Abstract: An objective lens and a method for using same. The objective lens has a first end, a second end, and a plurality of optical elements. The optical elements are positioned between the first end and the second end and are at least substantially symmetric about a plane centered between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: An observation optical system includes, in order from a sample side, an infinity-corrected objective, a first lens group having a positive power, a second lens group having a positive power, and a tube lens having a positive power. An intermediate image is formed between the first lens group and the second lens group, and at a front side focal position of the second lens group. A space along an optical axis between the objective and the first lens group is configured to be changeable, and a space along an optical axis between the second lens group and the tube lens is configured to be changeable.

Abstract: A lighting optical apparatus using a deep ultraviolet light source that are easy to adjust due to a configuration with fewer components, has high illuminant and illuminant uniformity on an irradiated surface are provided. The apparatus has a deep ultraviolet light source from which deep ultraviolet rays are emitted, a first double-sided cylindrical lens which has a cylindrical lens array on both sides with a configuration of cylinder axes intersecting at right angles, a second double-sided cylindrical lens which has a cylindrical lens array on both sides with a configuration of cylinder axes intersecting at right angles, and a condenser lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser processing apparatus which can be miniaturized and has a structure for achieving effective protection of the fiber laser light source. The laser processing apparatus comprises a fiber laser light source, a collimator, a spatial filter, an optical isolator, and a condenser lens. The optical isolator emits laser light from the collimator laser light in parallel to the direction of incidence of the laser light, and emits return light from the condenser lens at a predetermined angle with regard to the direction of incidence of the return light. The spatial filter comprises a pair of condenser lenses disposed such that the focal point is formed therebetween, and a pinhole mask disposed such that the pinhole is located at the focal point. At least, a part of the return light emitted from the optical isolator is blocked by the pinhole mask of the spatial filter.

Abstract: An optical viewer is disclosed which incorporates plastic lenses which reduce the weight and cost of the optical viewer. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the optical design of the viewer is configured to compensate for the inferior optical characteristics of the plastic lenses to provide an optical viewer with comparable performance relative to optical viewers with glass lenses.

Abstract: An optical system for illuminating a sample with a line beam comprises a light source (24), a beam shaper (30) for transforming the beam of light emitted by the light source into an intermediate astigmatic image and an imaging system for transforming the intermediate astigmatic image into a final astigmatic image and for illuminating the sample. The beam shaper provides different non-unity magnifications in a lateral plane and in a transversal plane, and comprises a toroidal entrance surface for implementing the angular magnification and angular reduction and a toroidal exit surface with finite radii of curvature. The invention enables the use of existing beam shaping apparatus, normally used to make a light output have a more circular cross section, in combination with the imaging system, in order to provide line beam illumination of a sample.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a projection objective for lithography includes an optical arrangement of optical elements between an object plane and an image plane. The arrangement generally has at least one intermediate image plane, the arrangement further having at least two correction elements for correcting aberrations, of which a first correction element is arranged optically at least in the vicinity of a pupil plane and a second correction element is arranged in a region which is not optically near either a pupil plane or a field plane.

Abstract: An optical system for viewing an object has a plurality of lenses and a main optical axis coincident with the centers of the lenses. The optical system further comprises a low magnification optical subsystem that is operative to view the object at a first magnification and a high magnification optical subsystem that is operative to view the object at a second magnification that is higher than the first magnification. The high magnification optical subsystem has a high magnification optical axis along which light rays that are received from the main optical axis are transmitted. A movable element is locatable on the high magnification optical axis and is movable in directions transverse to the axis for receiving and transmitting light rays.

Abstract: A visual display device includes an image display element 3 and an ocular optical system 5 that allows a viewer to observe an image displayed on the image display element 3 as a virtual image in a remote location. The ocular optical system 5 has at least one reflection optical element 5a, at least one transmission optical element 5b, and a visual axis 101 including a central main light beam in the reverse raytrace of the ocular optical system 5 which is directed from the center of an entrance pupil E toward the reflection optical element 5a through the transmission optical element 5b. The number of times of image formation is different between in a first cross-section including the visual axis 101 and in a second cross-section which is perpendicular to the first cross-section and includes the visual axis 101.

