Abstract: A fiber-optical, wavelength selective switch, especially for channel routing with equalization and blocking applications. The input signals are converted to light beams having predefined polarizations (41). The beams are then laterally expanded (43), and then undergo spatial dispersion in the beam expansion plane. The different wavelength components are directed through a polarization rotation device, pixilated along the wavelength dispersion direction such that each pixel operates on a separate wavelength. Each beam is passed into a pixilated beam steering array (48), for directing each wavelength to a desired output port. The beam steering devices can be MEMS-based or Liquid crystal-based, or an LCOS array. When the appropriate voltage is applied to a pixel and its associated beam steering element, the polarization of the light passing through the pixel is rotated and the beam steered to couple to the selected output port.

Abstract: Beam steering systems and methods are disclosed according to various embodiments. A beam steering system may include a laser that produces a beam of light. The beam of light may then be directed through a piezoelectric tube that includes a light guide and one or more piezoelectric elements. The piezoelectric tube is coupled with the light source, such that the beam of light is conducted through the light guide. The piezoelectric tube is coupled with a scanning optical element that includes an optical element and a steering device. A controller may be communicatively coupled with the light source, the piezoelectric tube and the scanning optical element. The controller may include instructions to dither the beam of light with the piezoelectric tube and/or instructions to steer the beam of light with the scanning optical element.

Abstract: In a fluid focus lens (ffl) a structured hydrophobic layer (415) is applied on a hydrophilic glass substrate (406). The hydrophobic layer (415) and hydrophilic glass substrate (406) cause a water droplet placed on the hydrophilic glass substrate (406) to remain in a defined position (or area). The hydrophobic layer prevents leakage when a core (408) of the ffl is not attached to the substrate (406). The hydrophobic layer (415) also functions as a barrier to keep the water in a droplet shape, which simplifies the assembly of the ffl product.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating an RF signal is provided includes a driver configured to generate a timing control for two optical signals. The apparatus further includes at least one optical pulse source configured to generate the two optical signals based on the timing control. In addition, the apparatus includes a photodetector configured to receive the two optical signals as input and further configured to generate an RF signal based on the two optical signals. A method for generating an RF signal is also provided.

Abstract: An optical device for generating a beat frequency between two optical wavelengths includes two waveguides (2a, 2b) of different width and a grating layer (4) that is common to both wave guides.

Abstract: A short wavelength light source is provided with a fundamental wave light source for generating a fundamental wave, and a plurality of wavelength conversion elements made of nonlinear optical crystals having periodic polarization-inversion structures and adapted to convert a part of the fundamental wave into a second harmonic, and the nonlinear optical crystals of the plurality of wavelength conversion elements are different in material or composition. By converting the fundamental wave from the fundamental wave light source by the plurality of wavelength conversion elements, the generation of a thermal lens effect caused by light absorption can be suppressed to improve a high output resistance.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the embodiment of the invention, an optical amplifier including an input port, an output port, a plurality of amplifying parts, an optical attenuator, a gain controller and an optical attenuator controller. The plurality of amplifying parts includes an optical amplification medium and a pumping light source for generating pump light. The optical attenuator is optically connected between the amplifying parts. The gain controller controls the pump light power of the pump sources, respectively, in such a way that the ratio decreases in accordance with the gain set value increasing and the ratio interpose between a first threshold level and a second threshold level. The optical attenuator controller controls attenuation of the optical attenuator in order to maintain the sum of generating gains of the amplifying parts in the gain set value in accordance with a state of the signal light inputted into the input port.

Abstract: Laser light emission across a wide bandwidth emission spectrum is enabled in a laser device equipped with solid gain media. The laser device is equipped with: a resonator; a plurality of solid gain media, having fluorescent spectra that at least partially overlap with each other, provided within the resonator; and pumping means, for pumping the plurality of solid gain media. The entire fluorescent spectrum width of the plurality of solid gain media is greater than the fluorescent spectrum width of each solid gain medium.

