8174 results about "Prism" patented technology

This invention concerns an ergonomic optical see-through head mounted display device with an eyeglass appearance. The see-through head-mounted display device consists of a transparent, freeform waveguide prism for viewing a displayed virtual image, a see-through compensation lens for enabling proper viewing of a real-world scene when combined together with the prism, and a miniature image display unit for supplying display content. The freeform waveguide prism, containing multiple freeform refractive and reflective surfaces, guides light originated from the miniature display unit toward a user's pupil and enables a user to view a magnified image of the displayed content. A see-through compensation lens, containing multiple freeform refractive surfaces, enables proper viewing of the surrounding environment, through the combined waveguide and lens. The waveguide prism and the see-through compensation lens are properly designed to ergonomically fit human heads enabling a wraparound design of a lightweight, compact, and see-through display system.

A system for wirelessly providing data regarding surgical implements such as surgical tools, trial and inserts themselves to a surgical navigation unit. Each implement includes an RFID in which data regarding the implement are stored. The tool used to fit the implement has a first coil positioned to exchange signals with a complementary coil integral with the RFID. The tool also has a prism for receiving a navigation tracker. A second tool coil, in the prism, is connected to the first coil. The second tool coil is also connected to an RFID integral with the tool. The tracker, through the tool coils, reads the data in the implement RFID and the tool RFID. A transmitter in the tracker wirelessly forwards the data to the surgical navigation system. The data are used to facilitate reactive workflow guidance of the procedure and monitor the position of the implement.

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a reflective element and a casing. An attachment plate is secured to the reflective element and an electronic circuitry element, such as a printed circuit board, is attached to the attachment plate. The attachment plate includes at least one mounting member protruding through the circuit board for engaging a mounting assembly that mounts the mirror assembly to an interior portion of the vehicle and directly supports the attachment plate, along with the printed circuit board and the reflective element at an end of the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly may comprise a toggle assembly for a prismatic reflective element.

A touch panel using an optical sensor has a simple construction and can accurately detect an input position. An illuminating lights emitted from illuminating means are turned into lights having a high directivity in an X-axis direction and in a Y-axis direction of the prism lens sheet and thereafter enter from side faces of a light guide panel as incident lights. The incident lights advance in the inside of the light guide panel toward opposite side faces while being subjected to a total reflection and are received by the optical sensor arrays. When an input pen or a fingertip touches a surface of the light guide panel, the lights are refracted or absorbed at a touched position and hence, a quantity of received lights at the optical sensor arrays is reduced.

A compact and efficient optical illumination system featuring planar multi-layered LED light source arrays concentrating their polarized or un-polarized output within a limited angular range. The optical system manipulates light emitted by a planar light emitters such as electrically-interconnected LED chips. Each light emitting region in the array is surrounded by reflecting sidewalls whose output is processed by elevated prismatic films, polarization converting films, or both. The optical interaction between light emitters, reflecting sidewalls, and the elevated prismatic films create overlapping virtual images between emitting regions that contribute to the greater optical uniformity. Practical illumination applications of such uniform light source arrays include compact LCD or DMD video image projectors, as well as general lighting, automotive lighting, and LCD backlighting.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a light guide of a variety of forms having a uniform distribution of brightness in the plane and a planer light source device for a liquid crystal display device which uses such light guide. The light guide comprises a first surface which is a surface to which a natural polarization light is incident and a second surface other than the first surface which is an exit surface of a specific polarization light into which, said natural polarization light is modulated, wherein;said light guide has an interface of two materials of different indices of refraction oriented at an angle of thetaB+/-alpha degrees relative to the primary propagation direction of said incident light, said thetaB being an angle satisfying Brewster's condition, more than two orientations of said interface exist in a single light guide, and the difference between the indices of refraction of the two materials of different indices of refraction is between 0.001 and 1.0. thetaB is typically about 45 degrees. The light guide comprises a first transparent member having a plurality of upwardly convex right angle isosceles triangles on a first surface thereof and a first index of refraction and a second transparent member having a plurality of downwardly convex right angle isosceles triangles on a second surface thereof and a second index of refraction, and said first surface and said second surface contact each other.

Two side-by-side optical paths transmit stereoscopic right side and left side images onto the surface of a single image sensing chip. The single image sensing chip may be placed at various orientations with respect to the lens trains in the optical paths. In some embodiments a single prism is used to turn the light for both the right side and left side images onto the single image sensing chip. In other embodiments one prism is used to turn the light for the right side image and another prism is used to turn the light for the left side image, and the reflective surfaces of the two prisms are substantially coplanar such that the right side and left side images are incident on the single image sensor chip.

