Abstract: A prism includes: a first portion made of a first material having a wavelength dependency in a refractive index; and a second portion adhered to the first portion, the second portion being made of a second material having a wavelength dependency in a refractive index which is different from the wavelength dependency in the refractive index of the first material. The first portion and the second portion have shapes such that the wavelength dependency in the refractive index of the first portion and the wavelength dependency in the refractive index of the second portion are substantially cancelled by each other.

Abstract: A real image mode finder includes an objective optical system and an eyepiece optical system which has at least one reflecting surface. The objective optical system includes, in order from the object side, an objective unit, a first prism and a second prism. The first prism has an entrance surface which transmits a light beam emerging from the objective unit and a transmission surface which is optically inclined with respect to the entrance surface. The second prism has a reflecting surface, situated nearly opposite to the entrance surface of the first prism, for obliquely reflecting the light beam transmitted through the first prism toward the object side, a transmitting-reflecting surface located nearly parallel with the transmission surface of the first prism, at a minute distance away therefrom, to transmit the light transmitted through the first prism and to totally reflect the light from the reflecting surface, and an exit surface.

Abstract: An indication-within-finder free from ghost light is provided at a minimal cost even in the case of a pentagonal prism or the like. The finder includes an objective system (61) having a positive refracting power, an image-inverting system including a roof prism (62) and a pentagonal prism (63), and an ocular system (64) having a positive refracting power. An object image is formed on an intermediate image plane (65) by the objective system (61) and the roof prism (62). The object image is viewed with the ocular system (64) through the pentagonal prism (63). The position of the intermediate image plane (65) is approximately coincident with the entrance surface of the pentagonal prism (63). A deflecting member (67) projecting in a wedge shape is provided on the entrance surface of the pentagonal prism (63). Light rays (68′) passing through the deflecting member (67) are deflected by refracting surfaces (67′ and 67″).

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, with one of the total internal reflection surfaces of at least one of the prisms having 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). The prisms are disposed in alignment along the optic axis of the resonator. A spherical mirror or lens, tilted from normal incidence to produce a desired degree of astigmatism, mode matches the radiation into 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.

Abstract: A stable resonator for a ring-down cavity spectroscopy cell having an optic axis. The resonator includes two Brewster's angle retroreflector prisms, at least one prism having greater than two 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).

Abstract: In an optical sheet 10 having a prism surface 16 formed by providing unit prisms 14 on the upper surface of a transparent base material 12, a coating layer 18 is provided on the reverse surface of the transparent base material opposite to the prism surface 16, spherical beads 20 are arranged projecting from the surface of the coating layer 18 by 1 to 10 .mu.m in height, and the coating layer 18 is brought into contact with the flat and smooth surface 22A of the light-transmissive material 22 through the spherical beads 20 which are put between them. The spherical beads are 1 .mu.m or less in half bandwidth of the distribution of particle diameters and are made uniform in height projecting from the coating layer 18.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-beam optical system, which has a light source having a plurality of light emitting portions from which a plurality of light beams are emitted, respectively; a collimating lens which collimates the plurality of light beams into a plurality of parallel light beams; a beam shaping optical system including at least one wedge prism, the beam shaping optical system shaping cross section of the plurality of parallel beams; an image forming optical system which converges the plurality of parallel beams transmitted through the beam shaping optical system. In such a multi-beam optical system, a plurality of light emitting portions are aligned in a direction perpendicular to a principal section of the wedge prism.

Abstract: A compact optical system capable of providing a clear image of minimal distortion even at a wide field angle. The optical system is a decentered optical system (10). Curved surfaces (3 and 4) constituting the optical system include at least one rotationally asymmetric surface having no axis of rotational symmetry in nor out of the surface. To correct rotationally asymmetric aberrations due to decentration by the rotationally asymmetric surface, the following condition is satisfied:-1000<FX/FXn<1000 (1-1)where FX is the focal length in the X-direction of the optical system, and FXn is the focal length in the X-direction of that portion of the rotationally asymmetric surface on which an axial principal ray strikes.

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: An exterior rearview mirror for vehicles incorporates a forward vision improving system allowing improved visibility of the opposite roadway forward of the vehicle for safer passing. Preferably, the forward vision system includes a pair of prisms mounted in a mirror housing, one of which is directed at an angle of incidence past and to the left of a front, slower vehicle, the other of which receives the image from the first, and is positioned in the driver's line of sight. In one embodiment of the vision system, the front prism of the pair of prisms is replaced by a divergent lens.

