Abstract: An Si—O containing hydrogenated carbon film as an optical film has a refractive index in a range from at least 1.48 to at most 1.85 for light of 520 nm wavelength and an extinction coefficient of less than 0.15 for light of 248 nm wavelength, wherein the refractive index and the extinction coefficient are decreased with energy beam irradiation. By utilizing such an Si—O containing hydrogenated carbon film, it is possible to provide various types of optical elements and an optical device including the same.

Abstract: An Si—O containing hydrogenated carbon film as an optical film has a refractive index in a range from at least 1.48 to at most 1.85 for light of 520 nm wavelength and an extinction coefficient of less than 0.15 for light of 248 nm wavelength, wherein the refractive index and the extinction coefficient are decreased with energy beam irradiation. By utilizing such an Si—O containing hydrogenated carbon film, it is possible to provide various types of optical elements and an optical device including the same.

Abstract: In an optical thin film of the present invention, a hydrogenated carbon film containing at least carbon and hydrogen as major components is formed on a substrate, and at least one protective layer including one of an oxide film, a nitride film, an oxynitride film, a fluoride film, and a film containing hydrogen and carbon as major components is superposed thereon.

Abstract: Practical diffractive optical elements are made available efficiently and at low-cost. A refractive-index-modulated diffractive optical element includes a transparent DLC (diamond-like carbon) film (2) formed on a transparent substrate (1), with the DLC film (2) containing a diffraction grating having local regions (2a) of a relatively high refractive index and local regions (2) of a relatively low refractive index. The DLC film (2) can readily be deposited by plasma CVD onto the substrate (1), and the high refractive-index regions (2a) within the DLC film can readily be formed by irradiating it with an energy beam (4) such as an ion beam.

Abstract: To provide a hydrogen-containing carbonaceous membrane having a novel property. For example, the hydrogen-containing carbonaceous membrane may be effectively prevented from delamination from a substrate. A hydrogen-containing carbonaceous membrane includes carbon and hydrogen. The membrane has a hydrogen content of more than 50 atomic percent and less than 65 atomic percent and a density of more than 1.3 g/cm3 and less than 1.5 g/cm3. Another hydrogen-containing carbonaceous membrane has a hydrogen content of more than 0 atomic percent and less than 50 atomic percent and a density of more than 1.4 g/cm3 and less than 1.9 g/cm3.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of photodiode regions arranged in an array, a non-transparent border region existing around each photodiode region, and a microlens array including a plurality of microlenses arranged in an array corresponding to the plurality of photodiode regions; wherein each microlens functions to converge incident light advancing straight toward the non-transparent border region around the corresponding photodiode region into that photodiode region, and the microlens array is formed using a transparent diamond-like carbon (DLC) film, the DLC film including a region where its refractive index is modulated corresponding to each microlens, and a light-converging effect being caused when light flux passes through the region where the refractive index was modulated.

Abstract: An optical device includes a transparent thin film containing silicon, oxygen, carbon and hydrogen as main components, wherein the film includes local regions of a relatively high refractive index and local regions of a relatively low refractive index.

Abstract: A hologram color filter diffraction-separates an incident lightwave using a hologram to project thus separated lightwaves having different-wavelengths at intended positions with a specified spatial period. The hologram color filter comprises a light-transmitting substrate (21) and a light-transmitting diamond-like-carbon (DLC) film (22) formed on the substrate. In the DLC film, a relatively-low-refractive-index belt-shaped region (n1, 22a) and a relatively-high-refractive-index belt-shaped region (n2, 22b) are placed alternately.

Abstract: To provide an optical information-recording medium that can easily record information at high density and has excellent durability at low cost. The optical information-recording medium includes a diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer (2) deposited on a substrate (1), in which information is recorded on the optical information-recording medium by irradiating recording spot regions selected from a plurality of recording spot regions with an energy beam (5) to increase the refractive index of the DLC layer (2) in the irradiated recording spot regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a holographic screen having high durability and high diffraction efficiency due to a modulated refractive index structure having a large refractive index change ?n. The holographic screen includes a diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer (22). The DLC layer has a modulated refractive index structure including a plurality of regions with a relatively high refractive index (n1) and a plurality of regions with a relatively low refractive index (n2) such that light projected from a projector onto the screen is deflected in the direction toward a observer and light coming from an object behind the screen is allowed to pass through the screen to travel toward the observer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DLC film that functions as an optical element and that can easily be miniaturized or integrated, and a method for forming the DLC film. A DLC film that has a refractive index varying continuously in at least one width direction from the center O of the DLC film. More specifically, a DLC film in which the refractive index decreases continuously in at least one width direction from the center O of the DLC film, and thereby the DLC film functions as a convex lens. A DLC film in which the refractive index increases continuously in at least one width direction from the center of the DLC film, and thereby the DLC film functions as a concave lens. A DLC film that has a refractive index varying continuously in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A hologram color filter diffraction-separates an incident lightwave using a hologram to project thus separated lightwaves having different-wavelengths at intended positions with a specified spatial period. The hologram color filter comprises a light-transmitting substrate (21) and a light-transmitting diamond-like-carbon (DLC) film (22) formed on the substrate. In the DLC film, a relatively-low-refractive-index belt-shaped region (n1, 22a) and a relatively-high-refractive-index belt-shaped region (n2, 22b) are placed alternately.

