Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for producing a microscopic image with an extended depth of field by means of a microscope. The microscope comprises an images sensor that comprises pixels that are arranged as a matrix that is formed by lines. In a step of the method, a plurality of microscopic frames of a specimen is acquired while a focus position (z) is changed. The microscopic frames are acquired line by line. The focus position (z) is changed over a course of acquiring individuals of the microscopic frames. In a further step, parts of individuals of the acquired lines are identified. These parts sharply image the specimen. The identified parts of the lines are composed in order to form a microscopic image of the specimen with an extended depth of field. Furthermore, the present invention concerns a microscope.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes aperture array element and vari-focus optical element in confocal microscopy system. With the aperture array element lateral scanning property can be obtained and with vari-focus optical element axial scanning property can be obtained. Especially Micromirror Array Lens is used as a vari-focus optical element, fast and extended depth of focus scan range can be obtained. Thus the present invention of confocal microscopy with the vari-focus optical element increases scan speed of confocal microscopy system. The confocal microscopy system of the present invention comprises an illumination source, an aperture array element, a vari-focus optical element, an objective lens element, a photosensitive optical sensor device. With these elements, confocal microscopy is performed to get three dimensional images.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging system generating a high resolution image using low resolution images taken by a low resolution image sensor. Also, the imaging system generates a wide angle of view image. Enhancement of resolution and enlargement of angle of view are accomplished by optical axis change, utilizing one or more micromirror array lenses without macroscopic mechanical movements of lenses. The imaging system also provides zoom and auto focusing functions using micromirror array lenses.

Abstract: Automatic focusing system is provided which comprises a mirror or a plurality of mirrors with a translation device. Automatic focusing can be made by the translation of mirror because focal plane can be changed by the translation of mirror. The translation device makes its motion by the electrostatic, electromagnetic and/or electrothermal forces. The mirror is controlled by the electrical signal from the image processor to get an in-focus image. Also the mirror can be controlled discretely. The image shift by translation is compensated by tilt of mirror and/or image processing.

Abstract: A MEMS (micro electro mechanical system) actuator with discretely controlled multiple motions comprises bottom layer, stepper plate, support, and motion plate. The multiple motion of the motion plate is generated by the electrostatically actuated stepper plates and geometrically predetermined supports. By introducing the MEMS actuator with discretely controlled multiple motions, simple motion control can be achieved by digital controlling and only single voltage is needed for motion control of the motion plate.

Abstract: The binoculars of the present invention comprise two optical units; one optical unit for each eye. Each optical unit comprises a first reflector element and a second reflector element, wherein at least one of the reflector elements is a micromirror array reflector. The binoculars of the present invention provide focusing and/or zoom functions without or with minimal macroscopic mechanical lens movement.

Abstract: An optical system with optical image stabilization of the present invention compensates the movement of the optical system occurring during imaging process using a Micro-Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) unit having an MEMS mirror to stabilize an image of an object formed on an image plane. A micro-actuator with the in-plane translation makes the MEMS mirror have a required rotation to change optical paths of light from the object to the image plane for optical image stabilization. The optical system with optical image stabilization or the present invention provides fast speed, light weight, simple operation, and high image quality image stabilization for the optical system.

Abstract: A Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors comprising a plurality of self-tilted micromirrors and configured to form a designed optical surface profile by self-tilted micromirrors. Each self-tilted micromirror comprises a substrate, at least one stiction plate configured to be attracted to the substrate by adhesion force, a micromirror plate having a reflective surface, coupled to the stiction plate elastically and configured to have a required motion when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate, and at least one pivot structure disposed between the substrate and the micromirror plate and configured to provide a tilting point or area for the motion of the micromirror plate. The designed optical surface profile determines the required motion of the micromirror plate and a surface profile shape memory is built in the structure of the micro-mechanical elements of the self-tilted micromirrors so that each micromirror plate has the required motion.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic focus imaging system comprising a lens unit, an image sensor, and a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) unit fabricated by microfabrication technology to improve the portability and focusing speed of the automatic focus imaging system. The MEMS unit for automatic focusing comprises a substrate having a control circuitry, at least one reflective surface movably connected to the substrate, and at least one actuation unit comprising a micro-actuator having a large in-plane translation and at least one micro-converter configured to convert the large in-plane translation of the micro-actuator to the large out-of-plane translation of the reflective surface. The MEMS unit changes a distance between lens unit and the image sensor by controlling the out-of-plane translation of the reflective surface in order to form an in-focus image on the image sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimensional camcorder comprising a three-dimensional imaging system acquiring the three-dimensional image information of an object and a three-dimensional viewfinder displaying three-dimensional image using at least one variable focal length micromirror array lens.

