Abstract: A selective radiation utilization apparatus includes an optical filtering device and a modulation device. The optical filtering device transmits one or more selected spectral bands of incoming solar radiation and reflects one or more remaining bands of the incoming solar radiation. The modulation device spatially modulates one of the one or more selected spectral bands or the one or more remaining bands and directs the spatially modulated one of the one or more selected spectral bands or the one or more remaining bands towards a target of illumination.

Abstract: A forward-looking, optical coherence tomography, endoscopic probe is disclosed capable of high resolution with a small diameter. Light is focused and scanned during three passes through a lens. A light source supplies light to the proximal side of the lens. The light makes a first pass through the lens, and is reflected from a fixed mirror on the distal side. The reflected light makes a second pass from the distal side to the proximal side, and exits the lens at the proximal side, and is reflected by a scanning mirror. The light makes a third pass through the lens from the proximal side to the distal side to a sample to be imaged. The light is focused during each of the three passes through the lens. Light reflected from the sample passes back through and is focused by the same system.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus is configured to include a light source that emits a beam of light, and a scanning device that scans the beam of light in two axial directions that are mutually substantially perpendicular at a first frequency fH and a second frequency fL. The scanning device calculates the first frequency fH and the second frequency fL by using predetermined mathematical formulas, and scans the beam of light at the calculated first frequency fH and second frequency fL.

Abstract: A scanning system includes a synchronizing arrangement including a light guide and a photosensor. The light guide directs a light beam to a photosensor, wherein light is deflected by one or more moving elements in the scanning system into a scanning region. The light guide has a light entry region, a reflecting region for reflecting light entering the light entry region and one or more light exit faces, so that light entering the light guide through the light entry region is at least partly reflected in the reflecting region and exits through one of the exit faces. The shape and the properties of the light guide are such that for two pencils of light rays, a first pencil of light rays is spaced from the second pencil and is non-overlapping with said second pencil of light rays.

Abstract: A handheld imaging probe for performing optical coherence tomography is disclosed. The handheld imaging probe includes a lens tube and a housing. The lens tube contains an objective lens and a polycarbonate sheet. The polycarbonate sheet provides a bio-safe contact with a tissue sample to be examined. The housing, which is connected to the lens tube, contains a micromirror for directing a laser beam to irradiate the tissue sample via the objective lens and the polycarbonate sheet.

Abstract: A family of microscopes include an illumination device which produces a planar light sheet along an illumination axis of an illumination beam path and a transverse axis normal to the illumination axis. A detection device detects light emitted from the sample region along an axis of detection of a detection beam path. The illumination and detection axes as well as the transverse axis and the axis of detection being oriented relative each other at an angle unequal to zero. A light sheet generator also produces rotationally symmetrical light and includes structure and control for rapidly scanning the sample region along the transverse axis. The illumination device includes a second light sheet generator having a first astigmatically active optical element with at least one astigmatic lens for producing a static sheet of light. Selection elements used to select either the first or the second light sheet or both together to produce the sheet of light.

Abstract: A multicolor image forming apparatus includes an exposure unit to direct optical beams for optically writing different single-color images on image carriers, respectively, a pattern forming unit to form a positioning pattern on a transport member, a pattern detector to detect the positioning pattern, disposed above the transport member, a positional data detector disposed on a scanning line to detect positional data in a sub-scanning direction of the optical beams, an adjustment unit, and a storage unit. The adjustment unit detects positional deviations among the different single-color images based on detection results generated by both the pattern detector and the positional data detector, respectively, and then corrects the positional deviations. The storage unit stores as reference data the positional data in the sub-scanning direction of the optical beams detected when the positional deviations are corrected.

Abstract: An optical scanner including a base body, a drive unit, a deflection status detector and a controller is provided. The base body has a non-linear frequency characteristic and has a first resonance frequency and a second resonance frequency. The controller includes a first upsweep unit which upsweeps a drive frequency from a frequency lower than the first resonance frequency; a dropping phenomenon detector which detects the dropping phenomenon; a target drive frequency determination unit which determines a frequency lower than a frequency at which the dropping phenomenon is detected, as a target drive frequency; a second upsweep unit which upsweeps the drive frequency toward the target drive frequency from a frequency lower than the first resonance frequency; and an adjustment unit which adjusts the drive frequency of the drive signal to keep the deflection status at the target drive frequency after the operation of the second upsweep unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for speckle noise reduction in laser scanning projection display. In particular, a MEMS device with a vibrating membrane through which light rays are refracted with temporally varying angles is provided for reducing the effect of speckling.

