Abstract: A container for holding and culturing a lens is disclosed, comprising a transparent base member, a transparent lens carrier supported laterally in the base member and having a central aperture, and a transparent cover engaging the base member for enclosing the lens carrier within the container. The base is circular in top view, and in sectional elevation is in the form of a flanged U-shape, forming a well. The lens carrier is a circular plate with a central aperture. The lip of the aperture tapers downwardly in order to support the outer rim of the lens to be tested. The cover has an annular flange and a raised center section with angled sidewalls. The sidewalls have two flat sections offset from each other by 90 degrees, which act as viewing ports. The lens to be studied is centered in the aperture in the bottom of the lens carrier. The lens carrier is ordinarily provided with passage holes to permit the free passage of the culture medium from one side of the lens to the other.

Abstract: A method for in vitro evaluation of focal length changes in a lens is disclosed, involving the steps of projecting parallel laser beams through the lens at at least two points, examining the convergence of the beams after exiting the lens to determine the focal length of the lens, and after a period of time, repeating these steps and comparing the focal length. Preferably, a scanning laser is used so that a number of beams pass through different spots on the lens, so that the spherical aberration of the lens may also be determined and compared over time. Apparatus is disclosed for carrying out the method, comprising a carousel plate having a number of spaced holes for receiving lens containers. A carousel drive servo motor rotates the carousel from lens container position to lens container position. A helium-neon laser is mounted horizontally on an X-Y table, and the laser beam is deflected upwardly through a lens held in a lens container.

Abstract: An electro-optical device for influencing the presentation of visual information when placed before the eyes of an observer, comprising one or more cholesteric liquid crystal cells which, under the control of an electric driving signal, can be rapidly switched, by means of the cholesteric-nematic phase change effect, between a clear, transparent texture and a cloudy, scattering texture. The invention is particularly suited for applications as a spectacle-mounted stroboscope, tachistoscope or stereoscopic viewer, wherein special features are the absence of color distortion, the continued illumination of the eye during visual occlusion and the very high switching speeds.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the reactive plating of substrates to produce transparent conducting films and photoactive coatings. Reactive gases at low pressures are introduced into a vacuum chamber having a partial vacuum therein. A substrate located in the vacuum chamber is subjected to a glow discharge in the partial vacuum. A coating material, such as zinc or silicon is vaporized in the vacuum chamber to react with the gases, with the resulting compound being deposited on the substrate by the effect of the glow discharge. The power in the glow discharge and the partial pressures of the vaporized coating material and gases introduced into the vacuum chamber can all be controlled separately to vary the stoichiometric ratios and the properties of the coatings. The electrode geometry is arranged and the operation maintained such that the power density distribution in the discharge is fixed and controlled.