Abstract: Disclosed is an observation system including a first optical path capable of receiving first optical radiation emitted by a scene and including a first sensor configured to generate a first digital image from the first optical radiation; a second optical path capable of receiving second optical radiation and including a second sensor configured to generate a second digital image from the second optical radiation; a display configured to display a third digital image from the first and second digital images; a third optical path coupled to the display; and a fourth optical path connecting the first and third optical paths, the first optical path including an optical element configured to transmit a part of the first optical radiation to the fourth optical path.

Abstract: A system and a method for tracking a target and for compensating for atmospheric turbulence is described. In an embodiment, the system includes at least two light sources each emitting a light beam to the target; at least two collimators that collimate the light beam of the associated light source; and a reference device to reflect a portion of the light beam exiting from all the collimators. The system also includes: at least two targeting modules to lead the light beam from the light source to reach a predetermined zone of the target; at least two detection modules to receive and detect the portion of the beam reflected by the reference device; a module for determining angle of deviation; a module for determining phase deviation; and an adjustment module for adjusting each of the light sources in order to compensate for atmospheric turbulence.

Abstract: An optical device including an acousto-optic modulator (AOM), a laser, an upstream optical fibre extending between the laser and the AOM, a downstream optical fibre located downstream of the AOM and a reflector connected to the fibre downstream of the AOM. The optical device including the upstream fibre is a polarisation-maintaining optical fibre, and/or the downstream fibre is arranged so that a transit time of the optical beam through said downstream fibre from the AOM to the reflecting means is nonzero and shorter than or equal to half an open duration of the AOM, and/or the AOM includes a crystal in which the entrance/exit faces are planar and are at a nonzero angle to each other, and/or at least one of the two entrance/exit faces is at a nonzero angle to a direction of propagation of the acoustic wave in the crystal.

Abstract: An optical device able to change the direction of propagation of a light beam. The optical device allows a wide range of adjustment of the direction of the light beam, said optical device including, in the direction of propagation of the light beam, an overall divergent group of lenses and an overall convergent group of lenses. The overall divergent group of lenses contains, in the direction of propagation of the light beam, a fixed lens, and an optical module comprising at least one movable optical element able to change the direction of propagation of the light beam emerging from the overall divergent group of lenses.

Abstract: A system and a method for tracking a target and for compensating for atmospheric turbulence, the system comprising at least two light sources with each emitting a light beam to the target, at least two collimators to collimate the light beam of the associated light source, a reference device to reflect a portion of the light beam exiting from all the collimators, at least two targeting modules to lead the light beam from the light source to reach a predetermined zone of the target, at least two detection modules to receive and detect the portion of the beam reflected by the reference device, a module for determining angle of deviation, a module for determining phase deviation and an adjustment module for adjusting each of the light sources in order to compensate for atmospheric turbulence.

Abstract: Optical device for adjusting the spatial distribution of a laser beam. The device (1) comprises an assembly (2) of two matrices (3, 4) of lenses (5a), said matrices (3, 4) being identical and arranged parallel to one another with a uniform spacing between them, said assembly (2) being traversable by a laser beam (6), and controllable activating means (10) capable of modifying the spacing between the two matrices (3, 4) to create a zoom effect.

Abstract: An optical device able to change the direction of propagation of a light beam. The optical device allows a wide range of adjustment of the direction of the light beam, said optical device including, in the direction of propagation of the light beam, an overall divergent group of lenses and an overall convergent group of lenses. The overall divergent group of lenses contains, in the direction of propagation of the light beam, a fixed lens, and an optical module comprising at least one movable optical element able to change the direction of propagation of the light beam emerging from the overall divergent group of lenses.

Abstract: The device (1) comprises a controllable illumination module (2) comprising a laser source (3) capable of emitting a laser pulse, a controllable high-speed shutter (5), and an activatable control unit (6) which controls said illumination module (2) and said shutter (5) simultaneously, and which synchronizes the generation of laser pulses by the illumination module (2) and the opening of the shutter (5) so as to move said shutter (5) into an open position, an adjustable time lag after the generation of a laser pulse, and this over an adjustable opening period, said illumination module (2) and said shutter (5) forming part of an assembly (12) having mechanical integrity.