Abstract: Laser light emission across a wide bandwidth emission spectrum is enabled in a laser device equipped with solid gain media. The laser device is equipped with: a resonator; a plurality of solid gain media, having fluorescent spectra that at least partially overlap with each other, provided within the resonator; and pumping means, for pumping the plurality of solid gain media. The entire fluorescent spectrum width of the plurality of solid gain media is greater than the fluorescent spectrum width of each solid gain medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is an infrared-transmitting cover (21) comprising an infrared-transmitting base layer (23) and an infrared-transmitting dielectric multilayer film (24) which is arranged on the base layer (23). The infrared-transmitting cover (21) has optical characteristics since the dielectric multilayer film (24) selectively reflects visible light in a specific wavelength range, and the cover appears in the color corresponding to the specific wavelength range. A cover according to one embodiment of the present invention appears in a color other than black, namely such as blue, yellow or green, thereby enabling to improve decoration ability of infrared signal ports of electronic devices such as portable information terminals.

Abstract: A multi-layer mirror includes a multi-layer stack. The multi-layer stack includes a plurality of alternating layers with a multi-layer stack top layer and a spectral filter top layer arranged on the multi-layer stack. The spectral filter top layer includes a first spectral purity enhancement layer that includes a first material m1 and has a first layer thickness d1, an intermediate layer that includes a second material m2 and has a second layer thickness d2. The intermediate layer is arranged on the multi-layer stack top layer. The first material is selected from SiN, Si3N4, SiO2, ZnS, Te, diamond, CsI, Se, SiC, amorphous carbon, MgF2, CaF2, TiO2, Ge, PbF2, ZrO2, BaTiO3, LiF or NaF. The second material includes a material different from the first material, and d1+d2 has a thickness between 1.5 and 40 nm.

Abstract: A 2D/3D switchable image display device is provided. The device includes an image panel, a backlight unit arranged at the rear side of the image panel, and a lenticular lens sheet arranged between the image panel and the backlight unit. The backlight unit includes a plurality of segment light sources for a left eye vision range which emit a light for a left eye vision range, and a plurality of segment light sources for a right eye vision range which emit a light for a right eye vision range. The segment light sources for the left eye vision range and the segment light sources for the right eye vision range are alternately arranged to form a surface light source. The lenticular lens sheet includes a plurality of semi-cylindrical lenses arranged in a direction perpendicular to a viewing direction of both eyes of a viewer.

Abstract: A 3D display has a light grating unit inserted between a polarized light module and an image display unit. The light grating unit includes a dispersing liquid crystal unit, a microretarder unit, and a polarizing film. By controlling the dispersing liquid crystal unit of the light grating unit to be switched between a dispersing state and a transparent state, a displayed image is switched between a 2D image displaying mode and a 3D image displaying mode. The dispersing liquid crystal unit can be removed, so as to allow the image display unit to stay in the 3D image displaying mode.

Abstract: A polarization-modulating optical element consisting of an optically active crystal material has a thickness profile where the thickness, as measured in the direction of the optical axis, varies over the area of the optical element. The polarization-modulating optical element has the effect that the plane of oscillation of a first linearly polarized light ray and the plane of oscillation of a second line early polarized light ray are rotated, respectively, by a first angle of rotation and a second angle of rotation, with the first angle of rotation and the second angle of rotation being different from each other.

Abstract: A reflection repressed wire-grid polarizer device for polarizing incident visible or infrared light and selectively repressing a reflected polarization includes at least three layers disposed on a substrate. A polarizing wire-grid layer has an array of parallel metal wires with a period less than half the wavelength of the incident light. A reflection-repressing layer or grid includes an inorganic and non-dielectric material which is optically absorptive of visible or infrared light. A dielectric layer or grid includes an inorganic and dielectric material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wavelength-selective diffraction element, configured such that light having a plurality of wavelengths are incident thereon as incident light, which is provided with: a transparent substrate; a concavo-convex part, formed on the transparent substrate such that concave portions and convex portions are cyclically extended in one direction, and comprised of a first material which is optically isotropic; and a filling part, filling at least the concave portions and comprised of a second material which is optically isotropic. The first material and the second material have no absorbance with respect to the wavelengths of the incident light. The first material and the second material have an identical refractive index with respect to light having a first wavelength which is at least one of the wavelengths of the incident light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing hybrid microlenses of a light guiding plate using a semiconductor reflow process, comprising: a first step of aligning a mask on a substrate coated with a photoresist, wherein the mask is formed with a first region through which light can be transmitted and a plurality of second regions through which light cannot be transmitted, and the second regions have different sizes and shapes to form hybrid arrays; a second step of performing slant light exposure and vertical light exposure at least once in such a manner that light radiated from the top to the bottom of the second regions forming the hybrid arrays has an unsymmetrical inclination angle in at least one direction; a third step of developing the slant light-exposed substrate to obtain hybrid photoresist posts with various sizes and shapes; a fourth step of performing a reflow process to allow the hybrid photoresist posts to be curved so that a hybrid microlens pattern can be obtained; a fifth step

