Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for retroreflection of an optical ray using triple prisms. Six to ten triple prisms (1, 2, 3, 131, 132, 133) arm provided with triangular light entry surfaces, wherein the side faces of adjacent triple prisms are in contact. This results in continuous retroreflection at a high level of intensity for one angle area, of 360.degree.. When used in particular in geodesy or in construction surveying, this all-round reflector provides a high degree of measurement accuracy for angles and distances from any direction on which a bearing is taken. Alignment towards a surveying instrument is therefore not necessary. Measurement of short distances is also definite and reliable. The all-round reflector is particularly advantageous for automatic surveying, since, irrespective of its orientation, it can be automatically tracked by a motorised surveying instrument.

Abstract: An electromagnetic reflector which is effective for electromagnetic waves in a range from 50 to 100 GHz, radiated from an on-board radar device, is integrally incorporated with an optical reflector for effectively receiving the electromagnetic waves by the reflector and, as reflected thereby, by the radar device even though the relative angle for receiving reflected radar waves becomes larger due to a shift of lanes by the preceding vehicle or due to a curve in the road.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical device suitable for use with an optical amplifier, for example, in an optical communication system and advantageous in that different functions of a plurality of optical elements are achieved using an optical element of a simple construction and the optical device can be produced in a reduced size at a reduced cost. The optical device includes a tapered prism constructed such that a first face and a second face thereof opposing to each other do not extend in parallel to each other. A dielectric multi-layer film is formed on the first face of the tapered prism positioned on an optical signal inputting side. A reflection film is formed on the second face for reflecting the optical signal inputted to the tapered prism through the first face at least once toward the first face.

Abstract: A decentered prism optical system suitable for use as an ocular optical system used in combination with an objective optical system and favorably corrected for pupil aberration. A prism optical system (7) which receives an image formed by an objective lens includes a decentered prism (7) having at least three surfaces (3 to 5) decentered with respect to each other, wherein the space between the at least three surfaces (3 to 5) is filled with a transparent medium having a refractive index not smaller than 1.3. The optical path is reflected at least twice in the optical system (7), and the optical paths of light rays do not intersect each other. At least one reflecting surface (4) has a rotationally asymmetric surface configuration having no axis of rotational symmetry in nor out of the surface. The optical system has both the function of optically transmitting a pupil (1) by image formation and the function of optically transmitting an image and is satisfactorily corrected for pupil aberration.

Abstract: A retarder system, for entering retardation between orthogonal components of an electromagnetic beam of radiation, having first and second triangular shaped elements arranged so that the first triangular shaped element, as viewed in side elevation, presents with first and second sides which project to the left and right and downward from an upper point, with a third side which is oriented essentially horizontally and is continuous with, and present below the first and second sides; and so that the second triangular shaped element, as viewed in side elevation, presents with first and second sides which project to the left and right and upward from a lower point, with a third side which is oriented essentially horizontally and is continuous with, and present above the first and second sides.

Abstract: The present invention is a derotation assembly comprised of a plurality of dove prisms with multiple reflecting surfaces, each with a normal axis intersecting a common rotation axis aligned orthogonally to an optical device. The reflecting surfaces are parallel to each other and orthogonal to the common rotation axis.

Abstract: A stable resonator for a ring-down cavity spectroscopy cell having an optic axis. The resonator includes two Brewster's angle retroreflector prisms, each having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces. The prisms are disposed in alignment along the optic axis of the resonator. One or both of the prisms can be rotated so that light rays enter and leave a surface of the prism nearly at Brewster's angle to the normal of the prism surface. This feature maintains alignment between the prisms and allows the resonator to be tuned. One of the total internal reflection surfaces of at least one of the prisms may be a curved surface (either a ground curved surface or a surface curved by the addition, through optically contacting or gluing, of a plano-convex lens to the surface). Alternatively, an astigmatic lens may be centered in one arm of the resonator and tilted at Brewster's angle with respect to the optic axis of the resonator. In a preferred embodiment, each of the prisms has an apex angle of about 135.

