Abstract: A compact, optically fast catadioptric imager. In one embodiment, the catadioptric imager of this invention includes a first group of optical elements optically disposed to receive electromagnetic radiation from an object and having positive optical power, a second group of optical elements, optically disposed between the first group of optical elements and an image plane, having at least one optical surface and having positive optical power, a third group of optical elements, optically disposed between the object and the second group of optical elements, having at least one optical surface and having negative optical power, a fourth group of optical elements substantially centered along an optical axis of said second group of optical elements and having negative optical power, and a fifth group of optical elements having positive optical power.

Abstract: In a projection type image display apparatus, a projector optical unit for projecting an image onto a screen while magnifying a size of the image to be projected with respect to an original size of the image displayed by an image forming element, has a group of lenses for magnifying the size of the image with respect to the original size thereof, and an optical path extending from the image forming element to the screen to transmit the image along the optical path.

Abstract: A projection lens assembly is provided that includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth lenses. The second, third, fifth, and sixth lenses of the projection lens assembly form a double gauss-type lens assembly. The first lens is configured to provide telecentricity and the fourth lens in configured to correct aberrations due to variations in the third lens.

Abstract: An optical arrangement with telecentric beam region for imaging objects, preferably a microscope, comprises in a main beam path at least one infinity-imaging objective and at least one eyepiece with an eyepiece intermediate image plane and a tube lens of suitable focal length which is arranged between the latter at a fixed distance from the objective. At least one optical element in the form of a beam splitter module or beam splitters for laterally splitting off at least a first partial beam path is provided in the space between the objective and the tube lens in which the telecentric beam path is located. A tube lens is located at a suitable distance from the objective in each of these first partial beam paths. At least a second partial beam path is branched off from at least one of these first partial beam paths and a tube lens is located at a suitable distance from the objective in each of these second partial beam paths.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic image pickup system that enables a wide image-pickup, and ensures that even when an image is printed, sufficient image quality and clearness are obtained from the center to as far as the margin of the image and the image of a subject is depicted with a sense of extension. The electronic image pickup system comprises an image-formation optical system 10 for forming an image of a subject and an electronic image pickup device 20 located on an image side of the image-formation optical system for obtaining image information on the image.

Abstract: In a method of forming an image, pixel portions of a spatial light-modulation element are two-dimensionally arranged, and individually modulated portions of light are applied to the spatial light-modulation element, according to control signals. A first image-forming optical system is arranged in optical paths of the portions of the light modulated by the pixel portions, a microlens array is arranged in a vicinity of an image-forming plane of the first image-forming optical system, and has microlenses arranged in correspondence with the pixel portions, respectively. A second image-forming optical system is arranged in optical paths of the portions of the light which have passed through the microlenses, and forms, on a predetermined surface, an image represented by the portions of the light modulated by the spatial light-modulation element. Each of the first and second image-forming optical systems forms an image with a magnification power greater than one.

Abstract: A projection lens system that projects projection light from a light modulator onto a screen and which is telecentric on an input side is provided. The projection lens system comprises a first meniscus lens that is disposed closest to the screen, is convex on a screen side, and has negative refractive power; and a second meniscus lens that is disposed next closest to the screen, is convex on a screen side, and has negative refractive power. The first meniscus lens is made of plastic and at least one out of two curved surfaces thereof is aspherical, and a refractive power of the first meniscus lens is lower than a refractive power of the second meniscus lens. In the projection lens system, far superior aberration-correcting performance can be achieved and a drop in aberration-correcting performance due to thermal deformation can be prevented.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic image pickup system that enables a wide image-pickup, and ensures that even when an image is printed, sufficient image quality and clearness are obtained from the center to as far as the margin of the image and the image of a subject is depicted with a sense of extension. The electronic image pickup system comprises an image-formation optical system 10 for forming an image of a subject and an electronic image pickup device 20 located on an image side of the image-formation optical system for obtaining image information on the image.

