Abstract: In a lens based on one-group configuration, performance is improved, and a wide angle and a low height are achieved. An imaging lens includes first to third lenses. These first to third lenses are sequentially arranged from an object side to an image surface side without sandwiching air. Each surface of the first to third lenses has an aspherical shape. An imaging element is arranged on the image surface side of the imaging lens. A cover glass is attached on an imaging surface of the imaging element without an air gap. Another lens may be arranged between the imaging lens and the imaging element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a luminaire such as an LED downlight which is suitable for mounting in ceiling cavities of commercial environments. An example luminaire (200) comprises a light source (202) including an integral primary optic which is configured to transmit light toward a second optic (214). The second optic (214) is a lens configured to receive light from the light source (202) via the primary optic and transmit at least part of the received light toward a circular reflector (201). The circular reflector (201) is configured to direct light received from the second optic (214) away from the luminaire (204). A shape of the second optic (214) is interdependent with a shape of the circular reflector (201), and the shape of the second optic (214) and circular reflector (201) act in combination to transmit light away from the luminaire with a non-circular illuminance distribution (206).

Abstract: The system and method for combining two optical assemblies into the same volume, particularly when the field of view of the two assemblies are different, so that the overall volume and size, weight and power (SWaP) for the system is reduced. This also allows both subsystems (e.g., narrow field of view (NFOV) and wide field of view (WFOV) to use a single aperture and the same external protective window, reducing overall cost for a system of co-located dissimilar optical systems in a single aperture.

Abstract: An endoscope illuminating optical system to be disposed at a front end of an insertion portion of an endoscope includes a lens formed by a transparent-resin molding having a function of a front-end frame, which is configured to be disposed at a front-end side of the insertion portion, and a light guide which is disposed adjacent to the lens. A surface of the lens facing the light guide is a composite concave surface in which two axisymmetric concave surfaces are overlapped, and has a gourd-shaped effective cross-section. An effective range of a distal end surface of the light guide has a shape of an ellipsoid, or an oval, or a gourd, and has a long axis in a longitudinal direction of the gourd-shaped effective cross-section of the surface of the lens facing the light guide side, and a short axis in a direction perpendicular to the long axis. The cross-section of the composite concave surface includes an end surface of the light guide.

Abstract: An illumination optical system includes an illumination optical element that irradiates a predetermined area of an illumination target surface with light in a planar manner. The illumination optical element has an optical surface directed toward the illumination target surface. The optical surface has, in a perpendicular direction which is perpendicular to an optical axis, a plurality of refractive surfaces each of which refracts light toward the predetermined area and which are formed at a constant pitch determined by the predetermined area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging device including a multi-lens including a central optical system (wide-angle lens) and an annular optical system (telescopic lens) which have a common optical axis, an image sensor, and an array lens provided on the incidence surface side of the image sensor and including microlenses (pupil imaging lens). In a preferred aspect of the present invention, two images having different characteristics are generated based on a pupil image of each unit block including 3×3 light reception cells assigned to each of the microlenses of the array lens. The unit block has eight surrounding light reception cells that correspond to one of the two images, and the eight surrounding light reception cells in the unit block are configured to output RGB pixel signals in all wavelength regions necessary for generating this one image.

Abstract: A refractive Fresnel lens used for an optical system including an image plane, which includes a plurality of zone lens surfaces disposed concentrically and a plurality of side wall surfaces each formed between adjacent zone lens surfaces, is characterized in that the side wall surfaces are modulated so as to spatially spread in the image plane noise light due to reflection and/or refraction at the side wall surfaces.

Abstract: Light from an LED (light-emitting diodes) has strong directional characteristics; therefore, lighting over large area, as well as control of the quality or the distribution of lighting was impossible. Placing a liquid-crystal panel in front of an LED (light-emitting diodes) enables to control light from the LED and the quality or the distribution of lighting.

Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to the generation of x-rays and other charged particles. A plurality of disparate source materials can be combined on an array to facilitate fabrication of co-located mixed tips (point sources) which can be utilized to form a polychromatic cloud, e.g., a plurality of x-rays having a range of energies and or wavelengths, etc. The tips can be formed such that the x-rays are emitted in a direction different to other charged particles to facilitate clean x-ray sourcing. Particles, such as protons, can be directionally emitted to facilitate generation of neutrons at a secondary target. The various particles can be generated by interaction of a laser irradiating the array of tips. The tips can be incorporated into a plurality of 3D conical targets, the conical target sidewall(s) can be utilized to microfocus a portion of a laser beam onto the tip material.

Abstract: Energy-efficient windows incorporating spectrally selective optical elements capable of providing desirable optical characteristics (transmission, reflection, refraction or diffraction) for different wavelengths are disclosed herein. More specifically, energy-efficient windows incorporating suitably designed diffraction gratings to optimize the efficiency of the utilization of different spectral components of the solar radiation are disclosed.

