Abstract: A manually operated lens cribber has a cutting compartment on a base. The cutting compartment has a door that is moveable between a closed position and an open position. A cutting tool is inside the cutting compartment and rotates about a first axis. A lens blank carrier is attached to the base in a manner to be manually movable across the base on a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The lens blank carrier has a hand operated screw mechanism on which a lens blank can be mounted and which moves the lens along a third axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis. A releasable end stop is positioned on the base for positioning the lens blank carrier relative to the cutting tool so that the desired amount of material is removed from the lens blank. A calibration and positioning scale is also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for pre-blocking ophthalmic lenses for processing including articulation edging is described. Lens blanks are blocked in this method without prior knowledge of lens prescription variables or frame size and shape dimensions. This blocking can be done at a remote mass production manufacturing facility. The pre-blocked lenses would then be inventoried at the lens manufacturing location. No de-blocking and re-blocking is required between the surfacing, for those lens blanks requiring surfacing, and edging processes so the lens blanks remain on their blocks from start to finish. If surfacing is required, both surfacing and edging are performed on the same machine with no interruptions between the two processes. Machine readable indicia on the Lens-Block Assemblies for Lens Blank species identification is described. Pre-blocking of finished uncut lenses for edging using articulation edging is also described.

Abstract: A method and system for pre-blocking ophthalmic lenses for processing including articulation edging is described. Lens blanks are blocked in this method without prior knowledge of lens prescription variables or frame size and shape dimensions. This blocking can be done at a remote mass production manufacturing facility. The pre-blocked lenses would then be inventoried at the lens manufacturing location. No de-blocking and re-blocking is required between the surfacing, for those lens blanks requiring surfacing, and edging processes so the lens blanks remain on their blocks from start to finish. If surfacing is required, both surfacing and edging are performed on the same machine with no interruptions between the two processes. Machine readable indicia on the Lens-Block Assemblies for Lens Blank species identification is described. Pre-blocking of finished uncut lenses for edging using articulation edging is also described.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing ophthalmic lenses comprises the steps of: a) mounting lens blanks on lens blocks at a blocking location; b) transporting the blocked lens blanks to at least one manufacturing site that is remote from the blocking location; and c) selectively machining ophthalmic lens from the blocked lens blanks at the manufacturing site on a machining platform, wherein the selective machining of ophthalmic lens includes back surface generation of the lens blanks and edging of the lens blanks at the manufacturing site on a single manufacturing platform.

Abstract: A method applied to an optical disc drive for calculating an error detection code corresponding to a data sector is disclosed. The data sector includes a plurality of bytes arranged in a matrix having N lines along a first direction and M lines along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The method includes: along the first direction, calculating error detection codes corresponding to M bytes located at each of the N lines, wherein for each of the N lines, only bytes having error bits affect an error detection code for the line; adjusting an error detection code of each of the N lines according to a displacement between each of the N lines and a last line of the N lines; and then determining the error detection code of the data sector by summing up the displacement-adjusted error detection code of each of the N lines.

Abstract: A new architecture for implementing a time-resolved Raman spectrometer is 2-3 orders of magnitude faster than current systems. The system additionally is compact, environmentally rugged, low cost and can detect multiple components of a sample simultaneously. In one embodiment, the invention employs a rotating optical switch to time multiplex an input signal through multiple bandpass filters and into a single optical detector which is electrically activated only when the filtered input light pulse is about to impact it. The combination of time-multiplexing the input signal through multiple optical filters and time-sequencing the optical detector enables the device to detect and analyze 2-3 orders of magnitude faster than current designs, processing spectra within milliseconds instead of seconds.

Abstract: An adhesive system for securing optical elements to a housing or substrate in an aligned position that is maintained over widely varying environmental conditions. A fiber optic device is constructed such that applied adhesive is not disposed between a fiber optic element and the housing of the fiber optic device, but is disposed on longitudinal seams defined by the portion of the element proximal a side of the housing or substrate. In one embodiment, the adhesive has a filler, such as amorphous silica. A method of making includes aligning, applying adhesive, and curing adhesive.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning an optical element of an optical actuator. The optical actuator moves a guide between a retracted and an extended position relative to an actuator body. The actuator body has a channel, or through-opening, in which the mirror guide moves. In one embodiment, the channel has a two flat surfaces that form a portion of a v-groove in the channel. In the extended position, the guide contacts a stop pin, or stopper, and the two flat surfaces in the through-opening, thereby holding the guide in a position defined by the line of contact between the stop pin and an angled surface of the guide and a pair of parallel contact lines where the guide contacts the two flat surfaces in the through-opening.

Abstract: A dual ophthalmic lens machining platform comprises a blocked lens mounting structure constructed to simultaneously receive a first and a second blocked lens blank, and configured to rotationally and linearly move each lens blank, wherein the first and second lens blank have at least one common axis of movement on the mounting structure; and at least one machine tool adapted to machine each lens blank. A method of manufacturing ophthalmic lens comprises the steps of mounting at least a first and a second blocked lens blank on the machining platform; and simultaneously performing at least one machining process on the two blocked lens blanks on the machining platform. The dual ophthalmic lens machining platform is configured to simultaneously receive and machine a left and a right blocked lens blank for forming a left and a right lens of a pair of eyeglasses.

