Abstract: A method and optical routing apparatus for directing an optical signal are disclosed. The optical routing apparatus includes an input port configured to provide the optical signal along an incident path and a plurality of output ports configured to receive the optical signal. An optical switching arrangement including a rotatable mirror and a plurality of fixed mirrors is operated to route the optical signal from the input port to one of the output ports depending on the configuration of the optical switching arrangement.

Abstract: A folder has rectangular walls that have a length and width that are approximately the same as the length and width of a credit card. An interior surface of one of the walls has a mirrored surface. Nested within an interior surface of the other wall are a screw driver, a magnifying glass, a cleaning fluid container and a tube with hinge screws therein. Additionally, a pair of nose pads are adhesively connected to the other wall.

Abstract: A pair of eyeglasses having a frame with interchangeable lenses and a method of interchanging the lenses. The frame has a centrally located nosepiece and two end portions. Each lens has a substantially circular aperture adjacent the nosepiece of the frame and a notch adjacent a respective end portion of the frame. The notch fits over a corresponding tang in the frame end to secure the outer portion of the lens while protruding pins on the frame adjacent the nosepiece engage the circular aperture of each lens. A hinged locking mechanism is snapped over that portion of the lens engaging the pins, preventing disengagement of the lenses from the pins. To replace the lenses, the hinged locking mechanism is opened, allowing the lenses to be disengaged from the pins and pulled from the tangs.

Abstract: A tableware item having a body, and a magnifier on the body. A method for using such a tableware item to read printed material such as, but not limited to, a menu or wine list.

Abstract: The holder is an elastomeric body of revolution having a suction cup portion and a knob portion joined by a neck portion such that there is a circumferential groove between the suction cup and knob portions. In use, the suction cup portion holds the holder onto a non-porous surface and eyeglasses can be held in the groove.

Abstract: A large, high-speed optical communications apparatus is provided capable of selecting a signal transmission route in optical domain. An address extractor 101 extracts address information from data information included in a transmission signal. A variable frequency RF modulator 102 modulates the data information into an RF modulated signal having a predetermined frequency that corresponds to a lower address. A variable wavelength optical modulator 103 modulates the RF modulated signal into an optical signal having a predetermined wavelength that corresponds to an upper address. An optical router 105 outputs the optical signal according to the optical wavelength. A first RF optical router 1071 outputs the optical signal from a first or second output terminal provided thereto according to the RF modulating frequency. A second RF optical router 1072 operates similarly.

Abstract: An eye wear assembly 10 is provided which includes a film-like, resilient collapsible lens 20 that wraps about the eyes of the wearer W from temple T to temple T. The lens 20 is partially held in place by its left and right wings 30 which include respective left and right temple pads 40. The lens 20 is offset from the face of the wearer W by horizontal pads 60 which increase the wearer's W comfort and provide circulation via two primary vents 70 to allow perspiration to dissipate from the enclosure created between the lens 20 and the wearer's W face. A nose cutout region 90, conforming to the general shape of a typical user's nose N, is provided at the midpoint of the lens 20 at its bottom edge 28. A nose saddle 100, made of soft, resilient foam or rubber-type material, is attached adjacent the nose cutout region 90 on the rear concave surface 24 of the lens 20. The nose saddle 100 conforms to the shape of the nose N of the wearer W.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to eyeglasses provided with at least one reversible arm that can be manipulated to fold in towards the outer (front) face of the lens retaining portion of the frame, thereby covering it. The arm can be attached to the frames in a variety of ways. For instance, the attachment can be mechanical, or magnetism may be employed in fixing the arm to the frame. Several structural arrangements are described that permit reversal of the arm from a position behind the lens retaining portion of the frame to a position in front thereof. The arm can then be folded to cover the front and back sides of the lenses.

Abstract: A keyboard with interchangeable connection specification, comprises an input/output circuit board for DIN, PS/2 or USB connection specification and replaceably assembled within a main body of the keyboard. The input/output circuit board has signal transmitting end connected to the signal receiving end of a membrane circuit of the keyboard. The keyboard further comprises an openable cover on a panel of the main body of said keyboard and corresponding to the location of the input/output circuit board. The openable cover is opened to replace the input/output circuit board mounted within the keyboard for required connection specification. The keyboard further comprises a plurality of hot keys on the keyboard and at location corresponding to the openable cover. Each said hot key has a key top, a rubber dome and associated internal circuit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming an array of reflective elements for spatial light modulation. The array includes a substrate supporting electronically addressable actuators, each associated with a corresponding reflective element, a coupling attaching each actuator to the corresponding reflective element to place each reflective element in a substantially planar surface. Each electronically addressable actuator responds to predetermined addressing from a processing circuit to reposition the corresponding reflective element out of the planar surface a predetermined distance identified in the predetermined electronic addressing.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser module comprises a semiconductor laser having a front end facet from which output light is emitted, and an optical fiber on which the output light emitted from the semiconductor laser is incident, where the optical fiber has a light feedback portion for reflecting light at a predetermined wavelength. The semiconductor laser is accommodated in a package together with one end side of the optical fiber. The light feedback portion includes a first light feedback portion set at a predetermined reflection center wavelength for determining an oscillating wavelength of the semiconductor laser, and at least one second light feedback portion.

