A device for optically imaging at least a part of an object, the device having an optical axis and including a two-dimensional first array of first microlenses, having a first side intended to face the object, and a second side, opposite the first side, a two-dimensional second array of second microlenses, each first microlens being aligned with a second microlens on an axis parallel to the optical axis, wherein each first microlens comprises a first catoptric system, and preferably a first catadioptric system.

A catadioptric lens includes at least two optical elements arranged along an optical axis. Both optical elements are configured as a mirror having a substrate and a highly reflective coating applied to an interface of the substrate. The highly reflective coating extends from the interface of the substrate along a surface normal. At least one of the highly reflective coatings has one or a plurality of layers. The optical total layer thickness of the one layer of the plurality of layers increases radially from the inner area outward.

A device for optically imaging at least a part of an object, the device having an optical axis and including a two-dimensional first array of first microlenses, having a first side intended to face the object, and a second side, opposite the first side, a two-dimensional second array of second microlenses, each first microlens being aligned with a second microlens on an axis parallel to the optical axis, wherein each first microlens comprises a first catoptric system, and preferably a first catadioptric system.

Disclosed are a bifocal lens having two focal distances to enable near image capturing and far image capturing and capable of being manufactured to have a thin profile, and an imaging device including same. A bifocal lens according to disclosed embodiments may include: a refractive optical system having at least one refractive lens element and having a first focal distance; and a reflective optical system having multiple reflective surfaces and having a second focal distance that is different from the first focal distance. Because the refractive optical system and the reflective optical system have mutually different focal distances, the bifocal lens according to an embodiment may be capable of both near image capturing and far image capturing.

The present invention provides a projection optical system including a first concave reflecting surface, a first convex reflecting surface, a second concave reflecting surface, and a third concave reflecting surface, wherein the first concave reflecting surface, the first convex reflecting surface, the second concave reflecting surface, and the third concave reflecting surface are arranged such that light from an object plane forms an image on an image plane by being reflected by the first concave reflecting surface, the first convex reflecting surface, the second concave reflecting surface, the first convex reflecting surface, and the third concave reflecting surface in an order named.

A compact, on-axis telephoto lens camera includes an arrangement of mirrors which receives incident light, and compresses and redirects the light, the arrangement having a primary mirror which receives the incident light, compresses and redirects the light toward a focal point of the primary mirror and has an opening defined at a central portion thereof, and a secondary mirror which receives light from the primary mirror and further redirects same. The camera also includes a cavity which extends into the camera from the opening of the primary mirror, aspheric lenses disposed at least partially within the cavity which receive the light from the multiple-mirror arrangement, and progressively expand and redirect the light received from the mirror arrangement, and an image sensor which receives the light from the aspheric lenses. The image sensor is disposed closely adjacent to the cavity such that a back focal length is substantially zero.

An apparatus for imaging a sample arranged in a first medium in an object plane. The apparatus includes an optical transmission system which images the sample in the object plane in an intermediate image in an intermediate image plane. The object plane and the intermediate image plane form an angle not equal to 90 with an optical axis of the transmission system. The apparatus further comprises an optical imaging system having an objective. The object plane may be imaged on a detector without distortion. The optical transmission system is symmetrical with respect to a pupil plane, the object plane, and the intermediate image plane to satisfy the Scheimpflug condition. The intermediate image lies in a second medium having a refractive index virtually identical to that of the first medium. A lens group of a subsystem arranged closest to the sample or intermediate image comprises at least one catadioptric assembly.

The present invention provides a projection optical system including a first concave reflecting surface, a first convex reflecting surface, a second concave reflecting surface, and a third concave reflecting surface, wherein the first concave reflecting surface, the first convex reflecting surface, the second concave reflecting surface, and the third concave reflecting surface are arranged such that light from an object plane forms an image on an image plane by being reflected by the first concave reflecting surface, the first convex reflecting surface, the second concave reflecting surface, the first convex reflecting surface, and the third concave reflecting surface in an order named.

The present invention provides a projection optical system including a first concave reflecting surface, a first convex reflecting surface, a second concave reflecting surface, and a third concave reflecting surface, wherein the first concave reflecting surface, the first convex reflecting surface, the second concave reflecting surface, and the third concave reflecting surface are arranged such that light from an object plane forms an image on an image plane by being reflected by the first concave reflecting surface, the first convex reflecting surface, the second concave reflecting surface, the first convex reflecting surface, and the third concave reflecting surface in an order named.

A device for converting electromagnetic radiation into electricity comprises an expander that includes a conical shape having an axis and a curved surface that is configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation away from the axis to expand a beam of the electromagnetic radiation; and one or more energy conversion components configured to receive a beam of electromagnetic radiation expanded by the expander, and to generate electricity from the expanded beam of electromagnetic radiation. With the expander's curved surface, a beam of electromagnetic radiation that is highly concentratedhas a large radiation fluxmay be converted into a beam that has a larger cross-sectional area. Moreover, one can configure, if desired, the curved surface to provide a substantially uniform distribution of radiation across the expanded cross-sectional area. With such an expanded beam the one or more energy conversion components can efficiently convert some of the electromagnetic radiation into electricity.