Abstract: A fixed-focus projection lens 2 comprises practically six lenses; a single lens having negative refracting power serving as a first lens 10, a single lens having positive refracting power serving as a second lens 20, a single lens having negative refracting power serving as a third lens 30, a compound lens having positive refracting power, consisting of a first component lens 41 and a second component lens 42, and serving as a fourth lens 40, and a single lens having positive refracting power serving as a fifth lens 50, arranged in that order from the side of a screen toward a display device. A surface 11, on the side of the display device, of the first lens 10, and a surface 41, on the side of the display device, of the second component lens 42 of the fourth lens 40 are aspherical.

Abstract: A projection optical system guiding and projecting a light beam from a projected object surface onto a projection surface in an upstream-downstream direction through a transmission dioptric system and a reflection dioptric system. An intermediate image surface of the projected object surface is positioned closer to the reflection dioptric system than to the transmission dioptric system, and an intermediate image on the intermediate image surface is formed as the final image on the projection surface via the reflecting mirrors, which include at least one anamorphic polynomial free-formed surface having different vertical and lateral powers. A light beam from the reflection dioptric system to the projection surface is guided at an angle to a normal of the projection surface and the transmission dioptric system is decentered with respect to a normal of the projected object surface, the transmission refractive elements prevented from being decentered with respect to each other.

Abstract: A projection lens system which includes a telecentric lens assembly. The lens may be used to form an image from a light source, including for example a resonant microcavity phosphororcathode ray tube, onto a screen or display, such as in a television or a projection device. In accordance with one embodiment, a planar cooling gap or cavity (which may or may not contain a cooling liquid) is included between the imaging surface and the matching planar surface of the field lens. The use of a planar gap alleviates any temperature differentials across the cooling liquid and the lens surfaces, as compared with alternate designs that may have a non-planar gap between the faceplate and the field lens, or that use liquid lenses.

Abstract: In the beam path of an Optical Cross Connect between the front face of a fiber block and a moveable mirror array are placed a telecentric lens and multi-surface optical element. The lens is placed adjacent the front face with a front focal plane coinciding with the front face. The substantially parallel beam path axes between the front face and the telecentric lens are converted by the lens into dispersing directions towards the optical element. Discrete optical surfaces of the optical element redirect the dispersing beam paths in a fashion such that the beam paths coincide in the following with corresponding moveable mirrors of a mirror array. Pitches of arrayed fiber ends and of the optical surfaces as well as the moveable mirrors are independently selectable. The telecentric lens simultaneously focuses the signal beams with improved beam separation and reduced signal loss.

Abstract: In the beam path of an Optical Cross Connect between the front face of a fiber block and a moveable mirror array are placed a telecentric lens and multi-surface optical element. The lens is placed adjacent the front face with a front focal plane coinciding with the front face. The substantially parallel beam path axes between the front face and the telecentric lens are converted by the lens into dispersing directions towards the optical element. Discrete optical surfaces of the optical element redirect the dispersing beam paths in a fashion such that the beam paths coincide in the following with corresponding moveable mirrors of a mirror array. Pitches of arrayed fiber ends and of the optical surfaces as well as the moveable mirrors are independently selectable. The telecentric lens simultaneously focuses the signal beams with improved beam separation and reduced signal loss.

