Abstract: An imaging system includes an optical system for projecting an object onto a detector, and a phase element between an entrance pupil of the optical system and the detector, the phase element adapted to provide a more uniform modulation transfer function over a range of focus than the optical system alone, wherein an effective focal length of light output from the phase element is a function of an angular component on which the light is incident on the phase element.

Abstract: In an imaging lens, one compound lens and two single lenses are arranged in a lens barrel. On the light output side of the lens barrel, a filter is arranged with a distance from lens barrel. With a further distance from the filter, an imaging element is arranged. In the compound lens, a resin lens is bonded to a base member lens, having an output surface center of the resin lens displaced by a prescribed amount relative to an output surface center of the base member lens, so that a transmission decentration amount attributed to the base member lens, not including the resin lens, and the single lenses is cancelled by a transmission decentration amount by the resin lens when taken as a whole lens system. Thus, the imaging lens capable of suppressing reduction in resolving power due to transmission decentration of the lenses is obtained.

Abstract: A lens for chromatic aberration compensation is provided. The lens includes a lens body and a plurality of color filter films. The lens body has a light incident plane, a light exit plane and an optical axis. The light incident plane and/or the light exit plane comprises a plurality of discrete area, wherein the area comprises, for example but not limited to, a plurality of annular areas, fan-shaped areas, or polygon areas. The color filter films are disposed over the areas of the lens body respectively, and comprise red color filter films, green color filter films or blue color filter films. Accordingly, the lens for chromatic aberration compensation of the invention can eliminate the aberration effectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical system that can be operated with low power consumptions, reduced noises and fast responses, is simplified in mechanical structure and of reduced outer diameter and compact size, and is capable of focusing and zooming. This optical system comprises a rotationally symmetric lens group and an optical element having variable optical properties, whereby focusing or zooming can be performed. Focusing or zooming can be performed by use of a plurality of optical elements having variable optical properties, wherein at least one of the optical elements is configured to a free-form surface shape.

Abstract: Improved Wavefront Coding Optics, which apply a phase profile to the wavefront of light from an object to be imaged, retain their insensitivity to focus related aberration, while increasing the heights of the resulting MTFs and reducing the noise in the final images. Such improved Wavefront Coding Optics have the characteristic that the central portion of the applied phase profile is essentially flat (or constant), while a peripheral region of the phase profile around the central region alternately has positive and negative phase regions relative to the central region.

Abstract: An image produced through lenses causes distortion problems in the formation of the image. A testing chart having a plurality of lines or graphs is employed to measure the formation of an image through the lens, and correct the linear state of the image. Eigenfunctions may be employed to describe the data of the image. It can reduce the amount of the data describing the linear state of the image.

Abstract: Novel optical elements are provided which are capable of post fabrication modifications. Specifically, the invention includes lenses, such as intraocular lens, which can undergo changes in storage modulus after fabrication.

Abstract: A method for capturing a digital panoramic image includes projecting a panorama onto an image sensor by means of a panoramic objective lens. The panoramic objective lens has a distribution function of the image points that is not linear relative to the field angle of the object points of the panorama, such that at least one zone of the image obtained is expanded while at least another zone of the image is compressed. When a panoramic image obtained is then displayed, correcting the non-linearity of the initial image is required and is performed by means of a reciprocal function of the non-linear distribution function of the objective lens or by means of the non-linear distribution function.

Abstract: A CO2 laser beam 12 is converted into a beam of uniform intensity at the position of a phase matching element 15 by an intensity converting element 14 and the phase matching element 15. Then, the uniform intensity beam irradiates a mask 17 containing an aperture variable in size via a variable-magnification projecting optical system 16. At the time of irradiation, the laser beam at the position of the phase matching element 15 is projected onto the mask 17 at a magnification factor most suited to the size of the aperture formed in the mask 17. Further, the pattern of the mask 17 is projected onto a workpiece 19. Thus, a uniform intensity distribution of the laser beam is obtained on the workpiece and high quality laser processing becomes possible.

Abstract: An optical pickup device which includes an objective lens having a numerical aperture of 0.7 or more collects light emitted from a light source and irradiates an optical recording medium. The objective lens and an antireflection film formed thereon are set so that the intensity of light incident on the outermost rim of the objective lens is 45% or more and 80% or less of the intensity of incident light from the light source to the center of the objective lens. According to the configuration, it is possible to provide an optical pickup device including a high NA objective lens which can suppress a reduction in the light amount at the lens rim.

Abstract: A light collecting optical system wherein the position where light is collected is scanned in the optical axis direction by using a wavefront converting element capable of changing power without using a mechanical device, and aberration occurring during the scanning is canceled by using the wavefront converting element to minimize the degradation of light collecting performance due to the scanning in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: An anti-aliasing aperture and method of using the same is disclosed. In one embodiment, an anti-aliasing method includes passing light through an aperture stop, and diffracting the light passing through the aperture stop for spreading an image of a point object to cover more than a pixel on a detector array. The aperture stop includes two or more apertures. In another embodiment, an anti-aliasing apparatus includes an aperture stop having two or more apertures to diffract light passing therethrough and provide spreading of an image of a point object to cover more than one pixel on a detector array.

