Did You Know...
...that the x-ray was discovered purely by accident? When German physicist Wilhelm Konrad von Roentgen was experimenting with cathode rays in 1895, he put an activated Crookes tube in a book and went out to lunch. When he returned, he discovered that a key that had also been placed in the book showed up as an image on the developed film!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5692082 | Laser diode module and depolarizer A compact, inexpensive laser diode module having a depolarizer function of converting linearly polarized light into unpolarized light. The laser diode module includes a laser diode; a polarization-maintaining optical fiber arranged so that an axis of pola... | 11/25/1997 |
| 5689593 | Compact fiberoptic circulator with low polarization mode dispersion A compact optical circulator which can be expanded into a large number of optical ports is provided. For each port, the circulator has an optical port assembly which has an end of an optical fiber, a collimator subassembly and a birefringent crystal. The ... | 11/18/1997 |
| 5671306 | Lighting structure for intensely illuminating narrow linear region A lighting structure for intensely illuminating a narrow linear region. A light source emits light into an end of a hollow, elongate light guide. A longitudinal slit light-emitting aperture extends through an external wall of the light guide. A lens is mo... | 09/23/1997 |
| 5666448 | Variable splitting optical coupler A variable splitting optical coupler includes a first port assembly, a second port assembly, a movable deflecting element assembly and a third port assembly. The first port assembly includes a first lensing element and receives a first optical signal. The... | 09/09/1997 |
| 5640483 | Backlighting system utilizing total internal reflection A backlighting system for liquid crystal display (LCD) panels is disclosed to comprise at least a light source and a light pipe for receiving the light generated by the light source to provide the backlighting for the LCD panel. The light pipe consists of... | 06/17/1997 |
| 5631771 | Optical isolator with polarization dispersion and differential transverse deflection correction An optical isolator includes an optical isolator unit including a main polarization discriminator in concatenation with a Faraday rotator, and an auxiliary polarization discriminator disposed in series with the optical isolator unit. One of the polarizati... | 05/20/1997 |
| 5631994 | Structured surface light extraction overlay and illumination system A light extraction overlay for extracting light from a desired location on a light guide includes a substantially optically transparent substrate which has a base surface and a structured surface opposite the base surface. The structured surface includes ... | 05/20/1997 |
| 5629213 | Analytical biosensor A biosensor for use in a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) System includes a transparent substrate layer, a thin metallic film on the substrate, and an ultrathin organic layer of a material which is polyanionic and adsorbs on the metallic film, and a layer ... | 05/13/1997 |
| 5627926 | Prism plate for efficiently emitting light flux within a predetermined range, and liquid crystal indicator and indicator illumination method using the same An information indicator suitable for information processors such as personal computers, word processors and the like includes a light source, a scattering plate which scatters light from the light source, an indicator plate irradiated with scattered ligh... | 05/06/1997 |
| 5627923 | Three-dimensional opto-electric integrated circuit using optical wiring Optimal winding techniques usable in various information processors are handled. An opto-electric integrated circuit is provided which is excellent in productivity and alignment for free space interconnection. A three-dimensional opto-electric integrated circu... | 05/06/1997 |
| 5625459 | Diffuse reflectance probe A diffuse reflectance probe is disclosed which employs in an exemplary embodiment, fiberoptic light transmitting elements and a light pipe for collecting light. The fiberoptic light transmitting elements surround the light pipe and a window having a bevel... | 04/29/1997 |
| 5608837 | Transmissive type display and method capable of utilizing ambient light Disclosed is a transmissive type display which uses ambient light for enhanced backlighting and which can be used with or without an artificial light source which is either built-in or external to the unit. The backlighting display assembly includes a lig... | 03/04/1997 |
