Abstract: A beam deflector comprising a pair of mated microprism arrays with one of the arrays comprised of a variable refractive index material capable of being selectively changed in response to a field whose magnitude or intensity is regulated by regulating voltage applied. The other array preferably is comprised of a material having a constant refractive index. A conductive layer is disposed on both sides of the variable refractive index array. A pane preferably is disposed in front and behind the arrays. Two pairs of the arrays can be arranged parallel to each other with their microprisms generally perpendicular forming a two-dimensional deflector. To achieve a deflection response time faster than 100 &mgr;s, each prism has a height no larger than about 20 &mgr;m and a width preferably no greater than about 100 &mgr;m. Preferably, each prism height is less than about 15 to about 10 &mgr;m to achieve a response time 30 &mgr;s or faster.

Abstract: An apparatus for projecting light on to a predetermined area includes a light source and a transparent element disposed adjacent the light source where in the transparent element is made from a sol-gel type glass, quartz, or other optical material. A plurality of surface micro-structures integral in a surface of the transparent element are provided which both homogenize and control directionality of light passing form the light source through the transparent element. These micro-structures produce a predetermined pattern of highly transmissive, smoothly varying, non-discontinuous light in a predetermined direction which is suitable for any number of applications wherein a sol-gel material transparent element including the diffuser surface structures are particularly well suited.

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: An improved method of making laminated optical components through the use of a master and several submasters is disclosed. A glass/photoresist master is made by recording optical surface features in the photoresist with coherent or incoherent light. The master is processed to reveal the surface features. A frame is fastened to the edges of the photoresist/glass master with edges rising slightly above the top surface of the master. Silicone rubber is poured into the frame over the photoresist layer and allowed to cure. The silicone rubber submaster is then separated from the photoresist/glass master. Use of silicon rubber permits separation of the submaster without damaging the master. Additionally, silicone rubber is less prone to shrinkage than prior art submasters thus permitting more accurate copying of the surface features of the photoresist/glass master. Subsequent epoxy replicas may then be made from the silicone rubber submaster.

Abstract: A surface light shaping diffuser (LSD) is formed from a monolithic glass material by recording light shaping structures on a surface of the material during its formation. A surface LSD is produced by embossing or molding light shaping structures onto a high quality optical glass or by embossing light shaping structures on a glass film layer coated onto a substrate. A rubber submaster carrying the light shaping structures is used as the master in such diffusers control the angular spread of transmitted light while homogenizing otherwise spatially noisy light sources such as LCDs and filamented light sources and while maintaining damage thresholds consistent with any glass optical element. The surface LSD has a transmission efficiency of over 90% from the Ultraviolet wavelengths through the physical spectrum and into the near-infrared.

Abstract: Surface light assemblies are disclosed that are particularly useful as edge light assemblies for illuminating the outer boundaries of a deck of a ship or a heliport and as line-up light assemblies for illuminating a path on a surface such as a ship deck, a runway or the like. The light assembly includes a fiber optic cable connected to the bottom of a housing or enclosure which distributes light from a terminal end of the cable. The terminal end may include a transformer which produces a particular spread or cone of a light output pattern. Alternatively, a diffuser or optical element may be placed directly adjacent the terminal end of the cable or transformer which shapes, directs and homogenizes light emanating from the cable. The light assembly can include a durable glass window which protects the diffuser and cable and which can be adapted to filter out certain wavelengths of light producing a light output in a desired color. Such a construction is particularly useful for deck edge lighting.

Abstract: An illuminator for a high energy remote lighting system includes a light source for generating light energy and a selectively positionable light output modifying apparatus having a plurality of light output modifying elements, each element corresponding to a predetermined position of at least a portion of the apparatus. At least some of the light output modifying elements of the apparatus are configured to filter light energy to provide either dimmed or colored light. The illuminator can be implemented in a system having a plurality of area control panels, each control panel generating a control signal indicative of a corresponding light characteristic, the illuminators each being coupled to a corresponding one of the area control panels to receive the control signal and to output a particular type of light in response thereto.

Abstract: A method for compressing multiple channels of data using an MPEG-compatible motion estimation technique. The method determines the differences between frames within each channel and among the channels and encodes those differences. To facilitate compression, some of the frames are predicted and some of the frames are skipped. The differences between the current frame and the predicted frame for each channel are computed for each successive group of frames, and then compared, after each group of frames of each channel is encoded, to a threshold level E.sub.0. In the event that, for any of the groups of frames, the difference between the current frame and the predicted frame of any of the channels reaches the threshold, the method of the present system will insert an I-frame into the sequence of encoded frames, thus restarting the encoding process with an I-frame.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an LGD with a collimated backlight and a non-Lambertian diffuser are described.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for producing colored replicas are described. A method includes: combining a polymerizable varnish and a dye to form a composition, wherein the dye is substantially dissolved in the composition; and replicating a surface topography with the composition. The compositions and methods provide advantages in that surface topography is replicated in a color tinted polymer matrix with enhanced overall cost effectiveness.

