Abstract: Micromirror in a cross-connect switch for an optical communication system, and method for fabricating the same, the micromirror including a rotatable mirror rotatable in an X-axis direction for reflecting an incident light at a predetermined angle, rotatable beams around the rotatable mirror each connected to the rotatable mirror for rotating in a Y-axis direction together with the rotatable mirror, supporting posts around the rotatable beams each connected to the rotatable beam for supporting the rotatable beams, and a driving part on a bottom of the rotatable mirror for rotating the rotatable mirror and/or the rotatable beams as a voltage is provided thereto.

Abstract: The eyewear described comprises a lens having, at opposite lateral sides thereof, a pair of detachable ear stems which are adapted to move from an inwardly folded position to an outwardly ear contacting position. The lens displays, at each lateral side, an opening and a stem connecting portion that defines a hinge element forming an integral part of the lens. The proximal end portion of the ear stem defines a U-shaped recess which is engageable with the hinge element. The recess is formed by a pair of resilient branches which, together with a constriction at the entry of the recess, enables a snap-in engagement and a snap-out disengagement of the ear stem to and from the lens. No additional component is required for this three-piece eyewear.

Abstract: A bistable molecular switch can have a highly conjugated first state and a less conjugated second state. The bistable molecular switch can be configured such that application of an electric field reversibly switches the molecular switch from the first state to the second state. Additionally, the bistable molecular switch can include a hydrophobic moiety and a hydrophilic moiety. Such molecular switches can be incorporated into a thin film as part of a molecular switch system which can include a layer of molecular switches between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The layer of molecular switches can have substantially all of the molecular switches having their hydrophilic moiety oriented in the same direction. An electric potential can then be induced between the first and second electrode layers sufficient to switch the molecular switches from the first or second state to the second or first state, respectively.

Abstract: A system and method of forming a hermetic seal between a lens or window and a lid, which minimizes bending moments, and therefore, bifringance on the window or lens is disclosed. This is accomplished by use of a transition member, specific geometries, and selection of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the materials to insure that the solder joint is in compression on cool down and solder strains are maintained within acceptable limits. The transition member may be soldered or welded to lid or integral through machining.

Abstract: A hyper-spectral imaging filter has serial stages along an optical signal path in a Solc filter configuration. Angularly distributed retarder elements of equal birefringence are stacked in each stage, with a polarizer between stages. The retarders can include tunable (such as abutted liquid crystals tuned in unison), fixed and/or combined tunable and fixed birefringences. Although the retardations are equal within each stage, distinctly different retardations are used for two or more different stages. This causes some stages to pass narrow bandpass peaks and other stages to have widely spaced bandpass peaks. The transmission functions of the serial stages are superimposed with selected preferably-tunable peaks coinciding. The resulting conjugate filter has a high finesse ratio, and good out of band rejection.

Abstract: Due to an ever growing shortage of conventional energy sources, there is an increasingly intense interest in harnessing solar energy. Broadly this invention deals with the general concept of method, apparatus, and consequences of focussing light. Specifically the Coherent-Micro-Macro-Collector of this invention is the unique total solar collector system consisting of concentrator and receiver. Method and apparatus are detailed for systems with: 1. Passive or non-tracking. 2. Semi-Passive tracking 2. Single-axis tracking. 3. Two-axis tracking. Also detailed are means for operating the collector system of micro-optics and receiver on the ground and protection means. A particularly important object of the CMMC is the focussing of sunlight for solar power conversion and production.

Abstract: An eyeglass lens and display and demonstration system uses a plurality of display sheets, each with a mounting surface. The mounting surfaces have different lens outlines, representing a variety of different lens sizes and shapes. Individual lens patterns made from electrostatic vinyl plastic or similar material are correspondingly shaped to the outlines on the mounting surfaces and are removably secured to the surfaces. The lens patterns are of differing shapes and tints. The plurality of display sheets are stored in a notebook, display box or similar display medium. In use, a lens pattern is simply peeled off the mounting surface of a display sheet and applied directly to the surface of the lenses of the eyeglass frames being considered by the eyeglass purchaser. In this manner, the purchaser can visualize how the eyeglasses will actually look with any given lens shape and tint, before the actual lenses are fitted in the frames.

Abstract: Due to an ever growing shortage of conventional energy sources, there is an increasingly intense interest in harnessing solar energy. The instant invention can contribute to the goal of achieving environmentally clean solar energy to be competitive with conventional energy sources. A novel method is described for manufacturing a transparent sheet with an embedded array of mirrored spheroidal micro-balls for use in a solar energy concentrator, and analogous applications such as optical switches and solar rocket assist. The micro-balls are covered with a thin spherical shell of lubricating liquid so that they are free to rotate in an almost frictionless encapsulation in the sheet. Novel method and apparatus are presented for producing the preferred embodiment of a close-packed monolayer of the array of mirrored micro-balls.