Abstract: A high-performance and low-cost image-forming optical system made compact and thin by folding an optical path using reflecting surfaces having power. The optical system has a plurality of reflecting surfaces having power. Among the reflecting surfaces, a reflecting surface (12) of negative power is placed closest to the object side, and a reflecting surface (22) of positive power is placed closer to the image side than the reflecting surface (12). At least one reflecting surface (13) is provided between the reflecting surface (12) and the reflecting surface (22). An axial principal ray (1) incident on the reflecting surface (13) satisfies the condition of 45.degree.<.vertline..theta..vertline., where .theta. is the angle formed between the axial principal ray and a line normal to the reflecting surface (13) in the decentration direction at a point where the axial principal ray (1) intersects the reflecting surface (13).

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical scanner assembly for producing an image on imaging material positioned on an internal surface of a curved film platen. The scanner assembly includes a light source for producing a light beam representative of the image to be produced on the imaging material, a reflective system rotatable about a rotation axis, and a toric lens. The reflective system comprises a scan optic defined by a pentaprism and a cylindrical lens. A first reflective surface of the pentaprism receives the light beam from the light source and reflects the light beam to a second reflective surface of the pentaprism. The light beam is further reflected by the second reflective surface towards the imaging material through the cylindrical lens and the toric lens, which act to focus the light beam onto the imaging material to produce the image thereon.

Abstract: A focusing apparatus (10) for maintaining a first beam in focus at an imaging plane comprising a first reflective surface (14) which redirects the first beam from a first direction to a second direction wherein the second direction is oriented approximately 90.degree. from the first direction; a second reflective surface (24) which redirects the first beam from the second direction to a third direction wherein the third direction is oriented approximately 90.degree. from the second direction; a third reflective surface (26) which redirects the first beam from the third direction to a fourth direction wherein the fourth direction is oriented approximately 90.degree. from the third direction; a fourth reflective surface (32) which redirects the first beam from the fourth direction to a in a fifth direction wherein the fifth direction is oriented approximately 90.degree.

Abstract: A light reflector for use in a reflective-type liquid-crystal display has a prism sheet, which is made from a transparent base material, the front surface of which has formed on it a light-diffusing layer that diffuses incident light and the reverse side of which has a plurality of unit prisms that are arranged in a striped arrangement and made of an optically transparent resin, these prisms extending in a vertical direction, and having a cross-section that is the shape of a scalene triangle, and also has a light-reflecting sheet that is in opposition to the group of prisms on the rear surface of the prism sheet, the opposing surface of this light-reflecting sheet reflecting transmitted light and being disposed in parallel to the prism sheet, so that incident light and exiting light are not mutually parallel, thereby achieving both a wide viewing angle and a bright display.

Abstract: A prism for color dispersion and recombination and a projector incorporating the prism. The prism comprises an aperture for a light beam and the normal to the aperture defines an optic axis. A first surface, intersecting the optic axis, is oriented at a first angle to the optic axis. The first angle is greater than 45.degree.. The first surface disperses the light beam into a first component and an intermediate component. A second surface, intersecting the optic axis, is oriented at a second angle to the optic axis. The second surface disperses the intermediate component of the light beam into a second component and a third component.

Abstract: An optical polarization device includes a source of light emitting a non-polarised light beam. A polarization separator reflects one polarization component of the light beam and transmits the other polarization component. A reflection means receives the component reflected by the polarization separator, rotates its polarization plane through 90.degree., and returns it to the polarization separator. The polarization separator is a plane element. The reflection means is positioned on the source side of the separator and consists of a regular network of prisms, each partially covered with a reflective layer associated with a .lambda./4 plate.