Abstract: A projector device, includes: a projector unit, including a light source and a projection lens whose focal position is variable, that projects an image upon a projection surface with a light flux outputted from the light source that passes through the projection lens; an image-capturing unit, including a photographic lens whose focal position is variable, that captures an image of a subject with a light flux from the exterior that passes through the photographic lens; and a single drive source that generates drive force for changing both the focal position of the projection lens and the focal position of the photographic lens.

Abstract: A microlens substrate is provided having a plurality of first microlenses and a plurality of second microlenses which are located between the plurality of first microlenses. The second microlenses are smaller than the first microlenses.

Abstract: A projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object surface onto an image surface of the projection objective has an object-side imaging subsystem for creating a final intermediate image closest to the image surface from radiation coming from the object surface and an image-side imaging subsystem for directly imaging the final intermediate image onto the image surface. The image-side imaging subsystem includes at least one aspheric primary correcting lens having an aspheric primary correcting surface. The object-side imaging subsystem includes a secondary correcting group having at least one secondary correcting lens having an aspheric secondary correcting surface. Conditions involving maximum incidence angles and subaperture offsets at the correcting surfaces are given which should be observed to obtain sufficient aberration correction at very high image-side numerical apertures NA.

Abstract: An imaging microoptics, which is compact and robust, includes at least one aspherical member and has a folded beam path. The imaging microoptics provides a magnification |??| of >800 by magnitude. Furthermore, a system for positioning a wafer with respect to a projection optics includes the imaging microoptics, an image sensor positionable in the image plane of the imaging microoptics, for measuring a position of an aerial image of the projection optics, and a wafer stage with an actuator and a controller for positioning the wafer in dependence of an output signal of the image sensor.

Abstract: An optical imaging assembly (22) having cylindrical symmetry, comprising a plurality of lenses having surfaces with curvatures and spacings between the surfaces, such that an optical image formed by the plurality of lenses has a defocus aberration coefficient greater than 0.1 at a focal plane of the assembly.

Abstract: A projecting lens for projecting a light of an image generating device onto a screen is provided. The image generating device has a light valve. The projecting lens includes a first lens group and a second lens group. The first lens group has an imaging optical axis and a first effective refractive power. The second lens group has a second effective refractive power, and is disposed between the first lens group and the light valve. The light projected from the light valve to the second lens group generates an intermediate image, which is focused on the screen via the first lens group to form an image. A center of the image and a center of the light valve are located on the same side of the optical axis, and a center of the intermediate image is located on the other side of the optical axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a side illumination lens and a luminescent device using the same, and provides a body, a total reflection surface with a total reflection slope with respect to a central axis of the body, and a linear and/or curved refractive surface(s) formed to extend from a periphery of the total reflection surface; and a luminescent device including the lens. According to the present invention, a lens with total internal reflection surfaces with different slopes, and a linear and/or curved refractive surface(s) allows light emitted forward from a luminescent chip to be guided to a side of the lens. Further, a linear surface(s) formed in a direction perpendicular or parallel to a central axis of a lens and a curved surface are formed on an edge of the lens so that a process of fabricating the lens is facilitated, thereby reducing a defective rate and fabrication costs of the lens.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting harmonic conversion of a laser beam of predetermined frequency, to provide plural harmonic components of the laser beam at frequencies different from the predetermined frequency, includes a housing (40) defining a hermetically sealed chamber able to be maintained at a pressure below atmospheric pressure. Also provided are port means for evacuating the chamber, and means (36, 37) defining an optical path for the laser beam and the components thereof through the housing and the chamber. A plurality of individual holders (70, 72, 74) are arranged for retaining respective frequency conversion crystals at spaced locations in the optical path. The crystals (20, 22, 24) can be aligned individually and heated within the chamber.

Abstract: A projection objective for a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus. The projection objective can project an image of a mask that can be set in position in an object plane onto a light-sensitive coating layer that can be set in position in an image plane. The projection objective can be designed to operate in an immersion mode, and it can produce at least one intermediate image. The projection objective can include an optical subsystem on the image-plane side which projects the intermediate image into the image plane with an image-plane-side projection ratio having an absolute value of at least 0.3.

