Abstract: The invention provides a powder bed printing system and process which reduces the time period needed to complete the recoating and heating of each material layer in the process, thereby reducing process overhead and printing time.

Abstract: A 3D printer device utilizing at least one Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) image head having at least one beam focused in a focal plane of the device for building on a surface of the device a 3D model of a target object from a digital image. The inventive 3D printer is more compact in size due to the use of QCL image heads, which provides focused wavelengths of QCLs matching the absorption properties in plastics for more efficient absorption of the radiant energy. Each QCL channel power in the inventive 3D printer can be doubled by combining two lasers with a polarization beam splitter. The QCL image head is provided with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) for compensating for imaging speed. The invention includes a method for scaling up the building speed of 3D printing regardless of detail level. The invention discloses an affordable 3D printer using QCL technology while maintaining high standards of resolution, use of quality materials, and rapid building speeds.

Abstract: A 3D printer device utilizing at least one Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) image head having at least one beam focused in a focal plane of the device for building on a surface of the device a 3D model of a target object from a digital image. The inventive 3D printer is more compact in size due to the use of QCL image heads, which provides focused wavelengths of QCLs matching the absorption properties in plastics for more efficient absorption of the radiant energy. Each QCL channel power in the inventive 3D printer can be doubled by combining two lasers with a polarization beam splitter. The QCL image head is provided with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) for compensating for imaging speed. The invention includes a method for scaling up the building speed of 3D printing regardless of detail level. The invention discloses an affordable 3D printer using QCL technology while maintaining high standards of resolution, use of quality materials, and rapid building speeds.

Abstract: This invention discloses an optical waveguide-lens including at least one substrate having formed thereon a multiplicity of electrically controlled, phase-shifting waveguides and an electrical control signal source providing electrical signals to said multiplicity of waveguides to cause them to have a desired lens functionality.

Abstract: A method for accurately mounting an optical element in an optical assembly including precisely positioning the optical element in a desired position with respect to a reference surface and spaced from the reference surface and employing an adhesive for fixing the optical element in the desired position including employing at least one side mounting element separate from the reference surface including at least one first surface which engages an edge of the optical element and at least one second surface which engages the reference surface.

Abstract: An optical device in which a waveguide is mounted on an optical substrate in turn supported on a base substrate. The base substrate is provided with an optical fiber positioning groove into which an optical fiber is fixed so that a center of the fiber lies in a plane substantially coplanar with a plane of the waveguide.

Abstract: An optical device having a multiplicity of optical fibers fixed in respective grooves in a first substrate in a predetermined arrangement in an optical fiber plane. A second substrate is fixed onto the first substrate such that an edge of the second substrate extends beyond the ends of the optical fibers. A lens assembly including a third substrate, and a lens fixed on the third substrate is mounted on the second substrate such that the lens lies in a second predetermined arrangement with respect to the ends of the optical fibers and is spaced from them in a plane perpendicular to the optical fiber plane with a first degree of accuracy and in the optical fiber plane with a lesser second degree of accuracy.

Abstract: This invention discloses a selectably directable optical beam deflecting device including at least at least one substrate having formed thereon a multiplicity of waveguides, each waveguide receiving light and emitting light, the totality of light emitted by said multiplicity of waveguides producing at least one selectably directable output beam and at least one multiplexer applying electrical inputs to the at least one substrate for individually controlling the light emitted by each of the multiplicity of waveguides, thereby governing the orientation of the selectably directable output beam.

Abstract: This invention discloses a monolithic optical light modulator including a substrate having formed monolithically thereon a modulator and a light detector providing a modulating output to said modulator.

Abstract: This invention discloses a selectably directable optical beam generating device including at least one light source, and at least one substrate, each having formed thereon a multiplicity of waveguides, each waveguide receiving light from the at least one light source and emitting light, the totality of light emitted by the multiplicity of waveguides producing at least one selectably directable output beam.

Abstract: This invention discloses a waveguide filter device including a necked waveguide having a relatively broad input end which receives light and allows propagation of multi-mode light waves therethrough, a narrowed neck portion at which higher modes radiate outside the waveguide and only the modes which can propagate therethrough pass therethrough and a relatively broad output end.

