Abstract: A fluorescent yellow article comprising polycarbonate polymer, perylene imide dye Chromophthal Red 6961A and at least one yellow-green dye selected from the group consisting essentially of Lumogen F Yellow 083, CI Solvent Yellow 98, CI Solvent Yellow 160:1, Oraset Yellow 8GF, CI Solvent Green 4, CI Solvent Green 5, CI Pigment Yellow 101, Golden Yellow D304 and CI Solvent Yellow 131 wherein the resultant article has chromaticity coordinates (x,y) within the area defined by (0.425,0.480), (0.465,0.535), (0.557,0.440), and (0.500,0.410) in terms of the CIE 1931 Standard Colorimetric System and measured using 0/45 geometry and evaluated with CIE Standard Illuminant D65.

Abstract: Hard coatings are fabricated from multilayer boron/boron carbide, boron carbide/cubic boron nitride, and boron/boron nitride/boron carbide, and the fabrication thereof involves magnetron sputtering in a selected atmosphere. These hard coatings may be applied to tools and engine and other parts, as well to reduce wear on tribological surfaces and electronic devices. These boron coatings contain no morphological growth features. For example, the boron and boron carbide used in forming the multilayers are formed in an inert (e.g. argon) atmosphere, while the cubic boron nitride is formed in a reactive (e.g. nitrogen) atmosphere. The multilayer boron/boron carbide, and boron carbide/cubic boron nitride is produced by depositing alternate layers of boron, cubic boron nitride or boron carbide, with the alternate layers having a thickness of 1 nanometer to 1 micrometer, and at least the interfaces of the layers may be of a discrete or a blended or graded composition.

Abstract: The composite layer according to the present invention comprises a substrate and a colored layer formed on the surface of this substrate. This colored layer contains a transparent layer and a coloring agent dispersed within the transparent layer, and this transparent layer is made of an inorganic gel or glass material, while the coloring agent contains dyes or pigments. The composite layers of the present invention are suitable for use in products such as construction materials with the appearance of marble, colored glass materials for decorative purposes, or color filters.

Abstract: A multi-pass Fabry-Perot etalon, or bandpass, filter, has a Fabry-Perot cavity defined by two partially reflective mirrors with a gap therebetween and a third reflecting mirror positioned adjacent said two mirrors and arranged to reflect substantially any light eliting said cavity back into it. The filter can replace two single-pass Fabry-Perot etalon filters and can provide lower signal loss and simpler wavelength control.

Abstract: This specification discloses antireflection film and an exposure apparatus using the same. The exposure apparatus has an optical system, and antireflection film formed on the refracting surface of the optical system, the antireflection film having a high refractive index layer having Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 or Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 and a low refractive index layer having SiO.sub.2.

Abstract: A polarization plane rotator, for executing rotation of the plane of polarization of linearly polarized light that is incident thereon with a predetermined angle of incidence, is formed of a transparent prism or an array of such prisms, each prism having a triangular cross-sectional shape, with first, second and third surfaces having respective lines of intersection that are mutually parallel. The linearly polarized light is incident on the first surface, to be reflected twice in succession at the second and third surfaces, to be emitted from the first surface with the plane of polarization rotated by 90.degree. and the direction of propagation altered. An optical thin film is formed on the second and third surfaces, for substantially reducing an amount of phase difference between the P and S polarization components which results from reflection, thereby ensuring that the emitted light is substantially completely linearly polarized.

Abstract: An optical beamsplitter comprises a right angle prism having a hypotenuse and two legs wherein the hypotenuse includes an optically selective coating deposited thereon. An optical element is positioned adjacent the hypotenuse such that the hypotenuse and the optical element form a beamsplitting interface. Various optical elements are utilized to achieve the desired spatial and angular relationships between incoming and outgoing light beams. Several embodiments are disclosed wherein the optical element can comprise a flat plate for providing spatial offset, a wedged plate for producing spatial and angular offset, a lens for adding optical power, or a faceted thin plate.

