Abstract: A non-volatile holographic recording method and system based on a doubly-doped photorefractive material. One embodiment of the holographic material is doped to have first and second types of dopants that are operable to produce charge carriers to a common band in response to radiation of a specified wavelengths. Charge carriers in the common band can migrate to a different spatial location. The dopants are also capable of recombining with charge carriers in the common band. The first type of dopants have a first dopant energy level below the band by a first energy gap greater than a second energy gap of a second dopant energy level of the second type of dopants below the common band. The first and second dopant energy levels are separated from each other so that their absorption bands to the common band are substantially separated. In addition, the first and second energy gaps should be much greater than the thermal energy k.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making holograms includes a technique for exposing a film substrate or other light-sensitive medium to consecutive two dimensional images, together representative of a physical three-dimensional system, to generate a three dimensional hologram of the physical system. Low beam ratios are employed to superimpose multiple (20-300) images on the substrate. Each image is relatively weak, but the combination of the series of weak images ultimately appears as a single clearly defined hologram.

Abstract: A color image display device has a light source which emits an approximately parallel beam of light, a color separation element for separating this parallel beam into beams of light of different colors, a liquid crystal display panel having picture elements and a lens array for focusing the separated beams at corresponding ones of these picture elements. The color separation element is formed with a prism array having two diffraction gratings on both sides of it such that a beam of white light passing through it will be separated into beams of different colors and the angles between the optical axes of these beams of different colors will be greater as they leave the separation element than if this beam of white light passed through only one of these diffraction gratings. Either one or both of these diffraction gratings may be integrally formed respectively on one or both of the surfaces of the prism array.

Abstract: A system for facilitating microscope-based specimen analysis is disclosed. The system includes an improved optical microscope, which may be used, in one application, to analyze cell and tissue samples from specimens obtained from patients, to facilitate inspection of suspicious materials and identification of atypical or abnormal cells and further expert review. The system includes a motorized plate, an automatic focusing sub-system, an improved light source, an improved simple plug connector for direct hookup of the microscope to an external computer, and an electronic image capturing and analyzing sub-system for automatic scanning of the sample and for electronic capture and storage of images indicative of the specimen.

Abstract: A front end structure of a stereoscopic endoscope comprises a lens barrel main body 3 having a pair of lens barrel portions 31R, 31L for holding and accommodating a pair of objective optical systems 32R, 32L so as to make them project toward an object, respectively; and a front end part main body 2 formed with a pair of holes 21R, 21L for receiving the respective lens barrel portions 31R, 31L, while the image-side end portion of the front end part main body 2 is formed like a cylinder surrounding the lens barrel main body 3. The left and right side portions 41R, 41L of the outer peripheral surface of the lens barrel main body 3 are inscribed in the cylindrical portion 26 of the front end part main body 2, so that the lens barrel main body 3 and the front end part main body 2 slidably mate with each other. As a consequence, the front end part main body 2 and the lens barrel main body 3 can be assembled to each other while in a state positioned with respect to each other with a high accuracy.

Abstract: A front end lens 11 of a pair of objective lenses 32R, 32L disposed the object-side end face of a front end part 1 of a stereoscopic endoscope has a so-called D-cut lens form in which both side portions of a spherical lens are cut off, whereby spaces for arranging illumination windows 13, lens surface washing nozzles 15, and heads of fastening screws 14 for fastening the front end part 1 to a front end part main body 2 are secured at the front end face of the front end part 1, while keeping its function of yielding a sufficient angle of convergence .theta.. A positioning pin 16 formed in the front end part main body 2 is inserted into a pin insertion groove 17 formed in a protrusion 12 of the front end part 1 at an eccentric position of the protrusion 12, whereby both members 1, 2 are inhibited from rotating relative to each other, and the relative positional relationship between the front end lens 11 and the pair of objective optical systems 32R, 32L can reliably be fixed.

Abstract: In an optical positioning system, a holographic optical element having a plurality of rectangular apertures has predetermined ones of its aperture edges castellated or notched in order to null out undesired light energy in target areas. The apertures may be fitted with diffraction grating patterns that may also be castellated for the same purpose. A method of using the aperture and grating pattern castellated holographic optical element is also provided.

Abstract: An optical cable has a plurality of optical fibers. The optical fibers are contained in fiber containing cavities of chamber elements. Each chamber element has a bottom part and a pair of side wall parts, which defines a fiber containing cavity. The individual chamber elements containing the optical fibers are assembled around a thickening layer in an S-Z strand. Each side wall part is formed such that its thickness gradually decreases from its base end portion toward free end portion. Also, the thickness of the bottom part is greater than the thickness of each side wall part.

Abstract: A sleeve for retaining a plurality of optical fibers in a close or contacting relationship is provided. The sleeve has a bore receiving a number of optical fibers. The internal surface of the bore is such that when that number of optical fibers are contained therein the bore surface defines a perimeter substantially equally spaced about the external surfaces of the optical fibers. Advantageously the sleeve of the present invention may be sealed about the plurality of fibers by vitrification or adhesive to support the fibers or fiber ends without causing unequally distributed stress in the fibers. Signal quality is thus better assured.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for the readout, and in certain applications the display, of information stored within incoherent/coherent double angularly multiplexed volume holographic optical elements. Such multiplexed volume holographic optical elements are based on parallel incoherent/coherent double angularly multiplexed volume holographic recording and readout principles, and are designed to exhibit maximum optical throughput efficiency and minimum crosstalk. Applications for this novel holographic readout apparatus, when used in conjunction with the aforementioned incoherent/coherent double angularly multiplexed volume holographic optical elements, include photonic interconnections for neural networks, telecommunications switching, and digital computing; optical information processors and optical memories; and optical display systems.

