Abstract: An optical system has an outer dome and a detector system with an optical train and a sensor disposed to receive an optical ray passing sequentially through the outer dome and the optical train. The optical train includes a solid catadioptric imaging lens which is symmetric about a lens axis. The solid catadioptric imaging lens has a bore therethrough coincident with the lens axis, to prevent stray light from reaching the sensor. The bore is desirably filled with an opaque material or has a ground glass wall.

Abstract: A system and a method for illuminating a spatial light modulator, where all the pixels of the SLM are illuminated symmetrically with respect to the optical axis, thus reducing the crosstalk problem. The system includes a linear array of light sources for generating a plurality of light beams, a linear array of microlenses, each of the microlenses receiving light from a corresponding light source of the array of light sources, an optical element for receiving light from the array of microlenses and for redirecting it and a spatial light modulator including an array of pixels for modulating the light. The distance between the array of microlenses and the optical element is such that all the pixels of the SLM are illuminated symmetrically with respect to the optical axis of the optical element.

Abstract: An external cavity type light source which has a semiconductor laser (1) coated on one end (1a) with a reflection prevention film (1A), wherein emitted light from the end face of the semiconductor laser 1 on the reflection prevention film side is converted into collimated light and the collimated light having a wavelength selected through a diffraction grating (2) is fed back into the semiconductor laser (1), and wherein emitted light from an opposite end (1b) of the semiconductor laser (1) is converted into collimated light and the collimated light is gathered and output to an optical fiber (10). An unpolarized light splitter (light branch element) (4) is placed between the diffraction grating (2) and the semiconductor laser (1), and the diffracted light fed back into the semiconductor laser from the diffraction grating is made to branch through the unpolarized light splitter (4) and one branch light is taken out as output light through an optical fiber (15).

Abstract: A projection lens having a first lens group of negative refractive power and a second lens group of positive refractive power, in order from the enlarging side of the projection lens. A stop is positioned within a specified distance of the projection lens element surface nearest the reducing side. The second lens group consists of four lens elements of positive, positive, negative, and positive refractive power, in order from the enlarging side. Specified conditions are preferably satisfied in order to make the projection lens compact and to ensure that various aberrations are favorably corrected.

Abstract: A polarization transformer includes at least one plate of transparent polycrystalline material which has an optical axis oriented perpendicular to a propagation direction of incident radiation having a first polarization state. The plate includes electrodes for applying an electric field across a plane of the plate perpendicular to the propagation direction so as to provide controlled phase change such that the polarization of radiation transmitted through the polarization transformer is transformed from the first polarization state to a second polarization state. The plate in a preferred embodiment comprises a ferroelectric complex oxide such as lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) material. Such a material provides devices that have very fast response (on the order of microseconds) and low insertion loss.

Abstract: An opto-mechanical device is constituted by an optically responsive actuating member in which a mechanical strain occurs in response to changes in its illumination. The actuating member is preferably at least partly formed from a semiconducting glassy matrix such as a chalcogenide glass. Preferably the opto-mechanical device illuminates the actuating member with light which is preferably plane polarized. Preferably it also varies the polarization angle of the plane polarized light to cause a change in the strain generated in the actuating member.

Abstract: An electrochromic device comprising at least one substantially transparent substrate having an electrically conductive material associated therewith, and an electrochromic medium which comprises a solvent, a cathodic material, and an anodic electrochromic material represented by the formula: wherein R1-R10 are the same or different and at least three of R1-R10 are the same or different and comprise a straight or branched alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, or aralkyl group containing approximately 1 to approximately 40 carbon atom(s), and/or a silyl or siloxyl group containing approximately 1 to approximately 40 silicon atom(s), wherein the carbon or silicon atom(s) may be a linking group to, or part of, one or more functional groups comprising nitrites; nitro constituents; sulfoxides; sulfonates; phosphonium constituents; phosphonates; phosphonites; ammonium constituents; viologens, including bipyridinyl constituents; carbonyls, including carbonates, carbamates; ketones; esters; and amides; ethers, inclu

Abstract: An assembly is provided with a mount (1)and an optical element (7). The optical element (7) is connected via elastic connecting elements directly or via one or more intermediate elements to the mount (1). The connecting elements have at least one membrane-like joining element (4), which is connected in the outer region to the mount (1) or to the intermediate element and in the inner region is connected via a rigid, moment-transferring connection (12) to the optical element (7).

Abstract: A new class of structured dielectric media which exhibit significant photonic bandstructure has been invented. The new structures, called photonic layered media, are easy to fabricate using existing layer-by-layer growth techniques, and offer the ability to significantly extend our practical ability to tailor the properties of such optical materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochromic device having (a) a pair of glass or plastic plates or plastic films wherein at least one such plate or film is provided on one side each with an electrically conductive coating, wherein (1) at least one such plate or film and its conductive coating is transparent, (2) the other such plate or film and its conductive coating is optionally mirrored, (3) the electrically conductive layer of one or both of the two plates or films is optionally divided into separate segments optionally provided with individual contacts, and (4) the plates or films are joined on the sides of their conductive coating by means of a sealing ring to form a volume; and (b) the volume formed by the two plates or films and the sealing ring is filled with an electrochromic medium containing certain dihydronaphthazines or dihydrophenazines.