Abstract: A probe for use with an imaging system, including a scanning device configured to receive a first light beam from a light source, a beam-divider configured to split the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams, and a focusing device configured to focus each of the second light beams on respective locations in an object of interest.

Abstract: A laser transmitter projects a beam of laser light outward while raising and lowering the beam. The beam may define a conical surface of varying inclination. The transmitter includes a laser source that directs a beam generally vertically, and a beam diverting element. The beam diverting element is positioned in the path of the beam, intercepting the beam and redirecting it. The beam emerges from the transmitter as a non-vertical beam that is raised and lowered. The diverting element may include a pair of mirrors configured as a pentaprism, with one of the mirrors pivotable. Alternatively, the diverting element may include a plurality of micro mirrors. Also, the diverting element may include a conical reflector and an annular lens which is cyclically raised and lowered. The beam may be raised and lowered cyclically according to a predetermined schedule, or it may be raised and lowered non-cyclically.

Abstract: An optical assembly for a system for inspecting or measuring of an object is provided that is configured to move as a unit with a system, as the system is pointed at a target, and eliminates the need for a large scanning (pointing) mirror that is moveable relative to other parts of the system. The optical assembly comprises catadioptric optics configured to fold the optical path of the pointing beam and measurement beam that are being directed through the outlet of the system, to compress the size of the optical assembly.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a light source unit that includes a light emitting unit composed of a laser light source emitting linearly polarized light inside a package member; a deflector that deflects a light beam emitted from the light emitting unit; a pre-deflector optical system arranged on an optical path between the light emitting unit and the deflector; and a scanning optical system that scans a target surface to be scanned with the light beam deflected by the deflector. The pre-deflector optical system includes at least two parallel plate optical elements each composed of a transparent medium having an incident surface and an exit surface parallel to each other. The parallel plate optical elements are arranged to be tilted in inclination that is opposite to each other in a plane of polarization of the linearly polarized light.

Abstract: An optical MEMS retro-reflective apparatus with modulation capability having a retro-reflecting structure including a pair of reflective surfaces; and a MEMS device for moving at least one of the reflective surfaces of said pair of reflective surfaces relative to another one of the reflective surfaces of said pair of reflective surfaces a distance which causes the pair of reflective surfaces to switch between a reflective mode of operation and a transmissive mode of operation. A substrate and a moveable grating structure may be substituted for the reflective surfaces.

Abstract: A scanning optical device that scans a light beam through a relay optical system, the relay optical system comprising: front group lenses arranged at a light source side; rear group lenses arranged at a side of a surface to be scanned; and first and second mirrors arranged between the front group lenses and the rear group lenses and supported by a common supporting member, wherein a normal vector of a mirror surface of the first mirror makes an angle (180??) with an incident optical axis from the front group lenses, a normal vector of the second mirror makes an angle ? (??180×m) with the normal vector of the first mirror, and the supporting member includes a mechanism being linearly movable in a direction which makes an angle (???+90) with the normal vector of the first mirror.

Abstract: An illumination assembly for a scanner according to one example embodiment includes a light source, a first reflector and a second reflector. The first reflector has a curved structure and is positioned directly in the optical path of the light source. The first reflector has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the first reflector is positioned to reflect light received from the light source toward a target area to be scanned. The second portion of the first reflector is positioned to reflect light received from the light source toward the second reflector. The second reflector is positioned to reflect light received from the first reflector toward the target area.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a mirror, a mirror supporting part to support the mirror on an upper surface, and a pair of torsion beams to support the mirror supporting part from both sides in an axis direction and to drive the mirror supporting part so as to swing the mirror supporting part around the axis by being twisted. The torsion beams include slits approximately parallel to the axis direction.

