Abstract: A Vander Lugt optical correlator adapted to be mounted on a printed circuit board or other mounting means usable with or in a personal computer utilizing a monochromatic coherent polarized light source, a folded optical path with optics that perform light beam collimation and Fourier transformations, SLMs for scene and filter inputs and a CCD detector array at the correlation plane. The module may be of any selected configuration, such as, a parallelopiped, or a disc, either of which may be hollow, of solid opaque material for light paths formed therein, of a transparent media without passages, or of multiple sections for packaging shape, light path length compensation, component mounting etc. The circuit board may contain electronics required to operate all of the correlators electronic components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sputtering coatings on substrates in very high vacuum conditions is shown where the high vacuum is made possible by a supply of inert gas localized at the sputtering source and confined by velocity and by physical constraints in the area of the source and is depleted as the inert gas flows into a larger vacuum chamber. Additional methods to improve testing of substrates being coated and to enhance the sputtering process by use of ion gun directed reactant toward the substrates are disclosed. The method and apparatus are especially effective in allowing large spacing between source and substrates in the sputtering process. The large spacing provides good coating uniformity on large substrates.

Abstract: An optical multiplexing device spatially disburses collimated light from a fiber optic waveguide into individual wavelength bands, or multiplexes such individual wavelength bands to a common fiber optic waveguide or other destination. The optical multiplexing device has application for dense channel wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems for fiber optic telecommunications, as well as compact optical instrument design. Multiple wavelength light traveling in a fiber optic waveguide is separated into multiple narrow spectral bands directed to individual fiber optic carriers or detectors. An optical block has an optical port for passing the aforesaid multiple wavelength collimated light, and multiple ports arrayed in spaced relation to each other along a multiport surface of the optical block. A continuous, variable thickness, multi-cavity interference filter extends on the multiport surface of the optical block over the aforesaid multiple ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing optical films on substrates having extremely high packing densities of the same quality as those films produced by ion beam sputtering including a vacuum chamber with a conventional magnetron sputtering system and unusually high speed vacuum pump means. The low pressure of inert gas created by said high speed vacuum pump means being in the range of 5.times.10.sup.-5 Torr to 1.5.times.10.sup.-4 Torr and the magnetron sputtering system being at least 16" from said substrates. A gas manifold around the magnetron and target material confines the inert working gas in the vicinity of the magnetron and as the gas diffuses and expands into the chamber the high speed vacuum pump means removes the expanded gas from the chamber at a high speed. An ion gun directs ionized reactant gas toward the substrates which has the effect of improving film stoichometry as well as reducing reactant gas at the magnetron.

Abstract: A broad band low reflectance neutral density optical filter. A neutral density filter having substantially flat transmittance and low reflectivity over a wide range of wavelengths from the ultraviolet through the visible region of the spectrum includes a transparent substrate, two successive layers of different dielectric materials on the substrate, at least two layers of metallic material, each metallic layer being separated from the preceding metallic layer by a layer of dielectric material, and finally, two succeeding layers of different dielectric mateials. The resultant neutral density filter thus has two layers of different dielectric materials between the substrate and the first layer of metallic material, and two layers of different dielectric materials between the atmosphere and the final layer of metallic material.