Abstract: A phase contrast microscope includes a light source, an illumination optical system configured to irradiate an observation object with the light from the light source, and a magnifying optical system configured to magnify and project the observation object, the illumination optical system includes a ring slit, the magnifying optical system includes an objective provided with a phase film, the ring slit is disposed at a pupil position of the illumination optical system, the phase film is disposed at a position conjugate to the pupil position of the illumination optical system, and the following conditional expression (1) is satisfied: r/I?0.25??(1) where r is a central part radius of the phase film, and I is a radius of a pupil of the objective.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from the object side, a first lens unit having negative refractive power, a second lens unit having positive refractive power, a third lens unit having negative refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having positive refractive power. At a time of zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit is reduced, the distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit is increased, and the fourth lens unit is fixed.

Abstract: A semi-submersible microscope objective includes a microscope objective having a protective barrel with an optical inlet and optical outlet, and a protective element affixed to the microscope objective, sealing the optical exit but not the optical inlet. A transparent portion of the protective element is aligned with the optical exit. The protective element is separable from the microscope objective without damaging the microscope objective. Use of the semi-submersible microscope objective in a multiphoton imaging method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnification device including a housing having a distal open end and a proximal open end is disclosed. The housing includes an optical system including one or more objective lenses adjacent the distal open end, and one or more eye lenses adjacent the proximal open end, the optical system produced a desired level of magnification; and a filtering system having first filter selectively filtering a first group of wavelengths and a second filter selective filtering a second group of wavelengths. The first and second filters having an optical density selected based on a magnification level of the optical system. A vision enhancing assembly including a carrier device and one or more magnification devices coupled to the carrier device is also disclosed, wherein the magnification devices include filters that have optical densities based on a magnification level.

Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens, including, in order from an object side to an image side, first, second, and third lens units having positive, negative, and positive refractive powers, respectively. The second lens unit moves toward image side during zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, and an interval between adjacent lens units is changed during zooming. The first lens unit includes a lens pair of a positive lens (LP1) and a negative lens (LN1) that are arranged adjacent to each other. A refractive index of a material at 400 nm wavelength, a refractive index of a material at 1,050 nm wavelength, a refractive index of a material at 1,700 nm wavelength, an Abbe number and a partial dispersion ratio of a material, Abbe numbers and partial dispersion ratios of materials for the positive lens (LP1) and the negative lens (LN1) are each appropriately set.

Abstract: A multi-layered spectral purity filter improves the spectral purity of extreme ultra-violet (EUV) radiation and also collects debris emitted from a radiation source.

Abstract: A device for retaining optical components includes a number of open orifices disposed next to one another in an arrangement. A raceway corresponding to the arrangement is provided, the raceway including a number of detents. A ball bearing follows the raceway and cooperates with the detents so that each of the detents is brought, in a respective following direction, into click-stop engagement with the ball bearing so as to hold the orifices in a selected position. Each of the detents has, in the respective following direction, a profile including a combination of an outer and an inner arc-shaped profile. The outer profile has less curvature than the inner profile and surrounds the inner profile.

Abstract: A projection objective provides a light path for a light bundle from an object field in an object plane to an image field in an image plane. The projection objective includes eight mirrors. The light path is provided via the eight mirrors, and is free of obscuration.

Abstract: A holder for field glasses has a pair of substantially similar resilient receptacles that each has a main body with an open bottom and a narrower neck with an open top. A slot is located in each neck portion while a slit extends between each slot and its respective open bottom. The two receptacles are attached to each other so as to be parallel to one another and so that each slit generally faces the other receptacle. A pair of binoculars is inserted, ocular lens side first, through the bottoms of each main body by gapping each receptacle with the bridge of the binoculars passing through the gapped slits. Once the bridge is received within the slots of the two receptacles, the slits are degapped. Alternately, the binoculars themselves may have the form of a pair of drink receptacles.

