Including Concave Or Convex Reflecting Surface Patents (Class 359/727)
  • Patent number: 11592740
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for manufacturing wire grid polarizers (WGP) using Markle-Dyson exposure systems and dual tone development (DTD) frequency doubling. In one embodiment, the method includes depositing a photoresist layer over an aluminum-coated display substrate, patterning the photoresist layer by dual tone development using a Markle-Dyson system to form a photoresist pattern, and transferring the photoresist pattern into the aluminum-coated display substrate to manufacture a WGP having finer pitch, for example less than or equal to about 100 nm, and increased frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jang Fung Chen, Christopher Dennis Bencher, David Markle
  • Patent number: 11317798
    Abstract: An optical system configured for imaging an object with the use of two independently-scanning reflectors, the optical system having an optical axis and including: first and second scanning reflectors, the first scanning reflector being configured to scan a beam of light incident thereon in a first plane, the second scanning reflector being configured to scan a beam of light incident thereon in a second plane, and the first and second planes being transverse to one another; and a catadioptric afocal relay system disposed along the optical axis in optical communication with, and between, the first and second scanning reflectors, the catadioptric afocal relay system being configured to image one of the first or second scanning reflectors onto another of the first or second scanning reflectors, in light propagating along the optical axis, with a unit magnification, and the catadioptric afocal relay system including only one reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: David M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 11181723
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reflective wide-angle lens having a large aperture (for example, FNO 1.7) and a small projection ratio (for example, TR?0.2). The reflective wide-angle lens reduces lens size and reduces the number of lenses required while achieving a clear focus on a wide range of screen sizes. The reflective wide-angle lens comprises a front lens group and a rear lens group. The front lens group comprises a first lens group and two second lens group. The rear lens group comprises a curved mirror. The first lens group comprises at least a triple cemented lens, an aspherical lens, and two spherical lenses. The second lens group comprises at least two aspherical lenses and two spherical lenses. The curved mirror is a concave optical symmetric aspheric mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Fujian Richi Intelligent Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Chienping Kung
  • Patent number: 11175487
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for optical distortion reduction in projection systems for scanning projection and/or lithography. A projection system includes an illumination system configured to generate illumination radiation for generating an image of an object to be projected onto an image plane of the projection system. The illumination system includes a field omitting illumination condenser configured to receive the illumination radiation from a radiation source and provide a patterned illumination radiation beam to generate the image of the object, wherein the patterned illumination radiation beam comprises an omitted illumination portion corresponding to a ridge line of a roof prism disposed within an optical path of the projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SUSS MICROTEC PHOTONIC SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Paul Ferrari, Yanrong Yuan, Jeff Hansen, Gerrad Killion
  • Patent number: 10877253
    Abstract: An optical system for light distribution. The optical system includes at least a reflective surface, at least two refracting surfaces, at least one inner lens and an outer lens. The optical system provides high efficiency collection and distribution of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: PELKA & ASSOCIATES INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Jacobson, Robert D. Gengelbach
  • Patent number: 10488670
    Abstract: In various embodiments, an optical element is provided. The optical element includes an imaging region with a lens arrangement which is aligned along an optical axis, and a collimation region which surrounds the imaging region to the side of the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: OSRAM GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Schwaiger, Juergen Hager
  • Patent number: 10371942
    Abstract: There is provided a head-up display device that reflects and enlarges an image, which is displayed on an image display element, by a curved mirror, allows an observer to visually recognize the image as a virtual image, can change a virtual image display position, and is small. A head-up display device, which reflects and enlarges a displayed primary display image by a curved mirror and allows an observer to visually recognize the primary display image as a virtual image, includes a virtual-image-position change portion of changing a distance between the observer and the virtual image and a display-size change portion of changing the display size of the primary display image, and is adapted to satisfy the following conditional expression (1). 2.5<(Hf/Hn)/(Bf/Bn)<15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Chikara Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9933604
    Abstract: A catadioptric telephoto lens system which: receives incident light rays in a parallel path of both catoptrics and dioptrics, where some of the incident light rays go through a reflective path involving mirrors/reflective surfaces and others of the incident light rays go through a refractive path involving lenses; or receives incident light rays in a serial path of catoptrics and dioptrics, where all the incident light rays initially go through a reflective path involving mirrors/reflective surfaces and then go through a refractive path involving lenses. The system eliminates the black pupil/iris blur disadvantages associated with conventional telescopic lens systems and may be provided in a very compact form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Inventor: Weimin Lu
