Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090014656 | Wavelength-conversion system with a heated or cooled wavelength-conversion target - A wavelength-conversion system includes a wavelength-conversion target that radiates an energy output when an energy input of a different wavelength is incident upon the wavelength-conversion target. An input structure directs the energy input of the input-energy wavelength to be incident upon the wavelength-conversion target. A target baseline temperature modifier either controllably heats or controllably cools the wavelength-conversion target independently of any heating or cooling effect of the energy input or the energy output. A detector is positioned so that the energy output of the output-energy wavelength emitted from the wavelength-conversion target is incident upon the detector. | 01-15-2009 |
20090190137 | Method and Apparatus for Testing Conic Optical Surfaces - According to one aspect, a part has two reflective surfaces, one being a conic surface portion having an axis with a focus thereon, and the other being part of a spherical surface with a centerpoint at the focus. According to a different aspect, a method includes fabricating a part with first and second reflective surfaces, the first being a conic surface portion with an axis and a focus on the axis, and the second being a spherical surface portion with a centerpoint at the focus. The second surface is used to position the part so that the focus coincides with the centerpoint of a spherical wave from an interferometer. Then, a reflective further spherical surface portion on a member is used with the interferometer to position a centerpoint of the further surface at the focus. The interferometer then evaluates the first surface for accuracy. | 07-30-2009 |
20090279171 | Method and Apparatus for Providing an Adjustable Optical Delay - An optical structure routes radiation from an optical input to an optical output, the radiation being successively reflected by orthogonal first, second and third reflective surfaces of a linearly movable section, and departing the section in a departure direction substantially opposite its arrival direction. The section can move approximately parallel to the arrival direction with respect to at least one of the optical input and optical output. A different aspect involves: routing radiation from an optical input to an optical output, including reflecting this radiation successively from orthogonal first, second and third reflective surfaces of a section of the structure, the radiation departing the section in a departure direction substantially opposite its arrival direction; and supporting the section for approximately linear movement approximately parallel to the arrival direction with respect to at least one of the optical input and optical output. | 11-12-2009 |
20090316241 | Method and Apparatus for Positioning a Focused Beam - A method and apparatus involve: using beam influencing structure to cause a converging beam of radiation to propagate along a first portion of a path of travel; supporting an optical part so that the path of travel extends through the optical part, the converging beam arriving at the optical part along the first portion of the path of travel, and the path of travel having a second portion along which the converging beam travels away from the optical part; and selectively tilting the optical part about a pivot axis lying in an imaginary plane extending transversely to the first portion of the path of travel, pivotal movement of the optical part about the pivot axis causing a change in the orientation of the second portion of the path of travel with respect to the first portion thereof. | 12-24-2009 |
20100007963 | Method and Apparatus for Optical Bandpass Filtering, and Varying the Filter Bandwidth - A path of travel for radiation extends to one optical element, then to another optical element, and then away from the latter. One of the optical elements is respectively reflective and non-reflective to radiation above and below a first wavelength, and the other is respectively reflective and non-reflective to radiation below and above a second wavelength. According to a different aspect, a path of travel for radiation extends to one of first and second optical elements, then to the other optical element, and then away from the latter. The first optical element is reflective and non-reflective to radiation on respective sides of a first wavelength, and the second optical element is reflective and non-reflective to radiation on respective sides of a second wavelength. The first optical element can tilt in relation to the path of travel to change the first wavelength. | 01-14-2010 |
20100008207 | Method and Apparatus for Optical Power Transfer Control - A method and apparatus involve: supporting an optical part for movement in relation to a first path of travel of radiation; moving the part successively to first and second positions in which radiation arriving along the first path of travel passes respectively through first and second sections of the part that provide respective different levels of refraction, the first and second sections causing radiation to thereafter travel along respective second and third paths of travel; and receiving at an output first and second portions of radiation respectively propagating along the second and third paths of travel, the first and second portions containing different amounts of optical energy. | 01-14-2010 |
20100195209 | Method and Apparatus for Optical Bandpass and Notch Filtering, and Varying the Filter Center Wavelength - A method and apparatus involve an optical element having a passband with a center wavelength, and filtering radiation having first and second portions that arrive along a path of travel extending to the optical element. The first portion includes radiation inside the passband, and the second portion includes radiation above and below the passband. The optical element transmits one of the first and second portions of the radiation therethrough, and reflects the other of the first and second portions of the radiation therefrom. The optical element is supported for a range of movement relative to the path of travel. As the optical element moves through the range of movement, the center wavelength changes. | 08-05-2010 |
20100281749 | Method and Apparatus for Influencing Reflections from an Optical Surface - An optical system has an optical component with a curved surface and zero optical power. The optical system is configured so that the optical component is the first optical structure encountered by radiation entering the optical system from externally thereof. According to a different aspect, a method is provided for making an optical system that has an optical component with a surface, where the optical component is the first optical structure encountered by radiation entering the optical system from externally thereof. The method includes configuring the surface to be curved, and configuring the optical component to have zero optical power. | 11-11-2010 |