Abstract: The invention comprises methods for manipulating floating point numbers on a microprocessor where the numbers are sortable. That is, the numbers obey lexicographical ordering. Hence, the numbers may be quickly compared using bit-wise comparison functions such as memcmp( ). Conversion may result in a sortable floating point number in the form of a sign, leading bits of the exponent, and sets of digit triples in the form of declets (sets of 10 bits). In a variable-length version, numbers may be compressed by storing the number of trailing zero declets in lieu of storing the zero declets themselves.

Abstract: A method of producing a lens that includes shifting a first die relative to a second die, and pressing an optical material shaped in a preliminary form between the first die and the second die so as to form a lens having a configuration corresponding to a hollow portion formed by the first die and the second die while shifting the first die relative to the second die. The produced lens includes an effective optical surface configured to converge a light flux. The effective optical surface includes a light entrance side, a light exit side, and an optical axis. The effective optical surface is a convex surface shaped such that when a maximum normal line angle is defined as an angle formed between the optical axis and a normal line at the outermost circumference of the effective optical surface, the maximum normal angle is 60° to 90°.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first light source for emitting a first light flux; a second light source for emitting a second light flux; a third light source for emitting-a third light flux; and an objective optical element. The objective optical element has an optical surface including at least two areas provided with optical path difference providing structures. The objective optical element converges the first to third light fluxes each passing through the predetermined areas on the objective optical element onto respective information recording surfaces of the first to third optical disks. The optical pickup apparatus provides a wavelength dependency of a spherical aberration so as to correct a change in a spherical aberration due to a refractive index change with a temperature change of the objective optical element.

Abstract: An optical element for reflecting solar light has excellent weather resistance, and furthermore, a high reflectance in a wide band. When solar light enters an optical element (OE), light (L1) in a short wavelength band among the solar light is reflected by a dielectric multilayer film (DF). Other light (L2) in longer wavelength bands are passed through the dielectric multilayer film (DF), then a base material (SS), and reflected by a metal deposition film (MV) to pass through the base material (SS) and the dielectric multilayer film (DF). Thus, high reflectance in a wide band is ensured.

Abstract: Disclosed is a film mirror used for reflection of sunlight, which includes, in the following order from the side where sunlight is entered, an ultraviolet ray reflection film which reflects ultraviolet ray and transmits visible and infrared light, a plastic film layer, a metal reflection-layer which reflects visible and infrared light, and a protective layer.

Abstract: Provided is a highly reliable solar collecting system. Since a concave minor has a reflection film on a base material on the side opposite to the side of a solar light incoming surface, peeling, breaking and the like are suppressed by protecting the reflection film by the base material, even when a dropping material is brought into contact with the side of the reflection film with impact or accumulated dropped materials are periodically cleaned. As an elliptical mirror has a reflection film on the base material on the side of the solar light incoming surface, even when solar light having large energy enters, the solar light is reflected by the reflection surface before reaching the base material and there is a small possibility of having the base material heated.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus is provided for recording and/or reproducing information on an optical disc in which information can be recorded at recording positions. The optical pickup apparatus includes: a light source; a relay optical system; an objective lens for converging a light flux onto one of the plurality of recording positions; a photodetector for receiving a light flux from the optical disc; a detector; a first actuator; and a second actuator. The detector is provided for detecting information for keeping a distance between the optical disc and the objective lens a predetermined value. The first actuator is provided for driving the objective lens for keeping the distance between the optical disc and the objective lens the predetermined value. The second actuator is provided for driving the relay optical system corresponding to one of the plurality of recording positions where information is recorded and/or reproduced.

Abstract: The invention comprises methods for manipulating floating point numbers on a microprocessor where the numbers are sortable. That is, the numbers obey lexicographical ordering. Hence, the numbers may be quickly compared using bit-wise comparison functions such as memcmp( ). Conversion may result in a sortable floating point number in the form of a sign, leading bits of the exponent, and sets of digit triples in the form of declets (sets of 10 bits). In a variable-length version, numbers may be compressed by storing the number of trailing zero declets in lieu of storing the zero declets themselves.

