Abstract: An improved opto-electronic device includes a metallic anti-reflection mirror. The metallic anti-reflection mirror has a first metal layer that is disposed on the substrate of the opto-electronic device, a dielectric layer that is disposed on the first metal layer, and second metal layer that is disposed on the dielectric layer. This layer structure, in combination with particular layer thicknesses and materials selection, creates a cavity that enhances the optical field in second metal layer such that any stray light that is generated by or received by the opto-electronic device is substantially absorbed.

Abstract: A device, by which an unadulterated visibility range can be determined that is independent of the scattering-medium characteristics, determines according to the LIDAR principle the instantaneous visibility range from backscatter light reflected in the scattering medium in front of a vehicle. An evaluation unit is also provided which normalizes a plurality of backscatter measuring curves recorded in succession over time. It forms an average measuring curve from the normalized measuring curves, and derives from at least one measured value of the averaged measuring curve, a visibility range which is independent of the backscattering characteristics of the scattering medium. Using this visibility range thus ascertained, an adaptive compensation of the instantaneously ascertained visibility range is carried out in the evaluation unit.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes first and second cylinders, a base, a single motor, a feed screw, a rotation mechanism, a helicoid mechanism, and a drive gear for transmitting a drive force of the motor to the feed screw and the rotation mechanism. The drive gear includes a cylindrical gear and a shaft gear having a shaft inserted in the cylindrical gear. The cylindrical gear and the shaft gear rotate about a common rotation axis. The cylindrical gear is interposed between the rotation mechanism and the motor, and the shaft gear is interposed between the feed screw and the motor. Accordingly, zooming and focusing can be driven by one motor, increasing integration and providing excellent space efficiency.

Abstract: An optical system may be formed by including a plurality of discrete protrusions comprising electro-optic material. Each discrete protrusion is electrically and optically isolated from each other. The protrusions further have defined a top face, a bottom face, a first side face or first and second side faces, and front and back faces. A plurality of electrodes are associated with each of the protrusions. The electrodes are capable of inducing an electric field in the electro-optic material for independently modulating one or more light beams which are incident upon one of the faces of the protrusions.

Abstract: An optical fiber gain medium has a core region in which a signal propagates, and a cladding region surrounding the core into which a pump signal is coupled. The gain medium also includes a plurality of doped regions each of which has a different effect on the gain profile of the gain medium. In a first embodiment, two doped regions are located in the cladding region at different radial distances from the core. Each of the two doped regions has a different absorption characteristic such that it absorbs signal energy in a different wavelength region of the gain band. The relative contributions may be controlled by controlling a number of different factors, including type of dopant, density of dopant, radial width of the doped regions, and relative separation between the doped regions, and their positioning relative to evanescent portions of different wavelength bands.

Abstract: A solar generator system includes a solar cell for photo-electrically converting sunlight, a multi-focus lens for condensing and converging the sunlight to the solar cell, and a secondary light-condenser which is formed into an inversed truncated conical shape with a portion adjacent to the lens being of a larger diameter, and which is disposed on the solar cell with a light-receiving face being opposed to the lens so as to introduce converged rays from the lens to the solar cell. The secondary light-condenser has a light-receiving surface which is formed into a cornet shape and includes a circular planar portion, and a slant portion which is formed into a tapered shape with the diameter thereof being larger as it goes away from the lens and which has a smaller-diameter end connected to an outer periphery of the planar portion.

Abstract: A light transmission device includes an optical fiber cable having a plug and a holder having a plug insertion hole into which the plug of the optical fiber cable is inserted, wherein an engaging projection is provided on an outer surface of the plug, an engaging groove corresponding with the projection is provided on a wall of the plug insertion hole, and a shutter for closing the plug insertion hole is provided, the shutter being opened and closed in the inside of the plug insertion hole by turning about a pivot extending substantially vertically or parallel to a line composed of an optional point in the groove and a point on a wall of the plug insertion hole rightly opposite to the optional point.

Abstract: A three-dimensional scanning system, that scans a three-dimensional object and calculates a three-dimensional coordinate data from a surface of the object. The three-dimensional scanning system has a photoelectron detector, a rotational scanning device, a drive device, an image processing circuit, and an operational control device. The photoelectron detector projects a light plane onto the object and then receives a reflected light stripe. The rotational scanning device couples with the photoelectron detector that rotates on a fixed pivot and allows the light stripe to scan on the object's surface. The drive device couples to and operates the photoelectron detector and the rotational scanning device. The image processing circuit can grab the light stripe instantly. The operational control device couples with the rotational scanning device and the photoelectron detector.

Abstract: A method for making microlens molds and microlens array molds is described which utilizes a spinning half radius diamond cutting member operated in a plunge cut in a technique similar to milling to cut the optical surface into a diamond turnable material. The method can be used to make high sag lens molds with high accuracy. Microlens array molds can be made with a high degree of uniformity and a nearly 100% fill factor.

Abstract: A light transfer device is provided that includes a first light pathway having a first input and a first output and a second light pathway having a second output. The second light pathway is coupled to the first light pathway, and light from the first input is transferable between the first and second light pathways. An active medium is positioned along one of the first and second light pathways, and the active medium is capable of receiving optical energy that modifies the active medium so that the active medium controls the transfer of light between the first and second pathways.

