Abstract: A beam shaper is provided that includes two optical elements arranged one behind the other along an optical axis. Each optical element has at least one optically active freeform surface. The optical elements are arranged displaceable by a relative displacement against each other along at least one axis substantially perpendicular to the optical axis. The optically active freeform surfaces have a height profile, which is a polynomial expansion having polynomial coefficients different from zero in finitely many polynomial orders. At least one polynomial coefficient, assigned to a polynomial order greater than three, is different from zero. The height profiles of the at least two freeform surfaces are selected such that input beams distributed rotationally symmetric about the optical axis with a Gaussian beam density profile are diffracted into output beams which are limited in a receiving plane within a rectangular cross section and are uniformly distributed about the optical axis.

Abstract: A modular system of optical components comprising a phase plate, a focusing lens, and a beam expander. The optical components are each mounted in a housing, which has a first and second fine thread. The first and second fine threads are formed such that they can be screwed together. The mounted phase plate is set up such that, together with an aspherical focusing lens, arranged downstream in the optical path, it forms a focus beam shaper for transforming light, collimated to the optical axis, with a wavelength and an input beam density distribution having a Gaussian profile into an output beam density distribution with an alternating beam density profile in at least one image plane.

Abstract: A modular system having at least one top-hat beam shaper and at least one beam expander for diffraction-limited changing of the diameter of a beam bundle, collimated to the optical axis, of monochromatic light with the same wavelength. The at least one top-hat beam shaper is set up for transforming light, collimated to the optical axis, with a wavelength and an input beam density distribution having a Gaussian profile into light, collimated to the optical axis, of an output beam density distribution with a top-hat profile with a plateau homogeneity of at most 0.133 and an edge steepness of at least 0.4. The optical components are mounted in a housing, which has a first and second fine thread formed such that they can be screwed together, wherein during the screwing together the optical axes of screwed-together optical components are aligned within the diffraction-limited divergence.

Abstract: A one-piece optical element for focusing an input bundle of collimated rays around an optical axis in a focal region around a focal point. The optical element is bounded on the entry side by a truncated cone centered relative to the optical axis with a top surface pointing toward the light entry and bounded on the exit side by a cone with a cone tip pointing toward the light exit on the optical axis and a rotationally symmetric aspheric boundary surface arranged around the cone. The cone is formed as a complementary cone to the truncated cone. The aspheric boundary surface is formed as a partial surface of the convex surface of a plano-convex aspheric converging lens with a focal point located behind the light exit of the optical element on the optical axis.

Abstract: A reflective beam former for changing a diameter of a collimated light beam. A first mirror surface of a first curvature type, a second mirror surface and a third mirror surface are in a beam path; the shapes of the surfaces cause a collimated light beam entering the beam former via a first or third mirror surface to leave via the third or first mirror surface, respectively. The beam former includes several third, curved mirror surfaces of a second, different curvature type, one type being convex, the other concave. The second mirror surface is a plane mirror surface with an axis perpendicular to the plane mirror surface, and is in the beam path between the first and one selected from the several third mirror surfaces such that the surfaces are confocal to each other. The beam former includes a selector for selecting one of the several third curved mirror surfaces.

Abstract: A beam focuser for focusing an entrance bundle of approximately collimated beams around an optical axis in a focus area around a focal point. Along the optical path from the light inlet to the light outlet, a first axicon with an axicon angle, and subsequently a second axicon with the same axicon angle are arranged on the inlet side, and an imaging optical system is arranged on the outlet side. The first and second axicon are disposed mirror-symmetrically along the optical axis. The imaging optical system has a focal point which faces the outlet side of the beam focuser.

Abstract: A method and device for measuring a decentration and tilt of faces of an optical element is provided. At least all optically used and frame-relevant partial surfaces of a surface of the optical element and reference faces of the optical element are registered over the whole area thereof and referenced to one another in a common coordinate system, wherein in each case a surface form deviation of the partial surfaces and reference faces is established relative to an associated intended surface, wherein a location of the partial surfaces and reference faces is established in each case in the common coordinate system from the respective surface form deviation. At least one tilt and at least one decentration are established from the location as a function of a form of the respective partial surface and reference face in the coordinate system.

Abstract: A refractive beam shaper that includes multiple meniscus lenses arranged along their optical axes. Each meniscus lens has a concavely curved surface for entry or exit of a light beam and a convexly curved surface for exit or entry of the light beam. Both surfaces have curvatures such that a collimated light beam entering the respective meniscus lens parallel to an optical axis thereof exits again, as a collimated light beam, with a diameter that is altered compared with the entering light beam. To prevent aberrations, at least one of the two surfaces of each meniscus lens has a predetermined aspherical shape.

