Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a electromechanical optical modulator comprising an optical membrane, a substrate and Fabry-Perot air gap between them is provided with an improved structure for controlling light transmitted into the substrate. Specifically, an etched and coated cavity is formed in the backwall of the substrate underlying the air gap to receive transmitted light and redirect it onto controllable paths within the substrate. Advantageously the substrate is silicon, and the cavity is produced by anisotropic etching.

Abstract: A process for in-line lenticular film manufacturing having a selected web orientation includes providing an optically clear material web to an in-line converting and/or printing press. The optically clear material web is advanced in the in-line converting and/or printing press in a machine direction of the press. The press includes a lenticule forming means for forming lenticules in the optically clear material web. The lenticules are formed in a selected orientation relative to the machine direction of the press.

Abstract: A writing apparatus (10) for forming images from digital data onto color motion picture film or other photosensitive medium (32), the apparatus employing a single spatial light modulator (30) and having an illumination system (14) comprising a dichroic prism (26) and a plurality of light sources (20). The dichroic prism (26) directs light from each light source (20) onto a common output axis, thereby providing an incident light beam for modulation by the spatial light modulator (30). The apparatus allows high-speed imaging optimized for photosensitive media (32). Additional sensor (12) and logic components allow writing apparatus (10) to adapt to different types of photosensitive media (32) without requiring any retooling or manual adjustment.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the optical performance of a reflective spatial light modulator by micro-planarizing surfaces within the SLM, such as the reflective surface of each pixel, by gas-cluster-ion-beam bombardment.

Abstract: An optical device includes a surface-mountable optical component with a base member having a recess filled with a transparent filler and a VCSEL element arranged in the recess. A receptacle is attached to the surface-mountable optical component. The receptacle is for receiving an optical fiber to optically connect the VCSEL element to the optical fiber. Accordingly, an inexpensive way of coupling a VCSEL element with an optical fiber is provided. In particular, the surface-mountable component can be produced using a high volume production so that the overall costs of the optical device are reduced, even if the receptacle is produced in lower numbers due to varying requirements in the way that the VCSEL will be coupled to an optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a position-control device for a light modulation device, capable of easily performing a position-control operation. A position-control device is provided with a reference projection lens built therein capable of being commonly used, the reference projection lens projecting light combined by a crossed dichroic prism and forming a projection image, and having a predetermined optical characteristic. If the position of the optical axis is aligned once when the reference projection lens was built in, it is not necessary to align the optical axes every time the positions of liquid crystal panels are controlled and the replacement of the liquid crystal panels and the crossed dichroic prism is only required, whereby the position-control operation can be easily performed.

Abstract: An optical delay generator comprises a first waveguide made from electro-optically active material resonantly coupled to a second non-electro-optically active waveguide. The first waveguide contains a chirped distributed Bragg reflector structure which reflects optical signals at a specific wavelength at a specific reflection point within the structure. An electric field applied to the first waveguide changes the refractive index of the electro-optically active material and thus shifts the reflection point. Optical signals reflecting from the reflection point are resonantly coupled into the second waveguide, and are thus not affected by the electric field applied to the first waveguide. The controllable optical delay applied to the optical signals results from control over the reflection point and the round-trip travel time for an optical signal forward propagating in the first waveguide, being reflected at the reflection point, and backward propagating in the second waveguide.

Abstract: Microlens arrays, especially useful for optical coupling in optical switches of fiber optic telecommunications systems are produced with optical quality requisite for such applications with a replicating tool. This tool is made using a form tool set up in a rotating spindle of a precision air bearing milling machine at an angle of inclination such that the point of zero surface velocity is maintained outside of the surface of substrate machined to make the tool for replicating the arrays. The tip of the form tool has a profile corresponding to the profile of the lenses of the array, such as a generally circular profile having a radius centered at the axis of rotation of the form tool. The form tool is reciprocated with respect to the surface so as to form cavities of the desired profile, radius and depth which corresponds each identical lens of the array. To provide arrays the form tool is raised and the substrate is translated to preprogrammed positions.

Abstract: An optical modulator includes a dielectric waveguide for receiving an optical beam and coupling energy of the optical beam into the waveguide. At least one Stark material is provided in the waveguide. A bias circuit generates a bias signal to produce an electrical field across the Stark material to shift at least one of the Stark absorption frequencies towards the frequency of the optical beam. A circuit for producing a time varying electric field across the Stark material modulates the optical beam. At least a portion of the bias field can be generated by an alternating bias signal, such as a square wave. A method of modulating optical signals includes the steps of providing a dielectric waveguide for receiving an optical beam and coupling energy of the optical beam into the waveguide, the waveguide having at least one Stark material disposed therein, and varying an electric field imposed across the Stark material.

Abstract: A spacer is provided to assist in orienting and aligning optical fibers in a connector. The spacer may also provide strain relief for the optical fibers. The spacer is especially useful with smaller optical fibers that are to be used in connectors that are designed for larger optical fibers or cables. Openings extending through the spacer, which may have a channel that allows for communication between the openings. The spacer can have as many openings as there are fibers for the connector. The spacer also assists in holding the fibers during the cleaving process so that the fibers are cleaved simultaneously and consistently.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an optical shutter comprising a photon-absorbing layer and a surface layer in a transparent state on at least one side of the photon-absorbing layer, wherein the optical shutter is characterized by the absorption of photons to change the photon-absorbing layer to an opaque state and to change the surface layer to a reflective state. The optical shutter is reversibly imageable between these transparent and reflective states. The optical shutter may comprise a metallized layer on at least one side of the photon-absorbing layer. Preferably, the optical shutter comprises an organic free radical compound, such as a salt of an aminium radical cation, in the photon-absorbing layer. Also provided are optical switch devices and optical buffers comprising such optical shutters and methods of switching an optical signal utilizing such optical shutters and switch devices.