Abstract: An antiglare film comprises a transparent substrate; and an antiglare layer on the transparent substrate, the layer including a binder matrix, organic particle A and organic particle B having an average particle diameter smaller than an average particle diameter of particle A, organic particle A and organic particle B dispersed in the binder matrix. An antiglare film having of the present invention can have the following features: good antiglare property; no white blur; high abrasion resistant property; less dazzling; and not whitened.

Abstract: A diffuser prism sheet includes a transparent base film having a first surface and a second surface, a light refractor at the first surface of the base film, the light refractor including a plurality of unit prisms having a major axis extending in a first direction and having a predetermined cross sectional shape that defines valleys between adjacent unit prisms, and light diffusers including amorphous polygonal bosses in the valleys between adjacent unit prisms.

Abstract: A display device comprises a display arrangement having inherent non-uniformity of an output intensity across the display area and an optical attenuator arrangement (205,207) positioned in front of the display arrangement and in registration with the display area, wherein the optical attenuator arrangement has a light attenuation characteristic that varies across the display area and is adapted to optically reduce the inherent non-uniformity of the output intensity.

Abstract: An optical device, such as spectacles or goggles, has a segmented display (3) formed in a transparent substrate by directing light from a number of light sources (15) through respective light guides (14) and reflecting the light out of the transparent substrate at the ends of the light guides (14) to form individually illuminable segments (13). The device has the advantage that an electronically-generated display can be displayed to a viewer in combination with the image transmitted through the transparent substrate simply and relatively inexpensively.

Abstract: The image observation apparatus includes a first image-forming element and a second image-forming element each of which forms an original image, and an optical system configured to introduce light fluxes from the first and second image-forming elements to an exit pupil position of the optical system where an eye of an observer is placed. The optical system includes an optical surface as a single surface that reflects the light flux from the first image-forming element and transmits the light flux from the second image-forming element. The first image-forming element and the second image-forming element respectively form a first original image and a second original image that correspond to different viewing fields from the exit pupil position. The apparatus combines plural original images to enable observation of one combined image and that can suppress generation of light scattering.

Abstract: An image sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. In one example embodiment, an image sensor includes an interlayer insulation layer formed on a substrate of a pixel area, a plurality of first microlenses spaced apart from each other on the interlayer insulation layer, and a plurality of second microlenses formed beside the plurality of first microlenses. The plurality of second microlenses each has a diameter different from a diameter of each of the plurality of first microlenses.

Abstract: A purpose of the present invention is to provide a micro-lens enabling in a simple and highly accurate manner to assess an amount of misalignment with an optical axis generated by an error in a process of manufacturing a micro-lens. According to the present invention, the micro-lens manufactured using a semiconductor lens is provided with a lens portion, a peripheral portion located outside the lens portion and a mark for assessment formed near the peripheral portion during a process of manufacturing the lens portion.

Abstract: A super wide-angle imaging system has a short total track length. The lens system is a retrofocus type lens system that uses only a few lenses with no cemented lens elements. Acceptable performance is achieved by taking advantage of subsequent digital image processing. The compact lens system is designed to create optical images that can be restored by subsequent digital processing that compensates for otherwise unacceptable aberrations introduced by the lens system.

