Abstract: An imaging lens which can be very compact and thin, corrects various aberrations properly and provides a small F-value and a wide view angle at low cost. In the imaging lens, designed for a solid-state image sensor, arranged in the following order from an object side to an image side are: a first positive (refractive power) lens with a convex object-side surface; a second positive lens; a third positive lens; a fourth positive lens; and a fifth negative lens with a concave image-side surface. None of these lenses is joined to each other and all the lens surfaces are aspheric. The object-side and image-side aspheric surfaces of the fifth lens have a pole-change point in a position other than a point of intersection with an optical axis. A diffractive optical surface is formed on one of three surfaces from the first lens image-side surface to the second lens image-side surface.

Abstract: A dual sensor camera that uses two aligned sensors each having a separate lens of different focal length but the same f-number. The wider FOV image from one sensor is combined with the narrower FOV image from the other sensor to form a combined image. Up-sampling of the wide FOV image and down-sampling of the narrow FOV image is performed. The longer focal length lens may have certain aberrations introduced so that Extended Depth of Field (EDoF) processing can be used to give the narrow FOV image approximately the same depth of field as the wide FOV image so that a noticeable difference in depth of field is not see in the combined image.

Abstract: An eyepiece lens includes: a first lens having positive refractive power, the first lens having a convex surface that faces toward an eye point side; and a second lens having positive refractive power, the second lens having a convex surface that faces toward the eye point side. The first and second lenses are arranged in order from the eye point side. Following conditional expressions are satisfied, 3.0>(h×?)1/2/E>1.2??(1) 2.3>(L?E)/h>1.5??(2) where h is a height of the image at a horizontal end, ? is a half angle of view in a horizontal direction, E is a distance from an eye point to the first lens, the distance being an eye relief, and L is a distance from the eye point to the image.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element contains a diffraction pattern that is a spatial Fourier transform of a random pattern. The diffraction pattern may be etched or deposited on a surface of the diffractive optical element. Alternatively, a spatial light modulator (SLM) may be driven to project the diffraction pattern dynamically.

Abstract: An optical system has a first relief-type diffraction grating fiducial, or alignment mark, on a transparent surface of a first optical wafer or plate, the grating arranged to deflect light away from an optical path and appear black. The first wafer may have lenses. The first fiducial is aligned to another fiducial on a second wafer having further optical devices as part of system assembly; or the fiducials are aligned to alignment marks or fiducials on an underlying photosensor. Once the optical devices are aligned and the wafers bonded, they are diced to provide aligned optical structures for a completed camera system. Alternatively, an optical wafer is made by aligning a second relief-type diffraction grating fiducial on a first master to a first relief-type diffraction grating fiducial on an optical wafer preform, pressing the first master into a blob to form optical shapes and adhere the blob to the optical wafer preform.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for an excimer laser that includes a reflective Echelle diffraction grating includes obtaining information of a wavelength of a light source, a blazed order, a repetitive pitch of the grating, a material of the grating, and a predefined orientation ratio B/A that is a ratio between that a diffraction efficiency A of the blazed order and a diffraction efficiency Bb of an order lower by one order than the blazed order, and determining an initial value of a blaze angle based upon these pieces of information.

Abstract: An optical LOS toggle uses two refractive optical elements located in the afocal space of an optical sensor. Optical surfaces of the two elements are shaped appropriately to work in combination with lateral displacements of the two elements such that the LOS angle is shifted. For a prescribed, discrete LOS shift, the optical image quality of the toggle module is corrected by a combination of aspheric shapes and diffractive surfaces on the optical surfaces of the two elements. To maintain performance along any radial direction and simplify fabrication, these aspheric or spheric shapes and diffractive surfaces should be rotationally symmetrical. Image quality is further improved through proper selection of the optical materials used to construct the optical elements.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image surface side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, the second lens group and the third lens group are moved such that the second lens group is located on a most object side at a wide-angle end and the third lens group is located on a most image surface side at a telephoto end during zooming.

Abstract: An optical system includes a lens assembly and a light source. The lens assembly includes an optical lens positioned to transmit and refract light provided by the light source, and a lens holder coupled to the optical lens and maintaining a position of the optical lens relative to the light source. The optical lens is coupled to the lens holder with a bonding agent arranged in an interrupted configuration at positions proximate to a circumference of the optical lens. The light source provides light to the optical lens of the lens assembly. The light provided to the optical lens has an optical footprint that includes a plurality of high-intensity regions separated from one another by low-intensity regions and the bonding agent is positioned in a circumferential orientation relative to the light source such that the bonding agent is spaced apart from the high-intensity regions of the optical footprint of the light.

