Abstract: The invention is directed to lenses having thin walls and a generally conical shape for use with dental light-curing devices. The conical or otherwise tapered shape enables the apex of the lenses to be inserted at least partially within a dental preparation (e.g., a Class II dental preparation). The thin walls allow the light emitted from the light-curing device to pass through the lens and apex without being undesirably refracted, thereby enabling light to be emitted directly in front of the apex with sufficient intensity to cure light-curable compounds within the dental preparation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical system for illuminating and viewing a target in which an illumination element and a receiving means are disposed behind a single optical window, and which obtains data essentially free of backscatter and stray light. The optical window of the optical system is configured such that it defines a shape having at least one focal curve, i.e., an ellipsoid shaped dome. The illumination element and the receiving means are geometrically positioned on the focal curve plane or in proximity of the focal curve plane, such that, when illuminating, rays from the illumination elements, that are internally reflected from the optical window, will not be incident on the receiving means.

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 system for illuminating and viewing a target (15) in which an illumination element (16) and a receiving element (13) are disposed behind a single optical window (14), and which obtains data essentially free of backscatter and stray light. The optical window (14) is configure such that is defines a shape having at least one focal curve, i.e., an ellipsoid shape dome. The illumination element (16) and the receiving element (13) are geometrically positioned on the focal curve plane or in proximity of the focal curve plane, such that, when illuminating, rays from the illumination element internally reflected from the optical window (14) will not incident on the receiving element (13).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an apparatus and the apparatus being configured to convert a first distribution of an input radiation to a second distribution of output radiation. The method consists of the steps of generating a two-dimensional representation of at least three active optical surfaces of an optical device including calculating a segment of a first surface based on edge ray sets as a first generalized Cartesian oval, calculating a segment of an entry surface based on the edge ray set as a second generalized Cartesian oval, calculating a segment of a second surface based on the edge ray set as a third generalized Cartesian oval, and successively repeating the steps of calculating the segment of the first surface and calculating the segment of the second surface in a direction towards a source, and rotationally sweeping the two-dimensional representation about a central axis providing a three-dimensional representation of the optical device.

Abstract: A lens has at least one aspheric lens surface, an objective with at least one aspheric lens surface, and a projection exposure device for microlithography and a method for the production of microstructured components with an objective having at least one aspheric lens surface. The object of the invention is to provide a method by which new designs with aspheric lens surfaces can be generated without consultation with manufacturing, with this object attained by the measure of describing the aspheric lens surfaces by Zernike polynomials, which makes it is possible to undertake a classification of aspheric lens surfaces such that the respective aspheric lens surface can be polished and tested at a justifiable cost when at least two of three, or all three, of certain conditions are present.

Abstract: A light collimating system includes a transparent substrate, a plurality of conic elements and a screen. Each of the conic elements has a relatively narrow light incident side to which the screen is attached and a relatively wide light emitting side attached to the transparent substrate. Each of the conic elements has several segments which are arranged to form a truncated cone with an opening angle that decreases towards the light emitting side. The screen has a plurality of transmission areas covered by the light incident sides of the conic elements. Outside the transmission areas, incoming light is reflected from the screen. Diffuse light entering the conic elements through the transmission areas of the screen is collimated by refraction and total reflection at peripheral surfaces of the conic elements, resulting in a light bundle of narrow angular intensity distribution emanating from the transparent substrate.

Abstract: A surface configuration obscures an object from detection by night vision devices, ultraviolet devices and infrared devices. The surface configuration is three dimensional, having spaced inner and outer surfaces. A wall defines a plurality of enclosed cells, and projections extend from the inner surface within the cells. The cells can be hexagonal, round or otherwise shaped. The projections can be flat sided or curved.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a synthetic resin-made concave cone lens for radiating a standard laser line in a low cost in that accuracy of irradiation of a standard laser line can be assured, occurrence of defective products can be prevented, and advantages in production cost owing to mass production can be sufficiently enjoyed.

Abstract: An integrated light-transmission optical module for a safetyoptoelectronic barrier, comprises a condenser element having a first lens, and an objective having a second lens which are located respectively at a first end and a second end. The module comprises a single-piece entity made of transparent material, and having an intermediate zone provided with deflectors formed by a succession of dioptric surfaces distributed along the direction of light flux propagation between the first lens and the second lens. The deflectors ensure a deflection outside the optical module of stray rays reflected inside the module, so as to prevent transmission of strays rays, either through the second lens of the objective if it is a light transmission coming from the condenser element, or through the first lens when receiving light coming from the second lens.

