Abstract: A diffractive unit which can reduce the effect of the nonlinearity of the photo-resist recording material to produce a diffractive device with brilliant color, and describes a method for recording. A cross grating device recorded using the method of this present invention is also described. A diffractive pattern is provided with multiple units, and the period of the diffraction within at least one of the units is spatially varying. It has been discovered that a spatially varying period can offset other effects, such nonlinear characteristics of the material or inter-unit gaps, to reduce the harmonics and improve the color.

Abstract: A measurement technique for normalizing the sensitive-axis output of a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor which greatly reduces both temperature effects and magnetic contributions from the insensitive-axis cross-terms. Specifically, the normalization techniques disclosed may be effectuated by direct measurement with no prior knowledge of the sensor constants being required and may be performed for a single sensor with multiple sensors not being required in order to estimate the cross-axis fields for each of the other sensors. The technique can additionally provide an output proportional to the insensitive-axis field as well as that of the sensitive-axis and, when combined with knowledge of ambient field strengths, can be used to determine fundamental MR sensor constants which then allows for correction of higher-order sensor non-linearities. The techniques disclosed are particularly conducive to low power supply availability applications such as battery operation.

Abstract: An improvement to the above described techniques for producing a holographic stereogram. The present invention uses a hologram lens in the process of creating the holographic stereogram, and also uses Fourier transforms of the images for projection onto the recording medium, not the images themselves. A lens between the generated images and the recording medium performs the inverse Fourier transform to convert the image back into a normal image.

Abstract: A speed measurement system for measuring speeds of vehicles, capturing images of vehicles, and detecting violation of stop sign and traffic signal laws. The system includes a laser speed detector for determining a speed of a vehicle adjacent a stop sign. When a speed is determined, the detector generates a speed signal. The system includes a camera generally aligned with the speed detector operable to capture and store digital still images of vehicles in memory. The camera is programmed to respond to an image capture signal to generate and transmit a digital image file including a still image of the vehicle targeted by the detector. A portable processor is linked to the speed detector and the camera to first receive the speed signal, to compare the detected speed with a threshold speed, to transmit an image capture signal to the camera, and to receive the image file from the camera.

Abstract: A methane or methanol producing system is proposed in which laser beams are generated in space by excitation of sunlight, transmitted onto land or sea without loss to obtain optical energy with high efficiency, and irradiated on a hydrogen producing device to produce industrially inexpensive hydrogen with high efficiency, thereby producing methane or methanol. A laser generating device for generating laser beams by exciting radiant light in laser rods by irradiation of sunlight is installed in space. The laser beams generated are transmitted to a light-receiving facility on land or on sea, and irradiated on a hydrogen generating device having a semiconductor electrode with a wavelength suitable for absorbing by the semiconductor electrode or by converting or shifting to a suitable wavelength. Using the hydrogen, methane or methanol is produced by a methane or methanol producing unit.

Abstract: A surgical probe is disclosed that disperses light sideways from its fore end. A light-dispersive and light-transmissive medium is enclosed within a housing. The medium is preferably divided into sections containing different concentrations of a light-dispersing material within a matrix. The sections are preferably separated by non-dispersive spacers. At the tip end of the probe is preferably a mirror to reflect the light back into the dispersive medium. The mirror may consist of layers with multiple indexes of refraction. By these features, especially in combination, the directionality and intensity distribution of the emitted light may be controlled. The present invention is designed to be useful especially in the use of laser energy in the percutaneous, interstitial irradiation of tissue growths.

Abstract: In a control program, according to which a laser-beam spot is guided, while being controlled with respect to position and time, over a cornea to be corrected photorefractively, so as to ablate a predetermined ablation profile therefrom, the effect of the angle between the laser earn and the corneal surface on the energy density of the laser-beam spot incident on the corneal surface and/or on the fraction of the laser-beam energy incident on the corneal surface which is reflected away, is taken into account when generating the control program.

Abstract: An apparatus for substrate treatment by means of laser radiation includes a rotating polygonal mirror by which at least one incident laser beam is reflected and is pivotable across an arrangement of converging lenses which lie next to one another and which are arranged at a spacing from the substrate corresponding precisely or approximately to their focal lengths. The rotating polygonal mirror is divided into at least two regions having a different number of facets and is adjustable such that different regions can be introduced into the beam path of the laser radiation and accordingly different sweep angles or fan angles of the laser beam reflected by the rotating polygonal mirror can be set.

Abstract: A light beam display employing interlaced light beam scanning comprising a display screen having a vertical and a horizontal dimension, a source of a plurality of light beams and an optical path including a movable reflector having a plurality of reflective facets between the display screen and the light beam source. The movable reflector directs the plural light beams to the display screen via one or more facets of the movable reflector to simultaneously illuminate plural different scan lines of the display which are spaced apart by plural non-illuminated scan lines. An optical mechanical element is provided for vertically shifting the light beams so as to illuminate different scan lines of the display screen.

Abstract: An improvement to the above described techniques for producing a holographic stereogram. The present invention uses a hologram lens in the process of creating the holographic stereogram, and also uses Fourier transforms of the images for projection onto the recording medium, not the images themselves. A lens between the generated images and the recording medium performs the inverse Fourier transform to convert the image back into a normal image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus capable of severing or damaging unwanted plants without using herbicides. The present invention relates in particular to an apparatus and a method for differentiating between different types of plants to allow identification of, and thus selective elimination or treatment of, individual plants. According to the present invention, the positioning of and the output power of at least one light generating means is controlled on the basis of information from an image recognition system which is capable of differentiating beween different plants.

