An optically powered system for rapid, focused heating and melting of water ice. The optical wavelength is chosen to fall in a range where transmissivity through liquid water is higher than through ice. An alternative embodiment of the invention further comprises a length of fiber optic tether between source and output to allow for motion of the melt head. A further embodiment includes probing the ice using various sensing modalities exploiting the presence of the fiber in the ice, searching for biomarkers and characterizing the radiation/light environment for subsurface habitability, including photosynthetic potential and radiation environment as a source for energy.

A hermetic seal between an optical element and a metal mount or housing using a fluoropolymer. The fluoropolymer is dispersed along the interior edge of the metal mount. The metal mount and fluoropolymer are then heated to a temperature exceeding the melting point of the fluoropolymer. Once heated the optical element is pressed into the metal mount and allowed to cool. The metal mount, optical element and thickness of fluoropolymer are sized to provide an interference fit between the metal mount and optical element.

A bung assembly for closing an opening in a turret of a cryostat has a camera housing and bung body that is mechanically dimensioned to fit the opening, and is provided with a sealing arrangement for forming a gas-tight seal between the bung body and the turret.

An electronic visual food probe for viewing the interior of a body of food being cooked. The probe has a food-safe, heat resistant and elongated stem designed for insertion into the body of food. A thermally insulated cavity formed in one end of the stem has a window that allows light into and out of the cavity. A light source illuminates the interior of the food exposed to the window. An electronic image sensor receives the light reflected from the interior surfaces of the food proximate the window and generates an elongated color image of the reflected light. An electronic display system receives the elongated color image from the image sensor and displays it on an electronic display for viewing.

An inspection camera system includes a camera unit and one or more accessory tools. The camera is mounted in a camera housing. A primary attachment and a secondary attachment act together to provide a reliable attachment of an accessory tool to the camera housing. The accessory tool is removable from the camera housing by disengagement of the secondary and primary attachments. The primary attachment arrangement alone, in an engaged position, resists at least some motion of the accessory tool relative to the camera housing. The secondary attachment arrangement, when engaged, resists motion of the primary attachment arrangement relative to the camera housing out of its engaged position.

An optical connector for coupling to a counter-connector mechanically and optically, a portion of an optical transmission line transmitting an optical signal being disposed in the optical connector, includes: a first outer case through which the optical transmission line is inserted and that covers an incidence end or an emitting end of an optical signal through the optical transmission line; a cover plate that is permeable to an optical signal and seals a tip end side coupled to the counter-connector in the first outer case; and a coating film made of amorphous carbon that is disposed on a surface on the tip end side of the cover plate.

An imaging system includes a lighting controller for independently controlling emission of illumination light to be emitted by a light source in: (i) a non-all-line exposure period, which contains a reading period in which electrical signals are sequentially read out on a horizontal-line basis from an image sensor for one frame or one field period, and in which at least one horizontal line of the horizontal lines for the one frame or the one field period is not exposed to light, and (ii) in an all-line exposure period, in which all of the horizontal lines for the one frame or the one field period are exposed to light.

To maximize the light capturing and imaging resolution capability of an imaging satellite while minimizing weight, the primary reflector and other elements of the optical path have a shape optimized to the shape of the satellite. For a nanosatellite with a square cross-section, the first mirror and other elements of the telescope section in the optical path have a square cross-section, as does the sensor array of the camera section.

A distal end component includes: a transparent resin outer layer portion that is made of a transparent first resin member and configures a surface of a distal end portion; an internal structure portion that is made of a second resin member and is provided in tight contact with an inner surface of the transparent resin outer layer portion; a plurality of component fixing holes provided in the internal structure portion; and lens sections provided in the transparent resin outer layer portion, the lens sections respectively facing distal end surfaces of illumination optical sections and a distal end surface of an observation optical section

The present invention relates to an optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways, a camera system for the inspection of passageways and a method of illuminating a passageway during inspection with a camera. An optical element for use in a camera system for the inspection of passageways comprises a first optical portion arranged to transmit light into a camera, a second optical portion arranged to transmit light emitted from a light source, the second optical portion located adjacent the first optical portion, and barrier means arranged to prevent light being transmitted from the second optical portion into the first optical portion.