  • Patent number: 9903809
    Abstract: A system for measuring thermal degradation of composites includes a cylindrical body; a bottom cover having a lower central aperture; an upper concave mirror facing the bottom cover with an upper central orifice concentric with a central axis of the body; a lower concave mirror facing the upper concave mirror with a lower central orifice concentric with the central axis; a source of actinic radiation between the upper concave mirror and the lower concave mirror on the central axis to direct actinic radiation through the lower central orifice and lower central aperture; and a camera with an image sensor positioned concentrically relative to the upper central orifice; wherein the bottom cover is adjustable relative to the cylindrical body to provide a focusing function for the image sensor by varying the distance from the lower central orifice and the upper reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Paul H. Shelley, Jr., Gregory J. Werner, Milan Milosevic, Paul Vahey
  • Patent number: 9891533
    Abstract: A conjugate common light path lithography lens set includes a first, second, third, and fourth spherical mirrors, arranged sequentially, a spherical reflecting mirror arranged below the fourth spherical mirror, a first and second planar reflecting mirrors, inclinedly arranged above the first spherical mirror, so that a conjugate telecentric component pattern is formed to maintain an pattern of an object to have a non-deformed pattern after experiencing these optical components. As such, the omni-spherical mirror set and two kinds of optical material are mutually arranged to form the novel conjugate common light path lithography lens set. This may further achieve the function of the lithography lens, and have a direct effect on the manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL APPLIED RESEARCH LABORATORIES
    Inventors: Jiun-Woei Huang, Shih-Feng Tseng, Jer-Liang Yeh
  • Patent number: 9680276
    Abstract: An illuminator includes a short wave infrared (SWIR) laser, a lens collimator, a first beam shaping diffuser, a second beam shaping diffuser, and a bandpass filter. The lens collimator is optically coupled to the laser for diverging a beam emitted by the laser. The first beam shaping diffuser is optically coupled to the lens collimator to diffuse a diverged beam produced by the lens collimator. The second beam shaping diffuser is optically coupled to the first beam shaping diffuser to further diffuse a diffused beam produced by the first beam shaping diffuser. The bandpass filter is optically connected to the second beam shaping diffuser configured to filter the emissions of a further diffused beam produced by the second beam shaping diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Sensors Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Hansen
  • Patent number: 9500943
    Abstract: A projection objective includes at least four curved mirrors, which include a first curved mirror that is a most optically forward mirror and a second curved mirror that is a second most optically forward mirror, as defined along a light path. In addition, an intermediate lens element is disposed physically between the first and second mirrors, the intermediate lens element being a single pass type lens. The objective forms an image with a numerical aperture of at least substantially 1.0 in immersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Omura
  • Patent number: 9482850
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to enable the capture of large (e.g., Gigapixel) images with high image quality using optical imaging systems that have a small form factor. The disclosed systems can be manufactured in a cost effective fashion, and can be readily assembled, aligned, tested and utilized. One such system comprises a monocentric primary optics section that includes one or more surfaces adapted to form a symmetrical arrangement around a common point of origin. The system also includes a secondary optics section that includes a plurality of secondary optics subsections, where each secondary optics subsection can intercept at least a portion of the light collected by the monocentric primary optics section. The combination of the primary optics section and the secondary optics section is adapted to form an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Joseph E. Ford, Eric Tremblay
  • Patent number: 9470968
    Abstract: A projection objective includes at least four curved mirrors, which include a first curved mirror that is a most optically forward mirror and a second curved mirror that is a second most optically forward mirror, as defined along a light path. In addition, an intermediate lens element is disposed physically between the first and second mirrors, the intermediate lens element being a single pass type lens. The objective forms an image with a numerical aperture of at least substantially 1.0 in immersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Omura
  • Patent number: 9442360
    Abstract: A projection objective includes at least four curved mirrors, which include a first curved mirror that is a most optically forward mirror and a second curved mirror that is a second most optically forward mirror, as defined along a light path. In addition, an intermediate lens element is disposed physically between the first and second mirrors, the intermediate lens element being a single pass type lens. The objective forms an image with a numerical aperture of at least substantially 1.0 in immersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Omura
  • Patent number: 9417182
    Abstract: A prism member having an entrance surface for arranging a terahertz-wave generator for generating a terahertz wave in response to pump light incident thereon, an arrangement part for arranging an object to be measured, an exit surface for arranging a terahertz-wave detector for detecting a correlation between the terahertz wave transmitted through the object in the arrangement part and probe light, a first optical surface for collimating or condensing the terahertz wave incident thereon from the entrance surface toward the arrangement part, and a second optical surface for condensing the terahertz wave transmitted through the arrangement part toward the exit surface, the arrangement part forms a depression adapted to be filled with a liquid incapable of dissolving the object therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Kouichiro Akiyama, Takashi Yasuda, Yoichi Kawada, Atsushi Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9190554
