Abstract: An optical element has a base body with a surface, an optically effective first layer system of which at least one layer system surface is on the base body and a second optically effective layer system embedded in the base body. The second system terminates in an intersection area with a broad surface of the second system extending along the surface of the base body. The second system has a sequence of optically high and low refraction layers, the high refraction layer consisting predominantly of at least one of TiO2, Ta2O5, Nb2O5, HfO2, ZrO2, or SiOxNy and the low refraction layer consisting predominantly of at least one of SiO2, Al2O3 or SiOxNy. The packing density of the layers of the second optically effective layer system is at least 0.95 and the second layer system is recessed in the intersection area at most by 5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for holographically recording periodic or quasi-periodic features of a mask in a holographic recording layer. In holographic lithography the object beam is directed to the first substrate bearing a holographic recording layer such that it passes the mask substrate and interferes with a reference beam in the recording layer to form a hologram of the mask pattern. According to the new method the object beam is directed to the second substrate at an off-axis angle and the wavelength used and/or the angle of incidence of the object beam are selected according to the period of the features to be recorded such that essentially just the zero and one of the first diffraction orders are present for forming the hologram.

Abstract: A rear view mirror for a vehicle has a reflective member mounted for angular movement about a pivot axis perpendicular to a plane containing both a first line and a second line. The first line bisects the angle between an incident ray and a reflection of said incident ray extending to a first end of the major axis of a vertical section through the eyellipse, and the second line bisects the angle between said incident ray and a reflection of said incident ray extending to a second end of said major axis.

Abstract: A headlight for a vehicle has a reflector, a light source, a lens through which a light reflected by the reflector passes, and at least one element which surrounds the lens at least over a part of its periphery and is at least partially light permeable so that the light emitted by the light source and not engaged by the reflector passes through the element and is collected, the element being provided with ring-shaped optical profiles which form a Fresnel lens.

Abstract: A beam shape compensation optical system includes a first anamorphic beam expander which expands a cross section of a parallel beam incident along a predetermined direction at a first magnification ratio M1 at least in a first direction which is perpendicular to the predetermined direction, and a second anamorphic beam expander which expands a cross section of a parallel beam incident along the predetermined direction at a second magnification ratio M2 at least in a second direction which is perpendicular to the predetermined direction. The first and second anamorphic beam expander are rotatable so that an angle between the first direction and the second direction on a plane perpendicular to the predetermined direction is changeable.

Abstract: A bonding method for effectively preventing once-adjusted members from positionally deviating is disclosed. In this method, when applied to a method of making an optical module in particular, a holding member such as a magnet which generates a magnetic force against a housing is attached to, and a relative position of an optical reflecting member once adjusted by the holding member is held. As a result of this configuration, the optical reflecting member is effectively prevented from positionally deviating.

Abstract: A method of producing a holographic screen for projection of the three-dimensional color images is proposed, where a narrow and elongate slit-shaped diffuser is recorded on the hologram as an object to ensure the well-defined viewing zone forming in the course of the image projection. As compared with the previous art the diverging reference beam is used for the screen recording, therefore only small size optical elements are used in the recording setup. When screen is illuminated by the projector, the reconstructed real images of the diffuser are formed behind the screen for each color of the projector light spectrum. A viewing zone, wherefrom a full color image can be seen as projected on the screen, is obtained by making the length of the diffuser big enough to provide overlaps of the various color diffuser images of the projector light, diffracted on the screen.

Abstract: A reflector includes a reflecting surface provided on a display cell, and fine concave surfaces are formed on the surface of the reflector. When the cross sections of the concave surfaces are formed in the shape of circular curves, the frequency of tilt angles &thgr;1, &thgr;2, . . . &thgr;n formed between tangents to the concave surfaces and horizontal lines H can be set to predetermined angle range &thgr;1 to &thgr;n, an angle range in which luminance of reflected light increases can be determined, and the reflected light can be allowed to have a directivity within the angle range. By designing &thgr;1 and &thgr;n in accordance with an effective viewing angle of the display cell, display contrast can be increased.