Abstract: A multi-step microactuator is provided with the multiple supports in a stepper plate to give multi-step displacement to a controlled object. The microactuator has advantages such that multiple motion can be applied to the controlled object and that the object can be controlled in a low driving voltage and that simple motion control is applied by digital controlling and that the degrees of freedom in motion of the object can be chosen by the number of the stepper plate and that only single voltage is needed for driving the micromirror motion. With many advantages, the multi-step microactuator provides a solution to overcome the difficulties in controlling multi-step motion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a Micromirror Array Lens (MMAL) with fixed focal length to reproduce a designed surface having optical focusing power. The micro mechanical structures with surface profile shape memory are fabricated and released after fabrication. Each micromirror in the MMAL has its own motion by stiction force and/or electrostatic force while and/or after the releasing process. Once the designed surface is formed, the MMAL has an optical power as a lens.

Abstract: An optical tracking system using a variable focal length lens includes at least one camera system, and the at least one camera system includes an objective lens system, configured to receive an object image, and at least one micromirror array lens, optically coupled to the objective lens system, configured to focus the object image received by the objective lens system onto an image sensor. The image sensor is optically coupled to the micromirror array lens, configured to receive the focused object image from the micromirror array lens and to sense the focused object image. The advantages of the present invention include ability to rapidly change the focal length and optical axis of a camera system, allowing for high-resolution, wide-angle imaging.

Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimensional endoscope system comprising a three-dimensional imaging device and a three-dimensional display device using a variable focal length micromirror array lens. The micromirror array lens has enough focusing speed and focusing depth range for three-dimensional imaging and realistic three-dimensional display.

Abstract: A new three-dimensional imaging system has been needed to overcome the problems of the prior arts using conventional variable focal length lenses, which have slow response time, small focal length variation, and low focusing efficiency, and require a complex mechanism to control it. The three-dimensional imaging system of the present invention uses the variable focal length micromirror array lens. Since the micromirror array lens has many advantages such as very fast response time, large focal length variation, high optical focusing efficiency, large size aperture, low cost, simple mechanism, and so on, the three-dimensional imaging system can get a real-time three-dimensional image with large depth range and high depth resolution.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a high-speed, miniaturized, low-cost DVD recording and reproducing system. The present invention is particularly directed to a motorless optical pick-up device for recording and/or reading information on or from an optical disc (CD or DVD), which provides focusing, tracking, seamless layer jumping, tilt compensation, and CD/DVD compatibility.

Abstract: A Micromirror Array Lens comprises a plurality of micromirrors arranged on a flat or a curved surface to reflect incident light. Each micromirror in the Micromirror Array Lens is configured to have at least one motion. The Micromirror Array Lens forms at least one optical surface profile reproducing free surfaces by using the motions of the micromirrors. The free surface can be any two or three-dimensional continuous or discrete reflective surface. The Micromirror Array Lens having the corresponding optical surface profile provides optical focusing properties substantially identical to those of the free surface. The Micromirror Array Lens can forms various optical elements such as a variable focal length lens, a fixed focal length lens, an array of optical switches, a beam steerer, a zone plate, a shutter, an iris, a multiple focal length lens, other multi-function optical elements, and so on.

Abstract: A three-dimensional optical mouse device with a Micromirror Array Lens (MMAL) is provided. To have the three-dimensional optical mouse system, a three-dimensional imaging device is used for detecting the motion of optical pointer or fingers of the user and gives a location of the pointer to computer working as a pointing device in three-dimension. This three-dimensional pointing system uses three-dimensional imaging device using MMAL with variable focal length.

Abstract: A compact auto-focus image taking lens system with a Micromirror Array Lens and a lens-surfaced prism of the present invention comprises a lens-surfaced prism, an aperture stop, a first lens element, a second lens element, a Micromirror Array Lens, and an image surface, optionally an infrared cut-off filter. By introducing a Micromirror Array Lens and a lens-surfaced prism, the compact auto-focus image taking lens system with a Micromirror Array Lens and a lens-surfaced prism of the present invention has many advantages over the prior arts in the field of invention, such as compactness in thickness, small number of optical elements, high performance of optical quality, fast focusing speed, low power consumption, enough space for optional elements such as an infrared cut-off filter and diversity in optical geometries.

Abstract: A compact image taking lens system with a lens-surfaced prism of the present invention comprises a prism, an aperture stop, a first lens element, a second lens element, reflecting mirror surface, and image surface, optionally an infrared cut-off filter. By introducing a lens-surfaced prism, the compact image taking lens system with a lens-surfaced prism of the present invention has many advantages over the prior arts in the field of invention, such as compactness in thickness, small number of optical elements, high performance of optical quality, enough space for optional elements such as an infrared cut-off filter and diversity in optical geometries.