Abstract: The imager includes a semiconductor substrate having a top surface. A plurality of depressions is formed in the top surface of the substrate, and a plurality of spaced image pixels is formed in the substrate under the depressions. The imager further includes a plurality of first cylindrical substrate lenses having top surfaces. Each lens is formed in the depression corresponding to an underlying image pixel, with the top surface of each lens being optically coplanar with the top surface of the substrate. The imager further includes a plurality of second lenses overlying the first cylindrical lenses.

Abstract: A lenticular media (10) has an encoded portion (12) adjoining a main portion (14). The encoded portion (12) is located to provide alignment and registration for precisely determining the location of lenticules (16) in the main portion (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a three-dimensional optical memory element. This element is made of glass and includes: a glass matrix which has a first refractive index; and a plurality of spots which are three-dimensionally distributed in the glass matrix and each of which has a second refractive index different from the first refractive index. The element is prepared by condensing a pulsed laser beam to focal points in the element so as to prepare, at the focal points, the spots corresponding to the focal points. Each focal point has a diameter which is approximately equal to a wavelength of the pulsed laser beam. The element has a sufficient weatherability and a sufficient resistance to heat and light. It is possible to write information at each spot having a diameter equal to or shorter than the wavelength of the laser beam, with high density and good contrast.

Abstract: A method of exposing an integral imaging element having: an integral lens sheet with opposed front and back surfaces; and a light sensitive layer positioned behind the back surface;the method comprising the steps of:exposing the light sensitive layer with light from behind the back surface;wherein the element additionally has an anti-halation layer on at least a portion of the front surface of the lens sheet which anti-halation layer, during exposure, reduces the amount of exposing light which would otherwise be reflected back toward the light sensitive layer from the front surface.A system which can use the above method, and an integral image element of a type which can be produced by it, are also described.

Abstract: A device for preventing a false lighting phenomenon is provided between a light source of the main body of a signal lamp and e cover lens for preventing the signal lamp from presenting a false lighting phenomenon. The device for preventing a false lighting phenomenon comprises a pair of complex spherical lenses formed by many numbers of spheres arranged in a matrix on planes, and configured in a chain form in which the contact points, front, rear, left and right sides, of each of the spheres truncate the spheres forming a gapless interface while the upper and lower spherical surfaces are left intact to function as spherical lenses.

Abstract: A frame 2 for an image such as a picture 16 is formed from a microlens array. Such an array produces an apparent optical plane which is not coplanar with the real plane of the array. This produces the visual effect of the picture 16 being divorced from the frame 2 and an illusion of depth is created as between the frame 2 and the picture 16.

Abstract: A plate of a deformable optical material is pressed against a rigid surface furrowed with a congruent network of alveoli by subjecting the two faces of the plate to fluid pressures of different values, the pressure on the face opposite the alveolate surface being less than the pressure on the other face of that plate. The alveoli are deeper than the thickness of the convex part of the microlenses formed therein by permanent deformation of the plate under the applied pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination device in which a holographic device (HP.sub.i) separates the polarizations of an incident beam. The resulting polarized beam is transmitted to a holographic device (HL.sub.i) focusing the beam at various points of a screen. This screen may be a liquid-crystal screen (LCD).Applications: Liquid-crystal display.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing refractive microlenses in a single step, utilizing laser-induced surface structure formation in semiconductor doped glasses (SDGs). The SDG materials, in conjunction with above-bandgap wavelength laser sources, are used to fabricate lenses that operate with light of below-bandgap wavelengths. In accordance with the teaching of this invention lenses on an approximately 5-500 .mu.m diameter scale are fabricated individually or in arrays by laser irradiation of absorbing glasses. The microlenses have controllable characteristics and can be fabricated to have focal lengths as short as tens of microns. The lenses are generally parabolic or spherical in shape and are highly reproducible.

Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus including a light source system, an optical integrator for forming a plurality of light source images, and a condenser optical system for illuminating a target illumination surface in a rectangular or circular arc pattern in a multiple manner. The optical integrator has, from a light source side, a first lens group which has a plurality of first lens element groups each consisting of a plurality of first lens elements, and a second lens group which has a plurality of second lens element groups each consisting of a plurality of second lens elements. The second lens elements are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the first lens elements, and dimensions of the lens section of the first and second lens element satisfy a predetermined relations.

Abstract: A bright-field transmitted-light lighting device for a microscope is described, for the homogeneous illumination of the lighting field diaphragm (LF) at large fields and small apertures and for the uniform illumination of the aperture diaphragm (AP) at small fields and large apertures, A raster plate (3) is disposed in the lighting beam path (7). The raster plate (3) is designed as a plane-parallel, transparent plate which exhibits a circular rastering at the center.

Abstract: A method and structure for enhancing electromagnetic barrier properties including a substrate, a coating deposited upon the substrate, and a plurality of sets of patterns microembossed upon the surface of the coating layer for increasing the barrier properties of the structure. The plurality of sets of microembossed patterns each having a line density between about 100 and 50,000 lines per square centimeter.

Abstract: A microlens array and mold for making same in which the perimeter of each microlens is a modified polygon in that each edge of the lens approximates an elliptical arc, the ends of which terminate at the corners of the polygon, wherein the middle of the arc curves toward the center of each microlens. The microlenses are preferably rectangular or triangular.

Abstract: In a method of producing a condenser lens substrate, after a first clear substrate and a second clear substrate where a micro-lens having a spherical surface or a lenticular lens is formed are stuck to each other, at least one of the clear substrates is ground. At this time, the clear substrate is ground so as to have a thickness that a focus of the micro-lens or the lenticular lens is positioned in the vicinity of the outer surface of the first or the second clear substrate. This makes it possible to form a micro-lens or a lenticular lens having a short focus in a substrate of a liquid crystal display element. As a result, when a condenser lens substrate is produced, a possibility of breakage of the clear substrate is eliminated, and handling and sticking of clear substrates become easy, thereby making it possible to improve mass-productivity of a condenser lens substrate.

Abstract: An LED array printhead comprises a head substrate which carries an array of semiconductor LED chips and an array of drive IC's in corresponding relation to the LED chips. Each of the LED chips has a plurality of light emitting portions. The printhead further comprises a transparent resin coating for covering at least the LED chip array. The resin coating is provided with at least one convex lens portion at a position corresponding to a selected light emitting portion of the LED whose luminance is lower than a predetermined level.

Abstract: Wavefront correction apparatus for correcting a stepped wavefront output produced by certain angles of scan and by certain positions of scan in scanning microlens arrays includes anamorphic transfer optics with diffractive corrections. The transfer optics form the outputs of all of the unit cell trains of the microlens arrays into a unique, separate, linear image at each position of scan of the scanning array. A stepped wavefront corrector is positioned in the path of each linear image, and selected thicknesses of the material in the stepped wavefront corrector are effective to vary the times of optical passage through the stepped wavefront corrector in amounts to restore the wavefront to a continuous, unstepped form at the outlet of the plate.

Abstract: Wavefront correction apparatus for correcting a stepped wavefront output produced by certain angles of scan and by certain positions of scan in scanning microlens arrays includes anamorphic transfer optics with diffractive corrections. The transfer optics form the outputs of all of the unit cell trains of the microlens arrays into a unique, separate, linear image at each position of scan of the scanning array. A stepped wavefront corrector is positioned in the path of each linear image, and selected thicknesses of the material in the stepped wavefront corrector are effective to vary the times of optical passage through the stepped wavefront corrector in amounts to restore the wavefront to a continuous, unstepped form at the outlet of the plate.

Abstract: There are disclosed variations on a basic technique for forming a diffusion or rear-projection screen comprising an array of microlenses formed by selective light exposure and consequent selective polymerization of a sheet of photopolymerizable material. Thus, the lenses may be made elongate in a preferred direction transverse to the lens axes by exposure through a mesh formed with an array of slots. The lenses may be graded refractive index lenses having a surface relief adding to the lens power, such relief being formed naturally or by molding. The photopolymerizable material may be exposed by laser light, for example to a holographic pattern and such exposure may be made through a quarter-wave plate continuously rotated to eliminate micro defects. Enhanced lens powers may be achieved by heating the photopolymerizable material to close to the softening temperature of the associated polymer before exposure to light and maintaining the material at that temperature during the resultant polymerization.

