Abstract: An optical system of a NX reduction catadioptric relay lens having sub-half micron resolution over the ultraviolet band width is described. A spherical mirror with a stop at the mirror is used to work at substantially the desired reduction ratio and the desired high numerical aperture sufficient to provide the desired high resolution. A beam splitting cube with appropriate coatings is used to form an accessible image of an object on an image plane. Refracting correctors in the path of the slow beam incident on the mirror and in the path of the fast beam reflected on the mirror are designed to fix the aberrations of the image formed by the mirror.

Abstract: A condenser optical system is provided for bringing a beam of light from a light source to a focus at a desired position. The condenser optical system has a reflecting surface including a quadric surface of revolution represented by Equation (1) described below. The reflecting surface satisfies the conditions of Equations (2) and (3) described below when the condenser optical system is disposed so that the light beam from the light source is incident, substantially parallel to a rotary axis of the quadric surface, on the reflecting surface:z=Cy.sup.2 /{1+(1-pC.sup.2 y.sup.2).sup.1/2 } (1)Ch<22 (2)78-4.theta..sub.

Abstract: A zoom lens system comprising, in the order from the object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power and a fifth lens unit having a negative refractive power, adapted so as to vary the focal length by moving said first through fourth lens units independently while keeping said fifth lens unit fixed, and adapted so as to perform focusing by moving at least one of said second through fifth lens units. This zoom lens system has a high vari-focal ratio, a wide field angle, a compact size, and optical performance stabilized regardless of zooming and focusing.

Abstract: A projection-type display device having a single light source which produces light. A first dichroic mirror group receives the light and separates it into colored light. A transmissive light valve system modulates the colored light and a second dichroic mirror group synthesizes the modulated colored light. A projection system projects the synthesized colored light onto a screen.

Abstract: A system and method for optically scanning a scene are disclosed. The system is rotated about a pitch axis and a roll axis to provide the desired scanning capability. The system consists of a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, a tertiary mirror and a fold mirror. The fold mirror is located between the primary and secondary mirrors and reflects the light from the field of view along the pitch axis of the system. The light is reflected by a series of plane fold mirrors to the roll axis and out through an exit aperture. Because the light is reflected along the pitch axis and roll axis, the system can be rotated about these axes while the optical output is maintained as required. Rotation about these axes through internal points between the primary and secondary mirrors minimizes the volume swept out by the system during rotation and maximizes the angles through which the system can be rotated.

Abstract: An electrochromic window/glazing assembly disclosed which reduces the transmission of near-infrared and ultraviolet radiation while protecting against risk of laceration or chemical contact if broken/damaged, against ultraviolet (UV) radiation degradation, and against fogging or misting in high humidity conditions. The window assembly may include a pair of glass or other elements confining an electrochromic medium therebetween for varying the light transmittance through the assembly. Transmission of near-infrared radiation is reduced by a reflector incorporating at least one semitransparent, elemental, thin metal film. Preferably, the thin metal film has a physical thickness of between about 80 angstroms to about 300 angstroms and of sheet electrical resistance of no greater than about 8 ohms/square, and is sandwiched between optically transparent thin metal compound films to form a thin film stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing signal to noise ratio in the detection of electromagnetic radiation traversing a capillary tube includes a ball lens and a holding element for holding the ball lens and the capillary tube, the holding element having an aperture so that the aperature and the lens together define an optic axis. The holding element is configured to hold the capillary tube such that the center of the capillary tube traverses the optic axis. The lens has a focal length and is held at such a position relative to that focal length by the holding element such that electromagnetic radiation incident on the aperature is focussed to pass radially through the capillary tube. Thus, the effective path length is 100% of the inside diameter of the capillary tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electrochromic solutions and devices manufactured therefrom. More precisely, the invention relates to electrochemichromic solutions, and those devices manufactured with the same, that demonstrate superior responsiveness to those solutions known heretofore when an applied potential is introduced thereto. That is, the responsiveness observed in terms of solution coloring is of a greater rapidity, intensity and uniformity than those electrochemichromic solutions of the prior art. Preparation of these solutions involve the novel process of pre-treating at least one of the electrochemichromic compounds with a redox agent prior to placing it in contact with the other electrochemichromic compound. Moreover, the present invention relates to methods of preparing such novel solutions and processes for using these solutions to provide devices that exhibit and benefit from the aforementioned superior characteristics.

Abstract: The field of the disclosure is that of enlarging optical lenses and, more precisely, binocular optical systems designed to be inserted into the night-time channel of an observation system, between a light intensifier tube and an observer's eyes. The disclosure can be applied especially to observation instruments for armored vehicles and, notably, periscopes for tanks. The disclosed optical system for a binocular device is of the type constituted by two groups, a forward group and a rear group, the rear group being constituted by a bonded doublet with plane rear face comprising a convergent convex lens bonded to a divergent lens, the lenses of the bonded doublet having different and complementary dispersions to compensate for the chromatism, and the focal length of the doublet ranging from 0.85F to 1.05F, where F is the focal length of the binocular device.

Abstract: A high performance objective lens system for microscopes comprising a plurality but a very small number of lens elements at least one of which is designed as an axial GRIN lens element.

