Abstract: A method for fabricating an optical device wherein the device comprises a first substrate wafer with at least one buried optical waveguide on an approximately flat planar surface of the substrate and a second substrate wafer with at least a second buried optical waveguide. The waveguides so formed may be straight or curved along the surface of the wafer or curved by burying the waveguide at varying depth along its length. The second wafer is turned (flipped) and bonded to the first wafer in such a manner that the waveguides, for example, may form an optical coupler or may cross over one another and be in proximate relationship along a region of each. As a result, three-dimensional optical devices are formed avoiding the convention techniques of layering on a single substrate wafer.

Abstract: A downhole fiber optic wet connect and gravel pack completion. In a described embodiment, a system for making fiber optic connections in a subterranean well includes a first fiber optic connector positioned in the well and a second fiber optic connector operatively connected to the first fiber optic connector after the first fiber optic connector is positioned in the well. A method of monitoring a subterranean well includes the steps of: positioning a fiber optic lo line in the well, the fiber optic line extending in a formation intersected by the well; positioning another fiber optic line in the well, the fiber optic line extending to a remote location; operatively connecting the fiber optic lines while the fiber optic lines are in the well; and monitoring a well parameter using a sensor operatively coupled to the fiber optic line extending in the formation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical guide holding member having holding holes in which optical guides are fitted and held. The optical guide holding member has electric leads buried in a mounting surface on which the openings of the holding holes are opened. The electric leads are partly exposed on the mounting surface, and are also exposed on a side surface crossing the mounting surface. The optical semiconductor device is electrically connected to the exposed part of electric leads and is optically coupled with the optical guides.

Abstract: Provided are optical assemblies which allow for optical and mechanical connection between an optical bench and an optical fiber connector. The invention finds particular applicability in the optoelectronics industry in forming micro-optical components.

Abstract: An electro-optical subassembly generally includes a base supporting at least one lead and a lens unit having a lens. The lead supports an electro-optical component. The lens unit is through transmission laser welded to the base such that the lens is aligned with the electro-optical component.

Abstract: In fusion splicing ends of two optical fibers an electric discharge between two electrodes is used for heating the ends. In a simple method that can be implemented in automatic fusion splicers, an optimal fusion current that is to pass between the electrodes to give an optimal heating for ambient conditions is determined by first, in a calibration procedure in the factory, determining an optimal current for splicing ends of some test optical fibers. Then a value of the intensity of light emitted from the ends of the test optical fibers is determined when they are spliced using the optimal parameters. In the field, in generally ambient conditions different from those in the factory, a value of the current required to heat a piece of the test fibers to emit light of an intensity agreeing with that determined for the test fibers in the factory.

Abstract: A telecommunication fiber optic cable for gas pipeline application has a built-in leakage detecting device. The cable has an optical core including a number of telecommunication optical fibers, an outer jacket covering the optical core, and one or more gas leakage detector optical fibers. One or more gas leakage detector optical fibers are enclosed within the outer jacket. Preferably, the cable has a linearly extending rod reinforcing system having strength rods that force the cable to bend in a preferential bending place. Preferably, the leakage detector optical fibers are located at, or close to, a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the preferential bending plane and passing through the cable neutral axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber structure that allows for reliable and easy branching of optical fibers, as well as a method of manufacturing such optical fiber structure. The optical fiber structure proposed by the present invention is characterized by a structure wherein multiple optical fiber units, each comprising multiple optical fibers that are aligned two-dimensionally in such a way that one side is covered by a first covering body, are aligned so that the covered surfaces face the same direction, and the covered or uncovered surfaces of the multiple optical fiber units are integrally covered by a second covering body. The second covering body should preferably be made of silicone rubber having a tearing strength of 29 kgf/cm or below.

