Abstract: Systems and methods for providing capabilities matching in a printing environment, including performing copy splitting, document splitting, color separation, pool printing, finishing, sheet assembly, and the like. Capabilities needed to perform a print job are matched with the available capabilities of the printing devices in the system. In some embodiments, a print processor is used in performing the capabilities matching. The print job is then selectively routed to one or more printing devices to process the print job.

Abstract: A system for managing a multistage production enterprise, that includes one or more print-for-pay or franchised print centers, provides an interface display designed to accommodate managers who may be unfamiliar with the use of computers. The top half of the display contains “radio” buttons accompanied by icons that identify principal work areas subject to control, while the bottom half provides a status summary of the principal operations including the completion status of work, whether or not the work is proceeding on schedule and projected future work load. The selection of an icon brings up a further display, again divided in two, the upper half containing an array of addressable icons that address more detailed aspects of the selected operation and the bottom half providing more detailed status information and control. To keep the user aware of which operations are being addressed, each ensuing display repeats the originally selected icon in its upper right-hand corner as a trail-marker.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for raster processing print data are disclosed. Multiple print-processing nodes process a print stream serially as it passes through those nodes. For instance, a client generates a print job with some pages in raster format and some pages in a Page Description Language (PDL) format, e.g., every other page. The pages are encapsulated with Printer Job Language commands that allow a printer to detect which pages in the mixed-format stream are in which format. The printer prints raster-format pages directly, and sends PDL-format pages to an internal renderer before submitting them to its marking engine. This arrangement allows printing at, e.g., at full-marking-engine speed, on a printer with a low-speed renderer and from a client that can only render pages at low speed.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including a digital printing device that prints an image according to image signals and a digital scanning device, connectable to the digital printing device, that scans an image and converts the image into electric signals. The digital printing device includes a first nonvolatile memory for storing first parameters that optimize performance of the digital printing device. The digital scanning device includes a second nonvolatile memory for storing second parameters that optimize performance of the digital scanning device. The digital printing device includes a section for modifying the second parameters when the digital scanning device is connected to the digital printing device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a print distribution system in which plural printing apparatuses are connected over a network, and printed data created by a data processing apparatus of a sender is distributed to plural distribution destinations. The print distribution system includes an association information holding unit that holds in advance information indicating correspondences between plural distribution destinations and plural printing apparatuses used in the plural distribution destinations, and a print setting management unit that collectively manages settings of print conditions of the plural printing apparatuses.

Abstract: An mage forming device and image forming method capable of performing selective data compression. Printing data transmitted from a host computer are stored in RAM and developed into image data by CPU. The CPU determines whether or not the greatest raster length in the image data of each page exceeds a reference value that represents the data transfer ability of the laser printer (and corresponds to the value of 80% of the largest printing width of the laser printer) on a page by pages. If the greatest raster length exceeds the reference value, the image data of the page are compressed by the CPU and stored in the RAM. If the greatest raster length do not exceed the value, the image data of the page are stored in the RAM without being compressed. Then, the image data stored in the RAM are sent to an ASIC on a raster by raster basis. Only compressed image data are decompressed and the decompressed data then are transferred to a laser unit. Non-compressed image data per se are transferred to the laser unit.

Abstract: It is an object to allow a plurality of printers to print a document without disordering a page order. When a plurality of printers are allowed to print the document, print data is transferred to the plurality of printers so as not to disorder the page order.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to perform a print setting by a unit of page and reflect the print setting to printing. A setting table including an overall setting, which is applied to an entire one print job, and a partial setting, which is designated for each page based upon the overall setting, is stored in a table storage section. A data processing section refers to the setting table stored in the table storage section by a unit of one page for a metafile generated by a GDI. Then, if the page is a target of the partial setting, the data processing section converts the page into data of a format, which a printer can process, after reflecting a corresponding partial setting to it. The converted data is sent to the printer and printed.

Abstract: A method of performing a pattern fill operation of a pattern into a clipping region divides dividing the pattern into a plurality of bands. For each band the method renders the band as a bit map into a band cache. For each tiling of the pattern into the clipping region the method clips the bit map of a current band to the clipping region and copies the clipped bit map into a corresponding location of a page bit map. The plurality of bands of the pattern are preferable aligned with scan lines of the printed page. The bands may correspond to individual scan lines. The method select the number of bands so that each band may be stored within a predetermined amount of band cache memory.

