Abstract: A method for making a mask for optical lithography or other projection printing, wherein the mask is represented by a mask pattern, is disclosed herein. The mask provides a substantially binary output image on the surface of a wafer as light is applied to the mask. Light passes through the mask and onto a wafer at varying intensities, such intensities represented by output intensity values, the threshold values of which produce output images within predetermined constraints. The method includes the steps of defining sampling points which are representative of the binary output image. These sampling points are used in defining local objective functions, which are combined to give a total objective function. The present invention further includes the steps of adjusting the mask pattern to provide for minimization by optimization of the objective function, transferring the mask pattern to a mask generating machine to generate a mask, and generating a mask. Moreover, the present invention includes the step of providing an output image which is focused on a plurality of optical planes. Furthermore, the present invention includes the step isolating three of the plurality of optical planes so that their output intensity is optimized at these planes, thereby producing a focusing plane shift at the center focal plane as well as producing an extended depth of focus.

Abstract: The layout of the optics for a new small angle x‐ray scattering instrument at the DORIS‐III wiggler beamline BW4 was investigated by means of ray tracing and finite element calculations. The absolute intensity distributions at different locations of the beamline, especially in the focal plane, have been computed. The first crystal of a double crystal monochromator is the optical element that is most strongly influenced by thermal load. Thus, the distortion of this crystal surface due to thermal load was taken into account as well as the intended cooling system. The results show that the photon flux density at the focus is decreased by a factor of 0.2 due to this distortion.

Abstract: A hyperspectral imager includes a focal plane having an array of spaced image recording pixels receiving light from a scene moving relative to the focal plane in a longitudinal direction, the recording pixels being transportable at a controllable rate in the focal plane in the longitudinal direction, an electronic shutter for adjusting an exposure time of the focal plane, whereby recording pixels in an active area of the focal plane are removed therefrom and stored upon expiration of the exposure time, an electronic spectral filter for selecting a spectral band of light received by the focal plane from the scene during each exposure time and an electronic controller connected to the focal plane, to the electronic shutter and to the electronic spectral filter for controlling (a) the controllable rate at which the recording is transported in the longitudinal direction, (b) the exposure time and (c) the spectral band so as to record a selected portion of the scene through M spectral bands with a respective exposure time t q for each respective spectral band q.

Abstract: A technique to model the instrumental polarization in the focal plane of a telescope is presented. It takes into account that different rays of an incoming beam suffer different variation of the original polarization in their paths through the system. It also considers that the net effect depends on the way in which the different rays interfere with each other. It is shown that the Mueller matrix which describes this instrumental polarization greatly simplifies if the polarimetric measurements have poor spatial resolution

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining three-dimensional volume data indicative of the shape of an object by processing the video signal resulting from picking up the object has an image projector for projecting a two-dimensional reference optical image containing a large amount of spatial high-frequency components on the surface of the object, a two-dimensional image pickup device for sequentially picking up the image of the object on which the two-dimensional optical image is projected, while the focal plane is being shifted, a range finder for extracting the high-frequency components of an image signal of a very small region including each of a plurality of detection points on the image picked up by said image pickup device, and detecting the best focal plane position where an in-focus condition is given, for each of the plurality of detection points from the change of the high-frequency components with the shift of the focal plane, and a memory for storing data of the best focal plane detected for each of the detection points as the three-dimensional volume data of the object.

Abstract: An intraocular lens including a refractive/diffractive lens having an anterior surface and a posterior surface and a generally anterior posterior optical axis. At least one of the surfaces has a diffractive lens profile that is binary in phase, and produces three useful focal points. The diffractive lens profile is designed to provide three foci each containing 28.8% of the incident light, with the residual 14% of the light going into other foci. Additionally, some of the out-of-focus light of this design contributes positively to the image, and the resultant maximum image contrast is above 28.8%. This design adds clear mid-range vision, at the expense of a slight decrease in near and far vision, and the added mid-range vision makes the device less sensitive to longitudinal placement in the eye.

