Abstract: In an objective lens actuator of an optical disk drive and the like, variations in the fixed end positions of wires serving as suspensions are reduced and tilt characteristics are improved. When wires 13 are fixed by soldering, a deformation caused by soldering on the wires 13 is minimized by providing heat absorbing members 25 and 26 which hold the wires 13 near soldering positions to absorb soldering heat.

Abstract: A display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a partition element disposed between the first and the second substrates, a dielectric liquid and a plurality of dielectrophoretic particles. The first substrate includes a base having surface and an electrode layer being disposed on the surface and having at least one electrode. The partition element forms at least one accommodating room between the first and the second substrates. The electrode is adapted to forming an electric field in the accommodating room. A plurality of sections of the electrode parallel to the surface are gradually reduced in a direction towards the second substrate. The dielectric liquid is disposed in the accommodating room and has a first dielectric constant. The dielectrophoretic particles are dispersed in the dielectric liquid. Each of the dielectrophoretic particles has a color and a second dielectric constant different from the first dielectric constant.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a shooting optical system contained in a barrel and operable to lead a subject image to an image sensor, a back focus adjustment lens group constituting a part of the shooting optical system and operable to be fixed immovably after the position of the back focus adjustment lens group is adjusted in an optical axis direction of the shooting optical system, and a back focus adjustment mechanism operable to adjust the position of the back focus adjustment lens group in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A micromirror device includes an elastic hinge for supporting a mirror on a substrate, and an address electrode for deflecting the mirror. The device further includes a protective layer and an oriented monolayer laid to cover a stopper also functioning as an address electrode provided below the mirror and between the mirror and the substrate.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical device (MEMS) utilizing a porous electrode surface for reducing stiction is disclosed. In one embodiment, a microelectromechanical device is an interferometric modulator that includes a transparent electrode having a first surface; and a movable reflective electrode with a second surface facing the first surface. The movable reflective electrode is movable between a relaxed and actuated (collapsed) position. An aluminum layer is provided on either the first or second surface. The aluminum layer is then anodized to provide an aluminum oxide layer which has a porous surface. The porous surface, in the actuated position, decreases contact area between the electrodes, thus reducing stiction.

Abstract: A display medium is provided. The display medium includes a pair of electrodes disposed so as to have a gap therebetween, an electrolyte disposed between the pair of electrodes, an electroconductive porous layer disposed at least one of the pair of electrodes at the side facing the other electrode, a first electrochromic dye held by the porous layer, a second electrochromic dye dispersed in the electrolyte and forming a color different from the color of the first electrochromic dye. Both the first electrochromic dye and the second electrochromic dye are oxidation dyes which form colors by an electrochemical oxidation reaction and are rendered color-faded by an electrochemical reduction reaction, or reduction dyes which form colors by an electrochemical reduction reaction and are rendered color-faded by an electrochemical reduction reaction.

Abstract: A head-mounted display includes a frame shaped like glasses to be worn on the head of an observer, two image display apparatuses respectively including image generating devices to be placed outside the eyes of the observer, and light guide devices attached to the image generating devices and provided closer to the center of the face of the observer than the image generating devices as a whole, light emitted from the image generating device entering the light guide devices, and being guided and emitted from the light guide devices toward the eyes of the observer, and a coupling member configured to couple the image generating devices and attached to a center portion of the frame between the eyes of the observer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera lens assembly that enables a lens assembly mounted in a digital camera, a mobile communication terminal or the like to be supported in an initial position and to be movable in the direction of an optical axis when the lens assembly is driven. The camera lens assembly includes a lens assembly, a housing for receiving the lens assembly, a driving part retained in the housing for driving the lens assembly in the direction of the optical axis, and one or more resilient supporting parts coupled with the lens assembly for supporting the lens assembly in the housing, wherein the supporting part is elastically deformed when the lens assembly moves in the direction of the optical axis, and wherein the resilient supporting part restores the lens assembly to its initial position.

Abstract: An electrode is described. The electrode has a substrate having a first and a second surface; a conductive layer; an electroactive layer that includes nanoparticles having an average size from 5 nm to 30 nm; at least one electroactive chemical and at least one organic binder material. The electroactive chemical binds to the surface of the nanoparticles. The conductive layer is disposed on the second surface of the substrate, and the electroactive layer is disposed on the conductive layer. Also described are electrochromic articles including the electrode, and a coating composition that can be utilized to fabricate the electrode.