Abstract: A flow cell 2, a composite lens 15, and first to third detectors 16 to 18 are arranged in this sequence in the light pathway of light emitted from a laser light source 1. The composite lens 15 is configured by a convex lens 15a, and lens elements 15b and 15c. These lenses have different focal lengths. When the posture of the composite lens is correct, light impinging on the convex lens forms an image on the first detector. Therefore, the positioning of the composite lens is enabled. When particles in the flow cell are irradiated with laser light, forward scatter is produced. Forward small angle scatter having a small scattering angle impinges on the first lens element 15b to be collected thereby, and is then received by the second detector 17. Forward large angle scatter having a large scattering angle impinges on the second lens element 15c in the outermost periphery to be collected thereby, and is then received by the third detector 18 which is remotest from the composite lens.

Abstract: An objective lens for condensing a light beam, has at least one of annular grooves and ridges producing a phase difference. Each of the annular groove and ridge is formed concentrically on at least one of an incident surface which said light beam is introduced, and an emission surface which said light beam is emitted.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for sensing an image of a scene from a substantially single viewpoint, which includes a truncated, substantially paraboloid-shaped reflector positioned to orthographically reflect principal rays of electromagnetic radiation radiating from the scene, the paraboloid-shaped reflector having a focus coincident with the single viewpoint of the imaging apparatus, including the paraboloid-shaped reflector. The imaging apparatus also includes telecentric means, optically coupled to the paraboloid-shaped reflector, for substantially filtering out principal rays of electromagnetic radiation which are not orthographically reflected by the paraboloid-shaped reflector. The imaging apparatus also includes one or more image sensors positioned to receive the orthographically reflected principal rays of electromagnetic radiation from the paraboloid-shaped reflector, thereby sensing the image of the scene.

Abstract: In an image sensor having a photoelectric conversion element for receiving light, an illumination unit, and a lens array in which a plurality of gradient index lens elements for focusing light reflected by an original onto the photoelectric conversion element are arrayed, part of the peripheral portion of the lens of the gradient index lens element in the radius direction contains a light absorber for absorbing light having a predetermined wavelength other than the wavelength distribution of light emitted by the illumination unit.

Abstract: A scanning device for optical record carriers is provided with an objective lens (7) suitable for scanning record carriers (1, 21) having a transparent substrate (2, 23) of different thicknesses. The lens comprises an outer annular part (25) and an inner central part (26) within the annular part. Only the central part of the lens is used for forming a focus through a first substrate (2) having a first thickness. The central part is corrected for the spherical aberration of the first substrate. The annular and central part of the lens are used for forming a focus through a second substrate (23) having a different, second thickness. The annular part is corrected for the spherical aberration of the second substrate.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus compatible with at least two types of optical recording media, using light beams having respective different wavelengths for recording and reading information, the optical pickup apparatus including two laser light sources to emit light beams having the different wavelengths, respectively, a holographic lens, including a holographic ring, to transmittal of the light beams emitted from the laser light sources in an inner region of the holographic ring, and diffracting a specific light beam among the light beams emitted from the laser light sources in an outer region relative to the inner region, an objective lens to focus the light beams passed through the holographic ring lens on the respective information recording surfaces of the two types of the optical recording media, optical elements to alter optical paths of the light beams reflected from the information recording surfaces of the optical recording media; and two photodetectors to individually detect optical information from

Abstract: A structure and method for a collection system for a projector includes a collector for reflecting light and a correcting mechanism for receiving the reflected light. The collector and the correcting mechanism, in combination, correct the light and output a light beam having a uniform image size.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an anti-aliasing apparatus is disclosed. The anti-aliasing apparatus includes an aperture stop including an array of apertures. Each of the apertures on the aperture stop diffracts light passing therethrough and provides spreading of an image of a point object in a controlled image irradiance distribution. In another embodiment, an optical system is disclosed. The optical system includes a detector array having an array of pixels and an aperture stop positioned between an object plane and the detector array. The aperture stop includes an array of apertures, each of which diffracts light passing therethrough and provides a controlled spreading of the light to cover more than one pixel of the detector array.

Abstract: An image detection system (10) uses an optical configuration for both image forming and calibration phases of operation. A field lens (20) has an inner portion (36) of a conventional prescription to allow for collection of scene based energy for an opto-electronic approximation of the infrared detail within the afocal field of view by a focal plane array (32). The field lens (20) also has an outer portion (38) that collects far field energy from a scene area (A.sub.I) through a converging point (P.sub.I). The energy collected from the scene area (A.sub.I) is indicative of the average energy level within the scene. The electrical equivalent values of all energy received from the unique area (A.sub.I) is stored in a multidimensional range used for subsequent gain and offset calibration coefficient calculations.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes, from the object to image side, a first lens unit of a positive refractive power having a first lens element with a power to both diffract and refract light. A second lens unit has a negative refractive power and may include a second lens element having both the power to diffract and refract light, and it least a third lens unit is included. A zooming operation is performed by varying the distances between the respective first, second, and third lens units.

