Abstract: A reflective polarzier for visible light wavelengths formed of a plurality of polarizer units. Each polarizer unit having a transparent, inorganic substrate with first and second opposing surfaces. The first surface is coated with a single layer of a dielectric material, and the second surface is coated with a layer of a highly reflective metal film or a dielectric material. The polarizer is configured to produce a “quasi-straight path,” such that a light ray exiting the substrate is substantially parallel with a corresponding, incident light ray entering the substrate. The polarizer exhibits polarization over the entire visible spectrum.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable configuration having a central strength member. The central strength member includes a hollow tube. One or more strength rods are disposed along or within the tube. To avoid water penetration, the tube is filled with a gel or water-absorbing powder, which provides a water barrier.

Abstract: A holographic storage medium, a method of manufacturing the holographic storage medium and a holographic storage device incorporating the storage medium. In one embodiment, the holographic storage medium includes: (1) first and second spaced-apart substrates, the first substrate being plastic and (2) a photopolymer core located between said first and second substrates and having a coefficient of thermal expansion such that said first and second substrates and said photopolymer core cooperate to respond substantially isotropically to a change in temperature.

Abstract: After a wide-band DCF is wound around a bobbin to form an optical fiber coil 32, the latter is removed from the bobbin and placed into a bundle state (the state where the increase in transmission loss in the wavelength band of 1.55 &mgr;m caused by distortions in winding is reduced by 0.1 dB/km or more) released from distortions in winding. A resin 42 is used as a coil-tidying member so as to secure the optical fiber coil 32 to a storage case 40 at four positions. Both ends of the optical fiber coil 32 are connected to pigtail fibers at fusion-splicing parts 44, respectively. Even when the storage case 40 is closed with a lid after the optical fiber coil 32 is secured to the storage case 40 with the resin 42, there remain interstices within the bundle of the optical fiber coil 32 and a space between the optical fiber coil 32 and the storage case 40. As a result, even when the optical fiber coil 32 in a bundle state is accommodated in the storage case 40, transmission loss and the like would not increase.

Abstract: An optical filter in the form of a film which can be used in a window to control the amount of absorbed light, reflected light, transmitted light and solar energy rejection. The optical filter contains a unique combination of an interfering Fabry-Perot stack and a massive Fabry-Perot stack.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a polarizing element which has a sufficiently large birefringence index and exhibits satisfactory blue-light transmittability by a simple and inexpensive method for manufacturing a polarizing element. An organic material which exhibits light transmittability and birefringence, such as PET, is stretch-processed into predetermined forms that are continuously kept uniform, thereby forming a plurality of prism sheets. These prism sheets are laminated on one another such that prism sheets having mutually different optical axes make contact with each other, thereby forming a layered structure of prism sheets. By cutting up the layered structure of prism sheets, a layered structure of optical blocks having a predetermined shape is obtained, thereby realizing a polarizing element.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing glare is provided in accordance with the present invention. The system may include a first polarizer transmitter for filtering light from a source, and a second polarizer analyzer for viewing the light received from the first polarizer. The first polarizer provides an unmatched polarization characteristic with the second polarizer to mitigate glare. The first polarizer may include a linear polarizer and the second polarizer may include at least one of a circular polarizer and/or an elliptical polarizer.

Abstract: When illumination light is externally incident on a liquid crystal display, of the incident light, light of a polarized component in one direction passes through a polarizing film to reach a liquid crystal panel. After the light reaching the liquid crystal panel is optically rotated in accordance with the display pattern displayed on the liquid crystal panel, it reaches a polarizing film. The light passing through the polarizing film enters a holographic reflector. The incident light passes through a hologram without being diffracted due to the angle selectivity of the hologram. Light passing through the hologram is regularly reflected by a metal reflective layer arranged on the back surface of the hologram to be incident on the hologram again. Incident light (reflected light) is incident on the hologram at an incident angle having a plus or a minus sign reverse to the previous incident light.

Abstract: This specification discloses a light signal interleaver, which can separate a light signal into two light signals with a large interval in between. A birefringent plate is used as a light signal interleaver to separate all wavelengths in a light signal into an O-ray and an E-ray. Therefore, the invention can increase the total transmission capacity under the existent network structure.

Abstract: A variable spacing diffraction grating is fabricated using micro-electromechanical (MEMS) technology. An array of interconnected beam elements is fabricated into a diffraction grating and mounted in such a manner that one or both ends of the array of beam elements may be actuated using a mechanical actuator. The beam elements may be linear, spiral shaped or arranged in a staircase structure. Applying a force to one or both ends of the array of beam elements changes the spacing of the grating, and presents a different ruling spacing distribution to incoming radiation, thus altering the diffracted angle among individual diffraction orders of the wavelength. Controlling the diffracted signal in this way allows for specific diffraction pass bands to be fixed on a particular detector or a particular area of a detector or optical relay lens or lenses.

Abstract: A large scale polarizer comprises one or more quartz substrate parts formed as a rectangle, a triangle, or a parallelogram, and a polarizer holder supporting the quartz substrate part. The polarizer holder may be in a lattice structure holding a plurality of quartz substrate parts. A polarizer system employing the large scale polarizer comprises a lens making an incident light to a parallel light, the large scale polarizer, and a moving control part coupled to and moving the large scale polarizer.