Abstract: An image fiber includes an image fiber body having a twisted portion which is formed by heating, softening, and twisting a portion of the image fiber body. The rate of twist in the twisted portion is made to be constant. Moreover, the rate of twist may preferably be set in a range from 3.6°/mm to 3600°/mm. In addition, the rate of twist at the beginning portion of the twisted portion and the rate of twist at the end portion of the twisted portion may preferably be set in a range from 3.6°/mm to 360°/mm. The twisted portion may be provided with a protective element.

Abstract: The invention provides a fiber plate formed by arranging in mutually adjacent manner plural individual fiber plates of a same thickness so as to provide a light guiding plane larger in area than the light guiding plane of the individual one fiber plate, and a radiation image pickup apparatus utilizing such fiber plate, in which: each of the plural individual fiber plates is composed of a group of optical fibers having mutually parallel axes, and lateral faces of the plural individual fiber plates are mutually so bonded that the axes of the optical fibers thereof become mutually parallel.

Abstract: A nonlinear fiber having a third-order nonlinear coefficient of at least 30 W?1km?1, and its cladding containing Er or Tm at a portion within 3 ?m from the interface with its core. A wavelength conversion method of making a signal light having a wavelength ?S and an intensity IS and a pump light having a wavelength ?P which is shorter than 2?S and an intensity higher than IS enter a nonlinear fiber 1, and generating a converted light having a wavelength ?C of ?S?P/(2?S??P) and an intensity IC by four wave mixing, wherein Er or Tm is present in the cladding at a portion with a diameter in the nonlinear fiber 1 of at most the mode field diameter, and the converted light is generated by four wave mixing while Er or Tm is excited by an excitation light.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting optical signals through a heterogeneous sequence of spans of an all-optical transmission line. Each span has an optical transmission fiber connected to an optical amplifier. Each amplifier launches the signals into a sequential remainder of the line. The transmitting includes launching the optical signals into the highest loss fibers with substantially equal average optical launch powers or operating the spans with the highest loss fibers to have substantially equal quality products. The average optical launch powers are substantially equal to the inverse of a sum of (1?Tj)?j/[?NL·?j] over the highest loss fibers. The parameters Tj, ?j, and ?j are the respectiveare, respectively, transmissivity, nonlinear optical coefficient, and loss coefficient of the fiber of the j-th span. The parameter ?NL is the line's cumulative nonlinear phase shift.

Abstract: An optical fiber having a given refractive index profile comprises a core region and a cladding region. The core region includes at least two co-dopants and the concentration of at least one of said core dopant varies continuously over the entire core region. The optical fiber has, at a wavelength of 1550 nm, a spontaneous Brillouin spectrum width equal or larger to 100 MHz. The optical fiber of the invention achieves a much higher Brillouin threshold compared to standard transmission fibers with limited fiber loss, less than 0.3 dB/km at a wavelength of 1550 nm, and without change in the optical transmission parameters of the fiber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lamp system (21) with a first light source (23) which radiates light of a first chromaticity coordinate and with a second light source which radiates light of a second chromaticity coordinate, and with an optical component (22) for additively mixing the light of the two light sources (23, 24 to 28). According to the invention, the optical component (22) comprises an optical waveguide (22) with two different kinds of scattering centers (29, 30).

Abstract: A substantially flat upper cladding surface over a waveguide core facilitates transverse-coupling between assembled waveguides, and/or provides mechanical alignment and/or support. An embedding medium may be employed for securing optical assemblies and protecting optical surfaces thereof. Structural elements fabricated with a low-profile core may be employed for providing mechanical alignment and/or support, aiding in the encapsulation process, and so forth.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive resin composition for optical waveguides having high dimensional accuracy, good transmission characteristics, and excellent bending resistance is provided. The composition comprises: (A) a poly(meth)acrylate having a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (1) (in the formula, R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R3 is a (meth)acryloyl group, X is a bivalent organic group); (B) an urethane (meth)acrylate compound which is a reaction product of a polyester polyol compound, a polyisocyanate compound, and a (meth) acrylate having a hydroxyl group; (C) a compound having at least one ethylenically unsaturated group and having a boiling point of 130 degree C. or higher under 0.1 MPa other than components (A) and (B); and (D) a photo-radical polymerization initiator. The composition was used as the material for the lower clad layer 12 of the optical waveguide 24, and the like.

