Abstract: Disclosed herein is a color filter equipped with a plurality of colored light-transmitting areas on its base, wherein the light-transmitting areas are colored with ink dots, and each of the colored portions is continuously formed over a plurality of the light-transmitting areas.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector sleeve is provided which includes a sleeve housing defining a lengthwise extending passageway and a number of positioning ribs extending lengthwise through the passageway for engaging a fiber optic connector and for positioning the fiber optic connector within the fiber optic connector sleeve. For a sleeve housing defining a passageway having a number of corners in lateral cross-section, the positioning ribs are generally located in respective corners of the passageway in order to engage corresponding corner portions of the fiber optic connector. Additionally, the interior sidewalls of the sleeve housing that extend between the positioning ribs are typically recessed relative to the positioning ribs so as to provide clearance during the insertion of the fiber optic connector into the fiber optic connector sleeve. Moreover, the recessed interior sidewalls of the sleeve housing can be tapered in a lengthwise extending direction to facilitate molding of the fiber optic connector sleeve.

Abstract: A programmable optical logic gate for performing a selected function from the group including ALWAYS, NEVER, and logical OR, AND, NAND, NOR, XNOR, and XOR includes an optical logic circuit for receiving a first optical operand signal and a second optical operand signal and for performing a logic function on the first and second operand signals to produce an output signal, and further includes an optical logic function selection circuit coupled to the logic circuit for receiving logic function control signals and for selecting a logic function performed by the logic circuit on the first and second optical operand signals.

Abstract: A head-mounted display system and a method of displaying scenes within the system include two or more reconfigurable holographic optical elements (HOEs) in a holographic diffuser of the system. The reconfigurable HOEs may be configured to perform simple optical functions that are commonly associated with traditional optical devices, such as lenses, prisms and mirrors. However, the reconfigurable HOEs may also be configured to perform sophisticated optical manipulations, such as optimally diffusing light with respect to intensity toward a predefined direction. Each reconfigurable HOE includes a hologram that is sandwiched between two electrode layers. The hologram is a holographic photopolymeric film that has been combined with liquid crystal. The hologram has an optical property that changes in response to an applied electrical field.

Abstract: A tool includes a handle having a driving stem for driving a fastener and having a chamber for receiving one or more batteries. A light bulb is received in the handle. A cover is secured to the handle for blocking the chamber. The cover includes an orifice for allowing a light generated by the light bulb to emit outward of the handle. A cap is pivotally coupled to the cover for selectively enclosing the orifice. The cap includes a conductor selectively actuated to engage with the light bulb when the cap is opened. The conductor may be disengaged from the light bulb when the cap is closed.

Abstract: An optical film is provided which comprises a disperse phase of polymeric particles disposed within a continuous birefringent matrix in combination with light directing materials to enable control of light emitted from a lighting fixture or display. The film is oriented, typically by stretching, in one or more directions. The size and shape of the disperse phase particles, the volume fraction of the disperse phase, the film thickness, and the amount of orientation are chosen to attain a desired degree of diffuse reflection and total transmission of electromagnetic radiation of a desired wavelength in the resulting film, and the light directing materials are chosen to control the direction of polarized light reflected from or transmitted by the optical film.

Abstract: A real time fingerprint verification system includes a recording device and a verification device each having a fingerprint scanner for generating a flat, dimensionally undistorted, high contrast, fingerprint image, and an intensity sensitive, spatial light modulator (SLM) for receiving and transforming the flat fingerprint image into a planar, coherent light image. In the recording device, the planar coherent light image beam of the fingerprint from the SLM is Fourier transformed, and input into a microscope objective lens system which expands the Fourier transformed beam image sufficiently to allow mechanical blocking of its central portion or order, whereupon it is directed to interact as an object beam with a reference beam from the particular coherent light source to record a holographic matched filter.

Abstract: A hologram of an increased size using a single color laser, capable of executing a full color regeneration in a desired view angle and a method for producing the hologram. A plurality of photo-sensitive members are independently exposed to obtain respective holograms, which are connected by using an adhesive layer 80 constructing a connecting means, in order to obtain an integrated hologram expanded in two-dimensional direction. The holograms are obtained by an interference of a reference light 22 and an object light passed through a light diffusing body 24 in order to cause the light diffusing body 24 to be recorded on the photo-sensitive member. The size of the light diffusing body 24 is such that the spectral characteristic of the diffused light from the hologram can attain a desired efficiency at least over the entire wavelength range of the visible light.

Abstract: An optical device includes a dichroic polarizer and a multilayer optical film, such as a reflective polarizer or mirror. The multilayer optical film is made using polymers which may allow for the simultaneous orientation of the dichroic and reflective polarizers. The multilayer optical film often contains a set of birefringent first layers and a set of second layers, which may have an isotropic index of refraction. The dichroic polarizers is a polyvinyl alcohol film with a dichroic dye. The multilayer optical film and dichroic polarizer can be stretched at temperatures of 130.degree. C. or less to orient the two films without substantial cracking of the dichroic polarizer. When an optional second polymer is combined with the polyvinyl alcohol, the multilayer optical film and dichroic polarizer can be stretched at temperatures of about 160.degree. C. without substantial cracking of the dichroic polarizer.

