Abstract: A zoom optical system includes followings: a plurality of lens units for magnification, the plurality of lens unit for zooming including in order from a reduction conjugate side to a magnification conjugate side, a first lens unit having a positive optical power, a second lens unit having a negative optical power and a third lens unit having a positive optical power, wherein during zooming, respective intervals between the above described first, second and third lens unit vary, and across the entire zooming range, a magnification-side conjugate position with respect to a reduction-side conjugate position and a position of a pupil of the above described zoom optical system with respect to a reduction-side conjugate position are substantially immobile respectively.

Abstract: An objective for a microlithography projection system has at least one fluoride crystal lens. The effects of birefringence, which are detrimental to the image quality, are reduced if the lens axis of the crystal lens is oriented substantially perpendicular to the {100}-planes or {100}-equivalent crystallographic planes of the fluoride crystal. If two or more fluoride crystal lenses are used, they should have lens axes oriented in the (100)-, (111)-, or (110)-direction of the crystallographic structure, and they should be oriented at rotated positions relative to each other. The birefringence-related effects are further reduced by using groups of mutually rotated (100)-lenses in combination with groups of mutually rotated (111)- or (110)-lenses. A further improvement is also achieved by applying a compensation coating to at least one optical element of the objective.

Abstract: An optical system comprises, at least, in order from an object side, a first lens group having positive refracting power, a second lens group having negative refracting power, a third lens group having positive refracting power, and a fourth lens group having positive refracting power, wherein at least, the second lens group and the fourth lens group move along an optical axis when magnification is changed from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, and the first lens group contains a light path reflecting element having refracting power.

Abstract: A decentering optical system which takes a substantially parallel beam as input light, includes a prism having a medium whose refractive index is greater than 1, and four optical surfaces disposed at boundary surfaces of the medium so as to be mutually decentering or to slant. The four optical surfaces form a light-incident surface through which the input light enters, at least two internal-reflective surfaces which reflect internally the input light entering inside, a splitting surface which splits an optical path of the input light reflected by any one of these internal-reflective surfaces, into a transmission optical path and a reflection optical path; and a transmitting surface which emits the input light traveling along the reflection optical path towards an exterior. Real images are formed along each of the transmission optical path and the reflection optical path.

Abstract: The invention has now found out why ghost light occurs in an imaging optical system using a decentered reflecting prism for the purpose of reducing ghost light. The invention provides an imaging optical system comprising at least one decentered prism 10 having a rotationally asymmetric reflecting surface, at least located on an image side of an aperture stop. The prism 10 comprises three or more surfaces including an entrance surface 11, a reflecting surface 12 and an exit surface 13. The reflecting surface has an effective area A+B+C, and a reflection-enhancing member is applied onto an area B+C except a sub-area A at which an effective light beam is totally reflected.

Abstract: A thin imaging apparatus with an extremely low profile captures high quality images with outstanding resolution. The imaging apparatus has a light guide, incidence mirror, imaging device, and aperture unit. The incidence mirror reflects and guides light from a subject into the light guide, and the imaging device receives the light from the subject reflected by the incidence mirror and passing through the light guide.

Abstract: A compact image-forming optical system is disclosed which has a high optical performance due to arranging a reflective optical unit and a refractive optical unit at suitable positions. The image-forming optical system is an optical system performing image formation from a magnifying side to a demagnifying side or from the demagnifying side to the magnifying side, and includes, in order from the magnifying side to the demagnifying side, a refractive optical unit having a positive optical power as a whole, and a reflective optical unit including at least three reflective surfaces. The image-forming optical system has a pupil on the magnifying side further from the reflective surface furthest on the magnifying side the reflective optical unit, and the focal length of the refractive optical unit is set to be within a range of 0.2 to 5 times the focal length of the reflective optical unit.

Abstract: There is provided a catadioptric projection objective that includes (a) an object plane having a rectangular object field, and (b) a beam splitter situated in a light path after the object plane, having a rectangular surface adapted to the object field and having an aspect ratio not equal to 1.

