Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising the steps of: (i) providing a layer on a substrate, the layer comprising a polythiophene according to formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent hydrogen or a C1–C4 alkyl group or together represent a C1–C4 alkylene group or a cycloalkylene group; and (ii) mechanically rendering the layer liquid crystal aligning; a liquid crystal alignment layer obtainable by the above-mentioned method; a liquid crystal device incorporating the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer; a liquid crystal display comprising the above-mentioned liquid crystal alignment layer or the above-mentioned liquid crystal device; and the use of the polythiophene according to formula (I) for aligning liquid crystals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid curable resin composition capable of forming a ribbon matrix material which can be completely removed from a coloring layer when separating the optical fiber ribbon. A liquid curable resin composition comprising: (1) 30–80 wt. % of a urethane (meth)acrylate produced by reacting (A) a polyol compound, (B) a polyisocyanate compound, and (C) a (meth)acrylate compound containing a hydroxyl group, (2) 0.01–10 wt % of 2-methly-1-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2-morpholino-propan-1-one, and (3) 10–70 wt. % of a polymerizable diluent comprising a polymerizable monofunctional vinyl monomer which is copolymerizable with the component (1), wherein a two-layer film, which is obtained by applying the composition to a cured film of a UV-curable resin comprising the compound shown by the above formula (1) and curing the composition, has a T-peel strength of about 1.8 g/cm or less.

Abstract: A transparent, monolithic or laminated sheet material based on a methyl methacrylate homopolymer or copolymer, the laminated material having at least one of its two outer layers made of the methyl methacrylate homopolymer or copolymer, characterized in that the monolithic sheet of methyl methacrylate homopolymer or copolymer or at least one outer layer of methyl methacrylate homopolymer or copolymer of the laminated sheet has, in the region of the surface, over a depth of at least 50 nanometers from the surface, an increase in its average density of 0.1 to 1 g/cm3, the average density being determined by X-ray reflectometry.

Abstract: A film sheet which has a polymer layer formed of a coating solution is drawn from a balk roll and transported toward a rubbing apparatus. Thereby, first and second blowers sequentially disposed respectively apply to the polymer layer an air of temperature 45±2° C. and humidity 50%–60%, and an air of temperature 25±1° C. and humidity 30%–35%. Thus, damages which occurred in transporting and rolling the film sheet are removed. Thereafter, a rubbing action is performed to the film sheet such that the polymer layer has alignment. Then a liquid crystal layer is formed on the polymer layer, to obtain an optical compensation film.

Abstract: A glazing panel comprises in sequence at least a glass substrate, a base antireflective layer comprising at least a base antireflective lower layer and a base antireflective upper layer which is of a different composition to that of the base antireflective lower layer, the base antireflective upper layer comprising a mixed oxide of Zn and at least one additional material X, in which the ratio X/Zn in the base antireflective upper layer is between 0.02 and 0.

Abstract: An optical fiber ribbon having a plurality of optical fibers connected by a radiation curable matrix and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The optical fiber ribbon includes at least one preferential tear portion formed by a weakened portion in the matrix, the weakened portion of the matrix having a reduced cure level compared with the surrounding matrix material, thereby creating the weakened portion. In another embodiment, the optical fiber ribbon is formed of two subunits each having a plurality of optical fibers, wherein the subunits are connected by a secondary matrix.

Abstract: A method of applying a moisture barrier seal to a fiber optic coil includes mounting a fiber optic coil in a vacuum deposition chamber, so as to expose a large exterior surface area of the fiber optic coil to an interior portion of the deposition chamber. The method further includes reducing the air pressure within the chamber to a value that is less than ambient pressure outside of the chamber. The method further includes introducing a vapor form of a non-porous material, preferably parylene, into the chamber. The vapor form of the non-porous material changes into a solid state upon contact with the fiber optic coil, so as to form a conformal coat on the fiber optic coil.

