Abstract: An illumination system for wire bonding at wire bonding locations which includes an illuminator having a highly light transmissive portion with an end surface and an axial bore extending therethrough and terminating at the end surface. The illuminator includes a first light source for directing light substantially axially through the bore to the end surface and a second light source for directing light substantially axially through the highly light transmissive portion to the end surface. The end surface is preferably a light diffusing surface. The bore is preferably tapered with the taper widening in a direction toward the end surface. The surface of the bore is preferably a light diffusing surface. The bore can alternately include a layer of highly light reflecting material disposed on its surface. The highly light transmissive portion has an outer surface which can include a layer of highly light reflecting material disposed thereon.

Abstract: Tuned optical filters, filter systems, and methods for tuning filters make use of a tilted filter rotated about an oblique axis of a collimating lens or other structure. This rotation varies an angle of incidence of an optical signal directed at the filter at an oblique angle to the axis of rotation. Very fine adjustments of optical filters such as for tuning a first narrow band pass filter to match a center wavelength of another narrow band pass filter, can be provided with small angles between the axis of rotation and a normal to the filter surface, and also between the axis of rotation and the optical path for the incident light. Mechanical adjustment to the filtering frequency is facilitated by making use of a rotational motion about the axis of a GRIN collimating lens.

Abstract: An optical pickup capable of use with disks each having a different thickness, including two optical modules each having a light source having a different wavelength, and a photodetector for receiving reflected light. The optical pickup selects a proper light source out of two light sources each having a different wavelength, according to the type of disk and the information which is to be reproduced, and records/reproduces information stored in the disk under optimum conditions according to the thickness of the disk.

Abstract: A polarization separator/combiner for separating a light beam having two orthogonally polarized components into two parallel orthogonally polarized light beams which is especially useful as a reflective substitute for conventional walk-off devices or other birefringent separator/combiners. The light beam passes through a polarizing interface which reflects one component of the light and transmits the other, which is reflected off a parallel reflective interface and passes back through the polarizing interface to emerge parallel to the reflected component. A first embodiment of the invention comprises a flat plate having a coating on the front surface which reflects substantially all of one of the components of the light beam, while transmitting substantially all of the orthogonally polarized component.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for optical data storage which enhances the contrast between ON and OFF pixels. The method comprises writing a two-dimensional image comprising a plurality of pixels into a recording medium with the exposure of individual ON pixels during the recording of the image. The ON pixels are then switched off and OFF pixels are switched on, and the phase of either the object beam or reference beam is changed. The process results in subtraction of residual signal from the OFF pixels.

Abstract: An array of M.times.N thin film actuated mirrors for use in an optical projection system comprises an active matrix, an array of M.times.N thin film actuating structures, each of the thin film actuating structures being provided with a first and a second actuating parts, each of the first and second actuating parts including at least a thin film layer of a motion-inducing material, a pair of electrodes, each of the electrodes being provided on top and bottom of the motion-inducing thin film layer, an array of M.times.N supporting members, each of the supporting members being used for holding each of the actuating structures in place by cantilevering each of the actuating structures and also for electrically connecting each of the actuating structures and the active matrix, and an array of M.times.

Abstract: A remote mirror adjustment mechanism for manually adjusting the position of a vehicle side rear-view mirror wherein the adjustment mechanism has a base member having an annular edge for engaging and mounting the adjustment mechanism to a substantially flat interior panel of the vehicle and forming a recessed space in the panel. The base member includes a concave socket for rotatably receiving a ball socket there against. An elongated arm member is mounted to the ball socket and biased from an actuation position with the arm member extending outwardly from the recessed space and beyond the annular edge to a rest position retracted in the recessed space and below the annular edge. A plurality of cables interconnect the ball socket and the side rear-view mirror to provide angular adjustment of the mirror when the arm member rotates the ball socket in the actuation position. A housing defining a cavity encloses the ball socket against the concave socket of the base member.

Abstract: A light pointer includes a housing defining a guiding slot in a longitudinal direction to retain a slide member therein. The housing has a front wall defining first and second through holes. An indicating light beam emitting unit is disposed in the housing and emits a light beam through the first through hole. The indicating light beam unit includes a beam emitting light source with first and second terminals, and a first switching member to control electrical connection between the beam emitting light source and the first terminal. The first switching member includes a switch body and a switch button. An illuminating light source illuminates light through the second through hole, and has third and fourth terminals. A second switch member controls electrical connection between the third terminal and one electrode of a power source, and includes a rear contact to connect with the power source, and a front contact disposed on the third terminal and spaced from both the switch button and the rear contact.

Abstract: In a waterdrop removing apparatus for a vehicle, a blower is attached to a part of high rigidity within a door body to reduce vibration and noise. Air discharged from the blower is guided to a door mirror by a nozzle to blow away waterdrops wetting a surface of the door mirror. The blower is attached to an attachment bracket which is fixed to a door hinge together with a front end wall of the door body interposed between the door hinge and the attachment bracket.

Abstract: A vehicle mirror comprises a mirror case (20), an intermediate member (38), a base member (18) secured to a vehicle, and a mirror case pivot assembly (56, 72) at one end of the intermediate member (38) pivotally connecting the intermediate member (38) to the mirror case (20) for relative angular movement about a first pivot axis. First and second rigid link (26, 42) have opposite ends pivotally connected to the base member (10) and to the opposite end of the intermediate member (38). The pivotal connections (28, 44) at the ends of the first and second rigid links (26, 42) nearer to the front of the vehicle are more widely spaced from each other than the pivotal connections (40, 52) at the other ends of the first and second links (26, 42).