Abstract: Focused imaging of constant size and resolution over a wide range of distances and a wide field of view in object space is provided by a doubly telecentric catadioptric optical system including an external limiting aperture at the juncture of the focal planes of two objectives, with a large-diameter concave spherical or aspheric mirror as the primary objective, and a camera lens as the secondary objective. Constant resolution avoids rescaling of images made at different depths for machine recognition tasks such as OCR, saving computation time and cost, and increasing through-put and accuracy. For digital linescan cameras, constant resolution of the image avoids scanning objects at different line rates for different depths of objects being scanned, thus maximizing speed of the objects and, hence, throughput. The field of view is constant over the entire range of depth and is not limited by the diameter of the camera lens elements.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator has pixel sections for performing spatial light modulation of light. An image-side telecentric image forming optical system forms an image of a two-dimensional pattern of the light having been obtained from the spatial light modulation. A microlens array having microlenses arrayed in two-dimensional directions is located in the vicinity of a plane of image formation of the two-dimensional pattern, whose image is formed by the image forming optical system. A magnification adjusting optical system for adjusting a magnification of image formation at the time of the formation of the image of the two-dimensional pattern of the light with the image forming optical system is located between the image forming optical system and the microlens array.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus based on the telecentric imaging system for forming an image of a linear zone (17) of an object (1). The apparatus comprises a non-telecentric camera (9) consisting of an objective (8) and an image plane (19) formed by a row of photosensitive cells (15) as well as telecentric imaging means (18) between the objective and the object. The telecentric means comprise a concave strip mirror (6), which is aligned with said row of cells and with the aperture of said objective located in its focal plane, as well as a strip-like plane mirror (5) between the parabolic mirror and the objective, whereby the radiation being reflected from the objective continues via the parabolic mirror and the planar mirror further to the objective and from there to the image plane. In the apparatus there is further a scattered light source (7) which lightens the object. The apparatus is adapted for measuring the dimensions of the width parts of the object.

Abstract: An objective lens system (2), particularly for a fingerprint reader apparatus, said lens system (2) comprising a first lens (8) formed as a condensing lens guiding light beams arriving from an object generally telecentrically, an aperture stop (9) having a centre (P) and being located in the vicinity of a focal point of the first lens (8), a correcting second lens (10) arranged between the first lens (8) and the aperture stop (9) and juxtaposed with the aperture stop (9), and a correcting third lens (11) formed as a condensing lens and arranged beside the aperture stop (9) opposite the second lens (10).

Abstract: An imaging optical instrument causes light emitted from a plurality of light sources arranged adjacent an object to image on recording surfaces of a photosensitive or thermosensitive material. The optical instrument includes a two-sided telecentric optical system having a first lens disposed adjacent an entrance end of a lens barrel, and a second lens disposed adjacent an exit end of the lens barrel, and an aperture stop disposed adjacent a meeting point of a rearward focus of the first lens and a forward focus of the second lens. The aperture stop has an aperture formed centrally thereof for allowing passage of beams that should contribute to image formation, and a refracting portion surrounding the aperture for refracting beams that should be intercepted and causing these beams to leave the lens barrel from the exit end thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a photographing lens containing, in order from an object side: a first lens having a positive refractive power and a convex surface facing the object side; a second lens having a negative refractive power; a third lens having a positive refractive power; and a fourth lens having a negative refractive power and at least one aspheric surface, the photographing lens satisfying the following conditional expressions: L T f ? 1.2 0.5 ? f 3 f ? 1.0 where LT denotes the distance on the optical axis between the object side of the first lens and the image side of the fourth lens; f denotes the total focal length of the photographing lens; and f3 denotes the focal length of the third lens.

Abstract: A compact and light-weighted projection lens system that is capable of projecting an image at an angle as wide as 75 degrees with sufficient field angle and brightness as represented by F number of approximately 2.4, that is capable of effectively correcting chroic aberration of magnification and aberration of distortion and exhibiting optical stability against environmental variations, and that is suitable for obtaining an extraordinarily fine image by the magnification and projection.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus: pixel portions of a spatial light-modulation element are two-dimensionally arranged, and individually modulate portions of light applied to the spatial light-modulation element, according to control signals; a first image-forming optical system is arranged in optical paths of the portions of the light modulated by the pixel portions; a microlens array is arranged in a vicinity of an image-forming plane of the first image-forming optical system, and has microlenses arranged in correspondence with the pixel portions, respectively; and a second image-forming optical system is arranged in optical paths of the portions of the light which have passed through the microlenses, and forms on a predetermined surface an image represented by the portions of the light-modulated by the spatial light-modulation element. Each of the first and second image-forming optical systems forms an image with a magnification power greater than one.

