Abstract: A zoom lens system particularly suited for use with an electronic image sensor includes a first positive lens element group located at a fixed position during a zooming operation, a second moveable negative lens element group, and a third moveable positive lens element group that provides the majority of the magnification change during the zooming operation. The diameter of the first lens element group is relatively large and therefore the surfaces of its glass elements are only spherical. The second and third lens element groups are made of molded plastic lens elements and both contain weak lens elements with aspherical surfaces that primarily correct for aberrations. A conventional aperture stop is positioned between the second lens element group and the third lens element group. Drive mechanisms are used to move the second and third lens element groups back and forth along the optical axis in order to perform a zoom operation.

Abstract: A zoom lens of the negative lead type includes comprises, in order from an object side, a first lens unit of negative refractive power and a second lens unit of positive refractive power, variation of magnification being effected by varying a separation between the first lens unit and the second lens unit, the zoom lens satisfying the following conditions:3.ltoreq.NL1.ltoreq.4NL2.ltoreq.NL1where NL1 and NL2 numbers of lens elements which constitute the first lens unit and the second lens unit, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electrochromic polymeric solid films, manufacturing electrochromic devices using such solid films and processes for making such solid films and devices. The electrochromic polymeric solid films of the present invention exhibit beneficial properties and characteristics, especially when compared to known electrochromic media. The electrochromic polymeric solid films are transformed in situ from a low viscosity electrochromic monomer composition by exposure to electromagnetic radiation, and in so doing minimum shrinkage occurs. The electrochromic polymeric solid films of the present invention also perform well under prolonged coloration, outdoor weathering and all-climate exposure, and provide an inherent safety aspect not known to electrochromic media heretofore.

Abstract: An arrangement for the detection of disk-shaped objects in a cassette preferably for detecting the presence and the position of semiconductor wafers in a cassette is disclosed. Reliable detection of disk-shaped objects in cassettes is provided regardless of their orientation or any discontinuity in their edge region. This is done by an arrangement by detecting light reflected at the edges of the objects in that it has at least two linearly elongated rows of light sources which are arranged parallel to a family of planes predetermined by the cassette shelves and objects and which lie in a surface parallel to the edge areas to be detected. Further, an objective is arranged between the parallel linear light sources and by which a plurality of shelves is imaged simultaneously on the sensor unit.

Abstract: A light separation apparatus using a flat plate including a wide band anti-reflection coating film, first and second dichroic mirrors, a wide band high-reflection coating film, an anti-reflection coating film, and a material forming the flat plate. The wide band anti-reflection coating film allows an incident light beam generated by a light source to penetrate into the material at a first angle without reflection. The first dichroic mirror allows only a light beam with a first wavelength to penetrate at the first angle and reflects light beams with other wavelengths at the second angle. The high-reflection coating film reflects at a second angle the light beam reflected by the first dichroic mirror. The second dichroic mirror allows only a light beam with a second wavelength to penetrate outside the material at the first angle so that it is parallel to the light beam with the first wavelength penetrated through the first dichroic mirror.

Abstract: Dichroic mirrors are disposed at the same inclination angle in a position such that a plane including an incidence optical path and a reflection optical path (transmission optical path of green light) of blue light reflected at a reflecting surface of one dichroic mirror is orthogonal to a plane including an incidence optical path and a reflection optical path of red light reflected at the other dichroic mirror. The other dichroic mirror is formed by cementing two glass substrates, and a red light reflecting layer is formed on the joint surface.

Abstract: A photochromic composition which develops a neutral tint such as grey, green, brown or amber upon the irradiation with light including ultraviolet rays such as sunlight starting from the initial colorless state, maintaining a homogeneous color tone in the transient stage of developing color. The photochromic composition comprises 100 parts by weight of a fulgimide compound and/or a fulgide compound, and from 10 to 300 parts by weight of a chromene compound having a molar extinction coefficient of not smaller than 150 L/mol-cm for light of a wavelength of 400 nm.

Abstract: An optical device for optically scanning an information plane includes a radiation source for supplying a scanning beam, and an objective system for focusing the scanning beam to a scanning spot on the information plane. The temperature dependence of the objective system can be compensated by a compensator which includes a planoconvex first element and a planoconcave second element arranged between the radiation source and the first element, the convex surface of the first element confronting the concave surface of the second element, and the refractive indices of the first and the second element being equal at the design temperature but having a different temperature dependence.

Abstract: An axiconic telescope that receives a collimated input light beams and includes a first axicon and second axicon. Depending on the distance between the two axicons, the input collimated beam is converted to a diverging conical wave front by the first axicon, which is re-collimated by the second axicon having an oppositely signed cone angle. The output of the telescope is a collimated beam having an annular cross section, with the annulus having a width of dependent on the diameter of the telescope. The axiconic telescope may be used to produce an output beam having annulus size that can be optimized to illuminate a portion of a transducer in an solid immersion lens or photon tunning method device that contributes evanescent waves to increase resolution of an optical device.

Abstract: A prism-type objective lens is provided for use in the pickup head of an optical disc drive capable of driving two types of optical discs such as a CD and a DVD. The prism-type objective lens allows the pickup head to be made more compact in size with reduced structural complexity, and also allows the pickup head to read data from two different types of optical discs. The prism-type objective lens includes a prism having a cross section substantially in the shape of a right triangle, a front aspherical plano-convex lens, and a rear aspherical plano-convex lens, where the planar surface of each lens is attached to one or the other of the leg sides of the prism. The hypotenuse side of the prism can be formed with two aperture areas where different reflective layers are coated. Alternatively, the hypotenuse side of the prism can be formed with a reflective HOE layer that allows the laser beam incident on it and reflected from it to be diffracted into two beams which are focused at different points.

