Abstract: A surface plasmon resonance device includes a metal thin film, a dielectric thin film on an optical member and, in addition, an electro-optically active thin film either between the metal thin film and the dielectric thin film or between the optical member and the metal thin film. The electro-optically active thin film is subject to a voltage which is varied to tune the resonance condition of the device.

Abstract: A holographic light shaping diffuser (LSD) is formed from a monolithic glass material by recording light shaping structures (sometimes collectively known as “speckle”, particularly when the structures extend into the interior of the diffuser) in the glass material during its formation. A volume LSD may be produced by the photolithographic writing or other imaging of light shaping structures in a photosensitive glass material. Alternatively, a surface LSD may be produced by this imaging process or by embossing light shaping structures onto a high quality optical glass or by embossing a light shaping structures on a glass film layer coated onto a substrate. Both types of diffusers control the angular spread of transmitted light while homogenizing otherwise spatially noisy light sources such as LCDs and filamented light sources and while maintaining damage thresholds consistent with any glass optical element.

Abstract: Apparatus for acquiring an image of a specimen comprising a cassette having an optical portion holding a specimen array on a TIR surface and being removably matable to a processing portion having a polarized light beam source and a processing polarization-sensitive portion to image the spatially distributed charges in polarization of the specimen array. In one form the array optical portion comprises a transparent slide having a bottom surface with first and second gratings located to direct polarized light to the TIR surface and to direct light reflected by that (TIR) surface to an imager, respectively. The apparatus may include a flow cell integral with the optical portion as well as means for selecting the direction and wavelength of the polarized light.

Abstract: Systems and methods using a spectrometer system for real-time automatic evaluation of tissue injury are described. A method of assessing an injury to tissue comprises reflecting an electromagnetic signal from the tissue to produce a reflected electromagnetic signal; producing spectral data pertaining to the intensities of individual wavelengths of the reflected electromagnetic signal; analyzing the spectral data to obtain a set of results; and providing an indication of the nature of the injury to the tissue based upon the set of results.

Abstract: A sensor system in which a sensor suite has a locally located field sensing unit (FSU) that converts and evaluates sensor information using sensor fusion algorithms and is thereby able to send qualitative low-bandwidth, low power usage signals to a remote command post.

Abstract: A light reflector apparatus using an illumination optical fiber to produce a uniform illumination pattern is disclosed. By controlling the propagation of light in the core and cladding regions of an optical fiber, uniform light emission along the length of the fiber can be achieved. Using the illumination fiber as a light source in an open cusp reflector assembly provides for uniform dispersion of the emitted light over the exit faces of the reflector.

Abstract: Distributed fiber optic chemical and physical sensors provide a relatively highly uniform response over the length of the fiber by, for example, varying such properties as the core/cladding index of refraction ratio to compensate for the non-linearity in sensitivity due to the loss of higher order modes in multi-mode fibers. The variation of the ratio changes the absorption coefficient of the fiber and can be used to compensate for any non-linearity in response. Other techniques for compensation also are disclosed.

Abstract: The inner eye of a surgical patient is illuminated by incorporating an optical fiber in a ring configuration imbedded into or attached to a contact lens. The viewing surface of the lens if planar to optimize the surgeon's view. The opposite surface of the lens is curved to conform to the patient's eye. A solution conduit irrigates the eye. The apparatus is easily positioned and easily directed. The apparatus also is sufficiently inexpensive to be disposable.

Abstract: A sensor system comprises a broadband light source, a birefringent sensor, a detection circuit, and a signal processing unit. The preferred detection circuit further includes a variable frequency oscillator, a modulator, and a photodetector. The modulator modulates the output of the birefringent sensor with a modulation signal from the variable frequency oscillator. The modulation produces an interference signal having a variable interference frequency. By determining the frequency of the modulation signal from the variable frequency oscillator that minimizes the interference frequency, the detection system is able to determine the difference in frequency between first and second spectral components of the output of birefringent sensor. The detector may be constructed using entirely solid state optics/electronics. The preferred fiber grating sensor comprises a birefringent optical fiber having a cladding and a core.

Abstract: Distributed fiber optic chemical and physical sensors provide a relatively highly uniform response over the length of the fiber by, for example, varying such properties as the core/cladding index of refraction ratio to compensate for the non-linearity in sensitivity due to the loss of higher order modes in multi-mode fibers. The variation of the ratio changes the absorption coefficient of the fiber and can be used to compensate for any non-linearity in response. Other techniques for compensation also are disclosed.

