Abstract: There is provided an optical arrangement comprising a digital micromirror device having a plurality of individually adjustable mirrors, a mirror pair formed from a convex mirror and a concave mirror having a common centre of curvature, the concave mirror having a greater radius than the convex mirror, characterised in that a collimated space is immediately adjacent the convex mirror, and the concave mirror is offset from the convex mirror so as to be capable of forming an image at an effective focal length of the mirror pair. The convex mirror and the concave mirror have radii substantially in the proportion 2.5:1, the concave mirror having the greater radius. A confocal microscope using such an arrangement is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided an optical imaging device for splitting an initial image into images with different optical characteristics, wherein the device comprises a plurality of beamsplitters and at least first and second reflectors arranged to create multiple images adjustably separable in two orthogonal directions, characterised in that the first reflector is rotatable about a first axis and the second reflector is rotatable about a second axis, the second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The beamsplitters are located in a first optical layer to create multiple optical pathways directed substantially orthogonally from the first optical layer to a second spaced apart optical layer. Each reflector can be moved translationally relative to its rotational axis.

Abstract: There is provided an optical imaging device for splitting an initial image into images with different optical characteristics, wherein the device comprises a plurality of beamsplitters and at least first and second reflectors arranged to create multiple images adjustably separable in two orthogonal directions, characterised in that the first reflector is rotatable about a first axis and the second reflector is rotatable about a second axis, the second axis orthogonal to the first axis. The beamsplitters are located in a first optical layer to create multiple optical pathways directed substantially orthogonally from the first optical layer to a second spaced apart optical layer. Each reflector can be moved translationally relative to its rotational axis.

Abstract: There is provided an optical imaging device (18) for splitting an initial image into at least two images with different optical characteristics. The device comprises a dichroic mirror (32) to create first and second optical pathways respectively incident on first and second mirrors (41, 41?) carried on a centrally pivoted rotatable arm, characterised in that the first and second reflective means are moveable along the arm (42) whilst held in fixed relationship to each other, thereby to adjust separation of the first and second optical pathways. A third mirror (46) in fixed relationship to the beam splitter (32) is positioned adjacent where the first and second optical pathways intersect, or just before the intersection of the first and second optical pathways, or just after the point of intersection.

Abstract: Apparatus for illuminating an object comprising a first polarizing beamsplitter (2) which produces a first linearly polarized component (3) and an orthogonally polarized component (5). The two components (3, 5) are focused onto a liquid crystal device (7) having an array of electronically controllable pixel elements each of which is bistable in that it is electronically controllable to occupy either a first state in which the plane of polarization of the light incident on the pixel is rotated by up to 90° or a second state in which the plane of polarization is not changed. The two light beams from the device (7) are incident on a second polarizing beamsplitter (13) which recombines the incident beams into two composite beams one of which represents light rotated by the “on” pixels of the device (7), and this combined beam is refocused onto the object.