Abstract: A reflector includes one closed end, one open end and highly reflecting curving walls. The walls are symmetrical about at least one axis of symmetry. The walls include a first segment and other segments. Briefly described, according to one aspect of the present invention, a camera flash unit for illumination of an associated target area has a light source providing light defined as light rays, a reflector directing the light rays from the light source towards the associated target surface and a refractive lens component. The reflector includes one closed end, one open end and highly reflecting curving walls. The walls are symmetrical about at least one axis of symmetry. The refractive lens component is located at the open end of the reflector. It has two surfaces--a back side surface facing said light source and a front side surface. One of the surfaces has a cylindrical shape, the other of the two surfaces has a toroidal shape.

Abstract: A photographic, digital or video camera (10) includes a housing (12); optionally at least one sensor (18, 20, 25, 30, 36, 39, 40, 50) supported by the housing for detecting a condition of the camera or of a scene to be captured by the camera, or both, and for producing a signal; a viewfinder (38) supported by the housing, the viewfinder including a holographic element 64, 90); a source (68) of light having a wavelength of a color to be displayed in the viewfinder; a collimator (70) for receiving a beam from the source and producing an output beam; an optical system (72-80) to horizontally and vertically raster scan the output beam across the holographic element; and a controller (44) for operating the optical system and modulating the output beam in response to the signal, thereby to cause scanned images to be produced by interaction between the output beam and the holographic element, the scanned images displaying information related to use of the camera.

Abstract: Respective image representations of a scene in front of a camera are recorded on a recording medium, such as a filmstrip, when the camera is at two separated viewpoints with respect to the scene, in order to obtain a matched pair of right-eye and left-eye pictures that can be simultaneously viewed to present a stereoscopic image of the scene. Respective indications are recorded on the recording medium, distinguishable from the image representations, that the image representations were recorded with the camera at the two separated viewpoints with respect to the scene. Thus, the matched pair of pictures can be kept in the right order for stereoscopic right-eye and left-eye viewing.

Abstract: A photoflash lamp comprising a lamp housing, a combustible material burning inside the lamp housing to produce a flash illumination, and ignition means for igniting the combustible material, is characterized by optical element means on the lamp housing for changing from a substantially uniform thickness to being thicker in a center than at an edge, responsive to the lamp housing becoming heated when the combustible material is burned inside the lamp housing to produce the flash illumination. The optical element, when changed from a substantially uniform thickness to being thicker in the center than at the edge, forms a positive lens that converges the light rays during flash illumination to enhance the light output.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel method for effecting illumination of an arbitrary aperture. The method comprises a first step of providing a developed hologram comprising a plurality of spatially known discrete holographic optical elements that have been generated from a common arbitrary aperture. A second step comprises directing a plurality of dedicated reconstructing beams to assigned ones of the holographic optical elements, so that a composite hologram beam illuminates the arbitrary aperture.

Abstract: A holographic recording of the interference between an object laser beam and a reference laser beam is used to combine the amplitudes of multiple laser beams which are conjugates of the reference beam into a single laser beam which is conjugate of the object beam. An optical device in the form of a prism has an entrance face with a diffusion surface, and an exit face with a light sensitive recording medium. An object beam incident on the diffusion surface is scattered over the recording medium, in interference with a reference beam simultaneously incident at an angle .theta. onto the same medium. Multiple beams, conjugate to the reference beam, incident at angles .theta..+-.4.degree. on the hologram thus created on the recording medium are diffracted by the hologram and caused to combine at the diffusion surface to form a signal output beam, conjugate to the original object beam and having an amplitude which is proportional to the sum of the separate amplitudes of the combined beams.

Abstract: A holographic recording of the interference between an object laser beam and a reference laser beam is used to combine the amplitudes of multiple input laser beams which are conjugates of the reference beam, into a single output laser beam which is a conjugate of the object beam. An optical device in the form of a trapezoidal prism has an entrance top face with a diffusion surface, and an exit base face with a holographic recording made on a light sensitive recording medium of an interference pattern of an object beam incident on the diffusion surface and scattered over the recording medium, in interference with a reference beam simultaneously incident to a side of the prism onto the same medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is fresnel lens apparatus for optically coupling a plurality of data channels between stationary and rotating systems. Each data channel of the apparatus includes an optical data transmitter, an optical data receiver and a fresnel lens optical element. The plurality of fresnel lens optical elements are preferably annular and arranged concentrically in a plane. Each fresnel lens optical element focuses the optical data from a transmitter to a respective receiver which is positioned off axis with respect to the central axis of the concentric optical elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is optical data signal apparatus for optically coupling a plurality of data channels between stationary and rotating systems. The optical data signal apparatus is useful in a rotary head scanner for coupling a plurality of data channels between a rotating head wheel, having a plurality of magnetic record/reproduce heads, and stationary signal processing circuitry. Each data channel of the apparatus includes an optical data signal transmitter, an optical data signal receiver and an optical coupling element for causing an optical data signal transmitted by the transmitter to be focused on the receiver. The plurality of optical coupling elements are preferably annular and arranged concentrically in a plane. Each optical coupling element focuses the optical data from a transmitter to a respective receiver which is positioned off axis with respect to the central axis of the concentric optical elements. Preferably the optical elements are holographic optical elements.