Abstract: A side-viewing optical system that provides wide-field viewing of image scenes on both sides of a vehicle, particularly in blind areas between the driver's direct peripheral vision and a image scene normally viewed using the rear view mirror. A projected demagnified image from both sides of the vehicle is directed into the driver's eyes from a position straight forward and angled downward so that the forward viewing direction is not blocked while driving the vehicle or requiring driver head motion. The system has left and right side viewers having prisms and Fresnel relay lenses. A roof mirror having left and right mirror surfaces respectively reflect image scenes observed by the side viewers toward the driver. A relay is disposed between the right side viewer and the right mirror surface of the roof mirror. A projector having a Fresnel lens finally projects the image scenes toward the driver for viewing.

Abstract: An array of graduated prisms disposed in a circle for rotating an incident image, the prisms are disposed with their end faces at the periphery of the circle and their apices at the center. The end faces are all oriented in the same direction either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the direction of rotation.

Abstract: Illuminated instruments in aircraft cockpits often create reflections from the canopy which interfere with the pilots vision. A wedge of optical material positioned adjacent the instrument retracts the light rays such that the canopy reflections are deflected away from the eyes of the pilot.

Abstract: A beam shaping optical system which is provided with a first wedge prism having two refractive surfaces defining a first principal section, and a second wedge prism having two refractive surfaces defining a second principal section that is parallel to the first principal section, wherein a reference ray of light forms incident angles at each of the refractive surfaces of the prisms satisfying the following condition (1): ##EQU1##

Abstract: Optical components that are designed to be coupled together in modular fashion to form an optical network. The components are shaped so that a plurality of components can be coupled together to form a light cube. The components are provided with mating means to permit easy coupling. The preferred form of component is a right-angled triangular prism that can be coupled together with a similar prism to form a cube.

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 motor vehicle peripheral monitoring apparatus uses a monitor region extension member as optical image forming means. The monitor region extension member comprises an upper image passage part and an upper image compression part. The upper image passage part includes a prism structural element of substantially a semi-conical shape whose prism apical angles become the maximum angle at the center of the member and are decreased toward the extremity from the center of the member. The upper image compression part includes a cylindrical structural element having a curved surface whose angles are set to be smaller continuously from the prism apical angles of the upper image passage part.

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: High radiation concentration photovoltaic cell system including at least one optical structure in the form of a three-dimensional body having a first surface adapted to receive thereon photovoltaic cells and a second surface to be, at least indirectly, exposed to light radiation. The body of the optical structure has formed between its first and second surfaces a two-dimensional array of contiguous light radiation concentrators each in the form of an individual prismatic body portion. Each prismatic body portion tapers in two dimensions toward said first surface along the entire length of the concentrator. Each concentrator defines on the first surface a photovoltaic cell-attaching area to be aligned with an active portion of a single photovoltaic cell to be attached thereto.

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 prismatic optical device employs an improved prismatic image erecting system with curved refracting surfaces. The optical device can be any one of a wide variety of known devices such as telescopes and binoculars which include an objective, an image erecting system and an ocular. The erecting prism of the optical system is preferably an integral prism formed of optical quality plastic and may comprise a Porro erecting prism system or an image erecting system employing pentangular or roof 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 transmission type optical deflector wherein a prism holder is supported by a yoke member to rotate about a principal axis through an elastic device. A wedge-shaped transmission prism is provided on the prism holder to transmit and refract light. The prism holder and yoke member are respectively provided with a coil and a permanent magnet secured thereto, to produce a rotational motion of the prism holder in the forward and reverse directions about the principal axis due to an electromagnetic function. The transmission prism is partly cut away at the thick portion thereof so that the center of gravity of the transmission prism is identical to the principal axis in a section in which the principal axis appears as a point and the transmission prism appears as a wedge-shape.

Abstract: A laser trapping apparatus for optically trapping an optional micro-particle from a group of micro-particles such as microorganisms suspended in a medium by a laser beam focused at a focal point of an optical converging system at the focal point, the apparatus comprising:a parallel beam output device for outputting a plurality of laser beams around an optical axis in parallel with said optical axis, and an optical converging system having an objective lens for focusing the plurality of laser beams irradiated from the parallel beam output device to the focal point.

Abstract: An optical block which is light in weight and low in price, and has optical path distances equivalent to those obtained with glass has an outside form composed by arranging a polyhedron 8a having a surface of incidence for a blue ray B, a polyhedron 8b having a surface of incidence for a red ray R and a polyhedron 8c having a surface of incidence for a green ray G which are configured as transparent plastic members, and optical members 9a and 9b configured as dichroic filters formed as glass members. The polyhedrons 8a to 8c are coupled by way of the optical members 9a and 9b so as to compose an optical block as a monochromator prism block.

