Abstract: An display apparatus has an image displaying device for modulating light by a spatial light modulation element and displaying an image, a relay optical system for forming the image on an imaging plane at a location differing from the image displaying device, an eyepiece optical system for directing the light from the imaging plane to an observer's pupil, and light beam controlling device provided in a portion of the relay optical system for controlling the amount of transmission of a light beam from the image displaying device correspondingly to the inclination of the contrast distribution of the light beam.

Abstract: A rear-view mirror assembly is provided for motor vehicles, particularly commercial trucks. A housing defines an interior volume and at least one mirror glass assembly is removably attached to the open front side of the housing. A non-rotatable longitudinal support rod extends completely through the interior volume of the housing in a longitudinal vertical direction. Portions of the support rod extend from the housing at the top and bottom thereof for attaching the mirror to a support structure of the motor vehicle. The housing is manually or remotely rotatable relative to the longitudinal support rod.

Abstract: A head-mounted image display apparatus having an exit pupil that is enlarged without causing an increase in the size of a relay optical system or a reduction in the size of a projected image. The head-mounted image display apparatus has an image display device (1) having a display surface for displaying an image, a relay optical system (2) for transmitting the image displayed on the display surface of the image display device (1) to form an image of the display surface, and an ocular optical system (4) for projecting the image transmitted by the relay optical system inside an observer's eyeball as an enlarged image. A numerical aperture (NA) enlarging element is disposed at a position conjugated with the display surface with respect to the relay optical system (2). Thus, pupil alignment is facilitated without causing an increase in the size of the relay optical system (2) or a reduction in the size of the projected image.

Abstract: A elemental mirror for vehicles having a luminous reflectance of at least about 30% includes a substrate coated with a thin layer of elemental semiconductor having an index of refraction of at least 3 and an optical thickness of at least about 275 angstroms. Preferably, the elemental semiconductor coating is sputter coated silicon or germanium and a light absorbing coating is included therebehind. The mirror is spectrally nonselective with elemental semiconductor optical thicknesses of about 275 to 2400 angstroms on the front substrate surface. Spectrally selective mirrors are provided by adding an interference coating to the elemental semiconductor layer coating, preferably of a dielectric such as silicon dioxide or silicon nitride, on either the front or rear substrate surface, or by using a thicker, single elemental semiconductor layer. Instead of an absorbing coating behind the mirror, additional elemental semiconductor and dielectric thin layers may be included to reduce secondary reflections.

Abstract: A light weight arcuate reflector facet, for a solar concentrator comprises a thin mirrored glass sheet such as a microsheet, and a backing sheet or substrate, the glass sheet being bonded to the backing sheet, with the backing sheet providing a smooth surface to the glass sheet. A support member or support structure is attached to the backing sheet and maintains the mirrored glass sheet at a desired radius of curvature. The backing sheet is preferably a composite, and according to one embodiment of a fixed focal length light weight reflector facet, the support member is a resin-impregnated fiberglass sheet having a rib structure. In another embodiment of a variable focal length light weight reflector facet, the support member is a mechanical structure comprising a circular support structure having intersecting center support beams positioned diagonally across the circular support structure.

Abstract: An illuminating device for a stereo microscope having an objective with variable imaging focal intercept includes first coupling mechanism, which effects a coupling between the imaging focal intercept of the objective and the likewise adjustable focal intercept of the illuminating optical system, separate from the observation optics, in such a manner that the illuminating focal intercept is in agreement with the imaging focal intercept of the objective. Moreover, adjusting mechanism is provided for the defined adjustment of the diameter of the illuminated field. In particular, the illuminating device is suitable for a surgical microscope.

Abstract: To provide a surgical microscope comprising a microscope collimator for enabling the operator to easily recognize the swivel center of the microscope body regardless of what position the microscope body moves for easy setting of the swivel center point of the microscope body, a surgical microscope pivotally supporting a microscope body having, an observation optical system with one point on an observation optical axis of the microscope body as the swivel center. The surgical microscope comprises index projectors as swivel center visible indicators being capable of recognizing the swivel center. This configuration enables the operator to easily recognize the swivel center of the microscope body for easy setting of the swivel center point of the microscope body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to allow the operator of a vehicle wishing to change traffic lanes to temporarily scan an angle of the passing lane which is in his or her "blind spot", i.e., an area outside the normal angle of viewing of a conventional flat side rear view mirror. The invention is also useful to divert the headlight reflection from a vehicle in a passing lane out of an operator's eyes. Accomplishment is through temporary pivotal movement of the side mirror to shift the mirror viewing angle from the position at which it had been preset by the operator for normal driving.

Abstract: The present invention comprises lens-type retroreflective sheeting which is excellent in appearance and having constant thickness and desired retroreflective performance, wherein the transparent microspheres in the retroreflective layer are composed of transparent microspherical lenses (A) having a refractive index of 1.8 or more and transparent microspherical fillers (B) having a refractive index different by at least 5% from the refractive index of the lenses (A).

