Abstract: An imaging system for producing a stereoscopic image of an object is provided. The imaging system includes a camera for receiving an image of the object, a single-axis optical system disposed between the object and the camera, and an image blocking element disposed between the object and the camera. The image blocking element is activatable to alternately produce a left image and a right image, and is adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system such that the image blocking element is capable of being centered on the aperture (i.e., the entrance pupil, exit pupil, or aperture stop) of the optical system.

Abstract: An illumination device for a DUV microscope has an illumination beam path, proceeding from a DUV light source in which are arranged a condenser and a reflection filter system which generates a DUV wavelength band and comprises four reflection filters. At these, the illumination beam is reflected in each case at the same reflection angle &agr;, the illumination beam path extending coaxially in front of and behind the reflection filter system. According to the present invention, the reflection angle &agr;=30° and the DUV wavelength band &lgr;DUV+&Dgr;&lgr; has a half-value width of max. 20 nm and a peak with a maximum value S of more than 90% of the incoming light intensity. The resulting very narrow half-value width of the DUV wavelength band makes it possible for the DUV objectives of the DUV microscope to be very well-corrected.

Abstract: In a polarization splitting sheet (10) made of a transparent base material sheet (12), a coating layer (14) is provided on the rear surface of the base material sheet(12), this coating layer (14) having spherical beads (16) of a diameter in the range from 1 to 10 &mgr;m protruding from its surface, the spherical beads (16) of the coating layer (14) making contact with a smooth surface (18A) of a light-transmitting material (18). The half-value width of the diameter of the spherical beads (16) is made no greater than 1 &mgr;m, and the protrusion height of the spherical beads (16) from the coating layer (14) is made uniform.

Abstract: An optical circulator for transmitting light along a first optical path from a first optical port to a second optical port and along a second optical path from the second optical port to a third optical port, an optical interface in the first and second optical paths that passes the first beam but deflects the second beam to a highly reflective surface, wherein the plane of the highly reflective surface is at an angle to the optical interface such that the second beam is deflected from the highly reflective surface to the third port, and wherein the first port and the third port can be configured to utilize the same GRIN lens.

Abstract: A display device antireflection filter 100 formed on a glass base material is comprised of an antireflection layer 102 of at least one layer containing SiO2 and a material layer 103 made of composition produced by adding compound whose interaction with SiO2 is small to compound having alkoxysilane group at terminal and which has perfluoropolyether group. This device exhibits improved wear and abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A laser beam display includes at least a first and second plurality of laser beam sources, each of which may preferably be an array of semiconductor lasers, providing a plurality of laser beams in an optical path so as to reflect off of reflective facets of a movable reflector and illuminate a display screen. In a color display, each column of the laser array corresponds to a separate primary color. The separate rows of each array correspond to independently activated but simultaneously driven scan lines to be illuminated by the laser beam scanning apparatus. The plural laser beam arrays subdivide the width of the screen into smaller scan segments to increase the scanning angle or increase the horizontal scanning speed of the apparatus. Tilted facets illuminate different vertical sections of the screen with the laser beams as the reflector rotates. A scan format employing simultaneously illuminated diagonal scan tiles provides optimal use of the plural laser beam arrays.

Abstract: A bright holographic stereograin having a high diffraction efficiency can be prepared by restricting vibrations. The apparatus comprises: an optical system 15 for letting an objective laser L2 beam subjected to image-modulation based on each image of a parallax image sequence and a reference laser L3 beam having coherence with respect to the objective laser beam L2 enter into a recording medium 3 and for recording interference fringes generated by the objective laser beam L2 and the reference laser beam L3, as a hologram element, onto the recording medium 3; an anti-vibration support means 19 for supporting the optical system 15 on a casing 20 while preventing vibrations; and cooling means 48 to 52 for cooling the optical system 15.

Abstract: An adapter for receiving optical fiber connectors, of the type having an inner part suitable for receiving an internal connector carrying an internal optical fiber having an end ferrule, and having an outer part suitable for receiving an external connector having an external optical fiber with an end ferrule, is made suitable for use with different external connectors by having the outer part readily separable from the inner part. The parts have complementary engaging surfaces and cooperating engaging means which lock the two parts together upon relative rotation of one of the parts relative to the other through about a right angle. The usual alignment sleeve is carried by the outer part, and when this part has been separated from the inner part the internal fiber ferrule is accessible for cleaning.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for producing and displaying a one-step, edge-lit hologram. For production, an object beam and an edge-lit reference beam are directed at holographic recording material and to interfere with one another. The holographic recording material and the object beam and edge-lit reference beam are then translated with respect to one another. The translation successively exposes multiple portions of the holographic recording material to the interference of the object beam and the edge-lit reference beam to record an edge-lit hologram on the holographic recording material. In one embodiment, the holographic recording material is moved while the object beam and the edge-lit reference beam remain generally stationary. In another embodiment, the object beam and the edge-lit reference beam move in unison with each other while the holographic recording material remains generally stationary.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for converting a monochrome night vision or other electro-optical device into one that provide a sensation of full color, including from red to blue with white and black. Preferred apparatus of the invention comprise an electro-optical viewing device, particularly a mono-chromatic night vision device, that comprises a plurality of light filters. A first light filter system is positioned at a light-input end of the device, and a second light filter system is positioned at a light-output end of the device, whereby the plurality of filters systems provide to a viewer a sensation of full color, including from red to blue with white and black.