| 5608550 | Front-lit liquid crystal display having brightness enhancing film with microridges which directs light through the display to a reflector A front-lit display, having a ridged transparent film thereon. The ridges on the film bend glancing light rays down into the display. The light rays are reflected by a reflector below the display, pass back through the display, and exit the film in a dire... | 03/04/1997 |
| 5596667 | Application of phase conjugate optics to optical systems A phase conjugate light generation apparatus for various optical systems, wherein pump light and input signal light are supplied to a non-linear optical medium to generate output signal light and phase conjugate light within the non-linear optical medium.... | 01/21/1997 |
| 5575550 | Pole light having a programmable footprint The present invention provides a pole light for directing or delivering light in a desired pattern to a surface proximate to the pole light. The present invention also provides a method for lighting a plurality of desired regions on a surface in a precise... | 11/19/1996 |
| 5559633 | Optical isolator with reduced relative walk-off An optical isolator comprises a non-reciprocal rotator disposed between a pair of birefringent wedges, an input wedge and an output wedge. In order to reduce walk-off between the ordinary and extraordinary rays at the output of the isolator in one embodim... | 09/24/1996 |
| 5555329 | Light directing optical structure A light directing optical structure is formed of a light waveguide preferably made of clear plastic; attached to or formed with the waveguide are a multiplicity of prisms. Each prism, due to its index of refraction, provides an aperature where light may e... | 09/10/1996 |
| 5555327 | Frustrated total internal reflection device A device (10) for processing an optical signal (28) is provided. The device includes a refractor (12) having first (34) and second (36) ends and having a reflecting surface (16) for reflecting the optical signal (28) by total internal reflection. The devi... | 09/10/1996 |
| 5546180 | Apparatus for inserting light signals into, or receiving light signals from, one of a series of optical paths and usuable as optical time domain reflectometry apparatus A method and apparatus is provided for injecting an optical test pulse mid-stream into an optical path to be tested by providing a switch that in normal transmitting and receiving of data includes two lenses separated by a gap. Data is usually transmitted... | 08/13/1996 |
| 5546212 | Optical module for two-way transmission An optical module for two-way transmission includes a lens for converging a received light from an optical fiber, and a photodiode for sensing the converged received light. A laser diode outputs a transmitted light, and a prism shifts the optical path of ... | 08/13/1996 |
| 5542013 | Optical fiber connector bypass device A method and apparatus for changing the path of an optical signal are disclosed. An optical bypass device having an optical input and output, and a waveguiding region optically connecting the input and output, is used to form a multiplicity of improved co... | 07/30/1996 |
| 5538850 | Apparatus and method for intracavity sensing of microscopic properties of chemicals The presence of trace materials in a sample is detected using both macroscopic and microscopic properties. A detector includes a light source and an optical resonator. The light source may be located either inside the resonance cavity of the resonator or ... | 07/23/1996 |
| 5533152 | Method and apparatus for coupling light emitted from a multi-mode laser diode array to a multi-mode optical fiber A method and apparatus for coupling a multi-mode diode laser with an optical fiber suitable for incorporation into fiber optic medical instruments, welding equipment, laser copiers, laser printers and facsimile machines. In one embodiment, light emitting ... | 07/02/1996 |
| 5519797 | Arrangement of a lighting source with an optical fiber and a steerable light beam A lighting source arrangement comprising a light conducting cable formed of an optical fibre consisting of a plurality of elementary fibres, a device for holding and fastening the optical fibre onto a supporting structure and means for steering the light ... | 05/21/1996 |
| 5515194 | Optical interconnect for high speed processors An optical interconnect for use with SIMD processors, including holographic-optical elements, dove prisms, beamsplitters and a processor. Laser diodes, with each operating at a different wavelength, generate coherent-light beams at different wavelengths. ... | 05/07/1996 |
| 5514596 | Method for intracavity sensing of macroscopic properties of chemicals The presence of trace materials in a sample is detected using both macroscopic and microscopic properties. A detector includes a light source and an optical resonator. The light source may be located either inside the resonance cavity of the resonator or ... | 05/07/1996 |
