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: A high resolution lens is provided as a condensing lens for collecting light made incident from a light source, of which one face is plane and the other face is curved. The curved face of the lens is coated with a reflecting material except for its central apex portion, and incident light is made incident through the plan portion of the lens. The curved face of the high resolution lens may be spherical or is a parabolic face to reduce aberration. When a parallel light is made incident on the plane face of the high resolution lens, it is reflected in the lens and totally reflected, and then is transmitted through the uncoated apex to an external object.

Abstract: A catadioptric projection lens for projecting a pattern located in an object plane onto an image plane without an intermediate image includes the following components between the object plane and the image plane in the given order: a first lens part for creating a beam that is directed at a physical beam splitter, a physical beam splitter with a beam splitter surface, a mirror group with a concave mirror, and a second lens part with positive focal power to create an image of the pattern on the image plane. The mirror group preferably has no free-standing lens, and the focal power of the mirror group is largely determined by the magnification of the concave mirror. The focal power of the mirror group is large enough to convert the incident divergent beam into a convergent beam. The system aperture is located on the image side behind of the concave mirror, preferably at the exit of the beam splitter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to providing enhanced panoramic images with an improved panoramic mirror. A panoramic mirror is provided with a controlled vertical field of view. The controlled vertical field of view improves the resolution of a viewable panoramic image by eliminating portions of unwanted images from the viewable panoramic image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a projection lens comprising a lens assembly that has at least one first narrowing of the group of light beams. A lens with a non-spherical surface is located in front of and/or behind the first narrowing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image pickup system comprising an electronic view finder suitable for achieving compactness and having a sufficient viewing angle of field and satisfactory optical performance. The image pickup system comprises an image pickup device, an image display device for displaying an image, a controller for converting image formation obtained from the image pickup device into a signal that enables the image information to be formed on the image display device, and a viewing optical system for guiding an image displayed on the display device to a viewer's eye. The viewing optical system comprises at least three lenses.

Abstract: An optical system includes a nonspherical outer dome that is rotationally symmetric about a central axis, a detector system, and an optical corrector positioned in an optical path between the outer dome and the detector system. At least one light baffle is positioned in the optical path between the outer dome and the detector system and is fixed in space relative to the central axis. There are typically from one to three baffles, each affixed to either the inter surface of the outer dome or to the optical corrector. Each baffle is a frustoconical tube that is rotationally symmetric about the central axis. A set of fins may be supported on one of the baffles, with each fin extending radially outwardly from an outer surface of the baffle and parallel to the central axis. The baffles combine to reduce stray light that otherwise would enter the optical system.

Abstract: An optical imaging system especially for microlithography includes a first imaging system forming an intermediate image of an object, and a second imaging system forming, on a surface, an image of the intermediate image. A reflective surface directs light from the first imaging system to the second imaging system. An aspherical corrective optical surface is located at or near the location of the intermediate image for correcting aberrations such as high-order distortion, aberrations due to accumulation of manufacturing tolerances, and spherical aberration. The first imaging system comprises a positive power refractive element and a concave mirror. The second imaging system comprises refractive elements and no concave mirror.

Abstract: In an image pickup lens including a lens body, at least one of faces of the lens body is formed into an aspherical shape, and at least one of a first face of the lens body adjacent an object and a second face of said lens body adjacent an image pickup surface is a Fresnel face. Thus, the image pickup lens can be reduced in size, and the optical characteristics of the image pickup lens can be enhanced remarkably in a simple structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical modifier, in which single or several wavelength channels are fed into or fed out of transmission and/or receiving elements including, for example, wave guides. In order to fabricate an optical modifier that can intentionally affect one or more wavelength channels, that is inexpensive to manufacture, that allows as low loss as possible feed-in and feed-out of light in the smallest of spaces, and wherein at the same time the optical modifier is easy to calibrate, it is proposed according to the invention that at least one coupling device (20) with a curved surface (8) and a wave-modifying element (19) are provided. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical modifier, wherein the reflecting surface (8) is manufactured as part of a surface of revolution with a cone section as the curve generating the envelope.

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 imaging lens device has an imaging lens system that forms an optical image and an image sensing device that converts the optical image formed by the imaging lens system into an electronic signal. The imaging lens system includes two lens elements each made of a homogeneous material and having a positive optical power, and fulfills the following condition: 1.25<L/f<2.00, where L is the distance from the most object side lens surface to the image plane, and f is the overall focal length of the lens system.

