An optical filter for screening out infrared and ultraviolet light
includes a transparent substrate and a film stack formed on the
substrate. The film stack includes a number of high refractive index
layers and a number of low refractive index layers alternately stacked
one on another. The film stack is represented as follows:
(3.5H3.5L).sup.7(2.5H2.5L).sup.7(HL).sup.6(0.76H0.76L).sup.6, wherein, H
represents a high refractive index layer having a base optical thickness
equal to one fourth of a reference wavelength associated with the optical
filter, L represents a low refractive index layer having a base optical
thickness equal to one fourth of a reference wavelength associated with
the optical filter, expressions enclosed in each parenthesis represent
filter cavities, and superscripts represents the number of repetitions of
the expression enclosed in that parenthesis.