Abstract: A laser tube having two integrated laser mirrors and a polarization mean in the form of at least one polarizing layer arranged on a laser mirror. The layer is applied or formed at an angle of at least 80 degrees to a surface normal of the mirror. As a result, special polarization elements are eliminated, the structure is simplified, and the laser emission yield is increased.

Abstract: An ion laser includes a magnetic field source to generate an axial magnetic field in one region and transverse field components outside the region, the magnetic field source being shorter than the discharge channel of the laser. Axially spaced permanent magnets in the proximity of the discharge channel are adapted to the laser structure and can include magnetic rings or ring structures. The magnets are preferrably adjacent the cathode end of the discharge channel.

Abstract: A relatively high power gas laser includes a laser discharge tube formed of stacked alternating cooling wafers and ceramic wafers, the cooling wafers being provided with recesses set back from the discharge channel of the laser discharge tube.

Abstract: A gas laser arrangement includes a discharge tube arranged between a cathode and anode and including a central discharge channel and at least one gas return channel. An auxiliary electrode for pre-discharge is allocated to the cathode, the auxiliary electrode being connected to an operating voltage source through a resistor.

Abstract: A gas laser having a housing terminated vacuum-tight and having magnets that are located in proximity to a capillary, in which excellent action of the magnets is achieved. The housing contains a housing tube and housing parts that are soldered vacuum-tight to the housing tube. At least one part of the magnets are located in the housing tube. The solder that joins the housing tube to the housing parts in a vacuum-tight fashion has a soldering temperature below 500.degree. C. The invention can be advantageously utilized in helium-neon lasers.

Abstract: An inert gas ion laser includes a Brewster window having a plurality of alternating layers of high and low refractive index materials for suppression of unwanted laser frequencies to produce a narrow band transmissive Brewster window with a high power output.

Abstract: A laser discharge tube is provide having a ceramic rod of rectangular cross section through which extends a discharge channel and at least one gas return channel, and cooling plates affixed at the larger outside surfaces of the rectangular ceramic rod.

Abstract: In an ion laser having a discharge channel extending through a ceramic tube, a coil of thermal conductive material is placed around the ceramic tube and the tube and coil combination are inserted into a bore of a heat eliminating device. The tube, coil, and heat eliminating device are soldered to one another so as to provide clearance between individual turns of the coil, thereby providing good cooling characteristics and enhanced power of the laser without risk of breakage of the ceramic tube.

Abstract: A method for producing polarizers, comprising a multiplicity of parallel electrically conductive strips on a glass carrier, having a raster measurement of approximately 1/10 of the light wave length, is characterized in that a layer having a wavy surface is provided of conductive material, having a surface waviness with a period of approximately 50 nm perpendicular to the vapor application direction carried on a glass carrier by means of vapor deposition, selective chemical deposition and the like, with a prescribed deposition angle, and a portion of the material is removed by particle bombardment at a prescribed bombardment angle, with either electrically neutral particles or ions, so that an arrangement of a multiplicity of microstrips is provided in which the microstrips are parallel to one another and separated from and thus electrically insulated from one another on a glass carrier plate.

Abstract: A display device for displaying bright images on a dark background, which device includes a liquid crystal cell having a liquid crystal layer with switchable zones between at least two optical states, a light trap in the form of a body exhibiting fluorescent particles and having light emergent windows disposed behind each of the switchable zones in the direction of observation, characterized with the liquid crystal layer containing at least one pleochroic dye. The dye in the liquid crystal layer acting by itself or in conjunction with a polarizer can block passage of the fluorescent light during one optical state of the layer and enable passage of the light during the other state.

Abstract: An electro-optical display device has a fluorescently activated plate disposed in front of a passive display in the line of sight of a viewer. The entire surface of the fluorescently activated plate is uncovered and is available for collecting ambient light to provide an image of increased intensity and allowing the device to be utilized in environments having low optical radiation levels. The fluorescently activated plate has exit windows thereon for retransmitting the light as controlled by the switchable regions of the passive display in a designated pattern to a viewer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has a pair of carrier plates having a liquid crystal layer therebetween. Electrically conductive coatings are on each plate with at least one of the coatings being subdivided into separate operable segments. Spacing members are in regions of the layer which are not adjacent to the operable segments. Support surfaces are on a facing surface of one of the plates. Spacing elements are on the other plate and project from the facing surface toward and engage the support surfaces so that the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the region of the support surfaces is less than the thickness of the layer in the area of the operable segments. The support surfaces may be a layer on the surface of one of the carrier plates or may be a surface of the carrier plate defined by recesses etched into the plate, which recesses contain surfaces supporting the operable segments.