Abstract: An optical filter is disclosed which adjusts the contours of blurred images and maintains the size of blurred images. The optical filter includes a substrate being substantially transparent and a first layer whose optical density changes continuously, formed on the substrate. A transmission rate of the first layer decreases substantially linearly from a center toward a periphery of the optical filter, and the transmission rate distribution is symmetric with respect to the center.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a variable optical-property element to change its optical properties by applying an electric or magnetic field or temperature to a liquid crystal. In this way, the optical apparatus is reduced in thickness, and can be used in a camera, a microscope, etc.

Abstract: An optical path bending optical system includes, in order from the object side, a first lens unit, a second lens unit with negative power, and at least one lens unit with positive power. When the magnification of the optical system is changed in the range from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position, the lens unit with positive power is moved along the optical axis. The first lens unit is constructed with a prism including a reflecting surface for bending the optical path, an entrance surface, and an exit surface, and has negative power. The entrance surface of the prism is configured as a curved surface with negative power which is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a projection objective is provided and includes at least two non-planar (curved) mirrors, wherein an axial distance between a next to last non-planar mirror and a last non-planar mirror, as defined along a light path, is greater than an axial distance between the last non-planar mirror and a first refracting surface of lenses following in the light path. In one exemplary embodiment, the first refracting surface is associated with a single pass type lens. The present objectives form images with numerical apertures of at least about 0.80 or higher, e.g., 0.95. Preferably, the objective does not include folding mirrors and there is no intermediate image between the two mirrors, as well as the pupil of the objective being free of obscuration.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes a most object-side lens unit remaining fixed on the optical axis when the magnification of the zoom lens is changed and a focusing operation is performed; a most image-side lens unit remaining fixed when the focusing operation is performed; and a plurality of moving lens units lying between the most object-side lens unit and the most image-side lens unit, moved along the optical axis when the magnification is changed. The most object-side lens unit includes, in order from the object side, a negative lens component, a reflective optical component having a reflecting surface for bending the optical path, and a positive lens component. The most image-side lens unit has at least one aspherical surface. An electronic imaging device includes an electronic image sensor located on the image side of the zoom lens.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes a first lens unit fixed when the magnification of the zoom lens is changed and at least two positive lens units arranged on the image side of the first lens unit so that relative spacings between individual lens units are varied when the magnification is changed. The first lens unit has a prism containing a reflecting surface at the most object-side position, the entrance surface of the prism is configured as a concave surface directed toward the object side, and the concave surface is an aspherical surface that divergence is impaired progressively in separating from the optical axis.

Abstract: A zoom optical system includes, in order from the object side, a first lens unit with negative refracting power, a second lens unit with positive refracting power, and a lens unit with negative refracting power. When the magnification of the zoom lens is changed in the range from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position, at least, the second lens unit is moved along the optical axis, and the first lens unit includes a path-bending element for bending the optical path. The path-bending element includes at least one reflecting surface for bending the optical path, an entrance surface, and an exit surface, and at least one of the entrance surface and the exit surface is configured as a curved surface rotationally symmetrical with respect to the optical axis. Whereby, a slim design of the optical system can be achieved.

Abstract: A digital projection display system includes one or more digital projection displays. Each digital projection display has an external light source producing as an output a light beam, an internal optics system, and a housing in which the internal optics system is received, but wherein the external light source is located external to the housing. A display screen forms one face of the housing. Preferably, an optical fiber extends from the output of the external light source to an input of the internal optics system. Multiple digital projection displays may be illuminated by a single external light source using multiple optical fibers.

Abstract: A taking lens apparatus has a zoom lens system that is composed of a plurality of lens units and that achieves zooming by varying the distances between the lens units and an image sensor that converts the optical image formed by the zoom lens system into an electrical signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stereo imaging unit or system that can have a suitable degree of parallax and a wide angle of view even when used with an image pickup device smaller than film.