Abstract: Glass composites, containing a glass substrate (1) on which is deposited an underlying film (2) based on tantalum oxide, titanium oxide or tin oxide, on which is deposited a functional film (3) based on an alloy of chromium and nickel or based on tantalum, on which is deposited an overlying film (4) based on titanium oxide, titanium nitride or tantalum oxide, provide effective protection against solar radiation while exhibiting excellent wear and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: An optical beamsplitter comprises a right angle prism having a hypotenuse and two legs wherein the hypotenuse includes an optically selective coating deposited thereon. An optical element is positioned adjacent the hypotenuse such that the hypotenuse and the optical element form a beamsplitting interface. Various optical elements are utilized to achieve the desired spatial and angular relationships between incoming and outgoing light beams. Several embodiments are disclosed wherein the optical element can comprise a flat plate for providing spatial offset, a wedged plate for producing spatial and angular offset, a lens for adding optical power, or a faceted thin plate.

Abstract: A dichroic mirror for reflecting a beam of a given color includes a substrate and a multilayered film formed on the substrate. The multilayered film is constituted by a first dichroic reflecting layer, an intermediate layer, and a second dichroic reflecting layer sequentially from the beam incident side. The first dichroic reflecting layer has a smaller reflection range of one of two orthogonal polarized components of the beam than the other of the two orthogonal polarized components. The intermediate layer rotates a polarization plane of at least part of a beam of the one component of the beam passing through the first dichroic reflecting layer, and the second dichroic reflecting layer reflects the at least part of the beam whose polarization plane is rotated by the intermediate layer. A projector having the dichroic mirror is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical filter for providing an enhanced image. The filter may comprise at least one substrate, layers of a low refractive index material and layers of a high refractive index material. The layers are stacked so that the filter blocks passbands at 490 nm and 590 nm as well as other image-confusing radiation. Light which is transmitted by the filter provides an enhanced image for viewing by the human eye as well as nonhuman detectors.

Abstract: A mirror for a ring laser gyro includes alternating optical quarterwave regions of SiO.sub.2 and ZrO.sub.2, and of admixtures of these. The alternating regions have thicknesses suitable for reflecting a laser beam in a ring laser gyro. A final coating of ZrO.sub.2 and SiO.sub.2, and of admixtures of these, is constructed so as to be made substantially of ZrO.sub.2 at a bottom portion and so as to have gradually increasing SiO.sub.2 content so that the top surface comprises substantially pure SiO.sub.2 material.

Abstract: Method for optimizing an optical assay device for an analyte, including the steps of: providing a substrate having a chosen thickness of an optically active layer thereon; providing an attachment layer of a chosen thickness on the optical coating; providing a receptive layer of a chosen thickness for the analyte, wherein at least one of the thicknesses of the optically active layer, attachment layer and receptive layer is varied to provide a plurality of thicknesses of that layer; contacting analyte with the receptive layer under conditions in which an increase in mass on the receptive layer results; and determining the optical thickness of the layer.

Abstract: A tunable tandem Fabry-Perot etalon in used in optical systems as a filter between two amplifier stages. The etalon filters the signal going from the preamplifier to the amplifier and provides further filtering as the output of the amplifier also passes through the etalon.

Abstract: A broad band polarizing beam splitter includes a first prism, including an incident beam surface, and an interface surface. A second prism is also included with an interface surface. The second prism is positioned adjacent to the first prism with the interface surfaces of the first and second prisms being adjacent to each other. A coating is disposed between the two interface surfaces. The coating is made of a geometric or arithmetic progression of layer thicknesses of alternating high and low refractive indices. A ratio of high refractive index to low refractive index is 1.1 or greater.

Abstract: An optical band-pass filter adapted for enabling mutually independent fine adjustments of two pass bands. The optical band-pass filter comprises a first filter having a first pass band, first and second reflective films for respectively reflecting the transmitted light and the reflected light obtained from the first filter film, and a second filter film having a second pass band different from the first pass band and serving to combine the light out of the first and second reflective films with each other.

Abstract: An interference filter having 17 coatings of alternating high and low index materials is located on the illumination path of an optical device and provides correction for green color distortion on the observation path and correction for blue color distortion on the photo path in order that both the observed image and photographed image are color neutral.

