Abstract: A light control device is disclosed that includes a two film construction, each film having a plurality of light absorbing regions. For example, the light absorbing elements can be a series of grooves or column-like indentations in the films that are filled or coated with a light absorbing material. The two films can be adjacently disposed so that their respective light absorbing regions form a plurality of light absorbing elements that extend along the thickness direction of the device. The light absorbing elements allow a viewer to view an image through the light control device within a range of viewing angles while blocking a view of the image outside that range of viewing angles. The two film construction allows for relative ease of manufacture as well as the ability to form light absorbing elements that can provide better viewing uniformity throughout a typical viewing range, a sharp privacy viewing cut off, and reduced ghost image formation.

Abstract: An antiglare film is described, which comprises a triacetyl cellulose transparent support having provided thereon one or more hard coat layers including an antiglare hard coat layer, wherein the hard coat layer contiguous to the triacetyl cellulose transparent support is formed from a coating solution comprising solvents comprising one or more solvents which dissolve the triacetyl cellulose support and one or more solvents which do not dissolve the triacetyl cellulose support. A method for producing the antiglare film, a polarizer wherein the antiglare film is used and a liquid crystal display wherein the antiglare film or the polarizer is used are also described.

Abstract: A display screen may be formed with a moth-eye like array of elements of sufficiently small size to reduce glare from ambient light while passing outbound image light substantially unaffected. The screen may be used in direct view and projection displays.

Abstract: The optical system of the microscope includes a close-up optical system that faces an object, a pair of imaging optical systems that take object light rays passing through regions of the close-up optical system, and an illuminating optical system that guides illumination light emitted from a light source to illuminate the object. Each lens included in the close-up optical system has a semicircular shape in which one side is cut out. The close-up optical system is held in a first lens barrel, and the illuminating optical system is held in a second lens barrel. The second lens barrel is arranged in the cutout space of the close-up optical system inside the first lens barrel. A light shielding member is attached to the second lens barrel to prevent a leak of the illumination light through grooves formed on the second lens barrel.

Abstract: A graded anti-reflective coating (ARC) with one or more layers has a bottom layer that is highly absorbing at the lithographic wavelength, and one or more layers between the substrate and the resist layer having inhomogeneous optical constants. The refractive indices are matched across layer interfaces, and the optical constants vary smoothly through the layer thicknesses. In each layer the extinction coefficient and the refractive index have independently selectable values and gradients. This ARC structure provides almost total absorption in the bottom layer and near-zero reflection at the resist interface and all other intermediate interfaces. Layers are preferably of inorganic materials, typically SiOxNy. Because of its highly absorbing bottom layer, an ARC according to an embodiment of the present invention works effectively over diverse substrate materials for a variety of lithographic wavelengths. It provides great latitude of manufacturing tolerances for thicknesses and optical constants.

Abstract: Disclosed is a prism having a light incident surface, a light emerging surface, and at least one light reflection surface. The light incident on the light incident surface is reflected, inside the prism, by the light reflection surface, and emerged from the light emerging surface. At least one light reflection surface has a reflecting surface which does not satisfy a total reflection condition. A reflection area is formed on the at-least-one light reflection surface by applying light reflecting material. The reflection-area corresponds to a portion on which a normal light is incident. Further, a portion of the-at least-one reflection surface other than the reflection area is formed to be a low-reflection area-which has a lower reflectance index than the reflection area.

Abstract: An antiglare and antireflection film is provided, which can be formed by a wet-coating method and which is excellent in the antireflection property, antifouling property, scratch resistance, clearness of transmitted image and planar uniformity. A polarizer and a liquid crystal display device using this film are also provided.

Abstract: The antiglare layer includes at least one resin coat layer (a) containing particles and a resin coat layer (b) laminated on said resin coat layer (a). The resincoat layer (b) contains particles and has a surface uneven configuration. An average particle size of the particles contained in the resin coat layer (b) is smaller than or equal to an average particle size of the particles contained in the resin coat layer (a), is capable of restraining the screen glaring phenomenon while maintaining the antiglare property and in which the whiting is observed to the least extent.

Abstract: A display screen may be formed with a moth-eye like array of elements of sufficiently small size to reduce glare from ambient light while passing outbound image light substantially unaffected. The screen may be used in direct view and projection displays.