Abstract: In the design of optical systems, it is expedient to consider only those systems that possess the desired first-order imaging properties. For asymmetric systems, however, the requisite methods for performing such a first-order layout have not been established. The foundations of suitable methods, based on the work of Hamilton, are developed here. The utility of these techniques is demonstrated by resolving a fundamental issue in the context of the characterization of first-order properties of optical systems. Specifically, it is well known that the smallest number of quantities required to characterize the first-order imaging properties of an asymmetric system is, at most, eleven, and it is established here that precisely eleven quantities are required in general. That is, there are no hidden constraints among these conventional quantities.

Abstract: Computer-designed linear and circular zone plates are considered that utilize a π-phase jump in order to create destructive interference in the focus. Intensity distributions in the focal plane as well as along the optical axis are calculated for a few examples. A significant decrease of the black spot diameter in comparison with the dimensions of the ordinary focal spot is obtained. Further reduction is achieved when the central region of the zone plate is obstructed. Some applications to alignment and the schlieren technique are suggested. Experimental results that confirm the calculated distributions are presented.

Abstract: A fiber optic zoom-and-dim pins-pot luminaire includes a tubular housing having a proximal end and a distal end having a composite macro lens on an optical axis. A light emitter slidably disposed in a support tube at the proximal end of the housing is a fiber optic light guide having a first end accepting light from a remote source of illumination and a second emitting light on the optical axis. The composite macro lens forms a principal focus at a first focal plane to produce a narrow beam. The macro lens includes a plurality of micro lenses contiguous with portions of the macro lens, each micro lens having a focus at a second focal plane axially displaced from the principal focus of the macro lens. The luminaire is zoomed to a progressively wider beam of uniform intensity by moving the light emitter along the optical axis from the first focal plane, at which the second focal plane is out of focus; to the second focal plane, at which the first focal plane is out of focus. By retracting the light emitter into the support tube, the light may be dimmed at any position in the zoom range, or may be zoomed to another beam width at any desired brightness.

Abstract: A folded, magnifying, front projection arrangement for video displays includes a video image source, such as a flat panel display unit out of the user's field of view, projects its image onto a concave mirror also out of the user's field of view. The video image source is maintained off-axis with respect to the optic axis of the concave mirror and at a distance from the concave mirror between one and two times the distance from the concave mirror to its principal focal surface, which would be the principal focal plane if the concave mirror were a spherical or a parabolic mirror. The concave mirror, in turn, reflects and focuses the light from the video image source onto a projection screen, within the user's field of view, resulting in a magnified image. The distortion of the projected image that would otherwise result from off-axis projection is compensated for by maintaining the plane of the video image source at a non-perpendicular angle to the optic axis of the mirror. As a result, the image formed on the projection screen is undistorted and in focus across its full width and breadth. Since the projection screen is not an active element, a small aperture, or hole, can easily be cut through it so that a video camera, for capturing the image of the viewer of the screen, may be positioned behind it. The image resulting from such camera placement provides good eye contact to a remote party viewing the image.

Abstract: A dual-polarized antenna includes a planar line or surface array of reradiating elements of two different polarizations. Each reradiating element in one embodiment is a short-circuited vertical or horizontal dipole. The vertical and horizontal dipoles may be collocated on the array to form crossed short-circuited dipoles. The elements of each polarization form an array separate from the elements of the other polarization. Within each of the two separate arrays, the 1/λ of each reradiator is adjusted to provide a phase shift which causes a collimated beam incident on the array to result in reradiation or "reflection" of energy in the form of a beam converging at a focal point. Therefore, each planar reradiator array acts as a parabolic reflector with a particular focal point. The focal points for the vertical and horizontal arrays are different, and a feed of the appropriate polarization is located at each of the two focal points. A satellite includes a communication system operating in a "frequency re-use" mode, with mutually alternate, overlapping-frequency channels transmitted (and received) on mutually orthogonal polarizations.

Abstract: A wavefront sensor includes a plurality of holographic optical elements (HOEs 50) that are disposed on a surface of a mirror (12) that defines a pupil, each of the HOEs diffracting a portion of an output beam for providing an associated sample beam. An optical wavefront sensor (54) has an input that is optically coupled to each of the sample beams through a low aberration optical train and through a transfer lens (54a) that focuses the sample beams at a focal plane (FP). A detector (54b) is positioned in a plane parallel to and offset from the focal plane (focus-biased) for detecting spot images of the sample beams. Each of the HOEs has a prescribed amount of optical power associated therewith for causing the associated sample beam to be focussed by the transfer lens at the plane of the detector, and further has a prescribed amount of optical tilt associated therewith for compensating for a distortion of the sample beam due to a distortion of the pupil for different FOV angles.

