Optical system and imaging device

• US 20030117719A1
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Ide, Takayuki, Wakai, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 6,747,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/726
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0045 having five or more lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0055 employing a special optical element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/006 at least one element being a compound optical element, e.g. cemented elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0065 having a beam-folding prism or mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0075 having an element with variable optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/009 having zoom function
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 15/1425 the first group being negative
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0896 with variable magnification or multiple imaging planes, including multispectral systems systems with only refractive elements G02B15/14
• 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

Abstract

An optical apparatus has a look-up table provided with control information for controlling an optimum variable optical-property optical element in accordance with a distance to an object, a zoom state, or a combination of the distance to the object with the zoom state. A drive of the variable optical-property optical element is controlled on the control information obtained from the look-up table or a predetermined calculation process is executed on the control information obtained from the look-up table, and information obtained from the calculation process is used to control the drive of the variable optical-property optical element.

Claims

1. An optical apparatus having a look-up table provided with control information for controlling an optimum variable optical-property optical element in accordance with one of a distance to an object, a zoom state, and a combination of said distance to the object with said zoom state, wherein a drive of a variable optical-property optical element is controlled on said control information obtained from said look-up table or a predetermined calculation process is executed on said control information obtained from said look-up table, and information obtained from said calculation process is used to control the drive of said variable optical-property optical element.

24. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a zoom system is one-lens-unit zoom.

25. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said variable optical-property optical element is provided and a contrast AF system is used for focusing.

26. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a long side of an image sensor is parallel with a plane of incidence of an axial ray on said variable optical-property optical element.

27. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a short side of an image sensor is parallel with a plane of incidence of an axial ray on said variable optical-property optical element.

28. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a moving lens unit is manually moved.

29. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a moving lens unit is electrically moved.

30. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of moving lens units are provided.

36. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, having a plurality of variable optical-property optical elements.

37. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said look-up table provided with control information for controlling said variable optical-property optical element is used so that objects are arranged at a plurality of places in an imaging area and images of said objects are properly formed.

40. An optical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said look-up table provided with said control information for controlling said variable optical-property optical element is used so that objects are arranged at a plurality of places in an imaging area and images of said objects are properly formed to thereby compensate a manufacturing error of said optical apparatus.

2. An optical apparatus having a look-up table provided with control information for controlling an optimum variable optical-property optical element in accordance with a combination of a distance to an object with a zoom state, wherein said distance to the object and said zoom state are found, data of said look-up table are input, with said distance to the object and said zoom state obtained therefrom as a key, to find corresponding control information, and said control information obtained therefrom is used to control a drive of a variable optical-property optical element.

3. An optical apparatus having a look-up table provided with control information for controlling an optimum variable optical-property optical element in accordance with a combination of a distance to an object with a zoom state, wherein said distance to the object is found, said look-up table is retrieved, with said distance to the object obtained therefrom as a key, to one-dimensionally extract a corresponding zoom state, and a variable optical-property optical element is driven on control information where a sharpness of an image formed on control information corresponding to a one-dimensionally extracted zoom state is maximized within tolerances.

4. An optical apparatus having a look-up table provided with control information for controlling an optimum variable optical-property optical element in accordance with a combination of a distance to an object with a zoom state, wherein said zoom state is found, said look-up table is retrieved, with said zoom state obtained therefrom as a key, to one-dimensionally extract a corresponding distance to an object, and a variable optical-property optical element is driven on control information where a sharpness of an image formed on control information corresponding to a one-dimensionally extracted distance to an object is maximized within tolerances.

5. An optical apparatus having a look-up table provided with control information for controlling an optimum variable optical-property optical element in accordance with a combination of a distance to an object with a zoom state, wherein data of said look-up table are input in turn to find corresponding control information and a variable optical-property optical element is driven on control information where a sharpness of an image formed on control information obtained therefrom is maximized within tolerances.

6. An optical apparatus having a look-up table provided with control information for controlling a variable optical-property optical element fabricated, with an amount of shift of a focus position caused by a change of a distance to an object or zooming as a key, wherein said look-up table is scanned and said control information of said variable optical property optical element is determined in a state where a sharpness of an image is maximized within tolerances so that said variable optical-property optical element is driven.

