Variable-optical-property element

• US 20040179280A1
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Nishioka, Kimihiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,865,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/846
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0075 having an element with variable optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0816 off-axis or unobscured systems in which not all of the mirrors share a common axis of rotational symmetry, e.g. at least one of the mirrors is warped, tilted or decentered with respect to the other elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0832 off-axis or unobscured systems in which not all of the mirrors share a common axis of rotational symmetry, e.g. at least one of the mirrors is warped, tilted or decentered with respect to the other elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0848 off-axis or unobscured systems in which not all of the mirrors share a common axis of rotational symmetry, e.g. at least one of the mirrors is warped, tilted or decentered with respect to the other elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/086 wherein the system is made of a single block of optical material, e.g. solid catadioptric systems
• 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 2006/12104 Mirror; Reflectors or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0178 Eyeglass type eyeglass details G02C
• 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 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/085 the reflecting means being moved or deformed by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0858 the reflecting means being moved or deformed by piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/646 compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/294 Variable focal length devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/50 : Phase-only modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 : Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 : by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

An optical apparatus includes a variable optical-property element to change its optical properties by applying an electric or magnetic field or temperature to a liquid crystal. In this way, the optical apparatus is reduced in thickness, and can be used in a cam era, a microscope, etc.

Claims

1. A stop, wherein a micromachine technique such as a lithography process is included in a fabrication process.

4. An element according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein said element is actuated electrically or magnetically.

2. A shutter, wherein a micromachine technique such as a lithography process is included in a fabrication process.

3. A shutter also used as a stop, wherein a micromachine technique such as a lithography process is included in a fabrication process.

5. A moving optical element comprising an optical element and an actuator, wherein a micromachine technique such as a lithography process included in a fabrication process.

6. A variable optical-property mirror wherein an electromagnetic force is used.

7. A variable optical-property mirror, wherein a permanent magnet is provided to use an electromagnetic force.

8. A variable optical-property mirror, wherein a piezoelectric substance is used.

9. A variable optical-property mirror according to claim 8, wherein said variable optical-property mirror is controlled by a plurality of voltages.

10. A variable optical-property element, wherein said variable optical-property element is controlled by a plurality of voltages or currents.

33. An optical system according to any one of claims 6-11, wherein a variable optical-property element varies or compensates for an imaging state of said optical system.

11. An element including any one of a variable optical-property element, a moving optical element, a shutter, a stop, a display element, and an image sensor, wherein a dimension of an optically effective surface is approximately 7 cm or less.

12. A platelike unit, wherein at least one of an optical element, a variable optical-property element, a moving optical element, a shutter, a stop, a display element, and image sensor is placed on a single substrate.

15. An optical system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein a variable lens is used as said variable optical-property element.

16. An optical system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein a variable mirror is used as said variable optical-property element.

17. A platelike unit according to claim 12 or 13, wherein at least one part of said single substrate is transparent.

18. A platelike unit according to claim 12 or 13, wherein a micromachine technique such as a lithography process is used to, fabricate said platelike unit.

19. A platelike unit according to claim 12 or 13, wherein an element constituting said platelike unit or said single substrate has an infrared cutoff function or a low-pass filter function.

31. An optical apparatus according to any one of claim 12, 20 or 28, wherein said optical apparatus has a zooming function and is provided with at least two of a variable optical-property element, a moving optical element, a shutter, a stop, an image sensor, and a display element.

35. An optical apparatus according to claim 12, 20 or 28, wherein a variable optical-property element or a moving optical element is changed to thereby vary or compensate for an imaging state of said optical system.

13. A platelike unit, wherein at least one of an optical element, a variable optical-property element, a moving optical element, a shutter, and a stop and at least one of an image sensor, a display element, and an electronic circuit are arranged on a single substrate.

14. A platelike unit, wherein at least two of an optical element, a variable optical-property element, a moving optical element, a shutter, and a stop are arranged on a single substrate.

20. An optical system comprising at least one of a variable optical-property element, a moving optical element, a shutter, a stop, an image sensor, and a display element, and an optical block.

21. An optical system according to claim 20, further comprising an extended surface optical element.

23. An optical apparatus according to claim 20, wherein a variable mirror is used as said variable optical-property element.

24. An optical apparatus according to claim 20, wherein a variable lens is used as said variable optical-property element.

25. An optical apparatus according to claim 20, wherein a liquid crystal lens is used as said variable optical-property element.

27. An optical apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said optical block has an infrared cutoff function or a low-pass filter function.

22. An optical system comprising at least two of a variable optical-property element, a moving optical element, a shutter, a stop, an image sensor, and a display element, and an optical block.

26. A variable lens using a macromolecular dispersed liquid crystal or a macromolecular stabilized liquid crystal, wherein said variable lens has a single substrate.

28. An optical apparatus comprising a optical block and a platelike unit.

30. An optical apparatus according to claim 28 or 29, wherein said optical block or said platelike unit has an infrared cutoff function or a low-pass filter function.

29. An optical apparatus comprising an optical element, an optical block, and a platelike unit.

32. An optical system, wherein a variable optical-property element or a moving optical element is changed to thereby vary or compensate for an imaging state of said optical system.

34. An optical system, wherein a variable optical-property element or a moving optical element is changed to thereby compensate for at least one of temperature change, humidity change, fabrication error, assembly error, shake, out of focus, and aberration change in said optical system.

36. An extended surface optical element, wherein a ray of light incident on said extended surface optical element has a helical relationship with a ray of light emerging from said extended surface optical element.

37. An optical apparatus, wherein a direction of image formation or observation has a helical relationship with a ray of light entering or leaving an image sensor, the eye, or a display element.

38. An optical apparatus using an extended surface optical system, wherein a direction of image formation or observation has a helical relationship with a ray of light entering or leaving an image sensor, the eye, or a display element.

39. An optical apparatus, wherein an extended surface optical element is provided, said extended surface optical element being constructed so that a direction of image formation or observation is perpendicular to a direction of a thickness thereof.

40. An optical apparatus, wherein an extended surface optical element is provided, said extended surface optical element being constructed so that a direction of image formation or observation is parallel to a direction of a thickness thereof.