Abstract: A collet for holding a lens includes a shank and at least two gripping jaws separated from one another by radial slots, wherein a shape of an upper edge region of the gripping jaws is designed as a radial continuation of a region to be processed of the lens that is to be held by the collet.

Abstract: A one-piece optical element for focusing an input bundle of collimated rays around an optical axis in a focal region around a focal point. The optical element is bounded on the entry side by a truncated cone centered relative to the optical axis with a top surface pointing toward the light entry and bounded on the exit side by a cone with a cone tip pointing toward the light exit on the optical axis and a rotationally symmetric aspheric boundary surface arranged around the cone. The cone is formed as a complementary cone to the truncated cone. The aspheric boundary surface is formed as a partial surface of the convex surface of a plano-convex aspheric converging lens with a focal point located behind the light exit of the optical element on the optical axis.

Abstract: A beam focuser for focusing an entrance bundle of approximately collimated beams around an optical axis in a focus area around a focal point. Along the optical path from the light inlet to the light outlet, a first axicon with an axicon angle, and subsequently a second axicon with the same axicon angle are arranged on the inlet side, and an imaging optical system is arranged on the outlet side. The first and second axicon are disposed mirror-symmetrically along the optical axis. The imaging optical system has a focal point which faces the outlet side of the beam focuser.

Abstract: A method and device for measuring a decentration and tilt of faces of an optical element is provided. At least all optically used and frame-relevant partial surfaces of a surface of the optical element and reference faces of the optical element are registered over the whole area thereof and referenced to one another in a common coordinate system, wherein in each case a surface form deviation of the partial surfaces and reference faces is established relative to an associated intended surface, wherein a location of the partial surfaces and reference faces is established in each case in the common coordinate system from the respective surface form deviation. At least one tilt and at least one decentration are established from the location as a function of a form of the respective partial surface and reference face in the coordinate system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed, whereby a reduced wear of the polishing tool and a reduced duration for the polishing process may be achieved and also free form surfaces and non-rotating workpieces may be polished. The above may be achieved whereby the surface of the tool actually in contact with the workpiece lies off the tool axis. The invention further relates to a method for polishing a surface of a workpiece, via a tool rotating about a tool axis, whereby the workpiece, at least in one region of the workpiece surface has a contacted surface which is part region of a surface for machining, which for its part is at least part of a polishing surface of the tool, whereby the tool axis intersects the polishing surface.

Abstract: A method for processing a rotationally symmetric workpiece, preferably having optically effective surfaces, whose symmetry axis is aligned parallel with the z-axis and which is moveable parallel with the z-axis, using a rotating, rotationally symmetric grinding or polishing tool whose rotation axis is aligned parallel with the y-axis and which is thereby touching the surface of the workpiece by means of a processing surface, the workpiece rotating around its symmetry axis and to a tool for performing said method as well as a method for tactile measuring of such a workpiece. The invention may be used for processing aspheric workpieces having optically effective surfaces, in particular lenses or mirrors that have a non-processable zone, for example a conical bump in the middle of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method for processing a rotationally symmetric workpiece, preferably having optically effective surfaces, whose symmetry axis is aligned parallel with the z-axis and which is moveable parallel with the z-axis, using a rotating, rotationally symmetric grinding or polishing tool whose rotation axis is aligned parallel with the y-axis and which is thereby touching the surface of the workpiece by means of a processing surface, the workpiece rotating around its symmetry axis and to a tool for performing said method as well as a method for tactile measuring of such a workpiece. The invention may be used for processing aspheric workpieces having optically effective surfaces, in particular lenses or mirrors that have a non-processable zone, for example a conical bump in the middle of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method for re-grinding and polishing free-form surfaces, especially rotationally symmetrical aspherical optical lenses by tools. in which the virtual levelling of a coarsely pre-grinded lens, for example, is calculated by interferometric measurement and by calculation with a desired form; pressure, rotational speed and sojourn time of the tools are controlled by means of said virtual levelling and the surface of the lens, for example, is divided up into partial areas. The partial areas correspond to the size of the tools. A zeroized approximation is calculated for the control of the tools. Said zeroized approximation enables the interaction of the partial areas to be estimated. By taking into account the estimated interaction, a sojourn time for each tool on each partial area is calculated as a function of pressure and rotational speed of the tool for each partial area, using a linear equation system and the tools are controlled accordingly.