Abstract: A stage driving apparatus comprises a stage mounted with a sample and rotatable about an optical axis of an observation optical system for observing the sample, and two guides, for moving the stage within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the observation optical system, rotatable together with the stage and oriented orthogonal to each other. The apparatus further comprises an input device for inputting a signal representing a moving direction of the stage, a converter for converting a signal inputted to the input device on the basis of an observation image of the sample on the stage through the observation optical system into an output signal with a compensated relative rotational deviation between a moving direction defined by the observation image and a moving direction defined by the two guides and a driving device for moving the stage along the two guides on the basis of the output signal from the converter.

Abstract: A vehicle structural accessory includes one or more electronic accessories. One electrical accessory which may be provided is an electronically trainable transmitter which is trainable to generate a control signal which will actuate a garage door opening mechanism. Another electronic accessory which may be included is an electronic compass. Yet another device is an electronically adjustable mirror having parameters set for each driver of a vehicle. The electronically adjustable rearview mirror and the electronically trainable garage door opener may be advantageously provided with a keyless entry system.

Abstract: A stereoscopic-vision endoscope having an objective optical system consisting of a front optical system having a single optical axis including a field conversion optical system, and a rear optical system including optical systems that have a plurality of optical axes. A light beam is received from the front optical system so as to form images on the optical axes, and thus form a plurality of images. The front and rear optical systems can be turned relative to each other. Thus, a magnitude of parallax permitting a sufficient sense of three-dimensionality can be provided, and the postures of images can be corrected responsively to a change in direction of view resulting from the rotation of an insertional part.

Abstract: An improved electro-optic rearview mirror for motor vehicles, the mirror incorporating an improved display, such as "HEATED" or "OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR" or the like, and wherein the mirror colors and clears uniformly and the display is effected in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

Abstract: A Keplerian zoom finder optical system comprises an objective lens group having a positive refracting power on the whole and constructed of, in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a negative refracting power, a second lens unit having a positive refracting power, a third lens unit having a negative refracting power and a fourth lens unit having a positive refracting power. This finder also comprises a regulating element, disposed in the vicinity of a focal position of the objective lens group, for regulating a visual field. The finder further comprises an eyepiece unit having a positive refracting power. The finder varies a magnification by moving at least the second lens unit along an optical axis and satisfies the following condition:-5<f.sub.3 /f.sub.w <-3wheref.sub.w : the synthetic focal length of the first and second lens units in a minimum magnification state, andf.sub.3 : the focal length of the third lens unit.

Abstract: An external rear-view mirror for motor vehicles, particularly trucks, has a support arm and brackets for mounting the support arm to a motor vehicle. A longitudinal housing defines an interior volume and an open-faced front chamber. The support arm has a vertical portion which extends completely through the interior volume in a longitudinal direction. At least two vertically aligned support plates are disposed within the open-faced front chamber and are mounted directly to the support arm vertical portion. A remotely controlled motor drive mechanism is mounted on each support plate front side within the open-faced chamber. An adjustable mirror assembly is configured with each motor drive mechanism and includes a mirror support plate with a mirror glass surface fixed to a front side thereof. The mirror assembly is variably positionable relative to the housing and the support plate by the motor drive mechanism.

Abstract: The invention provides a switchable bright-field transmitted-light illumination device for microscopes which provides for in each case two objectives of different apertures in both switch positions a simple automatic illumination arrangement without adjustment of the position and of the opening of the diaphragms. For this purpose, in an illumination device, comprising light source 1, collector 2, field diaphragm 3, aperture diaphragm 4 and basic condenser 7 with removable condenser head 8 or condenser lens element 11, which can be switched in alternatively to the condenser head 8 between the aperture diaphragm 4 and the basic condenser 7, the aperture diaphragm 4 is arranged between the collector 2 and the field diaphragm 3 and is imaged by an intermediate imaging by at least two auxiliary lenses 5 and 6 into a plane 12 conjugate with the aperture diaphragm 4.

Abstract: An improved electrochromic rearview mirror for motor vehicles, the mirror incorporating an improved display which economically and efficiently displays information or images or symbols on the mirror in a reliable and aesthetically pleasing manner while providing excellent speed of reflective change, good high end reflectance, good uniformity of reflectance change across the surface area of the mirror, continually variable reflectance and good low end reflectance while displaying desired information or images or symbols throughout the range of reflectance of the mirror.

Abstract: A light reflecting and accumulating member includes a reflecting member, an accumulating member, and a stopping member. The reflecting member has an accumulating member mounting part sunk from the surface, and a reflecting area on the entire circumference of the accumulating member mounting part on the face side, and a stopping member mounting part sunk from the back side, on the back side. By adhering the accumulating member to the accumulating member mounting part, the peripheral edge of the accumulating member sinks from the surface of the reflecting member. The stopping member has a stopping piece for detachably fixing to the member to be mounted, and a connection piece, and by adhering the connection piece to the stopping member mounting part of the reflecting member, the peripheral edge of the connection piece sinks from the back side of the reflecting member.

