Abstract: A display screen shows a number of alphanumeric characters in accordance with computer originating signals. These signals are fed to a liquid crystal panel which responsively vaires its opacity and, preferably, tapered fiber optics extend from one side of the liquid crystal panel to the screen. In one mode light originating from a high intensity source behind the screen is transmitted through the fiber optics. In another mode light from the front of the screen is reflected from a reflector surface behind the liquid crystal panel to the display screen. Either mode of operation allows the fabrication of a matrix of a number of liquid crystal panels and their associated fiber optics to provide an expanded display screen. Thus, an expanded visual presentation is read out from a computer or similar source of controlling signals to assure that several observers are reliably informed.

Abstract: An improvement for a ring laser gyro employs pulsed optical signals in a er optic loop. Clockwise and counterclockwise traveling pulsed optical signals are generated by a pair of optical amplifiers and a beamsplitter/coupler feeds the signals to a detector. The clockwise and counterclockwise signals do not meet in either of the optical amplifiers, but do arrive in coincidence at the beamsplitter and detector. Although low rotation rate lock-in limits the minimum detection rate in a continuous wave laser gyro, it does not so restrict the pulsed laser gyro's ability to detect low rotation rates because there is little, if any, coupling between the clockwise and counterclockwise modes of signal propagation.

Abstract: Fiber optic cables are employed to convert punched card type of input infation to an alpha-numeric visual display. Separate groups of the fiber optic cables have first terminal ends positioned in an aperture area corresponding to the punched card aperture area. The second terminal ends of each group of fiber optic cables defines a single segment of an alpha-numeric character in a uniform multi-segment format. When a punched card or punched tape type of input information is inserted between a suitable source of light energy and the first terminal ends of the groups of fiber optic cables, those aperture areas which are punched out permit the transmission of light from the light source to the visual display, thereby illuminating corresponding segments of characters in the uniform multi-segment format at a display plane and converting the punched card information to alpha-numeric visual display.