Abstract: A visual field converting optical system comprising an inhomogeneous medium lens or a prism in which refractive index is linearly changed in a direction different from that of travel of light, in order to be able to perform a visual field conversion with a simple and compact configuration, without generating aberration.

Abstract: A stereo vision optical instrument having eyepieces which are rotatably mounted to the instrument by way of pivot plates includes apparatus coupled between the pivot plates to prevent binding of the eyepieces as they are rotated.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser array light source and scanner is disclosed wherein a light source, such as a laser array, is utilized that emits one or more pairs of light beams. A collimating lens is provided to collimate each of the light beams and to direct each of the light beams along separate paths. Further, a combination of a tilting mirror and a beamsplitter are provided to bring each of the pairs of light beams into intersection with each other and to adjustably select the angle of divergence of the pairs of light beams after intersection and their divergence.

Abstract: A color separation optical system includes a set of prisms which separate incident light into components having different wavelengths. Image pickup devices may be exposed to the separated light components. An arrangement prevents or reduces the influence of a temperature variation upon color separation characteristics. The color separation optical system maybe manufactured in a new way.

Abstract: A projection lens for a three-tube television projector of the type in which three CRT's of blue, green and red are projected on the screen. The projection lens comprises a plastic first lens having an extremely small refracting power, a glass second lens, a plastic third lens and a plastic fourth lens disposed immediately before a face plate of CRT. There are large spaces between the first lens and the second lens and between the third lens and the fourth lens so that reflecting mirrors may respectively be arranged therebetween. For reducing the cost, the fourth lens can be formed from a liquid lens filled with a liquid between a thin-wall shell and a face plate.

Abstract: A single aperture confocal scanning epi-illumination microscope comprises an assembly including, in one embodiment, a pair of intermediate lenses to create a second field plane conjugate to the specimen plane in both the incident and reflected light paths, with a single aperture positioned at this second conjugate field plane and controllably scanned through the plane to create the incident light beam as well as to mask the returning light before viewing. In a second embodiment, only a single lens is included in the assembly and the objective lens may be positioned at its correct tube length, a distance substantially shorter, or a non-standard objective lens may be used.

Abstract: A kit to convert a standard epi-illumination microscope into a single aperture confocal scanning epi-illumination microscope comprises an assembly including, in one embodiment, a pair of intermediate lenses to create a second field plane conjugate to the specimen plane in both the incident and reflected light paths, with a single aperture positioned at this second conjugate field plane and controllably scanned through the plane to create the incident light beam as well as to mask the returning light before viewing. In a second embodiment, only a single lens is included in the assembly and the objective lens may be positioned at its correct tube lengt, or a non-standard objective lens may be used to prevent undesired degradition of the image. This assembly conveniently mounts to the nosepiece of the standard microscope in place of the objective lens, and the objective lens mounts to the assembly.

Abstract: A combined bright field-dark field incident light apparatus 10 for a microscope instrument is described, in which in the dark field illumination the plane of the field diaphragm LF is projected into the object plane 25 via at least one intermediate image LF'. This comprises providing in the beam path at least three annular optical elements (19, 28, 29), arranged so that illuminating rays incident from a skew direction are also projected into the object plane 25. The form of the annular optical elements 19, 27 allows them to be assigned different optical properties at the same time.

Abstract: A device for deviating a bundle of light rays into a plane comprises a deflecting prism of constant deviation rotatable about an axis. The deflecting prism is a Wollaston type quadrangular prism having two prism faces forming a right angle therebeween and having an axis of rotation oriented substantially perpendicularly to one of the two prism faces having the right angle therebetween.

Abstract: A 360.degree. reflective prism assembly comprises a mounting member having a central vertical axis and a peripheral surface portion that defines an outer horizontal boundary of the mounting member. A plurality of spaced apart reflecting prisms are arranged around the mounting member and attached thereto at or near the peripheral surface portion thereof. The prism assembly is used with electronic distance meters for measuring the distance between the assembly and meter locations surround the assembly.

Abstract: A tool changer including male and female flanges for respectively connecting end effectors to robot arms and the like. A male flange assembly having a tapered projection is inserted into a tapered female flange member having a rod aligned along the diameter of the tapered opening. A rotatably mounted locking stud is aligned within an opening in the male tapered projection and is machined to provide a slot having locking grooves as its lower end. The stud is rotated through a 35 degree angle causing the male and female flanges to be drawn together until the cooperating tapers are seated together. A spring retains the flanges in the locked position. A cooperating pin and pin receiving socket respectively provided on the male and female flanges at locations displaced from the male and female tapers are utilized to assure the proper orientation between flanges and to prevent rotation of the flanges.

Abstract: The natural resonant frequency (and phase) of a resonant mechanical system (having an spring structure that includes a material whose elastic properties change with temperature, e.g., by at least 0.05% per .degree.C.) is tuned to a desired value by changing the temperature of at least part of the spring structure. A two-dimensional image is generated on a surface by tunign a resonant driver (having such a temperature sensitive element) to a natural resonant frequency in coordination with modulation of a beam that is raster scanned on the surface by the resonant driver.

