Abstract: A method for forming a metallic mirror surface on a receiving surface is shown. The method comprises the steps of: cleaning the underlay surface; spraying on the receiving surface an activating treatment agent solution wherein the activating treatment agent solution contains a hydrochloric acid solution including about 10 cc to about 44 cc of hydrochloric acid, about 1.5 g to about 5 g of stannous chloride and about 0.001 g to about 0.005 g of a precious metal salt of at least one of a silver nitrate, palladium chloride, gold chloride and platinum chloride per 1 liter of water for use as an activating treatment agent for forming a metallic mirror surface on a receiving surface which is treated with the hydrochloric acid solution as an activating treatment agent solution; and separately spraying concurrently on the underlay surface a reacting metal salt and a reducing agent to form the metallic mirror surface.

Abstract: A diffusing film comprises a transparent resin in which scatterers are dispersed. The difference between the refractive index of the transparent resin and that of the scatterers is in the range of 0.04 to 1.5. The scatterers are flat particles having sizes of 0.1 to 50 ?m.

Abstract: Disclosed is an antiglare film having excellent durability. The antiglare film is disposed on the front of a display device and comprises a transparent plastic film and, formed on the transparent plastic film, at least an antiglare layer having fine concaves and convexes on its surface, wherein the antiglare layer is formed of a transparent resin and satisfies requirements that: (1) the surface of the antiglare layer has a three-dimensional ten-point mean roughness of 0.9 ?m to 3 ?m; and (2) the mean spacing between adjacent profile peaks on a three-dimensional roughness reference plane is 20 ?m to 50 ?m.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a lighting apparatus including a light source, an optical member that is placed in front of the light source and provided with a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the light source or prism sections each made up of a refracting surface which receives the light incident from the light source and a reflecting surface for reflecting the light incident from this refracting surface. Here, in the optical member, there is a plurality of pairs of the reflecting surfaces or prism sections arranged in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis within a plane including the radial direction of the light source centered on the optical axis. The present invention can provide a low-profile lighting apparatus using light from the light source with high efficiency.

Abstract: This invention relates to light transmitting filters comprising: (a) a light absorbing layer of material having a front surface and a back surface, (b) transparent microspheres embedded in the light absorbing layer and contacting the front surface of the light absorbing layer with portions of the microspheres protruding through the back surface of the light absorbing layer for transmitting light through the light absorbing layer, and (c) a conformed layer of optically clear material having a front surface and a back surface wherein the front surface of the conformed layer is in contact with and conforming in shape with the protruding portions of the microspheres, and wherein the back surface of the conformed layer has a textured finish. The invention also relates to methods of making these light transmitting filters.

Abstract: A projection exposure lens system has an object side catadioptric system, and intermediate image and a refractive lens system. The refractive lens system from its intermediate image side and in the direction of its image plane has a first lens group of positive refractive power, a second lens group of negative refractive power, a third lens group of positive refractive power, a fourth lens group of negative refractive power, and a fifth lens group of positive refractive power.

Abstract: Antireflection multilayer coatings with only three or four layers are proposed for the production of laser resistant optical components with minimal residual reflection and high transparency for UV light in a wavelength range approx. 150 nm to approx. 250 nm at large angles of incidence in the range of approx. 70° to approx. 80°, particularly in the range between approx. 72° and approx. 76°. For incident p-polarized UV light three-layer systems can be used, in which a layer of low refractive material, in particular magnesium fluoride is arranged between two layers of high refractive material and, in the case of the specified wavelength, of minimally absorbent material, in particular of hafnium oxide or aluminum oxide. For example, this allows a residual reflection of perceptibly less than 1% to be achieved in the case of a wavelength of 248 nm at angles of incidence in the range between approx. 72° and approx. 76°.

Abstract: In order that an image photographed by a monitoring mechanism can be stable even in a case in which vibration of a vehicle is transmitted to a hosing, a mirror device for a vehicle comprising a housing, provided at a vehicle, which holds a mirror and covers a back surface side of the mirror, a photographing mechanism, provided within the housing, which has a lens and photographs a status in a direction in which the lens is oriented, a fixing member, fixed to one of the housing or the mirror, which fixes one of the lens or the vicinity of the lens of the photographing mechanism, is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical element comprising a polymer film containing a dispersion of minute layered particulates and microvoids.

Abstract: A vehicle photosensing system includes a photosensor array that is disposed within the interior cabin of the vehicle and having a field of view forward through the windshield of the vehicle. The photosensing system further providing a control for either controlling operation of a vehicle headlight or monitoring a surface condition of the windshield of the vehicle. If controlling the vehicle headlight, preferably the control transitions the headlight from a first beam mode to a second beam mode in response to detection of a headlight and/or a taillight by the photosensor array within its forward field of view. If monitoring a surface condition of the windshield of the vehicle, the photosensing system operates the vehicle's windshield wiper system in response to a signal generated by the control.

