Abstract: A method and system for providing an improved color image wherein a broad spectrum light is supplied to a phase grating which provides dispersed light having multiple diffraction orders. The dispersed light is supplied to a zero-order phase shifter which shifts the phase of the undiffracted (zero order) light relative to the diffracted light. The light from the phase shifter is thereupon concentrated so that the plane of the phase grating is imaged onto a display having a plurality of pixels assigned to transmit different spectral regions. The depths of the grating elements of each of the grating periods of the phase grating and the depth of the zero-order phase element of the phase shifter are selected to maximize the area of chromaticity space spanned by the different spectral regions at the display.

Abstract: The present invention includes a structure, apparatus, and method by which the reflectivity of a micro-machined reflector can be improved. The present invention increases the mirror's reflectivity at 650 nm, increases its reflectivity at 410 nm, and improves its long-term reliability. The reflectivity at other wavelengths may also be improved. Also, the present invention minimizes mirror plate distortion while providing a suitable fabrication approach.

Abstract: An analog controlled angle diffuser and associated methods provide a wavelength insensitive diffuser with a controlled output. The diffuser has free formed shaped analog fringes, i.e., fringes which have a continuous cross-section from their peak to their termination. Preferably, the depth of the analog fringes will be at least 2&pgr;, even more preferably at least 2O&pgr;. Advantageously, the pattern of the diffuser is computer-generated.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved tunable chromatic dispersion compensator. The compensator includes: a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA); at least one reflector optically coupled to the VIPA; a mirror optically coupled to the at least one reflector; and a movable reflector holder coupled to the at least one reflector, where the movable reflector holder moves the at least one reflector such that a length of a beam path between the VIPA and the at least one reflector and the mirror is variable. The present invention uses the VIPA to produce a controlled variable degree of chromatic dispersion within a plurality of optical channels so as to compensate for unwanted chromatic dispersion in an optical communications system. Positional adjustment of the movable reflector holder permits variable control of the beam path length between the VIPA and the focusing lens.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are provided to compensate for temperature-induced drift in the center wavelength of an optical filter, such as an interference filter or an etalon filter. Interference filters can be used to filter out one among a number of narrow, closely-spaced channels in an optical wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) communications system. Etalon filters can be used to lock the output wavelength of distributed feedback lasers and in other related applications. The center wavelength of interference filters and etalon filters changes with both temperature and the angle of incidence of the optical beam. The apparatus and associated method of the invention use a positioner with a different coefficient of thermal expansion to adjust the angle of incidence of the filter as the temperature changes, thereby offsetting the temperature-induced center wavelength change.

Abstract: Method of fabricating an optical waveguide grating having a plurality of grating lines of refractive index variation including (i) repeatedly exposing a spatially periodic writing light pattern onto a photosensitive optical waveguide; and (ii) moving at least one of the writing light pattern and the waveguide between successive exposures of the writing light pattern, so that each of at least a majority of the grating lines is generated by at least two exposures to different respective regions of the writing pattern.

Abstract: Randomly polarized light from a light source (106) enters a polarization separation section (103) through an integrator optical system (102) including a second lens plate (110) designed to have variant apertures. The polarization separation section (103) separates the incident light into two polarized lights whose polarization directions are orthogonal to each other. Then, the polarization directions of these polarized lights are aligned by a polarization conversion section (104). Thus, a polarized-light illumination unit in which polarization directions of randomly polarized light is converted into a desired polarization direction and at the same time the spread of illumination light can be suppressed can be obtained.

Abstract: A tunable Fabry-Perot filter includes an optical cavity bounded by a stationary reflector and a deformable or movable membrane reflector. A second electrostatic cavity outside of the optical cavity includes a pair of electrodes, one of which is mechanically coupled to the movable membrane reflector. A voltage applied to the electrodes across the electrostatic cavity causes deflection of the membrane, thereby changing the length of the optical cavity and tuning the filter. The filter with the movable membrane can be formed by micro device photolithographic and fabrication processes from a semiconductor material in an integrated device structure. The membrane can include an inner movable membrane portion connected within an outer body portion by a pattern of tethers. The tether pattern can be such that straight or radial tethers connect the inner membrane with the outer body. Alternatively, a tether pattern with tethers arranged in a substantially spiral pattern can be used.

Abstract: A parity determining circuit is used to determine the parity of a binary word. The binary word is represented by a sequence of optical bit slots. Each bit slot defines a respective one of two complementary logical states. The circuit includes: an input pulse stream generator that generates copies of the binary word; a combining device that receives two binary words, offsets one word with respect to the other, and then combines them to form a combination word; and a circuit that applies a copy of the original binary word together with the combination word to the combining device a number of times in succession. This results in a combination word that has a number of bits in the same logical state and that indicates the parity of the binary word.

Abstract: A special configuration of devices includes mirrors which operate to give a driver an easy and complete view around an automobile. More precisely, standard rear view mirrors are arranged in a manner to switch between providing a normal rear view and a quick look into the region sometimes and herein known as the blind spot. Switches which are specially located on a steering wheel provide access to a control system whereby a driver may operate the device without removing hands from their proper position on the steering wheel. Activation of the switch yields a mirror movement allowing a driver to check a blind spot before changing lanes.

