Optimal elements (such as vari focal lens component, vari-focal diffractive optical element and variable declination prism) and electronic image pickup unit using optical elements

• US 7,009,757 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Nishioka, Kimihiko, Ishizaki, Koji, Kaburaki, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US10/607,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20040021929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 351/41, 351/49, 351/158, 345/32, 345/6, 349/62, 349/64, 359/319
• US Class Current: 359/319
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/16 Laminated or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/18 Cellular lens surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/20 Diffractive and Fresnel lenses or lens portions
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/101 having an electro-optical light valve electro-optical elements per se G02F
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/14 Mirrors; Prisms
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/294 Variable focal length devices

Abstract

Optical elements such as a vari-focal lens element, a vari-focal diffractive optical element and a variable declination prism usable as spectacle lens elements and so on.

Claims

1. An optical element having a variable optical characteristic comprising:

an optical element using a substance which has a variable refractive index and is dispersed in polymers; and

a driving device which varies the refractive index of said substance and further comprising in order from a side of light incidence;

a first optical member which has a first surfaces and a second surface;

a second optical member which has a third surface and a fourth surface;

a pair of transparent electrodes;

a polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer interposed between said transparent electrodes; and

means for applying an electric field to said polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer by way of said transparent electrodes,

wherein an optical characteristic is varied by changing a refractive index of said liquid crystal layer by applying an electric field to said polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer by said means.

2. A diffractive optical element having a variable optical characteristic and which uses a combination of a polymer dispersive liquid crystal and a diffractive optical element comprising, in order from a side of light incidence:

a first optical member which has a first surface and a second surface;

a second optical member which has a third surface and a fourth surface;

a diffractive surface which is formed on at least one of said first surface, said second surface and said third surface;

a pair of transparent electrodes;

a polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer interposed between said transparent electrodes; and

means for applying an electric field to said polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer by way of said pair of transparent electrodes,

wherein an optical characteristic is varied by changing a refractive index of said polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer by applying an electric field to said liquid crystal layer by said means.

3. A variable declination prism capable of varying a declination angle which uses a polymer dispersive liquid crystal comprising, in order from a side of light incidence:

a first optical member which has a first surface and a second surface;

a second optical member which has a third surface and a fourth surface;

a polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer which is interposed between a pair of transparent electrodes; and

means for applying an electric field to said polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer by way of said transparent electrodes,

wherein at least one of said first surface, second surface and third surface is inclined relative to an optical axis of an incident light bundle and wherein a declination is varied by changing a refractive index of said polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer by applying an electric field to said liquid crystal layer by said means.

4. An image pickup apparatus equipped with an optical element having a variable optical characteristic which uses a polymer dispersive liquid crystal.

5. Vari-focal spectacles manufactured by the method by combining vari-focal spectacle lens elements and a driving unit with an optional frame, wherein said vari-focal spectacles comprises said vari-focal spectacle lens elements and said driving unit formed separately from said vari-focal spectacle lens elements, wherein a switch which changes a focal point is disposed on an outside surface of at least one of said spectacle lens elements.

13. Vari-focal spectacles according to claim 5, wherein said cords are disposed on a side opposite to a user'"'"'s skilful hand.

21. The vari-focal spectacles according to claim 5, wherein said vari-focal lens elements are configured to change the focal length by switching a voltage between an ON condition and an OFF condition, and wherein said switch member is configured to switch the voltage between the ON condition and the OFF condition.

29. The vari-focal spectacles according to claim 13,

wherein said support member is configured to have sidepieces extending on right and left sides of a user'"'"'s head.

6. Vari-focal spectacles, wherein vari-focal spectacle lens elements are configured to be focused on a long object distance when a current is not supplied to a driving unit or an electronic circuit, or when a voltage is set at low level, and wherein each vari-focal spectacle lens element is not dependent on polarization and has a layer of substance having a variable refractive index.

7. Vari-focal spectacles, wherein vari-focal spectacle lens elements are configured to be focused on a location which is mostly observed by a user in a condition where a power source which drives a liquid crystal layer is turned off or when a voltage is set at a low level.

8. Vari-focal spectacles, wherein vari-focal spectacle lens elements are configured to be focused on a location which is mostly observed by a user in a condition where a power source for driving a liquid crystal layer is turned on or when a voltage is set at a high level.

9. An optical element for vari-focal spectacles, wherein each lens element has two transparent substrates on both sides of a liquid crystal layer and wherein one of two transparent substrates is common to the lens elements.

10. A manufacturing method of spectacles as claimed in claim 9.

11. A vari-focal optical element, wherein at least either of a first optical member and a second optical member is configured to produce chromatic aberration which is reverse to that produced by a liquid crystal layer.

