Abstract: One or more zero-order diffractive pigments (ZOP) having both a particle distribution matrix material, and a layer of material in or on such a matrix material and having an index of refraction higher than that of the matrix material, and having a diffractive grating structure with a period in the range of 100 to 600 nm, which is smaller than the wavelength of light reflectable thereby in the zeroth reflection order. In such ZOPs the index of refraction of the matrix material is usually at least 0.25 less than that of the material of the layer, and the layer is typically of a thickness between 30 and 500 nm.

Abstract: The invention provides a spectral apparatus capable of making the passing wavelength of VIPA board variable easily and at high speed. For this purpose, the apparatus of the invention includes an optical component having two opposing parallel reflection surfaces, for receiving the light focused in one-dimensional direction between the reflection surfaces, multiple-reflecting the incident light on each reflection surface and emitting a part of the incident light through one reflection surface, and allowing the emitted light to interfere mutually to form luminous fluxes different in propagation direction depending on the wavelength, and a rotary mechanism for rotating and displacing the position of the optical component, on an axis substantially vertical to the optical axis of the incident light, and which axis substantially vertical to the one-dimensional direction for focusing the incident light.

Abstract: A diffusing plate has a surface including a plurality of fine concave/convex portions regularly arranged within a cycle equal to or smaller than a predetermined wavelength. The surface has a larger surface roughness than the predetermined wavelength. An average value for an angle between a normal vector of the tangent plane of a roughness shape of the surface and a normal vector of a reference plane of the surface is 5 degrees or more.

Abstract: A multiple-layer optical film comprising: a transparent base layer, a diffusion layer formed on the base layer, and an upper prismatic layer formed on the diffusion layer having a plurality of root portions protruding downwardly from the upper prismatic layer to be respectively engaged with a plurality of recesses as recessed in the diffusion layer for firmly interlocking the upper prismatic layer with the diffusion layer. The diffusion layer includes nano or micron particles homogeneously dispersed in a resin matrix to obtain a composite layer having better light diffusibility; and the upper prismatic layer having nice light concentrating effect, thereby cooperatively synergetically forming a multiple-layer optical film having enhanced brightness, light uniformity, and dimensional stability.

Abstract: This invention discloses a projection screen including a diffusion layer, a cap layer, an interference layer and an absorption layer. The projection screen of this invention is based on the concept of inverse reflection. The interference filter includes a plurality of high and low refractive index layers, both of which alternately stacked. The projection screen conveys a small spectral shift and a narrow bandwidth at different incident angles so that the better contract ratio of the image signal can be displayed.

Abstract: An exemplary optical limiter device (100) has an optically transmissive substrate (102) and a layer (104) on a first surface (106) of the substrate, the layer having a trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerene. The layer can be a thin film of the trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerene, a layer material with a cavity containing a solution with the trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerene, a sol-gel with a trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerene, and a self assembled monolayer with a trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerene. The layers of trimetallic nitride endohedral metallofullerenes can be vapor deposited, solution deposited and/or self assembled onto optical components. The third-order nonlinear properties of these films provide desired transmission characteristics.

Abstract: An anti-glare device includes a transparent anti-glare film incorporating a plurality of water-soluble scattering particles distributed therein. A method for making the anti-glare device includes the steps of: a) mixing a transparent resin solution with an aqueous solution of water-soluble colloid to form an emulsion containing a plurality of water-soluble colloidal particles distributed in the emulsion; b) applying the emulsion on a transparent substrate to form a preliminary film on the substrate; and c) curing the preliminary film to form a transparent anti-glare film on the transparent substrate, the transparent anti-glare film including a plurality of the colloidal particles distributed within the transparent anti-glare film and on a surface of the transparent anti-glare film.

Abstract: An interior rearview mirror assembly includes a human machine interface having at least one user actuatable input accessible at a portion of the mirror casing. The user actuatable input provides user input to at least one element of circuitry that is disposed in the mirror casing, the interior rearview mirror assembly and/or an accessory module. The circuitry is associated with at least one of (i) a moisture sensor, (ii) a blower motor, (iii) a cabin air monitoring device that monitors the air within the cabin of the vehicle, (iv) a cabin air monitoring device that monitors the level of carbon monoxide in the air within the cabin of the vehicle, (v) an air intake, (vi) a remote ignition system, (vii) a humidity sensing device, and (viii) a display device disposed behind a transflective mirror reflector of the interior rearview mirror assembly and visible to the driver when displaying information.

