Variable optical-property element

• US 6,738,199 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishioka, Kimihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Spector, David N.
• Application Number:
  US10/187,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20020181126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 359/291, 359/577, 359/726, 359/820, 349/200
• US Class Current: 359/726
• 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 camera, a microscope, etc.

Claims

1. An optical system comprising:

a reflection-type variable optical-property element,

wherein the reflection-type variable optical-property element has a variable light-deflecting function, said reflection-type variable optical-property element compensates, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for a change of an imaging state in the optical system that is caused by at least one of a change of an imaging magnification and a change of an imaging state in the optical system that is caused by a change of an object.

3. An optical system according claim 1, wherein the reflection-type variable optical-property element has a reflecting surface, a reflecting region which has different lengths along two directions perpendicular to one another, and the reflection-type variable optical-property element is arranged so that incident light and reflected light travel along a longitudinal direction thereof.

2. An optical system comprising:

a variable optical-property element excluding a variable apex-angle prism,

wherein the variable optical-property element has a variable light-deflecting function, said variable-optical property element works, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for at least one of compensating for a temperature change, compensating for a humidity change, compensating for a fabrication error, compensating for an assembly error, reducing moire, and improving resolving power.

4. An optical system comprising:

a reflection-type variable optical-property element,

wherein the reflection-type variable optical-property element has a variable light-deflecting function, said reflection-type variable optical-property element compensates, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for a deviation from a designed value.

5. An optical system comprising:

a reflection-type variable optical-property element,

wherein the reflection-type variable optical-property element has a variable light-deflecting function, said reflection-type variable optical-property element works, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for at least one of compensating for a shake, compensating for a temperature change, compensating for a humidity change, compensating for a fabrication error, compensating for an assembly error, reducing moire, and improving resolving power.

6. An optical system comprising:

a reflection-type variable optical-property element,

wherein the reflection-type variable optical-property element has a variable light-deflecting function, said reflection-type variable optical-property compensates, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for a defocus or an aberration change.

7. An optical system comprising:

a variable optical-property element excluding a variable apex-angle prism;

wherein the variable optical-property element has a variable light-deflecting function, said variable optical-property element compensates, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for a deviation from a designed value.

8. An optical system comprising:

a variable optical-property element excluding a variable apex-angle prism;

wherein the variable optical-property element has a variable light-deflecting function, said variable optical-property element compensates, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for a defocus or an aberration change.

9. An optical system comprising:

a variable optical-property element driven by an electrostatic force or an electromagnetic force,

wherein the variable optical-property element has a variable light-deflecting function, said variable optical-property element compensates, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for a change of an imaging state in the optical system that is caused by a change of an imaging magnification or for a change of an imaging state in the optical system that is caused by a change of an object.

10. An optical system comprising:

a variable optical-property element that has a deformable surface,

wherein the variable optical-property element has a variable light-deflecting function, said variable optical-property element compensates, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for a deviation from a designed value.

11. An optical system comprising:

a variable optical-property element that has a deformable surface,

wherein the variable optical-property element has a variable light-deflecting function, said variable optical-property element works, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for at least one of compensating for a shake, compensating for a temperature change, compensating for a humidity change, compensating for a fabrication error, compensating for an assembly error, reducing moire, and improving resolving power.

12. An optical system comprising:

a variable optical-property element that has a deformable surface,

wherein the variable optical-property element is constructed to have a variable light-deflecting function, and compensates, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for a defocus or an aberration change.

13. An optical system comprising:

a variable focus lens,

wherein the variable focus lens has a variable light-deflecting function, said variable focus lens works, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for change of an imaging state or for compensating for an imaging state.

14. An optical system comprising:

a variable focus lens,

wherein the variable focus lens has a variable light-deflecting function, said variable focus lens compensates, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for a deviation from a designed value.

15. An optical system comprising:

a variable focus lens,

wherein the variable focus lens has a variable light-deflecting function, said variable focus lens works, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for at least one of compensating for a shake, compensating for a temperature change, compensating for a humidity change, compensating for a fabrication error, compensating for an assembly error, reducing moire, and improving resolving power.

16. An optical system comprising:

a variable focus lens,

wherein the variable focus lens has a variable light-deflecting function, said variable focus lens compensates, by changing a light-deflecting function thereof, for a defocus or an aberration change.

17. An optical system comprising:

an optical element; and

an actuator connected with the optical element,

wherein the actuator is driven by an electrostatic force, said actuator works, by moving the optical element, for change of an imaging state or for compensating for an imaging state.

18. An optical system comprising:

an optical element; and

an actuator connected with the optical element,

wherein the actuator is driven by an electrostatic force, said actuator compensates, by moving the optical element, for a deviation from a designed value.

19. An optical system comprising:

an optical element; and

an actuator connected with the optical element,

wherein the actuator is driven by an electrostatic force, said actuator works, by moving the optical element, for at least one of compensating for a shake, compensating for a temperature change, compensating for a humidity change, compensating for a fabrication error, compensating for an assembly error, reducing moire, and improving resolving power.