Abstract: A display rerouting apparatus reroutes a displayed image from an image source in a display module for providing a redirected angular visibility for the displayed image. In an illustrative embodiment, the display rerouting apparatus includes a base panel having a rectangular opening or widow for positioning atop of a display module in communication equipment, a rear panel having a one-way reflective mirror positioned in a rectangular opening in this rear panel, and a front panel having a two-way reflective mirror positioned in a rectangular opening in this front panel. Both the rear and front panels are respectively hingeably attached at their lower edges to the rear and front edges of the base panel for facilitating the use of the rerouting apparatus on different types of communication. In operation, the image from the display module is projected through the base of the apparatus onto the two-way reflective mirror.

Abstract: A compact optical imaging system that transmits light received from an object located at an image plane to an exit pupil to form an image comprises a first prism, a second prism, a converging reflective element, and a converging transmissive element. The first prism includes a first face, a second face, and a third face that faces the image plane. The included angle between the first face and the second face of the first prism is .alpha.. The second prism includes a first face facing the exit pupil and substantially parallel to the first face of the first prism, and a second face adjacent the second face of the first prism. The converging reflective element is adjacent the first face of the first prism. The converging transmissive element is on or adjacent the first face of the second prism. The included angle .alpha.

Abstract: An optical device for collecting light and selectively outputting or concentrating the light. A layer has an optical index of referaction n.sub.1, and top, bottom and side surfaces defining an angel of inclination .phi.. A back surface spans the top, bottom and side surface. A first layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the layer and has an index of refraction n.sub.2. The first layer index n.sub.2 causes light input through the back surface of the layer to be preferentially output into the first layer. A second layer is coupled to the bottom of the first layer and selectively causes output of light into ambient. Additional layers, such as alight polarization layer, a polarization converting layer and a post LCD diffuser layer can be used to make preferential use of polarized light of diffuse light having passed through the LCD layer to enhance viewing of the output light.

Abstract: A decentered prism optical system has a first surface at a side thereof closer to a pupil. The first surface has a transmitting or reflecting action and also has a wide effective area. The first surface is formed from a rotationally symmetric spherical or aspherical surface. The optical system has at least three surfaces (3, 4 and 5), and the space between these surfaces (3 to 5) is filled with a transparent medium having a refractive index larger than 1.3. A bundle of light rays from an object first passes through a pupil (1) of the optical system (7) along an optical axis (2) and enters the optical system (7) through a first surface (3) having both transmitting and reflecting actions. The incident light rays are reflected toward the pupil (1) by a second surface (4) which is at a side of the optical system (7) remote from the pupil (1) and which has only a reflecting action. The reflected light rays are then reflected away from the pupil (1) by the first surface (3).

Abstract: A color-mixing lens for use in a concentrator system and methods of manufacture and operation thereof. The color-mixing lens includes: (1) a light-transmissive substrate that receives broad spectrum light from a source, (2) a first plurality of prisms, located on the substrate, that refract and chromatically disperse the light received therein toward a first plurality of locations on an active region of a target cell, and (3) a second plurality of prisms located on the substrate that refract and chromatically disperse the light received therein toward a second plurality of locations on the active region. Relative dimensions of the first and second pluralities of prisms are preselected to cause the chromatically-dispersed light to mix and thereby increase a power output of the target cell by reducing inter-junction currents therein.

Abstract: A beam reconfiguring device comprises a single prism element that reconfigures a beam input, such as from a semiconductor laser or bar array, having aperture images with major axis aligned abreast along a single axis, into an output comprising multiple segments of the input image with a major axis of each segment aligned perpendicular along the same single axis. The etendue, the aperture-times-divergence product of a beam, in orthogonal directions of the output beam will be more nearly equal than the etendue in orthogonal directions of the input beam. The input beams and reconfigured beams are provided as adjacent inputs to a hypotenuse front edge surface of the prism element. The reconfigured beams are more conducive for converging into a single substantially symmetrical spot for input to an optical handling device or medium such as an optical fiber. An optical handling system is disclosed for achieving straight in-line, beam input/output that is more adaptable for optically aligned delivery applications.

