Abstract: A deposition apparatus includes a deposition source that produces a deposition flow of a deposited material and has an evaporation source with a material to be deposited therein, and a sputtering source that produces sputtering ions directed at the material to be deposited in the evaporation source. A deposition target is in facing relationship to the deposition source. The sputtering source is operated simultaneously with the evaporation source.

Abstract: A method involves creating a recess in a surface of a part so the recess is adjacent a portion of the part, thereafter forming a coating on the surface of the part with a portion of the coating being disposed in the recess, and thereafter removing material of the portion of the part with a tool. According to a different aspect, an apparatus includes a recess-forming section that forms a recess in a surface of a part so the recess is adjacent a portion of the part, a coating section that forms a coating on the surface of the part with a portion of the coating disposed in the recess, and a material-removing section that subsequently removes material of the portion of the part with a tool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus involve: routing first radiation and second radiation respectively having first and second wavelengths that are different along respective first and second optical paths; reflecting the first radiation with an optical component as the first radiation is traveling along the first optical path; and reflecting the second radiation with the optical component as the second radiation is traveling along the second optical path, the optical component causing a first optical path length traveled by the first radiation along the first optical path from arrival at to departure from the optical component to be shorter than a second optical path length traveled by the second radiation along the second optical path from arrival at to departure from the optical component.

Abstract: One aspect involves: supporting a workpiece with workpiece support structure that includes spaced support parts, a support section supporting the support parts, and a workpiece holding adhesive on each support part, where the adhesives engage respective regions of a surface portion on the workpiece; and supplying a coating material toward a different surface portion of the workpiece. A different aspect involves: supporting a workpiece with workpiece support structure that includes a workpiece support member with a surface portion extending approximately parallel to a direction, and a workpiece support part having two adhesive portions that respectively engage the surface portion on the support member and a surface portion on the workpiece; and supplying a coating material in the direction, toward a different surface portion of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method involves forming a first surface on a substrate, applying to the first surface a layer of a material having a thickness less than approximately 10 microns, and precision polishing the layer of material to form a precision optical second surface on a side of the layer opposite from the substrate. A different aspect involves an apparatus that includes a substrate having a first surface, and a layer provided on the surface and having a thickness less than approximately 10 microns, the layer having on a side thereof opposite from the substrate a polished second surface with an RMS surface roughness less than approximately 10 Angstroms.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a workpiece support, a source that is spaced from the workpiece support and can emit a plume of coating material toward the workpiece support, and plume adjusting structure that, between the source and workpiece support, can influence a plume of material flowing from the source. A different aspect involves a method that includes emitting from a source a plume of coating material that flows toward a workpiece support, and adjusting, between the source and the workpiece support, a plume of material flowing from the source.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an optical filter having first and second passbands that are different, the optical filter including selectively operable first passband adjusting structure that varies a characteristic of the first passband without influencing the second passband. According to a different aspect, a method includes filtering radiation with an optical filter having first and second passbands that are different, and selectively varying a characteristic of the first passband without influencing the second passband.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a workpiece support, a source for emitting a plume of coating material that flows toward the workpiece support, and plume influencing structure between the source and the workpiece support. The plume influencing structure includes a shield with plural openings extending therethrough approximately parallel to a general direction of flow of the plume away from the source. According to a different aspect, a method includes emitting from a source a plume of coating material that flows toward a workpiece support, and adjusting the flow of the plume with a shield between the source and the workpiece support, the shield having plural openings extending therethrough approximately parallel to a general direction of flow of the plume.

Abstract: A workpiece support member can rotate about an axis relative to a source, and the source can emit a plume of coating material that flows toward the workpiece support member approximately parallel to the axis. A plume-influencing shield can rotate with the workpiece support member, and has a plurality of openings extending therethrough approximately parallel to the general direction of flow of the plume. According to a different aspect, a method involves: rotating a workpiece support member about an axis relative to a source; emitting from the source a plume of coating material that flows toward the workpiece support member approximately parallel to the axis; and influencing the plume with structure that includes a shield rotating with the workpiece support member, the shield having a plurality of openings extending therethrough approximately parallel to the general direction of flow of the plume.

Abstract: A building structure includes a building transparent window glazing, and an optical interference coating overlying and contacting a first surface of the building transparent window glazing. A spectrally averaged transmission of visible light through the building transparent window glazing with the optical interference coating thereon is smaller at a higher angle of incidence than at a lower angle of incidence.