Abstract: Wide angle, limited rotation, on-axis scanning with a micro objective lens, which is preferably aspheric, and is mounted on a rigid rotary structure that oscillates about a limited arc while a translation system translates the object under the arcuate scan. The micro objective lens communicates optically with a stationary optical system via a light path which, in part, extends along the axis of rotation of the rigid rotary structure. The rotary micro objective lens is shown to cooperate with stationary optics. Predetermined defocusing of some wavelengths relative to others in opposite sense to chromatic aberration of a micro objective lens enable focus by the micro objective lens of multiple wavelengths on the same point. Data collection in a rotary, on-axis scanner is controlled by detecting the actual position of the rotating structure, which may move at constant speed during data collection.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber gyroscope comprising a fiber coil composed of a lengthy optical fiber wound therearound in a predetermined number of turns, a coupler for optically coupling an optical fiber led from a light source and an optical fiber led to a photodetector, and an optical IC chip arranged between the fiber coil and the coupler and provided with a phase modulator and a polarizer mounted on an optical waveguide, the optical fiber gyroscope further comprising a fiber coil reel around which the lengthy optical fiber for constructing the fiber coil is wound in the predetermined number of turns, a coupler reel around which the optical fibers led in both directions from the coupler are wound in a predetermined number of turns, and a housing member including a plurality of compartments (reel-placing region, frame, frame) for accommodating at least the both reels, the light source, and the optical IC chip.

Abstract: Radiant energy sensor is protected from severe environments with a radiant energy sensor assembly that off-sets the sensor from the environment. The sensor assembly includes a radiant energy sensor, a pair of reflective walls facing one another, one of the walls having a transmissive aperture for receiving radiant energy over a wide angle of incidence, an entry, the other wall having a transmissive aperture for passing energy from behind the wall to the sensor, an exit, with the walls having the reflection characteristics such that the radiant energy entering the entry aperture at any angle is always reflected to the exit aperture. The reflective walls may be paraboloids or Fresnel surfaces in geometry.

Abstract: A coherent beam is converted into a light flux having an expanded width at a predetermined position closer to a photosensitive element. Part of the expanded light flux is irradiated directly on the photosensitive element as a reference beam. The remainder of the expanded light flux is diffused, and its optical direction is changed. Thus, the remainder of the expanded light flux not irradiated directly to the photosensitive element is converted into a scattered beam advancing as an object beam toward the photosensitive element. Interference fringes are formed on the photosensitive element by using the reference beam and the object beam.

Abstract: Wide angle, limited rotation, on-axis scanning with a micro lens that preferably is aspheric. Predetermined defocusing of some wavelengths relative to others in opposite sense to chromatic aberration of a micro lens, enable focus by the micro lens of multiple wavelengths on the same point. Data collection in a rotary, on-axis scanner is controlled by detecting the actual position of the rotating structure. Scan efficiency of an on-axis limited rotation lens is improved by coordinated deflection of the light path to different portions of the lens. A flexure-mounted dither mirror effectively makes this correction. Interpolation of arcuate scan data to a raster pattern is achieved by timing the data sampling to correspond with rows of the raster pattern; averaging the straddling data points in the column results in fast, economical interpolation. High speed, limited rotation scanning microscopes operating in transmission and reflectance modes are described, as well as very efficient fluorescence readers.

Abstract: A housing assembly includes a combination lens and window retainer, an inner optical lens, an outer optical window and a front cover. The retainer includes a middle body structure, a pair of side wing structures, an inner seat and an outer seat. The middle body structure has opposite lateral sides, interior portions and exterior portions. The side wing structures are attached to and extend in opposite lateral directions from the opposite lateral sides of the middle body structure. Each side wing structure has exterior portions. The inner seat is defined on the interior portions of the middle body structure. The outer seat is defined forwardly of the inner seat on the exterior portions of the middle body structure and of the side wing structures. The inner optical lens is mounted to the inner seat of the retainer. The middle body structure and side wing structures together define an opening aligned with the inner optical lens and provides an unobstructed forward panoramic field of view through the retainer.