Abstract: A lens assembly particularly suited to use with high resolution digital cameras suitable for incorporation in compact portable electronic devices such as cellular telephones, portable digital assistants and the like. The lens assembly includes a distal meniscus lens element formed from glass, and first and second, aberration correcting, aspheric lens elements formed from plastic, such as an acrylic, and positioned proximal to said meniscus lens element. An aperture stop plane is provided just in front of the front group. A fixed aperture stop or a combined variable aperture and shutter device may be positioned at the aperture stop plane.

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: An all-reflective zoom optical system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of curved relay mirrors successively reflecting electromagnetic radiation received by the system to generate a real image with electromagnetic radiation on a focal surface that is fixed across the zoom range. Further, the entrance aperture also is constant for any zoom position. The curved relay mirrors are movable in relationship to each other in mutually parallel tracks to effect the magnification. The system further includes a primary and secondary mirror for collecting and reflecting incoming electromagnetic radiation to the curved relay mirrors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an omniramic wide angle optical system which is associated with a camera, projector, medical instrument, surveillance system, flight control system, or similar article. The optical system typically consists of a Cassegrain system having a strongly curved convex reflecting surface with a prolate aspheric figure, a secondary reflector surface, and a modular imaging and correcting lens system. The invention further relates to the distribution of still or motion picture image elements by optical or electronic means, whereby the entire image or any subset thereof is converted from a two dimensional annular image or a segment thereof to a viewable horizontal image or a subset thereof; or, from a horizontal format image or a subset thereof into an annular image or a segment thereof.

Abstract: A projection lens of the following structure was invented for the purpose of providing a bright projection optical system with the F-number of approximately 2 or lower while maintaining good optical characteristics, in an image display apparatus. The projection lens is constructed of six lens units, a first lens unit L1 of a negative optical power, a second lens unit L2 of a positive optical power, a third lens unit L3 of a positive optical power, a fourth lens unit L4 of a negative optical power, a fifth lens unit L5, and a sixth lens unit L6 of a positive optical power, in the order named from the enlargement conjugate side, and four lens units (L2 to L5) out of the lens units move toward the enlargement conjugate side during zooming from the wideangle extreme to the telephoto extreme.

Abstract: A microlithographic projection exposure arrangement has an off-axis field and has a catoptric or catadioptric projection objective (P). In this arrangement, the illumination system (ILL) is made as small as possible in that a lateral offset (&Dgr;y) of the optical axes (OAI, OAP) is introduced relative to each other. A corrective element (AE) is arranged off-axis and functions to adapt the telecentry.

Abstract: A lens which has corrected the coma aberration substantially completely is provided as a catadioptric lens used with advantage in utilizing the evanescent light. The catadioptric lens is a concave non-spherical mirror having a concave refractive surface as a first surface S1 , a plane mirror as a second surface S2 and a concave non-spherical mirror arranged coaxially with the concave refractive surface of the first surface S1. The parallel incident light is converged through an aperture in the plane mirror of the second surface S2 on a total reflection plane of the fourth surface S4. The radius of curvature of the first surface S1 and the optical length d from the first surface S1 to the apex of the third surface S3 are set to satisfy the sine condition.

Abstract: A lens comprises a single lens, both surfaces of the lens is a meniscus-shaped and aspheric lens, and side surface side thereof is a convex surface, and, when a refractive index of the lens is represented by n, a central thickness thereof is represented by t, a radius of curvature of a concave face thereof is represented by r1, the radius of curvature of the convex face thereof is represented by r2, and a focal length thereof is represented by f, the lens satisfies the following equations: 1 - 0.2 <   ⁢ ( n - 1 r1 ) / f < 0 , 0.08 <   ⁢ ( 1 - n r2 ) / f < 0.1 , and 0.35 <   ⁢ t f < 0.55 .

Abstract: Projection lenses and projection lens systems are telecentric between an illumination subsystem and a set of imagers. The lenses and systems can exhibit color fringing correction, uniform imager illumination, athermalization, and component articulation for improved imaging. The lenses and systems may be employed in display apparatuses, such as folded display apparatuses that have decreased footprint size, but long effective projection lengths.

