Abstract: A microscope-projector system is employed to image and view a transition of light and dark areas on an object. The position of the shadow corresponds to the vertical position of a portion of the object, and an adjustable device is employed for adjusting the position of the microscope-projector with respect to the object. A video camera may be connected to the microscope, to project the image on a monitor. Vertical adjustment of the microscope-projector assembly enables measurement of thickness, for example, with respect to a reference level. The scan lines of the video camera may also be employed to locate the position of the shadow to indicate the thickness of the object, and also to automatically readjust the position of the shadow to a reference level. Electronic circuitry may also play a part to determine from transition in scan lines the horizontal dimensions of an object.

Abstract: A novel and advantageous microscope objective mount is provided. Said mount can be screwed to a microscope and more particularly to the objective turret or nosepiece. It is provided with a rotatable outer sleeve held on the mount, the sleeve being held by an elastically deformable ring which engages, at least in part, by force-locking. Due to the construction of the mount of this invention, attachment of the sleeve thereto is considerably facilitated and improved with respect to the axial play as compared with known mount assemblies. There is practically no radial clamping of the holding ring against the mount.

Abstract: An electro-optic light valve is disclosed which is particularly adapted to be used in an additive color printing system for use on conventional photographic film printers. The additive color system utilizes a plurality of light valves, one for each of the monochromatic light beams, for controlling the color balance and light beam intensity of the printing light beam on the photographic film printer. A programmable, electronic control system is provided for driving the light valves in accordance with programmed color balance and intensity information. Closed loop feedback is provided from the electro-optic light valves to the control system to guarantee accurate execution of the programmed information.

Abstract: A fluid matrix is sampled and evaluated for the presence of a metal carbonyl by separating predetermined elemental components from one another, forming an admixture between such elements and a carrier gas, oxidizing the admixture in the presence of an oxygen rich flame, selecting a predetermined range of wavelengths from the emission spectrum generated by the oxidized admixture and detecting the selected range.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the similarity in cross section and the disposition of each relative to a common axis of a plurality of similar bores formed in a burner tip and distributed around the axis.

Abstract: A reflection type ellipsometer for measuring the phase difference of a sample, which comprises a light source, a polarizer, a sample, an analyzer and a photoelectric converter element arranged in the conventional manner. In accordance with the present invention the ellipsometer includes an adjustable phase difference compensating plate which is disposed on the light path between the polarizer and the analyzer and at an azimuth of 0.degree. with respect to the sample surface, the phase difference (.DELTA. C) introduced by the compensating plate being preset to a value which eliminates a predetermined or reference phase difference (.DELTA. o). The ellipsometer of the present invention further includes a double-refractive element which introduces a double refraction phase difference proportional to a voltage applied thereto. The double-refractive element is also disposed on the light path between the polarizer and the analyzer.

Abstract: A unique two component beam splitter for generating multiple pairs of parallel beams of coherent radiation from input beams, one pair from each input radiation beam from a given laser source. The input beam from each different source is incident to a different input face of the beam splitter and the polarization states of each beam in a given pair are related in a unique manner.Each incident radiation input beam is separated by means of a selectively transmissive coating on one of the roof faces of an Amici prism into a first beam comprising substantially all of the polarized component parallel to the plane of incidence (P polarization) and one-half of the polarization component normal to the plane of incidence (S polarization), and a second beam comprising one-half of the S polarization component alone.

Abstract: A double beam optical null spectrophotometer having sample and reference optical beam paths, a detector common to both paths, and an attenuator feedback loop from the detector for adjusting the position of an optical attenuator in the reference beam path to balance the energy in the two paths. The slider of an attenuator transmitting potentiometer follows the position of the optical attenuator and a signal level sensitive impedance network connected to the slider calibrates the potentiometer such that an output signal therefrom indicates the true transmittance of a sample in the sample beam path over a range of transmittance values from zero to one hundred percent transmittance.

Abstract: Automatic determination of the activated sludge volume index by use of a single sample is accomplished by a method which comprises placing in a test cell a mixed liquor of activated sludge sampled at the aerator outlet or at the final settler, automatically determining the concentration of activated sludge and the sedimentation rate of activated sludge by optical means and calculating the activated sludge volume index by subjecting the found values of activated sludge concentration and activated sludge sedimentation rate to an arithmetic circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stereoscopic measurement of an actual value of depth in a subject through its three-dimensional image obtained from two stereoscopically photographed films by utilizing three factors, that is, the center of optical axis of an X-ray tube or a camera which is indexed from the films at the time of stereoscopic photography, distance of movement from the first photographic point to the second photographic point and distance from the X-ray tube or the lens to the film.

Abstract: A device for positioning lenses precisely with five degrees of freedom (three translations and two angular rotations). The unique features of the device are its compact design, large clear aperture, and high degree of positioning accuracy combined with five degrees of freedom in axis motion. Thus, the device provides precision and flexibility in positioning of optical components.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention described herein was made in the course of, or under, Contract No. AT(29-1)-1183, with the United States Energy Research and Development Administration.

