Abstract: An endoscopic mirror laser beam delivery system, e.g., for laser surgery, comprises a beam splitting module (22) for optical connection to a laser beam source (14) which supplies a low-power aiming beam (12) and a high-power surgical beam (10) to the splitting module (22); a two-mirror focusing unit (24) optically connected to the splitting unit (22); and an endoscopic tube (20) for guiding the beams focused by the focusing unit (24) to a target point (P). The system also comprises a method for checking alignment of the optical system by observing the positions of two visible beam spots. In case of misalignment, these two spots do not coincide in a single point, thereby indicating misalignment which can be then corrected. The system and the method eliminate central obscuration and misalignment of the laser beams on an operation site, thereby enabling a surgeon to be able to be confident that the surgeon beam will impinge precisely upon the spot delineated by the aiming beam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transforming and steering laser beams directed from a laser sources onto a target area and composed of a visible guide beam and an invisible power beam which is guided and aimed by observing the position of the visible beam on the target area. The optical system of the apparatus (10) consists of a concave mirror (42) and a convex mirror (76). Both mirrors face each other. A hole (43) is made in the concave mirror (42) to ensure unobstructed passage of both beams to the convex mirror (76) from which the beams are reflected in a diverging pattern onto the concave mirror (42). The latter reflects the beams in a converging form onto a beam reflecting unit, such as beam splitter (84). The beam splitter is connected to a steering mechanism, which allows manipulation of the beams reflected from the splitter so that the position of the beams on the target area can be controlled.

Abstract: LC sunglasses with selectively color adjustable lenses comprising an energy cell (30) attached to one butt-strap (22) of a rim (10), a color changing switch (28) supported by another butt-strap (24), a memory chip (26) supported by a bridge portion (16) of the glasses rim, and lenses (12 and 14) of a laminated structure. Each lens consists of a color mosaic mask (43), an input polarizing plate (44), a liquid crystal cell (50) sandwiched between voltage-controlled active matrices (52a and 52b), and an output polarizing plate (46). When the wearer of the sunglasses wants to change the color of the lenses (12 and 14), he/she installs the switch (28) into the position of a selected color, whereby the battery cell (30) is electrically connected with respective pixel sets of the active matrices (52a and 52b) via the memory chip (26). As a result, the lenses will pass only the component of the white light (W) which corresponds to the selected color.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively blocking light beams of different wavelengths with the use of a single color-sensitive filter by passing the beams through a multiple layer system consisting of an input polarization plate (12), an output polarization plate (14), a liquid crystal cell (18) sandwiched between voltage-controlled matrices (20a and 20b), and a mosaic color mask (34). The incident light is detected by a photoelectronic sensor (32) which sends voltage signals to respective pixels (22) which form the above-mentioned matrices. These signals selectively control the polarization states of the beams passed through the respective pixels. Depending on the polarization states of the beams, the output polarization plate can either block the light or pass it to a color mask (34). This mask consists of a periodical set of color cells, the amount and dimensions of which correspond to those of the pixels. As a result, the mask selectively filters the beam in accordance with its pattern.