Abstract: A dataconferencing system comprises an imaging device adapted to generate an image of a document. The system also comprises a light source adapted to generate light proximate to the document for generating the image. A monitor application accessible by a processor is adapted to detect a change corresponding to the document. A lighting application accessible by the processor is adapted to automatically activate the light source in response to the detected change.

Abstract: A tool is employed in conjunction with alignment, depth, and level detectors. The tool can use all or some of these detectors. The alignment detector provides an orthogonal laser line grid on an incident surface when the detector has a predefined relationship with the surface. The depth detector emits two sets of parallel laser planes that converge with each other. When the laser planes impact on an incident surface two sets of lines are formed. The laser lines from one laser plane set move closer to the lines from the other laser plane set as the depth detector moves closer to the surface—showing changes in depth or distance. The level detector employs two converging laser planes. An operator positions the level detector above an incident surface, so the laser planes' line of intersection appears on the surface if the surface is level. If the surface is not level, lines separate from each laser plane appear on the surface—signaling the need for a level adjustment.

Abstract: Provided is a method for operating a preparation delivery device wherein the device comprises a) a container for the preparation having, or being prepared for the arrangement of, an opening, b) a mechanism operable to deliver at least part of the preparation in the container through the opening, c) attachment means for connection of the container to the mechanism and d) a sensor system arranged to detect at least one predetermined property of the container or its content. The method comprises transmitting radiation towards the container position or a part thereof to allow the radiation to be affected by the container position, receiving at least a part of the affected radiation from at least an area part of the container position in a non-imaging way and comparing the characteristics of the received radiation with a predetermined characteristic representative for the predetermined property to establish whether or not the predetermined property of the container is present.

Abstract: Light having polarization is irradiated onto an article, and then quality of the article is diagnosed using a pre-input correlation function between quality of the article and a variation of polarization of the light reflected from the article. Further, the quality of the article is diagnosed by measuring a reflection absorbance difference or a reflection absorbance ration of light from the article between two wavelenghts, and by measuring a depolarization degree of polarized light of the reflected light from the surface of the article. The quality of the article can be non-destructively diagnosed using a simple system. Further, defects can be identified of factor-by-factor basis.

Abstract: An optical semiconductor device having an active layer for generating light via the recombination of holes and electrons therein. The active layer is part of a plurality of semiconductor layers including an n-p junction between an n-type layer and a p-type layer. The active layer has a polarization field therein having a field direction that depends on the orientation of the active layer when the active layer is grown. In the present invention, the polarization field in the active layer has an orientation such that the polarization field is directed from the n-layer to the p-layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the recording of an object space with an opto-electronic distance sensor by a signal propagation time method, with a transmitter for transmitting optical signals, in particular those of a laser, and a receiver device for receiving optical signals, in particular laser radiation, which is reflected from objects located in the target space. The distance sensor is combined with a scanning device for deflecting the optical axes of the transmitter and receiver device, and it has an evaluation device, which from the propagation time or phase angle of the optical signal emitted ascertains distance values. Downstream of the scanning device, that is, out of the region oriented toward the distance sensor, part of the beam is split off from the beam path of the transmitter and/or receiver device and is directed to receiver diodes or the like, and from the corresponding signals, a pixel is ascertained and each pixel is assigned a distance value and a space angle.

Abstract: There is described an integrating circuit (20) for use with a photodetector (10) and an optical sensor (1) including such an integrating circuit. The integrating circuit comprises an operational amplifier (30) having a non-inverting input (32) connected to a non-zero bias voltage (VPD-BIAS), an inverting input (31) coupled to the photodetector (10), and at least one output (33). This integrating circuit further includes an integrating voltage storage device (25) having a first terminal coupled to the operational amplifier output and a second terminal coupled to the operational amplifier inverting input, and switching circuitry for controlling timing of the integrating circuit and switching the integrating circuit between a reset phase and an integration phase.

Abstract: An optical resonator supporting two sets of simultaneously co-existent oscillation modes (30 and 31), having polarizations orthogonal to each other. Mode control elements (28 and 29), such as apertures and phase elements, are introduced into the resonator to allow only preferred modes to exist. The placement and orientation of the sets are designed such that the high intensity zones of one set fall on the nodes or low intensity zones of the other set in an interlaced pattern. Thus, in a laser resonator, better utilization of the gain medium (24) is achieved and the beam quality and brightness over multimode lasing are improved. This configuration improves the performance of high Fresnel number resonators, in both pulsed and continuous lasers, for applications such as scribing, drilling, cutting, target designation and rangefinding. An application of the intra-cavity coherent summation of orthogonally polarized modes is described, whereby azimuthally or radially polarized beams may be obtained.

Abstract: A gas supply path structure forms a fluid path for allowing a laser gas to flow into or out of a pair of fluid inlet and outlet 11a and a laser gas is controlled to a predetermined subsonic speed at a throat portion. Gas supplies for controlling the speed of the gas are connected each to the fluid inlet and to the fluid outlet of the gas supply path structure and, together with a cooling device, compose a circulation system for controlling the speed and pressure of the laser gas at the fluid inlet and/or at the fluid outlet.

