Abstract: A compensated opto-electronic gas sensor system comprises active apparatus utilizing electromagnetic radiation for sensing gas and sealed apparatus utilizing electromagnetic radiation for sensing gas. The sealed apparatus exhibits matched characteristics to the active apparatus and exhibits a sensing sensitivity dependent upon the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation. The system further includes tunable wavelength source respectively coupled to the apparatus for sensing gas for supplying it with electromagnetic radiation of a selectable wavelength. A computer coupled to at least the sealed apparatus for sensing gas and is responsive to an output thereof for controlling the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation such that the sealed apparatus for sensing gas exhibits an optimal sensitivity.

Abstract: A broadband, ultrahigh-sensitivity chemical sensor is provided that allows etection through utilization of a small, extremely low-loss, monolithic optical cavity. The cavity is fabricated from highly transparent optical material in the shape of a regular polygon with one or more convex facets to form a stable resonator for ray trajectories sustained by total internal reflection. Optical radiation enters and exits the monolithic cavity by photon tunneling in which two totally reflecting surfaces are brought into close proximity. In the presence of absorbing material, the loss per pass is increased since the evanescent waves that exist exterior to the cavity at points where the circulating pulse is totally reflected, are absorbed. The decay rate of an injected pulse is determined by coupling out an infinitesimal fraction of the pulse to produce an intensity-versus-time decay curve.

Abstract: A novel method for calibration of a spectroscopic sensor is provided. In the method, a spectroscopic system is provided. The system includes a measurement cell having one or more walls which at least partially enclose a sample region. The cell further includes a light entry port and a light exit port. The light entry port and the light exit port can be the same port or separate ports. Each of the ports contains a light transmissive window through which a light beam passes along an internal light path inside the measurement cell. The system further has an optical chamber which contains a light source for generating the light beam which passes through the light entry port into the cell, and a detector for measuring the light beam exiting the cell through the light exit port. The light beam passes along an external light path inside the optical chamber. In addition, a gas inlet is connected to the optical chamber. A calibration gas stream is introduced into the optical chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus which can correctly measure and observe optical information obtained from an object by removing a boundary diffraction wave generated from an edge of a pupil of an image pickup lens or an objective lens is provided.An image pickup lens forms a spatial image of an object on a position provided with a microlens array. A plurality of microlenses are arranged in this microlens array, for pixel-separating the spatial image. Light components from the microlenses pass through corresponding microapertures respectively, to be incident upon corresponding photoreceptors respectively for forming images. The microlenses project images of a diaphragm (pupil) of the image pickup lens on the corresponding microapertures respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical method of analyzing seed quality characteristics such as percent of hard endosperm and seed color utilizing the transmitted visible light, and means to carry out the described method.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator, comprised of an upper and a lower substrate. One or more electrostatically deflectable mirrors are suspended by torsion hinges from an optically transmissive upper substrate. The upper substrate is held above the lower substrate containing electronic circuitry. In operation, individual mirrors are selectively deflected and serve to spatially modulate light that is incident to, and then reflected back through, the upper substrate. An aperture layer is built into the upper substrate to enable light to reach only the flat mirror surfaces.

Abstract: A particle analyzer includes a sheath flow cell for converting a particle containing sample into a sample flow, a first light source for illuminating the sample flow by a continuous light, a light detecting element for detecting a light emitted from a particle illuminated by the first light source and for converting the light into a particle signal indicative of a characteristic of the particle, a second light source for illuminating the sample flow by a momentary light, an imaging device for capturing an image of a particle illuminated by the second light source, an analyzing section for performing particle analysis by employing the particle signal and the image of the particle as analysis data for analyzing the particle, and an inhibiting section for inhibiting the analyzing section from employing, as the analysis data, the particle signal obtained when the second light source illuminates the sample flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for instantaneously measuring the level of carbon dioxide (and other gases) in automotive combustion exhaust analysis is provided in the form of a portable battery driven roadside diagnostic instrument in which the CO.sub.2 level is measured by a calorimetric technique utilizing light as the energy source and a piezoelectric bimorph to vibrate a single fiber-optic element to multiplex between two fiber-optic receptors delivering the light to a measurement cell and a reference cell. The measurement cell comprises a salt of an acid-base indicator dye which provides proportional color change on contact with CO.sub.2. The dye is supported on a polymetric film in the cell.

Abstract: A spectroscopic system that processes spatially dispersed electromagnetic emissions at a number of wavelengths from a test material. The spectroscopic system includes a converter that generates an electrical signal that is proportional to the intensity of electromagnetic radiation received by the converter. An optical delay circuit is coupled to an input of the converter. The optical delay circuit selectively delays application to the converter of electromagnetic emissions from the test material for at least one wavelength of electromagnetic emissions. A data processing circuit is coupled to an output of the converter. The data processing circuit records the value of the electrical signal from the converter over time so as to measure, contemporaneously, the intensity of electromagnetic emissions at each wavelength as a function of time.