Abstract: An optical device which is suitable for use in a projection display comprises a spatial light modulator, such as a liquid crystal device, with a microlens array disposed on its front surface. The microlenses are of convergent type, such as lenticules. The spatial light modulator is of the reflective type and comprises a plurality of rear reflectors, each of which has convergent optical power in at least one direction. The reflectors are arranged such that, for a given direction of illumination, each reflector forms an image of the aperture A of a microlens on the aperture B of another microlens or at a different position on the same microlens. When used in, for example, a projection display, light losses caused by vignetting are reduced.

Abstract: A system of angular displacement control for micro mirrors includes a stationary vertical element, a stationary horizontal element and an interference eliminator. Alternatively, the stationary horizontal element holds micro mirrors in place during transportation for avoiding vibration and collision. The stationary vertical element orientates the micro mirrors in the vertical position. The interference eliminator eliminates magnetic interference that could affect the operation of the micro mirrors. The micro mirrors having interference eliminators are capable of remaining unaffected by operations of other micro mirrors.

Abstract: A turbidity sensor for measuring a full range of particulate content in a turbid environment, including a method thereof. The turbidity sensor includes a laser light source for emitting laser light through the particulate content. The turbidity sensor additionally includes at least one light-sensitive detector located proximate to the laser light source for the detection of light scattered from particles of the particulate content that come into contact with laser light emitted from the laser light source, thereby permitting the accurate measurement of the turbidity of the turbid environment. A plurality of light-sensitive detectors may be employed, including a back scatter detector, a side scatter detector, a forward scatter detector, and a direct transmission detector. The light-sensitive detectors may be arranged in a geometric configuration of light-sensitive detectors with respect to the laser light source.

Abstract: In annealing of a non-single crystal silicon film by a linear laser beam, it is performed so as irradiation tracks caused by the linear laser beam do not remain in the silicon film. Laser light is partitioned by an integrally formed cylindrical array lens, and is composed into a single uniform laser beam on an irradiation surface by a cylindrical lens and a doublet cylindrical lens. The integrally formed cylindrical array lens is used, and therefore cylindrical lenses structuring this array lens can be made very fine. It thus becomes possible to partition the laser light into a large number of partitions, and the uniformity of the laser beam on the irradiation surface is increased. Very few laser irradiation tracks remain on the silicon film annealed by the very uniform laser beam.

Abstract: An image-forming system with enhanced gray levels, including: a primary beam of light having a primary intensity value, a secondary beam of light having a secondary intensity value significantly less than the primary intensity value; a first modulator array of discrete devices receiving the primary beam of light and producing an output with coarse gray levels, a second modulator array of discrete devices receiving the secondary beam of light and producing an output with fine gray levels; a controller for synchronously controlling the first and the second modulator array; and optics that combine the output with fine gray levels and the output with coarse gray levels to form an image with the enhanced gray levels.

Abstract: In the manufacturing process of color display tubes with a dotted screen pattern, to form the screen (11), a segmented lens (3) is used for exposing the display window (4) in order to apply a structure of a black matrix layer and a layer with electroluminescent material to it. Principally, a segmented lens (3) gives rise to a phenomenon that is called facet marking; this is a result of the fact that the images of consecutive facets (12) of the lens on the screen (11) are disjunct or partly overlap, giving dark lines (42) or bright lines (44). In present day color display tubes—especially for use as computer monitors—it is getting more and more important to reduce facet marking as far as possible. It is proposed to manufacture the segmented lens (3) according to a new process in which the mold (30) for the manufacture of said segmented lens is significantly changed.

Abstract: Two-dimensional photonic crystal slab apparatus and a method for fabricating two-dimensional photonic crystal slab apparatus. A two-dimensional photonic crystal slab apparatus has a photonic crystal slab containing a two-dimensional periodic lattice, and upper and lower cladding layers for the photonic crystal slab, the upper and lower cladding layers each having a metallic cladding layer. The metallic cladding layers permit achieving substantially perfect light transmission through a waveguide in the slab, even when the waveguide is strongly bent. The fabrication method includes forming a two-dimensional photonic crystal slab from a dielectric slab supported on a substrate by, for example, an etch process.

Abstract: A man portable video enhanced night vision goggle comprised of a head mount assembly, an image intensified video camera, and a display. A thermal camera may also be provided and the images from the video camera and the thermal camera may be electronically fused on the display.

Abstract: A light receiving module and a light receiving method to reduce polarization dependence, used in evaluation of polarization characteristics of various optical parts. The light receiving module has an optical mechanism including a first light transmission plate and a second light transmission plate between a first lens and a second lens, and a light receiving element of the outside of the optical mechanism. The first light transmission plate is inclined at such an angle as to have the same value as polarization dependence due to the inclination of the light receiving surface of the light receiving element, and subsequently the first light transmission plate is rotated by 90° in relation to the optical axis.