Abstract: A material having properties required for a chromatic aberration-free lens and excellent in moldability and impact resistance, which material is an amorphous fluoropolymer containing a carbon atom chain as a main chain and containing a fluorinated atom-bonded carbon atom as a carbon atom of the main chain, wherein vd>75, ?gF>0.50, and ??gF>0.03, where vd represents an Abbe number, ?gF represents a relative partial dispersion of a g-F line, and ??gF represents a deviation from a standard line of the relative partial dispersion of the g-F line.

Abstract: A lens unit includes at least three lenses that are laminated and received in a lens barrel. The lenses include a first lens, a second lens, and a third lens that are laminated from the side of an object in this order. The first lens includes a first contact face that is formed at an outer peripheral portion thereof and comes in contact with the second lens, and a first opposite surface that is formed at an inner peripheral portion of the first contact face, is spaced from the second lens, and faces the second lens. The second lens includes a second contact face that is formed at a position closer to the center of the second lens than the first contact face and comes in contact with the third lens, and a second opposite surface that is formed at an outer peripheral portion of the second contact face, is spaced from the third lens, and faces the third lens.

Abstract: An optical sheet includes a substrate onto which light is incident, and a convex part protruded from the substrate by a predetermined thickness. A thickness of the convex part increases from an edge to a center thereof.

Abstract: A projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object surface onto an image surface of the projection objective has an object-side imaging subsystem for creating a final intermediate image closest to the image surface from radiation coming from the object surface and an image-side imaging subsystem for directly imaging the final intermediate image onto the image surface. The image-side imaging subsystem includes at least one aspheric primary correcting lens having an aspheric primary correcting surface. The object-side imaging subsystem includes a secondary correcting group having at least one secondary correcting lens having an aspheric secondary correcting surface. Conditions involving maximum incidence angles and subaperture offsets at the correcting surfaces are given which should be observed to obtain sufficient aberration correction at very high image-side numerical apertures NA.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a main body, a cover having a through hole, an image sensor and a first lens received in the main body, a second lens received in the through hole, and a light source embedded in the main body. The first lens has a bottom surface with a first curved portion, a first flat surface and a side surface. The light source is configured for illuminating the first flat surface. The second lens has a top surface with a second curved portion, and a second flat surface. Wherein the cover is movable relative to main body between a first position where the second lens is away from the first lens such that the first flat surface is exposed, and a second position where the second flat surface faces towards the first flat surface and the second curved portion aligns with the first curved portion.

Abstract: An optical glass lens set and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. An optical glass lens is used as an insert that is set into a cavity of a mold. By injection molding of the molded insert or press molding, an optical glass lens set with a lens holder is formed. The optical glass lens set includes at least one optical glass lens and a lens holder for fixing the optical glass lens. The manufacturing method simplifies processes and improves the yield rate. Moreover, the produced optical glass lens set is easily packaged into a camera lens, especially suitable for mini-cameras and camera phones.

Abstract: All members of a lens-implement are arranged in a rectangular space of a main lens frame. A lens prism is fixed, three movable lens frames for zoom and focusing inserted the two guide shafts are arranged, and a image capturing lens is fixed top-to-bottom seriatim occupying the horizontal ? portion of the rectangular space, and the image capturing device is arranged at foot portion. A zoom motor is arranged at the back of the lens prism, and a zoom shaft cam, a diaphragm/shutter, a focusing ultrasonic linear motor, and a magnetic sensor are arranged along the lens frames.

Abstract: A rotating data transmission device for optical signals comprises two collimator arrangements for coupling light-waveguides, the collimator arrangements being rotatable relative to each other, and a derotating element being interposed in a light path between the collimator arrangements. At least one collimator arrangement comprises a lens system with a micro-lens array, and a light-waveguide holder firmly mounted to the micro-lens array with an intermediate space between the holder and the micro-lens array. At least one light-waveguide for supplying or collecting light to or from a micro-lens is fastened to both the micro-lens array and to the holder to prevent bending loads with attendant shifts of a mode field from acting upon the light-waveguide between the holder and the micro-lens array.