Abstract: A reflective-type diffraction grating structure for use in color display devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs). It contains: (1) a plurality of micro-lenses each having a smooth top surface and a blazed zig-zag-shaped grating surface at the bottom; (2) an optical coating formed below the zig-zag-shaped grating surface; and (3) a reflective member formed below the optical coating. With the cooperative actions of the zig-zag-shaped grating surface, the optical coating layer, and the reflective member, an incident light, when reflected, is separated into repeated sequences of red, green, and blue color components and a black matrix segregating the red, green, and blue color components. A sequence of micro-light valves are placed in the path of the reflected incident light to block the undesired color components. The reflective-type diffraction grating structure dispenses with the need for the various layers of color filters.

Abstract: A polarization luminaire is disclosed having a light source, a system of the optical integrator, a polarized light splitting device for splitting a light emitted from the light source into two kinds of polarized lights whose polarization directions are perpendicular to each other and whose traveling directions are apart from each other by an angle of less than 90 degrees, and a polarization conversion device for causing the two kinds of polarized lights to have the same polarization direction. The polarized light splitting device is placed on one of the entrance side and the outputting side of the first lens plate of the system of the optical integrator or is placed within the second lens plate. A prism beam splitter having a polarized light splitting film constituted by a thermally stable dielectric multi-layer film is suitable for the polarized light splitting device. Most of the polarized lights can be utilized by causing the polarized lights to have the same polarization direction.

Abstract: A dielectric interference filter system with at least filter elements of different spectral characteristics on the same carrier substrate is provided. The filter elements have the same height and/or adjoin each other without gaps. The system is used for, inter alia, interference color filter systems in the form of an LCD-display or CCD-arrangement. A process for manufacturing the system includes preparing at least one filter element by coating and subsequent etching, and preparing at least one subsequent filter element by coating and subsequent structuring utilizing lift-off in which the etching mask is used as the lift-off mask.

Abstract: A tunable Fabry-Perot filter includes an optical cavity bounded by a stationary reflector and a deformable or movable membrane reflector. A second electrostatic cavity outside of the optical cavity includes a pair of electrodes, one of which is mechanically coupled to the movable membrane reflector. A voltage applied to the electrodes across the electrostatic cavity causes deflection of the membrane, thereby changing the length of the optical cavity and tuning the filter. The filter with the movable membrane can be formed by micro device photolithographic and fabrication processes from a semiconductor material in an integrated device structure. The membrane can include an inner movable membrane portion connected within an outer body portion by a pattern of tethers. The tether pattern can be such that straight or radial tethers connect the inner membrane with the outer body. Alternatively, a tether pattern with tethers arranged in a substantially spiral pattern can be used.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for filtering optical channels to provide, for example, an interleaver, or a deinterleaver. A multi-plate comb filter is used to separate subsets of channels and for mixing subsets of channels. Interleavers and deinterleavers having one or more multi-plate comb filters can be used to increase the bandwidth of an optical network. The interleavers and deinterleavers can be used to interface components designed for a first channel spacing to components designed for a second channel spacing.

Abstract: A polarizing member has a reflection type polarizing plate capable of separating natural incident light into reflected light and transmitted light to thereby obtain polarized transmitted light, and a fine concave-convex structure disposed on a single surface of the reflection type polarizing plate. The fine concave-convex structure has a center-line average roughness Ra of from 0.01 to 0.1 &mgr;m, ten or more convex portions with a height of from 0.5 to 1.0 &mgr;m, and two or less convex portions with a height larger than 1.0 &mgr;m on any 1 mm-long line segment, and the fine concave-convex structure has a surface hardness of from H to 4H in terms of pencil hardness.

Abstract: Interleaver/deinterleaver apparatuses for combining/separating optical channels are described. An interleaver/deinterleaver apparatus is described as folded when an optical signal is directed through a single crystal multiple times. Double-pass refers to the optical signal following a (folded) path through the apparatus twice. When operating as an deinterleaver, the interleaver/deinterleaver separates an optical signal (e.g., WDM signal) into subsets of optical signals (e.g., channels). In one embodiment, deinterleaving optical signals separates an optical signal into even and odd International Telecommunications Union (ITU) channels. When operating as an interleaver, the interleaver/deinterleaver mixes subsets of optical signals (e.g., channels) into a multiplexed (e.g., WDM) optical signal. The interleaver/deinterleaver apparatus can be used to increase the bandwidth of an optical network. For example, the interleaver/deinterleaver can be used to interface components designed for a first channel spacing (e.

Abstract: An antireflection film containing a transparent substrate film, a hard coat layer on the substrate film, and first and second refractive index layers on the hard coat layer. The hard coat layer has a refractive index higher than the refractive index of the transparent substrate film; the first refractive index layer has a refractive index higher than the refractive index of the hard coat layer; the second refractive index layer has a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the hard coat layer.

Abstract: An improved optical circulator transfers light from a first optical port to a second optical port, and from the second port to a third port. The circulator has non-reciprocal polarization rotators, birefringent beam splitters and combiners, and a polarization-dependent light bending device comprising two tapered birefringent plates. The light bending device compensates for an angle between a first light beam emanating from the first port and a second light beam propagating to the third port. The existence of this angle allows the first and third fibers to be coupled to the light beams using a single lens.

Abstract: An EMI-tight strain relief for a screened cable having a tubular crimp sleeve which is crimped onto the end of the cable and which includes structure for securing the strain relief in an opening in the wall of an apparatus housing. The sleeve has a crimpable portion including a circumferential groove for equalizing the necessary crimping force.