Optical apparatus

• US 20020118464A1
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Murakami, Miyuki, Nishioka, Kimihiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,405,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/642
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/00 Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements control of light by modification of the optical properties of the media of the elements involved therein G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0825 the reflecting element being a flexible sheet or membrane, e.g. for varying the focus flexible mirrors for cosmetic use A45D42/24
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method

Abstract

An optical apparatus uses a variable-optical-characteristic optical element whereby focusing, zooming or the like can be effected without moving a lens or the like and the whole optical apparatus can be arranged in a lightweight structure. The user wears a power transmitting unit 303 by hanging it from his/her neck, for example. The power transmitting unit 303 may be put in a clothes pocket or the like. The power transmitting unit 303 may be placed somewhere around the user. In the power transmitting unit 303, a transmitting circuit 305 is driven by a power supply 304 to send an electromagnetic wave from a transmitting antenna 306 toward variable-focus eyeglasses 302. The variable-focus eyeglasses 302 have a receiving antenna 307 provided on eyeglass frames 308 to receive the electromagnetic wave sent from the power transmitting unit 303. The received electromagnetic wave is, for example, boosted in voltage and rectified to drive the variable-focus lenses.

Claims

1. A variable-optical-characteristic optical element characterized by using at least two selected from the group consisting of electrostatic force, electromagnetic force, a piezoelectric effect, magnetostriction, a fluid pressure, an electric field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic wave, a temperature change, and a photomechanical effect.

2. A variable mirror characterized by using at least two selected from the group consisting of electrostatic force, electromagnetic force, a piezoelectric effect, magnetostriction, a fluid pressure, an electric field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic wave, a temperature change, and a photomechanical effect.

3. A variable-focus lens characterized by using at least two selected from the group consisting of electrostatic force, electromagnetic force, a piezoelectric effect, magnetostriction, a fluid pressure, an electric field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic wave, a temperature change, and a photomechanical effect.

4. A variable-optical-characteristic optical element characterized by using at least two different driving methods.

5. A variable-optical-characteristic optical element characterized by having a member for stepping up a voltage.

6. A variable-optical-characteristic optical element according to claim 5, which is characterized by using electrostatic force or a piezoelectric effect.

7. A variable-optical-characteristic optical element characterized by using a magnetostrictive material.

8. A variable-optical-characteristic mirror characterized by using a magnetostrictive material.

9. A variable-optical-characteristic lens characterized by using a magnetostrictive material.

10. A variable-optical-characteristic optical element characterized by having a transparent member for protection.

11. A variable-optical-characteristic optical element characterized by having a transparent member for protection in the vicinity of a surface on at least one side of a variable mirror or a variable-focus lens.

18. An optical apparatus according to claim 16, which is characterized by using an air-permeable mechanical member or transparent member.

19. An optical apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, which is characterized in that the variable-optical-characteristic optical element is a variable mirror.

20. An optical apparatus according to claim 18, which is characterized in that the variable-optical-characteristic optical element is a variable mirror.

12. A variable-optical-characteristic optical element characterized by using a photomechanical effect.

13. A variable-focus lens characterized by using a photomechanical effect.

14. A variable mirror characterized by using a photomechanical effect.

15. A variable-optical-characteristic optical element characterized by having at least two different kinds of light sources and using a photomechanical effect.

16. An optical apparatus characterized in that a space facing a variable-optical-characteristic optical element is closed with a transparent member and a mechanical member.

17. An optical-apparatus characterized in that a space facing a variable-optical-characteristic optical element is hermetically sealed with a transparent member and a mechanical member.