Abstract: A labor of disconnecting many cables is omitted even when carrying a file basestation with an external storage loaded together with a main body. An information processing unit comprises: a main body having a CPU, a keyboard and a display unit; a file basestation with an external storage, such as an FD•D or a CD ROM•D, loaded; and a portreplicator with many connectors loaded. Removal of the main body alone from the portreplicator can omit the labor of disconnecting many cables connected to the portreplicator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a variable magnification optical system for forming an optical image of an object on the light-receiving surface of an image sensor with a variable magnification. The variable magnification optical system includes an optical construction comprising, from an object side, a first reflective surface, a first movable unit, a second reflective surface, and a second movable unit. The optical axis is bent at substantially ninety degrees by the first reflective surface and is further bent by the second reflective surface, and, during magnification variation from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the first and second reflective surfaces are kept in fixed positions with respect to the image surface, and the first and second movable units move along the optical axis. The variable magnification optical system fulfills a prescribed conditional formula.

Abstract: A nonimaging optical system for processing a first and second light distribution. The nonimaging optical system includes at least two refractive surfaces, at least one reflective surface nearer to the first light distribution along at least one ray path than the nearer of the two refracting surfaces and the reflective surface and the refractive surfaces cooperating to redirect light edge rays of the first light distribution into the neighborhood of the edge of the second light distribution with a single reflection from the reflecting surface.

Abstract: A zoom lens optical system includes a first optical group with a first lens having negative refraction, a second lens having positive refraction, and a light path changing unit to change the path of an incident light passing through the first lens to have light incident on the second lens. A second optical group is provided for varying magnification. The second optical group has a third lens having negative refraction, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens, wherein the fourth and fifth lenses are integrally connected and have negative refraction. A third optical group includes an iris diaphragm, a sixth lens having positive refraction, and a seventh lens having negative refraction. A fourth optical group is provided for focusing. The fourth optical group has an eighth lens and a ninth lens being integrally connected and both having positive refraction.

Abstract: This electromagnetic wave concentrator having high rigidity and flexibility is suitable for communications and is produced by molding using stress relaxation in thin-film material. An ultra-lightweight electromagnetic wave concentrator is obtained by increasing the rigidity by forming a thin-film curved body of an electromagnetic wave reflective surface having a paraboloid shape. Reinforcing grooves in the reflective surface increase rigidity. To form the reflective surface shape and the reinforcing grooves, pressure is applied to the thin-film material with a molding die, or the thin-film material is attached to the molding die by pressure while heating the thin-film material with a heating device, such as a thermostatic chamber.

Abstract: A lens assembly is constructed to accommodate certain, often competing, design characteristics. The lens assembly provides high optical performance in a compact and easy to manufacture system. The lens assembly allows a manufacturer to produce a system that is common among various aperture sizes so that manufacturability is enhanced. The lens assembly is also suitable for use in connection with additional components, such as filters and/or electronic detectors, such as CCD's and/or CMOS's. The lens assembly may be arranged to provide a relatively wide angle, such as approximately 40 degrees, with minimal distortion, for example, less than 1%. a ratio of the length of the lens assembly to the back focal length of approximately 1.39 to accommodate additional components, such as optical filters. The lens assembly may be configured as a four group, six element, lens assembly.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a catadioptric lens system, the method involving: fabricating a single catadioptric lens element having a bottom surface and an upper surface, the upper surface having a convex portion and a concave portion, both the convex and concave portions sharing a common axis of symmetry; cutting apart the catadioptric lens element to form 2n pie-shaped segments, wherein n is an integer; and reassembling the 2n pie-shaped segments to form the catadioptric lens system with n of the 2n pie-shaped segments being located above a common plane and the rest of the 2n pie-shaped elements being below the common plane.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical apparatus enabling diopter adjustment, etc. to be achieved using, for instance, a reflection type variable-optical property optical element or a variable-optical property mirror but without recourse to any mechanical moving part. The variable-optical property mirror 9 comprises an aluminum-coated thin film 9a and a plurality of electrodes 9b. Via variable resistors 11 and a power source switch 13 a power source 12 is connected between the thin film 9a and the electrodes 9b, so that the resistance values of the variable resistors 11 can be controlled by an operating unit 14. The shape of the thin film 9a as a reflecting surface is controlled by changing the resistance value of each variable resistor 11 in response to a signal from the operating unit 14 in such a manner that the imaging capability of the variable mirror is optimized.

