Abstract: A wide angle lens for a vehicle rear window is movably held in a guide device which is fixed to the body of the vehicle. The lens can be moved out of the rear view field of vision of the driver for normal forward driving namely, it can be moved along the guide device. The lens is brought into the rearward field of vision only when the vehicle is to be maneuvered in reverse.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anamorphic lens for a CCD camera apparatus used for inspecting a semiconductor chip during the manufacturing process. The reduced image of the semiconductor chip being inspected is formed at a magnification of 0.25 times in the horizontal direction and a magnification ratio of 1:1 in the vertical direction. The anamorphic lens system for the CCD camera apparatus includes two spherical lens sets each having five lenses, and an afocal cylindrical lens system through which the image is formed in different ratios between its length and width. The spherical lens sets are positioned face-to-face on the same axis line. The afocal lens system includes an indefinite distance in its focus point, and the different magnification between length and width is positioned in a space between the two spherical lens sets. As a result, the image of the semiconductor chip being inspected is formed on a general CCD element 6.6 mm.times.8.8 mm in size after it is reduced by 0.25 times.

Abstract: An f.theta. lens system employing two f.theta. lenses in a laser scanning unit. According to the f.theta. lens system, a cheap plastic can be used for an f.theta. lens by lowering the refractive index of one of two f.theta. lenses and forming a toric face on one of total four refractive faces. Incident and emergent faces in the cross scan direction of a first f.theta. lens closer to a rotary polygon mirror has the curvature of .infin., and an incident face in the main scan direction of a second f.theta. lens closer to a photoconductive drum also has the curvature of .infin.. Thus, only an emergent face of the second f.theta. lens has a toric face.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lens assembly having a first cylindrical microlens having a first microlens longitudinal axis. A flat sheet of material having a hole therein is attached to the microlens, with the microlens traversing the hole. The microlens is oriented with the first microlens longitudinal axis being parallel to the flat sheet, such that the microlens can be illuminated through the hole. In a second embodiment, a second microlens is attached on the opposite side of the sheet and is oriented at an angle relative to the first microlens.

Abstract: A light projecting device used to project light onto an object has a light source and a projection lens system. The light emitted by the light source is refracted by the projection lens system to form an image pattern consisting of alternate bright and dark areas. The image pattern is used to illuminate an object whose distance is to be measured using a passive distance measuring system. The projection system consists of only converging lenses.

Abstract: An optical element uniformly distributes radiant energy on a target surface, such as for discharging an area of a photoreceptor in a xerographic printer, or for applying infrared energy to dry an ink-jet image. A cylinder lens collimates light beams from a light source and directs the collimated light beams to a preselected area on the target surface. First and second refractive portions, each attached to and extending parallel to the cylinder lens, totally internally reflect light beams from the light source and direct the light beams reflected therein to the target surface.

Abstract: A new type of optical element for diverging a laser beam in several directions, for example to produce a relatively uniform cross, has a number of cylindrical segments. Each segment has at least two surfaces, a primary and a secondary surface. The primary surface has a relatively sharp apex and is shaped to conform to a curve defined in a (x,y,z) cartesian coordinate system by the equation ##EQU1## where z and y are independent of x, c is the curvature at the apex and Q is the conic constant which is less than -1.The element is useful e.g. for precision alignment.

Abstract: In a laser beam-scanning apparatus equipped with a rotatable polygonal mirror and an image formation lens system, a lens of the lens system has a cylindrical surface curved in the secondary scanning direction, wherein a radius curvature "rh" on the primary scanning direction section of the cylindrical surface is continuously changed in such a manner that a change pattern in the radius curvature "rh" is non-symmetrical in relation to the optical axis.

Abstract: A device for lighting a medical treatment field is disclosed and includes an optical member for focusing a plurality of light rays. The device also includes a prism assembly formed of a plurality of sectors of prisms. Each prism has an entry face and an exit face. The vertices of the sectors are substantially located in the center of the prism assembly. The sectors of prisms are configured and dimensioned so that the optical focusing member can focus the plurality of light rays generally onto the entry faces of the prisms. In addition, the device includes a mechanism for displacing at least a predetermined number of sectors such that the exit faces of the prisms of the predetermined sectors can be selectively positioned in one of a generally planar or a non-planar configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the device includes an optical focusing member and a prism assembly wherein the exit faces of the prisms are generally arc shaped along the length of the sector.

Abstract: A beam-shaping element for converting a beam having an elliptical cross-section into a beam having a circular cross-section. This element has a cylindrical entrance surface and a toriodal exit surface and can be arranged close to a diode laser so that the risk of wavefront deviations due to defocusing is reduced. The element has a high coupling efficiency.

