Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging detector. In order to provide a hybrid X-ray and optical detector with enhanced optical imaging capabilities and a simple design, an imaging detector is provided for capturing optical imaging data and X-ray imaging data. The imaging detector comprises a substrate, a photosensitive sensor, an X-ray scintillator, and an array of optical component arrangements. The photosensitive sensor comprises sensor pixels distributed across the imaging detector. The X-ray scintillator is configured to convert energy of incident X-ray radiation into optical photons. Each optical component arrangement comprises at least one optical component configured for directing incident optical radiation towards the photosensitive sensor. The sensor pixels comprise optical pixels, each coupled with a respective optical component arrangement to receive the incident optical radiation, thereby generating the optical imaging data.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining the distance between two objects and optionally activating an alarm when the distance exceeds a predetermined threshold. The detection system includes a base unit and a remote unit. The base unit includes a first transmitter for transmitting at least one locator pulse; a first receiver for receiving at least one return pulse, the first receiver including a pulse detector for detecting the leading edge of the at least one return pulse; and a distance measurement unit. The remote unit includes a second receiver for receiving the at least one locator pulse; and a second transmitter for transmitting the at least one return pulse in response to the at least one locator pulse. The distance measurement unit is adapted for determining the distance between the base unit and the remote unit based on the leading edge of the at least one return pulse.

Abstract: A light control element (100) is disclosed having a first chamber (110) encapsulating a first liquid crystal based light absorbing material (112; 114) being switchable from a first orientation in which said material (112; 114) predominantly absorbs light having a first polarization direction to a second orientation in which said material (112; 114) is substantially transparent and that further has a second chamber (120) encapsulating a second liquid crystal based light absorbing material (122; 124) being switchable from a first further orientation in which said material (122; 124) predominantly absorbs light having a polarization direction substantially perpendicular to the first polarization direction to a second further orientation in which said material (122; 124) is substantially transparent. A plurality of electrodes is present for switching the orientations of the first and second light absorbing materials. Consequently, a polarization independent light control element (100) is obtained.

Abstract: A controllable electrowetting lens system has a feedback control loop for controlling the electrode arrangement drive signals to implement an autofocus function. The feedback control loop comprising an image analysis focus detection system and a variable gain element. The gain is adjusted based on the lens condition, for example as sensed by a capacitance sensing arrangement. The autofocus control loop can be optimised to the lens characteristics (because the lens characteristics change over time) and/or to external conditions such as temperature.

Abstract: An optical scanning device incorporating a compound objective lens 10 and a radiation detector 31 is described for reading an optical record carrier 1 in which the optical record carrier 1 is provided with a transparent layer 2. The thickness of the transparent layer 2 and the effective radius of the detector 31 are adapted such that the signal-to-noise ratio of the device is significantly improved and/or local heating of an air gap below an air slider is reduced. The optical record carrier is provided with a lubricant to facilitate the use of a slider optical head 40.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical device comprising a container enclosing an insulating liquid (A) and an electrically susceptible liquid (B), the insulating liquid (A) and the electrically susceptible liquid (B) being immiscible and being in contact with each other via an interface (14), at least one of the liquids (A; B) being at least partially placed in a light path through the container. The optical device further comprises heating means (2, 12, 20) that preferably are responsive to a temperature sensor (30) for heating the insulating liquid (A) and the electrically susceptible liquid (B). Consequently, an optical device is obtained in which the influence of the temperature dependence of the physical properties of the insulating liquid (A) and the electrically susceptible liquid (B) on the behaviour of the optical device is reduced, thus yielding an optical device with improved optical characteristics at low temperatures.

Abstract: A controllable optical lens system comprises a chamber housing first and second fluids, the interface between the fluids defining a lens surface. An electrode controls the shape of the lens surface and has first and second electrodes. The current supplied by a power source to the electrode arrangement is monitored, and the charge supplied is derived. The voltage on one of the electrodes of the electrode arrangement is also monitored. A desired lens power is used to derive a control value for controlling the total charge to be supplied to the electrode arrangement. The drive scheme is independent of some of the lens characteristics, and is more easily implemented than a feedback control system using capacitive sensing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system comprising a fluid chamber 1 and a birefringent part. The fluid chamber comprises first and second fluids 10, 12 having different indices of refraction, the interface between the fluids forming a meniscus 14. The birefringent part is capable of varying characteristics of a first radiation beam 3b and a second radiation beam 3c, the first and second radiation beams having different polarisations. Variation in the configuration of the meniscus causes variation in the characteristics of the first radiation beam and the second radiation beam. Variation in the configuration of the meniscus may be controlled by electrowetting.

Abstract: In an image sensor incorporating a variable focus lens of the electrowetting type, means are provided for reducing or substantially eliminating the occurrence of ghost images. A variable focus lens of the above-mentioned type comprises a housing (5) provided with a first fluid (A) and an axially displaced second fluid (B), the two fluids being non-miscible, in contact over a meniscus (14) and having different indices of refraction. First and second electrodes (2,12) are provided and the shape of the meniscus (14) is controllable in dependence on the application of a voltage between the first and second electrodes (2,12).