Abstract: Speckle effect in scanning display systems that employs polarized phase-coherent light is reduced by depolarizing the phase-coherent light using a depolarizer and scanning the depolarized light for producing desired images.

Abstract: The system (1) has at least one Fabry-Pérot cavity (3) with an adjustable gap (E), of which a gap value known as the nominal value allows a laser beam (4) of corresponding frequency to pass through said Fabry-Pérot cavity (3), controllable piezoelectric actuation means (5A), capable of causing said gap (E) to vary, within a range of gap values including said nominal value, and a control unit (6) to control said actuation means (5A) so that it causes the gap (E) to vary in accordance with a periodic time function.

Abstract: The device (1) comprises a controllable illumination module (2) comprising a laser source (3) capable of emitting a laser pulse, a controllable high-speed shutter (5), and an activatable control unit (6) which controls said illumination module (2) and said shutter (5) simultaneously, and which synchronises the generation of laser pulses by the illumination module (2) and the opening of the shutter (5) so as to move said shutter (5) into an open position, an adjustable time lag after the generation of a laser pulse, and this over an adjustable opening period, said illumination module (2) and said shutter (5) forming part of an assembly (12) having mechanical integrity.

Abstract: Optical device for adjusting the spatial distribution of a laser beam. The device (1) comprises an assembly (2) of two matrices (3, 4) of lenses (5a), said matrices (3, 4) being identical and arranged parallel to one another with a uniform spacing between them, said assembly (2) being traversable by a laser beam (6), and controllable activating means (10) capable of modifying the spacing between the two matrices (3, 4) to create a zoom effect.

Abstract: For combining light from different light sources that are spatially apart, an optical system comprises a prism assembly that comprises a totally-internally-surface and a dichroic filter. The totally-internally-surface and the dichroic filter are configured for reflecting light of different colors or polarizations, so as to combine light of different polarization or colors into a single beam.

Abstract: According to particular embodiments, an illumination system includes a light source that generates light for use in illuminating a spatial light modulator and an assembly of two optical elements spatially separated by a gap that receives the light from the light source, changes the shape of the light, and transmits the light onto the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: An illumination source and a method therefor. A light source includes a light circuit configured to process light and direct light, and a lighting element optically coupled to the light circuit to provide multiple colors of light. The light circuit propagates light using light guides. The use of light guides eliminates the use of free space optical elements, enabling the creation of more compact light sources. Furthermore, the use of light guides may enable the creation of light sources with fewer mechanical restrictions, thereby making the light sources potentially more reliable and less expensive.

Abstract: Speckle effect in scanning display systems that employs polarized phase-coherent light is reduced by depolarizing the phase-coherent light using a depolarizer and scanning the depolarized light for producing desired images.

Abstract: For combining light from different light sources in a light source, dichroic filters are displaced individually according to the physical arrangement of the light sources such that the reflected light from the dichroic filters is coincident in angle and space.

Abstract: An illumination source and a method therefor. A light source includes a light circuit configured to process light and direct light, and a lighting element optically coupled to the light circuit to provide multiple colors of light. The light circuit propagates light using light guides. The use of light guides eliminates the use of free space optical elements, enabling the creation of more compact light sources. Furthermore, the use of light guides may enable the creation of light sources with fewer mechanical restrictions, thereby making the light sources potentially more reliable and less expensive.

Abstract: For combining light from different light sources that are spatially apart, an optical system comprises a prism assembly that comprises a totally-internally-surface and a dichroic filter. The totally-internally-surface and the dichroic filter are configured for reflecting light of different colors or polarizations, so as to combine light of different polarization or colors into a single beam.

Abstract: Speckle effect in display system is reduced by utilizing the instability of phase-coherent light and the transmission of the instable phase-coherent light through a multi-mode optical fiber with a suitable length.