Abstract: A FLIR staring array detector system for imaging an object scene using catadioptric optics has a cold shield efficiency approaching unity. The system provides a full format image of the object scene. The catadioptric optics include reflective objective optics for providing an intermediate image of the object scene and refractive relay optics for providing the full format image. The system further includes a staring detector for receiving the full format image.

Abstract: A multiple reflection optical instrument including a housing; a main field mirror fixedly mounted on a mount which is disposed at one longitudinal end of the housing and has a light beam inlet window; an auxiliary field mirror fixedly mounted on the mount which is adjacent to the main field mirror; a light beam outlet window formed in the mount; and first to fourth objective mirrors arranged at the other longitudinal end of the housing opposite to the field mirrors, wherein an image matrix is formed on the main and auxiliary field mirrors by a plurality of reflection spots of the light beam passing through the inlet window into the housing, and a position of a center of curvature of each of the first to fourth objective mirrors, which is projected onto the main field mirror, is adjusted such that the finally reflected light beam toward the outlet window is a maximum even-numbered coming and going reflection reflected from the third objective mirror in the image matrix.

Abstract: A back mirror has plural mirror surface areas of different curvatures disposed side by side or plural mirror surface areas disposed side by side to form discontinuous planes. The back mirror includes a dividing line having a light diffusion effect formed along a border portion of the plural mirror surface areas. The dividing line may be formed by projections and depressions having a light diffusion effect which are formed on at least one of a transparent substrate, reflecting film and a transparent thin film formed on the reflecting film.

Abstract: A heads-up display unit provided with a display device serving as display image forming means which displays a display image. A hologram serves as a reflecting means, and reflects the display light emitted from the display device, causing reflection of the display image on the interior surface of a vehicle's windshield. A display image is formed outside the windshield towards the front of the vehicle. A concave mirror having a different focal length in different directions is recorded in the hologram serving as a reflecting means so as to offset distortion of the display image caused by curvatures of the windshield. This construction makes it possible to cause the windshield to display a display image free from distortion.

Abstract: A mirror optical system includes a main mirror and a sub-mirror which are arranged to oppose each other, and a plurality of columns for coupling the main mirror to the sub-mirror. The main mirror, the sub-mirror, and the columns are constituted by members consisting of the same material, for example, a ceramic material, which has a very small linear expansion coefficient.

Abstract: A headup display including a light emission-type display source, a concave mirror having an spherical reflecting surface and located so as to reflect light emitted from the display source, and a reflection-type hologram located so as to reflect the light reflected on the concave mirror toward an observer in a mobile unit. The concave mirror is configured so that its lateral focal length contributing to lateral enlargement of a displayed image is shorter than its longitudinal focal length contributing to longitudinal enlargement of the displayed image. The reflection-type hologram is configured so that its longitudinal focal length contributing to longitudinal enlargement of the displayed image is shorter than its lateral focal length contributing to lateral enlargement of the displayed image.

Abstract: An optical system for scanning a transparency. The optical system includes a light source that emits a longitudinally and laterally diverging beam of light. A torodial shaped mirror is positioned to refocus the light beam along both its longitudinal and lateral axes so that it becomes a focused light beam. The inwardly converging light beam is directed onto the transparency to be scanned. A complementary light sensor is positioned to receive the illuminated beam of light formed as a consequence of the transparency scanning.

Abstract: A hollow light guide with opposed first and second parallel sections having confocal, parabolic cross-sectional shape. The light guide may be a prism light guide, or other hollow light guide such as a metallic mirror light guide or a multi-layer dielectric light guide. The cross-sectional shapes have vertices separated by a distance which does not exceed about three times (preferably, about 2.5 times) the focal length of the shapes.

Abstract: An optical guide (10, 40, 50, 60) for horizontally aligning two vertically stacked images generated by one or two SLMs. The optical guide has a channel separator (10a) that directs both images along two different paths. A pair of aligning reflectors (10b and 10c) on each path vertically shift the images with respect to each other so that at least part of the images on the first path are aligned side-by-side with at least part of the images on the second path. The channel separator (10a) then redirects the images to the image plane 15. Along both paths, at least two of the reflecting surfaces of channel separator (10a) or aligning reflectors (10b and 10c) are optically powered so as to change the width or height of the images.

