Abstract: The invention relates to a method and arrangement for measuring optical properties from paper or board that constitutes a target to be measured and comprises two planar surfaces. In the arrangement, one surface of the target to be measured is illuminated by an optical power source, and the illuminated area on the opposite side of the illuminated surface comprises at least one backing with known optical properties. A detector detects the illuminated surface in the area of the backing, and at least one optical property of the target to be measured is determined by means of spectral information obtained at the backing.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system are disclosed to analyze samples materials using triboluminescent technology. A mechanical activation knot is provided that comprises an optical window, a membrane, and a device that supplies a constant pressure of gas on the zone of activation. A sample is placed between the membrane and the optical window. The optical window is rotated along its z-axis. The friction between the sample and the optical window generates triboluminescence and associated optical emissions. Optical emissions may be distributed on the spectrum by a spectrograph, a monochromator, or a collection of filters, and then fixed by the charge coupled device, a photodiode, or a photomultiplier tube. Then, the results (data) are incorporated into different mathematical algorithms or programs with the help of computers or other computation technologies. The final results (the output) may be compared among themselves or with reference data stored in a computer's memory.

Abstract: A DNA sample added with a plurality of fluorescent marks is irradiated with excitation lights having a plurality of wavelengths and when fluorescence intensities are detected separately, the excitation light and a position on the sample are relatively changed over a desired area once to thereby detect the plurality of fluorescent marks at high speed.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for registering a single dimensional image to a two dimensional image, and for generating spectral two dimensional images, as practiced in aerial imagery. Raw data or primary images are acquired from a subject of interest and are passed through a camera type aperture and divided by passing the light beam through a beam splitter. One beam is recorded digitally as two dimensional images containing at least three recognizable geometric reference points. The second beam is passed through a slit to form single dimensional images, which are then preferably diffracted to produce plural spectral single dimensional images. The spectral single dimensional images are recorded digitally in a manner enabling each single dimensional image to be linked to its corresponding two dimensional reference image. The beam splitter and slit device may be replaced by a selectively reflective beam splitter which accomplishes the function of both deleted components.

Abstract: An improvement is provided for a system that identifies particles such as microorganisms in fluid by directing a laser beam (52) forwardly through a tiny detect zone (46) in the fluid and detecting the pattern of light scatter by a particle as it passes through the detect zone. The improvement includes a holographic optical element (60) positioned forward of the detect zone to intercept light scattered in multiple directions by the particle. The holographic optical element is divided into discrete areas, or sections, that each directs intercepted scattered light toward a selected photodetector (74, 90, 92) of a linear array (62) of photodetectors. A converging lens (106) reduces the required diffraction angles of the sections of the holographic optical element. This arrangement avoids the need to custom mount and connect numerous individual photocells, and enables simplified high speed readout of the photodetectors.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to realize to excellently perform a color matching process among media having different white points. To achieve the above object, a colorimetry value of a sample is corrected on a human's color perception space on the basis of a media white point in case of creating transformation data used in transformation performed between data on a color space depending on a device and data on a color space not depending on a device, and the transformation data is created on the basis of the corrected colorimetry value.

Abstract: In analyzing radiation from a sample, single-quanta counting can be used to advantage especially at low levels of radiation energy, e.g. in the detection of fluorescent radiation. Preferred detection techniques include methods in which (i) fluorescence-stimulating radiation is intensity-modulated in accordance with a preselected code, (ii) wherein it is the fluorescent radiation which is intensity-modulated with the preselected code, and (iii) wherein modulation with a preselected code is applied to a sample to influence a property which functionally affects emitted fluorescent radiation. For registration of the signals from a sensing element of a single-photon detector, time of arrival is recorded, optionally in conjunction with registration of time intervals. Advantageously, in the interest of minimizing the number of pulses missed due to close temporal spacing of pulses, D-triggers can be included in counting circuitry.

