Abstract: An imaging device comprising a transparent, media support platen having a first surface portion and a second surface portion; a media clamp mounted in displaceable, overlying relationship with the first surface portion of the platen; and a lid mounted in displaceable overlying relationship with the second surface portion of the platen.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which the throughput at the time of performing a continuous printing operation can be raised, its controlling method, and a storage medium in which a program to perform the control has been stored. Conveying is controlled on the basis of the length of a set sheet of paper. According to the characteristic control of the present invention, in the state where a rear end of a printed sheet of paper is conveyed to a position over a reference position, a paper feeding operation of a sheet of paper to be subsequently printed is started and, simultaneously, a paper ejecting operation of the printed sheet is performed.

Abstract: A representative method for scanning comprises: exposing a first linear array of photodetector elements to light for a first exposure time to acquire first, second, third and fourth accumulated charges; transferring the first, second, third and fourth accumulated charges to first, second, third, and fourth stages, respectively, of a charge shift register; exposing the first linear array to light for a second exposure time to acquire fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth accumulated charges; and transferring the fifth, the sixth, the seventh and the eighth accumulated charges to fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth stages, respectively, of the charge shift register to interleave the first and second accumulated charges with the seventh and eighth accumulated charges.

Abstract: Method of scanning information-bearing elements by providing a scanning beam focused to a spot at a focal location, moving said scanning beam relative to information-bearing elements, detecting light reflected from said information-bearing elements to provide a signal representing the information carried by such element, and repeatedly varying the spot size and depth of field of the focused beam during said moving and detecting steps so as to vary the beam characteristics between a first condition in which the beam has a small spot size at said focus but a small depth of field and a second condition in which the beam has a larger spot size at said focus but a larger depth of field.

Abstract: In an OFS scanning optical system in which a light beam incident to a deflection surface is set to a light beam wider than the deflection surface, angles formed between the center axes of emitted distributions of light beams from light emitting points of respective lasers as light sources and the optical axis of the corresponding optical system within a main scanning section and total angular widths of laser beam radiation angles within the main scanning section are regulated. Thus, symmetry and uniformity of an illumination distribution of an imaging spot on a surface to be scanned are improved.

Abstract: The imaging position of an optical beam spot in an optical scanning device is adjusted. The imaging position of the optical beam spot is adjusted in both a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction. The imaging position of the optical beam spot in the main scanning direction is adjusted by individually adjusting, in an optical axis direction, a position of at least one lens 10 having power in the main scanning direction. The imaging position of the optical beam spot in the sub-scanning direction is adjusted by collectively adjusting, in the optical axis direction, a position of the linear image imaging optical system 100 as a whole.

Abstract: Various embodiments of reinforced mirror microstructures for a surface micromachined optical system are disclosed. Multi-layered and structurally reinforced mirror microstructures are disclosed, including both two and three-layer microstructures. Adjacent structural layers in these multi-layered mirror microstructures may be structurally reinforced and interconnected by a plurality of vertically disposed columns, or by a plurality of at least generally laterally extending rails or ribs, or some combination thereof. Various embodiments of a single layered mirror microstructure with a structural reinforcement assembly that cantilevers from a lower surface thereof is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro-optical switch and comprises an external frame having a plurality of holes inside; an internal frame positioned in the plurality of holes and having holes inside; light reflecting means positioned inside the holes of the internal frame; external magnetic substances positioned at both sides of the external frame; outside torsion hinge for connecting the external frame to the internal frame and having 45° to the magnetic field produced by the external magnetic substances; inside torsion hinge for connecting the internal frame to the light reflecting means and for being perpendicular to said outside torsion hinge; an outside coil wired in the internal frame; and an inside coil wired in the light reflecting means, and is characterized in that the light reflecting means and the internal frame are preferably rotated by the inside torsion hinge and the outside torsion hinge as an axis when a current is applied to the inside coil and the outside coil.

Abstract: Optical modulators are provided. A representative optical modulator includes an optical medium that is adapted to propagate optical signals. An array of lattice sites are arranged in the optical medium, with at least some of the lattice sites exhibiting lower refractive indexes than the refractive index of the optical medium. Preferably, a first of the lattice sites incorporates a first optical component that is moveable relative to the optical medium. By moving the first optical component relative to the optical medium, a propagation characteristic of the optical medium can be altered. Optical systems, methods and other optical modulators also are provided.