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

Abstract: An objective lens for optical pickup and an optical pickup apparatus having the same are provided. The objective lens for optical pickup includes a light source side lens surface and a disc side lens surface. The light source side lens surface and the disc side lens surface each include an effective region disposed at a central region of the objective lens and a non-effective region disposed outside the effective region. An optical path changing element, disposed in the non-effective region of at least one of the light source side lens surface and the disc side lens surface, changes a path of light incident thereon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lens which has an extended range of focus, wherein the lens consists of a solid material, the optical surfaces of the lens are transparent and the lens has a focal power distribution. According to the invention, the focal power distribution FG of the lens (1), in relation to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis (10), changes as a function of the radial height r and of the azimuth angle phi of the aperture between a base value of the focal power FL not equal to zero and a maximum value FSmax. Hence, the focal power distribution emerges as FG(r,phi)=FL+FS(r,phi), with the spiral focal power component FS(r,phi)=FSmax(r)*w(phi), where FSmax(r) depends nonlinearly on the radius and w(phi) is a factor for the focal power component with a spiral profile.

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

Abstract: An optical device (20) that comprises at least two refractive optical elements (1, 2) arranged along an optical axis (OA) of the device, each refractive optical element having a surface profile. The device has an optical aperture common to the at least two refractive optical elements and wherein at least one refractive optical element is arranged to rotate relative to another refractive optical element around a rotation axis which intersects the aperture of the device. The device has a plurality of configurations, each configuration having a predetermined optical property, such as the focal length, over at least a first region of the aperture; the configurations being selected by rotating the at least one refractive optical element arranged to rotate. The total area of the first regions divided by the total area of the aperture is a function of the surface profiles of the at least two refractive optical elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a projection apparatus including an image generation device and a projection lens. The image generation device has a light valve, and generates a light. The projection lens includes a first lens group having an optical axis and a second lens group disposed between the first lens group and the light valve. The light generated from the light valve penetrates through the second lens group and forms an intermediate image between the first lens group and the second lens group. The intermediate image penetrates through the first lens group to form a projection image. A center of the projected image and a center of the light valve are disposed at a first side of the optical axis, and a center of the intermediate image is disposed at a second side of the optical axis different from the first side.

Abstract: Vision Launch has created a product, patent pending that is a thin film (approximately 0.13 mm) that is adhered/slightly sticky on borders, across an electronic screen and it is magnified via various diopter strengths. A human with farsightedness can now read the small print/screen without the assistance of reading glasses. The product developed by Vision Launch can be placed on a Cellular phone, I-pad, Kindle, Computer screen or any and all electronic devices with a screen. When the product is purchased it will be pre-cut to size or the consumer can cut to size, depending on the electronic product.

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

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide focusing, focus-adjusting, and sensing. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes providing an extended depth of focus greater than a nominal depth of focus. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes focus-adjusting with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.

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

Abstract: An imaging system includes optics for forming an optical image, that provide a first region in the optical image that is characterized by a first range of best focus and a second region in the optical image that is characterized by a second range of best focus The first and second ranges correspond to object distance ranges that are discontiguous A sensor array converts the optical image to a data stream, and a digital signal processor processes the data stream to generate a final image.

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

Abstract: A coating including a liquid-phobic and/or liquid-philic material, the coating configured to control the shape of a corresponding liquid to form a liquid lens of specific focal length on the coating.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide focusing, focus-adjusting, and sensing. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes providing an extended depth of focus greater than a nominal depth of focus. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes focus-adjusting with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.

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

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

Abstract: A flat lens with multiple focal lengths has a lens segment. The lens segment is flat and has multiple convex lenses. The convex lenses are mounted on one of the surfaces of the lens segment, and have multiple focal lengths. With the different focal lengths of the convex lenses, multiple distances of detection of a sensor behind the lens segment can be extended to different lengths, and further increase the range of detection. Besides, with different distances of detection, the accuracy of detection would be enhanced effectively, and the erroneous estimate on a volume of the object would reduce effectively. Furthermore, because a shape of the lens segment is flat, the lens as described is more innovative and aesthetically appealing, and is relatively easier to match the building's design or decoration.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide emitting, field-adjusting, and focusing of electromagnetic energy. In some approaches the field-adjusting includes providing an extended depth of field greater than a nominal depth of field. In some approaches the field-adjusting includes field-adjusting with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide focusing, focus-adjusting, and sensing. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes providing an extended depth of focus greater than a nominal depth of focus. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes focus-adjusting with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.