Abstract: A device for homogenizing light rays from a light source. The device includes a first multi-prismatic surface, a second multi-prismatic surface, and a reflective housing connecting the first multi-prismatic surface with the second multi-prismatic surface. The device may be employed in a liquid crystal display projection system. The system includes, in addition to the device, a parabolic reflective collimator, a lamp centered in the parabolic reflective collimator, the lamp emitting light rays reflected by the parabolic reflective collimator, and a liquid crystal display positioned to receive light rays passing through the first multi-prismatic surface, the reflective housing, and the second multi-prismatic surface.

Abstract: A DMD illumination coupler, and a method of improving the wavefront quality of a transmitted illumination beam over the prior art using the invented DMD illumination coupler are disclosed. The invented DMD illumination coupler comprises an angularly selective reflective thin film. The invented DMD illumination coupler has the characteristics of high optical quality and cost effectiveness. The application of the invented DMD illumination coupler in holographic systems is also discussed.

Abstract: A plate collects light and guides it to an internal focus (20). The plate is constructed of prisms (2) that allow simultaneous reflection and transmission of light. The prisms are easily mass-produced. The prismatic plate can be formed into many shapes.

Abstract: An optical projection display system, such as a liquid crystal display device, is disclosed. A feature of the present invention is that the projection display system utilizes a modified X-cube (or X-prism) arrangement wherein the internal angles of the prisms forming the modified X-cube deviate from 90.degree.. The utilization of the present modified X-cube arrangement improves contrast for checkerboard images, minimizes the possibility of spurious unwanted reflections from entering the projection lens as well as substantially eliminating glare and ghost images typically present using prior art X-cubes.

Abstract: An illumination system is described that efficiently produces linear polarized light for use in LCD projection. A polarizing beam splitter and half-wave retarder plate produce two adjacent collimated beams of light having a common polarization direction. These adjacent beams are spatially integrated into a single collimated polarized beam whose aspect ratio is subsequently converted to match that of the LCD format.

Abstract: A prism optical system for use as an ocular optical system of a visual display apparatus, which has a compact size as a whole, causes a minimal reduction of the light intensity in the ocular optical system, provides a wide field angle and a large exit pupil diameter, and is effectively corrected for off-axis aberrations. The prism optical system has two transparent surfaces (6 and 7), and two reflecting surfaces (2 and 3). The space between the first transparent surface (6) and the second transparent surface (7) is filled with a medium having a refractive index not smaller than 1.3.

Abstract: An inverting and reversing prism system for a stereo microscope having an optical longitudinal axis and left and right eye viewing systems having left and right longitudinal axes, respectively, along which left and right beam paths are transmitted, respectively, comprising: at least four reflecting surfaces (13, 15, 16, 13A and 13A, 15A, 16A, 13) in each beam path (14, 14A), two of the reflecting surfaces (13, 13A and 13A, 13) in each beam path comprising inlet and outlet surfaces, respectively, for deflecting the beam path by 90.degree., the inlet and outlet surfaces in each beam path being oriented 45.degree. relative to the optical longitudinal axis of the microscope and 90.degree. relative to each other, with a line of intersection (26) of planes containing the inlet and outlet surfaces in each beam path defining an angle of 45.degree.

Abstract: A rearview mirror for motor vehicle comprises an optical system and a reflect mirror which are properly intalled in the vehicle. The scene behind the vehicle can be imaged by the optical system and projected to the reflect mirror so that driver can see the back scene and the relative position between the vehicle and other objects behind. The optical system comprises convex lenses, or concave lenses and prisms.

Abstract: For the purpose of providing a solar module which has a fixed type solar concentrator of high converging magnification, a solar cell 12 is installed on the bottom face of an extension 30 which is extended further from the apex of a V shape formed by a pair of prisms having a refractive index larger than that of air, and a mirror surface 18 is formed on the back side of an incident surface 20 on which sunlight 10 falls. The mirror surface 18 and the incident surface 20 are formed in such a manner that their distance widens toward the apex of the V shape. The sunlight 10 incident on the prisms 16 performs reflection on the mirror surface 18 and total internal reflection on the incident surface 20, respectively. After repeating such reflection, the sunlight 10 reaches the bottom of the extension 30, where it emerges as outgoing light 22 to the solar cell 12.

