Abstract: A PDLC modulator is fabricated using at least one of a selection of specially-formulated UV curable organic hard coatings as a protective layer on the exposed side of polyester (Mylar) film. The hard coatings of various related types show good adhesion on a polyester film substrate, superior hardness and toughness, and have a slippery top surface, which minimizes unnecessary wear. The coating as applied on the modulator surface significantly reduces scratch damage on modulators caused by unexpected particles on the panels under test. In addition, the slip surface will reduce stickiness to particles and therefore also reduce the possibility of panel damage.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a digital micro-mirror 100 includes a hinge 116 disposed outwardly from a substrate 102. The hinge 116 is capable of at least partially supporting a micro-mirror 104 disposed outwardly from the hinge 116. The micro-mirror 104 is capable of being selectively transitioned between an on-state position and an off-state position. In one particular embodiment, the hinge 116 comprises a substantially flat profile for at least a portion of the hinge 116 disposed between a first hinge post 108 of the hinge 116 and a mid-point of the hinge 116. The apparatus also includes a plurality of process control voids formed within a conductive layer 120 disposed inwardly from the hinge 116. In one particular embodiment, the substantially flat profile is at least partially created from the plurality of process control voids.

Abstract: A driving voltage adjusting device for a microelectromechanical optical (MEMO) device. The adjusting device comprises a parameter generator and a driving device. The driving device outputs an adjusting driving voltage to the MEMO device to a parameter from the parameter generator.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display includes an electrophoretic display module including an element substrate, a counter substrate disposed on a display side of the element substrate, and an electrophoretic layer held therebetween; a first protective sheet disposed on a counter substrate side of the electrophoretic display module; a second protective sheet disposed on an element substrate side of the electrophoretic display module so as to face the first protective sheet with the electrophoretic display module disposed therebetween; and a frame member disposed between the first and second protective sheets along the periphery thereof so as to surround the electrophoretic display module. The frame member is integrated with the first and second protective sheets by welding the frame member to the first protective sheet and to the second protective sheet.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) display element may include a photovoltaic structure configured to generate electric energy from incident light. In one embodiment, the display element includes a first layer that is at least partially transmissive of light, a second layer that is at least partially reflective of light, and a photovoltaic element that is formed on the first layer or the second layer or formed between the first layer and the second layer. The second layer is spaced from the first layer and is selectably movable between a first position in which the display element has a first reflectivity and a second position in which the display element has a second reflectivity. The first reflectivity is greater than the second reflectivity. The photovoltaic element is at least partially absorptive of light and is configured to convert a portion of the absorbed light into electric energy, at least when the second layer is in the second position.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display and a method of manufacturing the electrophoretic display are provided. The electrophoretic display includes an lower electrode formed on an under layer, an lower electrode protection layer formed on the lower electrode, an insulating template formed on the lower electrode protection layer and having a plurality of holes of smaller size than the wavelength of visible rays region, a dielectric fluid filling the holes and having a color, a plurality of charged particles suspended in the dielectric fluid filling each of the plurality of holes having a color different from the color of the dielectric fluid, and an upper electrode formed on the insulating template in sequential order. Accordingly, a problem of agglomeration of the charged particles can be solved by the insulating template having holes of smaller size than the wavelength of visible rays region, and thus a reliable electrophoretic display emitting light of one color or natural colors is achieved.

Abstract: A lighting system operating using a digital mirror as its operative device. The digital mirror is used to shape the light which is a passed through advanced optical devices in order to produce an output.

Abstract: A fundus camera capable of favorably photographing a fundus of an examinee's eye comprises a fundus photographing optical system comprising a visible light source which emits illumination light onto the fundus, a focusing lens movable in an optical axis direction thereof, and a fundus image pickup element, an optical system comprising a first photodetector, for detecting a focus state of the photographing optical system with respect to the fundus, a blink sensor which comprises a second photodetector and detects a blink of the eye based on a photo-receiving signal from the second photodetector, and a control unit arranged to suspend photographing upon input of a predetermined signal until the blink is detected by the sensor, and control the light source to emit the light when a predetermined period of time has passed since the blink is detected by the sensor in order to execute the photographing.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator includes an array of elements to modulate light in accordance with image data. The modulator has a display panel having first and second surfaces arranged adjacent to the array of elements such that the second surface is directly adjacent the array of elements to allow a viewer to view an image produced by modulation of light The modulator may also include a light source to provide light to the display panel and illumination dots on the first surface of the display panel to reflect light from the source to the array of elements.

Abstract: A lens barrel has an elastically deformable moving frame which is a cylindrical frame member having a first groove group, in which a plurality of grooves formed in the circumferential direction are arranged in the optical axis direction, at the outer periphery thereof, and an elastically deformable rotating frame which is a cylindrical frame member engaging with the outer periphery of the moving frame and having a second groove group, in which a plurality of grooves formed in the circumferential direction are arranged in the optical axis direction so as to face to the first groove group, at the inner periphery thereof, the rotating frame being movable relative to the moving frame without interference of the second groove group with the first groove group during the ordinary operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display apparatus, comprising: a light source; at least one spatial light modulator for modulating a luminous flux emitted from the light source; and controller for processing video image information, which is input, and controlling the light source and the spatial light modulator, wherein the controller controls the light source and the spatial light modulator so as to perform pulse emission of the light source during a period shorter than a period in which the spatial light modulator is controlled under a modulation state and also controls the light source so as to modulate the pulse emission during a period shorter than a period in which the spatial light modulator is controlled under a modulation state.