Abstract: This invention discloses an optical device including at least one substrate having formed thereon a multiplicity of electrically controlled waveguides; and a light receiver for directing light into the multiplicity of waveguides, the light receiver comprising a selectable polarization rotator.

Abstract: This invention discloses a selectably directable optical beam deflecting device including at least at least one substrate having formed thereon a multiplicity of waveguides, each waveguide receiving light and emitting light, the totality of light emitted by said multiplicity of waveguides producing at least one selectably directable output beam, and at least one multiplexer applying electrical inputs to the at least one substrate for individually controlling the light emitted by each of the multiplicity of waveguides, thereby governing the orientation of the selectably directable output beam.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of aligning a multiplicity of waveguides with respect to external optics.

Abstract: This invention discloses an optical device including at least one first substrate defining a multiplicity of optical fiber positioning grooves, a multiplicity of optical fibers fixed in each of said multiplicity of optical fiber positioning grooves on the at least one first substrate, whereby the multiplicity of optical fibers lie in an optical fiber plane and the ends of each of the multiplicity of optical fibers lie substantially in a first predetermined arrangement in the optical fiber plane,a second substrate fixed onto the at least one first substrate such that an edge of the second substrate extends beyond the ends of each of the multiplicity of optical fibers, a lens assembly including a third substrate, and a lens fixed onto the third substrate, the lens assembly being mounted onto the second substrate such that the lens lies in a second predetermined arrangement with respect to the ends of each of the multiplicity of optical fibers, whereby the separation between the lens and the ends of each of the

Abstract: This invention discloses a selectably directable optical beam deflecting device including at least at least one substrate having formed thereon a multiplicity of waveguides, each waveguide receiving light and emitting light, the totality of light emitted by said multiplicity of waveguides producing at least one delectably directable output beam, and at least one multiplexer applying electrical inputs to the at least one substrate for individually controlling the light emitted by each of the multiplicity of waveguides, thereby governing the orientation of the selectably directable output beam.

Abstract: This invention discloses a selectably directable optical beam deflecting device including at least at least one substrate having formed thereon a multiplicity of waveguides, each waveguide receiving light and emitting light, the totality of light emitted by said multiplicity of waveguides producing at least one selectably directable output beam, and at least one multiplexer applying electrical inputs to the at least one substrate for individually controlling the light emitted by each of the multiplicity of waveguides, thereby governing the orientation of the selectably directable output beam.

Abstract: This invention discloses an optical waveguide-lens including at least one substrate having formed thereon a multiplicity of electrically controlled, phase-shifting waveguides and an electrical control signal source providing electrical signals to said multiplicity of waveguides to cause them to have a desired lens functionality.

Abstract: This invention discloses an optical device including at least one first substrate defining a multiplicity of optical fiber positioning grooves, a multiplicity of optical fibers fixed in each of said multiplicity of optical fiber positioning grooves on the at least one first substrate, whereby the multiplicity of optical fibers lie in an optical fiber plane and the ends of each of the multiplicity of optical fibers lie substantially in a first predetermined arrangement in the optical fiber plane, a second substrate fixed onto the at least one first substrate such that an edge of the second substrate extends beyond the ends of each of the multiplicity of optical fibers, a lens assembly including a third substrate, and a lens fixed onto the third substrate, the lens assembly being mounted onto the second substrate such that the lens lies in a second predetermined arrangement with respect to the ends of each of the multiplicity of optical fibers, whereby the separation between the lens and the ends of each of the

Abstract: This invention discloses an optical device including at least one first substrate defining a multiplicity of optical fiber positioning grooves, a multiplicity of optical fibers fixed in each of said multiplicity of optical fiber positioning grooves on the at least one first substrate, whereby the multiplicity of optical fibers lie in an optical fiber plane and the ends of each of the multiplicity of optical fibers lie substantially in a first predetermined arrangement in the optical fiber plane,a second substrate fixed onto the at least one first substrate such that an edge of the second substrate extends beyond the ends of each of the multiplicity of optical fibers, a lens assembly including a third substrate, and a lens fixed onto the third substrate, the lens assembly being mounted onto the second substrate such that the lens lies in a second predetermined arrangement with respect to the ends of each of the multiplicity of optical fibers, whereby the separation between the lens and the ends of each of the