Abstract: A system and a method for measuring the focus state of an optical instrument are described. The system and the method provide for forming an image of the exit pupil of the objective of the optical instrument. Where the image of the exit pupil is formed, one or more optical elements are placed, deviating at least part of the rays coming from the exit pupil, so that rays coming from different non-overlapping portions of the pupil follow separate optical paths. The rays coming from the two portions of the pupil are then focused, in order to obtain two bidimensional images. A computer determines the mutual distance between these two bidimensional images as a mutual rigid lateral displacement between the two and, based on this distance, determines the corresponding defocus of the optical instrument.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for realizing a liquid crystal tri-dimensional aligned structure, including: providing a first substrate having a first surface; forming a liquid crystal layer in contact to said first surface, said liquid crystal layer including a polymerizable liquid crystal compound; realizing a first aligning formation within said liquid crystal layer by irradiating a first portion of said liquid crystal layer with electromagnetic or electron beam radiation according to a given first pattern, so that said first portion of liquid crystal compound becomes polymerized and said first aligning formation is made of said polymerized liquid crystal compound according to said given first pattern, said first aligning structure defining a first aligning axis; locally orienting optical axes of molecules of said liquid crystal layer along said first aligning axis.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for realizing a liquid crystal tri-dimensional aligned structure, including: providing a first substrate having a first surface; forming a liquid crystal layer in contact to said first surface, said liquid crystal layer including a polymerizable liquid crystal compound; realizing a first aligning formation within said liquid crystal layer by irradiating a first portion of said liquid crystal layer with electromagnetic or electron beam radiation according to a given first pattern, so that said first portion of liquid crystal compound becomes polymerized and said first aligning formation is made of said polymerized liquid crystal compound according to said given first pattern, said first aligning structure defining a first aligning axis; locally orienting optical axes of molecules of said liquid crystal layer along said first aligning axis.