A see-through head-mounted optical apparatus for a viewer has at least one display module, each display module having a display energizable to form an image and a positive field lens optically coupled to the surface of the display and disposed to direct imaged light from the display toward a first surface of a prism. A curved reflector element is in the path of the imaged light through the prism and disposed at a second surface of the prism, opposite the first surface. The curved reflector element has a refractive surface and a curved reflective surface disposed to collimate imaged light received from the display and direct this light toward a beam splitter that is disposed within the prism and that is at an oblique angle to the collimated reflected light. The beam splitter redirects the incident collimated reflected light through the prism to form an entrance pupil for the viewer.

A display system includes light sources disposed at two different light input ends of a light guiding plate; a double-sided prism sheet disposed on a light emitting side of the light guiding plate, and having on a first surface facing the light guiding plate a triangular prism bank extending in a direction parallel to the light input ends of the light guiding plate, and on a second surface, opposite to the first surface, a cylindrical lens bank extending in a direction parallel to the triangular prism bank; a transmissive display panel disposed on a light emitting side of the double-sided prism sheet; and a synchronization driving section causing the transmissive display panel to display two different images in synchronization with the light sources, wherein light from the light sources is emitted through the transmissive display panel at angles corresponding to right and left parallax, producing a stereoscopic display.

An integrated solar concentrator and tracker is constructed from a beam deflector for unpolarized light in combination with a fixed optical condenser. The one-dimensional beam deflector consists of a pair of prism arrays made from a material whose refractive index can be varied by applying an electric field. Two of the one-dimensional concentrators can be arranged with their faces in contact and with their prism arrays perpendicular to construct a two-dimensional beam deflector. The intensity and distribution of an applied field modifies the refractive index of the individual prisms in order to keep direction of the deflected beam fixed as the incident beam shifts. When the beam deflector is used with the fixed concentrator the result is that the position of the focus remains fixed as the source moves.

A refraction measuring instrument for measuring the refraction of an eye to be examined while the subject is viewing an external object in a more natural posture. A measuring light beam from a light source 21 is reflected from a mirror 25, shaped into a beam with a ring cross section, directed to a free curved surface prism 31 along an optical axis O2, reflected from a surface 31b and a beam splitting surface 31a, guided to an eye E along an optical axis O1 together with the visible light from outside the instrument, and form a ring pattern on the fundus F. The measurement beam reflected from the fundus F is received by a CCD 23 through the free curved surface prism 31 and a prism 22, and a ring pattern is imaged. A calculation control device 4 analyzes the imaged ring pattern and calculates the sphericity, the degree of astigmatism, and the astigmatic axis angle. For measurement, the subject A wears the refraction measuring instrument 1 on the head H through a wearing section 1a.

An intermediate image is formed inside a first prism, and an image light, which is reflected on the order of a third surface, a first surface and a second surface, is transmitted through the first surface and reaches the eyes of the observer, therefore it is possible to make the entire optical system small and light in weight by making the first prism thin, and realize a high performance display device with a wide angle of view. Further, when an external light is passed through, for example, the first surface and the third surface and observed, a diopter scale is set to approximately zero, and thereby reducing the defocus or distortion of the external light when observed in a see-through manner. And, it is possible such that the shape of the first prism conforms to the face of the observer, the center is also close to the face.

A non-invasive near infrared spectrophotometric monitoring transducer assembly includes a housing member, which is adhered directly on a patient's skin. The housing member contains a prism coupled to a flexible and lightweight single core optical light guide, which provides a means of transferring narrow spectral bandwidth light from multiple distant laser diodes of different wavelengths by use of a multi-fiber optic light combining assembly. Different wavelengths are needed to monitor the level of blood oxygenation in the patient. The assembly also contains a planar light guide mounted on the prism located in the housing member, which light guide contacts the patient's skin when the housing member is adhered to the patient's skin. The light guide controls the spacing between the prism and the patient's skin, and therefore controls the intensity of the area on the patient's skin which is illuminated by the laser light. The housing member contains a photodiode assembly, which detects the infrared light at a second location on the skin to determine light absorption. The photodiode assembly is preferably shielded from ambient electromagnetic interference (EMI) by an optically transparent EMI attenuating window. This rigid window placed over the photodiode also provides a planar interface between the assembly and the skin, improving optical coupling and stability as well as reducing the capacitive coupling between skin and the photodiode resulting in further EMI attenuation. The housing may be associated with a disposable sterile hydrogel coated adhesive envelope, or pad, which when applied to the patient's skin will adhere the housing to the patient's skin. The transducer assembly will thus be reusable, and skin-contacting part of the device, i.e., the envelope or pad can be discarded after a single use. The assembly also includes a laser safety interlock means, which is operable to turn off the laser light output in the event that the assembly accidentally becomes detached from the patient's skin.

