Abstract: A wide angle laser window for directing a coherent radiation beam through the skin of an aircraft to or from a distant point located at a varying azimuthal position with respect thereto is comprised of a fluid prismatic window including a first beam-transmissive window panel disposed aerodynamically with respect to the skin of the aircraft, a second beam-transmissive window panel disposed inwardly proximate the first in pivotable relationship therewith, a flexible seal securing the panels to define a fluid cell therebetween, and a beam-transmissive fluid charged to the cell; wherein the indices of refraction for each of the panel members and the fluid are matched to yield a variable angle prism having substantially uniform optical properties. A laser system incorporating a plurality of the aforesaid windows located circumferentially about an aircraft permits beam steering over a wide range of angles substantially enveloping the craft.

Abstract: A holographic process is provided for recording-reading by means of index strata in the volume of a photoexcitable storage medium. This process consists in causing two beams to interfere in this medium during two successive writing steps by using writing radiations of different wavelengths. The reading of this medium is then effected by means of a third coherent radiation having for wave vector in the medium a linear combination of the wave vectors of said writing radiations.

Abstract: An optical scanner is improved by securing beam directing holograpic films to the transparent scanner window. The films alter the paths of beams at the window to provide scanning beams suitable for rear or side scanning of label-carrying products. A vertical scanning beam, which sweeps a path parallel to the window's leading edge, might be used to detect the approach of a product to be scanned.

Abstract: A light transmission control apparatus of the present invention relies on the principle of light transmission when an air bubble is produced in opaque liquid. In one form of the present invention, an optical switching device includes a container for containing therein opaque liquid, which is provided with transparent inlet and outlet sections. Transmission of light from the inlet section to the outlet section through the container is controlled by production or disappearance of air bubbles in the opaque liquid present between the inlet and outlet sections. In another form of the present invention, a display device includes a container for containing therein opaque liquid, which is provided with a transparent section defining an observation window or screen. A plurality of picture elements are provided in the form of an array, either one or two dimensional, as normally hidden by the opaque liquid. Air bubbles are produced in the opaque liquid to expose selected picture elements which define a reproduced image.

Abstract: Cube-corner retroreflective articles having improved angularity along multiple viewing planes are provided. The articles comprise at least one matched pair of cube-corner retroreflective elements which are rotated 180.degree. with respect to one another, the three lateral mutually perpendicular faces of the elements being defined at their bases by linear edges that lie in a common plane, and the optical axes of the elements being tilted toward one another.

Abstract: A lens frame holding device for mounting the optical unit of a copying machine in which the position of the lens frame in the direction of the optical axis is regulated so that, if a lens frame is removed from the housing for maintenance or the like, it can be easily and accurately reassembled without the need for adjustment. A housing has bottom and vertical walls at opposite ends of the bottom wall, and supporting cuts are formed in the vertical walls for supporting the lens frame. Two hooking slots are formed in each vertical wall, and elastic lens holding members are provided for securing the lens frame to the housing. The lens holding members each having two hooking portions adapted to engage with the hooking slots. With the lens holding members laid over the lens frame set in the supporting cuts, the lens frame is fixedly secured to the housing using the hooking portions and hooking slots.

Abstract: The lens holder of a lens focussing device is axially movable in a lens sleeve supported on a film holder on which it can slide. The rim of a focussing wheel is accommodated in the space between the collar of the lens and the top face of the lens sleeve. The rim thickness increases uniformly along half its periphery. This results in a relative movement of the lens holder and the lens sleeve when rotating the focussing wheel. The focussing wheel is axially deformable. Notwithstanding the focussing wheel being firmly mounted, this provision allows limited axial movement of the lens sleeve, rendering it possible for the lens sleeve to follow the course of the upper plate of the film holder.

Abstract: The system relates to a telescope having optics and a scanning head which images a two-dimensional field of view point by point onto a localized thermal sensor. An aperture stop is mounted within the telescope housing and at least part of it is within the field of view of the sensor. The temperature of the stop is controlled by means of Peltier thermo-electric modules so that it corresponds to the average temperature of the external field of view. This prevents halation or blooming which would result from extreme temperature contrasts. The vignetting which occurs when the aperture stop is within the field of view gives an increased magnification for a given size of objective optics, and the benefits outweigh the corresponding reduction in thermal sensitivity.

Abstract: A CRT magnifying lens attachment and glare reduction system for use with a computer display screen. The attachment supports the magnifying lens and glare reduction system adjacent the display screen. The magnifying lens and glare reduction system includes at least on fresnel lens positioned adjacent an optical element, the optical element reduces glare and enhances the image produced by the screen.

Abstract: A reflective-diffractive coating layer, situated at the interface between a substrate layer and an overcoat layer of the device, is divided into a set of small, slightly separated regions. This allows a direct bond of the overcoat layer to the substrate layer within the separation areas, which direct bond provides a more secure bond than that provided by a bond of the coating layer to the substrate and overcoat layers.

