Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) device may include or accommodate a viewer through a barrier. For example, an A/V device may include a first component for installation on an exterior surface of a door, a second component for installation on an interior surface of the door, a viewer that extends through an opening in the door, and a flexible connector that electrically couples the first component and the second component. The A/V device may enable use of an existing hole in the door as part of a door viewer, while also providing the functionality of an A/V device. For example, the A/V device may be configured to receive an input using a button on the first component, generate image data using a camera on the first component, and send the image data to a network device.

Abstract: There is provided a diffuser plate, a display device, a projection device, and a lighting device that can achieve more even diffusion angle distribution properties, the diffuser plate being of a microlens array type, and including: a single lens group located on a surface of a transparent base material, in which aperture sizes and radii of curvatures of respective single lenses constituting the single lens group vary in the single lens group as a whole, and vertex positions of the respective single lenses are located irregularly, and energy distribution of light that transmits through the single lens group is substantially even in a predetermined diffusion angle range.

Abstract: A door peep viewer system allows small stature individuals, children, and those confined to a wheelchair or motorized scooter, the ability to use the peep-hole located within a home's front or rear door. This increases home safety by permitting the identification of someone requesting entry to the home. Once the door peep viewer system is mounted to the door, the lower portion adjustably extends to suit the needs of the person using the device. Persons of average height are still capable of using the peep-hole because the top portion is designed with a two-way see through scope. The door peep viewer system can be used in residential homes, or commercially in hotel rooms.

Abstract: There is provided a diffuser plate, a display device, a projection device, and a lighting device that can achieve flat diffusion angle distribution characteristics while reducing a high-order diffraction component, the diffuser plate including: a single lens group positioned on a surface of a transparent substrate, in which curvature radii of respective single lenses composing the single lens group are varied as a whole, and peak positions of the respective single lenses are located irregularly, and a lens surface shape of at least one of the single lenses in the single lens group satisfies Equation 1 and Equation 2.

Abstract: A camera apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an image sensor, an electrochromic filter element, an infrared illuminator, and a controller configured to activate at least one from among the electrochromic filter element and the infrared illuminator based on a feature of an image of a scene captured by the image sensor.

Abstract: A viewing assembly specifically, but not exclusively, structured for viewing through a solid, glass or transparent material panel includes a housing and an outer section collectively disposed in an operative position, respectively on and inner and outer surfaces of the panel. Inner and outer ends of the housing respectively include aligned first and second viewing apertures. A viewing member, structured for restricted, unidirectional viewing there through, is disposed within the housing in aligned relation to the first and second viewing apertures, and may be in the form of a one way mirror. The outer section is disposed in visually covering relation to the inner end of the housing and includes a third viewing aperture, wherein the first, second and third viewing apertures and the viewing member are collectively disposed in visually aligned relation along a predetermined line-of-sight extending through the panel from an interior to an exterior thereof.

Abstract: A door communication device for use with a door. The door communication device includes a rotatable message wheel for selectively displaying a selected one of a plurality of messages and a rotatable shaft that provides an optical viewing pathway through the door. The shaft is formed from an intumescent material that expands to block the bore of the shaft when sufficiently heated, such as by a fire, to inhibit the passage of heated air and smoke through the door.

Abstract: Panoramic and spherical cameras are often configured to capture respective portions of a scene using a set of lenses that focus images on imagers for sampling by photosensitive elements. In many such cameras, the orientation of the lenses is selected to resemble to a regular prismatic solid (e.g., one lens oriented according to a face of a cube). However, such lens orientations may create gaps between images that result in blind spots, and/or varying degrees of coverage overlap. Presented herein are techniques for orienting the lenses in an asymmetric manner, comprising one forward lens and three backward lenses having a 120-degree rotational angle around a first (e.g., front-to-back) axis and a variable inclination angle perpendicular to the first axis. This lens orientation may be selected (e.g., by a computer) to achieve a desired degree of coverage overlap while significantly reducing gaps that create blind spots in the composite image.

Abstract: The wide angle lens system described herein allows projection devices (e.g., rear projection display devices) to be more compact than would otherwise be possible. The lens system includes a wide angle lens stage and a relay lens stage. When operating as a projection device, the relay lens stage projects a distorted intermediate image to the wide angle lens stage, which projects the image for display. The distortion cause by the relay lens stage compensates (i.e., is approximately equal and opposite) for the distortion caused by the wide angle stage. The distortion can be the image shape and/or the focal plane. When operating as a taking device, the wide angle stage provides a distorted image to the relay lens stage, which compensates for the distortion and provide a less distorted, or even non-distorted image, for capture.