Abstract: A method of restoring hair to skin that has suffered hair loss includes optically ablating an array of spaced-apart microchannels or voids into the skin and transplanting into the voids stem cells, a scaffold and a differentiation factor for causing the stem cells to differentiate into hair follicles.

Abstract: A millimetric wave imaging device includes: a lens antenna; a polygon mirror; a receiving portion; a scanning unit; and an image data generating unit. The receiving portion receives millimetric wave radiated from an object, transmitted through the lens antenna, and reflected on a mirror surface of the polygon mirror rotated by the scanning unit to detect a signal level of the millimetric wave. The image data generating unit generates image data representing an object image by receiving a detection signal from the receiving portion while driving the polygon mirror through the scanning unit.

Abstract: An actuator includes a movable member which rotates around a rotation axis, a plurality of connecting members which extend from the movable member through a shaft and are disposed in the vicinity of the outer circumference of the movable member at equal intervals in the plan view as viewed in a thickness direction of the movable member, and a support unit which supports each of the plurality of connecting members. Each of the plurality of connecting members has a driving portion rotatably connected with the support unit, and the shaft connecting the movable member and the driving portion. A first connecting portion that connects the movable member with the shaft and that is disposed opposite to a corresponding second connecting portion that connects the driving portion with the shaft through the movable member so that the movable member is interposed between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

Abstract: A light deflecting device is a light deflecting device for deflecting an incident light beam and has: a coarse motion light deflecting device which has an optical system having at least two conjugate points on an optical axis and deflects the light beam which has passed through one conjugate point and has entered the optical system as an output light beam which passes through the other conjugate point and has a deflection angle with respect to the optical axis while changing its transmitting direction; and a fine motion light deflecting device which is arranged in the optical system, applies a deflection to the incident light beam, and changes the deflection angle of the output light beam to a second deflection angle different from the deflection angle for a predetermined time.

Abstract: A scanning beam projection system includes a two-mirror scanning system. One mirror scans in one direction, and a second mirror scans in a second direction. A fast scan mirror receives a modulated light beam from a fold mirror and directs the modulated light beam to a slow can mirror. The fold mirror may be formed on an output optic or may be formed on a common substrate with the slow scan mirror.

Abstract: An optical aberration is intentionally introduced into the optical system which produces the scanning beam of an optical code scanner, in order to produce a scanning beam which has plural focal points or waists at different distances from the scanner. The operating range of the scanner can thereby be increased by taking advantage of different beam waist locations when the optical code is at different distances from the scanner. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, coma is intentionally introduced to an optical system providing a light beam for an optical code scanner. This provides a scanning beam with plural beam waists at different distances from the scanner. This may be accomplished by orienting the light source and focusing optical system so that their optical axes intersect or by introducing an optical member, such as a prism, between the original light source and the focusing optical system.

Abstract: A scanning projector includes a MEMS device with a scanning mirror that sweeps a beam in two dimensions. Actuating circuits receive scan angle information and provide signal stimulus to the MEMS device to control the amount of mirror deflection on two axes. The period of movement on one or both axes may be modified to effect changes in line density in a resultant display.

Abstract: A light scanning unit includes: a light source; a beam deflector to form forward direction and reverse direction scanning lines on an image section and first and second non-image sections respectively disposed at opposite sides of the image section; a reflecting member to reflect the light beam input from the beam deflector; a light detector to receive a first light beam directly input from the beam deflector and a second light beam input via the reflecting member; a control unit to determine whether the scanning line is a forward direction scanning line or a reverse direction scanning line based on signals respectively corresponding to the first and second light beams detected in the light detector, and to control the light source so that a light beam including image information corresponding to a scanning direction of the scanning line can be emitted; and a synchronization adjusting unit to correct an alignment error between the forward direction scanning line and the reverse direction scanning line due to

Abstract: A light scanning device includes a light source outputting a laser beam, a light deflecting unit having a light reflecting unit, the light deflecting unit being adapted to be rotatable about a predetermined axis and scanning an object with the laser beam reflected by the light reflecting unit, a drive controlling unit controlling a deflection angle variation in a vertical direction of the light deflecting unit per unit time so that an interval between scanning lines in the vertical direction by the light deflecting unit is constant, and a driving unit rotationally driving the light deflecting unit in accordance with an rotational angle determined by the driving controlling unit.

