Abstract: A focus changing apparatus and method for an optical scanner which can easily be adapted to existing optical scanners or can provide the front end for a new scanner. The laser beam focus changing apparatus may be optically located between a laser source and a mirrored spinner and includes a plurality of spherical mirror segments having a predetermined radius. Each is located at its respective radius from a common axis. A rotating device, such as a motor, rotates the spherical mirror segments about their common axis. The spherical mirror segments may be mounted on top of the mirrored spinner. If so, the focus changing apparatus may additionally include a deflector mirror for deflecting the beam towards the spherical mirror segments and a spherical mirror adjacent the deflector mirror is optically located to receive the beam after it is reflected from the spherical mirror segments and to redirect the beam towards the mirrored spinner.

Abstract: The apparatus for detecting impurities in a fluid circuit has a body member associated with a fluid conduit or reservoir which defines a detection zone. A magnet is associated with the body member and communicates with the fluid in the detection zone to attract metallic impurities. Fiber optic members extend from opposite sides of the detection zone, with one of the fiber optic members associated with a light source and the other fiber optic member associated with a light sensor. The light is transmitted by the first fiber optic member into the fluid in the detection zone. The light passing through the fluid is transmitted by the second fiber optic member to the light sensor.

Abstract: An interference type angle measuring device has a graduated disk with a circular graduation. This circular graduation is scanned by a scanning device, which is constructed as a monolithically integrated optical circuit with two diametrical scanning areas. Simply structured coupling and decoupling grids are used as coupling elements, which have also simply constructed correction grids placed upstream or downstream thereof.

Abstract: System to automatically compensate the transversal oscillation of the scanning plane in a laser scanner used for profile measurement, by means of a special device.The invention concerns a system which automatically compensates the transversal oscillation of the scanning plane in a laser scanner used for profile measurement, by means of a device consisting in a triangular plane (1) integral with the gage, or by a mask photoengraved onto a plane-parallel glass plate (which is the last element of the optical chain) or onto the main lens, or by a pin in the shape of a truncated cone integral with the gage, or by opto-electronic components of different kind, such as, for example, multiple-element photo-sensitive devices, analogical photo-sensitive position sensors, linear arrays of photodiodes, etc.This system allows to determine the precise position of the scanning plane in comparison with the piece to be gaged, compensation achieved by means of one of the above-mentioned mechanical and opto-electronic devices.

Abstract: A scanning device comprises a rotatable mirror and a drive unit. The drive unit comprises a rotor section which carries the mirror and which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (19), which rotor section has a disc-shaped at least partly permanent-magnetic rotor body (13). The drive unit further comprises a stationary stator section with coils (9) extending in the magnet field of the rotor body to generate electromagnetic driving forces acting on the rotor body to provide the rotary drive of the mirror, and coils (11) disposed in the magnet field of the rotor body to generate electromagnetic bearing forces acting on the rotor body, for electromagnetically supporting the rotatable rotor section relative to the stator section.

Abstract: A nondispersive gas analyzer for use in monitoring the concentration of one or more gases, comprises a body having a cavity having an elliptical reflecting surface, defining a first focus and a second focus, for transmitting radiation between the focuses, a chamber (2) for holding a sample gas to be analyzed, one of the focuses being located within the sample chamber, a chamber (4) for holding an inert gas and a chamber (3) for holding an analyte gas, a radiation source (24) disposed at one of the focuses, and a radiation detector (26, 27) associated with each of the inert and analyte gas chambers for detecting the radiation passing through the sample gas and the inert gas and the radiation passing through the sample gas and the analyte gas located at the other of the focuses.

Abstract: A fill sensor for a paint gun provides a light sensor opposite a light source in a housing surrounding a transparent portion of paint gun overflow line so that reception by the light sensor of light radiated from the light source through the transparent portion of the overflow line is blocked when the paint gun is filled and the paint enters the overflow line, as indicated by a change from a first signal to a second signal from an electric circuit including the light snesor. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses a CdSe.sub.4 photo-resistor with a large aperture which is not blocked by small objects in the transparent portion of the overflow line and has a comparatively slow response for inherent signal low pass filtering. The electric circuit is adapted to operate through an intrinsically safe barrier for use in a manufacturing environment.

Abstract: An optical interface means for non-permanent passive coupling of light between two optically transparent media comprises a support member (3), and at least one shaped body (6) of an optically transparent elastic material supported thereby and adapted to resiliently contact said solid medium or media, said elastic material having a matching refractive index in respect of said media.

Abstract: A systems for measuring the value of a plurality of parameters includes an optical fiber having a core that conducts coherent light along two orthogonal polarization axes at different velocities, e.g.

Abstract: A fiber optic microbend sensor employs a resilient coil (12) with an optical fiber (10) positioned therein. The coil (12) has a predetermined length and pitch. An optical signal is applied to the optical fiber (10) with the coil (12) interrogating a parameter. Any movement of the coil (12) modulates the optical signal transmitted along the optical fiber (10). Detecting means (32) measures the modulations of the optical signal for characterization of the parameter.