Abstract: An output data processing device capable of increasing efficiency in setting of parameters is provided. Output conditions suitable for each medium to be printed are stored beforehand in relation to each medium. Each time an order is received, the details of the order, print data and a medium are stored in relation to each other in a publication management database. By only selecting a record corresponding to the details of the order among the records stored in the publication management database for an output process, the related output conditions and the corresponding print data are transferred to an output device which in turn performs the output process. Thus, the efficiency is increased in a condition setting process entailed in the output process.

Abstract: Finish of a composite image generated from an image and characters can be confirmed by enlarging the characters alone and without enlarging a copyrighted image such as a cartoon character. In order to generate the composite image, the characters are input from a user terminal according to a template. In a printing service apparatus, image data of the composite image are generated and sent to the user terminal. By an instruction from the user terminal, enlargement data are generated for enlarging the characters alone and sent to the user terminal.

Abstract: A controller for a four-drum printer eliminates a need for an expensive inter-drum delay memory, which has been conventionally used, to print an RGB image and allows a multifunction machine, printer, and the like to be provided at low cost. An image ring interface reads an image data containing the same tile, which is stored in a tile pattern in a RAM, four times with a delay corresponding to a delay (10 lines of tiles) of image formation between image forming sections, and sequentially transfers the image data to four image output interfaces.

Abstract: A method and structure for implementing color image acquisition and processing. Combined and direct interpolation and conversion from a first to a second color space of sensor color data provided to a device capable of receiving and displaying color image data, followed by color correction in the second color space, greatly simplifies acquisition and processing of color image data. Interpolation in the combined interpolation and conversion can optionally be vertex-based interpolation in which color data for virtual pixels for one or more pixels of interest can occur in parallel fashion. Conversion in the combined interpolation and conversion can be performed in accordance with a simplified conversion matrix that does not require the use of multiplier logic to be implemented but that does require compensation during subsequent color correction of the color data, also in the second color space.

Abstract: A printer is capable of expressing halftones by forming halftone spots in cells each having a plurality of pixels by irradiating an exposure beam. The printer comprises a halftone processing section for converting M-bit image data into N (M>N)-bit drive pulse width data for driving the exposure beam. The halftone processing section includes a threshold matrix including a plurality of threshold values corresponding to the plurality of pixels, and a converter circuit which compares a plurality of threshold values output from the threshold matrix with image data, and generates drive pulse width data in accordance with the comparison result. Random noise is superposed on the plurality of threshold values or the image data, and the resultant is subjected to the comparison, whereby generation of tone jump is suppressed.

Abstract: The invention provides a procedure that is applicable to various halftoning methods, which minimizes image distortion introduced by the halftoning process. The procedure involves maintaining specific relationships between the halftone pattern and the phase and resolution of the input image. Specifically, that the halftone pattern is designed such that it does not bias tone reproduction with respect to the location of the input image pixels—each input pixel should be given equal weight when filtered by the halftoning process. This suggests a 1 to 1 relationship between each pixel of the input image and the corresponding tone output produced by the halftoning process. The procedure results in improved print quality, manifested by avoidance of certain types of moiré which are commonly associated with halftoning, as well as improved reproduction of edges and image details.

Abstract: There is provided an image reading device having an interface to communicate with devices on a network, the image reading device including a data transferring system that communicates with a terminal device on the network according to a certain data transferring protocol, and a reading system that reads an original and generates image data of the original based on information contained in a pathname designated according to the certain data transferring protocol, the pathname being transmitted from the terminal device and being received by the data transferring system.

Abstract: A CPU files image data inputted through a scanner according to read setting on a data table and starts processing tasks corresponding to each transmission destination for image data filed according to transmission destination setting on the data table.

Abstract: In the case of private scan, an entire control section saves, on a hard disk device, “setting information/data” for scan as a record, and reads, when necessary, “setting information/data” saved as a record on the hard disk device, thereby registering it as a template.