7. An optical apparatus having a look-up table provided with control information for controlling a variable optical-property optical element fabricated, with an amount of shift of a focus position caused by a change of a distance to an object or zooming as a key, wherein said amount of shift is found and said control information of said variable optical-property optical element is determined with a value of said look-up table corresponding to said amount of shift so that said variable optical-property optical element is driven.

8. An optical apparatus having a look-up table provided with control information for controlling an optimum variable optical-property optical element in accordance with one of a distance to an object and a zoom state, wherein a drive of a variable optical-property optical element is controlled on said control information obtained from said look-up table or a predetermined calculation process is executed on said control information obtained from said look-up table, and information obtained from said calculation process is used to control the drive of said variable optical-property optical element.

9. An optical apparatus having a look-up table provided with control information for controlling an optimum variable optical-property optical element in accordance with one of a distance to an object and a zoom state, wherein one of said distance to the object and said zoom state is found, data of said look-up table are input, with one of said distance to the object and said zoom state obtained therefrom as a key, to find corresponding control information, and said control information obtained therefrom is used to control a drive of a variable optical-property optical element.

10. An optical apparatus having a look-up table provided with control information for controlling an optimum variable optical-property optical element in accordance with one of a distance to an object and a zoom state, wherein data of said look-up table are input in turn to find corresponding control information and a variable optical-property optical element is driven on control information where a sharpness of an image formed on control information obtained therefrom is maximized within tolerances.

11. An optical apparatus having a variable optical-property optical element, wherein a deformed profile of an optical surface of said variable optical-property optical element where said variable optical-property optical element is driven is measured by a measuring device or assumed, a measured value or an assumed value of said deformed profile is compared with an optical design value of an optimum profile of said variable optical-property optical element corresponding to one of a zoom state, a distance to an object, and both to adjust a value of a voltage applied or a current supplied to said variable optical-property optical element so that said measured value or said assumed value of said deformable profile coincides with said optical design value of said optimum profile within tolerances, and said value of said voltage applied or said current supplied to said variable optical-property optical element where said measured value or said assumed value of said deformable profile coincides with said optical design value of said optimum profile within tolerances is stored in output information as an optimum voltage value to be applied or an optimum current value to be supplied to said variable optical-property optical element to thereby make a look-up table.

12. An optical apparatus having a variable optical-property optical element, wherein an optical property of said variable optical-property optical element where said variable optical-property optical element is driven is measured by a measuring device or assumed, a measured value or an assumed value of said optical property is compared with an optical design value of said optical property of said variable optical-property optical element corresponding to one of a zoom state, a distance to an object, and both to adjust driving information for driving said variable optical-property optical element so that said measured value or said assumed value of said optical property concides with said optical design value of said optical property within tolerances, and a value of said driving information provided to said variable optical-property optical element where said measured value or said assumed value of said optical property coincides with said optical design value of said optical property is stored in output information as driving information to be provided to said variable optical-property optical element to thereby make a look-up table.

13. An optical apparatus having a variable optical-property optical element, wherein a voltage is applied or a current is supplied to said variable optical-property optical element, a sharpness of an image formed by said optical apparatus having said variable optical-property optical element corresponding to one of a zoom state, a distance to an object, and both is evaluated to adjust a value of said voltage applied or said current supplied to said variable optical-property optical element, and said value of said voltage applied or said current supplied to said variable optical-property optical element where said sharpness is optimized within tolerances is stored in output information as an optimum voltage value to be applied or an optimum current value to be supplied to said variable optical-property optical element to thereby make a look-up table.

14. An optical apparatus having a variable optical-property optical element, wherein said variable optical-property optical element is driven, a sharpness of an image formed by said optical apparatus having said variable optical-property optical element corresponding to one of a zoom state, a distance to an object, and both is evaluated to adjust a value of driving information provided to said variable optical-property optical element, and said value of said driving information provided to said variable optical-property optical element where said sharpness is optimized within tolerances is stored in output information as optimum driving information to be provided to said variable optical-property optical element to thereby make a look-up table.

