Abstract: A compact microscope tube which provides an image which is right-way up and right-way round, and which permits the placing of attachments such as cameras in locations which do not impede the normal movements of the person using the microscope for observation. A first concave reflecting mirror (7) is arranged behind a tube lens (11) and serves to fold an initially vertical light path downwardly at an acute angle, while a second flat mirror (8) further folds it toward the eyepiece attachment location (21) An optical system (12) between the first and second mirrors again forms an intermediate image of the object (20) in the eyepiece cups (28a and 28b).

Abstract: The invention relates to illuminator support for supporting an illuminator such that a beam of light projected from the illuminator is generally coaxial with a line of vision to the subject to be viewed. In a preferred embodiment, the illuminator includes a plate having an aperture therethrough for reception of a lens for a microscope. The line of vision is defined by the axis of the lens. The plate supports a bracket which holds an illuminator on a side of the microscope, the illuminator projecting a beam of light on the subject beneath the lens. In the preferred embodiment, the bracket supports the illuminator so that the beam of light is projected along an axis at an angle of 5.degree.-8.degree. with respect to the axis of the line of vision.

Abstract: There is disclosed a microscope having improved means for determining precisely the position of a specimen in relation to the microscope. The microscope comprises a base, a mounting stage for holding a specimen, a microscope objective for viewing the specimen, mounting means adjustably mounting the mounting stage on the base for altering the position of the specimen relative to the microscope objective, and displacement means coupled with the mounting stage for moving the latter relative to the base. The mounting means comprises a flexure mounting, and a strain gauge provided on the flexure mounting for monitoring the extent of flexure of the mounting when the mounting stage is displaced by the displacement means.

Abstract: A lens mounting mechanism including a fixed tube, a lens holder, a movable sleeve in which the holder is fitted and responsive to operation of an actuator for axially moving the holder, an intermediate sleeve having a guide slot for controlling the movement of the holder in cooperation with the movable sleeve and an adjusting sleeve, the intermediate and adjusting sleeves lying between the fixed tube and the movable sleeve. The adjusting sleeve is rotatable relative to the fixed tube but is restrained from axial movement. By rotating the adjusting sleeve, the axial position of the intermediate sleeve can be finely adjusted.

Abstract: An optical pickup of the invention has an objective lens holder holding an objective lens, a support shaft which supports the objective lens holder such that the holder is slidable along the axial direction and pivotable about its axis, and a press member for pressing the objective lens holder against the support shaft.

Abstract: A fine adjustment apparatus for an optical system lens includes an annular laminated piezoelectric vibrator. The lens is attached to the inner peripheral portion of the piezoelectric vibrator. The piezoelectric vibrator is firmly supported at its outer peripheral portion by a proper member. The piezoelectric vibrator is deflected by the application of a voltage, whereby the lens is finely displaced in the optical axis direction thereof. The piezoelectric vibrator may be formed by laminating two annular piezoelectric elements with an annular metal plate sandwiched therebetween. Each of the piezoelectric elements has the axis of polarization extending in the thicknesswise direction thereof. The metal plate has a thickness which does not exceed at least 25% of the total thickness of the two piezoelectric elements.

Abstract: A transverse configuration, electronically tunable acousto-optic filter assembly with improved spectral resolution and increased aperture. The crystal prism member is made of TeO.sub.2 and has a large prism angle (i.e., close to 90 degrees). An acousic prism coupler member made of material with low acoustic velocity (such as TeO.sub.2, AsS.sub.3, or GeAsSe), to avoid total internal reflection of the interface, is bonded in optical contact with a face of the crystal prism member which defines one extreme of the large prism angle, and which is not traversed by a polarized light beam that is transmitted through the crystal prism member and that interacts with a generated, perpendicularly directed, acoustic wave. The use of the acoustic prism couple member, togther with the use of a large prism angle in the crystal prism member, result in high spectral resolution and large aperture of the filter assembly and its desired useability in the infrared region.

Abstract: In an objective lens driving device, a movable member shiftable along and rotatable around a vertical shaft is provided for supporting the objective lens to be movable therewith vertically and horizontally. An electromagnetic driving means is provided for driving the movable member as desired. A damper member formed into an annular configuration symmetric around a central axis of a bearing portion provided on the movable member is provided between the movable member and a stationary portion of the device for damping and positioning the movable member for maintaining the objective lens to its neutral position.

Abstract: Apparatus for linearly adjusting the position of devices, and in particular, apparatus for adjusting focus of an image on a light sensitive surface of an image sensor device included in an optical character recognition read head. The apparatus includes a first mechanism for adjustably positioning a lens assembly for adjusting focus at the image plane, and a second device for adjustably supporting the image sensor device for adjusting the position of its light sensitive surface to coincide with the plane of the focused image.

Abstract: An objective lens drive/support mechanism in an optical disc player system includes an objective lens support member which is slidably and rotatably secured to a main shaft of the mechanism. An objective lens is supported by the objective lens support member at a position which is separated from the main shaft by a predetermined distance. The objective lens support member is driven to slide along the main shaft to perform the focus control, and the objective lens support member is rotated around the main shaft to perform the tracking operation. A symmetrically "8" shaped elastic damping member is tightly secured to the main shaft at the center of the symmetrically "8" shaped elastic damping member. Both ends of the symmetrically "8" shaped elastic damping member are fixed to the objective lens support member, whereby the single symmetrically "8" shaped elastic damping member conducts the damping operation in both the focal direction and the tracking direction.