Abstract: A real image mode variable magnification finder optical system comprises a variable magnification objective optical system having a positive optical power, an ocular optical system having a positive optical power, and a plurality of reflecting surfaces for erecting an image. The objective optical system comprises a plurality of movable lens units and at least one rotationally asymmetric reflecting surface having an optical power, and the reflecting surface participating in the function of the objective optical system and in the function of erecting an image. Each of the lens unit included in the objective optical system has at least one aspherical surface. The finder optical system satisfies the following condition: 0.02<d·(fw/ft2)<0.4.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system of catadioptric type, and an optical element disposed on a reciprocating light path of the projection optical system, the optical element being movable to correct at least one of spherical aberration, astigmatism, and curvature of field of the projection optical system.

Abstract: A solid catadioptric lens with a single viewpoint has a spherical refractive surface with a center C on an optical axis of the lens. An ellipsoidal reflective surface of the lens faces the spherical refractive surface such that a first focus F1 of the ellipsoidal reflective surface is coincident with the center C of the spherical refractive surface. Furthermore, the lens has a shaping surface facing the ellipsoidal reflective surface for shaping a light that passes the single viewpoint. The shaping surface can be refractive, reflective or semi-transparent and its shape can be ellipsoidal with its first focus F1? coincident with the second focus F2 of the ellipsoidal reflective surface. The single viewpoint of the lens is at the center C of the spherical reflective surface and is enforced with an aperture that can be positioned at various points inside, on a surface or even outside the lens, depending on the type of shaping surface chosen.

Abstract: A system for multiple mode imaging is disclosed. The catadioptric system has an NA greater than 0.65, and preferably greater than 0.9, highly corrected for low and high order monochromatic aberrations. The system employs unique illumination entrances and optics to collect reflected, diffracted, and scattered light over a range of angles. Multiple imaging modes are possible by varying the illumination geometry and apertures at the pupil plane. Illumination can enter the catadioptric optical sytems using an auxiliary beamsplitter or mirror, or through the catadioptric elements at any angle from 0 to 85 degrees from vertical. The system may employ a relayed pupil plane, used to select different imaging modes, provide simultaneous operation of different imaging modes, Fourier filtering, and other pupil shaping operations.

Abstract: An optical reduction system for use in the photolithographic manufacture of semiconductor devices having one or more quarter-wave plates operating near the long conjugate end. A quarter-wave plate after the reticle provides linearly polarized light at or near the beamsplitter. A quarter-wave plate before the reticle provides circularly polarized or generally unpolarized light at or near the reticle. Additional quarter-wave plates are used to further reduce transmission loss and asymmetries from feature orientation. The optical reduction system provides a relatively high numerical aperture of 0.7 capable of patterning features smaller than 0.25 microns over a 26 mm×5 mm field. The optical reduction system is thereby well adapted to a step and scan microlithographic exposure tool as used in semiconductor manufacturing. Several other embodiments combine elements of different refracting power to widen the spectral bandwidth which can be achieved.

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

Abstract: An optical system for providing a useful light beam, having one or more optical components (3, 4, 5) which attenuate a useful light fraction with a first linear polarization state less strongly than a useful light fraction with a second linear polarization state different from the first state. A compensation unit is provided which includes a transmission plate (9) that is introduced into the useful light beam path (7) inclined (?) to the optical axis, and attenuates the useful light fraction with the first linear polarization state more strongly than that with the second linear polarization state. As a result, the imbalance, caused by the system without a compensation unit, of the two useful light fractions can be compensated completely or in any case partially. The optical system is used, for example, in illuminating systems and projection objectives of microlithographic projection exposure apparatuses.