Abstract: A waveguide device used for a planar display device having an image source for emitting modulated light beams and a display panel for displaying an image. The waveguide device includes a slab waveguide having a light entrance plane and a light exit plane, a lens array comprising a plurality of lenses disposed in the form of a matrix for individually tuning and guiding corresponding modulated light beams to desired positions on the light entrance plane of the slab waveguide, a wedge waveguide for receiving modulated light beams emitted from the light exit plane of the slab waveguide and emitting the received modulated light beams to the display panel to form the image, and a fixing device for fixing the wedge waveguide to the slab waveguide.

Abstract: A light receiving apparatus connects light to a light receiving device through a tube-type waveguide for making uniform the light intensity distribution of light. The light receiving apparatus is capable of stably receiving optical data even if partiality occurs in the NFP of the light emitted from an end of an optical fiber or even if the partiality of the NFP fluctuates.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method, apparatus and system for global shared memory using serial optical memory are presented. In this regard, a memory device is introduced to circulate a signal among a plurality of optical emitters and receivers. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: An arbitrary surface optical element, such as a mirror for use in a rear projection television, includes a non-optical portion and an optical portion. The non-optical portion circumscribes the optical portion and has a thickness greater than the optical portion. Accordingly, the two portions cool at approximately the same rate, thereby minimizing warpage from differential cooling.

Abstract: Provided is a display apparatus including a broadcasting receiver for receiving a broadcast signal, a signal processing unit for processing the received broadcast signal, a display unit for displaying the processed broadcast signal thereon, a connection unit to which at least one external storage medium is connected, and an internal storage medium, the display apparatus including a user selector; a priority storage unit for storing a storage priority of the external storage medium and the internal storage medium for the reserve-recording of a broadcasting program; a reservation information storage unit for storing reservation information related to the broadcasting program to be reserve-recorded; and a controller for controlling the reservation information relating to a selected broadcasting program to be stored in the reservation information storage unit if the broadcasting program to be reserve-recorded is selected through the user selector, and for receiving the broadcasting program to be reserve-recorded

Abstract: A display apparatus having a digital record function and a method thereof. The display apparatus includes a broadcasting program memory in which a broadcasting program is stored; an up/down reproduction selecting part for selecting reproduction of the broadcasting program stored in the broadcasting program memory; and a controller for controlling the signal processing part to process the broadcasting program corresponding to selection of the up/down reproduction selecting part and display the processed broadcasting program on the display according to a stored temporal order of the stored broadcasting programs.

Abstract: A method of time shifting in a video recording is provided. The method includes dividing the video recording into one or more partitions, indexing each of the one or more partitions, and combining the one or more partitions to produce a second video recording that is used in retrieval of a particular video image at any time within the video recording.

Abstract: A method for converting the MPEG 1 data format to the MPEG 2 data format is provided. The method includes reading and mapping the MPEG 1 data format to the MPEG 2 data format to generate a first title file and a second title file. Sequential playback functions defined in the Video 1.1 specification is supported when the first title file is selected for playback. Otherwise, playback controls functions defined in the Video 2.0 specification is supported when the second title file is selected for playback.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to reproduce at least one piece of data. The apparatus includes a data reproducing unit to reproduce the at least one piece of video data, an additional data reproducing unit to reproduce one of a plurality of pieces of additional data, each being related to one of the at least one piece of video data, and a control unit to control the additional data reproducing unit to select and reproduce one of the pieces of additional data. Accordingly, setting a plurality of pieces of additional data to be simultaneously reproduced according to a preference of a user when reproducing a plurality of pieces of video data is possible, and switching from a piece of additional data to another piece of the additional data, which are linked to a particular piece of video data, is also possible.