Abstract: In a multi-beam laser light source constructed of a laser array in which a plurality of independently drivable laser elements are arranged in an equiinterval, and a lens array in which a plurality of lenses employed in accordance with the plural laser elements are arranged in an equiinterval, a laser array interval of the laser array is different from a lens array interval of the lens array.Further, the multi-beam semiconductor laser array is so constructed that a gradient-index type planar micro lens array is closely fitted to a laser beam projection edge of a semiconductor laser array in which a plurality of independently drivable semiconductor laser elements have been arranged on the same substrate.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a focusing optical system for semiconductor lasers, which is regulated in terms of magnification power in both its directions normal to the optical axis, so that the back focus of sufficient magnitude can be made equal in both the directions and the magnitude of aberration can be regulated to achieve an improvement in focusing efficiency, and in which a light beam from a semiconductor laser having varying exit angles in the horizontal and vertical directions is focused on a spot having substantially equal diameters in the horizontal and vertical directions. This focusing optical system comprises first lens unit L1 including a rotation asymmetric lens having positive power in the direction defined by a large exit angle at which a laser beam emanates from the laser, a second lens unit L2 including at least one lens of negative power, and a third lens unit L3 that is a rotation asymmetric lens unit having positive power in the directions defined by both large and small exit angles.

Abstract: An image pickup device using a solid-state image sensor adapted to provide an optical component having a multiple curved surface, polyhedral surface, symmetric cylindrical surface, axially symmetric aspherical surface or asymmetric refracting surface in an objective lens system, or lengthen a shape of an image formed on an exit end face of an illuminating optical system in a direction parallel to a scanning direction of the solid-state image sensor, or select an angle made by a line segment connecting between the centers of individual exit end faces of two illuminating optical systems with the scanning direction of the solid-state image sensor to .+-.40.degree. or less, or extend a shape of an aperture of a stop in a direction parallel to the scanning direction of the solid-state image sensor, in order to make it possible to fabricate the device in a small size and at a low cost and eliminate moire and false color without reducing resolving power.

Abstract: A cylindrical lens for coupling light from a line of emitting facets of laser diodes to a line of entrance faces of respective fiber waveguides. The lens is biaspheric, i.e., it includes two aspheric refractive surfaces which, in planes transverse to the lens axis, have (curvatures that are other than of a conic in cross-section. The surfaces are shaped to correct for spherical aberrations, coma, and other off-axis aberrations. A system places the lens to image the emitting facets of the laser diode line onto the entrance facets of the fiber waveguides so that coupling efficiency between the two is relatively insensitive to lateral misalignment.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for emitting light diverging along an imaginary plane. This device includes a light source, a collimating lens, and a cylindrical optical element which are mounted within a casing. A reflecting surface, inclined with respect to an axis of the optical element, and a cylindrical surface extending along the axis of the optical element are formed on one end portion of the optical element disposed near one end portion of the casing. That portion of the optical element including this cylindrical surface serves as a cylindrical lens portion. The beam from the collimating lens advances along the axis of the optical element, and is reflected by the reflection surface to be directed toward the cylindrical lens portion. This reflected beam is converted by the cylindrical lens portion into a beam diverging along the imaginary plane disposed generally perpendicular to the axis of the optical element, and is emitted from the casing.

Abstract: An optical rotation device with infinite depth of field for transmitting optical images along an optical axis and selectively rotating the image about the optical axis, while preserving all of the three dimensional characteristics of the image. The optical rotation device consists of two optical elements optically coupled in series, each of which produces an inversion of the image about an axis orthogonal to the optical axis. Rotation of the image by any angle in the plane normal to the optical axis is achieved by rotating the two optical elements relative to one another about the optical axis.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for improving power transfer or collection efficiency from a high aspect ratio linear junction laser diode to associated collimation optics in a weapon rangefinder, illuminator, laser spot projector, optical security system, or other optical device. A cylindrical or rod lens (16) is positioned adjacent to the emitting region (14) of the laser diode (10), the longitudinal axis of the rod lens (16) being parallel to the emitting region (14). Preferably, the emitting region (14) of the laser diode (10) is located at the bottom of a V-shaped surface (20) of the laser diode (10), for facilitating alignment of the rod lens (16) with the emitting region (14).

