Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an array of microcavities in the surface of a metal film uses an excimer laser or an ultrashort laser which to produce a beam of laser light pulses. An optical mask divides the beam into multiple beams and a lens system focuses the multiple beams onto the metal film. The device operates by generating multiple beams of laser pulses of a first diameter and then magnifying the pulses by a magnification factor less than 1 to produce multiple beams of pulses having a second diameter, less than the first diameter, which are applied to the metal film. The magnification factor and the intensity of the laser is such that the fluence of the laser on the optical mask is not sufficient to cause ablation while the fluence on the metal film is sufficient to cause ablation. A diffractive optical element may be used in the device in place of the optical mask. The apparatus includes a quarter wave plate that converts the beam of laser light pulses into a beam of circularly polarized pulses.

Abstract: The disclosed spatial light modulator includes a pair of facing transparent electrodes, and a light-modulating layer and a photoconductive layer provided between the transparent electrodes In the spatial light modulator, the light-modulating layer has different optical states depending on an applied charge amount. Specifically, the light-modulating layer has: a first optical state when the applied charge amount is a first threshold charge amount or more; a second optical state when the applied charge amount is a second threshold charge amount or less; and a spatially uniform intermediate state between the first optical state and the second optical state depending on the applied charge amount. Also, a driving method for such a spatial light modulator is disclosed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional picture image pickup apparatus picks up a plurality of two-dimensional picture images of the objective naturally from different directions sequentially at a predetermined time interval regardless of a depth of the objective or the light source etc. The picture images are reproduced sequentially at the predetermined time interval by a picture image reproducing device and deflected into a plurality of directions by a picture image deflection device to display a three-dimensional picture images.

Abstract: An alternating copolymer comprising a repeating unit of the formula:--Z--(X--Y).sub.n-- (I)wherein n is at least 2, X is O, S, Se or Te, and Y and Z are independently an aromatic or substituted aromatic group, and at least one other repeating unit, which is useful as a photosensitive material used in a spatial light modulator.

Abstract: An image recognition device includes an input section for inputting an image; a pattern extraction section for extracting a plurality of predetermined patterns from the input image; a first feature extraction section for extracting a first feature indicating the direction in which the first pattern of the extracted predetermined patterns exists with respect to a point on a second pattern of the extracted predetermined patterns; a second feature extraction section for extracting a second feature indicating an amount of the first pattern existing in the direction with respect to the second pattern, based on the first feature; and a recognition section for recognizing the input image based on the second feature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spatial light modulator comprising a photoconductor having a current rectifying function and a liquid crystal layer having an antiferroelectric phase as a phase of the liquid crystal located between a pair of transparent electrodes, having a wide viewing angle and high-speed response, capable of reproducing a light-input dynamic picture including half-tone display, and being stable and reliable. Moreover, a liquid crystal display device which can be downsized by comprising a spatial light modulator, comprises a photoconductor having current rectifying function and a liquid crystal layer having the antiferroelectric phase as a phase of the liquid crystal located between a pair of transparent electrodes, a display device to input light to the photoconductor and a power source to apply the driving voltage to the spatial light modulator can be provided.

Abstract: A diffractive optical device includes a substrate for allowing transmission therethrough of light to be diffracted; and a grating section located on the substrate and including a plurality of grating elements each having multiple discrete phase levels. The plurality of grating elements are arranged at different grating periods in different areas of a surface of the substrate and have the phase levels in different numbers in accordance with the grating period.

Abstract: A driving method for a spatial light modulator can provide bright image, images of high contrast and resolution with no persistence and instability, and can be used in a projection display system. The spatial light modulator is prepared by sandwiching a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer between a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate is prepared by sequentially laminating a transparent conductive electrode and a photoconductive layer with rectifying properties on a glass substrate. On the photoconductive layer, a reflective layer and an alignment layer for aligning a liquid crystal layer are then laminated. The second substrate is prepared by laminating a transparent conductive electrode and an alignment layer on a glass substrate. Alternating current voltage having a waveform of inconsistent cycles is applied to a section between the transparent conductive electrodes.

Abstract: An alternating copolymer comprising a repeating unit of the formula:--Z--(X--Y).sub.n -- (I)wherein n is at least 2, X is O, S, Se or Te, and Y and Z are independently an aromatic or substituted aromatic group, and at least one other repeating unit, which is useful as a photosensitive material used in a spatial light modulator.