Abstract: A method of making a modulator for modulating an incident beam of light uses a substantially planar light reflection surface formed by a light reflection layer associated with a plurality of deformable elements and a light reflection layer associated with a plurality of fixed elements. The fixed and deformable elements are arranged in a cavity of a substrate supporting the modulator. Light is modulated when a current is applied to a conductive element operably associated with the deformable elements causing the light reflective layer associated with the deformable element to deflect towards the base of the cavity from its substantial planar relations with the light reflecting layer of the fixed element.

Abstract: An illuminating apparatus which comprises a light source, an optical system for condensing light emitted from the light source and illuminating an object with the condensed light, and an optical member which absorbs light having a wavelength from 260 to 340 nm among the light emitted from the light source, wherein the optical member is made of glass or crystalline material to which metal is doped.

Abstract: An optical deflector has a support. A movable plate is formed with a mirror for reflecting light from a light source. The mirror is formed on at least one surface of the movable plate. An elastic member couples the movable plate and the support to hold the movable plate in a deflectable manner. A driving coil is formed on at least one surface of the movable plate. A magnetic field producing means produces a magnetic field in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the movable plate. The interaction between a current flow in the driving coil and a magnetic field produced by the magnetic field producing means causes elastic deformation of the elastic member, which, in turn, deflects the movable plate. A Hall element detects the deflection angle of deflection motion of the movable plate.

Abstract: The length of optical cable affected when splicing in sensors is reduced by cutting and splicing two distribution fiber lines and two return fiber lines to each sensor. The cable includes a spare distribution fiber line and a spare return fiber line. The optical cable is first stripped back to expose the optical fibers therein. For both the distribution and return lines, one fiber is cut at the proximal end of the stripped back portion of the cable, and another fiber is cut at the distal end of the stripped back portion. These fibers are then fused to respective ports on the sensor. Thus, each of the optical channels is formed from more than one optical fiber. The resulting cable is less stiff and more flexible.

Abstract: An illumination device having a light-emitting tube and a reflector for reflecting rays of light irradiated from the light-emitting tube is designed so that the cross-sectional shape of at least one section of the reflector in a plane perpendicular to the axis direction of the light-emitting tube is different from the cross-sectional shapes of the other sections in the axis direction of the light-emitting tube.

Abstract: An airway obstruction luminaire has a luminaire base; a substantially cylindrical Fresnel lens having a lens axis; a halogen lamp having a lamp base, and a substantially linear filament; and a lamp bracket which positions the lamp such that a filament axis of the filament is coincident with the lens axis. The filament is energized by a power supply connected to a first filament end and second filament end, which are separated by an effective length l.sub.E of less than 1 inch. The filament is preferably formed as a helical coil. The lamp is designed to operate at a lamp rated voltage V.sub.L between about 12 and 30 volts. The power supply voltage V.sub.P is reduced if V.sub.P is greater than V.sub.L. The second filament end is supported by a second end support structure configured to reduce shadowing. The lens is preferably an acrylic plastic lens fabricated by injection molding.

Abstract: A flashlight for use in emergency situations includes a front light, a rear light, a translucent body with lights underneath to serve as a light beacon, and pivotable legs for supporting the flashlight in a freestanding position. When the legs are pivoted away from the flashlight body, a normally open switch closes, automatically turning on the lights in the translucent body and operating the flashlight as an emergency light beacon. The material used in the translucent body and/or the lights in the body are preferably colored red to designate an emergency situation. Front and rear light sources on the flashlight, which can be adjustable, provide ambient and task lighting in the same manner as conventional flashlights. The flashlight may include a cigarette lighter adapter and rechargeable batteries as an alternative power source to conventional batteries.

Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes a semiconductor laser as a light source, a deflector for deflecting a light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser, and optical element for directing the light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser to a surface to be scanned. The optical element includes a refracting porion and a diffracting portion, wherein changes in the focus in the main scanning direction, resulting from the environmental fluctuations, of the scanning optical apparatus are corrected by a characteristic of the optical element.

Abstract: A holographic display system comprising left and right optical systems is disclosed. The optical systems each comprise an image display operable to display an input image and first and second holographic devices. The first holographic device is operable to project the input image to overlap with the input image projected from the other of the left and right optical systems to form a resultant image with a first aspect ratio. The second holographic device is operable to project the input image to overlap with the input image projected from the other of the left and right optical systems to form a resultant image with a second aspect ratio, different from the first aspect ratio. A method of changing the aspect ratio of an image is also disclosed.

Abstract: A compact optical system for and method of forming an image on an intermediate image-forming surface such as a photoreceptor drum at a high speed. An image-forming light source such as a laser light source is placed between an image-focusing element such as a focusing mirror and an image-scanning unit such as a polygon mirror. According to one preferred embodiment, the image-forming light source is placed in a scanning area defined by a predetermined scanning angle of the image scanning unit.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a methodology for producing parallel beams having like polarizations or parallel like polarization modes (PLPM) without utilizing 90 degree polarization interchangers, e.g., half wave plates. By utilizing Faraday rotators in combination with one or more walk off devices, non-reciprocal termination of PLPM can be achieved without half wave plates. According to one advantageous embodiment of the invention an optical apparatus of the present invention comprises a first walk-off device having a first optical port at a first end thereof and a second and third optical port at a second end thereof. A first Faraday rotator is coupled in an optical path with the second optical port of the first walk off device and a second Faraday rotator is coupled in an optical path with the third optical port of the first walk off device, where each of the Faraday rotators are made from the same material and provides a polarization rotation opposite to each other which is a multiple of 45 degrees.