of rotation; at least a pair of movable beams extending from the movable section along the light reflecting surface; a displacement section which is connected to the movable beams and has a through hole including two fixed surfaces crossing each other; two driving beams which extend from the displacement section along a surface direction of the light reflecting surface so as to be perpendicular to the movable beams; a support section connected to each of the driving beams; a driving section which drives the displacement section; and a permanent magnet which is inserted in the through hole and is fixed to the two fixed surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical combiner for combining multiple laser beams in a flow cytometer. A dichroic beam combiner is used to combine a second laser beam with a first laser beam so that the two beams are collinear. A beam size adjuster is utilized to adjust the size and convergence/divergence of the second laser beam so that both laser beams focus in a vertical direction at the same location on a stream in the flow cytometer. A cylindrical lens with a vertically oriented axis in the focusable beam shaping optics can also be adjusted to adjust the location of the focus point of the two beams in the horizontal direction. Alignment is maintained with the opto-mechanical adjustments made on one laser beam relative to the other laser beam path. Additional beams can also be added to the optical path.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and apparatuses for causing a single imaging lens system to simultaneously form multiple high resolution images on multiple imaging sensor planes. The images are preferably substantially identical, with no parallax error, except for different light levels so that the multiple images are of sufficient quality and similarity that they may be compared and/or combined (typically pixel-by-pixel) to create a single instantaneous high dynamic range (HDR) image. The invention may be used to create high-resolution HDR snapshots of moving subjects, as well as high-resolution HDR moving pictures (e.g. cinematographic films, movies, or other video) in which the subject and/or camera is moving. Alternatively, the images are substantially identical except for different focuses.

Abstract: The invention relates to an activation circuit for a Pockels cell, comprising a first circuit node (P1), which can be connected to a first connection of the Pockels cell (CP), and a second circuit node (P2), which can be connected to a second connection of the Pockels cell (CP), wherein the first circuit node (P1) is connected by means of a first line to a first electrical potential (HV1) across a first switch (S1B) and by means of a second line to a second electrical potential (HV2) across a second switch (S1A), and the second circuit node (P2) is connected by means of a third line to a third electrical potential (HV3) across a third switch (S2B) and to a fourth electrical potential (HV4) across a fourth switch (S2A), and HV1 is more positive than HV2 and HV3 is more positive than HV4, wherein the difference of the potentials (HV1?HV4) is greater than the difference of the potentials (HV1?HV2) and the difference of the potentials (HV3?HV4).

Abstract: An all-reflective afocal lens is comprised of eight-reflective mirrors which can fold the light path into a very compact and thin configuration while maintaining diffraction limited performance. Such an afocal arrangement is usable with a traditional optical imager of an appropriate aperture dimension and FOV range, or with an annular aperture optical system with the appropriately scaled aperture and acceptable FOV angles. When combined the resulting FOV is scaled by the magnification produced by the afocal. The afocal arrangement can be used in either a magnification mode or a demagnification mode. Such an afocal arrangement can be used as either a focal length extender or as a FOV switch enabling a very short length two FOV multi-spectral system with a length that can be an order of magnitude shorter than a known optical system.

Abstract: The invention is related to a rear view mirror assembly with a least two parts out of the group of part as: mirror frame, mirror base, mirror housing, mirror bezel, mirror glass, mirror lighting means, actuator, that must be connected during assembly process with at least one retention latch. This retention latch comprises a circular hood and a rectangular arm formed in a first part and to be inserted into an opening and shifted along a slot in a second part.

Abstract: A method of optical element manufacturing, the method may include selecting a range of a misfocus parameter ?; and designing the optical element to include multiple regions, wherein the optical transfer function (OTF) of the optical element allows, for the range of the misfocus parameter .psi., transmission of images with a contrast of at least 10% for all normalized spatial frequencies up to 50% of a theoretical maximum that is attainable with a full aperture in an in-focus condition.

Abstract: A pair of support members each having a spring section in a part thereof support a mirror element, and a pair of drive mechanisms arranged respectively corresponding to a pair of the support members transform the spring sections of the corresponding support members, thereby changing a distance between each of support points at which the support members support the mirror element and a base. Accordingly, the mirror element can be translated by driving all of the drive mechanisms, or the mirror element can be inclined with respect to the base by driving some of the drive mechanisms.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a reflective object, which comprises the structure with the following layers sequentially: an adhesive layer embedded with optical components; a color layer; and a reflective layer; wherein the reflective object is characterized that the color layer is not contacted with the optical components. The present invention is also disclosed a method of producing the reflective object.

Abstract: Photonic devices and techniques based on tunable single sideband (SSB) modulation in whispering gallery mode resonators formed of different poled electro-optic domains and to support whispering gallery modes circulating in the optical resonator to effectuate a single sideband (SSB) on only one side of the laser frequency without having a mirror image sideband on the other side of the laser frequency.