Abstract: A scanning module capable of finely tuning the optical length comprises a lamp tube, a base, a photosensitive substrate, and an adjustment unit. The lamp tube provides a required light source for a document to be scanned. The base has a reflective mirror set and a camera lens. The reflective mirror set is used to receive light from the document, and transmits the light to the camera lens for focusing. The photosensitive substrate is used to convert light outputted by the camera lens into electronic signals. The adjustment unit is used to adjust the optical length between the base and the photosensitive substrate. The total optical length can thus be adjusted to correct the inaccuracy of magnification. Or the distance between the camera lens and the photosensitive substrate can be adjusted to align the focal length within the allowable inaccuracy of magnification to achieve an output image of better quality.

Abstract: A document printing system and methodology wherein plural, potentially useable printers are reviewed in a preliminary discovery process to assess (1) which ones are currently available for use, and (2) of these, which have the best-suited operational characteristics relative to a particular printing job. The latter “collection” of printers is then treated as a cluster to which a scanned document is appropriately sent for implementation of that job.

Abstract: The invention discloses an improved structure of light-source module, which arranges a reflection piece of light-source module in an image picking-up device of optical scanner. The invention applies the design of improved reflection piece to generate a compensatory function to the light source to reduce the waste formed by the light dissipation, which will be gathered by the reflection piece and be reflected to the document to be scanned. With the design of appropriate angle and position, the reflection piece may completely reflect the light onto the document to be scanned for obtaining a preferable quality of scanned image. Wherein, the reflection piece may be designed as two pieces, one of which may reach the function of light compensation, or one reflection piece may be designed as two reflection parts, one of which may reach the function of light compensation.

Abstract: A carriage for supporting a recording head such that a clearance is present between the recording head supported by the carriage, and a recording medium supported by a supporting surface of a medium supporting member, the carriage being reciprocated in a reciprocating direction intersecting a feeding direction in which the recording medium is fed, the carriage including a plurality of supporting portions having respective supporting points where the supporting portions engage and support the recording head, and one or more adjusting devices which moves or move the supporting point or points of one or more of the supporting portions toward, and away from, the recording medium, so as to adjust a degree of parallelism between the recording head and the recording medium with respect to the feeding direction.

Abstract: In an information processing method, input color data indicating a plurality of color components including a black color component is converted into output color data that indicates a plurality of color components including a black color component. A relationship between lightness levels and simple black colors is determined for an output device based on the characteristics of the output device. When input color data indicates a simple black color, output color data for the simple black color having a lightness level equivalent to the lightness level of the input color data is determined based on the relationship between lightness levels and simple black colors.

Abstract: Image data is processed appropriately even when there is a problem with a storage component of an image scanning apparatus. The image scanning apparatus acquires image data and stores it in local storage memory, and sends a storage result report to a terminal computer. Based on this storage result report the terminal computer determines the image data processing method. The image scanning apparatus then processes the image data according to the method determined by the terminal computer.

Abstract: A microscope system comprises: a control means (18) capable of generating electric control signals (18a); a spatial modulator means (7) having an illuminated surface (7a) to be illuminated by light emitted by a light source (1), and capable of receiving the electric control signal and of spatially modulating reflection characteristic or transmission characteristic of the illuminated surface by a spatial frequency specified by the electric control signal; an illuminating optical means (8, 11) for illuminating a specimen (12) with light spatially modulated by the spatial modulator means; an image detecting means (15) for detecting a signal image formed by signal light emitted by the specimen illuminated by the illuminating optical means; and an arithmetic means (16) for processing signal images formed by using the spatial frequency of at least three different phases set by the control means and detected by the image detecting means to obtain an optical sectioned image.

Abstract: An observation optical system comprises an image display element 5 and an eyepiece optical system which introduces an image formed by the image display element 5 to a center of an eye of an observer without forming an intermediate image, so as to allow the observer to observe the image as a virtual image. The eyepiece optical system is constructed and arranged to bend the optical axis using reflecting surfaces so as to be compact. The optical axis lies in a plane, with respect to which the optical system is formed symmetric. The optical system includes a prism 3 having an entrance surface 33, a plurality of curved reflecting surfaces 31, 32 and an exit surface 31. The reflecting surface 32 is provided with a volume hologram (HOE) 4.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scanning optical system of small size, which is constructed of a reduced number of optical elements. A scanning optical system 10 comprises a prism. In forward ray tracing from a light source 11 to an image plane (the surface to be scanned), a light beam from the light source is collimated by a condensing optical system constructed of a first transmitting surface 1T, a second reflecting surface 1R and a second transmitting surface 2T into a substantially parallel light beam, which is then reflected and deflected at a two-dimensional scanner 12. The reflected and deflected light forms an image through an image-formation optical system constructed of a third transmitting surface 3T, a second reflecting surface 2R, a third reflecting (total reflection) surface 3R and a fourth transmitting surface 4T for two-dimensional scanning of the surface to be scanned.