Abstract: An eyeglass assembly which comprises a lens and a frame member, in which the lens has a lug at one edge. The assembly includes a connector by which the frame member is fastened to the lug. The connector comprises a hoop formed from a shape memory alloy which has (a) been treated so that the hoop shrinks inwardly when it is heated to a temperature at which the alloy transforms from martensite phase to austenite phase, and (b) been exposed to an increase in temperature so that the phase of the alloy changes from the martensite phase to the austenite phase and so that the connector hoop shrinks inwardly to grip the lens lug.

Abstract: A zoom lens is provided. The zoom lens includes a positive power first lens group having a first lens element and a second lens element, and a negative power second lens group having a third lens element. The first lens element can be made from plastic having either or both of its surfaces aspheric with a meniscus shape concave or convex to an object side. The first lens group includes a variable iris having a mechanical aperture stop positioned between the first lens element and the second lens element.

Abstract: The present invention includes time delay devices and time delay systems. The invention also includes machines and instruments using those aspects of the invention. The invention may also be used to upgrade, repair, or retrofit existing machines or instruments, using methods and components known in the art. The present invention comprises a true time device that falls into the free-space category but uses a multiple-pass optical cell with refocusing mirrors that has the advantage of avoiding beam-spreading problems. This approach differs from previous free-space approaches in that it uses only one optical switch or spatial light modulator instead of one or more switches for each bit. In one approach, a microwave signal for each antenna element may be modulated onto an optical beam. After the individual optical beams are delayed by the desired amount of time through the system, the signals may then be down-converted to microwave signals for further processing.

Abstract: An optical laser numeric keypad (100) provides a digital signal indicative of which of a plurality of key locations is selected. The optical laser numeric keypad (100) comprises a plurality of optical sensors (132 and 134) each configured to respond to a change in a received light quantity and to provide an electrical signal in response to a selection of a key at a key location. The received light quantity of at least one of the plurality of optical sensors (132 and 134) is changeable by selection of a key location.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an optical shutter comprising an organic free compound, such as a radical cation or a radical anion, and a polydiacetylene compound, wherein the polydiacetylene compound is characterized by having a change in absorption in a wavelength region as a result of a photo-induced heat transfer from the free radical compound. The thermochromic change in absorption is reversed by thermal cooling or by a photo-induced reaction after the photo-induced heat transfer. Also provided is an optical shutter for use as an optical switch in fiber optic communications, and, alternatively, for use in a laser protection device, in a security protection system, or in an eyewear device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering an optical input is disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, an optical input is split into polarization components along separate paths. The polarization components are then fed into a first electro-optic device that includes a set of electrodes across which a voltage is applied to adjust a wavelength transmission characteristic of the device. A section of the first device positioned between the electrodes preferably has a birefringence that is adjusted depending on the voltage applied across the electrodes. The adjusted components of the optical input are thereafter combined to produce an optical output. Accordingly, the optical input can be attenuated based on the voltage applied to electrodes of the first electro-optic device.

Abstract: A wireless keyboard, provided with an optical signal transmitter, includes an inputting function to an information processing device and a control function of an electrical appliance. The wireless keyboard includes a plurality of manufacturer codes for selectively performing optical control of a specific electrical appliance of a specific manufacturer. The electrical appliance is controlled by selecting a specific manufacturer code from the manufacturer codes and transmitting the specific manufacturer code. It is preferable that the wireless keyboard includes an abbreviation symbol corresponding to each manufacturer code. The manufacturer code is selected by inputting the abbreviation symbol.

Abstract: A projector device is disclosed which uses light that is spatially modulated by a DMD having mirrors which are moveable between Off and On positions in response to image information input to the DMD. Images formed at the DMD are projected onto a screen via a projection lens. Surfaces of the lens elements of the projection lens are designed with curvatures such that light that may be undesirably reflected back to the DMD will not be in a converged state at or near the surfaces of DMD mirrors. In this way, ghost light that is projected onto the screen is dispersed over a wider area, and thus is less noticeable and not troublesome.

Abstract: Conventional quadratically chirped fiber Bragg gratings are typically apodized at both their high and low chirp ends. The present specification describes an improved Bragg grating reflector in which a second quadratically chirped region is arranged in front on the high chirp end of a substantially conventional quadratically chirped portion. The high chirp end of the first portion is not apodized; instead this apodization takes place in the second portion, and so enables the first portion to exhibit appreciable reflectivity to signals having wavelengths extending to the Bragg wavelength corresponding to the high chirp end of the first portion. The present invention thus enables the useable bandwidth of a quadratically chirped grating to be increased, and so enables an increased tuning range to be achieved in adjustable dispersion (and adjustable dispersion compensation) apparatus incorporating such gratings.