Abstract: An optical member 7 is bonded, at its rear side 7b, to a holographic stereogram 6. The front side 7a of the optical member 7 consists of parallel triangular prisms. Illumination light 9 is applied to the front surface 7a of the optical member 7 at a predetermined angle of, for example, 60°. The optical member 7 is made of for example, optical glass or transparent plastic. Each triangular prism has an incidence surface 8, to which the illumination light is applied at right angles. The illumination light is applied to the interface 22 between the optical member 7 and the holographic stereogram 6, at an incidence angle ? of, for example, 60°, thereby to suppress surface reflection of the illumination light 9 at the interface 22.

Abstract: A beam splitting element having a diffraction grating is designed by careful selection of device parameters such as grating period, duty cycle, depth and refractive index. In particular, the parameters are selected in such a way that the product of refractive index, depth and duty cycle is equal to or bigger than a predetermined value. The diffraction grating device designed by these rules exhibits a high diffraction efficiency and small polarization dependence.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus operable to provide optical signal processing includes an inner conductive layer including an at least substantially conductive material and a plurality of at least partially reflective mirror strips disposed outwardly from the inner conductive layer and operable to receive an input optical signal, wherein none of the plurality of strips has a width greater than 40 microns. At least some of the strips are operable to undergo a partial rotation in response to a control signal, the partial rotation resulting in a diffraction of the input optical signal wherein a majority of the diffracted input signal is communicated in one direction.

Abstract: A mirror assembly has a pair of telescoping tubular supports extending between a support base and a mirror head to provide adjustment of the mirror head toward and away from the support base. Friction shoes within the tubular supports releasably hold such supports against unintentional telescoping movement. Cooperating stops on the telescoping supports limit outward movement of the mirror head and prevent complete separation of the telescoping supports. The tubular supports are hingedly attached to the support base for rotation about a vertical axis, and cooperating detents and spring elements on the supports and support base releasably hold the supports against rotation.

Abstract: An extendable outside rearview mirror for a vehicle includes a spring-clamped slide mechanism that ensures a zero clearance fit between sliding components to avoid vibration. Bearing members between the sliding components reduce friction and provide a consistent reaction force to ensure smooth operation of an actuator mechanism which extends or retracts the mirror assembly along a support arm. The support arm includes V-shaped guiderails vertically aligned with opposing V-shaped guiderails on the mounting bracket assembly. Rod-like bearing means are interposed between the opposing guiderail pairs. A cantilever clamp jaw with spring means biases one guiderail toward the other with a high spring force which provides superior rigidity and thus enhanced mirror image clarity. The attachment end of the support arm may be divided into two attachment legs providing a dual-arm configuration for less wind resistance.

Abstract: An air purge system for an optical sensor is disclosed. The air purge system includes a two sided lens having an optical sensor positioned on the first side and a fluid stream on the second side. The air purge system further includes, a plenum having an inlet, an array of parallel channels and an outlet, whereby the array of parallel channels, is disposed between the inlet and the outlet. The outlet is positioned on the second side of the housing and may be adapted to direct a fluid stream substantially parallel to the second side of the lens.

Abstract: A method of producing an antireflection structure for use on a display or a window surface or both in an electronic device, such as a mobile phone. The display can be an LCD with a top polarizer and a bottom polarizer. The antireflection structure is imparted on the top polarizer by a roller embossing process. In particular, the embossing is carried out in the same manufacturing process when the polarizer is produced. The antireflection structure has a plurality of sub-wavelength periodic grooves. The antireflection structure on the window surface can be imparted using an embossing process or an injection molding process.

Abstract: A method and tool to smooth surface contours uses a fixed back plate mounted at a known distance to an actuator holding plate. Each of the actuators is mounted in said actuation holding plate by a support collar threaded into said actuator holding plate. Threaded with said support collar is an actuator holder with rigidly holds an actuator. A differential threaded adjustment device is then inserted through said fixed back plate and connected to say support collar and actuator holder so that each can be moved independently of the other. The actuator is made of two piezoelectric plates connected in parallel and separated by a silicon rubber o-ring.

Abstract: A vehicle blind spot monitoring system includes an adjustable side view mirror(s), a mirror controller configured to control an angular orientation of the adjustable side view mirror(s), side view mirror adjustment actuator(s) configured to enable a vehicle occupant to remotely adjust, in a normal operating condition, angular orientations of the adjustable side view mirror(s) in a normal orientation range, and side view blind spot adjustment actuator(s) configured to enable a vehicle occupant to remotely adjust, in a blind spot operating condition, angular orientations of the adjustable side view mirror(s) in blind spot orientation ranges. The adjustable side view mirror(s), the side view mirror adjustment actuator(s), and the side view blind spot adjustment actuator(s) are each communicatively interconnected with the mirror controller.

Abstract: A deformable curvature mirror capable of controlled deformation by applying unipolar electrical voltages to electrode segments on the back of the mirror. Two plates of an electro-restrictive material, such as PZT or PMN, are jointed together. One plate has a pattern of a plurality of electrode segments on the outer surface with each electrode segment having a separate electrical terminal for applying a variable unipolar electrical voltage thereto for causing variable expansion of the plate and thereby selectively deforming that plate and, in turn, the deformable curvature mirror.