Abstract: A series of optical elements is used to produce multiple simultaneous adjoining images on a single image plane. A first, intermediate, image is produced using the first telecentric imaging lens. This intermediate image is produced at a plane coincident with an adjustable-size rectangular field stop. The rectangular field stop is mounted in a sub-housing that allows its free rotation. A second telecentric lens collimates the light from the intermediate image. This collimated light is next passed through an optical splitting means, which uses the principal of refraction to separate the light into multiple components. The optical splitting means is mounted in a sub-housing that allows its free rotation. From here, the light next passes through a third and final lens, which produces a second, final, image on a single, planar detection device. The final image consists of a plurality of identical copies of the intermediate image.

Abstract: Projection lenses for use with pixelized panels (PP) are provided. The projection lenses have a negative first unit (U1) separated from a positive second unit (U2) by a reflective surface (RS) which folds the lens' optical axis. The lenses are telecentric on the short conjugate side, have a large field of view in the direction of the long conjugate, and have low aberration levels, including, in particular, low levels of lateral color.

Abstract: An optical magnifier is provided. One general form of one example embodiment includes two lens elements, at least two aspheric surfaces, and at least one diffractive surface. Another general form of another example embodiment includes three lens elements, and at least three aspheric surfaces. At least two of the aspheric surfaces can be simple conics. The optical magnifier, suitable for use in an electronic display system, has an apparent field of view of at least +/?10 degrees; a magnification of at least 15×; a back focal length of at least 5 mm; and an eye relief greater than the effective focal length of the optical magnifier. The lens elements can be made from plastic.

Abstract: An optical imaging system with a first imaging lens, a field stop, and a second imaging lens configured to reduce the amount of dead space between images of samples.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator has pixel sections for performing spatial light modulation of light. An image-side telecentric image forming optical system forms an image of a two-dimensional pattern of the light having been obtained from the spatial light modulation. A microlens array having microlenses arrayed in two-dimensional directions is located in the vicinity of a plane of image formation of the two-dimensional pattern, whose image is formed by the image forming optical system. A magnification adjusting optical system for adjusting a magnification of image formation at the time of the formation of the image of the two-dimensional pattern of the light with the image forming optical system is located between the image forming optical system and the microlens array.

Abstract: A projection optical system that is telecentric or very nearly telecentric on both sides is formed of four positive lens groups with a central diaphragm for achieving at least very nearly unity magnification. The second and third lens groups are movable along the optical axis of the projection optical system, preferably at the same rate and in the same direction, in order to vary the magnification of the projection optical system. The range of movement of the second and third lens groups includes a position where the first and second lens groups together are a mirror image about the plane of the diaphragm of the third and fourth lens groups together. A projection exposure device uses the projection optical system to form an image of an illuminating beam modulated by a mask pattern on a workpiece. An image magnification detector controls movement of the second and third lens groups.

Abstract: A dispersive optical element and positionable micromirrors are deployed to implement a configurable wavelength routing device for add/drop and other applications. Input light is dispersed and imaged onto a focal plane where there is disposed an array of light redirection elements operative to decenter wavelengths on a selective basis. In the preferred embodiment, the dispersive optical element is a grating or grating/prism featuring a high degree of dispersion allowing the input and return paths to be parallel and counter-propagating, both for a compact size and to facilitate a lateral shifting in a localized area. The inputs and outputs may be implemented in conjunction with optical fibers, with a lens being used to collimate light prior to illumination of the grating. A focusing lens is preferably used to form a nominally telecentric image of the dispersed spectrum at the image plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an illumination system including an illumination source, a beam conditioner placed in an optical path with the illumination source, a first diffractive array, a condenser system and a second diffractive array. The illumination source directs light through the beam conditioner onto the first diffractive array. The light is then directed to the condenser system placed in an optical path between the first diffractive array and second diffractive array. The condenser system includes a plurality of stationary optical elements and a plurality of movable optical elements. The plurality of movable optical elements are placed in an optical path with the plurality of stationary optical elements. The movable optical elements are capable of translation between the plurality of stationary optical element to zoom the light received from the first diffractive array.