Abstract: A stable resonator for a ring-down cavity spectroscopy cell having an optic axis. The resonator includes two Brewster's angle retroreflector prisms, each having a plurality of total internal reflection surfaces. The prisms are disposed in alignment along the optic axis of the resonator. One or both of the prisms can be rotated so that light rays enter and leave a surface of the prism nearly at Brewster's angle to the normal of the prism surface. This feature maintains alignment between the prisms and allows the resonator to be tuned. One of the total internal reflection surfaces of at least one of the prisms may be a curved surface (either a ground curved surface or a surface curved by the addition, through optically contacting or gluing, of a plano-convex lens to the surface). Alternatively, an astigmatic lens may be centered in one arm of the resonator and tilted at Brewster's angle with respect to the optic axis of the resonator. In a preferred embodiment, each of the prisms has an apex angle of about 135.

Abstract: An optical aiming device including two optical elements, each characterized by a refractive index and a critical angle defining a total internal reflection plane, positioned one in front of the other substantially along an aiming axis, each optical element causing a portion of light impinging thereon at an angle greater than the critical angle, to be reflected, thereby defining a demarcation between a region of reflected light and non-reflected light, the optical elements being oriented such that the demarcations of each optical element intersect at a point lying substantially along the aiming axis.

Abstract: An injection-molded roof prism has a roof surface. A positioning portion is provided for a positioning in a direction vertical to both a ridgeline formed at the roof surface and an optical axis bent at the ridgeline. The positioning portion is formed together with the ridgeline by using the same molding plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a retroreflector or a retroreflector arrangement in which the faces of the retroreflector are directly heated by a heating element. The retroreflector comprises a triple-mirror prism having three isosceles limiting faces and one equilateral limiting face. Also, the retroreflector has at least one heating element in direct contact with each of the faces. The heating elements directly heat the faces. As a result, the effectiveness of the retroreflector is not diminished in extreme weather conditions, for instance, in extremely cold or humid conditions.

Abstract: An optical and infrared periscope includes a housing having an elongated 35 degree prism mounted in its upper portion in a position to receive a light image and refract and reflect the image toward a lower portion of the housing. The prism has a first portion of an optical grade glass that transmits and reflects light in a visible range of the light spectrum and a second portion of an optical grade single crystal silicon that transmits and reflects light in a range of wavelengths of from about three microns to about five microns. An HgCdTe focal plane array is provided in the lower portion of the housing for receiving the image reflected by the second portion of the prism and producing output signals representing the reflected image. The lower portion of the housing also contains an electronics package for processing the output signals and displaying a visible image on a cathode ray tube, which may be viewed through an eyepiece.

Abstract: An optical recording and data processing system for exposing an image on to a flexible, light sensitive medium, which includes a medium holder having an inner cylindrical wall portion against which is held said medium, and a light source having an approximately rectangular emitting aperture, with a short aperture axis and a long aperture axis, operative to emit a beam of light having a rectangular cross section with a long axis corresponding to the long aperture axis and a short axis corresponding to the short aperture axis. An optical modulator is aligned with the light source so as to intercept light from the beam of light and produce a spatial modulation pattern across the long axis of the beam of light. A pattern shifter for shifting the spatial modulation pattern across the length of the long axis at a constant rate is provided as is a pattern rotator for rotating the spatial modulation pattern at a rate equal to the rate of shifting of the spatial modulation pattern.

Abstract: The present invention includes a structured optical film with variable pitch peaks and/or grooves to reduce the visibility of moire interference patterns and optical displays incorporating one or more layers of the film. The pitch variations can be over groups of adjacent peaks and/or valleys or between adjacent pairs of peaks and/or valleys.