Abstract: A vehicle or other type mirror having a convex reflective surface is surrounded by an opaque or non-reflective band. The opaque band extends from the reflective surface to a mounting flange. The mounting flange is adapted to seat on a mounting frame. A gasket secures the mounting frame and the mounting flange together. The mirror is mounted to a vehicle by suitable mounting members. The mirror permits the entire reflective surface to be available for viewing without interference from the gasket or mounting frame.

Abstract: The present invention is a display apparatus that provides protection against damage for a metallic layer. The display apparatus includes a light modulating layer, a polarizer, and a light directing film. The light directing film includes a prismatic structure having two sides, where one side includes saw tooth formations having tilted surfaces and a metal layer on the side of the prismatic substrate having the saw-tooth formations. A tilt angle of the tilted surfaces offsets an optimal viewing angle for the display from a glare angle for the display. In a first embodiment of the invention, the light directing film of the display apparatus further includes an inorganic protective layer formed on the metal layer, wherein the inorganic protective layer inhibits molecular transfer to the metal layer and balances the color of reflected and transmitted light. The light directing film further includes a pressure sensitive adhesive layer between a polarizer and the inorganic protective layer.

Abstract: A microscope with at least one beam splitter, particularly for the examination of fluorescing specimens, wherein unwanted illumination light is deflected onto a reflecting surface having an at least partially conical shape for the purpose of suppressing reflections, and a rotatable turret is advantageously provided for swiveling in different beam splitter cubes, and the surface is located in the middle of the turret.

Abstract: In a cathode ray tube us a glass panel having a difference in thickness between a central region and a peripheral region of a face portion, the glass panel having an outer surface with a colored film formed thereon, the colored film being thin in film thickness in an area corresponding to a thick part of the face portion of the glass panel and thick in film thickness in an area corresponding to a thin part of the face portion of the glass panel so as to reduce the difference in transmittance resulting from the difference in thickness between the central region and the peripheral region of the face portion of the glass panel. As another embodiment, the colored film comprises a film having a light color tone in an area corresponding to a thick part of the face portion of the glass panel and a dark color tone in an area corresponding to a thin part of the face portion of the glass panel.

Abstract: A sure and efficient manufacturing method of a translucent type screen using micro glass beadsis probided. A carbon toner is scattered onto micro glass beads which are buried and fixed in a UV curable resin layer, and the carbon toner is uniformly filled in the gaps between the micro glass beads by a rotating brush or a press roll or the like. The supply and filling of the carbon toner may be simultaneously performed by an air jet nozzle. Subsequently, an extra fine fiber cloth, sticky roll or the like is continuously brought into contact with the upper surface of the carbon toner to remove the carbon toner at the light emission portion of the micro glass beads.

Abstract: An apparatus and method disclosed herein can be utilized in all DMA-based optical systems, such as imaging and projection devices, in order to improve light efficiency and brightness by a significant factor and maintain good contrast. This feature is especially important in night vision systems and other low light applications. A means is provided of masking a designated area of light collected by the system objective lens in order to eliminate light collected from “flat” or “off” state micromirrors that would degrade the image quality produced. The masked objective lens, with a larger aperture, enhances the light collection from micromirrors in the “on” state only.

Abstract: In a method and device for removing light by absorption, undesired light is guided by a light entrance aperture into a hollow body having a light-absorbing inner surface. The light which is directed into the hollow body falls onto the reflection surface of a reflector. The reflection surface is configured and positioned in such a way that the light which is reflected back from the reflection surface is not reflected in itself, that only a minor amount of said light does not reach the outside as scattered light via the light entrance aperture and that a substantial amount of the light reaches the inside of the hollow body where it is absorbed. The invention finds particular use in an electronic recording device for point and line elimination of a recording material with a laser beam, wherein an undesired secondary beam is absorbed according to the inventive method in order to avoid disturbing retroreflections.