Abstract: In the beam path of an Optical Cross Connect between the front face of a fiber block and a moveable mirror array are placed a telecentric lens and multi-surface optical element. The lens is placed adjacent the front face with a front focal plane coinciding with the front face. The substantially parallel beam path axes between the front face and the telecentric lens are converted by the lens into dispersing directions towards the optical element. Discrete optical surfaces of the optical element redirect the dispersing beam paths in a fashion such that the beam paths coincide in the following with corresponding moveable mirrors of a mirror array. Pitches of arrayed fiber ends and of the optical surfaces as well as the moveable mirrors are independently selectable. The telecentric lens simultaneously focuses the signal beams with improved beam separation and reduced signal loss.

Abstract: A telecentric lens system including a front lens unit, a rear lens unit that is disposed so that the front focal point of the rear lens unit coincides with the back focal point of the front lens unit, and a diaphragm mechanism that is disposed at the location where the back focal point of the front lens unit and the front focal point of the rear lens unit coincide. The diaphragm mechanism includes a numerical aperture changer for changing the numerical aperture of the diaphragm mechanism. By changing the numerical aperture, the telecentric lens system can be used in a wide range of applications from observations requiring a large focal depth to observations requiring high resolution. The telecentric lens system that can be used in observations for a wide range of applications and an image measuring device including the telecentric lens system.

Abstract: A double telecentric objective lens includes a front group and a rear group each having a positive refracting power as a whole. The front group includes a first unit and a second unit. The first unit is formed of a cemented lens composed of a convex lens and a concave lens. The second unit includes a convex lens or a cemented lens composed of a convex lens and a concave lens, and a concave lens. The rear group includes a third unit and a fourth unit. The third unit includes a concave lens and a cemented lens composed of a convex lens and a concave lens. The fourth unit is formed of a cemented lens composed of a convex lens and a concave lens. In the above configuration, the optical constants of the lenses are determined so as to satisfy the following conditions: n1n−n1p>0.1  (1) &ngr;1p−&ngr;1n>25  (2) 0.3 fF−r2n<0.5 fF  (3) 1.4<(r2p/r2n)<2.

Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of a reticle onto a photosensitive substrate. The projection optical system includes at least three lens units, including a lens unit of a positive refractive power and a lens unit of a negative refractive power, and an aspherical lens having aspherical surfaces formed on both sides thereof, in which a relation |Lxø0|>17 is satisfied, where L is a conjugate distance of the projection optical system and ø0 is the total power of the negative lens unit or of negative lens units of the projection optical system. Each aspherical surface of said aspherical surface lens is disposed at a position satisfying a relation |hb/h|>0.36 where h is a height of an axial marginal light ray, and hb is a height of a most abaxial chief ray, and each aspherical surface of the aspherical surface lens satisfies a relation |&Dgr;ASPH/L|>1.

Abstract: A bilaterally conjugate telecentric optical system has, sequentially from one conjugate side, a first lens unit in the form of an afocal optical system including sequentially from one conjugate side a first subunit having positive optical power and a second subunit having positive optical power, and having an aperture stop fixed in the optical axis direction at the focal position on the back side of the first subunit; and a second lens unit in the form of an afocal optical system that is movable in the optical axis direction to adjust the focus while maintaining a telecentric state.

Abstract: A projection zoom lens system according to the present invention has a substantially telecentric incidence side and comprises a plurality of lens groups for behaving differently between a wide-angle end and a telephoto end, wherein at least one of two surfaces of a lens included in a first lens group located closest to a screen side has an aspheric surface. Since the lens closest to the screen has the largest diameter and the density of light rays becomes smallest among the lenses, it is possible to design the aspheric surface for correcting properly the light rays and reduce the correcting loads of the other lens groups constituting the projection zoom lens system so as to provide the compact and high performance zoom lens system.