Abstract: A method of producing a polarized lens and a casting die used therein are provided to allow a polarized film to be securely positioned within a casting die and a polarized lens to be cast in a uniform density and be almost free from any distortion on the surface so as to secure the stable uniformity of a lens as produced, which method comprises the steps of hot-pressing a polarized film 2 that is formed into a shape substantially corresponding to one of mobile portions 12 into a curved shape adaptable into a curvature of the lens; descending one of mobile portions 12 so as to generate a recess H thereat; mounting the polarized film 2 as shaped with the curvature into the recess H and closing a casting die 1; injecting a fused lens molding resin M into a cavity within the casting die 1 from a gate 13 with the lens molding resin M filled in a runner 13a engaged to the casting die 1; and taking out a prototype lens Lb in which the lens molding resin M is integrally jointed with the polarized film 2 when the mold

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet comprises a cellulose ester film, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer formed of liquid crystal molecules in this order. Alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is fixed. An alkaline solution is coated on a surface of the cellulose ester film to saponify the surface. The saponified surface is coated with a coating solution of the orientation layer.

Abstract: An iodine type polarizing plate is provided, the plate having a polyvinyl alcohol resin film in/on which iodine is adsorbed and oriented and a protective film adhered to at least one surface of the resin film with a transparent adhesive layer containing zinc in an amount of about 30 mg to about 90 mg per one square meter of the polarizing plate or in an amount of about 6% to about 18% by weight based on the weight of the adhesive layer.

Abstract: A process for forming a light guide plate with a reflection film includes: (a) providing a light guide plate (30), which has a light input surface (303) with light incident portions (3032), a bottom surface (304), a light output surface (301), and side surfaces (302); (b) attaching protection film (32) on the light incident portions and the light output surface; (c) providing a reflection solution; (d) dipping the light guide plate in the reflection solution; (e) removing the light guide plate from the reflection solution, and solidifying a portion of the reflection solution remaining on the light guide plate to thereby form a reflection film; and (f) removing the protection film to expose the light incident portions and the light output surface. Because the reflection film is directly attached to the light guide plate, there is no gap and no attendant leakage of light.

Abstract: A microlens is affixed in the far field of an optical fiber to spatially transform a beam either entering or exiting the fiber. In a first embodiment, a droplet of photo polymer is placed on the end of an optical fiber and the fiber is spun to create an artificial gravity. The droplet is cured by UV radiation during the spinning. In a second embodiment, nanoparticles are mixed into the droplet to increase the refractive index of the photo polymer. A third embodiment employs artificial gravity to attach a microsphere to the end of the optical fiber. A fourth embodiment chemically treats the surface of the microsphere so that the requirement of artificial gravity is either reduced or eliminated. In a fifth embodiment the droplet is cured under equlibrium or nonequilibrium conditions to obtain different final shapes for the lenslet. A sixth embodiment discloses fabrication of microlens arrays.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermally tempered safety glass comprising an non-abrasive and porous SiO2 layer which is stable during sintering and has a refractive index of between 1.25 and 1.40. The inventive safety glass can be obtained by coating standard soda-lime glass with an aqueous coating solution having a pH value of between 3 and 8 and containing between 0.5 and 5.0 wt. % of [SiOx(OH)y]n particles (0<y<4 and 0<x<2) having a particle size of between 10 and 60 nm, and a surfactant mixture. The coated glass is then dried, thermally hardened at temperatures of at least 600° C. for several minutes, and thermally tempered by a flow of air.

Abstract: A water soluble mask is formed on a substrate. Thereafter, a coating (e.g., low-E coating) is formed on the substrate in at least one select area over the mask and in at least one area where the mask is not provided. After the coating has been formed, water is used to remove the mask and a portion of the coating formed thereon in order to form a partially coated substrate. The technique may be used in applications such as in the making of vehicle windshields, or the like.

