Abstract: A general method is disclosed of designing two-component dichroic short-pass filters operable for incidence angle distributions over the 0-30° range, and specific preferred embodiments are listed. The method is based on computer optimization algorithms for an N-layer design, specifically the N-dimensional conjugate-gradient minimization of a merit function based on difference from a target transmission spectrum, as well as subsequent cycles of needle synthesis for increasing N. A key feature of the method is the initial filter design, upon which the algorithm proceeds to iterate successive design candidates with smaller merit functions. This initial design, with high-index material H and low-index L, is (0.75 H, 0.5 L, 0.75 H)^m, denoting m (20-30) repetitions of a three-layer motif, giving rise to a filter with N=2 m+1.

Abstract: A microscope objective including an front optical element, a plurality of optical elements spaced apart from the front element and from each other, as well as an adjusting unit. At least one of the optical elements can be displaced along the optical axis by the adjusting unit to adjust the focus of the objective. The focus of the objective is displaced relative to the front element along the optical axis and/or a temperature-induced imaging error of the objective is compensated for.

Abstract: An optical element having a laser damage suppression film which is capable of withstanding high power blue laser and formed on a plastic substrate. Specifically disclosed is an antireflection optical element wherein a multilayer film, which is composed of low refractive index material layers (105) and high refractive index material layers (107) arranged alternately, is formed on a plastic substrate. In this antireflection optical element, the oxygen permeability coefficient is decreased such that variation in laser permeability is 2% or less after being continuously irradiated with blue laser having an energy density of 120 mW/mm2 for 1000 hours at an ambient temperature of 25° C. In one embodiment, the oxygen permeability coefficient is set at 30 cm3·mm m2·24 hr·atm) or less.

Abstract: A vehicle interior mirror device disposed in a passenger compartment for reflecting a state of rear seats and traffic conditions behind a vehicle. The interior mirror device has reflection restricting means notched in a lower end of the interior mirror device to prevent a face of a passenger from being reflected, so that eyes of passengers seated in seats other than the driver's seat do not meet.

Abstract: A stage for supporting a specimen slide and for calibrating a microscope includes a base and a calibration component integral with the base. The calibration component includes at least one calibration element for positional calibration and at least one calibration element for optical calibration. Calibration of the microscope can be performed without the need for independent calibration slides. The calibration component may be a glass calibration component or may be defined by a calibration element formed or etched through the base.

Abstract: Thin-film coatings, which for example have alternating layers of high and low refractive index materials, are shown to function as both positive and negative C-plates, in dependence upon the incident radiation. In particular, the shape of the retardance versus angle of incidence profile is found to be determined, at least in part, by the phase thickness of the thin film coating (i.e., the optical thickness in terms of the wavelength of the incident radiation, which may, for example, be expressed in degrees, radians, or as the number of quarter wavelengths). These thin film coatings are optionally integrated into anti-reflection coatings, thin film interference filters and/or other components to improve efficiency and/or functionality.

Abstract: A microscope device including a coherent light source, an illuminating optical system which has light beam splitting means that splits the coherent light source into light beams and phase-modulating means disposed near a pupil conjugate plane and adapted for modulating the phases of two of the light beams and projects illuminating light spatially modulated into an interference fringe structure by causing the two light beams to interfere with each other near the plane of a sample, an imaging optical system for forming an image of the sample with diffracted light, imaging means, and image processing means for creating a sample image by computation of the image captured by the imaging means each time the phase of the spatial modulation is modulated.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a projection objective for lithography includes an optical arrangement of optical elements between an object plane and an image plane. The arrangement generally has at least one intermediate image plane, the arrangement further having at least two correction elements for correcting aberrations, of which a first correction element is arranged optically at least in the vicinity of a pupil plane and a second correction element is arranged in a region which is not optically near either a pupil plane or a field plane.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for occulting light. The occulter shape suppresses diffraction at any given size or angle and is practical to build because it can be made binary to avoid scatter. Binary structures may be fully opaque or fully transmitting at specific points. The diffraction suppression is spectrally broad so that it may be used with incoherent white light. An occulter may also include substantially opaque inner portion and an at least partially transparent outer portion. Such occulters may be used on the ground to create a deep shadow in a short distance, or may be used in space to suppress starlight and reveal exoplanets.

