Abstract: An optical component includes an antireflection film that is a multilayer film having alternately-laminated six or more layers including high refractive index layers and low refractive index layers; wherein a first layer of the antireflection film deposited closest to the substrate is a high refractive index layer; ? satisfies 480 nm???530 nm where ? is the wavelength of light incident into the antireflection film; an optical thickness D1 of the first layer satisfies 0.02??D1?0.04?; an optical thickness Dm of a layer of the antireflection film that is located fifth from an outermost layer deposited furthest from the substrate satisfies 0.19??Dm?0.75?; a total physical thickness dt of the entire antireflection film satisfies 350 nm?dt?480 nm; and a total physical thickness da of the low refractive index layers satisfies 0.65 dt?da?0.80 dt.

Abstract: An optical scanner provided with at least one optical path through which an optical beam emitted from a light source is directed onto a surface of an object for forming an image thereon includes a deflector configured to deflect the optical beam and a curvature adjustment unit. The curvature adjustment unit includes a reflecting mirror configured to reflect the optical beam in a predetermined direction, a holder unit configured to hold the reflecting mirror and including at least one supporter that engages the reflecting mirror, a pressure unit configured to flexibly deform the reflecting mirror in a normal direction relative to a reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror, and a fixing member fixed to at least a portion of the reflecting mirror, configured to fix a position of the holder unit relative to the reflecting mirror in a main scanning direction by contacting at least a portion of the holder unit including the supporter.

Abstract: The image display apparatus includes an image-forming element configured to form an original image, a first optical element configured to reflect a light flux from the image-forming element sequentially by plural reflective surfaces to cause the light flux to emerge from the first optical element, and an optical system configured to introduce the light flux from the first optical element to an exit pupil of the optical system. The optical system includes a diffractive optical element. In the optical system, a first portion closer to the exit pupil than the diffractive optical element has a negative optical power. No decentered surface having an optical power is provided between the diffractive optical element and the exit pupil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reflective surface substantially perpendicular to a vector field described by the equation: W ? ( x , y , z ) = target ? ( x , y , z ) - [ x , y , z ] ? target ? ( x , y , z ) - [ x , y , z ] ? + source ? ( x , y , z ) - [ x , y , z ] ? source ? ( x , y , z ) - [ x , y , z ] ? and a computer program for forming the reflective surface. The reflective surface is capable of providing a substantially undistorted wide-angle field of view. It is particularly useful as a driver's side mirror of a vehicle to provide an enlarged, substantially undistorted field of view which may be used to reduce or eliminate blind spots.

Abstract: A molded product having a phase separation structure formed by photopolymerization of a photopomerizable composition and imparting a sharp diffraction spot at a high diffraction efficiency, and a method for manufacturing same are provided. The molded product (1) comprises a matrix (2) and a multiple columnar structures (3) disposed within the matrix (2) and having an index of refraction different from the matrix (2), wherein the half width of a diffraction spot is 0.6° or less and diffraction efficiency is 10% or greater in an angular spectrum obtained by irradiation with a laser beam having an intensity distribution of standard normal distribution and a half width of the intensity distribution of 0.5°. The multiple columnar structures (3) are oriented in approximately the same direction, and are aligned in a regular lattice on a plane perpendicular to said orientation direction.

Abstract: The image display apparatus includes an image-forming element, an optical system guiding light from the image-forming element to an exit pupil, and a diffractive optical element disposed between the image-forming element and the optical system or between the optical system and the exit pupil. The diffractive optical element includes plural diffraction grating portions formed of mutually different materials. Each of the diffraction grating portions includes plural grating rings each having a grating surface and a grating side surface. In each of the grating rings, the grating side surface is inclined oppositely to the grating surface with respect to a normal to an enveloping surface passing through apexes of the plural grating rings. The diffractive optical element satisfies the following conditions at least when k=kE: ?d(j, k)=sin?1 [{ni·sin?i (j, k)?m(j, k)·?/P(j, k)}/nd]??i(j, k), M(k)=?{m(j, k)}=const, and ?d(j, k)????i (j, k).

Abstract: The invention is directed to optical elements that are coated with dense homogeneous fluoride films and to a method of making such coated elements. The coatings materials are a high (“H”) refractive index fluoride material and a low (“L”) refractive index material that are co-evaporated to form a coating layer of a L-H coating material (a co-deposited coating of L and H materials). Lanthanide metal fluorides (for example, neodymium, lanthanum, dysprosium, yttrium and gadolinium, and combinations thereof) are preferred metal fluorides for use as the high refractive index materials with lanthanum fluoride (LaF3) and gadolinium fluoride (GdF3) being particularly preferred. Aluminum fluoride (AlF3) and alkaline earth metal fluorides (fluorides of calcium, magnesium, barium and strontium) are the preferred low refractive index materials, with magnesium fluoride (MgF2) being a preferred alkaline earth metal fluoride.