Abstract: A mirror coating which provides improved performance characteristic to a mirror assembly, and which includes a non-periodic succession of materials which exhibit neutral reflected chromaticity, and which has a luminous reflectance of greater than 50%.

Abstract: A mirror coating which provides improved performance characteristics to a mirror assembly and which includes a non-periodic succession of materials which exhibit neutral reflected chromaticity and a luminous reflectance of greater than 50%.

Abstract: A bandpass optical filter is provided that is formed within an optical fiber in the form of a Bragg grating. The grating includes multiple Fabry Perot cavities disposed along the waveguide. Each of the cavities includes a pair of reflectors. Each reflector comprises alternating high-low index regions within the waveguide, each region having a thickness of one quarter-wave at a bandpass wavelength, each alternate region being of a different index of refraction than an adjacent region. A multiple odd quarter-wave or quarter-wave high or low index region is sandwiched between each pair of reflectors. The number of high/low regions within a reflector is selected in accordance with the refractive index difference between two alternate adjacent regions.

Abstract: A system for modifying the radiant energy spectrum of a thermal energy source to produce a desired spectral bandwidth profile including a frequency-selective resonant micromesh filter (50) confronting a thermal energy source (80). Micromesh filter (50) includes an array of resonant-conductive antenna elements (50', 50") and a substrate (56) for supporting the antenna elements. Thermal radiation (82) emitted from energy source (80) is filtered by micromesh filter (50), wherein radiant energy at particular wavelengths is reflected back to the energy source, while certain wavelength photons are transmitted through the micromesh filter.

Abstract: In an optical apparatus, such as a semiconducter optical amplifier device and an optical filtering apparatus, there are provided an optical amplifier device, a detector and a controller. The optical amplifier device has such a structure that exhibits a both-end voltage change at an optical amplification time of an input light. The detector detects the both-end voltage change, and the controller performs a predetermined control of a portion other than the optical amplifier device, such as another optical amplifier portion and a tunable band pass filter portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical mirror and an optical device in which the mirror is capable of reflecting a light beam having a plurality of wavelengths with the phase matching condition required for nonlinear optical materials being satisfied, so that a decrease in efficiency due to the phase difference does not generate even if harmonic generation, optical mixing or the like is performed, thereby improving conversion efficiency. The optical mirror includes a plurality of reflection films, e.g., multilayer films 2 and 3, formed on one surface of a transparent substrate, each of which films corresponds to each wavelength of a light beam having a plurality of wavelengths to reflect selectively one of said plurality of wavelengths, wherein a phase difference adjusting layer 4 is formed between the two reflection films 2 and 3, reflecting light beams having different wavelengths.

Abstract: A thin film reflecting interference filter (RIF) is designed to suppress unwanted harmonics thereby improving the monochromaticity of the radiation. An interference layer of material which has a well-defined plasma oscillation is deposited on a substrate and a mismatch layer is formed thereon. This interference layer exploits the interference between wavefronts reflected from the layer-substrate and the vacuum-layer interfaces to suppress higher order harmonics, while allowing good reflectance at the fundamental wavelength. This is achieved by positioning the RIF in the radiation at an angle of incidence which is greater than the critical angle of the desired fundamental wavelength, but less than critical angles of the harmonics to be suppressed. The mismatch layer increases the reflectance of the unwanted harmonics at the vacuum-layer interface, thus allowing more complete destructive interference of the unwanted harmonics.

Abstract: A transparent substrate (i), particularly glass, having a stack of thin films comprising successively form the substrate:i) a first dielectric material film;ii) a first film having infrared reflection properties;iii) a second dielectric material film;iv) a second film having infrared reflection properties;v) a third dielectric material film;vi) a third film having infrared reflection properties; andvii) a fourth dielectric material film, wherein the thickness of said third film having infrared reflection properties (vi) is greater than the thickness of said second film having infrared reflection properties (iv) and the thickness of said second film having infrared reflection properties (iv) is greater than the thickness of said first film having infrared reflection properties (ii).