Abstract: An image-capture apparatus includes a variable magnification lens, imaging means for converting an image taken by the variable magnification lens into an electrical image signal, and imaging control means. By referring to a conversion coordinate coefficient, the image control means moves a point on the image and outputs the new image signal. In the variable magnification lens, in order from the object side, a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group that has negative refractive power and performs a variable magnification action by shifting on an optical axis, a third lens group having positive refractive power, a fourth lens group that has negative refractive power and a fifth lens group having positive refractive power are arrayed.

Abstract: A customizable door hanger and peephole can include a main body having a top portion and a lower portion, a peephole and a hook for securing decorations. The peephole can be attached through a door opening and a decorative cover can be configured to attach the main body.

Abstract: A wide angle viewing apparatus for security applications is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a wide-angle lens and a diffusing screen. The wide-angle lens incorporates an image inverter and a means for eliminating stray light.

Abstract: A main controller sends a “rewrite mode” command to an engine controller. Receiving the command, the engine controller 12 sends a “roger” status. This switches the mode from a print mode to a rewrite mode. In the rewrite mode, the engine controller 12 serves as a master and the main controller 11 serves as a slave, a communication which is necessary for rewriting of firmware takes place between the two, and the firmware is rewritten.

Abstract: An image sensing element having a high refractive index part that covers at least a portion of each of a plurality of photoelectric converters arranged in one or two dimensions and a low refractive index part provided on the periphery of the high refractive index part. The interface between the high refractive index part and the low refractive index part has a surface that is substantially parallel to the optical axis of an image sensing lens and a slanted surface having an angle that differs from that of the parallel surface. The slanted surface is disposed on a portion of a surface near the optical axis of the image sensing lens, the portion being on a side that light rays from the image sensing lens enters the image sensing element.

Abstract: A conventional commercial door viewer includes a lens at one end for providing a wide angle view and a hollow end through which a person would look. A truncated cone shaped plug fits within the hollow end to block light transmission through the door viewer. The plug is readily manually removable to use the door viewer and includes a removable lanyard to tether the plug in proximity to the door viewer.

Abstract: An apparatus for an object in an ultramicropore space has a lens system so that an incidence point P with the diameter in a range from 0.3 to 0.7 mm comes to a position in a range of 12 to 17 mm away from the front side of an object lens 30. At the same time a reflection mirror 15 is positioned with a reflection mirror mounting member 8 formed with the V-shaped form in front of the object lens 30 and a reflection mirror holding frame 8 at the position of the incidence point. This arrangement is useful fir example to observe a soldered section 52 of an IC chip 50 by inserting this reflection mirror 15 into the ultramicropore space.

Abstract: A wide angle imaging system for providing a wide angle field of view area exteriorly of a vehicle comprises an outer negative or wide angle group of lenses for receiving the wide angle field of view and directing a virtual image toward a positive, converging or focusing group of optics, which further refract and focus the image and provide a focused image to an image capture device. The focusing group of lenses preferably comprises three plastic optic elements, which include a diffractive element and aspheric surfaces to correct for color, distortion and other aberrations in the wide angle virtual image received from the wide angle group of lenses. The wide angle group of lenses are also preferably formed of a plastic material, such as polycarbonate or acrylic, and include a diffractive element on one of the elements. The imaging system thus provides a low cost, light weight and compact wide angle focusing system which does not include expensive and fragile precision optic and/or glass elements.

Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a safety mirror 10 designed to be attached to the outside of an outwardly opening door 14 and to be viewed from the inside of the door by the user 12 looking through the fireproof door window 18. The safety mirror 10 has a housing 42 open 43 on its lateral sides having two generally vertically positioned convex mirrors 48 mounted therein being oppositely disposed so that the viewer 12 can see to the left 38 and to the right 40 for traffic moving toward or away from the path of the outwardly opening door 14. The housing 42 of the device has a flange 44 about its periphery and has fastening means 47 for attachment to the outside of the door 14. The device also has an LED 50 mounted in its housing which is viewable from the front of the device or from either side of the device.

Abstract: A method of supporting an ornament on the exterior of a door uses a peep hole fixture to mount a hanger piece. The hanger piece is a flat metal strip having a hole in one end sized to be received on the peep hole fixture barrel while being captured by a flange on the fixture. A hook on a depending end of the strip provides an attachment feature for holding the ornament.