Abstract: In order to reduce complexity and cost of fabrication of zoom lenses, the real image forming lens group module at the front of the zoom lens is replaced with a two-element group where one of the elements has a diffractive lens on a curved surface thereof instead of the usually cemented doublet of the front group, but with substantially the same aberrations as a front group with three elements, including a cemented doublet. Aberrations (chromatic and monochromatic) produced by the first and second groups remain corrected by the combination of these groups over the zoom range of the lens. A second group housing two-elements, one of which has a curved surface on which a diffractive lens is provided, may be also be used to replace the three-element second lens group and particularly the cemented doublet thereof.

Abstract: A new panoramic/fish-eye imaging system for projecting a 360 degree cylindrical field of view onto a two-dimensional annular format is described. It is rotationally symmetrical and comprises two groups of optics, each having very distinct functions. The front group of optics is basically a catoptric system employing a concave and convex mirror for converting the extreme field angles to a more manageable intermediate image. The rear group acts as a relay lens to transfer the intermediate image formed by the front group to some accessible location downstream. For improved overall performance, aberration compensation of the front group is included in the design of the relay optics. A further refinement to the design is the inclusion of an additional optical element in the form of refracting negative shell located in front of the entire arrangement. This increases the effective field of view and is useful when fields of view exceeding 180 degrees are required.

Abstract: An optics assembly for observing a panoramic scene. The optics assembly includes a plurality of optical elements. A first element redirects light from the panoramic scene. The optical power of the first element forms an imaginary pupil. The energy from the first element is redirected about 90 degrees, forming an annular path. A second element receives the redirected light and re-images the imaginary pupil to form a real pupil. This portion of the energy continues to be in an annular form. A third element includes an optical relay system having a group of reimaging optics. The third element receives light from the second element while relaying the real pupil into the reimaging optics. It also establishes the focal length of the optics assembly, corrects pupil aberrations produced at the real pupil, corrects field aberrations and produces an annular image on a flat focal plane. The optical relay system interfaces with the second element through the use of the real pupil.

Abstract: A lens system having discrete variations of focal length at discrete distances of radius outward from the optic axis for focussing light of plural wavelengths. The lens system which directs a laser beam onto a target for ablation or exposure applications includes one set of lens elements to handle short wavelength light used for ablation or exposure applications, and another set of lens elements to handle long wavelength light used for alignment applications. The lens system which provides for the ablation or exposure functions at short wavelength and for through-the-lens alignment at a longer wavelength and higher numerical aperture consists of three elements. Two outer lens elements are made entirely of fused quartz. An inner element disposed between the two outer lens is composed of any material such as optical glass. The inner lens element has a hole ground through its center.

Abstract: A divergent lens (4) perforated in its center by a hole (5) of small diameter is placed opposite the aperture (12) of a laser beam type marker (10) in order to pick up the laser beam comprising substantially parallel rays (13) from the marker, the lens (4) deflecting the laser rays which reach it round the central hole (9) so as to produce a divergent beam (14) whereas the rays which reach the central hole (4) pass through it without being deflected so as to form a fine pencil of light (15) of higher intensity serving to mark a target. The divergent lens (4) is, for example, mounted in a aperture (3) provided in the head of a body (2) intended to be slid on and to cover the head (11) of a laser beam type marker (10). The divergent lens (4) can also be mounted in the aperture (12) provided in the head (11) of a laser beam type marker (10 ).

Abstract: A sliced transform lens is used to combine and focus the optical output signals of a planar M by N laser diode array onto M detector elements in a linear detector by displacing lens slices. A sliced transform lens is used to separate the composite image of the laser diode array on the detector plane into ten spots (400 emitters per spot) by displacing the lens slices relative to each other collimated He-Ne laser beam was used to examine the sliced transform lens and the linear detector array was used to measure the image sizes and the crosstalks between the images. The results show the minimum separation is approximately five detector spacings apart. The lens elements are cut from a bulk material (BK-7) and ground to desired thickness and parallelism. Then the elements are "glued" together with standard optical wax compound and ground to the prescribed focal length. THe lens slices are cut before grinding, hence the composite lens is symmetric and zero-curf configuration is preserved.

Abstract: A single hybrid optical element combines reflective and refractive imaging. The optical unit utilizes a dual-reflector outer annulus zone and a refractive inner zone to achieve a high numerical aperture. This system is particularly suitable for, but not limited to, microscope objectives or for digital data storage applications.