Abstract: According to a method for producing a diffraction optical element, the center of a molding face and the center of a substrate are positionally aligned to each other based on a marker of a prescribed shape which is formed at the center of the molding face of a mold and the shape of a diffraction grating of the substrate. A nanocomposite material is located between the molding face and the diffraction grating, and the material is pressed by the mold and the substrate to form an optical adjusting layer on the diffraction grating.

Abstract: A method comprising forming two or more frames from a first wafer, forming two or more etalons from a second wafer, disposing a resistive thermal device on each of the two or more frames, dicing the first wafer and the second wafer, and bonding each of the frames to a corresponding one of the etalons to form optical subassemblies of optical filters.

Abstract: An optical element includes an optical surface formed by a press molding method, wherein a ray effective portion of the optical surface has formed thereon an antireflection structure including a minute uneven structure, which contains a component different from that of a base of the optical element and has an average pitch of 400 nm or less.

Abstract: A monolithic or hybrid integrated optical information processor employing a plurality of controllable optical transfer functions at fractional Fourier planes between two optical imaging elements is described. The arrangement can be used to realize or closely approximate arbitrary non-positive-definite transfer functions of spatially-varying amplitude and phase. In various implementations, one or both of the optical imaging elements can comprise a lens or graded-index material. In some implementations, at least a portion of the arrangement is implemented in the form of a stack. Graded index material may lie between consecutive light modulating array elements. The controllable plurality of optical transfer functions are employed to create a controllable optical processor which can be used for image filtering and optical computations using complex-valued optical signal arithmetic. An image sensor may be included to transform the processed image into electrical output.

Abstract: A MEMS mirror is disclosed having thickness correlated with the intensity profile of an impinging optical beam, so as to reduce moment of inertia of the MEMS mirror while preserving optical quality of the reflected beam. It is the mirror edges that contribute the most to the moment of inertia, while it is generally the mirror center that contributes the most to a reduction of the quality of an optical beam reflected from the mirror. Accordingly, by providing a mirror having laterally varying thickness matched to the local variation of the intensity of the optical beam, the quality of the latter may be preserved while the moment of inertia of the mirror may be significantly reduced. The thickness of MEMS mirrors may be varied continuously or stepwise; in one direction or in two mutually orthogonal directions.

Abstract: Mirror consisting of a glass substrate having a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface carrying, in order, a silver coating layer and at least one base paint layer. The glass substrate, the silver coating layer, and the at least one base paint layer each have an edge portion having a rear facing surface arranged at an acute angle to the front surface of the mirror. An additional paint layer covers the entire surface of the base paint layer and the rear facing surfaces of the glass substrate and the silver coating layer.

Abstract: A system and method and computer program product for exposing a photoresist film with patterns of finer resolution than can physically be projected onto the film in an ordinary image formed at the same wavelength. A hologram structure containing a set of resolvable spatial frequencies is first formed above the photoresist film. An illuminating wavefront containing a second set of resolvable spatial frequencies is projected through the hologram, forming a new set of transmitted spatial frequencies that expose the photoresist. The transmitted spatial frequencies include sum frequencies of higher frequency than is present in the hologram or illuminating wavefront, increasing the resolution of the exposing pattern. Designing lithographic masks further includes fabricating the hologram and projecting the illuminating wavefront. A simple personalization based on Talbot fringes and plasmonic interference is further performed.

Abstract: The present invention is a programmable and latching retro-reflective construct suitable for use as an optical label in an optical labeling system. The invention contains retro-reflective structures such as lens beads, corner cubes or other retro-reflecting type structures. The retro-reflective construct further comprises a wavelength selective, programmable and latching reflecting structure located at the reflecting surfaces of the retro-reflective structures. The optical construct can optionally contain additional optical filtering structures. Methods for fabricating the invention are also described.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is compensated for its movement during image acquisition of an object by acquiring the image through a lens subassembly in the apparatus which includes a liquid lens, sensing movement of the apparatus during image acquisition, and controlling the liquid lens to compensate for the effects on the image of movement of the apparatus. Preferably, the liquid lens is controlled so as to change its focal length.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a color filter includes obtaining a color filter, treating the color filter with oxygen plasma, treating the color filter with fluorine plasma and forming one or more color conversion layers. The color filter is obtained by forming on a transparent substrate, multiple color filter layers having respective colors, and banks. The color filter layers are composed of polysiloxane and pigments. The banks are composed of resin and formed at boundaries between color filter layers of different colors. The color conversion layers have respective colors and are formed on the color filter layers by an inkjet method.

