Variable optical-property element and optical apparatus including the same
First Claim
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1. An optical apparatus comprising an optical system that forms a two-dimensional image,the optical system comprising:
- a variable optical-property mirror, anda driving circuit that drives the variable optical-property mirror,wherein the variable optical-property mirror is arranged to be decentered from a light-incident-side optical axis,wherein the variable optical-property mirror has a reflecting surface that is deformable, andwherein the reflecting surface is a free-formed surface having only one plane of symmetry.
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Abstract
A variable optical-property element includes a liquid crystal the pitch of twist is less than 60 times the wavelength of light used, so that a spatially uneven electric or magnetic field or temperature is applied to the liquid crystal to thereby form an index distribution, and the electric or magnetic field or the temperature is changed to thereby alter the index distribution. In this way, the variable optical-property element is capable of changing its optical properties as a liquid crystal lens and is used in an optical apparatus.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An optical apparatus comprising an optical system that forms a two-dimensional image,
the optical system comprising: -
a variable optical-property mirror, and a driving circuit that drives the variable optical-property mirror, wherein the variable optical-property mirror is arranged to be decentered from a light-incident-side optical axis, wherein the variable optical-property mirror has a reflecting surface that is deformable, and wherein the reflecting surface is a free-formed surface having only one plane of symmetry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An optical system comprising:
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a variable optical-property element; and a plurality of rotationally asymmetric curved surfaces, wherein the variable optical-property element and the plurality of rotationally asymmetric curved surfaces are arranged along a single traveling path of rays at positions different from one another, wherein the variable optical-property element is arranged to be decentered from an optical axis of the optical system, and wherein the variable optical-property element is arranged between the plurality of rotationally asymmetric curved surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An optical system comprising:
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a variable optical-property mirror; a driving circuit that drives the variable optical-property mirror; and an optical element having a light-deflecting function and disposed before or after the variable optical-property mirror in a single traveling path of rays, wherein a shape of a reflecting surface of the variable optical-property mirror is deformable, wherein the variable optical-property mirror is arranged to be decentered from a light-incident-side optical axis, and wherein the optical element has a rotationally asymmetric surface having a shape that defines only one plane of symmetry or no plane of symmetry.
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14. An optical device comprising:
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a variable optical-property element having a light-deflecting function; a driving circuit that drives the variable optical-property element; and a free-formed-surface optical element having a rotationally asymmetric reflecting surface and a free-formed transmission surface having only one plane of symmetry, wherein the rotationally asymmetric reflecting surface defines only one plane of symmetry or no plane of symmetry, wherein the variable optical-property element and the rotationally asymmetric reflecting surface are arranged to be decentered from one another, and wherein a positional relation between an image surface, the free-formed-surface optical element, and the variable optical-property element remains unchanged during focusing. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. An optical system comprising:
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a plurality of variable optical-property elements each having a variable optical power; and an optical element having a rotationally asymmetric optical surface, wherein the plurality of variable optical-property elements and the optical element are arranged along a single traveling path of rays, wherein the variable optical-property elements and the optical element are decentered from one another, wherein the rotationally asymmetric optical surface is a smooth surface directed toward a light-incident side, and wherein the variable optical-property elements are arranged to be decentered from one another.
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17. An optical unit comprising:
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a transparent optical element having an entrance surface and an exit surface that is different from the entrance surface; and a reflection-type variable optical-property element having a variable optical power, the reflection-type variable optical-property element being arranged integrally with the transparent optical element, wherein the transparent optical element and the reflection-type variable optical-property element are configured such that light enters the optical element through the entrance surface, is reflected at the reflection-type variable optical-property element, and then exits out of the transparent optical element through the exit surface, and wherein at least one of the entrance surface and the exit surface of the transparent optical element is a curved surface.
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Specification