Abstract: Spectral characteristics are controlled with high accuracy using a variable-spectrum device provided at the tip of a long insertion portion of an endoscope, thereby acquiring a sharp observation image. An endoscope system, at least a portion of which is to be inserted into the body cavity of a living organism and which acquires an image of an observation target in the body cavity, includes, at a leading end of the portion inserted into the body cavity, a variable-spectrum device whose spectral characteristics are changed by changing a gap between two facing optical elements that are separated by the gap; an actuator that changes the gap between the two optical elements in accordance with an input driving signal; a sensor that detects the gap between the two optical elements; and an electrical circuit to which the output of the sensor is input, which includes an active device, and which outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the output of the sensor.

Abstract: Desired spectral characteristics are achieved while achieving reduced size and decreased noise, and detecting the distance between optical substrates with superior precision. Provided is a variable spectroscopy element (1) including optical coating layers (3) provided on opposing surfaces, which face each other, of first and second optical substrates (4a, 4b) that face each other with a gap therebetween; an actuator (4c) that changes the gap between the first and second optical substrates (4a, 4b); a first sensor portion (6a) provided on the first optical substrate (4a), for detecting the gap between the first and second optical substrates (4a, 4b); and a second sensor portion (6b) provided on the second optical substrate (4b) so as to oppose the first sensor portion (6a), for detecting the gap between the first and second optical substrates (4a, 4b), wherein the numbers of the first and second sensor electrodes (6a, 6b) differ.

Abstract: It is possible to a variable spectroscopy device that has a plurality of coating layers facing each other at an interval and changes a transmission band of light passing through the coating layers by adjusting an optical path length between the coating layers, in which the coating layer is structured so that a change rate of a transmission bandwidth between two arbitrary transmission bands is smaller than a change rate of a central wavelength between the two transmission bands within a spectroscopy wavelength band for changing a transmission band.

Abstract: A spectroscopic observation device enables proper observation by respectively meeting the observation condition where easy-to-observe image with high S/N ratio is preferable and the observation condition where it is preferable to restrain interfusion of any other fluorescent components, even when fluorescence of the same wavelength is to be observed. The spectroscopic observation device comprises: an excitation light source (8) to irradiate excitation light toward an observation target; a spectroscopic element (12) which can separate fluorescence emitted out of the observation target by the irradiation of the excitation light coming from the excitation light source (8), into a plurality of types of fluorescence wavebands having the same center wavelength and different pass bands; and an image pickup section (13) which takes an image of the fluorescence separated by the spectroscopic element (12).

Abstract: Even in the event of movement by the operator, vibrations received from outside, changes in orientation etc., the spectral characteristics can be controlled with high precision, thus enabling acquisition of a desired observation image.

Abstract: Desired spectral characteristics are achieved while achieving reduced size and decreased noise, and detecting the distance between optical substrates with superior precision. Provided is a variable spectroscopy element (1) including optical coating layers (3) provided on opposing surfaces, which face each other, of first and second optical substrates (4a, 4b) that face each other with a gap therebetween; an actuator (4c) that changes the gap between the first and second optical substrates (4a, 4b); a first sensor portion (6a) provided on the first optical substrate (4a), for detecting the gap between the first and second optical substrates (4a, 4b); and a second sensor portion (6b) provided on the second optical substrate (4b) so as to oppose the first sensor portion (6a), for detecting the gap between the first and second optical substrates (4a, 4b), wherein the numbers of the first and second sensor electrodes (6a, 6b) differ.

Abstract: Compactness and easier assembly, as well as desired spectral characteristics, are achieved without requiring an accurate assembly process, by accurately detecting the spacing between optical substrates. A variable spectroscopy element (1) is provided, which includes two optical substrates (4a and 4b) that face each other with a spacing therebetween; optical coatings (3) provided on opposing surfaces of the optical substrates (4a and 4b); an actuator (4c) that adjusts the spacing between the two optical substrates (4a and 4b); and a capacitance sensor (6) that has sensor electrodes (6a and 6b) respectively provided on the two optical substrates (4a and 4b) and detects the spacing between the optical substrates (4a and 4b). The sensor electrode (6b) provided on one optical substrate (4b) is included within a region of the optical substrate (4b) onto which the sensor electrode (6a) provided on the other optical substrate (4a) is projected.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for capturing spectral images includes a variable spectroscopy device having first and second optical members that face each other and have a space therebetween, the spectral characteristics of the variable spectroscopy device being changed in accordance with changes in the relative positions of these optical members; a frame member that fixes the first optical member in place; a driving section disposed between the frame member and the second optical member, and transferring the second optical member with respect to the frame member in accordance with driving signals input to the driving section; and an optical element that deflects or disperses light beams passing through the variable spectroscopy device or a photoelectric conversion element that conducts photoelectric conversion. The optical element or the photoelectric conversion element is supported by the frame member.

Abstract: Spectral characteristics are controlled with high accuracy using a variable-spectrum device provided at the tip of a long insertion portion of an endoscope, thereby acquiring a sharp observation image. An endoscope system, at least a portion of which is to be inserted into the body cavity of a living organism and which acquires an image of an observation target in the body cavity, includes, at a leading end of the portion inserted into the body cavity, a variable-spectrum device whose spectral characteristics are changed by changing a gap between two facing optical elements that are separated by the gap; an actuator that changes the gap between the two optical elements in accordance with an input driving signal; a sensor that detects the gap between the two optical elements; and an electrical circuit to which the output of the sensor is input, which includes an active device, and which outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the output of the sensor.

