Abstract: An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate includes a first lens array plate and a second lens array plate provided opposite to each other, each of the first and second lens array plates being formed with a plurality of lenses on both sides thereof. The first lens array plate is provided with a first lens-to-lens distance determining part. The second lens array plate is provided with a second lens-to-lens distance determining part. The distance between opposite lenses is determined by the contact between the first lens-to-lens distance determining part and the second lens-to-lens distance determining part.

Abstract: An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate includes: a first lens array plate provided with a plurality of first lenses systematically arranged on a first surface and a plurality of second lenses systematically arranged on a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a second lens array plate provided with a plurality of third lenses systematically arranged on a third surface and a plurality of fourth lenses systematically arranged on a fourth surface opposite to the third surface. The first lens array plate and the second lens array plate form a stack such that the second surface and the third surface face each other to ensure that a combination of the lenses aligned with each other form a coaxial lens system. A plurality of V grooves are formed in an area between adjacent second lenses on the second surface in the erecting equal-magnification lens array plate.

Abstract: A lens array unit mounting structure mounts a lens array unit in a recess provided in a housing of an image reading device. The structure includes a right projection and a left projection provided on the lens array unit and includes a right groove and a left groove provided in the recess of the housing. The lens array unit is secured in the recess of the housing by engaging the right projection with the right groove and engaging the left projection with the left groove.

Abstract: An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate includes: a first lens array plate and a second lens array plate each provided with a plurality of convex lenses on both surfaces; a first light-shielding member provided with a plurality of first openings; and a second light-shielding member provided with a plurality of second openings. The first lens array plate and the second lens array plate form a stack such that a combination of the lenses associated with each other form a coaxial lens system. The first light-shielding member is provided on the first lens array plate such that the first opening is located opposite to the corresponding convex lens. The second light-shielding member is provided on the second lens array plate such that the second opening is located opposite to the corresponding fourth lens. An open end of each of the first opening and the second opening facing the lens is formed to become progressively larger in diameter toward the end.

Abstract: An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate includes a stack of a first lens array plate provided with a plurality of first lenses arranged on a first surface and a plurality of second lenses arranged on a second surface, and a second lens array plate provided with a plurality of third lenses arranged on a third surface and a plurality of fourth lenses arranged on a fourth surface. The erecting equal-magnification lens array plate is provided with a first light shielding wall provided upright to surround the first lens, and a second light shielding wall provided upright to surround the fourth lens. An area on the first surface of the first lens array plate outside the effective region of the first lenses is roughened.

Abstract: An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate includes a stack of a plurality lens array plates built such that pairs of corresponding lenses form a coaxial lens system, where each lens array plate is formed with a plurality of convex lenses on both surfaces of the plate. The plate receives light from a substantially straight light source facing one side of the plate, and the plate forms an erect equal-magnification image of the substantially straight light source on an image plane facing the other side of the plate. The main lens arrangement direction differs from the main scanning direction of the erecting equal-magnification lens array plate.

Abstract: An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate includes a stack of lens array plates each formed with a plurality of convex lenses on both surfaces of the plate. The plurality of convex lenses in each lens array plate are arranged such that the main lens array direction differs from the main scanning direction. A light shielding member operative to shield light not contributing to imaging is formed in the neighborhood of a position in the intermediate plane in the erecting equal-magnification lens array plate where an inverted image is formed. The light shielding member restricts a light transmitting region of each convex lens such that lens regions outside a slit opening, which is substantially parallel with the main scanning direction, are totally prevented from transmitting light. The position of the slit opening is determined with reference to the lens coordinates of the lens surface closest to the image plane.

Abstract: An image reading device includes: a line illuminator for irradiating a document G; an erecting equal-magnification lens array operative to condense light reflected by the document G and including a stack of a first lens array plate and a second lens array plate each provided with an arrangement of a plurality of lenses on both sides thereof; a line image sensor operative to receive the light condensed by the erecting equal-magnification lens array; a housing for securing the line illuminator, the erecting equal-magnification lens array, and the line image sensor in their places; and a first light shielding member, a second light shielding member, and a third light shielding member operative to prevent light not contributing to imaging from entering the lenses. The first light shielding member, the second light shielding member, and the third light shielding member are formed as one piece with the main part of the housing.

Abstract: A surface of a substrate is coated with a sol solution containing metal alkoxide. A gelled material of the sol solution is pressed against a molding tool while the gelled material is kept soft. Thus, the gelled material is molded. Then, the gelled material is hardened. As a result, protrusions of the hardened gel layer 14 are formed on the substrate so that an irregular texture substrate is formed. A multilayer thin film constituted by a plurality of layers of at least two kinds of materials with different refractive indexes is laminated on a surface of the irregular texture substrate.

