Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the width of a coherent or partially coherent beam of light comprising at least one pair of opposing reflectors each having an inwardly facing light reflecting surface, the reflectors being pivotally mounted with respect to said optical axis and means for adjusting the angle of said pivotally mounted reflector with respect to said optical axis.

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: A method and system for providing wavelength-locked multi-channel signals with respect to a wavelength reference. Wavelengths of a plurality of radiation sources are introduced to at least one etalon having a gas medium. The etalon produces a plurality of equally spaced spectral lines and is tuned by varying its optical index of refraction, by varying the characteristics of its gas medium. The optical index of refraction is then fixed, by fixing the characteristics of its gas medium, and thus locking the plurality of spectral lines with respect to the wavelength reference. In particular, the etalons may be tuned by varying the pressure or composition of their gas-tunable mediums until the spectral lines of the etalon align with the ITU grid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a display comprising an arrangement of a plurality of optically anisotropic rotatable elements, each of the rotatable elements having a surface in contact with an enabling fluid, the rotatable elements being electrically dipolar in the presence of the enabling fluid and thus being subject to rotation upon application of an electric field, the rotatable elements being free to rotate in place but not free to translate substantially so as to disrupt the arrangement of rotatable elements, wherein a first portion of the surface contains a mixture of a chelating agent and a spiropyran material of the formula wherein n is an integer representing the number of repeat —CH2— units and R is —H or —CH═CH2, and wherein a second portion of the surface contains substantially no spiropyran.

Abstract: An optical wavelength converting apparatus for use with a light source providing a light beam having a wavelength &lgr;, the apparatus comprises an optical wavelength conversion module and a wavelength controller. The optical wavelength conversion module comprises at least two optical modulators each capable of being coupled to the light source and respectively capable of modulating the light beam to a first modulated light beam including a pair of channel having wavelengths &lgr;±&Dgr;&lgr;i, and a second modulated light beam including a pair of channels having wavelengths &lgr;±&Dgr;&lgr;j where &Dgr;&lgr;i≠&Dgr;&lgr;j,. The wavelength controller is adapted for switching the light beam to one of said at least two optical modulators for modulation to one of said modulated light beams having a pair of channels with wavelengths &lgr;±&Dgr;&lgr;i or &lgr;±&Dgr;&lgr;j.

Abstract: A method is provided for optical filter card design that facilitates a relatively efficient filter assignment algorithm solution resulting in a filter design that reduces a probability of unnecessary wavelength regenerations.

Abstract: A system for performing real time optical comparisons using an optical correlator permits comparing a sampled image to a wide variety of reference images through the utilization of a multiple quantum well spatial light modulator which is utilized to rapidly present a large number of reference images for correlation. The utilization of the multiple quantum well spatial light modulator as the spatial light modulator in a van der Lugt image correlator in combination with a spectrometer permits optical comparisons at 300,000 frames per second versus 10,000 frames per second, the best case for liquid crystal based spatial light modulators.

Abstract: A traveling wave, linearized, modulator device includes: an optical waveguide disposed on a substrate and consisting of an input-output portion, a terminal portion and a plurality of arms disposed between and connected to the other portions. A first arm has an optical characteristic that varies responsive to supplying of an electric field thereto. A reflector (e.g., mirror) located at the distal end of the terminal portion of the optical waveguide causes light entering the input-output portion and propagating through the waveguide to be reflected back through the waveguide so as to exit through the input-output portion. A traveling wave electrode structure disposed on the substrate terminates in an open circuit substantially at the distal end of the terminal portion of the waveguide. The electrode structure includes an electrode disposed on the first arm so as to supply an electric field to that arm responsive to an electrical voltage being supplied to the electrode.