Abstract: A deformable mirror according to the invention comprises a substrate, a reflector which is supported by said substrate and the shape of whose reflecting areas is variable, and a plurality of drive units for independently driving a plurality of regions of the reflector and thereby controlling the distances between said plurality of regions and said substrate. Each of the plurality of drive units comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed over said substrate, a tilt member which is rotated round the axis of tilt by being attracted by the selected one of the plurality of electrodes, and an action member for varying the distance between a specific region of the reflector and said substrate following the motion of the tilt member.

Abstract: An electro-optical device capable of modulating the amplitude or phase of an optical output in response to an electrical data or control signal, or of switching it, has reduced frequency-dependence and a better combination of operating voltage and bandwidth. It comprises a body of electro-optically active material, waveguides for passing light through the body, and electrodes for applying an electric field with a frequency in the microwave region to the body, and its transverse geometry is such as to maintain adequate phase velocity matching between optical and microwave frequencies. There is a discontinuity in either the body or at least one of the electrodes such that the direction of the electro-optic effect is reversed for a portion of the length of the device at or near its downstream end.

Abstract: Reversible electrochemical mirror (REM) devices typically comprise a conductive oxide mirror electrode that is substantially transparent to radiation of some wavelengths, a counter electrode that may also be substantially transparent, and an electrolyte that contains ions of an electrodepositable metal. A voltage applied between the two electrodes causes electrodeposition of a mirror deposit on the mirror electrode and dissolution of the mirror deposit on the counter electrode, and these processes are reversed when the polarity of the applied voltage is changed. Such REM devices provide precise control over the reflection and transmission of radiation and can be used for a variety of applications, including smart windows and automatically adjusting automotive mirrors.

Abstract: To allow an electrochromic device to have little or no offset between its front and rear elements, an electrical conductor may be provided to electrically couple a portion of a first conductive layer provided on the rear surface of the front element with a portion of a second conductive layer provided on the front surface of the rear element. The electrical conductor may be in the form of a conductive portion of the seal. To prevent shorting across the electrochromic medium, at least one of the first and second conductive layers is separated into a first portion and a second portion that is electrically isolated from the first portion and is in electrical contact with the electrochromic material. An elastomeric bezel may be utilized. Also, an edge seal may optionally be employed so as to reduce the need or width of the bezel.

Abstract: In order to form an electrophoretic layer containing microcapsules at a desired region readily and accurately, a region having lyophobicity is formed on a member, and a microcapsule dispersion is then applied onto the member.

Abstract: A device (16) in a system (10) modulates an optical signal (13) and tunes the duty cycle of the optical signal (13) for optimizing system performance as a response of the duty cycle. The device (16) includes a tunable duty-cycle Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) acting as a pulse-width shaper (160) for modulating the optical signal (13) and tuning the duty cycle of the optical signal (13). The MZI (160) has a transmittance transfer function of the interferometer (160). At least one electrode structure (163) generates a DC voltage and an AC voltage for biasing and controlling the swing of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer (160) with the respective amplitudes of the DC and AC voltages such that the maximum power transmittance point on the transfer function is less than 100% for tuning the duty cycle of the optical signal (13) such that system performance is optimized.

Abstract: A two-axis MEMS device for an optical switch may be fabricated using a single wafer. The device has a movable mirror rotatably coupled to a plate, which is itself rotatably coupled to a stationary substrate to enable mirror rotation about two axes. The mirror rotates with respect to the plate in response to a first voltage applied between the mirror and a movable electrode rigidly connected to the plate. The plate rotates with respect to the substrate in response to a second voltage applied between the plate and a stationary electrode rigidly connected to the substrate. Additional movable and/or stationary electrodes may be implemented to enable bidirectional rotation of the plate and/or the mirror. A spring supporting the plate on the substrate may have two or more split parts to provide two or more independent voltages from the substrate. The electrodes may be arranged with respect to each other and/or the mirror to form a fringe-field (FF) actuator, which may alleviate any snap-down problem.