Abstract: An optical controlled attenuator circuit for controlling a microwave varie attenuator. The optical controlled attenuator circuit includes, a light source, a control connected to the light source, an optic fiber having an end coupled to the light source, a field effect transistor coupled to a second end of the optic fiber, a first inverting amplifier coupled to the field effect transistor, a second non-inverting amplifier coupled to the first amplifier means, a third non-inverting amplifier coupled to the second amplifier, a fourth inverting amplifier means also coupled to the second amplifier, and a microwave variable attenuator having first and second inputs respectively coupled to the fourth inverting amplifier and to the third non-inverting amplifier means and having an RF input and an RF output.

Abstract: A position detector includes: light emitting component for irradiating the surface of an object to be measured; two light receiving components for receiving light reflected by the measured surface, a distance from one of the light receiving components to the measured surface as viewed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface being different from a distance from the other of the light receiving components to the surface; calculating circuit for calculating a correction quantity for correcting the distances between the light receiving components and the surface, with the correction quantity being calculated on the basis of a difference between the output signals of the light receiving components; and, moving component for correcting the distances between the measured surface and the light receiving components in accordance with the correction quantity. A first embodiment has two light receiving components each spaced at different distances from the surface.

Abstract: A lighting control system for maintaining the light source and measuring components of a color measurement station in a stabilized condition. A high frequency fluorescent lamp drive is controlled by a ballast which is adjusted by a control signal generated by using a video camera to simultaneously view a standard tile and a test sample. One of the color signals in the standard tile portion of the signal is compared with prescribed information stored in a computer, and if the standard tile signal differs from the prescribed information, the microcomputer adjusts the fluorescent lamp drive until the signal from the standard tile reaches the prescribed level, at which time the color signals from the test sample are evaluated while the lamp intensity and camera response are generating standardized measurement conditions.

Abstract: An optical reception apparatus comprises of a prism made by forming in a member of substantially the frustum of a circular cone made of a transparent material a concave portion of a substantially circular cone or substantially the frustum of circular cone whose diameter is gradually reduced in the direction from a small diameter circular outer side surface to a large diameter circular outer side surface of the frustum of the circular cone, and a light receiving element mounted on the prism at its position along a center line of a circle of the large diameter circular outer side surface and also in the vicinity of the large diameter circular outer side surface.

Abstract: A photoelectric encoder characterized in that the grating substrate on the light emission side is composed of a plate-like light emitting element and in that light shielding members in the form of a thin film are arranged at regular intervals on the surface of the substrate which faces the reference grating. Since the light emitting element and the grating substrate on the light emission side are integrally provided with each other, reducing in the size and the weight of the apparatus and the number of parts is enabled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating communication among circuit components mounted on a board, in which the components transmit radiation to a "lambertian" (optically rough) surface located in opposition thereto for detection by the other components. If component identification information is included with each transmission, the present invention allows establishment of dynamically changing interconnections among any of the components on a board. The invention requires a relatively small spatial volume for implementation, and affords large data-transfer rates and freedom from electrical or other interactions.

Abstract: A proximity detector apparatus that uses the Faraday Effect to detect position changes of a target. The proximity detector includes a permanent magnet having a magnetic field that changes as the target moves to or from a predetermined position. A self-referencing optical sensor is provided that detects the changed magnetic field. The optical sensor includes a magneto-optic material positioned near a node of the magnet. Means are provided to transmit polarized interrogation light along an optical path that includes the magneto-optic material. The optical path is bi-directionally addressed and is non-reciprocal. The optical sensor transduces the changed magnetic field into a modulation of the interrogation light's intensity. Means are provided to detect variations in the interrogation light intensity and to determine a ratio such as the difference over the sum ratio for two interrogation light samples that traveled the optic path in opposite directions.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for performing a TDI function with a plurality of electrical signals. A first step of the method stores, during individual ones of a first plurality of consecutive time intervals, a sample of a first electrical signal. A second step of the method equilibrates, during individual ones of a second, subsequent plurality of time intervals, one of the stored samples with a stored sample of a second electrical signal. Subsequent to each of the steps of equilibrating, an electrical signal is outputted that has a magnitude expressive of the equilibrated stored samples. The equilibration is achieved by shorting storage capacitors (C.sub.1, C.sub.2, C.sub.3) together to effectively sum coherent signals and incoherent noise. The charge sum is stored on a capacitance that is effectively doubled from either detector channel operating individually.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a two-color infrared detector array, and an array of same fabricated by the methods. There is disclosed (a) selectively forming a plurality of first regions upon or within a surface of a substrate, the first regions being comprised of a first semiconductor material having a first type of electrical conductivity and a significant responsivity to wavelengths within a first spectral band. A second step (b) forms a substantially continuous layer comprised of a second semiconductor material over the surface of the substrate and over the plurality of first regions, the layer being comprised of semiconductor material having a second type of electrical conductivity for forming a plurality of first heterojunctions with the first regions. A third step (c) selectively forms a plurality of second regions upon the layer, individual ones of which are in registration with a corresponding one of the first regions.

Abstract: Sagger loading apparatus, for loading unfired ceramic sparking plug bodies (3) into a sagger (37), includes a clamp (8) for removing the bodies from a conveyor (2) and depositing the bodies on pins (14) in an array, which form an intermediate store. A gripper assembly having four inwardly and outwardly movable walls (22) grips the bodies on the pins and removes them and moves them simultaneously into the sagger, where the walls of the gripper are moved apart to leave the sparking plug bodies in the sagger, ready for firing.