Abstract: A high efficiency, high performance full color projection system. The system includes a one-to-one relay and a refractive projection lens system. The one-to-one relay combines the outputs from two different spectral image sources, such as blue and red image sources. The refractive projection lens further combines the output from a third spectral image source, such as a green image source, with the combined images from the other two image sources relayed through the one-to-one relay to produce a single output. The one-to-one relay includes three modules, a spherical primary module, a spherical secondary module and a spectral combining module. The refractive projection lens system includes a beam combiner and a projection optics.

Abstract: An optical system is provided for a FLIR mounted in a cylindrical turret ch has five folding mirrors, two doubling as scanning mirrors, numerous lenses with aspherical surfaces and different refractive indices, and a rotatable head mirror. Some of the lenses and mirrors being mounted on remote controlled electrically powered focusing or scanning means.

Abstract: A concentric optical system usable as either an imaging optical system or an ocular optical system, which enables a clear image to be obtained at a field angle of up to about 90.degree. and with a pupil diameter of up to about 10 millimeters with substantially no chromatic aberration. The concentric optical system includes a first optical component having a first semitransparent reflecting surface (2), and a second optical component having a second semitransparent reflecting surface (3). The first and second semitransparent reflecting surfaces (2 and 3) have respective centers of curvature disposed at approximately the same position (1). The first and second optical components are different in dispersion from each other.

Abstract: The invention is a reflective dead angle vision device, which provides a line of sight for the driver that includes the area adjacent to the two front tires. The invention has a housing and two ultra wide-angle mirrors. The housing has movable transparent plates positioned at the front and rear, pivoting rectangular wide-angle mirrors positioned at the front and rear reflect light from a light bulb to provide forward illumination during day and night, an indicator light bulb positioned at a lower rear corner of the housing, intersecting water drainage troughs and a water drainage hole formed in the bottom, two hook-type mounting arms extend from the rear top edge to provide a means of installation onto a side mirror, and two flat rubber cushions are glued to the housing top for securing to the bottom of an automobile side mirror.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an imaging system which focuses a plurality of different color LED sources on a photosensitive recording medium without use of any refractive optics. The imaging system comprises two concave mirrors having reflective surfaces, each of which is a conic section, and a baffle located between the mirrors. Each of the mirrors includes an aperture and the baffle is located between the apertures of the mirrors. A printing method utilizing the apparatus includes reflection of light generated by the LED sources between the mirrors following a series of zigzag turns, convergence of the light through an aperture in one of the mirrors, and formation of an image on a photosensitive recording medium without passing through refracting optics, wherein the baffle blocks light from propagating directly towards an imaging surface without reflecting in the imaging system.

Abstract: An optical element that produces line bow, for example, a toric or cylindrical mirror or lens, is provided in a light-supplying optical device in addition to a first line-bow-producing optical element already present in the device so that a substantially straight line of light is formed on an original document. The light-supplying optical device also includes a light source that generates illuminating light to illuminate the original document and the first optical element that has a toric surface for collecting the illuminating light onto the original document and that is positioned so that the illuminating light shines at a certain angle relative to its toric surface. With this device, the second optical element having a toric surface is positioned in the optical path of the light source and of the original document so as to offset the curve of the illuminating light that otherwise would be generated on the original document by the first optical element.

Abstract: A reflection type imaging optical system is provided with at least one reflecting mirror, whose reflecting surface is constructed of a plurality of zone areas different from each other in spectral reflectance characteristics. Further, in the optical system, the spectral reflectance characteristics of each zone area are selected so that an incident angle providing the maximum reflectance when a ray of light of a predetermined wavelength is incident on each zone area has a value between the maximum and the minimum of the incident angle in the zone area. The reflection type imaging optical system thus provides an important advantage in practical use in that the reflection efficiency of each reflecting surface is enhanced to bring about the brightness necessary for the imaging surface.

