Abstract: Garnet material according to a particular embodiment of the invention exhibits a substantially rectangular magnetization loop, with .vertline.H.sub.S .vertline.>.vertline.4.pi.M.sub.S .vertline.Oe and .vertline.4.pi.M.sub.s .vertline.<100 G over a predetermined operating range (e.g., -40.degree. to +80.degree. C.), where H.sub.S is the switching magnetic field of the loop, and 4.pi.M.sub.S is the saturation magnetization. The material exhibits improved latching behavior. In a further embodiment of the invention the composition of the garnet material is selected such that the material exhibits hard latching behavior (.vertline.H.sub.s .vertline.>500 Oe) at least at room temperature. Garnet materials according to the invention can advantageously be used in magneto-optic isolators and other magneto-optic devices. For instance, the material enables manufacture of isolators that do not contain a bias magnet.

Abstract: Describes an electrochromically active iridium oxide film of iridium, oxygen and nitrogen, wherein the ratio of atomic oxygen to iridium is from 3.2:1 to 3.4:1 and the amount of nitrogen in the film is from 11 to 13 atomic percent. Describes also an electrochromic article, e.g., a plastic article such as a plastic lens, in which the aforedescribed iridium oxide film is paired with a cathodically coloring electrochromic film, such as tungsten oxide.

Abstract: The invention proves a compact and simple wide-angle lens system composed of a reduced number of lenses and having high productivity, which is well suited for use on digital cameras, while making sure of the space necessary for edge, and middle thicknesses, and constructing the system and, at the same time, having a given back focus and exit pupil position, and sufficient image-forming capability, and which comprises two lens groups or, in order from the object side thereof, a negative lens group GN and a positive lens group GP with an aperture stop D midway between them and a lens located nearest to the object side thereof being defined by a positive lens, said positive lens conforming to three conditions in terms of focal length, shape factor, and ensuring sufficient edge thickness.

Abstract: A lenslet array system for imaging an associated object onto a final image plane includes (i) a first assembly including a baffle structure and a first lenslet array having an associated image plane and (ii) a second assembly including a second lenslet array.The first lenslet array accepts a full field of view subtends by the associated object and forms a plurality of image sections of the associated object on an intermediate image plane. The first lenslet array includes a plurality of positive power lenslets, each of the plurality of lenslets having a focal length f.sub.1 and accepting a unique segment of the full field of view subtended by the associated object. These segments of the full field of view together comprise the full field of view, and each of the lenslets forms one image section corresponding to its segment of the full view.

Abstract: Variations on the Koehler illumination system, used for providing light to be reflected from, or transmitted by, an SLM. An anamorphic illumination system (10) uses multiple light sources (11) and a cylindrical lens (14) to provide an elongated and compressed beam to the SLM (16). A cascaded illumination system (30) uses multiple light sources (31) and multiple TIR prisms (33) to provide an extended light beam or one that is more intense, to the SLM (36).

Abstract: An optical cross bar switch assembly includes a first lens device (5) in the form of an array of lenslets (5a) operable to receive light from the input optical fiber array (1) in a manner such that the light from each fiber is received and collimated separately by an associated one of the lenslets (5a) with the collimated light from the array (5) being passed to a fan out grating element (3) which angularly diffracts and replicates the light from the input optical fibers.

Abstract: An electrochromic system comprising a transparent electrically conducting film (2), a film (3) of a cathodic electrochromic material, which is capable of reversibly inserting M.sup.+ cations of type H.sup.+ or Li.sup.+, an electrolyte film (5), counter-electrode film (7) made of an anodic electrochromic material, and a second electrically conducting film (8), said structure having a barrier film (6) interposed between electrolyte (5) and the counter-electrode (7), which barrier film is open to the diffusion of the M.sup.+ cations and which is constituted of the following materials selected from the group consisting of oxides of metals of Group VB of the Periodic Table, mixtures of these oxides, CeF.sub.3, Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3, HUP (hexauranylphosphate), Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2, and an ion conductor material of Li.sub.3 N, LiTaO.sub.3, LiAlF.sub.4, Li.sub.3 PO.sub.4, LiBO.sub.2 or LiNbO.sub.3.

Abstract: An imaging optical system comprising at least one diffractive optical element having a positive refractive power, at least one refractive optical element having a positive refractive power and at least one refractive optical element having a negative refractive power; and characterized in that it favorably corrects aberrations, in particular, chromatic aberration.

Abstract: A compact wide-angle photographic lens system of a retrofocus type includes, from the object side, a first, a sixth, and a seventh meniscus lens group of positive refractive powers, a second and a third meniscus lens group of negative refractive powers, a fourth lens group of a positive refractive power being convex toward an object side, and a fifth cemented lens group of a negative refractive power. The lens system satisfies the conditions, 1.0 f<.vertline.f.sub.(1,2,3,4) .vertline.<2.0 f, f.sub.(1,2,3,4) <0, 0.4 f<d(6)+d(7)<0.6 f, 0.1<f/r(5)<0.2, 0.5<f/r(11)<0.7, 1.65<?n(7)+n(8)!/2<1.75, where f represents a focal length of overall lens system, f.sub.

Abstract: Thin film AMA in an optical projection system and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The thin film AMA has a substrate having an electrical wiring and a connecting terminal, an actuator formed on the substrate, and a reflecting member formed on the actuator. The actuator has a plurality of actuating portions in which adjacent actuating portions are actuated in opponent directions one after another, so the reflecting member installed on the actuator has large tilting angle. Therefore, the light efficiency of the light reflected by reflecting member increases and the contrast of the picture projected onto a screen also increases. Furthermore, the distance between a light source and the screen is wider because the tilting angle of the reflecting member is bigger.