Abstract: A day/night weapon sight assembly that consists of daytime sight and a nighttime sight allows the use of both sights without change in eye relief even when the nighttime sight is attached to the rear end of the daytime sight. This is achieved by supporting the daytime sight moveably in the direction of the optical axis and by supporting the nighttime sight with the use of a plane-parallel motion mechanism that allows switching of the nighttime sight between the upper inoperative position and the operative position behind and coaxially with the daytime sight.

Abstract: An image forming system and lens system including at least one molded chalcogenide lens element and configured to simultaneously image light at the medium wave infrared region (MWIR) and the long wave infrared region (LWIR) at a common focal plane.

Abstract: A scanning microscope having a laser outputting an excitation laser beam and a fiber member having a first core and a second core. The second core is generally disposed within the first core and is operable to receive the excitation laser beam from the laser and transmit the excitation laser beam to a sample to be tested. A moveable stage supports an end of the fiber member and/or a sample to be tested and is operable to move the end of the fiber member and the sample to be tested relative to each other.

Abstract: An objective lens can be reduced in diameter, which allows examination inside a specimen such as a living organism with minimum invasiveness and also reduces costs. The invention provides a microscope apparatus including an objective-lens mounting part for removably mounting an objective lens unit; an apparatus main body for supporting the objective-lens mounting part so as to be movable in the optical axis direction; and an urging mechanism, disposed between the apparatus main body and the objective-lens mounting part, for urging the objective-lens mounting part towards the tip of the objective lens unit relative to the apparatus main body.

Abstract: An optical injection system for use in conjunction with a microscope having a turret supporting an objective having an optical path is provided. The optical injection system includes a dichroic mirror disposed between the turret and the objective, along the optical path. A collimating lens is further provided having an optical path directed to intersect the dichroic mirror. A laser source is positioned to project a laser beam through the collimating lens and along the collimating lens optical path. The laser can be used in conjunction with the microscope for a number of microsurgery applications. A method for calculating and displaying the isothermal contours of the energy produced by a laser in a sample is also provided.

Abstract: An optical device with a focusing optic that focuses a light beam in a focal plane and brings about a phase shift between a first part of the light beam and a second part of the light beam. The optical device has a first interface and a second interface, the first interface retlects the first part of the light beam, and the second interface reflects the second part of the light beam.

Abstract: An antiglare film (1) comprises: a transparent base film (2), a light-diffusing layer (3) formed on the transparent base film (2), and an antiglare layer (4) formed on the light-diffusing layer (3). The antiglare film (1) has an internal haze value in the range of 35 to 75 and a total haze value in the range of 45 to 85. The light-diffusing layer (3) and/or the antiglare layer (4) contains translucent particles coated with a low-refraction coating.

Abstract: An optical sight includes an optical train having an optical path therethrough. The optical train typically includes an objective, a prism that receives the optical path from the objective, and an eyepiece that receives the optical path from the prism. A reticle is formed on a surface of the prism. The reticle is illuminated by a reticle illumination source including a light source having a light-source output beam that illuminates the reticle, and a light diffuser lying in the light-source output beam between the light source and the reticle. The light diffuser is made of a non-lambertian material such as acetal.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) light absorbing reflector is formed with a substrate that supports a first IR absorptive multilayer part having multiple layers of partial IR absorbing thin films. The first IR absorptive multi-layer part supports a second visible light reflecting multilayer part.

Abstract: A microscope is disclosed which comprises several parts, such as a stand, a stage, a nose piece and several elements used to operate the microscope. At least one of these parts is provided with the ceramic layer on its surface.

Abstract: An optical element includes a light absorbing medium formed of a transparent material and light absorbing elements encapsulated within the transparent material. The light absorbing elements have an ultraviolet (UV) light-dependent absorption characteristic and UV light is applied to the light absorbing medium to change the attenuation of the light absorbing medium to a desired attenuation. UV light is applied to the light absorbing medium in a controlled manner to change the attenuation of the light absorbing medium from an initial attenuation to the desired attenuation. The application of UV light to the light absorbing medium can cause the light absorbing elements encapsulated within the light absorbing medium to degrade such that the amount of light absorbed by the light absorbing medium is reduced. Reducing the amount of light that is absorbed effectively reduces the attenuation of the light absorbing medium.