Abstract: An interferometer delay line includes an optical payload displaced along a guide track under the control of a control device including at least one sensing device which senses the position of the payload along the guide track and a drive device acting on the payload. The sensing device includes a linear succession of fixed optical read heads parallel to the guide track and a graduated rule carried by the optical payload in any position on the latter facing at least one of the optical read heads. The sensing device also includes a synchronizing/switching unit causing a counter to count pulses from the heads in succession, the pulses representing distance increments.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a compact self-leveling construction laser for the purpose of allowing the user to remotely call or page the measurement beam to his location using a retroreflector. The apparatus uses an auxiliary plumb beam provided by the construction laser for scanning the job site in search of the cooperative reflector. The invention consists of a construction laser, motor driven turntable assembly to which the construction laser is attached and a cooperative reflector carried by the operator.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for performing photon diagnostics using a portable and durable apparatus which incorporates the use of a remote sensing probe in fiberoptic communication with an interferometer or spectrometer. Also disclosed are applications for the apparatus including optically measuring high velocities and analyzing plasma/emission spectral characteristics.

Abstract: A gimbal and corresponding head suspension assembly including a planar flexure platform having integral static attitude compensation, nominal angle adjustment, and load point etched or etched-formed raised features. The head suspension assembly can also include a load point cover with etched or etched-formed load point features. The etched features are manufactured by masking a pivot point at about the intersection of the roll axis and the pitch axis, thus leaving a raised protuberance having either a pivot point or a load point feature. The process of manufacturing etched-formed features includes etching protuberances and slots. A punch press is then applied to the protuberances. The slots help control the formation of raised domes and provide additional static compensation and nominal angle adjustment pivoting clearance.

Abstract: An optical sensor system includes a housing having an open end; first and second windows situated in the housing; a fastener for situating the first window closer to the open end than the second window and permitting an air exchange between a sensing region and the second window; a hermetic seal between the second window and the housing; and an optical sensor situated between the second window and a wall of the housing such that the air exchange does not occur inside the optical sensor. The first and second windows can include materials selected from the group consisting of sapphire, quartz, and glass; the optical sensor to be protected can include silicon carbide; and the sensing region can include a combustion region.

Abstract: A laser interferometer measurement system eliminates detection of "false" zero crossings in the measurement signal. The measurement signal is shifted in phase by an integrator or a differentiator. The positive portion of the shifted measurement signal is used to determine falling portions of the measurement signal while the negative portion of the shifted measurement signal is used to determine the rising portions of the measurement signal. Each portion is compared to the reference signal. A SR latch receives the result of each comparator. The output signal of the SR latch reflects the zero crossings of the measurement signal without the effects of noise.

Abstract: In an optical position detecting method, a light beam is intensity-modulated with a given periodic waveform, and is then emitted from an object light source. An image sensor captures an image of the light source and stores corresponding image data per pixel. Subsequently, the image sensor is accessed successively at least four times at a pitch which is less than 1/4 of that of the periodic waveform, so as to read the image data per pixel to form a time-sequential data. Subsequently, a scalar product computation of the time-sequential data is executed using a reference waveform which is asynchronous with the periodic waveform while having a period relatively close to the period of the periodic waveform, so as to derive first scalar data. Another scalar product computation of the time-sequential data is further executed using an orthogonal waveform which is out of phase by 90.degree. relative to the reference waveform, so as to derive second scalar data.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-contact measuring of surface roughness, comprises a source of light positioned for directing a light beam at a first angle onto a surface to be measured, a segmented multi-element array detector positioned to receive specular light reflected from the surface by an intermediate segment and to receive scattered light very close to the specular light by adjacent segments, the intermediate segment responsive to generate a signal in response to the specular light, and the adjacent segments each responsive to generate a signal in response to the scattered light, a second detector spaced from the first detector and at an angle less than that of the first angle, the second detector responsive to scattered light away from the specular light for generating a signal responsive to the scattered light, and a processor for receiving and processing the signals and displaying a reading corresponding to surface roughness.

Abstract: A flashing lantern (11) capable of emitting light through a 360-degree arc using LEDs as a light source is disclosed. The lantern comprises an array of LEDs (15) positioned in a substantially horizontal plane. An inverted conical reflector (19) is positioned above the array of LEDs (15) such that the apex of the reflector is pointed toward the array of LEDs (15). A fresnel-type lens (17) is positioned around the array of LEDs (15) and the conical reflector (19).

Abstract: A machine for inspecting a glass bottle comprising a bottle supporting track, a car for conveying a bottle along the track to a bottle inspection station. The car includes rollers for rotatably engaging one side of the bottle and a wall mechanism forcefully engages the other side of the bottle as it is conveyed to the bottle inspection station. The wall mechanism includes a pivotally displaceable support, which is biased towards a fully advanced position. Linear bumpers secured to the support extend into the path of a conveyed bottle when the support is at the fully advanced position so that a bottle will engage the linear bumpers and forcefully pivotally displace the support to a retracted position as the bottle is conveyed to the inspection station. The length of the linear bumpers is selected so that when a bottle is conveyed to the inspection station, the bottle will be conveyed past the linear bumpers whereby the support will be displaced back to the fully advanced position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a laser velocimetric probe which includes a laser generator, a beam splitter, and a back scattering lens with an output to measuring devices for determining the velocity of a particle passing through a fringe field from a signal representing the light backscattered by the particle. The beam splitter simultaneously generates at least two fringe systems and the measuring devices are arranged for determining at least two components of the particle velocity by frequency analysis of the signal.

