Some embodiments are directed to a wide-field imaging system for the infrared spectral range. The system can include a vacuum chamber that is optically open for the passage of the field rays originating from the scene to be imaged, a cooled dark chamber placed inside the vacuum chamber and provided with a cold diaphragm, an infrared detector placed inside the cooled dark chamber, and a device for optically conjugating the field rays with the detector.

A freeform varifocal optical assembly includes at least three optical modules including a first plurality of polarization sensitive optical elements including Pancharatnam-Berry phase (PBP) lenses, polarization sensitive hologram (PSH) lenses, metamaterials, or combinations thereof. The plurality of polarization sensitive optical elements of each optical module include a property associated with a Zernike polynomial. Each of the first and the three optical modules are configurable between a plurality of optical powers. The freeform varifocal optical assembly is configurable to output a predetermined wavefront in response to an input wavefront.

An objective optical system includes a predetermined lens disposed near the pupil of the objective optical system. The predetermined lens has a first refractive region including an optical axis and a second refractive region located outside the first refractive region. The refractive power of the second refractive region is greater than the refractive power of the first refractive region. A light beam reaching an image plane includes a first light beam and a second light beam. The first light beam is a light beam transmitted through the first refractive region and includes at least one of a beam of white light and a beam of near-infrared light. The second light beam is a light beam transmitted through the second refractive region and includes only the beam of near-infrared light. A predetermined conditional expression (1) is satisfied.

An infrared optical system having a spectral range for achieving a fog penetration distance of at least 2.75 Runway Visibility Range (RVR) is provided herein. The optical system may include a single set of optical elements designed to have a wavelength range extending beyond 1.2 μm toward shorter wavelengths and comprising a short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) range and at least one of: a middle-wavelength infrared (MWIR) range and a long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) range, to enhance a detection range of the infrared optical system, wherein the single set of optical elements is laid such that the both the SWIR range and the at least one of the MWIR range and the LWIR range of infrared radiation pass through all of the optical elements.

A camera assembly includes an image sensor having a field of view corresponding to a scene, an infrared (IR) illuminator configured to selectively illuminate the scene, and a single-piece cover element positioned in front of the image sensor and the IR illuminator such that light from the IR illuminator is directed through the cover element along a first light path and light from the scene passes through the cover element along a second light path prior to entering the image sensor, the cover element including a first portion between the first light path and the second light path, the first portion being substantially opaque to IR and/or visible light.

A miniaturized microscope having a tunable focal length provides for fluorescence measurements at an adjustable focus, providing for autofocus and/or depth adjustment of an image measurement without altering or adjusting a probe implanted in a sample and while providing collimated illumination of an area within the sample. The microscope includes an objective lens having a fixed position with respect to a second connector for receiving light returning from the sample and focusing it on an image sensor within the microscope that generates an image output, a beamsplitter for separating light returning from the sample, and an electrically-tunable lens positioned between the objective lens and the image sensor for adjusting an optical path length from the optical interface to the image sensor. The illumination is focused at or near a back focal plane of the objective lens to the sample, providing collimated or quasi-collimated illumination on or within the sample.

Disclosed are a liquid lens and a liquid lens module, which enhance the fill factor of a liquid lens having an inclined partition, thereby achieving a low drive voltage and a high fill factor. The liquid lens includes an oil layer and a conductive liquid inside a chamber having an inclined partition. The oil layer is formed of an oil mixture obtained by mixing at least two types of oils having different indices of refraction, and the oil mixture has the index of refraction corresponding to the index of refraction of the material in which the chamber is formed.

To appropriately suppress reflection of far-infrared rays, and appropriately form an antireflection film. A far-infrared ray transmission member (20) includes a base material (30) that transmits far-infrared rays, and a functional film (32) that is formed on the base material (30) and includes a low refractive index layer (34) containing oxide as a principal component and having a refractive index equal to or smaller than 1.5 with respect to light at a wavelength of 10 μm. The low refractive index layer (34) contains MgO as a principal component, and a content of MgO is equal to or larger than 50 mass % and equal to or smaller than 100 mass % with respect to the entire low refractive index layer (34).

To appropriately suppress reflection of far-infrared rays, and appropriately form an antireflection film. A far-infrared ray transmission member (20) includes a base material (30) that transmits far-infrared rays, and a functional film (32) that is formed on the base material (30) and includes a low refractive index layer (34) containing oxide as a principal component and having a refractive index equal to or smaller than 1.5 with respect to light at a wavelength of 10 μm. The low refractive index layer (34) contains MgO as a principal component, and a content of MgO is equal to or larger than 50 mass % and equal to or smaller than 100 mass % with respect to the entire low refractive index layer (34).

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for producing a lens surface through electrowetting. The lens surface may be used in an ophthalmic lens such as an intraocular lens, contact lens, or eyeglass lens. A fluid chamber may include a conductive fluid and a curable fluid positioned therein. An electrode maybe used to vary a shape of a surface of the curable fluid through electrowetting. The surface of the curable fluid may be cured to produce a lens surface.