Abstract: A simple, fast, and reliable method and apparatus are provided for replicating a light shaping surface structure on a laminated surface of a relatively rigid substrate. More specifically, after the substrate is mounted on a table and a layer of epoxy is deposited between the substrate and a submaster to produce a layered structure, the layered structure is automatically compressed in a nip formed between the table and an outer surface of a rotating impression roller, thereby replicating the surface structure in the epoxy layer. The epoxy is then cured, and the submaster is separated from the substrate to leave a laminated structure having the light shaping surface structure on a surface thereof. Preferably, the submaster is wrapped around the impression roller, and the impression roller is rotated while the table is reciprocated linearly to compress the layered structure in the nip.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an LCD backlight are described. An LCD backlight system includes: a beam bending and viewing film including a first side including a surface diffuser and a second side including a plurality of substantially parallel optical elements, each of the plurality of substantially parallel optical elements including a first facet that includes a refractive surface and a second facet that includes a total internal reflection surface. The systems and methods provide advantages in that light from the LCD backlight is bright and homogenous.

Abstract: Systems and methods using a neural network based portable absorption spectrometer system for real-time automatic evaluation of tissue injury are described. An apparatus includes an electromagnetic signal generator; an optical fiber connected to the electromagnetic signal generator; a fiber optic probe connected to the optical fiber; a broad band spectrometer connected to the fiber optic probe; and a hybrid neural network connected to the broad band spectrometer. The hybrid neural network includes a principle component analyzer of broad band spectral data obtained from said broad band spectrometer.

Abstract: A method of determining the wavelength of light transmitted in an optical fiber comprises the steps of filtering the light using a filter, and then detecting the filtered light, and then determining the wavelength of the filtered light. The filter comprises a fiber grating which is recorded in a portion of the optical fiber. The fiber grating preferably has a modulated index of refraction with a modulation amplitude that varies from a first end to a second end of the fiber grating, and a modulation period defined by a grating constant that varies from the first end to the second end of the fiber grating. The fiber grating at least partially prevents transmission of light within a wavelength spectrum, and prevents transmission of a substantially larger portion of the light at a first end of the wavelength spectrum than at a second end of the wavelength spectrum. Therefore, the wavelength of the filtered light can be determined by determining a proportion of the light which was transmitted by the filter.

Abstract: Apparatus for analyzing biological samples includes a unique surface which promotes adhesion, growth and optical analysis of samples. The unique surface is formed at the bottom of each well of a microplate and provides increased surface area with a distribution of features operative also to shape and redirect light used to sense test results. The unique surface may be used in forms such as a monolith, a microplate, a chamber, a flask and others.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensor system comprises an optical fiber, a first reflector and a second reflector. The first reflector provides a fixed reference for measuring the optical path length between the second reflector and a reference reflector. The first and second reflectors respectively receive first and second portions of light emitted by the optical fiber and then reflect the light back to the optical fiber. The optical path length between the first and second reflectors varies in accordance with a sensed parameter. In operation, first and second interferograms are acquired that are produced by the interference of light reflected from the first and second reflectors with light reflected from a reference reflector. The first and second interferograms are then used to determine an optical path length between first and second reflectors. Finally, the optical path length between the first and second reflectors is used to determine the value of the sensed parameter.

Abstract: A method of rapid prototyping a lighting system which is at least one of folded path and multifaceted includes determining output power of the lighting system by calculating phase space density. A method of rapid prototyping a lighting system comprises ray tracing the lighting system, determining photometric quantities which describe the lighting system based on the ray tracing step, and providing a stereoscopic three-dimensional rendering of the lighting system based on the determining step. The three-dimensional renderings reveal any hidden pseudo-image artifacts in a lighting system before the lighting system is actually fabricated. A computer system for rapid prototyping a lighting system comprises a plurality of slave processors networked to a host processor. The slave processor and the master processor cooperate to ray trace the lighting system, and the slave processors perform homogeneous independent tasks.

Abstract: A low cost portable fiber optic fluorometer is packaged as a personal computer peripheral and is based on interchangeable modules. One embodiment of the fluorometer comprises an excitation source, a detector, a signal processor, frequency source, wavelength selector, and an optical interface. The optical interface is exclusively fiber optic-based, thereby simplifying optical alignment and reducing the cost of the fluorometer. In another embodiment, the excitation source is an inexpensive monochromatic excitation source. In this case, the monochromatic excitation source and the first wavelength selector are preferably removable and replaceable, so that the fluorometer is advantageously able to generate different excitation wavelengths and detect different emission wavelengths.

Abstract: A light source destructuring and shaping device which both homogenizes and imparts predetermined directionality to light rays emanating from a light source is disclosed. The device comprises a micro-sculpted surface structure which controls the direction in which light propagates in either reflection or transmission. The sculpted surface structure also homogenizes light propagating through it with predetermined directionality. The device may be used in an almost unlimited number of applications which require homogenization and which would benefit from being able to impart directionality to light waves propagating from a light source. These applications include existing diffuser applications and applications wherein it was not practical to use conventional diffusers. The homogenizing and shaping device achieves these benefits with very high transmission or reflection efficiency and with reduced side lobes.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for replication are described. A method includes: providing a first submaster having a first topography; providing a carrier having a first side and a second side; coating the first side with a first resin having a first viscosity; pressing the first topography against the first resin; replicating the first topography in the first resin as a first replica surface; increasing the first viscosity; releasing the first replica surface from the first topography; providing a second submaster having a second topography; coating the second side with a second resin having a second viscosity; pressing the second topography against the second resin; replicating the second topography in the second resin as a second replica surface; increasing the second viscosity; and releasing the second replica surface from the second topography. The compositions and methods provide advantages in that surface topography is replicated with enhanced overall cost effectiveness.