Abstract: The invention provides coated optical lithography elements and methods of coating optical elements, and particularly optical photolithography elements for use in below 240 nm optical photolithography systems utilizing vacuum ultraviolet light (VUV) lithography wavelengths no greater than about 193 nm, such as VUV projection lithography systems utilizing wavelengths in the 193 nm or 157 nm region. The optical devices manipulate vacuum ultraviolet lithography light less than 250 nm utilizing a deposited silicon oxyfluoride film. The deposited silicon oxyfluoride optical coating assists in the manipulation of incident light and protects the underlying optical materials, layers, and surfaces.

Abstract: A parallax barrier comprises a plurality of parallel vertical apertures or apertures. In a direction transverse to the apertures, the apertures have an optical transmission function which comprises a plurality of sub-apertures so that the function varies in this direction. In general, the function is constant in a direction parallel to the apertures or apertures. Such a barrier may be used with a spatial light modulator such as a liquid crystal display to form an autostereoscopic 3D display.

Abstract: OWG plug connector for a mechanically releasable connection between at least one OWG connector pair. The OWG plug connector has a connector having a first housing with at least one first chamber for accommodating a first OWG connector. The first chamber has a hole at one end. A mating connector is provided which is complementary to the connector and has at least one second chamber for accommodating a second OWG connector. At least two opposite walls of the second chamber are designed as latching arms. The two OWG connectors have end pieces bounded by exit faces. The first OWG connector is mounted without play in the first chamber. The exit face of the first OWG connector is arranged in the hole of the first chamber. The second OWG connector is seated with longitudinal play in the second chamber with the latching arms pressing, by means of latching lugs, the second OWG connector against a second stop of the second chamber.

Abstract: An optical pickup is disclosed which includes a first light source for emitting a first beam of light with a first wavelength; a second light source for emitting a second beam of light with a second wavelength, longer than the first wavelength; a condenser lens for condensing the first and second beam of light onto an information recording surface of a recording medium; and a diffractive optical element arranged in an optical path from the first and second light source to the condenser lens. The condenser lens condenses, for the first beam of light, a refracted beam of the first diffraction order of the first beam of light by means of the diffractive optical element as an information read beam or an information write beam. For the second beam of light, the condenser lens condenses a refracted beam of the second diffraction order, lower than the first diffraction order, of the second beam of light by means of the diffractive optical element as an information read beam or an information write beam.

Abstract: A durable, heat treatable layer coating system of at least 10 layers including from the substrate outwardly: SnOx wherein x is <2.0, TiOx wherein x is <2.0 (or NiOx wherein x is less than 1.0), silver, NiOx wherein x is less than 1.0, SnOx wherein x is <2.0, TiOx wherein x is <2.0 or NiOx wherein x is less than 1.0, silver, NiOx wherein x is less than 1.0, SnOx wherein x is <2.0, and Si3N4 as an overcoat.

Abstract: A multi-layered mirror has a substrate, a first layer of a first substance, a second layer of a second substance. The refractive index of the first substance in a utilized wavelength region is different from that of the second substance. The first and second layers are laminated alternately on the substrate. To obtain a high reflectivity and superior optical characteristics, a multi-layered structure is formed within either the first layer or the second layer using at least two substances whose real parts of the complex indices of refraction in the utilized wavelength region are approximately the same. Alternatively, a layer surface is smoothed before forming a next layer thereon. An exposure apparatus that uses multi-layered mirrors of the present invention uses light with higher efficiency.

Abstract: A multiview three-dimensional image display apparatus comprises: a light source, a shutter plate for selectively passing light from the source; a diffuser immediately adjacent the shutter plates an optical element in front of the diffuser for forming a viewing zone; and a transparent display immediately adjacent the optical element for displaying multiview images thereon, wherein the multiview images are displayed based on a time-multiplexing technique and the viewing zone is formed in front of the transparent display. The apparatus can be readily modified into a multiview apparatus that includes a plurality of light sources. Since a plurality of viewing zones can be simultaneously formed in the apparatus, it is possible for multiple viewers to simultaneously observe the same three-dimensional image.

Abstract: A diffractive lens, comprises an optical axis; a lens surface having a peripheral portion, and a diffractive relief provided on the lens surface, wherein the diffractive relief is shaped in annular zones, and wherein following conditional formulas (1) and (2) are satisfied: hi−1≦h<hi  (1) x=f(h−hti)+S  (2) where i is a suffix showing an ordinal number of each of the diffractive annular zones obtained by counting each diffractive annular zone in such a manner that a diffractive annular zone including the optical axis is counted as a first diffractive annular zone and other diffractive annular zones are counted respectively in consecutive order from the optical axis toward the peripheral portion; h is a distance between a point and X axis in which, when the optical axis is deemed as X axis, the distance is from X axis to the point in a direction perpendicular to X axis; hi is a distance from X axis to a border between i-th diffractive annular zone and (i&plus

Abstract: An optical system and an imaging and display system using the optical system. The optical system has at least first and second optical elements aligned on a common axis. In one embodiment, each of the first and second optical elements can operate in an active state or in inactive state and comprise a photopolymer and liquid crystal combination. Each of the first and second optical elements is configured to transmit incident light substantially unaltered when each of the first and second optical elements operates in the inactive state. In the active state, however, each of the first and second optical elements does not transmit incident light substantially unaltered. Rather each of the first and second optical elements substantially alters light incident thereon when each of the first and second optical elements operates in the active state.

