Abstract: An image display has a transparent front sheet with a prismatically microstructured inward surface and a rear sheet substantially parallel to and spaced from the front sheet. An electrophoretic suspension fills the space between the sheets. The suspension is formed by suspending non-light-scattering light absorptive particles in an electrophoresis medium until the particles form a substantially unitary thermodynamically stable agglomeration. Application of a voltage across the suspension establishes an electric field for controllably electrophoretically moving the particle agglomeration as a substantially unitary whole toward the front sheet's inward surface to frustrate total internal reflection at the inward surface of light rays passing through the front sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electro-optical device for displaying sharp color images at low cost. The electro-optical device can include a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, an electro-optical layer which is disposed between the first and second substrates and which includes electrophoretic particles and a dispersion medium, and a colored layer which is located at a position corresponding to the electro-optical layer and which includes at least one color element, wherein at least a part of the dispersion medium has substantially the same color as that of the color element.

Abstract: A microscopic optical structure controller for providing singular control of individual microscopic optical structures of a microelectromechanical optical device by a multiplexed stream of individual pixel values generated by a pixel value source. The microscopic optical structure controller includes at least one interconnect coupled to the pixel value source for receiving the multiplexed stream of individual pixel values and at least one mapper communicating with the interconnect for extracting individual pixel values from the multiplexed stream and applying the individual pixel values to one or more individual microscopic optical structures according to a configurable mapping. A method and a driver for providing singular control of individual microscopic optical structures of a microelectromechanical optical device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) optical raster display system includes a microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) device that supports a reflective surface and tilts it in first and second transverse directions. The reflective surface is positioned to receive modulated light from a light source and to direct reflected light toward an image surface, such as a display screen, in a raster scan pattern. The raster scanning of the light is coordinated with the modulation of the light to form a display image on the display screen. In one implementation, the system includes multiple modulated light sources that each direct modulated light toward the reflective surface. The light sources are positioned so that the reflective surface reflects modulated light from each light source to a separate region of the display screen, thereby forming plural contiguous, generally non-overlapping, raster scan patterns.

Abstract: A method of tuning an electroabsorption modulator (EAM). A reference average power loss factor for light having a reference peak wavelength that is modulated by the EAM is provided. This loss factor is based on operation of the EAM using a reference bias voltage, a reference temperature, and a reference modulation signal which has a predetermined duty cycle. Input light is coupled into the EAM and modulated using a modulation signal which has the same duty cycle as the reference modulation signal. The input power of the input light and the average output power of light emitted from the EAM are measured. These input and average output powers are used to generate an average power loss factor. The average power loss factor is compared to the reference average power loss factor and the bias voltage and/or the temperature of the EAM are adjusted to reduce differences between these loss factors.

Abstract: A process for fabricating micro-acousto-optic modulators using microelectronics fabrication technology. First, a set of trenches is etched into a substrate. Then, a transducer material is deposited into these trenches, followed by removal of any transducer material located above the surface of the substrate. Next, a second set of trenches is etched on both sides of the transducer material, between the transducer material and the substrate. Then, an electrode material is deposited into the second set of trenches. Finally, any electrode material located above the surface of the substrate is removed such that the surface of the substrate is co-planar with the electrode and transducer materials.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) camera and associated electronics including power are integrated into portable, self-contained, vision-enhancement apparatus useful in environments of dense air-borne particulate and thermal extremes such as encountered in fire fighting situations, in accordance with the invention. The IR camera is integral with a self-contained power supply so that the system is portable and requires no umbilical cord or other external connections. The camera includes an imager that is preferably an un-cooled focal plane array, and associated imaging, storing, processing and displaying electronics that are cooled in the extreme thermal environment using an integral plural phase heatsink.