Abstract: A vertical cavity modulator/detector (VCMD) device and a method for modulating and detecting light are disclosed. The VCMD device contains an n-type contact layer, a transparent tuning layer, a multiple quantum well structure, a p-type contact layer, a low reflectance mirror arranged to be an input for a light that is to be modulated and a light that is to be detected, and a high reflectance mirror, wherein said n-type contact layer, said transparent tuning layer, said multiple quantum well structure and said p-type contact layer are arranged in a stack between said low reflectance mirror and said high reflectance back mirror.

Abstract: The image display apparatus includes first and second display elements respectively displaying first and second original images, and an optical system presenting an enlarged combined image of the first and second original images with first and second light fluxes from the first and second display elements. The optical system includes at least one reflective surface. When a cross-section of the optical system on which optical paths of the first and second light fluxes are turned by reflections at the reflective surface is defined as a decentering cross-section, the first and second original images correspond to different view angles in the decentering cross-section. Light flux components respectively included in the first and second light fluxes and introduced to a same image point in the enlarged combined image are overlapped with each other on an exit pupil plane.

Abstract: The present invention provides an acoustooptic device usable even with light in the ultraviolet region, free from laser damage and optical damage, and excellent in acoustooptic performance and an optical imaging apparatus using the same. The acoustooptic device according to the present invention includes a high-frequency signal input part (65), a transducer part (64), and an acoustooptic medium (6). A high-frequency signal input from the high-frequency signal input part (65) is converted into a mechanical vibration by the transducer part (64), and an optical characteristic of the acoustooptic medium (6) varies depending on the mechanical vibration. The acoustooptic medium is formed of a Group III nitride crystal. The optical imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a light source, an acoustooptic device, a driving circuit, and an image plane.

Abstract: A lens module includes a base, a carrier carrying a lens, two elastic members attached on the base and supporting the carrier, and a number of thermal actuators. The carrier is movable relative to the base. The thermal actuators each have a first arm and a second arm. The first and second arms are aligned in an optical axis direction of the lens and each have a first end electrically and mechanically coupled to the base and a distal end, the distal ends thereof are interconnected and attached to the carrier. The first arms are thinner than the second arms so that the first arms are capable of deflecting toward the second arms due to differential heat generated when an electrical current is passed through the first and second arms from the first ends thereof to the second ends thereof, thereby the carrier is moved.

Abstract: A system and method of aligning a micromirror array to the micromirror package and the micromirror package to a display system. One embodiment provides a method of forming and utilizing a package that exposes regions of an alignment reference plane. The device within the package is mounted on the reference plane such that the exposed regions allow precise alignment with the device in a direction perpendicular to the reference plane. Alignment surfaces formed in a display system or other system contact the reference plane at the exposed regions to position the packaged device relative to other components of the system. One embodiment of the package 400 taught has laminated layers forming the package substrate 402 and providing a precision reference plane 416 relative to the position of the micromirror device 404. The package may be formed by laminating several layers of material in sheets to form several package substrates simultaneously.

Abstract: The invention administers an objective clinical test to an eye that measures the visual sensitivity of the superior retina and the inferior retina, by alternately presenting a stimulus pair comprising a shaped superior light stimulus and a shaped inferior light stimulus that are horizontal mirror images of one another and have shapes encompassing visual field defects. The shaped superior and inferior light stimuli stimulate pupillary responses whose amplitudes are measured. A cycle-averaged pupillary response balance and a luminance ratio are computed for each presentation of a stimulus pair. A stimulus pair response curve is computed by fitting cycle-averaged pupillary response balances to a sigmoid function of the luminance ratios. A balanced luminance ratio at which the cycle-averaged pupillary response balance is equal to about zero is computed from the sigmoid function. The balanced luminance ratio is indicative of the presence and location of retinal nerve damage.

Abstract: Light in the visible spectrum is modulated using an array of modulation elements, and control circuitry connected to the array for controlling each of the modulation elements independently, each of the modulation elements having a surface which is caused to exhibit a predetermined impedance characteristic to particular frequencies of light. The amplitude of light delivered by each of the modulation elements is controlled independently by pulse code modulation. Each modulation element has a deformable portion held under tensile stress, and the control circuitry controls the deformation of the deformable portion. Each deformable element has a deformation mechanism and an optical portion, the deformation mechanism and the optical portion independently imparting to the element respectively a controlled deformation characteristic and a controlled modulation characteristic. The deformable modulation element may be a non-metal.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises, in order, a backplane comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes; a layer of a solid electro-optic medium; a main adhesive layer; and at least one of a light-transmissive protective layer and a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer. The electro-optic layer may be in direct contact with the backplane or separated therefrom by a thin auxiliary layer of adhesive. The main adhesive layer may be colored to provide a color filter array. An inverted front plane laminate useful in forming such a display comprises the same layers except that the backplane is replaced by a release sheet. The display combines good low temperature performance and good resolution at higher temperatures.

Abstract: Disclosed are white particles for an image display device which includes: (i) a pair of substrates facing each other, provided that at least one of the substrates is transparent; and (ii) the white particles enclosed in a gap between the substrates, with which an image is displayed through migration of the white particles by generating an electric field between the substrates, wherein each of the white particles contains: (a) a core particles containing an inorganic oxide having a refractive index of 2.0 or more in an amount of 80 to 99 weight % based on the total weight of the core particle; and (b) a resin layer having a thickness of 10 to 1000 nm on a surface of the core particle.