Abstract: A computer input device or wand that may be held and controlled by an infant, a toddler, or an adult who cannot use a conventional input device. An elongated handle is provided for gripping and manipulating the input device. The handle may conform to the size of a baby's hand to allow the input device to be securely held by a baby. The input device or wand includes an omnidirectionally responsive transducer for actuating an electrical control signal in response to each unidirectional sweep of the wand in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the handle, thereby allowing the user to control a computer display by shaking the wand in the same manner as a baby might shake a rattle.

Abstract: A computer input device or wand that may be held and controlled by an infant, a toddler, or an adult who cannot use a conventional input device. An elongated handle is provided for gripping and manipulating the input device. The handle may conform to the size of a baby's hand to allow the input device to be securely held by a baby. The input device or wand includes an omnidirectionally responsive transducer for actuating an electrical control signal in response to each unidirectional sweep of the wand in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the handle, thereby allowing the user to control a computer display by shaking the wand in the same manner as a baby might shake a rattle.

Abstract: A bifocal lens of the Cohen lens design utilizing phase zone plate optics and a facet depth of one-half wavelength of the design wavelength, where the primary focal points are at two orders, specifically the 0.sup.th and 1.sup.st orders, and the brightness at each primary focal point is equal at about 0.40.

Abstract: An optical device suitably employable in intraocular and contact lenses that employs a phase zone plate of a Cohen lens design that relies on a small number of zones to provide multifocal images.

Abstract: A bifocal lens of the Cohen lens design utilizing phase zone plate optics and a facet depth of one-half wavelength of the design wavelength, where the primary focal points are at two orders, specifically the 0.sup.th and 1.sup.st orders, and the brightness at each primary focal point is equal at about 0.40.

Abstract: A multifocal optical device is provided for focusing light traveling parallel to an optical axis of the device. The multifocal optical device comprises a multifocal phase zone plate including at least two annular zones disposed substantially concentrically about the optical axis and spaced in a radial dimension from the optical axis in proportion to the square root of q, where q is an integer zone number; and an absorbing material disposed on a portion of ones of the annular zones for absorbing a portion of the light.

Abstract: A diffraction bifocal lens or lens system, comprising two profiled surfaces or interfaces or a linear combination thereof, wherein one profile provides for the bifocality of the lens and the other profile compensates for chromatic aberration. These lenses or lens systems exhibit two focal points, one which exhibits positive chromatic aberration and the other which exhibits negative chromatic aberration.

Abstract: An ophthalmic contact lens with a phase plate and a pure refractive portion within its optic zone. The invention embraces an ophthalmic contact lens of the Cohen lens design with a phase plate and a pure refractive portion within its optic zone.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens including a carrier lens having an anterior and a posterior surface. A zone plate is having a plurality of zones is disposed annularly about the optical axis of the carrier lens on at least one of the anterior or posterior sides. Each of the zones of the zone plate is spaced from the optical axis in proportion to the square root of n, where n is the zone number. At least one echelette is disposed in each of the zones, each of the echelettes having a surface through which light propagating along the optical axis traverses. The surface of the echelettes varies in a predetermined manner from the zone nearest the optical axis to the zone furthest from the optical axis so that as the size of the aperture disposed along the optical axis changes, the relative intensity of light diffracted to desired orders changes. A step is provided between each of the echelettes, the height of each step having substantially the same optical path length.

Abstract: This invention relates to a multifocal optical lens configuration that relies on the phenomenon of simultaneous vision whereby the eye is presented with two clear images at once. In particular this invention allows a lens to be made with arbitrary relative brighnesses between the multiple images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variety of contact lens designs which attempt to achieve a stable lens orientation by providing such contact lenses with approximately circular profiled grooves or channels. These profiled tracks act as circular keels inhibiting translation and thereby aiding rotational stabilization of the lens.

Abstract: A diffractive multifocal optical element comprising a phase zone plate of a Cohen lens design containing rotationally symmetrical, curved repetitive patterns designed to operate at a specific wavelength and which are also curved in r.sup.2 space.

Abstract: A diffractive multifocal optical element comprising a phase zone plate containing annular concentric zones in which the zones are spaced substantially proportional to .sqroot.n, the zones possess stepped facets that introduce a discontinuity in optical path length of less than .lambda./2.

Abstract: An artifical fingernail or toenail which can provide the illusion of length together with a varying color pattern, through the use of a three dimensional holographic image.

Abstract: A cosemetic contact lens comprising an optically clear central visual region circumscribed by an area covering at least a portion of the iris, in which such circumscribing area comprises a moire pattern.

Abstract: An ophthalmic contact lens with a phase plate and a pure refractive portion within its optic zone. The invention embraces an ophthalmic contact lens of the Cohen lens design with a phase plate and a pure refractive portion within its optic zone.

Abstract: An ophthalmic contact lens containing more than one phase plate within its optic zone, including contact lens, especially of a Cohen lens design, which possesses phase plate optics within its optic zone that progressively shift the intensity of light focussed by bifocal phase plates between the diffractive focal powers by utilizing eshelettes in the phase plates of varying depths and heights which are cooperatively aligned relative to the lens base curve surface that they openly face.

Abstract: An artificial fingernail or toenail which can provide the illusion of length, movement, depth and even three-dimensionalism through the use of a moire pattern.

Abstract: A multifocal zone plate construction suitable for use in optical systems with multifocal requirements. It is designed as a phase shift multifocal zone plate to provide multiple focii with bright images. This is accomplished by adjusting the zone plate spacings such that some of the zone plate focii actually coincide with some of the multifocal Fresnel lens focii.

Abstract: A phase plate construction suitable for use in optical systems with multifocal requirements. It is designed as a phase plate in order to provide sharp and clear focii with bright images. This is accomplished by adjusting the Fresnel echelettes and the zone plate spacings, of the phase plate, such that the Fresnel lens focii coincide with particular zone plate focii.