Abstract: A view control prism display system in which the viewable angle of an informational display (15) is controlled and limited to certain desired areas (17) by utilizing the reflective and refractive properties of an optical prism element (10) used in association with the informational display. In the exemplary application of a button (6B) in an instrument cluster in an automotive environment (5), the informational display is included as an applique (15) on a flat surface provided adjacent to but spaced from the optical prism by an air gap (14). A further, "decorated" surface (13) which can be painted black or be frosted, is provided on an adjacent, bottom surface of the optical prism. Within the desired viewing angle in front (11) of the button, the viewer will see the refracted image of the information contained on the applique, while those outside (18) of the desired viewing angle will "see" the reflected image of the non-informational "decorated" surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting and demounting a lid of a vessel on and from a body thereof. The lid and the body are fastened to each other by a plurality of stud bolt and nut assemblies. A turntable is supported on a sling to be fixed to the lid, for turning movement in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis passing through a center of the lid. A plurality of operating units are supported by the turntable and are arranged in circumferentially spaced relation on a circle having a diameter equal to that of a pitch circle of the stud bolts. Each of the operating units includes a device for transporting the nuts to and from the stud bolts, and a device for attaching and detaching the stud bolts to and from an end flange of the body of the vessel. A positioning arrangement is provided for moving the turntable in the horizontal plane relatively to the sling so as to bring the operating units into vertical alignment with the stud bolts.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting down or reducing the length of a finished slide fastener includes a pilot pin disposed immediately adjacent to the rear end of an element clamper and spaced from the rear end of an element cutter by a distance which is equal to the sum of the element pitch of a row of coupling elements and at least a half of the diameter of a monofilament constituting the row of coupling elements. With the pilot pin thus arranged, a length of coupling elements can be removed smoothly without the occurance of draw of a half-cut coupling element. The apparatus also includes a stopper disposed rearwardly of a top end-stop applicator and engageable with a bottom end stop of the slide fastener for setting the length of reduction from the slide fastener.

Abstract: A re-imaging optical system for re-imaging a first image formed by an objective lens into a second image of desired size includes, in succession from the object side, a first lens unit which is a field lens constructing the exit pupil of the objective lens and the entrance pupil of the re-imaging optical system so as to be substantially conjugate with each other, a forward sub-unit of a second lens unit, the forward sub-unit having a negative refractive power, an optical member for making the second image formed by the re-imaging optical system erect, and a rearward sub-unit of the second lens unit, the rearward sub-unit having a positive refractive power.

Abstract: A projection optical system for use in a precise copy which uses a pair of catadioptric optical systems consisting of convex mirrors, concave mirrors, and phase correction members is shown. Two catadioptric optical systems commonly use an entrance pupil on a coaxis and are coupled so as to respectively face the phase correction members. Each of the concave mirrors has an opening at the center. Each of the convex mirrors has no opening in one embodiment but has an opening portion at the center in another embodiment.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for flaw detection or the like having a suspension system including at least two pairs of flexure legs. A first pair has flexure legs diagonally crossed in spaced-apart relation and fixed at one end to a stationary body and at an opposite end to a vibratory body. A second pair of spaced-apart cross-flexure legs link the stationary base to a magnetic driver for varying the angular position of the vibratory body about an axis of rotation. Each of the four flexure legs has a radial stiffness exceeding a torsional stiffness. The first pair of cross-flexure legs and the supported mass have characteristics corresponding to the characteristics of the second pair of cross-flexure legs and associated mass, thereby providing identical resonant frequencies of distortional bending. Any torque exerted on the stationary base by the first pair of cross-flexure legs is compensated by a torque which is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction translated through the second pair of flexure legs.

Abstract: The invention concerns an aspherical multifocal contact lens comprising at least one optical zone for the vision for near and at least one optical zone for the vision for far, without intermediary line and without transition between said zones, said aspherical face being foreseen to define a central optical zone with a predetermined great aberration, on a predetermined size, said great aberration of said central optical zone being said greatest of said lens. This contact lens provides a better quality of correction and a better clearness of image and can be used as an intra-ocular implant to be substituted for the eye crystalline lens.

Abstract: An optical collimating apparatus employs a semi-reflective concave mirror and cholesteric liquid crystal element. In one embodiment, the optical collimating apparatus is used as a heads-up display device. Images in the line of sight of an observer substantially pass through a transmitter/combiner, semi-reflective concave mirror, and cholesteric liquid crystal element to an observer. Images generated by an image source are focussed on the transmitter/combiner such that the transmitter/combiner reflects the images into the line of sight of the observer. The generated images are transmitted by the primarily transmissive (convex) side of the semi-reflective concave mirror to the cholesteric liquid crystal element. The cholesteric liquid crystal element reflects the generated images back toward the primarily reflective (concave) side of the semi-refective concave mirror, which in turn reflects the images back toward the cholesteric liquid crystal element, which transmits the generated images to the observer.