Abstract: A low coherent reflectometer uses low coherent beams for measurement of refletance and refleting positions with respect to a measured optical circuit which includes a reflecting point. The low coherent beams are branched to produce measurement beams (DL) and local beams (KL), so that the measurement beams are introduced into a first optical path, which includes a dispersion shifted fiber, towards the measured optical circuit, while the local beams are introduced into a second optical path which includes a spatial optical path terminated by a reflecting mirror. Refleted measurement beams (RL) and reflected local beams are combined together to produce combined beams, which are subjected to processing and analysis.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for compensating production or operationally-induced inaccuracies in the binary-weighted electrodes of a high-resolution digital phase modulator of, for example, a fiber optic gyroscope. Programmable correction values are employed to increase the accuracy of each binary-weighted planar electrode. In the invention, a less significant component of the binary drive signal, if appropriate after compensation in a low resolution digital-to-analog converter, is converted into an analog signal that is applied to a specific or a separate additional electrode of the digital phase modulator.

Abstract: An optical system for monitoring or imaging a sample includes a probe, an optical splitter or circulator, and an optical detector. The probe includes an optical fiber and a GRIN fiber-size lens fused to one end of the fiber. The optical splitter or circulator receives light from a source and directs a portion of the received light to the fiber. The optical detector is coupled to receive a portion of light collected from the sample by the GRIN fiber-size lens and is configured determine a characteristic of the sample from the received light.

Abstract: A measurement system (10) for accurately measuring the surface geometry of a part (32) in three dimensions includes a laser (12) for emitting a laser beam (14). The laser beam (14) is transmitted to a birefringent crystal (16) which splits the laser beam (14) into a pair of beams (18,20). The pair of beams (18,20) are then subjected to a phase shift by a liquid crystal system (24) as controlled by a computer (26). The pair of beams (18,20) are then expanded in order to form a fringe pattern (30) on the surface of the part (32) to be measured.

Abstract: A support apparatus for an optical wave interferometer reference plate comprises a support member for supporting an outer peripheral face of the reference plate. The support member is bonded to the outer peripheral face of the reference plate at a plurality of positions spaced from each other along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral face and adapted to deform elastically in a circumferential/diametric direction of the reference plate but less in the optical axis direction of the reference plate than in the circumferential/diametric direction.

Abstract: A carrier shape measurement device includes: a stage which supports a carrier which is to be a subject of measurement; and a measurement section which measures a shape of the carrier, and the stage comprises kinematic coupling pins to support the carrier by a kinematic coupling.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shape and color detecting apparatus that detects a three-dimensional shape of an object and a color thereof is provided with an illuminating system that emits light to illuminate the object, and a light receiving device that receives a reflected component of the light from the object. In this structure, the illuminating system is configured to emit the light from a surface having a predetermined area to the object.

Abstract: Measurement apparatus for measuring at least one of a length, surface area or volume of an object (or portion thereof) or area (22) (or portion thereof). The apparatus includes means for creating a three-dimensional map of an object or area to be measured and a touch-sensitive screen (16) for displaying the mapped image of the object or area. The user can select the area (22) of interest by drawing around it on the screen to create an outline of its shape and the apparatus then creates a virtual shape (20) which matches the outline and maps it onto the image. The user can alter the size, angle, pitch, etc. of the virtual shape (20) until it matches the area (22) exactly and the apparatus then determines the length, surface area and/or volume of the area (22), as required.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to automatically select an optimum printing device according to the characteristics of a page in units of pages to print the page, thereby reducing the load on the operator in print processing. For this purpose, it is determined in units of pages whether data to be printed contains color information. If color information is present, a color flag is set to ON. When the color flag is ON, print data prepared and developed in a page buffer is sent to a color printer. When the color flag is OFF, the print data prepared and developed in the page buffer is sent to a monochromatic printer.

Abstract: A relay device for providing communication between a sensing device and a computer system includes first and second communications modules and a processor. The first communications module receives first indicating data transmitted from the sensing device in a first format. The indicating data is sensed by the sensing device when it is placed into an operative position in relation to first coded data forming part of a first interface disposed on a first surface. In particular, the indicating data includes a first region identity indicative of an identity of a region associated with the first interface. The processor is configured to generate second indicating data based on the first indicating data. The second communications module then transmits the second indicating data in a second format to the computer system.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to automatically select an optimum printing device according to the characteristics of a page in units of pages to print the page, thereby reducing the load on the operator in print processing. For this purpose, it is determined in units of pages whether data to be printed contains color information. If color information is present, a color flag is set to ON. When the color flag is ON, print data prepared and developed in a page buffer is sent to a color printer. When the color flag is OFF, the print data prepared and developed in the page buffer is sent to a monochromatic printer.