Abstract: A mirror angle adjustment mechanism assembled by engaging latching members of a support pivot, which have been in the state inserted through openings provided in a second hemisphere portion of a mirror holder inner, with a case pivot. A plurality of elastic plates on the support pivot are compressed against the second hemisphere portion such that the second hemisphere portion is held between the plurality of elastic plates and a first hemisphere portion provided at the case pivot. Since this mirror angle adjustment mechanism requires only three parts, the case pivot, the mirror holder inner and the support pivot, the number of parts can be reduced and ease-of-assembly can be improved.

Abstract: In an optical connector ferrule comprising an insertion opening through which one end of a coated optical fiber with the coating removed is inserted. A guide groove is provided for guiding the bare fiber of the optical fiber. A fiber hole is provided for inserting therein the bare fibers guided by the guide groove. An injection port is provided for injecting therein adhesive for securing the coated optical fiber to the ferrule. Guide surfaces are provided for guiding the bare fiber to the guide grooves at sides of the guide groove. In the similar optical connector ferrule, there is provided an enlarged portion extending forwardly from a leading edge of the injection port in a fiber inserting direction and reaching a filling space into which the adhesive is filled. Further, a ceiling surface of the enlarged portion is inclined downwardly forwardly from the injection port.

Abstract: An authenticity identifying film (10) has a reflective film (11) having a circularly polarized light selectivity to reflect at least only either of right-handed circularly polarized light and left-handed circularly polarized light of incident light to produce reflected light. The reflective film (11) is provided with a hologram forming part (11a). The hologram forming part (11a) reflects circularly polarized light of the same circular polarization as that of the reflected light in a direction different from that of the reflected light to form a holographic image. The reflected light reflected by the reflective film (11) and the holographic image formed by the hologram forming part (11a) are detected by detectors disposed at different positions, respectively.

Abstract: An integrated optical polarization beam splitter/combiner and isolator (IPBC) is disclosed. In one disclosed aspect, the IPBC may comprise a first birefringent crystal optically configured to receive two rays incident at an angle, a rotator configured to rotate the rays received, and a second birefringent crystal positioned to receive the rays from the rotator. The IPBC may be configured to combine the rays in a forward direction, and isolate said two rays in a reverse direction.

Abstract: The slotted peep of this invention is a device that eliminates the detrimental effects of diffracted light from its aperture. Diffraction causes light to bend toward and perpendicular to an object's edge. In a current peep's aperture diffracted light is neither controlled nor eliminated. Diffracted light creates several shortcomings in current peeps which impair their accuracy and utility. The current aperture must be oversized to allow space for the diffracted light. The visual size and shape of the current aperture will vary with changes in the light diffraction. Under low light conditions, enough light may be diffracted within the current peep aperture that a user may not be able to see through the peep. A slotted peep is designed to eliminate detrimental effects of diffracted light from its aperture. By surrounding an open space with the open ends of slots, a space is defined that has virtually no physical edges. A slot of the slotted peep confines diffracted light within the slot. “(FIG.

Abstract: A two-way optical communication device for use in a two-way optical communication system for transmitting and receiving an optical signal via a single optical fiber, comprises a light emitting element for generating transmitted light, a photodetector for receiving incoming light emitted from the optical fiber, and a reflection mirror made of a thin film having a high reflectance, having first and second surfaces, the first surface being opposite to the second surface. An optical member including the reflection mirror is provided closer to the optical fiber than the light emitting element. The incoming light emitted from the optical fiber is reflected by the first surface of the reflection mirror to be guided to the photodetector. The transmitted light emitted from the light emitting element or the transmitted light reflected by an end surface of the optical fiber is reflected by at least a portion of the second surface of the reflection mirror to prevent the transmitted light from entering the photodetector.

Abstract: A polarizer has low color shift and is particularly well suited to use in an LCD display. The polarizer has a double pass color shift of |&Dgr;x|≦0.005 and |&Dgr;y|≦0.005 for illumination by a C-illuminant, and a double pass contrast modulation of at least 90%. The display includes two or more layers stacked together, at least one of the layers being an absorbing polarizer having a double pass color shift of |&Dgr;x|≦0.005 and |&Dgr;y|≦0.005 for illumination by a C-illuminant. A polarizer with a selected color shift is also used with a rear projection screen having a dispersing layer stacked together with first absorbing polarizer. The polarizer has a single pass color shift with at least one of &Dgr;x and &Dgr;y being negative under illumination by a C-illuminant, and a polarization co-efficiency greater than 90%.

Abstract: A protective cover (10) for an optical device, such as a spatial light modulator or an infrared detector or receiver. The cover (10) has an optically transmissive window (11), which has a coating (12) on one or both of its surfaces. The coating (12) is made from a halogenated material, which is deposited to form a chemical bond with the surface of the window (11).

Abstract: Optical devices and methods for attenuating, shuttering, or switching optical signals as found in telecommunications. A platform carrying a portion of a waveguide and residing in a plane of a substrate is tipped, tilted, twisted, or otherwise moved out of the plane of the substrate to divert the path of an optical signal or to change coupling between adjacent waveguides. The platform can be formed by etching a substrate while leaving one or more connection points between the platform and the substrate to hold the platform to the substrate.