Abstract: The invention provide an electrophoretic dispersion, used for electrophoretic devices, containing electrophoretic particles having a density precisely adjusted by a simple method in order to prevent the settlement of the electrophoretic particles. An electrophoretic dispersion can include a liquid dispersion media and electrophoretic particles, dispersed in the liquid dispersion media, including at least a coloring portion, a resin portion, and a plurality of hollow microcapsules. The electrophoretic particles can further include charge control portions according to needs.

Abstract: An optical detection and orientation device is provided comprising a housing having an excitation light source, an optical element for reflecting the excitation light to an aspherical lens and transmitting light emitted by a fluorophore excited by said excitation light, a focusing lens for focusing the emitted light onto the entry of an optical fiber, which serves as a confocal aperture, and a moveable carrier for accurately moving said housing over a small area in relation to a channel in a microfluidic device. The optical detection and orientation device finds use in detecting fluorophores in the channel during operations involving fluorescent signals.

Abstract: A quantum-confined Stark effect quantum-dot optical modulator includes an interferometer having a beam splitter, first and second parallel optical branches fed by the beam splitter and a beam combiner fed by the first and second parallel optical branches and a laser for feeding a laser beam to the beam splitter. First and second optical phase shifters are provided in respective ones of the first and second parallel optical branches. Each optical phase shifter includes an intrinsic semiconductor crystalline planar layer and p-type and n-type planar semiconductor layers on opposite faces of the intrinsic semiconductor crystalline planar layer, the intrinsic layer lying in a plane parallel to a direction of propagation of the laser beam in the respective optical branch. The intrinsic layer has plural layers of planar arrays of quantum dots therein. A reverse bias D.C. voltage source is connected across the p-type and n-type layers.

Abstract: To provide a magneto-optic optical device, such as a variable optical attenuator, an optical modulator or an optical switch, that is small, has a low power consumption and has high speed. The above object is achieved by a magneto-optic optical device characterized by comprising at least one magneto-optical crystal, a magnetic field application mechanism for applying to the magneto-optical crystal a magnetic field component in a direction vertical to a light entrance/exit plane, and at least one electromagnet for changing a position where the magnetic field component applied to the magneto-optical crystal becomes zero.

Abstract: A low-cost, high-performance, reliable micromirror package (300) that replaces the ceramic substrate in conventional packages with a printed circuit board substrate (30) and a molded plastic case (33), and the cover glass with a window (36), preferably an optically clear plastic window. The printed circuit board substrate (30) allows for either external bond pads or flex cable connection of the micromirror package to the projector's motherboard. These packages support flexible snap-in, screw-in, ultrasonic plastic welding, or adhesive welding processes to overcome the high cost seam welding process of many conventional packages.

Abstract: A low-cost, high-performance, reliable micromirror package (300) that replaces the ceramic substrate in conventional packages with a printed circuit board substrate (30) and a molded plastic case (33), and the cover glass with a window (36), preferably an optically clear plastic window. The printed circuit board substrate (30) allows for either external bond pads or flex cable connection of the micromirror package to the projector's motherboard. These packages support flexible snap-in, screw-in, ultrasonic plastic welding, or adhesive welding processes to overcome the high cost seam welding process of many conventional packages.

Abstract: A liquid type electrochromio (EC) element is configured by substrates having tapping electrode portions as a part of a unified substrate by the processing of the substrate. When the upper and lower tapping electrode portions are provided on one side such that they are not piled up with each other, the ratio of the effective area can be increased and the area for covering the tapping electrode portions can be decreased in comparison with the technique in which the upper substrates are shifted with each other. Also, since the areas of the tapping electrode portion can be decreased in comparison with the technique in which the upper substrates are shifted with each other, the weight of the EC element can be decreased. Also, the weight can be decreased by dividing the tapping electrode portion into two tapping electrode portions each having such size that one is not piled up with another.