Abstract: A resonance type optical modulator includes an optical path having electro-optical effect characteristics, a modulation electrode formed along the optical path for applying an electric field to the optical path, a common electrode formed in opposition to the modulation electrode, a feeding line that is connected to the modulation electrode and stubs connected to the feeding line, wherein the feeding line, stubs and common electrode are provided on one side of a region that is divided by the modulation electrode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for information modulation for impulse radios are presented in both single-tone and pulse stream configurations. The modulation techniques include combinations of amplitude and phase modulation. The modulation techniques include both digital and analog schemes, including baseband on/off keying modulation, wavelet on/off keying modulation, pulse-position modulation, and FM modulation. Techniques for varying the modulation rate are also provided. Additionally, harmonics impulse ratio configurations are presented to take advantage of the modulation techniques.

Abstract: A MEMS SLM and an electrostatic actuator associated with a pixel in an SLM. The actuator has three electrodes: a lower electrode; an upper electrode fixed with respect to the lower electrode; and a center electrode suspended and actuable between the upper and lower electrodes. The center electrode is capable of resiliently-biasing to restore the center electrode to a non-actuated first equilibrium position, and a mirror is operably connected to the center electrode. A first voltage source provides a first bias voltage across the lower and center electrodes and a second voltage source provides a second bias voltage across the upper and center electrodes, with the first and second bias voltages determining the non-actuated first equilibrium position of the center electrode.

Abstract: An optical device for receiving input light and for acting on the input light to produce output light includes a first reflector and a second reflector supported in a spaced-apart, confronting relationship with the first reflector such that the input light received by the optical device, at least potentially, undergoes multiple reflections between the first and second reflectors. At least a selected one of the first and second reflectors is configured to subject each one of a plurality of different portions of the input light to one of a plurality of different reflectance values to produce an emitted light passing through at least the selected reflector in a way which is combinable to generate the output light.

Abstract: An electrochemical device comprising at least one substrate (1, 7), at least one electroconductive layer (2, 6) at least one electrochemically active layer (3, 5) capable of reversibly injecting ions, and an electrolyte (4), wherein the electrolyte (4) is a layer or a multilayer stack comprising at least one layer (4b) made of an ionically conductive material capable of reversibly injecting the ions but whose overall degree of oxidation is maintained essentially constant.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to electrochromic polymers and polymer electrochromic devices. In a specific embodiment, two complementary polymers can be matched and incorporated into dual polymer electrochromic devices. The anodically coloring polymers in accordance with the subject invention can allow control over the color, brightness, and environmental stability of an electrochromic window. In addition, high device contrast ratios, high transmittance changes, and high luminance changes can be achieved, along with half-second switching times for full color change. Also provided are electrochromic devices such as advertising signage, video monitors, stadium scoreboards, computers, announcement boards, warning systems for cell phones, warning/information systems for automobiles, greeting cards, electrochromic windows, billboards, electronic books, and electrical wiring. The subject invention also provides for the use of complementary electrochromic polymers in the manufacture of electrochromic devices.

Abstract: A method of reducing the appearance of speckle resulting from a coherent light beam, includes the steps of: providing an electro-optic device having, an electro-optic substrate, an electrode array arranged on the surface of the electro-optic substrate, at least one electrode located on the opposite surface of the electro-optic substrate, and means for applying voltage to the electrodes to generate a variation in a refractive index profile within the substrate; and directing the light beam through the electro-optic device while applying voltage to the device, whereby the temporal and spatial phase of a light beam passing through the substrate is altered, thereby reducing the appearance of speckle.

Abstract: The invention provides an electro-optical device, a method of driving the electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus, capable of maintaining much higher display quality. In the device, when an electrophoresis display device is powered on, a controller carries out a reset process. Next, the controller starts a writing process. When a new writing instruction is received, the controller carries out the selection of reset-writing pixels. The controller selects in spatially and temporally dispersed manner the pixels, which are targets of the reset-writing process. In addition, the selection of the pixel is carried out using a reset-writing selection signal. After the reset process, a writing voltage is applied to the reset-writing pixel. On the other hand, differential voltages are applied to pixels other than the pixels selected for the reset-writing.