Abstract: The oscillation pulse width is extended in a gas laser apparatus emitting ultraviolet radiation by a high-repetition rate oscillating operation. The gas laser apparatus has a pair of laser discharge electrodes connected to the output terminals of a magnetic pulse compression circuit and disposed in a laser chamber. The pulse width is extended by determining circuit constants so that the period of the oscillating current flowing between the discharge electrodes is shortened and, at the same time, the peak value of the current is increased, whereby the laser gas is continuously excited even during at least one half-cycle subsequent to the first half-cycle of the oscillating current to sustain the laser oscillating operation.

Abstract: A harmonic wave generator including a light source to generate a fundamental wave having a predetermined wavelength, a non-linear material to transform at least a portion of the fundamental wave generated by the light source into a harmonic wave having a shorter wavelength than the fundamental wave, and a first optical device to separate the harmonic wave generated by the non-linear material from the fundamental wave. The harmonic wave generator further includes a second optical device between the condensing lens and the non-linear material to adjust the depth of the focus of light. The harmonic wave generator is easily assembled and can be manufactured at a low cost. A harmonic wave having high power can be generated.

Abstract: Multiple operational parameters for a laser device are simultaneously controlled, optimized and/or stabilized by a software-based system with nested and interactive feedback control loops. Start-up mode, channel lock mode and channel change mode operations are described. The invention may be applied to a laser device with monolithic DBR tuning and gain sections, and also to systems with separate amplifiers. An optical filter system for normalizing-out changes in output power in relation to wavelength control is also disclosed.

Abstract: A spot size converter comprising an incident area of a first size, an exit area of a second size different from the first size, and side walls defining a light guide, wherein at least a part of side wall inclines from the width direction axis and the thickness direction axis of the incident area is provided. Thereby, it is able to regulate the divergence of the outgoing light, and to optically couple optical elements of different spot size with each other at a high-efficiency. Moreover, the semiconductor laser module and optical fiber laser device using such a spot size converter are provided.

Abstract: A pulse circuit, a plasma generator, and a excited atomic molecular state generator useful in an electric oxygen iodine laser of the present invention. The invention also comprises a laser wherein a beam passes through a gas expansion throat.

Abstract: An ultraviolet radiation sensor that indicates a predetermined cumulative exposure to ultraviolet radiation is disclosed. The presently preferred sensor comprises a membrane, a base, an ultraviolet degradable adhesive, and an indicating mechanism. The ultraviolet degradable adhesive adheres a portion of the membrane to the base, thereby maintaining the membrane in a biased state. The ultraviolet degradable adhesive fails when a predetermined cumulative exposure has been attained. Upon failure of the adhesive, the membrane reflexively restores itself to an unbiased state and activates the indicating mechanism. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor is worn by a user to indicate when the skin of the user has been exposed to excessive ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: A laser, including a grating structure consisting of two or more gratings generating a plurality of different wavelength peaks for reflection of optical radiation therefrom. The laser also includes a semiconductor device having a gain region which is operative to amplify the optical radiation, and a wavelength tunable filter (WTF) region which is adapted to filter the optical radiation. The device is optically coupled to the grating structure so as to define a laser cavity having a plurality of cavity modes. The cavity modes are selected by tuning a wavelength pass-band of the WTF region to overlap with one of the wavelength peaks of the grating structure.

Abstract: A hand-held laser device includes a casing formed with a substantially hollow interior space and having a laser emitter thereinside. The laser emitter is formed with an exciting lamp and a laser rod. A source generating a stream of gaseous coolant is provided within the interior space. A fluid cooling arrangement at least partially surrounding the laser rod is disposed within the stream of gaseous coolant for heat removal therefrom.

Abstract: First and second radial magnetic bearings are provided at opposing ends of a rotary shaft, first and second protective bearings are arranged in the vicinity thereof, a third radial magnetic bearing is arranged on a side of a fan near a motor, and by the third radial magnetic bearing, negative spring element of the motor is corrected.

Abstract: A modulated light emitter having a laser and modulator constructed on a common substrate. The light emitter includes an active layer having a quantum well (QW) layer sandwiched between first and second barrier layers. The active layer includes a laser region and a modulator region connected by a waveguide. The laser region emits light when a potential is applied across the active layer in the laser region. The modulator region has a first state in which the modulator region absorbs the generated light and a second state in which the modulator region transmits the generated light. The modulator region assumes either the first or second state depending on the potential across the modulator region. The QW layer in the modulator region is under a tensile strain, which provides improved light absorption in the first state.

Abstract: A controller for use with an optical device having an optical source and a frequency reference element. The controller includes a frequency processing module coupled to the optical device. The frequency processing module generates an error signal indicative of a deviation between the output frequency of the optical source and a reference frequency corresponding to a reference point. A driver module communicates with the optical device and the frequency processing module. The driver module adjusts a parameter of the optical source in response to the error signal. An offset processing module is coupled to the frequency processing module. The offset processing module derives an offset signal based on an estimate of a temperature of the frequency reference element. The offset processing module provides the offset signal to the frequency processing module which updates the reference point in response to the offset.