Abstract: An optical plate having both a light reflecting function and a light transmitting function comprises a layer comprising convex members which are arranged inside or on a surface of the optical plate so that a tip of the convex portion faces a backside of the optical plate, a gap having a transmitting function which is formed between the convex members, and a reflecting layer which is arranged on an outer surface of the convex portion, and on a base or an inner surface of the convex portion, wherein said convex members, said gap and said reflecting layer are arranged so that a part of light ray from the backside directly passes through the gap between the convex members, that a part of remaining light ray is reflected at least one time at the reflecting layer on the outer surface of the convex portion and passes through the gap having a transmitting function formed between the convex members to come out from a surface of the optical plate, and that a part of incident light ray from the surface side is refle

Abstract: A dimming mirror assembly has a housing, a reflective member, a transparent member, a light reducing medium, and an actuating mechanism for introducing and evacuating the light reducing medium disposed in a gap between the transparent member and the reflective medium. The reflective member and the transparent member are carried by the housing. At least one of the transparent member and the reflective member is moveable relative to the other. The amount of light transmitted to and reflected from the reflective member is a function of the volume of light reducing medium therebetween, the volume being variable by effecting relative movement between the reflective and transparent members. The controlling mechanism may include an actuating mechanism for effecting the relative movement between the reflective and transparent members.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an antiglaring film 10 which can maintain images clear and does not cause the scintillation of images even when placed on a high definition display with a large number of pixels. The antiglaring film is characterized in that an antiglaring layer 1 comprising a curable resin and transparent particles having an average particle diameter of 0.5 to 1.5 micrometers, the amount of the transparent particles being from 20 to 30 parts by weight for 100 parts by weight of the curable resin is formed on a substrate film 1.

Abstract: A low reflectivity, variable attenuation contrast enhancement filter having a total visible light reflectance of less than about 2.0% when measured with light incident to the first outer major surface. The contrast enhancement filter has a first layer(s) for providing antireflection, the first layer(s) defining the first outer major surface; a variable attenuation element interposed between the first major outer surface and the second major outer surface; element(s) for providing fixed attenuation interposed between the variable attenuation element and the first major outer surface; and at least one substrate.

Abstract: An eye protection arrangement for protection against multispectral laser threats includes goggles or spectacles with a tunable etalon optical filter. In one embodiment, the optical filter is fixed-tuned to a safe frequency. In another embodiment, light from the laser being used is sensed, and used to set the protective goggles to a different wavelength than the laser. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the protective optical filters have a comb response, and additional protection is provided by optically cascading two filters, each having a somewhat different comb response, so as to reduce the number of transmission spectra.

Abstract: An optical radar apparatus is provided with a light-emitting device 1 for emitting light and a fixed mirror 4 including a mirror for reflecting and transmitting the emitted light and a supporting member for supporting the mirror, wherein the mirror is fixed such that a reflecting surface of the mirror corresponds to an indent (drawn portion) provided in the supporting member so as to eliminate dispersion of the light due to distortion of the reflecting surface of the mirror. In addition, to eliminate internal reflection in the interior of the light-emitting device 1, the reflection of the light is suppressed by coloring the inner surfaces of the light-emitting device 1, for instance, in black or in a color for absorbing the light, or by attaching a woolen cloth thereto.

Abstract: This invention provides a light absorber which can be used for optical equipment like optical-disk equipment and a liquid crystal display. The light absorber has a layered structure including a light absorbing layer and a transparent layer. The light absorbing layer absorbs a reflected light from the inside of the absorber as well as incident light into the absorber while the transparent layer helps attenuate the reflected light by interference of light. One of the light absorbing layers which is thicker than others may work as a shading layer for the incident light.

Abstract: Single-layer and multi-layer light filters each having an array of light transmissive beads provide substantially independent and simultaneously optimized control of optical properties such as gain, contrast, transmittance, dispersion, and ambient light rejection using additional light transmissive layers. Such light filters can include light transmissive layers defining a lens curved over a plurality of the beads for effecting greater dispersion of image light horizontally or vertically, and conformal layers defining a lens curved over individual beads for increasing an effective radius of curvature of such beads. Additional pluralities of smaller beads are included in interstitial gaps in an array of larger beads for improving transmittance of some embodiments of light filters of the present invention. Light filters of the present invention are beneficially used as rear projection screens and light diffusers, and are ideal for use in or with flat-panel displays and the like.

Abstract: A volume holographic memory whose three-dimensional photosensitive body has exposed portions comprised only of continuous faces prevents recording of noise caused by scattered light at the time of light irradiation.

