Abstract: A panoramic display system for use in a vehicle equipped with a plurality of episcopes (22) includes an information gathering sensor and a plurality of displays (24) for the gathered information. Each display (24) is associated with a respective episcope (22) and is operable to display the information gathered from a field of view corresponding to the respective episcope.

Abstract: Reflector having a composite reflectivity-enhancing layer as reflecting surface layer on a reflector body where the composite layer has an outer layer facing the radiation to be reflected, the HI-layer, with a refractive index n.sub.2, and, between the reflector body and the outer layer, an LI-layer with a refractive index n.sub.1 which is smaller than n.sub.2 and the LI and HI layers are .lambda./4 layers. The HI layer is a sol-gel layer and the optical layer thickness d.sub.opt,1 of the LI layer and d.sub.opt,2 of the HI layer are such thatd.sub.opt,i =d.sub.i.n.sub.i =l.sub.i..lambda./4.+-.20 nm, i=1 or 2where d.sub.1 represents the thickness of the LI layer in nm, d.sub.2 the thickness of the HI layer in nm, .lambda. the average wavelength in nm of the light striking the reflector surface and l.sub.1, l.sub.2 are uneven natural numbers. The LI layer is a barrier layer of aluminium oxide made by anodizing, or a sol-gel layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a low-pass optical filtering device for the UV band, comprising:a dielectric stacking (14) ensuring an anti-reflective function for .lambda.<.lambda..sub.c, where .lambda..sub.c is a so-called cutoff wavelength, of less than 300 nm, a metal base (12) ensuring a reflective function for .lambda.>.lambda..sub.c.

Abstract: A projection method uses a modified illumination method for a lithography process of semiconductor device, and a projection system and mask use the projection method. An object is exposed by removing the vertical incident component of light passed through a condenser lens. Zero-order diffracted light interferes destructively and the oblique component of .-+.first-order diffracted light, interferes constructively. The obliquely incident component light illuminates a mask having a pattern formed thereon. The vertical incident component of the light is removed by a phase difference of light due to a grating mask or a grating pattern formed on the back surface of the conventional mask. The resolution of a lithography process is improved due to the increased contrast, and the depth of focus is also increased. Thus, patterns for 64 Mb DRAMs can be formed using a conventional projection exposure system.

Abstract: The invention provides a diffraction grating lens suitable for use as an objective lens for an optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus. This lens includes a light transmissive substrate of which a refractive index is larger than 1, having one plane and the other plane, and a diffraction grating pattern having a lens effect and constituted by a plurality of diffraction gratings formed on one plane of the light transmissive substrate. The diffraction grating pattern is for focusing an incident light beam flux at a focal point provided on a side of the other plane of the light transmissive substrate and is formed so that a numerical aperture, calculated with the focal point as a peak point, becomes larger than 1.

Abstract: This patent teaches a low cost imager. The imager has an refractive objective lens 10 having a surface with a color correcting diffractive pattern 16 and an infrared transmitting polymeric field lens 18 having a substantially flat surface with a first field-correcting diffractive pattern. In this imager, the first field-correcting diffractive pattern operates to reduce aberrations of an image. In some embodiments, the imager further has a second field-correcting diffractive pattern on the field lens, where the first and second field-correcting diffractive pattern cooperating to reduce aberrations of the image. Additionally, this patent teaches a refractive/diffractive achromatic lens group 30. This achromat 30 can be used in the disclosed imager or in other optical devices. The achromatic group 30 has a refractive lens 10 and a lens 28 having a substantially flat surface with a surface diffractive pattern 16, the surface diffractive pattern cooperating with the refractive lens to reduce chromatic aberrations.

Abstract: A color filter plate includes a continuously-variable dichroic filter coating constituting a variable band-pass or variable band-reject filter having a spatially-modulated variable-density pattern formed in the coating, and provides continuously-variable hue and saturation characteristics along separate gradient axes. A color filter mechanism includes a sequential arrangement of rectangular or circular color filters, having continuously-variable band-pass or band-reject filter coatings, mounted in motorized carriages. One mechanism provides two-axis translation of the rectangular color filters while another mechanism provides translation and rotation of the circular color filters. A light projection system comprising a lamp with a reflector and a lens includes a color filter mechanism having sequential, continuously-variable band-pass and band-reject filters supported by motorized carriages mounted in a region where the beam diameter is small.

Abstract: A surface pattern has two surface portions with microscopically fine, light-diffracting relief structures. The relief structures are in the form of grating structures GS1 and GS2, respectively, which are composed of at least two superimposed gratings G1 and G2, G3 and G4, respectively. The light-diffracting properties of the gratings G1 to G4 are so selected in accordance with various criteria that novel optical effects which cannot be holographically copied can be achieved with the grating structures GS1 and GS2. Such surface patterns are suitable as optical security elements for documents or articles of all kinds as well as packing foils.

Abstract: A chromatic aberration correcting element that is a simple lens having at least one aspheric surface, the radius of curvature of which increases from the optical axis toward the periphery. At least one of the surfaces is formed as a diffraction lens surface that consists of annular segments that shift discretely in a direction in which the lens thickness increases as a function of the distance from the optical axis. Also disclosed is a chromatic aberration correcting device having annular segments formed in steps on either a light entrance face or a light exit face or both. The annular segments are composed of planes perpendicular to and concentric with the optical axis.

