Abstract: In a transmission grating as a dispersive element, diffraction efficiency is enhanced and manufacturing costs are considerably reduced. A dispersive element includes resin members for forming a diffraction grating, being composed of a plurality of diffraction grating members having a cross-sectional shape respectively surrounded by two straight lines such as a triangular shape, and metal members as light-shielding members each being formed on corresponding one of the diffraction grating members at one side of the diffraction grating member along any of the straight line and the curved line of the cross-sectional shape of the diffraction grating member formed by the resin member. The metal members are configured to reduce zero-order transmitted light with respect to incident light, and to enhance diffraction efficiency of first-order transmitted light.

Abstract: In a transmission grating as a dispersive element, diffraction efficiency is enhanced and manufacturing costs are considerably reduced. A dispersive element includes resin members for forming a diffraction grating, being composed of a plurality of diffraction grating members having a cross-sectional shape respectively surrounded by two straight lines such as a triangular shape, and metal members as light-shielding members each being formed on corresponding one of the diffraction grating members at one side of the diffraction grating member along any of the straight line and the curved line of the cross-sectional shape of the diffraction grating member formed by the resin member. The metal members are configured to reduce zero-order transmitted light with respect to incident light, and to enhance diffraction efficiency of first-order transmitted light.

Abstract: A microscope comprising a main objective having a lens assembly movable in the direction of the optical axis of the main objective for focal length change and comprising an illuminating unit with illumination deflector elements for deflecting an illuminating beam path for generating an illuminating beam path directed onto an object plane. The position of the illumination deflector elements is adjustable dependent on a focal length change of the main objective for centering the illumination, and the illumination deflector elements are designed as at least partly integrated into the movable lens assembly of the main objective. For this purpose, in particular a part of the lens surface of the movable lens assembly can be made reflective.

Abstract: In a method for correcting optical proximity effects (Optical Proximity Correction, OPC) when imaging a pattern, arranged in the object surface of a projection objective, into the image surface of the projection objective with the aid of a projection objective, a multiplicity of optical elements and at least one pupil surface that is Fourier-transformed to the image surface are arranged between the object surface and the image surface. An optical filtering of the light used for the imaging is carried out with the aid of at least one OPC filter inserted between the object surface and the image surface in accordance with an OPC filter function that is adapted to the pattern and corresponds to a spatially dependent transmission filtering in the region of the pupil surface of the imaging system.

Abstract: A diffusing plate has a surface including a plurality of fine concave/convex portions regularly arranged within a cycle equal to or smaller than a predetermined wavelength. The surface has a larger surface roughness than the predetermined wavelength. An average value for an angle between a normal vector of the tangent plane of a roughness shape of the surface and a normal vector of a reference plane of the surface is 5 degrees or more.

Abstract: An IR camera comprising an optical system further comprises an additional optical element arranged in the form of a disk that is transparent to the infrared radiation in the beam path and at least a first motor arranged to tilt the additional optical element around a first axis substantially perpendicular to the beam path, and a control device for controlling said at least first motor in dependence of a first registered movement of the camera.

Abstract: An imaging optics capable of compensating for chromatic aberration is provided with a light shielding means in a surface peripheral area of a certain lens element in a lens system so as to block a light flux of a specified wavelength range, thereby eliminating chromatic aberration in halo of the light flux of the specified wavelength range when it passes the periphery of the lens system. Thus, the invention provides the imaging optics that, without an increase in the number of pieces of lens elements and without a use of an expensive specified low-dispersion glass material, in contrast with the prior art imaging optics of the same optical performances, well compensates for chromatic aberration, especially, in halo.

Abstract: An improved optical switch utilizes one polarization modulator, with the beam components traversing it twice. Because of the twice traverse, the extinction ratio of the switch is doubled without the addition of another polarization modulator, thus avoiding the costs of additional optical components. With no additional components, the switch is more compact than conventional switches with the same extinction ratio. Fewer components also result in more thermal and long-term stability and less crosstalk.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pinhole disk, which can be used in a transmitted light mode as a filter disk, in particular in confocal microscopes, and consists of an optically transparent material with an inner hole having a fixed outer radius rmax and inner radius rmin. The optically transparent material is covered with a non-transparent layer, at least over a large area, the area being provided with a pattern of transparent pinholes. The pinholes are arranged according to a rule, in such a way that a quasi-uniform point density is obtained on the disk.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light selective transmission filter which selectively shields light and has a high transmittance of light at a specific wavelength such as visible rays, and which has a sufficiently reduced thickness and excellent heat resistance. The present invention further provides a lens unit including such a light selective transmission filter. The light selective transmission filter selectively reducing a transmittance of light has a thickness of less than 200 ?m and includes a base material containing a functional film with reflow resistance. The lens unit includes such a light selective transmission filter and a lens.