Abstract: A reflection screen includes a light-reflecting substrate laminated with a light-transmitting polymer layer having light absorptive crazes of regular directionality. The reflection screen is formed by coating or laminating the light-reflecting layer on the substrate, drawing over a blade in a direction perpendicular to the blade to form the crazes and inserting a light-absorbing material into the crazes. Images projected on the reflection screen have high contrast and can be observed as sharp images even in a lighted area such as in a room lighted by fluorescent lighting.

Abstract: Cathode electrodes in a plurality of rows are arranged parallel with one another on a glass substrate. Very small cold cathodes of conical shape are arranged in matrix on the cathode electrodes. An insulating layer (ITO film) having cylindrical slots surrounding cold cathodes is formed above the glass substrate and the cathode electrodes. Gate electrodes in a plurality of columns are formed on the insulating layer in the direction perpendicular to the extension of the cathode electrodes. An intersection between a cathode electrode and a gate electrode corresponds to a pixel. A glass plate is provided above the gate electrodes. An anode electrode is provided entirely on the surface of the glass plate facing the cold cathodes. A phosphor member for each pixel is formed on the surface of the anode electrode facing the cold cathodes. Thus, the light source for emitting light for each pixel is formed.

Abstract: A prism has a notch at a lower end of a third reflection plane of a pentagonal roof prism. The notch has a frosted wall, on which a transparent plate is adhered with adhesive. A miniature prism is adhered to the transparent plate with adhesive. The adhesive has photo-transmissibility, so that a transparent plane is formed between the pentagonal prism, the transparent plate and the miniature prism. Information displayed by an indication device is directed to an eyepiece optical system, via a mirror and the miniature prism.

Abstract: A sun guard for a vehicle may be constructed with a darkly tinted transparent acrylic shield to enable a vehicle occupant to comfortably view objects such as a traffic light even while the sun is within nearly the same line of vision, eliminating blinding glare by inhibiting the direct transmission of sunlight to a substantially uniform average of about two to three percent across the visible spectrum. A lighter tinted shield may alternatively be provided with a dark window film covering a major surface of the shield to provide similar visible light transmission characteristics. A clip having at least one double clamp spring pivotally attaches the sun guard to an existing opaque sun visor.

Abstract: Two Fabry-Perot interference filters are used as tandum polarizers for a h-power laser beam counter measure in an optical scene. The scene radiation is directed on one polarizer; one plane of polarization of the laser beam is transmitted thereby and the other scene radiation is reflected to the other polarizer. The other polarizer transmits the other plane of polarization of the laser beam and reflects the other scene radiation to a photodetector, such as an image intensifier, infrared imager, television camera tube, or a human eye. The laser beam transmitted by the polarizers is trapped by absorbers and cannot harm the photodetector.

Abstract: An optical film having high light transmittance and excellent light diffusibility is provided. The optical film comprises a transparent substrate 1 and a light diffusion layer 2 formed on one or both sides of the substrate 1. As the resin 3 of the light diffusion layer 2, an ionizing radiation curable resin is used in an amount of, preferably, not less than 50% of the resin and a small amount of the light diffusive agent is dispersed therein. The optical film exhibits excellent light diffusion effect even though the content of the light diffusive agent is small and also exhibits high light transmittance because of the small content of the light diffusive agent. Accordingly, this optical film is suitable for applications such as a color liquid crystal display which is required to have a sufficient brightness, and in combination with another optical material such as a prism lens.

Abstract: Vehicle body accessories are formed of a transparent plastic material, and having markings defining a repeating pattern of opaque and transparent regions on one side of the transparent plastic material. The markings reduce the amount of light transmitted through the accessory, and give to the accessory an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The accessory can be used as a headlight cover, a tail light cover, a side window protector, a rear window protector, or a hood protector.