Abstract: A lightweight and low cost replacement display for a conventional cathode-ray tube (CRT) display is provided that projects distortion free digital images directly without conversion to analog signals. The display does not exhibit cross-talk interference when a plurality of displays are placed adjacent one another, and does not present large gaps between adjacent displays. The display utilizes a digital micromirror device that projects a 1:1 bit mapped digital signal to a plurality of micromirrors that are switchable between an on and an off state and projects the image of light reflected from the "on" mirrors onto a direct view screen.

Abstract: A laser beam mixer combines two or more input laser beams in a coaxial manner to provide an output beam. At least one of the input beams is altered in cross-sectional profile, for example, to an annular cross-sectional shape. Another input beam is placed within the altered beam by a beam combining element having a transmissive portion and a reflective portion to respectively reflect and transmit the two input beams. The beams are combined with minimal beam losses and without diverging a beam profile.

Abstract: An optical system comprising a radial type gradient index lens element which has a negative refractive power of medium and a negative refractive power as a whole, and a radial type gradient index lens element which has a negative refractive power of medium and a negative refractive power as a whole; the optical system having favorable imaging performance: and an optical module using the optical system which is suited for stereoscopic photography and automatic focusing.

Abstract: A reflective collimator for a laser, such as for use in a cutting or welding machine tool. The collimator requires no more than three mirrors, and can be configured with only two. The relative positions of a convex/concave mirror pair are adjusted to adjust the divergence of the output collimated beam. Adjustment is accomplished by translating two of the mirrors in linear paths along respective beam paths established in the collimator. A linkage interconnects the two translatable mirrors and includes a coupling which incorporates the triangular geometry of the beam path established by the mirrors, so that the translatable mirrors are linked to maintain alignment throughout the range of collimator adjustment. When one of the translatable mirrors is adjusted the linkage causes the second to track the first while maintaining precise alignment in the collimator.

Abstract: A procedure is disclosed for assembly of novel two-sided monolayer or multilayer device architectures out of self-assembly or self-organizing amphiphilic compounds derived from molecules that undergo a type of valence tautomerization known as asymmetric narcissistic reactions. The two-sided monolayer architectures are constructed by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) transfer or self-assembly (SA) techniques while the multilayer architectures are formed by Y-type LB depositions, where the two layers or bilayers of the assemblies are alternate depositions of mirror-image forms of the amphiphiles. The resulting three-dimensional supramolecular assemblies described herein are uniquely capable of commutation between two non-centrosymmetric states which have, on a macroscopic scale, an optically antipodal relationship and a third central symmetric state which is, accordingly, optically racemic.

Abstract: A zoom optical system and an image pickup apparatus using the same are disclosed. The zoom optical system comprises a first optical unit having a refractive power, the first optical unit having a reflecting surface, a second optical unit having a refractive power, and a driving portion for moving a light receiving surface which receives light from an object through the first optical unit and the second optical unit. The zoom optical system performs variation of magnification by moving at least one of the first optical unit and the second optical unit, and a deviation of a focus position due to the variation of magnification is corrected by the light receiving surface being moved by the driving portion.

Abstract: A projection lens is disclosed having a low F-number of 1.7, which uses only a small number of lens elements and wherein various aberrations are favorably corrected. By satisfying certain prescribed conditions, the maximum angle of a principal ray relative to the optical axis on the reducing side of the projection lens is made to be 2.5 degrees or less, and the projection lens is made to be compact so that a back surface of a translucent liquid crystal display can be illuminated nearly telecentrically, i.e., with light that is nearly orthogonal to the surface of the liquid crystal display. The projection lens is constructed of, in order from the enlarging side of the projection lens: a positive first lens element L.sub.1, and a negative second lens element L.sub.2, a negative third lens element L.sub.3 that is cemented to a positive fourth lens element L.sub.4, a positive fifth lens element L.sub.5, and a positive sixth lens element L.sub.6.

Abstract: A condenser of solar energy on a moving structure, with east-west solar tracking and a modular liquid lens, the former consisting of a system capable of concentrating the solar energy by the incorporation of one or several modular liquid lenses, and the latter comprised by the connection of different transparent lenticular recipients, capacitated for installation on a metallic structure of spherical or cylindrical shape which, by means of the action of a divergent lens and a liquid prism transmits the heat to the fluid in a primary circuit which by means of a heat exchanger provides the temperature necessary for the different energy uses.

Abstract: In an image reading device in which an original is illuminated by a light source, and a reflected beam from the original is imaged on a sensor through a rod lens array, a light-shielding member is arranged between the beam exit surface of the light source and the incident surface of the rod lens array to prevent the beam from the light source from being directly incident on the rod lens array to cause a flare. An image reading device and information processing apparatus in which the image quality is rarely degraded by the flare beam are provided.

Abstract: An optical-element supporting device arranged to support and set one or a plurality of optical elements in respective predetermined positions in an optical axis direction, includes ring frames mounted respectively on the plurality of optical elements and each having a plurality of projections protruding in the optical axis direction, and a pinching structure for pinching the ring frames being piled up in the optical axis direction (the pinching structure comprising, for example, a lens barrel member which accommodates the ring frames mounted on the optical elements and leaf springs mounted near an end part of the lens barrel member in the optical axis direction), wherein the projections of the ring frames and respective pinching positions of the pinching structure are axially aligned in parallel with the optical axis direction.