Abstract: An optical fiber having at least one epoxidized polyolefin based polymer coating. The coating is formed from a crosslinkable composition having (a) at least one epoxidized polydiene oligomer having a first and a second end, the oligomer having at least one hydrocarbon chain that is substantially free of ethylenic double bonds, at least one epoxide group at the first end and at least one reactive functional group at the second end; (b) at least one hydrogenated polydiene oligomer having at least one reactive functional group capable of reacting with the epoxide groups; and (c) at least one photo-initiator. Preferably, the coating is a primary coating coated with a secondary coating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing electrically conducting tracks on a transparent substrate, by screen printing with an electrically conducting paste, and to the transparent substrate provided with said tracks. According to the invention, conducting tracks are formed with a width less than or equal to 0.3 mm by applying, by screen printing, a thixotropic electrically conducting paste having a ratio of the viscosity without shear stress to the viscosity under shear stress under screen-printing conditions of at least 50 and having a silver content greater than 35% and of which at least 98% of the particles which form it have a size less than 25 ?m, by means of a screen having at least 90 threads per cm, the coating of said screen being provided with slots, the narrowest width of which is equal to 0.25 mm±0.05 mm, and by subjecting said tracks to baking.

Abstract: An antireflection layer is formed directly or through an other layer at least on one side of a transparent base film of an antireflection film. The antireflection layer is made of at least two kinds of low refractive index materials satisfying a relationship of refractive index: nd20?1.49. The antireflection layer is excellent in antireflection characteristics and mar resistance. When the antireflection layer is formed on a hard coat layer having an uneven surface roughened by particles, the antireflection film is excellent in antiglareness.

Abstract: An optical fiber moisture sensor that can be used to sense moisture present in gas phase in a wide range of concentrations is provided, as well techniques for making the same. The present invention includes a method that utilizes the light scattering phenomenon which occurs in a porous sol-gel silica by coating an optical fiber core with such silica. Thus, a porous sol-gel silica polymer coated on an optical fiber core forms the transducer of an optical fiber moisture sensor according to an embodiment. The resulting optical fiber sensor of the present invention can be used in various applications, including to sense moisture content in indoor/outdoor air, soil, concrete, and low/high temperature gas streams.

Abstract: An apparatus and method efficiently focuses laser light to a target fiber to rapidly and evenly cure a coating on the fiber and to increase a draw rate for the fiber. The laser light is expanded and refocused to a strip of light having a diameter that is a multiple of the fiber diameter. The strip of light is applied to one side of the fiber and a reflection of the strip of light is focused to a second side of the fiber to provide uniform radiation of the fiber.

Abstract: A method of film fabrication is taught that uses a coating and drying apparatus to fabricate resin films suitable for optical applications. In particular, polyvinyl butyral films are prepared by simultaneous application of multiple liquid layers to a moving carrier substrate. After solvent removal, the polyvinyl butyral films are peeled from the sacrificial carrier substrate. Polyvinyl butyral films prepared by the current invention exhibit good clarity and low birefringence.

Abstract: An active-radiation-curing liquid crystalline composition is applied to an alignment layer 2 formed on a base 1, and the liquid crystal alignment is regulated by the application of heat or the like, thereby forming a liquid crystal layer 3 having cholesteric regularity (FIG. 1(a)). Next, active radiation 4 with a predetermined radiant intensity is applied to the liquid crystal layer 3 through a photomask 10 (FIG. 1(b)), and this liquid crystal layer 3 is then brought into contact with a solvent 5 (FIG. 1(c)). As a result, the area 3b in the liquid crystal layer 3 not irradiated with the active radiation 4 is removed, while the area 3a in the liquid crystal layer 3 irradiated with the active radiation 4 remains; a semi-cured cholesteric layer 3? having therein a predetermined pattern is thus formed (FIG. 1(d)).

Abstract: The present invention provides optical fiber coating systems and coated optical fibers. According to one embodiment of the invention, a coated optical fiber includes an optical fiber having a core and a cladding; and a primary coating encapsulating the optical fiber, the primary coating having a Young's modulus of about 5 MPa or less, the primary coating being the cured reaction product of a primary curable composition having a gel time less than about 1.4 seconds at a UV intensity of 3.4 mW/cm2.