Abstract: An optical device for security and anti-counterfeit applications comprises a diffractive structure comprising a discrete region that in response to white light illumination generates an image by a process of diffraction in close angular proximity to the specular reflection and which is thus substantially non-visible to an observer, and which under coherent illumination generates a laser projection covert image which forms an image in an image plane located away from the physical plane of the device and which is angularly co-located in close proximity to the direction and position of the specular reflection.

Abstract: Shafts are respectively provided in a bracket. An operating lever, and bearings and guiding and temporary holding sections are provided in a mirror housing. When the bracket, the mirror housing, and the operating lever are assembled, the shafts are guided to the bearings by the guiding and temporary holding sections, and the shafts are temporarily held in the guiding and temporary holding sections and the bearings. Therefore, the shafts can be rotatably supported on the bearings easily and reliably, and hence the cost of the inside mirror can be reduced.

Abstract: A multilayer mirror (1), in particular a multilayer dispersive mirror, comprising several individual layers (2, 3) of different properities applied to a substrate (4; 14) and following each other via parallel, plane interfaces (6), and a plane front face (5; 5?) on the side of beam impact which is inclined relative to the interfaces (6) between the individual layers (2, 3).

Abstract: Disclosed is an electro magnetic radiation polarization converter, available in various combinations of the embodiments features, used to convert non polarized radiation into a single polarization state, which may be utilized in many devices requiring polarized radiation. Disclosed is a unique geometric configuration and positing of optic layers that cause polarization separation by reflection and polarization conversion utilizing birefringent materials as well as phase retardation materials to convert incident radiation to a linear or elliptical polarization.

Abstract: A sterile drape for enclosing an ophthalmoscopic lens housing projecting from a surgical microscope has a wall defining a chamber of such size as to accommodate the lens housing and supporting parts. The chamber communicates with a compartment in which the lens housing may be accommodated and supported in an appropriate position. The compartment has transparent plates at its opposite ends and the chamber wall adjacent the opening has a circular lens which may underlie a microscope. The compartment plates and the circular lens enable the image to be transmitted from a surgical site without distortion while maintaining a sterile environment at such site.

Abstract: A variable optical attenuator is disclosed which comprises a plane-parallel birefringent element for separation/synthesis which separates light beams having orthogonal polarization directions on the same optical path, the birefringent element synthesizing light beams on different optical paths; a light converging lens disposed adjacent to the birefringent element for separation/synthesis; a reflecting mirror disposed at a focal point of the lens opposite to the birefringent element for separation/synthesis with respect to the lens; a variable polarization rotating device; and an input port and an output port which are disposed at the end of the birefringent element for separation/synthesis; the variable polarization rotating device being disposed at any position between the birefringent element for separation/synthesis and the reflecting mirror, the variable polarization rotating device controlling the rotational angle of the polarization direction of incident light beams from the input port, to thereby contr

Abstract: An optical element having a diffraction shape uses an optical material comprising at least N-vinylcarbazole, polyvinylcarbazole, and the light polymerization initiator. By using such optical material, it is possible to suppress crystallization of the optical material during molding even at room temperature and appropriately control the dropping amount suited for replica molding. It is possible to provide the optical material also suited for replica molding at room temperature by setting a ratio of N-vinylcarbazole to polyvinylcarbazole, i.e. N-vinylcarbazole/polyvinylcarbazole, to a range between 90/10 and 70/30.

Abstract: A holographic optical element (HOE) device is mounted in wireless optical telecommunication system transceiver. The HOE device includes a developed emulsion material having an interference pattern recorded thereon, sandwiched between a pair of elements, such as a pair of clear glass plates. In operation, the HOE device uses the recorded interference pattern to diffract received light rays towards an optical processing unit of the system receiver. A transmitter unit can be positioned at least in part behind the HOE device. An opening in the emulsion material allows a light signal transmitted from the transmitter unit to be substantially unaffected by the recorded interference pattern. The transceiver can also include a spotting scope and an alignment beacon.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polarization beam splitter and a method of producing the same, in which the polarization beam splitter has superior polarization separation efficiency and has small angle dependence. A transparent base material having a polarization separation film, comprising a dielectric multilayered film, is cemented at the cemented surface of the beam splitter, to provide an array-like plane type polarization beam splitter, wherein an incidence angle ?g of light upon the polarization separation film is selected to satisfy a relation ?g>45 deg.

Abstract: Certain types of holographic recording materials can be used to updateably record holographic stereograms formed when fringe patterns are generated through interference of an object laser beam containing image information with a reference laser beam. In this manner, calculation of fringe patterns is avoided, and instead perspective information is computed for a scene or object to be displayed, the information is downloaded to display hardware such as a spatial light modulator, and fringe patterns are subsequently generated through interference of an object laser beam containing this information with a reference laser beam in the classic hologram recording scheme. Previously recorded holographic stereograms or component hogels are updated by erasing the stereograms or component hogels and recording updated stereograms or component hogels, or by recording updated stereograms or component hogels in a separate portion of the holographic recording material.