Abstract: An apparatus for sun shielding for telescopic sights and binoculars incorporating a shutter mechanism to both protect the sighting system and to vary the light entering the sighting system.

Abstract: A drive system for optical components particularly useful with night vision devices. The drive system uses a single motor to rotate a selected one of two components between its operative and inoperative positions while retaining the other component in its inoperative position.

Abstract: A protective automatic darkening filter (ADF) and an associated tool, such as a welding torch, are controlled by a corresponding communication unit. The invention helps to ensure that the tool is not activated before the ADF has reached its dark state. A communication channel between the communication unit and the ADF may be established using a wired or wireless medium.

Abstract: An optical system includes a fluoride compound and has surfaces facing and exposed to plasma installed in an optical equipment which has an inner zone where the plasma exists. A 2 nm-20 nm protective film of a highly plasma-resistant material is formed on the surface of the fluoride compound that is exposed to the plasma.

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 method of determining diffractive optical elements to be utilized in an imaging process. The method includes the steps of defining a customized diffractive optical element which is based on a target pattern to be printed during the imaging process; decomposing the customized diffractive optical element into one or more standard diffractive optical elements; and defining an exposure dose to be assigned to each of the one or more standard diffractive optical elements.

Abstract: A multilayer reflective film coated substrate includes a multilayer under film comprised of Mo/Si alternately-layered films and a multilayer reflective film comprised of Mo/Si alternately-layered films for reflecting exposure light. The multilayer under film and the multilayer reflective film are formed on a substrate in this order. Given that a cycle length of the multilayer under film is d bottom (unit:nm) and a cycle length of the multilayer reflective film is d top (unit:nm), a relationship of a formula (1) is satisfied when d bottom>d top, the formula (1) given by (n+0.15)×d top?d bottom?(n+0.9)×d top where n is a natural number equal to or greater than 1.

Abstract: A vehicle mirror comprises a lens, a reflective member disposed so as to receive light from the lens, and a support disposed so as to support the lens and the reflective member. A control system is connected to the reflective member and is effective to control the reflection of the reflective member. Various techniques are disclosed to control the reflection including the use of photochromic coatings, LCDs, and motor control assemblies.

Abstract: A microscope, e.g., a surgical microscope, includes an image generation device in the light path or light paths of the microscope. Images based on real-time or static data concerning the object in view, e.g., a patient's MRI data and/or parameters of one or more surgical instruments being used to operate on the patient, are projected into the microscope's light path so the surgeon does not need to look away from the surgical field and does not require other personnel to read outloud the settings and data from the machines being used in the surgery.

Abstract: To provide a light transmitting electromagnetic wave shielding film which achieves both of excellent electromagnetic wave shielding properties and an excellent near infrared ray cutting function. A light transmitting electromagnetic wave shielding film has a metallic silver part and a light transmitting part, which are formed by exposing an emulsion layer containing a silver salt emulsion formed on a support and then developing, wherein the light transmitting electromagnetic wave shielding film has infrared ray shielding properties.

Abstract: A projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object surface onto an image surface of the projection objective has an object-side imaging subsystem for creating a final intermediate image closest to the image surface from radiation coming from the object surface and an image-side imaging subsystem for directly imaging the final intermediate image onto the image surface. The image-side imaging subsystem includes at least one aspheric primary correcting lens having an aspheric primary correcting surface. The object-side imaging subsystem includes a secondary correcting group having at least one secondary correcting lens having an aspheric secondary correcting surface. Conditions involving maximum incidence angles and subaperture offsets at the correcting surfaces are given which should be observed to obtain sufficient aberration correction at very high image-side numerical apertures NA.