Abstract: Composite or layered flakes having a plurality of layers of different materials, which may be dielectric materials, conductive materials, or liquid crystalline materials suspended in a fluid host and subjected to an electric field, provide optical effects dependent upon the angle or orientation of the flakes in the applied electric field. The optical effects depend upon the composition and thickness of the layers, producing reflectance, interference, additive and/or subtractive color effects. The composition of layered flakes may also be selected to enhance and/or alter the dielectric properties of flakes, whereby flake motion in an electric field is also enhanced and/or altered. The devices are useful as active electro-optical displays, polarizers, filters, light modulators, and wherever controllable polarizing, reflecting and transmissive optical properties are desired.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator having n bits of phase resolution has n stacked layers of deformable electrode pairs supporting a deformable reflective surface, each electrode pair included in upper and lower stacked elongate ribbon conductors extending in respective orthogonal directions, each coincidence of an upper and lower electrode pair defining a pixel within the respective stacked layer, each electrode pair deforming to a maximum deformation in response to an applied write voltage across the pair so as to produce at the reflective layer a phase correction of the corresponding pixel proportional to the corresponding deformation, and wherein the maximum deformation of the pixels in each stacked layer is the same, and wherein the maximum deformation of successive layers decreases in ascending order of the stacked layers.

Abstract: This invention includes an Acousto-optical tuning device by employing the TeO2 in share mode, non-collinear and in high RF frequency (or large Bragg's deflection region), it is able to achieve the telecomm worthy tunable filter that provides high tuning speed, no-moving parts, very narrow filter line-width (0.2 nm for instance) and with miniature size practical for a optical telecom active module. This tuning characteristic is achieved by taking the particular advantages that the angle of incidence (AOI) and angle of diffraction (AOD) are divergent in a frequency range just suitable for a shorter wavelength application required by modern telecommunication systems while the acoustic wave decay in this frequency range can be properly managed to achieve the design goals. Furthermore, by generating a diffracted beam with larger AOD, implementation of filtering for optical propagations of different wavelengths can be conveniently selected.

Abstract: A monoclinic single crystal with a lutetium pyrosilicate structure is described. The crystal is formed by crystallization from a congruent molten composition of LU2(1-x)M2xSi2O7 where LU is lutetium or a lutetium-based alloy which also includes one or more of scandium, ytterbium, indium, lanthanum, and gadolinium; where M is cerium or cerium partially substituted with one or more of the elements of the lanthanide family excluding lutetium; and where x is defined by the limiting level of LU substitution with M in a monoclinic crystal of the lutetium pyrosilicate structure. The LU alloy should contain greater than about 75 weight percent lutetium. The crystals exhibit excellent and reproducible scintillation response to gamma radiation.

Abstract: An optical modulator includes an optical waveguide, a modulating electrode, a conductive layer, an electric signal input section, and connector members. At least a portion of the optical waveguide is made of an electro-optic material. The modulating electrode includes a first conductor line and a second conductor line, which are coupled together electromagnetically, and applies a modulating electric field to a portion of the optical waveguide. The conductive layer forms a first microstrip line with the first conductor line and a second microstrip line with the second conductor line, respectively. Through the electric signal input section, an RF modulating signal is supplied to the modulating electrode. The connector members connect the first and second conductor lines together at both ends. In this optical modulator, the first and second conductor lines function as an odd-mode resonator for the RF modulating signal.

Abstract: An optical switch for an optical network, which can switch a light beam from and input fiber to an output fiber quickly and without expensive intermediate conversions to electrical form. The optical switch changes the relative phase of the individual portions of a cross section of a wave front of a beam using wave front interference and can be used in packet switching with switching speeds of about 10 nanoseconds. These optical switches use a phase spatial light modulators (PSLM) that include an array of phase shifting elements preferably of Gires-Tournois interferometers. Each of the phase shifting elements has either a stationary reflective surface with a movable reflective surface or an electro-refractive medium sandwiched between two stationary surfaces. In the first embodiment, the stationary reflective surface with a movable reflective surface is kept a known distance apart by applied potential.