Abstract: A wide angle projection lens consists of a Gnp lens group having positive refractive power and a Gf lens group having positive refractive power in the order from a large conjugate side toward a small conjugate side, and further the Gnp lens group consists of a Gn lens group having negative refractive power and a Gp lens group having positive refractive power in the order from the large conjugate side toward the small conjugate side, while satisfying −1.8<fn/f<−1.1, 3.2<fp/f<5.5, 1.2<Dnp/f<2.4 and 2.8<ff/fnp<4.4, where f: focal length of the whole lens system, fn: focal length of the Gn lens group, fp: focal length of the Gp lens group, Dnp: air spacing between the Gn lens group and the Gp lens group, fnp: focal length of the Gnp lens group and ff: focal length of the Gf lens group.

Abstract: A zoom lens system has, from an enlargement side, a first lens unit having a negative optical power, a second lens unit having a positive optical power and disposed on the image side of the first lens unit with a first variable distance secured in between, a third lens unit having a positive optical power and disposed on the image side of the second lens unit with a second variable distance secured in between, a fourth lens unit having a negative optical power, disposed on the image side of the third lens unit with a third variable distance secured in between, and including an aperture stop, a fifth lens unit having a positive or negative optical power and disposed on the image side of the fourth lens unit with a fourth variable distance secured in between, and a sixth lens unit having a positive optical power and disposed on the image side of the fifth lens unit with a fifth variable distance secured in between. Zooming is achieved by varying the first to fifth variable distances.

Abstract: An electronic imaging system is disclosed, for assessing the intensity of colorimetric, fluorescent or luminescent signal in a matrix consisting of wells, microwells, hybridization dot blots on membranes, gels, or other specimens. The system includes a very sensitive area CCD detector, a fast, telecentric lens with epi-illumination, a reflective/transmissive illumination system, an illumination wavelength selection device, and a light-tight chamber. A computer and image analysis software are used to control the hardware, correct and calibrate the images, and detect and quantify targets within the images.

Abstract: Telecentric projection lenses for use with pixelized panels (PP) are provided. The projection lenses have a negative first unit (U1) which has at least one negative meniscus element (N1) having at least one aspheric surface and a positive second unit (U2) which has at least one positive element (P1) having at least one aspheric surface. The lens' aperture stop (AS) is located between the two units, and a third lens unit (U3) may be used in the vicinity of the aperture stop to improve the correction of axial color. The lenses have small forward vertex distances, small clear apertures, and long back focal lengths which make them particularly well-suited for use in the manufacture of compact projection systems.

Abstract: A new and useful method and system for correcting for ghost images in a telecentric optical system is provided. Ghost images generated from planar optical surfaces in the image space after the major elements of a telecentric optical system are shift invariant. In other words the ghost images produced by these optical elements do not change their shape with different field angles or points. The ghost image's invariance with field position will allow the ghost image to be subtracted or removed from the image of an object recorded on a digital detector such as CCD or CMOS detector when its optical system is telecentric in image space. This subtraction may be accomplished, for example, with a removal technique using a measured ghost function germane and invariant to that particular optical system. The combination of the ghost image and scatter functions is linearly shift invariant and therefore, both noise contributions could be removed from the resulting digital image using similar removal techniques.

Abstract: An optical system for detecting image light in a digital camera includes an electronic sensor having an area array of pixels for detecting the image light. A field lens is positioned adjacent the electronic sensor so as to be substantially in the path of the image light for directing the image light onto the area array of pixels. The field lens straightens the image light so that the straightened image light rays are substantially parallel to an optical axis of the digital camera.

Abstract: Projection exposure device and also projection objective with a lens arrangement which has at least one lens group of negative refractive power, this lens group comprising at least four lenses of negative refractive power, and a lens of positive refractive power being arranged after the third lens of negative refractive power in this lens group.

Abstract: A light filtering assembly for filtering an input beam of light having a plurality of desired wavelength components and a plurality of unwanted wavelength components so as to provide an output beam having only the desired wavelength components. The filtering assembly comprises an input section, a filtering section, and an output section. The input section divides the input beam into a plurality of polarized beamlets that travel along a corresponding plurality of spatially separated beam paths. The polarized beamlets comprise a plurality of desired beamlets corresponding to the desired wavelength components of the input beam and a plurality of unwanted beamlets corresponding to the unwanted wavelength components of the input beam. The filtering section is disposed in the paths of the beamlets so that the desired beamlets are passed and the unwanted beamlets are blocked.