Abstract: A beam scanning printer which includes a light mixing device for mixing green, red and blue rays radiated from three LEDs with each other and directing the mixed beam to a common converging optical system along a common optical axis is provided. Through the common converging optical system, a beam spot that is common to the three colors is formed. The common beam spot is scanned through a polygonal mirror across a photosensitive material in a main scanning direction as the photosensitive material is moved in a sub scanning direction transverse to the main scanning direction, to record a full-color image on the photosensitive material.

Abstract: A technique is described to greatly reduce or avoid the quantization errors that occur when mapping a relatively linear RGB color space into a greatly non-linear printer CMY color space of equal precision, avoiding the contouring or banding that occurs when printing color gradients in a non-linear printing system. The technique performs a dither-like process on the original RGB continuous tone data. The RGB values are dithered to create a range of values that, when mapped to the non-linear printer continuous tone CMY values, creates a range of CMY values that, on average, represent the correct average tone of the input RGB values. The generated CMY continuous tone values are then halftoned and printed.

Abstract: Color documents are reproduced in black-and-white in a manner that preserves color information through halftoning. Each image element on a color document is assigned a tag on the basis of its hue angle. The tag associates with that image element a particular halftone cell. The halftone cell has a distinct pattern associated with a pre-selected range of hue angles. The halftone cell is then applied to the luminance component of the image element. The result is a black-and-white image in which different hues appear as different halftone cells having distinct patterns and variations in the luminance are represented by the density of the resulting halftone.

Abstract: The junction temperature of an LED is determined. This result is used to determine an initial brightness value of the LED. The initial brightness value is derated by a long-term degradation amount that is determined using a stored indication of the lifetime total on time. The derated brightness value is used to determine an exposure for a capture system. The junction temperature is determined by measuring the ambient temperature and then keeping a running junction temperature determined from the on and off times.

Abstract: A printer block is capable of outputting synthesized images such that the synthesized images are recognizable, each of the synthesized images being synthesized from image elements. A display is capable of outputting any of the image elements such that the any of the image elements is recognizable only when the display outputs the any of the image elements separately. The image elements of each of the synthesized images are stored, in a non-synthesized state, with a predetermined one of the image elements being set to a representative image element that symbolizes a corresponding one of the synthesized images. The display is caused to output, in place of any one of the synthesized images, the representative image corresponding to the any one of the synthesized images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adaptive halftoning for accommodating a mix of high and low visual activity are provided. Accommodations for white gap reduction and variable darkening are provided for print engine imperfections. A method includes the steps of thresholding a selected pixel of a source image to generate a first dithered output signal, L. The selected pixel is also thresholded to generate a second dithered output signal, S. A weighted combination of the first and second dithered output signals is generated in accordance with at least one of an edge activity indicator parameter and a mix suppression parameter. The parameters are calculated from pixel values within a contiguous region of the source image including the selected pixel. The first and second dithered output signals correspond to large and small threshold matrices in one embodiment. The second dithered output signal may be boosted using a variable darkening parameter, &ggr;, to accommodate isolated dot gain problems before being combined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multi-level color error diffusion employs semi-vector quantization. When operating on image data comprising three color separations, the method employs a vector quantization for the two separations with the most visually perceptive color output to generate a multi-level output pixel for each separation based on the sum and a difference of the input pixel values for the two separations. The method generates multilevel output pixels for the third color separation using scalar error diffusion.

Abstract: A method of selecting images from a plurality of images previously stored by a user in a memory location of a service provider and ordering services to be provided utilizing the images includes establishing a service account for the user with the service provider to permit the user to have access to ordered services, receiving and storing a plurality of images along with a designated date in the memory location, and displaying image designators for at least a subset of the images for viewing by the user. The method also includes the user selecting at least one image to be utilized after viewing the displayed images, and selecting a service, receiving payment for the selected service for the selected image based upon a payment schedule that depends upon the designated date associated with the selected image, and providing the selected service using the selected image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing facsimile documents based on arithmetic coding. A combination of one-dimensional and two-dimensional arithmetic coding is employed to ensure that the effect of a transmission error is not propagated to the whole document. Appropriate contexts for the probabilistic models associated with arithmetic coding for one and two dimensional cases are presented. An error detection scheme to identify the presence of transmission errors is also presented.