Abstract: A holographic center high mounted stoplight (CHMSL) system for a vehicle having a rear window. The CHMSL system includes a stoplight hologram secured adjacent the rear window, a playback illumination source for providing along a source optical axis a vertically converging beam that converges to a horizontal line focus, and a thick concave/convex lens responsive to the vertically converging beam for (1) controlling the vertically converging beam to converge to a line focus that is within said lens and further from the illumination source than such line focus would be without the lens and (2) providing an output beam along an output axis that is tilted upwardly relative to the source optical axis.

Abstract: A light guide is comprised of a laser light source for providing a light beam along a central axis, an optical system for collimating and focusing the beam at infinity, a virtually cylindrical convex lens fixed in a position to intercept the focused beam wherein the angle between the centreline of the beam and the optical surface at its exit point from the lens is an oblique angle whereby the beam is spread radially toward a target, and thereby form a line of light on the target, and whereby the target surface can be located at various distances from the lens while the width of the beam impinging thereon is maintained along a straight line with constant width on a target surface at an angle to the plane thereof.

Abstract: An optical recording apparatus which reduces light loss by expanding the laser beam diameters irradiated from a plurality of beam sources, and reducing the expanded beam diameters immediately before focusing the beams onto an information recording medium to make the beams circular, thereby minimizing deviation of the laser beam from the optical axis. An optical system for use in recording apparatus with a multi-beam optical head provided with a plurality of laser beam sources in a fixed unit which reduces light loss by minimizing deviation of the laser beam from the optical axis, and also by maintaining the laser power of each laser beam at a predetermined intensity independent of changes in distance between the fixed unit half and the moving unit half of the optical system by detecting intensities of the laser beams focused on a recording medium.

Abstract: A compact scanning optical system for effecting a superior tilt surface correction and for reducing a field curvature. The system is provided with a focusing optical system which is composed of a first single lens and a second single lens, wherein the first single lens, with a positive refracting power in a plane of scan, has a toric surface from an image plane and the second single lens, with a negative refracting power in the scan plane, has an aspherical lens.

Abstract: An optical rotation device with infinite depth of field for transmitting optical images along an optical axis and selectively rotating the image about the optical axis, while preserving all of the three dimensional characteristics of the image. The optical rotation device consists of two optical elements optically coupled in series, each of which produces an inversion of the image about an axis orthogonal to the optical axis. Rotation of the image by any angle in the plane normal to the optical axis is achieved by rotating the two optical elements relative to one another about the optical axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for smoothing and homogenising the cross-sectional intensity distribution of the output from an excimer laser for improved application of excimer lasers to optical laser surgery to the cornea. The laser beam is focused by means of a cylindrical lens or mirror and then filtered using a narrow gap spatial filter to smooth the intensity distribution by removing high spatial frequencies. The resulting output beam may be collimated by means of a second cylindrical lens or mirror for application to further optical processes.

Abstract: A lensing duct to condense (intensify) light using a combination of front surface lensing and reflective waveguiding. The duct tapers down from a wide input side to a narrow output side, with the input side being lens-shaped and coated with an antireflective coating for more efficient transmission into the duct. The four side surfaces are uncoated, preventing light from escaping by total internal reflection as it travels along the duct (reflective waveguiding). The duct has various applications for intensifying light, such as in the coupling of diode array pump light to solid state lasing materials, and can be fabricated from inexpensive glass and plastic.

Abstract: An optical system for imaging the light from light sources having varying astigmatic differences of focus in different planes, having an optical element with an astigmatic effect and having an imaging lens system, the optical element having an astigmatic effect being provided with two lens components, the distance of which in the direction of the optical axis can be adjusted in order to correct astigmatic differences of focus varying from light source to light source and/or changing astigmatic differences of focus due to aging.

Abstract: An aspheric cylindrical lens for collimating, with low optical aberrations, the asymmetrically diverging beams of diode laser arrays and a method of fabricating such lenses. The aspheric cylindrical lens are formed from a plano-spherical optical lens. The planar surface of the lens is then optimized such that each ray of light from a diverging input light source will travel the same optical path length in reaching a predetermined collimation plane. Due to the optimization process, an aspherical front lens surface is formed from the initial planar lens surface. The aspheric cylindrical lens may be formed by means of a drawing process in which a master lens element is drawn into a plurality of aspheric cylindrical lens elements. In such a drawing process, a master lens element is manufactured having a spherical back lens surface and an optimized front lens surface which are proportionately identical in cross-section to resulting aspheric cylindrical lens, but substantially larger in physical dimensions.