Abstract: Quasi-achromatic multi-element lens(es), the elements of which are mounted with respect to one another in a temperature controlled mounting system, and the application thereof in focusing, (and/or colliminating), a spectroscopic electromagnetic beam into a very small, chromatically relatively undispersed, area spot on a material system, and application thereof in ellipsometer, polarimeter and the like systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for the in vivo, non-invasive, early detection of alterations and mapping of the grade of these alterations, caused in the biochemical and/or in the functional characteristics of epithelial tissues during the development of tissue atypias, dysplasias, neoplasias and cancers. The method is based, at least in part, on the simultaneous measurement of the spatial, temporal and spectral alterations in the characteristics of the light that is re-emitted from the tissue under examination, as a result of a combined tissue excitation with light and special chemical agents. The topical or systematic administration of these agents result in an evanescent contrast enhancement between normal and abnormal areas of tissue. The apparatus enables the capturing of temporally successive imaging in one or more spectral bands simultaneously.

Abstract: A projection optical system which projects an image of a first object onto a second object includes a plurality of lenses and a plurality of aperture stops for determining a numerical aperture. The plurality of aperture stops include a first aperture stop having an opening whose size can be changed, and a second aperture stop having an opening whose size can be changed. The first and second aperture stops are positioned nearer to the second object than a lens having the maximum effective diameter among the lenses included in an imaging optical system nearest to the second object. At least one of the first and second aperture stops is positioned at or near the pupil of the imaging optical system. The range of the numerical aperture determined by the first aperture stop is larger than the range of the numerical aperture determined by the second aperture stop.

Abstract: A system and method for inspection is disclosed. The design generally employs as many as four design principles, including employing at least one lens from a relatively low dispersion glass, at least one additional lens from an additional material different from the relatively low dispersion glass, generally matching the relatively low dispersion properties of the relatively low dispersion glass. The design also may include at least one further lens from a further material different from and exhibiting a significantly different dispersion power from the relatively low dispersion glass and the additional material. Finally, the design may include lenses positioned to insert a significant amount of color within the objective, a gap, and additional lenses, the gap and additional lenses serving to cancel the color inserted.

Abstract: A multiple beam scanning system for scanning light beams onto a photoreceptor of an image forming apparatus. A pre-polygon input and output telecentric optical subsystem includes a beam conditioning system that focuses the light beams in a cross-scan direction, collimates the beams in the scan direction, and individually focuses the beams on a polygonal mirror deflector, which reflects the beams along a first scan path. A post-polygon input and output telecentric optical subsystem redirects the scanned beams along a second scan path and through an output window onto the photoreceptor, wherein the post-polygon subsystem includes a positive cross-scan cylindrical first optical element, a negative cross-scan cylindrical second optical element, and a positive cross-scan cylindrical third optical element. In one embodiment, the three cylindrical optical elements are cylinder mirrors. In another embodiment, one or more of the optical elements are cylinder lenses.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical image converter system to be used in video cameras. The image converter system comprises a recording lens that is to be oriented towards an object and generates a real intermediate image of the object with a defined image size and depth of focus on a first translucent projection disk defining a first image plane. The inventive image converter system further comprises a prism arrangement that is positioned in the beam path as well as an image converter lens which is disposed behind the recording lens in the beam path, is oriented towards the rear face of the projection disk, and is used for generating a real main image of the object on a second image plane. In order to design the image converter system in a compact manner, the projection disk is placed in an intermediate space between two facing, parallel prism surfaces within the prism arrangement.

