Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system that enables controllable positioning of a fully-released micro-stage. The fully-released micro-stage may be assembled onto a detector substrate that enables micro-positioning feedback. A payload structure (e.g., a lens, mirror, manipulator, and/or the like) may be assembled or coupled onto the fully-release microstage. Snap connectors may facilitate the mechanical coupling associated with assembly of the various components. The fully-released microstage may be actuated by motion amplified actuators that are coupled to anchored flexures. Moreover, the actuation of the fully-release microstage may produce fully decoupled movement by coupling the actuators and respective flexures to the stage in a mirrored fashion.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical device including a polarization diversity unit for receiving an input optical signal and producing two beams of light having a same polarization state therefrom, a beam swapping element disposed for receiving the first and second beams of light and for redirecting the two beams of light to a same overlapping area of a modulator, and a reflective surface for reflecting the two beams of light back to the polarization diversity unit where they are combined to form an output optical signal. The beam swapping element is designed and positioned such that the first and second beams of light swap positions upon reflection from the reflective surface and trace out the other's optical path. Advantageously, this optical arrangement essentially eliminates all PDL and PMD.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display having at least one holding electrode is disclosed. The display comprises a plurality of electrophoretic cells filled with charged particles dispersed in a dielectric solvent. Each said cell is positioned between a top electrode layer and a bottom electrode layer. The top electrode layer comprises at least one driving electrode positioned over more than one cell. The bottom electrode layer comprises at least one driving electrode positioned under more than one cell. The display further comprises a holding electrode located in the bottom electrode layer. The display may further comprise a colored background located under and visible through the bottom electrode layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides, in one aspect, a method of manufacturing a MEMS assembly. In one embodiment, the method includes mounting a MEMS device, such as a MEMS mirror array, on an assembly substrate. The method further includes coupling an assembly lid to the assembly substrate and over the MEMS device to create an interior of the MEMS assembly housing the MEMS device, whereby the coupling maintains an opening to the interior of the MEMS assembly. Furthermore, the method includes lubricating/passivating the MEMS device through the opening. In addition, a MEMS assembly constructed according to a process of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided A method for producing an optical device by bonding optical elements each other without using adhesive wherein the optical elements are bonded each other by using optical elements in which the relation between linear expansion coefficients &agr;1 and &agr;2 (/° C.) of each of the optical elements to be bonded and thickness t2 (m) of one of the optical elements satisfies the following formula: |(&agr;1−&agr;2)×t2|≦10−9 and t2≧2×10−5; and/or, by sticking the optical elements each other in the state of being heated, and then subjecting them to a heat treatment. There can be provided a small size and highly reliable optical devise by bonding optical elements each other without using an adhesive at a low cost.

Abstract: A tapping electrode for a lower electrode film and a tapping electrode for an upper electrode film are provided on one side of an area around a substrate. By placing the electrode-tapping elements on one side, for example, applying the electrochromic element to an automobile antiglare mirror, the effective field of the mirror is increased to contribute to safety. A mirror ring that surrounds the outer circumference of the mirror can be made slim, enhancing a smart look from the viewpoint of design. Also, in comparison with a case in which the electrode is tapped on two or more sides, the present design makes it possible to secure the same effective visibility with a lightweight design.

Abstract: A self-assembled molecular color switch is formed on a substrate and comprises coupled coaxial rotors and non-coaxial stators, with each rotor rotatably connected to two stators, to form molecular planes wherein all rotors at rest are parallel to the substrate and orthogonal to an electric field. The color switch employs a novel chemistry for producing a molecular film having a field switchable color. More particularly, it is a chemistry that provides for relatively thick self-assembled molecular layers collectively having print-like optical density. Further, a means for bi-stable color switching is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a technique for correcting gamma ray intensities detected to account for variation in attenuation effects with energy. The corrected intensity values enable more accurate isotopic analysis to be conducted and render such techniques applicable to low level emission cases. The technique is particularly useful in investigate waste materials with a gamma emitting content which needs to be determined. The attenuation is corrected for using a bi-modal function to account for the attenuation effects arising from low and high atomic mass components of the material in which the emitters are present.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for directing radiation to and from a sample to be scanned. In one example, first radiation propagating along a first axis is reflected off of the first axis so as to impinge on the sample. In response to the first radiation, the sample emits second radiation, which is directed to a detector. In one aspect, the second radiation is received directly from the sample by a reflector, which reflects the second radiation such that it travels substantially through air to impinge on the detector. In another aspect, the second radiation is directed such that it travels toward the detector in a direction having a significant vector component parallel to the first axis. In yet another aspect, a detection surface of the detector is oriented essentially perpendicular to the first axis and adapted to detect at least some of the second radiation traveling in a direction non-parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: A printed product including an image with visual effects and a method for obtaining the printed product, the method comprising providing a photographic image, printing the image on a front transparent sheet and adhering the transparent sheet to a light-reflecting front surface of a back support sheet for providing a visual effect resulting from the combination of the light-reflecting surface and the image.

