Abstract: Optics are stabilized by suspending an optical element in a semi-liquid, either freely or by supports allowing for substantial freedom of movement. The semi-liquid provides support for the optical element, damping of oscillation and minimal distortions resulting from inhomogeneous adsorption of heat by the fluid media.

Abstract: Connecting means for adjacent ends of core fibers. The core fibers are glass fibers drawn to have thin ends at one end, the thin end portion of which is coated with glass. The fibers uniformly increase in diameter in a generally conic conformation to thickened connecting points, where the fibers are connected in abutting engagement with each other. The thickened portions of the core fibers may be encased in a mass of synthetic resin, which may be machined along the peripheries of the thickened ends, to accommodate a centering ring to be pressed thereinto and hold the fibers in connected relation with respect to each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a segmented contact lens for the human eye constructed from fluorine-containing polymers, said lens having an index of refraction approximating that of tears and being characterized by a hard center segment surrounded by a soft tough periphery, the hard center having a Knoop hardness of at least 2 and the soft, tough periphery having a Clash-Berg torsion modulus of 95-1,000 lb/sq. in.

Abstract: A light-conducting fiber, or a bundle of such fibers, is provided with a ht-absorbing shield extending beyond an end face of the fiber or bundle proximal to a light-reflecting object. The shield forms a light-guiding channel, of a length substantially exceeding its width, which limits the effective aperture angle of the fiber or bundle to considerably less than its inherent value on the order of 60.degree..

Abstract: A portable telescope assembly comprising a telescope mounted on portable support means. The portable support means includes a polar axis shaft, means for aligning the polar axis shaft parallel to the polar axis of the earth, means for revolving the telescope about the polar axis shaft, and means for rotating the telescope about an axis normal to the polar axis shaft. In addition, the polar axis shaft is balanced both torsionally and longitudinally with the telescope supported at one end and to one side of the polar axis shaft, with a fulcrum intermediate the ends of the polar axis shaft, and counterweights supported at the other end and on the other side of the polar axis shaft. The portable support means includes an air suspension system so that the assembly can be transported between erection sites without substantial hazard of damage due to vibrations or shocks.

Abstract: An arrangement for a rotating vehicular mirror of the self-wiping type which is comprised of a circular mirror supported by means of a central shaft and driven by the vehicular slipstream by means of impellers distributed in the mirror circumference. The mirror construction includes an enclosed chamber mounted for rotation and at least part of one wall of the chamber being formed by the mirror element, the chamber defining a series of radially disposed closed passageways open at one end to the central region adjacent the axis of rotation and at the other end to a peripheral region adjacent the surface of rotation so that rotation of the chamber leads to circulation and recirculation of the enclosed air due to centrifugal force from the central region to the peripheral region and across the rear face of the mirror element.

Abstract: An image stabilized system comprising an afocal telescopic system section, deflecting means and a relay lens system section arranged in this order from the front, said deflecting means including a plano-convex and a plano-concave lens mounted in mating rotatable relation to each other, one of which is fixedly secured to the instrument housing containing the optical system in coaxial alignment with said telescopic system and relay lens system, and the other is held in fixed spatial alignment with the original line of a sight axis by means of a gyro stabilizer coupled thereto, thereby provide for stabilization of an image at the focal plane against accidental angular displacement or motions of the instrument relative to the original line of sight axis.

Abstract: By heat treating a glass member containing at least one kind of cation to constitute a modifying oxide in contact with a source of another kind of cation to cause ion substitution, a light-conducting glass structure can be produced to have a refractive index distribution wherein the index varies progressively transversely to the intended light path, which is thereby bent toward the direction of increase of the index, such a light-conducting glass structure is not accompanied by differences or lagging of phase velocities of conducted light rays, spreading of the light flux width, and reflection losses.

Abstract: A stabilizer is disclosed which can alone, or in combination with other optics of known magnification, produce stabilized images where ambient instrument vibration occurs. An optically transparent liquid of known index of refraction is confined to a chamber having at least one freely movable transparent wall. A light path is defined into or out of the chamber substantially normal to the neutral position of the freely movable transparent wall. When the chamber is subjected to accidental angular motion, the fluid within the chamber inertially acts upon the freely movable transparent wall to move the wall and thereby create a transparent fluid wedge. This transparent fluid wedge, either alone or in conjunction with other optics of known magnification, produces apparent image movement equal and opposite to the image movement produced by ambient accidental vibration. Optical stabilization results.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for exposing to ultraviolet light a semi-conductor or hybrid substrate coated with photo-resist, in back of a mask having bars and very narrow slits, the diffraction patterns ordinarily experienced at the substrate being virtually eliminated through use, between the light source and the mask, of a light integrator comprised of two successive matrixes of very small lenses or lenticules. The lenticules form a large number of magnified, superimposed, slightly displaced images of the light source in the plane of the substrate; and when the slitted mask is interposed, this light forms a large number of diffraction patterns on the substrate which, because of their large number, superimposition, and slight displacement, results in extreme uniformity of light intensity and sharp resolution throughout the pattern of light on the substrate.

