Abstract: A light filtering assembly is installed in a lens module, including a fixed mount having a hollow part, a light filter at the hollow part, a shutter annularly disposed on the light filter, and a binding element. The hollow part is annularly formed by a support part extending from the fixed mount toward the hollow part. A first binding space is formed between the support part and the fixed mount, extending the outer periphery of the light filter and the shutter into the first binding space. An adhesive material is injected into the first binding space, and is then cooled down to form the binding element in the first binding space, so as to stop the light filter and the shutter at the hollow part as well as fix the light filter and the shutter on the fixed mount.

Abstract: A surgical microscope, a method for observing an object in an observation area during surgery, and a retrofit-kit for a surgical microscope are provided. The surgical microscope includes at least one optical carrier for variably deflecting an observation axis of an optical observation assembly into an optical viewing axis directed towards the observation area. The optical carrier includes at least one optical beam deflector and is arranged between the optical observation assembly and the observation area. The optical carrier further includes a movable range-setting system for supporting the at least one optical beam deflector and for positioning the at least one optical beam deflector at a variable distance from the optical observation assembly.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element (DOE) comprises a first part comprising a first transparent non-conductive base and a first transparent conductive layer disposed on the first transparent non-conductive base and a second part comprising a second transparent non-conductive base and a second transparent conductive layer disposed on the second transparent non-conductive base. The first transparent conductive layer and the second transparent conductive layer have periodical patterns of thickness for diffracting light. Spacers separate the first part and the second part. The first part and the second part are positioned such that the first transparent conductive layer is facing the second transparent conductive layer. A first end of the first transparent conductive layer is electrically connected to a first terminal of a capacitance monitor, and a second end of the second transparent conductive layer is electrically connected to a second terminal of the capacitance monitor.

Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided, including a base, a holder movably coupled to the base for holding an optical element, a casing, a frame, a driving assembly, and an adhering member. The casing has a top wall and a plurality of side walls extending from the edge of the top wall along an optical axis of the optical element, and the top wall is closer to a light-incident end than the base. The frame is disposed on the top wall and has a frame protrusion extending toward the base. The driving assembly is configured to drive the holder to move relative to the base, and an accommodating space is formed between the base, the frame and the casing. The adhering member is disposed in the accommodating space and configured to directly adhere to the base, the frame, the casing, and the driving assembly.

Abstract: A microscope system includes a light sheet microscopy functional unit and at least one further light microscopy functional unit. The light sheet microscopy functional unit has an illumination objective which is formed by a first objective and a detection objective which is formed by a separate second objective. The at least one further light microscopy functional unit has a detection objective that is formed by the second objective.

Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided. The optical element driving mechanism includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, a driving assembly, and a circuit unit. The movable portion is movably connected to the fixed portion, and holds an optical element. The driving assembly drives the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The circuit unit includes a base, a plate-connecting portion, and a layer-connecting portion. The plate-connecting portion is partially embedded in the base. The layer-connecting portion is disposed on the base. The driving assembly is electrically connected to the layer-connecting portion. The thickness of the plate-connecting portion is different from the thickness of the layer-connecting portion.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a MEMS apparatus configured to redirect light in a LiDAR system and includes a support frame and a plurality of mirror elements disposed in a linear array within the support frame including a first mirror element and a second mirror element. Each of the plurality of mirror elements can be rotatable on a rotational axis that is perpendicular to a line defined by the linear array of the plurality of mirror elements and bisects the corresponding mirror element into a first portion and a second portion. The apparatus can include a coupling element having a distal end physically coupled to a first portion of the first mirror element and a proximal end physically coupled to a second portion of the second mirror element such that a rotation of the first mirror element causes a synchronous and equal rotation of the second mirror element.

Abstract: An optical transmitting module and a head mounted display device are provided. The optical transmitting module includes a waveguide and a first lens. The waveguide is located on a transmission path of an image beam. The waveguide includes a plurality of beam splitters configured to split the image beam the image beam into a first image beam and a second image beam. The second image beam reflected by the beam splitter is outputted from the waveguide, so as to display a virtual image. The first lens causes a plurality of virtual images displayed by a plurality of the second image beams reflected from different beam splitters at the same angle to coincide on a focal plane of the first lens. The head mounted display device can eliminate a ghost image phenomenon that occurs when the user observes the images displayed in a range closer to the eye.

Abstract: Polarization-independent focusing is advantageously achieved by a multifocal system having a polarization beam splitter (PBS) to split an unpolarized light beam into two orthogonally linearly-polarized (LP) light beams. The two LP light beams are reflected by mirrors to travel in opposite directions and enter into a variable-focusing module at two ends thereof, respectively. The module includes waveplates to convert the LP light beams into two circularly-polarized (CP) light beams at both ends of an optical assembly. The optical assembly is formed with a stack of birefringent optical elements including at least one geometric phase lens and one polarization selector that may be electrically modulated to select the optical power in focusing the two CP light beams. Followed by the waveplates converting two focused CP light beams to two focused LP light beams and upon mirror reflection, the beams are finally recombined by the PBS to form one focused light beam.