Abstract: An anti-glare element provided with a front side substrate comprising a substrate having a wave length selective property, and a back side substrate comprising a transparent substrate and having electrochromic films which exhibit an electrochromic phenomenon interposed between the front side substrate and back side substrate, wherein a photocatalyst film comprising a photocatalyst substance having transmittivity and a hydrophilic functional film comprising a hydrophilic film of a hydrophilic substance are formed on the front side of the front side substrate comprising a substrate with said wave-length selective property, to thereby give an anti-fog function. Or electrode-cum-reflective film is formed on the backside film of the electrochromic film, to thereby achieve a reflective mirror.

Abstract: One or more single mode waveguide devices are fiber coupled such that signals to an optical element affect the coupling of the waveguide device to one or more modulators and to an optical fiber. The optical element or additional optical elements are controlled to adjust the coupling of the waveguide device to a modulator and to an optical fiber.

Abstract: A projector includes a light source emitting a light beam and a light beam splitting unit splitting the light beam from the light source according to a wavelength region of the light beam and transmitting and/or reflecting the light beam split at different angles. A micromirror device forms an image by independently pivoting a micromirror in a predetermined direction and angle and controlling the micromirror to selectively reflect the light beam, the micromirror tilting with respect to rotation axes. A projection lens unit magnifies and transmits an incident light beam from the micromirror devices to proceed to a screen to form the image.

Abstract: A vertical optical modulator comprising: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type bonded to the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type; a dielectric layer formed between the second semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer; an antenna electrode having a plurality of conductive pieces which are formed within the dielectric layer so as to have a net-like shape as a whole, to be separated from one another at the intersections of the net-like shape, and to be in contact with both the second semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer; a first electrode electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer; and a second electrode electrically connected to the third semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Optical pulses at a given repetition rate (f) are obtained by modulating an optical signal by means of a Mach-Zehnder modulator. The modulator is driven by means of a driving signal including, in addition to a sinusoidal component at a frequency (f/2) half the repetition rate (f) of the pulses, at least one odd harmonic of the sinusoidal component. Very short optical pulses can thus be generated without giving rise to undesired side effects such as ringing in pulse tails.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for adhesive bonding of a backing plate for a sensor assembly to a vehicle window, especially a windscreen of a passenger car or truck. The backing plate has an adhesive layer and is heated at least in the area of the adhesive layer by a heating device until the adhesive layer is softened sufficiently to carry out adhesive bonding. The backing plate is transferred into a contact pressure device and the contact pressure device presses the backing plate with the adhesive layer on to the vehicle window for a predetermined length of time. In order to improve the usability of such a method in the context of mass production, it is provided that the heating device emits infrared radiation, heating of the adhesive layer being carried out until it has softened sufficiently by positioning the backing plate with the adhesive layer facing the heating device at a close spacing for a predetermined length of time.

Abstract: In case of the high-speed operation, it is difficult to ignore the time required for the voltage to rise to the level of voltage to be applied and the time to fall to 0V when the voltage is applied to the phase modulator. The first phase modulator 71 and the second phase modulator 73 are connected in parallel, and the optical path is switched by the switching unit 55 of the control unit 51 between the first optical switch 33 and the second optical switch 35. The switching unit 55 of the control unit 51 supplies the phase modulation data 31 stored in the phase modulation data memory 53 to the first voltage generating unit 57 or the second voltage generating unit 59 to generate the voltage necessary for the phase modulation.

Abstract: An electrophoretic device 20 is provided which includes a circuit board 1 provided with a plurality of pixel electrodes 3, a transparent electrode (counter electrode) 4 opposed to the individual pixel electrodes 3, an electrophoretic dispersion layer 11 containing an electrophoretic dispersion 11, the electrophoretic dispersion layer 11 being partially interposed between the electrodes, a plurality of thin-film transistors 30 disposed on a surface of the circuit board 1 remote from the electrophoretic dispersion layer 11, and conducting parts 8 extending through the circuit board 1 and electrically connecting the pixel electrodes 3 and the thin-film transistors to each other.

Abstract: An arrangement for determining measured values, in particular measured pressure values, strain values, or temperature value, using a plurality of optical fiber Bragg grating sensors. The optical fiber Bragg grating sensors are combined to form various arrays of optical fiber Bragg grating sensors that are arranged one behind the other, are connected by fiber optics, and exhibit different frequency selectivities. Delay elements are assigned to these arrays. The Bragg grating sensors receive a uniform query signal representing a time-differentiated, frequency-selective light. The frequency-selective Bragg grating sensors of the various arrays generate partial signals. The partial signals, separated temporally from one another by the delay elements, form a sequence of partial signals.

Abstract: An improved image acquisition system allows the angular displacement between two detectors to be adjusted between 90° and 180° to reduce the imaging time for both 360° and 180° scans. A patient table is displaced vertically and horizontally from a lateral axis to allow the body of a patient to be positioned next to the detectors and to improve resolution.