Abstract: A variable focus lens of the type including a first fluid (A) and a second fluid (B), the fluids being immiscible and having different indices of refraction wherein the lens function of the variable focus lens can be selectively controlled. The refractive indices of the two respective fluids (A) and (B) are different, and it is highly advantageous if the difference between these refractive indices is relatively high, in order to obtain a good zoom factor. Many oils with a high refractive index (approximately above 1.7) are not colourless, but instead tend to be yellow. However, this causes colour changes in the image of an object compared with the object itself. This problem is solved by correcting or compensating for the resultant change of colour of an image of an object, compared with the object itself, caused by the use of a non-colourless fluid as the first and/or second fluid in a variable focus lens of the above-mentioned type.

Abstract: An optical scanning device which is compatible with both multi-layer and single layer disc formats, and which alleviates lens design requirements by providing a dual lens system and by making, say, lens OL0 compatible with DVD (as well as layer L0 of the dual layer format) and lens OL1 compatible with CD (as well as layer L1 of the dual layer format). Thus the two lens designs only need to work at two different wavelengths, and the device achieves compatibility with three different optical record carrier formats, but the amount of spherical aberration in respect of each lens part only needs to be matched precisely with respect to two formats in one of a number of known ways.

Abstract: A variable focus lens comprises a container enclosing an insulating liquid (A) and a conducting liquid (B), the insulating liquid (A) and the conducting liquid (B) being immiscible, having different refractive indices and being in contact with each other via an interface (14), the liquids (A, B) being at least partially placed in a light path through the container. The variable focus lens further comprises an electrode arrangement (2, 12) for controlling the shape of the interface (14) by means of an applied voltage. The container further comprises a transparent end portion (4) in the light path, a part (4) the transparent end portion (4) defining the shape of a part of the interface (14) at a predefined value of the voltage. Consequently, a variable focus lens with a reduced building height (H) is achieved that suffers less from the gradual formation of is small droplets of the conducting liquid (B) on the inner surface of the end portion (4).

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical device comprising a container enclosing an insulating liquid (A) and a liquid responsive to an electric field (B), the insulating liquid (A) and the liquid responsive to an electric field (B) being immiscible and being in contact with each other via an interface (14), at least one of the liquids (A; B) being at least partially placed in a light path through the container. The optical device further comprises an electrode arrangement (2; 12) for controlling the shape of the interface (14) by means of a voltage; and means (100) for preventing the interface from an exposure to an external electric field. Consequently, the build-up of electrostatic charge on a surface of the optical device is avoided, which prevents the unwanted distortion of the interface (14) caused by the interaction of the liquid responsive to an electric field (B) and the electrostatic charge.

Abstract: An optical system comprising an optical element arranged on an optical axis in the path of a radiation beam. The optical element (2; 116; 202) comprises a birefringent material and has a non-planar face (4) through which the radiation beam passes. The optical system comprises a polarisation control system for controlling polarisation of the radiation beam such that the radiation beam has a polarisation which is non-uniform across a cross section (21; 24) taken perpendicular to the optical axis, the non-uniform polarisation having a distribution corresponding with a shape of the said non-planar face.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical scanning device which comprises a phase structure system than can be used in various modes of operation of the optical scanning device. The optical device comprises a first phase structure (105) comprising a first birefringent material (203) having a first extraordinary axis and a second phase structure (106) comprising a second birefringent material (208) having a second extraordinary axis perpendicular to the first extraordinary axis. The first and second phase structures have substantially the same pattern. The optical device further comprises means (202, 205, 207, 210) for modifying the extraordinary refractive index of the first and the second birefringent material such that the extraordinary refractive indices of the first and the second birefringent materials remain substantially equal.

Abstract: A zoom optical system is provided which has a lens system which comprises a first lens which is arranged to provide a continuously variable focus for a beam of radiation. The lens system further comprises a switchable optical element including a first fluid, a second fluid and a wavefront modifier having a part through which said radiation beam is arranged to pass. In a first mode the switchable optical element has a first fluid configuration with said part being substantially covered by the first fluid, and in a second mode the switchable optical element has a second, different, fluid configuration with said part being substantially covered by the second fluid.

Abstract: A variable focus lens for an eye comprising a transparent rear wall, a transparent front wall, a cavity formed between the transparent front wall and the transparent rear wall, first and second immiscible fluids of differing refractive index contained within said cavity, and electrodes to which a voltage is able to be applied to change the curvature of a fluid meniscus between the two fluids. At least the rear wall of the lens includes a biocompatible material, which material provides for biocompatibility of the lens with the eye.

Abstract: An electrowetting device comprises a variable element (28) and a control system (11) for the variable element (28), wherein the control system (11) is adapted to provide an asymmetric voltage waveform to the variable.

Abstract: An achromatic electrowetting lens is provided. This is achieved by a particular choice of the parameters n, n2, V, and V2, wherein n is the refractive index and V is the Abbe number. By fulfilling the relations: Formula (I) an achromatization of the electrowetting lens is achieved.

Abstract: A variable mirror (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600; 740; 922) includes a fluid chamber (130; 230), an optical axis (90) extending through at least a portion of the fluid chamber, and a first polar and/or conductive fluid (110; 210) and a second fluid (120; 220) in contact over an interface (140, 140?; 240, 240?; 340, 340?; 440, 440?; 540, 540?) extending transverse the optical axis. The fluids are substantially immiscible. The interface comprises a reflective material. An interface adjuster (250; 250?; 250?) is arranged to alter the configuration of the interface via the electro wetting effect.