An optical guide has at least two diffraction gratings in serial in front of a light source in order to diffract a light beam from the light source twice. The first diffraction grating could split the light beam into several parallel light beams along a first axis, and the second diffraction grating could split the light beams into several points of light along a second axis, and so on and so forth. By rotating the diffraction gratings relative to one another and by adjusting the distance between the diffraction gratings, a user of the optical guide could adjust the angle of the axis points and adjust a relative distance of the points of light relative to one another. These light beams could provide convenient guides for users in a variety of applications.

A method and system for identifying a given geometrical feature of an optical component or semi-finished ophthalmic lens blank, where an optical component is made of an organic material that can emit light at an emission wavelength λ.sub.e when being lighten at an illumination wavelength λ.sub.i different from the emission wavelength λ.sub.e, a surface of the optical component is illuminated with an incident light beam including at least light at the illumination wavelength but devoid from light at the emission wavelength, light emitted at the emission wavelength by the illuminated surface is collected to build an image of the surface, and the surface image is processed to apply metrics to compare the image with reference data specific to the given geometrical feature.

A pointing axis estimation apparatus capable of removing pointing axis variations caused by factors other than pointing axis variations of a telescope, thereby estimating true pointing axis variations of the telescope. The pointing axis estimation apparatus includes: a laser light source-unit attitude detector for calculating translational and rotational displacements of a laser light source unit; an optical axis detection-unit attitude detector for calculating translational and rotational displacements of an optical axis detection unit; a pointing axis calculator for calculating a pointing axis based on information from an optical axis variation detector; and a pointing axis variation estimator for calculating a true pointing axis variation of a telescope based on displacement data output from the detectors and the calculator.

This optical system includes: a device (106) for generating a plane light wave, called a collimated light wave (OL.sub.col); and a device (114) for deviating the collimated light wave so as to provide a light wave, called a test light wave (OL.sub.test), the deviating device (114) having an adjustable focal length.

A method for measuring the positions of centers of curvature of optical surfaces of a single- or multi-lens optical system, an imaging lens system simultaneously images an object plane into a first and a second image plane. The optical system is arranged so that a supposed position of a first center of curvature is situated in the first image plane of the imaging lens system and a supposed position of a second center of curvature is situated in the second image plane of the imaging lens system. An object arranged in the object plane is then imaged simultaneously or sequentially at the first and the second image plane by means of measuring light. Reflections of the measuring light at optical surfaces of the optical system are detected by means of a spatially resolving light sensor. The actual positions of the first and the second center of curvature are calculated from the detected reflexes.

A method for measuring the positions of centers of curvature of optical surfaces of a single- or multi-lens optical system, an imaging lens system simultaneously images an object plane into a first and a second image plane. The optical system is arranged so that a supposed position of a first center of curvature is situated in the first image plane of the imaging lens system and a supposed position of a second center of curvature is situated in the second image plane of the imaging lens system. An object arranged in the object plane is then imaged simultaneously or sequentially at the first and the second image plane by means of measuring light. Reflections of the measuring light at optical surfaces of the optical system are detected by means of a spatially resolving light sensor. The actual positions of the first and the second center of curvature are calculated from the detected reflexes.

The invention relates to a system and method for detecting vibrations on the periphery of an optical fibre, which is divided into five subsystems that are connected together. First, a light-source subsystem (6) generates light, which is transmitted through an optical fibre subsystem (2). Then, speckle interference patterns generated in the optical fibre are read using a CMOS micro camera subsystem (5). Subsequently, the information is analysed by a processing subsystem (7), producing an alarm signal that is notified to the outside by means of a communications subsystem (1).

A method of determining facial metrics of a patient includes: capturing a first image of the patient with an image capturing device positioned in a first known position with the assistance of a positioning device, capturing a second image of the patient with the image capturing device positioned in a second known position different that the first known position with the assistance of the positioning device, and determining facial metrics of the patient by analyzing the first image and the second image.

A method of determining facial metrics of a patient includes: capturing a first image of the patient with an image capturing device positioned in a first known position with the assistance of a positioning device, capturing a second image of the patient with the image capturing device positioned in a second known position different that the first known position with the assistance of the positioning device, and determining facial metrics of the patient by analyzing the first image and the second image.

A device for measuring horological shakes, including a structure carrying an articulated mechanism with a compliant mechanism having a linear force/stroke characteristic connecting a first fixed element to a second element capable of moving linearly under the effect of an actuator manoeuvring same in a contactless manner in both directions, and a position sensor determining the position of the second element in a direction, and a load sensor determining the variation in the axial pushing or pulling load of the second element carrying a gripper clamping a mobile component, and/or the variation in the gradient of this load, generating a signal for triggering the position measurement during each sudden change in gradient of the load in each direction of running, to determine the shake of the mobile component, by comparing the positions measured during the sudden changes in gradient during the outward and return strokes.