Abstract: An optical system having a deformable mirror is such that, in order to minimize variation of an image position on an imaging plane, or of a ray position, in at least two states where shapes of the deformable mirror are different, first- and lower-order terms of an equation expressing a surface of the deformable mirror are changed in the two states. As a result, an optical system including variable optical-property elements such as a variable focal-length lens, a deformable mirror, and a variable prism, and an optical apparatus having the optical system can be provided which is small in power consumption, noiseless, short in response time, simple in mechanical structure, and low in cost, minimize variation of the image position on the imaging plane, and permits sufficient correction for aberration caused by a shape error or the like.

Abstract: In an electrostatically controlled deflection apparatus, such as a MEMS array having cavities formed around electrodes and which is mounted directly on a dielectric or controllably resistive substrate in which are embedded electrostatic actuation electrodes disposed in alignment with the individual MEMS elements, a mechanism is provided to mitigate the effects of uncontrolled dielectric surface potentials between the MEMS elements and the electrostatic actuation electrodes, the mechanism being raised electrodes relative to the dielectric or controllably resistive surface of the substrate. The aspect ratio of the gaps between elements (element height to element separation ratio) is at least 0.1 and preferably at least 0.5 and preferably between 0.75 and 2.0 with a typical choice of about 1.0, assuming a surface fill factor of 50% or greater. Higher aspect ratios at these fill factors are believed not to provide more than marginal improvement.

Abstract: A first pump pulse and a signal pulse are injected into a first optical parametric amplifier. This produces a first amplified signal pulse. At least one additional pump pulse and the first amplified signal pulse are injected into at least one additional optical parametric amplifier producing an increased power coherent optical pulse.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a Raman amplification optical fiber and the like comprising a structure which can Raman-amplify signal light including a plurality of wavelength components at a high efficiency and effectively restrain signal waveforms from deteriorating due to influences of nonlinear optical phenomena, while improving the degree of freedom in the design of optical fiber transmission lines and Raman amplifiers. As characteristics at each wavelength of signal light, the Raman amplification optical fiber has a chromatic dispersion with an absolute value of 6 ps/nm/km or more but 20 ps/nm/km or less, and an effective area Aeff of 20 &mgr;m2 or less, preferably less than 15 &mgr;m2. More preferably, as a characteristic at each wavelength of signal light, the Raman amplification optical fiber has a Raman gain coefficient GR/Aeff of 0.005 (W·m)−1 or more.

Abstract: An amplifier arrangement includes an optical amplifier (10) with a source of injected power (11) for controlling amplifier gain. A feed forward gain control loop is provided with a weighting arrangement (50) capable of weighting the signal power at selected wavelengths input to the amplifier. In this way non-uniform spectral gain of the amplifier may be compensated for by selecting appropriate weighting factors. Thus the influence of wavelengths having a greater than average impact on the decay rate of the excited population within the amplifier is increased and vice versa. By tailoring the weighting arrangement to the specific class of amplifier utilised, and possibly to a specific amplifier within a class, amplifier gain can be precisely controlled and traffic signal power reliably held at a constant level regardless of link configuration changes.

Abstract: A Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA) with extended bandwidth and the method of fabricating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the SOA includes a Multiple Quantum Well (MQW) stacks whose thickness varies along the length of the device. The SOA has a flatter and broader gain spectrum than SOAs with substantially flat MQW stacks.

Abstract: A laser transmitter capable of transmitting large numbers of WDM channels but requiring locking of only a single channel. Each of the channels can be individually modulated using an external modulator.

Abstract: Optical isolators and methods of manufacturing optical isolators are disclosed. The optical isolators are manufactured by directly bonding the parts of the isolators without the use of adhesive or mechanical devices to hold the individual parts together.

Abstract: A system is provided in which an expanded non-collimated source of light may be used to produce a uniform polarized light exposure for use, for example, in the photo alignment of optical films. Uniformity of polarization and intensity may be maintained even when a high-intensity source of ultraviolet light is used. The system may be scaled in size to produce large exposures without sacrificing uniformity of intensity of uniformity of direction of polarization. The system includes a light source, a pile-of-plates polarizer, and a surface (such as the surface of an optical film) to be exposed. The pile-of-plates polarizer is oriented orthogonally to the surface, thereby providing a polarized light exposure having a uniform direction of polarization on the exposed surface. The light source may be oriented at Brewster's angle to the polarizer to improve polarization contrast.

