Abstract: A piezoelectric wavefront modulator is disclosed having mirror actuators including a first and second layer of piezoelectric material, both internally polarized in a given direction, together with electrode means for increasing the internal electric field in one layer while decreasing the internal electric field in the other layer. As the layers are clamped to the modulator support elements at opposite edges, the degree of bending of the layers may be carefully controlled to cause pusher elements to actuate a mirror, which mirror is oriented parallel to the major surfaces of the top layer of piezoelectric material.

Abstract: An eyeglass case having a novel separator element incorporated within it to prevent the temple tips of an inserted pair of eyeglasses from contacting and rubbing against the lenses thereof. The separator element preferably comprises a flexible strip secured to an inside edge of the case and extending into the case a distance of approximately one-third the width of the case such that when a pair of eyeglasses are inserted into the case, the temple portions of the eyeglasses will be positioned on one side of the separator element while the lenses thereof will be positioned on the opposite side thereof.The invention is primarily designed for use in connection with cases of the "open-end" type although it is not restricted thereto.

Abstract: Multi-faceted rotating optical scanning system having facet angle corrector means for reducing banding in imagery produced therewith. In accordance with the invention, the corrector means comprises a corrector plate supporting a plurality of transparent discs, each one of said discs being positioned in advance of a different facet of said scanner. Each of the discs is further designed to have a slight wedge angle between its two surfaces such that by independently rotating each disc, a light beam passing through it can be bent by a precise amount to control the angle at which the beam impinges upon the associated facet, and, hence, the angle at which it is reflected therefrom onto an image receiving medium. This system thus permits any banding that might otherwise be caused by relative differences in the angular orientation of each facet to be essentially eliminated in a highly accurate, inexpensive manner.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an extremely compact camera-processor which is configured to sharply reverse the direction of the exposed light sensitive sheet as it leaves the exposure plane. The light sensitive sheet is thereafter driven downwardly into a processor bath along with a relatively flimsy receptor sheet.

Abstract: A wavefront modulator includes a multiple layer unitary block of a piezoelectric medium having a mirror bonded to the uppermost surface of the block. First and second sets of electrodes are formed within the block at each of a plurality of discrete electrically-addressable locations, such that the electrodes of the first set are positioned at one side of each of the layers, and the electrodes of the second set are positioned at opposite sides of each of the layers in order to increase the sensitivity of response of the modulator to in turn decrease the requisite driving or control voltages. The first and second sets of electrodes are offset with respect to each other to provide for ease of electrical access to each electrode of each set.

Abstract: A piezoelectric wavefront modulator employs a plurality of widely-separated posts, which are formed upon the upper portion of a monolithic piezoelectric medium and are affixed to the lower portion of a flexible mirror. The posts extend from the top surface of the piezoelectric medium a sufficient distance, so that the mirror floats. The posts are surrounded by moats formed within the medium, which are configured to produce a highly sensitive device, wherein the post mirror actuators are substantially electromechanically isolated from each other, but not from the piezoelectric material adjacent the moat.

Abstract: A two-part replaceable cassette-like device is provided, having a disposable cassette portion and a light sealed buffer box, having a pair of drive rollers therein and which is detachably fastened to the disposable cassette, whereby the photosensitive material driven out of the cassette will be driven through the light sealed buffer box into a camera processor. Upon exhaustion of the photosensitive media within the cassette, the buffer box is removed from the cassette for reuse and the cassette is thrown away.

Abstract: A unique gear drive control means is provided for causing the execution of various operations in the camera processor, such as driving the light sensitive medium to the exposure station, cutting the medium, driving the medium through a second transport means, and driving the medium again through the second transport means, along with a receptor sheet, which sheets are thereafter introduced into the entrance portion of a diffusion transfer processor. A single motor turns both the rocker itself and three gears mounted thereon, which gears sequentially actuate various drive gears of the processor to carry out the various film manipulation steps.

Abstract: A compact, all-reflecting optical system for viewing distant objects. The system comprises a negative convex secondary mirror placed between a positive concave primary mirror and a positive concave tertiary mirror. The system has an eccentric field of view in that the field of view lies entirely on one side of the optical axis, and because of this, the light travelling from the object to the image will pass entirely outside the secondary mirror, both when entering the system and when travelling from the tertiary mirror to the image. Accordingly, with the present invention, there is no central obstruction and no consequent restriction on field of view and power distribution between mirrors as is found in prior art all-reflecting systems.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for applying an adherent, optically clear, abrasion resistant coating to polymeric substrates formed from unsaturated monomers. Typical substrates are lenses formed from either acrylic or allylic polymers, such as CR-39 lenses.This process includes (a) forming a solution of a partially hydrolyzed vinyltri (lower alkoxy) silane, such as vinyltriethoxysilane, in a water-miscible, volatile, organic solvent, the silane being present from 25-75% by weight; (b) applying this solution to a clean surface of the substrate; (c) dehydrating the coated substrate under low humidity conditions at an elevated temperature below the temperature at which the substrate degrades; and, (d) then submitting the dehydrated coated substrate to irradiation with ultraviolet light or other high energy radiation until an adherent, abrasion resistant coating is formed.