Abstract: A display panel is disclosed. The display panel includes an upper substrate through which light used for an image display passes and a plurality of light guides collecting and emitting the light transmitted through the upper substrate. The display panel may further include anti-reflective part, EMI shielding part, infrared filtering part or glass substrate to increase the bright room contrast or to improve the image displayed by the display panel.

Abstract: An aerial display system comprising inexpensive optical elements and a highly brightened LCD display or similar video image display types provides floating images in an expensive enclosure. In the aerial display system, either an anti-reflective acrylic plastic layer or a circular polarizer is disposed proximate and parallel to a beam splitter so that the focal point of the floating image is proximate to the plastic layer or polarizer. This image position yields both a wider filed of view and wider perceived field of view. The aerial projection system includes a plastic spherical mirror of low cost, which includes a plastic part of at least the following descriptions: mirror surface supported by wall structures of sufficient sphericity, of a plastic material formulation, having excellent optical grade finish, a reflective metal coating, and a protective overcoat.

Abstract: A packaged container for producing a graphical image. The packaged container includes a container having a side wall defining an interior space and a recessed surface. An interlaced image is provided on the recessed surface, and the packaged container includes a lens element positioned on the side wall to extend across the recessed surface proximate to the printed image and to leave a focusing gap between the lens element and the interlaced image. The lens element includes a plurality of lenses each having a focal point on or about the interlaced image. The lenses have a focal length determined by the thickness of the lens element combined with a depth of the recessed surface as measured from a side of the lens element to the interlaced image. The lens element can be provided in a wrap around label attached to the side wall on both sides of the recessed surface.

Abstract: A method for generating retinal images using the stigmatism of the two foci (F, F?) of a substantially elliptical sight (E) with a semi-reflective surface, wherein a so-called object focus consisting of the diaphragm of a pinhole disc forming the convergence point of an image generated by a light-emitting display or a collimated light source is positioned adjacent to the first focus (F) of the substantially elliptical sight (E), a so-called image focus consisting of the pupil or the centre of the user's eye (OE) is positioned adjacent to the second focus (F?) of said substantially elliptical sight (E), and the image generated by said light-emitting display or said collimated light source and reflected by the semi-reflective surface of the substantially elliptical sight (E) is projected adjacent to the retina of the user's eye.

Abstract: A motor vehicle instrument cluster includes an instrument panel in two parts at least arranged on either side of a semi-reflecting window and respectively generally at right-angles and generally parallel to the axis of vision.

Abstract: A head mounted display includes two imaging apparatuses and at least one optical compensator. The imaging apparatuses can form two virtual images respectively in front of two eyes of a user. The optical compensator can modulate wavefront of the image beams of the virtual images so as to adjust the positions of the virtual images. In this manner, the positions of the two virtual images can be adjusted to substantially coincide with each other. The present invention also provides an image adjustment method for a head-mounted display.

Abstract: A projector incorporating a prism and a plurality of light valves for modulating light that passes though the prism, wherein the color splitting-converging prism includes a dichroic coating having multiple layers of high and low index of refraction and ¼ wavelength thickness at each desired angle of incidence for reducing dichroic shift and thereby minimizing light loss.

Abstract: Various light converging methods and apparatuses for imaging, viewing and/or projecting images/radiation are shown and described herein.

Abstract: Off-axis projection optics that includes first and second mirrors positioned off-axis and sharing a confocal point that are arranged to reduce linear astigmatism. If a distance between an object plane and the first mirror is l1, an incident angle of light coming from the object plane to the first mirror is i1, a distance between the first mirror and the confocal point is l1?, a distance between the confocal point and the second mirror is l2, an incident angle of light coming from the first mirror to the second mirror is i2, and a distance between the second mirror and an image plane is l2?, the off-axis projection optics may satisfy the following equation: l 1 ? + l 1 l 1 ? tan ? ? ? i 1 = l 2 ? + l 2 l 2 ? tan ? ? ? i 2 .