Abstract: An optical system for x-rays combines at least two spherical or near spherical mirrors for each dimension in grazing incidence orientation to provide the functions of a lens in the x-ray region. To focus x-ray radiation in both the X and the Y dimensions, one of the mirrors focusses the X dimension, a second mirror focusses the Y direction, a third mirror corrects the X dimension by removing comatic aberration and a fourth mirror corrects the Y dimension. Spherical aberration may also be removed for an even better focus. The order of the mirrors is unimportant.

Abstract: A multiple reflection optical instrument including a housing; a main field mirror fixedly mounted on a mount which is disposed at one longitudinal end of the housing and has a light beam inlet window; an auxiliary field mirror fixedly mounted on the mount which is adjacent to the main field mirror; a light beam outlet window formed in the mount; and first to fourth objective mirrors arranged at the other longitudinal end of the housing opposite to the field mirrors, wherein an image matrix is formed on the main and auxiliary field mirrors by a plurality of reflection spots of the light beam passing through the inlet window into the housing, and a position of a center of curvature of each of the first to fourth objective mirrors, which is projected onto the main field mirror, is adjusted such that the finally reflected light beam toward the outlet window is a maximum even-numbered coming and going reflection reflected from the third objective mirror in the image matrix.

Abstract: A catadioptric optical system includes, in succession from the object side, a first partial optical system having positive refractive power and for forming the primary image of an object, and a second partial optical system having positive refractive power and for forming a secondary image by light from the primary image, and at least one aperture stop may be provided in the optical path of the first partial optical system and at least one aperture stop may be provided in the optical path of the second partial optical system.

Abstract: The apparent position of a three-dimensional volumetric image can be "translated" or moved away from image generation apparatus by employing an image translation chamber comprising two concave reflectors. In one embodiment, a reduced portion or "sector" of the image translation chamber can be provided to facilitate image translation for a restricted range of viewing angles. In another embodiment, two or more image translation chambers can be "stacked" to provide double translation of a three-dimensional image over a greater distance. In another embodiment of the invention, a bi-convex lens can be used to translate the apparent position of a three-dimensional image.

Abstract: An automotive rear view mirror system comprises passive optical elements (which may include lenses, but must include one or an odd number of mirrors) configured to provide a wide field of view with a negative optical element having a small width dimension mounted externally and close to the body of the vehicle. In a basic embodiment, a small negative optical element, such as a convex mirror, is mounted outside the vehicle, and a larger positive optical element, such as a convex lens, is placed inside the vehicle. The optical elements are positioned to be substantially confocal, with the distance between them equal to the difference in their focal lengths, so as to cancel the curvature of field generated by the external element. The internal element magnifies the image to a size comparable to that obtained with a standard external flat mirror.

Abstract: An illumination system for illuminating a surface includes a reflecting element having a finite focal length. A light source is located at a point, close to a focal point of the reflecting element, which is deviated from the principal axis of the reflecting element. Light from the light source is reflected by the reflecting element, whereby light with parallel rays is directed toward the surface. The surface is illuminated with symmetrical illuminance distribution with respect to the optical axis of the light.

Abstract: A concentric optical system usable as either an imaging optical system or an ocular optical system, which has an F-number of 1.5 to 3 and enables a flat and clear image to be photographed or observed at a view angle of up to 60.degree. or more with substantially no aberration. The concentric optical system includes at least two semitransparent reflecting surfaces (2) and (3) each having a center of curvature disposed in the vicinity of a pupil (1) and a concave surface directed toward the pupil. The semitransparent reflecting surfaces are disposed so that each semitransparent reflecting surface passes each particular bundle of light rays at least once and reflects them at least once, thereby providing a flat image surface (4).

Abstract: A projector has a shortened optical path from a light valve to a screen and a reduction in the depth size of its system, and requires less space to mount. Rays of light emitted from a light valve of the project are refracted by a converging lens and reflected by a plane mirror to converge at the primary focal point of an elliptical mirror, and then travel toward the secondary focal point whereat the focal point of a parabolic mirror also exists and a projection lens is disposed. The light rays pass through the projection lens, are reflected by the parabolic mirror and then are brought to a parallel beam of light that is further collected by a Fresnel lens to finally form an image on a lenticular lens-screen.