Abstract: A harness extends inside a scanner frame to feed electricity to a lamp attached to a full rate carriage of a scanner. A light is emitted from the lamp to a document placed on a platen glass. The light reflected by the document is further reflected by mirrors attached to the scanner inside the scanner frame and introduced to CCD. Thus, an optical path of the light is formed inside the scanner frame. A harness guide is attached to a half rate carriage of the scanner to support and guide the harness in a way not to obstruct the optical path of the light. The harness guide is made from plastic to prevent high voltage flowing in the harness from leaking to the half rate carriage.

Abstract: An enhancement and interpolation circuit forms enhanced image data by performing enhancement and interpolation processing on image data. A floating slice circuit obtains a floating slice level for said image data. A binarization and density conversion circuit binarizes enhanced image data using the floating slice level to form binarized image data. In the double-side read mode, simultaneously read image data on the right and reverse sides of a document are transferred at a first rate. In the one-side read mode, image data on the right side of a document is transferred at a second rate that is slower than the first rate by data transfer means. An image discriminating circuit forms an image discriminating instruction for read image data. A white level signal generating circuit forms a new white level signal by subjecting said image data and a current white level signal in accordance with an operation designation instruction corresponding to an image discriminating instruction.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus optically reads a document, which is placed on a document platen facing upward, from above. The image reading apparatus has a ultrasonic sensor. A ultrasonic wave is emitted from the ultrasonic sensor toward the document placed on the document platen, and distance from the ultrasonic sensor to the document are detected based on the time differential of the reflected wave from the document. Furthermore, the position of the document can be detected based on the strength or weakness of the reflected wave from the document. In this way the shape of the document in the document height direction can be detected. Moreover, the shape of the document in the document height direction can be accurately detected regardless of the document color.

Abstract: A color image processing apparatus which processes an original image data line-by-line. The color image processing apparatus includes a detector for detecting a portion in a line where an original image exists. In accordance with an output of the detector, a line-by-line determination is made as to whether the original image is a color image or a monochromatic image. The apparatus further includes a processor for processing the image of the original image in accordance with the result of the determination.

Abstract: A three dimensional true color holographic imaging system using three primary color Fresnel-Zone-Pattern laser generators combined as a single beam that scans the target and the reflections of which are sensed simultaneously by a single electronic detector. The detector signals corresponding to each generator are then separated electronically and independently recorded.

Abstract: A holographic display comprises a source of coherent light and an Electrically Addressable Spatial Light Modulator (EASLM) in the path of the light source. The EASLM is arranged in use to be driven successively by a set of sub-holograms which together correspond to a holographic image. Light guiding means is arranged to guide light output from the EASLM such that the sub-holograms are displayed successively in respective tiled regions of an EASLM projection surface.

Abstract: If a quantum mechanical state including a plurality of two-level systems (x1, x2, . . . , x2p+1) is expressed by a superposition of orthonormal bases in which each two-level system assumes a basic or an excited state, a quantum gate network is used to perform an operation including a combination of a selective rotation operation and an inversion about average operation D in order to configure a desired partly-entangled quantum mechanical state in which the coefficients of the respective bases are all real numbers.

Abstract: This invention discloses a wave division multiplexing communications system including a pluarity of optical transmitters, each of said optical transmitters further including a distributed feed back laser characterized in that it has a dispersion penalty of less than 2 dB when used for transmission into an optical fiber having chromatic dispersion of 1800 ps/nm, a driver operative for receiving a communications signal input and providing electrical power to said distributed feed back laser in accordance therewith and a wave division multiplexer receiving outputs from said plurality of optical transmitters comprising thin film dielectric layers and having a maximum power insertion loss of 4.5 dB.