Abstract: An antireflection film includes a first light-transmitting thin film formed on a substrate, and a second light-transmitting thin film formed on the first light-transmitting thin film. The first light-transmitting thin film contains a coloring material, and the antireflection film satisfies.lambda.t-50 nm<.lambda.r<.lambda.t+70 nmwhere .lambda.r is the wavelength at which a spectral reflectance in a visible region is minimized, and .lambda.t is the wavelength at which a spectral transmittance in the visible region is minimized.

Abstract: An optical multiplexing device spatially disburses collimated light from a fiber optic waveguide into individual wavelength bands, or multiplexes such individual wavelength bands to a common fiber optic waveguide or other destination. The optical multiplexing device has application for dense channel wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems for fiber optic telecommunications, as well as compact optical instrument design. Multiple wavelength light traveling in a fiber optic waveguide is separated into multiple narrow spectral bands directed to individual fiber optic carriers or detectors. An optical block has an optical port for passing the aforesaid multiple wavelength collimated light, and multiple ports arrayed in spaced relation to each other along a multiport surface of the optical block. A continuous, variable thickness, multi-cavity interference filter extends on the multiport surface of the optical block over the aforesaid multiple ports.

Abstract: A method of producing heatable mirrors comprising depositing onto a ribbon of hot glass during the production process a reflecting coating whereby the mirrors so formed have a visible light reflection of at least 70% and depositing an electroconductive heating layer onto the mirrors. There is also provided a heatable mirror comprising a glass substrate carrying a non-metallic reflecting coating whereby the mirror has a visible light reflection of at least 70% and an electroconductive heating layer deposited on the coated substrate.

Abstract: A color-shifting paint comprising a polymeric paint medium and a plurality of colored interference thin film platelets dispersed in the paint medium. Each platelet being characterized in that platelets has first and second generally planar outer surfaces and an edge thickness perpendicular to the first and second generally planar outer surfaces. Each platelet is comprised of a metal reflecting layer having first and second surfaces. A multilayer interference structure is disposed on each of the first and second surfaces of the metal reflecting layer to provide a symmetrical platelet. The multilayer interference thin film structure comprises a pair of layer consisting of a dielectric layer formed of a dielectric material and a semi-opaque layer. with the dielectric layer directly adjacent to the metal reflecting layer. The thickness of the dielectric layer determines the color and the dielectric material determines the degree of color shift.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal light valve includes transparent conductive layers of indium tin oxide (30) employed as an electrode to electrically modulate orientation of molecules of a liquid crystal material that receives a high intensity reading light (40) applied through the transparent electrode. Unwanted double reflection (64,66) from interfaces between the indium tin oxide electrode (30) and adjacent layers (22,32) are minimized by application of broad band anti-reflective coatings (70,72,74,76) formed by one or more pairs of thin layers having alternately high and low indices of refraction.

Abstract: A collection of color-shifting interference thin film platelets of high chroma characterized in that the platelets are comprised of a metal reflecting layer having first and second surfaces and a multilayer interference thin film structure disposed on both surfaces of the metal reflecting layer. The multilayer interference thin film structure comprises a pair of layers consisting of a dielectric layer and a semi-opaque metal layer with the dielectric layer being directly adjacent to a surface of the metal reflecting layer. The layers of the multilayer interference thin film structure lie in parallel planes. Each platelet has an aspect ratio of at least 2:1, respectively, for surfaces parallel to the planes of layers and surfaces perpendicular to the planes of the layers. The platelets have a maximum dimension on any surface ranging from approximately 2-200 microns.

Abstract: A transflective optical filter comprises a single transparent or transluscent substrate; a colored slice made up of a plurality of layers, each corresponding to one color out of at least two colors; a light diffusing layer; and an opaque mask on which the marks to be displayed in color are represented by transparent zones, the colored slice and the mask consisting of photographic emulsions. A method for making that filter involves multiple exposures of a same film having a multi-colored "slice" and a monochrome photosensitive layer.

Abstract: An optical beamsplitter comprises a right angle prism having a hypotenuse and two legs wherein the hypotenuse includes an optically selective coating deposited thereon. An optical element is positioned adjacent the hypotenuse such that the hypotenuse and the optical element form a beamsplitting interface. Various optical elements are utilized to achieve the desired spatial and angular relationships between incoming and outgoing light beams. Several embodiments are disclosed wherein the optical element can comprise a flat plate for providing spatial offset, a wedged plate for producing spatial and angular offset, a lens for adding optical power, or a faceted thin plate.