Abstract: Portable common path shearing interferometry-based holographic microscopy systems. The system includes a light source, a sample holder, a microscope objective lens, a shear plate and an imaging device positioned in a common path shearing interferometry configuration. A housing is configured to receive and hold the shear plate and maintain a position of the shear plate relative to the microscope objective lens.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for enlarging the optical scan angle of imaging probes are provided. The optical scan angle of endoscopic probes can be increased by employing the “Snell's Window” effect. An endoscopic probe can include an endoscope shell, a device for capturing electromagnetic radiation, and a liquid or gel provided between the device for capturing electromagnetic radiation and the endoscope shell. The endoscope probe can further include a first mirror placed such that electromagnetic radiation entering through the endoscope shell can bounce off the first mirror and enter the device for capturing electromagnetic radiation. The first mirror can be a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) mirror.

Abstract: A polarization controller is configured to control polarization of an optical signal. The polarization controller includes a first polarization rotator and a second polarization rotator controllable by control settings. The polarization controller includes a monitor unit configured to generate a monitoring value indicating a performance of the polarization controller. The polarization controller is configured to determine from the monitoring value if the polarization controller is operating in a selected one of a plurality of optimal performance states. If operation is not in an optimal performance state, the polarization controller is further configured to select different control settings to select an alternate one of the plurality of optimal performance states for the polarization controller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-pass etalon-based optical filter in which input light once reflected from the etalon is returned back to the etalon for a second reflection to enhance etalon contrast. The external mirror may be tilted relative to the etalon so that two planes of incidence are orthogonal. The multi-pass etalon-based optical filter may be used to clean scattered light from an excitation wavelength in Raman and Brillouin spectroscopy.

Abstract: A finder optical system includes a display element and a diffractive optical element that is disposed on an eye point side of the display element so as to continue from the display element. The diffractive optical element includes a first base, a first layer that is laminated on the first base and includes a first diffractive optical surface on a surface thereof opposite to the first base, a second base, and a second layer that is laminated on the second base and includes a second diffractive optical surface on a surface thereof opposite to the second base. The first diffractive optical surface and the second diffractive optical surface are in close contact with each other.

Abstract: An arrangement for TIRF microscopy, having an illumination optical unit with an illumination objective for illuminating a specimen on a specimen carrier in a specimen plane via an illumination beam path. An optical axis of the illumination objective includes an illumination angle that differs from zero with the normal of the specimen plane. A detection optical unit with a detection objective in a detection beam path includes a detection angle that differs from zero between an optical axis thereof and the normal of the specimen plane. A transition element between the specimen carrier and both objectives is arranged both in the illumination beam path and in the detection beam path. The transition element corrects aberrations that arise on account of the passage through media with different refractive indices of radiation to be detected and/or radiation for illuminating the specimen.

Abstract: A stage apparatus for a microscope includes a first stage provided on a mirror base of the microscope and fixed to a stage member that moves in an optical axis direction, a second stage that relatively moves over a surface of the first stage in a first direction, a third stage that relatively moves over a surface of the second stage in a second direction, the third stage having a placement portion for placing a microscope slide, and an exterior cover for covering at least a portion of the second stage and the third stage, the exterior cover being fixed to the first stage or the stage member. The exterior cover provides a space for the second stage and the third stage to move, and exposes the placement portion of the third stage.

Abstract: Autofocus assembly and related methods are described. One example of an autofocus assembly includes a housing element. The housing element including a hall housing wall configured to secure a hall sensor. The autofocus assembly includes a lens carriage configured to secure a hall magnet and configured to be received within the housing element and configured to define a receiving space between the lens carriage and the housing element to receive one or more bearing elements. The autofocus assembly includes a magnetic element disposed at the hall housing wall and configured to magnetically attract the hall magnet and to secure the hall housing wall to the housing element and secure the one or more bearing elements between the hall housing wall and the lens carriage.

Abstract: A transparent optical element includes a primary electrode, a secondary electrode overlapping at least a portion of the primary electrode, an electroactive layer disposed between and abutting the primary electrode and the secondary electrode, and a control system operably coupled to at least one of the primary electrode and the secondary electrode and adapted to provide a drive signal to actuate the electroactive layer within an aperture of the transparent optical element.

Abstract: An optical apparatus and method of using same. The optical apparatus includes a vortex optical isolator including an axis. The vortex optical isolator includes a first amplitude mask defining a first limiting aperture and aligned with the axis. The first limiting aperture includes a first radius. The vortex optical isolator includes a first lens aligned with the axis. The vortex optical isolator includes a vortex phase mask aligned with the axis. The vortex optical isolator includes a second lens aligned with the axis. The vortex optical isolator includes a second amplitude mask defining a second limiting aperture aligned with the axis. The second limiting aperture includes a second radius sufficiently smaller than the first radius so as to block reverse light traveling through the optical apparatus. The apparatus includes a standard light source configured to transmit forward light through the vortex optical isolator.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus for a polarization device includes a polarizer subassembly for polarizing a light beam, a rotary support for rotatably supporting the polarization device in a path of the light beam downstream of the polarizer subassembly, an analyzer subassembly downstream of the rotary support for receiving the light beam propagated through the polarization device, and a photodetector array disposed downstream of the analyzer subassembly and extending along the width dimension of the light beam for detecting the light beam propagated through the analyzer subassembly. At least one of the polarizer or analyzer subassemblies includes a spatially variant polarization element having a polarization property varying along the width dimension of the light beam.