Abstract: A 3-D observation apparatus and 3-D observation system, as well as another observation apparatus, are provided such that it is possible to make observations while substantially in the same posture, without glasses, of either a plurality of 3-D images, or of a 2-D image and a 3-D image. Bright images are provided, there is great freedom in the position at which observations can be made, no distortion of the images is created even if the observer changes his position, and observations can be made with a comfortable observation posture.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical instrument including means (1, 2) to produce an optical image to be viewed by an observer including a diffractive element (7) located at an intermediate focal or image plane (4) of the optical instrument and comprising a pattern of a plurality of areas effective to cause diffraction interference in light passing through the optical instrument and thereby produce an expanded exit pupil (6) comprising a combination of a multiplicity of exit pupils displaced relative to one another transverse to an optical axis (3) of said instrument.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image display apparatus in accordance with the present invention solves a problem with a conventional multi-view stereoscopic image display apparatus in that the resolution of each parallax image deteriorates as the number of provided parallax images increases. The inventive stereoscopic image display apparatus forms a plurality of images for right and left eyes in observation regions for the observer's right and left eyes to enable the observer to obtain a stereoscopic view. At the same time, a region where no images are formed is provided between the right eye and left eye observation regions, because no actual observation is carried out in the region. This makes it possible to reduce the total number of parallax images without changing the number of actually observed parallax images, thus achieving a higher resolution of each parallax image actually observed.

Abstract: It comprises a first prism (10, 10a, 10b), with triangular base, on which is arranged at least one second transparent prism (2, 11) the combination defining a prismatic body which is arranged on the stereoscopic pair so that, when the user's eyes (13, 14) are positioned in front of the upper face of the prismatic body, each eye visualises the corresponding stereogram (3, 4) via the upper face of the prismatic body, reproducing the three-dimensional vision effect. In an embodiment of the invention the second prism (2, 11) is triangular and provision has been made for a third prism (12, 15) of identical configuration to the above, in which case the stereoscopic photographs/images (3, 4) are divided into halves A, B, C, D which are duly arranged for achieving three-dimensional visualisation. It comprises illumination equipment (5), some lenses (8, 8a) and a directional filter (9).

Abstract: A monolithic optical pellicle and method of making used to protect a photomask during photolithography processing. The monolithic optical pellicle is comprised of a pellicle plate having a recessed central portion integrally formed with a perimeter frame of the pellicle plate such that it is a one-piece optical pellicle. The monolithic optical pellicle comprises a material of sufficient rigidity to minimize distortions in and maximize durability of the pellicle when used in combination with the recessed portion having a thickness that prevents sagging thereof due to applied forces on the resultant monolithic optical pellicle. This recessed central portion is the optical pellicle portion of the present monolithic optical pellicle, while the integral perimeter frame is used to attach the monolithic optical pellicle at the desired stand-off distance to a photomask. The monolithic optical pellicle preferably comprises a material that is transparent to an exposure field at about 157 nm wavelengths.

Abstract: An optical imaging system and method for achieving a large depth of field without decreasing the relative aperture of an imaging lens. The imaging system has a light source for sequentially illuminating an object to be imaged with light of different ones of a plurality of wavelengths, and an imaging lens that has a focal length that varies with the wavelength of the light that illuminates the object. For each wavelength of light by which the object is illuminated, the imaging lens will image a different object plane onto an image receiving unit, and the image receiving unit will capture one well-focused, high resolution image of the object.

Abstract: A small-spot imaging, spectrometry instrument for measuring properties of a sample has a polarization-scrambling element, such as a birefringent plate depolarizer, incorporated between the polarization-introducing components of the system, such as the beamsplitter, and the microscope objective of the system. The plate depolarizer varies polarization with wavelength, and may be a Lyot depolarizer with two plates, or a depolarizer with more than two plates (such as a three-plate depolarizer). Sinusoidal perturbation in the resulting measured spectrum can be removed by data processing techniques or, if the depolarizer is thick or highly birefringent, the perturbation may be narrower than the wavelength resolution of the instrument.

Abstract: A zone plate modulator modulates an incident wave by changing the relative distance between a pair of complementary reflective zone plates. The modulator acts to reflect the incident wave as a plane mirror in a first configuration, and to diffract the incident wave into a series of focal points along the axis of the modulator as a phase zone plate in a second configuration. A force applied to the zone plates changes the zone plate modulator between the first and second configurations, therefore modulating the incident wave. The force can be an electrostatic force generated by a voltage source. An array of zone plate modulator elements is a compact spot array generator performing both the modulating and focusing functions. An achromatic zone plate modulator provides a both wavelength and polarization independent modulation of the incident wave. A variable optical attenuator comprises achromatic zone plate modulators.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic lenticular screen has a lenticular screen held in juxtaposition with a display surface. The lenticular screen has lenticules disposed on one side thereof and a smooth surface on the other side thereof. In one aspect of the invention, a closed chamber is formed over the lenticules. In order to deactivate the refractive properties of the lenticular screen, and thereby view the display in a planar mode, an optically clear fluid, such as a fluoropolymer, is introduced into at least a portion of the closed chamber. In order to activate the refractive properties of the lenticular screen, and thereby view the display in a stereoscopic mode, the optically clear fluid is removed from the closed chamber. In a particularly preferred arrangement, the lenticular screen is oriented such that the lenticules face inwardly toward the display screen, and the smooth surface of the lenticular screen is coated with an antireflective material.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a beam splitter device having two spaced apart parallel highly reflecting mirrors, between which there is disposed a semireflecting mirror which is spaced a different distance from the at least one highly reflecting mirror, said semireflecting mirror having at least one portion configured to form a full reflector or an antireflector, the semireflecting mirror being slidably disposed between the highly reflecting mirrors and a laser-scanning microscope as well.