Abstract: An infrared reflecting interference filter capable of transmitting a desired proportion of visible radiation while reflecting a large portion of incident solar radiation is provided. The filter comprises a transparent substrate onto which is deposited a dielectric layer, followed by metal and dielectric layers. In between each of the dielectric and metal layers is deposited a precoat layer that promotes adhesion between the dielectric and the metal. One aspect of the invention is the use of a film comprising nickel and chromium nitride for each of the metal precoat layers. These precoat layers are thin so that there is less absorption of visible light but yet maintains good adhesive properties. Another aspect of the invention is the use of silver as the metal layer. Specifically, silver is sputtered in an atmosphere containing a mixture of nitrogen and argon or other inert gas.

Abstract: A color filter for a liquid crystal display which comprises an optically transparent supporting member (100), a transparent conductive layer (500) formed upon said supporting member (100), and a color layer (200) in which are disposed in specified patterns red, blue and green picture elements formed upon said transparent conductive layer (500), wherein the color layer (200) employs pigments as coloring agents which form said picture elements, the relative dielectric constant of the color layer (200) is at least 2.0 under measurement conditions of the application thereto of an alternating current of 5 V and a frequency of 1 kHz to 100 kHz, and moreover, the red, blue and green picture elements of which the color layer is composed have relative dielectric constant of within a range of .+-.25% of the mean value for the relative dielectric constant of said color layer. The color layer (200) is 0.4 .mu.m to 1.0 .mu.m thick.

Abstract: A new optical diode is disclosed that permits unidirectional transmission of light, the direction of transmission depending on the direction of incidence. The diode comprises a stack of alternating layers of a low-index material and a high-index material. The layers are arranged within the stack such that there is spatial anisotropy of optical pathlengths in the stack and at least the low-index layers or the high-index layers have an optical nonlinearity, either inherently or by doping. At sufficiently high incident intensifies and appropriate wavelengths, such a diode exhibits partial transmission of input light incident from one direction while reflecting almost totally input light incident from the opposite direction.

Abstract: A retroreflecting polarizer, comprising optical thin films coated on a structured material, divides an incident beam of light into polarized components, transmitting one component through the polarizer and reflecting the other back to the source.

Abstract: A two-wavelength antireflection film is constituted by a multi-layered film provided on a substrate so as to have antireflection characteristics for a wavelength .lambda..sub.1 and a wavelength .lambda..sub.2 different from the wavelength .lambda..sub.1. Each of the materials constituting the multi-layered film has a refractive index not exceeding 1.7 for a central wavelength .lambda..sub.0 which is defined by2/.lambda..sub.0 =1/.lambda..sub.1 +1/.lambda..sub.2.The materials constituting the multi-layered film are Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, SiO.sub.2 and MgF.sub.2, or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and MgF.sub.2. Each of plural films constituting the multi-layered film has an optical thickness equal to 1/4 of the central wavelength .lambda..sub.0.

Abstract: An all-polymeric cold mirror which reflects visible wavelengths while transmitting a substantial portion of infrared wavelengths is provided. The mirror includes a sufficient number of alternating layers of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials such that at least 50% of peak reflecting visible light of a wavelength of between about 380-680 nm incident on the mirror is reflected and at least 50% of infrared light between about 680-2000 nm is transmitted or absorbed. The mirror may be designed so that it either reflects or absorbs ultraviolet light.

Abstract: An optical interference coating for reflecting infrared radiation and transmitting visible radiation. The coating includes three spectrally adjacent, multiperiod dielectric stacks. Two of the dielectric stacks are shortwave pass stacks. The third dielectric stack contains seven alternating layers of high and low refractive index materials.

Abstract: An optical structural element has a substrate and includes at least one wear protection system built up of one or several layers on the substrate. The layers are of at least one of the materials ZrO.sub.2, AlN,(Al,Cr).sub.2 O.sub.3, BN and diamond. A total thickness of the layers is more than about 100 nm and the mean transmission of the wear protection system is at least 10% in a spectral band of 10 nm within the visible light spectrum.

