Abstract: A modulated infrared source is disclosed in which spatial-on-spatial modulation is accomplished by the rotation of two sets of beam forming optics about an infrared source. Close to 100% of the energy from the infrared source is focused by rotating two sets of parabolically shaped mirrors about the IR source such that energy losses due toe modulation technique are minimized. The speed of the rotation of the reflective optics is minimized while maintaining sufficiently high modulation frequencies the initial provision of four beams from a single source. This is accomplished by the first set of beam forming optics. Moreover, the effects of unwanted reflection are minimized by the four beam configuration. The four beams are then themselves modulated by the second set of beam forming optics.

Abstract: A method of countermeasuring heat seeking missiles is disclosed in which an infrared source is spatially modulated by providing a beam from the source which is swept past a point in space to produce pulsed infrared energy at this point. In one embodiment the beam is swept around a 360° azimuth for omnidirectional protection.

Abstract: A modulated infrared source is disclosed in which spatial modulation is accomplished by the sweeping of an infrared beam past a point in space. In one embodiment close to 100% of the energy from the infrared source is focused by rotating optics including parabolically shaped reflectors about the source such that energy losses due to the modulation technique are minimized due to a single reflection of the energy from the IR source. The speed of the rotation of the reflective optics is minimized while maintaining sufficiently high modulation frequencies by the provision of four beams from a single source. In another embodiment a squirrel cage reflecting system is provided in which the energy from the IR source is reflected twice.

Abstract: A modulated infrared source is disclosed in which spatial modulation is accomplished by the rotation of beam forming optics about an infrared source in which a portion of the energy in the beam produced includes energy coming directly from the IR source without being reflected. Close to 100% of the energy from the infrared source is focused by rotating parabolically shaped elements, such that energy losses due to the modulation technique are minimized. The speed of the rotation of the reflective optics is minimized while maintaining sufficiently high modulation frequencies by the provision of four beams from a single source.

Abstract: A transmissive display device using a micro light modulator that is capable of improving a light efficiency. In the display device, a plurality of stationary members are provided on the first surface of the first transparent substrate in a line with and at a desired distance from each other in a stripe shape. A plurality of movable members are provided on the first transparent substrate and takes a bridge shape to be spaced from the stationary members and have each side overlapped with the stationary members. A light path controller is formed at each portion corresponding to the movable members on the second transparent substrate in such a manner to be spaced from the adjacent members, to reflect a light passing through a light path between each station member and each movable member such that the light is progressed perpendicularly to the second transparent substrate.

Abstract: A thin low power, paper white, direct-view display includes an array of bistable micromirrors that are deflected between two stable states, a dark state in which the mirror covers a portion of the background and a white state in which the mirror uncovers the background. The drive electronics are similar to those used in multiplexed LDCs but are modified in order to drive the micromirrors to one of their two stable states. The micromirrors in the enabled row are attracted up or down with sufficient force to exceed the micromirrors' bistable threshold and deflect the micromirrors to their dark and white states, respectively. The attractive forces on the micromirrors in the remaining non-enabled rows are insufficient to exceed the micromirrors' bistable threshold so that the micromirrors remain in their current stable state.

Abstract: An optical shutter comprising a frame with an aperture and shutter blade for modulating a light beam or a particle stream passing through the aperture. The top end of the shutter blade comprises a first sector and a second sector, each sector having different optical characteristics. The bottom end of the shutter blade is coupled to a motor means for pivotally rotating the shutter blade over a limited angular range in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction such that the first sector is aligned with the aperture when the shutter blade is rotated in one direction and the second sector is aligned with the aperture when the shutter blade is rotated in the other direction.

Abstract: An optical shutter comprising a frame with an aperture and shutter blade for modulating a light beam or a particle stream passing through the aperture. The top end of the shutter blade comprises a first sector and a second sector, each sector having different optical characteristics. The bottom end of the shutter blade is coupled to a motor for pivotally rotating the shutter blade over a limited angular range in a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction such that the first sector is aligned with the aperture when the shutter blade is rotated in one direction and the second sector is aligned with the aperture when the shutter blade is rotated in the other direction.

Abstract: A system for acquiring IR-data including a microscope with a motor drive stage (48) and a video camera (40) for creating a video image of a sample on the stage. A computer (12) and an associated display (16) are used to create an image of the sample on the display. Graphical markers are superimposed on the image and facilitate the identification of subsequent acquisition of data from points at which data is to be obtained. The markers include representations of the required aperture size and the microscope including an automatically adjustable aperture (26) which can be set under computer control to a required size at each data acquisition point.

