Abstract: An observation apparatus includes: a stage on which a container accommodating a specimen is mounted; a light source generating illumination light emitted in an upward direction from below the specimen on a specimen placement surface; a light-collecting lens disposed parallel to the surface and collecting the light; a diffusion plate disposed between the lens and the surface, parallel to the surface, and diffusing the light collected by the lens; an objective optical system disposed below the stage and collecting light passing through the stage from thereabove; and an image-capturing optical system capturing, below the specimen, transmitted light, which is the light emitted from the source, reflected above the specimen, transmitted through the specimen, and collected by the objective optical system, wherein the source is positioned so that an optical axis thereof is shifted from an optical axis of the lens in a direction away from the image-capturing optical system.

Abstract: An optical system includes, disposed in sequence starting on an object side along an optical axis: a first lens group having a positive refractive power; a second lens group having a negative refractive power; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein: the second lens group moves along the optical axis upon focusing from an infinity-distance object to a short-distance object; and a following conditional expression is satisfied: 1.00<f/(?f2)<2.40 where: f: a focal length of the optical system in an infinity in-focus state; and f2: a focal length of the second lens group.

Abstract: A highly reflective mirror for use in the wavelength range of 0.300 ?m to 15 ?m includes a substrate, a first interface layer, a reflective layer, a second interface layer, a plurality of tuning layers including a combination of a low index material and a high index material wherein the high index material is HfO2, and a protective layer. The highly reflective mirror has a reflectivity of at least 90% over the wavelength range of 335 nm to 1000 nm at an angle of incidence (AOI) of 45°.

Abstract: A compact, small form factor optical system for cameras that provides multiple optical paths to capture images of an object field in different portions of the light spectrum. The optical system includes a front lens group that captures visible and near-infrared (NIR) light from an object field and refracts the light to a beam splitter that splits the visible light and the NIR light onto two paths. On the visible light path, a visible light lens group refracts the visible light to form an image of the object field at a visible light sensor. On the NIR light path, a NIR light lens group refracts the NIR light to form an image of the object field at an NIR light sensor. The optical system thus provides images of the object field at two sensor planes, one image in the visible spectrum and the other image in the NIR spectrum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a Pivot hinge (1) for a Long-range optical Instrument (10), in particular binocular, comprising: at least two Joint Elements (2, 3) pivotable against each other about a Pivot Axis (4), and an Adjustment Device (5) for adjusting the pivot resistance and/or a Detent (26) between the Joint Elements (2, 3). In order to permit a more accurate and permanent adjustment and to facilitate a space-saving design, the Adjustment Device (5) comprises a Spreader Device (6) with at least one Spreader Element (7) adjustable along the Pivot Axis (4) and at least one Force Transfer Surface (16) that interacts with the Spreader Device (6) in order to transfer the spreading force of the Spreader Device (6) into a force acting from the Adjustment Device (5) on at least one Joint Element (2, 3), preferably in direction of the Pivot Axis (4).

Abstract: The binocular bridge system is configured to couple two night vision monoculars together, effectively providing the user with a binocular night vision system. An example binocular bridge system comprises a bridge, two hinged arms, and two dummy battery inserts. Each dummy battery insert is configured to be positioned within the battery compartment of a night vision monocular and conductively connect it to a power source housed within the bridge. In some implementation, each hinged arm of the binocular bridge system includes an objective alignment ring. The hinged arms of such a binocular bridge system, in conjunction with the objective alignment rings, are configured to mechanically collimate the night vision monoculars secured thereto.

Abstract: A riflescope having a display that provides information to a user of the riflescope, along with related methods, is provided herein. In one embodiment, a riflescope includes an objective system and an ocular system, wherein a focal plane is defined between the objective system and the ocular system. A display system, comprising a display and a mirror, is positioned at a location between the focal plane and the ocular system. In one embodiment, the distance between the focal plane and the ocular system is equal to a sum of a distance between the display and the mirror and a distance between the mirror and the ocular system.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed toward stabilizing an image projected by a projector in an environment including vibrations or other movements that displace the projected image. In one set of implementations, an image projected by a projector may be stabilized by using an image stabilization system that detects a displacement of the projector from an equilibrium position and controls an optical element of the projector to offset the displacement. In an additional set of implementations, an image projected by the projector may be stabilized by using an image stabilization system that measures a rate of displacement from equilibrium of an image projected by the projector to predict a displacement of the projector and counteract the predicted displacement. In another set of implementations, an image projected by a projector may be stabilized by precalculating a plurality of lookup tables that correct for displacements of the projected image during operation of the projector.

Abstract: The imaging optical system consists of first and second optical systems in order from a magnified side. The second optical system forms an image on an image display surface as an intermediate image. The first optical system forms the intermediate image on a magnified-side conjugate plane. A height H of a principal ray of light having a maximum angle of view becomes maximum on a lens surface of the whole system (having focal length f) on the most magnified side, among heights of principal rays of light having a maximum angle of view on respective lens surfaces, satisfying predetermined Conditional Expressions (1) and (2): 0.03<H×|f|/(L×I)<0.09??(1) 0.35<I/dl??(2) Where L is an optical axis distance between lens surfaces on the most magnified and reduced sides, I is a reduced side maximum image height, and dl is a maximum air spacing on the optical axis within the system.

Abstract: A reflective optical element, in particular for a DUV or VUV operating wavelength range, includes a substrate, a dielectric layer system and a metallic coating between the substrate and the dielectric layer system. The dielectric layer system (26) includes a layer (L) of material having a lower refractive index n1 at the operating wavelength, a layer (H) of material having a higher refractive index n2 at the operating wavelength and a layer (M) of material having a refractive index n3 at the operating wavelength, where n1<n3<n2. The layer (M) is arranged at at least one transition from a layer (L) to a layer (H) and/or from a layer (H) to a layer (L). The dielectric layer system has a four-layer sequence of (LMHM)m or (HMLM)m, where m is equal to the number of four-layer sequences in the dielectric layer system.