Abstract: Accurate simulation of sport to quantify and train performance constructs by employing sensing electronics for determining, in essentially real time, the player's three dimensional positional changes in three or more degrees of freedom (three dimensions); and computer controlled sport specific cuing that evokes or prompts sport specific responses from the player that are measured to provide meaningful indicia of performance. The sport specific cuing is characterized as a virtual opponent that is responsive to, and interactive with, the player in real time. The virtual opponent continually delivers and/or responds to stimuli to create realistic movement challenges for the player.

Abstract: The general field of the invention is that of devices for focusing light to subwavelength dimensions including at least one focusing structure having a metal film provided with a first aperture that penetrates the film, the aperture having dimensions an order of magnitude smaller than the working wavelength of the focusing device. In the devices according to the invention, the focusing structure has at least one optical cavity placed around the aperture so that, when the structure is illuminated with a radiant flux at the working wavelength of the device, a large part of this flux is concentrated on the aperture by said cavity. Several embodiments are described using various cavities that may comprise plasmon reflectors.

Abstract: A method for processing workpieces includes performing a laser processing operation in which a laser beam is directed at a first mirror face and at a second mirror face of a redirecting mirror. The second mirror face is at least partially surrounded by the first mirror face. During the laser processing operation, the second mirror face performs a pendulum movement relative to the first mirror face.

Abstract: A method for generating video holograms for a holographic reproduction device with at least one light modulation means, wherein a scene split into object points is encoded as a whole hologram and can be seen as a reconstruction from a visibility region, which is located within a periodicity interval of the reconstruction of the video hologram. The visibility region, together with each object point of the scene to be reconstructed, defines a subhologram and the whole hologram is generated from a superposition of subholograms, wherein in a sequence of image contents the difference subholograms of object points are preferably generated for each picture, differing in regards to the visibility according to the viewer position in sequential images of the sequence. The display device comprises means that provide high-quality video holograms in spite of the data amount being significantly reduced.

Abstract: A method of producing a patterned birefringent product, containing at least steps (I) to (III) in this order: (I) providing a birefringent pattern builder having an optically anisotropic layer containing a polymer; (II) subjecting two or more regions of the birefringent pattern builder to exposure to light under exposure conditions different from each other; and (III) heating a laminated structure obtained after the step (II) at 50° C. or higher and 400° C. or lower.

Abstract: A wafer-level manufacturing method produces stress compensated x-y gimbaled comb-driven MEMS mirror arrays using two SOI wafers and a single carrier wafer. MEMS structures such as comb drives, springs, and optical surfaces are formed by processing front substrate layer surfaces of the SOI wafers, bonding together the processed surfaces, and removing the unprocessed SOI layers to expose second surfaces of the front substrate layers for further wafer-level processing. The bonded SOI wafers are mounted to a surface of the carrier wafer that has been separately processed. Processing wafer surfaces may include formation of a stress compensation layer to counteract physical effects of MEMS mirrors. The method may form multi-layered conductive spring structures for the mirrors, each spring having a first conducting layer for energizing a comb drive, a second conducting layer imparting a restoring force, and an insulating layer between the first and second conducting layers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an oscillator device having first and second oscillators being driven at first and second driving resonance frequencies gf1 and gf2, the method including a first step for processing the two oscillators, wherein, when the two oscillators are going to be processed as oscillators having first and second resonance frequencies different from the two driving resonance frequencies with a certain dispersion range, the two oscillators are so processed that the first and second resonance frequencies different from the two driving resonance frequencies become equal to first and second resonance frequencies f1 and f2, respectively, which are included in adjustable resonance frequency ranges, respectively, and a second step for adjusting the first and second resonance frequencies f1 and f2 so that they become equal to the first and second driving resonance frequencies gf1 and gf2, respectively.

Abstract: A microscope apparatus capable of removing liquid from an observation field of view of a dry objective lens, when an immersion objective lens is switched to the dry objective lens, is provided. The microscope apparatus includes a specimen XY stage on which a specimen is placed, a dry objective lens and an immersion objective lens that collect light from the specimen, a movable revolver that selectively disposes one of these objective lenses at a position facing the specimen, and a control unit that controls the specimen XY stage and movable revolver such that the relative positions in the XY direction are changed until the immersion objective lens is disposed at a non-observation region of the dry objective lens, prior to switching of these objective lenses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polarizing film or a polarizer that has an elastic modulus of at most about 3500 N/mm2 and suppresses occurrence of warping, the polarizing film is obtained by adsorbing a dichroic material in a polyvinyl alcohol-based film 20 ?m in thickness and stretching the film. The polarizing film has a transmittance of at least 43% and a polarization degree of at least 98%. A transparent protective layer is laminated on at least one surface of the polarizing film to form a polarizing plate.