Abstract: A MEMS device for an optical switch may be fabricated using a single wafer, which alleviates the alignment problem associated with a two-piece prior art design. The device has a movable plate, which may act as a mirror, supported on a stationary substrate. The plate rotates with respect to the substrate in response to a voltage applied to a stationary electrode rigidly connected to the substrate. Additional movable and/or stationary electrodes may be implemented to enable bidirectional rotation of the plate. Electrodes may be arranged with respect to each other and/or the plate to form a fringe-field (FF) actuator, which may alleviate the snap-down problem associated with the prior art design. Multiple MEMS devices of the invention may be arrayed in a single integrated structure to form a linear, radial, or two-dimensional array of mirrors.

Abstract: A control circuit designed to control driving voltages applied to the actuating electrodes of a MEMS mirror. The control circuit is interfaced with a mirror position sensor and includes a variable gain amplifier whose output depends on a desired mirror equilibrium angle and a current mirror tilt angle determined by the sensor. The desired equilibrium angle can be changed by varying a reference signal applied to the amplifier. The control circuit can stabilize the mirror at relatively large tilt angles and, as a result, extend the available angular range beyond the snap-down angle. Since the number of MEMS mirrors that can be arrayed in an optical cross-connect is a function of the available angular range, the number of channels in a cross-connect may be substantially increased.

Abstract: A special record format used for commanding light pattern shapes and addressable light pattern shape generator. The command format includes a first part which commands a specified gobo and second parts which command the characteristics of that gobo. The gobo is formed by making a default gobo based on the type and modifying that default gobo to fit the characteristics.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display comprising a plurality of microcapsules disposed between a pair of substrates, wherein each microcapsule comprises a capsule body containing an insulating fluid and charged particles dispersed in the fluid. The microcapsules are contacted with at least the substrate arranged at a display face side of the pair of substrates and each microcapsule has a flat surface at least at the display face side so that the substrate at the display face side is in face-to-face contact with the microcapsules. As a result, the proportion of the contact area of the substrate with the microcapsules increases compared with the traditional electrophoretic display, preventing uneven displaying and achieving increased contrast and high-quality displaying.

Abstract: An artificially structured dielectric material having optical properties which depend upon the intensity of light incident on the material is described. The material (2) comprises: an array of resiliently moveable mechanical elements (6) of a dielectric material which are attached to a substrate (4). The elements (6) are configured such that when the material is illuminated with light (8) of a selected intensity and wavelength the elements (6) move towards the region of higher intensity of the light thereby altering the optical properties of the material (2).

Abstract: A control system and method for a multi-channel optical amplifier is provided that achieves and automatically maintains a selected gain level by controlling the average inversion level of the dopant atoms in the gain fiber. In both the system and the method, a set point average inversion level that corresponds to a gain set point is first selected. A pump light power output necessary to achieve the set point average inversion level is determined from the optical input power, output power, and pump light remnant power. The same parameters used to achieve and maintain the set point average inversion level are also used to determine linear gain per channel which in turn may be used to minimize tilt or ripple in the gain output of the amplifier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a narrow-band spectral filter. The aim of the invention is to reduce the radiation exposure of optical elements used in highly ultraviolet light by using an optical filter (10) that is simple in construction and that preselects a wavelength band of a predetermined bandwidth. To this end, an optical filter (10) is provided that comprises at least one zirconium, niobium, or molybdenum layer (1a, b) interposed between two silicon layers (2). In order to increase the mechanical stability and the service life of the filter and in order to further restrict the spectral characteristics, another two ruthenium or rhodium layers each can follow the silicon layers. The filters (10) of this kind are especially used in lighting systems and projection lighting systems for highly ultraviolet light that are used in semiconductor lithography.