Abstract: A sensor system comprises a broadband light source, a birefringent sensor, a detection circuit, and a signal processing unit. The preferred detection circuit further includes a variable frequency oscillator, a modulator, and a photodetector. The modulator modulates the output of the birefringent sensor with a modulation signal from the variable frequency oscillator. The modulation produces an interference signal having a variable interference frequency. By determining the frequency of the modulation signal from the variable frequency oscillator that minimizes the interference frequency, the detection system is able to determine the difference in frequency between first and second spectral components of the output of birefringent sensor. The detector may be constructed using entirely solid state optics/electronics. The preferred fiber grating sensor comprises a birefringent optical fiber having a cladding and a core.

Abstract: Systems and methods using a neural network based portable absorption spectrometer system for real-time automatic evaluation of tissue injury are described. An apparatus includes an electromagnetic signal generator; an optical fiber connected to the electromagnetic signal generator; a fiber optic probe connected to the optical fiber; a broad band spectrometer connected to the fiber optic probe; and a hybrid neural network connected to the broad band spectrometer. The hybrid neural network includes a principle component analyzer of broad band spectral data obtained from said broad band spectrometer.

Abstract: A method of determining the wavelength of light transmitted in an optical fiber comprises the steps of filtering the light using a filter, and then detecting the filtered light, and then determining the wavelength of the filtered light. The filter comprises a fiber grating which is recorded in a portion of the optical fiber. The fiber grating preferably has a modulated index of refraction with a modulation amplitude that varies from a first end to a second end of the fiber grating, and a modulation period defined by a grating constant that varies from the first end to the second end of the fiber grating. The fiber grating at least partially prevents transmission of light within a wavelength spectrum, and prevents transmission of a substantially larger portion of the light at a first end of the wavelength spectrum than at a second end of the wavelength spectrum. Therefore, the wavelength of the filtered light can be determined by determining a proportion of the light which was transmitted by the filter.

Abstract: Apparatus for analyzing biological samples includes a unique surface which promotes adhesion, growth and optical analysis of samples. The unique surface is formed at the bottom of each well of a microplate and provides increased surface area with a distribution of features operative also to shape and redirect light used to sense test results. The unique surface may be used in forms such as a monolith, a microplate, a chamber, a flask and others.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensor system comprises an optical fiber, a first reflector and a second reflector. The first reflector provides a fixed reference for measuring the optical path length between the second reflector and a reference reflector. The first and second reflectors respectively receive first and second portions of light emitted by the optical fiber and then reflect the light back to the optical fiber. The optical path length between the first and second reflectors varies in accordance with a sensed parameter. In operation, first and second interferograms are acquired that are produced by the interference of light reflected from the first and second reflectors with light reflected from a reference reflector. The first and second interferograms are then used to determine an optical path length between first and second reflectors. Finally, the optical path length between the first and second reflectors is used to determine the value of the sensed parameter.

Abstract: A low cost portable fiber optic fluorometer is packaged as a personal computer peripheral and is based on interchangeable modules. One embodiment of the fluorometer comprises an excitation source, a detector, a signal processor, frequency source, wavelength selector, and an optical interface. The optical interface is exclusively fiber optic-based, thereby simplifying optical alignment and reducing the cost of the fluorometer. In another embodiment, the excitation source is an inexpensive monochromatic excitation source. In this case, the monochromatic excitation source and the first wavelength selector are preferably removable and replaceable, so that the fluorometer is advantageously able to generate different excitation wavelengths and detect different emission wavelengths.

Abstract: Radiation curable compositions containing outstanding reactive diluents have been developed. The diluents are lower alkyl ether acrylates and methacrylates of particular alkoxylated and non-alkoxylated polyols.Examples are mono-methoxy trimethylolpropane diacrylate, mono-methoxy neopentyl glycol monoacrylate and mono-methoxy, ethoxylated neopentyl glycol monoacrylate having an average of about two moles of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: Radiation curable compositions containing outstanding reactive diluents have been developed. The diluents are lower alkyl ether acrylates and methacrylates of particular alkoxylated and non-alkoxylated polyols.Examples are mono-methoxy trimethylolpropane diacrylate, mono-methoxy neopentyl glycol monoacrylate and mono-methoxy, ethoxylated neopentyl glycol monoacrylate having an average of about two moles of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: Radiation curable compositions containing outstanding reactive diluents have been developed. The diluents are lower alkyl ether acrylates and methacrylates of particular alkoxylated and non-alkoxylated polyols.Examples are mono-methoxy trimethylolpropane diacrylate, mono-methoxy neopentyl glycol monoacrylate and mono-methoxy, ethoxylated neopentyl glycol monoacrylate having an average of about two moles of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: Radiation curable compositions containing outstanding reactive diluents have been developed. The diluents are lower alkyl ether acrylates and methacrylates of particular alkoxylated and non-alkoxylated polyols.Examples are mono-methoxy trimethylolopropane diacrylate, mono-methoxy neopentyl glycol monoacrylate and mono-methoxy, ethoxylated neopentyl glycol monoacrylate having an average of about two moles of ethylene oxide.