Abstract: The inventive filter forms a four filtering stage device from two filtering stages and a reflective stage. This greatly reduces the noise level in a WDM signal, wherein the signal is one of the odd channels and the even channels, while the noise is present on the other of the odd channels and the even channels. The first stage separates the WDM signal and noise into their polarization components, rotates the components of one of the signal and the noise, and recombines the components of the signal, while blocking a portion of the noise. This output is passed to the second stage which repeats the operation of the first stage. The output of the second stage is then reflected by the reflecting stage back to the second stage, and subsequently the first stage, for processing in reverse order. The inventive filter, via the mirror in the reflecting stage, reduce dispersion of the light during processing.

Abstract: A holographic element, which can be manufactured without the use of an anisotropic material and comprises a corrugated surface configuration whose grooves and ridges have moderate depth and height corresponding to the pitch of the corrugated surface configuration, is provided together with a method of manufacturing same. The holographic element is for switching light paths in dependence on the polarization directions of an incident light and comprises a plurality of regions formed substantially periodically on a substrate, by which regions the transmitted light has different phase differences between its polarization components as a whole. Within one cycle of the substantially periodically formed regions, at least one of the regions is such a region in which a corrugated configuration of one-dimensional structure with a pitch not greater than the wavelength of the incident light is formed.

Abstract: An optical isolator having a constitution in which a Faraday rotator is sandwiched by two polarizers, which can be more easily produced at a reduced cost. An optical isolator is constituted so that it comprises the following constituent elements in the described order: a first reflection-type polarizer made of a polymeric multilayer film; a Faraday rotator capable of rotating the polarizing. plane by 45 degrees; a tapered glass plate; and a second reflection-type polarizer made of a polymeric multi-layer film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for creating a structure, such as a grating (45) in a photosensitive material (40). The method and apparatus relies upon creating at least two coherent beams of light (33, 38) and reflecting them, in a counter propagating manner, around a series of reflective elements (35, 37) along substantially equivalent paths so that the coherent beams interfere at a structure staging area (45). The structure staging area can then be utilized to create grating structures or the like having improved qualities.

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing apparatus, which detachably supports a holographic memory formed of a photorefractive crystal, includes a portion for supplying a coherent reference light beam at a first wavelength into the holographic memory; a portion for supplying a coherent signal light beam at the first wavelength, modulated in accordance with image data, into the memory to produce an optical interference pattern with the reference light within the memory; a portion for supplying a gate light beam at a second wavelength into the memory for activating or deactivating an index grating in accordance with the presence or absence of the optical interference pattern to enhance a photo-sensitivity of the memory; a detector for detecting diffraction light from the index grating of the memory by the irradiation of the reference light beam; and a portion for changing and regulating a light intensity of the gate light beam.

Abstract: A digital electronic camera includes a holographic medium, an imaging array disposed at a focal plane for converting optical information to digital information; and an optical system configured to store the digital information onto the holographic medium. An optical system for retrieving images stored in the medium may be provided inside the camera or as a separate appliance.

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: A safety shutter suitable for intercepting an energy beam. The safety shutter includes at least one shutter blade having a top end and a bottom end. At least one motor is coupled to the bottom end of the shutter blade such that the motor rotates the shutter blade from a closed position to an open position when energized. The shutter blade is coupled to at least one spring, wherein the spring rotates the shutter blade from the open position to the closed position when the motor is de-energized.

Abstract: A projection type display device constructed so that light source beams via a polarization beam splitter are separated of colors by a color separating/synthesizing optical system and enter light valves disposed for every color light, the light beams exiting from the respective light valves are synthesized by the color separating/synthesizing optical system, the synthesized light beams exit, the polarization beam splitter analyzes the synthesized light beams and takes out the analyzed light beams, and the analyzed light beams are projected on a screen through a projection lens. A normal line of an outgoing surface of the polarization beam splitter with respect to the light source beams exiting toward the color separating/synthesizing optical system from the polarization beam splitter, has a predetermined angle larger than zero degree with respect to an optical axis of the light source beams.

Abstract: A tunable optical filter is based on a conventional thin film optical filter. The thickness of the thin film optical filter determines the optical properties of the filter, specifically the pass band. The thin film optical filter is arranged within a hole extending through a layer of piezoelectric material such that the periphery of the thin film optical filter is secured to the periphery of the hole. Electrodes are provided on opposite surfaces of the piezoelectric layer such that different voltage levels can be applied. The resulting deformation of the piezoelectric layer causes a difference in the thickness of the thin film optical filter thereby permitting tuning of the optical filter.

Abstract: A rear view mirror assembly for commercial vehicles comprises a tubular support structure having a first end fixable to a commercial vehicle and a second end extending from the commercial vehicle, and a support arm including a molded part and at least one core element. The molded part encapsulates the core element and a substantial portion of the tubular support structure. The molded part and the core element each have a respective density, the core element density being less than the molded part density, whereby the presence of the core element within the molded part reduces the overall weight of the support arm.