Abstract: A light collimating system, comprising a transparent substrate, a plurality of conic elements and a screen. Each of the conic elements has a relatively narrow light incident side to which the screen is attached and a relatively wide light emitting side attached to the transparent substrate. Each of the conic elements has several straight or curved segments which are arranged to form a truncated cone with an opening angle that decreases towards the light emitting side. The screen has a plurality of transmission areas covered by the light incident sides of the conic elements. Outside the transmission areas, incoming light is reflected from the screen. Diffuse light entering the conic elements through the transmission areas of the screen is collimated by refraction and total reflection at peripheral surfaces of the conic elements, resulting in a light bundle of narrow angular intensity distribution emanating from the transparent substrate.

Abstract: A pair of optical lenses comprising a first biconvex optical lens having two equivalent aspheric optical surfaces and a second biconvex optical lens having two equivalent aspheric optical surfaces positioned spaced apart from the first biconvex optical lens, wherein the first optical lens is adapted to shape the light emitted from a source optical fiber into one of a converging, diverging, and collimated beam and the second optical lens is adapted to focus the beam into a receiving optical fiber such that the light emitted from the source optical fiber is coupled into the receiving optical fiber.

Abstract: There is provided a protective, diffusive film for use in a surface light source device provided with a lens film, said protective, diffusive film comprising: a transparent substrate layer; and a resin layer provided on the top surface and the under surface of the transparent substrate layer, the resin layers being free from fine particles and having fine concaves and convexes on the surface thereof, the difference in coverage between the resin layer provided on the top surface of the transparent substrate layer and the resin layer provided on the under surface of the transparent substrate layer being in the range of −20% to +20% in terms of the percentage of the coverage of one of the resin layers to the coverage of the other resin layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming halo implants in a semiconductor device. In one illustrative embodiment, the method comprises forming a structure above a semiconducting substrate, forming a layer of photoresist above the structure and the substrate, and positioning the substrate in an exposure tool that has a light source and a focal plane. The method further comprises positioning the surface of the layer of photoresist in an exposure plane that is different from the focal plane of the exposure tool, exposing the photoresist to the light source of the exposure tool while the surface of the photoresist is in the exposure plane, and developing the layer of photoresist to define an opening in the layer of photoresist around the structure on the substrate.

Abstract: A molded glass lens is taught that includes a molded three-dimensional reference surface at a first end of the lens body, a first molded optical surface interrupting the three-dimensional reference surface, and a molded second optical surface at a second end of the lens body. The first and second optical surfaces may be plano, convex or concave. The molded three-dimensional reference surface is curvilinear and may be a spherical, aspherical or conical segment. The molded lens may include a second molded three-dimensional reference surface at the second end of the lens body. The molded three-dimensional reference surface is of a specified shape and location with respect to the first and second optical surfaces. By physically locating the lens with the molded three-dimensional reference surface and one of the first or second optical surfaces, the lens can be held in a given orientation.

Abstract: An optical procedure and system for aligning a beam of light to an optical fiber is described. The beam may originate from a diode laser, a light emitting diode, a collimated laser, or an optical fiber. The system controls as many as eight degrees of freedom of the beam incident upon the fiber. The system employs optical leverage to relax assembly tolerances while still achieving the necessary fine tolerances for singlemode fibers. The adjustments are achieved by translation of components along a single direction across the optical axis and along a flat planar base on which the elements are mounted. The optical leverage, the single direction of translation, and the flat-base interface are features that facilitate automated assembly of fiberoptic packages. Planar graded index of refraction lenses are used in a preferred embodiment that enhances the optical coupling efficiency by practically eliminating the reflections at component interfaces.