Abstract: A variable focus lens (10) comprises a fluid chamber (12) having an optical axis (20). One or more piezoelectric element (22) is disposed about the optical axis within a portion of the fluid chamber. First and second fluids (24,26) are disposed within another portion the fluid chamber and in contact with one another over a meniscus (28,36) extending transverse the optical axis, the first and second fluids being substantially immiscible and having different indices of refraction. The perimeter of the meniscus is fixedly located on a surface in relationship to the one or more piezoelectric element, wherein responsive to application of a voltage potential (32) to the one or more piezoelectric element, the one or more piezoelectric element controllably alters one or more of (i) a shape of the meniscus or (ii) a translation of the meniscus.

Abstract: A variable-focus lens that includes a wall made of an insulating material, a drop of an insulating liquid arranged on an area of a first surface of the wall, a conductive liquid covering the first surface and the drop, and an electrode arranged on a second surface of said wall. The insulating and conductive liquids are non-miscible, having different optical indexes and substantially the same density. The drop of the variable-focus lens is centered in a truncated cone centered on an axis perpendicular to the first surface, the bottom of which is pierced with a centered hole, and the insulating material wall is transparent and covers the hole.

Abstract: An optical device includes an interface between two or more media. The refractive indices, orientations of media, and alignment relative to a propagating wave define a refractive boundary at which reflections may be reduced or eliminated, and at which, for certain incident angles, rays may be refracted on the same side of the normal as the incident ray.

Abstract: The extender lens apparatus is detachably attached to an image-forming optical system including a first main lens unit disposed closest to an object and a second main lens unit disposed between the first main lens unit and an image plane. The apparatus includes a first extender lens unit to be inserted in a space closer to the first main lens unit than the second main lens unit, and a second extender lens unit to be inserted in a space closer to the image plane than the second main lens unit. The first extender lens unit has a magnification increasing effect. The apparatus is capable of varying a magnification of the image-forming optical system while maintaining good optical performance without greatly increasing the entire length of the image-forming optical system.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes, in order from an object side: a first lens group having negative power, a second lens group having negative power, a third lens group having positive power, and, a fourth lens group having positive power. The position of the first lens group is fixed during zooming, and the third lens group includes three single lenses including, in order from the object side, a third-first single lens having positive power, a third-second single lens having negative power and a third-third single lens having negative power. The zoom lens system satisfies the following conditional expression: 0.4<L3/fw<1.2 where L3 represents the axial air gap distance between the third-second lens and the third-third lens and fw represents the focal length of the entire system of the zoom lens system at a wide angle end position.

Abstract: An image capturing device includes a zoom lens system, an image sensor for capturing images, and a compensating system for compensating the light attenuation of the image capturing device caused by the zoom lens system. The compensating system includes a memory unit, a judging unit, and a compensating unit. The memory unit is configured for storing a plurality of compensating expressions associated with predetermined focal lengths of the zoom lens system. The judging unit is configured for determining the focal length of the lens system when the image sensor capturing an image. The compensating unit is used for compensating for the light attenuation of the image capturing device using the compensating expression associated with the focal length determined by the judging unit.

Abstract: A projecting zoom lens includes in order from a magnification side, a first negative group, second, third and fourth positive groups, a fifth negative group and a sixth positive group. The third group, the fourth group and the fifth group are moved along the optical axis to the magnification side during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, and such that the projecting zoom lens satisfies given following conditional expressions. 0.9<|f1|/fw<1.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes, in order from an object side: a first lens group having a negative optical power, a second lens group having a negative optical power, and, a third lens group having a positive optical power. The position of the first lens group is fixed during zooming, and the third lens group includes three single lenses including, in order from the object side, a third-first lens being a single lens having a positive optical power, a third-second lens being a single lens having a negative optical power and a third-third lens being a single lens having a positive optical power. The zoom lens system satisfies the following conditional expression: 0.35<L3/f3<1.5 where L3 represents the axial air gap distance between the third-second lens and the third-third lens and f3 represents the focal length of the third lens group.

Abstract: An ultra wide-angle imaging lens device 1 includes, in order from an object side: a negative first lens L1 having a meniscus shape with a convex surface directed to the object side; a negative second lens L2 having a concave surface directed to an image side and having at least one aspheric surface; a positive third lens L3 having a convex surface directed to the object side and having at least one aspheric surface; a stop; and a positive fourth lens L4 having a convex surface directed to the image side and having at least one aspheric surface. The following conditional expression (1) is satisfied: ?3.2<L/f34<3.2 ??(1) where L denotes a distance on an optical axis from an object side surface of the first lens to an image formation surface, and f34 denotes a composite focal length of the third and fourth lenses L3 and L4.

