Abstract: A laser endoscope includes a micro-thin optic cable assembly which may be inserted into a body cavity by micro-surgical or non-surgical procedures. A coherent jacketed fiber optical bundle is provided in the center of the assembly having a diameter of no more than 3.5 mm. with an optical lens system at the distal end for reflecting an image of a portion of the interior of the cavity. A pair of single optical fibers are spirally wound around the cable, each of which has a total diameter including a jacket of approximately 140 microns. One of these fibers carries a laser light beam to the cavity and the other is for redundancy. The proximate end of the optical cable assembly connects to a remote unit wherein a laser diode light source is provided to direct a beam of light into the end of one of the single optical fibers. A TV camera is also provided in the remote unit together with suitable optics for transmitting the image from the optical cable to a viewing screen on the remote unit.

Abstract: A laser based optically triggered sensor system is described which can function as a coordinate measuring machine (CMM) probe. With the sensor, a CMM can find the exact location of the surface of a test object without physically having to touch the object. The reflectivity of the laser beam is sensed by a detector pair. The ratio of light on the detector pair is sensed and used to indicate when the probe is in range for a measurement, out of range for the measurement, and when in range, whether the object being sensed is too far or too close from the trigger point of the probe. The system is a plug compatible replacement for existing contact trigger probes currently used on most CMM's.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical sensor apparatus (21) for remotely monitoring a utility meter or the like. The optical sensor apparatus (21) includes optically sensitive detector, in this case, a dynamic RAM device (40) which consists of an array (42, 44) of light sensitive elements. Light from a light source (56) is reflected off the faceplate (52) of the meter. Microprocessor control system (100) operatively interconnected to the optically sensitive dynamic RAM device (40) controls the exposure of the RAM device (40) to the light. The microprocessor control system (100) further determines the angular position of the individual pointer members (50) of the meter by correlating a binary image stored in memory to a predetermined geometic shape. The microprocessor control system (100) further includes logic for converting the angular positions of the pointer members (50) of the meter stages to a decimal value representative of the meter reading.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical sensor apparatus (21) for use in a remote meter monitoring system (20) for remotely monitoring the dials (34) of a utility meter or the like by use of a liquid crystal display (31). The liquid crystal display (31) includes five distinct areas 71 through 75 arranged in a semicircle in register with the circumferential path of a dial pointer arrangement (36) of the meter which including a dial pointer (37) and a disk like member (38) having a light absorptive semicircular portion (38a) and a reflective semicircular portion (38b). A sixth distinct area (76) being positioned in a diametrically opposed semicircle. The disk like member (38) being illuminated by a light emitting diode (40).

Abstract: A laser endoscope includes a micro-thin optic cable assembly which may be inserted into a body cavity by micro-surgical or non-surgical procedures. A coherent jacketed fiber optical bundle is provided in the center of the assembly having a diameter of no more than 3.5 mm. with an optical lens system at the distal end for reflecting an image of a portion of the interior of the cavity. A pair of single optical fibers are spirally wound around the cable, each of which has a total diameter including a jacket of approximately 140 microns. One of these fibers carries a laser light beam to the cavity and the other is for redundancy.The proximate end of the optical cable assembly connects to a remote unit wherein a laser diode light source is provided to direct a beam of light into the end of one of the single optical fibers. A TV camera is also provided in the remote unit together with suitable optics for transmitting the image from the optical cable to a viewing screen on the remote unit.

Abstract: The method utilizes a multi-faceted holographic optical element, the various individual diffraction gratings of each facet collectively functioning to effect a desired wavefront transformation. In this way, a laser beam can be transformed into a specific pattern, permitting unusually shaped objects to be efficiently illuminated with laser light.

Abstract: A holographic optical element is formed by subdividing the surface of a relatively thick dichromated gelatin film into numerous small areas so as to provide a corresponding number of volume facets therebeneath. Each facet is individually exposed with coherent waves, either planar or spherical, so as to record a desired interference pattern within that particular facet. By constructing each facet individually, a volume hologram is created containing an arbitrarily specified complete fringe pattern which will cause a readout beam to be deflected along a desired scan path, or a hologram can be produced which will provide a wavefront transformation when illuminated with an expanded laser beam so as to display a complete image with 100% optical efficiency.

Abstract: The data processing system makes use of a holographic optical element comprised of a number of facets, each facet containing a grating pattern for diffractively redistributing input light so that output light from a facet or a combination of facets represents encoded mathematical data.