15. An optical apparatus having a variable optical-property optical element, wherein an approximate curve table of an optimum voltage to be applied or an optimum current to be supplied to said variable optical-property optical element is provided corresponding to one of a zoom state, a distance to an object, and both and a value of said optimum voltage to be applied or said optimum current to be supplied to said variable optical-property optical element is calculated by an approximate equation obtained from said approximate curve table in accordance with one of said zoom state, said distance to the object, and both in image formation so that a voltage or current of an optimum value obtained there from is applied or supplied to said variable optical-property optical element.

16. An optical apparatus having a variable optical-property optical element, wherein an approximate curve table of an optimum voltage to be applied or an optimum current to be supplied to said variable optical-property optical element is provided corresponding to one of a zoom state, a distance to an object, and both and a value of said optimum voltage to be applied or said optimum current to be supplied to said variable optical-property optical element is calculated by an approximate equation obtained from said approximate curve table in accordance with one of said zoom state, said distance to the object, and both in image formation so that a voltage or current of an optimum value obtained therefrom is applied or supplied to said variable optical-property optical element to thereby drive said variable optical-property optical element.

17. An imaging device having a zoom optical system, comprising an image sensor, a moving lens unit, and a variable mirror, said moving lens unit contributing to a magnification change of said optical system and said variable mirror contrubuting to one of focusing, compensation for a focus shift in said magnification change, compensation for fluctuation of aberration, and said magnification change.

21. An imaging device according to any one of claims 17-20, wherein means for detecting a position of said lens unit is provided.

22. An imaging device according to claim 21, wherein said means for detecting a position of said lens unit is an encoder or a stepping motor.

18. An imaging device having a zoom optical system, comprising an image sensor, a moving lens unit, and a plurality of variable mirrors, said moving lens unit contributing to a magnification change of said optical system and said variable mirrors contributing to one of focusing, compensation for a focus shift in said magnification change, compensation for fluctuation of aberration, and said magnification change.

19. An imaging device having a zoom optical system, comprising an image sensor, a moving lens unit, and a plurality of variable mirrors, said moving lens unit carrying out a magnification change of said optical system and said variable mirrors performing at least one of focusing, compensation for a focus shift in said magnification change, compensation for fluctuation of aberration, and said magnification change.

20. An imaging device having a zoom optical system, comprising an image sensor, a lens unit, and a variable mirror, said lens unit carrying out a magnification change of said optical system by introducing, removing, and decentering said lens unit and said variable mirror contributing to one of focusing, compensation for a focus shift in said magnification change, compensation for fluctuation of aberration, and said magnification change.

23. An imaging device having a zoom optical system, comprising a lens unit with a rotationally symmetrical surface and a plurality of variable mirrors, said variable mirrors contributing to one of focusing, compensation for a focus shift in a magnification change of said optical system, compensation for fluctuation of aberration, and said magnification change.

31. An optical apparatus having a variable optical-property optical element, wherein a distance to an object or an image is measured by an active system and said variable optical-property optical element is driven on distance information therof to perform focusing.

34. An optical apparatus according to any one of claims 31-33, wherein an optical system of one-lens-unit zoom is provided.

32. An optical apparatus having a variable optical-property optical element and capable of performing a zoom operation, wherein a means for detecting or assuming a zoom state is provided and acquired information of said zoom state is used to control said variable optical-property optical element.

33. An optical apparatus having a variable optical-property optical element and capable of performing a zoom operation without providing a means for detecting or assuming a zoom state, wherein said variable optical-property optical element is driven and a state where image formation is optimized within tolerances is selected to perform an image forming operation.

35. An optical apparatus having a plurality of variable optical-property optical elements, wherein driving circuits for driving said variable optical-property optical element and information for operating said optical apparatus in an optimum image forming state are provided.

38. An optical apparatus having a variable optical-property optical element, wherein driving circuits for driving said variable optical-property optical element are provided and, in order to operate said optical apparatus in an optimum image forming state, control information for controlling said variable optical-property optical element is provided so that objects are arranged at a plurality of places in an imaging area and images of said objects are properly formed.

39. An optical apparatus having a variable optical-property optical element, wherein driving circuits for driving said variable optical-property optical element are provided and, in order to operate said optical apparatus in an optimum image forming state, control information for controlling said variable optical-property optical element is provided so that objects are arranged at a plurality of places in an imaging area and images of said objects are properly formed to thereby compensate a manufacturing error of said optical apparatus.