Abstract: A projector has a shortened optical path from a light valve to a screen and a reduction in the depth size of its system and requires less space to mount. Rays of light emitted from a light valve of the projects are refracted by a converging lens and reflected by a plane mirror to converge at the primary focal point of an elliptical mirror, and then travel toward the secondary focal point whereat the focal point of a parabolic mirror also exists and a projection lens is disposed. The light rays pass through the projection lens, are reflected by the parabolic mirror and then are brought to a parallel beam of light that is further collected by a Fresnel lens to finally form an image on a lenticular lens-screen.

Abstract: A projector has a shortened optical path from a light valve to a screen and a reduction in the depth size of its system, and requires less space to mount. Rays of light emitted from a light valve of the projector are refracted by a converging lens and reflected by a plane mirror to converge at the primary focal point of an elliptical mirror, and then travel toward the secondary focal point whereat the focal point of a parabolic mirror also exists and a projection lens is disposed. The light rays pass through the projection lens, are reflected by the parabolic mirror and then are brought to a parallel beam of light that is further collected by a Fresnel lens to finally form an image on a lenticular lens-screen.

Abstract: In an optical illumination instrument for use in photolithographic process of manufacturing semiconductor devices, a reflection type homogenizer is composed of an array of paraboloid mirrors of a same size arranged on a same plane.

Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation source, such as an arc lamp, is located at a point displaced from the optical axis of a concave toroidal reflecting surface. The concave primary reflector focuses the radiation from the source at an off-axis image point that is displaced from the optical axis. The use of a toroidal reflecting surface enhances the collection efficiency into a small target, such as an optical fiber, relative to a spherical reflecting surface by substantially reducing aberrations caused by the off-axis geometry. A second concave reflector is placed opposite to the first reflector to enhance further the total flux collected by a small target.

Abstract: The fabrication of an off axis three-mirror telescope on only two substrates allowing two of mirrors to be formed on a common substrate, such as by means of diamond turning. The common substrate configuration is made possible by utilizing a common vertex for both the primary and tertiary mirrors so that alignment subsequent to fabrication requires placement of only two elements. In addition, all three mirrors in this invention share a common optical axis enabling an extremely simple mounting and housing design. The present invention is applicable for use in electro-optical imaging sensors operating from visible wavelengths to long infrared wavelengths. A telescope is formed by the assembly of three off-axis mirrors, including a primary mirror, a secondary mirror and a tertiary mirror. All three mirrors share a common system optical axis.

Abstract: The reflective projection system has a relatively wide field of view that comprises two concave and two convex spherical mirrors, situated in certain non-light-blocking positions with respect to one another, for deriving, with negligible image aberrations, a projected magnified or demagnified image over at least one of a range of magnification or demagnification power values between 3 and infinity that may be zoomed over this range. Such a reflective projection system, utilizing a high-power excimer laser radiation source, may be employed for ablating the surface of a substrate, such as the surface of the coating of a coated wafer, with a demagnified image of an object pattern defined by a mask, the radiation intensity of the demagnified image being sufficiently high to effect this ablation.

Abstract: An interconnect substrate with a surface having a plurality of electrical tracings is provided. A photonic device having a working portion and contact electrically coupled to one of the plurality of electrical tracings is disposed on the interconnect substrate. A molded optical portion is formed that encapsulates the photonic device, as well as forming a reflective surface that directs light between an external light communicating structure and the photonic device.

Abstract: A reflecting telescope is described, in which the surface of the primary mirror is in the form of a pitch circular surface of a hypothetical, rotationally symmetrical large mirror. The optical axis parallel to the incident optical path and the focal point of the primary mirror and the large mirror are consequently identical. The primary mirror or pitch circular surface are located alongside the optical axis, so that all the optical and mechanical aids to be arranged in the vicinity of the focal point can be located outside the light incidence area and the reflection field, without optical correcting means being required.