| 5513287 | Prism coupling mount A prism coupling mount is provided for readily substituting various prisms and planar slab waveguides therein without damage to these components. For maximum coupling efficiency, the spacing between the coupling prism base and the waveguide can be adjuste... | 04/30/1996 |
| 5481631 | Optical switching apparatus with retroreflector An optical switch includes a primary optical fiber terminating in a primary window, and a plurality of secondary optical fibers each terminating in a secondary window facing in the same direction as and spaced laterally from the primary window. A primary ... | 01/02/1996 |
| 5481637 | Hollow light guide for diffuse light An outer prism light guide surrounds a cover which in turn surrounds a light source. The outer guide is formed of prism light guide wall material having uniform shape in cross-sections perpendicular to a first octature symmetry direction, with its optical... | 01/02/1996 |
| 5467417 | Prism plate for efficiently emitting light flux within a predetermined range, and liquid crystal indicator and indicator illumination method using the same An information indicator suitable for information processors such as personal computers, word processors and the like includes a light source, a scattering plate which scatters light from the light source, an indicator plate irradiated with scattered ligh... | 11/14/1995 |
| 5446813 | Optical isolator An optical isolator is placed in the path of an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber, the optical isolator comprises: a first GRIN lens for receiving rays emitted from the input optical fiber and converging into parallel rays; a first birefring... | 08/29/1995 |
| 5444567 | Light control device A light control device including an electro-optical material, a light refraction device mounted on the surface of the electro-optical material and electrodes provided on respective front and back major surfaces of the electro-optical material. A waveguide... | 08/22/1995 |
| 5442721 | Fiber-optic rotary joint with bundle collimator assemblies There is presented a fiber-optic rotary joint with first and second bundle ollimator assemblies, the joint comprising a generally cup-shaped main rotor, a first bundle collimator assembly fixed in a central opening in a bottom wall of the main rotor, a gen... | 08/15/1995 |
| 5440655 | Optical fiber connector bypass device and method using same A method and apparatus for changing the path of an optical signal are disclosed. An optical bypass device having an optical input and output, and a waveguiding region optically connecting the input and output, is used to form a multiplicity of improved co... | 08/08/1995 |
| 5428697 | Device for the optical processing of electrical signals A device for the optical processing of electrical signals. An optical source (L) emits a multiple-wavelength optical beam (B1). A modulator (MOD) modulates this beam. An optical fiber (F) receives the modulated beam and delays the components corresponding... | 06/27/1995 |
| 5425115 | Polarization insensitive optical switch A Fabry-Perot etalon 10 is located in the light path 30 between a light sourcesinks 40 and 44. The etalon is polarization insensitive, and its optical path length and transmission wavelength(s) is controlled by a bias source 60. When light at the desired ... | 06/13/1995 |
| 5420947 | Method for achromatically coupling a beam of light into a waveguide A device for achromatic input coupling of an optical beam into a waveguide is disclosed. The device includes a waveguide formed of a material having an effective index of refraction and having first and second surfaces, such waveguide defining a guided mo... | 05/30/1995 |
| 5418765 | Apparatus for recording and reproducing optical information having an optical waveguide A focal point position detector has a light source for emitting light; an optical system for converging light from the light source to an optical recording medium; a coupler for coupling light from the optical recording medium thereto; a waveguide concave... | 05/23/1995 |
| 5408553 | Optical power splitter for splitting high power light An optical power splitter for the distribution of high-power light energy has a plurality of prisms arranged about a central axis to form a central channel. The input faces of the prisms are in a common plane which is substantially perpendicular to the ce... | 04/18/1995 |
| 5404414 | Optical coupler with high degree of isolation An optical coupler comprises at least one optical fiber (1), one laser (2), one photodiode (3), one focusing lens (30) for focusing on the fiber and one plate (41) which reflects the rays coming from the fiber (1) towards the photodiode (3). In order to p... | 04/04/1995 |