Abstract: In a night vision arrangement for a motor vehicle a camera (1) is provided which captures an image which is subsequently displayed on a display arrangement (3) which may be a head-up display arrangement. The camera (1) has a lens (4) which is aligned with a beam deflector (6) which may be constituted by a mirror (7) which deflects the beam so that is passes along a neck (8) on to a sensor (11). The camera may relatively easily be mounted in position in a motor vehicle.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical microscope having an apparatus for illumination of a subject with illuminating light, in which the spectral selection and/or polarization and/or phase properties of the illuminating light are selected in such a way that the illuminating light is reflected, absorbed, and/or scattered differently in the different media of the patient's eye (5) and/or at the media interfaces. The light thus modified is coupled out of the observation beam path (2) of the stereomicroscope (1); the nature, shape, and position of the individual media and/or their interfaces are determined using an evaluation unit (14); and an electronically generated optical image is in turn coupled via a projector (16) or other display into the observation beam path (2).

Abstract: Systems and methods for registering hemispheric images obtained using a fisheye lens for panoramic viewing, relating to spatial alignment and colour balancing of complement half-side images derived from the hemispheric images. The systems and methods for spatial alignment determine the displacement of the digitized recorded images using a single translation and rotation model of distortion, which further evaluates the centre of projection, and the extent of translation and rotation. The system and method for colour balancing iteratively increase (or decrease) the values of pixels near the edge (discontinuity) between the two half-sides of an image, each time taking into consideration the average difference of pixel colour across a smaller strip of the edge near the pixel. This invention removes the colour differential but does not remove any detail underlying the features of the image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reflection-type three-dimensional display system. The present invention comprises an image providing device that provides elemental images; an image displaying device that displays the elemental images; a projective lens system that is located along the same axis as the image providing device; and a concave mirror array that is located along the same axis as the projective lens system. The projective lens system projects the image that is displayed by the image displaying device to the concave mirror array, and the concave mirror array reflects and integrates the projected image and therefore displays the three-dimensional image.

Abstract: A projection screen includes a plurality of convex portions serving as a light diffusion control portion, on the surface of a substrate. An optical thin film overlies the substrate and has convex portions having the same shape as that of the convex portions of the substrate. When external light enters the optical thin film with light in three primary color wavelength bands, the optical thin film reflects only the light in the three color wavelength bands and absorbs at least visible light of the external light. When light in the three primary color wavelength bands perpendicularly enters the optical thin film, the rays of the light have incident angles at the convex portions of the optical thin film and diffuse-reflected at angles twice the incident angles. Thus, a predetermined percentage of the light is diffused to increase the viewing angle of the screen.

Abstract: An observation device is disclosed that includes an intermediate tube that houses two relay optical systems and an image rotator, each relay optical system having an exit axis that is substantially parallel to the exit axis of the other relay optical system, and an ocular tube that houses two image formation optical systems and two eyepiece optical systems. The intermediate optical tube has a connecting portion that connects to a connector at the top of a stereoscopic microscope body at one end and is rotatably connected to the ocular tube at the other end, the ocular tube is extendable from, and collapsible into, the intermediate tube over a movement range in the direction of the exit optical axes of the pair of relay optical systems, and exit pupils of the pair of relay optical systems are arranged near a middle position of the range of movement of the ocular tube.

Abstract: In a polarization beam splitter that allows effective polarization separation in a wide wavelength range with low dependency on angle of incidence, between two prisms is sandwiched a dielectric multilayer film composed of a first and a second multilayer portion that are designed with respect to a first and a second wavelength &lgr;1 and &lgr;2, respectively. Moreover, the formula &lgr;1<&lgr;2<1.55·&lgr;1 is fulfilled, and which is greater of the difference between the refractive indices of the high-refractive-index and low-refractive-index layers in the first multilayer portion and the same difference in the second multilayer portion coincides with which is greater of the differences of the angles &thgr;1 and &thgr;2 from the prism vertex angle &thgr;.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a single component performing light polarization and color filtering, and to a production process making the component. The component comprises a polarization plate with photo resistant material of three primary colors distributed at a plurality of dot locations on one of its surface, and with light absorbing material disposed between any adjacent two of the dot locations. The production process comprises the steps of forming a dot matrix on a surface of the polarization plate and filling photo resistant material onto the dots of the dot matrix.

Abstract: An optically active color filter for controlling the color of light produced by a light source. The color filter includes an optically active device positioned between a linear polarizer and an adjustable position linear polarizer whose orientation can be controlled mechanically or electrically. In a preferred embodiment, the optically active device contains an liquid optically active substance such as high maltose corn syrup. The optically active color filter may be used for controlling the color of a light source such as a stage light or spotlight and in other applications requiring a device for controlling the color of a light source.