Abstract: A backlight assembly is disclosed having a light pipe and at least one light source located at an edge of the light pipe. The light pipe has a back surface and a front surface opposite the back surface. The light pipe also has one or more light directing, diffusing, turning, or brightness enhancing film layers adjacent the front surface. The light pipe also has an integral surface diffuser microstructure molded, embossed, or otherwise replicated in the front surface of the light pipe.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for still image compression, video compression and automatic target recognition are disclosed. The method of still image compression uses isomorphic singular manifold projection whereby surfaces of objects having singular manifold representations are represented by best match canonical polynomials to arrive at a model representation. The model representation is compared with the original representation to arrive at a difference. If the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the difference data are saved and compressed using standard lossy compression. The coefficients from the best match polynomial together with the difference data, if any, are then compressed using lossless compression. The method of motion estimation for enhanced video compression sends I frames on an “as-needed” basis, based on comparing the error between segments of a current frame and a predicted frame.

Abstract: A diffuser master is provided which is manufactured mechanically instead of holographically. The master can be made from a suitable substrate including relatively hard materials such as plastic, glass or metal. A substrate having a first side is worked to form a diffuser surface relief structure thereon. The substrate can be buffed using a buffing agent of a selected grit in order to form surface scratches in the first side of the substrate. The substrate can also be blasted with shot particles in order to form indentations and depressions in the first side. The substrate can alternatively be acid or alkali etched in order to form surface irregularities in the first side. The scratches, depressions or irregularities can be formed in order to create a desired surface relief and hence desired diffuser output characteristics.

Abstract: An improved method for generating masters having a plurality of randomly distributed speckle suitable for making seamless light shaping diffusers of virtually any size and at low cost is disclosed herein. The method utilizes incoherent light to record a desired speckle pattern in a photosensitive medium which is then exposed in an imagesetter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for still image compression, video compression and automatic target recognition are disclosed. The method of still image compression uses isomorphic singular manifold projection whereby surfaces of objects having singular manifold representations are represented by best match canonical polynomials to arrive at a model representation. The model representation is compared with the original representation to arrive at a difference. If the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, the difference data are saved and compressed using standard lossy compression. The coefficients from the best match polynomial together with the difference data, if any, are then compressed using lossless compression. The method of motion estimation for enhanced video compression sends I frames on an “as-needed” basis, based on comparing the error between segments of a current frame and a predicted frame.

Abstract: A non-scattering light pipe includes a transition surface between a first side wall and an input surface and a second side wall and the input surface. The transition surface is arranged to substantially obscure the corner interfaces between the first and second side walls and the input surface such that in the corner formation any imperfections therein are not imaged into the output. Most preferably, the transition surface is optimized to provide a substantially uniform light intensity distribution. A light pipe in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention is further arranged to couple to a linear light source, such as a cold cathode fluorescent light (CCFL). The light source is arranged such that dim areas, i.e., areas of the light source having non-uniform intensity, are not disposed adjacent the input surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for time division multiplexing are described. A time division multiplexer-demultiplexer system includes I) a signal transmitting system for transmittal of a serialized signal including A) latency free continuous data and B) at least one member selected from the group consisting of bursty data and packetized data, the signal transmitting system including a multiplexer and a timing control block; and II) a signal receiving system for reception of the signal without disrupting the laminarity of the latency free continuous data, the signal receiving system including a demultiplexer and a sequence detector. The systems and methods provide advantages in that continuous data can be simultaneously transmitted with bursty data and/or packetized data on the same tie line without disrupting the laminarity of the continuous data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for connecting and configuring a communication network are described. A network includes a first router; a tie-line having a plurality of full duplex dedicated router interconnects connected to said first router; a second router connected to said plurality of full duplex dedicated router interconnects; a first user connected to said first router with a first full duplex loop; and a second user connected to said second router with a second full duplex loop. The systems and methods provide advantages in that bursty control information can be multiplexed with time sensitive laminar data.

Abstract: A monolithic element has a substrate body and at least one macro-optical characteristic integral in a first portion of the optical element. A plurality of surface micro-structures are integral in a portion of the optical element. The micro-structures are designed to homogenize light passing through the optical element to produce a predetermined pattern of smoothly varying, non-discontinuous light exiting the optical element. The light exiting the optical element is therefore altered according to both the macro-optical characteristic of the optical element as well as the homogenizing characteristics of the micro-structures.

Abstract: Compositions for producing replicated optical components are disclosed. A composition for making a large scale submaster optical component includes a mixture having an acrylated aliphatic urethane oligomer/monomer blend and a tripropylene glycol diacrylate. The mixture is combined with a number of other components including an isobornyl acrylate, an ultraviolet polymerizing varnish, a surfactant, and a photoinitiator. A composition for making a large scale replica optical component includes a mixture having an acrylated aliphatic urethane oligomer/monomer blend and a tripropylene glycol diacrylate. The mixture is combined with an isobornyl acrylate, a &bgr;-Carboxyethyl acrylate, a photoinitiator, and an N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone. A composition for making a small scale submaster optical component includes an ultraviolet polymarizing varnish and a surfactant.