Abstract: A scanning optical system using a short-wavelength light of 500 nm or less uses a reflecting mirror having a higher absolute reflectivity and having reduced wavelength and angle dependences. Divergent ray of light emitted from a semiconductor laser is converted into an approximately parallel light beam by a collimator lens and the diameter of the light flux is reduced by an aperture before travel to a polygon mirror. The light beam from the polygon mirror passes through scanning lenses to form a small spot at any point in the entire scanning area. The semiconductor laser is a gallium nitride semiconductor laser having an oscillation wavelength of 408 nm. The polygon mirror has such a characteristic that, if the complex refractive index N of a metallic film contributing to a reflection characteristic of the reflecting mirror is defined as N(&lgr;)=n(&lgr;)−ik(&lgr;), then k(&lgr;)>{square root over ((−n(&lgr;)2+18n(&lgr;)−1))} is satisfied.

Abstract: An optical image scanner uses one or more reflecting surfaces to provide a light path through a lens array, where the optical path through the lens array is non-perpendicular to the surface of the image being scanned. As a result, the distance, from the surface where an image is being scanned, to the opposite outer surface of the scanner, is relatively short compared to scanners in which lens arrays are perpendicular to the image being scanned. An illumination source may be provided as part of an assembly that includes the lens array. Alternatively, the assembly may be integrated with a video display, or placed adjacent to a video display, and the video display may be used as the illumination source. The assembly may optionally monitor the intensity and color of the illumination source during scanning. The assembly may also optionally image the display.

Abstract: An optical interconnection device and a spot displacement device are presented. In optical interconnection device of the present invention, a spot displacement device is employed to cause a light beam to shift positions, thereby making available output positions not previously available for a light beam having bounced so few times.

Abstract: An electroabsorption semiconductor optical modulator includes a light absorption layer for generating a modulated light beam by absorbing an incident light beam. A well layer in the light absorption layer, accumulates charge carriers generated by the light absorption layer. The charge carriers are guided and released from the well layer upon receipt of an incident excitation light beam having a wavelength corresponding to the bandgap energy of the well layer. The incident light beam is modulated by changes in absorption coefficient in response to an externally applied voltage. The modulator responds to a high-intensity incident light beam at high frequency, free from deterioration of extinction characteristics, and has good transmission characteristics.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a train of RZ or CSRZ pulses is produced by passing phase modulated laser light through a delay interferometer. The parameters of the phase modulation and the delay interferometer are calculated from the desired pulse train characteristics (e.g. repetition rate, RZ or CSRZ, duty cycle). A directly modulated CW laser, or a CW laser followed by a phase modulator, produces the constant amplitude, phase modulated light. The phase modulated signal is split into two paths. One signal path is delayed with respect to the other by the calculated delay. The signals are recombined in an optical coupler to produce an RZ pulse train and/or a CSRZ pulse train.

Abstract: A micromirror actuator includes: a substrate; spring units elastically supported by protrusion formed on the substrate; a micromirror connected to the spring units and formed to be capable of rotating; trenches formed in the substrate at either side of the protrusions to correspond to the surface of the micromirror; and lower electrodes formed in each of the trenches. Accordingly, it is possible to expand the range of the driving angle of the micromirror with the use of a lower voltage.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical device designed such that the actuating means are only mechanically coupled to the optical components. The device includes a substrate, a mirror supported above the substrate, and a rotatory actuator also supported above the substrate. The mirror and actuator are mechanically coupled via a torsional coupling hinge such that the mirror can be angled and/or tilted by electrostatically driving the rotatory actuator. Advantageously, the micro-mirrors and actuator are fabricated from the same layer during the micro-machining fabrication process. In one embodiment, the mirror is rotatable about a fixed rotation axis. In another embodiment, the mirror is freely rotatable.

Abstract: An array of movable MEMS mirror devices is provided being electromagnetically actuated in one axis and using an additional set of coils, or a single coil, positioned off of the main axis of rotation to achieve a second axis of rotation while allowing for a very high linear mirror fill factor (>80%). This second set of coils, or second electrically wired coil, is capable of generating the necessary torque about an axis that is perpendicular to the major axis of rotation. A second embodiment is provided using electromagnetic actuation in one axis of rotation, which typically has larger rotation angles than the second axis, and electrostatic actuation in the second axis of rotation. Electrostatic pads can be used to sense rotation. When staggering adjacent pixels a center array of mirrors with no coils or electrodes provides increased radius of curvature and reducing undesirable cross-talk between adjacent mirror devices.