Abstract: To allow rapid change between the conoscopic observation method and the orthoscopic observation method in a microscope, while showing a small overall size and permitting and optically correct position of the Bertrand lens and the associated diaphragm, an additional supplementary beam path can be selectively used in addition to the main beam path. The supplementary beam path includes the Bertrand lens and the iris diaphragm and extends away from the optical axis of the microscope objective in a lateral direction.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator consisting of an electron beam source formed within a vacuum envelope and an electro-optic crystal assembly for storing electrons emitted from the electron beam source as a charge to change the optical property thereof. The electro-optic crystal assembly consists of a pair of electro-optic crystal plates of the same materials, i.e., LiNbO.sub.3, LiTaO.sub.3, or Bi.sub.12 SiO.sub.20. As an example, LiNbO.sub.3 is cut in such a way that the normal to its surface is located in the (-Y, Z) plane and makes an angle of 55 degrees with the Z-axis. The electro-optic crystal assembly further consists of a pair of electro-optic crystal plates having different thickness which are combined through a transparent conductive film so that the surface of the thinner electro-optic crystal plate faces the electron beam.

Abstract: The simultaneous and equal tuning of two birefringent crystal elements of a Solc type optical filter by pairs of quarter-wave plates adjacent to each and oriented such that equal and opposite physical rotations between the plates of each pair tunes its adjacent birefringent element in the same direction without changing the relative orientations of the filter input and output. Also, the simultaneous and equal tuning of two birefringent crystal elements of a Solc type optical filter by the rotation of a single contiguous group of optical components.

Abstract: A micro-optical lens holder having a lens receiver movable within a collar. The lens receiver has an indentation therein in which the lens is placed and a longitudinally extending passageway for allowing light to pass through the lens. The collar circumscribes the lens receiver in such a manner that when the lens receiver is positioned within the collar, the collar exerts a force on the lens receiver to securely maintain the lens within the lens receiver. Lens replacement only requires the extraction of the lens receiver from the collar in order to replace the lens within the lens receiver with a lens of a different size.

Abstract: A measuring microscope includes coarse and fine focusing controls arranged in a manner to isolate the microscope from any lateral forces caused by manual manipulation of the controls so as to remain precisely on the same Z axis during and after fine focusing.

Abstract: Stereoscopic binocular apparatus comprising first and second optical axes and means for arranging the first and second optical axes in the plane defined thereby whereby they converge at the location of the object being viewed.

Abstract: A chuck assembly is adapted to be mounted on the positioning assembly of a microscopic test device for effecting precise repeatable vertical movement of the object under test with negligible incidental movement of any other type. A triangular member fixed with respect to the positioning assembly is received in a circular recess in the upper surface of a housing. An annular projection on the bottom of the triangular member is disposed in an annular cavity in the housing, with a sealing gasket therebetween. The bottom of the cavity is coupled to an associated source of compressed air. A thin flat flexible metal disc overlies the triangular member and is fixed thereto centrally thereof, the periphery of the disc being fixedly clamped between the housing and a retaining ring. A top plate is secured to the housing.

Abstract: An electro-optical device containing an electrochromic material layer and electrolytic solution interposed between mutually opposed base plates, each having an electrode on the surface thereof, wherein said electrolytic solution consists essentially of (a) an iodide source material as a redox reaction promoter selected from the group consisting of metal iodides and ammonium iodides, and (b) a lactone solvent capable of dissolving the redox reaction promoter, with the proviso that when the iodide ion source material is not also a metal cation source, a cation source material capable of generating H.sup.+ or Li.sup.+ is further added.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for providing an improved variable lens and birefringence compensator envisioned for use within the resonator cavity of a laser which is capable of continuous operation. A pair of cylindrical bodies of optical material (12A, B) having a temperature dependent index of refraction are thermally coupled to heat exchange means (14A, B) surrounded by potting material (16) which adds heat to or extracts heat from the exterior surfaces of the cylindrical bodies in order to establish radially dependent thermal and stress gradients within the bodies. The heat exchange means (14A, B) is supplied power through leads (20A, B) and infuses or removes heat in order to establish a thermal gradient which is used to create a dynamic lens of opposite power to that of the laser rod which corrects beam divergence in the lased output. The stress gradient causes the compensator body to behave like a birefringent substance.

Abstract: A viewing system for use in low visibility atmospheres, such as fog, rain, snow, dust, smoke, etc., particularly under nighttime conditions. A cyclically-operated pulsed light source illuminates the scene for brief instances. A shutter is operated in synchronism with the light source for transmitting to a human observer (or TV camera) light rays reflected from objects located selected distance intervals away from the light source; light rays from other zones or areas are excluded. By thus excluding light reflections from zones outside the selected distance interval, it should be possible to minimize glare associated with the excluded light, thereby improving the view of objects located within the selected distance interval.