Abstract: A vehicle light includes a multi-focal lens that has a mid-level lens portion, an upper-level lens portion, and lower-level lens portion, a separator plate with a front edge positioned at or near the focal point of the mid-level lens portion, and a plurality of light emitting elements mounted on the top and bottom of the separator plate, respectively. A first elliptical reflecting surface whose first focal point is set at or near the first light emitting element and whose second focal point is set at or near the focal point of the mid-level lens portion is provided on the top of the separator plate; a second elliptical reflecting surface is provided on the bottom of the separator plate, with a first focal point set at or near the second light emitting element and the second focal point set at or near the focal point of the upper-level lens portion.

Abstract: An image lens includes a first lens and a second lens. The first lens includes a first and a second surfaces. The second lens includes a third and a fourth surfaces. The image lens satisfies: FB/TTL>0.23; G1R1/F1>1.93; Z/Y>0.27; Z/T<0.89; G2R1/F2<G2R2/F2<G1R2/F2, FB is a distance between the fourth surface and the image plane, TTL is a total length of the image lens, Z is a distance from a central point of the fourth surface to the fourth surface along the optical axis, Y is a distance from the central point of the fourth surface to an edge of the fourth surface along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, T is a thickness of the second lens, G2R1, G2R2 and G1R2 are curvature radiuses of the third, fourth and second surfaces, F2 is a focal length of the second lens.

Abstract: A device for acquiring equally blurred intermediate image to realize Extension of DOF imaging is characterized in that: the lens of said device produces space-invariant and approximately equal psf output in the designed range of the depth-of-field; the lens realizing space-invariant transfer characteristic is a multi-focal points lens with ray compensation; the angle of the ray guided by the multi-focal point changes in response to the object distance, but the corresponding position and energy distribution of the light spot on the image surface remain constant substantially.

Abstract: An optical lens comprising a lens body that transmits light in an optical path there through, wherein the lens body consists of an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a medium there between, further wherein one of the anterior surface and the posterior surface has a single curvature and the other of the anterior surface and the posterior surface has at, least two optical zones each having a different curvature. An optical system, comprising a multi-photon endoscope having a distal end, and the optical lens disposed in the distal end. A method for obtaining an image of an object comprising providing the multi-photon endoscope, propagating light from the endoscope scanner one optical zone of the lens to focus the light at a focus location, and propagating light from the scanner through a different optical zones of the lens to focus the light at a different focus location.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a support structure configured to hold a patterning device, the patterning device configured to pattern a beam of radiation according to a desired pattern, a substrate table configured to hold a substrate and a projection system configured to project the beam as patterned onto a target portion of the substrate. The lithographic apparatus further includes a polarization modifier disposed in a path of the beam. The polarization modifier comprises a material having a linear polarization.

Abstract: An optical lens includes a main body having an outer convex surface and a bottom surface opposite to the outer convex surface. The bottom surface has an inner concave surface which is concave toward the outer convex surface. The outer convex surface and the inner concave surface cooperatively form two positive lens portions and a negative lens portion. The positive lens portions and the negative lens portion are arranged in a triangular configuration.

Abstract: An image sensor module may include an image sensor, a variable thickness member and a lens member. The image sensor may include a light receiver configured to receive a light. Further, a driving voltage may be applied to the image sensor. The variable thickness member may be arranged on the image sensor adjacent to the light receiver. Further, the variable thickness member may have a variable thickness along an optical axis of the light in accordance with the driving voltage through the image sensor.

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

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein are directed to apparatuses and systems for reducing the image jump from a dynamic lens component. The apparatuses and systems disclosed herein may be used in ophthalmic devices, such as eye glasses or contact lenses, as well as any other suitable application. Embodiments provide a first apparatus that comprises a dynamic power zone having a periphery. The first apparatus further comprises a static power zone in optical communication with at least a portion of the dynamic power zone. The static power zone has a negative optical power at a first portion of the periphery of the dynamic power zone.

Abstract: A lens having a circular refractive power profile such that at least one semi-meridian, located between semi-meridians having the minimum and the maximum refractive power of the lens, has a discrete refractive power which is between the minimum and the maximum refractive power of the lens.

Abstract: An imaging system is presented for imaging objects within a field of view of the system. The imaging system comprises an imaging lens arrangement, a light detector unit at a certain distance from the imaging lens arrangement, and a control unit connectable to the output of the detection unit. The imaging lens arrangement comprises an imaging lens and an optical element located in the vicinity of the lens aperture, said optical element introducing aperture coding by an array of regions differently affecting a phase of light incident thereon which are randomly distributed within the lens aperture, thereby generating an axially-dependent randomized phase distribution in the Optical Transfer Function (OTF) of the imaging system resulting in an extended depth of focus of the imaging system. The control unit is configured to decode the sampled output of the detection unit by using the random aperture coding to thereby extract 3D information of the objects in the field of view of the light detector unit.

