Imaging apparatus having electrooptic devices comprising a variable focal length lens

• US 5,150,234 A
• Filed: 11/04/1991
• Issued: 09/22/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Taniguchi, Akira, Shiraiwa, Masaru, Takahashi, Susumu, Nishioka, Kimihiko, Toda, Akitoshi, Takano, Akira, Miyanaga, Hirofumi, Shimazu, Hisanari
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Stanley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, HUY KIM
• Application Number:
  US07/787,139
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 359/36, 359/38, 359/40, 359/41, 359/53, 359/63, 359/65, 359/73, 359/84, 359/94, 359/265, 359/67
• US Class Current: 349/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0019 characterised by variable lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1345 Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells
• 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

Abstract

An imaging apparatus is provided with a negative lens, a variable focussing lens unit including a material with an electrooptic effect, a light blocking unit, including the material with the electrooptic effect, capable of changing an aperture diameter, and a switch, interlocked with each other, capable of supplying electric power to the variable focussing lens unit and the light blocking unit which are arranged in order on an optical axis from an object side to an image side. When the switch is turned off, the variable focussing lens unit is set to bring an object at a far point into focus and the light blocking unit is set so that an aperture is determined by an aperture stop, while on the other hand, when the swtich is turned on, the variable focussing lens unit is set so that an object at a near point is in focus and the light blocking unit is set to be smaller in aperture. Apertures different in size are determined by a plurality of annular transparent electrodes incorporated in the light blocking unit and configured concentrically. Thus the imaging apparatus can be constructed to be small or compact in size and is easy in manufacturing.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus having electrooptic devices, comprising:

first and second circularly polarizing means having first and second states of operation and disposed on an optical axis, said first and second circularly polarizing means in spaced relation having a space therebetween, in said first state circularly polarized light of one direction is transmitted and in said second state all circularly polarized light is transmitted;

first and second 1/4 wave plates disposed on said optical axis in said space between said first and second circularly polarizing means;

a variable focal length lens containing a material having an electrooptic effect, disposed on said optical axis between said first and second 1/4 wave plates;

a light blocking member having an aperture on said optical axis; and

power source means for actuating in synchronization said first and second circularly polarizing means and said variable focal length lens,

one of said first and second circularly polarizing means being provided with a central transparent part smaller in diameter than said aperture of said light blocking member, said first circularly polarizing means, said first 1/4 wave plate, said light blocking member, said second 1/4 wave plate and said second circularly polarizing means functioning as light blocking means for changing an aperture thereof to different sizes.

4. An imaging apparatus according to any one of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said variable focal length lens is a liquid crystal lens containing a liquid crystal enclosed in a transparent cell.

5. An imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one of both sides of said transparent cell is configured as a stepwise Fresnel lens-shaped surface.

6. An imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said liquid crystal lens comprises a pair of lens elements facing each other through a spacer with electrical insulation characteristics, transparent electrodes provided on inner surfaces, facing each other, of said pair of lens elements, and the liquid crystal charged in the cell produced by said spacer and said pair of lens elements, wherein cutting portions are configured in at least one of each of said lens elements and said spacer, and wherein lead wires for applying voltages to said transparent electrodes and connections with said transparent electrodes are constructed in said cutting portions.

7. An imaging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an opaque member is provided in a surface of one of said transparent electrode on an object side of said lens, of a transparent electrode on an image side of said lens, on an image side of said liquid crystal lens, and on the object side of said circularly polarizing means.

8. An imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said circularly polarizing means comprises a pair of transparent plates facing each other through a spacer with electrical insulation characteristics, transparent electrodes provided on inner surfaces, facing to each other, of said pair of transparent plates, and the liquid crystal charged in the cell produced by said spacer and said pair of transparent plates, cutting portions are configured in at least one of each of said transparent plates and said spacer, and lead wires for applying voltages to said transparent electrodes and connections with said transparent electrodes are constructed in said cutting portions.

9. An imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said circularly polarizing means comprises a pair of transparent plates facing to each other through a spacer with electrical insulation characteristics, transparent electrodes provided on inner surfaces, facing to each other, of said pair of transparent plates, and the liquid crystal charged in the cell produced by said spacer and said pair of transparent plates, cutting portions are configured in at least one of each of said transparent plates and said spacer, and lead wires for applying voltages to said transparent electrodes and connections with said transparent electrodes are constructed in said cutting portions.

10. An imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said circularly polarizing means comprises a pair of transparent plates facing to each other through a spacer with electrical insulating characteristics, transparent electrodes provided on inner surfaces, facing to each other, of said pair of transparent plates, and the liquid crystal charged in the cell produced by said spacer and said pair of transparent plates, cutting portions are configured in at least one of each of said transparent plates and said spacer, and lead wires for applying voltages to said transparent electrodes and connections with said transparent electrodes are constructed in said cutting portions.

14. An imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said central area of said polarizing plate has a polarizing direction different from that of an area outside said central area.

2. An imaging apparatus having electrooptic devices, comprising:

circularly polarizing means having two states of operation, in a first state circularly polarized light of one direction is transmitted and in a second state all circularly polarized light is transmitted;

a polarizing plate spaced away from said circularly polarizing means;

a variable focal length lens containing a material having an electrooptic effect and disposed on an optical axis between said circularly polarizing means and said polarizing plate;

a 1/4 wave plate disposed on said optical axis between said variable focal length lens and said circularly polarizing means;

a light blocking member having an aperture on said optical axis; and

power source means for actuating in synchronization said circularly polarizing means and said variable focal length lens,

one of said circularly polarizing means and said polarizing plate being provided with a center area smaller in diameter than said aperture of said light blocking member, said circularly polarizing means, said 1/4 wave plate, said light blocking means and said polarizing plate functioning as light blocking means for changing an aperture thereof to different sizes.

11. An imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a birefringent plate disposed on said optical axis and located on an image side of said polarizing plate.

12. An imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said central area of said polarizing plate is transparent.

13. An imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said central area of said polarizing plate has a polarizing direction different from that of an area outside said central area.

3. An imaging apparatus having electrooptic devices, comprising:

a variable focal length lens containing a material having an electrooptic effect and having two states different in refracting power for transmitting all light in one state and only circularly polarized light in a first direction in another state;

a light blocking member having an aperture in a central area thereof;

circularly polarizing means, having a light transmitting part at a center thereof, and two states of operation, in a first state only circularly polarized light in a direction opposite to said first direction is transmitted and in a second state all circularly polarized light is transmitted; and

power source means for actuating in synchronization said variable focal length lens and said circularly polarizing means.