Abstract: A light transmittance adjusting apparatus for adjusting a windowpane of an automobile or a building has a fixed member and a movable member arranged in parallel with each other and having a plurality of light interception sections and light transmission sections formed thereon alternately. The vertical position of the movable member are changed electrostatically relative to the fixed member to adjust the light transmittance of the windowpane. Each light interception section has a semi-interception region, the light transmittance of which decreases gradually from a center region thereof toward the adjacent light transmission section. The semi-interception region of the light interception section of a light interception plate of the fixed member overlap the semi-interception region of the light interception section of a light interception plate of the movable member, thus accomplishing an optical interception completely.

Abstract: For simplifying the optical measurement of a particle flow in a fluid and in particular for eliminating errors, in a device for measuring a particle flow in a fluid with at least one illumination system having a diaphragm and at least one receiver system having a diaphragm, the invention provides for a diaphragm (6a, 11a) to have an aperture (6, 11) with an edge (6b, 11b) constructed convexly towards the interior of the diaphragm aperture (6, 11). According to a method, the particle flow is illuminated and/or observed through a diaphragm aperture with an edge constructed convexly towards its interior and the maximum intensity of the particle flying through a first optical measuring range is measured and account is only taken of the particle if the intensity on flowing through a second measuring range exceeds a specific minimum percentage of the maximum intensity measured for this particle.

Abstract: A collimator for radiation therapy, particularly for medical use, including a first pair and a second pair of blocks for deflecting the radiation-therapy beam that is guided between the blocks of each pair, the pairs of blocks being superimposed with respect to each other and slidable on mutually perpendicular guides, a motor being provided to move the first and second pairs of blocks along the guides.

Abstract: An apparatus for reconstructing holographic images includes a white light source, diffraction grating (1112) for generating zero-order diffracted light (1416) and at least first-order diffracted light, and light control film (LCF 1810) which is configured to block the zero-order diffracted light and to facilitate passage of a desired bandwidth of first-order diffracted light therethrough. In one embodiment light control film (LCF 1810) comprises a front layer (1802), a core layer (1804), and a back layer (1806). The back layer (1806) may be thought of as a datum, whereby a lateral shift in front film (1802) results in wavelength selectively, and a corresponding shift in core layer (1804) results in good zero-order light blocking. The resulting light is a pseudo-monochromatic source having sufficient coherence for use as a hologram reconstruction beam.

Abstract: A spectrometer slit switching mechanism includes a slit plate having a plurality of entrance slits and exit slits formed at prescribed positions, parallel support rods for supporting the slit plate so as to be movable along the support rods, a screw portion formed on at least one support rod for transmitting forced to the slit plate, and a driving motor for transmitting rotational energy to the support rod provided with the screw portion, wherein the entrance slits are arranged on a line that runs parallel to the direction of movement of the slit plate and the exit slits are arranged on a line that is both parallel to and spaced a prescribed distance from the line on which the entrance slits are arranged. In accordance with this structure, the driving motor is operated in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions to raise and lower the slit plate in order to align a desired entrance slit and exit slit with the light path of the spectrometer.

Abstract: A moving mask is incorporated in a flying spot scanner to reduce flare. The mask obscures all portions of the object being scanned, except for a small region surrounding the point currently being scanned. The mask moves to maintain registration with the flying spot. A rotating slotted disk with curved slots in cooperation with a fixed mask having a slot is described as one mechanism for achieving such masking.

Abstract: An adjustable optical component, for example an optical slit having adjustable slit width, comprises a movable member for providing an optical function, for example a slit and/or a shutter, and resilient suspension elements for connecting the movable member to a frame. The essential parts of the movable member, of the resilient suspension elements and of the frame consist of microstructures which are made of a common base material. Preferably, these parts are manufactured from a silicon chip by a micromechanical technique comprising, for example, anisotropic etching. In the case of an optical slit, the movable member comprises a plurality of openings of different widths which constitute a step slit. In order to adjust different slit widths, the member is moved along a line parallel to the center line of the step slit, with the force for moving the member being applied at an opening. When the member is moved by an external force, the resilient silicon beams are bending and the bars are moving.

Abstract: A vehicle roof having a glass lid is framed by a two-part lid frame, a glass pane of which is coated on its lower face with a thin, lattice-like sunshield, preferably applied by the screen printing process. A multilayer closure plate, slidably guided at the lateral longitudinal members of the lid frame, bears from below against the sunshield, the thin closure plate layers of which possess a corresponding lattice-like structure. The closure plate layers are displaceable upon one another and can be displaced or set one after another to provide an infinitely variable cover or exposure of the light apertures of large area of the sunshield. A drive apparatus provides for a corresponding displacement drive of the individual closure plate layers.

Abstract: A plurality of darkness distributions having a predetermined relationship with a darkness distribution for ND-filtering transmission light at the position of an aperture blade in an aperture device are formed on an original. The original is photographed on a film by a camera, and after the film is developed, the film is molded to obtain a plurality of ND filters.