Abstract: A fluid turbidity or filter clog sensor comprises a light source and a detector having at least one sensor position to cross a flow path or a filter element in order to improve the correspondence of the light intensity received at the receiver in correspondence with the turbidity level or clogging level occurring in the test cell. The detector preferably includes a direct path sensor, a scattered path sensor positioned to cross the flow path from the transmitter, and the reference light sensor communicating with the source outside of the test chamber. Moreover, the direct path may be a straight line path or a reflected path through the flow path when a fluid having a low level of turbidity is passed through the test cell. Likewise, the sensor includes means for compensating for changes in the illuminating source, changes for temperature variations occurring at the test cell, and compact packaging for convenient installation and improved production capacity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a particle sensor of the type having (a) a light beam, (b) an air tube flowing a stream of air across the light beam at a volumetric flow rate, and (c) an air pump providing the stream of air through the tube, across the light beam and along an air flow path. In the improvement, the particle sensor includes a flow-controlling apparatus in series with the flow path for slightly trimming or adjusting the flow rate, i.e., the rate usually set at the factory before shipping. Such flow-controlling apparatus is selected from a group of apparatus including a choke valve (preferably an adjustable choke valve), a slip clutch, a speed-adjustable blower drive motor and a plurality of conduits. The conduits may have the same passage cross-sectional area and differing lengths, the same length and differing cross-sectional area or a combination of such conduits. A new method for assaying an airborne particle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distinguishing between fiber types having different dispersion characteristics and arbitrary lengths is disclosed. An optical pulse having a predetermined wavelength and predetermined time width is propagated through the fiber and then detected. The optical pulse after being fed through the fiber is measured at different wavelengths along with the length of the fiber. If the measured pulse is within a predetermined amount at the determined length, then fiber under test corresponds to a type having a first dispersion characteristic. If it is determined that the measured pulse is within a second amount, then the fiber under test corresponds to a type having a second dispersion characteristic. Alternately one or more optical pulses of arbitrary width each having different wavelengths after being propagated through the fiber under test is fed through a plurality of filters and detected.

Abstract: For detecting the material properties of a moved material web (10) this web is illuminated along bands and the illuminated strip is imaged onto a two-dimensional camera (20) via an infrared optics (16) and a infrared filter device (18) consisting of individual strips with said camera being preferably an infrared camera. The pixels produced by the filter strips are translated into according absorption profiles within a computer (22).

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to SPR sensors in which the sensing element is a planar lightpipe. More specifically, a planar lightpipe sensor configuration for measurement of SPR at a single angle operation is provided. The lightpipe of this sensor is beveled to facilitate coupling of substantially collimated white light, preferably TM polarized white light, at a selected single angle that excites SPR at the sensing area. Angle of incidence on the SPR sensing area is determined by bevel angle used. This embodiment is a zero order sensor in the sense that it allows measurement for a given analyte at only a single angle of incidence. In this embodiment, however, the lightpipe can have a plurality of SPR sensing area across its width to provide for multichannel sensing. Refractive index sensitivity of this configuration is estimated as 4.times.10.sup.-5 RI units.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor device for the detection of the degree of wetting of a transparent vehicle screen with precipitation, includes a beam guide with two opposing parallel surfaces and two surfaces which lie opposite to one another and which are angled in opposing fashion through which beams enter and exit, one of the parallel surfaces being coupled to the vehicle screen in an optical fashion, the beam entry surface cooperating with an optical transmitter and the exit surface cooperating with an optical receiver. The device limits the wavelength of rays which exit from the beam guide to the operating range of the beam transmitter. Two filters (4) are incorporated in the beam path whose pass ranges overlap within a narrow frequency band.

Abstract: A mechanism for aligning the elements of an optical system is disclosed. One aspect of the present invention is an alignment mechanism which includes lead screws placed on opposite corners of the elements to be aligned. The elements are provided with threaded holes of different pitch, and the lead screw is provided with threads of the same unequal pitches as the elements, thereby forming a differential lead screw. The threads include a locking thread which assures a positive lock between the lead screw and the elements to be aligned and eliminates backlash between them. Another aspect of the present invention is an interference fit mechanism which is provided by the employment of a slightly-oversized flexible boss which mates with a cavity. The boss is provided with a thin outer wall capable of flexing when the boss is inserted into the cavity. Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a wobble plate comprising a spherical socket and housing.

Abstract: To measure absolute rotations in several directions in space with the aid of interferometers, one interferometer is required for each direction in space. According to the invention, it is proposed to supply a device consisting of several interferometers from a common light source and to switch only the phase modulation impressed on the light rather than the light paths, using time-division multiplexing. The output signals from the interferometers are detected and evaluated with a single detector and evaluating unit.

Abstract: Mirrors are tested separately at different distances to plasma in separate ring laser gyros. Testing mirrors a predetermined distance away from plasma in the gyros allows accelerated testing of the environment of the mirrors in gyros. The test results are graphed to also allow prediction of ring laser gyro life.

Abstract: A long-path absorbance-cell optical imaging system, appropriate for use in cold vapor mercury analysis, which long-path absorbance-cell optical imaging system achieves decreased internal reflection mediated system-element-parameter-change-based sensitivity in use, by appropriate placement of apertures, is disclosed.

Abstract: A concave urine collector is set under a front end portion of a stool body, so that urine can be collected in a bowl. Single fiber holes are set on a front end and a left side of the urine collector respectively, while condenser lenses for condensing light on the bowl side, an excitation light fiber member carrying excitation light from an excitation light source and a Raman light receiving fiber member for receiving Raman light are set in the fiber holes respectively. The excitation light fiber member is connected with the excitation light source, and the Raman light receiving fiber member communicates with a spectro-detector. A Raman signal separated into its spectral components detected by the spectro-detector is data-processed by a data processing part, and outputted from a data output part as a measurement result.