Abstract: An optical apparatus has a look-up table provided with control information for controlling an optimum variable optical-property optical element in accordance with a distance to an object, a zoom state, or a combination of the distance to the object with the zoom state. A drive of the variable optical-property optical element is controlled on the control information obtained from the look-up table or a predetermined calculation process is executed on the control information obtained from the look-up table, and information obtained from the calculation process is used to control the drive of the variable optical-property optical element.

Abstract: At least two Fresnel lenses are formed on a transparent substrate, and a set of parallel plates are established in an acute included angle (from 19° to 90°) with the transparent substrate by an inclined exposure process employing a thick film photoresist. The parallel plates are separately placed over the Fresnel lenses. Metal layers are separately deposited on the outside surfaces of the parallel plates far from the acute included angle. A transparent polymeric material is overlaid on the surface of the transparent substrate till the parallel plates are immersed. An objective lens, placed over a photo detector, is formed on the surface of the transparent polymeric material. A laser diode is placed at a location on the surface of the substrate opposite to one of the Fresnel lenses, and the photo detector is placed at a location on the surface of that opposite to another of the Fresnel lenses.

Abstract: A projection optical system includes from the enlargement side a first lens unit, a mirror which is an optical path bending member, a second lens unit, and a third lens unit. The projection optical system is designed so that a condition (1), 5.5<T12/FL<12.0, is fulfilled. Here, T12 is the air equivalent distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit, and FL is the overall focal length of the projection optical system. By fulfilling the condition (1), it is unnecessary that the diameter of the first lens unit be extremely large. It is also unnecessary to change the lens shape to prevent interference between the first lens unit and the second lens units, so that an increase in the cost of the projection optical system can be suppressed.

Abstract: A display optical system for guiding light from an image to an observer or a surface projecting an image thereon with a first optical system and second optical system. The first optical system having a first surface formed on a transparent body with a reflecting action, a second surface reflecting light reflected on the first surface toward the first surface again, and a third surface formed on the transparent body transmitting light from the image. The light transmitted through the third surface travels toward the first surface and is reflected for the first time. In addition, a principal ray, central angle of view to be reflected for the last time on the first surfaces is reflected to a side opposite a side of the first reflection on the first surface with respect to a normal line of a surface on a hit point thereof.

Abstract: An imaging optical system includes a first lens unit located at the most object-side position and at least one of lens units interposed between the first lens unit and an image. At least one of the lens units is moved along the optical axis. The first lens unit includes, in order from the object side, at least one lens with negative refracting power, a deformable mirror, and at least one lens with positive refracting power, and focusing is performed by the deformation of the deformable mirror.

Abstract: A light incident on one side surface of a prism is reflected twice between an inner surface of the other side surfaced of the prism and an inner surface of the one side surface of the prism. The reflected light is emitted from the rear surface of the prism to form an image on an image pickup element through the image pickup lens. A first reflective member disposed on a substantially entire other side surface of the prism totally reflects the light incident on the inner surface of the other side prism. A second reflective member disposed on an area, of the one side surface of the prism, in which the light incident on the inner surface of the one side prism is not totally reflected totally reflects the light incident on the inner surface of the one side prism.

Abstract: A projection optical system for projecting an image of an object onto an image plane. The projection optical system includes a first imaging optical system for forming an image of the object in which the first imaging optical system includes a first mirror for reflecting and collecting abaxial light from the object, a second imaging optical system for re-imaging the image upon the image plane, a second mirror for reflecting light from the first mirror to the image plane side, whereby the abaxial light is caused to pass outside of an effective diameter of the first mirror, and a field optical system including three lenses each having a positive refractive power. The abaxial light passed through the outside of the effective diameter of the first mirror is refracted by the three lenses toward a direction nearing an optical axis of the three lenses.