Abstract: The present invention is a projection system which includes a plurality of screen segments, each defining a surface in the shape of an ellipsoidal segment such that each surface has a first focal point and a second focal point. The screen segments are arranged such that an edge of the surface of one of the screen segments is essentially adjacent along its entire length to an edge of the surface of another screen segment. The projection system also includes a plurality of projectors, equal to the number of screen segments. Each of the projectors projects an image upon one of the screen segments from the second focal point of that screen segment. Preferably, the screen segments are arranged such that the first focal points of their surfaces essentially coincide with each other.

Abstract: A laser diode imaging system in which the pixel size of a laser beam (7) at the image plane (8) is kept constant despite thermal shift of the laser diode (1). The laser diode imaging system includes a laser diode (1) at the first focal plane of an optical imaging system (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and an imaging plane (8) at the second focal plane of the optical imaging system (2), (3), (4), (5), (6).

Abstract: A device for microscopic sectioning and imaging of an object specimen illuminated with light comprises an objective lens, a diaphragm, and a pixel filter array. The objective lens focuses light from the object specimen to an image focal plane. The diaphragm blocks a portion of the focused light from the objective lens thereby creating a shadow. Each pixel filter in the pixel filter array has an axis and is arranged so as to cooperate with the shadow so that light from an object focal plane and parallel to the pixel filter axes reaches an output image plane.

Abstract: The antenna particularly for domestic, collective or community installations, receives plural telecommunication beams and comprises a preferably paraboloidal fixed reflector with an axis of symmetry. At least one grating of annular diffraction members is substantially symmetrical with regard to the axis and is placed parallel to the reflector. The grating defines first and second focal points symmetrical to the axis towards which are susceptible to converge first and second beams directed substantially parallel to straight lines going through the centre of the grating and through first and second focal points respectively. A microwave head can sweep the focal plane along a focal line, or several microwave heads are positioned on a gantry thereby receiving or emitting plural beams, though the reflector is fixed.

Abstract: A circuit and method of detecting infrared radiations with a focal plane array circuit member comprising storing a charge in a storage device indicative of the intensity of received infrared radiations, periodically transferring the stored charge and then resetting the storage device, storing the transferred charge, providing an output terminal and providing a low pass filter coupled between the output terminal and the storage means.

Abstract: The design of an off-axis mirror system, based on a pair of prolate spheroids with a common focus but not a common axis, is considered. With the focus as a pupil, any ray through one focus of a spheroid must pass through all others as each such ray becomes a chief ray. A pseudo- (optical) axis is defined as that chief ray about which other rays are symmetric. A condition to ensure the existence of the pseudoaxis is derived based on a relation between the two eccentricities, the angle that the pseudoaxis makes with the axis of the first spheroid and the angle between the axes of the two spheroids. Data are presented to compare theoretical calculations with computerized real ray-tracing data. A brief discussion is presented to consider the problem of imaging formation.

Abstract: A millimeter wave imaging system receives millimeter wave radiation and provides video imaging signals based thereon. The system comprises an imaging lens for receiving incoming radiation; a focal plane antenna array disposed at the focal plane of the lens on which radiation received by the lens is focussed; and signal processing and display circuitry for processing the output of the antenna array and for producing and displaying corresponding video imaging signals. The focal plane antenna array comprises a planar array of a plurality of conical horns and circular waveguides which, in use, are disposed at the focal plane of the lens; and a microstrip detector assembly coupled to the waveguides for detecting the radiation received thereby. The microstrip detector assembly comprises a dielectric substrate having a plurality of microstrip conductors embedded therein, each microstrip conductor being coupled to a respective one of the waveguides, and a diode detector being connected to each microstrip conductor. A solid state commutator samples the output of the detectors and provides a resultant video imaging control signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed a video projector provided with automatic focusing function. An image is generated on a liquid crystal light valve according to the video signal, and this image is projected through a projection lens system. The aberration between the focal plane of the projection lens system and the projection surface, such as a screen, is detected, and the focal plane is shifted according to thus detected aberration, in such a manner that the focal plane coincides with the projection surface or screen.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is arranged in a compact size and yet to be capable of adequately performing lens control whereby, in the optical system of the apparatus which is of the kind having a focusing lens arranged to compensate for a shift of a focal plane caused by a power varying action, the speed of the movement of a zooming lens is reduced when the speed of the movement of the focusing lens increases following the movement of the zooming lens.

