Abstract: A photographing lens includes a front lens unit and a rear lens unit that are arranged in this order from the object side. The front lens unit comprises, in this order from the object side, a first lens element which is a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object side, a second lens element which is a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object side and a third lens element that is cemented to the second lens element. The third lens element is a negative meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object side. The rear lens group comprises, in this order from the object side, a fourth lens element which is a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the image side, a fifth lens element which is a negative meniscus lens having a concave surface facing the object side and a sixth lens element which is cemented to the fifth lens element. The sixth lens element is a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the image side.

Abstract: A projection light source, and associated method, for generating an arcuate band of light, including an angular integrator, an image dissector, and a relay and remapper. The angular integrator includes a first face, a second face, and a plurality of triangular grooves longitudinally extending along the first face and the second face. The triangular grooves are separated in the transverse direction by gaps, and the triangular grooves on the first face lie in a substantially orthogonal direction to the triangular grooves on the second face. Light passes from the first face to the second face. The image dissector includes an input face, an output face, and plural elements that redirect light from the input face to the output face. The output face has a substantially rectangular shape that is different than that of the input face. At least one of the plural elements has at least one coating that reduces optical transmission efficiency of the element.

Abstract: Electrochromic device and method. In one disclosed embodiment, an electrochromic coating is applied to a light transmissive substrate, and a first control voltage is generated in accordance with the amount of light impinging upon the substrate. That control voltage is applied to the electrochromic coating to decrease the transmittance of the substrate as the light increases. Ambient light conditions are monitored to provide a second control voltage which is applied to the electrochromic coating to decrease the transmittance of the substrate when the ambient light falls below a predetermined level, e.g. at night. In other disclosed embodiments, the electrochromic coating is applied to the lenses of a pair of glasses and to a lamp shade, with photovoltaic cells for controlling the transmittance of the coating in accordance with the amount of impinging light.

Abstract: This specification discloses a zoom lens which has, in succession from the object side, a first lens unit of positive refractive power, a second lens unit of negative refractive power for focal length change, a third lens unit for correcting the changing of an imaging plane resulting from a focal length change, and a fourth lens unit of positive refractive power, and in which an aspherical surface AS1 is provided on at least one lens surface constituting the first lens unit and satisfying 1.65<hw/ht and 1.15<hw/hz, where ht is the maximum incidence height of an on-axis light beam, hw is the incidence height of an off-axis light beam of a maximum angle of view at the wide angle end, and hz is the incidence height of the off-axis light beam of a maximum angle of view at a zoom position at a variable power ratio Z.sup.1/4, and the power disposition and achromatism condition of the first lens unit, a focusing system, etc. are appropriately set.

Abstract: A single aperture opto-mechanical system for transmitting two small-aperture laser beams and single received laser beam. The two pencil-thin transmitted beams are co-aligned within 150 micro-radians in the same direction but have optical axes that are displaced laterally. An in-coming beam is received along a path that is essentially parallel with the path of the transmitted beams within 500 micro-radians. The small-aperture transmitted beams each pass through a hole in a metal mirror beamsplitter that is positioned to reflect the received light energy at a 90 E angle through a narrow band-pass filter and focused by an aspheric glass lens that directs the received beam energy onto a receiver detector. The beamsplitter has indexing features that provide self-alignment of the beamsplitter to the laser mount.

Abstract: An infrared afocal lens assembly for providing an observed magnified IR ie scene with a field of view and a substantially less temperature dependent performance. The assembly includes a collecting lens, focusing lens subassembly movable along the optical axis to provide range focus, an intermediate focal plane, an eyepiece lens subassembly, and an aperture stop. A wide field of view lens subassembly may be used on the optical axis. All lenses are made of either GaAs or ZnS, and all lenses are single lenses only.