Abstract: A light-modulation element is constituted as a light-modulation element for constituting a GLV device and has the same constitution as the conventional light-modulation element except for differing in the structure of the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode of a membrane. The combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode is composed of a two-layer metallic film forming a TiN film of 10 nm to 70 nm in thickness provided as a lower layer and an Al film of 50 nm to 150 nm in thickness provided thereon. In the combined light-reflective film and membrane-side electrode, the Al film has a smooth reflective surface and a high light-reflectance, so that the light-utilization efficiency of the light-modulation element is high.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a control apparatus and a control method of an optical signal exchanger, capable of controlling an optical output level to be constant even when performing the switching of channels with different optical input levels. To this end, according to the control apparatus of the optical signal exchanger, in a three-dimensional type optical signal exchanger using a set of MEMS mirror arrays each having a plurality of tilt mirrors arranged on a plane, each tilt mirror having a reflecting surface an angle of which is controllable, power of an optical signal sequentially reflected by the respective MEMS mirror arrays and output from a specific position is detected by an optical power detection section, and the angle of the reflecting surface of the tilt mirror that has reflected the optical signal is feedback controlled, so that an absolute value of a difference between a previously set target value and the output light power becomes minimum.

Abstract: A broadband fiber transmission system includes a transmission line with at least one zero dispersion wavelength &lgr;o and transmits an optical signal of &lgr;. The transmission line includes a distributed Raman amplifier that amplifies the optical signal through Raman gain. One or more semiconductor lasers are included and operated at wavelengths &lgr;p for generating a pump light to pump the Raman amplifier. &lgr; is close to &lgr;o and &lgr;0 is less than 1540 nm or greater than 1560 nm.

Abstract: In a method of compensating polarization dependent loss (PDL) in a wave division multiplex (WDM) optical communications system, a performance parameter is monitored at a predetermined monitoring point. The performance parameter is indicative of respective channel PDL for each one of a plurality of channels of the optical communications system. A error function is calculated as a function of wavelength across a wavelength spectrum of interest, using the measured performance parameter values. Finally, a broadband PDL compensator is controlled based on the calculated error function.

Abstract: An optical transmitting apparatus having a first optical amplifier by which quality of an output optical signal after amplified is changed according to an amplification gain, a second optical amplifier by which quality of an output optical signal after amplified is changed according to an input level of an output optical signal from the first optical amplifier, and a controlling means for performing an adaptive control on an amplification gain of the first optical amplifier so that quality of an output optical signal from the second optical amplifier becomes maximum, thereby optimizing signal quality in the optical transmitting apparatus in a hybrid optical amplifier structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor pump laser uses a depolarzer to depolarize the pump light entering the fiber amplifier. The depolarized light source is useful for reducing polarization dependent gain of fiber amplifiers. The pump laser includes one or more semiconductor, coherence-collapsed laser sources emitting polarized pump outputs, and one or more depolarizers disposed to depolarize the polarized pump output from the lasers. One or more fiber outputs are coupled to the one or more depolarizers to receive depolarized pump light. The depolarizer may include an N×M polarization preserving coupler having N inputs and M outputs, N and M being at least 2, an input to the depolarizer at a first coupler input, an output port from the depolarizer at a first coupler output. A polarization-controlling optical path is coupled between a second coupler output and a second coupler input.

Abstract: The present application relates to a doped fiber amplifier having an increased dynamic range, and particularly for laser pump sources and a method of pumping erbium doped fiber amplifiers over a greater dynamic range. In a multi-channel optical system, optical amplifiers must be able to provide gain over a larger range of signal powers, the dynamic range corresponding to the number of channels in the link. The present invention has found that the dynamic range of an EDFA can be significantly increased by using pulse width modulation to pulse pump current at or near the minimum current stability threshold, in order to produce lower power output. The duty cycle of the pulsed current is selected to achieve a time-averaged operating condition taking advantage of the relatively long relaxation time of the erbium. Thus the time averaged pump power can be reduced in a linear fashion well below the capability of a continuous wave system.