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for industrially producing photovoltaic concentrator modules which consist of a module frame, a lens pane comprising a plurality of Fresnel lenses, a sensor-carrier pane, and an electric line guide, said device comprising the following features: a) a carriage (30) for retaining a module frame (1) in a tension-free manner by means of clamping elements (31) on the two longitudinal sides and stop elements (37) on the two transverse sides, these clamping elements (31) being adjusted by displacing and rotating a shift rod (32), b) a device (47) for punctually applying acrylic and linearly applying silicone (48) onto the support surfaces of the module frame (1), c) one device for laying the sensor-carrier pane (3) and one for laying the lens pane (2), these panes being conveyed in a tension-free manner using special suction devices (39) and being set down with a centrally-positioned, predetermined contact pressure, d) a device for measuring the position of each pane and for positio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Grenzebach Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Schmid, Alexander Feineis
  • Patent number: 9129176
    Abstract: An optical code scanner is presented for assembling an image of a document from multiple images captured by the optical code scanner. A document is presented to the optical code scanner which captures multiple images where each image includes only a portion of the document. Once every part of the document has been captured in at least one image, the optical code scanner processes the images to generate a single image of the entire document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Donald A. Collins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9069260
    Abstract: A catadioptric optical system operates in a wide spectral range. In an embodiment, the catadioptric optical system includes a first reflective surface positioned and configured to reflect radiation; a second reflective surface positioned and configured to reflect radiation reflected from the first reflective surface as a collimated beam, the second reflective surface having an aperture to allow transmission of radiation through the second reflective surface; and a channel structure extending from the aperture toward the first reflective surface and having an outlet, between the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface, to supply radiation to the first reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: ASML HOLDING N.V.
    Inventors: Stanislav Y. Smirnov, Yevgeniy Konstantinovich Shmarev
  • Patent number: 9019633
    Abstract: The catadioptric system includes a first optical imaging system (catadioptric part) causing a light flux from an object to form an intermediate image and a second optical imaging system (dioptric part) causing the light flux from the intermediate image to form an image. In the first optical imaging system, the light flux sequentially passes a first transmissive portion, a second reflective portion, a first reflective portion and a second transmissive portion. In the second optical imaging system, consecutive four lens surfaces among plural lens surfaces placed between an aperture stop and an image surface have a negative combined refractive power, and a condition of ?0.52<?4n—max·Ymax<?0.14 is satisfied, ?4n—max represents a maximum value of the negative combined refractive power, and Ymax represents a maximum object height in a field-of-view of the catadioptric system at the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Katashiba, Kazuhiko Kajiyama, Masayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8989584
    Abstract: An RF/Optical shared aperture is capable of transmitting and receiving optical signals and RF signals simultaneously. This technology enables compact wide bandwidth communications systems with 100% availability in clear air turbulence, rain and fog. The functions of an optical telescope and an RF reflector antenna are combined into a single compact package by installing an RF feed at either of the focal points of a modified Gregorian telescope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. Ruggiero, Hsueh-yuan Pao, Paul Sargis
  • Publication number: 20150062725
    Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective has a multiplicity of lenses and at least one concave mirror, and also two deflection mirrors in order to separate a partial beam path running from the object field to the concave mirror from the partial beam path running from the concave mirror to the image field. The deflection mirrors are tilted relative to the optical axis of the projection objective about tilting axes running parallel to a first direction (x-direction). The first deflection mirror is arranged in optical proximity to a first field plane and the second deflection mirror is arranged in optical proximity to a second field plane, which is optically conjugate with respect to the first field plane. A displacement device for the synchronous displacement of the deflection mirrors is provided. The deflection mirrors have different local distributions of their reflection properties in first and second reflection regions, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas Schicketanz, Toralf Gruner
  • Publication number: 20150055228
    Abstract: A 1× Wynne-Dyson optical system for microlithography having a variable magnification is disclosed. The 1× Wynne-Dyson optical system has first and second prisms, and a positive lens group that includes a split lens having first and second split lens elements that reside adjacent the first and second prisms, respectively. The first and second split lens elements are axially movable to change the magnification by up to about 500 parts per million. An adjustable positive lens group for a 1× Wynne-Dyson optical system is also disclosed, wherein the positive lens group allows for small changes in the optical system magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Ultratech, Inc.
