A scanner for scanning a dental site comprises a base, a detector mounted to the base, and an optical element to redirect light reflected off of the dental site towards the detector along a detection axis in a first direction. Two or more flexures couple the optical element to the base, wherein thermal expansion or contraction of the optical element with respect to at least one of the detector or the base bends each flexure of the two or more flexures in a respective second direction without bending the flexure in a respective third direction approximately perpendicular to the first direction and the respective second direction, wherein the two or more flexures maintain an alignment of the optical element to the detector with changes in temperature.

A lens unit includes a positive lens element provided with a convex surface on an incident surface and/or an exit surface; and a lens frame supporting the lens element and being provided with a projection that projects in an inner radial direction from inside the lens frame. The lens frame supports the lens element with the projection fixedly fitted into an outer peripheral portion of the lens element. The projection is provided, on an inner peripheral portion thereof, with a first surface positioned on an incident side in an optical axis direction, a second surface positioned on an exit side in the optical axis direction, and a third surface positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first, second and third surfaces are tapered surfaces that are respectively inclined relative to the optical axis direction. A method of manufacturing the lens unit is also provided.

A lens unit includes a positive lens element provided with a convex surface on an incident surface and/or an exit surface; and a lens frame supporting the lens element and being provided with a projection that projects in an inner radial direction from inside the lens frame. The lens frame supports the lens element with the projection fixedly fitted into an outer peripheral portion of the lens element. The projection is provided, on an inner peripheral portion thereof, with a first surface positioned on an incident side in an optical axis direction, a second surface positioned on an exit side in the optical axis direction, and a third surface positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first, second and third surfaces are tapered surfaces that are respectively inclined relative to the optical axis direction. A method of manufacturing the lens unit is also provided.

A polarization scrambler using a retardance element (RE) is disclosed. The polarization scrambler may include an optical fiber input to transmit an optical signal, and a beam expander to receive and expand the optical signal to create an expanded optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include a retardance element (RE) to cause a polarization scrambling effect on the expanded optical signal and to create a scrambled expanded optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include a beam reducer to receive and reduce the scrambled expanded optical signal to create a scrambled optical signal. The polarization scrambler may include an optical fiber output to receive scrambled optical signal. The optical fiber output may transmit the scrambled optical signal to one or more downstream optical components.

A gradient index lens includes at least one optical material, wherein the optical material has at least two extension axes at an angle relative to one another, wherein the optical material has a refractive index gradient along at least one of the extension axes the optical material, and wherein the optical material is formed to be coiled around at least one of the extension axes.

An apparatus for microneedle fabrication by the microlens technique is disclosed. The apparatus leads to a reduction in production time, cost and damage of microneedle which may be from demolding step in the molding technique. A microlens container, transparent sphere, medium, substrate sheet, and photopolymer is also disclosed. A microneedle fabrication processes capable of producing microneedles with different heights by adjusting focal length of the micro lens is further disclosed. The focal length can be adjusted by 1) changing spacing between the microlens and the substrate sheet and 2) selecting the medium with different refractive index which results in the refractive index ratio of the transparent sphere to the medium between 1.0 and 1.5. Furthermore, different pattern and shape of microneedle can be achieved by changing the arrangement of the transparent sphere instead of using photomask.

An optical lens device includes an optical substrate layer, an etched miniature-structure polarization layer and an etched miniature surface structure. The optical substrate layer is provided with a first surface and a second surface and a ray of light passes through the optical substrate layer. The etched miniature-structure polarization layer is provided on the first surface or the second surface of the optical substrate layer. The etched miniature surface structure is etched to form the miniature-structure etched polarization layer and provides a characteristic of optical polarization in the etched miniature-structure polarization layer. The etched miniature surface structure of the etched miniature-structure polarization layer provides an effect of optical polarization to the ray of light while passing through it.

According to the present invention, a lens adhesive including a compound represented by General Formula 1 is provided.
Pol.sub.1-Sp.sub.1-L.sub.1-Ar-L.sub.2-Sp.sub.2-Pol.sub.2  (General Formula 1) In the formula, Ar is an aromatic ring group represented by General Formula 2-2 and the like. ##STR00001## In the formula, Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, and the like; A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 each represent —S— and the like; X represents C(Rz).sub.2 and the like (where Rz is a substituent, and two Rz's may form a ring); L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 each represent a single bond, —O—, —OC(═O)—, —OC(═O)O—, —OC(═O)NH—, and the like; Sp.sub.1 and Sp.sub.2 each represent a single bond or a linking group such as a linear alkylene group; Pol.sub.1 and Pol.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom or a polymerizable group; and a compound represented by General Formula 1 has at least one polymerizable group. Using the lens adhesive, it is possible to provide a cemented lens that is unlikely to deteriorate due to light, and an imaging module having high durability.

According to the present invention, a lens adhesive including a compound represented by General Formula 1 is provided.
Pol.sub.1-Sp.sub.1-L.sub.1-Ar-L.sub.2-Sp.sub.2-Pol.sub.2  (General Formula 1) In the formula, Ar is an aromatic ring group represented by General Formula 2-2 and the like. ##STR00001## In the formula, Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, and the like; A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 each represent —S— and the like; X represents C(Rz).sub.2 and the like (where Rz is a substituent, and two Rz's may form a ring); L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 each represent a single bond, —O—, —OC(═O)—, —OC(═O)O—, —OC(═O)NH—, and the like; Sp.sub.1 and Sp.sub.2 each represent a single bond or a linking group such as a linear alkylene group; Pol.sub.1 and Pol.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen atom or a polymerizable group; and a compound represented by General Formula 1 has at least one polymerizable group. Using the lens adhesive, it is possible to provide a cemented lens that is unlikely to deteriorate due to light, and an imaging module having high durability.

A system for irradiating a microplate may include a light engine with a plurality of light sources, such as light-emitting diodes, included in one or more linear arrays. The plurality of light sources are configured to emit germicidal irradiation, which is directed to the microplate by optical components, such as optical lenses positioned on top of each well of the microplate. The linear array is linearly movable so that as the linear array scans across the microplate, the optical components direct the germicidal irradiation to a plurality of surfaces of each well.