Abstract: A stress-induced polarization converter in the form of a zero power optical window or, alternatively, a single element, positive or negative power optical lens, that is subject to a controlled amount of symmetric, peripheral stress. The stress may be provided by appropriate mechanical, thermal, hydraulic, electromagnetic/piezo, annealing/molding, or other known techniques and may be trigonal or four-fold. Axial foci can be created by applying the controlled, symmetric, peripheral stress. The separation distance between the foci can be controlled by controlling the magnitude of the applied symmetric, peripheral stress.

Abstract: To provide a variable-focal length lens capable of altering its focal length at high speed. The variable-focal length lens has an electrooptic material and electrodes formed on an incident surface of light and on an exit surface of the light of the electrooptic material. An optical axis is set so that the light is inputted into a gap where the electrodes of the incident surface are not formed and is outputted from a gap where the electrodes of the exit surface are not formed. A focus of the light that is transmitted through the electrooptic material becomes variable by varying an applied voltage between the electrodes of the incident surface and the electrodes of the exit surface.

Abstract: The invention pertains to methods, components, and operations of multi-focal intraocular lens systems, including range finding for driving same and for discriminating between multiple objects and varying brightness conditions. The invention also pertains to intraocular photosensors and range-finding methods to be used with intra-ocular lens systems, and components, that provide multi-focal IOL capabilities in dynamic visual environments.

Abstract: A high speed, high-resolution flow imaging system is modified to achieve extended depth of field imaging. An optical distortion element is introduced into the flow imaging system. Light from an object, such as a cell, is distorted by the distortion element, such that a point spread function (PSF) of the imaging system is invariant across an extended depth of field. The distorted light is spectrally dispersed, and the dispersed light is used to simultaneously generate a plurality of images. The images are detected, and image processing is used to enhance the detected images by compensating for the distortion, to achieve extended depth of field images of the object. The post image processing preferably involves de-convolution, and requires knowledge of the PSF of the imaging system, as modified by the optical distortion element.

Abstract: An objective lens system for an optical biopsy device has a lens that comprises a first part configured for viewing at a first magnification, and a second part configured for viewing at a second magnification. The second magnification is substantially different from the first magnification. The first magnification enables viewing a larger area of a target and the second magnification enables viewing the target at a cellular level with high sensitivity and specificity. Combining viewing at two different magnifications in a single objective lens results in a compact optical biopsy device.

Abstract: For rotationally symmetric aspheric lenses, one can establish lens design and layout based upon the phase delay function exp[?i?(?)]. An embodiment of the invention is a method for calculating a corresponding variation in focal length denoted by f(?). According to an aspect, one can also assert a shape for the focal length f(?) and thereafter calculate a phase delay function in order to synthesize a novel lens. New EDoF lens designs are obtained by selection of an inner and outer focal length connected by a simple curve that can be approximate by a polynomial. From the selected f(?), one can synthesize a finished EDoF lens design and fabricate the lens. Another aspect of this invention is directed to a method to tailor prior-art EDoF lenses so that their performance over some range is improved.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide emitting, field-adjusting, and focusing of electromagnetic energy. In some approaches the field-adjusting includes providing an extended depth of field greater than a nominal depth of field. In some approaches the field-adjusting includes field-adjusting with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.

Abstract: A lens has a main body for use with at least one light source. The main body has a light-emitting face, a light-collecting face disposed opposite the light-emitting face, and a plurality of focal points, the latter of which form a focal ring. A central axis extends through the light-collecting face and the light-emitting face. The main body is substantially radially symmetrical about the central axis and the focal ring extends around the central axis of the main body of the lens.

Abstract: A composite optical device 1 includes a first optical section 10 having an optical functional surface 11 and a second optical section 20 bonded to the first optical section 10 on the optical functional surface 11. The optical functional surface 11 includes a smooth part 13 and a concave-convex part 12 adjacent to each other, and is constructed so that a position P2, along a normal direction of the smooth part 13, of a concave bottom of the concave-convex part 12 can be closer to the center of the first optical section 10 than a position P1 along the normal direction of an end of the smooth part 13 on a side of the concave-convex part 12 in a boundary vicinity portion NR between the smooth part 13 and the concave-convex part 12.

Abstract: A compound objective lens is composed of a hologram lens or transmitting a part of incident light without any diffraction to form a beam of transmitted light and diffracting a remaining part of the incident light to form a beam of first-order diffracted light, and an objective lens for converging the transmitted light to form a first converging spot on a front surface of a thin type of first information medium and converging the diffracted light to form a second converging spot on a front surface of a thick type of second information medium. Because the hologram selectively functions as a concave lens for the diffracted light, a curvature of the transmitted light differs from that of the diffracted light.