    Inventor: David G. Stites
  • Patent number: 8913316
    Abstract: A catadioptric projection objective has a first objective part, defining a first part of the optical axis and imaging an object field to form a first real intermediate image. It also has a second, catadioptric objective part forming a second real intermediate image using the radiation from the first objective part. The second objective part has a concave mirror and defines a second part of the optical axis. A third objective part images the second real intermediate image into the image plane and defines a third part of the optical axis. Folding mirrors deflect the radiation from the object plane towards the concave mirror; and deflect the radiation from the concave mirror towards the image plane. The first part of the optical axis defined by the first objective part is laterally offset from and aligned parallel with the third part of the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Aurelian Dodoc, Wilhelm Ulrich, Alexander Epple
  • Patent number: 8873137
    Abstract: Catadioptric projection objective (1) for microlithography for imaging an object field (3) in an object plane (5) onto an image field (7) in an image plane (9). The objective includes a first partial objective (11) imaging the object field onto a first real intermediate image (13), a second partial objective (15) imaging the first intermediate image onto a second real intermediate image (17), and a third partial objective (19) imaging the second intermediate image onto the image field. The second partial objective is a catadioptric objective having exactly one concave mirror and having at least one lens (L21, L22). A first folding mirror (23) deflects the radiation from the object plane toward the concave mirror and a second folding mirror (25) deflects the radiation from the concave mirror toward the image plane. At least one surface of a lens (L21, L22) of the second partial objective has an antireflection coating having a reflectivity of less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Epple, Vladimir Kamenov, Toralf Gruner, Thomas Schicketanz
  • Patent number: 8830590
    Abstract: A unit magnification Wynn-Dyson lens for microlithography has an image field sized to accommodate between four and six die of dimensions 26 mm×36 mm. The lens has a positive lens group that consists of either three or four refractive lens elements, with one of the lens elements being most mirror-wise and having a prism-wise concave aspheric surface. Protective windows respectively reside between object and image planes and the corresponding prism faces. The lens is corrected for at least the i-line LED wavelength spectrum or similar LED-generated wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ultratech, Inc.
    Inventor: David G. Stites
  • Patent number: 8810927
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a projection objective, which can include an object plane in which an object field is formed, an entry pupil, a mirrored entry pupil (RE) in a mirrored entry pupil plane obtained by mirroring the entry pupil (VE) at the object plane, an image plane, an optical axis, at least a first mirror and a second mirror. The projection objective can have a negative back focus of the entry pupil, and a principal ray originating from a central point of the object field and traversing the objective from the object plane to the image plane can intersect the optical axis in at least one point of intersection, wherein the geometric locations of all points of intersection lie between the image plane and the mirrored entry pupil plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Mann, Wolfgang Singer
  • Publication number: 20140218699
    Abstract: An optical projection system for projecting an enlarged image on a projection surface is provided. The optical projection system includes an image forming element, a coaxial optical system and a concave mirror. The coaxial optical system and the concave mirror are arranged in this order on an optical path from the image forming element to the projection surface. The coaxial optical system includes lens groups and an aperture stop that share an optical axis. The lens groups include a first lens group and other lens groups. The first lens group has negative refractive power and independently moves in an optical axis direction for adjusting the focus of the optical projection system. The aperture stop is arranged at a position closer to the image forming element than the first lens group that is arranged closest to the concave mirror among the lens groups having the negative refractive power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Hibiki TATSUNO
  • Patent number: 8780441
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a catadioptric projection objective which includes a plurality of optical elements, including first, second and third refractive objection parts. Optical elements arranged between an object surface and a first pupil surface form a Fourier lens group that includes a negative lens group arranged optically close to the first pupil surface. The Fourier lens group is configured such that a Petzval radius RP at the first pupil surface satisfies the condition: |RP|>150 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventor: Aurelian Dodoc
  • Patent number: 8730592
    Abstract: An optical system for viewing a front object and a generally side object comprises, sequentially from the front object side, a first lens group having a negative refractive index, a second lens group including a reflective-refractive lens, an aperture stop, and a third lens group having a positive refractive index. The reflective-refractive lens is provided with a first surface formed on the front object side, a second surface formed on an image side, and a third surface formed circumferentially to surround an optical axis between the first surface and the second surface. The first surface is provided with a first transmission surface formed around the optical axis, and a first reflection surface that faces the image side and is formed around the first transmission surface. The first surface is defined by an aspherical surface consisting of a concave surface in the vicinity of the optical axis and a convex surface in the vicinity of the first reflection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Mizusawa