Abstract: An improved squeeze-type micromechanical structure for high speed operation, i.e., greater than 1 MHz, is disclosed. The structure has a movable member possessing damping holes. The porosity, 1/(.omega..sub.o .tau.), of the movable member is at least about 1.4. The structure is hermetically sealed and is maintained above atmospheric pressure and at a minimum reduced pressure or gas frequency, .omega..sub.g /.omega..sub.o, of about 1.3. To operate with less than 10 percent "ringing," .omega..sub.g /.omega..sub.o >1.3 and 0.25+0.7(.omega..sub.g /.omega..sub.o).sup.2 -0.8(.omega..sub.g /.omega..sub.o -1.25).ltoreq.1/(.omega..sub.o .tau.).ltoreq.0.25+0.7(.omega..sub.g /.omega..sub.o).sup.2 +(.omega..sub.g /.omega..sub.o -1.25).

Abstract: Micro-mechanical flappers for use as an electronic display technology and methods related to the fabrication thereof are disclosed. These methods are consistent with standard silicon based semiconductor processing used to make integrated circuits. One embodiment shows how cross-talk or flapper-to-flapper interference is minimized using a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) to compensate for this undesirable effect. Also disclosed is the construction of a micro-mechanical flapper that uses a combination of two springs, viz. a leaf spring and a torsion spring, to reduce maximum bending stress and to lower operating voltage. Also, the spring construction is made such that axial stability is improved over a single leaf spring approach and a light shield is integrated onto the flapper assembly so that the overhead stationary electrode is simply a supporting glass plate with a transparent conducting layer over its surface.

Abstract: A device having an optical modulation region and a photodetection region formed on a single wafer, and methods for making the device, are disclosed. In one configuration, the device consists of an off-axis nonpolar substrate that has, on one side, a region suitable for modulating an optical signal. The other side of the substrate has a region suitable for photodetection. The region suitable for modulating an optical signal includes a movable layer suspended over the substrate. As the movable layer moves under an applied voltage, the reflectivity of the modulation region changes. The photodetection region consists of a plurality of III-V layers. In a second configuration, the device consists of a III-V substrate that has a region for photodetection disposed on one surface. A region for optical modulation is disposed on the photodetection region.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator formed of a moveable electrode which is disposed opposite a fixed electrode and is biased to roll in a preferred direction upon application of an electric field across the electrodes to produce a light valve or light shutter. In one embodiment, the moveable electrode is restrained at one end and coils about the fixed end in a preferential roll direction. The bias is achieved by inducing anisotropic stress or anisotropic stiffness.

Abstract: Applicants have discovered a new type of optical switching and display device using an active layer comprising electrochromic protein. In essence, the device comprises a cell composed of an electroded back wall and a transparent front wall including a transparent electrode region. A film comprising electrochromic protein is disposed between the two electrodes. In the absence of voltage between the two electrodes, the film reflects light of a first color. If a voltage is applied, the color of the reflected light changes. Because the device uses reflected light rather than transmitted light, backlighting is not required, and the device is highly efficient as compared with conventional LCDs.

Abstract: A projection-type display apparatus including an elliptical condenser mirror having a concave reflecting surface consisting of part of a substantially elliptical surface, a light source arranged near a first focal point of the elliptical surface, a collimator lens having a focal point near a second focal point of the elliptical surface, an optical modulation element array having a lens array on the collimator lens side, in which optical modulation elements each having an area S are two-dimensionally arranged, and a projection lens, wherein the following relations are satisfied: ##EQU1## (when said light source is arranged perpendicular to the elliptical condenser mirror) ##EQU2## (when said light source is arranged parallel to the elliptical condenser mirror).mu.=(B/A).sup.2(A: major axis, B: minor axis)where L is the length of a light-emitting portion of the light source, .mu.

Abstract: An optical projection system, displaying an image of pixels on a projection screen, includes a light source for generating a white light beam, wherein the white light beam has a first, a second and a third primary light components, each of the primary light components being one of the primary colors, a pixel filter for filtering the white light beam into each of the primary light beams of each of the primary light components, wherein the pixel filter made of a set of R, G, B color sections, and an array of M.times.N actuated mirrors provided with an active matrix, M and N being positive integers, respectively, each of the actuated mirrors being capable of reflecting the white light beam from the light source to any one of the color sections and modulating an intensity of the light beam passing through the pixel filter in response to an electric signal applied to the active matrix.

Abstract: An electrochromic device and a method for manufacturing same, which device has at least a pair of opposed transparent electroconductive layers, a first transparent ion conductive layer provided between the pair of opposed electroconductive layers, a second transparent ion conductive layer adjacent to the first ion conductive layer, a reductive coloring electrochromic layer adjacent to the second ion conductive layer, wherein the first transparent ion conductive layer is formed in an atmosphere containing water vapor and the second transparent ion conductive layer is formed in an atmosphere containing oxygen. Thereby an electrochromic device can be provided, which device exhibits excellent durability when being driven at a high contrast ratio and high resistance to such environments as high temperature and humidity.

Abstract: A compact image display system in which the optical pathway is folded and thereby extended between the image source and the imaging optics of the system. The image display system may be used in place of computer or television screens, and may further be affixed to a frame so that it is wearable by a human user as either a monocular or binocular device.

Abstract: A variable magnification viewfinder is disclosed, comprising, from front to rear, at least a first lens unit of positive refractive power, a second lens unit of negative refractive power, a third lens unit, a fourth lens unit of positive refractive power and a fifth lens unit, wherein zooming is performed by varying air separations between every successive two of the lens units.