Abstract: Eye glasses including a frame containing deformable lenses within the frame, the frame including means for deforming the lenses or changing the focal length of the lenses to enhance the wearer's ability to see clearly.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device including a header having an upper surface and including a plurality of conducting pins extending up through the upper surface; an optical device; a tunable optical filter, wherein the optical device and the tunable optical filter are arranged in a vertical stack mounted on and extending above the upper surface of the header and wherein the tunable optical filter is electrically connected to the plurality of conducting pins; and a cap affixed to the header and along with the header defining a sealed interior containing the optical device and the tunable optical filter, wherein the cap has a top surface with a window formed therein, and wherein the window is aligned with the tunable optical filter and the optical device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a control system for a MEMS device, such as a MEMS mirror, that uses sliding mode analysis to accurately and predictably control the position of the mirrors in a MEMS device. The present invention also uses the capacitance of the mirror to detect the position of the mirror. In one embodiment, a MEMS mirror device mounted on a substrate is described that includes, a micro mirror that is pivotable about an axis, a first conductive layer on the mirror, a second conductive layer on the substrate, the first and second conductive layers form a first capacitor for determining the position of the mirror. The sliding mode control can be implemented using various drive mechanisms, including electrostatic drives. When used with electrostatic drives, conductive layers that create the capacitors can also be used to drive the mirror. The detection-drive system can be time multiplexed to simplify implementation and to avoid cross talk.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electro-absorption optical modulator using a semiconductor device. The optical modulator makes use of a change in light absorption caused by displacement of an absorption curve depending on a bias voltage applied to the device. Here, a level of the light absorption depending on the bias voltage is expressed as a transfer function of output light to the applied bias, and the transfer function has a non-linear profile due to a characteristic of a material. Unlike signal modulation of a digital optical communication system, an analog optical transmission system can be subjected to deterioration in performance, because the non-linear characteristic of the transfer function for the optical modulator generates signal distortion when an electrical signal is converted into an optical signal. The typical optical modulator has an absorption layer constituted of quantum wells having the same width.

Abstract: Electronically agile optical filtering modules for equalizing light propagation differences in at least two spaced optical beam pathways in the modules. The modules use optical polarization rotation devices that may include acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) devices, liquid crystal devices, and magneto-optic devices. Such devices may be subject to polarization dispersion losses (PDL) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD) that may be different for when light travel along different light paths through the device. By redirecting light beams back along a different bi-directional path through the devices which may exhibit non-uniform performance across orthogonal polarizations, PDL and PMD may be reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes receiving light at an intensity modulator. Subsequently, the light is received at an intensity-color modulator that includes at least one Fabry-Perot filter having a tunable optical property.

Abstract: When a ratio R between a total angle ? of a widening angle in a median intensity of light of a light source (a GaN based semiconductor laser) and a total angle 2/? of a widening angle of light defining a numerical aperture NA of a collimator optical system (collimator lens) is defined as R=(sin?1NA)×2/?, the numerical aperture of the collimator optical system (collimator lens) is set so that 2.0?R?0.58. Thus, an image exposure device is provided that can suppress stray light of a light source that emits a large amount of stray light.

Abstract: A display device may include a cell containing a suspension fluid and at least one suspension particle dispersed within the suspension fluid. The suspension particle may be adapted to migrate in the suspension fluid under the influence of an electric field. A light waveguide layer may extend adjacent to a side of the cell. The light waveguide layer may be adapted to conduct light laterally into the cell through the side of the cell.

Abstract: A micromachined pellicle beam splitter and method of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, the beam splitter includes a silicon frame with a silicon nitride membrane attached to the frame and covering an opening through the frame. Other materials may be utilized, however, the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the membrane should be greater than that of the frame. The beam splitter may be manufactured by coating a silicon substrate with a layer of silicon nitride, patterning an opposite side of the silicon substrate with a photoresist or a metallic layer to define an opening an etching an opening through the substrate to the silicon nitride with either a dry etch or wet etch technique. An improved tunable laser module incorporating the micromachined pellicle beam splitter and a method of tuning a laser diode are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fixing structure of a side shield for glasses wherein a side shield installed in glasses legs, comprising a through hole formed in inner upper and lower portions of a rear end of a side shield surrounding the glasses legs, and a fixture having an elastic piece in the interior of the same and a hook part in the upper and lower sides of a front end wherein said fixture is inserted through an opening of the side shield, and the hook part of the fixture is engaged to the though hole, and the elastic piece of the fixture is elastically closely contacted with the glasses legs. In the present invention, the size of the fixture is large, and the hook part of the fixture is inserted into the through hole formed in the side shield. Therefore, anyone can easily insert the fixture for thereby achieving a convenient assembling work, and the side shield is easily fixed to the glasses legs.

Abstract: A clip-on magnifying lens attachment for glasses, which allows people with poor eyesight to read small print. A pair of eyeglass frames having a pair of eyeglass lenses, are secured together by a nose bar. Each of the eyeglass lenses has a top edge and a bottom edge. A pair of auxiliary frames are pivotally securable to the pair of eyeglass frames. The auxiliary frames include magnifying lenses. A linear bar, having a central clip and a pair of side clips extending downwardly therefrom, secures the auxiliary frames together. The auxiliary frames are coupled to the eyeglass frames, wherein the central clip couples to the nose bar and the side clips each couple to the top edge of the eyeglass lenses.

Abstract: An eyewear assembly comprises a primary lens assembly that includes a primary frame that secures a pair of primary lenses in position relative to one another and a pair of primary extensions, each positioned on an outer periphery of the primary frame. Each of a pair of arms, is connected to one of the primary extensions by a hinge. An auxiliary lens assembly includes an auxiliary frame that secures a pair of auxiliary lenses in position relative to one another and a pair of auxiliary extensions, each positioned on an outer periphery of the auxiliary frame. A lug is carried on each of the primary extensions and moveable on and relative to the extension, each lug adapted to receive a portion of one of the pair of auxiliary extensions, wherein the auxiliary lens assembly is removably secured to the primary lens assembly and the auxiliary lens assembly moves with the lugs.