Abstract: A transmission-type display panel according to the present invention includes a plurality of transparency control regions arranged in an array, a non-transparent border region existing around each of the transparency control regions, and a microlens array including a plurality of microlenses arranged in an array so as to correspond to the plurality of transparency control regions. Each of the microlenses serves to converge incident light, which is about to advance straight to the non-transparent border region, into corresponding one of the transparency control regions. The microlens array is formed by use of a transparent diamond-like carbon (DLC) film. The DLC film includes a region having its refractive index modulated corresponding to each of the microlenses, and produces a light convergence effect when light flux passes through the region having its refractive index modulated. By applying the microlens array in the DLC film to a transmission-type display panel (e.g.

Abstract: Affords efficiently and at low cost practical, tiny light-emitting devices having an optically diffractive film on their light-output face. A light-emitting device (LD) includes a diffractive film (DF) formed on its light-output face; the diffractive film includes a transparent DLC (diamond-like carbon) layer; and the DLC layer includes a modulated-refractive-index diffraction grating containing local regions of relatively high refractive index and local regions of relatively low refractive index.

Abstract: The present invention provides a durable hologram sheet whose thickness can easily be reduced and a method for manufacturing the hologram sheet, a hologram label, and a hologram card and a method for manufacturing the hologram card. A hologram sheet includes a sheet 1 and a translucent DLC film 2 formed on the sheet 1. The DLC film 2 includes a local region having a higher refractive index (high-refractive-index regions 2a) and a local region having a lower refractive index (low-refractive-index regions 2b). Furthermore, a print layer may be formed on at least part of a main face of the sheet 1 facing the DLC film or on at least part of a main face of the hologram sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a DLC film that functions as an optical element and that can easily be miniaturized or integrated, and a method for forming the DLC film. A DLC film that has a refractive index varying continuously in at least one width direction from the center O of the DLC film. More specifically, a DLC film in which the refractive index decreases continuously in at least one width direction from the center O of the DLC film, and thereby the DLC film functions as a convex lens. A DLC film in which the refractive index increases continuously in at least one width direction from the center of the DLC film, and thereby the DLC film functions as a concave lens. A DLC film that has a refractive index varying continuously in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A optical diffraction element of a refractive-index-modulated type includes a transparent DLC film formed on a transparent substrate, wherein the DLC film is subjected to refractive-index modulation so as to include a plurality of relatively-high-refractive-index regions and a plurality of relatively-low-refractive-index regions for causing diffraction of light, and the refractive-index modulation causes diffraction effect so as to convert an intensity distribution in a cross section of a light beam applied to the DLC film into a uniform intensity distribution on a prescribed illumination surface.

Abstract: A polarization integrator comprises a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) for splitting light from a light source 1 into P-polarized light and S-polarized light, a first micro-lens 52, a ½ wavelength plate 53, and a second micro-lens 54; the first micro-lens is arranged to focus onto mutually differing positions the P-polarized light and S-polarized light split by the PBS; the ½ wavelength plate is arranged in the position in which the P-polarized light is focused, and operates to convert the P-polarized light into S-polarized light; the second micro-lens operates to integrate the S-polarized light after it has passed through the ½-wave plate and been polarization-converted, with S-polarized light which has not passed through the ½-wave plate; and at least any one of the PBS, the first micro-lens, the ½-wave plate, or the second micro-lens is formed using a DLC film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple and low-cost flat microlens that can be used in various optical fields in a mechanically and thermally stable manner. A microlens is formed using a transparent DLC film (41). The DLC film (41) includes regions (Rmn) with graded indices of refraction. When a light beam passes through a region with graded indices of refraction, the light is focused.

Abstract: Affords efficiently and at low cost optical fibers capped at the end with a working, tiny optically diffractive film. An optical fiber includes a diffractive film formed onto an endface thereof, or onto the endface of a collimator joined to the endface of the fiber; the diffractive film includes a transparent DLC (diamond-like carbon) layer; and the DLC layer includes a modulated-refractive-index diffraction grating containing local regions of relatively high refractive index and local regions of relatively low refractive index.