  • Patent number: 8724104
    Abstract: Described herein is a projective optical metrology system including: a light target formed by a first number of light sources having a pre-set spatial arrangement; and an optical unit including an optoelectronic image sensor, which receives a light signal coming from the light target and defines two different optical paths for the light signal towards the optoelectronic image sensor. The two optical paths are such that the light signal forms on the optoelectronic image sensor at most an image of the light target that can be processed for determining at least one quantity indicating the mutual arrangement between the light target and the optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
    Inventors: Fulvio Bresciani, Fabio Musso
  • Patent number: 8712246
    Abstract: An RF/Optical shared aperture is capable of transmitting and receiving optical signals and RF signals simultaneously. This technology enables compact wide bandwidth communications systems with 100% availability in clear air turbulence, rain and fog. The functions of an optical telescope and an RF reflector antenna are combined into a single compact package by installing an RF feed at either of the focal points of a modified Gregorian telescope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. Ruggiero, Hsueh-yuan Pao, Paul Sargis
  • Patent number: 8711472
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical imaging device, in particular for microscopy, with a first optical element group and a second optical element group, wherein the first optical element group and the second optical element group, on an image plane, form an image of an object point of an object plane via at least one imaging ray having an imaging ray path. The first optical element group comprises a first optical element with a reflective first optical surface in the imaging ray path and a second optical element with a reflective second optical surface in the imaging ray path, wherein the first optical surface is concave. The second optical element group comprises a third optical element with a concave reflective third optical surface in the imaging ray path and a fourth optical element with a convex reflective fourth optical surface in the imaging ray path without light passage aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Mann, Heiko Feldmann
  • Patent number: 8687289
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a projection objective, which can include an object plane in which an object field is formed, an entry pupil, a mirrored entry pupil (RE) in a mirrored entry pupil plane obtained by mirroring the entry pupil (VE) at the object plane, an image plane, an optical axis, at least a first mirror and a second mirror. The projection objective can have a negative back focus of the entry pupil, and a principal ray originating from a central point of the object field and traversing the objective from the object plane to the image plane can intersect the optical axis in at least one point of intersection, wherein the geometric locations of all points of intersection lie between the image plane and the mirrored entry pupil plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Mann, Wolfgang Singer
  • Patent number: 8659823
    Abstract: Ring-field, catoptric and catadioptric, unit-magnification, projection optical systems having non-concentric optical surfaces are disclosed. Each system has a system axis with object and image planes on opposite sides of the system axis. The non-concentric surfaces allow for working distances of the object and image planes in excess of 100 millimeters to be achieved, with a ring-field width sufficient to allow a rectangular object-field having a long dimension in excess of 100 mm to be projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Romeo I. Mercado
  • Patent number: 8641239
    Abstract: A lighting assembly utilizing a reflective body for use with a light source to uniformly disperse the light from the light source. The reflective body includes a lower array of first reflectors arranged about a central axis. Each of the first reflectors form an obtuse angle with the next adjacent first reflector. The reflective body also includes an upper array of second reflectors arranged about the central axis. Each of said second reflectors include a left face and a right face. The upper array defines obtuse angles between next adjacent second reflectors. Additionally, reflex angles are defined between the left and right faces of the second reflectors. The combination of angles evenly disperse the light supplied from the light source to provide a pleasant glow for illuminating an area below the lighting assembly without causing hot spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Best Lights, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary D. Yurich
  • Patent number: 8593729
    Abstract: An all-reflective afocal lens is comprised of eight-reflective mirrors which can fold the light path into a very compact and thin configuration while maintaining diffraction limited performance. Such an afocal arrangement is usable with a traditional optical imager of an appropriate aperture dimension and FOV range, or with an annular aperture optical system with the appropriately scaled aperture and acceptable FOV angles. When combined the resulting FOV is scaled by the magnification produced by the afocal. The afocal arrangement can be used in either a magnification mode or a demagnification mode. Such an afocal arrangement can be used as either a focal length extender or as a FOV switch enabling a very short length two FOV multi-spectral system with a length that can be an order of magnitude shorter than a known optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Jay N. Vizgaitis
