Retroreflective materials and optical imaging.
A retroreflective sheet returns each ray toward its source. If intercepted by a semireflecting plane mirror, the rays form a real image which lies as far behind the mirror as the source is in front. This principle can be used to make imaging systems with large apertures but without the usual aberrations.
Constant deviation reflector formed from an array of microlenses
A novel form of reflector, incorporating an array of microlenses, is described. Incident illumination is reflected through an angle of deviation that is nominally independent of the angle of incidence. The reflector performs a function that is similar to a retroreflector, but differs in that the angle of deviation is other than 180 degree(s). This dispenses with the need to use a beamsplitter to extract the reflected wavefront. The consequent reduction in light loss is of benefit to high speed and other forms of photography.
Resource Allocation In R&D Departments
AbstractThis paper examines the problem of allocating funds within research and development organizations, where several departments and multiple research areas must be considered. Furthermore, impacts arising from budget shifts must be measured in terms of various factors or criteria that may be qualitative or quantitative. Using a particular research and development organization, Ontario Hydro, as a backdrop, we develop a framework for evaluating budget changes when (a) multiple criteria, (b) multiple opinions, and (c) qualitative factors are involved. A three stage procedure for budget allocation is proposed. In the first stage, management responses regarding the perceived impacts of budget changes are combined to arrive at a consensus. In stage two, the multiple criteria consensus values are used to derive an overall impact rating for each proposed budget shift pertaining to each of a set of research areas. Finally, in stage three an optimal subset of budget shifts is chosen from the set of all possib...