Abstract: A compact optical system for microscope, endscope and binoculars capable of providing a clear image of minimal distortion even at a wide field angle. The optical system is a decentered optical system. Curved surfaces constituting the optical system include at least one rotationally asymmetric surface having no axis of rotational symmetry in or out of the surface. To correct rotationally asymmetric aberrations due to decentration by the rotationally asymmetric surface, the following condition is satisfied: −1000<FX/FXn<1000 where FX is the focal length in the X-direction of the optical system, and FXn is the focal length in the X-direction of a portion of the rotationally asymmetric surface on which an axial principal ray strikes.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a compact yet high-performance finder optical system comprising an image inversion optical subsystem having a decentered reflecting surface, which enables a bright, distortion-free image to be observed. This object is achieved by locating a rotationally asymmetric surface in the image inversion optical subsystem forming part of the finder optical system.

Abstract: An optical imaging system especially for microlithography includes a first imaging system forming an intermediate image of an object, and a second imaging system forming, on a surface, an image of the intermediate image. A reflective surface directs light from the first imaging system to the second imaging system. An aspherical corrective optical surface is located at or near the location of the intermediate image for correcting aberrations such as high-order distortion, aberrations due to accumulation of manufacturing tolerances, and spherical aberration. The first imaging system comprises a positive power refractive element and a concave mirror. The second imaging system comprises refractive elements and no concave mirror.

Abstract: A compact optical system capable of providing a clear image of minimal distortion even at a wide field angle. The optical system is a decentered optical system (10). Curved surfaces (3 and 4) constituting the optical system include at least one rotationally asymmetric surface having no axis of rotational symmetry in nor out of the surface. To correct rotationally asymmetric aberrations due to decentration by the rotationally asymmetric surface, the following condition is satisfied:-1000<FX/FXn<1000 (1-1)where FX is the focal length in the X-direction of the optical system, and FXn is the focal length in the X-direction of that portion of the rotationally asymmetric surface on which an axial principal ray strikes.

Abstract: A method for providing as a surface of a closed-surface object, such as a sphere, and the resulting construction itself, portions of photographs from a set of photographs, the portions of photographs in combination providing a full, spherical view, called an immersed view, as seen from the location of a camera used to take the photographs, the camera having been aimed in each of a set of different directions to take the set of photographs. The different directions in which the camera is aimed are based on the field of view of the camera, which in the preferred embodiment is held fixed while taking the entire set of photographs. The immersive view includes substantially all four-pi radians of the view from the location of the camera, including views in directions both vertically directly up (in the direction of the zenith) and vertically directly down (in the direction of the nadir).

Abstract: A device for creating a panoramic field of view comprises a first light passing incident surface which is a cylinder surface and a second incident surface which is a mirror surface onto which light passing through the first surface impinges. A third incident surface onto which light from the second incident surface impinges is provided and the third incident surface being an aspherical transmission surface. A recollimating element for presenting a pupil plane depiction of a panoramic field of view is also provided. Various embodiments may include single or double lens devices with a second lens provided for the purpose of recollimating light.

Abstract: A pair of compensation lenses which provide an adjustable amount of spherical aberration. Each compensation lens has an external surface and an internal surface. The internal surfaces face each other and define an air gap spacing between them. The external surfaces are preferably planar. The internal surfaces are purely aspheric and therefore have an absence of spherical power and an absence of spherical curvature. The amount of spherical aberration compensation is determined by adjusting an air gap spacing between the internal surfaces. The spherical aberration provided by the lenses can be negative, positive, or zero. For compensation of negative spherical aberration present when focusing light into a data storage medium, the compensation lenses should provide positive spherical aberration. The absence of spherical power characteristic of the compensation lenses allows them to be located far from an objective lens which requires spherical aberration compensation.

Abstract: A catoptric reduction projection optical system (8), exposure apparatus (EX) including same, and a method using same for forming in a second plane (WP) a reduced image of an object (R) in a first plane (RP). The projection optical system includes, in order along a folded optical path on in optical axis (AX), from the first plane to the second plane, a first mirror (M1) having a concavely shaped reflecting surface and a first vertex, a second mirror (M2) having a second vertex, a third mirror (M3) having a convexly shaped reflecting surface and a third vertex, a single aperture stop (AS), and a fourth mirror (M4) having a concavely shaped reflecting surface and a fourth vertex. The projection optical system also preferable satisfies a number of design conditions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a head mounted image display apparatus to be mounted on a head portion of an observer.The apparatus is constructed by image generation means for displaying an image by radiating light and an optical system which has a plurality of optical elements for guiding light from said image generation means to a pupil of the observer, wherein, of said plurality of optical elements, a first decentered curved surface mirror based on an ellipsoidal surface and a second decentered curved surface mirror based on a hyperboloidal surface are arranged in turn from the pupil side of the observer, said first decentered curved surface mirror has a first focal point at a predetermined pupil position of the observer, and a second focal point at a focal point position of said second decentered curved surface mirror.