Abstract: A sensitive, noise-free ellipsometer measures depolarization of an incident beam by forming from the reference and signal components of the incident beam a signal component polarized in one direction, and a frequency shifted local oscillator component polarized in the same direction, with these latter components being optically heterodyned at a detector. In the formation of the local oscillator component, the reference component of the incident beam is shifted in frequency from that of the signal component of the incident beam and rotated 90.degree. from its original orientation so that optical heterodyning can take place. This is accomplished by passing the incident beam through a shear-wave, traveling wave acoustic modulator which forms local oscillator and signal beams, each having rotated and frequency shifted components, and unrotated and unshifted components.

Abstract: To measure the cross-section of an object in a contact-free manner (that is to say without contacting the object) use is made of an optical sensor system and means for causing relative movement of the sensor system and the object being measured, the sensor system comprising at least two emitters which emit respective scanning rays at an angle to one another and directed to respective receivers which supply signals to an evaluation unit upon interruption of each ray by the object and subsequent cessation of said interruption; at least two of said co-operating emitter-receiver pairs are so arranged that their scanning rays (or projections thereof on a common plane parallel to the scanning rays) cross one another and extend at angles to the direction of relative movement.

Abstract: An optical detection system for a weighing scale includes an apparatus for generating a moire fringe. Unlike prior moire-type systems, however, the present scale is constructed with a substantially rigid tare, so that movement of the moire is limited to only a portion of one fringe line. Movement of the tare, and the pan carrying the load, are visually not apparent. Response time is greatly enhanced by the inventive system and accuracy is improved due to minimized hysteresis loss. The invention detects an optical shifting of the fringe line, rather than a counting of a number of fringe lines as with prior highly deflective scale systems.

Abstract: An apparatus for observing the relative alignment of two pairs of guide rollers on a rolling mill roller guide. The roller guide is positioned with its guide roller pairs spaced along an axis extending between two light sources. A dichroic mirror is arranged between each pair of guide rollers and its adjacent light source. One dichroic mirror reflects blue light while transmitting red light, and the other dichroic mirror reflects red light while transmitting blue light. The light reflected from both dichroic mirrors is recombined by a third dichroic mirror and is then projected onto a screen as red and blue images which may be compared visually with a reference outline on the screen, the said outline being representative of proper guide roller alignment. When the roller pairs are properly aligned, the red and blue images coincide on the screen to produce a white image aligned with the reference outline.

Abstract: An automatic hybrid holograhic non-destructive testing (HNDT) method and system capable of detecting flaws or debonds contained within certain materials. This system incorporates the techniques of optical holography, acoustical/optical holography and holographic correlation in determining the structural integrity of a test object. An automatic processing system including a detector and automatic data processor is used in conjunction with the three holographic techniques for correlating and interpreting the information supplied by the non-destructive systems. The automatic system also includes a sensor which directly translates an optical data format produced by the holographic techniques into electrical signals and then transmits this information to a digital computer for indicating the structural properties of the test object. The computer interprets the data gathered and determining whether further testing is necessary, as well as the format of this new testing procedure.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer comprising means for producing electrical signals Er and Es corresponding to reference and measuring beams, respectively; means for multiplying the value Es by a factor k to produce an electrical signal corresponding to the value kEs; means for controlling said signal producing means so as to keep the value (Er + kEs) constant; and means for producing an electrical signal corresponding to the value (Er - kEs), whereby minute changes of the absorbance of a sample can be accurately measured without logarithmic conversion.

Abstract: The device for the testing through optical inspection of the cigarette ends comprises two probes made of optical fibres, which probes are arranged orthogonally with respect to each other. A first probe inspects the end surface of the cigarette being tested by directing against the said end surface a beam of light, and picking up the light reflected, the intensity of which depends from the end surface itself and from the distance of said end surface with respect to the said first probe.

Abstract: A microscope which has a substantially cylindrical shape, the cylinder being hollow to house insects and the like being viewed, the viewing end of the cylinder including a magnifying lens for viewing the insects, and the walls of the cylinder having Fresnel grooves for increasing the illumination of the insects being viewed.

Abstract: The invention is a device for measuring the contour of a surface. Light from a source is imaged by a lens onto the surface which concentrates the energy from the source into a spot. A scanning means is used to scan the spot across the surface. As the surface is being scanned the surface moves relative to the point of perfect focus. When the surface moves away from perfect focus the spot increases in size, while the total energy in the spot remains virtually constant. The lens then reimages the light reflected by the surface onto two detectors through two different sized apertures. The light energy going to the two detectors is separated by a beam splitter. This second path of the light energy through the lens further defocuses the spot, but as a result of the different sizes of the apertures in each light detector path, the amount of defocus for each is different. The ratio of the outputs of the two detectors which is indicative of the contour of the surface is obtained by a divider.