Abstract: An optical system includes an optical frequency discriminator having a light source of an optical input beam, and an optical bandpass filter having a bandpass filter range and the optical input beam incident thereon at a bandpass-filter angle of incidence and may be desirably be adjusted. The optical bandpass filter transmits a first transmitted beam of a bandpass-filter frequency band and reflects a first reflected beam. An optical second filter has an optical edge in the bandpass range of the bandpass filter and the first reflected beam incident thereon at a second-filter angle of incidence. The optical second filter transmits a second transmitted beam band and reflects a second reflected beam.

Abstract: A number of optical devices are fabricated by forming a pattern of channels on a first side of a substrate to define a plurality of mesas on the first side of the substrate. A thin-film optical structure is deposited onto each of the mesas. An excess thickness of the substrate is removed from each thin-film optical device, preferably by temporarily affixing a temporary support to the tops of each thin-film optical structure, removing an excess amount of the substrate from a second side of the substrate so that the thin-film optical devices are isolated from each other but affixed to the temporary support, and separating the tops of the thin-film optical structures from the temporary support.

Abstract: A liquid crystal projector and color beamsplitter that comprises a single X-cube beamsplitter that transmits both incident and exit light beams. One half of the beamsplitter divides incident white light into three primary colors, and the other half of the beamsplitter combines the primary colors to produce white light that is used for projection. More specifically, the projector comprises a light source for projecting white light, and the color beamsplitter is disposed to receive the white light. The beamsplitter comprises four (right angle) prisms that each comprise a base and two sides, and that are disposed such that the sides of the prisms are adjacent each other. The incident white light is separated by the prisms and coupled along three separate light paths corresponding to red, green and blue light paths. Apparatus such as a plurality of mirrors, or an optical link, for example, are provided for coupling the red, green and blue light back toward the beamsplitter.

Abstract: A beamsplitter (70) for separating a beam of light (48, 90, 92) into three frequency bands (94, 96, 98) corresponding to a first color (94), a second color (98), and a third color (96) adapted for use with a beam of white light (92). The inventive beamsplitter (70) includes first (78) and second (80) surfaces for reflecting the first color of light (94) and for transmitting the second color of light (98). A third (82) and fourth (84) surface reflect the second color of light (96) and transmit the third color of light (98). A glass support structure (72) supports the first (78), second (80), third (82), and fourth (84) surfaces in a predetermined configuration. The configuration is chosen so that the first color of light (94) is directed in a first direction (94), the second color of light (96) is directed in a second direction (96), and the third color of light (96) is directed in a third direction (96).

Abstract: A system (50) for separating and combining frequency bands (64, 74, 78) from a beam (62) of electromagnetic energy adapted for use with a beam of white light (62) having a first (64), second (74) and third (78) frequency band. The inventive system (50) includes a first surface (58) for transmitting the first frequency band (64) and reflecting the second (70, 78) and third (70, 74) frequency bands. A second surface (60) reflects the second frequency band (74) and transmits the third (78) frequency band. A transparent support structure (52, 54, 56) supports the first surface (58) and the second surface (60) in a pre-determined orientation that provides for a low angle of incidence (66, 72) of electromagnetic energy impinging on the first surface (58) and the second surface (60) to minimize undesirable polarization effects. In a specific embodiment, the angle (66, 72) is 22.5 degrees.

Abstract: A device for holding and positioning a sample (22) during spectral analysis, having an optical cell (41) comprised of a base member (42), a glass cell (44), and being filled with oil (46) having substantially the same index of refraction as the glass cell (44). The device further includes a rotary stage device (48) attached to the optical cell (41) and a sample holder (50) attached to the rotary stage device (48) such that a sample (22) may be rotated over a range of angles relative to a projected beam (32) to provide a spectral analysis of the sample (22) over the range of angles.