Abstract: There is provided an electrochromic device comprising a pair of transparent substrates facing each other, a pair of transparent electrodes facing each other between the pair of transparent substrates, and an electrochromic layer and a transparent ion conductive layer sandwiched by the pair of transparent electrodes, wherein at least the electrochromic layer and the transparent ion conductive layer are coated with a resin in a state that carrier precursor in the electrochromic layer and in the transparent ion conductive layer is ionized. As a result, film breakage of the electrochromic device and peeling off of the sealing resin and the sealing substrate are prevented, thus improving the durability of the electrochromic device.

Abstract: A photostrictive device controller and a photostrictive device control method, which can produce a fast response without causing a sharp temperature rise when driving the photostrictive device. The photostrictive device controller comprises: a light source 2 for applying light to the photostrictive device 1 that, upon receiving light, produces a photostrictive effect; an illumination optics 3 for introducing light from the light source 2 onto the photostrictive device 1; and a control device 4 for controlling the energy density of light applied to the photostrictive device 1. The control device 4 of the controller controls the illumination optics device 3 to lower, at a point close to where the photostrictive effect of the photostrictive device 1 is saturated, the energy density of the irradiated light to a level at which the elongation caused by heat can be ignored.

Abstract: A tunable wavelength agile opto-electronic device for detecting and determining an angle of arrival of a collimated beam of radiation comprising a linearly variable optical filter superimposed over an elongated detector having at least one radiation detector element in each quadrant of the detector. Radiation that transverses that filter projects an image of a first portion of the filter onto two adjacent detector elements in separate quadrants at a first end of the elongated detector and an equal size image of a second portion of the filter onto two adjacent detector elements in separate quadrants at a second end of the elongated detector. A signal generated by radiation that transverses the filter onto a detector element in a quadrant at the second end is subtracted from a signal generated by radiation that transverses the filter onto an aligned detector element at the first end of the elongated detector to provide two difference signals, one for each side of the elongated detector.

Abstract: The disclosed acousto-optic scanning device includes a thin film waveguide of piezoelectric material (2), a transducer (3) for generating surface elastic waves, and a high frequency signal generator (4) for generating high frequency signals to be applied to the transducer. Additionally, the device includes a light source (10), light source driver (11) for driving the light source, a prism or grating input and output light couplers (7, 8 or 27, 28) for introducing light emitted from the light source into the thin film waveguide and for outputting light transmitted through the thin film waveguide therefrom. Further, the device includes non-coupled light photodiode detector array (14) for detecting the position and intensity of light which is not coupled by the output light coupling means, and a signal processor for processing information detected by the non-coupled light detector array and generating control signals to correct the position and intensity of coupled light.

Abstract: The temperature coefficient of refractive index in each lens constituting an imaging lens is controlled such that the amount of change in the imaging position due to change in the imaging lens upon temperature alleviates the positional deviation between the imaging position and the light-receiving surface caused by members other than the imaging lens, thereby preventing the read-out accuracy from deteriorating. The amount of change in the imaging position caused by change in the refractive index of lenses upon change in temperature is adjusted so as to alleviate the positional deviation between the imaging position and light-receiving surface due to the thermal expansion of the member unitedly holding the light source, lenses, and receiving optics.

Abstract: An inventive array of thin film actuated mirrors is provided with an active matrix having an array of switching devices, an array of actuating structures and an array of mirrors, wherein each of the actuating structures is cantilevered on the active matrix, and each of the switching devices is positioned on the active matrix beside the position at which each of the actuating structures is cantilevered. In the array, during the operation of the array, since each of the mirrors is connected to the actuating structure through a recessed portion thereof, the mirror stays planar, allowing more accurate and effective reflection of the light beams, which will, in turn, enhance the overall optical efficiency of the array.