Abstract: A method of forming patterns and an apparatus for carrying out the same whereby semiconductor integrated circuits and the like are manufactured using reduction projection alignment. The invention primarily involves projecting patterns of a first substrate onto the surface of a second substrate via an optical projector to form a projection image of the patterns on the second substrate surface. A phase difference pattern is furnished on the plane or its equivalent where the patterns of the first substrate are located. The phase difference pattern affords a predetermined phase difference to the light passing therethrough. Light is irradiated at the phase difference pattern via the optical projector to project the phase difference pattern onto a detecting plane in the position equivalent to the surface of the second substrate. This forms a projection image of the phase difference pattern on the detecting plane. An optical detector is used to detect the light intensity distribution of the projection image of the phase difference pattern projected onto the detecting plane. The detected light intensity distribution is represented by detection signals which are processed so as to obtain the relative positional relationship between the focal plane of the patterns and the detecting plane by use of the optical projector. Finally, the position of the second substrate is controlled so that the position of the detecting plane coincides with that of the focal plane on the basis of the relative positional relationship obtained.

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus in which a pair of bundles of rays transmitted through different portions of an exit pupil of a taking lens are transmitted through a common focus detecting zone on a predetermined focal plane of the taking lens and are then converged onto corresponding line sensors through a condenser lens. Separator lenses reform images separated from an image formed on the predetermined focal plane of the taking lens. The focus detecting zone deviates from the optical axis of the taking lens, and the condenser lens has an asymmetrical power distribution.

Abstract: A vehicular warning light has multiple segments of concave parabolic reflectors assembled for cooperative spreading of the light emitted from a single electric lamp to form an elongated wide angle beam of light in a horizontal plane for alerting the neighborhood to the presence and movement of the emergency vehicle. The axis of revolution of each parabolic reflector is assembled at a differing azimuth angle within the common horizontal plane and the focal points and focal planes of the respective reflectors are dispersed. The equivalent center point of the single light source is therefore defocused relative to at least some of the reflectors. The axis of the elongated light source is centered on the common horizontal plane and is parallel to the fluted light cover lens which is contoured for efficiency in light transmission from the multiple reflectors and for additional spreading and luminous uniformity.

Abstract: A focal plane processor, which performs image acquisition, smoothing, and segmentation, has been designed, fabricated, and characterized, using CCD/CMOS. Image brightness is transferred into signal charge using standard CCD imaging techniques. The two-dimensional Gaussian smoothing operation is approximated by a discrete binomial convolution of the image with a fully controllable support region. The design incorporates segmentation circuits with variable threshold control at each pixel to preserve edges in the image. Once processed, the image can be read out using a standard CCD clocking scheme. The design reduces requirements on subsequent signal processing circuits and eliminates the need for a spatial anti-aliasing prefilter. >

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring an optical property of an optical device, such as a convex or concave reflector surface, by locating a main converging lens having a focal length f1 in front of an optical measuring system capable of measuring collimation, and providing a carrier including an auxiliary converging lens for receiving a beam from the optical measuring system, and the optical device to be tested for reflecting back, via the auxiliary converging lens to the optical measuring system, the beam passed through the auxiliary converging lens from the optical measuring system. The carrier is located at a first position wherein the back focal plane of the auxiliary converging lens coincides with the front focal plane of the main converging lens, and the optical device to be tested is located on the carrier in the front focal plane of the auxiliary converging lens. The carrier is moved to a second position wherein the beam reflected back to the optical measuring system via the auxiliary converging lens and main converging lens is found by the optical measuring system to be collimated.