Abstract: This invention provides novel copolycarbonates that exhibit improvements in glass transition temperature, refractive index, and limiting oxygen index compared to prior art thiodiphenol/bisphenol A copolycarbonates. The copolycarbonates of this invention comprise the reaction products of 4,4'-thiodiphenol and compounds such as 9,9-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) fluorene with phosgene. They are useful as components of multilayered polymeric reflective bodies.

Abstract: A two-wavelength antireflection film includes a substrate and an alternate film. The alternate film consists of alternately laminated layers of a low refractive index material and an intermediate refractive index material, in order from a light entrance side to the surface of the substrate. The low refractive index material is at least a member selected from the group consisting of MgF.sub.2, SiO.sub.2, BaF.sub.2, LiF, SrF.sub.2, AlF.sub.3, NaF, a mixture thereof and a compound thereof. The intermediate refractive index material is at least a member selected from the group consisting of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, LaF.sub.3, NdF.sub.3, YF.sub.3, a mixture thereof and a compound thereof.

Abstract: A mirror coating which possesses properties which are advantageous for the construction of a mirror assembly. The mirror coating has a complex reflective index which is wavelength dependent, and wherein the real component is dominant and the imaginary component is negligible within a predetermined spectral band pass region, and the imaginary component is substantially within a spectral region other than the predetermined spectral band pass region, and wherein the mirror coating exhibits substantially neutral reflected chromaticity as observed with reflected ambient light.

Abstract: A method of producing mirrors comprising depositing onto a ribbon of hot glass during the production process a coating comprising at least one pyrolytic reflecting layer and at least one color modifying layer whereby the mirrors exhibit color in reflectance and have a visible light reflection of at least 35% and less than 70%. There is also a provided a mirror having such a coating.

Abstract: A reflector used for a light source material of a liquid crystal video projector provides a good projection image and causes no color shading to occur in the periphery of a screen. The reflector has a surface on which a dielectric multifilm coating is deposited. The reflector reflects only visible light beams and has a wavelength .lambda..sub.1, which has a spectral transmittance on a short wave side (with normal incidence) of 20% and is equal to or smaller than 440 nm and, at the same time, has a wavelength .lambda..sub.2, which has a spectral transmittance on a long wave side (with normal incidence) of 50% and is equal to or greater than 820 nm.

Abstract: A rugate filter (10) having suppressed harmonics includes a layer (18) of material disposed on a surface (14) of an optical substrate (12) having an index of refraction versus thickness profile that is the superposition of a principle sinusoid and a secondary sinusoid. The secondary sinusoid being superimposed about -90 degrees out of phase with the principle sinusoid.

Abstract: A spectral wavelength discrimination system and method for using are provided which allows the wavelength of a beam of radiation to be accurately determined using compact inexpensive optics and electronics. The system is particularly useful for identifying the emission wavelength of a multi-component marker system which includes a plurality of components having different wavelength ranges. The system comprises a wavelength selective beamsplitter, termed a Linear Wavelength Filter, that directs predetermined fractions of the beam at each wavelength into each of two output beams. The intensities of these output beams are measured. The measurements and selected system parameters, including the beamsplitter spectral characteristics and the detector sensitivity characteristics are used in a special algorithm for performing Fourier based wavelength-dispersive analysis. The unique solution of the Fourier based analysis is the wavelength of the beam of radiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transparent substrate (1), more particularly of glass, surmounted by a metal nitride layer (3) for filtering solar radiation, characterized in that with a view to protecting said metal nitride layer particularly against high temperature oxidation, said layer (3) is surmounted by a pyrolyzed, metal oxide layer (4), whose metal has an oxide formation standard free enthalpy value .DELTA.G.degree. equal to or below .DELTA.G.degree. of the metal of the nitride layer (3) at a given temperature.

Abstract: A high performance wavelength stabilizing laser mirror/output coupler, particularly useful for stabilizing a laser cavity within a narrow bandwidth, is described, which comprises a substrate of selected material on which is deposited an optical coating having a refractive index profile over the thickness thereof which is selectively continuously modulated between preselected high and low values to define a preselected narrow reflectance spectrum.