Abstract: A projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus is disclosed. The projection objective can project an image of a mask that can be set in position in an object plane onto a light-sensitive coating layer that can be set in position in an image plane. The projection objective can be designed to operate in an immersion mode, and it can produce at least one intermediate image. The projection objective can include an optical subsystem on the image-plane side which projects the intermediate image into the image plane with an image-plane-side projection ratio having an absolute value of at least 0.3.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a lens barrel, which includes a photographic lens including a plurality of lens units, at least one lens surface of the photographic lens facing an imaging plane being a concave surface, and an optical diaphragm. The optical diaphragm is at least partly stowable in a space defined by the concave surface.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus guides to an illumination object a light beam emitted from a light source. The illumination optical apparatus includes an enlarging optical system, disposed between the light source and the illumination object, and a reduction optical system, disposed between the enlarging optical system and the illumination object. The enlarging optical system is formed so that an image plane is disposed between the light source and the illumination object.

Abstract: A projection optical system for forming an image of a first surface on a second surface has a first imaging optical system and a second imaging optical system, and a folding member for guiding light from the first imaging optical system to the second imaging optical system. Every optical element having a power in the second imaging optical system is a refractive element.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a wafer scale package including at least one substrate having replicated optical elements. The method uses two substrates, at least one of which is pre-shaped and has at least one recess in its front surface. Optical elements are replicated on a first substrate by causing a replication tool to abut the first substrate. The second substrate is then attached to the first substrate in an abutting relationship in such a way that the optical element is contained in a cavity formed by the recess in one of the substrates in combination with the other substrate. Thereby, a well defined axial distance between the optical elements and the second substrate is achieved. Consequently, well defined axial distance between the optical elements and any other objects attached to the second substrate, e.g. further optical elements, image capturing devices, light sources, is also established.

Abstract: The present invention provides a projection optical system which projects an image on a first object plane onto a second object plane, comprising a plurality of optical members inserted in turn from a side of the second object plane, said plurality of optical members being made of an isotropic crystal and including a first optical member and second optical member in each of which <1 1 1> crystal axes are oriented in a direction of an optical axis and a third optical member in which <1 0 0> crystal axes are oriented in the direction of the optical axis, wherein maximum angles ?1, ?2, and ?3 between the optical axis and light beams passing through said first optical member, said second optical member, and said third optical member, respectively, satisfy |?i??j|<5° (i, j=1, 2, 3).

Abstract: In some embodiments, a projection objective for lithography includes an optical arrangement of optical elements between an object plane and an image plane. The arrangement generally has at least one intermediate image plane, the arrangement further having at least two correction elements for correcting aberrations, of which a first correction element is arranged optically at least in the vicinity of a pupil plane and a second correction element is arranged in a region which is not optically near either a pupil plane or a field plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser processing apparatus which can be miniaturized and has a structure for achieving effective protection of the fiber laser light source. The laser processing apparatus comprises a fiber laser light source, a collimator, a spatial filter, an optical isolator, and a condenser lens. The optical isolator emits laser light from the collimator laser light in parallel to the direction of incidence of the laser light, and emits return light from the condenser lens at a predetermined angle with regard to the direction of incidence of the return light. The spatial filter comprises a pair of condenser lenses disposed such that the focal point is formed therebetween, and a pinhole mask disposed such that the pinhole is located at the focal point. At least, a part of the return light emitted from the optical isolator is blocked by the pinhole mask of the spatial filter.

Abstract: An optical lens includes a lens effective portion, an inclined portion and a flange portion. The lens effective portion has, on a first side, a lens face with a small radius of curvature and also has, on a second side, a lens face with a large radius of curvature. The inclined portion has, on the first side, an inclined face inclined outwardly from the first side to the second side. The flange portion has, on the second side, a reference face protruding longer than the lens face with the large radius of curvature on the second side. Thus, it is possible to obtain an optical lens which is less susceptible to deformation or chipping and suppresses transmission eccentricity, a compound lens and a method for producing the same, as well as a cemented lens and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: Optical devices which accurately position optical elements and methods for producing such optical devices. Each optical element is carried by a support on an axis that has portions plastically deformed to overlap portions of the faces of the optical element adjacent an intermediate peripheral surface. This configuration locks the optical element axially in the support and produces a positive rigid retaining structure for each optical element.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a first optical component serving as an image forming part and a second optical component disposed in front of the first optical component relative to an incident light wave. The second optical component and first optical component are jointly provided with a configuration for forming an image on a focal plane. The second optical component is a concave lens-type special optical plate having a focal length infinite in the central part thereof and finite in the periphery thereof. Light past the second optical component has a light wave phase delayed in accordance as a radial distance from the optical axis is increased and has a special wavefront in which its curvature increases in accordance as the radial distance from the optical axis increases after passing the second optical component. Consequently, the wave front curvature after passing through an image forming lens at the image forming part is decreased in accordance with increase of the radial distance.