Abstract: A comparison optical system (1) comprising several image-acquiring optical subsystems is disclosed. A bridge (3) mechanically and optically connects the optical subsystems to one another. Each of the image-acquiring optical subsystems possesses an XYZ stage (8a, 8b), movable in motorized fashion, on which a sample to be examined is placed. Also provided is a control unit which moves the XYZ stages (8a, 8b), movable in motorized fashion, synchronously in all three spatial directions. The synchronous motion of the XYZ stages (8a, 8b) can be switched on and off by the user.

Abstract: An image screen includes a transparent substrate, a metal film, and an optical reflective stack layer. The metal film is disposed on a first surface of the transparent substrate, having a thickness and a set of material characteristic constants being predetermined. The optical reflective stack layer is disposed over the metal layer. The metal film and the optical reflective stack layer function together to selectively reflect a light with a portion of wavelength. In addition, according to the need, a diffusion micro-structure layer can be disposed on a second surface of the transparent substrate. Further for example, another reflective layer or optical absorbing layer can be further disposed on another surface of the optical reflective stack layer. The reflective layer can be, for example, a metal film.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a PDP filter having a laminated structure of a transparent conductive film type electromagnetic wave-shielding layer and one or more other functional layers, in which at least two edge portions of the surface of the transparent conductive film type electromagnetic wave-shielding layer, which is in contact with the functional layer, are not exposed outside the laminated structure of the PDP filter.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention features an objective arranged to image radiation from an object plane to an image plane, including a plurality of elements arranged to direct the radiation from the object plane to the image plane, wherein the objective has an image side numerical aperture of more than 0.55 and a maximum image side field dimension of more than 1 mm, and the objective is a catoptric objective.

Abstract: A catadioptric objective includes a plurality of optical elements arranged along an optical axis to image a pattern from an object field in an object surface of the objective to an image field in an image surface region of the objective at an image-side numerical aperture NA with electromagnetic radiation from a wavelength band around a central wavelength ?<300 nm. The optical elements include a concave mirror and a plurality of lenses. The projection objective forms an image of the pattern in a respective Petzval surface for each wavelength ? of a wavelength band, the Petzval surfaces deviating from each other for different wavelengths. The plurality of lenses include lenses made from different materials having substantially different Abbe numbers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image generating apparatus (1) which comprises an illumination unit (20) having an intermediate face (21, S), as well as an image modulator (30) for generating an image (I). In addition a deflecting means (10) for deflecting a received light beam (L) of primary illumination light (L1) to said illumination unit (20) is provided in order to irradiate said intermediate face (21, S). Said deflecting means (10) is adapted to have—during the process of irradiating said intermediate face (21, S)—said light beam (L) subsequently in time irradiate different portions of said intermediate face (21, S) in order to thereby reduce the speckle effect.

Abstract: A diffractive optical system including a diffractive optical element is provided with a first lens component having a first positive lens, and a second lens component having a second positive lens and a negative lens. The diffractive optical element has a first diffractive optical member having a first diffractive optical surface, and a second diffractive optical member having a second diffractive optical surface. The first diffractive optical member and the second diffractive optical member are arranged so that the first diffractive optical surface and the second diffractive optical surface are in contact with each other. A refractive index of the first diffractive optical member and a refractive index of the second diffractive optical member at the d line are different from each other.

Abstract: A light-diffusing film and screen including same are provided. The light-diffusing film having anisotropy in the diffusion angle includes a translucent support, and a translucent resin layer having irregularities on the surface thereof and being provided on the translucent support. In the light-diffusing film, the maximal value of the loss tangent (tan ?) determined from a dynamic viscoelasticity of the light-diffusing film lies in a temperature range of 0° C. to 60° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a grating image (12) for depicting at least one unscreened halftone image having multiple brightness levels, the grating image exhibiting multiple grating fields (22-1, 22-2, 22-3) that include in each case an electromagnetic-radiation-influencing grating pattern composed of a plurality of grating lines and that, when illuminated, produce in each case an areal region of the halftone image having the same brightness level.

Abstract: A digitally controlled platform for precise celestial tracking of astronomical telescopes, generally those having an independent pointing mechanism. A movable stage carrying the telescope is moved relative to a base by three digitally controlled actuators each of which determines the distance between a point fixed in the base and a point fixed stage. The base and stage otherwise are connected by a mechanism that holds a single point fixed in the base in coincidence with a single point fixed in the stage. It functions without approximation at any digitally specified latitude and longitude, enabling astrophotography with alt/azimuth mounted telescopes and diurnal tracking through the zenith. The digital controller may be a personal computer laptop running a multitasking operating system linked to the platform electronics by a Universal Serial Bus cable. Novel software design allows precise tracking, control, and calibration in spite of operating system and Universal Serial Bus latency.