Abstract: An exemplary portable electronic device includes a main body, a first camera module disposed in the main body, a second camera module disposed in the main body adjacent to the first camera module, and a light diverging lens rotatably mounted on the main body. The light diverging lens has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The light diverging lens is rotatable between a first position and a second position. When the light diverging lens is in the first position, the light diverging lens is optically aligned with the first camera module and the first surface of the light diverging lens faces the first camera module. When the light diverging lens is in the second position, the light diverging lens is optically aligned with the second camera module and the second surface of the light diverging lens faces the second camera module.

Abstract: A lens module includes a barrel and a first lens. The barrel has a body and a step-profiled part. The step-profiled part is inwardly extended from an inside wall of the body. The first lens is accommodated in the barrel. The first lens has a first step-profiled structure disposed around the circumference thereof. The first step-profiled structure is formed corresponding to the step-profiled part so as to fasten the first lens to the barrel.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to an optical assembly that includes an optical element and a structure element. A gap runs between the optical element and the structure element. A sealing element may be present to seal the gap. At least one liquid layer may be arranged between the structure element and/or the optical element, and the sealing element so that a relative displacement of the sealing element with respect to the structure element and/or the optical element is possible in the direction of the layer plane.

Abstract: The invention discloses a spherical aberration control method for controlling spherical aberration of an optical device. The method includes: detecting a current ambient temperature of the optical device; and controlling the spherical aberration of the optical device according to the current ambient temperature.

Abstract: There are provided first and second lenses, by which light incident from outside is condensed and caused to outgo, a barrel, which holds the first and second lenses, a barrel holding part having a substantially cylindrical shape to hold therein the barrel, a movement device for movement of the barrel holding part in an optical axis direction of the first and second lenses, and a pedestal having a lens receiving portion, which receives therein the barrel holding part in a slidable state, the pedestal receiving therein the barrel holding part contacting in plural lines with an inner wall surface of the lens receiving portion of the pedestal.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first optical element that is allowed to move along an optical axis, a first driven member connected to the first optical element, a second optical element disposed in the optical axis of the first optical element, which is allowed to move along the optical axis, a second driven member connected to the second optical element, a first drive shaft disposed substantially parallel to the optical axis to drive the first driven member along the optical axis, a second drive shaft disposed substantially parallel to the optical axis to drive the second driven member along the optical axis, a first drive unit connected to an end of the first drive shaft to drive the first drive shaft, and a second drive unit connected to an end of the second drive shaft to drive the second drive shaft and disposed at a position that partially overlaps a position of the first drive unit when viewed from the direction of the optical axis.

Abstract: An exemplary lens module with focusing function includes a lens group, a lead screw, a transmission member, an actuator, and two stop portions. The lens group is slidable along the optical axis thereof. The lead screw is set so that the longitudinal direction thereof is essentially parallel to the optical axis. The transmission member is secured to the lens group, and includes a deformable screw-engaging portion. The deformable screw-engaging portion is disengageably engaged with the lead screw. The actuator is configured for driving the lead screw to rotate to force the transmission member to move along the lead screw. The two stop portions are configured for delimiting a movable boundary of the transmission member along the lead screw. The surrounding portion will disengage from the lead screw when the surrounding portion abuts against the stop portion and the lead screw continues rotating.

Abstract: A mirror device includes a base portion having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, and a second end, the first end having a raised edge perpendicular to the top surface, the second end having a raised edge perpendicular to the top surface and having a curved portion extending therefrom, the base portion having a plurality of grooves parallel with the first and second ends, a connector portion coupled to the base portion, the first end of the connector portion coupled to the curved portion such that the connector portion may rotate about the base portion, and a mirror coupled to the second end of the connector portion, the mirror having a connection means horizontally disposed along the back portion thereof, the second end of the connector portion coupled to the connection means such that the mirror may rotate about the second end of the connector portion.