Abstract: An optical sheet includes a substrate onto which light is incident, and a convex part protruded from the substrate by a predetermined thickness. A thickness of the convex part increases from an edge to a center thereof.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element is disclosed. The diffractive optical element is used in an illumination optical system of an exposure apparatus which exposes a substrate, and used for forming the intensity distribution of light at a pupil plane of the illumination optical system. The diffractive optical element comprises a first diffractive element and a second diffractive element which have different diffraction actions from each other, wherein each of the first diffractive element and the second diffractive element has point symmetry in a irradiated region where light is irradiated and common center of the point symmetry.

Abstract: In a spectrometer, preferably in a spectrometric microscope, input light is provided from a light source to a specimen via a source objective element (e.g., a Schwarzchild objective), and the aperture of the light source is matched to the aperture of the source objective element to maximize light throughput to the specimen. The light from the specimen is then collected at a collector objective element and delivered to a camera element, which in turn provides the light to a photosensitive detector. The apertures of the camera element and the collector objective element are also matched to maximize light throughput from the specimen to the detector. As a result, light loss from vignetting effects is reduced, improving the intensity and uniformity of illumination and the sensitivity and accuracy of spectral measurements.

Abstract: Provided from the object side are a first lens group (11) having a positive refracting power and fixed to the image plane, a second lens group (12) having a negative refracting power and a magnification varying action exhibited when moving along the optical axis, a third lens group (13) fixed to the image plane and having a positive refracting power, and a fourth lens group (14) movable along the optical axis so as to maintain the image plane moving with the movements of the second lens group (12) and of the object in a fixed position from a reference plane. Hence the movement of the image due to camera shake is corrected by moving the whole third lens group (13) vertically to the optical axis. The size is reduced and the aberrations are small because the whole groups whose optical performance is united are decentered.

Abstract: A portable electro-optical scanner for reading a target bar code having a plurality of bar code elements. The portable scanner includes: a housing supporting a scanning module and an optic system. The scanning module electro-optically scans the target bar code with a scanning beam and collects reflected light returning from the bar code. The scanning module includes a beam source emitting a scanning beam, beam directing apparatus causing the scanning beam to be repetitively scanned along a scanning plane intersecting the target bar code and photodetector circuitry receiving light from the target bar code. The optic system includes an exit window, a light collection lens and a reflective surface. The scanning beam passes through the exit window upon exiting the housing. The light collection lens receives reflected light from the target bar code and directing the reflected light toward a focal point. The focal point lying on the scanning plane of the scanning beam.

Abstract: Light to be sensed is spreaded across an entry surface of a transmission structure with a laterally varying energy transmission function. For example, the light could be output from a stimulus-wavelength converter, provided through an optical fiber, or it could come from a point-like source or broad area source. Output photons from the transmission structure can be photosensed by photosensing components such as an array, position sensor, or array of position sensors. Wavelength information from the light can be obtained in response to the photosensing component. Spreading can be performed by air, gas, transparent material, or vacuum in a gap, by a region or other part of a lens, or by an optical fiber end surface. If the light comes from more than one source, a propagation component can both spread the light and also keep light from the sources separate.

Abstract: A system for operating an astronomical observatory made up of astronomical hardware, utilizing a web browser operated by a user, and a web server connected to the observatory, wherein both the control to, and feedback from the observatory are displayed to the user in real time independent of personnel support at the observatory site. The user submits a request to the observatory via the web browser, which displays the status and results of the request. A web server, coupled to the various astronomical hardware, processes the request on behalf of the user and responds with the status and results of the request. The status and/or results ae then displayed by the web browser to the user. Requests may be made by the user interactively, or in the form of a script. The system may be used over wide area networks, like the Internet, or any other type of network.