Abstract: A lens distortion measurement system has a first grating of a first pitch on a transparent support such as a quartz reticle. The reticle is disposed between an illumination source and the lens system whose distortion is to be measured. An image sensor is provided within the image projection field of the lens system. A second grating of a second (different) pitch is provided on another transparent support, disposed between the lens system and the image sensor. Optionally, a relay lens is disposed between the second support and the image sensor. Illumination propagates from the illumination source through the first support, through the lens system, through the second support and is incident on the image sensor. The illumination forms a Moire fringe having a pitch orders of magnitude greater than the pitches of the first and second gratings.

Abstract: Optical measuring apparatus for determining chromaticity of thin films on a substrate includes a light source for illuminating the substrate and a measuring apparatus for dispersing light into various wavelengths and making wavelength dependent intensity measurements. Radiation from the light source is reflected or transmitted by the substrate to the measuring apparatus along a first beam path having a first diaphragm for cutting off the radiation from the substrate in a leak-tight manner. Radiation from the light source is also transmitted to the measuring apparatus directly along a second beam path having a second diaphragm for cutting off radiation from the light source in a leak-tight manner. The light source (6a) consists of a globe photometer (6a), in which a lamp (4) is provided. A steadily burning light source, especially a halogen lamp, is used as the lamp (4).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring the quality of the planar end surface of a wound roll comprising: optically projecting a line of light onto the planar end surface of the wound roll to generate and reflect an image of the line of light; focusing the reflected image onto an image sensor to obtain a data output; and feeding the data to a processor that measures deviations in the reflected image of the line of light that are caused by variations in the planar end surface of the wound roll.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a failure of semiconductor device by using an emission microscope for easy analysis of current leakage is disclosed. Light emission information is stored in X/Y memory spaces (16), with a Z direction indicating an emitted light intensity. A light emission presence bit (17) in the light emission information means a bit for which light emission is judged as being present, and the number of light emission presence bits is determined on the basis of the emitted light intensity. An image memory (11) has a three-dimensional memory space including an X/Y space indicative of plane positions of light emitting portions and a Z space indicative of the emitted light intensity. The position and intensity of light emission are detected by searching the light emission information stored in the image memory (11) to analyze the failure.

Abstract: A power-line-operated frequency-converting power supply provides a 30 kHz current-limited AC voltage at an output receptacle. An instant-start gas discharge or neon lamp is connected across the secondary winding of a gapped ferrite-type leakage transformer, the primary winding of which is connected with the output receptacle by way of a light-weight cord, thereby permitting the lamp-transformer combination to be located remotely from the power supply. The secondary winding is arranged to have a well defined inductance; which inductance is tuned to resonate at 30 Khz by way of a parallel-connected tuning capacitor. Tightly coupled with the secondary winding is a control winding with which is connected a protection circuit operative to place an auxiliary capacitor across the control winding in case the neon lamp fails to ignite within a few milli-seconds, thereby detuning the secondary winding enough to protect the power supply and the leakage transformer from sustained overload.

Abstract: Precision optical mounts that carry and reliably position an optical element so that a plurality of such optical mounts can be arranged in a compact and optically efficient system, wherein opposing optical elements are held in relatively close proximity to one another without introducing distortion. A stationary back plate is arranged in spaced facing alignment with a face plate for importing a tilting or translational movement to the face plate and to an optical element that is to be carried thereby. The optical mount may be disposed in vertical, upstanding alignment with respect to a support surface to position the optical element (e.g. a mirror) to receive a beam of optical energy. In the alternative, the optical mount may function as a mounting platform to be disposed in horizontal alignment with respect to the support surface so that an optical element (e.g. a prism) can be supported thereupon.

Abstract: The present invention features two flat-field, telecentric, infinite conjugate, achromatic objectives each of which has an external pupil lying in a common plane located equidistant from the two objectives, defining a mechanically accessible central pupil of an imaging system centered in the common plane. Each of the objectives are afocal in the common plane, with one of the lenses forming a focal plane proximate to a sample. The lenses are adapted to provide varying levels of magnification while keeping constant the number of resolvable points in the field of view. An array detector is positioned proximate to a focal plane formed of the remaining objective lens. The double objective lens assembly is described as being included in transillumination and epi-illumination systems.

