Abstract: An optical multilayer filter having an inorganic thin film composed of a plurality of layers on a substrate includes a fluorinated organic silicon compound film formed on a surface of the inorganic thin film, a low-density formation section forming a part of the inorganic thin film, having one or more layers including the most superficial layer of the inorganic thin film, the one or more layers being formed of at least one of a low-density titanium oxide layer and a low-density silicon oxide layer, and a high-density formation section forming another part of the inorganic thin film, disposed between the low-density formation section and the substrate, having silicon oxide layers with a density higher than the low-density silicon oxide layer and titanium oxide layers with a density higher than the low-density titanium oxide layer in a stacked manner. A total thickness of the low-density formation section is equal to or smaller than 280 nm.

Abstract: A catadioptric imaging optical system of a high numerical aperture in which various aberrations are properly corrected without using a reflection surface having an aspherical shape of high order or a reciprocal optical element. The catadioptric imaging optical system forms an image of a first plane on a second plane and includes a first imaging system for forming a first intermediate image of the first plane based on light from the first plane, a second imaging system having two concave reflection mirrors for forming a second intermediate image of the first plane based on light from the first intermediate image, and a third imaging system for forming a final image of the first plane on the second plane based on light from the second intermediate image. The two concave reflection mirrors have prolate spheroidal-shaped reflection surfaces.

Abstract: A control system for one or more electrochromic elements used in an outside electrochromic (OEC) mirror used in automobiles or other vehicular applications, to control the glare of both IEC elements used as a rearview mirror (20) as well as the OEC elements (24, 26) used as sideview mirrors (24, 26). An ambient light sensor (129) and glare sensor (133) operate to determine a glare level used to control both IEC and OEC electrochromic elements. The drive circuits for the OEC's elements may be controlled so as to account for various factors such as tinted glass characteristics in the vehicle.

Abstract: A scanning microscope includes a source of illumination light; a scanner scanning the illumination light in a two-dimensional direction crossing a light axis; a lens irradiating the illumination light to a sample, and collecting return light from the sample; a focusing position adjuster adjusting a focal position in a light axis direction; and a light detector detecting collected light. A storage section stores the intensity of detected light, and positional information of an irradiating position of the illumination light set by the scanner and the focusing position adjuster. An image processor acquires images parallel to the light axis based on the intensity of return light and the stored positional information, and processes the images to detect a moving distance along a light axis direction of an area of the sample. The focusing position adjuster is controlled to correct a light condensing position of the illumination light.

Abstract: A novel silicon micromirror structure for improving image fidelity in laser pattern generators is presented. In some embodiments, the micromirror is formed from monocrystalline silicon. Analytical- and finite element analysis of the structure as well as an outline of a fabrication scheme to realize the structure are given. The spring constant of the micromirror structure can be designed independently of the stiffness of the mirror-surface. This makes it possible to design a mirror with very good planarity, resistance to sagging during actuation, and it reduces influence from stress in reflectivity-increasing multilayer coatings.

Abstract: A front filter for a plasma display that is mainly used as a TV display. The front filter has an anti-glare function which is capable of effectively preventing reflection concurrently with achieving black color reproduction, and a functional layer for imparting a function required of an image display device such as a light absorbing function and/or an adhesion function. This front filter has an anti-glare layer having a concavo-convex shape on an outermost surface thereof, a polyester film and a functional layer. The anti-glare layer is disposed on the observer-side surface of the front filter; at least one functional layer is disposed on the display device side.

Abstract: The optical image stabilizer (100) includes a first movable part including a first lens (11a) having one of positive and negative optical powers, a second movable part including a second lens (11b) having the other of the optical powers, and an actuator driving the first and second movable parts in the directions opposite to each other with respect to a supporting member (13). The actuator includes a first element (110a, 110b) provided on the supporting member, a second element (16a, 16b) provided on the first movable part and facing a first face of the first element, and a third element (16c, 16d) provided on the second movable part and facing a second face formed on an opposite side of the first element from the first face. The first element is one of a magnet and a coil, and the second element and the third element are the other of them.

Abstract: A mirror assembly for trucks, vans and the like, for providing front or rear viewing as the vehicle is moving forward or is backing up, for example, into a truck loading dock area. The mirror assembly comprises a mirror unit that is connected by a mirror arm to a support structure, e.g., a flange or bracket, that is fixed to the vehicle. The support structure projects minimally sideways of the vehicle and pivotably supports the mirror arm in a manner whereby the mirror unit and its arm can swing about a pivot axis, enabling the mirror and its arm to lie alongside a side wall of the vehicle or tightly against the rear of the vehicle. A return or rebound mechanism returns the mirror unit to its normal operational position automatically, once contact with an obstruction that has pivoted the mirror unit from its normal position, has been removed.

Abstract: An optical system is described herein which has a compact, all reflective design that has multiple fields of view for imaging an object. The optical system also has identical viewing directions and can have several different configurations for adding laser range finding and designating components.