Abstract: The subject invention provides methods for creating wavefront aberrators with a desired refractive index profile that is stable against thermal and/or solar exposure. The invention further provides wavefront aberrators produced according to the methods described herein.

Abstract: A zoom lens system having higher optical performance, a wide angle of view, a high zoom ratio, and compactness include, in order from an object, a first group having negative power, a second group having positive power, and a third group having positive power. At least the first and second lens groups are moved upon zooming. The first group has, in order from the object, a negative meniscus lens having a convex surface facing the object, and a positive lens. At least one surface of the negative meniscus lens is an aspherical surface. The second group has, in order from the object, a first positive lens, a second positive lens, a negative lens, and a third positive lens. At least one surface of the first positive lens is an aspherical surface. The third group has one positive lens, and at least one surface thereof is an aspherical surface.

Abstract: The zoom lens system is used for forming an optical image of an object with a variable magnification, and, in order from the object side, comprises a first lens unit G1 of negative optical power, a second lens unit G2 of positive optical power and a third lens unit G3 of positive optical power. The lens units move respectively along the optical axis so that a magnification is changed with changing a distance between the respective lens units. The second lens unit G2 comprises at least three lens elements including an object side lens element of the second lens unit which is a positive lens element arranged on the most object side with the surface of strong curvature facing the object side, and an image side lens element of the second lens unit which is a positive lens element arranged on the most image side with the convex surface facing the object side.

Abstract: A zoom lens telecentric on a reduction side includes a first negative lens, a second negative lens and a first positive lens arranged from the enlargement side to the reduction side. At least one of the first and second negative lenses has an aspherical surface. The zoom lens satisfies ?f12/fw<1.4, ?f12/(Hwpn?f12)<0.6 and |dn/dt|<1.0×10?5, where f12 is the focal length of the combined optical system composed of the first and second negative lenses, Hwpn is the distance from the rear principal point of the combined optical system composed of the first and second negative lenses to the front principal point of the first positive lens, dn/dt is a change in the refractive index of the material of which said one negative lens is made relative to a change in its temperature from 25° C., and fw is the focal length of the entire lens system at the wide angle end.

Abstract: Described herein are electromagnetic traps or tweezers. Desired results are achieved by combining two recently developed techniques, 3D negative refraction flat lenses (3DNRFLs) and optical tweezers. The very unique advantages of using 3DNRFLs for electromagnetic traps have been demonstrated. Super-resolution and short focal distance of the flat lens result in a highly focused and strongly convergent beam, which is a key requirement for a stable and accurate electromagnetic trap. The translation symmetry of 3DNRFL provides translation-invariance for imaging, which allows an electromagnetic trap to be translated without moving the lens, and permits a trap array by using multiple sources with a single lens.

Abstract: A packaged container for producing a graphical image. The packaged container includes a container having a side wall defining an interior space and a recessed surface. An interlaced image is provided on the recessed surface, and the packaged container includes a lens element positioned on the side wall to extend across the recessed surface proximate to the printed image and to leave a focusing gap between the lens element and the interlaced image. The lens element includes a plurality of lenses each having a focal point on or about the interlaced image. The lenses have a focal length determined by the thickness of the lens element combined with a depth of the recessed surface as measured from a side of the lens element to the interlaced image. The lens element can be provided in a wrap around label attached to the side wall on both sides of the recessed surface.

Abstract: A dual field of view lens system comprising a first lens group aligned along an optical axis and a third lens group aligned along the optical axis and positioned a predetermined distance from the first lens group. A second lens group, having an optical stop attached thereto, is aligned along the optical axis and disposed between the first and third lens group such that the second lens group and the optical stop are moveable along the optical axis between a first position and a second position. Positioning the second lens group and the optical stop in the first position provides a wide field of view and moving the second lens group and the optical stop to a second position provides a narrow field of view.