Abstract: A coating agent including photocatalyst particles dispersed in a titanium peroxide solution obtainable by causing titanium hydroxide (orthotitanic acid) gel to act with hydrogen peroxide being used as a material for the photocatalyzer film is used to a photocatalyzer film having photocatalyst particles supported therein. By forming a porous hydrophilic substance film on the photocatalyzer film, the defects of the film caused by the wiping can be prevented. Also, a film formed by using the coating agent including photocatalyst particles dispersed in a titanium peroxide solution at a temperature of from normal room temperature to 200° C. is of high porosity in comparison with a film formed at a higher temperature and with a film not having a photocatalyst particles dispersed therein. Consequently, the photocatalyzer film and the hydrophilic substance film have good adhesion property when use with each other.

Abstract: An optical member comprising an at least one optical film, wherein an end face of the at least one optical film is covered with water-repellent materials, is useful to suppress occurrence of defects concerning the optical film, in particular, defects concerning polarizer, which are caused under an atmosphere with high temperature and high humidity.

Abstract: An optical fiber (1?) having at least one Bragg grating (11), the fiber comprising a core (2) surrounded successively by cladding (3) and by a coating (4), the grating being obtained by being written directly in the core and/or the cladding of the fiber through the coating which is made of a material that is substantially transparent to ultraviolet type radiation used for writing the grating, and wherein the material of the coating contains a first polymer network interpenetrated by a second polymer.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a covering composition for optical fiber comprising (A) an unsaturated polyester oligomer having substantially two or more (meth)acryloyl group in a molecule wherein a glass transition temperature of a cured substance thereof is 100 to 350° C.; (B) at least one oligomer selected from the group consisting of the following components: (B-a) epoxy modified (meth)acrylate oligomer, (B-b) polyether polyol modified (meth)acrylate oligomer, and (B-c) urethane polyether polyol modified (meth)acrylate or urethane polyester polyol modified (meth)acrylate; and (C) a photopolymerization initiator, as essential components. The cured material has highly elasticity and is superior in the heat stability, and as a result, the present invention provides the superior covered optical fiber with well balanced heat stability of the optical transmission properties and flexibility.

Abstract: A coated article (e.g., a coated glass article) is provided with a low-emissivity, water-sheeting coating. The coating comprises a sputtered silica layer over a pyrolytically-applied dielectric layer. In certain embodiments, an automobile windscreen is provided with a low-emissivity, water-sheeting coating. Also provided are methods of rendering a surface of a substrate (e.g., a pane of glass) resistant to soiling and staining, such as by depositing on the substrate a low-emissivity, water-sheeting coating.

Abstract: Composite film structures exhibit a predetermined finished color tone comprised of a transparent film layer which exhibits a color deficiency as compared to the finished color tone, and a pigment which is visually associated with, and satisfies the color deficiency of, the film layer. Most preferably, the pigment is provided as a homogenous dispersion in a transparent color-matching layer positioned adjacent to the film layer. Thus, when the film and color-matching layers are viewed collectively as a unit, the perceived color tone will be that of the finished predetermined color tone. That is, the color-matching layer provides visually an additive effect on the perceived color of the composite film structure.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber for transmitting ultraviolet ray which has an improve transmittance and is prevented from deterioration by ultraviolet ray with which it is irradiated. It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber probe which can propagate vacuum ultraviolet ray and deep ultraviolet ray at a high transmittance, is deteriorated only to a limited extent when irradiated with ultraviolet ray and can be etched to have a desired shape of the sharpened section at the fiber end. The present invention provides the optical fiber for transmitting ultraviolet ray which has a core 5 of silica glass containing a given content of fluorine and a clad 6a of silica glass containing a given content of fluorine or boron, a clad 6b of a resin which transmits ultraviolet ray or a clad 6c having air holes H. The clad may be coated with a protective layer and further with a covered layer for protection.