Abstract: A panoramic telescope of the type having a body 3 to be mounted on a vehicle, a head-piece 9 attached to the body and rotating with respect thereto. A window 11 is provided for observing the external scenery. Inside the head-piece is a mirror 13 for deflecting the incoming beam from the window towards an optical detector.

Abstract: An optical cable has an S-Z stranded part in which plurality of chamber elements containing optical fibers are assembled around a central member in an S-Z strand in the state where their bottom faces are in contact with the central member. Each chamber element has such a characteristic that its flexural rigidity in the depth direction of its fiber containing cavity is smaller than that in the widthwise direction thereof. Assuming, of distortion energy of the chamber element in an S-Z reverse portion within the S-Z stranded part, the distortion energy in the case where the bottom face of the chamber element is in contact with the central member to be U.sub.1, and the distortion energy in the case where a side face of the chamber element is in contact with the central member to be U.sub.2, a relational expression of .DELTA.U=U.sub.1 -U.sub.2 .ltoreq.0.2(mJ/mm) is satisfied.

Abstract: An optical module inspection circuit on an optical platform includes an optical module carrier for precisely aligning optical devices with optical interfaces of inspection equipment located at fixed positions in the optical module inspection circuit. The module includes an apparatus for conveyance along a top surface of the optical platform. The module may be conveyed automatically to predetermined positions on the optical platform to automate alignment and positioning of optical devices with respect to optical inspection stations in the optical test circuit.

Abstract: A confocal microscope for optical detection of an observation volume includes a light source, a dichroic mirror, and an objective lens arrangement which further includes a mechanical aperture and an observation optic arrangement. Between the dichroic mirror and the objective lens arrangement, a deflection mirror arrangement is located having a planar deflection mirror on the side of the objective which is arranged to oscillate about a normal position.

Abstract: A holographic memory system which utilizes the Talbot Effect for the lensless, near-field propagation of repeating image planes of periodic structures. Periodic phase structures at one plane in a holographic memory system are mapped to the input amplitude data plane in the holographic memory system. In a preferred embodiment, coherent light is passed through a lenslet array and propagated via the Talbot Effect to self-image coincident on a spatial light modulator that provides the holographic memory system with input data. The lenslet array is located relative to the spatial light modulator such that the desirable phase image structure is self-imaged in its Fresnel region onto the input amplitude data structure.

Abstract: A method of achieving a focusing adjustment of an optical assembly, and of releasably locking this focusing adjustment, is described. A night vision weapon sight (10) which implements this method includes an objective lens assembly (14), an eyepiece lens (18), and an image intensifier tube (20) receiving light via the objective lens in order to provide an image via the eyepiece lens. The objective lens assembly includes a base portion (32) into which a lens housing (34) is threadably received. The threaded engagement of the base portion and lens housing is locked by a collet-like array of radially flexible fingers (42) each having a conical outer surface. A locking collar (44) having a conically tapering inner surface threadably engages the lens housing (34) and engages the collet fingers (42). Locking of the locking collar (44) is ensured by threaded engagement of a locking ring (54) with the locking collar (44) such that the prevailing torque tightens both of a pair of threaded engagements of opposite hand.

Abstract: The invention relates to a space-saving yet high-quality real image type finder indicator wherein an optical member such as a hologram is used for a device for indicating various information in a finder. In a finder optical system has an objective system, an image erection system and an eyepiece system; A hologram H is provided on a reflecting surface of the image erection system, so that an image at an indication portion is indicated by hologram H in visual field of the finder.

Abstract: An object is to provide an optical head device whereby the light utilization efficiency can be increased and which can be produced at a low cost. A glass substrate 1 having projections and recesses 2 formed by patterning a SiON type transparent thin film on its inner surface by dry etching, and a second glass substrate 3 having a polyimide film 4 formed as an alignment film on its inner surface, are laminated with a space, the periphery is sealed by a sealing material made of an epoxy resin 5, and liquid crystal 6 is injected under vacuum into the interior to form an optically anisotropic diffraction grating. On the outer surface of this second glass substrate 3, a quarter-wave film 7 is laminated, and a third glass substrate 9 is bonded by a photopolymer 8 to obtain a diffracting element 10. This diffracting element 10 is disposed between a light source and an optical recording medium to obtain an optical head device.

Abstract: A method of making a holographic device comprising sensitizing a plurality of layers and stacking the layers to form a composite structure. Each layer is sensitized to at least one color wavelength. The method further includes directing at least two laser beams at the composite structure. Each of the laser beams is oriented at an angle with respect to an incident surface of the composite structure such that the laser beams intersect one another within one of the layers of the composite structure. The laser beams are moved along the layer to create interference patterns in the sensitized layer.

Abstract: A holographic grating 12 is formed on one surface of a scale substrate 11 in such a manner that a light source is disposed over the other surface of the scale substrate 11. The scale substrate 11 is formed of a transparent material. A reflection film 13 is directly deposited on the grating surface. A protection substrate 15 is adhered to the reflection film 13 on the scale substrate 11 with adhesive agent 14. Thus, a reflection-type hologram scale 1 is accomplished.