Abstract: A pinhole camera in which a conical lens with an apical angle of 91.13° to 91.15° is used to correct the fisheye characteristics, and ⅓-inch fixed charged coupled device and a pinhole with a diameter of 0.8 mm are adopted to obtain clear image of a subject in an range from a point closely adjacent to the camera to a point far from the camera with strong contrast. The pinhole video camera comprising: a printed circuit board to which ⅓-inch fixed coupled charged device is attached; a holder fixed so as to cover a front surface of the coupled charged device of the printed circuit board; a lens holder having a pinhole with a diameter of 0.8 mm; a conical convex lens with an apical angle of 91.13° to 91.15°, the conical convex lens fixed on a rear face side of the pinhole of the lens holder.

Abstract: A near-field optical or MO data storage system uses an optical focusing device for focusing an incident optical beam to a small size focal spot. The optical focusing device includes an optically transmissive body which is defined by a generally flat incident surface, a flat, bottom surface disposed opposite and parallel to the incident surface, and a reflective side coated with a reflective layer for reflecting the optical beam through the body toward the bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a focal plane on which the focal spot is formed, for generating a localized evanescent field. The focal spot is located along a central axis P, in very close proximity to the data storage disk, such that the localized evanescent field interacts with the disk, for enabling data to be transduced to and from the disk by effecting near field coupling. An electro-magnetic coil or coil assembly, can optionally be formed on the bottom surface, co-axially with the focal spot, for generating a desired write magnetic field.

Abstract: An axiconic telescope that receives a collimated input light beams and includes a first axicon and second axicon. Depending on the distance between the two axicons, the input collimated beam is converted to a diverging conical wave front by the first axicon, which is re-collimated by the second axicon having an oppositely signed cone angle. The output of the telescope is a collimated beam having an annular cross section, with the annulus having a width of dependent on the diameter of the telescope. The axiconic telescope may be used to produce an output beam having annulus size that can be optimized to illuminate a portion of a transducer in an solid immersion lens or photon tunning method device that contributes evanescent waves to increase resolution of an optical device.

Abstract: A video interface linking a base station with a remote display, e.g., a head-mounted display, converts input video signals from NTSC or PAL formats into modulated video signals containing repetitive sequences of frame times with embedded audio and control signals. Each frame time includes equal consecutive color field times. Frame rates are converted by inserting selected repeating color frames into the datastream. Bursts of image information occupy a portion of each field time. During each data burst, the display is loaded with pixel luminance data. Between bursts, the display is illuminated by a color LED. Two video displays can be driven alternately, i.e., the first display loads while the second is illuminated. The modulated video signal can travel through the atmosphere on an infrared (IR) beam with a wavelength between 700 nm and 1100 nm. In one embodiment, the beam is scattered from a diffuse reflecting surface. Alternatively, the beam is shaped by a shaping lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light stick comprising an electric light source and a light-refracting tubular body. The light-refracting tubular body has a longitudinal axis and is made of a translucent or transparent plastic material. The tubular body tapers from a first open end of larger diameter to a second closed end of smaller diameter. The light source is mounted in the open end of the tubular body with the power source housed in an adjoining cap which may be fitted onto the open end. The light source includes a LED aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tubular body, and a light-refracting network is formed on the internal surface of the body to project light emitted by the LED towards the side and the closed end of the tubular body. This network consists of a generally helicoidal thread. In operation, the light rays are refracted and radiated by the thread and the translucent or transparent plastic material forming the tubular body appears to glow evenly along its entire length.

Abstract: A light source device including a light emitting element emits a luminous flux, which is converged by a reflecting mirror. A conical light-refracting element receives the luminous flux converged by the reflecting mirror and changes the cone angle of the luminous flux. The luminous flux exiting the conical light-refracting element is diffused by a holographic diffuser and is then converged by at least one lens. The reflecting mirror may have an elliptic curvature or a parabolic curvature. The light source device is also used to form a projector for a projection type display apparatus. In the projector, the luminous flux emitted from the light source device may be separated by color separators into a plurality of colors of light. Then, each color of light is directed to the corresponding one of a plurality of light valves. Then, a color synthesizer synthesizes the colors of light emitted from the light valves into a composite image which in turn is projected onto a screen.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an LCD projector illumination system that optimizes the illumination through a liquid crystal screen as well as through the aperture of the system's objective, wherein the shape Zr,.beta. of the reflector is described by a set of elementary surfaces dS each of which is associated with a function Z(.rho.), corresponding to a median plane (r,.beta.) to be illuminated, defined by the distance r between the center and the edges of said screen and the angle .beta. between the horizontal plane and this median plane, the inclination of each elementary surface dS being computed by interpolating said functions Z(.rho.) with a function Z(x,y).