Abstract: It is possible to a variable spectroscopy device that has a plurality of coating layers facing each other at an interval and changes a transmission band of light passing through the coating layers by adjusting an optical path length between the coating layers, in which the coating layer is structured so that a change rate of a transmission bandwidth between two arbitrary transmission bands is smaller than a change rate of a central wavelength between the two transmission bands within a spectroscopy wavelength band for changing a transmission band.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for capturing spectral images includes a variable spectroscopy device having first and second optical members that face each other and have a space therebetween, the spectral characteristics of the variable spectroscopy device being changed in accordance with changes in the relative positions of these optical members; a frame member that fixes the first optical member in place; a driving section disposed between the frame member and the second optical member, and transferring the second optical member with respect to the frame member in accordance with driving signals input to the driving section; and an optical element that deflects or disperses light beams passing through the variable spectroscopy device or a photoelectric conversion element that conducts photoelectric conversion. The optical element or the photoelectric conversion element is supported by the frame member.

Abstract: A relief type diffraction optical element including a substrate made of an optical material, said substrate having formed on its surface a non-even width relief pattern which include a first zone group consisting of at least one zone whose cross sectional configuration is formed by a curvilinear portion which follows a phase shift function or at least two rectilinear portions which approximates the phase shift function, and a second zone group consisting of a plurality of zones each having a single rectilinear portion approximating the phase shift function.

Abstract: An optical imaging apparatus includes an optical probe and an apparatus main body which controls and drives the optical probe via a connecting cable. The optical probe includes a low-coherence light source, a half mirror, an XY reflecting mirror scan, an objective optical system, a reflecting mirror, a modulating mirror, and a photo detector. In the optical probe, the modulating mirror and the objective optical system, as optical path length interlockingly adjusting elements, are integrally arranged to an optical path length interlockingly adjusting base, together with a reflecting-side lens. The optical probe has an advancing and regressing driving unit which advances and regresses the optical path length interlockingly adjusting base in the optical axis direction (Z direction).

Abstract: A confocal microscope is provided which uses a confocal disk. The confocal microscope includes a light source, a high-NA and low-magnification objective lens which forms an image of the confocal disk obtained by irradiation with a light from the light source on a sample, and a first image formation lens system disposed between the confocal disk and the objective lens. A first image formation lens driving mechanism is provided for moving the first image formation lens system in a light axis direction and adjusting a focal point position of the objective lens with respect to the sample, and a second image formation lens system is provided which forms a sectioning image formed on the confocal disk into an image by photoelectric conversion.

Abstract: An optical imaging apparatus includes an optical probe and an apparatus main body which controls and drives the optical probe via a connecting cable. The optical probe includes a low-coherence light source, a half mirror (light separating means), an XY reflecting mirror scan (horizontal scanning means), an objective optical system, a reflecting mirror, a modulating mirror (reference light reflecting means), and a photo detector (optical detecting means). In the optical probe, the modulating mirror and the objective optical system, as optical path length interlockingly adjusting means, are integrally arranged to an optical path length interlockingly adjusting base, together with a reflecting-side lens. The optical probe has an advancing and regressing driving unit which advances and regresses the optical path length interlockingly adjusting base in the optical axis direction (Z direction).

Abstract: A confocal microscope which uses a confocal disk, comprising a light source, a high-NA and low-magnification objective lens which forms an image of said confocal disk obtained by irradiation with a light from the light source on a sample, a first image formation lens system disposed between said confocal disk and said objective lens, first image formation lens driving means for moving said first image formation lens system in a light axis direction and adjusting a focal point position of said objective lens with respect to said sample, and a second image formation lens system which forms a sectioning image formed on said confocal disk into an image in photoelectric conversion means.

Abstract: A microscopy and apparatus capable of obtaining superresolution, and a fringe projection light-cut microscopy and apparatus capable of obtaining a natural light-cut image and enabling real-time observation. At the component separating step, a plurality of modulated images of an observation object (O) are formed by subjecting the observation object (O) to spatial modulation including a plurality of modulation components while varying the component ratios of the modulation components by moving a diffraction grating (21), which modulates the observation object (O), to a plurality of different positions. The modulated images are detected with an image pickup device (22). Modulated image components corresponding to the modulation components are separated from the number of modulated images that is not less than the number of the modulation components by using linear computation. At the component demodulating step, at least one of the separated modulated image components is demodulated.

Abstract: An illuminating optical system for use in a projection exposure device with high utilization efficiency of the light from the light source and capable of easily realizing with simple construction is disclosed. The system comprises a light source, a light flux separating optical system for separating a light flux from the light source, a condenser optical system for leading the light flux separated by the light flux separating optical system on a reticle, and a diffraction optical unit included in the light flux separating optical system and having a linear grating pattern for separating the light flux from the light source into four.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing optical elements such as diffraction type lenses, aspherical lenses and diffraction gratings are disclosed. Deposited on a glass substrate is a workpiece film made of a material which can be machined much more easily than the substrate. Then the workpiece film is machined to form a predetermined shape or contour therein. After forming the predetermined shape or contour in the workpiece film, the workpiece film and substrate are subjected to etching to duplicate the predetermined shape or contour formed in the workpiece film into the substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a die for optical elements having a given construction on a relief type grating or the like is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: forming a workpiece film on a substrate; machining the workpiece film in a required configuration; subjecting the workpiece film machined in the required form and the substrate to etching to transfer the configuration of the workpiece film on the substrate analogously in the depth direction; and forming a die by using the etched substrate as a master matrix.