Abstract: A vehicle side mirror includes: a housing attached to a vehicle and holding a mirror; and a cover member being attachable to the housing, the cover member and the housing forming an integral outer shape of the vehicle side mirror when the cover member is appropriately attached to the housing. The cover member includes a cover-side identification part, and the housing includes a housing-side identification part which allows the cover member being paired with the housing to be appropriately attached to the housing, and which prevents the cover member not being paired with the housing from being appropriately attached to the housing, in cooperation with the cover-side identification part.

Abstract: A film coating method enables, when forming film layers in response to optical characteristics on a substrate, to coat gradation range layers of decreasing thickness without distributions, and to coat films on a plurality of substrates at the same time. The gradation range layer is formed by sputtering evaporation targets of dielectric substances with an introduction gas, followed by forming the films with compounds generated by applying a reactive gas to the films.

Abstract: In a magnetic data processing apparatus, an input part successively inputs magnetic data from a magnetic sensor. A first generation part stores samples of the magnetic data in accordance with a first sampling rule, and generates first offset update data based on the stored samples of the magnetic data when a distribution of the stored samples of the magnetic data indicates a first feature. A second generation part stores samples of the magnetic data in accordance with a second sampling rule, and generates second offset update data based on the stored samples of the magnetic data when a distribution of the stored samples of the magnetic data indicates a second feature. An update part updates an offset value of the magnetic data based on the first offset update data when the same is generated, and updates the offset value of the magnetic data based on the second offset update data when the same is generated.

Abstract: A magnetic data recording system that can directly measure soft underlayer spacing of a perpendicular magnetic write head during operation. The soft underlayer spacing of the magnetic write head can be determined by measuring the magnetic inductance of the write head. The inductance of the write head varies with changes in the distance between the write pole and the soft underlayer of the magnetic medium. By connecting the write head with magnetic inductance measuring circuitry, the soft underlayer spacing can be constantly monitored during operation of the magnetic data recording system. The system can also include active fly height control such as a thermal fly height control capability. By directly measuring the soft underlayer spacing in real time during use of the data recording system, the actively fly height controlling features can be operated efficiently to precisely maintain a desired spacing between the write pole and the soft underlayer of the magnetic medium.

Abstract: A magnetic device includes a write element having a write element tip and a conductive coil that carries current to induce a first field in the write element. A first conductor is proximate a leading edge of the write pole tip for carrying current to generate a second field that augments the first field.

Abstract: A method for reading data from a magnetic recording tape having multiple adjacent data tracks according to one embodiment includes simultaneously detecting signals from a plurality of read devices, at least some of the read devices being positioned over multiple data tracks while other of the adjacent read devices are positioned over single data tracks; determining which of the read devices is positioned over a single data track; and simultaneously reading data from the data tracks using only those read devices over the single data tracks. A method for reading and writing data to a magnetic recording tape according to another embodiment includes simultaneously writing data tracks to a magnetic medium; and simultaneously reading the data tracks on the magnetic medium using a plurality of adjacent read devices; wherein the number of the adjacent read devices is at least twice the number of the adjacent write devices.

Abstract: A head integrated circuit for drives a head. The head includes at least a head unit and a heating element for adjusting spacing between the head and a storage medium. And the head integrated circuit includes at least a read amplifier for amplifying the read signal from the head unit and a heater drive circuit for driving the heating element. The heater drive circuit includes a measuring circuit configured to measure level of power supplied to the heating element, an error calculating circuit configured to calculate an error between predetermined power level and the measured power level, a pulse width modulation circuit configured to modulate the error into a pulse width, and a switch configured to operate in response to a pulse from the pulse width modulation circuit and supply power to the heating element.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge, a recording system, and a magnetic tape drive are configured to, for example, guard against tampering with a write once overwrite protection pointer which allows a rewritable magnetic tape to be treated as write once. In one embodiment, the magnetic tape cartridge comprises a magnetic tape and a cartridge memory. The magnetic tape is configured to provide at least one overwrite protection pointer, the overwrite protection pointer identifying data to be protected from being overwritten; and the cartridge memory is configured to provide the at least one overwrite protection pointer, the overwrite protection pointer identifying magnetic tape data to be protected from being overwritten.