Abstract: Disclosed is a diffraction microscopy capable of reducing influence of an increase in the incident angle range of a beam. Specifically disclosed is a diffraction microscopy in which a beam is incident on a sample, in which the intensity of a diffraction pattern from the sample is measured, and in which an image of an object is rebuilt using Fourier interactive phase retrieval on the basis of the measured intensity of the diffraction pattern. In this method, Fourier interactive phase retrieval is performed using deconvolution on the diffraction pattern subjected to convolution by the increase in the incident angle range of the beam.

Abstract: A light-diffusing layer is provided for diffusing incident light by diffracting at least a portion of the incident light, and the diffuse light diffused by the light-diffusing layer is diffused about a direction different from the emission direction of non-diffused light that passes through the light-diffusing layer without being diffused.

Abstract: An optical processor is presented for applying optical processing to a light field passing through a predetermined imaging lens unit. The optical processor comprises a pattern in the form of spaced apart regions of different optical properties. The pattern is configured to define a phase coder, and a dispersion profile coder. The phase coder affects profiles of Through Focus Modulation Transfer Function (TFMTF) for different wavelength components of the light field in accordance with a predetermined profile of an extended depth of focusing to be obtained by the imaging lens unit. The dispersion profile coder is configured in accordance with the imaging lens unit and the predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing to provide a predetermined overlapping between said TFMTF profiles within said predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing.

Abstract: An arrangement utilizes diffractive, reflective and/or refractive optical elements combined to intensify and homogenize electromagnetic energy, such as natural sunlight in the terrestrial environment, for purposes such as irradiating a target area with concentrated homogenized energy. A heat activated safety mechanism is also described.

Abstract: A higher forgery prevention effect is realized. A display includes a first interface section provided with a relief-type diffraction grating constituted by a plurality of grooves, and a second interface section provided with a plurality of recesses or projections arranged two-dimensionally at a center-to-center distance smaller than the minimum center-to-center distance of the plural grooves, and each having a forward tapered shape.

Abstract: A touch display, including: a light source; a light guide plate, having a first refractive index and having a side face close to the light source; a cover layer, having a second refractive index and being placed over the light guide plate, and the second refractive index is smaller than the first refractive index; a plurality of pillar structures, having a third refractive index and being placed under the light guide plate, and the third refractive index is larger than or equal to the first refractive index; a touch structure, placed over the cover layer; and an electronic paper device, placed under the pillar structures.

Abstract: A method for optimizing an intensity of a useful light distribution includes: providing a light source for emitting a light beam in a z-direction, which defines an optical axis, with a first intensity distribution; providing a beam shaping optical unit and a beam focusing optical unit for generating a second intensity distribution to be used in a target plane, the target plane being inclined by an angle ALPHA relative to a focal plane determined by the beam focusing optical unit; determining a first intensity at a first point and a second intensity at a second point of the second intensity distribution to be used. The points P1 and P2 are arranged on different sides of the back focal plane; and displacing the beam shaping optical unit along the y-axis in such a way that the difference between the two intensities 11 and 12 lies within a predefinable limit.

Abstract: An optical multilayer (1) comprising textured surfaces suitable for use in anti-counterfeiting and/or security applications is described.

Abstract: A light sheet optical system comprising means for forming a light sheet using a non-diffractive or quasi non-diffractive and/or propagation invariant beam that has an asymmetric intensity beam profile transverse to the direction of propagation, such as an Airy beam.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reconstructing a wave, including interpolation and extrapolation of the phase and amplitude distributions, with application to imaging apparatus, such as microscopes.

Abstract: The optical system includes, in order from an object side, a front lens unit LF, an aperture stop S, a rear lens unit LR. The front lens unit includes a diffraction optical element Ldoe. A stop side positive lens Lsp disposed closest to the aperture stop among the rear lens unit satisfies 1.55?Ndsp?1.70, 30.0??dsp?50.0, and 5.0×10?4???dCsp?5.0×10?3. Ndsp and ?dsp repectively represent a refractive index and an Abbe number of the stop side positive lens for a d-line, and ??dCsp is represents a value defined by ??dCsp=?dCsp?(?0.17041×?gdsp+0.513577) where Ngsp, NCsp and NFsp respectively represent refractive indices of the stop side positive lens for a g-line, a C-line and an F-line. ?dCsp and ?gdsp are respectively defined by ?dCsp=(Ndsp?NCsp)/(NFsp?NCsp) and ?gdsp=(Ngsp?Ndsp)/(NFsp?NCsp).