Abstract: A method involves: determining a percentage by which a thickness of a layer of material, if applied by a selected coating apparatus to a curved surface on a selected optical component having an operating wavelength, would decrease from a central region of the curved surface to an edge region of the curved surface; formulating a multi-layer optical coating that will provide, in the central region of the curved surface, a specified optical performance characteristic for all radiation within a waveband extending from the operating wavelength to a further wavelength, where the further wavelength decreased by the percentage equals the operating wavelength; and using the selected coating apparatus to form the multi-layer optical coating on the curved surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus involve: routing first radiation and second radiation respectively having first and second wavelengths that are different along respective first and second optical paths; reflecting the first radiation with an optical component as the first radiation is traveling along the first optical path; and reflecting the second radiation with the optical component as the second radiation is traveling along the second optical path, the optical component causing a first optical path length traveled by the first radiation along the first optical path from arrival at to departure from the optical component to be shorter than a second optical path length traveled by the second radiation along the second optical path from arrival at to departure from the optical component.

Abstract: A method involves forming a first surface on a substrate, applying to the first surface a layer of a material having a thickness less than approximately 10 microns, and precision polishing the layer of material to form a precision optical second surface on a side of the layer opposite from the substrate. A different aspect involves an apparatus that includes a substrate having a first surface, and a layer provided on the surface and having a thickness less than approximately 10 microns, the layer having on a side thereof opposite from the substrate a polished second surface with an RMS surface roughness less than approximately 10 Angstroms.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an optical filter having first and second passbands that are different, the optical filter including selectively operable first passband adjusting structure that varies a characteristic of the first passband without influencing the second passband. According to a different aspect, a method includes filtering radiation with an optical filter having first and second passbands that are different, and selectively varying a characteristic of the first passband without influencing the second passband.

Abstract: A method involves creating a recess in a surface of a part so the recess is adjacent a portion of the part, thereafter forming a coating on the surface of the part with a portion of the coating being disposed in the recess, and thereafter removing material of the portion of the part with a tool. According to a different aspect, an apparatus includes a recess-forming section that forms a recess in a surface of a part so the recess is adjacent a portion of the part, a coating section that forms a coating on the surface of the part with a portion of the coating disposed in the recess, and a material-removing section that subsequently removes material of the portion of the part with a tool.

Abstract: A method involves depositing on a surface of an optical substrate an optical layer made of a substance that has an index of refraction approximately equal to an index of refraction of the optical substrate, the optical substrate and the layer collectively defining a multi-section substrate in which the optical substrate and the optical layer serve as respective sections. According to a different aspect, an apparatus includes a multi-section substrate having a first section that is an optical substrate with a surface, and having a second section that is an optical layer provided on the surface and made of a substance having an index of refraction approximately equal to an index of refraction of the optical substrate.

Abstract: An ellipsometer is used to analyze each of a plurality of sample portions that each include a substrate portion with a coating portion thereon, the substrate portions corresponding to respective spaced portions of a part with a curved surface. For each sample portion, the analysis includes: directing onto the coating portion a beam of radiation that includes first and second components with different polarizations; detecting energy of each of the first and second components reflected by the sample portion; and generating data that includes, for each of a plurality of different wavelengths, information regarding a change caused by the sample portion to a relationship between the first and second components.

Abstract: A path of travel for radiation extends to one optical element, then to another optical element, and then away from the latter. One of the optical elements is respectively reflective and non-reflective to radiation above and below a first wavelength, and the other is respectively reflective and non-reflective to radiation below and above a second wavelength. According to a different aspect, a path of travel for radiation extends to one of first and second optical elements, then to the other optical element, and then away from the latter. The first optical element is reflective and non-reflective to radiation on respective sides of a first wavelength, and the second optical element is reflective and non-reflective to radiation on respective sides of a second wavelength. The first optical element can tilt in relation to the path of travel to change the first wavelength.

Abstract: A method and apparatus involve an optical element having a passband with a center wavelength, and filtering radiation having first and second portions that arrive along a path of travel extending to the optical element. The first portion includes radiation inside the passband, and the second portion includes radiation above and below the passband. The optical element transmits one of the first and second portions of the radiation therethrough, and reflects the other of the first and second portions of the radiation therefrom. The optical element is supported for a range of movement relative to the path of travel. As the optical element moves through the range of movement, the center wavelength changes.

Abstract: A method involves: determining a percentage by which a thickness of a layer of material, if applied by a selected coating apparatus to a curved surface on a selected optical component having an operating wavelength, would decrease from a central region of the curved surface to an edge region of the curved surface; formulating a multi-layer optical coating that will provide, in the central region of the curved surface, a specified optical performance characteristic for all radiation within a waveband extending from the operating wavelength to a further wavelength, where the further wavelength decreased by the percentage equals the operating wavelength; and using the selected coating apparatus to form the multi-layer optical coating on the curved surface.