Abstract: A flip-flop circuit of the present invention includes a first switch and a second switch which are connected in series to each other. The first switch includes: two input ports upon which light source light and signal light are incident; two output ports for outputting an optical output; and a thermal lens forming element for forming a thermal lens in a predetermined optical inputting condition. Although the second switch is composed in the same manner as that of the first switch, a relation between the wave-lengths to be utilized is inverted. When a state is changed from OFF to ON, a pulse signal is inputted for setting and one of the rays of output light of the second switch is fed-back to the first switch so as to maintain the state of ON. When the state is changed from ON to OFF, a pulse of additional signal light is inputted. Due to the foregoing, the two states of ON and OFF can be stably maintained.

Abstract: The invention comprises devices and methods for driving a MEMs pixel, and in particular, an interferornetric modulator pixel. In one embodiment a device for modulating light includes a light modulator including a movable optical element positionable in two or more positions, the modulator operating interferometrically to exhibit a different predetermined optical response in each of the two or more positions, and control circuitry connected to the light modulator for controlling said interferometric modulator, where the control circuitry is controllably switchable between two circuit configurations, and where the control circuitry provides a substantially constant current to said light modulator when switching between the two circuit configurations to cause the movable optical element of the light modulator to move between two positions of its two or more positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic image pickup system whose depth dimension is extremely reduced, taking advantage of an optical system type that can overcome conditions imposed on the movement of a zooming movable lens group while high specifications and performance are kept. The electronic image pickup system comprises an optical path-bending zoom optical system comprising, in order from its object side, a 1-1st lens group G1-1 comprising a negative lens group and a reflecting optical element P for bending an optical path, a 1-2nd lens group G1-2 comprising one positive lens and a second lens group G2 having positive refracting power. For zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group G2 moves only toward the object side. The electronic image pickup system also comprises an electronic image pickup device I located on the image side of the zoom optical system.

Abstract: An aberration changing optical system to be used with a projection optical system of a projection exposure apparatus, includes an optical element having at least one of a cylindrical surface and a toric surface and being rotatable about and tiltable to an optical axis of the optical system. In another form, the aberration changing optical system includes an optical element having different refracting powers in two orthogonal directions or having a refracting power only in one direction, the optical element being made rotatable about and tiltable to an optical axis of the optical system.

Abstract: The present invention allows the user to have custom-made lenses where the far-distance corrective segment is always located in the central region of the lens and allowing the user full range of left to right eye movement to view far-distanced objects at eye level. The present invention may have any-sized or shaped bifocal at the bottom of the lens and a trifocal atop, or vice versa, a bifocal at the bottom and a bifocal at the top, and/or a trifocal at the bottom and a trifocal at the top. The location, size and type of corrective lens may be adapted to the user's lifestyle and for maximizing the far-distance correction segment area.

Abstract: A wide-angle zoom lens is formed of a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a stop, and a second lens group having a positive refractive power. Magnification is varied by moving the second lens group to the object side when zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end. What would otherwise be a shift of the image plane with the zooming is corrected by moving the first lens group to the image side when zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end. A lens in the second lens group has at least one surface that is aspherical and is positioned on the image side of a lens in the second lens group having positive refractive power and a convex surface on the object side.

Abstract: An optical element of a transparent body has two refracting surfaces formed in surfaces of the transparent body, and a plurality of reflecting surfaces formed in surfaces of the transparent body. Light incident through one refracting surface into the transparent body is reflected successively by the plurality of reflecting surfaces to be guided to the other refracting surface. At least one of the two refracting surfaces and reflecting surfaces has an optical low pass filter.

Abstract: A complex film containing at least one functional material making it possible to modify the optical properties of the film between a first, transparent state and a second, reflecting state is deposited on at least some of the interior fittings of the passenger compartment of a motor-vehicle, which makes it possible to isolate the fittings covered over with the film from solar radiation in hot weather. The change of state is controlled electrically. The film can preferably be put into a third, opaque state, which makes it possible to accentuate the heating-up of the fittings under the effect of solar radiation in cold weather.

Abstract: A spectacle lens having a geometric center includes front and rear surfaces, each formed as a refractive surface. At least one of the front and rear surfaces is formed as an aspherical surface in rotational symmetry about an axis of symmetry. The axis of symmetry is separated from the geometric center.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optically corrected lens for nonprescription, dual lens eyeglasses. In a preferred embodiment, the anterior surface of the lens lies on a portion of a first sphere having a first center. The posterior surface of the lens lies on the surface of a second sphere having a second center. The first and second centers are offset from one another to provide a tapered lens. The lens is oriented on the head of the wearer by a frame that maintains the lens in a position such that a line drawn through the first and second centers is maintained substantially in parallel to the normal sight line of the wearer. Methods of making the lenses, and eyewear incorporating the lenses, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A zoom lens comprises, in order from an object side, a first lens group G1 having a negative refracting power, a second lens group G2 having a positive refracting power, a third lens group G3 having a negative refracting power, and a fourth lens group G4 having a positive refracting power. A focal length of the zoom lens is changed from a wide angle end to a telephoto end by changing an air gap between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2, increasing an air gap between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3, and reducing an air gap between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4. When a focal length of the first lens group G1 is f1, a focal length of the total lens system at the wide angle end is fw, and an axial air gap between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 in an infinity in-focus state at the wide angle end is D12W, the zoom lens satisfies following conditions: 0.8<.vertline.f1.vertline./fw<1.6, and D12W/fw<0.1.

Abstract: A photographic lens apparatus secures a sufficiently large back focus while sufficiently distancing the exit pupil position from the image-forming surface. From the object side along an optical axis L, a stop, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens having a meniscus form, and a fourth lens group, in which a lens having a negative refractive power and a lens having a positive refractive power are cemented together to yield a positive refractive power, are successively disposed. Refractive index n.sub.1 and abbe number .nu..sub.1 of the first lens, abbe number .nu..sub.2 of the second lens, radius of curvature r.sub.7 of the surface facing the object and radius of curvature r.sub.8 of the surface facing the image in the third lens, abbe number .nu..sub.4 of the lens having the negative refractive power and abbe number .nu..sub.5 of the lens having the positive refractive power in the fourth lens group, focal length f.sub.