Abstract: A radiant energy point source (10) generates radiant energy, and a mechanism (12, 15, 16) focuses the radiant energy generated by the point source onto a target (18) and scans the target with the focused radiant energy. A collector (16, 14) collects the focused radiant energy that is scattered from the target and a splitter (22) splits the collected radiant energy into two paths. Each of the two paths of the collected radiant energy is focused onto separate focal spots by a focusing mechanism (24). A pair of spatial filters (26, 28) filter the collected radiant energy at the focal spots. The spatial filters are offset from each other along the path of the focused radiant energy. Detectors (30, 32) separately detect the focused radiant energy which passes through each of the spatial filters and produce signals proportional to the quantity of detected focused radiant energy present.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analytical method using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

Abstract: In a laminated heat exchanger provided with tanks only on one side, which is constituted by laminating tube elements alternately with fins over a plurality of levels, a flange portion projecting out toward the fins is provided in each formed plate constituting the tube elements at an end portion on the opposite side from the tanks, and the flange portions facing opposite each other between the individual tube elements are made to face opposite each other over gaps. A notch is formed in each flange portion. For different types of formed plates, the notches are at positions shifted relative to one another in the direction of the width of the core main body along the direction of airflow. A notch may be formed at any position and be of any size in the flange portion.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing method and apparatus with increased recording density of an information recording medium using the sample servo method driven with a fixed angular velocity from the innermost circumference to the outmost circumference. A disk-shaped recording medium is concentrically divided into a plurality of areas. Recording is performed with a recording density suited for the radial position of each of the areas. The width of the areas is set so that the recording capacity of a user data section sandwiched between servo sections forming a segment may increase with every transition to an outer adjacent area while taking one byte as a unit. The recording and reproducing apparatus has a clock generating circuit for servo data extraction and a clock generating circuit for user data extraction. The latter clock generating circuit is synchronized by a synchronizing pulse generated by the former clock generating circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus wherein the height over the complete surface of interest on a wafer/material is scanned and mapped, using either a central or non-central focus system. The type of data gathered is similar to that which is normally acquired in operation of the particular focusing system indicative of the wafer/material surface height. The difference is that according to the present invention, a much larger number of data points are sampled and then processed in a novel manner to provide improved focus information. These data are stored and used to calculate corrections in both the vertical position/height and tilt of the material/wafer for each exposure field, such as the areas (34) in FIGS. 5b and 6b. The invention sorts out selected height data indicating periodic variations in surface height.

Abstract: A position and orientation tracking system presents a laser scanning appaus having two measurement pods, a control station, and a detector array. The measurement pods can be mounted in the dome of a radioactive waste storage silo. Each measurement pod includes dual orthogonal laser scanner subsystems. The first laser scanner subsystem is oriented to emit a first line laser in the pan direction. The second laser scanner is oriented to emit a second line laser in the tilt direction. Both emitted line lasers scan planes across the radioactive waste surface to encounter the detector array mounted on a target robotic vehicle. The angles of incidence of the planes with the detector array are recorded by the control station. Combining measurements describing each of the four planes provides data for a closed form solution of the algebraic transform describing the position and orientation of the target robotic vehicle.

Abstract: An imaging system for transferring an infrared (IR) image to a visible image. The imaging system includes a polarization rotator that rotates the polarization of a visible light beam in response to absorptions of radiation from the IR image. A polarizer outputs components of the visible light beam as a function of the amount of absorbed radiation from the IR image. The polarization rotator is formed from a multiple quantum well structure grown on a semiconductor substrate with a thermally induced uniaxial, in-plane, compressive strain. The multiple quantum well structure includes a heterostructure of undoped barrier layers and doped quantum well layers. The strain causes the quantum well layers to have anisotropic radiation absorption characteristics. In particular, orthogonal components of the visible light parallel to and perpendicular to the strain will experience different degrees of absorption.