Abstract: A system includes an optical source, an integrated circuit, an optical fiber, and a polarization controller. The optical source is arranged emit an optical signal. The integrated circuit includes a mirror. The optical fiber carries the optical signal from the optical source to the integrated circuit. The mirror reflects a transverse magnetic component of the optical signal through the optical fiber to the optical source. The polarization controller adjusts, based on the transverse magnetic component, the optical signal emitted from the optical source such that the transverse magnetic component is reduced.

Abstract: A system includes a beam steering assembly configured to adjust an incident beam to form a corrected beam; a beam monitoring assembly configured to generate monitoring data for the corrected beam including one or more offset parameters of the corrected beam; and a controller configured to store one or more zero parameters of the corrected beam, calculate at least one difference between the one or more zero parameters and the one or more offset parameters of the corrected beam, determine one or more beam position adjustments of the incident beam based on the at least one difference between the one or more zero parameters and the one or more offset parameters of the corrected beam, and direct the beam steering assembly via one or more motor drivers to actuate one or more motors to adjust the incident beam to form the corrected beam.

Abstract: A tester for measuring a pitch static attitude of a head stack assembly including a laser transmitter configured to transmit laser beams, and a laser receiver configured to receive the laser beams from the laser transmitter, wherein the laser transmitter and the laser receiver are configured to receive a head stack assembly between the laser transmitter and the laser receiver. The tester also includes a laser guide located between the laser transmitter and the laser receiver, and configured to block the laser beams from entering a gap in the head stack assembly and reaching the laser receiver.

Abstract: Aligning and testing alignment of optical elements in a laser beam delivery system using non-visible radiation. An alignment mirror replaces a beam redirection mirror and includes a fluorescing substrate and a dielectric coating on an incident face of the fluorescing substrate that reflects a major part of an incident laser beam along a next leg of the beam path and transmits a part of the beam into the fluorescing substrate, which is transmissive to visible radiation and fluoresces when irradiated by the beam to emit a visible light image from a back face of the alignment mirror. An alignment target on the back face indicates a preferred point of incidence of the beam on the alignment mirror for a desired alignment of the at least one laser beam. A lens may be tested and the properties of the lens determined by use of a fluorescing target plate.

Abstract: A portable flash tube intensity monitoring system which includes: an internal power supply; a human eye spectral response photodiode for producing analog signals, each of which is directly proportional to the intensity of each flash from the flash tube; electronics for converting each of the analog signals to a digital time function proportional to the intensity of the corresponding flash; electronics, including a microprocessor, for monitoring the digital time function, for flagging a time function which is below a preselected minimum, for communicating status signals to a localized operator display when the time function is below the preselected minimum, and for testing of an internal power source; a fixed distance indicator which allows accurate measurement from a remote coordinate location; and an operator display. The monitoring system is preferably integrally formed for ease of use and portability.

Abstract: Flash tube and lamp monitoring systems. The flash tube intensity monitoring system includes: a human eye spectral response photodiode for producing analog signals, each of which is directly proportional to the intensity of each flash from the flash tube; electronics for converting each of the analog signals to a digital time function proportional to the intensity of the corresponding flash; and electronics, including a microprocessor, for monitoring each of the digital time functions, for flagging those time functions which are below a preselected minimum, and for sending a fault signal when a preselected number of consecutive time functions are below the pre-selected minimum. The monitoring system and flash tube are, preferably, incorporated into single unit for easy installation in the fuselage of an aircraft.

Abstract: Apparatus operable in accordance with the method of the present invention for measuring the angle of incidence of a light beam or plane relative to level comprises a photodetector array for sensing the light and a level mirror preferably comprising a pool of mercury. Optics are provided for transmitting the light to the photodetector array in alignment with the angle of incidence of the light (aligned light) and also after the light has been reflected from the mercury pool (reflected light). A shutter is provided for separating aligned light from reflected light such that distinct signals representative of the two are generated by the photodetector array. The distinct signals are processed by up-counting and down-counting a counter circuit to determine the average centers of light spots representative of the aligned light and the reflected light and the distance between those average centers which is representative of the deviation of the light beam or plane from level.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for determining the angular deviation of a randomly angular oriented article from a desired angular orientation in preparation for its engagement by a robotic part handling device. The apparatus projects a rotating image of the article onto a mask which is representative of the article in a desired orientation and provides an angular deviation signal indicative of the cummulative angular displacement of the image from an initial reference position at which the image matches the mask.

Abstract: An encoder includes a holographic element containing a plurality of holograms, one single mode fiber input line and N fiber optic output lines, which may be either single mode or multimode optical fiber. A light source is arranged to illuminate a selected one of the holograms. Each hologram is configured to receive an input light beam from the light source and to produce thereform an optical output signal encoded to correspond to a digital word. A system for forming the optical signal encoder includes a light source and an arrangement for receiving a first light beam therefrom and producing a light beam array. The system includes an optical switching arranged to receive all of the beams of the light beam array and transmit only selected beams therefrom. A holographic element is arranged such that the beams transmitted by the optical switching means may impinge thereon to form source beams for forming an array of holograms.

Abstract: A scanning angle tracker which includes a laser beam and a beamsplitter for developing two beams which intersect on a scanning mirror. The scanning mirror sweeps the two beams across a retro-reflective tape on the object. Return signals are generated for processing to provide the desired angular information.

Abstract: A scanning angle tracker which includes a laser beam and a beamsplitter for developing two beams which intersect on a scanning mirror. The scanning mirror sweeps the two beams across a retro-reflective tape on the object. Return signals are generated for processing to provide the desired angular information.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing the correspondence of the line of sight of optical instruments with the target line of weapons. A predetermined measuring field and a photoelectric line-type sensor are used. The nominal positions of the lines of sight and of the target lines relative to each other are stored as coordinates in a long-time memory. Simultaneously a nominal reference point as the origin of the coordinate system stored in the long-time memory is determined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices intended to measure magnetic fields, and also known as magnetometers. It consists in using a zeroing method to measure the influence of the Faraday effect of the field being measured, upon a radiated energy beam propagating in guided fashion through a thin film of magnetic material.

Abstract: A vehicle guidance system including means for projecting a beam of light to guide a vehicle such as an aircraft on a glide slope, and means for pulse coding the upper the lower portions of the beam providing to the aircraft pilot an indication of the aircraft's position in relation to the glide slope. The upper and lower pulse coded portions of the beam are differentiated by color. Color coded pulses are also provided to differentiate this beam from other lights in the area of the runway.

Abstract: In the measurement of angular position the phenomena of moire or watered configurations produced by a grating on a disc is used.