Abstract: A display, for example, for a visor attached to a helmet, the visor having a partially reflecting semi-transparent portion in the view of the wearer and an optical projector for projecting an image onto the semi-transparent portion for reflection therefrom. The semi-transparent portion has a relatively higher reflectivity in a central area thereof and a relatively lower reflectivity in an annular area outside the central area. In one aspect of the invention, the head mounted display includes a projector having a display source whereon an image is formed and an optical system for focusing the image at separate sagittal and tangential foci between the image-forming surface and the semi-transparent portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for creating a three-dimensional image in space of an object. The device employs concave mirrors positioned in a unique arrangement with respect to one another so that the clarity and image produced therefrom is enhanced. Additionally, a videotape option allows a whole image to be broadcast and real objects merged with the broadcast image so that the entire combined image appears three-dimensional and realistic to a properly located observer.

Abstract: A laser light show device and method produces a surface projected or suspended holographic image, and includes multiple image projectors. One image projector provides the object image information representing the primary subject. For surface projections, additional background image projectors provide background image information generated using a wobbler plate-reflected beam diffracted through a spherical lens, a beam unidimensionally diffracted through a rotating cylindrical amorphic dipolyhedral lens, and a beam diffracted through multiple diffraction gratings. A suspended holographic image is produced by parabolically focusing multiple images projected onto a spherical image screen.

Abstract: A flexible light conduit which preserves the coherence of a transmitted beam. Several conduit elements having optical elements mounted inside each one are connected together to form a chain. Each conduit element is tiltably coupled to each adjacent conduit element in the chain. The optical elements may be refractive or reflective. The conduit preserves the spatial coherence properties of the beam so the input image is reimaged at a distant place, having passed through the series of relay optical elements through the angles permitted by the coupling members.

Abstract: We describe a device for aligning optical beams that uses either an elliptically curved or a parabolically curved mirror arranged in the reflected beam path between a rotatable mirror, which is placed at the focus of the curved mirror, and the desired target. With the elliptical mirror, the device provides variable angle, fixed position of incidence of the reflected beam upon a target placed at the second focus of the ellipse. With the parabolic mirror, the device provides variable position, fixed angle of incidence of the reflected beam upon a target. Combinations of these devices may be used to solve a variety of beam steering and/or beam alignment problems. These devices are particularly useful for experiments and applications involving ultrashort optical pulses since the time of flight through either of these devices is a constant independent of the angle of incidence and the position of incidence.

Abstract: A device for coupling a laser diode emission to an optical fiber is provided. The device utilizes two opposed mirrors to redirect the divergent light beam of the laser diode to within the smaller numerical aperture or angle of acceptance of the optical fiber. The two opposed mirrors can be, for example, concave elliptical mirrors, a convex spherical and a concave spherical mirror, or a planar mirror and a concave spherical mirror. Each mirror has an aperture therein to allow passage of the initial laser diode beam or the redirected beam to the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical system for use in helmet mounted displays that consists of an image source, electronics that predistort the image emanating from the projector, a means for correcting for optical aberration that may be a lens or a fiber optic taper, and a reflective surface composed of a plurality of reflective surface elements with conic geometries. Light from the projector, corrected for optical aberrations, is directed into the first reflective surface element. Light from the first reflective surface element is reflected into a second reflective surface element and thereafter into the eye.

Abstract: A re-imaging optical system (10) has a ref lective objective (12) providing an intermediate image of the object being viewed and a relay (14) including refractive (32, 62) and diffractive (34, 72) optical elements. The system is capable of re-imaging the intermediate image onto an image plane (16) with the characteristic advantages of reflective and refractive systems while eliminating their deficiencies.

Abstract: An optical system for a night vision video camera having a pair of mirrors with an optical prescription providing f/2.8 speed and 50 line pairs per line millimeter resolution to an image intensifier located between the two mirrors on the common optic axis of the mirrors. The mirror first receiving the image to be viewed is an f/4 parabolic mirror and the second mirror is an f/10 spherical mirror with an external diameter of about forty percent of the diameter of the parabolic mirror (i.e., the obsuration ratio is about 0.40). The second mirror receives the reflected image of the object viewed by the night vision video camera from the first mirror and reflects the image to the image intensifier. The image may be viewed at a external view finder and can also be recorded.

