Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting an optical axis of an optical device, particularly in an optical information recording and reproducing system, in accordance with which the optical axis is movable in two directions, independently of each other. Various parts of the optical system, such as an anamorphic prism and a fixed prism, may be moved to adjust the degree of parallelism and/or displacement of a laser beam. A laser ray source in the system also may be movable independently in different directions.

Abstract: A device for projecting light spots onto a surface, comprising a device for generating and concentrating light, a pierced member which is movable before said device and endowed with means for selecting the hole to be aligned with the light, an assembly of lenses and mirrors and a projection head for projecting light onto a surface, and a shutter member, which controls the projection of the beam itself, in which device means for orienting said pierced member around the vertical axis passing through the center of the selected hole and means for orienting the same pierced member around the horizontal axis passing through the center of the selected hole are provided; the orientation and position of the pierced member, as well as the selection of the hole and of the orientation of the projection head, being achieved by a computer.

Abstract: A device employing frictionless bearings including a mass of superconductor material having a superconducting temperature T.sub.c above about 77.degree. K., a magnet having an axis of symmetry being levitated from said mass of superconductor material so as to be rotatable about its axis of symmetry, and a support member attached to the magnet, the support member being driven so as to cause the magnet to rotate about its axis of symmetry.Additionally, there is included a frictionless commutator wherein a signal beam is intermittently interrupted by a member attached to the magnet, such intermittent interruption of the beam being detected and employed to cause alternate energization and de-energization of a solenoid which, in turn, creates a magnetic field. The solenoid magnetic field is employed to attract and repel second magnets positioned about the member so as to rotatably drive the first magnet.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a thermal imaging optical system finding utility as an individual weapon sight. The system comprises an infra-red objective lens including a chopper blade together with front and back elements with an adjustable element therebetween. Infra-red radiation is received by the objective lens which also incorporates an internal substantially collimated plane polarized visible light source which illuminates a liquid crystal. The path of the infra-red and visible light which is directed to the liquid crystal cell, is repeatedly interrupted by the chopper blade. Changes in the liquid crystal cell due to the infra-red radiation transmitted by the objective lens are caused to modulate the plane polarized visible light transmitted through the liquid crystal cell to generate a visible image. This image passes through a relay inverting system and is detected by a visible light detector and viewed through an eyepiece.

Abstract: An improved variable rate attenuator (VOA) is disclosed, which is used in an optical signal transmission system for testing (and other) purposes. In an optical fiber data transmission system, the VOA can be used to determine how much attenuation of the light beam can be tolerated without causing excessive bit error rate (BER) in data transmission. The improved VOA is a blocker having a vane-like structure which is gradually rotated into a collimated beam to cause attenuation. Because the movement vector of the edge of the blocker perpendicular to the collimated beam gradually becomes less for a given increment of blocker rotation, resolution of the attenuation is improved.

Abstract: Improvements in optical scanning disks, and methods to maximize resolution and contrast of a viewed target object featuring a Nipkow type disk and methods to produce the disk which has a multitude of pinhole apertures located in a defined annular disk region where each pinhole is equidistantly spaced from its nearest neighboring holes.

Abstract: A light source apparatus comprises a light source; a lens for collecting light from the light source; a light guide for receiving the light collected by the lens; and an adjusting device disposed between the light source and the lens and adjusting the quantity of light guided to the light guide so as not to change the light distributing characteristics by a throttled amount of the light quantity.