Abstract: A method of making an optical filter wheel of a device synchronizable with an internal, rotatable virtual reference wheel, created in a memory of a motor controller of the device, is disclosed. The method includes a single trigger event that initializes rotation of the virtual reference wheel. The controller determines the orientation of an optical filter wheel of the device and maintains an ongoing representation of said orientation over time. The controller controls the motor, which causes the filter wheel to become coincident with the virtual reference wheel after the trigger event. A self-contained light fixture is also disclosed, which includes an optical filter wheel driven by an electric motor that is synchronizable with an internal, rotatable virtual reference wheel of the fixture. The method and light fixture permits optical filter wheels of multiple light fixtures, which may be identical, to synchronize with one another.

Abstract: Luminaire with reflector of adjustable rotation comprises a luminaire housing, a reflector received in the housing and an assembled component at ends of reflector. Each longitudinal end of the luminaire has a recess and a projection on internal surface, the recess defining a circular arc, with center as longitudinal axis of a fluorescent lamp. Each assembled component has first and second axially outwardly protruding parts, cooperating with an associated recess and projection, respectively. The first part is received in the recess for guiding rotation of the reflector. The second part has a circular arced, toothed surface concentric with its associated recess, and cooperating with an associated projection that engages a respective one of a plurality of cavities of the toothed surface, to secure the reflector in a respective one of a plurality of rotational positions. Locations of recess and projection can be interchanged with locations of first and second parts.

Abstract: A hub arrangement for mounting light pipe to receive light includes a light pipe hub for mounting at least one light pipe, with a plug-and-socket arrangement. The plug-and-socket arrangement includes (i) a socket in the light pipe hub for receiving a plug, and (ii) a plug for mounting a light pipe end that is to receive light. A fore end of the plug is receivable within the socket. The plug has a channel for receiving the light pipe through an aft end of the plug. The hub arrangement may also include, if desired, a rod hub for mounting at least one thermally isolating, light-collection rod for receiving light from a light source. The hub arrangement allows easy and rapid coupling of light pipe to an illumination source, using a “plug-and-socket” feature. The hub arrangement may incorporate several safety features to prevent premature light pipe failure.

Abstract: Fiberoptic luminaire with scattering and specular side-light extractor patterns comprises a fiberoptic light pipe with elongated side-fight emitting portion. Such portion illuminates a target area with a scattering, and a specular, light extractor pattern. The extractor patterns are arranged to extract light from the side-light emitting portion over a radial angle, orthogonal to said main axis, of less than 180°. The scattering extractor pattern atone may provide greater than 50% of light on the target area, and light extracted by the specular extractor pattern alone may produce an illuminance on a selected portion of the target area that is greater than 5% of the maximum illuminance produced on the target area by the scattering extractor pattern. Furthermore, the scattering extractor pattern may comprise a Lambertian type of extractor pattern. Each specular extractor pattern may comprise a notch having main faces parallel to within 10° of each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for the treatment of radioactive wastes produced as a consequence of the operation of nuclear power plants with pressurized water reactors and boron reactivity regulation accompanied by the simultaneous production of environmentally acceptable substances of, for example, borax, calcium-magnesium borates, boron acid and sodium hydroxide solutions.

Abstract: An illumination system for a video-imaging device has a light source and a collector of light from the light source. The collector is formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receives a portion of the light from the light source. The collector is configured to reduce the angular distribution of the collected light from the light source to match the requirements of a digital pixelation device.

Abstract: An adjustable-aim light pipe fixture, comprising a generally spherical eyeball for receiving an end of a light pipe is disclosed. The eyeball has a longitudinal axis coincident with a longitudinal axis of that portion of the light pipe that is received in the eyeball. A socket holds the eyeball. The socket comprises a first retainer ring and a second retainer ring. Each retainer ring has an interior surface with contact points to an outer surface of the eyeball. The first and second retainer rings are oriented with respect to each other so as to hold the eyeball in a fixed position when the first and second rings are pressed towards each other. Clamping structure clamps the first and second rings against each other in such manner as to hold the eyeball in fixed relation to the first retainer ring.