Abstract: A mirror system for a tractor with an articulated trailer includes a mirror housing. The mirror housing is attached to the front end of the tractor on the passenger side. The mirror housing has a planar mirror. The planar mirror is adapted to move. The planar mirror moves allowing continuous observation of the passenger side rear corner of the trailer by a driver.

Abstract: A frameless modular trailer for towing behind a motor vehicle is provided. The trailer is made of slidably coupled extrusions for easy assembly. The front and side panels include a protrusion on the top surface. This protrusion allows for the stacking of additional panels for vary the height of the trailer. Additionally, one of a variety of top panels may be stacked on the front and side panels to multiple configurations for securing objects within the trailer.

Abstract: A mirror system for a tractor with an articulated trailer includes a mirror housing. The mirror housing is attached to the front end of the tractor on the passenger side. The mirror housing has a planar mirror. The planar mirror is adapted to move. The planar mirror moves allowing continuous observation of the passenger side rear corner of the trailer by a driver.

Abstract: A recognition device includes a component identifying unit, an identification-region defining unit, a vehicle-image generating unit, and a data reduction-level setting unit. The component identifying unit identifies a component of a vehicle in an original image. The identification-region defining unit defines an identification region including an identification component for identifying the vehicle based on the component. The vehicle-image generating unit extracts the identification region and generates a vehicle image. The data reduction-level setting unit sets a data reduction level based on which a vehicle image is to be generated from an original image satisfying a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for displaying information in a vehicle. The device includes a unit for creating a real image containing information relevant to a driver, to be reflected in a reflective viewing surface located directly above the field of vision actively used by the driver to survey the traffic situation, and thereby generating a virtual image. The device further includes a second reflecting surface provided behind or beside the driver's head, with the driver in his or her normal position, at essentially the same level as the viewing surface or higher, an end section of an optical path between the unit and the viewing surface in use extending between said second reflecting surface and the viewing surface. By the optical path extending at least partly in the upper part of the driver's cab, a relatively long (several meters) optical path can be obtained without the need for complex mirror systems.

Abstract: An aspheric mirror has an aspheric reflective surface symmetrical with respect to an optical axis that goes through the reflective surface and a reference plane provided in the reflective surface. The optical axis may go through the reflective surface at a non-center position on the reflective surface. The reference plane may be perpendicular to the optical axis. The reference plane may be flat enough for a beam to be reflected from the reference plane in almost specular reflection when emitted to the reference plane.

Abstract: A rearview mirror tilt actuator comprises a clutch assembly that selectively transfers torque from an actuator motor to one of at least two output shafts based upon the speed of the motor. One output shaft can pivot the mirror about a first axis of rotation; another output shaft can pivot the mirror about a second axis of rotation. One output shaft can pivot the mirror housing; the other output shaft can extend and retract the mirror housing. At a low speed, the clutch assembly is disengaged, thus only the first output shaft is activated. At a high speed, the clutch assembly is engaged, thus both output shafts are activated. The mirror assembly described herein also has an improved mass configuration which allows for lower moments of inertia in the direction of mirror travel.

Abstract: An adjustable pinhole, in particular for a beam path for illumination and/or detection in a laser-scanning microscope. The pinhole consists of at least two planar basic modules, which have frame-like joints, on which at least one sharp edge is arranged in a displaceable manner in one direction, whereby the basic component advantageously contains at least one integrated, preferably optical or electromagnetic positioning element. A device is provided at the sharp edge, or connected with it, for preferably optical or electromagnetic detection of the position, and is provided, advantageously, with two asymmetric apertures, with mutually opposite orientation, for optical detection of the position, whereby in front of or behind the apertures, a slit is provided, oriented preferably at a right angle to the direction of displacement, and the quantity of light passing through the slit is detected separately for each aperture.

Abstract: A recording device for recording and playback of audio data has a body which is relatively thin for incorporation between the pages of an album or within the cover of an album is disclosed. Recording and playback controls are accessible from the front face of the body and are physically shielded to prevent inadvertent actuation when the album is closed. At least one replaceable battery is accessible via a removable battery cover provided on the front face.