Abstract: An optical processor is presented for applying optical processing to a light field passing through a predetermined imaging lens unit. The optical processor comprises a pattern in the form of spaced apart regions of different optical properties. The pattern is configured to define a phase coder, and a dispersion profile coder. The phase coder affects profiles of Through Focus Modulation Transfer Function (TFMTF) for different wavelength components of the light field in accordance with a predetermined profile of an extended depth of focusing to be obtained by the imaging lens unit. The dispersion profile coder is configured in accordance with the imaging lens unit and the predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing to provide a predetermined overlapping between said TFMTF profiles within said predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing.

Abstract: A diffractive optics element includes a substrate configured of a sapphire substrate and a diffractive optics structure, provided on the substrate, that forms an image when a laser beam is incident thereon. The diffractive optics structure has a diffractive optics portion, and the diffractive optics portion has a base material and a diffractive optics layer disposed on the base material. The thickness of the base material is no greater than 20 ?m.

Abstract: An optical de-multiplexer (de-MUX) that includes an optical device that images and diffracts an optical signal using a reflective geometry is described, where a free spectral range (FSR) of the optical device associated with a given diffraction order abuts FSRs associated with adjacent diffraction orders. Moreover, the channel spacings within diffraction orders and between adjacent diffraction orders are equal to the predefined channel spacing associated with the optical signal. As a consequence, the optical device has a comb-filter output spectrum, which reduces a tuning energy of the optical device by eliminating spectral gaps between diffraction orders of the optical device.

Abstract: A temporal focusing system is disclosed. The temporal focusing system is configured for receiving a light beam pulse and for controlling a temporal profile of the pulse to form an intensity peak at a focal plane. The temporal focusing system has a prismatic optical element configured for receiving the light beam pulse from an input direction parallel to or collinear with the optical axis of the temporal focusing system and diffracting the light beam pulse along the input direction.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure are directed towards safely projecting a diffracted light pattern, such as in an infrared laser-based projection/illumination system. Non-diffracted (zero-order) light is refracted once to diffuse (defocus) the non-diffracted light to an eye safe level. Diffracted (non-zero-order) light is aberrated twice, e.g., once as part of diffraction by a diffracting optical element encoded with a Fresnel lens (which does not aberrate the non-diffracted light), and another time to cancel out the other aberration; the two aberrations may occur in either order. Various alternatives include upstream and downstream positioning of the diffracting optical element relative to a refractive optical element, and/or refraction via positive and negative lenses.

Abstract: A near-eye display includes an image generator that generates angularly related beams over a range of angles for forming a virtual image and a waveguide that propagates the angularly related beams over a limited range of angles. An input aperture of the waveguide includes a plurality of controllable components that are selectively operable as diffractive optics for injecting subsets of the angularly related beams into the waveguide. An output aperture of the waveguide includes a plurality of controllable components that selectively operable as diffractive optics for ejecting corresponding subsets of the angularly related beams out of the waveguide toward an eyebox. A controller synchronizes operation of the controllable components of the output aperture with the propagation of different subsets of angularly related beams along the waveguide for ejecting the subsets of angularly related beams out of the waveguide for presenting the virtual image within the eyebox.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tri wavelength diffraction modulator (TWDM) and a method of tri wavelength diffraction modulation. The tri wavelength diffraction modulator includes: a stationary substrate with a bottom electrode plate formed on top of the stationary substrate; a first electrode plate comprising a first suspended beam suspended in parallel above the stationary substrate and a first connection anchored onto the stationary substrate; and a second electrode plate comprising a second suspended beam suspended in parallel above the first electrode plate and a second connection anchored onto the stationary substrate. The diffraction modulator and the method for diffraction modulation are suitable to projection system.

Abstract: An optical system includes an optical path, a first lens unit that changes light emitted from an end of the optical path to parallel light, a second lens unit that allows the parallel light to be focused, and a diffractive optical element (DOE) that changes light passing through the second lens unit to light having a cross-section with a predetermined shape.

Abstract: Disclosed are a diffractive optical element, a design method thereof and the application thereof in a solar cell. The design method for a design modulation thickness of a sampling point of the diffractive optical element comprises: calculating the modulation thickness of the current sampling point for each wavelength component; obtaining a series of alternative modulation thicknesses which are mutually equivalent for each modulation thickness, wherein a difference between the corresponding modulation phases is an integral multiple of 2?; and selecting one modulation thickness from the alternative modulation thicknesses of each wavelength to determine the design modulation thickness of the current sampling point. In an embodiment, the design method introduces a thickness optimization algorithm into a Yang-Gu algorithm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for viewing or authenticating a diffractive device and a diffractive security device (1) are provided in which a first diffractive relief structure (200) is responsive to a first wavelength of visible monochromatic light, a second diffractive relief structure (200) is at least partially interlaced with the first diffractive relief structure (100) and responsive to a second wavelength of visible monochromatic light, and a third diffractive relief structure (400) is at least partially interlaced with the first and second diffractive relief structures (100, 200) and responsive to a third wavelength of visible monochromatic light.