Abstract: To generate a stereoscopic image of an object (41), two light beams (151, 161) unparallel to each other are used to back light a portion (43) of the object (41). The two light beams (151, 161) are deflected to form two deflected light beams (153, 163) substantially parallel to each other. The deflected light beams (153, 163) form a stereoscopic image of the portion (43) of the object (41). A camera (46) records the stereoscopic image of the object (41). The signal from the camera (46) is processed by a vision computer (48) to reconstruct the stereoscopic image and determine whether the object (41) meets design specifications.

Abstract: A brightness enhancement film has a plurality of linear prisms. The prisms are disposed in pairs, each pair having first and second prisms and each prism has a prism angle and a valley angle. Either the prism angles or the valley angles, but not both, are equal.

Abstract: An ocular optical system suitable for a head- or face-mounted image display apparatus which is compact, lightweight and satisfactorily corrected for aberrations, and in which no intermediate image is formed. The image display apparatus includes an image display unit (9) and an optical system (10) for projecting a displayed image into an eyeball (7). The optical system (10) is arranged such that light rays which are emitted from the image display unit (9) and enter the eyeball (7) are reflected at least three times by surfaces (12, 13 and 14) having power in backward ray tracing.

Abstract: A lens barrel applied to a stereo-microscope comprising a static section, an image forming lens section provided in the static section, a movable section rotatably supported by the static section, an eyepiece section supported by the movable section, an erecting optical section, provided in the static section, for erecting an observing image to be formed by a beam emitted from the image forming lens, a reflecting optical section for reflecting the beam emitted from the erecting optical section, a guiding optical section, provided in the movable section, for guiding the beam reflected by the reflecting optical section to the eyepiece section, and a varying mechanical section for varying an angle of a reflective surface of the reflecting optical section such that the beam image reflected by the reflecting optical section is guided to the eyepiece section through the guiding optical section in accordance with a rotation of the movable section from the static section.

Abstract: This invention provides a reflecting screen with a wide angle of field and high luminance usable in a video projector or the like, and comprising a first sheet having a first surface having a diffusion layer for diffusing a projected image, and a second surface formed on a side opposite to the first surface and having a group of striped prisms of an optically transparent resin arranged so as to extend vertically, the prisms having a section in the shape of an isosceles triangle with a constant apical angle and sides of constant length; and a second sheet opposed to the group of prisms of the second surface of the first sheet, a surface of the second sheet opposed to the group of prisms being of a black color capable of absorbing transmitted light substantially; the first sheet and the second sheet being disposed parallel to each other.

Abstract: An optical prism having a first glass member which has a first surface on which an specific light is irradiated, a second surface which reflects a part of the specific light and passes through the rest of the specific light, and a third surface on which the part of the specific light reflected by the second surface is irradiated in a substantially vertical direction; and a second glass member which has a fourth surface which passes through the rest of the specific light passing through the second surface, and a fifth surface on which the rest of the specific light passing through the forth surface is irradiated in a substantially vertical direction; wherein the third surface and the fifth surface have a resin which hardens by being irradiated the specific light.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a disposable probe and a non-disposable focusing ocular. The probe includes a transfer module assembly including one or more relay modules, and an objective element including a distal glass window, a molded plastic prism and three molded plastic lenses. Each of the relay modules contains an entry glass rod, an intermediate glass rod, and an exit rod, each having flat end surfaces and two identical molded plastic doublets. The elements of the ocular are all of glass and include an axially movable focusing doublet and two non-movable doublets. The disposable probe introduces certain aberrations into the image. The non-disposable focusing ocular corrects these aberrations. A single curved surface is formed on the distal glass window of the probe; all other curved optical surfaces of the disposable probe are formed on molded plastic members, thereby reducing the cost of the probe sufficiently to be cost-effective for single patient, disposable use.