Reflective polarization valve engine and projection display are disclosed. Instead of prism PBS, the projector applies wire-grid polarizers with advantages of higher heat-resistance, no limitation of the incident angle and no birefringence effects, to provide excellent contrast luminance. The light source in the projector utilizes an elliptical lamp under a telecentric optical system to achieve higher efficiency and avoid color gradient. In addition, the light paths are in special arrangement. The original beam is first splitted into RGB, and then proceeding with color-recombining right after being polarized via wire-grid polarizers and analyzed by reflective polarization valves. Hence, the analyzed beams finally are recombined images with superior performances.

A vehicle side-flashing lamp includes: a cup-shaped housing; a light exit opening opposite the housing bottom; and a light exit cover which covers the light exit opening. At least one light-emitting diode emits light outwardly at least partially at an angle which is large with respect to the main axis of the housing. A prismatic element, defined by first, second and third boundary surfaces, is arranged in front of the light-emitting diode in such a way that an emitted light beam passes through the first boundary surface into the prismatic element and is at least partially reflected at the second boundary surface, which is inclined with respect to the central axis of the light beam, in such a way that the reflected part issues from the prismatic element through the third boundary surface.

A gain medium 12 and a tunable filter are provided in an optical path of laser oscillation. The tunable filter has an optical beam deflector for periodically changing an optical beam at a constant angular speed, a prism 26 on which deflected light is made incident, and a diffraction grating 27. Appropriate selection of the apex angle α of the prism 26 and an angle β formed by the prism 26 and the diffraction grating 27 can provide a tunable laser light source for changing the oscillation frequency at high speed and a constant variation rate.

A prism assembly using only cholesteric layers for splitting input light into component light beams and individually directing the component light beams to modulating devices. Liquid coupling prism assembly components to produce reduced stress index and pathlength matched prism assemblies from low tolerance components. Pathlength matching in beam splitting devices using a variety of optical component shapes and beam splitting layer materials. Various prism assembly designs using cholesteric layers supported on planar and/or on optical component diagonals.

A backlit light display comprises a light guide panel, a prismatic film, an asymmetric top diffuser and an LCD. A linear light source is disposed along a side face of the light guide panel. Light from the linear light source is transmitted though the light guide panel where it is spread and uniformly output through a front face to the prismatic film. Light incident on the prismatic film is redirected more along a first direction than along a second direction. This light is directed more normal to the LCD. An asymmetric diffuser is applied between the prismatic film and the LCD panel to smear the periodic information from the prismatic film and eliminate the Moiré fringe pattern resulting from interference between the periodic structure of the prismatic film and the periodic arrangement of pixels in the LCD. The asymmetric diffuser is aligned with respect to the prismatic film such that it scatters and spreads light more in a second direction than the first direction.

The presently disclosed invention is a device for measuring horizontal and vertical eye movement. The device is adaptable to utilize multiple measurement technologies (e.g., direct infrared, electro-oculography, ultrasound, or video), and is capable of measuring each eye individually or both eyes jointly. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by requiring minimal adjustment for accurate measurement, only minimally obstructing the user's visual range (i.e., slightly more than the user's own nose), being made of low cost and readily available material, and by being comprised of a comfortable and efficient design of an adjustable nose and forehead piece with an adjustable head strap. An additional advancement over the prior art is that the presently disclosed device does not require an aperture or frame, as did the prior art, or any additional optics such as, lenses, mirrors, or prisms. The device rests on the user's nose with the sensors located near the nasal area of the eye(s) utilizing a nose bridge component to house the measuring technology. The forehead piece and head strap provide for ease of alignment, added stability, and a wide range of test applications. The greater field of vision provided by this device allows for a wide range of test applications.

A structural shape on the surface of an optical substrate is such that the brightness of diffuse light departing from the surface of the optical substrate at certain off axis angles is reduced, at the expense of a small reduction in peak brightness measured near the viewing axis. The net result is an overall increase in useful illumination. A cross section of a prism as the structural shape has a curved sidewall or facet. A material with a relatively high index of refraction combined with a prismatic structure having a modified prism geometry improves brightness.

A projection display apparatus comprises a liquid crystal unit assembly which includes a liquid crystal panel, an incident side polarizing plate and an emitting side polarizing plate which are arranged on an incident side and on an emitting side of the liquid crystal panel, respectively, and a color combining prism. The apparatus further comprises a fan; a duct which is connected to the fan and which is provided with an opening for supplying cooling air, wherein the opening is arranged near the liquid crystal panel and the incident side polarizing plate; a holder for holding the emitting side polarizing plate and the color combining prism; and a heat exchanger which is connected to the holder, wherein the heat exchanger uses liquid coolant.