  • Patent number: 8553338
    Abstract: A high concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) optics are described. In one example, an HCPV device can include a frame and a solar sensor cell attached to the frame. The solar cell can be configured to receive an optical beam and can further be configured to convert solar energy in the incident optical beam into electrical energy or power. The HCPV device can further include a non-imaging freeform optical device. The optical device can have an asymmetric surface profile with a predefined surface normal arranged to direct incident optical beams toward an entire solar sensor cell surface area. The freeform optical device can have a larger diameter than the solar sensor cell. Also, the freeform optical device can have an asymmetric surface profile shaped to concentrate the incident optical beams onto the solar sensor cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Zheng Jason Geng
  • Publication number: 20130214139
    Abstract: A system for generating and transmitting energy including prisms, lenses, mirrors, optical conduits, heat filters, light filters, and electricity filters. The lenses comprise lens systems to capture electromagnetic signals coming from any source of radiant energy. Upon receiving the electromagnetic signals, the lens system multiplies n times the intensity of the signals by a method of infinitesimal folding of signals, a method basically consisting of an overconcentration of signals folding onto themselves multiple times in order to produce substantially concentrated signals and to project the substantially concentrated signals into one single optical cable. These substantially concentrated signals are transmitted long distances as they are reflected through the interior of these optical conduits (in a conceptual manner similar to signal reflection in Tiber optics cables). At the distal ends of the optical cable three filters will extract heat, white light and electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Aluizio M. Cruz
  • Patent number: 8506087
    Abstract: A laser light projector includes a laser beam generated by a laser light source, a scanner associated with the laser light source and having one or more moving mirrors capable of scanning the laser beam along X-Y coordinates, a scan-fail monitor and a safety-lens. The safety-lens includes at least one optical power, and is positioned and arranged for increasing the safety of the projected light within audience areas by increasing beam divergence in the audience, while keeping beam divergence low above the heads of the audience, thus allowing mirror targeting to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventors: William R. Benner, Jr., Jeremy Philip Turner
  • Patent number: 8493670
    Abstract: A unit magnification projection optical system includes, listed in order along a system axis, a mirror, a lens group having negative power and a lens group having positive power. The optical system is a symmetric system, with an object plane on one side of the system axis and an object plane on an opposite side of the system axis. The object and image planes are spaced apart from the positive lens group by a working distance greater than 100 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Romeo I. Mercado
  • Patent number: 8488256
    Abstract: A rear-view system for a motor vehicle including a catadioptric assembly of at least one external or internal rearview mirror including a non-planar mirror and at least one diopter forming part of a side window of the vehicle or integrated thereto. The mirror and the diopter are configured and designed such that the image of the object restored by the mirror-diopter assembly is not substantially deformed and such that the blind spot or zone not covered by the system is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Aurelie Couery, Corinne Payen
  • Patent number: 8467138
    Abstract: An optical element of the present invention is provide with a first surface which is formed on the front-object side and upon which light from the front-object side is incident, a second surface formed on the image side, and a third surface which is formed between the first surface and the second surface and upon which light from the generally lateral object side is incident. The first surface is provided with a first transmission surface formed around the optical axis and a first reflection surface which faces the image side and which is formed annularly around the first transmission surface. The second surface is provided with a second transmission surface formed around the optical axis, and a second reflection surface which faces the front object side and which is formed annularly around the second transmission surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Mizusawa
  • Publication number: 20130148195
    Abstract: The invention provides a light-transfer imager that can be incorporated into a hyperspectral line-scanner, a spectrograph or a non-diffractive image relay device, and more particularly, to a design having a simpler optical design that is easier to fabricate, and has superior imaging quality than most previous designs. The invention includes a generic first optical assembly to deliver incoming light onto a slit or pinhole, a second optical assembly operating as a refractive corrector that directs incoming light onto a curved reflective diffraction grating or curved mirror such that the spectrally dispersed or reflected light (dependent upon the particular embodiment) passes back through the same second optical assembly which focuses that light onto a focal plane array (FPA) in approximately the same plane as the slit. The slit and the FPA are preferably displaced symmetrically on opposite sides of the optical axis of the refractive corrector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: ITRES RESEARCH LIMITED