Abstract: For adding additional data, such as multi-channel extension data, to base data, such as conventional stereo data, a test fingerprint of test data relating to a test time instant of the test data is provided. The test data equals the additional data or the base data or depends on the additional data or the base data in parametric manner. Using the test fingerprint, reference time instant information is determined, which depends on a reference time instant in reference data, the reference data being the conventional stereo data. Finally, the additional data or the base data is manipulated, namely using the reference time instant information and the test time instant information, to obtain manipulated data, by which synchronous reproduction of the data information can be performed. Thus, a robust and flexible possibility for synchronous, especially late extension of base data by additional data is obtained.

Abstract: A stamper/imprinter for use in forming a magnetic transition pattern in a magnetic material by means of contact printing, comprising: (a) a non-magnetic substrate having a major surface comprising a patterned plurality of spaced-apart recesses with a plurality of non-recessed areas therebetween, the patterned plurality of recesses corresponding to the magnetic transition pattern to be formed in the magnetic material; and (b) unidirectionally permanently magnetized material filling each of the plurality of recesses and having exposed surfaces substantially coplanar with the plurality of non-recessed areas.

Abstract: A servo field preamble detector includes an upsampling module that generates a plurality of upsampled read samples by upsampling a read signal by an upsampling factor. An interpolation filter module generates a plurality of interpolated read samples from the plurality of upsampled read samples. A peak detection module identifies a plurality of peak samples from the plurality of interpolated read samples. A magnitude estimation module generates a magnitude estimation signal from the plurality of peak samples. A comparison module compares the magnitude estimation signal to a magnitude threshold and asserts a servo preamble detection signal when the magnitude estimation signal compares favorably to the magnitude threshold.

Abstract: An ECC block is constituted by RS(248, 216, 33). Of a data length of 216 bytes (symbols), only 16 bytes are allocated to BCA data and the remaining 200 bytes are used for fixed data having a predetermined value. Using the fixed data of 200 bytes and the BCA data of 16 bytes, parities of 32 bytes (symbols) are calculated. Only the BCA data of 16 bytes and the parities of the former 16 bytes of the 32-byte parities, that is, a total of 32 bytes only, are recorded in a burst cutting area of an optical disc. In decoding, error correction processing is carried out by using the fixed data of 200 bytes. The unrecorded parities of 16 bytes are processed as having been erased. Thus, the error correction capability in a burst cutting area of an optical disc can be improved.

Abstract: A wireless inductive coupling assembly for a heated glass panel assembly is provided that includes a metal oxide coated glass panel with a panel frame, an opening frame that cooperates with the coated glass panel frame to allow the panel to cover a panel opening, a receiving coil that is positioned in the panel frame and that is wired to the panel, and a sending coil that is positioned in the opening frame and that is wired to an electrical power source. When the electrical power source supplies electrical power to the sending coil, the sending coil wirelessly induces an electrical current in the receiving coil, which causes the dielectric panel to provide heat.

Abstract: A motion image processing device for producing a representative static image based on motion image data recorded on a recording medium, comprising; acquiring image acquiring position information for specifying an image acquiring position in the motion image data, acquiring a reproduced image in the image acquiring position specified by the acquired image acquiring position information from the motion image data as a representative static image, and storing the acquired image acquiring position information on the recording medium so as to be associated with the information specifying the motion image data.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that proactively monitors a disk drive to detect an impending disk drive failure. During operation, the system obtains a time-varying electrical signal which is generated by the spindle rotation during operation of the disk drive. Next, the system extracts one or more inferential parameters associated with the spindle rotation from the time-varying electrical signal using a phase-sensitive detection. The system then performs proactive fault detection on the inferential parameters to detect an impending failure of the disk drive.

Abstract: A self servo writing disk controller detects a plurality of spiral sync marks and a plurality of spiral bursts corresponding to one of a plurality of servo spirals from a read signal from the read/write head. A timing reference signal is generated based on timing of at least one of the plurality of the spiral sync marks. A position error signal is generated based on timing of at least one of the plurality of spiral sync marks and a magnitude of at least one of a plurality of spiral bursts. The timing reference signal and the position error signal are used by the disk drive for timing and positioning in self writing initial servo wedges to the disk.