Abstract: A lens array unit mounting structure mounts a lens array unit in a recess provided in a housing of an image reading device. The structure includes a right projection and a left projection provided on the lens array unit and includes a right groove and a left groove provided in the recess of the housing. The lens array unit is secured in the recess of the housing by engaging the right projection with the right groove and engaging the left projection with the left groove.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission type optical element configured so that a convex/concave structure is formed on a surface thereof, and that incident light to the optical element is subjected to an action at the convex/concave structure. In this optical element, a layer having a convex/concave structure is formed on one of surfaces of a substrate. The transmittance of each of the substrate and the layer having the convex/concave structure at a wavelength of 360 nm is set to be 90% or more so that the transmittance of the layer having the convex/concave structure is equal to or less than the transmittance of the substrate.

Abstract: An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate includes a stack of a plurality lens array plates built such that pairs of corresponding lenses form a coaxial lens system, where each lens array plate is formed with a plurality of convex lenses on both surfaces of the plate. The plate receives light from a substantially straight light source facing one side of the plate, and the plate forms an erect equal-magnification image of the substantially straight light source on an image plane facing the other side of the plate. The main lens arrangement direction differs from the main scanning direction of the erecting equal-magnification lens array plate.

Abstract: In a reference specimen for a microscope, for use in calibration or inspection of a microscope, having an uneven structure in which convex portions having a prescribed height or concave portions having a prescribed depth are arrayed in a prescribed cycle on a substrate surface, as a material forming the uneven structure, a hydrolytically cured product of a metal alkoxide, or a cured product of an epoxy resin or an acrylic resin is used. The fine uneven structure is manufactured in the following manner. It is transferred by pressing a master plate against a molding material coated on a substrate, and cured, followed by release.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission type optical element configured so that a convex/concave structure is formed on a surface thereof, and that incident light to the optical element is subjected to an action at the convex/concave structure. In this optical element, a layer having a convex/concave structure is formed on one of surfaces of a substrate. The transmittance of each of the substrate and the layer having the convex/concave structure at a wavelength of 360 nm is set to be 90% or more so that the transmittance of the layer having the convex/concave structure is equal to or less than the transmittance of the substrate.

Abstract: As a feature of a glass substrate having at least one fine hole according to the invention, a side wall surface of the fine hole is connected to each surface of the glass substrate by a curved surface as a boundary portion between the two. As another feature of the glass substrate, a layer denatured by machining is removed from the inner wall surface of the fine hole and the boundary portion between the wall surface and each surface of the glass substrate. The fine hole is produced by: forming a fine hole in a glass substrate by machining or laser machining; and then applying liquid-phase chemical etching to surfaces of the glass substrate and the fine hole. On this occasion, it is desirable that the etching liquid used for the liquid-phase chemical etching is either of an aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid and an aqueous mixture solution of hydrofluoric acid and ammonium fluoride.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for aligning the longitudinal direction of grooves of a diffraction grating to a predetermined direction. The method and apparatus detect a diffracted light pattern sent from the diffraction grating, and displace the diffraction grating such that the direction of an arranging direction obtained from the diffracted light pattern is aligned in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A diffraction optical element including an element body having a large number of grooves formed on its surface to form a grating, and a grating shape adjusting layer deposited on a grating surface of the element body by oblique incidence or material particles onto the grating surface, wherein the grating shape adjusting layer per se is made of a reflecting film material. By the grating shape adjusting layer, the contour shape of the resulting grating surface in a section perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the grooves is made not similar to the sectional shape of the element body. A reflecting film may be formed on a grating shape adjusting layer made of another material. A reflecting film may be provided on the element body before a grating shape adjusting layer made of a transparent dielectric material is provided on the reflecting film.

Abstract: A surface of a substrate is coated with a sol solution containing metal alkoxide. A gelled material of the sol solution is pressed against a molding tool while the gelled material is kept soft. Thus, the gelled material is molded. Then, the gelled material is hardened. As a result, protrusions of the hardened gel layer 14 are formed on the substrate so that an irregular texture substrate is formed. A multilayer thin film constituted by a plurality of layers of at least two kinds of materials with different refractive indexes is laminated on a surface of the irregular texture substrate.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a mold constituted by an electrically conductive thin plate having a predetermined surface shape, and an electrically insulating reinforcement material, wherein the electrically conductive thin plate and the electrically insulating reinforcement material are bonded to each other by an anodic bonding method. Particularly, the electrically conductive thin plate is preferably formed out of silicon single crystalline and the electrically insulating reinforcement material is preferably oxide glass.

Abstract: A reflection type diffraction grating according to the present invention has a structure in which a metal film as a first layer with reflectance not lower than 30% with respect to the wavelength of incident light and a transparent dielectric film as a second layer are laminated successively on the surface of the reflection type diffraction grating. With respect to the wavelength of incident light, the metal film has a refractive index selected to be not higher than 1.5 and an extinction coefficient selected to be not smaller than 6.0. The transparent dielectric film has a refractive index selected to be in a range of from 1.30 to 1.46, both inclusively, with respect to the wavelength of incident light and has an optical film thickness selected to be in a range of from 0.20? to 0.38?, both inclusively, when ? is the wavelength of incident light.