Abstract: In a polarization beam splitter that allows effective polarization separation in a wide wavelength range with low dependency on angle of incidence, between two prisms is sandwiched a dielectric multilayer film composed of a first and a second multilayer portion that are designed with respect to a first and a second wavelength &lgr;1, and &lgr;2, respectively. Moreover, the formula &lgr;1<&lgr;2≦155·&lgr;1 is fulfilled, and which is greater of the difference between the refractive indices of the high-refractive-index and low-refractive-index layers in the first multilayer portion and the same difference in the second multilayer portion coincides with which is greater differences of the angles &thgr;1 and &thgr;2 from the prism vertex angle &thgr;.

Abstract: A three-port optical polarization combiner is disclosed. It is used for combining two optical pump beams to increase optical pumping power in a DWDM optic fiber transmission system. The combiner will combine two beams with orthogonal polarizations into one and transmit it to another port for output. By non-reciprocal effect of a half-wave plate and a Faraday rotator, the reverse noise will be blocked to improve transmission quality and protect the laser lens.

Abstract: This invention relates to electromagnetic wave beam paths, formation of the beam, illumination of programmable electromagnetic wave field vector orientation rotating devices (“PEMFVORD”) with an electromagnetic beam, and the technique of projection of the modulated beam. This invention also relates to a unique light path and method of forming the light into a rectangular beam to be used for optical projection systems and, more particularly, in a color and/or black and white liquid crystal device (LCD) projectors that produce high resolution, high brightness and/or three-dimensional images. This invention further relates to a device capable of receiving and displaying two-dimensional and three dimensional images.

Abstract: Fiber optical interleavers based on a retro-reflective structure are disclosed. The retro-reflective structure includes three stages of optical components. A first stage includes walk-off crystals, at least one of the crystals is used to displace a received optical signal with multiplexed bands or channels therein into a first ray (e.g. an O-ray) and a second ray (e.g. an E-ray). A second stage following the first stage includes at least a pair of birefringent crystals to form an interferometer that create path or phase differences introduced by the birefringent index differences between the first ray and the second ray. A third stage following the second stage includes a pair of half wave plates, a walk-off crystal and a quarter wave plate, wherein the quarter wave plate has a highly reflective coating on one end to retro-reflect light beams back through the same stages. Respective reflected and processed first ray and second ray are then combined in the first stage to output respective demultiplexed beams.

Abstract: An optical system includes a diffractive optical element having a diffraction grating provided, on a lens surface having a curvature, in a concentric-circles shape rotationally-symmetrical with respect to an optical axis. The sign of the curvature of the lens surface having the diffraction grating provided thereon is the same as the sign of a focal length, at a design wavelength, of a system composed of, in the optical system, a surface disposed nearest to an object side to a surface disposed immediately before the lens surface having the diffraction grating provided thereon, and is different from the sign of the distance from the optical axis to a position where the center ray of an off-axial light flux enters the lens surface having the diffraction grating provided thereon. Further, the apex of an imaginary cone formed by extending a non-effective surface of the diffraction grating is located adjacent to the center of curvature of the lens surface having the diffraction grating provided thereon.

Abstract: An optical device for making light converge produces a convergent light beam with a satisfactorily great numerical aperture and acceptably small aberrations. The optical device has a plurality of diffraction gratings that each make light converge. The light shone into the optical device is passed through one after another of those diffraction gratings in such a way that the light is made to converge to a higher degree every time it passes through one of the diffraction gratings. The diffraction gratings may be all transmissive, all reflective, or a combination of both. The diffraction gratings are formed on a surface of or at an interface inside the optical device, and two diffraction gratings may be formed on a single surface. The light is made to eventually converge on the exit surface of the optical device so that the optical device functions as a solid immersion device.

Abstract: A multilevel optical phase element is illuminated with a light source having a plurality of wavelengths of interest. The multilevel phase element disperses light from the light source by diffraction and focuses the dispersed light onto an imaging plane. A light modulating display in the imaging plane having a plurality of pixel elements is actuated. Each pixel element is assigned to transmit a predetermined spectral region within the near field region of the multilevel display element so as to receive the dispersed and focused light from the multilevel optical phase element. A system for displaying a color image includes a light source emitting a plurality of wavelengths of interest, a multilevel optical phase element, and a light modulating electronic display.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering electromagnetic waves and sensing deposition of chemical species, the apparatus having a substrate having a surface relief structure containing at least one dielectric body with physical dimensions smaller than the wavelength of the filtered electromagnetic waves, such structures repeated in a two dimensional array covering at least a portion of the surface of the first substrate. The apparatus may include one, two, or more such arrays, spaced from one another to create one or more cavities between the arrays.