Abstract: An optical assembly is mounted in an aperture of a non-rigid body having first and second faces between which the aperture extends. The optical assembly is placed within the aperture such that a deformable element disposed around the optical assembly is deformed (by heat or otherwise). In response to deformation of the deformable element, the optical assembly fixedly engages the deformable element which in turn engages the second face of the body around the aperture and exerts a force on a flange of the optical assembly.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel structure of a zoom camera includes a fixed barrel fixed to the camera, a double helicoid ring having first and second helicoid portions having different lead angles, a front lens group support body coupled to the first helicoid portion of the double helicoid ring, a rear lens group support body coupled to the second helicoid portion of the double helicoid ring, and guide means for guiding the front lens group support body and the rear lens group support body to move along the optical axis of the camera, the guide means having a cam portion formed along a path where the rear lens group support body is coupled to the second helicoid portion.

Abstract: In the lens driving apparatus of a disk player, a pair of magnets 20 for generating magnetic fields are fixed to a pair of yokes 21, respectively to generate a magnetic gap therebetween. The pair of yokes 21 are oppositely arranged on and fixed to a plate-like actuator base 10 by plural screws 12 through a fixing member 11. A movable portion 50 is movably hung by four supporting wires 32 (or plate screws) on a supporting base 31 that is fixed to the actuator base 10. The movable portion 51 is arranged within the above magnetic gap. In such a configuration, the apparatus for a disk player can shift a natural resonance frequency to a high frequency and can be operated at a high speed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical writing device and an image forming apparatus and method in which the optical writing device is provided. In the optical writing device of the invention, a light source array has an array of light sources emitting a plurality of light beams. A focusing lens array has a row of focusing lens elements focusing the light beams from the light source array onto a surface of a photosensitive medium, the focusing lens elements being arrayed in an array direction, each focusing lens element having a visual field radius X in the array direction and a diameter D in the array direction. The focusing lens array is configured to satisfy the condition: m>2.0 where m is an overlap ratio of each of the focusing lens elements defined by the equation m=X/D.

Abstract: The invention is intended to present a multi-channel optical modulator small in crosstalk, being used in a laser external modulator of an optical recording apparatus. To achieve the object, the multi-channel optical modulator comprises a plurality of first electrodes (13) provided on one side of an acoustic-optical medium (11), a plurality of piezoelectric elements (12) provided on the first electrodes (13), a plurality of second electrodes (14) provided on the piezoelectric elements (12), a plurality of first lead wires (15) connected individually to the second electrodes (14), and a plurality of second lead wires (16) connected individually to the first electrodes (13), and thereby the crosstalk is small.

Abstract: A reflective image display screen formed of two reflective sheets. The first sheet has a prismatic inward surface and an opposed outward viewing surface. The second sheet has a prismatic outward surface and an opposed inward surface. The second sheet's outward surface is prismatically interleaved with the first sheet's inward surface. An air gap substantially 0.5 &mgr;m thick is left between the prismatically interleaved surfaces. The prismatic surfaces each constitute a plurality of 60° included angle, parallel, linearly extending prisms. The first sheet's outward viewing surface and the second sheet's inward surface are flat. The sheets may be formed of a polycarbonate material having a refractive index of about 1.59.

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.

Abstract: Improved electro-optic devices are provided which may be in the configuration of variable transmittance windows, variable transmittance eyeglasses, variable transmittance light filters and displays and other devices wherein the transmittance of light therethrough automatically varies as a function of light impinging thereon. The electro-optic devices include a self-erasing electro-optic medium, and the transmittance of light through such medium varies as a function of electrical signals applied thereto through the agency of at least one photovoltaic cell, enclosed within the electro-optic device, and obviating the necessity of providing external drive voltage or external bleeder resistors or external wiring. In addition, a method and apparatus are provided for making such electro-optic devices.

Abstract: A body frame, which is a lens barrel device, comprising two semi-circular torus-shaped lens frames, respectively, mounting thereto a forward-group lens and a rearward-group lens, and two guide shafts fixed to one of the lens frames and slidably inserted into a sleeve fixed to the other of the lens frames and into a slot, the two lens frames being supported to advance and retreat relative to each other. When a jig is used to assemble the lens frames, the two lens frames are mounted to the jig while the forward-group lens, the rearward-group lens and the two guide shafts are inserted into the jig with gaps therebetween, the jig being in a state, in which the forward-group lens, the rearward-group lens and the two guide shafts are retained in a predetermined position, and an adhesive is filled into and fixed to the respective gaps to complete assembly. Such lens body frame can ensure optical performance without being affected by accuracy of parts such as lens frames, guide shafts, photographing lenses and so on.

Abstract: An optical modulator and an associated modulation method are provided that utilize an optical fiber as the active medium such that the resulting fiber modulator is relatively inexpensive, but maintains high performance standards. The fiber modulator includes a core and a cladding surrounding the core which collectively form a longitudinally extending optical fiber capable of supporting the propagation of optical signals. The fiber modulator also includes first and second regions within the cladding and extending longitudinally therealong for establishing an internal bias electrical field across the core. The first and second regions are disposed on opposite sides of the core and have positive and negative electrical charges, respectively. The fiber modulator further includes first and second electrodes disposed on the cladding proximate the first and second regions, respectively, and extending longitudinally therealong.