Abstract: In an image sensor including a light emitting element for emitting a light beam to be incident on a document, a light receiving element for receiving the light beam reflected by the document, and a lens array for directing the reflected light beam from the document to the light receiving element, there is located a mirror between the lens array and the light receiving element for changing the direction of the light beam passing through the lens array. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are located on the same substrate. With this arrangement, a compact and inexpensive image sensor can be achieved. This compact image sensor causes an increased amount of light to be incident on the document.

Abstract: An achromatic-type scanning optical arrangement includes a laser source, a first optical system for converging a beam of light emanating from the laser source, a deflecting device for deflecting the beam of light converged by the first optical system and a second optical system for focusing the beam of light deflected by the deflecting device onto a predetermined position. The entire optical system including the first optical system and the second optical system is corrected for chromatic aberration, as a whole, to eliminate the adverse influence of wavelength variations in the laser source upon variations in the focus position of the aforesaid beam of light.

Abstract: An illuminating optical system for use in a microfilm reader/printer or the like for illuminating a film comprises an axially symmetric lens system and an anamorphic lens system. The anamorphic lens system includes a condenser lens opposed to a light source. A microfilm reader/printer having such an illuminating optical system causes the axially symmetric lens system to illuminate the microfilm during a reading operation, and the anamorphic lens system to illuminate the film during a printing operation.

Abstract: A system, including a specially-designed optical element, facilitates extremely precise and accurate registration of a light beam on a photoreceptor. The optical element includes a redirecting cylinder lens, having a longitudinal axis oriented obliquely relative to the scan path of the light beam to redirect the light beam. The redirected light beam interacts with an aperture in the photoreceptor to provide an accurate measuring device for the exact position of the aperture with each scan.

Abstract: A light source unit for receiving and transmitting information to and from an optical disk or the like, which reshapes an elliptical in cross-section beam of laser light into a circular in cross-section beam of laser light by a beam shaping assembly composed of at least one lens having a cylindrical surface and an optical axis, the cylindrical surface having generatrix lines that are perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens, where the circularly shaped beam of laser light then enters a wavelength converter for generation of a second harmonic (half wavelength of the fundamental).

Abstract: A coplanarity measuring apparatus includes an image converting section, an optical lens mechanism, an image processing section, and an arithmetic operating section. The image converting section converts a transmission image of lead end portions of a surface-mount type IC package into image data. The optical lens mechanism vertically enlarges a transmission image, of the lead end portions, which is projected by the image converting section, and horizontally reduces the vertically enlarged transmission image. The image processing section converts the image data output from the image converting section into binary data and forming a profile. The arithmetic operating section calculates a coplanarity from the profile formed by the image processing section and checks whether a product is defective.

Abstract: In an optical system including a laser diode with astigmatism such that the apparent source position in two orthogonal axes each normal to the beam direction differ, a beam prism expander and a collimating lens positioned between the diode and expander, the collimated lens is positioned relative to the laser such that the radius of curvature of the light beam exiting the beam expander in the two axes is identical.

Abstract: A lens in a shape of cylinder or head-cut-off cone made of transparent thin film materials with a fine prism-shaped fresnel lens surface formed thereon. The cylindrical lens is manufactured by forming a fine prism-shaped linear fresnel lens surface on a thin transparent film, shaping the film into a cylinder or a frustum of a cone, and connecting both ends of the film so that the fresnel center line forms a horizontal ring.

Abstract: An illuminating optical system for use in a microfilm reader/printer or the like for illuminating a film comprises an axially symmetric lens system and an anamorphic lens system. The anamorphic lens system includes a condenser lens opposed to a light source. The microfilm reader/printer having such an illuminating optical system causes the axially symmetric lens system to illuminate the microfilm during a reading operation, and the anamorphic lens system to illuminate the film during a printing operation.

Abstract: For the observation of an elongated object or an elongated zone (12) of an object with a lens (20, 20', 54), in the vicinity of this object or zone (12), a cylindrical lens (23) is used whose axis (Ox) extends along the largest dimension of the object or the zone. In this way, the observation is performed with a large resolution on an extended field.

Abstract: The present invention provides several novel diffraction limited microlens configurations which are especially valuable for use in conjunction with laser diodes, and optical fibers. Collimators, circularizers and focusers (couplers) are provided.

