Abstract: The invention concerns a light reflecting element comprising a substrate (10), a multilayer mirror (20) and optical coupling means (32, 40) comprising a diffraction grating (40); whereby the reflection coefficient of one polarization is damped without damping the reflection coefficient of the orthogonal polarization over a broad wavelength range and with a large tolerance on the optogeometrical parameters of the device.

Abstract: A method of controlling an optical fiber splicing machine utilizes a power control mode to control the amount of power delivered to fuse the fibers. In the power control mode, the attenuation is measured while the fusing process is occurring. A rate of attenuation loss is predicted from the measured attenuation values by using an estimator. If the rate of attenuation loss indicates that a threshold insertion loss will be crossed before the next attenuation measurement, the splicing machine is stopped prior to the next attenuation measurement. If the desired attenuation is not achieved, an energy control mode is utilized which controls the amount of energy delivered to fuse the fibers. After delivering this energy, the method measures the attenuation. If not within desired values, the energy mode is repeated. At each iteration the splicing control function utilized by the energy control mode may be reprogrammed. A PID control formula may be used to determine the arc current for each iteration.

Abstract: Optical elements comprise stacked, optically matched and optically coupled etalons, at least one of the optically coupled etalons comprising first and second selectively transparent thin film mirror coatings on opposite surfaces of a bulk optic. The bulk optic defines the cavity spacing of the etalon and may, for example be formed of a monolithic body of silica or other optically transparent glass diced from a glass wafer. The bulk optic may further comprise a wedge coating of progressively increasing thickness overlying the monolithic glass body and compensating for, or offsetting non-parallelism of the bulk optic. The bulk optic may further comprise a thickness-adjustment layer of substantially uniform thickness. The disclosed optical elements optionally comprise other devices optically coupled to the stacked etalons. Novel methods are disclosed for producing the stacked etalons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid state filter used in sequentially illuminating an image display, directly or indirectly, with first, second, and third bandwidth light. The solid state filter includes at least one hologram that is switchable between active and inactive states. While in the active state, the at least one switchable hologram diffracts a first bandwidth light. In contrast, the switchable hologram transmits the first bandwidth light without substantial alteration when operating in the inactive state. In one embodiment, the diffracted first bandwidth light is used to illuminate a monochrome image presented on a display device. In another embodiment, the transmitted first bandwidth light is used to illuminate the monochrome image presented on the image display.

Abstract: A pair of dual complementary optics having a first lens and a second lens wherein the first lens has a gradient of a multiplicity of bands, the uppermost series of bands having a primary color embedded therein and the lowermost series of bands having a complementary secondary color embedded therein, the second lens having the inverse color embedded therein so that a primary color in the first lens is aligned with a secondary color in the second lens and a secondary color in the first lens is aligned with a primary color in the second lens. Each lens is darkest on top and lightest on the bottom. Each lens transmits more than 50% visible light in both wavelength ranges 440-550 nm and 550-750 nm.

Abstract: A retroreflective structure and method for forming the same are provided which includes a polyurethane sheet having a first side and a second side, a coating on the first side, and an array of retroreflective prism elements formed on the coating. The coating is used to promote adhesion between the prism elements and the first side of the polyurethane sheet. A second coating can be formed on the second side of the polyurethane sheet for purposes such as forming a protective layer over the polyurethane sheet and can include ultraviolet blocking material.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optic multiplexer or demultiplexer comprising an inlet optic fibre, a wavelength dispersive optic system, outlet optic fibres and a two-wave interferometer. The two-wave interferometer has a spectral response exhibiting minima at twice the frequency of the response of the multiplexer or demultiplexer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a reflective color filter including a substrate having disposed thereon two or more kinds of patterned colored pixels exhibiting mutually different color hues, wherein at least one kind of the colored pixels is a green pixel that contains a green pigment and C.I. Pigment Yellow 138, a value y expressed in the x-y system is 0.37 or greater when chromaticity of the green pixel is measured with a D65 light source, and a value Y in the CIE 1931 color system is 87 or greater.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of deposition of an absorbing material upon a plastic/glass substrate by vacuum coating at an angle of inclination between 5° to 30° and using a mask on the evaporation source to produce a graded film material and a method for the preparation of graded density absorbing film useful as an antiglare optical device for protecting the eyes by reducing the glare by absorbing the light intensity falling upon it in a non-uniform fashion.

Abstract: A neutral density filter has a multi-layer structure of thin films laminated on a substrate made of a transparent material. The multi-layer structure contains a transparent thin film composed of a dielectric material effective to transmit the incident light and a non-transparent thin film effective to absorb a part of the incident light. The non-transparent thin film is composed of a metal material which is deposited by vacuum evaporation. The non-transparent thin film contains an oxide of the metal material, which is generated during the vacuum evaporation by introducing a gas containing an oxygen while maintaining a vacuum degree in a range of 1×10−3Pa to 1×10−2Pa, and which is deposited concurrently with the metal material.