Abstract: An optical filter that uses multiple reflections to provide spectral bandpass filtering of ultraviolet, visible and infrared radiation with a very high transmission of wavelengths within a selected passband coupled with exceptional off-band rejection. The reflection filter uses dielectric-coated spherical reflectors or mirrors manufactured with absorbing glass substrates. The multiple-pass feature of the reflection filter is achieved using a traditional long-path absorption cell such as a White Cell or Wilkes Cell. The light transmitted through the reflection filter is only that light which has undergone multiple reflections as the wavelengths of high mirror reflectivity reflect off the dielectric-coated substrates. All remaining light at wavelengths corresponding to high mirror transmission is attenuated by absorption in the mirror substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser generator in which a laser beam is generated by energizing a laser medium and is amplified optically with optically amplifying mirrors, and the laser beam is received by a absorber, wherein a spacer 9 having a through hole 9a for passing therethrough the laser beam and at least one small second through hole 9b is arranged at a circumference of an absorber 7, and a cooling medium 12 circulates in the small second through hole 9b of the spacer 9. In this structure, if a scattering laser beam is generated at the circumference of the laser beam absorber, a parallelism of the optical amplifying mirrors is maintained so that the laser generator can generate the stable laser beam.

Abstract: Disclosed in this invention is an optical filter to enhance the contrast and brightness of images from a color display. The filter comprises suitable dyes and a polymer matrix, applied in a suitable form on the display unit. Such filters have utility in devices based on CRTs, plasmas and the like.

Abstract: A device for protecting an optical component from a laser beam. The device includes a carrier which is light-pervious in a predetermined spectral range and is positionable in an expected path of a laser beam directed to the optical component; and a metal oxide film applied to the carrier. The film is light-pervious in the same spectral range and is oriented such as to intercept a laser beam directed to the optical component.

Abstract: Multi-layer light filters provide optimized gain control, contrast, and ambient light rejection through the addition of optical layers to a basic refraction light filter. These additional layers allow adjustment of the gain, contrast, and ambient light rejection of light filters in a substantially independent manner, and can be combined to simultaneously optimize these optical properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved optical devices and reflection control techniques. In one aspect, the invention provides an optical device comprising an array of substantially tubular elements and one or more reflective surfaces, wherein at least one of the reflective surfaces positioned behind the tubular elements is tilted with respect to the optical path of the device. This orientation of the reflective surface results in incident light from a source in the field of view of the device being reflected from the tilted surface and captured by the array of elements, rather than the reflected light being projected outward from the device where it can be perceived by a viewer, particularly a viewer in the field of view.

Abstract: A light trap for a parallel light beam includes an entry member having a frustoconical opening in it and a conical body attached to a back wall of the trap. The frustoconical opening narrows from the outside towards the inside and has at the outside a diameter equal to the diameter D of the light beam. The entry member has a thickness E=D/(tan 2A+tan A) where A is the cone angle of the frustoconical opening. The conical body reflects light uniformly in all directions.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a hologram which can control the formation of a ghost hologram due to a surface reflected light caused on an interface with the atmosphere is disclosed. In the first manufacturing method for a hologram by a two-beam method or a one-beam method, on an interface between a substrate having a hologram photosensitive layer and the atmosphere is disposed a quarter-wave plate, and an incident light is converted from a circularly polarized light to a P-polarized light (or an S-polarized light) through the quarter-wave plate. On the other hand, in the second manufacturing method for a hologram, a substrate, which has a hologram photosensitive layer, is fittingly held by prisms on both sides thereof. A reference light is a P-polarized light, and an angle of the reference light to a surface reflected light on an interface of the reference light is set to be approximate to a right angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable transparency electro-optical device comprising: at least one lens formed by an electro-optical cell (4) comprising a first plate (6) and a second plate (8) each provided with a control electrode (14, 16) and a sealing frame (10) interposed between the two plates to form a sealed volume enclosing an electro-optical material (12), voltage generating means (18) connected to said electrodes to apply a variable voltage to said material in order to automatically or manually vary the transmission of the cell (4) as a function of the ambient light. According to the invention the cell (4) comprises at least one element (6) charged with a photochromic substance having an absorption that varies in reversible manner as a function of the intensity of the light impinging on said cell. The invention has particular applications in devices for protecting the eyes.

Abstract: Multi-layer light filters provide optimized gain control, contrast, and ambient light rejection through the addition of optical layers to a basic refraction light filter. These additional layers allow adjustment of the gain, contrast, and ambient light rejection of light filters in a substantially independent manner, and can be combined to simultaneously optimize these optical properties.