Abstract: An improved etalon has a bulk optic defining the optic cavity between selectively transparent thin film mirror coatings. The bulk optic comprises an optically transparent body, such as a portion of a substrate wafer, along with a wedge correcting coating on at least one of the two surfaces of the optically transparent body and/or a thickness-adjustment layer on one or both surfaces. The wedge coating establishes high precision parallelism of the selectively transparent surfaces of the etalon. The bulk optic is a solid, self-supporting body, optically transparent (at the wavelength or wavelengths of interest), whose thickness, i.e., the dimension between the selectively transparent surfaces, defines the cavity spacing of the etalon. Optical elements and optical communication systems incorporating the novel etalons are disclosed, as well as methods of producing the etalons.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a focus-position compensator for reducing focus variations on a microlens array. The focus-position compensator comprises a plurality of tiles that are affixed to a structure disposed between the lenslets of the microlens array and the target of the collimated light from the lenslets. Each tile refractive index and tile thickness is chosen to obtain a tile focus-position correction that will apply to a region of the microlens array.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical system for directing light from an image source to a viewer's eye. The system includes an image source providing an image source light; a collimator for receiving the image source light and converting the received image source light into a collimated light projected along a first optical path; and a planar diffractive relay including opposing planar surfaces longitudinally oriented substantially along a second optical path, the opposing planar surfaces terminating into an input tilted surface and an output tilted surface. The collimated light is projected along the first optical path and redirected by the input tilted surface as propagated light traveling in the second optical path. The propagated light traveling in the second optical path is redirected by the output tilted surface into a third optical path directed toward the viewer's eye.

Abstract: An optical projection lens system for microlithography comprising in the direction of propagating radiation: a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power and comprising a waist (constriction) with a minimum diameter of the propagating radiation, and a further lens arrangement with positive refractive power, which follows the second lens group, wherein at least one lens of the projection lens system which is arranged in front of the waist comprises an aspherical surface.

Abstract: The invention is dedicated to a compact and lightweight high zoom ratio lens which is configured in 4 lens group zoom system with a deployment of positive, negative, positive, and positive refraction lens groups in order, being approximately 75 degree in shooting angle of view at a wide-angle end, approximately f/3 to 4 at the wide-angle end, and approximately f/6 to 7 at a telephoto end so as to implement an enhanced variable zoom power up to approximately 10. The zoom lens includes first to fourth lens groups each comprised of a plurality of lenses, the lens groups having respective refractive indices of positive, negative, positive, and positive levels in order from the closest to an object.

Abstract: A molded coupling lens, for use in an optical pickup apparatus, comprises: a first surface including a first optical surface, a second surface located opposite to the first surface and including a second optical surface, and a flat surface section provided substantially in parallel with a plane including an optical axis of the molded coupling lens so as to connect the first surface and the second surface. An outer peripheral shape of the first optical surface is a circle.

Abstract: An optical element has diffractive grooves. Each diffractive groove includes a first surface approximated by a predetermined optical function; a second surface extending in a direction to cross the first surface and being parallel to the optical axis; and a third surface to connect the first surface and the second surface. A width of the third surface in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis is 0.5% to 15% of the sum of a width of the first surface in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis and the width of the third surface in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: A retrofocus wide-angle lens is formed of only three lens groups, in order from the object side, a first lens group of negative refractive power, a second lens group that includes a stop, and a third lens group of positive refractive power. The first lens group is at the object end of the retrofocus wide-angle lens and includes, in order from the object side, a plurality of negative lens components and a plurality of positive lens components. The first lens group includes three lens groups with particular lens features, the first of which, from the object side, also includes two lens groups with particular features. Various combinations of lens elements satisfy two conditions for ratios of absolute values of focal lengths for the various combinations of lens elements that assist in achieving excellent imaging.

Abstract: A flange portion is provided to at least a part of the periphery at the center position in the direction of the optical axis of a lens. The lens is held with clamping members and a lens holding metallic part, with the flange portion pressed by the clamping members. The portion where the flange portion is provided, suffers no compressive strain and tensile strain due to the bending of the lens, and is a part of the periphery of a neutral plane, which is the farthest plane from the optical surface of the lens. Therefore, the influence of the clamping force on the flange portion acting on other portions of the lens is reduced to the utmost, and the deformation of the optical surface due to the force acting on the flange portion is reduced to a minimum. As a result, the deterioration of the optical properties of the lens can be suppressed to the utmost.

