Optical device

• US 7,031,071 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Nishioka, Kimihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US10/413,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20040109236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 359/676, 359/683
• US Class Current: 359/676
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/102 controlled by a microcomputer cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14

Abstract

An optical apparatus includes an optical system for performing variable power by one lens group or integrated lens groups; a variable optical-characteristic element; a drive circuit for driving the variable optical-characteristic element; and a picture element, wherein the apparatus is constructed by providing a predetermined resolution chart with a known distance, feeding drive information to the variable optical-characteristic element in accordance with the distance, photographing images of the resolution chart, and adjusting and fixing the position of the picture element so as to substantially maximize the contrast of the images.

Claims

1. An optical apparatus comprising:

a variable optical-characteristic element; and

a drive circuit for driving the variable optical-characteristic element, the optical apparatus having an image processing function, wherein enhancement is performed in accordance with a diffraction state and variations in aberration of an optical system.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stronger enhancement is performed along with increasing of an F-number of the optical system.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stronger enhancement is performed along with moving of a zoom state of the optical system from a wide-angle state to a telephoto state.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stronger enhancement is performed when a distance to an object is small.

5. An optical apparatus comprising:

a variable optical-characteristic element; and

a drive circuit for driving the variable optical-characteristic element, the optical apparatus having an image processing function,

wherein enhancement is performed in accordance with an optical-deflection function of the variable optical-characteristic element by estimating the optical-deflection function of the variable optical-characteristic element from driving information of the variable optical-characteristic element.

6. An optical apparatus comprising:

a variable optical-characteristic element; and

a drive circuit for driving the variable optical-characteristic element, the optical apparatus having an image processing function,

wherein different enhancement is performed on each part of images in accordance with symmetry of an optical system.

7. An optical apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the optical system is rotationally asymmetrical.

8. An optical apparatus comprising:

a movable optical element or optical element group;

an actuator driven by an electrostatic force for driving the optical element or optical element group; and

a variable optical-characteristic element.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a light emitting element.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a power supply used for in common to the variable optical-characteristic element and the light emitting element, or common to the actuator, the variable optical-characteristic element, and the light emitting element.

11. An optical apparatus comprising:

a variable optical-characteristic element; and

a drive circuit for driving the variable optical-characteristic element,

wherein shading is corrected by image processing.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an decentered optical system.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a zoom optical system.

14. An optical apparatus comprising any one of a variable optical-characteristic element, an decentered image pickup element, an decentered display element, and an optical element having an decentered optical element,

wherein shading is corrected by image processing.

15. An optical apparatus comprising:

a variable optical-characteristic element; and

a drive circuit for driving the variable optical-characteristic element,

wherein distortion of images is corrected by image processing.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, comprising a plurality of variable optical characteristic elements.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a zoom optical system.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a free-curved surface prism.

19. An optical apparatus comprising:

a variable optical-characteristic element;

a drive circuit for driving the variable optical -characteristic element;

an image pickup element;

a closing-up lens; and

a cover for protecting an imaging optical system,

wherein the closing-up lens and the cover for protecting an imaging optical system are detachably arranged in front of the image pickup element.

20. A variable optical-characteristic element comprising a deformable film comprising a reflection surface for reflecting light and a substrate for supporting the reflection surface,

wherein the substrate is meshed.

21. A variable optical-characteristic element comprising a deformable film comprising a reflection surface for reflecting light and a substrate for supporting the reflection surface,

wherein part of the substrate where an electrode is formed is meshed.

22. An element according to claim 21, wherein part of the substrate where an electrode is formed is made of a metal.

23. An element according to claim 21, wherein part of the substrate where an electrode is formed is made of an organic conductor or an organic semiconductor.

24. An optical apparatus comprising:

an optical system for performing variable power by one lens group or integrated lens groups;

a variable optical-characteristic element;

a drive circuit for driving the variable optical-characteristic element; and

a picture element,

wherein the picture element is fixed based on the steps of;

when an object having a known distance is arranged, feeding drive information to the variable optical-characteristic element in accordance with the distance;

photographing images of the object; and

adjusting the position of the picture element so as to substantially maximize the contrast of the images.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a memory for memorizing the drive information obtained by carrying out the steps of:

examining focus displacement by changing a zoom state;

finely adjusting a moving original point of the lens group so as to substantially minimize the difference between the focus displacement and focus displacement in design;

photographing again a predetermined object having a known distance; and

changing drive information applied to the variable optical-characteristic element so as to substantially maximize the contrast,

wherein the variable optical-characteristic element is driven by the drive information memorized in the memory.

26. An apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising:

a look-up table; and

a memory for memorizing the drive information obtained by carrying out the steps of;

examining focus displacement by changing a zoom state;

finely adjusting a moving original point of a lens group so as to substantially minimize the difference between the focus displacement and focus displacement in design;

photographing again an object having a known distance; and

selecting drive information for driving the variable optical-characteristic element from the look-up table so as to substantially maximize the contrast,

wherein the variable optical -characteristic element is driven by the drive information memorized in the memory.

27. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the picture element is fixed based on the steps of:

examining focus displacement by further changing a zoom state; and

finely adjusting a moving original point of the lens group so as to substantially minimize the difference between the focus displacement and focus displacement in design.

28. A manufacturing method of an optical apparatus comprising an optical system for performing variable power by one lens group or integrated lens groups;

a variable optical-characteristic element;

a drive circuit for driving the variable optical-characteristic element; and

a picture element, the method comprising the steps of;

when an object having a known distance is arranged, feeding drive information to the variable optical-characteristic element in accordance with the distance;

photographing images of the object; and

adjusting and fixing the position of the picture element so as to substantially maximize the contrast of the images.

29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

examining focus displacement by changing a zoom state;

finely adjusting a moving original point of a lens group so as to substantially minimize the difference between the focus displacement and focus displacement in design;

photographing an object having a known distance again;

changing drive information applied to the variable optical-characteristic element so as to substantially maximize the contrast;

memorizing the drive information at that time in a memory; and

controlling the variable optical-characteristic element with the memorized value.

30. A method according to claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

examining focus displacement by changing a zoom state;

finely adjusting a moving original point of a lens group so as to substantially minimize the difference between the focus displacement and focus displacement in design;

photographing an object having a known distance again;

selecting drive information for driving the variable optical-characteristic element from an LUT so as to substantially maximize the contrast;

memorizing the drive information at that time in a memory; and

controlling the variable optical-characteristic element with the memorized value.

31. A method according to claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

examining focus displacement by changing a zoom state; and

finely adjusting a moving original point of a lens group so as to substantially minimize the difference between the focus displacement and focus displacement in design.

32. An optical apparatus comprising:

a variable optical-characteristic element; and

a driving circuit for driving the variable optical-characteristic element, the optical apparatus having an image processing function;

wherein shading is corrected by image processing in accordance with symmetry of an optical system.

33. An optical apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the optical system is rotationally asymmetrical.

34. An optical apparatus comprising:

a variable optical-characteristic element; and

a driving circuit for driving the variable optical-characteristic element, the optical apparatus having an image processing function,

wherein distortion is corrected by image processing in accordance with symmetry of an optical system.

35. An optical apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the optical system is rotationally asymmetrical.

36. An optical apparatus comprising:

a variable optical-characteristic element; and

a drive circuit for driving the variable optical-characteristic element,

the optical apparatus having an image processing function,

wherein different enhancement is performed on each part of images in accordance with symmetry of an optical system.

37. An optical apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the optical system is rotationally asymmetric.