Abstract: A photo film cassette has a spool core (13) about which the photo film is wound in a roll form. A flexible disk (16, 17) is secured to each of two ends of the spool core, for regulating each of edges of the photo film. Material of the disk being thermoplastic synthetic resin sheet (27). The sheet is subjected to vacuum/air-pressure forming to form a disk-like portion (50). The disk is cut out of the disk-like portion by a punch/die set (31) before conveyance to a spool core mounting station. To inspect the disk, a photoelectric switch (54) includes a projector (54a) for applying a beam to a die of the punch/die set after cutting out the disk. A receiver (54b) measures the beam reflected by the die. A controller (55) evaluates the measured beam, to inspect occurrence of deposition of the disk on the punch/die set. If the deposition occurs, the controller considers the disk likely to overlie on one subsequent disk.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for checking the surface state of one face (2) of a solid (1) in order to locate shape defects which may be present therein. The observation of the face to be checked takes place by means of photography using a large field video camera (3) and a small field video camera (4). The size of the located defects is measured by an optoelectronic sensor or probe (11). The apparatus can be controlled by an operator or can have automatic control.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an interferometric-based materials analysis system (10) that employs a novel combination of laser beam shaping and pointing techniques, the use of a low cost, rugged, and compact diode laser (22) as a detection laser, and the use of signal processing techniques that compensate for inherent instabilities and short-term drift in the diode laser. A matched filter processing technique is disclosed for processing interferometrically-obtained data points from a target being analyzed. The matched filter technique is shown to be especially useful for detecting and analyzing Lamb modes within thin targets, such as a silicon wafer undergoing a rapid thermal processing cycle. Also disclosed is a method and apparatus for interferometrically monitoring a target to determine, in accordance with predetermined criteria, an occurrence of a period of time that is optimum for obtaining a data point.

Abstract: The chemical properties of an aqueous liquid, the liquid comprising a solvent having an index of refraction which is the same as or closely approaches that of water, are determined by Raman spectroscopy wherein a sample of the liquid is delivered into an optical waveguide. The waveguide is in the form of a capillary having a reflective surface defined by a material having a refractive index of less than 1.33. Excitation light is transmitted axially into the liquid at an end of the waveguide. The excitation light is transmitted the length of the waveguide, by reflection from the reflective surface, causing the fluid to emit Raman spectra. The Raman spectra is transmitted along the waveguide, collected and delivered to a spectrometer.

Abstract: A long-range, wide-area remote sensor system(s) to detect trace levels of atmospheric constituents using bistatic configurations to measure differential absorption (BDIAL) of source beams tuned to the absorption line center and off-peak "wing" in the spectra of species of interest. Potential platforms for the probe beam and detector subsystems include satellites and airborne vehicles, and mapping of large geographical regions is accomplished by tomographic reconstruction of recorded columnar absorption data. The use of bistatic geometries reduces power requirements on the probe beam, as compared to standard backscatter DIAL, and allows detection with platforms at large stand-off ranges, subject to atmospheric conditions. Operation in spectral regions including UV, visible and IR is feasible, provided that there are no overlapping absorption lines when many substances are present. Use of multiple frequency sources and multi-spectral detectors will reduce identification ambiguities.

Abstract: An opto-electronic device for detecting a beam of radiation and determining the angle-of-arrival of that beam with a high degree of angular resolution. The device has a linear array of radiation detectors arranged in a plane with a shadow mask located at a predetermined height h above and parallel to that plane wherein the shadow mask has a plurality of transparent apertures separated by opaque areas. Each radiation detector in the array comprises at least one pair of individual detector elements and apertures of the shadow mask, which apertures have the same width as the detector elements, are centred directly above the area between adjacent detector elements. Signals generated by corresponding detector elements in each radiation detector are supplied, in parallel, to one channel providing a number of output channels which correspond to the number of individual detector elements in each radiation detector.

Abstract: A phase difference introduced by a half-tone mask including transparent portions and phase shift portions is measured by projecting two light fluxes onto these portions and forming an interference image by combining the two light fluxes. A light flux emitted by a light source is converted by a rotatable polarizer into a linearly polarized light flux having a polarizing direction which can be adjusted at will by rotating the polarizer, and then the linearly polarized light flux is transmitted through a birefringent prism to obtain two light fluxes polarized in different directions. Intensities of these light fluxes can be adjusted in opposite senses by rotating the polarized such that intensities of light fluxes emanating from the photomask become substantially identical with each other. One of the two light fluxes is made incident upon the transparent portion and the other light flux is made incident upon the phase shift portion.

Abstract: A lensmeter accessory is disclosed for supporting and positioning a corneal contact lens in a light path of a lensmeter. The accessory comprises a generally planer body with a tapered slot therein having a slot wall defining a recessed groove for receiving and removably holding a contact lens. The accessory may be placed on an adjustable lens platform of a lensmeter to position the contact lens in the lensmeter light path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optically measuring concentrations of components allow enhancement in measurement accuracy of concentration. The apparatus includes a cell, a light irradiator, a photodetector, and an arithmetic unit. The cell presents different optical path lengths at different locations and is to contain a sample therein. The light irradiator, which includes a variable-wavelength laser generator and a measuring system composed of convex lenses, outputs a collimated, enlarged laser beam, and makes the laser beam incident upon the cell. The photodetector comprises a multiplicity of photodetectors arranged in parallel to the surface of the cell, so that it can detect intensity of rays of transmitted light that have traveled over different optical path lengths at positions of an equal distance from the cell.