Abstract: An improved conical panoramic mirror element design is disclosed such that the panoramic vertical field of view is not fixed and the image covers at least 90% of the toroidal image pixels of an imaging device. The data required to prescribe the panoramic conical element includes the position of the detector device, the most negative vertical scene angle, the most positive vertical scene angle, the panoramic cone's base diameter, the cone's apex to base ratio. These are utilized according to a mathematical prescription that optimizes the mirror element's design.

Abstract: A tunable laser system where incoming light is separated into wavelength separated light; the separated light is focused into a plurality of single wavelength focal spots. The laser system includes a locally controllable reflectivity array having a plurality of individually controllable localized reflective elements corresponding to and reflecting one of the plurality of focal spots. A wavelength filter substantially allows wavelengths of the incoming light separated by a specified frequency to emerge as filtered light, while substantially barring other wavelengths. The separated light includes this filtered light. An elongation element for elongates the wavelength separated light into a plurality of elongated single wavelength focal spots. The locally controllable reflectivity array includes a plurality of sets of a plurality of individually controllable localized reflective elements, each set corresponding to and reflecting one of the elongated single wavelength focal spots.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical power relay uses mercury, or a similar liquid metal with high surface tension, as a flexible non-degrading contact mechanism. The basic systematic requirements for the micro-relay include large current carrying capacity, high speed, use of control voltages readily available in the given application, and an acceptable hold-off voltage. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the novel configuration of a liquid metal current carrying switching device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improvement in a wavelength division multiplexer and/or a dense wavelength division multiplexer (WDM/DWDM) by incorporating an electronically reconfigurable diffraction grating. The introduction of the electronically reconfigurable diffraction grating, which is typically fabricated using MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) technology, improves the compact design, durability, and dynamic functionality of the WDM/DWDM system.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical power relay uses mercury, or a similar liquid metal with high surface tension, as a flexible non-degrading contact mechanism. The basic systematic requirements for the micro-relay include large current carrying capacity, high speed, use of control voltages readily available in the given application, and an acceptable hold-off voltage. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the novel configuration of a liquid metal current carrying switching device.

Abstract: An improved optical pressure sensor determines the pressure of the fluid to be monitored by the deflection of a diaphragm in the pressure chamber of the sensor which has an inlet from the measured vessel. The deflection of the diaphragm is determined by monitoring the interference of diode light reflected from the diaphragm and a silicon grating structure superimposed over the diaphragm, at critical positions. Intensity detectors are placed at critical positions such as the specific orders of the diffraction grating to measure the interference intensity of the reflected light. The interferometric accuracy with which the pressure measurement is made with the present invention far exceeds that obtained with optical pressure sensors described in the prior art.

Abstract: An improved tunable diode laser is capable of fast digital line selection over a broad wavelength spectrum, and uses no moving parts. A focusing element, such as a mirror or a lens, used in combination with a micromirror array serves as the retroreflector in a typical Littman-Metcalf laser cavity. This configuration provides arbitrary, simultaneous, and/or sequential line selection capability over a very broad wavelength range. The use of an individually-controllable micromirror array eliminates the high precision mechanical motion of a grating element and improves the overall durability and ruggedness of the device. The present invention can be integrated into any diode laser and has significant application in spectroscopy.

Abstract: An improved intensity control system for an intensified imaging system allows continuous viewing through an intensified imaging system while protecting saturated areas from the negative effects of overexposure. A micromirror array (MMA) is used in conjunction with associated optics to control the intensity incident on the image intensifier. Control circuitry determines if pixel intensity is above or below the preset threshold level. If above, the corresponding elements of the MMA array will deflect the incident light in that specific area thereby eliminating saturation of the pixels. The rest of the image is maintained for continuous viewing. A continuous feedback loop monitors the intensity levels of pixels and actively controls the incident light using the MMA.

Abstract: A reconfigurable compound diffraction grating is fabricated using microelectomechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The compound grating structure can be viewed as the superposition of two separately configured gratings. A common lower electrode is placed beneath selected beam elements, known as deflectable beams, to achieve the desired grating configuration (i.e. every other, every third, every fifth, etc.) of the beams in the primary grating. These deflectable beams alone comprise a secondary, lower resolution grating structure. The beam elements are linked to a common upper electrode. Voltage applied across the electrodes creates an electrostatic force that pulls the selected beams down toward the underlying electrode. Changing the vertical position of the selected beams with respect to the other stationary beams presents a different ruling spacing distribution to the incoming radiation. By changing this distribution, the diffracted power among individual diffraction orders of the wavelengths is altered.