Abstract: In some aspects, the present disclosure is directed to, among other things, a device. The device may include a mirror with a first material and a pivoting system with a second material. The fracture toughness of the second material may be at least 20 M-Pa(m1/2). The pivoting system may be configured to pivot the mirror around an axis.

Abstract: A light source system includes a splitter that split light beams F0 emitted from a light source into at least light beams FM and light beams FS, and an optical detecting system that guides the light beams FM to a detector. A light component near a light-intensity peak of the light beams F0 in a plane perpendicular to a propagation direction of the light beams F0 is included only in the light beams FS. Accordingly, light beams have a substantially circular or elliptic cross section with the intensity peak near the center. Light at the peak is supplied to the outside, and other light is used to control an amount of light.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatus for reducing speckle noise in images, such as images of objects illuminated by coherent light sources and images of objects illuminated by interferometric fringe patterns. According to one method, an object is illuminated with a structured illumination pattern of coherent radiation projected along a projection axis. An angular orientation of the projection axis is modulated over an angular range during an image acquisition interval. Advantageously, shape features of the structured illumination pattern projected onto the surface of the object remain unchanged during image acquisition and the acquired images exhibit reduced speckle noise. The structured illumination pattern can be a fringe pattern such as an interferometric fringe pattern generated by a 3D metrology system used to determine surface information for the illuminated object.

Abstract: A light source (110) is fixed at a position and emits light in a direction away from an optical axis (A) of an objective lens. An outer reflecting mirror (an optical member) (130) and an inner reflecting mirror (an optical member) (140) are provided as a unit so that relative positions thereof are fixed. A reflecting mirror unit (120) can be moved in directions along the optical axis (A), i.e. up and down relative to the light source (110). A free-form curved surface portion (131) of the outer reflecting mirror (130) and a reflecting surface of the inner reflecting mirror (140) reflect light in different directions depending on a position of the light incident thereon.

Abstract: A device (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer-wise solidification of a building material at positions in the respective layers corresponding to the object is provided. The device has an energy source (6) that emits a beam (9) for solidifying the building material, a scanner (8) that selectively directs the beam (9) to different positions in a building plane (11), and a deflection mirror (7) that deflects the beam (9) coming from the energy source (6) to the scanner (8). The beam (9) from the energy source (6) to the scanner (8) runs in a space (13, 14) secluded from the outside and an adjustment mechanism (16) for the alignment of the deflection mirror (7) is provided, which is adjustable from the outside of the secluded space (13, 14).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light source to emit a laser beam; a resonant scanning mirror, including a reflection surface to reflect the laser beam emitted from the light source, to scan the reflected laser beam by oscillating the reflection surface; at least one detector to detect the reflected laser beam during the scanning of the reflected laser beam, and generate a synchronizing signal each time the reflected laser beam is detected; and at least one light selection unit to restrict a path over which the reflected laser beam is incident on the at least one detector to a predetermined path.

Abstract: At least one of a coupling lens and a cylindrical lens has a diffraction lens surface having a ring-band structure with a height h between adjacent ring-bands. The diffraction lens surface has an area A having a shape similar to that of the ring-band structure with a height h?, where h?h?. The ring-band structure has a function of correcting a fluctuation in focal position of the scanning beam on the scanning surface, and the area A has a function of expanding a focal depth of a light spot on the scanning surface.

Abstract: A scanned projector and illumination system includes an energy-emitting source that is disposed in a projector and that emits energy beams out of the projector through an aperture. A scanning mirror is disposed in the projector and redirects energy beams therein. The scanning mirror moves such that the redirected energy beams form a scanning pattern with a scanning rate. A safety feature is disposed in the projector. The safety feature includes a fuse material. The energy beams move along the fuse material at the scanning rate. The safety feature modulates emission of the energy beams out of the projector through the aperture such that the energy beams are only emitted out of the projector through the aperture when the scanning rate of the energy beams is high enough to prevent the fuse material from reaching a threshold energy level at any location along the fuse material.