Abstract: A method of applying a polymer coating uses a nebulized aerosol of solubilized polymer solution having high-viscosity droplets and low-viscosity droplets to form a textured antireflective surface. Air or other gas is used to direct the nebulized aerosol toward the surface of an object. In some embodiments, heated or dried air, such as from an air curtain, is used to promote the formation of high-viscosity droplets. In a particular embodiment, multiple ultrasonic nebulizers are used in combination with synchronized air jets to apply a uniform polymer coating onto a glass panel used in a large-format display system. Dye is optionally added to the solubilized polymer solution to provide a notch filter at 585 nm and/or infrared filter.

Abstract: A coated optical fiber includes a fiber coating having an unblended primary portion on the optical fiber, an unblended secondary portion, and a blended portion intermediate the unblended primary and secondary portions. The thickness of the blended portion is greater than or equal to about 10% but less than 100% of the thickness of the fiber coating. An optical fiber ribbon includes a ribbon matrix similarly having an unblended primary portion, an unblended secondary portion, and a blended portion between the unblended primary portion and unblended secondary portion. A method for fabricating a coated optical fiber or optical fiber ribbon includes applying a primary portion material to the optical fiber or plurality of coated optical fibers, and applying a secondary portion material in a manner selected to provide a blend of the primary portion material and the secondary portion material. An applicator apparatus includes means for performing the described steps.

Abstract: A resin composition for an optical fiber is provided which can be sufficiently cured even in high-speed processing (at a low light energy dose) to obtain a cured article having a Young's modulus suitable for use for an optical fiber, and also causes neither increase in viscosity nor deposition of solids in storage for a long period or in storage at a high temperature and can be easily coated even after such storage. A coated fiber and an optical fiber unit, which use the resin composition are also provided.

Abstract: The car industry increasingly uses plastic optical fibers whose protective sheathing (4) is made of a polyamide. As unmodified PA poorly adheres to the fluoropolymers often used as the material for the fiber cladding (3), the plastic optical fiber (2, 3) moves in relation to the protective sheathing (4) when the temperature varies. To suppress this effect referred to as “pistoning”, the connectors and holders of the optical fibers must apply very large clamping forces to the protective sheathing (4) and the plastic optical fiber (2, 3) arranged therein, resulting in an increased signal attenuation. The use of a modified PA can clearly improve the adherence of the protective sheathing (4) to the cladding (3) of a plastic optical fiber which is made of a fluoropolymer.

Abstract: A light guiding plate is manufactured with accuracy and at low cost. This invention comprises a cylindrical roller, which has a heater built-in, rotating while fixing a stamper having a dot pattern formed on its surface, substrate fixing means for reciprocating along a lower portion of the cylindrical roller in accordance with rotation of the cylindrical roller as fixing a resin substrate, and pressing means for pressing the stamper, which is fixed to the cylindrical roller, onto a surface of the resin substrate, which is fixed to the substrate fixing means, with a constant pressure.

Abstract: A polarizer having good durability that is dyed by iodine, and is given boric acid processing, and moreover contains zinc without generating fault by deposit of boric acid or zinc, may be produced by a process of producing, comprising the steps of: conducting a dyeing processing by iodine to a non-stretched poly vinylalcohol film; conducting an uniaxial stretching processing and a boric acid processing; subsequently conducting a zinc impregnation processing; and furthermore, conducting an iodine ion impregnation processing.

Abstract: A synthetic resin laminate having both phtochromism characteristic and polarization characteristic consisting essentially of two transparent synthetic resin layers, a resin layer having phtochromism characteristic and a resin layer having polarization characteristic interposed between said two transparent synthetic resin layers and an adhesive layer to adhere said resin layer having polarization characteristic to said one transparent synthetic resin layer, wherein said one transparent synthetic resin layer to contact said resin layer having phtochromism characteristic has a thickness of 50 &mgr;m or above and a retardation value of 150 nm or below, or 3000 nm or above.