Abstract: A mirror mounting apparatus for a mirror glass is provided. According to an aspect of the invention, a mounting rod having a bore and an outlet and affixable to a vehicle is also provided. The mirror mounting apparatus includes a mirror housing assembly with a base member for mounting to the mounting rod. The base member has an opening to deliver a wire from the outlet into the mirror housing assembly. A method for assembling the mirror mounting apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A mirror arrangement for reflecting electromagnetic radiation has a mirror body with a mirror side disposed towards the radiation to be reflected and at least one extension sensor located at the mirror body for detecting a deformation state of the mirror body. The mirror body includes semiconductor layer where the at least one extension sensor is located.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for producing chromatic dispersion. The apparatus includes a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator, a mirror and a lens. The VIPA generator receives an input light at a respective wavelength and produces a corresponding collimated output light traveling from the VIPA generator in a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light, the output light thereby being spatially distinguishable from an output light produced for an input light at a different wavelength. The mirror has a cone shape, or a modified cone shape. The lens focuses the output light traveling from the VIPA generator onto the mirror so that the mirror reflects the output light. The reflected light is directed by the lens back to the VIPA generator. In this manner, the apparatus provides chromatic dispersion to the input light.

Abstract: An illuminating apparatus for a microscope comprises a condenser lens for condensing beams of illumination light from a light source and a pin-hole stop. The pin-hole stop has a pin-hole, provided on an optical axis, for transmitting only strong light beams from a central portion of the light source among the illumination light beams condensed by the condenser lens. The pin-hole stop also has a light reducing/illumination area, disposed around the pin-hole in symmetry with respect to the optical axis, for illuminating the periphery of an on-specimen portion illuminated with the light beams passing through the pin-hole with a quantity of light exhibiting a predetermined ratio to a quantity of the light passing through the pin-hole. The same apparatus also comprises an objective lens for converging the illumination light beams passing through this pin-hole stop on a specimen. The pin-hole stop is located in a position substantially conjugate to a pupil plane of the objective lens.

Abstract: A diffuser is disclosed which transmits or reflects incident light into a specific range of angles. In a preferred embodiment, this light is uniformly scattered throughout a cone of angles. The diffuser consists of two parts. The first part diffracts or reflects light into a specific offset angle. The second part, in the preferred embodiment, uniformly scatters the light through a range of angles, which is centered on the offset angle. The diffusers have utility in applications such as screens for wrist watches, computers, calculators, and cell phones.

Abstract: An exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle including an extendable mirror for improved rearward viewing is disclosed. Several embodiments of the rearview mirror assembly each comprise a mirror housing, a mirror disposed in the mirror housing, and some structure to allow extension of the mirror between an inboard position and an outboard position. In one embodiment, the mirror assembly includes structure to allow rotation of the mirror between inboard and outboard positions. The mirror may comprise a post disposed in a mirror shell and extending along a longitudinal horizontal axis which extends through a plane defined by the mirror, offset from a central vertical axis of the mirror. In another embodiment, the means for rotating the mirror comprises a pivot part having a shaft disposed in an aperture in the mirror shell, which is disposed along the longitudinal horizontal axis.

Abstract: In a gimbaled micromachined micromirror array optimized for parallel-plate electrostatic operation, longitudinal-type gimbal hinge elements are provided in which a plurality of torsional longitudinal hinge elements are arranged in an array parallel to the axis of rotation and which are linked together by rigid lateral brace sections. In primary embodiment the hinge elements are arranged in a double gimbal configuration. Specific embodiments of the hinge elements are simple longitudinal, compound longitudinal, stacked simple longitudinal, and stacked compound longitudinal. The longitudinal hinges may be used with various types of mirrors including circular or rectilinear, recessed or nonrecessed, where the hinges are connected in either a symmetric or asymmetric configuration relative to one another, as hereinafter illustrated by way of a subset of examples.

Abstract: An epi-fluorescent microscope is constructed with a quick changing set of filters. A wheel containing a plurality of dichroic beamsplitter mirrors mounted equidistance from a center axis of the wheel is mounted at a 45° angle within the lightpath and provides a beamsplitter function. Light from an excitation source is provided as monochromatic light, so that light from the excitation source is reflected by a selected one of the dichroic mirrors to the specimen, and Stokes shifted light from the specimen is transmitted through the dichroic mirror. By separately mounting the dichroic mirrors, the dichroic mirrors can be quickly moved and a quicker change of sensed fluorophores is achieved.

Abstract: A mirror includes: a substrate having a surface; and a thin-film finish layer provided over the surface of the substrate and having on a side thereof opposite from the substrate a surface with a polished finish. According to a different aspect of the invention, a method of making a mirror includes: providing a substrate having a surface thereon; forming a thin-film finish layer over the surface of the substrate using thin-film techniques, the finish layer having a surface on a side thereof opposite from the substrate; and polishing the surface of the finish layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing an object which has optical layers. According to the invention such a process comprises the following process steps: To a substrate of plastic material several optical layers are applied; the optical layers are applied by means of a chemical plasma-impulse vaporization (PICVC).