Abstract: A sample-information extracting unit acquires a fall signal indicating whether a storage device is falling, conducts a sampling in response to the fall signal, and sequentially extracts sample information including either one of first information indicating a falling state and second information indicating a non-falling state. A retraction determining unit determines whether to retract the head, based on features of an array of the extracted sample information.

Abstract: A magnetic holder has a strip-shaped carrier, one end of which is bent at an angle to the rest of the carrier that is a coupling section for coupling to an object. The carrier is bent at the transition point from the end section to the coupling section. The carrier has two parallel main sides in which the angle between the end section and the coupling section is greater than 180 degrees and on the other the side this angle is less than 180 degrees. The carrier's coupling section is provided with an indentation near the end section that extends across the entire width of the carrier and is situated on the first main side. There is a hole situated in the carrier between the coupling section and the end section. The carrier's end section is provided with a space that is open on one side and the carrier's coupling section is provided with two spaces that are open on one side. The open sides are situated on the first main side.

Abstract: When the user designates the reproduction of searching audio data, the designated searching audio data and audio volume data are read from a searching data recording portion. The searching audio data is reproduced corresponding to the audio volume data. When the user designates the reproduction of main audio data, the selected audio data is read from a disc and reproduced. In addition, number-of-reproduction-times data, audio volume data, audio quality data, and time period data for the designated main audio data that are updated in the searching data storing portion. The searching audio data corresponding to the designated main audio data is read from the disc corresponding to the audio quality data and the time period data and recorded to the searching data storing portion.

Abstract: A fall sensor detects a fall of a storage device. A first moving unit moves the head to a predetermined position on a storage medium when a falling time exceeds a first threshold. A second moving unit retracts the head from the predetermined position to a ramp when the falling time exceeds a second threshold.

Abstract: A disk drive system including retract logic for control of the voice coil motor in a retract operation, in which the voice coil motor positions the read/write head actuator arm in a safe place in a loss-of-power event, is disclosed. The retract logic includes circuitry for controlling the application of power to the voice coil motor from an external capacitor, so that a constant voltage is maintained across the voice coil motor. Current from the capacitor is directed to an internal variable resistor that conducts a selected current, in parallel with the current applied to the voice coil motor. The voltage developed across the variable resistor is applied to one input of a control amplifier, which receives the voltage across the voice coil motor at another input; the control amplifier in turn controls the gate of a low side transistor. The transistor passes current to the extent that the voltage across the voice coil motor corresponds to that developed across the variable resistor.

Abstract: A disk drive system including retract logic for control of the voice coil motor in a retract operation, in which the voice coil motor positions the read/write head actuator arm in a safe place in a loss-of-power event, is disclosed. The retract logic includes circuitry for controlling the application of power to the voice coil motor from an external capacitor in a pulse-width modulated manner. Current from the capacitor is coupled to the voice coil motor in a drive phase of the pulse-width modulation cycle, and is recirculated through the voice coil motor in a complementary phase of the pulse-width modulation cycle. The recirculation is accomplished by a recirculation transistor that is smaller than the pull-down transistor used in the drive phase.

Abstract: A servo writer includes a servo data generation module that generates servo data corresponding to a plurality of servo wedges and a plurality of tracks of a disk, the servo data including burst data that is repetition coded. A servo write module writes the servo data on the disk.

Abstract: A servo writer includes a servo data generation module that generates servo data corresponding to a plurality of servo wedges and a plurality of tracks of a disk, the servo data including track identification data that is repetition coded. A servo write module writes the servo data on the disk.

Abstract: An example embodiment provides for an apparatus and method, for use in a tape drive system, that supplies tape azimuth error information transduced from servo read elements that are located on differing bumps of a magnetic read/write head. Non-azimuth error information is also transduced from servo read elements located on a read bump. The azimuth error and non-azimuth are utilized to correctly place the magnetic head at a currently selected track of the tape for which data is being written. In one implementation, the servo read elements utilized for transducing the azimuth information are substantially aligned with each other relative to a tape path and disposed on separate bumps. In another implementation, the servo read elements utilized for transducing the azimuth information are not substantially aligned with each other and are disposed diagonally on opposite bumps.