Abstract: An aberration correction system having a first lens disposed at an object side; and a second lens disposed at an image side, wherein the first and second lenses have different dispersions (Abbe numbers) with respect to each other, the surface of the object side of the first lens and the surface of the image side of the second lens which is adjacent to the image have substantially common center of curvature and the first and second lenses rotate around the center of curvature.

Abstract: An anamorphic system and method having first and second reflective anamorphic surfaces producing different magnifications in orthogonal directions in a collimated beam of radiation incident on the first anamorphic surface. The anamorphic surfaces have parabolic cross-sections in the two orthogonal directions. The parabolic cross-sections have base radii of curvatures and the magnifications in the first and second directions are determined by the ratio of the base radii of curvatures in the first and second directions.

Abstract: In a catadioptric optical system, the first focusing lens system A includes a concave mirror Mc, and it forms an intermediate image of the first plane R. The second focusing lens system B includes an aperture stop AS, and it forms a refocused image of the intermediate image on the second plane W. A reflecting surface M.sub.P1 is placed so that the light flux leaving the first focusing lens system A is guided to the second focusing lens system B. There are one or more lens surfaces that satisfy the conditionh/.phi.<0.85 (1)and one or more lens surfaces that satisfy the condition0.85<h/.phi.<1.2 (2)where h is the height at each lens surface of the light beam that is assumed to be emitted from the intersection of the optical axis of the first plane and passes through the lens surfaces with the maximum numerical aperture, and .phi. is the radius of the diaphragm of the aperture stop.

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: A relay lens assembly and a method for manufacturing a relay lens system for an endoscope includes the steps of providing at least one rod member having first and second curved end surfaces, positioning a mold surface at a predetermined distance from one of the curved end surfaces of the rod member wherein the mold surface has a profile which is the negative of a required optical profile to be formed on the curved end surface, filling a space defined by the predetermined distance between the mold surface and the curved end surface with a moldable light transmissive material and solidifying the moldable material to form a molded layer adhered to the curved end surface.

Abstract: An optical correction technique which utilizes a pair of toroidal optical elements which are translated axially to provide dynamic correction of astigmatic aberrations induced by conformal/aspheric domes and windows as a function of sensor gimbal angle. This correction technique provides dual axis, variable optical power correction within the dynamic operation of gimballed optical sensors, and is particularly suited to correction of aberrations introduced by conformal/aspheric domes and windows used in both missile and airborne fire control systems.

Abstract: A unitary, at least partially dielectric, element having formed thereon plural electromagnetic radiation reflecting surfaces, at least one of which is a total internal reflection surface.

Abstract: A compact endoscope optical system capable of providing a clear image of minimal distortion even at a wide field angle. The endoscope optical system includes an objective optical system for forming an object image. The objective optical system has a prism member (3) having reflecting surfaces (5, 6) for bending an optical path. The endoscope optical system further includes an image transfer system for leading the object image formed by the objective optical system to an observation apparatus along the direction of a major axis. The objective optical system has a configuration producing decentration aberration by bending the optical path. The prism member (3) has at least one curved surface (4 to 7) having an optical action in the optical path. The curved surface is such a non-rotationally symmetric surface having no axis of rotational symmetry in nor out of the surface as to correct the decentration aberration.

Abstract: A reflective optical system includes, in traveling order of light, a correction plate having an aspherical surface and a reflecting mirror for concentrating the light. An image is formed out of an optical path between the correction plate and the reflecting mirror.

Abstract: A condenser or aspheric lens comprising a condenser body having an aspheric section with a dome-shaped surface terminating in a circumferential perimeter and a sloping condenser surface extending from the circumferential perimeter outwardly and away from the aspheric section. A mirror assembly having a housing, an outer mirror assembly supported by the housing, and an inner mirror engaged to the outer mirror assembly. A method for capturing peripheral light rays from a light source. After a light member is illuminated to produce light rays, a portion of the light rays pass directly through the aspheric section of the condenser and a portion of the light rays are reflected off of an inner concave mirror surface for passage through the aspheric section of the condenser. A remaining portion of the light rays are reflected off of an outer peripheral mirror for passage through the condenser, preferably through a sloping condenser surface of the condenser.