Abstract: A wide-angle lens system includes a negative first lens group, and a positive second lens group with a diaphragm, in this order from the object. The wide-angle lens system satisfies the following condition: −1.4<f1/f<−1.1  (1) wherein f1 designates the focal length of the first lens group, and f designates the focal length of the entire lens system.

Abstract: The invention relates in particular, to the area of devices or systems whose optical operation is modified by changing the optical properties of the medium of which they are formed and that are intended, in particular, for limiting the luminous intensity transmitted by the system. Specifically, the invention relates to a device for selectively limiting the intensity of a radiation, including a liquid or solid medium containing nanotubes, for example, nanotubes made of carbon or boron, tungsten, silicon, or composite nanostructures, such as BN, BC3, BC2N, CN(C3N4), or MoS2.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit of positive refractive power, the first lens unit including, in order from the object side to the image side, a first lens of positive refractive power having a convex surface facing the object side, a second lens of negative refractive power, a third lens of positive refractive power of meniscus form having a convex surface facing the image side and having an aspheric surface, and a fourth lens of positive refractive power, and a second lens unit of negative refractive power, wherein a variation of magnification is effected by varying an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit, and the following conditions are satisfied: 0.40<f1/fw<0.80 0.40<|f2|/fw<0.90 where fw is a focal length of the zoom lens in a wide-angle end, f1 is a focal length of the first lens unit, and f2 is a focal length of the second lens unit.

Abstract: The present invention is a two position optical element actuator device utilizing a powered means to hold an actuation arm, to which an optical element is attached, in a first position. A non-powered means drives the actuation arm to a second position, when the powered means ceases to receive power. The optical element may be a electromagnetic (EM) radiation or particle source, an instrument, or EM radiation or particle transmissive, reflective or absorptive elements. A bearing is used to transfer motion and smoothly transition the actuation arm from the first to second position.

Abstract: The application describes a holder for attaching a component with outside dovetail carriages to a bearing surface. A pin-like bolt and, next to it, a ssion spring, which is bent away from the bolt under preloading, are attached in front of the bearing surface as interacting holder components. The cross sections, the lengths and the distance between the bolt and the compression spring are adapted to the inner profile of the dovetail carriage. To attach the component, the dovetail carriage is pressed manually by means of the bolt and the compression spring, until it comes into contact with the bearing surface, and is latched in place. The bolt and the compression spring are pressed into the inner sides of the dovetail carriage on both sides by the preloading of the bent compression spring. Advantageously, the compression spring is additionally preloaded toward the bearing surface.

Abstract: The present invention is a bistable optical element actuator device utilizing a powered means to move an actuation arm, to which an optical element is attached, between two stable positions. A non-powered means holds the actuation arm in either of the two stable positions. The optical element may be a electromagnetic (EM) radiation or particle source, an instrument, or EM radiation or particle transmissive reflective or absorptive elements. A bearing is used to transfer motion and smoothly transition the actuation arm between the two stable positions.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a fixed lens tube of cylindrical shape and a plurality of operation parts of push type, wherein the plurality of operation parts are interconnected by a ring-shaped elastic member and are attached to the fixed lens tube. This structural arrangement of the lens barrel effectively simplifies assembly processes in the manufacture of lens barrels.

Abstract: An optical intensity modulator is disclosed which comprises a waveguide containing a core adjacent to at least one cladding layer and exhibits a refractive index n(core) different from the refractive index n(cl) or the cladding layer, where the waveguide is a bent channel waveguide and the intensity modulator contains a heater or cooler for altering the temperature at or near the bend. The core and the cladding layer exhibit different thermo-optic coefficients at the bend such that the contrast between n(core) and n(cl) can be changed by altering the temperature. The optical intensity modulator is more compact in size and more efficient with regard to energy consumption. The invention also pertains to thermo-optic switches and thermo-optic cascaded switches comprising the optical intensity modulator and to the use of the optical intensity modulator as a tunable attenuator.

Abstract: A method for producing an anisotropic optical device that enables the viewer to perceive a repertoire of preselected images over a first range of angles of regard in previously unachievably thin anisotropic sheets. The device, which is useful as advertising media in a wide variety of forms, includes a bilaterally stabilized base film layer, a molded lenticular surface having lenses with substantially circular cross section adhesively affixed to a first side of the base film; and a computer-generated image that is registered to the lenticular surface and affixed to the second side of the bilaterally stabilized base film.

Abstract: A transparent chromogenic panel in which color changes are selectively effectable over predefined areas comprises a pair of facing glass substrates each covered with a conductive layer divided into individual energizeable areas each provided with as set of busbars. An electrochromic electrode layer overlies at least one of the conductive layers. An insulating adhesive sealant spaces apart the substrates and insulates the busbar sets from each other and from exposure to the electrolyte and the electrochromic layer, so that each busbar set may be individually energizeable to effect a color change through a respective one of the individual areas. A passive layer is advantageously superimposed over one of the substrates, its color being chosen so that the color and the transmissivity of the passive layer accommodates the range of color change and transmissivity of the electrochromic layer to maintain the transmitted color of the panel in a warm or neutral shade.