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

Abstract: An apparatus for focusing electromagnetic radiation comprises a planar solid immersion mirror including edges for reflecting an electromagnetic wave toward a focal point adjacent to a truncated end of the planar solid immersion mirror, and an interface for diverting a portion of the electromagnetic wave from a central portion of the planar solid immersion mirror to the edges for subsequent reflection toward the focal point.

Abstract: A phase shift element having a central area (for transmitting part of an incident laser beam in the vicinity of the beam central axis) and a first area (giving the laser beam incident thereon a phase difference ? relative to a beam passing through the central area) is placed on an optical path between a laser light source and a polygon mirror of a scanning optical system. The scanning optical system including such a phase shift element is installed in a printer. By the effect of the phase shift element, the intensity of side lobes (several rings of light accompanying the main beam) is prevented from exceeding a threshold value even when optical surfaces of an imaging optical system of the scanning optical system have certain microscopic undulations, by which black stripes occurring in halftone printing can be eliminated.

Abstract: An apparatus for introducing a light beam into a pupil of an eye of a viewer, to thereby project an image onto a retina of the eye is disclosed, in which a light beam generator generates and outputs a light beam corresponding to the image, a scanning device scans the light beam output by the light beam generator, a guiding device guides the light beam scanned by the scanning device toward the pupil, and an angle modifying device modifies a pupil incident angle at which a center line of a scanning angle of the scanning device enters the pupil.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for achieving an optical image of an object (136), and/or for achieving optical collimation (137) of light from a light source (130), comprising a concave mirror (131: 134), the surface normal of which forms an angle with the incident light in a beam. A negative lens (132, 133) that co-operates with the concave mirror is arranged in the incident and/or exit beam paths such that an image with eliminated or reduced imaging aberrations is achieved in a focal plane (135), and/or that the exit light from a light sources (130) is collimated (137).

Abstract: The lens embraces a bulk-shaped lens body identified by a top surface, a bottom surface and a contour surface, and a well-shaped concavity is implemented in the inside of the lens body, aligned from the bottom surface toward the top surface. The lens body has geometry such as bullet-shape or egg-shape. A ceiling surface of concavity implemented in the lens body serves as a first lens surface, the top surface of the lens body serves as the second lens surface, and inside of the concavity serves as a storing cavity of a light source or a photodetector.

Abstract: An optical apparatus for training a golfer which is the form of a pair of spectacles with tinted lenses, one of which is inclined so that an image projected onto an inner surface of the lens is reflected onto an eye of a user. The image comprises data which aids the golfer in a training stroke. To reduce ghost images, to allow for binocular vision and to superimpose the projected image on a background view, the lenses have an absorption of from 60% to 85%.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus has an optical head that is provided with a laser light source for emitting light and a reflection converging optical system. The reflection converging optical system reflects light emitted from the laser light source, and converges the light on one point of a bottom surface of a solid immersion lens. Here, the reflection converging system has a first reflection surface for reflecting incident light; and a second reflection surface for further reflecting the light reflected by the first reflection surface and for converging the light onto the bottom the solid immersion lens.

Abstract: An optical device has a plurality of optical elements lined up in a row laterally. The optical elements in each case have a light entry surface, a light exit surface, and an associated optical axis. The light entry surfaces are in each case formed convexly in the manner of a lens in a central region surrounding the optical axis. The central region is in each case surrounded by an annular reflector, which is preferably composed of a plurality of individual reflectors.

Abstract: To use a beam splitting optical system smaller than the conventional beam splitters and to set a longer optical path between a concave, reflective mirror and an image plant. A light beam from an object surface travels through a first converging group to enter a beam splitter, and a light beam reflected by the beam splitter is reflected by a concave, reflective mirror to form an image of patterns on the object surface inside the concave, reflective mirror. A light beam from the image of the patterns passes through the beam splitter and thereafter forms an image of the patterns through a third converging group on an image plane.