In a minimally invasive surgical system, an image capture unit includes a prism assembly and sensor assembly. The prism assembly includes a beam splitter, while the sensor assembly includes coplanar image capture sensors. Each of the coplanar image capture sensors has a common front end optical structure, e.g., the optical structure distal to the image capture unit is the same for each of the sensors. A controller enhances images acquired by the coplanar image capture sensors. The enhanced images may include (a) visible images with enhanced feature definition, in which a particular feature in the scene is emphasized to the operator of minimally invasive surgical system; (b) images having increased image apparent resolution; (c) images having increased dynamic range; (d) images displayed in a way based on a pixel color component vector having three or more color components; and (e) images having extended depth of field.

An endoscope for oblique viewing including an image pickup device, a front lens group having a positive refractive power, a prism disposed on the CCD side of the front lens group, and a rear lens group disposed on the CCD side of the prism and having a positive refractive power.

A distal portion of an electronic endoscope is formed with a cutaway portion and a distal end surface. The distal portion is provided with side-viewing and front-viewing capturing optical systems. The side-viewing capturing optical system has a side-viewing objective lens, a prism with a half mirror surface, and a varifocal lens. Light incident on the half-mirror surface from the side-viewing objective lens is reflected to be incident on a CCD through the varifocal lens. Moving the varifocal lens allows the side-viewing capturing optical system to switch from normal observation to magnifying observation and vice versa. In the magnifying observation, a best focus position resides on an extension, of an outer circumferential surface of the distal portion, facing the cutaway portion.

The invention provides a light guide member and an illuminating device which are able to efficiently uniformly irradiate illumination light to only an area requiring illumination. Therefore, a reflection face is constructed by reflection stripes such as many grooves, etc. widened in a concentric circle shape. Light from a light source unit is widened toward this entire reflection face without irregularities by a diffusing portion such as a reflection prism, etc. Thus, only the range actually requiring the illumination can be illuminated without irregularities, and visibility of the illumination range using a front light is raised.

A digital camera contains biometric capability to identify a photographer, which is preferably provided by the camera's own optical sensors. The biometric feature is preferably the iris of a photographer's eye, which is recognized as unique for each individual. The camera captures an image of an iris, abstracts a set of distinguishing features, and matches this set to an on-board database. The iris image is preferably captured when the photographer brings his eye in the vicinity of the camera's viewing window, through a combination of mirrors, lenses, prisms, and the like. This capability may be used to record the identity of a photographer with the image, as an anti-theft or privacy device, or to personalize the camera settings.

A method and apparatus for inspecting a specimen are provided. The apparatus comprises a primary illumination source, a catadioptric objective exhibiting central obscuration that directs light energy received from the primary illumination source at a substantially normal angle toward the specimen, and an optical device, such as a prism or reflective surface, positioned within the central obscuration resulting from the catadioptric objective for receiving further illumination from a secondary illumination source and diverting the further illumination to the specimen. The method comprises illuminating a surface of the specimen at a variety of angles using a primary illumination source, illuminating the surface using a secondary illumination source, the illuminating by the secondary illumination source occurring at a substantially normal angle of incidence; and imaging all reflected, scattered, and diffracted light energy received from the surface onto a detector.

The present invention is a thru-hull light for installation under the waterline of a vessel comprising a lens capable of diffusing the light broadly through the water. In a preferred embodiment, the lens is a separate, discrete component with a prismatic surface.

A coordinate sensor (10) includes at least two line sensors (1) that are disposed in x-axis and y-axis directions, and right-angle prisms (2) each of which changes a light path of light that has passed through an image display region of a liquid crystal panel (20). Each of the line sensors (1) is disposed outside the image display region and has a light-receiving surface (1a) parallel to an image display surface of the liquid crystal panel (20). The right angle prisms (2) cause light which travels in the x-axis and y-axis directions and which has passed through the image display region to be guided to the light-receiving surfaces (1a) of the line sensors (1). The coordinate sensor (10) receives the light which has thus passed through the image display region of the liquid crystal panel (20) so as to detect a coordinate, on the image display region, that is indicated by an object to be detected such as a finger. Consequently, a thin coordinate sensor that enables easy alignment with no reduction in aperture ratio and no restriction on operation speed can be realized at low cost.

A system for material excitation in microfluidic devices is described. Aspects of the invention resemble a submerged periscope when in use. They allow for light to be redirected along a more advantageous trajectory as does the maritime device. A prism with a reflecting surface may be used to direct a laser beam along one or more microfluidic trenches or channels. Alternatively, a reflecting surface may be provided in connection with a simple support. Directing a beam along multiple paths is preferably accomplished by scanning a single laser across or around the reflecting surface provided. Provision may be made for at least a portion of the submersible used to function as an electrode to assist in electrokinetically driving fluids and/or ions within the microfluidic device.