Abstract: A slit is disposed as diaphragm in the beam path of a mass spectrometer. The slit width is to be variable in the simplest possible manner. Manual, electric motor-driven, thermoelectric or piezoelectric adjustment devices are known. According to the invention a pneumatic adjustment is provided. A Bourdon tube (12) moves a lever (14), at one end (18) of which slits (19, 20, 21) of differing slit widths are disposed. The lever movements are limited by abutments (22, 23).

Abstract: A barrier mechanism for a zoom lens assembly which includes a stationary lens barrel and a rotatable cam ring which is supported on the stationary lens barrel for movement in the direction of the optical axis while being rotated, and which includes at least two cam grooves. The barrier mechanism of the lens barrel includes a pair of barrier plate assemblies which are adapted to open and close an opening of the lens barrel, wherein each of the pair of barrier plate assemblies includes a pair of plate elements which are symmetrically arranged with respect to a center of the opening. In the closed position, the barrier plates are arranged side by side.

Abstract: Plural successive light beam pulses are directed through a continuously adjustable aperture. An actuator is driven to change an aperture diameter of the continuously adjustable aperture for each of the plural successive light beam pulses directed therethrough. The aperture diameter is adjusted in this manner in accordance with a pixel diameter of each of respective plural pixels to be printed on a print medium by the plural successive light beam pulses.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to slits used in optics that must be precisely aligned and adjusted. The optical slits of the present invention are useful in x-ray optics, x-ray beam lines, optical systems in which the entrance slit is critical for high wavelength resolution. The invention is particularly useful in ultra high vacuum systems where lubricants are difficult to use and designs which avoid the movement of metal parts against one another are important, such as monochrometers for high wavelength resolution with ultra high vacuum systems. The invention further relates to optical systems in which temperature characteristics of the slit materials is important. The present invention yet additionally relates to precision slits wherein the opposing edges of the slit must be precisely moved relative to a center line between the edges with each edge retaining its parallel orientation with respect to the other edge and/or the center line.

Abstract: An opthalmic microscope is provided having a variable shutter illumination system which decreases the amount of light from the light source passing through the shutter to the field of view. When a patient's eye is positioned within the field of view, the variable shutter acts to decrease the exposure time the illumination beam contacts a patient's retina. In a first embodiment, the variable shutter includes a rotating disk having at least one controllable operative where such disk is placed between the illumination source and the field of view of the microscope. In another embodiment, the variable shutter is provided by an electronically controlled liquid crystal shutter which is operable between a fully open position allowing substantially all of the light beam to pass therethrough to a fully closed position totally blocking the transmission of light through the shutter.

Abstract: A mechanical apparatus to provide pulses of light for tanning. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises a light source radiating light; a hollow cylinder having an inner and an outer cylindrical surface and an axis, the hollow cylinder having at least one opening through the inner to the outer cylindrical surface, the light source being inside the hollow cylinder, at least some of the light radiating from the light source passing through the at least one opening in the hollow cylinder; an apparatus to axially rotate the hollow cylinder; and, a surface having an opening therethrough. As the hollow cylinder is axially rotated, at least some of the light radiating from the light source passing through the at least one opening in the hollow cylinder will come into light communication with the opening in the surface and pass therethrough, thereby creating a pulse of light. Another embodiment incorporates at least two counter rotating cylinders which are coaxially aligned around a light source.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning apertures in a beam of light including a plurality of drive members coaxially supported on a longitudinally extending shaft, each having a separate electrically operable drive motor mechanically interlocked therewith.

Abstract: A radiation aperture system where two sets of apertures are distributed in ring sections of like radius on two parallel rings. As one ring is rotated with respect to its counterpart, one aperture of each ring will align to pass a radiation beam through both apertures. Only a single aperture pair is formed at each unique time, allowing sequential measurements of all combinations of both aperture openings during rotation without halting the rotation.

Abstract: A turret condenser for microscopes is equipped with two turrets which are capable of interposing combinations of numerous types of optical elements on the optical axis and rotatably arranged in overlapped positions in the vicinity of the pupil of a condenser lens. Most of the optical elements are removably accommodated in each of the turrets. This turret condenser makes it possible to perform microscopy in various modes by simple operations.

Abstract: A novel method that is suitable for uniquely aligning remote first and second objects. In one aspect, the method comprises pre-alignment and alignment stages. The pre-alignment stage comprises generating first and second geometric configurations on the first and second objects, respectively. The first configuration is, at least in part, characterized by randomness; and, the second configuration comprises a geometric complement of a projection of the first configuration. The alignment stage exploits variable geometries generated in the process of manipulating each of the two objects through six degrees of freedom, until a unique geometry, signifying alignment, is realized.