Abstract: A digital stream signal complying with MPEG-TS is handled as stream object ESOB. The ESOB is recorded in unit of stream object unit ESOBU which includes one or more pack/packet groups. Each pack/packet group has a pack/packet group header at its head position, and stores one or more TS packets after the pack/packet group header.

Abstract: A digital stream signal complying with MPEG-TS is handled as stream object ESOB. The ESOB is recorded in unit of stream object unit ESOBU which includes one or more pack/packet groups. Each pack/packet group has a pack/packet group header at its head position, and stores one or more TS packets after the pack/packet group header.

Abstract: A method and system for encoding and recording data in a multi-stream format when the data is initially captured. The multiple streams of data can be combined to provide a high quality, or high resolution, representation, while a reduced subset of the streams can provide a lower quality, or lower resolution, representation. Data storage requirements can be reduced, by deleting one or more of the streams, when there is no longer a need for retention of the data at the higher quality.

Abstract: An information recording medium (100), provided with: a first recording layer (L0 layer) and a second recording layer (L1 layer) in each of which record information can be alternately recorded, at least one of the first recording layer and the second recording layer provided with: an anchor area (AP#1 to 4) which is to record therein anchor information (VRS, AVDP, VAT_ICB) and which is referred to in reading file system information (101, 111) for controlling at least one of recording and reproduction of the record information; and an update area to update and record therein the anchor information.

Abstract: Image capture methods and devices are provided. The image capture device comprises: an image capture system; an audio capture system; a user input system having a manual mode selection input, said user input system generating a mode selection signal indicating a setting of the mode selection input from among a plurality of settings; and a controller adapted to cause the image capture unit to capture at least one image and further adapted to cause the audio capture system to capture an audio signal within an audio capture time frame beginning at a start time and ending at an end time with said controller further adapted to associate the captured image with the electronic audio signal; wherein said controller determines at least one of the start time and the end time determined based upon the mode selection.

Abstract: A disk replay device includes a non-volatile storage unit, which forms a file list from file information including the file name of a compressed video file and the like, and from the number of times that viewing of the file is possible, and stores this file list. At the stage that a disk is set into a disk setting unit, this file list is created based upon information which has been acquired from a compressed video file recorded upon the disk. Moreover, the disk replay device includes a display unit which displays the file list stored in the storage unit, when a predetermined operation is performed by the operator, so that the operator is able to recognize, for each file, the number of times that viewing is possible.

Abstract: An optical disc player includes a detecting module and a creating module. The detecting module is used to detect whether to meet a branch point or an interruption point or a pause point; and the creating module is used to create a corresponding bookmark as a navigation for the subsequent broadcast to record the relevant information of a branch point or an interruption point or a pause point when meeting the branch point or the interruption point or the pause point. The playing method of the player includes: detecting whether to meet a branch point or an interruption point or a pause point, creating a corresponding bookmark as a navigation for the subsequent broadcast to record the relevant information of the branch point or the interruption point or the pause point when to meet the branch point or the interruption point or the pause point.

Abstract: In a motor driving device where a motor having a winding wire with small inductance value is driven by a digital control means comprised of control means including a current command value calculating means, a current control means and a PWM control means whose sampling periods are different from each other, when discrete signals sampled by the respective control means are zero-order-held, a motor current includes a lot of higher harmonic waves due to a quantization error, thereby increasing a motor noise. When an n-th-order hold means is provided between the respective control means with different sampling periods, the quantization error can be reduced remarkably, and thus the higher harmonic wave components included in the motor current are reduced, thereby greatly reducing the motor noise.

Abstract: A method for controlling the rotating speed of a fan is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: reading a standard temperature Tc of a central processing unit (CPU); reading a thermal diode's temperature Td and a system ambient temperature Ta; comparing Td with a minimum temperature Tl, such that the fan begins processing the heat of the CPU begins; if Td>Tl, increasing pulse-width modulation (PWM) duty cycle of the fan to 100%; if Td<=Tl, comparing a critical temperature T0 with Ta; if Ta>T0, increasing PWM fan duty cycle to 100%; if Ta<=T0, setting the fan duty cycle at 40%; sending the PWM fan duty cycle to a fan speed controller.