Abstract: A microscope stage assembly prevents particles generated by the meshing of gears of the assembly from dispersing onto the hands of an operator. The assembly includes a stage, a drive system for the stage which is made up of X- and Y-axis drive pinions meshing with X- and Y-axis racks, respectively, and control knobs which are manipulated by an operator to rotate the drive pinions. In one embodiment, a particle collection tray is positioned between the gears and the control knobs to catch any particles falling from the gears before the particles reach the hands of the operator. In another embodiment, a vacuum system includes vacuum lines which open to the sides of the racks meshing with the drive pinions. Any particles produced by the meshing of the gears are removed from the area of the microscope via the vacuum lines.

Abstract: A holographic optical device having a light transmissive substrate with a first holographic optical element carried by the substrate, and a second holographic optical element also carried by the substrate but laterally offset from the first holographic optical element. The first holographic optical element diffracts waves from each data point in a display source into a collimated plane wave such that the plane wave is trapped inside the substrate by internal reflection, and the first holographic optical element also corrects field aberrations over the entire field of view by being recorded using at least one aspheric wavefront. The second holographic optical element diffracts the trapped plane waves out of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of arranging an item imager with a least two imaging site, each lit by a beam through a fibre-optic array, this method including: providing a beam-intensity-adjust array including a lens stage for focusing each beam on each fibre optic array such that a shift in lens-focus changes output light from the array.

Abstract: A filter system for reflectively blocking laser radiation in the visible spectrum includes a multilayer interference structure arranged for reflectively blocking a continuous band of wavelengths including the laser radiation and transmitting other wavelengths in the visible spectrum. The filter system is arranged to control transmission of the other wavelengths of the visible spectrum such that the filter system has an essentially neutral transmission color and maximum photopic transmission consistent with the band of wavelengths reflectively blocked.

Abstract: Anti-reflective coatings for use on an optical substrate are disclosed having a low reflectance over a broad band of wavelengths in the ultraviolet range and exhibiting excellent "laser durability." The anti-reflective coatings comprise a layer of high-refractive index material situated between at least two layers of low-refractive index material. The layers of high- and low-refractive index material are laminated onto an optical substrate, such as glass or quartz. The anti-reflective coating minimizes the loss of light due to flares, ghosts, etc. Additionally, reflections are reduced over a broad range of incidence angles.

Abstract: The invention relates to an opto-electronic integrated circuit which is optically connected by holograms. An optimum arrangement for as high an integration density as possible of the light sources, detectors, or other opto-electronic components is achieved by light emanating from some of these components of the circuit is reflected back repeatedly and in a point reflected manner onto the circuit by one or more holograms and, selectively and in addition, by optical lenses, with an intensity defined by the hologram, and that the reflected back light impinges partially or totally on components. It is also possible to manufacture a chip which in its interior incorporates a plurality of such structures. On its surface there are provided light sources (2), which radiate light downwardly through the light pervious substrate.

Abstract: An ultraviolet (UV) catadioptric imaging system, with broad spectrum correction of primary and residual, longitudinal and lateral, chromatic aberrations for wavelengths extending into the deep UV (as short as about 0.16 .mu.m), comprises a focusing lens group with multiple lens elements that provide high levels of correction of both image aberrations and chromatic variation of aberrations over a selected wavelength band, a field lens group formed from lens elements with at least two different refractive materials, such as silica and a fluoride glass, and a catadioptric group including a concave reflective surface providing most of the focusing power of the system and a thick lens providing primary color correction in combination with the focusing lens group. The field lens group is located near the intermediate image provided by the focusing lens group and functions to correct the residual chromatic aberrations. The system is characterized by a high numerical aperture (type. greater than 0.

Abstract: A solar control window film having high visible light transmission and low transmission of near infrared heat energy is comprised of a transparent substrate bearing a thin, optically transparent layer of metal, an optically transparent layer of near infrared energy absorbing material and a transparent layer of protective material overlying and protecting the near infrared energy absorbing material and the metal. The near infrared reflecting properties and the near infrared absorbing properties of the respective layers are balanced to provide selective solar heat rejection without excessive transfer of heat into the window glass or glazing material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compact microscope 4 especially for medical routine applications. The microscope is configured as a closed housing 8 wherein the specimen 30 to be microscoped is drawn in via an input opening 25. All optical components of the microscope are mounted within the housing. Alternatively, the microscope can be mounted in a standard drive bay of a personal computer 3. All movable components of the microscope are motorically driven and controlled by software via the computer. The specimen can be moved in two mutually perpendicular directions within the microscope to select the object detail of interest. An overview diagram of the specimen is produced with a line sensor when the specimen is drawn in.

Abstract: A reflective grating for the optical diffraction of light rays comprises k juxtaposed, grooved, plane sub-gratings, the planes of the sub-gratings being offset in terms of height with respect to one another along the normal to the plane of the reflective surface of the grooves, enabling the difference in optical path of the grating to be reduced to the difference in optical path between the two ends of a sub-grating.

Abstract: A solar control film having low visible light transmittance and low visible light reflectance is comprised of two or more transparent substrates each bearing a thin, transparent, discontinuous, incoherent film of metal having low visible light reflectance and a degree of visible light blocking capacity, the substrates being so assembled and laminated into a composite that the visible light blocking capacities of the metal films are effectively combined to provide a composite having low visible light transmittance. Performance characteristics are enhanced by providing on one or more of the substrates a transparent coating of high refractive index underlying the metal film. The material of high refractive index is preferably a synthetic high oxygen content oxide of bismuth, which facilitates efficient and economical production of the solar control film.