Abstract: A light pipe with uniform side-light emission has a core comprising a polymer, and a fluoropolymer cladding on the core with a lower refractive index than the core. Light-scattering material is distributed within the core along an active section of light pipe in which side-light emission is desired, with a density gradient chosen to achieve uniform side-light emission. Another light pipe with uniform side-light emission has a core comprising a polymer, and a fluoropolymer cladding on the core with a lower refractive index than the core. Light-scattering material is distributed within at least one of the cladding and the core along an active section of light pipe in which side-light emission is desired, with a density gradient chosen to yield uniform side light emission, and substantially only in a radial swath, along the longitudinal axis of the light pipe, of substantially less than 360 degrees.

Abstract: A solid light pipe arrangement with reduced Fresnel-reflection losses includes a light pipe with a solid core comprising a polymer. An optically clear substrate has first and second sides with an anti-reflective coating on at least one side. The substrate is adhered to an end-face of the core of the light pipe by adhesive material so as to create an optically clear interface between the substrate and the end-face that passes more than about 96 percent of transmitted light. A preferred method of applying an anti-reflective coating to an end-face of a core of a solid, polymeric light pipe comprises diverting uncrosslinked polymer used for forming a light pipe core, and using the diverted polymer as adhesive material between a substrate with at least one antireflective coating and the end-face of a light pipe having the same polymeric components, in the same proportions, as the diverted polymer.

Abstract: A door knob with a light-emitting location indicator comprises a knob designed for placement on a door, for being grasped by the hand of a user for opening the door. The knob comprises translucent material. One or more objects comprising light-emitting material that either phosphoresces or luminesces are mounted within the knob and are visible through a protective layer of translucent material. The light-emitting material is designed to emit light in a darkened space to thereby visually indicate the location of the knob in the darkened space.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light appliance and a cooling arrangement, comprising a light appliance and a substantially sealed enclosure for the light appliance that gives off unwanted heat into surrounding air within the enclosure during operation. The enclosure has an external wall at least part of which is thermally conductive. A medium, cooler than the external wall of the enclosure, contacts the external wall. An air circulating device is provided for circulating air, heated by the electrical appliance or by the air circulating device, to the thermally conductive portion of the external wall for removing heat from the air by thermally dissipating the heat into the cooler medium through said thermally conductive portion.

Abstract: A luminaire with directional side-light extraction comprises a light pipe with a light-carrying core. The light pipe has light-extraction structure along a first longitudinal side of the luminaire, which is confined to a radial swath of the luminaire, along the longitudinal axis of the luminaire, of substantially less than 180°. For efficiency, the second end has light-saving structure for directing saved light from the second end towards the first end, at redirection angles other than an excluded range of redirection angles, so long as the photon content of light at so-called alpha redirection angles is at least 10 percent of the photon content of light at so-called beta redirection angles, where the excluded range of redirection angles is defined by: |?r|<=20° and |?r|<|?r|/10, where ?r is the beta redirection angle and ?r is the alpha redirection angle.

Abstract: A light pipe fixture with adjustable beam spreads comprises a bayonet assembly having a generally tubular coupling for receiving a light-dispensing end of a light pipe, and a receiver assembly. The receiver assembly has a generally tubular coupling for receiving therewithin the bayonet assembly coupling at adjustable levels of penetration of the bayonet assembly coupling within the receiver assembly coupling. The receiver assembly further comprises an optical lens and a hollow portion for focusing a light beam from the end of the light pipe through the lens. The radial interior surface of the receiver assembly coupling and the radial exterior surface of the bayonet assembly coupling may be configured so the receiver assembly coupling slidably and lockingly receives the bayonet assembly coupling in any of a plurality of positions along the length of the receiver assembly coupling.

