Abstract: An optical rotation device with infinite depth of field for transmitting optical images along an optical axis and selectively rotating the image about the optical axis, while preserving all of the three dimensional characteristics of the image. The optical rotation device consists of two optical elements optically coupled in series, each of which produces an inversion of the image about an axis orthogonal to the optical axis. Rotation of the image by any angle in the plane normal to the optical axis is achieved by rotating the two optical elements relative to one another about the optical axis.

Abstract: An imaging optical system for compensating for changes of temperature according to the present invention corrects a focal point for an entire optical system due to temperature change by changing a relative distance between a lens and a light receiving element. To this end, a correcting member, which expands and contracts due to temperature change, is disposed between the lens and the light receiving element. Moreover, the coefficient of thermal expansion is set to such a value so as to be able to substantially correct for the focal point change. According to another aspect of the present invention, the optical system includes a lens system which has at least a positive lens and a negative lens in order to offset the effect of the temperature change.

Abstract: A precision linear actuator (10, 120, 140) is provided particularly adapted for accurately controlling the positioning of a lens element in the optical system of a guided vehicle such as a missile. The actuator includes a frame (12, 130, 142) rigidly affixed to the missile structure which includes a pair of bearing supports (30, 32) and a pair of separated guide pockets (24, 26). A lever (14, 122, 150) is installed within the frame (12, 130, 142) and is fixed to the frame by bearings (44, 46) which enable the lever to undergo slight rotation with respect to the frame. An actuator mechanism in the form of a voice coil (56), drive motor or other device is employed to drive the lever (14, 122, 150) to undergo its rotational motion. A lens holder (16) is installed within an open area inside the lever (14, 122, 150) and defines separated guide rails (76, 78, 80, 82) which enable it to be moved linearly with respect to the frame (12, 130, 142).

Abstract: An optical rotation device with infinite depth of field for transmitting optical images along an optical axis and selectively rotating the image about the optical axis, while preserving all of the three dimensional characteristics of the image. The optical rotation device consists of two optical elements optically coupled in series, each of which produces an inversion of the image about an axis orthogonal to the optical axis. Rotation of the image by any angle in the plane normal to the optical axis is achieved by rotating the two optical elements relative to one another about the optical axis.

Abstract: A thermally and mechanically stable wavefront reference source which produces a collimated output laser beam. The output beam comprises substantially planar reference wavefronts which are useful for aligning and testing optical interferometers. The invention receives coherent radiation from an input optical fiber, directs a diverging input beam of the coherent radiation to a beam folding mirror (to produce a reflected diverging beam), and collimates the reflected diverging beam using a collimating lens. In a class of preferred embodiments, the invention includes a thermally and mechanically stable frame comprising rod members connected between a front end plate and a back end plate. The beam folding mirror is mounted on the back end plate, and the collimating lens mounted to the rods between the end plates. The end plates and rods are preferably made of thermally stable metal alloy.

Abstract: A flexible light conduit which preserves the coherence of a transmitted beam. Several conduit elements having optical elements mounted inside each one are connected together to form a chain. Each conduit element is tiltably coupled to each adjacent conduit element in the chain. The optical elements may be refractive or reflective. The conduit preserves the spatial coherence properties of the beam so the input image is reimaged at a distant place, having passed through the series of relay optical elements through the angles permitted by the coupling members.

Abstract: A new and improved laser light beam homogenizer for transforming a laser beam with spatially inhomogeneous intensity into a beam with a more nearly spatially uniform intensity pattern is presented. The light beam is diverged by a lens and presented to an integrator. The integrator transforms the beam into a beam with a more uniform illumination. The uniform illumination beam is then impinged on control optics to limit the divergence of the uniform beam and control higher order distortion in the system. This beam may then be illuminated at a predetermined distance by a projecting optic lens. The laser light beam homogenizer of this invention is particularly well suited for use in an imaging lidar system.

Abstract: A viewing device for installation on a wall or door includes a housing projecting from the front surface of the door and defining a plurality of surveillance ports disposed axially, and non-axially relative to the axis of the housing. By means of a knob extending outwardly from the rear door surface and defining a viewing port axially aligned with the axial surveillance port, the user is able to move a mirror between a first orientation intersecting the housing axis at an acute angle and a second orientation parallel to and spaced from the housing axis. Rotation of the knob relative to the housing causes rotation and pivoting of the mirror so that, when the mirror is in the first orientation, a line of sight is defined at different times from the viewing port through each of the non-axial surveillance ports via the mirror and, when the mirror is in the second orientation, a line of sight is defined from the viewing port directly through the axial surveillance port.