Abstract: An optical subsystem (14) for use in an electronic imaging system (10) utilizes a spatial filter (20) having a concentric optical path profile for removing unwanted structures in the optically formed image. In a first embodiment, the filter (20) includes an axisymmetric conical surface (24) formed on an optical substrate (22) to provide a light path modifying profile designed to achieve a desired circular point spread function in an image plane (16). Other embodiments include an elliptical/conical profile, and an axisymmetric, concentric ring profile. The filter profile may be single-point diamond turned into a flat filter substrate, or can be combined/integrated with the profile of an existing optical system element, such as lens (18). The present invention further provides a method for removing unwanted artificial image structures by generating an imaging system point spread function which is a hollow, closed path.

Abstract: A two stage non-imaging optical concentrator providing high concentration while providing a low aspect ratio and a wide field of view. The invention includes a non-imaging refractive member and a non-imaging reflective funnel member. The reflective funnel has a broad extremity and an opposing narrow extremity. The refractive member is disposed substantially within the funnel, proximate to the narrow extremity of the funnel, so as to provide a low aspect ratio of the two stage non-imaging concentrator of the invention. The low aspect ratio of the concentrator of the invention advantageously provides for compact and efficient packaging of the concentrator in conjunction with mobile optical communication link components.

Abstract: An optical lens is useful as a D-shape laser beam projector. The lens consists of a known linear diverging element enabling the expansion of a laser beam into an uniform line, and a matching section of an axicon, either a symmetrical half-axicon or a non-symmetrical one, cut in a plane passing through, or nearly through, its apex. The two components, joined together in a plane of cutting of the axicon section, are positioned in a laser beam such that the beam is incident on both apices of the linear diverging element and the axicon section.

Abstract: Improved transmitter and receiver units for use in spatial measurement system that are easy and inexpensive to manufacture while providing a high degree of reliability are disclosed. Specifically, the laser transmitter includes a laser emitter, a bearing/motor assembly coupled to the laser emitter, the bearing/motor assembly including a rotatable hollow spindle shaft through which a laser beam generated by the laser emitter passes and a motor for driving the spindle shaft, a prism assembly coupled to the spindle shaft, wherein the prism assembly divides the laser beam generated by the laser emitter into a pair of fanned laser beams, and reflecting means for reflecting the fanned laser beams generated by the prism assembly as counter-rotating fanned laser beams. The receiver unit preferably includes at least one optical receiver coupled to an extension member, a processing unit coupled to the optical receiver, and a receiver interface coupled to the processing unit.

Abstract: A method of depositing a thin layer of a target material on a substrate is disclosed. The method comprises illuminating the material with at least one elliptical laser beam so that a desposition plume is emitted from the target material, then positioning the substrate to receive the material emitted by the deposition plume. An apparatus for practicing the method and a multi-faceted negative axicon for forming a plurality of concentric laser beams are also disclosed.

Abstract: A family of condenser lenses for an overhead projector (OHP) are designed to balance overall brightness in the projected image versus uniformity of illumination. The lenses are plano-convex and aspheric, and their conic constant is a function of the radius of curvature. The radius of curvature is further selected from a range which depends upon the size of the stage of the OHP. Preferred values of other parameters of the lens and OHP optical system are selected to complement the lens design. The lens is constructed of a heat-resistant material, such as borosilicate, to withstand the high temperatures generated by the incandescent lamp within the OHP base. Condenser lenses which are members of the described family provide performance, in terms of total luminous flux and uniformity of that flux, which is superior to the performance of previous designs.

Abstract: Improved transmitter and receiver units for use in spatial measurement system that are easy and inexpensive to manufacture while providing a high degree of reliability are disclosed. Specifically, the laser transmitter includes a laser emitter, a bearing/motor assembly coupled to the laser emitter, the bearing/motor assembly including a rotatable hollow spindle shaft through which a laser beam generated by the laser emitter passes and a motor for driving the spindle shaft, a prism assembly coupled to the spindle shaft, wherein the prism assembly divides the laser beam generated by the laser emitter into a pair of fanned laser beams, and reflecting means for reflecting the fanned laser beams generated by the prism assembly as counter-rotating fanned laser beams. The receiver unit preferably includes at least one optical receiver coupled to an extension member, a processing unit coupled to the optical receiver, and a receiver interface coupled to the processing unit.