Abstract: A method and structure for enhancing electromagnetic barrier properties including a substrate, a metallic layer deposited upon the substrate by vacuum metalization, and a plurality of sets of patterns microembossed upon the surface of the metallic layer for increasing the barrier properties of the structure. The plurality of sets of microembossed patterns each have a line density between about 100 and 50,000 lines per square centimeter.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an LED lens array which uses light of the constituent LEDs of the LED array as a light source for directly forming lenses on the LED array. This simplifies the fabrication process and decreases attenuation. The method involves depositing a mask in a desired pattern upon a substrate member bearing an n-type conductivity layer and, subsequently, forming a p-n junction therein by diffusion of an impurity into the n-type conductivity region to form a p-type conductivity region in a portion thereof. Following the application of electrodes and the deposition of a protective layer upon the resultant structure, a forward bias is applied to the electrodes. This results in the emission of light which is used to form a convex lens on the structure by optical chemical vapor deposition.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical microlens array producing method.

Abstract: In a solid-state imaging device having a microlens above a light receiving section formed on a substrate, the microlens comprises a first lens layer formed on a smooth surface of the substrate and a second lens layer formed on the first lens layer. In a transverse direction, the second lens layer is extended down on both sides of the first lens layer to be in contact with the substrate. In a longitudinal direction, the second lens layer is kept on a top surface of the substrate. The second lens layer is subjected to softening treatment.

Abstract: A first array of microlenses (16) on a lens substrate (15) is accurately aligned with a lens holder (20) by making a second array of microlenses (17) simultaneously with the first array. The second array of microlenses is arranged around the periphery of the lens substrate and is made solely for alignment purposes, rather than for focusing light. An array of detents (21, FIG. 2) is made in one surface of the lens holder such that, when the lens holder is abutted against the lens substrate, each microlens (17) of the second array can extend into one of the detents of the lens holder member, thereby to align the first array of microlenses with the lens holder member. The lens holder member has an opening (22) to permit light to be transmitted to or from the first array of microlenses (16). A pair of alignment pins (24) aligns the lens holder member with an array of optical fibers (12).

Abstract: An array of optical microelements is produced by press molding, at a high temperature, a transparent glass with a press mold which has a molding surface formed into a shape corresponding to the optical microelement array and coated with a chemically stable thin film.

Abstract: In a solid image pickup device, a plurality of microlenses are provided on a substrate having light receiving portions in opposition to the light receiving portions so that incident light can converge onto the light receiving portions. The microlenses are covered with a transparent resin layer having a refractive index smaller than that of the microlenses. Therefore, the solid image pickup device, even when packaged in a molded body made of a resin having a refractive index similar to that of the microlenses, can realize good sensitivity because the microlenses can effectively operate as condenser lenses due to the resin layer between the molded body and the microlenses.

Abstract: An optical device having a lens substrate and a microlens portion formed thereon, wherein the microlens has its lens portion formed on the part of the optical device that has substantially the same coefficient of expansion as that of the lens substrate.

Abstract: An image transmitting element and process for producing a photo-shield spacer plate used for the image transmitting element are disclosed.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method of forming optical devices composed of a photonucleable, crystallizable, lithium silicate glass body having at least one glass lens integral with and rising above at least one surface thereof, the lens being surrounded by a crystallized glass matrix, and optical devices produced by such method. The inventive method comprises subjecting the crystallized body to an ion exchange reaction wherein sodium and/or potassium ions from an external source are exchanged for lithium ions within the surface of the glass lens, the exchange reaction being conducted at a temperature of about 25.degree.-125.degree. C. above the annealing point of the glass for a time sufficient to produce a lens having an axial height in excess of 100% greater than that of lenses produced solely by selectively crystallizing a photonucleable, lithium silicate glass body.