Abstract: A sensor assembly (10) includes first and second focusing mirrors (21, 22) which direct converging radiation to a tilted beam splitter (31) through an opening (23) provided in the first mirror. The beam splitter passes selected infrared radiation, which then passes through a lens system (33, 34, 41) to an infrared detector (16). The beam splitter reflects other radiation, which then passes through a different lens system (46, 56, 58, 61, 62, 67, 68, 69) to a second beam splitter (73). The second beam splitter passes laser light, which travels through a lens (77) to a laser light detector (18). The second beam splitter reflects near-infrared radiation, so that it travels to a further detector (17).

Abstract: An improved lock used with a recessed lighting fixture is the present subject matter. The fixture is adapted for installation in a mounting aperture in a ceiling. The fixture includes a frame which has a retainer ring for connection to the outside or bottom of the ceiling. A unitary resilient lock is pivotly mounted in the frame and is also movably mounted in the frame. The lock includes a head engageable with the interior or upper surface of the ceiling to hold the frame in the mounting aperture. The head includes a curl having a lip extending outwardly from the frame. The lock includes a latch which releasably engages the frame to hold the lock in one position relative to the frame and thereby hold the frame in the mounting aperture. The lock includes an ear engageable with the frame to retain the lock in the frame during shipment of the frame to a site for installation in a ceiling.

Abstract: An indication-within-finder free from ghost light is provided at a minimal cost even in the case of a pentagonal prism or the like. The finder includes an objective system (61) having a positive refracting power, an image-inverting system including a roof prism (62) and a pentagonal prism (63), and an ocular system (64) having a positive refracting power. An object image is formed on an intermediate image plane (65) by the objective system (61) and the roof prism (62). The object image is viewed with the ocular system (64) through the pentagonal prism (63). The position of the intermediate image plane (65) is approximately coincident with the entrance surface of the pentagonal prism (63). A deflecting member (67) projecting in a wedge shape is provided on the entrance surface of the pentagonal prism (63). Light rays (68′) passing through the deflecting member (67) are deflected by refracting surfaces (67′ and 67″).

Abstract: A universal dual power telescope comprises two concentrically mounted telescopes combining functions of a tube-mounted finder and a regular telescope. The finder rotating inside the telescope includes a truncated prism for switching the telescope modes of operation. The dual function prism reflects images into the eyepiece either through the finder or telescope, while deflecting light rays and blocking formation of images through the other non-selected optical assembly. Both telescopes share the same eyepiece and focusing system. A low magnification finder or a high magnification telescope can be selectively engaged by changing an angular position of the prism's silvered plane.

Abstract: An optical assembly for mounting in a vehicle employs a two piece assembly including a bracket having a front surface and a back surface and an optical device having a front surface and a lens element on the front surface. The back surface of the bracket is connected to the vehicle and the front surface of the optical device is removably attached to the back surface of the bracket. The lens element focuses an image through a windshield of the vehicle. In one embodiment of the present invention, the optical device further comprises at least one notch member and a support extension member and the bracket includes an opening and further comprises at least one groove member. The at least one notch member is positioned to removably attach to the at least one groove member, and the support extension member is positioned to removably attach to the opening. In one embodiment, the assembly is mounted to the vehicle windshield so that a driver of said vehicle has an unobstructed view of a road.

Abstract: The disclosure of this invention relates to window solar control films and more particularly, to window treatment films that incorporate both an ultraviolet absorber and an optical brightner. The disclosure is concerned primarily with a multi layer film construction and method for the enhancement of the optical properties of window treatment films, by the use of optical brightner in at least one layer component of a multi layer window film. The window solar control film has enhanced the optical properties and absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation. The subject multilayer film absorbs radiation in the range of 300 to 410 n.m. and does not have an undesirable yellowish tint or hue.