Abstract: The invention is an inverted microscope with a housing having multiple integrated ray paths leading from the specimen being examined to (a) the viewer/operator and (b) one or more auxiliary ports used for image recording and/or measurement by accessories such as cameras and video recorders. The microscope lens is positioned below the specimen stage; and, positioned below the lens is a simple reflector which deflects the combined rays from the lens diagonally upward toward the viewer at exactly the same angle at which the viewer looks into the microscope's binocular eyepieces. The position of this simple reflector is the lowest point in the unit's paths of rays, thereby significantly lowering the lens turret and, therefore, the specimen stage to a relatively low, ergonomically-appropriate position. The optical arrangement is simple and compact, minimizing the number of deflections in the path of the viewing rays.

Abstract: The ultra-high vacuum telescoping fiber optic feedthrough apparatus comprises a first tubular section having thereon a mounting flange, a quartz window aperture, and a collimating lens means. The second tubular section being in sliding contact with the first tubular section has a focusing lens means mounted therein. A third tubular section being in sliding contact with the second tubular section has mounted therein a fiber optic cable holding means. In order to provide adjustability between the various sections a first adjusting means being a micrometer screw is mounted onto the first and second sections and a second adjusting means is mounted onto the second and third sections whereby fine adjustment in translational movement is achieved so that the signal-to-noise may be maximized when observing an optically luminescent source such as a plasma formed during laser deposition.

Abstract: An orbital debris processor includes a square shaped central lens connected to four square shaped satellite lenses. All of the lenses have substantially the same focal length. The lenses are disposed to cause columnated light, parallel to respective axes thereof, to be focussed a substantially a single point. When the debris procesor is oriented to cause solar radiation to be parallel to the axis of the central lens, reflectors reflect solar radiation to the satellite lenses parallel to respective axes thereof. When a metal object is positioned at the point, it is locally melted and this enables a cut to be made. These cut pieces can be used by the processor or stored in a bin.

Abstract: Laser beams corresponding to an image are directed through an afocal optical system such that chief rays of the laser beams outgoing from the system are substantially perpendicular to a recording surface and such that beam waists of the laser beams are approximately located at the recording surface. Thus, the image can be recorded on the recording surface with high picture quality.

Abstract: This illumination system produces a light beam of selected cross-section shape and uniform intensity, which emits self-luminously into a selected numerical aperture, by: providing a non-uniform, non-self-luminous laser light beam; configuring the beam to eliminate the non-uniformities near the beam periphery; providing the semi-uniform light beam to a light gate; providing also a lamp light beam with optics and infra-red trap; gating selectively the laser light beam or the lamp light beam to a light beam characterization subsystem; configuring the selected semi-shaped semi-uniform non-self-luminous light beam to provide a selected shaped semi-uniform non-self-luminous light beam; focusing the selected shaped semi-uniform non-self-luminous light beam, with a focal length related to the selected numerical aperture, onto the input plane of a total-internally-reflective beam-shaper-uniformizer, causing multiple reflections within the uniformizer and overlapping of different parts of the beam with one another, the

Abstract: A lens surrounded by a protective chamber is focused by utilizing a magnetic field to adjust the position of the lens within the chamber. By using a magnetic field to adjust the lens position, it is not necessary to pass a mechanical device through the surface of the chamber, thereby allowing the chamber to be completely sealed to prevent contaminants from contacting the lens.

Abstract: A plurality of lasers, each regulated to operate at a particular temperature, are supported by a manifold to direct coherent light into space. The regulation may be provided by producing pulses of a trickle current of a particular magnitude through the laser, measuring the voltage required to produce the trickle current and adjusting the characteristics of a thermoelectric member in accordance with the magnitude of such voltage to adjust the rate at which the thermoelectric member transfers heat from the laser. The lasers produce substantially parallel and thin beams of light in pairs. The light beams in each pair provide an optimum angle for the interception by such paired beams of particles having individual trajectories in space. These particles scatter the light to a receiving lens system disposed within the manifold. The received light then passes through masks which restrict the collected light to a spatial pattern corresponding to the pattern of the light beams from the lasers.