Abstract: Thin film AMA is disclosed. The thin film AMA has an active matrix, a supporting member, an actuator, and a reflecting member. The actuator has a bottom electrode, two active layers, and two top electrodes. The actuator has maximum tilting angle due to margins formed between the bottom electrode and the two active layers or between the two active layers and the two top electrodes. Also, the tilting angle of the actuator is increased because the layers of the actuator respectively have proper thicknesses. Therefore, the quality of the picture projected onto a screen is enhanced and the arrangement of the AMA may be more easy.

Abstract: An optical head device including a light source for directing a laser beam to an optical disk, a collimator lens arranged between the light source and the optical disk, and an objective lens arranged between the collimator lens and the optical disk, a collimator lens actuator for moving the collimator lens along the optical axis of the laser beam in response to the thickness of the optical disk, and an objective lens actuator for moving the objective lens along the optical axis of the laser beam.

Abstract: Devices that comprise novel, mesoscopically periodic materials that combine crystalline colloidal array (CCA) self-assembly with the temperature ined volume phase transitions of various materials, preferably poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a PNIPAM CCA is formed in an aqueous media and contained within cell means. In another embodiment, a CCA of charged particles is formed and polymerized in a PNIPAM hydrogel. Methods for making these devices are also disclosed. The devices of the present invention are useful in many applications including, for example, optical switches, optical limiters, optical filters, display devices and processing elements. The devices are further useful as membrane filters. All of these devices have the feature of being tunable in response to temperature. Devices that change diffracted wavelength in response to pressure are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for transmitting signals in an optical fiber, an amplitude modulator (1) is provided for amplitude modulating an optical carrier at high speed with signals to be transmitted. A suppressing means is provided to suppress at least part of one of the side bands of the modulated carrier to reduce the effect of group velocity dispersion in the optical fiber.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed frame, a plurality of lens groups disposed inside the fixed frame movably along an optical axis relative to the fixed frame, at least three lens holding frames holding at least one lens group, a cam frame having bottomed can grooves coupled with the inner circumference of the fixed frame through cams, bottomed can grooves crossing each other coupled with the lens holding frames through cams and a bottomed cam groove which is discontinued at one end surface and continued on another end surface, a key regulating rotation of the lens holding frames about an optical axis relative to the fixed frame as well as reinforcing the strength of the lens barrel, a cam mechanism between the cam frame and the lens holding frames for moving the lens holding frames along the optical axis by rotation of the cam frame about the optical axis relative to the fixed frame, an internal gear on the inner circumference of the cam frame, a pinion gear transmitting drive force from a drive source to the in

Abstract: A magnification device for removable attachment to an object to magnify the surface of the object for improved viewing includes a magnification member of substantially uniform thickness and an attachment part including a front part connected to the magnification member and a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the front part, each of the arms including a clamping portion for compressively engaging the outer surface of the object. Once the magnification device is clamped onto the object, any indicia or labeling on the surface of the object, when viewed through the magnification member, appears enlarged and easier to read.

Abstract: A vibration actuator drive device using a linear type of ultrasonic actuator to drive a rotary member with high accuracy and good efficiency. The vibration actuator drive device includes an ultrasonic actuator which, by applying drive signals, produces longitudinal vibration and bending vibration to generate a drive force, and a rotary member in contact with the ultrasonic actuator. The combination of longitudinal vibration and bending vibration in the ultrasonic actuator generates relative motion in the rotary member having a circular locus of predetermined width. A compression mechanism causes compressive contact of the ultrasonic actuator with the rotary member. The longitudinal vibration vibrates in a direction about parallel to the direction of the drive force, and the bending vibration vibrates in a direction intersecting the longitudinal vibration.

Abstract: The present system for redirecting a light beam makes use of a transparent pressure vessel that is filled with a compressible fluid, whose refractive index changes as a function of the pressure applied to the compressible fluid to redirect the path of a light beam that is transmitted through the transparent pressure vessel. An incident beam of coherent monochromatic light is applied to a transparent segment of a wall of the transparent pressure vessel, where this incident light beam is refracted by the compressible fluid contained in the transparent pressure vessel. The refracted light beam traverses the transparent pressure vessel and exits the transparent pressure vessel at a point along the opposite wall of the transparent pressure vessel as determined by the refractive index of the compressible fluid, which is determined by the pressure of the compressible fluid. The pressure of the compressible fluid is controlled by using a pump that is fluidically connected to the transparent pressure vessel.