    Inventor: Stephen Achal
  • Patent number: 8456745
    Abstract: A first embodiment is a lens system having a plurality of refractive and reflective spherical elements that work as a magnifier to produce a distortion free, less than 1%, image with optical correction over a wide field of view. The system has at least one concave reflecting surface, and at least three convex refracting surfaces with the sign of the radius of one of the convex refracting surfaces being opposite of the sign of the radius of remaining two convex refracting surfaces. A second embodiment is a lens having a concave reflecting element which is on a substrate that is a negative lens by transmission with an index of refraction between 1.6<nd >2.0 and a dispersion 49<?d>15. This is used in combination with at least 3 positive refracting surfaces with less dispersive power than the negative element and with the sign of the radius of one of the positive elements being opposite from the sign of the radius of the remaining positive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Inventor: Paul Weissman
  • Patent number: 8446665
    Abstract: Catadioptric projection objective (1) for microlithography for imaging an object field (3) in an object plane (5) onto an image field (7) in an image plane (9). The objective includes a first partial objective (11) imaging the object field onto a first real intermediate image (13), a second partial objective (15) imaging the first intermediate image onto a second real intermediate image (17), and a third partial objective (19) imaging the second intermediate image onto the image field. The second partial objective is a catadioptric objective having exactly one concave mirror and having at least one lens (L21, L22). A first folding mirror (23) deflects the radiation from the object plane toward the concave mirror and a second folding mirror (25) deflects the radiation from the concave mirror toward the image plane. At least one surface of a lens (L21, L22) of the second partial objective has an antireflection coating having a reflectivity of less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Epple, Vladimir Kamenov, Toralf Gruner, Thomas Schicketanz
  • Patent number: 8419191
    Abstract: An optical system with short total length to project a high quality large image. The system projects an image onto a projection surface, and includes a lens system having a plurality of lenses, and one or more curved mirrors. Light flux of an enlarged image shooting out from the lens system to the projection surface is incident onto a mirror surface of the one of the curved mirrors first of all. Distances OAL and Y satisfy a requirement 20 <OAL/Y <30. OAL is between the image surface and the surface of the curved mirror nearest the projection surface and along an optical path shared by the most lenses of the lens system, and on the image surface. Y is between the optical axis shared by the most lenses and an edge of the image surface which is farthest from the optical axis shared by the most lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Optical Industries, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Nagase, Yoshitsugu Kono
  • Patent number: 8339716
    Abstract: Illumination lenses (1806, 1902, 2002, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 3006, 3100) having surfaces shaped according to given differential equations in order to distribute light in a highly controlled manner with minimum reflection losses are provided. Both primary lenses and secondary lenses are provided. The secondary lenses include outer surfaces that are defined as loci of constant optical distance from an origin at which a light source is located. Versions are provided of both the primary and secondary lenses having Total Internal Reflection (TIR) wings. These are useful in the case that narrower distributions of light are required. A method of refining the shape of the lenses to obtain more obtain lenses that produce better fidelity ideal light distributions is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Philip Premysler
  • Patent number: 8331038
    Abstract: An afocal rearview mirror assembly for a motor vehicle having a side door and a dashboard includes a housing attached to the motor vehicle adjacent the side door and dashboard. The housing has a low-profile, rounded external portion and an internal portion. A selectively movable reflective element is enclosed within the housing, and has opposed curved surfaces for reflecting unfocused light rays from outside the external portion through the internal portion of the housing. A selectively movable lens is enclosed within the internal portion of the housing for controlling light transmitted from the selectively movable reflective element to an occupant of the motor vehicle. The selectively movable lens can converge the unfocused light rays reflected from the selectively movable reflective element to a focused image observable by the occupant of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Snow, James A. Ruse, Keith D. Foote
  • Publication number: 20120300184
    Abstract: A mirror (1) for a microlithography projection exposure apparatus including a substrate (3) and a reflective coating (5). A functional coating (11) between the substrate (3) and the reflective coating (5) has a local form variation (19) for correcting the surface form of the mirror (1), wherein the local form variation (19) is brought about by a local variation in the chemical composition of the functional coating (11) and wherein a thickness of the reflective coating (5) is not changed by the local variation in the chemical composition of the functional coating (11). The local variation in the chemical composition of the functional coating (11) can be brought about by bombardment with particles (15), for example with hydrogen ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS SMT GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Heinrich EHM, Franz-Josef STICKEL, Juergen Mueller