12. Vari-focal spectacles manufactured by the method by combining vari-focal spectacle lens elements and a driving unit with an optional frame, wherein said vari-focal spectacles comprises said vari-focal spectacle lens elements and said driving unit formed separately from said vari-focal lens spectacle elements wherein at least either of a first optical member and a second optical member is configured so as to have a refractive power which is reverse to that of a liquid crystal layer.

14. Vari-focal spectacles which use an optical element having a variable optical characteristic and which uses a polymer dispersive liquid crystal,

wherein said polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer satisfies the following condition (18):

0.1≦

ff≦

0.999 

 

(18)

wherein the reference symbol ff represents a ratio of a volume occupied by liquid crystal molecules relative to a volume of the polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer.

15. An image pickup apparatus which uses an optical element having a variable optical characteristic and which uses a polymer dispersive liquid crystal,

wherein said polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer satisfies the following condition (18):

0.1≦

ff≦

0.999 

 

(18)

wherein the reference symbol ff represents a ratio of a volume occupied by liquid crystal molecules relative to a volume of the polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer.

16. An optical instrument which uses an optical element having a variable optical characteristic comprising:

at least one lens;

an optical element using a substance which has a variable refractive index and is dispersed in polymers; and

a driving device which varies the refractive index of said substance.

17. A vari-focal mirror comprising in order from a side of light incidence:

a first optical member which has a first surface and a second surface;

a second optical member which has a third surface and a fourth surface;

a pair of electrodes disposed on said two of the surfaces, a polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer interposed between said electrodes; and

means for applying an electric field to said polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer by way of said electrodes, wherein a reflective surface is disposed on said third or fourth surface so that an incident ray transmits repeatedly through said polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer a plurality of times.

18. A vari-focal optical element having a variable optical characteristic comprising:

a transparent substrate; and

a polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer which is formed on a surface of said transparent substrate.

19. A vari-focal spectacle comprising the vari-focal optical element having a variable optical characteristic as claimed in claim 18.

20. An image pickup apparatus comprising the van focal optical characteristic as claimed in claim 18.

22. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a driving unit to control a change of the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs, wherein said vari-focal spectacles have a switch member which controls at least a function to change the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements, wherein said switch member is disposed on an outside surface on the vari-focal lens elements, wherein said switch member is disposed integrally with said vari-focal lens element, wherein said vari-focal spectacles are configured to change the focal length at one of a plurality of steps and continuously and wherein said switch member is configured to have a control which controls an amount of step wise or continuous change of said voltage or a current.

23. The vari-focal spectacles according to claim 22, wherein said switch member includes a variable resistor and wherein said amount of the change of the focal length is controlled by controlling an amount of one of a voltage and a current to said vari-focal lens elements with said variable resistor.

24. A lens unit comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length; and

a circuit to change the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements;

wherein said lens unit has a switch member which changes the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements,

wherein said switch member is disposed integrally with said vari-focal lens elements,

wherein said vari-focal lens elements are configured to change the focal length at a plurality of steps or continuously,

wherein said switch member is configured to have control means which controls an amount of stepwise or continuous change of said focal length,

wherein said switch member includes a variable resistor, and

wherein said amount of the change of the focal length is controlled by controlling an amount of a voltage or a current to said vari-focal lens elements with said variable resistor.

25. The lens unit according to claim 24,

wherein said circuit is configured to have a driving unit and

wherein said driving unit is configured integrally with said vari-focal lens elements.

26. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens element enabling changing of a focal length;

a driving unit to control a change of the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs,

wherein said vari-focal spectacles have an electronic circuit,

wherein said vari-focal lens elements are set at a focal length for focusing at a longer distance when an electricity is not supplied to the electronic circuit, and

wherein said driving unit is disposed separately from said support member.

27. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens element enabling changing of a focal length;

a driving unit to control a change of the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs,

wherein said vari-focal lens elements are configured to control a change of the focal length with a voltage or a current,

wherein said vari-focal lens elements are set at a focal length for focusing on a longer distance when the voltages or a current is set at a low level, and

wherein each vari-focal spectacle lens element is not dependent on polarization and has a layer of substance having a variable refractive index.

28. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements;

wherein said vari-focal lens elements comprise at least a first optical member and a second optical member, and

wherein at least either of said first optical member and said second optical member is configured so as to have a refractive power which is reverse to that of a liquid crystal layer.

30. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling a change of focal length;

a support member to set said vari-focal lens elements before an observer'"'"'s eyeballs; and

a rangefinder, wherein said vari-focal lens elements are configured to change diopter dependently on an output from said rangefinder;

wherein said vari-focal spectacles have a manual diopter adjusting mechanism; and

wherein said vari-focal lens elements are configured to be capable of changing the diopter dependently on the output from said rangefinder and by a manual operating of a user.

31. A manufacturing method of vari-focal spectacles comprising;

preparing a vari-focal member including a vari-focal lens elements having a function to change a focal length;

preparing a spectacle frame for setting said vari-focal lens elements before an observer'"'"'s eyeballs; and

cutting out said vari-focal lens elements from said vari-focal member in accordance with shapes of lens setting portions of said spectacle frame.

32. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a circuit driving said vari-focal lens elements in response to a signal of a change of a focal length of said vari-focal lens elements; and

a frame for setting at least said vari-focal lens elements before an observer'"'"'s eyeballs; and

wherein a slot is formed in a sidepiece of said frame and a cord for supplying electricity is disposed in said slot.

33. Vari-focal lens wherein a switch which changes a focal point is disposed on an outside surface of a lens element.

34. Vari-focal lens wherein electronic circuits which drive vari-focal lens elements are disposed on surfaces of said vari-focal lens element.

35. A vari-focal lens element comprising:

a power supplying circuit; and

a driving circuit adapted to drive said vari-focal lens element with power from the power supply circuit to adjust a focus thereof;

wherein both of said circuits are formed at outer circumferential portions of said vari-focal elements by using a transistor manufacturing technique.

36. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a circuit for changing the focal length of vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before an observer'"'"'s eyeballs,

wherein said circuit is disposed integrally with said vari-focal lens elements; and

wherein said circuit is formed in said vari-focal lens elements by a transistor manufacturing technique.

37. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a circuit for changing the focal length of vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before an observer'"'"'s eyeballs,

wherein said circuit is disposed integrally with said vari-focal lens elements; and

wherein said circuit is formed in said vari-focal lens elements by a thin film technique.

38. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a circuit for changing the focal length of vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before an observer'"'"'s eyeballs,

wherein said circuit is disposed integrally with said vari-focal lens elements; and

wherein said circuit is formed in said vari-focal lens elements by lithography.

39. Vari-focal spectacles manufactured by the method by combining vari-focal spectacle lens elements and a driving unit with an optional frame, wherein said vari-focal spectacles comprises said vari-focal spectacle lens elements and said driving unit formed separately from said vari-focal lens spectacle elements, wherein a switch which changes a focal point is disposed on an outside surface of said spectacle lens element wherein said vari-focal spectacles are configured to be equipped with a hearing aid.

40. The vari-focal spectacles manufactured by the method by combining vari-focal spectacle lens elements and a driving unit with an optional frame, wherein said vari-focal spectacles comprises said vari-focal spectacle lens elements and said driving unit formed separately from said vari-focal lens spectacle elements, wherein a switch which changes a focal point is disposed on an outside surface of at least one of said spectacle lens elements, wherein said vari-focal spectacles are configured to be equipped with a power source, and wherein said power source is configured to comprise a solar cell.

41. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a driving unit to control a change of the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs,

wherein said vari-focal lens elements are configured to have a focal point for focusing on a longer distance, upon failure of the driving unit such that the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements cannot be controlled, and wherein each vari-focal spectacle lens element is not dependent on polarization and has a layer of substance having a variable refractive index.

42. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a circuit for changing the focal length of vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before an observer'"'"'s eyeballs,

wherein said vari-focal spectacles are configured to be equipped with a hearing aid.

43. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a driving unit to control a change of the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs, wherein said vari-focal spectacles are configured to be equipped with a hearing aid.

44. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal spectacle lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a circuit for changing the focal length of vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before an observer'"'"'s eyeballs,

wherein said vari-focal spectacles are configured to be equipped with a power source, said power source is configured to comprise a solar cell, and

wherein each vari-focal spectacle lens element is not dependent on polarization and has a layer of substance having a variable refractive index.

45. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a driving unit to control a change of the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs, wherein said vari-focal spectacles are configured to be equipped with a power source, and wherein said power source is configured to comprise a solar cell.

50. The vari-focal spectacles according to claim 45, wherein said support member consists of a spectacle frame, said driving unit is configured separately from said spectacle frame, and said solar cell is disposed on said driving unit.

46. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal spectacle lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a circuit for changing the focal length of vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before an observer'"'"'s eyeballs,

wherein said vari-focal spectacles are configured to be equipped with a power source,

wherein said vari-focal lens elements are configured to have a focal point for focusing on a longer distance upon failure of the power source such that the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements cannot be controlled, and

wherein each vari-focal spectacle lens element is not dependent on polarization and has a layer of substance having a variable refractive index.

47. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a driving unit to control a change of the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs,

wherein said vari-focal spectacles are configured to be equipped with a power source,

wherein said vari-focal lens elements are configured to have a focal point for focusing on a longer distance upon failure of the power source such that the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements cannot be controlled, and

wherein said driving unit is disposed separately from said support member.

48. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a circuit for changing the focal length of vari-focal lens elements;

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before an observer'"'"'s eyeballs; and

a switch member for changing the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements,

wherein said switch member consists of a touch switch.

49. A lens unit comprising:

vari-focal elements enabling changing of a focal length; and

a circuit to change the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements;

wherein said lens unit has a switch member which changes the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements, wherein said switch member is disposed integrally with said vari-focal lens elements, and wherein said switch member is disposed on an outside surface of said vari-focal lens elements.

51. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements having a function to change a focal length;

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs so as to permit saving a trouble of exchanging a plurality of spectacles having different focal lengths by changing the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements; and

a distance measuring member for measuring a distance to an object to be observed, wherein the vari-focal spectacles is configured so as to have both a function for focusing dependently on an object distance and a function for adjusting diopter dependently on observer'"'"'s diopter.

52. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a driving unit to control a change of the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements;

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs; and

a wiring for connecting said vari-focal lens elements to said driving unit, wherein said wiring consists of a printed circuit,

wherein each vari-focal spectacle lens element is not dependent on polarization and has a layer of substance having a variable refractive index.

53. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a driving unit to control a change of the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements;

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs;

a wiring for connecting said vari-focal lens elements to said driving unit, wherein said wiring consists of a cord and wherein said cord is fixed to a support member with bands, heat-shrinkable rings or an adhesive tape.

54. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a driving unit to control a change of the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements;

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs,

wherein said vari-focal spectacle comprises a battery for driving said vari-focal lens elements and wherein said battery is integrated with said support member, and

wherein each vari-focal spectacle lens element is not dependent on polarization and has a layer of substance having a variable refractive index.

55. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

cords which connect vari-focal spectacle lens elements to a driving unit, wherein said cords are disposed in sidepieces of a spectacle frame, and wherein said driving unit is disposed separately from a support member.

57. Vari-focal spectacles according to claim 55, wherein said cords which connect the vari-focal spectacle lens elements to the driving unit are collected into a single cord.

56. Vari-focal spectacles manufactured by the method by combining vari-focal lens elements and electronic circuits with an optional frame, wherein said vari-focal spectacles comprises said vari-focal lens elements and, wherein said electronic circuits which drive the vari-focal lens elements are disposed on surfaces of said vari-focal spectacle lens elements.

58. An optical instrument which uses an optical element having a variable optical characteristic comprising:

an optical element which uses a polymer dispersive liquid crystal.

59. A vari-focal optical element having a variable optical characteristic which uses no transparent substrate but comprises a polymer dispersive liquid crystal;

and electrodes which apply an electric field to said polymer dispersive liquid crystal, wherein said liquid crystal layer contains polymers at a ratio by weight of 25% or higher of the liquid crystal.

60. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens element enabling changing of a focal length;

a driving unit to control a change of the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements; and

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs,

wherein said driving unit is disposed separately from said support member,

wherein said vari-focal lens elements are configured to control a change of the focal length with a voltage or a current,

wherein said vari-focal lens elements are set at a focal length for focusing on a longer distance when the voltages or a current is set at a low level, and

wherein each vari-focal spectacle lens element is not dependent on polarization and has a layer of substance having a variable refractive index.

61. Vari-focal spectacles comprising:

vari-focal lens elements enabling changing of a focal length;

a driving unit to control a change of the focal length of said vari-focal lens elements;

a support member for setting said vari-focal lens elements before observer'"'"'s eyeballs; and

a wiring for connecting said vari-focal lens elements to said driving unit, wherein said wiring consists of a printed circuit,

wherein said driving unit is disposed separately from said support member,

wherein each vari-focal spectacle lens element is not dependent on polarization and has a layer of substance having a variable refractive index.

62. A vari-focal diffractive optical element comprising:

a transparent substrate; and

a polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer which is formed on said transparent substrate; and

a light diffractive surface,

wherein said liquid crystal layer contains polymers at a ratio by weight of about 25% or higher of the liquid crystal.

63. A vari-focal optical element having a variable optical characteristic comprising:

a transparent substrate; and

a polymer dispersive liquid crystal layer which is formed on a surface of said transparent substrate,

wherein said liquid crystal layer contains polymers at a ratio by weight of about 25% or higher of the liquid crystal.