Abstract: An optical system affords wide-angle imaging with a width in azimuth and a height in elevation respectively greater than and less than those of the field of view of an imaging device to which it is fitted. A median optical axis images a central format view on the optical axis of the imaging device, and two lateral optical paths image two lateral format views on a bearing axis at a bearing angle to the optical axis equal to the width in azimuth of the field of view of the imaging device. The three paths juxtaposed in the wide-angle field of view are superposed into a resultant format image.

Abstract: A filter for a liquid crystal display device, having a light diffusing plate which is obtained by forming a composition in the form of a film which contains at least two photopolymerizable oligomers or monomers having refractive indexes which differ from each other by at least 0.01 and irradiating UV light on the composition. When the filter is fitted to a light emitting side of a liquid crystal display device, an angle of view of the liquid crystal display face plane is widened, shadows due to opaque parts of the device are reduced, and a Moire fringe is hardly formed.

Abstract: A scope apparatus is provided with an image forming optical system and a condenser lens on the exit side of the image forming optical system. The condenser lens is positioned so that a convex exit surface thereof is disposed in the vicinity of the image plane of the image forming optical system.

Abstract: A spyhole viewer for a door or wall, includes an objective system for producing a real, inverted image. The objective system is mounted in a tubular member fixedly installable in the door or wall. An erector is provided for inverting the inverted image of the objective system and is located behind at least one of the elements of the objective system. At least one reflector is provided for angularly deflecting the light beams from the objective system, and a housing is fixedly attachable to the tubular member for accommodating at least the erector and the reflector. A viewing lens is provided for magnifying the real image as inverted by the erector means. The viewing lens is adapted to swivel in a substantially vertical plane about an imaginary horizontal axis at a radius of swivel at least approximately equal to the length of the light path from the image-side focal plane of the objective system to the first principal plane of the viewing lens.

Abstract: A spyhole viewer, mountable in a wall surface is disclosed and provides a wide angle view, while requiring a small diameter mounting hole. An objective lens system produces a real inverted image, a reflector angularly deflects light from the objective lens system, and an erector, located behind an element of objective lens system, erect the image. Further, a image surface upon which the image will appear, and a projection viewing lens are provided. The image optical axis is angularly deflected at least once between the objective and viewing lens systems.

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: A doorscope comprising an inner tube which encases two sets of lenses, the one set being the object lens set, encased in the outer, or external portion of the doorscope, and composed of two opposed and adjacent concave lenses, and the other lens being an ocular lens of a convex design, and encased in the internal portion of the inner tube. An outer tube is screwed onto the inner tube, and, having a retaining flange on its outer end, holds the doorscope firmly against the outer surface of the door. An adjusting tube, having an enlarged diameter, milled surface area, is screwed onto the inner, or interior end of the inner tube, and is tightened against the inner surface of the door, using the milled gripping surface, thereby requiring no tools To prevent danger to the viewer when placing their eye against the doorscope, a rubberized hood is affixed onto the inwardly protruding end of the adjusting tube, thereby allowing the viewer to place their eye against the doorscope without danger to the eye.

Abstract: The portable monocular comprises an elongate body in two parts (2,3) at one end of which is fixed an eyepiece (1). At its other end the elongate body encloses two biconvex lenses (4,4') of equal power arranged in grooves (5,5'). The distance (A) between the first lens (4) and the second lens (4') is equal to half the focal distance of the first lens (4) and is less than or equal to a diameter of this first lens. The relationship between the distance A and the distance B separating the second biconvex lens (4') from the eyepiece (1) is such that 3A.ltoreq.B.ltoreq.4A.

Abstract: A door-mounted security peephole providing an undistorted view over a relatively large area by use of a beam splitter optical system. The peephole comprises a door-mounted housing containing a beam splitter and light source arranged so that light is reflected from the beam splitter and toward the area exterior of the door. An observer behind the door may view the door exterior area including a visitor at the door entrance. The visitor, however, cannot see the observer through the beam splitter, because of the light reflected therefrom, thus increasing the overall security aspect. The design exploits the contrast sensitivity of the human eye as a function of field brightness.

Abstract: An optical system for scanning a wide angle conical field of regard through a small aperture and with a narrow field of view device includes a first optical offsetting device rotated about a first axis coincident to the axis of the conical field of regard. The first offsetting optical device receives light along a second optical axis which at a certain acute angle with respect to the first axis. A second optical offsetting device is positioned at the output side of the first device and is rotated about the second axis. The second offsetting device also receives light along a third optical axis, which is at the certain angle with respect to the second axis. The first, second and third axes intersect in front of the system in the narrow aperture through which the viewing takes place. By rotating each of the two optical offsetting devices, an entire area having a field of regard of twice the certain angle from the viewing aperture may be mapped.