Abstract: A new microscope construction wherein the large components may be made in quantity using plastic molding techniques. The improved microscope comprises a base of inverted dish shape, a bridge comprising a plurality of legs, and an eye-piece housing. The lower end of each leg is connected to the base and the upper ends of the legs are joined to form a support for the eye-piece housing. A stage is supported by a central portion of the base for vertical adjustment and a single beam-splitting prism is carried by the eye-piece housing, the latter having a pair of diverging eye-piece tubes, each having mirrors cooperating with the prism.

Abstract: Fiber optic displacement/position measuring apparatus having increased working distance and measuring range capability is provided by combining an optical extending sensing head in fixed relationship with the common end of a bifurcated fiber optic bundle. The sensing head includes a lens system which is operative to focus the image of the end face of the fiber optic bundle onto the surface of an object whose displacement is to be determined and to refocus that image back onto the end in an upright relationship.

Abstract: Disclosed is a soft, tough, contact lens for the human eye constructed of fluorine-containing polymers, said lens having a Clash-Berg torsion modulus of 95-1000 lb/sq. in. and a refractive index approximating that of human tears.

Abstract: A method for trimming of a specimen which is to be sectioned in a microtome to locate that part of the specimen which is of interest, comprising the superimposing in a microscope of the image of a cut section on the image of the specimen surface.

Abstract: A process for prescribing and manufacturing contact lenses wherein a first concave curvature is developed on the interior face of the lens in the central optical zone. This concave curvature conforms to a portion of a sphere having a radius equal to the radius of a base curve determined to be suitable for the particular patient. A second concave curvature is developed on the interior face of the lens to provide a bearing zone in surrounding relationship relative to the optical zone. The second curvature conforms to an annulus of a sphere having a radius determined by the slope of the patient's eye at points of contact of the second curvature with the eye. The slope is determined by calculating the eccentricity of the ellipsoidal surface which most closely describes the shape of the patient's eye.

Abstract: A device for binocular viewing of, for instance, fluorescent screens, image converters, and image intensifiers. Designed to be hand held, the device is light and compact. A single optical system of at least four lens elements provides the desired magnification. Behind the last element (in the direction of travel of the light from the object being viewed to the eyes of the person using the device) there are two rhombic prisms to spread the light beam to the two eyes of the user. In a preferred form, the prisms are adjustable to match the interpupillary distance of the user. At least one of the lens elements of the magnification system preferably has an aspherical surface.

Abstract: Light from a fluorescent lamp successively passes a field stop, a condensing lens assembly close to that stop, an aperture stop and a microscope objective. The condensing lens assembly projects an aerial image of the lamp in the vicinity of the aperture stop and focuses the field stop at infinity; the microscope objective focuses an image of the field stop on its object plane. A dispersive lens may be interposed between the fluorescent lamp and the field stop to enable the use of condensing lens assemblies of short focal length.

Abstract: A contact lens wherein the body of the lens is made of soft plastic with a stabilized optical area in the lens, stabilization of the optical area being realized with the addition of stabilizing means at or slightly radially outwardly disposed with respect to the approximate maximum pupil opening of the eye.

Abstract: A four-element composite prism assembly for splitting an incident beam into three colour components, the first and second pairs of elements being separated by respective air gaps, and colour separation occurring at respective spectrally selective dichroic coatings between the second and third and the third and fourth prism elements respectively, the separated colour components being directed in different directions by total internal reflection at the air gaps. To achieve the optimum separation upper and lower limits are defined in the claims for the apex angles of the three prism elements.

Abstract: In a color camera utilizing a color encoding strip filter arrangement in the optical path to separate light from an object into its component colors, an imaging system includes a noninteracting cylindrical lens array to image the encoding filter strips onto a photosensitive medium without the use of a relay lens..[.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.].