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: A chromatic aberration correcting element that is a simple lens having at least one aspheric surface the radius of curvature of which increases from the optical axis toward the periphery, at least either one of the surfaces being formed as a diffraction lens surface that consists of annular segments in steps that are shifted discretely in a direction in which the lens thickness increases as a function of the distance from the optical axis. Also, a chromatic aberration correcting device having annular segments formed in steps on either a light entrance face or a light exit face or both, the annular segments being composed of planes perpendicular to and concentric with the optical axis.

Abstract: A compact endoscope optical system capable of providing a clear image of minimal distortion even at a wide field angle. The endoscope optical system includes an objective optical system for forming an object image. The objective optical system has a prism member (3) having reflecting surfaces (5, 6) for bending an optical path. The endoscope optical system further includes an image transfer system for leading the object image formed by the objective optical system to an observation apparatus along the direction of a major axis. The objective optical system has a configuration producing decentration aberration by bending the optical path. The prism member (3) has at least one curved surface (4 to 7) having an optical action in the optical path. The curved surface is such a non-rotationally symmetric surface having no axis of rotational symmetry in nor out of the surface as to correct the decentration aberration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing sequential temporal and spatial integration of a collimated non-symmetrical excimer laser beam to optimize the temporal and spatial characteristics of the beam. The temporal integrator comprises a pair of cylindrical lenses spaced along the beam axis by a distance substantially equal to the sum of the focal length of both lenses, and a motor mechanism for rotating the two spaced cylindrical lenses about the beam axis. The spatial beam integrator includes a plurality of prisms distributed about a hollow center, the outlet face of each prism being angled with respect to the body axis of the spatial beam integrator so that portions of the laser beam passing through a given prism are refracted towards the center upon emergence from the outlet face.

Abstract: A doublet lens which, on being inserted between the light rays, can perform deviation correction in an afocal state without its focal length being changed. The doublet lens is arranged so that, if the radius of curvature of the concave surface of a plano-concave lens 10X is r1, the refractive index of the plano-concave lens 10X is n1, the magnitude of a gap between the plano-concave lens and the plano-convex lens is .DELTA., the refractive index of the gap is n2, the radius of curvature of the convex surface of a plano-convex lens 10Y is r2 and the refractive index of the plano-convex lens 10Y is n3, the following relation: ##EQU1## is met. The angle between opposite planar surfaces is changed by rotating the plano-convex mirror, for example, of the doublet lens about its center of curvature as the center of rotation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical rearranging device that is simple, compact, highly efficient, and is located in the proximity of an image plane. This device utilizes diffractive, refractive, and/or reflective elements and can produce a perfect shuffle or other interconnect pattern that is useful in computing, communication, and switching applications involving optically carried information. Further, this device can be made from redirecting elements that are themselves switchable, thus enabling a direct switching between the non-rearranged interconnect pattern and other rearranged interconnect patterns.

Abstract: An optical component comprises at least one substantially planar element having a plurality of elementary surfaces capable of acting to reflect by total internal reflection light incident thereon through the corresponding said element within a first range of incident angles associated with each surface, and to refract light incident thereon through the corresponding said element within a second range of incident angles associated with each surface. Refracted light at low angles of incidence passes straight through to provide a view through the component.

Abstract: A prism sheet having a plurality of substantially triangular prism-shaped lens units with their longitudinal axes almost parallel to each other arranged on one side and having the other side roughened, and with a characteristic value of 100 when said roughned side is smooth, the characterstic values are not less than 50 in glossiness, not more than 70 in internal reflective ability, and not more than 70 in friction coefficient when the plane including the prism peaks is rubbed by the roughened surface. The prism sheet of the present invention is therefrom free from interference fringes, substantially safe from scratching and uniform and high in brightness, being thus useful for liquid crystal devices etc.

Abstract: An apparatus is used with an optical disk drive for directing a beam of light to a surface of an optical disk. The apparatus has a beam shifter configured to direct the beam from a first path (along which the beam is generated) to a second path which is substantially parallel to the first path. An imaging lens is configured to direct the beam from the second path along a third path which passes near the front focal point of an objective lens (located near the surface of the disk). The third path and the first path diverge at an angle based on the distance separating the first and second paths.