Abstract: An optical multi-ring scanner is disclosed, which comprises: a substrate; an outer ring driving element, disposed inside the substrate and configured symmetrically at two sides thereof with a pair of first arms that are connected respectively to the substrate; at least one inner ring driving element, each configured with a first inner ring driver in a manner that the first inner ring driver has a pair of second arms symmetrically disposed at a top side and a bottom side thereof while being connected to the outer ring driving element; and a mirror element, disposed inside the first inner ring driver and having a pair of third arms symmetrically disposed at a top side of a bottom side thereof; wherein, the third arm is disposed coaxial with the second arm while enabling the first arm to be disposed perpendicular to the second arm and the third arm.

Abstract: A mirror positioning assembly for use in beam switching is provided that employs a novel arrangement of the mirrors and the motors to selectively position the mirrors. The assembly is installed into the housing of an assembly for distributing laser energy where the mirrors are contained within the beam cavity and the remainder of the assembly is outside of the housing. The assembly is received in a port within the housing in a manner that allows 360° of rotational adjustment so that the mirror can be carefully aligned to insure near lossless distribution of the beam energy as it passes through the device. This arrangement keeps the electronics, motors, bearings and adjustments of the mirror switching external to the beam cavity herby reducing the number of potential contaminants contained therein.

Abstract: The invention proposes a Subpixel Scroll method, which optically shifts the position of the mirror elements to the projection axis by one subpixel size each, with an additional 45° mirror between DMD and projection optics. The 45° mirror is shifted by ¼ mirror element width by means of a controllable actuator. The size of this change of position and the time are synchronized in such a way by the position indicator signals of the scan sled that the mirror element seems to stand relative to the substrate surface element. This resetting is however not bound to the DMD-switching speed of 10 kHz. Among other advantages, the invention reduces the blur at the edge transition by the higher resolution and facilitates a higher scan velocity, whereby the scan velocity depends on the dynamics of the actuator, the effective UV-power of the UV-source and the sensitivity of the photosensitive polymer.

Abstract: An optical scanning device is constituted without using any arc sin .theta. correction lens, while maintaining quality of an image. The optical scanning device comprises an optical flux generator, a resonance-type deflection element, a drive signal generator and a dot clock generator that is configured to sequentially generate dot clocks which satisfy a first, second and third condition, wherein the optical flux generator radiates the optical fluxes having brightnesses corresponding to the clock cycles of the dot clocks generated by the dot clock generator.

Abstract: A scanning image displayer, including a beam provider emitting a laser beam; a beam scanner including a two-dimensional drive deflecting mirror, deflectively scanning the beam in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction; and an optical element including a reflection surface before the two-dimensional drive deflecting mirror, deflecting the beam in a direction of the two-dimensional drive deflecting mirror such that the beam obliquely enters a mirror thereof. The two-dimensional drive deflecting mirror deflectively scans the beam to project the beam onto a surface to be projected, and the light intensity of the beam is controlled according to image information to form an image. A flat surface of a substrate where the mirror is formed is located parallel or almost parallel to an optical axis of the beam, and the reflection surface is located so as not to receive the beam deflectively scanned by the two-dimensional drive deflecting mirror.

Abstract: An optical deflector includes multiple voltage-dependent refractive boundaries. Light passes through the refractive boundaries and accumulates a deflection angle. An electrode placed to apply a voltage to the boundaries may be non-uniform to modulate a wavefront as it passes. A scanning laser projector includes the optical deflector to modulate laser light.

Abstract: An optical device is provided for projecting a light beam. The device comprises a first planar reflector movable about a first axis is disposed in a path of a focused light beam for deflecting the incident light beam; a concave reflective surface fixed in position located in the path of the deflected light beam, has a circular shape extending along at least one of its axis and is spaced apart from the planar reflector by a distance which is approximately equal to the radius of that circular shape; and a second planar reflector moveable about a second axis located in a plane substantially vertical to a plane comprising the first axis and wherein the second planar reflector is positioned in the path of the light reflected by the concave reflective surface such that the light beam is projected onto a target plane with a substantially flat field of focus.