Abstract: An eye protecting mask of a video display comprises a frame and an adjustment device. The frame is provided centrally in the top side thereof with a recessed portion which is provided respectively in the inner walls of two sides thereof with a predetermined number of retaining slots and with an opening adjacent to the retaining slots. The adjustment device comprises a base and a pivoting member capable of swiveling on a pivot and corresponding in location to the recessed portion of the frame. The pivoting member is provided respectively at both ends thereof with a retaining portion and a cut adjacent to the retaining portion. The pivoting member is fitted into the recessed portion of the frame such that the two retaining portions of the pivoting member are engaged with the retaining slots of the frame so as to locate properly the eye protecting mask in front of the video display.

Abstract: A book shade apparatus comprising a structure placed over two open pages of a book in bright sunlight conditions, for reducing the amount of light reflected from the two open pages of the book into the eyes of a person reading the book including a pair of flexible sheets having sunlight reducing characteristics of sunglasses and sized to fit over the two open pages of the book.

Abstract: An optical filter is provided for suppressing unwanted reflections of background light when used with a display device such as a cathode ray tube or an electroluminescent screen, or in optical communication or surveillance. The filter has multiple thin layers including a first series of layers for suppressing reflections from its outer surface and a second series of layers constituting a bandpass interference filter. The first series of layers is arranged to suppress reflections over a broad wavelength band while the second series of layers allows transmittance over a relatively narrow wavelength passband within the broad wavelength band, resulting in improved contrast when the display is used in situations of high background light.

Abstract: An extendable automobile sun glare shield may be constructed with a body of opaque material with a shield of polaraized material having a film of black glass covering the upper section of the shield slidably disposed to extend and retract from a cavity disposed within the body of opaque material.

Abstract: An actively pumped optical filter includes a vapor cell having a population of electrons with the plurality of energy levels which receives light and transmits light according to a pumping mechanism. A magnetic source is provided for applying a magnetic field to the vapor cell. A first pulsed dye laser applies a first beam of light to the vapor cell causing transitions of the electrons from a first energy level to a second energy level. A second pulsed dye laser is used for measuring the transmission through the vapor cell. A third laser applies a beam of light to the first laser and a beam of light to the second laser. The third laser may be an Nd:YAG laser. Polarizers are disposed before and after the vapor cell and a delay path is provided for delaying the second beam of light before the second beam of light is applied to the laser cell. The delay path is tuned by adjusting the length.

Abstract: A light stop having at least one appropriately laser textured surface assures the absorption of energy including laser emissions that impinge on the at least one surface to thereby inhibit reflected energy therefrom. Optionally, an improved emitter of energy is created by at least one appropriately laser textured surface having an increased surface area of emission to increase the emissive power of the surface to thereby provide improved conductive and radiative cooling. An improved absorber and emitter is fabricated by providing front side and backside textured surfaces. All these capabilities are provided in a variety of structural configurations.

Abstract: To effectively cut off false signals and false color signals which would occur in an imaging device and also to suppress a reduction in quality of images which would result from a generation of a ring-shaped flare, an optical low pass filter comprises a transparent substrate having first and second surfaces opposite to each other. The optical low pass filter is adapted to be disposed between a photo-taking lens and a solid-state imaging element with the first surface confronting the solid-state imaging element. The first surface of the transparent substrate is formed with a diffraction grating. The transparent substrate used in the optical low pass filter is so designed and so structured as to have a thickness (mm) which satisfies the equation, 2.multidot.g.multidot.tan (.theta.1)+2.multidot.t.multidot.tan (.theta.c)<0.9, wherein g represents the distance of spacing between the first surface of the transparent substrate and an image plane of the solid-state imaging element; .theta.

Abstract: A filter screen including a mounting frame mounted on a monitor, a screen glass holder frame pivotally connected to the mounting frame, a conductive screen glass mounted between the front and back shells of the screen glass holder frame and covered over the screen of the monitor, and a radiation alarm and eliminator circuit mounted on the screen glass holder frame and connected to the hot and neutral slots of a power outlet socket by a two-blade plug permitting the radiation of the monitor to be guided by the conductive screen glass to grounding, and wherein the radiation alarm and eliminator circuit has an indicator lamp and a buzzer controlled by an option switch to flash or buzz when the two blades of the plug are not inserted into the hot and neutral slots of the power outlet socket correctly.