Abstract: Lens coatings and coated lenses which offer full-spectrum protection by reducing back-side reflection of all light spanning from the ultraviolet sub-band B (UVB) to infrared (IR-A) region are provided. The full-spectrum back-side anti-reflective coatings disclosed herein are comprised of multiple thin-film layers of high refractive index (HighIndex) and low refractive index (LowIndex) materials. In many embodiments, the penultimate layer distal from the substrate lens is a HighIndex layer, and the final layer distal from the substrate lens is a LowIndex layer.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an eye width adjustment mechanism that includes a first connecting member configured to connect a connecting portion of the right eyepiece unit on one side of a reference plane and a connecting portion of the left eyepiece unit on the other side of the reference plane to each other where the reference plane is a plane including the rotation center axes of the right and left eyepiece units, and a second connecting member configured to connect the connecting portion of the right eyepiece unit on the other side of the reference plane and the connecting portion of the left eyepiece unit on the one side of the reference plane.

Abstract: A sight glass for mounting in a hole, provided with radially inwardly extending protrusions, in a sheet material wall of a housing, for example a switchgear housing, includes: a body with a mounting surface and a cylindrical wall arranged on the mounting surface and extending perpendicularly from the mounting surface; a plurality of L-shaped slots in the radially outer surface of the cylindrical wall; and a gasket arranged on the mounting surface, the gasket enclosing the cylindrical wall. The body and cylindrical wall are of a monolithic transparent material.

Abstract: Various embodiments (300, 400, 500) for a multi-focal selective illumination microscopy (SIM) system for generating multi-focal patterns of a sample are disclosed. The embodiments (300, 400, 500) of the multi-focal SIM system perform a focusing, scaling and summing operation on each generated multi-focal pattern in a sequence of multi-focal patterns that completely scan the sample to produce a high resolution composite image.

Abstract: A laser microscope system includes a microscope and a lens defining an optical axis and a rear focal plane, as well as a laser and an optical laser system coupling a laser beam into the microscope such that it passes through the rear focal plane of the lens at a fixed point. The optical laser system has an offset lens movable along an axis of the laser beam path to move the laser beam focus in the direction of the optical axis. The optical laser system has a compensating lens arranged in the laser beam path and movable along the axis of the laser beam path. A controller and/or a mechanical coupling device carries out a movement of the compensating lens along the axis of the laser beam path when the lens is moved such that the laser beam continues to pass through the fixed point.

Abstract: An optical image stabilization mechanism is provided, including a holder for holding a lens, a frame, a base, a first coil, a second coil, a displacement sensor, a first magnetic element, a second magnetic element, and a third magnetic element. The frame is movably connected to the holder and the base. The first coil is disposed on a side of the holder. The second coil is disposed on the base. The first and second magnetic elements are disposed on the frame and correspond to the first coil. The magnetic pole direction of the first magnetic element is opposite to that of the second magnetic element. The third magnetic element is disposed on the frame and corresponds to the second coil. The displacement sensor is disposed on the base to detect relative displacement between the lens and the base.

Abstract: An optical system, apparatus, and method for sensing 360-degree horizontal and wide vertical field of view are shown. Powerful optics creates high resolution decompressed images on an image sensor. The compact panoramic camera includes two major optical components: (i) an axially symmetric convex aspheric reflector incorporated into a catadioptric optical element capable of providing a virtual curved image of a 360-degree panoramic scene with a specific image compression and (ii) a decompression lens with hardware aperture. The decompression lens is comprised of three single lens elements and accepts the virtual curved and compressed image and projects it onto the image sensor with high optical resolution and desirable image decompression to achieve a high digital resolution at the same time. Another version of decompression lens is comprised only of a single lens element and projects high resolution decompressed images onto an image sensor.

Abstract: A light shielding plate includes an infrared transmitting region next to a visible/infrared opaque region. The light shielding plate includes a glass plate including first and second principal surfaces; a visible/infrared opaque film on or over the second principal surface; an infrared transmitting film on or over the first principal surface or the second principal surface; and a light absorption film on or over the first principal surface or the second principal surface. The light shielding plate includes a visible/infrared opaque region including the visible/infrared opaque film; and an infrared transmitting region that transmits infrared light next to the visible/infrared opaque region, the light absorption film is in the visible/infrared opaque region and the infrared transmitting region, and the infrared transmitting film is at least in the infrared transmitting region.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for automatically controlling a lens to cornea standoff. Automatic lens to cornea standoff control can include an ophthalmic microscope with a lens arrangement configured for viewing images of an eye, a front lens assembly with a high diopter lens for resolving an image of a posterior portion of the eye, and a sensor to monitor a distance between the high diopter lens and a surface of the eye. Automatic lens to cornea standoff control can also include a control system for receiving distance information and an actuator for the front lens assembly back to the threshold standoff distance, past the threshold standoff distance, etc.

Abstract: A Multi-Z confocal microscopy system can simultaneously record from multiple Z-sections, and thus performs high speed volumetric imaging. An illumination line can be formed by under-filling the illumination beam in the aperture of the microscope objective. The illumination line extends in the Z dimension into the target sample to be imaged and an X-Y scanning mechanism can be used to scan the illumination line over the sample. The detection signal emanating from the scanned sample can be collected through the full numerical aperture of the microscope objective and directed to a detector subsystem. The detector subsystem includes an array of reflecting pinhole detectors and each reflecting pinhole detector is configured to image a volume at a different depth in the sample. This configuration enables reflecting pinhole detector array to image more than one depth volume at the same time.