Abstract: An antireflection coating is formed on a transparent substrate and includes an Al film having a transmittance of lower than 10% at a wavelength of 550 nm with a thickness of 25 nm and predominantly composed of aluminum (Al), and an Al—N film formed in at least one of an upper layer and a lower layer of the Al film, having a transmittance of equal to or higher than 10% at a wavelength of 550 nm with a thickness of 25 nm, predominantly composed of Al and at least containing a nitrogen (N) element as an additive. A specific resistance of the antireflection coating is equal to or lower than 1.0×10?2 O·cm, and a reflectance of a surface of the Al—N film is equal to or lower than 50% in a visible light region.

Abstract: End reflectors, flat panel lens that may utilize the end reflector, and methods are provided. The end reflector for a flat panel lens may include a first grating having a first set of parallel planes. The first set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a first angle with a central plane of the flat panel lens. The end reflector may also include a second grating having a second set of parallel planes. The second set of parallel planes may be of layers of alternating refractive indexes of alternating refractive indexes disposed at a second angle with the central plane. The second angle may be equivalent to the first angle reflected about the central plane.

Abstract: An eye piece (EL1) is formed having a first lens (L1) having a positive refractive power and a second lens (L2) having a positive refractive power, which are disposed in order from an object (O), and a contact multi-layer diffractive optical element (DOE), which has a first optical element (51) formed with a relief pattern and a second optical element (52) which is in contact with the surface of the first optical element (51) where the relief pattern is formed, is disposed on an optical surface of the first lens (L1) or the second lens (L2).

Abstract: Etendue maintaining polarization switching occurs, according to various embodiments, with a mirror that quickly transitions between two positions. Light having uniform polarization is transmitted to the mirror. Light reflected off of the mirror in one of the two positions has its polarization changed, whereas light reflected off of the mirror in the other of the two positions has its polarization maintained. Thereafter, the polarization-changed light and the polarization-maintained light easily may be recombined in an entendue-maintaining manner. Because the recombined light includes two different polarization states, stereoscopic images may be generated.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to negative index material crossbars that can be electronically controlled and dynamically reconfigured to exhibit a variety of electromagnetic properties. In one aspect, a negative index material crossbar comprises a first layer of non-crossing nanowires, and a second layer of approximately parallel nanowires that overlay the nanowires in the first layer. Resonant elements at nanowire intersections, and a gain material incorporated in the crossbar such that transmitted electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in a wavelength band of interest is enhanced when the crossbar is flood pumped with pump electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A hologram recording and reconstruction apparatus records and reconstructs a hologram in a recording layer of a holographic recording medium using a signal light beam and a reference light beam. The apparatus includes an objective lens, a spatial light modulator on which a reference light beam pattern for generating a reference light beam is displayed, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the holographic recording medium, and a control unit for controlling the spatial light modulator to reduce a reference light beam pattern so that the reference light beam passes through the more inner portion of the objective lens or enlarge the reference light beam pattern so that the reference light beam passes through the more outer portion of the objective lens in accordance with the temperature.

Abstract: An optical scanner is disclosed that has an optical source unit that emits a laser beam; a vibration mirror by which the laser beam from the optical source unit is deflected to scan; a driving circuit that vibrates the vibration mirror based on a driving signal generated from a reference clock; a light-receiving element that receives the laser beam within the scanning area of the laser beam; and a controlling unit that corrects the driving signal so as to make a phase deviation between the reference phase clock and the output signal of the light-receiving element constant.

Abstract: A multiple viewing-point floating imaging device is comprised of a plurality of dihedral corner reflectors 1 arranged along an optical device plane S and rotated around an axis of rotation perpendicular to said plane, to point in a plurality of directions along said plane, whereby light rays from an object O near to said plane are reflected once each by the two mirrors of said dihedral corner reflectors while passing through said plane, forming a real image P in a plane-symmetric position, visible from multiple viewing points V1 and V2 by multiple observers simultaneously.

Abstract: An anti-reflection coating comprising first to seventh layers formed on a substrate in this order, the first layer being an alumina-based layer, the seventh layer being a porous, silica-based layer, and each of the first to seventh layers having predetermined refractive index and optical thickness in a wavelength range of 400-700 nm.

Abstract: A capture system and method are provided for capturing an object utilizing at least one mirror. In use, a first angular dimension, a second angular dimension, and a curvature of the mirror are controlled for manipulating the capture of the object. By this design, a variety of applications may be provided.

Abstract: A reflection grating device with a continuous non-reflecting dielectric adjusting layer disposed between a grating structure and one or more continuous reflecting layers is disclosed that operates in an order of interest, such as the 1st order or 3rd order of diffraction, with high efficiency and near-exclusion of unwanted orders. Such devices can be employed, for example, in telecommunication and laser applications.

Abstract: An optical pattern generator uses reflection from multiple (e.g., two) internal mirror surfaces mounted on a rotating support structure.

Abstract: A zoned order sorting filter for a spectrometer in a semiconductor metrology system is disclosed with reduced light dispersion at the zone joints. The order sorting filter comprises optically-transparent layers deposited underneath, or on top of thin-film filter stacks of the order sorting filter zones, wherein the thicknesses of the optically-transparent layers are adjusted such that the total optical lengths traversed by light at a zone joint are substantially equal in zones adjacent the zone joint. A method for wavelength to detector array pixel location calibration of spectrometers is also disclosed, capable of accurately representing the highly localized nonlinearities of the calibration curve in the vicinity of zone joints of an order sorting filter.