Abstract: A glazing panel comprises in sequence at least: a glass substrate, a base antireflective layer comprising at least a base antireflective lower layer and a base antireflective upper layer which is of a different composition to that of the base antireflective lower layer, the base antireflective upper layer comprising a mixed oxide of Zn and at least one additional material X, in which the ratio X/Zn in the base antireflective upperlayer is between 0.02 and 0.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (300) for polarizing an incident light beam (130) comprises a substrate having a first surface. A grid or array of parallel, elongated, composite wires (310) is disposed on the first surface (307), and each of the adjacent wires are spaced apart on a grid period less than a wavelength of incident light. Each of the wires comprises an intra-wire substructure (315) of alternating elongated metal (330a-i) wires and elongated dielectric layers (350a-i).

Abstract: A polarized electroluminescence element used for a display is disclosed. The polarized electroluminescence element includes a substrate, an orientation-inducing layer situated on the substrate and in a first direction of orientation, and a light-emitting layer situated on the orientation-inducing layer and made of a mixture of an electroluminescent material and an oriented material for emitting polarized electroluminescence, wherein the electroluminescent material and the oriented material are in a second direction of orientation corresponding to the first direction of orientation.

Abstract: A multi-layer coating for a transparent substrate, such as glass, plastic, or other transparent material, which increases the durability and weatherability of the substrate. The coating includes a surface-hardening layer of organo-siloxane formed over the substrate. An abrasion-resistant coating comprising a multi-layer stack of alternating layers of silicon dioxide and zirconium dioxide is formed over the surface-hardening layer. The multi-layer coating further includes a hydrophobic outer layer of perfluoroalkylsilane formed over the abrasion-resistant coating to form an outer moisture-resistant surface. This multi-layer coating configuration increases the abrasion resistance and mechanical strength of the transparent substrate on which it is formed without imparting color to the transparent substrate.

Abstract: A multilayer polymer film has an optical stack including a plurality of alternating polymer layers with skin layers having mechanical, optical, or chemical properties differing from those of the layers in the optical stack. In one embodiment, the multilayer polymeric film has one or more holograms that provide attractive and useful optical effects.

Abstract: A heat treatable coated article including an infrared (IR) reflecting layer (e.g., of or including Ag), the coated article being able to attain a &Dgr;E* (glass side) no greater than about 3.5, more preferably no greater than 3.0, and even more preferably no greater than 2.6, following or due to heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering). Accordingly, low-E (i.e., low emissivity) coated articles of certain embodiments of this invention appear from the glass side thereof visually similar to the naked eye both before and after heat treatment. Good matchability characteristics (i.e., low &Dgr;E* values) combined with good durability can be achieved by controlling to what extent barrier layer(s) in contact with the IR reflecting layer are nitrided and to what thickness(es) they are sputtered. Optionally, certain embodiments of this invention relate to coated articles that also have high visible transmission and/or good durability.

Abstract: A reflector, with high total reflection, resisting mechanical stress, and having a reflector body on which the following components are superimposed (a) a functional coating, e.g., a varnish, (b) a reflection layer structure composed of a reflecting metallic layer and, optionally, one or more transparent ceramic layers, having for instance an optical depth of &lgr;/2, applied on the top of the metallic layer. The reflection layer structure is a protection layer as a surface layer. The protection layer is a silicon oxide of general formula SiOx where x is a number from 1.1 to 2.0, or is an aluminum oxide of formula Al2O3, with a thickness of 3nm or more. The protection layer protects the underlying layers from mechanical stresses. In the DIN 58196 wipe test, the protected layer shows no damage after 50 test cycles, each with 100 wiping strokes.