Abstract: An image registration apparatus has a substrate support capable of supporting a substrate, the substrate support having a support motor capable of moving the substrate support. A radiation beam source is provided that is capable of providing a radiation beam. A beam intensity modulator is also provided that has an adjustable reflective diffraction grating capable of reflectively diffracting the radiation beam to modulate the intensity of the radiation beam. A controller is also provided that is adapted to control the substrate support, radiation beam source, and beam intensity modulator to modulate and scan the radiation beam across the substrate to register an image on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI) that escapes a chassis for housing electro-optic components. The chassis includes a plurality of optical modules that each has a slot with a first dimension and a second dimension through which EMI can escape. An optical array is disposed in the slot. The optical array has a plurality of optical elements. At least one strip of conducting material is positioned between two optical elements at predetermined intervals as measured along the first dimension. The strip has a first end and a second end and is configured to extend substantially the second dimension. At least one of the first end or the second end is coupled to a ground potential. The strips effectively reduce the amount of EMI that escapes from the slot.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus directed to using modulation to substantially improve detection limits in optical imaging, and to substantially improve the performance of various optical imaging systems. In an illustrative embodiment, such modulation is achieved using a modulated light source, a modulation frequency reference, a detector, and a demodulator. The modulated light source may comprise a light source emitting an inherently modulated output; alternately, this modulated light source may comprise a separate optical modulator and a continuous wave, modulated, or pulsed light source configured so as to impose a modulation in the output of light source. Methods for imaging using such modulation are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for precise measurement of optical characteristics, and has an object to provide an optical characteristic measuring apparatus comprising a position change unit for changing the positions of beams transformed by a first transforming member, wherein a first light source emits a luminous flux of a first wavelength, a first illumination optical system illuminates a minute area on the retina of the eye under examination with the luminous flux from the first light source, a first light receiving optical system leads light to a first light receiving unit through a transforming member for transforming the luminous flux having undergone at least one of transmission and reflection at at least one surface of the object of measurement into at least nine beams, a position change unit changes the positions of the beams transformed by the first transforming member, and an arithmetic unit can determine optical characteristics of the object of measurement based on a first signal

Abstract: A device for erasing overhead modulation of an optical signal, wherein said optical signal is injected into an optical device able to modulate the optical signal (for example a semi-conductor optical amplifier driver by a bias control) and for which one an automatic gain control does not need to detect the residual overhead modulation, is characterised in that said bias control means applies to said amplifier a compensation voltage presenting a modulation out of phase with respect to said overhead modulation, and in that modulation index of said compensation voltage is (substantially) proportional to the modulation index of said optical signal.

Abstract: An improved DMD type spatial light modulator having an array of pixels (18). The pixels (18) are of the “hidden hinge” design, each pixel having a mirror (30) supported over a hinged yoke (32). Addressing electrodes (26, 28) on an underlying metallization layer and addressing electrodes (50, 52) at the yoke level provide electrostatic forces that cause the mirrors to tilt and then to return to their flat state. The pixels (18) are designed to provide increased clearance between the leading edge of the yoke (32) and the underlying metallization layer when the mirrors (30) are tilted. Various features of the improved pixel (18) also improve the contrast ratio of images generated by the DMD.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the use of anisometrically shaped metal particles in liquid light valve suspensions, light valve films and light valves. The anisometric metal particles may have various geometric shapes including, for example, fibrils, and an average length in the range between about 1 micron and 50 nanometers.

Abstract: An optical switch for processing an optical signal includes an input waveguide having a reflective surface, a first output waveguide coupled to the input waveguide, and a second output waveguide. The second output waveguide has a first position spaced apart from the reflective surface of the input waveguide such that the reflective surface totally internally reflects an optical signal toward the first output waveguide. The second output waveguide has a second position in proximal contact with the reflective surface to frustrate the total internal reflection of the optical signal such that the second output waveguide receives the optical signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus directed to using modulation to substantially improve detection limits in optical imaging, and to substantially improve the performance of various optical imaging systems. In an illustrative embodiment, such modulation is achieved using a modulated light source, a modulation frequency reference, a detector, and a demodulator. The modulated light source may comprise a light source emitting an inherently modulated output; alternately, this modulated light source may comprise a separate optical modulator and a continuous wave, modulated, or pulsed light source configured so as to impose a modulation in the output of light source. Methods for imagine using such modulation are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microlens array has a plurality of microlens supportedly arranged on a first surface of a transparent medium. At least two optical features are formed on a second surface opposite the first surface. Fiducial marks are formed on the second surface by a beam of collimated light directed onto the optical features and focused onto the second surface. Fiducial marks enable precise alignment of the microlenses in the microlens array.

Abstract: The stimulated Brillouin backscatter is reduced by non-linear effects, such as self-phase modulation or cross-phase modulation. Due to the cross-phase modulation, a bandwidth spread and, as result thereof, a reduction of the stimulated Brillouin backscatter is also achieved by supplying at least one amplitude-modulated pump signal.

Abstract: A light modulation element, device, and system is discussed. The light modulation element includes three electrodes, a flexible member, and a mirror. The flexible member is connected between the three electrodes so that the first and second electrodes are on one side and the third electrode is on the opposite side of the flexible member. The mirror is attached to the flexible member so that it can move therewith. The flexible member moves responsive to an external electrostatic force provided by one or more of the three electrodes so that the mirror is positioned in a predetermined position responsive to the state of the flexible member.