Abstract: An adhesive system for securing optical elements to a housing or substrate in an aligned position that is maintained over widely varying environmental conditions. A fiber optic device is constructed such that applied adhesive is not disposed between a fiber optic element and the housing of the fiber optic device, but is disposed on longitudinal seams defined by the portion of the element proximal a side of the housing or substrate. In one embodiment, the adhesive has a filler, such as amorphous silica. A method of making includes aligning, applying adhesive, and curing adhesive.

Abstract: An apparatus for directing a light path sequentially between multiple positions. A rotary switch rotates a light beam from a prism relative to a plurality of optical elements arranged radially on a switch body. In one embodiment, a prism rotates in the switch body, causing the light beam to sweep through the optical elements. In another embodiment, the switch body rotates about a prism transmitting the light beam. In various embodiments, the optical elements include a photodetector, a filter and a photodetector pair, a reflector, and a filter and a reflector.

Abstract: An optical monitoring system for determining the constituents of a sample or specimen. An absorption spectrum is obtained from a sample and is passed through one or more filters having a specified absorption spectrum defined by a single atom or a compound. If the filter's absorption spectrum is included in the sample's absorption spectrum, then the sample contains that atom or compound. The apparatus includes a switching assembly that sequentially places one or more filters into the light path to determine if the subject atom or compound is contained in the sample.

Abstract: A dual ophthalmic lens machining platform comprises a blocked lens mounting structure constructed to simultaneously receive a first and a second blocked lens blank, and configured to rotationally and linearly move each lens blank, wherein the first and second lens blank have at least one common axis of movement on the mounting structure; and at least one machine tool adapted to machine each lens blank. A method of manufacturing ophthalmic lens comprises the steps of mounting at least a first and a second blocked lens blank on the machining platform; and simultaneously performing at least one machining process on the two blocked lens blanks on the machining platform. The dual ophthalmic lens machining platform is configured to simultaneously receive and machine a left and a right blocked lens blank for forming a left and a right lens of a pair of eyeglasses.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop (PLL) device is disclosed. The PLL device includes an interpolator receiving and processing an input signal by an interpolation operation in response to an interpolation timing value to obtain an output signal, a timing error detector in communication with the interpolator for detecting a timing error value of the output signal, a loop filter in communication with the timing error detector for outputting the interpolation timing value to the interpolator in response to the timing error value, and a lock controller in communication with the loop filter for adjusting the interpolation timing value according to a timing quality of the output signal, and providing the adjusted interpolation timing value for the interpolator. A signal generation method for use in the data pick-up device with the aid of the digital phase-locked loop (PLL) device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for use in an optical disk tilt servo system of an optical disk drive. The tilt servo system is for adjusting an angle between a surface of an optical disk and a pick-up head of the optical disk drive. The method includes: measuring focusing results of the optical disk at multiple locations and estimating tilt angles, i.e. deviation from the horizontal, of the surface of the optical disk according to a physical model that reflects that the optical disk has different tilt angles at different locations. The tilt servo system is calibrated accordingly.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a wobble clock includes an operation circuit for receiving a wobble signal and counting cycles of an oscillating signal during a cycle of the wobble signal to derive a cycle value and for comparing the cycle value with a preset cycle value to output a first protection signal, and a phase-locked loop circuit connected to the operation circuit for receiving the wobble signal, the wobble clock and the first protection signal, and determining whether the wobble clock is to be synchronized with the wobble signal according to the first protection signal.

Abstract: A method of identifying ADIP information through counting identical bits and different bits includes generating a wobble clock according to a wobble signal, generating a calculation result according to the wobble signal and the wobble clock, sampling the calculation result to generate a sampling signal and comparing each bit of the sampling signal with each bit of a bit stream containing an ADIP data, counting different bits corresponding to a predetermined logic value for generating a first bit count, and counting identical bits for generating a second bit count, and determining whether the calculation result corresponds to the ADIP data according to the first bit count and the second bit count.

Abstract: An optical connector cleaner. The optical connector cleaner includes a nonlinear path along which an optical connector is moved. By following the nonlinear path, the optical connector is subjected to planetary motion without requiring the operator to twist the connector by hand. The use of planetary motion improves the efficiency and quality of the cleaning operation. In addition, the optical connector cleaner of the present invention provides improved resistance to damage from the ferrule edge during cleaning.

Abstract: An apparatus for switching optical signals. An optical bench includes a plurality of through-openings for receiving a plurality of collimators and a plurality of actuators. The actuators include a mirror for redirecting an optical signal from one collimator to another. The collimators and actuators are secured to the optical bench by an adhesive system that includes opposing longitudinal slots containing adhesive securing the collimators and actuators to the optical bench.

Abstract: In a Viterbi decoder, a branch metric calculating operation of a series of received input data is performed according to different sets of target levels to realize a plurality of branch metric values, wherein said target level sets are not identical. Accumulative operations of the branch metric values are performed, respectively, and the plurality of accumulated values are compared in groups. A plurality of control signals and a plurality of least accumulated values are outputted according comparing results of the accumulated values. The least accumulated values are received and stored, and then fed back for next accumulation operations. A plurality of possible output-data state transition tracks are recoded in response to the control signals. The output data are determined according to the least accumulated values and output-data state transition tracks.