Abstract: An optical deflecting device including a mirror member having a light reflective area. The optical deflecting device includes a plurality of electrodes that are formed on a substrate, a fulcrum member that functions as an electrode and a regulation member. The range of movement to a respect direction of the substrate is regulated by the regulation member, which includes a conductive material at least in the surface thereof.

Abstract: An observation field of view of a microscope can be moved without moving or changing an objective lens and without varying position or state of a sample. A microscope optical system has a mirror that changes the direction of the optical path by reflection and is located in the optical path between an objective lens of the microscope and an image to be observed. The mirror is able to be tilted by changing the position of a reflecting surface of the mirror. Accordingly, the observation field of view is moved by tilting the mirror. In other words, the observation field of view can be moved without changing a positional relationship between the objective lens of the microscope and the sample.

Abstract: A pair of support members each having a spring section in a part thereof support a mirror element, and a pair of drive mechanisms arranged respectively corresponding to a pair of the support members transform the spring sections of the corresponding support members, thereby changing a distance between each of support points at which the support members support the mirror element and a base. Accordingly, the mirror element can be translated by driving all of the drive mechanisms, or the mirror element can be inclined with respect to the base by driving some of the drive mechanisms.

Abstract: An optical scanning element includes: a movable member which has a reflection surface for reflecting light and rotatable around a rotation axis; and a transmitting member which has a first surface on the side opposite to the side facing the movable member and a second surface on the side facing the movable member, and transmits light entering the first surface and light entering the second surface from the reflection surface. The first surface is not parallel with the reflection surface when the movable member is in a neutral condition.

Abstract: A laser radar according to an embodiment of the invention includes a beam irradiation head which emits a laser beam and a control circuit which controls the beam irradiation head to perform scan in a two-dimensional direction with the laser beam. In the laser radar, the beam irradiation head includes a laser beam source; a mirror to which the laser beam emitted from the laser beam source is incident; and a driving mechanism which rotates the mirror in first and second directions about a first rotating axis and a second rotating axis perpendicular to the first rotating axis respectively. The control circuit controls the rotation of the mirror in the first direction and the second direction such that a scan region of the laser beam becomes a rectangular shape.

Abstract: A technique is provided which can improve optical characteristics by suppressing the occurrence of an error in attachment of a rotary deflector that deflects a light flux from a light source and scans it in a main scanning direction. There are provided a rotary deflector that deflects the light flux from the light source and scans it in the main scanning direction, an imaging optical system that images the light flux scanned by the rotary deflector onto a specified scanning object, a support part that supports the rotary deflector rotatably, and a positioning part that comes in contact with the support part at plural contact positions and positions the support part, in which a shortest distance between the plural contact positions in an optical axis direction of the imaging optical system is longer than a shortest distance between the plural contact positions in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a micromechanical structure, first, a deflectably supported two-dimensional structure is formed in a substrate and, then, is arranged in a package such that an integrated micromanipulator is arranged between the package and the two-dimensional structure so as to effect a deflection of the two-dimensional structure out of a plane of the substrate.

Abstract: A laser beam is periodically deflected before being directed into a sample volume. The beam is deflected at a frequency such that the beam makes one or more passes through the sample volume while data are collected from the sample volume. The amplitude of motion of the beam, the dwell time of the beam at any given point, and the Gaussian intensity profile of the beam cooperate to produce an effective flat topped illumination profile for the light that is incident on specimens in the sample volume. The total photon exposure at any given point in the sample volume is a function of both the beam intensity and the dwell time at that location. Therefore, a longer dwell time and lower intensity at the edge of the profile are in balance with a shorter dwell time and higher intensity at the center of the profile.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image display apparatus which displays an image on a surface to be scanned and includes a light source configured to emit a light beam modulated on the basis of image information, a scanner configured to scan the surface to be scanned with the light beam emitted from the light source, a light receiver configured to receive the light beam that is incident upon a particular area of the surface to be scanned when the surface to be scanned is scanned with the light beam, a first determiner configured to determine whether or not an output signal from the light receiver are output at a predetermined time interval, and a controller configured to control driving of the light source on the basis of a determination signal from the determiner.