A prism holder for use with a surgical instrument, having a prism. The prism holder including: a casing for receiving the prism; and at least one prism pressure element configured to be brought into contact with a pressure surface of the prism; wherein the casing having an opening for arrangement of the at least one prism pressure element in the opening.

A deflection prism assembly for an endoscope having a lateral viewing direction, the deflection prism assembly including: a prism holder; and a deflection prism accommodated in the prism holder; wherein the deflection prism has a light outlet surface and an opposite light inlet surface arranged obliquely to the light outlet surface, the deflection prism further having a lateral surface extending between the light inlet surface and the light outlet surface; and the prism holder accommodates the deflection prism such that the prism holder surrounds less than all regions of the lateral surface of the deflection prism.

A lens unit with a central axis is provided. The lens unit includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, and a first driving assembly. The fixed portion includes an outer frame and a bottom combined with the outer frame. The outer frame and the bottom are arranged along the central axis. The movable portion is movably connected to the fixed portion, and carries a lens with an optical axis. The central axis is not parallel to the optical axis. The first driving assembly is connected to the movable portion, and drives the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The first driving assembly also includes a biasing element made of a shape memory alloy.

An optical element driving mechanism is provided, including a fixed portion, a movable portion, a driving assembly, and a stopping assembly. The movable portion is movably connected to the fixed portion, wherein the movable portion is used for connecting to an optical element having a main axis. The driving assembly is disposed on the fixed portion or the movable portion, and the driving assembly is used for driving the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The stopping assembly is connected to the movable portion and the fixed portion.

An optical member driving mechanism is provided, including a movable portion, a fixed portion, and a driving assembly. The movable portion is connected to an optical member. The fixed portion has an accommodating space, and the optical member is received in the accommodating space. The movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly is configured to drive the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion.

Actuators for rotating an optical-path-folding-element with two, first and second, degrees of freedom in an extended rotation range around two respective rotation axes, folded cameras including such actuators and dual-cameras including a folded camera as above together with an upright camera.

Actuators for rotating an optical-path-folding-element with two, first and second, degrees of freedom in an extended rotation range around two respective rotation axes, folded cameras including such actuators and dual-cameras including a folded camera as above together with an upright camera.

A honeycomb sandwich panel having an absolute value of thermal expansion coefficient smaller than an absolute value of thermal expansion coefficient obtained by using carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is provided. The honeycomb sandwich panel includes: a first skin being a plate material made of a low expansion metal being a metal having an absolute value of thermal expansion coefficient smaller than an absolute value of thermal expansion coefficient of CFRP; a second skin being a plate material made of the low expansion metal and arranged to face the first skin; and a core made of CFRP or the low expansion metal, being bonded to the first skin and the second skin and including a plurality of tubular cells each having a hexagonal cross section, the tubular cells being formed adjacently to each other.

Disclosed are an optical system, in particular for microlithography, and a method for operating an optical system. According to one disclosed aspect, the optical system includes at least one mirror (100, 500, 600) having an optical effective surface (101, 501, 601) and a mirror substrate (110, 510, 610), wherein at least one cooling channel (115, 515, 615) in which a cooling fluid is configured to flow is arranged in the mirror substrate, for dissipating heat that is generated in the mirror substrate due to absorption of electromagnetic radiation incident from a light source on the optical effective surface, and a unit (135, 535, 635) to adjust the temperature and/or the flow rate of the cooling fluid either dependent on a measured quantity that characterizes the thermal load in the mirror substrate or dependent on an estimated/expected thermal load in the mirror substrate for a given power of the light source.

In certain embodiments, a gimbal assembly includes an enclosure, a window, and a pivot assembly. The enclosure is centered on a first axis and the window is coupled to the enclosure. The pivot assembly is coupled to an interior portion of the enclosure and configured to pivot within the enclosure about a second axis, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis. The pivot assembly includes a base portion, a mirror coupled at an angle to the base portion and configured to reflect light received through the window, and a sensor configured to receive the light reflected by the mirror. The pivot assembly is further configured to move within the enclosure in a direction that is perpendicular to the first axis and rotate about the first axis.