Abstract: A bicycle reflector safety warning device which embodies reflectors, oriented for viewing from both forward and rearward of the bicycle, on both sides of the bicycle, so as to define the outside dimensions on both sides of the bicycle and to provide a lateral separation basis for the estimation of distance to the bicycle. The device, of sturdy construction, may include a mounting member for secure attachment to the bicycle seat stays; a single helical expansion spring member for flexibility and resiliency; reflector support rods attached helically, by threads, to the spring member for ruggedness and adjustability; and forward and rearward pairs of reflectors.

Abstract: A dispersive prism arrangement comprises a pair of identical triangular prisms each of which is mounted on a platform. The two platforms are rotatably mounted on a common shaft which slides in a groove and each platform is also mounted on a respective shaft which slides in a respective groove. These two further shafts are biased outwardly by springs. The two prisms are symmetrically disposed about the common shaft. Equal but opposite rotation may be imparted to the two prisms by rotating a knob which drives the common shaft.A multiwavelength input beam incident on the first face of the first prism is refracted at this face, reflected at the second and third faces, emerges after refraction at the second face, and makes a symmetrical passage through the second prism. The prisms may be rotated so that each component of the beam emerges from the second prism without offset or deviation relate to the input beam.

Abstract: A reflector is disclosed as comprising a base member of elastomeric material forming a support body for said marker, and a plurality of individual resilient members of elastomeric material integrally formed with said base member and projecting therefrom, each of said resilient members having embedded therein and throughout a plurality of reflective glass beads. At least the distal ends of the resilient members have a surface portion of the elastomeric material removed to expose a portion of the glass beads thereat.

Abstract: An arrangement for deflecting a beam of monochromatic light in a rapid and accurate manner. To deflect the beam, segments of a number of Fresnel lenses are produced onto a single flat glass substrate disk. The optical axis of each of the lens segments corresponds to the center of rotation of the disk. The disk is mounted on a shaft which is rotatable about that optical axis. The beam of light to be deflected is applied to the surface of the disk at a point off the axis. When the beam passes through the disk it becomes deflected by one of the lens elements. The degree of deflection depends on the nature of the element, and the rate at which the beam is deflected from one orientation to another is determined by the rate of rotation of the disk.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for focusing at least one image and optionally only one image of an object, said apparatus comprising a receiving surface and an optical imaging device between the image and the object to form an image of the object on the receiving surface. The imaging device comprising at least one glass body, at least a portion of which is a photonucleated opacified glass. The body has opposed surfaces, at least one of the surfaces having raised light focusing transparent optical pattern portions integral therewith and transparent channels connecting the raised transparent pattern portions to the surface opposed to the surface containing the pattern.

Abstract: Mount for optical components, particularly a prism, ensuring a statically defined mounting of the optical component mounted in a self-aligned manner. The mount includes a curved surface to receive an optical component with a flat surface with line contact of the flat surface edges on the curved surface. Further attachment devices, including at least one resilient element, hold the component in other directions. Several embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A reflective system for bicycles includes a pair of bent triangle shaped reflectors which are mounted in oppositely facing fore and aft directions on a bicycle so as to present at least one large bright triangular shaped reflective surface to any position around the bicycle. The front and rear reflectors are preferably of different colors so as to provide a ready indication of both the presence and direction of travel of a bicycle.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an improved optical unit provided with a driving shaft which is arranged to be displaced in an axial direction for connection with a driven shaft of a mating instrument, following attachment or detachment with respect to the mating instrument. In the optical unit, safety of the mounting surface of the mating instrument and safety of the connecting end portion of the driving shaft have been ensured by providing a difference between the amount of displacement of a position restricting member advancing into a mounting position restricting recess provided in a mounting surface of the mating instrument, and the amount of displacement of the driving shaft to be connected to an end to be clutched of a driven shaft which is borne or journalled in a hole formed in the mounting portion of the mating instrument.

Abstract: A transducer or optical head arrangement for an optical disk recorder includes an adjustably mounted dichroic beam combiner. The adjustments are in two degrees of freedom about a pivot point located near a light beam entry point. The write light source has its emitted beam reflected to the optical disk through a minimum of optical elements. The readback or sensing elements are optically coupled to the optical disk via a light path extending through the beam combiner entering at about the pivot point. The sensing elements include a second light source, an optical detector and a beam splitter. The two light sources are shown as semiconductive laser-emitting different frequency light beams. A four-screw, adjustably-mounted aperture plate retains a partial spherical dichroic beam combiner in a cavity of an optical support.

Abstract: A head up display system including a light emissive object at an object plane and a collimator and combiner to provide a collimated image for viewing at an eye plane overlaid on a view through the combiner. The object emits light in at least two chromatically separated emission wavebands and by a diffractive optical element in the light path from object plane to eye plane having narrow band reflection characteristics at each emission wavelength.