Abstract: A dot matrix system, which uses an electronic display panel as a diffractive optical device to produce two laser beams. The interference pattern of these two beams, at the focal plane of a lens, forms a grating spot with a shape and beam profile determined by the wavefronts diffracted by the electronic display device. The invention uniquely combines aspects of the interfering beam prior art and the prior art using an imaging display. Instead of simply reducing a diffraction image on a display device as in the imaging display prior art, the invention puts two different Fourier transforms on the display, the laser beam interacts with these Fourier transforms, and a lens focuses the two beams on the recording medium, with the two beams interfering with each other to produce the desired grating pattern. Because multiple orders of the wavefront will be produced by the display device, a light blocking element is used, with an aperture to pass only the desired order(s) of the beams.

Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous-zoom imaging device of an interferometer. Reflected lights of a reference plane and a test plane interfere with each other to generate an interference pattern. A collimation device converts a parallel light of the interference pattern into a convergent light. An optical path adjustment means guides the light to a polarizing beam splitter. A continuous-zoom device adjusts the magnification ratio of the interference pattern on the imaging passageway and to output an object image, which is then imaged on a charge-coupled device. The present invention can improve the quality of the interference pattern without using any rotating diffuser, and thus has the characteristics of reduced number of components, lowered cost, and shrunk volume. Besides, the present invention can utilize a joint device to connect the continuous-zoom device and an attenuator so as to achieve automatic light adjustment and convenient operation.

Abstract: An upper stem diameter measurement (“USDM”) and basal area determination device for timber cruising operations incorporates a viewing window in which are projected variable, visual brackets for manual alignment by the user, or automatic setting under processor section control, with the left and right sides of a target tree stem or trunk. The device further includes a built-in inclinometer such that computations of height and stem diameter can be automatically adjusted depending on the user's line of sight with respect to a horizontal plane. In a preferred embodiment, a user actuatable keypad is provided for inputting data, such as a desired operational mode, a specified basal area factor and the like, a user viewable display as well as control buttons for adjusting the visual brackets and indicating an acceptance of various of the device parameters and operational characteristics.

Abstract: A multi-layer hologram label includes a base layer having a surface on which a number of layers of adhesive materials are coated in a stacked manner. Each layer has a surface on which a pattern associated with a holographic image is formed whereby by sequentially removing the layers, the patterns of the next layers are sequentially exposed for displaying the associated holographic image. The layers of adhesive materials can be replaced by hologram films carrying hologram patterns thereon. By sequentially removing the hologram films, the hologram patterns of the next films are sequentially exposed to display holographic images associated therewith.

Abstract: A third harmonic laser system includes a fundamental wave resonator for generating fundamental laser beam, a second harmonic laser generator for converting fundamental laser beam to a second harmonic laser beam, and a third harmonic laser generator for mixing the second harmonic laser beam with the fundamental laser beam so as to produce a third harmonic laser beam. Multi-pass tripling is used for producing the third harmonic laser beam by means of reflecting and polarizing mirrors, and that the outputted third harmonic laser beam has a high efficiency of about 51% and a high power up to 8.6 W.

Abstract: A dermatological handpiece by which a laser beam is directed to the surface of a selected skin area for purposes of a cosmetic treatment and the skin area is subjected to the action of the laser beam. A method is also disclosed for the cosmetic treatment of skin surfaces during the operation of this handpiece. A handpiece of the type described above is outfitted with a device for moderating the temperature of the skin surfaces on which the laser beam acted immediately beforehand and/or is to be subjected to the action of the laser beam immediately following the temperature moderation. The handpiece is further provided with elements for influencing the laser beam cross section with respect to shape, dimensioning and intensity distribution.

Abstract: A laser laminar structure is formed by coating each side of a thin substrate with a bonding resin layer, and then coating each bonding resin layer with a molding resin layer; attaching a transparent laser film provided with fine grooves of a laser image presenting figure, characters or logos to an outer surface of each molding resin layer, so that each molding resin layer is formed at superficial portion with fine lines corresponding to the fine grooves of the laser image on the laser film; baking the molding resin layers at high temperature to harden the fine lines formed thereon; and releasing the transparent laser films from the molding resin layers to provide a thermostable laser laminar structure.

Abstract: A compact speed measurement system for field or onsite use in measuring speeds of vehicles and capturing images of select vehicles. The system includes a laser speed detector for determining a speed of a vehicle in a specific target area. When a speed is determined, the detector generates a speed signal. The system includes a camera generally aligned with the speed detector operable to capture and store digital still images of vehicles in memory. The camera is programmed to respond to an image capture signal to generate and transmit a digital image file including a still image of the vehicle targeted by the detector. A portable field processor is communicatively linked to the speed detector and the camera to first receive the speed signal, to process the speed signal and to transmit an image capture signal to the camera, and to receive the digital image file from the camera.

Abstract: The present invention provides a small reflective type liquid crystal projection device, which comprises an X-prism, three PBSs, two dichroic mirrors, at least three totally reflective mirrors, three reflective type liquid crystal plates, and a projection object lens. The present invention uses the X-prism matched with the three PBSs and a newly invented 3D light projection system to combine polarized light beams of the three primary colors into one, hence accomplishing the highest use efficiency and the design of light splitting and combining paths and color separating and combining. The reflective type liquid crystal projection device of the present invention has both the advantages of small volume and reduced cost.