Abstract: The disclosed system comprises: 1) a transmissive frequency shifter based on reflection from rotating flat surfaces and from stationary involute surfaces; 2) system to compensate for effects of rotation rate instabilities and certain imperfections in the frequency shifter's reflection geometry, and a system to multiply the frequency shift obtainable by an integer number n through an n-fold re-use of stationary reflecting surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for emitting and receiving light comprises an emitter, which consists of a light source (5) and a concave mirror (7), and a receiver which receives light from the emitter and which is connected to analyzing equipment (3). Furthermore, the receiver comprises a concave mirror (9) which is disposed behind the mirror (7) of the emitter and whose diameter is larger than that of the mirror (7) of the emitter and whose focus is located in front of the light source (5). In the focus of the mirror (9) is positioned one end of an optical fibre (19) for transmitting the received light to the analyzing equipment (3).

Abstract: An apparatus for a visual display in a training simulator. A projector illuminates a convex side of a spherical screen. A concave face of a spherical mirror facing the convex side of the spherical screen reflects the image on the spherical screen to a viewer. A second embodiment projects an image on a first mirror. The projected image is reflected onto a convex portion of a spherical screen. The image on the convex portion of the spherical screen is reflected to a concave mirror facing the convex face of the screen. A viewer sees the projected image on the concave mirror. The first mirror and the second mirror can be formed as one mirror.

Abstract: Optical mirror systems are provided by cooperative arrangements of a plurality of curved mirrors, preferably of approximately elliptical and hyperbolic shapes. In one arrangement, a convex segment of an hyperbolic primary mirror and a concave segment of an hyperbolic secondary mirror form a forward looking magnification system. In another arrangement, a concave segment of an elliptical primary mirror and a convex segment of an hyperbolic secondary mirror form a microscope.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is described which reshapes rectangular cross-section laser beams, with toroidal divergence to generally square cross-section beams with plane or spherical divergence. The apparatus uses either two spherical mirrors or two pairs of spherical mirrors.

Abstract: A monochromator of the Czerny-Turner type includes an entrance slit, a collimating mirror for receiving light output by the entrance slit, a planar grating for receiving light reflected by the collimating mirror, a focusing mirror for receiving light reflected by the grating, and an exit slit for receiving light focused by the focusing mirror. Light generally proceeds from the entrance slit to the collimating mirror, form the collimating mirror to the grating, from the grating to the focusing mirror and from the focusing mirror to the exit slit. The improvement comprises the use of a single toroidal collimating mirror in the system in combination with a spherical focusing mirror.

Abstract: An optical system having a plurality of substantially planar reflecting surfaces and a plurality of curved reflecting surfaces providing an optical projection system which can scan a mask object onto an image plane by having the mask and copy substrate substantially fixed in position relative to each other and either simultaneously moving the mask and copy substrate in the same direction or maintaining the mask and image plane substantially stationary and fixed with respect to each other while scanning the optical system. The optical system uses one wavelength of an electromagnetic radiation to align the mask to the copy substrate and another wavelength of electromagnetic radiation to form the image of the mask on the copy substrate. The apparatus can be used as a laser ablation optical tool to laser ablate the image of a mask onto the copy substrate, as an inspection tool, as a photolithographic and for other related applications. The projection lens is a modified Dyson type lens.

Abstract: An optical system comprising reflectors of elliptical and circular cross section for efficiently coupling radiation from a large scale radiation source such as a light bulb into an optical fiber bundle.

Abstract: A system of at least three concave mirrors (M1, M2, M3 . . . ) of cylindrical form are arranged with the concave part of the first mirror M1 facing towards the second mirror M2 and with the planes defined by the straight sections of the two mirrors which are perpendicular to each other. The arrangement further has the concave part of the third mirror M3 facing towards the second mirror M2 with the planes defined by the straight sections of the two mirrors M3, M2 perpendicularly to each other. Successive mirrors are placed in a crosswise fashion with respect to their nearest neighbor in order to provide for applications in the guiding of millimeter and sub-millimeter electromagnetic waves for plasma physics.