Abstract: A device has a carrier and an optical element supported by the carrier. The optical element has a macro-optical characteristic and at least one surface. A light shaping surface microstructure is integral on the surface of the optical element. The microstructure homogenizes, shapes and controls directionality of light emanating from the surface of the optical element to produce a smooth, consistent and continuous pattern of light in a predetermined distribution shape and direction. The optical element can either transmit or reflect light incident on a portion of the device and the optical element.

Abstract: A backlight apparatus has a collimating waveguide with a light input end, a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing sides, a far end opposite the light input end, and a total internal reflection critical angle for the material of the waveguide. A plurality of first facets are formed in the bottom surface distributed along the waveguide between the light input end and the far end. Each of the first facets has a first facet bottom surface which converges toward the top surface in a direction away from the far end relative to the top surface. A light scattering and reflective surface is disposed adjacent the far end of the collimating waveguide. The first facet bottom surfaces cause light rays entering the light input end to be totally internally reflected to the far end of the collimating waveguide wherein the scattering and reflective surface at the far end reflects and scatters light rays incident thereon back toward the light input end.

Abstract: A diffuser master is provided which is manufactured mechanically instead of holographically. The master can be made from a suitable substrate including relatively hard materials such as plastic, glass or metal. A substrate having a first side is worked to form a diffuser surface relief structure thereon. The substrate can be buffed using a buffing agent of a selected grit in order to form surface scratches in the first side of the substrate. The substrate can also be blasted with shot particles in order to form indentations and depressions in the first side. The substrate can alternatively be acid or alkali etched in order to form surface irregularities in the first side. The scratches, depressions or irregularities can be formed in order to create a desired surface relief and hence desired diffuser output characteristics.

Abstract: A diffuser master is provided which is manufactured mechanically instead of holographically. The master can be made from a suitable substrate including relatively hard materials such as plastic, glass or metal. A substrate having a first side is worked to form a diffuser surface relief structure thereon. The substrate can be buffed using a buffing agent of a selected grit in order to form surface scratches in the first side of the substrate. The substrate can also be blasted with shot particles in order to form indentations and depressions in the first side. The substrate can alternatively be acid or alkali etched in order to form surface irregularities in the first side. The scratches, depressions or irregularities can be formed in order to create a desired surface relief and hence desired diffuser output characteristics.

Abstract: A backlight assembly is disclosed having a light pipe and at least one light source located at an edge of the light pipe. The light pipe has a back surface and a front surface opposite the back surface. The light pipe also has one or more light directing, diffusing, turning, or brightness enhancing film layers adjacent the front surface. The light pipe also has an integral surface diffuser microstructure molded, embossed, or otherwise replicated in the front surface of the light pipe.

Abstract: A fiber optic luminaire is arranged to couple light energy from a light source along its length. The fiber optic luminaire includes a plurality of light redirecting structures distributed along its length; the light redirecting structures are arranged to uniformly distribute by reflection light energy from the fiber optic luminaire. The light redirecting structures are preferably non-scattering structures, including structures such as microprisms, microfacets, microgrooves and micrometers. The fiber optic luminaire may be configured to a variety of shapes and to provide customized light distribution patterns.

Abstract: Systems and methods for connecting and configuring a communication network are described. A network includes a first router; a tie-line having a plurality of full duplex dedicated router interconnects connected to said first router; a second router connected to said plurality of full duplex dedicated router interconnects; a first user connected to said first router with a first full duplex loop; and a second user connected to said second router with a second full duplex loop. The systems and methods provide advantages in that bursty control information can be multiplexed with time sensitive laminar data.

Abstract: A sensor system comprises a broadband light source, a birefringent sensor, a detection circuit, and a signal processing unit. The preferred detection circuit further includes a variable frequency oscillator, a modulator, and a photodetector. The modulator modulates the output of the birefringent sensor with a modulation signal from the variable frequency oscillator. The modulation produces an interference signal having a variable interference frequency. By determining the frequency of the modulation signal from the variable frequency oscillator that minimizes the interference frequency, the detection system is able to determine the difference in frequency between first and second spectral components of the output of birefringent sensor. The detector may be constructed using entirely solid state optics/electronics. The preferred fiber grating sensor comprises a birefringent optical fiber having a cladding and a core.

Abstract: A remote light source lighting system is provided having an illuminator assembly including a housing. Held within the housing is a high intensity light source for providing light energy to a fiber optic cable bundle connected to the housing and facing the light source. The cable bundle includes a plurality of plastic optical fibers wherein at least one of the terminal ends of the bundle is formed by molding an optical quality resin around an optically transparent ferrule that binds the exposed ends of the optical fibers. The housing further includes a separate air plenum containing a blower. The blower produces a high velocity air stream directed precisely at the terminal end of the cable adjacent the light source to cool the terminal end.

Abstract: A sensor system comprises a broadband light source, a birefringent sensor, a detection circuit, and a signal processing unit. The preferred detection circuit further includes a variable frequency oscillator, a modulator, and a photodetector. The modulator modulates the output of the birefringent sensor with a modulation signal from the variable frequency oscillator. The modulation produces an interference signal having a variable interference frequency. By determining the frequency of the modulation signal from the variable frequency oscillator that minimizes the interference frequency, the detection system is able to determine the difference in frequency between first and second spectral components of the output of birefringent sensor. The detector may be constructed using entirely solid state optics/electronics. The preferred fiber grating sensor comprises a birefringent optical fiber having a cladding and a core.