Abstract: A light pipe with side-light extraction by light pipe-surface alteration includes an optical light pipe with a plastic light-carrying portion covered with a fluoropolymer cladding. A plurality of light-extraction devices is spaced along an active section of the light pipe for emission of side light over only a range from about 2 to 270 degrees of the cross-sectional circumference of the light pipe in the active section. The light-extraction devices have inlets passing through the cladding and optically contacting the plastic light-carrying portion. Another form of light pipe with side-light extraction by light pipe-surface alteration includes an optical light pipe with a plastic light-carrying portion. An active section of the light pipe for side light emission comprises an axisymmetrical change of area of cross section of the light pipe that generally diminishes from an inlet end of the active section, through the active section.

Abstract: An image transformation method for translating a non-linear 2D geometrical transformation into two separable 1D geometrical transformations first determines the inverse of the 2D geometrical transformation to form an inverse 2D geometrical transformation. Then the method converts the inverse 2D geometrical transformation into an analytical inverted 2D geometrical transformation and separates the analytical inverse 2D geometrical transformation into first and second 1D geometrical transformations. The method then represents said inverse 2D geometrical transformation and first and second 1D geometrical transformations as tensor spline surfaces and then compares an evaluation of said first and second 1D geometrical transformations at each pixel with an evaluation of the analytical inverse 2D geometrical transformation at each pixel. If the error evaluation does not meet a predetermined level of performance then the separation and transformation steps are repeated.

Abstract: System of reflectors and base of parabolic fluorescent luminary for concentrating and guiding light, with improved light output and reduction in construction cost. On the support base of the electrical components of the luminary, two of the four side walls are made of plastic, which are assembled by easy and quick snapping to the main body of iron sheet. These plastic side walls have specific cavities and projections for mounting a grid of parabolic reflectors, which consists of the following, two separate parts made of thin plastic film of at least one reflecting surface: (i) the main parabolic components for directing the light, which are placed under fluorescent lamps, and (ii) the upper cross-made grid, which can be removed from the luminary independently of the main parabolic components. Thus, the main parabolic components do not need to have openings along the lamps. As a result, their continuous parabolic shape improves significantly the light output of the parabolic luminary.

Abstract: A light collection system comprises a light source with a bulbous section for emitting radiant energy in the direction of first and second portions of the bulbous section. A reflecting surface directs visible light from the light source to the first portion. Another reflecting surface directs UV energy from the light source to the second portion. A first angle-to-area converter receives visible light in the first portion and decreases the angle of the visible light to a desired angle. A second angle-to-area converter receives UV energy in the second portion and decreases the angle of the UV energy to a desired angle. A phosphor layer receives UV energy downstream of the second angle-to-area converter and converts the UV energy to visible light. A third angle-to-area converter receives visible light from the phosphor and reducing the angle of such light to an angle optimized for entering a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: A fiberoptic lighting system has a light source with a bulbous section and a plurality of plastic light pipes having substantially circular cross sections. A collector has an inlet for receiving light from the light source and an outlet. The collector performs an area-to-angle conversion on light it collects from the light source. A plurality of rods receives light from the collector and passes such light to the plastic light pipes, while thermally isolating the plastic light pipes from the light source. A perimeter of an outlet of the collector has a plurality of shaped portions, each associated with, and each substantially shaped the same as, a substantial portion of an associated perimeter of a respective one of the plurality of rods. The foregoing system delivers a higher percentage of light from a light source into multiple light pipes than in a prior art system.

Abstract: An image data processing method and system receives image data from a burst memory buffer and provides output image data to a vertical filter for filtering. The method determines whether a new frame of input image data has been received, said frame of data having a plurality of blocks, each block having a plurality of rows and columns. A vertical input buffer uses a read pointer, an oldest unused data pointer, and a write pointer to keep track of the data that is being read and stored. Data is read and stored into said vertical input buffer by determining the minimum offset for the block, reading a row of input image data from the burst memory buffer and skipping the row depending on the minimum offset until minimum offset reached, and storing the row of input image data in said vertical input buffer for processing by the vertical filter until the buffer is full. If the entire frame has been processed then the pointers are all reset.