Abstract: A panel unit for use in a window, a partition, a free standing frame, or in a wall, and having a plurality of vertically stacked, elongated transparent elements arranged in a frame, whereby natural light or artificial light on one side of the panel reflects onto the environment on the one side of the panel unit. The reflected light is transmitted through each transparent element and is refracted and dispersed to create a block of color when viewed on the other side of the panel, which results in a color pattern when viewed on the other side of the panel unit. The transparent elements may be made of lead crystal glass or optical glass, and may be triangularly shaped to produce a maximum light dispersion zone or trapezoidally shaped to produce a minimum light dispersion zone. To resist or reduce glare, a shutter apparatus may be mounted adjacent to the panel unit on the side of the panel unit where the direct sunlight exists, or filters or tinted glass may be used.

Abstract: An image display apparatus which enables observation of a clear image at a wide field angle and which is extremely small in size and light in weight. The apparatus includes an image display device (6) for displaying an image, and an ocular optical system (7) for leading the image displayed by the image display device (6) to an observer's eyeball (1). The ocular optical system (7) has a first surface 3, a second surface 4, and a third surface 5. A space formed by the three surfaces is filled with a transparent medium having a refractive index larger than 1. Light rays emitted from the image display device (6) pass through the third surface (5) and are internally reflected by the first surface (3) and further internally reflected by the second surface (4), which is decentered and has positive power. The reflected light rays pass through the first surface (3) and are led to the observer's eyeball (1). The angle .theta..sub.

Abstract: A light source device including a light emitting element emits a luminous flux, which is converged by a reflecting mirror. A conical light-refracting element receives the luminous flux converged by the reflecting mirror and changes the cone angle of the luminous flux. The luminous flux exiting the conical light-refracting element is diffused by a holographic diffuser and is then converged by at least one lens. The reflecting mirror may have an elliptic curvature or a parabolic curvature. The light source device is also used to form a projector for a projection type display apparatus. In the projector, the luminous flux emitted from the light source device may be separated by color separators into a plurality of colors of light. Then, each color of light is directed to the corresponding one of a plurality of light valves. Then, a color synthesizer synthesizes the colors of light emitted from the light valves into a composite image which in turn is projected onto a screen.

Abstract: An optical modulator (19) utilizes a variable beam splitter arrangement having two separate plano-periodic cylindrical lens arrays (20 and 22) arranged as a sandwiched air-spaced assembly with the plano surfaces facing outwardly from the assembly. The assembly further includes a means (26) for controllably translating or moving one of the lenses relative to the other. The periodic array is formed as alternating concave and convex cylindrical structures. In a nominal setting, the optical axes of the concave structures of one of the lens arrays are aligned with the optical axes of the convex structures of the other so that the assembly acts as an afocal window having little impact when placed in an optical system. To adjust the beam splitting properties, one lens array is slightly translated with respect to the other to cause controlled misalignment of the two lens array surfaces. The present invention is particularly suited for tuning the point spread function of an electronic imaging system.

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: An optical system is disclosed for improving the brightness symmetry of a beam emitted from a laser diode where the beam has a large width and a narrow height. The optical system includes a tilt plate for displacing one half of the width of the beam downwardly. A first beam steering prism functions to tilt the remaining, second half of the beam width in a plane parallel to the width dimension so that the second half travels towards the first half. A second beam steering prism is provided to tilt the second half of the beam so that its propagation axis is parallel to the propagation axis of the first half and wherein the second half is stacked above the first half. The optical system functions to improve the brightness symmetry of the beam by a factor of about five. The corrected beam can be used to improve the performance of a solid state laser which is end pumped by a broad area laser diode or a laser diode bar.

Abstract: A light directing film including a first surface and a second structured surface. The structured surface includes a repeating pattern of prism zones including at least a first zone having a plurality of prism elements with peaks disposed at a first distance from a reference plane and a second zone having a plurality of prism elements with peaks disposed less than the first distance from a reference plane. The width of the first zone preferably measures less than about 300 microns.

Abstract: A device including a polarizing beam splitter by which an incident luminous flux is split into a first luminous flux radiated onto a first photo sensor and a second luminous flux radiated onto a second photo sensor, and an adjusting mechanism provided for rotatably adjusting a position of one of the first and second luminous fluxes. The optical axis of the first luminous flux is coincident with that of the incident luminous flux. The optical axis of the second luminous flux is not parallel to the first luminous flux. By rotating the beam splitter about the optical axis of the first luminous flux, the beam receiving position of the second photo sensor, onto which the second luminous flux is radiated, is changed.