Abstract: A focusing device is provided. The focusing device has a changing focal length along a physical parameter thereof. The focusing device could be annular or in a shape of a disk. The annular focusing device has a width thereof changing with a periphery thereof, and the disk-shaped focusing device has a thickness, wherein the thickness of the disk-shaped focusing device is changing with an angular position thereof.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group including a prism which has no refractive power and deflects an optical path, a third lens group that has a positive refractive power and is moved during zooming, a fourth lens group that has a negative refractive power and is moved during zooming, and a fifth lens group having a positive refractive power arranged in this order from an object side. A zoom group including the third positive lens group and the fourth negative lens group, not a fixed positive lens group, is provided on the rear side of the prism. The first lens group includes two negative lenses.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a positioning device comprises a microscope assembly and a lens positioning assembly. The lens positioning assembly comprises a lens support subassembly and a bi-directional positioning guide. The lens support subassembly comprises a translating rod, while the positioning guide comprises a coiled spring. The coiled spring is canted relative to a longitudinal axis of the rod. The inner periphery of the coiled spring engages in a spring loaded state an outer periphery of the rod such that the coiled spring provides a frictional force about the outer periphery of the rod. This frictional force provided by the coiled spring about the outer periphery of the rod is sufficient to hold the rod within the inner periphery, but permit infinitely variable bi-directional movement of the rod through the inner periphery under an applied force. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Some implementations of the invention provide hidden static images. Some such images can only be perceived when viewed from an angle to the normal to a surface. Such images may appear as a solid color when viewed along an axis perpendicular to a surface, but may reveal a hidden image when viewed from an angle relative to that axis. The hidden image may be defined according to interfaces between areas that pass substantially the same wavelength when viewed along the axis, but which pass noticeably different wavelengths when viewed from an angle relative to that axis. The hidden images may or may not be discernable to a human observer. The hidden image may comprise a code that is not readable by an optical scanner positioned to read along an axis normal to a surface, but that is readable by an optical scanner positioned to read along another axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving an ElectroPhoretic Display (EPD) are provided, in which upon sensing a request for displaying data in a gradual graphic representation scheme, a plurality of segments for displaying the data are determined, a display changing order of the segments is determined, an inter-segment time interval is calculated, driving voltage pulses are applied to a first segment according to the display changing order, and driving voltage pulses are applied to each of the other segments at the inter-segment time interval after driving voltage pulses are applied to a previous segment according to the display changing order.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical modulation device includes a semiconductor optical modulator, wires, an output side line, an input side line and a resistor. The semiconductor optical modulator is an electroabsorption optical modulator. One of the wires is connected between an electrode of the semiconductor optical modulator and the input side line. The other of the wires is connected between the electrode of the semiconductor optical modulator and the output side line. The resistor is connected in series with the output side line. Impedance of the output side line and impedance of the resistor are different from each other.

Abstract: An interferometric modulator is provided having a faster deformation time constant on actuation than relaxation time constant upon release from actuation. In some embodiments, apertures are formed in a mechanical membrane to decrease pressure, including liquid and/or gas pressures, on the membrane when actuated. In other embodiments, a dampening layer is disposed in close proximity above the membrane to apply greater downward pressure on the membrane and therefore slow the motion of the membrane when released from an actuated state. Other embodiments comprise structures, such as a heating element or vacuum device, to manipulate pressures above and/or below the mechanical membrane to affect the mechanical persistence of the display device.

Abstract: A head-up display apparatus includes an infrared ray emitting unit for emitting an infrared ray toward a user, a mirror member for reflecting visible light emitted from a display toward a combiner member, and transmitting the infrared ray reflected by the user and the combiner member, a plurality of imaging units disposed to face the mirror member for sensing the infrared ray, each imaging the user from differing directions, and an image processing unit for calculating the eye position of the user based on an image captured by the imaging units.

Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus for characterizing the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). An advantageous diagnostic parameter for characterizing the RNFL is a function of the product of the local RNFL thickness at a measurement locus×the distance of the measurement locus from a base point. The value of the diagnostic parameter in a patient's retina is compared to a corresponding reference range acquired from a population of healthy retinas.

Abstract: A thermochromic component includes a thermochromic module and a heater. The heater is thermally coupled with the thermochromic module. The heater includes a carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure directly transfers heat to the thermochromic module. A thermochromic display apparatus also is provided. The thermochromic display apparatus uses the thermochromic component.

Abstract: A mounting mechanism is provided for aligning and securing an optical instrument to a platform. The mechanism includes a housing, a trunnion and a base-plate. The housing receives the optical instrument along a longitudinal axis. The housing includes an attach support for the optical instrument, and an interface having vertically-facing cylindrical-fastener orifices. The trunnion supports the housing at the interface. The trunnion has pluralities of vertical slots and horizontal slots. Each vertical slot overlaps a corresponding vertical orifice. The vertical slots provide elevation displacement to vertically translate and pitch the housing. The horizontal slots provide lateral displacement to horizontally translate and yaw the housing. The base-plate supports the trunnion and is mountable onto the platform. The base-plate has a plurality of horizontally-facing cylindrical-fastener orifices. Each horizontal slot on the trunnion overlaps a corresponding horizontal orifice on the base-plate.