Abstract: An improved eyepiece for an optical system. In general, the inventive eyepiece (10) includes a refractive element (16) and an optical arrangement for relaying the entrance pupil of the system to the refractive element. In a specific implementation, the optical arrangement includes a concave primary mirror (12) and a secondary mirror (14). The mirrors are mounted to communicate an image from the refractive element (16) to the entrance pupil (40). In the specific implementation, the refractive element (16) is one or more refractive lenses. The use of a reflective optical arrangement allows for the long eye relief. The placement of the entrance pupil close to the pupil of the lens allows for the use of a compact optical arrangement with high ratio of eye relief to effective focal length with a compact optical arrangement. The system affords minimal lateral chromatic aberration and good image quality.

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

Abstract: A head-mounted image display apparatus (HMD) including an ocular optical system, which has an F-number of 1.5 to 3 and enables a flat and clear image to be observed at a view angle of up to 60.degree. or more with substantially no aberration. The HMD has at least two, surfaces and each having a concave surface directed toward the pupil. The two surfaces are disposed so that light rays from an image display device are reflected by the first surface, and the reflected light rays are reflected by the second surface and pass through the first surface to enter an observer's eyeball.

Abstract: An image display apparatus, e.g. a head-mounted image display apparatus, which enables observation of a clear image at a wide field angle, and which is extremely small in size and light in weight and hence unlikely to cause the observer to be readily fatigued. The image display apparatus has an image display device (6) and an ocular optical system (7). The ocular optical system (7) has a first surface (3), a second surface (4) and a third surface (5), which are disposed in the mentioned order from the observer's eyeball (1) side. The space between the first and second surfaces (3 and 4) and the space between the second and third surfaces (4 and 5) are filled with a medium having a refractive index larger than 1. The first and second surfaces (3 and 4) have different curvatures. The second surface (4) is a reflecting or semitransparent surface which is decentered with respect to an observer's visual axis (2), and which has a concave surface directed toward the observer's eyeball (1).

Abstract: A headup display including a light emission-type display source, a concave mirror having an spherical reflecting surface and located so as to reflect light emitted from the display source, and a reflection-type hologram located so as to reflect the light reflected on the concave mirror toward an observer in a mobile unit. The concave mirror is configured so that its lateral focal length contributing to lateral enlargement of a displayed image is shorter than its longitudinal focal length contributing to longitudinal enlargement of the displayed image. The reflection-type hologram is configured so that its longitudinal focal length contributing to longitudinal enlargement of the displayed image is shorter than its lateral focal length contributing to lateral enlargement of the displayed image.

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

Abstract: A multi-fold optical magnifier includes a prism with four reflecting surfaces positioned to direct light from an inlet to an outlet, and a lens positioned adjacent the prism outlet to receive light from the prism. An aspheric surface of the lens is in the light path for aberration correction and diffractive optical elements formed on the prism and lens are positioned in the light path to provide further aberration correction. The prism and lens angularly magnify an image source at the prism inlet by greater than ten. The total distance, orthogonal to the source plane, between the prism inlet and the lens outlet is 10 to 15 millimeters.

Abstract: An optical system including at least one lens and erecting mirrors designed and arranged to give an inherent aperture and field greater in one direction than another direction. By using a low power eyepiece lens it is possible to arrange for a user's eye or eyes to be further behind the eyepiece lens so that the user can wear normal spectacles to correct for eye defects. When a pair of the optical systems is used in a pair of binoculars, it is possible for the exit pupils to be in a form of horizontal slots so the systems do not have to have adjustable spacing to allow for a particular user's eye separation.

Abstract: An optical system is provided for a FLIR mounted in a cylindrical turret ch has five folding mirrors, two doubling as scanning mirrors, numerous lenses with aspherical surfaces and different refractive indices, and a rotatable head mirror. Some of the lenses and mirrors being mounted on remote controlled electrically powered focusing or scanning means.

Abstract: A single fold optical magnifier including a plurality of optical elements having an aspheric field flattening light inlet with a light outlet directed at an angle to the inlet and a reflecting surface positioned to direct light from the inlet to the outlet. The optical elements define a light path from the inlet to the outlet with a total average optical length of approximately 15 to 35 millimeters. At least one aspheric surface and one diffractive optical element are positioned in the light path to provide aberration correction, and the optical elements are constructed to angularly magnify images by at least a power of ten.