Abstract: An optical sighting device having a compound zoom system preferably includes two or more lens erector assemblies that are each adjustable to modify the optical power of the optical sighting device. A prism erector assembly may also be included. An odd number of erector assemblies preferably creates a viewable image that has the same orientation as the real object being viewed through the optical sighting device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microscope or stereomicroscope for representing an object that can be placed on an object plane (1) of the stereomicroscope, the latter providing at least one pair of optical paths (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) and comprising at least one deflection element with a reflecting surface (3; 3?) and a representation system (26; 26*; 26**; 26?) containing several optical elements. The optical elements comprise a plurality of lenses (4-8, 11, 13, 14, 16?-21?, 16?-21?, 16??-21?? 16??-21??). In addition, the optical elements are configured in such a way, that pupil planes (27a, 27b) of the optical representation paths (2a, 2b) intersect the reflecting surface (3; 3?) of the deflection element or are located at a distance (S, S?; S*, S*?) from said reflecting surface (3; 3?). The distance (S, S?; S*, S*?) is less than 1.5 times, in particular less than 1.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a flat field Schmidt-type telescope including a spherical primary mirror, an aspheric correcting plate spaced apart from the primary mirror, a detector disposed between the primary mirror and the corrector plate, and a field lens disposed between the primary mirror and the detector. The field lens is configured to reshape a curved field plane formed by the primary mirror into a flat field plane. A material of the field lens is selected to transmit in the infrared wavelength range (e.g., SWIR and/or MWIR) and is selected to have a desired refractive index so as to achieve a field of view (FOV) of the telescope greater than approximately 10 degrees.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing transmission microscopy on a sample material are disclosed. The sample material is placed on a metal nanoparticle substrate. High intensity light, such as an infrared laser, is focused on the nanoparticle substrate, thereby exciting the silver nanoparticles. The excited nanoparticles emit intensely focused, spectrally broad white light that is able to pass through the sample material without significant scattering even when the sample material is highly diffuse. The emitted light that passes through the sample material is detected and used to generate images and characterize features of the sample material, including the internal structural composition of the sample material.

Abstract: A telescope design is disclosed that has at least some of its interior facing surfaces configured with corner reflectors, so that a detector operatively coupled to the telescope views itself, instead of those surfaces. The corner reflectors may be on, for example, interior facing surfaces of a conventional baffle appended to the telescope and/or mirror supports or other structures inside the telescope housing that are within the detector's FOV. Likewise, the corner reflectors may be on interior facing surfaces of a baffle that is integrated into the telescope housing. In some such cases, the integrated baffle can be configured as both a baffle and a mirror support. The integrated baffle can be shaped to the F-cone between mirrors of a given telescope design, and/or configured to minimize or otherwise reduce the total obscuration of the baffle to improve the optical throughput.

Abstract: A method for removing at least one reflective layer (4a, 4b) from an optical element (1) for EUV lithography, wherein the optical element (1) has a substrate (2) and an interlayer (6) between the substrate (2) and the at least one reflective layer (4a, 4b). The method includes etching away the at least one reflective layer (4a, 4b) as far as the interlayer (6) with an etching gas (7), wherein the material of the interlayer (6) does not react with the etching gas (7), and wherein, after the etching away, the interlayer (6) has a surface roughness of less than 0.5 nm rms, preferably of less than 0.2 nm rms, and more preferably of less than 0.1 nm rms. Also, an optical element (1) for reflecting radiation in the EUV wavelength range includes a substrate (2), at least one reflective layer (4a, 4b), and an interlayer (6) arranged between the substrate (2) and the at least one reflective layer (4a, 4b).

Abstract: A device for analysing a specimen by fluorescence includes a confocal microscope, illumination means capable of emitting a light beam that converges, by means of an objective, on a focal spot, means for successively positioning the focal spot at various points on the specimen during analysis. The confocal microscope includes an objective mounted on a movable rapid-scan carriage driven in a reciprocating linear movement along a traverse direction by a rotating motor by means of a device of the connecting rod type. The specimen is placed on a movable support driven in a longitudinal movement and is able to move along the axis of the objective of the microscope in order to position the specimen relative to the focal spot.

Abstract: An infrared lens 1a includes first to third lenses L1 to L3 which are made of zinc sulfide and arranged in this order from an object side. Each of the first to third lenses L1 to L3 is configured as a positive meniscus lens of which convex surface is opposed to the object. The lenses L1 to L3 are formed by heat-press molding raw powder of zinc sulfide using a lens-shaped mold. In addition, a concave surface (the surface opposed to the image side) of the first lens L1 is formed as a diffractive surface.

Abstract: A surgical microscope (100) has an illuminating arrangement (110) which can guide illuminating light to the object region (105) with a first illuminating beam path (111) and with a second illuminating beam path (112). A light exit unit is provided in the first illuminating beam path (111). An illuminating field diaphragm is mounted in the second illuminating beam path. The first illuminating beam path (111) has an illuminating optic which images the light exit plane of the light exit unit or a plane conjugated to the light exit plane into a first image plane (350). An illuminating optic is provided in the second illuminating beam path (112) and this illuminating optic images the illuminating field diaphragm into a second image plane (250) different from the first image plane.

Abstract: It is possible to use the magnification of an objective lens as is, substantially without changing the observation magnification, even when the working distance of the objective lens is changed. The invention provides a focus-adjusting unit disposed on an optical axis between an objective optical system that collects light from a specimen and an image-forming optical system that images the light collected by the objective optical system at a prescribed position, comprising a front optical system and a back optical system, sequentially disposed along the optical axis direction from a front side, with the objective optical system serving at the front side and the image-forming optical system at the back; and a lens driving part that relatively moves these optical systems in the optical axis direction, wherein the front optical system and the back optical system have refractive powers of different sign and focal lengths of substantially equal absolute value.

Abstract: A movable part to which a specimen or optical component is fixed is effectively damped in a short period of time at low cost, while saving space and energy and avoiding heat generation, thus allowing high-precision observation of a specimen to be carried out quickly after stopping at a certain position. The invention provides a microscope system including a driving mechanism for driving a movable part to which a specimen or optical component is fixed and stopping the movable part at a certain position; and a vibration damping mechanism for damping vibrations generated when stopping the movable part with the driving mechanism. The vibration damping mechanism includes an inertial member having a prescribed mass and a viscoelastic member sandwiched between the inertial member and the movable part. Dimensions in a plurality of directions of the viscoelastic member are set on the basis of resonance frequencies of vibrations generated in multiple directions when stopping the movable part.