Abstract: An adjustable auxiliary rear-view mirror mounting structure including two inner arms fastened to two opposite sides of the rear-view mirror of a motor vehicle, two outer arms pivoted to the inner arms to hold a lamp socket and mirror assembly, and binding means connected between the inner arms, wherein the inner arms have a respective toothed wall portion horizontally disposed at one end and a screw hole at the center of the toothed wall portion thereof; the outer arms have a respective toothed wall portion vertically disposed at one end and a screw hole at the center of the toothed wall portion thereof; each of the connectors has a toothed horizontal coupling section at one end detachably meshed with the toothed wall portion of one inner arm, a first through hole at the center of the toothed horizontal coupling section and fixed to the screw hole of the second end of one inner arm at the desired angle by a first screw and a first nut, a toothed vertical coupling section at an opposite end detachably meshed w

Abstract: An electric revolver apparatus of a microscope comprises a revolver holding a plurality of objective lenses, a drive device for driving and braking the revolver based on a command signal from the outside of the electric revolver apparatus, a detection device for detecting a predetermined amount of rotation of the revolver and outputting a detection signal to brake the drive device, and a delay circuit for delaying the detection signal for a predetermined period of time and outputting it to the outside to delay the brake starting time of the drive device based on the command signal from the outside.

Abstract: A confocal microscope equipped with a light source, a rotary disk having holes, a highly sensitive image receiver or camera, an immersion lens, and a contact endpiece for contacting the skin and in which is engaged at least a lower part of the lens. The endpiece includes a central opening and abuts the skin about the central opening. The microscope allows for relative axial displacement of the contact endpiece relative to the lens.

Abstract: A vehicle automatic rearview mirror system with headlight activation control for establishing a reflectivity level of an electrochromic rearview mirror element and for controlling the activated state of a vehicle's headlights includes two light sensors, an electrochromic mirror element drive circuit that is responsive to light to which the two light sensors are exposed for establishing a partial reflectivity level for the vehicle's electrochromic rearview mirror element, and a headlight activation control that is responsive to light to which the two light sensors are exposed for activating the vehicle's headlights under low light conditions and deactivating the vehicle's headlights under high light conditions. The two light sensors are preferably directionally sensitive and aimed in different directions, one aimed forward of the vehicle and the other aimed rearward of the vehicle. The headlights are preferably activated as a function of the lowest light level to which either of the light sensors is exposed.

Abstract: An automatic focus detection device for microscopes includes an optical system for forming an image of a sample; an image sensor for photoelectrically converting an optical image derived from the optical system; a device for storing image data such that an electric signal obtained from the image sensor is converted from analog to digital form and for processing the image data to compute contrast values; a device for comparing the contrast values; a device for moving an objective lens or a stage for the sample; and a device for storing the position of the objective lens or the stage.

Abstract: A support pillar 426 for use with a micromechanical device, particularly a digital micromirror device, comprising a pillar material 422 supported by a substrate 400 and covered with a metal layer 406. The support pillar 426 is fabricated by depositing a layer of pillar material on a substrate 400, patterning the pillar layer to define a support pillar 426, and depositing a metal layer 406 over the support pillar 426 enclosing the support pillar. A planar surface even with the top of the pillar may be created by applying a spacer layer 432 over the pillars 426. After applying the spacer layer 432, the spacer layer 432 is etched to expose the tops of the pillars.

Abstract: A stereomicroscope comprising an objective lens system and eyepiece lens systems, the objective lens system comprising at least two lens units, permitting a working distance thereof by varying at least one airspace and having a concave surface at a location farthest from an object to be observed so as to minimize lowering of the magnification of the stereomicroscope and stereoscopic impressions of images observed through the stereomicroscope.

Abstract: A cube corner article and method of manufacturing the article from a series of directly machinable unitary substrates. The method of manufacture comprises the first step of providing an initial unitary directly machinable substrate of material suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Then a first cube corner element array zone is formed having a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements. The zone is created by directly machining at least two sets of parallel grooves in the substrate. A replica of the cube corner element array zone is formed as an additional unitary substrate suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Portions of the replica substrate material are removed. The removal of these portions forms at least two intersecting cavities bounded by side walls in the replica at a depth at least that of the cube corner elements formed by the groove sets.

Abstract: A visual effects generator for use with the image output of a video screen provides multiple secondary images and reflections dispersed through a wide visual field, so that the impact of the color and motion of the original image is enhanced. The generator includes a closed housing having a rear panel with an opening secured about the video screen. The housing includes a pair of lobes diverging laterally from the rear panel, with a viewing port disposed in the distal portion of each lobe. Each viewing port may be provided with a detachable hood to shield ambient light, and a closure panel may be secured to occlude either viewing port. A first pair of generally rectangular, planar mirrors are disposed within the housing, the mirrors abutting at confronting edges which are spaced apart from the center of the television screen, and the mirrors diverge obliquely forwardly from the screen.

Abstract: A rear-view assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror and an anti-dazzle adaptor which is movably mounted in front of the mirror and which includes an optical cell having at least one electrically adjustable luminous characteristic selected from the group consisting of transmissivity and reflectivity. The anti-dazzle adaptor for a rear-view device of a vehicle includes an optical cell having at least one electrically adjustable luminous characteristic selected from the group consisting of transmissivity and reflectivity; and means for movably mounting the anti-dazzle adaptor on the rear-view device of the vehicle.

Abstract: A wide angle rear view mirror assembly for a motor vehicle has a supplemental optically flat wide angle mirror element mounted in a frame which in turn is mounted on the main rear view mirror assembly of a motor vehicle in juxtaposition with the main frame of the main rear view mirror assembly. The wide angle rear view mirror assembly is an after market device in one embodiment and is adapted to be mounted directly on the main mirror element of the main rear view mirror assembly, but can also be integrally built into the housing of the main rear view mirror assembly so as to constitute a feature of the automobile as manufactured. Either way, the wide angle rear view mirror assembly substantially increases the driver's rear view angle of vision utilizing an optically flat mirror, and also has provision for changing the vertical position of the angle of reflection of the wide angle mirror to accommodate different driving circumstances which affect what the driver sees in the wide angle mirror.