Abstract: An alternating copolymer comprising a repeating unit of the formula:--Z--(X-Y).sub.n -- (I)wherein n is at least 2, X is O, S, Se or Te, and Y and Z are independently an aromatic or substituted aromatic group, and at least one other repeating unit, which is useful as a photosensitive material used in a spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator having a photoconductor, a matrix of reflectors and a modulating layer is disclosed. The portions of the photoconductor in between the reflectors have a smaller photoconductivity than those portions under the reflectors. The reduced photoconductivity can be made, for example, by doping the photoconductor while using the reflectors as a mask or by illuminating the photoconductor with a light of 360 joules/cm.sup.2. The photoconductor in between the reflectors may be grooved, The photoconductor can be a superlattice photoconductor.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator including a pair of transparent insulating substrates each having a transparent conducting electrode, the substrates forming a top layer and a bottom layer, a photoconductive layer, a liquid crystal layer and a reflection layer being present between the top and bottom layers, wherein the photoconductive layer comprises a first amorphous semiconductor layer and a second amorphous semiconductor layer disposed in order on the bottom layer, and the first amorphous semiconductor layer and the second amorphous semiconductor layer have different refractive indices from each other.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a pyroelectric type infrared sensor without external lens, made in a compact size, and having an improved sensibility. A pyroelectric element for detecting infrared rays is provided in a sealed tube (sealed body) having an opening, at said opening is provided an incident infrared ray filter. A diffraction optical lens (diffraction optical element) for focusing or imaging infrared rays is provided on the front or back surface of said incident infrared ray filter.

Abstract: A diffractive optical device includes a substrate for allowing transmission therethrough of light to be diffracted; and a grating section located on the substrate and including a plurality of grating elements each having multiple discrete phase levels. The plurality of grating elements are arranged at different grating periods in different areas of a surface of the substrate and have the phase levels in different numbers in accordance with the grating period.

Abstract: A light modulation device comprising a first transparent electrode layer, a photoconductive layer, a conductive electrode, a light modulation layer, and a second transparent electrode layer formed together in the preceding order, and characterized by the light modulation characteristic of the light modulation layer being a non-linear saturation function of an applied electrical field, and the conductive electrode comprising plural electrode patterns. The light modulation layer modulates the read light when the input light exceeds a specific threshold value wherein by forming the electrode pattern of the conductive electrode in the shape of the pattern to be extracted, the features of the input image corresponding to that shape can be quickly extracted.

Abstract: A two-dimensional bit image generated by the input device is processed by a four-layer neural network and recognized. The neurons in the second layer are connected only to the neurons of the first layer aligned in a specific direction, thereby enabling the second layer to extract line components in specific directions. The second layer is further divided into plural regions, and all neurons in each region are connected to one corresponding neuron in the third layer. The output of the third layer neurons thus express the position and degree of the extracted line component in the image. All of the neurons in the third layer are connected to all of the neurons in the fourth layer, and image recognition is possible by learning.

Abstract: An alternating copolymer comprising a repeating unit of the formula:-Z-(X-Y).sub.n - (I)wherein n is at least 2, X is O, S, Se or Te, and Y and Z are independently an aromatic or substituted aromatic group, and at least one other repeating unit, which is useful as a photosensitive material used in a spatial light modulator.

Abstract: An image recognition device includes an input section for inputting an image; a pattern extraction section for extracting a plurality of predetermined patterns from the input image; a first feature extraction section for extracting a first feature indicating the direction in which the first pattern of the extracted predetermined patterns exists with respect to a point on a second pattern of the extracted predetermined patterns; a second feature extraction section for extracting a second feature indicating an amount of the first pattern existing in the direction with respect to the second pattern, based on the first feature; and a recognition section for recognizing the input image based on the second feature.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator includes: a modulating layer having optical properties changeable depending on the strength of an applied electric field; a pair of transparent electrode layers sandwiching the modulating layer for generating the electric field; and a photoconductor layer disposed between one of the pair of transparent electrode layers and the modulating layer for generating a photocurrent corresponding to the illumination by light, wherein the photoconductor layer has a quantum efficiency of more than 1. A method for fabricating the spatial light modulator is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spatial light modulator used for an optical computing system or display, which comprises a photoconductive layer having a rectification function for receiving incident lights to generate charges, an electrode for accumulating the charges and a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer for modulating the incident light according to bias voltage change with the accumulated charges, wherein the ferroelectric liquid crystal layer is arranged between a pair of alignment layers made of polyimide represented by the general formula (I); ##STR1## wherein n is 2 or more, X is O, S, Se or Te, Y is an aromatic group or a substituted aromatic group, and Z is a group containing an aromatic group. In the spatial light modulator, any charges are not accumulated on the alignment layer with the driving time and thus a bistable memory condition can be realized.