Abstract: A frame defining a central region for supporting a thin mirror film across the central region within a film plane. The frame includes four supporting members each joined together and having a longitudinal axis, an adhering surface and a forward surface. A supporting ridge is provided on the forward surface of each frame member being generally parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. The supporting ridge is positioned intermediate the adhering surface and the central region. The supporting surface protrudes from the forward surface by a predetermined distance and is adapted to support a thin mirror film tautly across the central region within the film plane.

Abstract: A hologram display item comprising a hologram member having a front surface with a holographic image thereon and a rear surface. A light source assembly is also provided and is structurally connected to, and fixed relative to, the hologram, at a position to impinge light energy onto the holographic image. In this arrangement, the light source is fixed relative to the holographic image so as to provide, at all times, optimum viewing of the hologram by the observer independent of the position of the hologram display item relative to the position of the observer. The light source, fixed to the hologram display item, emits light energy substantially from a point within the light source at a predetermined angle advantageous for replay or viewing, the angle usually being similar to the known or discoverable angle of original hologram construction.

Abstract: A vibration-stabilized rearview mirror assembly for vehicles includes a reflective mirror element pivotally mounted in a mirror housing with at least one vibration stabilizer slidably mounted on and biased outwardly beyond the perimeter edge of the mirror element to engage the inside of the housing and to dampen and reduce vibration of the mirror element. Preferably, two stabilizers are slidably mounted parallel to the mirror element at spaced locations and are engaged by a single spring which equalizes the spring force on both stabilizers. Stop surfaces limit extension of the stabilizers.

Abstract: An arrangement and technique for reduced laser induced damage threshold (T) of a sacrificial optical element within an electro-optical system without increased system reflectivity. A sacrificial optical element including input and output surfaces is located normal to the optical axis at an intermediate focal plane of the system and a micro-prism structure is also present on at least one of the surfaces.

Abstract: A light-responsive vehicle control system is provided that is useful in the passenger compartment of a vehicle having a movable top, or cover, which may be opened to at least partially uncover the passenger compartment. The control system includes at least one control circuit which receives an input from the light sensor and produces an output to operate a device, such as an electro-optic mirror or the vehicle headlights, as a function of the light sensed by the light sensor and a sensitivity value. The control circuit is responsive to the position of the cover with respect to the passenger compartment to reduce the sensitivity level when the compartment is uncovered. The control circuit may filter a signal that is a function of light sensed by the light sensor according to a time-constant and be responsive to a reduction in the light level sensed by the light sensor to reduce the value of the time-constant.

Abstract: An optical device having a variable index of refraction across its surface includes a light transmissive material with a plurality of regions in the light transmissive material. Each region has an index of refraction which is different from the remainder of the material. The regions may be arranged in the surface of the material such that the density of the regions on the surface varies across the surface. Each region may be a bore, including a hole that extends through the light transmissive material. Variations in the density of the regions or bores as well as the depth and shape of the bores may be utilized to create variations of the refractive index within the light transmissive material. The regions form a refractive lens.

Abstract: A 3-D display including a light source which emit lights in a flat plate shape, a liquid crystal panel for color images which displays left eye images and right eye images respectively with left eye pixels and right eye pixels, and color filters each being formed for pixels of a number of the observing positions of 3-D images, which convert emitted lights from the light source into very small luminescences of red, green and blue being aligned in a predetermined order. The traveling direction of the emitted lights from the light source and given to a observer is decided depending on each color.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a color filter having polarizability, which comprises a dye having a spectral transmissibility, a dichroic dye having a polarizability, corresponding to the former dye and a base resin. The filter can be produced by coating and fixing the former dye on a monochromatic polarizing film produced by using the dichroic dye; mixing the former dye, the dichroic dye and the base resin, melting and extruding the mixture to produce a film and monoaxially stretching the film; dyeing a transparent film with the former dye and the dichroic dye and then monoaxially stretching the dyed film; or dyeing a transparent monoaxially stretched film with the former dye and the dichroic dye.

Abstract: A system for increasing the depth of field and decreasing the wavelength sensitivity and the effects of misfocus-producing aberrations of the lens of an incoherent optical system incorporates a special purpose optical mask into the incoherent system. The optical mask has been designed to cause the optical transfer function to remain essentially constant within some range from the in-focus position. Signal processing of the resulting intermediate image undoes the optical transfer modifying effects of the mask, resulting in an in-focus image over an increased depth of field. Generally the mask is placed at a principal plane or the image of a principal plane of the optical system. Preferably, the mask modifies only phase and not amplitude of light. The mask may be used to increase the useful range of passive ranging systems.

Abstract: A thermal imaging device (10) receives thermal infrared radiation from a viewed scene and responsively provides a visible image replicating the viewed scene. The imaging device (10) has a main housing with an optical aperture (16) at which a lens assembly (12) is attached. The lens assembly (12) has a number of lenses (200, 204, 208, 212, 216) sequentially mounted within a cylindrical housing (146), and defining an optical axis (199). A field-of-view-change mechanism (228) allows a user to select a wide field of view or a narrow field of view. The field-of-view-change mechanism (228) includes a rotatable field-of-view (FOV) ring (226) which rotates a tumbler (210) with a pair of lenses (208, 212) mounted therein. The tumbler (210) is positioned between a first position providing a wide field of view and a second position providing a narrow field of view.