Abstract: A flexible innerduct structure is configured to contain a cable within a conduit. The innerduct structure includes a pair of adjacent strip-shaped layers of flexible material that are joined along their longitudinal edges to define a channel through which the cable can extend longitudinally through the innerduct structure between the layers. The adjacent layers have differing widths between their longitudinal edges, whereby the wider layer bulges away from the narrower layer to impart an open configuration to the channel. Other features of the innerduct structure relate to the material of which it is formed. Such features includes the structure of the material, such as a woven structure, and further include properties such as melting point, tensile strength, elongation, coefficient of friction, crimp resistance and compression recovery.

Abstract: Large format, highly selective display screens can be formed from a plurality of holographic optical elements. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, systems and methods are described to provide a holographic screen for display of static and/or dynamic projected conventional two-dimensional images, two-dimensional stereograms, and holographic stereograms. One aspect of the present invention includes presenting live-image three-dimensional displays using an array of two-dimensional data projectors. Another aspect includes projecting and enlarging static or dynamic source three-dimensional images (real objects, holograms, or other autostereoscopic images).

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a holographic notch filter which can favorably reject and remove a narrow, desired range of wavelengths of the incident light and a method of easily manufacturing the holographic notch filter. For achievement of the above object of the present invention, a multi-structure holographic notch filter 2 having a holographic recording material 4 arranged on which modulations of the refractive index are recorded by two-beam interference is provided as characterized in that a thin-film filter element 6 is fabricated from a thin form of the holographic recording material 4 in which modulations of the refractive index are recorded by the two-beam interference and a plurality of the thin-film filter elements 6 are joined together to develop a layer arrangement.

Abstract: A diffusion barrier attached to the cladding layer prevents significant diffusion of a Raman active gas out of the holes in a holey fiber or photonic band gap fiber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for synthesizing supergratings using Fourier analysis. The method divides the synthesis process into two stages: synthesis of an “analog” grating profile, followed by a quantization step. The method provides a generalized procedure for analog synthesis by drawing on the Fourier approximation and on finite-impulse-response (FIR) filter design theory, while it interprets the simple threshold quantization as a “zeroth order” Delta-Sigma Modulator, which it improves.

Abstract: A wire bonding apparatus including a bonding tool that performs bonding on a bonding part, a position detection camera which has a lens barrel and images the bonding part, a light source which emits illuminating light downward through the lens barrel, and a light path conversion device that directs an image of an area near the lower end of the tool to the position detection camera. The light path conversion device includes a wavelength-selective filter that is provided so as to be within a light path of the image of the area near the lower end of the tool. The wavelength-selective filter allows illuminating light of the light path conversion device to pass therethrough but prevents the illuminating light from the lens barrel side from passing therethrough.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is described which has a core and a sheath, each of which is made of a fully fluorinated fluorocarbon material. In particular, a fully fluorinated Teflon material such as Teflon AF 1600 or Teflon AF 2400, or a mixture thereof, is suitable as the fully fluorinated fluorocarbon. The optical waveguide is optically transparent around the 1300 nm and/or 1550 nm wave band. Furthermore, the core of the optical waveguide may have a refractive index that is higher than the refractive index of the sheath. The optical waveguide is suitable for use as, for example, an integrated optical waveguide for transmitting information in optical telecommunications.

Abstract: A reversible optical circulator has an optical switch that includes: an arm composed of piezoelectric material with first and second faces and first and second ends, an electrode coupled to the arm for providing a voltage difference between the first and second faces of the arm, a support coupled to the first end of the arm for fixedly supporting the first end, an object with a convex surface coupled to the second end of the arm, a polarization rotation element coupled to the second face of the arm, a first magnet proximately located to the object and the first face of the arm, and a second magnet proximately located to the object and the second face of the arm. By using this optical switch, the optical circulator has stable and reproducible operation, high switching speeds, and low sensitivity to slight optical mis-alignments.

Abstract: A gem identifying device using filtered transmitted light for use in distinguishing type-I colorless diamonds from type II colorless diamonds, and natural diamonds and gems from synthetic or treated diamonds and gems.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method of illuminating an image display via an electrically switchable holographic optical element. The method includes a first electrically switchable holographic optical element (ESHOE) receiving illumination light. The first ESHOE comprises oppositely facing front and back surfaces. The first ESHOE focuses a first component (e.g., p-polarized blue light) of the illumination light while transmitting the remaining components of the illumination light without substantial alteration. An image display is provided and receives the focused first component. In response to receiving the focused first component, the image display emits image light. The first ESHOE receives and transmits this image light without substantial alteration. In one embodiment, the focused first component emerges from the first ESHOE at the back surface thereof, and the first ESHOE receives the image light at the back surface.