Abstract: To provide a mirror structure capable of reflecting incident light with good efficiency and is excellent in reliability. In a mirror structure which is used under an environment that the maximum irradiance of incident light is 5 kW/m2 or more and has an area of 0.2 m2 or more, the minor structure is characterized in that the mirror comprises a mirror, a supporting member and a resin-made adhesive sheet to glue the mirror to the supporting member, and is structured such that a dielectric multilayer is formed at least on an incident light side surface of a plate-shaped substrate and the mirror has an average reflectance ratio 95% or more for incident light having a wavelength in a range of 400 to 1000 nm.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to create and access electronic content comprising document files that comprise workflow definitions having information about a plurality of activities in the workflow process chain, including prior activities, the current activity, and subsequent activities. Such documents also contain instructions as part of the workflow definition which, when executed, cause modifications to the workflow definition to be recorded in the document file. Execution of the instructions may also result in identifying a subsequent processing entity to process the document file during subsequent activities in the workflow process chain, based on the embedded information. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first light source for emitting a first light flux; a second light source for emitting a second light flux; a third light source for emitting a third light flux; and an objective optical element. The objective optical element has an optical surface including at least two areas provided with optical path difference providing structures. The objective optical element converges the first to third light fluxes each passing through the predetermined areas on the objective optical element onto respective information recording surfaces of the first to third optical disks. In the optical pickup apparatus, the third light flux which has passed through an optical path difference providing structure forms a first best focus and a second best focus.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first light source for emitting a first light flux; a second light source for emitting a second light flux; a third light source for emitting a third light flux; and an objective optical element. The objective optical element has an optical surface including at least two areas provided with optical path difference providing structures. The objective optical element converges the first to third light fluxes each passing through the predetermined areas on the objective optical element onto respective information recording surfaces of the first to third optical disks. The first optical path difference providing structure is a ring-shaped structure which includes a plurality of ring-shaped zones including respective steps having at least two kinds of amounts selected from the predetermined expressions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical coupling lens and light source module. An optical coupling lens is provided for converging a light flux emitted from a light source to an entrance aperture. The optical coupling lens satisfies a predetermined condition according to a third-order astigmatisms coefficient of the optical coupling lens. A light source module includes: a light source; an optical waveguide; and an optical unit including one or more of an optical coupling lens for converging a light flux emitted from the light source onto the optical waveguide. At least one optical coupling lens satisfies predetermined condition according to a third-order astigmatism coefficient of the optical coupling lens.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first light source for emitting a first light flux; a second light source for emitting a second light flux; a third light source for emitting a third light flux; and an objective optical element. The objective optical element has an optical surface including at least two areas provided with optical path difference providing structures. The objective optical element converges the first to third light fluxes each passing through the predetermined areas on the objective optical element onto respective information recording surfaces of the first to third optical disks. One of the optical path difference providing structures includes a first basic structure and a second basic structure which are predetermined optical path difference providing structures and overlap with each other.

Abstract: An optical system for use in an optical pickup apparatus comprises a first optical surface having a superposition type diffractive structure including a plurality of ring-shaped zones which are formed concentrically around an optical axis, wherein each ring-shaped zone is composed of a plurality of stepped sections stepwise, and a second optical surface having a diffractive structure including a plurality of ring-shaped zones which are formed concentrically around an optical axis, wherein each of the plurality of ring-shaped zones are divided by a stepped section to generate a diffractive light ray of diffractive order whose absolute value is not small than 1 for the light flux.

Abstract: An optical system for use in an optical pickup apparatus comprises a first optical surface having a superposition type diffractive structure including a plurality of ring-shaped zones which are formed concentrically around an optical axis, wherein each ring-shaped zone is composed of a plurality of stepped sections stepwise, and a second optical surface having a diffractive structure including a plurality of ring-shaped zones which are formed concentrically around an optical axis, wherein each of the plurality of ring-shaped zones are divided by a stepped section to generate a diffractive light ray of diffractive order whose absolute value is not small than 1 for the light flux.

Abstract: A method of producing a lens that includes shifting a first die relative to a second die, and pressing an optical material shaped in a preliminary form between the first die and the second die so as to form a lens having a configuration corresponding to a hollow portion formed by the first die and the second die while shifting the first die relative to the second die. The produced lens includes an effective optical surface configured to converge a light flux. The effective optical surface includes a light entrance side, a light exit side, and an optical axis. The effective optical surface is a convex surface shaped such that when a maximum normal line angle is defined as an angle formed between the optical axis and a normal line at the outermost circumference of the effective optical surface, the maximum normal angle is 60° to 90°.

Abstract: An optical system utilized in an optical pickup apparatus comprising: an aberration-correcting element made of a plastic material; and a converging lens to converge a light flux emitted from the aberration-correcting element, the converging lens being made of a plastic material, wherein the aberration-correcting element has a first optical surface provided thereon an optical path difference generating structure and has a second optical surface provided thereon a diffractive structure, and the converging lens is a single refractive lens having at least an aspherical surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor light source module including: a semiconductor light source for emitting a light flux with a predefined wavelength; a SHG element for converting an incident light flux entering onto an incident end surface of the SHG element into an outgoing light flux having a different wavelength from the incident light flux; a light converging optical system for converging a light flux emitted from the semiconductor light source onto the incident end surface of the SHG element; a light receiving element for receiving a part of a light flux emitted from the SHG element; and a drive device for driving an optical element in the light converging optical system based on a light flux received by the light receiving element.

Abstract: An optical element used in a bidirectional optical communication module used for bidirectional optical fiber communication by a wavelength multiplex system, comprising a diffraction grating of binary structure prepared by molding, wherein a taper is formed at a portion of the diffraction grating where light entering the diffraction grating is intercepted by a convex part of the binary structure of the diffraction grating.