Abstract: A lens barrel comprises a fixed barrel; a photographing lens which requires a first torque for driving the lens along the fixed barrel; and a surface wave motor including a fixed body and a moving body which is rotated relative to the fixed body by excitation for driving the lens. When the motor is not excited, a second torque is exerted between the moving body and the fixed body to prevent the relative rotation. The moving body is caused to rotate by a torque greater than the second torque. A friction generating device provided between the fixed barrel and the fixed body exerts a third torque to prevent relative rotation between the fixed barrel and the fixed body. The fixed body can rotate with respect to the fixed barrel only when the fixed body is caused to rotate by a torque greater than the third torque. A manual operation member drives the photographing lens by a manual operation; and a friction clutch provided between the manual operation member and the fixed body exerts a fourth torque.

Abstract: A system for collecting solar energy includes a space station which receives and concentrates solar light and produces a plurality of collimated beams each diverging toward a common axis and toward a target area on the surface of the earth. On reaching the target area on the earth, each of the collimated beams is superimposed on the other.

Abstract: An optical isolator having a combination of rutile plates or other birefringent crystals and Faraday elements. This optical isolator includes, arranged in the stated order along an optical axis, a first birefringent crystal; a first Faraday element for rotating a plane of polarization 45.degree.; a second birefringent crystal having an optic axis rotated 45.degree. with respect to the first birefringent crystal, and a thickness .sqroot.2 times a thickness of the first birefringent crystal; a third birefringent crystal having an optic axis rotated 135.degree. with respect to the first birefringent crystal, and a thickness .sqroot.2 times the thickness of the first birefringent crystal; a second Faraday element for rotating the plane of polarization 45.degree.; and a fourth birefringent crystal having an optic axis rotated 180.degree. with respect to the first birefringent crystal, and a thickness equal to the thickness of the first birefringent crystal.

Abstract: This specification relates to the invention of a vehicular visual safety device. The device utilizes a planar object, and an opposed convex reflecting mirror mounted on the inside surface of a vehicle windshield enabling the driver to see objects lateral, forward and below the level of the front windshield and front portion of the vehicle on the side of the vehicle opposite and lateral to the driver (passenger side) which heretofore encompassed a dangerous blind spots.

Abstract: A wavelength-selective phase-grating optical low-pass filter has a phase difference structure formed at a boundary face between two layer materials which have different refractive index distributions and an identical refractive index at an intended wavelength. A trapezoid form is adopted at the phase difference section of the phase grating to achieve an excellent MTF characteristic in the condition of: ##EQU1## thereby obtaining a wavelength-selective phase-grating optical low-pass filter capable of adjusting the cutoff characteristic and improving the characteristic in the low-frequency region of the spatial frequency.

Abstract: A projection lens consists of a first lens group including a positive lens, a second lens group including a meniscus type lens having a comparatively low refractive power, a third lens group including a bonded negative lens, a fourth lens group including a double convex lens, a fifth lens group including a lens having a comparatively low positive refractive power and a sixth lens group including a negative lens having a concave surface at the screen side, whereby, when a lens power of the whole lens system is 1 and a lens power of each lens group is designated by .psi..sub.X (1-6), respective lens powers will be given by the following a-e:0.1<.psi..sub.1 <0.6 a-0.2<.psi..sub.2 <0.2 b-0.5<.psi..sub.3 <-0.1 c1.0<.psi..sub.4.5 <1.5 d-1.3<.psi..sub.6 <-0.

Abstract: A side view mirror assembly for an automobile comprises a side view mirror having a reflective surface and a transparent portion, a target fixed with respect to the automobile, located behind the side view mirror, and an auxiliary mirror having a reflective surface which is considerably smaller than the reflective surface of the side view mirror attached to the rear of the side view mirror, and so inclined with respect to the side view mirror that it enables a driver of an automobile to see the target in the auxiliary mirror through the transparent portion of the side view mirror, and when the target is seen by the driver in the auxiliary mirror the line of sight of the driver looking in the side view mirror is directed toward a required blind spot area near the automobile.

Abstract: An optical low-pass filter comprising at least two boundary surfaces arranged substantially parallel to each other which can split incident light into two components or reflect it and at least one of which has color dependency, in order to make it possible to be favorably used to an objective optical system for for endoscopes, to have wavelength dependency to response, and to minimize the generation of color moire. The optical low-pass filter is constructed in the form of various shaped prisms and can also have two-dimensional filter characteristics.

Abstract: A visor or hood to shroud a light projecting video display tube is formed from a composite sheet material of limber, flexible character for mounting upon the flat top and side walls of the tube's enclosure and to flare outwardly therefrom into a curve or arch form. The layer of sheet material proximate the tube is made from a foam or rubber material of a dark, light absorbing color to confine the light scattered from the tube. A backing layer of flexible durable material adheres to the foam layer.

Abstract: A terminator system particularly suited for beams of high intensity electromagnetic radiation such as from a laser includes an enclosure having a hole therein and a black mirror mounted in the enclosure. The black mirror has a specularly reflecting surface opposite the hole and is oriented at an angle such that the beam impinging on the hole would be impinging on the specularly reflecting surface and would not be reflected directly back out the hole. The black mirror is constructed of a material that absorbs energy at the wavelength of the incident beam. In another preferred embodiment, there are a plurality of black mirrors for performing a succession of reflections, so that the beam power is reduced significantly at each reflection.