Abstract: A display device and a method of using the display device characterized by a light trap which includes a member consisting of a material having an index of refraction greater than one and containing fluorescent particles and which light trap collects impinging ambient light by means of fluorescent scattering by the particles and subsequent reflection of the collected light on the boundary surfaces, a plurality of electrodes disposed adjacent the surface of the light trap at selected portions of the surface and a fluid being provided adjacent each of the electrodes so that an application of voltage to selected electrodes causes a precipitate to be formed from the fluid and collected adjacent the selected electrode to create an optical indication and the application of a counter voltage at the selected location causes an erasing of the indication by eliminating the precipitate and placing it back into the fluid.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell having a pair of carrier plates spaced apart to form a chamber for receiving a layer of liquid crystal material, each of the carrier plates having an electrical conductive coating or layer forming the electrodes on the surface facing the chamber with the surface of the electrodes being flush with the surface of an insulating material. The insulating material may be an additional layer of material disposed with the electrical conductive coating on the carrier plate or may be the carrier plate with the conductive coating being placed in recesses which have a depth equal to the thickness of the conductive coating. To form the recesses, a mask is applied to the surface of the carrier plate which is then etched, a conductive coating is applied on the remaining portions of the mask and in the recesses and then the mask is stripped with the coating thereon.

Abstract: A device with a scatter-free light valve which may be used as a rear view mirror or a sun visor and is characterized by a pair of carrier plates extending parallel to each other to form a cell having a cavity with transparent conductive coatings facing the cavity which receives a layer that can be switched between different optical states, and a light sensitive element, which is electrically connected to the light valve to constantly change the light transmittance of the light valve in response to the intensity of light radiation sensed by the light sensitive element.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process and display for producing an image in front of an optically contrasting background. The display installation is characterized by a preferably but not necessarily, plate-shaped body having exit windows for emitting light in given areas and light valves associated with each of the exit windows for controlling the light being emitted therefrom. The light valves include filters which have an absorption frequency range and the plate member emits light from the exit windows in an emission frequency range. One of the members, either the filter member or the plate member, can have its associated frequency range shifted by the application of an electrical field so that light can pass through the filter without being absorbed or is absorbed by the filter.

Abstract: A display device includes a light valve that is operated in a time division multiplex method and a fluorescent plate. The light valve may be a liquid crystal with a steep gradient of the contrast-voltage curve so that more multiplex steps are possible. One method of increasing this gradient is to allow only light from a narrow defined spatial angle range to pass through the light valve. In order to produce the narrow light cone that is desired, the invention proposes utilizing a diffusingly reflective layer, which extends parallel to a surface of the fluorescent plate at a finite distance and preferably, the light outlet or exit window of the plate is a surface provided with a dielectric multiple layer which allows the fluorescent light to emerge only in relatively limited spatial angle range. Preferably, these surfaces are the narrow edges of the fluorescent plate.

Abstract: An indicating device having an electro-optical light valve unit such as in a liquid crystal cell arranged behind a plate containing fluorescent particles characterized by a contrast filter disposed behind the plate and unit in the direction of viewing and a reflector disposed behind the contrast filter. The contrast filter will pass light of the spectrum which excites the fluorescent particles of the fluorescent plate but absorbs the emitted fluorescent light and a majority of the other light so that a background is either dark or of a specific color. The energized light valves cause a bright image on the dark or colored background.

Abstract: A homeotropic orientation layer for a liquid crystal cell is produced by forming an organic liquid solution containing a suitable amount of Si and Me to provide a necessary ratio of such elements to correspond to a chemical composition defined by the formula:(Me.sub.2 O.sub.3).sub.1-x (SiO.sub.y).sub.xwherein Me is an element selected from the group consisting of Al and Cr, x is a numeral at least equal to 0 and smaller than 1, and y is a numeral at least equal to 1.9 and not more than 2; applying a layer of such organic solution onto at least one face of a liquid crystal cell substrate, which may have a conductive layer thereon, and transferring such layer of organic solution into a solid homeotropically orientating layer by thermal decomposition of the organic solution, as by heating the solution-coated substrate at a temperature in the range of about 100.degree. to 550.degree. C. for a period of time ranging from about 10 to 30 minutes.

Abstract: An electro-optical display device particularly a liquid crystal display device having a pair of carrier plates spaced apart to form a cavity with each of the carrier plates on a surface facing the cavity being provided with an electrically conductive layer covered by a dielectric layer with the device having the medium, which may be the liquid crystal layer and is switchable between two optically different states, disposed in the cavity, characterized by the conductive layer having a thickness d.sub.1 and an index of refraction n.sub.1 and each of the dielectric layers having a thickness d.sub.2 and a refractive index n.sub.2 with the thickness having a range of 0.5 d.sub.1 .ltoreq.d.sub.1 .ltoreq.1.5 d.sub.1 and 0.5 d.sub.2 .ltoreq.d.sub.2 .ltoreq.1.5 d.sub.2, wherein ##EQU1## with .lambda. being the mean free wavelength of the operating light, ##EQU2## with n.sub.o being the index of refraction of the carrier plate and n.sub.3 being the index of refraction of the liquid crystal layer in the idle state.