Abstract: A method of making an optical film includes the steps of making a substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first surface and forming a plurality of curved sided cone structures on the first surface. Each of the curved sided cone structures include a base located on the first surface, a vertex, and a curved side formed from an arc extending between the base and the vertex. The optical gain and viewing angle for the film can be controlled by adjusting angles representing a shape of each curved sided cone structure at its vertex and base.

Abstract: A projection system includes an image-forming device and a polarizing beamsplitter. Illumination light illuminates the image-forming device via the first polarizing beamsplitter. A retardation element is disposed between the image-forming device and the polarizing beamsplitter. A bias controller applies a bias to pixels of the image-forming device in the dark state so as to substantially maximize contrast in image light reflected from image-forming device. In some arrangements, the volume between the polarizing beamsplitter and the image-forming device is sealed, with the retarding element being disposed within the sealed volume and being attached to either the polarizing beamsplitter or the image-forming device.

Abstract: An optical device that includes an optical element, an imager, and a prism bracket. The optical element includes an optical element having first and second prisms coupled together. The imager is arranged adjacent to the first prism and configured to receive light from or to transmit light to the optical element, wherein the first prism is spaced between the second prism and the first imager. The prism bracket is coupled between the second prism and the first imager to hold the first imager in a desired positional alignment relative to the optical element. The optical device may further include additional sets of an optical element, imager, and prism bracket, wherein all of the sets are coupled to a color light combiner.

Abstract: A method for the encryption and decryption of digital images based on cyclotomic polynomials and radiometric expressions comprising the steps of generating an encrypting transform, partitioning the digital images into data blocks, along with encrypting, transmitting, and decrypting the data blocks. Three common radiometric expressions are fundamental metamers, black metamers, and radiometric functions. In one embodiment, the mathematical equation that represents the encrypting transform is a cyclotomic polynomial. In another embodiment, a cyclotomic polynomial is used to calculate the coefficients of the mathematical equation that represents the encrypting transform. In other embodiments, the encrypting transform is generated with a radiometric expression, and the encrypted data blocks are calculated with a radiometric expression.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively applying image enhancement processing to parts of an image. In one embodiment, spatial processing transformations, such as sharpening for example, are reduced or bypassed for pixels having color code values within a range known to be adversely affected by the spatial processing transformations. In another embodiment, color correction processing transformations are bypassed for pixels having color code values within a neutral color range. These neutral colors may have a gray-correction transformation applied in order to better separate the neutral colors from the other colors. According to another embodiment, color code values for pixels are transformed to two or more different color spaces. If a color correction transformation will have adverse affects on a pixel in one color space, corrected data from a different color space can be utilized for the pixel.

Abstract: A method of developing a latent image on a photographic element (such as imagewise exposed photographic film) by absorbing a dye precursor into the film, applying a developer solution to the film to develop the latent image and form a dye in the film, scanning the film with light, and detecting at least one of light reflected away from and light transmitted through the film.

Abstract: A method of developing a latent image on a photographic element (such as imagewise exposed photographic film) by absorbing a dye precursor into the film, applying a developer solution to the film to develop the latent image and form a dye in the film, scanning the film with light, and detecting at least one of light reflected away from and light transmitted through the film.

Abstract: A mixed-element stitching and noise reduction system includes apparatus and methods for producing an image dataset having a reduced noise content without substantially impacting image reproduction accuracy. Such noise reduction is provided by replacing a portion of a first, higher noise image dataset with a portion of a second, lower noise dataset. In a preferred embodiment, two image datasets comprising a color-stitched image and a luminance image are received from a DFP image capturing system. The received images are preferably separately stitched and separately converted to a color-space in which a luminance data channel is separated from image color information. The luminance channel of the luminance image is then preferably substituted for the luminance channel of the color-stitched image. More preferably, a log-time stitching technique is used and the stitched images are each converted to an L*a*b* color space.

Abstract: A method of developing a latent image on a photographic element (such as imagewise exposed photographic film) by absorbing a dye precursor into the film, applying a developer solution to the film to develop the latent image and form a dye in the film, scanning the film with light, and detecting at least one of light reflected away from and light transmitted through the film.

Abstract: A method of developing a latent image on a photographic element (such as imagewise exposed photographic film) by absorbing a dye precursor into the film, applying a developer solution to the film to develop the latent image and form a dye in the film, scanning the film with light, and detecting at least one of light reflected away from and light transmitted through the film.

Abstract: A method and system (100) for using reference patches (108) to enhance electronic film processing of a scene image (104) contained on a first area of a film (112) include creating a reference patch (108) on a second area of the film (112); coating the film (112) with a developing solution to form a scene image (104) and a patch image (108); scanning the film (112) coated with the developing solution to generate signals corresponding to digital representations of the scene image (104) and the patch image (108); calculating image processing parameters from the signals associated with the patch image (108); and processing the digital representations of the scene image (104) using the image processing parameters calculated from the patch image (108) to produce color values which more accurately reflect the original scene and which are pleasing to the eye.