Abstract: A boiler for heating a flow capable medium, especially for heating water, comprising a boiler housing made from plastic and a heater protruding through a mounting hole in the boiler housing into the interior of the boiler housing, being fixated in the mounting hole through a fixation means. Furthermore the interior diameter of the mounting hole in the boiler housing is at least in sections approximately identical to the outer diameter of the heater and the heater has an unheated section in the area of the mounting hole.

Abstract: A vaporizer for providing water vapor at a safer and reduced temperature comprises a water tank and steam generating unit. The steam generating unit is an assembly of a multi-walled chamber, top cover portion and safety grill. The safety grill establishes a distance between a water vapor outlet situated on the top cover portion and the point where an individual may contact the water vapor. This distance allows the temperature of the water vapor to be reduced to a safer temperature. Additionally, the vaporizer includes a condensation recycling port that receives water vapor droplets that form about the steam generating unit and returns those droplets to a boiling chamber where the water droplets are recycled into water vapor. Finally, the top cover portion includes a water barrier to protect electrical components near the water vapor outlet.

Abstract: A warming dispenser includes a housing having a compartment. The compartment holds a plurality of sheets. A heating device is located adjacent the plurality of sheets. A micro power source is connected to the heating device to generate energy from a fuel source, wherein the heating device uses the energy to warm at least one of the sheets. The micropower source may be, for example, a micro fuel cell adapted to deliver electricity for resistive heating.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a casing, a camera housing, a coupler, and an elastic member. The casing is formed with a hole therethrough. The coupler has a first end portion that is received rotatably in the hole in the casing, a second end portion that is coupled to the camera housing, and a flange that is disposed between the first and second end portions of the coupler. The flange of the coupler is provided with a protrusion that is in sliding contact with a periphery of the hole in the casing. The elastic member surrounds the first end portion of the coupler, is disposed between and is in airtight contact with the flange of the coupler and the periphery of the hole in the casing, and is in sliding contact with the periphery of the hole in the casing.

Abstract: The combined actuator described can be incorporated into a miniaturized camera product. In the camera product, the shutter driver uses the focus or zoom actuator's power amplifiers to control the current flow in shutter actuators. As such, the space needed for the camera's electronics is smaller and it is less expensive to manufacture the camera product.

Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a guide device which guides an image-stabilizing optical element in a manner to allow the image-stabilizing optical element to move in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis, the guide device including at least one mechanical movement limit preventing movement of the image-stabilizing optical element in a guide direction; a driving device which moves the image-stabilizing optical element in the plane; and a drive controller which controls the driving device to move the image-stabilizing optical element within an image-stabilizing movement range so as not to reach the mechanical movement limit for correction of image shake during an image stabilizing operation, and which controls the driving device to move the image-stabilizing optical element to a standby position located outside of the image-stabilizing movement range in the guide direction, when the image stabilizer changes from an operating state to a non-operating state.

Abstract: A method of a remote controller to indirectly control an image-generating apparatus via a computer is utilizing a remote controller to emit a control signal and then the control signal is received and transformed by a receiving/transforming device. The transformed signal is received by a computer and then processed to transform into another control signal to transmit to an image-generating apparatus to execute the received signal.

Abstract: A lens assembly in a digital still camera has a lens housing. First and second movable lenses/lens groups are contained in the lens housing, and supported in respectively first and second lens holders. A guide rod guides movement of the first and second lenses/lens groups in an optical axis direction with the lens holders. A shutter unit is disposed between the lens holders. A shutter actuator drives the shutter unit. A containing chamber in the lens housing contains the shutter actuator. A first motor is disposed between the guide rod and an inner surface of the lens housing and near to a first surface of the shutter unit, and moves the first lens holder. A second motor is disposed between the guide rod and the containing chamber and near to a second surface of the shutter unit, and moves the second lens holder.