Abstract: A planar diffractive optical element (DOE) lens is described herein. The planar DOE lens includes a substrate. The planar DOE lens further includes a first layer, the first layer being formed upon the substrate. The planar DOE lens further includes a diffractive optical element, the diffractive optical element being formed upon the first layer. The planar DOE lens further includes a second layer, the second layer being formed upon the first layer. The second layer is also formed over the diffractive optical element. The second layer encloses the diffractive optical element between the first layer and the second layer. The second layer includes a planar surface.

Abstract: An optical element includes: a first glass substrate; a second glass substrate; a diffractive element disposed on the first glass substrate and made of a resin; a spacer disposed between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate and regulating a gap between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate; and a void disposed between the second glass substrate and the diffractive element.

Abstract: An optical system for shaping a laser beam includes an optical element with a base member having a lower base, an upper base, and a lateral surface. The lateral surface includes a transmitting surface for the laser beam, and the base member includes a first cutout portion having a lower base arranged in the upper base of the base member, and a lateral surface that has a first reflecting surface for the laser beam and generates an at least segmentally ring-shaped laser beam. The base member includes a second cutout portion having a lower base arranged in the lower base of the base member, an upper base that includes a transmitting surface for the laser beam, and a lateral surface abutting the lower and upper base. The lateral surface includes a second reflecting surface for the at least segmentally ring-shaped laser beam.

Abstract: A monolithic or hybrid integrated optical information processor or optical information processing system having a plurality of non-quadratic phase optical elements, at least one LED array, and plurality of light modulating array elements, each controlled by respective control signals, the system arranged so that each light modulating array element lies in a different plane. In some implementations, at least a portion of the resulting system is implemented in a stack of component materials. In an implementation, an LED array is used as an image source and another LED array is used as an image sensor to transform the processed image into an electrical output.

Abstract: A zoom optical system has, in order from an object: a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power; a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group G4 having negative refractive power, wherein the mutual distance between the lens groups G1 to G4 change upon zooming, and one of the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4 includes at least one diffractive optical element PF.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide emitting and negatively-refractive focusing of electromagnetic energy. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing from an interior field region with an axial magnification substantially greater than one. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide emitting and negatively-refractive focusing of electromagnetic energy. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing from an interior field region with an axial magnification substantially less than one. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.

Abstract: An imaging lens with large aperture ratio, high-performance and low-cost is provided, which is applied to an imaging element of a small-size and high resolution, in which aberration is corrected satisfactorily and sufficient diffraction resolution is achieved. An imaging lens includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens arranged in sequence from an object side, wherein both surfaces of each lens are formed from aspheric surface, a diffraction optics surface exerting chromatic dispersion function is arranged on a surface on an image side of the second lens, each lens is configured from plastic material, and an aperture ratio is equal to or smaller than F/2.4.

Abstract: A system which may be used to generate a plurality of spots on a surface is provided. The spots may be aligned with the incident plane of oblique illumination. The system may include a diffractive optical element configured to split a beam into a plurality of beams by generating a plurality of diffraction orders. The system may also include a focusing lens configured to focus at least some of the plurality of beams on the surface in the plurality of spots. At least some of the plurality of beams may be focused on the surface at an oblique illumination angle. The system may also include an illumination source positioned off-axis relative to an optical axis of the diffractive optical element. Using the system, a plurality of spots may be generated on an inclined surface.

Abstract: A novel manufacturing method for a diffraction lens, whereby aperture and eccentricity effects can be suppressed and any multi-focusing effect can also be obtained in a more stable manner. A synchronous structure is set up where at least two reliefs whose first order diffracted lights give respective focal distances different from one another are set to overlap with each other in at least a part of an area in a radial direction of a diffraction lens, and with respect to every grating pitches of one relief having the maximum grating pitch among the reliefs set up in overlap, grating pitches of another relief are overlapped periodically; and the resulting relief pattern is formed on a surface of an optical material.

Abstract: An illuminating apparatus includes a rotating phase plate having a height equal to or less than a wavelength of light from a light source and including a plurality of randomly arranged step regions so as to change a phase of light from the light source by allowing the light beam to pass therethrough; and a fly's eye lens including an array of a plurality of lenses configured to pass the light beam passed through the rotating phase plate, wherein a portion in which a product of a maximum size of the plurality of step regions and an optical magnification from the rotating phase plate to a plane of incidence of the fly's eye lens is equal to or less than an arrangement pitch of the plurality of lenses and a portion in which the product is larger than the arrangement pitch of the plurality of lenses are mixed.