Abstract: A method of developing a latent image on a photographic element (such as imagewise exposed photographic film) by absorbing a dye precursor into the film, applying a developer solution to the film to develop the latent image and form a dye in the film, scanning the film with light, and detecting at least one of light reflected away from and light transmitted through the film.

Abstract: A method for the encryption and decryption of digital images based on cyclotomic polynomials and radiometric expressions comprising the steps of generating an encrypting transform, partitioning the digital images into data blocks, along with encrypting, transmitting, and decrypting the data blocks. Three common radiometric expressions are fundamental metamers, black metamers, and radiometric functions. In one embodiment, the mathematical equation that represents the encrypting transform is a cyclotomic polynomial. In another embodiment, a cyclotomic polynomial is used to calculate the coefficients of the mathematical equation that represents the encrypting transform. In other embodiments, the encrypting transform is generated with a radiometric expression, and the encrypted data blocks are calculated with a radiometric expression.

Abstract: Fluorine-containing, chiral liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) a chiral fluorochemical terminal portion comprising (i) at least one chiral center, which can optionally be heteroatom-substituted; (ii) a terminal fluoroalkyl, fluoroether, perfluoroalkyl, or perfluoroether group; and (iii) an alkylene or fluoroalkylene group optionally containing at least one catenary ether oxygen atom; (b) a chiral or achiral terminal portion consisting of a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon ether group, and, when chiral, comprising at least one chiral center, which can optionally be heteroatom-substituted; and (c) a central core connecting the terminal portions; the alkylene or fluoroalkylene group of the chiral fluorochemical terminal portion having at least 3 in-chain atoms and being located between the chiral center of the chiral fluorochemical terminal portion and the central core. The compounds have smectic mesophases or latent smectic mesophases and are useful, for example, in liquid crystal display devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively applying image enhancement processing to parts of an image. In one embodiment, spatial processing transformations, such as sharpening for example, are reduced or bypassed for pixels having color code values within a range known to be adversely affected by the spatial processing transformations. In another embodiment, color correction processing transformations are bypassed for pixels having color code values within a neutral color range. These neutral colors may have a gray-correction transformation applied in order to better separate the neutral colors from the other colors. According to another embodiment, color code values for pixels are transformed to two or more different color spaces. If a color correction transformation will have adverse affects on a pixel in one color space, corrected data from a different color space can be utilized for the pixel.

Abstract: Novel liquid crystal compounds are provided which exhibit less temperature dependent switching properties, for the reliable and consistent operation of liquid crystal devices. The liquid crystal compounds comprise (a) an achiral fluorochemical terminal portion that comprises a terminal fluoroalkyl, fluoroether, perfluoroalkyl, or perfluoroether group; a chiral terminal portion comprising a saturated or unsaturated chiral hydrocarbon or chiral hydrocarbon ether group comprising a chiral center; and a central core connecting the terminal portions; said chiral terminal portion having at least three in-chain atoms (an "extended group") between said chiral center of the chiral terminal portion and said central core.

Abstract: A method of processing a digital image comprising the steps of: providing a pixellated digital image having noise components; measuring the noise components in the digital image with a noise estimation system to generate noise estimates; and sharpening the digital image with an image sharpening system which uses the noise estimates.

Abstract: A method for processing a digital image comprising the steps of: providing a digital image from an original image on exposed photographic media; determining the exposure of the original image; and based on the exposure, sharpening the digital image using an image sharpening system. A method of processing a digital image comprising the steps of: providing a digital image from an original image on exposed photographic media; determining the type of the photographic media and magnification to produce the final image; and based on the type of the photographic media, sharpening the digital image using an image sharpening system.

Abstract: A tristable liquid crystal display device comprises (a) first and second opposed substrates, at least one bearing an alignment coating and each bearing at least one electrode so as to define one or a plurality of pixels; (b) a tilted smectic or induced tilted smectic liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates; and (c) a pair of orthogonally disposed polarizers, each having a polarization axis, one polarization axis being aligned with the zero field optical axis of a tilted smectic or induced tilted smectic mesophase of the liquid crystal composition; wherein the substrates are disposed so as to provide an alignment of the liquid crystal composition, which comprises (i) at least one chiral liquid crystal compound; and (ii) at least one achiral liquid crystal compound that can be represented by the following formula:R--M--N--(P).sub.a --OCH.sub.2 R.sub.f (I)where R, M, N, P, a and R.sub.f are describe herein; wherein the liquid crystal composition exhibits tristable switching.

Abstract: A tristable liquid crystal display device comprises (a) first and second opposed substrates, at least one bearing an alignment coating and each bearing at least one electrode so as to define one or a plurality of pixels; (b) a tilted smectic or induced tilted smectic liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates; and (c) a pair of orthogonally disposed polarizers, each having a polarization axis, one polarization axis being aligned with the zero field optical axis of a tilted smectic or induced tilted smectic mesophase of the liquid crystal composition; wherein the substrates are disposed so as to provide an alignment of the liquid crystal composition, the composition comprising at least one chiral liquid crystal compound that can be represented by the following formula:R--M--N--(P).sub.b --OCH.sub.2 C*HF--CH.sub.2 O(CH.sub.2).sub.a R.sub.