Abstract: A multi-mode stereoscopic image display method and apparatus wherein a plane picture and a stereoscopic picture can be displayed on a single display device. In the method and apparatus, video signals obtained by photographing an object at different angles are displayed on a display unit and a mode signal for assigning a stereoscopic mode or a plane mode is generated. In a stereoscopic mode, a picture displayed on the display unit is separated into a left-eye picture and a right-eye picture being incident to the left eye and the light eye of an observer. In a plane mode, said picture displayed on the display unit is transmitted to the observer without change.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for projecting a moving or still stereo or multichannel image (IM), said apparatus comprising at least a first (R) and at least a second (L) video projector, or the like, for projecting images intended for the left and the right eye of a viewer (H) alternately in time and in synchronization with the function of shutter glasses (G) or the like worn by the viewer. According to the invention, said video projectors are liquid crystal video projectors (PI) in which liquid crystal video projectors (PI) the illuminating, and thereby image-projecting light source (FP) of the liquid crystal matrix (LC) is a light source (FP) that produces light in a pulsed manner, the pulsing of said light source (FP) being arranged to occur in synchronization with the presentation of images. The pulsing of light sources according to the invention enables the projection of high-quality stereo image by means of affordable liquid crys-tal video projectors functioning at the normal image frequency.

Abstract: Parallax images corresponding to a plurality of different view points are each divided into predetermined stripe images, a synthetic parallax image is synthesized from the stripe images, and display light, from stripe images corresponding to one view point of the synthetic parallax image on the image display element displaying the synthetic parallax image, is guided to a mask member having a mask pattern with predetermined openings and shields by a second optical system placed in front of the image display element. The display light passing through the openings of the mask member is condensed to a position corresponding to the view point on an observation surface a predetermined distance apart, by a first optical system, whereby an observer is permitted to stereoscopically observe image information displayed on the image display element.

Abstract: The present invention is a stereoscopic display device including a transmissive image reproducing element, two light sources, an optical apparatus to direct the light emitted by one light source towards the right eye and to direct the light emitted by the other light source towards the left eye, and control means for displaying alternately an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye on the image reproducing element, and for activating the source emitting light for the right eye only when the image for the right eye is displayed and for activating the source emitting light for the left eye only when the displayed image is for the left eye. The optical apparatus is a mirror apparatus providing either a converging beam or a parallel beam.

Abstract: A solar control film which includes an adhesive layer for adhering the solar control film to a substrate, a metallized layer and a scratch resistant layer containing dispersed carbon black particles wherein the metallized layer is between the adhesive layer for adhering to a substrate and the scratch resistant layer. The solar control film can be prepared by a process which involves mixing a composition comprised of carbon black in particulate form dispersed in a nitrocellulose resin with a polymer forming material to form a coating composition and applying the coating composition to a component of a solar control film whereby the coating composition forms a scratch resistant layer containing dispersed carbon black particles.

Abstract: Sensor arrays utilizing standard 1×2 couplers reduce the differences in the returned optical power levels by appropriate selection of the coupling ratios. Preferred embodiments are described that comprise 6 distribution fiber lines and 16 return fiber lines. One embodiment includes 16 sensor groups in which each sensor group has a dedicated return line. In another embodiment, 8 sensor groups are configured so that no two adjacent sensors have either a common distribution fiber line or a common return fiber line.

Abstract: Astigmatism and coma are suppressed in an optical pickup device such that light from a single real laser light source is diffracted and divided by a hologram module into a plurality of light spots which are focused upon a plurality of tracks of an optical disk to read data on the tracks at the same time. A non-diffraction end of fraction hologram patterns of the hologram module are determined so that light diffracted by the hologram module is given inverse aberration of that to be caused by optical elements in optical path from the real laser light source to the optical disk. Another hologram pattern provides a uniform intensity of a light spot formed of a laser light by an optical element.

Abstract: A DUV-capable dry objective for microscopes comprises lens groups made of quartz glass, fluorite, and in some cases also lithium fluoride. It possesses a DUV focus for a DUV wavelength region ?DUV±??, where ??=8 nm, and additionally a parfocal IR focus for an IR wavelength ?IR, where 760 nm??IR?920 nm. For that purpose, the penultimate element is of concave configuration on both sides, and its object-side outer radius is much smaller than its image-side outer radius. The DUV objective is IR autofocus-capable.

Abstract: To provide an optical element in which the diffraction efficiency in each use wavelength region within the entire visible region is preferable, and light beams of a specific order (design order) are sufficiently concentrated in the entire use wavelength region, by using an optical material in which the relationship between a refraction index nd and an Abbe number ?d with respect to a “d” line is nd>?6.667×10?3?d+1.70 and the Abbe number ?d satisfies ?d?16.

Abstract: A multilayer antireflection coating for a temperature sensitive substrate such as plastic. One layer is a DC reactively sputtered metal oxide which may be deposited quickly and without imparting a large amount of heat to the substrate. Another layer has a refractive index lower than the substrate.