Abstract: An illumination obscurement device for controlling the obscurement of illumination from a light source which is optimized for use with a rectangular, arrayed, selective reflection device. In a preferred embodiment, a rotatable shutter with three positions is placed between a light source and a DMD. The first position of the shutter is a mask, preferably an out of focus circle. This out of focus circle creates a circular mask and changes any unwanted dim reflection to a circular shape. The second position of the shutter is completely open, allowing substantially all the light to pass. The third position of the shutter is completely closed, blocking substantially all the light from passing. By controlling the penumbra illumination surrounding the desired illumination, DMDs can be used in illumination devices without creating undesirable rectangular penumbras.

Abstract: A stringed instrument is provided wherein each string has two critical points. A fulcrum tremolo is mounted on the instrument for varying the tension of the strings and the distance between the two critical points. The strings are attached to a plurality of intonation modules mounted on the fulcrum tremolo. Each intonation module is adjustable so that the strings can be adjusted from an untensioned state to a proper playing pitch. A bearing assembly is also included to facilitate pivoting of the fulcrum tremolo.

Abstract: As assembly of normally open pressure responsive electric switches (10a-10e) is provided using a single lead frame (8) for forming respective discontinuous annuli (12) to serve as contact surfaces for pressure responsive discs (42) and a center contact (14) for each respective discontinuous annulus. The lead frame is overmolded with electrically insulative plastic and the circuit paths are electrically separated from one another by severing selected interconnecting runners (40). Each switching station has a disc (42) sealed by a flexible layer (47) and an O-ring (48). A separate lead (26) can be provided for adding switches of an opposite logic, i.e., normally closed, and a thermistor (38) can be included, if desired. The normally closed switches can be modular or the switches (100, 200) can have contacts formed from the lead frame (89).

Abstract: A device for holding musical instruments such as guitars in an upright position when not being used by the player. The device maintains the stability of the instrument with a gentle clamping action caused by the downward force exerted by the weight of the instrument itself being transferred via a hinged fulcrum to the forward arcing movement of an active rear support against a stationary forward support thus retaining the upright stability of the instrument and maintaining a relatively low center of gravity of the combined instrument and holding device. This function is accomplished without any action on the part of the user other than merely placing the instrument in the device and retrieval of the instrument is accomplished by merely lifting the instrument from the device. Further, there are no points of contact between the instrument and the holding device that are of an abrasive nature which could damage the delicate finish of the instrument with repeated use.

Abstract: A reflecting film has at least a transparent polymer film and a thin silver layer applied on the transparent polymer film to reflect light entered from a side of the transparent polymer film. The reflecting film retains a reflectance of at least 90% to visible light even after the reflector is exposed for 300 hours at a reflecting film temperature of 100.degree. C. and an exposure intensity of 500 mW/cm.sup.2 to artificial sunlight from which light of 390 nm and shorter in wavelength has been eliminated. For fabricating the reflecting film, a surface of the transparent polymer film is preferably treated with a metal-containing plasma, then the thin-silver layer is deposited on the treated surface. A reflector making use of the reflecting film is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a key support device for a keyboard musical instrument including a plurality of keys and a keyboard chassis. The key support device has a support member for rotatably supporting a rear part of each of the plurality of keys on the keyboard chassis. The keys each have a supporting shaft-receiving recess having an arcuately-walled portion defined by an inner peripheral surface which is arcuate and partially open in cross-section. The support member comprises a supporting shaft part having an arcuate portion which has the same radius of curvature as the arcuately-walled portion of the supporting shaft-receiving recess and a central angle of less than 180 degrees, and a support part extending from the supporting shaft part. By this arrangement, the keys are each supported by the support member in a state of the arcuately-walled portion of the supporting shaft-receiving recess and the arcuate portion of the supporting shaft part being in contact with each other.

Abstract: Graphic material includes at least one area bearing a hologram and at least one area bearing a diffraction grating. Preferably, the diffraction grating and the hologram are simultaneously viewable from at least one perspective. The graphic material is made using an embossing die grown from a precursor blank which has been embossed in discrete areas with a holographic microtexture and then partially overstamped with a diffraction grating microtexture. The stamping of the blank may be effected by pressing a suitably shaped die against a shim bearing a diffraction grating microtexture for forming the microtexture in the die shape on the blank.

Abstract: An exterior rear view mirror assembly for an automobile is provided. The mirror assembly comprises a mirror mount, a mirror associated with the mirror mount, a support structure which pivotably supports the mirror mount, and a connection assembly which secures the mirror mount to the support structure for pivotal motion relative to the support structure. The mirror mount has a hollow sleeve extending rearwardly therefrom. The support structure has a recess shaped to receive the mirror mount sleeve to allow the sleeve to pivot within the support structure recess and an elongate opening or slot through the recess. The connection assembly includes a pivot member sized and shaped to be positioned within the mirror mount sleeve, a lock key, and a resilient member. The lock key extends through the pivot member opening, the bottom of the sleeve, and the support structure opening to engage the support structure to hold the pivot member and the mirror mount to the support structure.

Abstract: A UV image forming optical system includes a collimating lens which collimates light emitted from a UV light source, and an imaging lens which forms an image of the collimated UV light transmitted through the collimating lens. A rear focal point of the collimating lens adjacent to the imaging lens is located closer to the imaging lens than a last lens surface of the collimating lens on the light emission side. A front focal point of the imaging lens adjacent to the collimating lens is located within the imaging lens. A lens system for UV radiation is also provided, which can be used as an imaging lens for the UV image forming optical system.