Abstract: A process for applying an adhesion primer to a window. The process includes the steps of directing light (11) onto the window (10) to illuminate a portion (13) of the window and then applying an adhesion primer along the illuminated portion of the window. If the adhesion primer contains a component that evaporates, then the process can further include the step of forming an infrared image (19) of the window as the component evaporates to indicate the area of application (20) of the adhesion primer. If the adhesion primer contains a component that fluoresces when illuminated by ultraviolet light, then the process can further include the step of illuminating the window with ultraviolet light (22) to indicate the area of application (23) of the adhesion primer.

Abstract: A solar-control glass that has acceptable visible light transmission, absorbs near infrared wavelength light (NIR) and reflects midrange infrared light (low emissivity mid IR) along with a preselected color within the visible light spectrum for reflected light is provided. Also provided is a method of producing the improved, coated, solar-controlled glass. The improved glass has a solar energy (NIR) absorbing layer comprising tin oxide having a dopant such as antimony and a low emissivity control layer (low emissivity) capable of reflecting midrange infrared light and comprising tin oxide having fluorine and/or phosphorus dopant. A separate iridescence color suppressing layer as described in the prior art is generally not needed to achieve a neutral (colorless) appearance for the coated glass, however an iridescence suppressing layer or other layers may be combined with the two layer assemblage provided by the present invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing a crack in a vehicle windshield includes a high frequency vibration applicator and repair material. The high frequency vibration applicator includes a high frequency vibration generator, an elongate vibration delivery probe, and a handle grip for manipulation of the high frequency vibration applicator by a user. The vibration delivery probe delivers high frequency vibration from the generator to the windshield via a tip of the probe. A method of repairing a crack in a vehicle windshield includes infilling the crack with a repair material, applying to the windshield a tip of an elongate vibration delivery probe of a high frequency vibration applicator, and manipulating the high frequency vibration applicator to track the probe in a longitudinal direction of the crack.

Abstract: A method of film fabrication is taught that uses a coating and drying apparatus to fabricate resin films suitable for optical applications. In particular, polyvinyl butyral films are prepared by simultaneous application of multiple liquid layers to a moving carrier substrate. After solvent removal, the polyvinyl butyral films are peeled from the sacrificial carrier substrate. Polyvinyl butyral films prepared by the current invention exhibit good clarity and low birefringence.

Abstract: An antistatic/antireflective coating is applied by sputtering to the outer surface of a video display screen such as in a cathode ray tube (CRT) and is comprised of an inner antistatic layer and an outer antireflective layer. The inner antistatic layer is conductive, while the outer antireflective layer is insulative. The inner antistatic layer is deposited on the entire outer surface of the display screen, while a portion of the antistatic layer is masked during deposition of the outer antireflective layer leaving a portion, or portions, of the inner antistatic layer exposed. The exposed portion, or portions, of the antistatic layer is then electrically coupled to the CRT's grounded implosion protection, or tension, band for safely directing electrostatic charge on the display screen to neutral ground.

Abstract: A method for producing a composition for vapor deposition comprising sintering a vapor source mixture prepared by mixing vapor sources that contain titanium dioxide and niobium pentoxide. The method is capable of forming a high-refraction layer even in low-temperature vapor deposition on a substrate. An antireflection film is formed having good scratch resistance, good chemical resistance and good heat resistance, of which the heat resistance decreases little with time, that is useful in a variety of optical elements.

Abstract: A heatable vehicle window (e.g., windshield, sidelite or backlite) includes a multi-layer coating formed on a substrate. The multi-layer coating includes at least one dielectric layer and at least one conductive layer. A pair of bus bars are deposited on the substrate over the coating, so that at least the dielectric layer is provided between the bus bars and the conductive layer(s). In order to create an electrical connection between the bus bars and the conductive layer(s) of the coating, the bus bars and/or coating is/are heated to a temperature sufficient to permit the bus bars to reach molten or semi-molten form. Portions of bus bar material then flow down through at least the dielectric layer of the coating (i.e., forming a contact hole in the coating) so as to contact the coating's conductive layer(s). After cooling of the newly formed bus bars, the window may be selectively heated by passing current through the conductive layer(s) via the bus bars.