Abstract: In a device for detecting mirror position, there is provided a resistor substrate being located coaxially with a nut adjuster for adjusting an angle of incline of a mirror, and a contact member so as to nip the resistor substrate. The contact member slides in line corresponding to the movement of the nut adjuster while the resistor substrate is fixed to a housing. Thus, as the nut adjuster slides, the contact member slides against the resistor substrate, which results the change of a contact position of the contact member and a long resistance R1. Consequently, since a voltage level generated at the contact member changes, the angle of incline of the mirror can be determined by detecting this voltage level. Inasmuch as the contact member and the resistor substrate are housed within a sliding block, there is no need for much space to locate the various parts in, and thus the whole device can be configured in a compact manner.

Abstract: An at least 3-port optical circulator has first group of optical components, and a second group of optical components, the first group being separated from the second group by an optical distance "1". Each group of optical components has a divider and combiner for dividing an input beam into two beams having orthogonal polarizations and for combining two beams having orthogonal polarizations into a single beam. Furthermore, each group has a GRIN lens for at least substantially collimating or focussing input light, and a polarization rotator between the first divider and combiner and the GRIN lens for making two orthogonal polarization vectors parallel or the two parallel polarization vectors orthogonal to one of or both of the first and second group of optical elements having beam shifting means disposed to shift two beams having a predetermined same polarization.

Abstract: The portable microscope includes an end plate for improved inspection of the end surface of a fiber optic cable at a connection point in a fiber optic system. The end plate is mounted on the head unit housing of the microscope and includes a tubular aperture for receiving and positioning the end of the fiber optic cable for microscopic inspection. A reflection bowl is formed about the tubular aperture on the inner surface of the plate to direct more light to the end of the fiber optic cable. The tubular aperture may be formed in an adapter and the adapter may be secured in a threaded aperture of the end plate. A rocker head adapter may be used to provide both direct and angled viewing of the end surface of a glass fiber. Spacer blocks with reflective surfaces are used to position the end plate on the microscope and to direct more light towards the end surface of the fiber optic cable.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to reduce a f.theta. correction error by correcting an error of an object scanning speed which is produced because a reflecting point of a laser beam moves on a polygon mirror. In an inventive laser scanner, laser light emitted from a laser oscillator is condensed into a beam by a condenser lens at first. This laser beam is reflected by a polygon mirror rotated by a scanning section and is reflected again to a photoreceptor by a curved reflecting mirror. A curved profile of a reflecting plane of the curved reflecting mirror in the main scanning direction is formed so as to be asymmetrical on right and left bounding about a scanning center point. Thereby, variation of speed for scanning the curved reflecting mirror by the light reflected by the polygon mirror may be canceled by the curved reflecting mirror and a speed for scanning the object may be fixed almost at a predetermined speed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for steering an optical path to gain access to data locations in a holographic memory cell (HMC). One of the systems includes: (1) first and second reflective elements locatable to receive and reflect a complex, spatially-modulated incident beam of light, (2) a reflective element steering mechanism, coupled to the first and second reflective elements, that moves the first and second reflective elements to steer the incident beam in a desired direction and (3) an HMC rotating mechanism, couplable to the HMC, that rotates the HMC about an axis thereof, the reflective element steering mechanism and the HMC rotating mechanism cooperating to cause the incident beam to illuminate a location on a plane of the HMC that is a function of a movement of the first and second reflective elements and a rotational position of the HMC.

Abstract: A confocal microscope of the present invention comprises a pinhole disk having a plurality of pinholes, a wavelength selection section for switching a wavelength or wavelength range of at least one of illumination light and observation light in synchronism with rotation of the pinhole disk, and an irradiating section for rotating the pinhole disk and irradiating the irradiation light, which has passed through each of the pinholes, toward a specimen.

Abstract: A reading lamp assembly includes a reading lamp and a timer circuit, a music box, and a fragrance holder provided on a base of the reading lamp. The reading lamp goes out after a set interval of time, and the music box starts playing and the fragrance in the fragrance holder begins spreading after the lamp goes out. Therefore, the user may, after reading for a period of time, relaxes himself/herself in the music and the fragrance.

Abstract: A linear conoscope producing a conoscopic interferogram of an object wherein the phase shift giving rise to the interferogram is substantially linearly dependent on displacement of an object from a geometrical axis. Two anisotropic optical elements are provided and oriented with respect to one another in such a manner as to cancel the predominant term in which the phase shift depends quadratically on displacement from the geometrical axis.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image display device capable of displaying a wide screen three-dimensional image which one can easily observe from any position and direction in the same way as viewing an existing object and which device can select display conditions not to allow a three-dimensional image to be semi-transparent, and a method for making said device. Three-dimensional image data includes image data and data on relative positions of each image point (pixel). A screen panel is composed of a plurality of elementary holograms for producing diffracted light for forming each point-image on a three-dimensional image (said elementary hologram is prepared by the method according to the present invention). On the basis of the three-dimensional image data, a control computer controls a modulator and X-Y deflector so that elementary holograms on the screen panel is illuminated one by one with modulated light by raster scanning of a laser light to represent a three-dimensional image composed of point-images.

Abstract: Disclosed are a hologram unit of an optical pickup which has a main hologram and auxiliary alignment holograms around the main hologram thereof and a method of attaching a hologram plate of the optical pickup comprising the steps of: illuminating an object with an LD; forming an LD radiant point on a monitor through a microscopic lens, and a plurality of radiant points around the LD radiant point by auxiliary alignment holograms; and aligning the LD with the hologram plate by moving the hologram plate so as to form the LD radiant point in the center of the plurality of radiant points.