Abstract: An electronic image pickup apparatus comprising an imaging optical system for forming images of an object and image pickup device having light receiving surface configured so as to sample the images at discontinuously distributed points. This image pickup apparatus functions to sample the images of the object formed by the imaging optical system while receiving the images on the light receiving surface of the image pickup device and output signals representing light intensities on the object side. Disposed in the imaging optical system is a refracting surface which produces the optical low pass effect and has a shape capable of exhibiting an effect to eliminate moire, for example, due to a fact that it includes a point on which differential coefficients of a function expressing a shape of the refracting surface are discontinuous.

Abstract: An optical blur filter having a substantially aspherical shape is used in imaging apparatus to limit high spatial frequencies incident upon an image sensor, and thereby to reduce undersampling artifacts. The filter images a circular blur pattern upon an array of nearby photosites. Due to its aspherical shape, the surface of the filter smoothly varies in relation to the field of view of a zoom lens in the apparatus so that the blur pattern maintains a substantially constant radius despite changes in the focal length of the zoom lens.

Abstract: An optical blur filter having a substantially conical shape is used in imaging apparatus to limit high spatial frequencies incident upon an image sensor, and thereby to reduce undersampling artifacts. By having a conical shape, the filter images a circular blur pattern upon an array of adjacent photosites. A conical shape with a distinct vertex images an annular pattern, and a flattened vertex fills in the central region of the pattern.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a measuring objective having a large free operating space and having very small imaging errors with respect to coma, astigmatism and distortion. The main rays are, at least at one objective side, inclined to each other in one directional component and are parallel to each other in the directional component perpendicular thereto.

Abstract: A lens system containing an aspherical portion enabling minimization of spherical aberration as well as the lens length. The lens system includes a conical lens portion providing total internal reflection of light within the lens system and an integrally attached aspherical lens portion. For light rays within a defined angular range of less than about .+-.24.degree., the light rays are focused on the exit aperture (for a concentrator) at a minimum lens length, l.

Abstract: A three-lens objective has the following characteristics: A front lens consists of a first material of relatively low dispersion, a median lens consists of a second material of relatively larger dispersion, and a rear lens consists of a material of relatively low dispersion. The front lens has positive power, the median lens has negative power, and the rear lens has positive power. The spacing between front lens and median lens is substantially smaller than the distance between median lens and rear lens. Each of the lenses has at least one aspherical surface.

Abstract: A method of patterning a photoresist layer to provide an aperture having retrograde sidewalls is described. Illumination may be through a conical prism arrangement or a conical reflecting mirror and cylindrical mirror arrangement. The method includes the step of directing energy towards a mask which selectively exposes portions of a photoresist layer disposed on the substrate. The energy is directed to the mask at an oblique angle with respect to the normal to the surface of the substrate. The underlying photoresist layer is obliquely sensitized by the obliquely directed illumination. The portions of the layer which are obliquely sensitized are removed leaving behind an aperture having retrograde sidewalls. The retrograde sidewalls are a preferred photoresist profile for easy and reliable lift-off of deposited material from the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: The fiber optic combiner/splitter is a positive and negative axicon combination which can convert a ring-shaped beam into a solid beam. The positive half of the axicon is effectively a plano-convex lens where the convex surface is generally a shallow cone. The flat surface of the lens abuts each end of an array of single mode fibers which are arranged in a ring configuration around a support member. The negative half of the axicon is effectively a plano-concave lens which is complementary to the positive lens. The focused beams from the positive half of the axicon are combined to form a single beam which is then directed into a single optical fiber. For conversions in the reverse direction, light is taken from a single multimode fiber and expanded into a ring-like pattern. The ring of light is picked up by the ring of single mode fibers. Each single mode fiber receives an equal amount of optical energy or power to provide good efficiency in splitting of the multiplexed beam.

Abstract: A fiber type light wave-length converting apparatus having a fiber type light wave-length converting element and an axicon lens. The fiber type light wave-length converting element is arranged to a position relative to the axicon lens satisyfing a predetermined condition, whereby an SH wave of a parallel light having a circular intensity distribution is obtained.