Abstract: A light modulating device, is provide, which includes a first set of fibers and a second set of fibers being arranged to form a two dimensional array of junctions between fibers of the first set of fibers and fibers of the second set of fibers. Each of the fibers of the first and second sets of fibers includes a longitudinal conductive element, whereas fibers of at least one of the first and second sets of fibers, at least at the junctions, further include a coat of an electro-optically active substance being capable of reversibly changing its optical behavior when subjected to an electric or magnetic flux or field. The light modulating device has advantages over prior art light modulating devices because it is (i) readily fabricated in any desired dimensions; (ii) flexible; (iii) foldable/collapsible; (iv) simple to manufacture; and therefore (v) cost-effective.

Abstract: A wide-field eyepiece, formed of at least four lens groups and five lens elements, is disclosed which satisfies predetermined conditional expressions, so as to provide an eyepiece having an angle of view of at least 65 degrees with less than 6% distortion. The wide-field eyepiece is formed of, in order from the side of an image position 1 formed by an objective lens (not illustrated): a first lens group G.sub.1 of negative refractive power that includes a first lens element L.sub.1 having a concave surface on both sides, a second lens group G.sub.2 of positive refractive power that includes a second lens element L.sub.2 having a convex surface on the side of an observer's eye position, a third lens group G.sub.3 of positive refractive power wherein a lens element surface thereof has a convex surface on both sides and is cemented to a negative lens element having a concave surface on the side nearest the image 1 formed by the objective lens; and a fourth lens group G.sub.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a positive first lens of meniscus shape convex toward the object side made from plastic, a negative second lens of bi-concave shape made from plastic, a positive third lens of bi-convex shape made from glass material, and a stop, wherein the following conditions are satisfied:0.8<f1/f<1.18 (1)0.95<(td+sk)/f<1.12 (2)where f1 and f are focal lengths of the first lens and the entire photographic lens, respectively, td is a distance from a lens surface on the object side of the first lens to a lens surface on the image side of the third lens, and sk is a back focal distance during focusing on an infinitely distant object.

Abstract: A laser printer and an illumination system for the laser printer records onto light sensitive medial. The laser printer and illumination system includes laser diode arrays, array illumination optics and cross-array illumination optics. The cross-array illumination optics combine light beams from the laser diode arrays so as to illuminate a spatial light modulator and confine incident light within a cross-array width of the modulator.

Abstract: A lens fixer to be used in a document scanner for easy adjusting and fixing the position of the lens. The lens fixer includes a clamp pedestal and a clamped portion formed as a one-piece element. A room formed by the clamp pedestal and the clamped portion is initially a little smaller for the size of the lens, therefore provides pressure to the lens when the lens is inserted into the room. Three contact lines formed on the notch portion of the clamp pedestal make the lens centering well. The initial pressure prevents the lens from losing the position easily during the adjustment to the correct position.

Abstract: A modulator for modulating an incident beam of light having a wavelength .lambda. including a base having a surface; an electrode formed over the surface of the base; a plurality of equally spaced apart deformable elements arranged over the electrode and being disposed parallel to each other and secured at opposite ends of each spaced apart deformable element and suspended above the base and having at least two spaced apart conductive and reflective portions and a central reflective portion electrically insulated from the two spaced apart conductive and reflective portions and disposed therebetween; a reflective layer disposed over the base between the spaced apart deformable elements; and applying a potential between the electrode and the spaced apart conductive and reflective portions so that the spaced apart conductive and reflective portions are movable between first and second positions which are substantially .lambda./4 apart.