Abstract: An optical system for a compound camera includes an equivalent image plane provided at a position substantially optically equivalent to an image plane of the photographing lens system. A condenser lens is provided proximate to the equivalent image plane and a relay lens system is provided behind the condenser lens to form an image of the photographing lens system on an image pickup device. The relay lens system satisfies the requirements defined by -0.1<P<0.09, and S3<0, where P designates the Petzval sum of the whole relay lens system when the focal length of the relay lens system is assumed to be 1.0, and S3 designates the astigmatism coefficient of the whole relay lens system when the focal length thereof is assumed to be 1.0, respectively.

Abstract: An automatic antiglare mirror for a vehicle with its reflectivity being variably controlled by an electrochromic element includes a rear light detection circuit for detecting quantity of light in the rear of the vehicle, a coloration amount control circuit for controlling an amount of coloration the electrochromic element and a response speed control circuit for controlling response speed of the electrochromic element. The coloration amount control circuit performs control of the amount of coloration in such a manner that, when quantity of rear light is smaller, the amount of coloration of the electrochromic element is smaller whereas, when the quantity of rear light is larger, the amount of coloration of the electrochromic element is larger.

Abstract: Anti-glare EC mirror comprises a transparent glass substrate with ITO film, IrO.sub.x film, SnO.sub.2 film, Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 film, WO.sub.3 film and Al film in the order written. Because of this layer arrangement, SnO.sub.2 film insures an ample supply of water during the aging of IrO.sub.x film, thereby allowing the aging operation to be completed within a short period of time.

Abstract: An apparatus using electrophoresis provides accurate manipulation of an object on a microscope stage for further manipulations add reactions. The present invention also provides an inexpensive and easily accessible means to move an object without damage to the object. A plurality of electrodes are coupled to the stage in an array whereby the electrode array allows for distinct manipulations of the electric field for accurate manipulations of the object. There is an electrode array control coupled to the plurality of electrodes for manipulating the electric field. In an alternative embodiment, a chamber is provided on the stage to hold the object. The plurality of electrodes are positioned in the chamber, and the chamber is filled with fluid. The system can be automated using visual servoing, which manipulates the control parameters, i.e., x, y stage, applying the field, etc., after extracting the significant features directly from image data.

Abstract: A line light source illuminator for a film scanner of the type having a linear image sensor, a film gate through which an area of film to be scanned can be positioned, and an aperture at the film gate for defining the area of film to be scanned. The illuminator includes a light source which produces a light beam; an optical condenser between the lamp and the film gate to condense and shape the beam; and optics adapted to diffuse and direct the light beam so as to produce a uniform line of controlled diffuse illumination at the film gate. A spherical relay lens between the lamp and the optical condenser has a focal length nominally equal to a distance between the relay lens and the optical condenser to constrain the beam within the entrance pupil of the optical condenser. A spectral filter is between the lamp and the film gated to remove unwanted wavelengths of radiation from the light beam.

Abstract: A double Porro prism having an incident surface, an exit surface, and a plurality of reflecting surfaces for internally reflecting light rays from the incident surface to the exit surface. The plurality of reflecting surfaces having a final reflecting surface that is positioned near the exit surface. The double Porro prism also has a ghost preventing surface that is formed between a ridge of the final reflecting surface and a ridge of the exit surface.

Abstract: An image stabilizer has, in succession from the object side, an objective lens group having at least positive refractive power, variable angle prism having its vertical angle variable, and optical prism, and which satisfies the following condition:-20<.nu..sub.VAP -.nu..sub.RP <40,when .nu..sub.VAP is the Abbe's number of the variable angle prism, and .nu..sub.RP is the mean value of the Abbe's number of the optical prism.

Abstract: There is provided an array of M.times.N thin film actuated mirrors for use in an optical projection system comprising an active matrix, an array of M.times.N thin film actuating structures, each of the thin film actuating structures including at least a thin film layer of a motion-inducing material, a pair of electrodes, each of the electrodes being provided on top and bottom of the thin film motion-inducing layer, an array of M.times.N supporting members, each of the supporting members being used for holding each of the actuating structures in place by cantilevering each of the actuating structures and also for electrically connecting each of the actuating structures and the active matrix, and an array of M.times.N mirrors for reflecting light beams, each of the mirrors being placed on top of each of the actuating structures.

Abstract: A confocal optical apparatus comprising a light source, a first aperture portion for passing light emitted from the light source and obtaining a point source, an objective lens for causing the light that has passed through the first aperture portion to converge on a measurement object, a second aperture portion located on a plane conjugate with the convergence surface on the measurement object, and light detectors for detecting light that has passed through the second aperture portion, wherein placing the first and second aperture portions in the same position and using them as the same aperture portion, as well as positioning the detection surfaces of the light detectors substantially on the same surfaces as the conjointly used identical aperture portions make it possible to reduce the size and weight of the apparatus, to perform three-dimensional shape measurements rapidly and accurately, and to facilitate the alignment of each portion.

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, holes 434 are patterned into the spacer layer to remove any spacer material that is covering the pillars. The spacer layer is then reflowed to fill the holes and lower the surface of the spacer layer such that the surface is coplanar with the tops of the support pillars 426.

Abstract: An optical system is provided for a FLIR mounted in a cylindrical turret ch has five folding mirrors, two doubling as scanning mirrors, numerous lenses with aspherical surfaces and different refractive indices, and a rotatable head mirror. Some of the lenses and mirrors being mounted on remote controlled electrically powered focusing or scanning means.