Abstract: A stereoscopic imaging arrangement comprises a) an optical device (1) having an objective (2) and further lens means (3) located remotely from but in the optical path of the objective and b) a stereoscopic imaging device (4) arranged to receive light from said further lens means and form an image on a photosensitive image plane (7), the stereoscopic imaging device having shutter means (5) arranged to selectively occlude light exiting from left and right regions of said further lens means to form right and left images on said image plane and having means for combining said right and left images to form a stereoscopic representation of the field of view of said objective. The image may be displayed on a monitor (9) and viewed stereoscopically with switching spectacles (10).

Abstract: A multi-aperture imaging system for continuous dwell imaging of complex extended scenes which are not required to contain localized point sources. The multi-aperture imaging system includes a plurality of subaperture telescopes, each of which collect image data of an instantaneous field of view of an extended object scene within a field of regard of the imaging system. The image data collected by each subaperture telescope is transferred by respective optical delay paths to a beam combiner which combines all the image data in coherent fashion to form a single high resolution image of said object scene at a focal plane of the beam combiner. The subaperture telescopes are optically phased using phase diversity techniques which include using a phase diversity sensor located at the focal plane of the beam combiner to detect wavefront errors in the collected images.

Abstract: A backing plate for a transparent substrate constructed of two polarizer sheets. The axes of polarization of the polarizer sheets are substantially orthogonal to each other. The backing plate thus absorbs more than 98% of incident light and prevents substantial reflection. The backing plate is especially adapted for use with a transparent substrate undergoing any photolithographic process.

Abstract: A variable magnification mirror having a thin diaphragm provided with a reflective front surface includes a mechanism for deforming the diaphragm from a flat shape, yielding unity magnification of images formed by the reflective surface, to adjustably greater curvatures yielding adjustably larger magnification factors. The mechanism includes a screw-driven, flexible circular puller plate fastened to a rear central portion of the rear surface of the reflective diaphragm, the outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm being held axially fixed with respect to the screw. In the preferred embodiment, the puller plate is so constructed as to have greater flexibility at outer radial portions thereof to accommodate larger angular defections of the outer radial portions of the diaphragm, thereby aiding in maintenance of substantially spherical, distortion free contour.

Abstract: A record carrier (e.g., an identification card) of the type containing machine-readable representations of data, wherein the record carrier comprises a substrate, a first pattern of machine-readable indicia applied to one surface of the substrate, and a hologram containing machine-readable data disposed on one surface of the substrate. The information represented by the machine-readable indicia and the machine-readable data are related to one another so as to enable a user to verify the authenticity of the record carrier by comparison of the indicia and the data.

Abstract: There is provided an array of M.times.N thin film actuated mirrors for use in an optical projection system comprising an active matrix, an array of M.times.N thin film actuating structures, each of the thin film actuating structures including at least a thin film layer of a motion-inducing material, a pair of electrodes, each of the electrodes being provided on top and bottom of the thin film motion-inducing layer, an array of M.times.N supporting members, each of the supporting members being used for holding each of the actuating structures in place by cantilevering each of the actuating structures and also for electrically connecting each of the actuating structures and the active matrix, and an array of M.times.N mirrors for reflecting light beams, each of the mirrors being placed on top of each of the actuating structures.

Abstract: Polarizing element having a first layer and a second layer. When an unpolarized light beam is incident on the element, the direction of at least one of the polarization components of the unpolarized beam will be influenced by the first layer. These polarization components have different directions of polarization. The second layer influences the direction of a polarized beam incident thereon. A polarization-rotating layer is present between the first layer and the second layer. An unpolarized beam can be substantially completely converted into a polarized beam having mainly the same direction of polarization.

Abstract: Tilting motion of an auxiliary mirror and a dynamically compensating balancer is separated into a component in which they tiltably move with the same phase and a component in which they tiltably move with opposite phases. As these components are processed by using respective stabilizing filters, the auxiliary mirror and the dynamically compensating balancer are allowed to tiltably move with opposite phases.

Abstract: A pick (10) for use with a stringed musical instrument is disclosed. The pick includes a generally flat body (12) formed of flexible elastomeric material that is adapted to be held between a player's thumb and index finger and a length of metal wire (14) partially embedded in the body. The ends of the metal wire are twisted and embedded in the body to anchor the wire. A mid-portion of the wire extends outwardly from the body to form a string-engaging pick portion having a rounded, polished tip (36) for picking the strings of the musical instrument.

Abstract: A device for altering the effective mass of a stringed instrument employs a movable mass such as an adjustable calibrated weight affixed to an accessory or member on the body of the instrument. The adjustable weight is a known weight and in the form of a movable mass clamp that can be externally mounted on the endpin of a cello or bass. The adjustable weight can be a "C" shaped body or a split collar style body with either one employing a threaded fastener to hold the body on the endpin. A variation encompasses a mounted adjustable weight in the form of a clamp affixed to some portion of an instrument. The clamp has a flexible interface or pad between the clamp and the instrument. A series of varying weights can be selected to be applied to the clamp. Another variation employs the endbutton on a violin. The endbutton has an opening disposed therethrough with threads provided therein.

Abstract: The method utilizes high resolution lithography, mask aligning, and reactive ion etching. In particular, at least two binary amplitude masks are generated. A photoresist layer on an optical element substrate is exposed through the first mask and then etched. The process is then repeated for the second and subsequent masks to create a multistep configuration. The resulting optical element is highly efficient.