Abstract: A wedge prism unit is positioned on the optical axes of the objective optical systems of two telescope systems of a binocular. The wedge prism unit includes a front wedge prism element and a rear wedge prism element that are oppositely oriented. When rotated by equal amounts in opposite directions, the wedge prism elements deflect incident light in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis. The wedge prism unit is placed along the objective optical axes of the binocular, oriented to deflect the visual field to compensate for vibration. A control circuit controls a single motor according to a vibration sensor to deflect the visual field in a direction opposite to the vibration. The rotation axis is either within or outside of an imaginary plane containing both of the optical axes.

Abstract: An optical reflector is formed by an array of reflecting surfaces arranged one behind another in spaced, generally parallel, relation along a main axis of the array. The reflector has entry and exit faces (11, 12) disposed on opposite sides of, and extending along, the array main axis. The spaces between the reflecting surfaces is preferably occupied by a refractive material. In this case, light entering through the entry face (11) is first refracted and then reflected before being refracted again on leaving through the exit face (12). The main extent of the reflector is unlike a conventional mirror, normal to the plane of reflection. The reflector is thus well suited for use as a vehicle external rearview mirror as it has minimal lateral protection. A reflector array may be produced from a stack of elongate elements having optically worked faces.

Abstract: A film that exhibits increased scratch resistant characteristics. The film is formed from a layer of crosslinkable oligomeric resin composition on a base. The film is made by: forming the layer of crosslinkable oligomeric resin composition on the base, and curing the resin composition to an extent that the film exhibits a haze decrease of less than or equal to 60 percent after abrading according to the ASTM D-968-81 procedure using 200 milliliters of sand. Preferably, the layer has a microstructure of alternating tips and grooves. Such films are useful in backlit displays which are useful in computers and the like.

Abstract: In an image-forming optical system in which an astigmatism may occur, an astigmatism correcting element disposed between an image-forming lens (20) and an image-forming surface (12) in order to correct the astigmatism is constructed such that it can correct the T image surface toward both plus and minus directions with respect to the S image surface, while easily correcting the astigmatism even when there is fluctuation in the generated astigmatism. The astigmatism correcting element comprises a prism unit (22) in which a pair of wedge-like prisms (22a, 22b) having an identical apex angle are oppositely placed in reverse to each other with a predetermined air space (d) therebetween. Also, this prism unit (22) is disposed such that its optical axis (X1) can be tilted with respect to a main ray (X2) of a bundle of rays subjected to astigmatism correction.

Abstract: An insert is installed at a corner and two adjacent edges of an enclosure for electronic equipment so that a signal light, such as an LED, may be observed from two sides of the enclosure. The insert has a prism to refract light in both directions from an LED or similar signal light supported on the insert in a fixed position relative to the prism. The corner of the prism is rounded to function as a lens. The corner of the enclosure is cut away at the upper edges of the converging sides and the cut-away area filled with the lens. An apron depending from the insert may be welded or otherwise adhered to the interior of the enclosure.

Abstract: A detector system for providing a plurality of output beams for monitoring the output beam of a laser system. The detector system includes a refractive element having a pair of opposing spaced-apart faces. The laser beam enters the refractive element where it undergoes multiple internal reflections off of the faces. A portion of the beam is transmitted out of the refractive element at each of the reflections to form a plurality of increasingly attenuated output beams having different power intensities from each other. A plurality of detectors are positioned for measuring the different beam characteristics of the plurality of attenuated output beams, which correspond to the beam characteristics of the laser output beam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing sequential temporal and spatial integration of a collimated non-symmetrical excimer laser beam to optimize the temporal and spatial characteristics of the beam. The temporal integrator comprises a pair of cylindrical lenses spaced along the beam axis by a distance substantially equal to the sum of the focal length of both lenses, and a motor mechanism for rotating the two spaced cylindrical lenses about the beam axis. The spatial beam integrator includes a plurality of prisms distributed about a hollow center, the outlet face of each prism being angled with respect to the body axis of the spatial beam integrator so that portions of the laser beam passing through a given prism are refracted towards the center upon emergence from the outlet face.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed for improving the brightness symmetry of a beam emitted from a laser diode where the beam has a large width and a narrow height. The optical system includes a tilt plate for displacing one half of the width of the beam downwardly. A first beam steering prism functions to tilt the remaining, second half of the beam width in a plane parallel to the width dimension so that the second half travels towards the first half. A second beam steering prism is provided to tilt the second half of the beam so that its propagation axis is parallel to the propagation axis of the first half and wherein the second half is stacked above the first half. The optical system functions to improve the brightness symmetry of the beam by a factor of about five. The corrected beam can be used to improve the performance of a solid state laser which is end pumped by a broad area laser diode or a laser diode bar.