Abstract: A microscope having a base mounted illuminator, an optical element holder operatively arranged to hold an optical element within a beam path of the microscope, and, means for magnetically securing the optical element holder to the illuminator. The optical element holder of the invention includes a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, the housing having an aperture operatively arranged to hold an optical element, such as a filter or the like, and, at least one magnet attached to, and extending from the bottom surface of the housing, the magnet operatively arranged to be attracted to a portion of the base-mounted illuminator. A magnetic optical element holder and optical element for a microscope in combination, having an annularly shaped housing having a flanged aperture therein, the housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, the optical element operatively arranged to be held within the flanged aperture, and, at least one magnet attached to the bottom surface of the housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a securing arrangement for a mount of an optical element, in particular in a lens systems for semi-conductor lithography, on a component. The mount is mounted, via three bearing bodies, in corresponding bearing locations of the component in each case. The mount and the component are held together via magnetic forces. The magnetic flux in the component (1) is obstructed in the region of the bearing locations (2) by a section (5) of relatively low permeability and can be short-circuited via the bearing bodies (8), made of magnetically highly permeable material, upon connection of the mount (7) and component (1) by at least one magnet.

Abstract: The lens supporting device has an anti-vibration adapter placed between a lens device and a camera and including a correction lens for compensating image shaking caused by vibrations applied to the camera, and a lens supporter for supporting the anti-vibration adapter and the camera on a pedestal, and is capable of supporting the lens device with stability even when used with the anti-vibration adapter being attached to the lens supporter by providing the supporting member attached to the attaching part provided at the lens device and supporting the lens device. In the case with the anti-vibration adapter being attached to the lens supporter, the camera is firstly supported at a camera supporting part formed at the lens supporter through a pedestal adapter, and a screw of the lens supporter is fastened to a nut part of the anti-vibration adapter to support the anti-vibration adapter on the lens supporter.

Abstract: A lens barrel comprises a lens barrel body having a photographic optical system; a first mount unit that is fitted to the lens barrel body; and a second mount unit having a fixing unit for fixing the lens barrel body to a stand, that is detachably fitted to the first mount unit by being slid along a direction substantially parallel to an optical axis of the photographic optical system.

Abstract: A composite optical component and its manufacturing method are disclosed. A holding member or an optical functional device is subjected to elastic deformation, with both of them fixed together, and the optical functional device is subjected to plastic deformation by heating to reduce stress between two components in such a way that the holding member and optical functional device will be slide-fitted with each other; sliding resistance between the optical functional device and enclosure per “b” in longitudinal direction of the optical component will be F≦a/b×S×E; or the optical functional device and holding member will be slide-fit by formation of one integral body in the mold, thereby preventing thermal distortion and distortion of the optical functional device due to recovery of elastic deformation of a reinforcing member, with the result that manufacturing costs can be reduced while a high degree of straightness and high surface precision are maintained.

Abstract: An objective lens driver includes a movable body, a base, a supporting portion, a first multipolar magnet and a second multipolar magnet. The movable body includes an objective lens, a lens holder, and a coil substrate. The coil substrate includes a focusing coil and a tracking coil. The supporting portion allows the movable body to move in a focusing direction and a tracking direction with respect to the base. The focusing direction is parallel to the optical axis of the objective lens, while the tracking direction is perpendicular to the focusing direction. The first and second multipolar magnets sandwich the coil substrate between them. The focusing and tracking coils are arranged as two flat coils on two mutually parallel separate planes so as to overlap with each other at least partially in a direction that is perpendicular to the focusing and tracking directions.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to make a viewing unit of the image display compact so that it can be mounted on portable telephones or information terminals. The portable image display of the invention comprises a speaker portion, a microphone portion, an image display device 9 and a viewing optical system for forming an exit pupil to view an image displayed on the image display device and having a generally positive refracting power. The viewing optical system is constructed of at least one prism member 10 comprising an entrance surface through which a light beam emanating from the image display device 9 is entered into the prism, at least one reflecting surface at which the light beam is reflected within the prism and an exit surface through which the light beam leaves the prism. The at least one reflecting surface has a curved surface shape for imparting power to a light beam.