Abstract: The intensity of light beams transmitted through a tunable acousto-optic modulator is controlled by modulating the center wavelength of the filter passband. Such wavelength modulation can be obtained by modulation of the acoustic frequency or the crystal birefringence. An acousto-optic modulator of this type is sensitive to the temporal coherence of the light beam. When used in an optically coherent detection system, it can provide detection of very weak laser beams in the presence of strong incoherent background radiations.

Abstract: It is desirable to position instant film at the viewing imaging plane of a camera-processor having a light shield surrounding the viewing plane. The use of a conventional film holder causes interference between the dark slide and the light shield. By modifying the dark slide, the slide is completely removed from the film holder positioned within the special camera back, and the back is thereafter pivoted to enable the film to be positioned at the viewing plane.

Abstract: A generally rectangular cartridge is provided having a substantially skewed side wall together with exit orifice means and an associated light seal positioned between a terminal portion of the skewed side wall and the adjacent wall of said cartridge. An end of roll detector is also provided, employing a movable roller which activates a microswitch when the supply of film in the cartridge becomes exhausted.

Abstract: A moveable carriage bearing an optical element, such as a font segment track select mirror, is supported upon a flat elongated plateway by means of rollers mounted upon the carriage which is translated along the plateway so that the carriage assumes only a first or second discrete position after it comes to rest. A single spring is employed to cause first and second detent members to be maintained in firm contact with each other to cause the carriage to assume either a first discrete position or a second discrete position while simultaneously maintaining the carriage mounted rollers in firm contact with the plateway.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for obtaining the doppler transform of a one-dimensional linear signal by re-arranging the signal into a two-dimensional raster form image pattern and then obtaining an optical linear transformation of the two-dimensional image. An optical circuit is provided for carrying out the transformation and is designed to process the signal for a large number of doppler levels in rapid succession without it being necessary to rescan the initial signal each time as in the prior art. Accordingly, a substantial reduction in processing time is achieved.The invention has been developed primarily for use in locating the position of underwater objects through the use of sonar, but has application in a variety of other data processing fields.

Abstract: A generally rectangular cartridge is provided having a substantially skewed side wall together with exit orifice means and an associated light seal positioned between a terminal portion of the skewed side wall and the adjacent wall of said cartridge. An end of roll detector is also provided, employing a movable roller which activates a microswitch when the supply of film in the cartridge becomes exhausted.

Abstract: A brake mounted upon a moveable phototypesetter lens carriage is in continuous braking contact with a stationary flat elongated way member positioned along the path of motion of the carriage. A central portion of a brake shoe member is rigidly affixed to the moveable carriage and has first and second flexible arm members spring biased against the way member, and the entire brake shoe member consists of a single homogeneous mass of material.

Abstract: Apparatus for feeding sheets one-at-a-time from the bottom of a stack of sheets. The apparatus includes a conventional suction assembly moveable into contact with the bottom sheet in the stack to attach itself to that sheet, and thereafter moveable away from the stack to carry that sheet toward a utilization device. Although such a feeding system is usually effective, it has been found that the suction assembly will not reliably attach itself to the bottom sheet when that sheet is curled, arched or otherwise deformed even if only to a relatively minor extent. To alleviate this deficiency, the present invention provides a hold-down assembly moveable with the suction assembly to press down against the top of the stack to press out any deformations in the sheets while the suction assembly is operating to ensure that it will reliably attach itself to the bottom sheet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for increasing the visibility of low contrast images. In accordance with the invention, the visibility of a selected area of an image is increased relative to another area of said image which differs only slightly in brightness from said selected area by causing said selected area to periodically vary in brightness while maintaining the brightness of said other area constant.The apparatus for carrying out the invention comprises an optical circuit including an electro-optic photosensitive storage device having a photosensitive characteristic in which the conductance of the device varies as a function of the intensity of the radiation incident upon it, and an electro-optic birefringent characteristic in which the birefringence varies as a function of an electric field applied across it. An image of an object is read into the device which is then read-out onto a screen by placing the device between two polarizers in a readout light beam.

Abstract: A system for detecting the presence of coherent radiation comprises an interference filter having a pair of partially-reflective mirrors. The spacing between the mirrors is varied in accordance with a sine function to change the transmission wavelength of the mirrors. A reference signal is developed which represents this periodic variation in the spacing of the mirrors. A photodetector on the output side of the filter detects radiation transmitted therethrough, yielding a detection signal in the presence of coherent radiation transmitted through the filter. An indicator responds to the signal output of the photodetector and to the reference signal to produce an identifying indication of the detected radiation.