Abstract: An optical source uses feedback to maintain a substantially fixed spacing between adjacent wavelengths in a set of wavelengths in a wavelength comb output by the optical source. In particular, a set of light sources in the optical source provide optical signals having the set of wavelengths. Moreover, the optical signals are output at diffraction angles of an optical device in the optical source (such as an echelle grating), and optical detectors in the optical source determine optical metrics associated with the optical signals. Furthermore, control logic in the optical source provides control signals to the set of light sources based on the determined optical metrics.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer. The reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer includes a first optical equalizer to precompensate a received optical signal for optical filtering effects to produce a first compensated optical signal. A first interleaver, coupled to the first optical equalizer, separates the first compensated optical signal into an odd optical signal and an even optical signal. A plurality of wavelength selective switches processes the odd optical signal and the even optical signal. A second interleaver, combines the odd optical signal and the even optical signal to produce a combined optical signal. A second optical equalizer, coupled to the second interleaver, postcompensates the combined optical signal for optical filtering effects to produce an output optical signal.

Abstract: An image display device having an RGB illuminating module that includes a diffractive beam combiner. The diffractive beam combiner includes a first light source arranged to provide a first light beam having red color and a second light source arranged to provide a second light beam having green color. A centerline of the first light beam and a centerline of the second light beam are arranged to intersect at an intersection point. A diffractive output grating is located in the vicinity of the intersection point. The diffractive output grating is arranged to form an output light beam by diffracting light of the first light beam and light of the second light beam substantially in the same direction.

Abstract: A lens in accordance with the present invention includes an switchable cell consisting of optical substrate with diffraction surface, elastic film in contact with the diffraction surface of the substrate, optical fluid that fills the space between the film and diffraction surface and the mean to transfer the optical fluid in and out of the space between the film and diffraction surface. The refractive index of the optical fluid matches the refractive index of the optical substrate. The switchable cell changes focus positions between refractive focus in relaxed state when the pressure at both sides of the film is the same and diffraction focus when the optical fluid is transported from the space between the film and optical substrate for the film to largely conform to the diffraction surface shape of the optical substrate.

Abstract: A display unit for binocular representation of a multicolor image including a control unit triggering an imaging element such that the imaging element generates in a temporal successive manner the image to be displayed for a first beam path and a second beam path as a first image and second image, respectively. The images are generated in a pre-distorted manner, opposite of the chromatic aberration of the respective beam path, such that the chromatic aberration generated in the respective beam path is compensated when the first and second image is displayed. The display unit includes a switching module which operates in temporal synchrony with the first and second image being generated, such that a user can see the first image only via the first beam path and the second image only via the second beam path.

Abstract: Extended area lighting devices include a light guide and diffractive surface features on a major surface of the light guide, at least some diffractive surface features adapted to couple guided-mode light out of the light guide. The diffractive features include first and second diffractive features disposed on respective first and second portions of the major surface. A patterned light transmissive layer, including a second light transmissive medium, optically contacts the second diffractive features but not the first diffractive features. A first light transmissive medium optically contacts the first but not the second diffractive features. The first and second portions may define indicia, and the first and second diffractive features provide low distortion for viewing objects through the light guide such that the indicia is not readily apparent to users when guided-mode light does not propagate within the light guide. Optical films having such diffractive features are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical processor is presented for applying optical processing to a light field passing through a predetermined imaging lens unit. The optical processor comprises a pattern in the form of spaced apart regions of different optical properties. The pattern is configured to define a phase coder, and a dispersion profile coder. The phase coder affects profiles of Through Focus Modulation Transfer Function (TFMTF) for different wavelength components of the light field in accordance with a predetermined profile of an extended depth of focusing to be obtained by the imaging lens unit. The dispersion profile coder is configured in accordance with the imaging lens unit and the predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing to provide a predetermined overlapping between said TFMTF profiles within said predetermined profile of the extended depth of focusing.

Abstract: An EUV projection lens includes a substrate and concentric diffraction patterns on the substrate. The concentric diffraction patterns have an out-of phase height with respect to EUV light and include a material through which the EUV light has a transmittance higher than about 50% at the out-of phase height. The EUV projection lens has a high first order diffraction light efficiency and an optic system having the EUV projection lens has a high resolution.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide negatively-refractive focusing and sensing of electromagnetic energy. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes providing an interior focusing region with an axial magnification substantially greater than one. In some approaches the negatively-refractive focusing includes negatively-refractive focusing with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.