Abstract: A stereo endoscope having right and left optical systems for stereoscopic observation which form the right and left images, respectively. The stereo endoscope further including a third optical system which has a wider field of view and a smaller maximum lens diameter than the right and left optical systems.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a diffractive optical element whose optical axis can be precisely positioned, and a method of manufacturing the diffractive optical element. The diffractive optical element includes a region provided with a concentric uneven pattern and having a predetermined light bending characteristic, and a peripheral section worked so that the optical axis of the diffractive optical element determined by the light bending characteristic of the region aligns with the center of the profile of the diffractive optical element.

Abstract: A method and system for producing false three-dimensional images for amusement may be used in haunted houses, fun houses, or similar attractions found at fairs, amusement parks, and/or tourist areas. The method includes forming specific color and geometric patterns on a substantially black background illuminated by ultraviolet light and then viewing the resultant images through the preferred stereoscopic lenses.

Abstract: A polarization-preserving optical fiber with a high pump-radiation absorption efficiency including a core, a primary cladding surrounding the core, stress members disposed within the primary cladding, and a secondary cladding surrounding the core, primary cladding and stress members. The stress members and the primary cladding have different thermal responses, thereby inducing birefringence within the fiber. The cladding and stress members cooperate to direct light, propagating through the fiber, into the core.

Abstract: An optical instrument is described in which a diffractive element is located at a focal or image plane of the instrument and the diffractive element is effective to produce an array of a plurality of exit pupils at a viewing position for the instrument and thereby to form an enlarged exit pupil for the instrument. The diffractive element is formed to provide a plurality greater than two of optical diffractive gratings each being disposed angularly relative to others of the plurality of optical diffractive gratings.

Abstract: An optical unit includes an optical element for propagating incident light toward a predetermined direction, a barrel for supporting the optical element, and an attenuating device including a plurality of grooved portions, for attenuating, through multiple reflection, at least a portion of light emitted from the optical element toward a direction different from the predetermined direction. The attenuating device includes two recesses each having a horn-like section shape, the two recesses being bent in directions away from each other.

Abstract: There is provided a polarizer constituted by: a polarizing element; and at least one transparent protective film constituted by two layers of retardation films with an in-plane retardation in a range of from 190 to 320 nm with respect to light having a wavelength of 550 nm, the transparent protective film being bonded onto one of opposite surfaces of the polarizing element so that a fast axis of each of the retardation films is parallel with an absorption axis of the polarizing element, the two layers of retardation films being constituted by a combination of a retardation film with Nz of from 0.15 to 0.35 and a retardation film with Nz of from 0.65 to 0.85 on the condition of nx>ny and Nz=(nx−nz)/(nx−ny) in which nx and ny are in-plane refractive indices of each of the retardation films respectively, and nz is a refractive index in a direction of thickness of each of the retardation films.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring optical scattering characteristics includes coupling a continuous wave laser excitation signal to an optical fiber. Radiation backscattered by the optical fiber in response to the coupled excitation signal is detected to produce a backscattered radiation signal. The backscattered radiation signal is mixed with the excitation signal to produce a mixed signal. The mixed signal is filtered to reduce the magnitude of frequencies other than conjugate mixing frequencies relative to the conjugate mixing frequencies. The filtered signal is digitized and the magnitude of backscattered radiation from a specific portion of the fiber is calculated based on the digitized signal. The temperature of a specific portion of the fiber can be determined from the magnitude of the backscattered radiation.

Abstract: A method of cross-connecting or reorganizing individual optical fibers of a plurality of fiber optic ribbons include the steps of providing a substrate having an adhesive thereon with a mixing zone within the boundaries thereof. A plurality of individual optical fibers are routed onto the substrate to form a plurality of fiber optic input ribbons, reorganizing the fibers in the mixing zone, and forming a plurality of fiber optic output ribbons. At least some of the output ribbons have fibers from more than one of the input ribbons. The input and output ribbons are coated on the substrate outside the mixing zone to hold the routed fibers in ribbon form, leaving at least portions of the fibers in the mixing zone uncoated. The coated ribbons are stripped from the substrate with the uncoated fibers from the mixing zone being loose. A holding device is placed about at least the uncoated loose fibers between the input and output ribbons.

Abstract: A polarization-independent optical isolator includes a first birefringent wedge plate having an inclined plane directed to a light incoming side; a second birefringent wedge plate having an inclined plane directed to a light outgoing side, the wedge equal thickness line of the inclined plane of the second birefringent wedge plate being in parallel to the wedge equal thickness line of the inclined plane of the first birefringent wedge plate; and a Faraday rotator element disposed between the first and second birefringent wedge plates. A non-inclined plane of the first birefringent wedge plate is adhesively bonded to a light incoming plane of the Faraday rotator element, and a light outgoing plane of the Faraday rotator element is adhesively bonded to a non-inclined plane of the second birefringent wedge plate. The first and second birefringent wedge plates and the Faraday rotator element thus adhesively bonded to each other are disposed in a cylindrical magnet.