Abstract: A deflection mirror tower (DMT) of a multiple-disk array, optical storage system includes a plurality of prism members, each having an angular mirror surface, arranged along a vertical axis of the DMT and configured at a predetermined angular orientation to deflect a laser beam to a respective disk surface. The DMT is generally fabricated using a two-level partitioning process. Several prepared glass substrates, i.e., one for each mirror type, are initially sliced into bars having predetermined geometries. A bar from each substrate is sequentially aligned to a master reference and bonded to adjacent bars to form an intermediate bar stack. The stack is then segmented into a plurality of DMT components, each having a plurality of prism members.

Abstract: A prism is provided having a surface on which light is made incident, surfaces at which light is reflected and a surface from which light is emitted. The prism includes an uneven surface portion provided on at least one of the incident, reflecting or emitting surfaces and located outside a light transmission area through which effective light of an associated optical system, in which the prism is to be incorporated, can be transmitted. The disclosure is also directed to a real image type view finder having such a prism.

Abstract: A deflection mirror tower (DMT) of a multiple-disk array, optical storage system includes a plurality of prism members, each having an angular mirror surface, arranged along a vertical axis of the DMT and configured at a predetermined angular orientation to deflect a laser beam to a respective disk surface.

Abstract: An antireflection surface having a predetermined roughness so as to keep the reflectivity of incident radiation low. A profile with projections having a height which is an integer multiple of the radiation wavelength can trap the radiation irrespective from its polarization and also at large angles of incident light.

Abstract: A real image mode finder optical system, situated separate from a photographing optical system, includes an objective system for forming an object image; an optical path splitting member for dividing a finder optical path formed by the objective system into a reflecting optical path and a transmitting optical path; a prism member whose refractive index is greater than 1, disposed on at least one of a surface on the reflection side and a surface on the transmission side of the optical path splitting member; a photometric member disposed on the reflecting optical path; and an eyepiece system situated on the transmitting optical path and disposed behind the optical path splitting member and the prism member. In this way, the real image mode finder optical system having a function for photometry keeps the number of parts to a minimum.

Abstract: A deflection mirror tower (DMT) of a multiple-disk array, optical storage system includes a plurality of prism members, each having an angular mirror surface, arranged along a vertical axis of the DMT and configured at a predetermined angular orientation to deflect a laser beam to a respective disk surface. The DMT is generally fabricated using a two-level partitioning process. Several prepared glass substrates, i.e., one for each mirror type, are initially sliced into bars having predetermined geometries. A bar from each substrate is sequentially aligned to a master reference and bonded to adjacent bars to form an intermediate bar stack. The stack is then segmented into a plurality of DMT components, each having a plurality of prism members.

Abstract: A thin-film color-selective beam splitter and the method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (i) forming a main prism by a pre-selected material, and deciding a first base angle and a second base angle according to the substance and coating characteristics of the pre-selected material; (ii) coating a first multilayer film and a second multilayer film on two slopes of the main prism, in which tilt angles for coating the first multilayer film and the second multilayer film and tilt angles of light entering and emerging the main prism are different, so that spectra of the first multilayer film and the second multilayer film are different, and the first multilayer film can be a red reflective film and the second multilayer film can be a blue reflective film; and (iii) using the pre-selected material to form interface prisms, and adhering the interface prisms to the main prism, so that light can perpendicularly enter and emerge from surfaces of the prism.

Abstract: An optical engine for combining or splitting color light beams, compatible with modern high-speed projection systems, is described. The invention utilizes a unique pentaprism core element, partially bounded by five faces, two each on either side of a plane of bilateral symmetry and one opposite, bisected by the plane of bilateral symmetry. Two of the faces of the pentaprism are coated with dichroic films. Functioning as a light combiner, the pentaprism uses these dichroic surfaces and its geometry to interact with incoming tri-color light beams which, after first passing through appropriately modulated light valves, are selectively transmitted and reflected such that all beams exit, axially aligned, from one side of the pentaprism. Functioning as a light splitter, the pentaprism uses the dichroic surfaces and its geometry to split a white light beam into its component primary colors and pass these colors out of the pentaprism.