Abstract: An optical scanner has a light source device; a lens for converging a laser beam emitted from the light source device; a deflector having a mirror face which is integrally formed with the shaft of a scanner motor and is constructed by one convex spherical or cylindrical mirror face having a radius R and approximately arranged in the vicinity of a center of rotation of the shaft of the scanner motor; and a scanning face scanned by a light beam deflected by the deflector. The optical scanner satisfies a predetermined relation with respect to the radius R when a distance L.sub.O from a deflecting point to the scanning face at an angle of rotation of the deflector set to zero is equal to a distance L from the deflecting point to the scanning face at the angle of rotation of the deflector set to .theta.. The predetermined relation is provided by the following formula:R={(1/cos.theta.)+cos.theta./(1+cos.theta.)-1}L.sub.oThe light source device uses an element for emitting two or more light beams.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diffraction limited, high numerical aperture (fast) cylindrical microlens. The method for making the microlens is adaptable to produce a cylindrical lens that has almost any shape on its optical surfaces. The cylindrical lens may have a shape, such as elliptical or hyperbolic, designed to transform some particular given input light distribution into some desired output light distribution. In the method, the desired shape is first formed in a glass preform. Then, the preform is heated to the minimum drawing temperature and a fiber is drawn from it. The cross-sectional shape of the fiber bears a direct relation to the shape of the preform from which it was drawn. During the drawing process, the surfaces become optically smooth due to fire polishing. The present invention has many applications, such as integrated optics, optical detectors and laser diodes.

Abstract: An optical imaging device for projecting an image in a strip area, comprising a reflecting plate having a plurality of pairs of reflecting surfaces arranged on a flat surface and forming an array in a first direction parallel to a long direction of a strip image, and at least one cylindrical focusing lens or mirror having a focusing power directed only to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The pair of reflecting surfaces is composed of two flat surfaces which cross at about a .pi./2 radian, and the crossing line of two adjacent reflecting surfaces is perpendicular to the first direction. The reflecting plate projects the image component in parallel to the first direction and the cylindrical focusing lens or mirror projects an image component perpendicular to the first direction. The resolving power in the first direction of the obtained image is determined by the pitch length of the pair of reflecting surfaces.

Abstract: For the observation of an elongated object or an elongated zone (12) of an object with a lens (20, 20', 54), in the vicinity of this object or zone (12), a cylindrical lens (23) is used whose axis (Ox) extends along the largest dimension of the object or the zone. In this way, the observation is performed with a large resolution on an extended field.

Abstract: An optical system for generating lines includes a source of a diverging light beam, a first cylindrical lens (104) which receives the light beam, and a second adjacent cylindrical lens (106) which is at an angle with respect to the first. The beam of light passes through the first and second cylindrical lenses (104, 106) to produce a planar beam of light (124) which becomes a line (122) when incident upon a surface (126). The cylindrical lenses (104, 106) are mounted so as to be rotatable both simultaneously and with respect to each other. The angle of the line generated by the lens configuration is a bisector of the obtuse angles formed by the principal axes of the cylindrical lenses (104, 106) except where the lenses are at right angles to one another. The rotation of both lenses simultaneously changes the angle of the line (128) while rotation of one lens with respect to the other adjusts the focus of the line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diffraction limited, high numerical aperture (fast) cylindrical microlens. The method for making the microlens is adaptable to produce a cylindrical lens that has almost any shape on its optical surfaces. The cylindrical lens may have a shape, such as elliptical or hyperbolic, designed to transform some particular given input light distribution into some desired output light distribution. In the method, the desired shape is first formed in a glass preform. Then, the preform is heated to the minimum drawing temperature and a fiber is drawn from it. The cross-sectional shape of the fiber bears a direct relation to the shape of the preform from which it was drawn. During the drawing process, the surfaces become optically smooth due to fire polishing.

Abstract: A diode imaging system using a single objective lens and a single cylindrical lens. This imaging system does not image perfectly point-to-point, and although not an apparent extension of imaging systems known in the prior art, it works advantageously for imaging beams from diode lasers having long narrow junctions used in pumping solid-state lasers.

Abstract: In an optical scanner, a light beam from a light source is formed as a line image extending in a main scanning corresponding direction and is deflected at an equal angular velocity by a rotary polygon mirror having a reflecting face in the vicinity of an image forming position of the line image and is then formed by an image forming lens system in the shape of a spot on a scanned face to optically scan the scanned face. An f.theta. lens system focuses and forms the light beam deflected by the rotary polygon mirror as an image on the scanned face. The f.theta. lens system comprises a functional device having a function for connecting a reflecting position of the rotary polygon mirror and the scanned face in an approximately conjugate relation with respect to a secondary scanning direction and an f.theta. function with respect to a main scanning direction; and two groups of first and second lenses are sequentially arranged from the side of the rotary polygon mirror toward the scanned face side.