Abstract: A telecentric zoom lens having telecentric forming aperture optically and preferably mechanically intermediate an objective lens and a zoom group. The aperture is fixed along an optical axis and selected to provide a constant speed on an image side of the lens system. The location of the aperture relative to the zoom group maintains telecentricity of the lens in object space.

Abstract: A series of optical elements is used to produce multiple simultaneous adjoining images on a single image plane. A first, intermediate, image is produced using the first telecentric imaging lens. This intermediate image is produced at a plane coincident with an adjustable-size rectangular field stop. The rectangular field stop is mounted in a sub-housing that allows its free rotation. A second telecentric lens collimates the light from the intermediate image. This collimated light is next passed through an optical splitting means, which uses the principal of refraction to separate the light into multiple components. The optical splitting means is mounted in a sub-housing that allows its free rotation. From here, the light next passes through a third and final lens, which produces a second, final, image on a single, planar detection device. The final image consists of a plurality of identical copies of the intermediate image.

Abstract: A multiple element color-corrected doubly telecentric lens and imaging system useful for imaging multiwell plates is described. The lens contains a biconvex field lens element L1, a positive meniscus lens element L2, concave toward the incident light side, a double-Gauss lens element group, a positive meniscus lens element L10, convex toward the incident light, a positive meniscus lens element L11, convex toward the incident light, and a plano concave field flattener lens element L12, concave toward the incident light side. The lens is very sensitive, and can be used to image scintillation proximity assays in multiwell plates.

Abstract: A multi-beam zoom lens for producing variable spot sizes on a photosensitive medium from a plurality of individually modulated light sources wherein each light source emits a light beam parallel to each of the other light sources and parallel to an optical axis and wherein a numerical aperture of each of said light beams is greater than 0.125, comprising an afocal zoom lens (10). The afocal zoom lens comprises a first moving group of lenses (13), a second group of moving lenses (14), and a third group of moving lenses (15). A constant barrel length of the afocal zoom lens is less than 160 mm and the zoom lens has a constant distance from the light sources to the photosensitive medium of less than 180 mm. The zoom lens has an afocal magnification of at least 45% across a zoom range.

Abstract: An electronic imaging system is disclosed, for assessing the intensity of calorimetric, fluorescent or luminescent signal in a matrix consisting of wells, microwells, hybridization dot blots on membranes, gels, or other specimens. The system includes a very sensitive area CCD detector, a fast, telecentric lens with epi-illumination, a reflective/transmissive illumination system, an illumination wavelength selection device, and a light-tight chamber. A computer and image analysis software are used to control the hardware, correct and calibrate the images, and detect and quantify targets within the images.

Abstract: Telecentric lens systems for use with pixelized panels, such as LCD or DMD panels, are provided. The systems have a long aperture stop to object distance (ASOD) and a high level of aberration correction, including a high level of lateral color correction. Preferably, the systems also have a low f-number and are wide angle. The systems include a negative first unit which produces the long ASOD, a weak second unit which includes two meniscus elements which surround the system's aperture stop, and a positive third unit which images the aperture stop to form the system's telecentric pupil.

Abstract: In the projection optical system that projects an image of the first object onto the second object with a fixed reduction ratio and a projection aligner equipped therewith, said projection optical system comprises, viewed from said first object side, in order of succession, the first group of lenses with positive refractive power, and the second group of lenses virtually consists of afocal system, and the third group of lens with positive refractive power, and if the focal length of the overall system is represented by F, the projection magnification ratio of said projection optical system is represented by B, the distance between said first object and said second object is represented by L, and when a ray from the second object side of said projection optical system that is parallel to the optical axis of said projection optical system is incident on said projection optical system, a distance between a point where an extension on the first object side of said ray intercepts the optical axis and said first ob