Abstract: An automatic focusing camera base has a seat, a motor, a focusing device, a contact set, and a transmission device. The motor is mounted on the seat and has a shaft. The focusing device is mounted on the seat, which can move relative to the seat. The contact set is mounted on the seat, connected to the motor and a detecting circuit for the zero adjustment of the focusing device and has a first conductive member connected to the shaft and a second conductive member. The transmission device is mounted between the motor and the focusing device and has an active member selectively contacts the second conductive member. The active member and the motor are responsible for driving the focusing device and activating the detecting circuit without a ray-emitter and a ray-interceptor. The structure of the automatic focusing camera base is simple and compact.

Abstract: A motion detector camera includes a camera mechanism mounted inside a housing, a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing, and a controller for controlling the camera mechanism in response to signals received from the motion detector. The camera can include an activity counter mounted to the housing. The controller activates the camera mechanism when the controller receives a triggering signal from the motion detector, or the controller activates the activity counter and does not activate the camera mechanism when a triggering activity occurs. The camera can include digital camera electronics. A camera support can be used to removably mount the camera to an object such as a tree.

Abstract: A camera flash is disclosed for producing a warm light having a desired color temperature. In one embodiment, the flash has a xenon flash component producing a light with a spectrum having a color temperature at a higher Kelvin rating than the warm light, and a light emitting diode flash component producing a light with a spectrum having a color temperature at a lower Kelvin rating than the warm light. The color temperature of the light of the xenon flash component and the color temperature of the light of the light emitting diode flash component together produce the warm light having the desired color temperature.

Abstract: An embodiment of a camera apparatus includes an image display control unit, which displays a moving image in a reduced state while displaying multiple reduced images in a display unit for displaying images held in a recording unit having an image file, when a moving image is included in the multiple reduced images and playback of the moving image is selected. This permits playing a moving image continuously in a reduced state, when the moving image is included in multiple reduced images.

Abstract: A method, medium, and system for classifying photos. The system apparatus may include a storage module which stores a plurality of photos, a location-based classification module which classifies the plurality of photos into one or more photo groups according to photographing locations of the plurality of photos, and a time-based classification module which chooses one of the photo groups produced by the location-based classification module and classifies a plurality of photos included in the chosen photo group into one or more sub-photo groups according to photographing times of the photos included in the chosen photo group.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding a multi-view picture using a camera parameter are provided. The multi-view moving picture encoding apparatus includes: a multi-view picture receiver which receives the multi-view picture and a plurality of camera parameters; a camera parameter information setting unit which selects a camera parameter to be used for encoding the multi-view picture from among the plurality of the received camera parameters, and sets information which indicates the selected camera parameter; and an encoder which encodes the multi-view picture on the basis of the set information. Therefore, it is possible to enhance multi-view picture encoding efficiency.

Abstract: Imaging devices and methods are provided. In some embodiments, a device includes a light modulator layer having a plurality of elements, each having a controllable transmittance, and a plurality of lenses, wherein each of the plurality of lenses is disposed to receive light independently of each other. The device further includes an image detector disposed at a distance from the light modulator layer and configured to acquire images from light that passes through the light modulator layer. In addition, the device includes a controller configured to control transmittance of the elements of the light modulator layer. Methods of acquiring images are also provided.

Abstract: A viewfinder system for a digital camera comprises a main optical path for projecting an outside scene image onto a light sensitive area facility, which facility determines a user field, and an optical extraction path for through mirror-operation extracting a fraction of the outside scene image onto a viewer optical path. The viewer optical path comprises a first mask for inserting a negative delineating outline into a viewer field and a second mask for inserting a positive delineating outline into the viewer field, both said first and second masks corresponding to the user field. In particular, at least one of the first and second masks is realized by an electronic device that has its mask size variably controlled by an electronic facility on the basis of pixel-wise driving. Advantageously, the electronic device is controlled by a sensor facility that is adapted for with respect to the other of the masks that has a fixed size sensing the latter size.