Abstract: An interferometer for detecting a property of an environment includes a source of a beam of light and a first planar waveguide. The first planar waveguide has a first end, an opposite second end and a first interior surface. A first coupler is disposed adjacent the first end so as to be capable of coupling a first portion of the beam into the first planar waveguide. A second coupler is disposed adjacent the second end so as to be capable of de-coupling a second portion of the beam from the first portion of the beam and onto a first predetermined exit path. A first region is disposed along the first interior surface between the first coupler and the second coupler. The first region allows light to propagate therethrough as a first function of exposure to the environment disposed adjacent thereto. The interferometer also includes a second planar waveguide having a third end, an opposite fourth end and a second interior surface.

Abstract: The present invention entails a volume grating for use as an optical coupler and method for creating the same which comprises a predetermined surface grating pattern having a decreasing surface grating period along a waveguide light propagation direction in the volume grating with a plurality of slanted grating fringes having a variable slant angle along the waveguide light propagation direction to focus coupled light in a first dimension with a predetermined light intensity profile along a grating-cover interface plane of the volume grating. In addition, the predetermined surface grating pattern further includes an increasing radius of curvature along the waveguide light propagation direction to focus the light in a second dimension. The present invention further comprises a system and method for designing the volume grating, as well as a system and method for designing an apparatus for fabricating the volume grating.

Abstract: An integrated-optic spectrometer is disclosed for analyzing the composition of light reflected off a sample under analysis. In a simplified embodiment, the spectrometer includes a buffer, located on the top of a substrate, which is etched to create a diffraction grating having grating lines. The diffraction grating and grating lines are formed to provide diffraction of discrete wavelengths of light, while providing for maximum transmission of non-diffracted wavelengths. A waveguide is fabricated on top of the etched buffer through which the reflected light is directed. A photodiode detector array is located above the waveguide into which the diffracted wavelengths are diffracted, providing an analysis of the composition of the reflected light. A clad encompasses the integrated-optic spectrometer, thereby providing protection from outside interference.

Abstract: An improved integrated optic interferometric sensor uses a planar waveguide to offer detection sensitivity equal to the Mach-Zehnder interferometric sensor, while retaining the input coupling and manufacturing ease characteristic of a planar waveguide. Enhanced output signal processing capabilities are provided by use of at least two integrated optic interferometric sensors employing planar constructs.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and an apparatus for the precise quantitative measurement of the magnitude of force exerted at the points of contact on a high density electrical interconnect that quantitatively determines the magnitude of the force. The invention includes the steps of establishing a pressing relationship between a photoelastic material and the high density interconnect, coupling plane-polarized light into the photoelastic material stressed as a result of the pressing relationship with the high density interconnect, coupling of the polarized light being at 45 degrees with the direction of pressing, capturing an image of the fringe pattern of the plane polarized light exiting the stressed photoelastic material, the fringe pattern comprising of fringes wherein the number of fringes varies with the magnitude of the pressing force, and counting the number of fringes produced to determine the magnitude of force exerted on the photoelastic member.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for inspecting the surface of an object S moving in the direction of travel 23 relative to the apparatus comprises a modular sensing head assembly 11 including a plurality of sensing head modules 12, 13, each of which includes a number of sensing stations 16-21. Each sensing station includes a light source 77, 81, 84 for generating a line of light extending across substantially the width of the surface of the object and a plurality of optical detector means for detecting light scattered from the line of light by the surface of the object. The optical detectors are positioned and oriented to receive scattered light scattered along paths lying in detection planes which are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the surface of the object.

Abstract: Optical devices and techniques are disclosed for sensing properties of an environment with improved stability and lower cost. In a disclosed embodiment, there is provided a substrate having an index of refraction n.sub.s. A waveguide layer is provided and has a surface adjacent the substrate, the waveguide layer having an index of refraction n.sub.f that is greater than n.sub.s. A superstrate is provided adjacent the opposing surface of the waveguide layer, the superstrate having an index of refraction n.sub.c that is less than n.sub.f, the index of refraction of the superstrate being affected by the environment. An optical beam is injected into the waveguide layer such that at least two modes of the beam propagate in the waveguide layer. The interfering product of said at least two modes of the beam which have propagated through the waveguide layer is then detected.

Abstract: Blood gases and the like are monitored by a single probe having multiple dye wells and dyes immobilized in the wells, the dyes being exposed to the blood gases. Optical fibers and waveguides connected to the dye wells permit light to be directed from a light source to be dyes and the light due to absorption or the spontaneous emission of the dye returned to a light detector. The intensity, phase shift or other mechanism of the returned radiation is a measure of the partial pressure of a respective blood gas.

Abstract: Blood gases and the like are monitored by a single probe having multiple dye wells and dyes immobilized in the wells, the dyes being exposed to the blood gases. Optical fibers and waveguides connected to the dye wells permit light to be directed from a light source to the dyes and the light due to absorption or the spontaneous emission of the dye returned to a light detector. The intensity, phase shift or other mechanism of the returned radiation is a measure of the partial pressure of a respective blood gas.

Abstract: Typical apparatus as shown in FIGS. 1 and 12 for indicating the relative positions in a given direction between a reference point (24,59) and a test point (29,68) spaced therefrom and movable relative thereto is useful for measurement of the magnitude and direction of static or dynamic torque in a shaft (8). Overlapping transparent reference (20,60) and test surfaces (25,61), either parallel disks (60,61) or coaxial cylinders (20,25) each having a relevant portion covered with a plurality of equally spaced lines oriented predominantly normal to the given direction and at an angle to each other, produce moire fringes (30) when illuminated (14,15). One of the surfaces (25,61), being flexible, is connected to the shaft (8) so as to flex in response to torque between the reference point (24,59) and the test point (29,68), causing a change in the angle between the lines on the two surfaces (20,25;60,61), and thus of the spacing (D) (FIG.

Abstract: A simplified heads-up display system for projecting a virtual image of a broad-band display source employs a pair of identically constructed reflective holograms, wherein one of the holograms is in the field of view of the observer to correct dispersion and provide the virtual image of the display source within the observers field of view.