Variable mirror, optical apparatus and decentered optical system which include variable mirror, variable-optical characteristic optical element or combination thereof

• US 7,025,468 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Murakami, Kenji, Nishioka, Kimihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/215,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 359/846, 359/847, 359/848, 359/849, 359/223, 359/224, 359/868, 359/869, 359/290, 359/291, 359/295
• US Class Current: 359/846
• 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 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0132 comprising binocular systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• 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 7/102 controlled by a microcomputer cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1821 for rotating or oscillating mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/00 Optical parts characterised by the material G02B1/00
• 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: G03B 17/17 : with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0023 : by tilting or inclining one or more optical elements with respect to the optical axis

Abstract

A variable mirror that is readily formable and can be readily and precisely changed into various configurations as desired. The variable mirror includes a mirror body formed of an elastic or flexible material and having one surface functioning as a reflecting surface. The mirror body is capable of changing the reflecting surface configuration. The rigidity of the mirror body varies in a direction parallel to the one surface.

Claims

1. A variable mirror comprising:

a mirror part having a reflecting surface, said mirror part having a deformable area deformable in shape and a fixed area fixed in shape;

at least one driving force transmitting member; and

a base disposed opposite to the mirror part,

wherein a first end of said at least one driving force transmitting member is connected to said mirror part, and a second end of said driving force transmitting member is free from contact with the base when deformation of said mirror part occurs, and

wherein said driving force transmitting member transmits a driving force to said mirror part for deforming said mirror part.

2. A variable mirror comprising:

a mirror part having a reflecting surface, said mirror part having a deformable area deformable in shape and a fixed area fixed in shape;

a driving force transmitting member;

a base disposed opposite to the mirror part; and

a support member provided at an outer peripheral portion of said mirror part;

wherein a first end of said driving force transmitting member is connected to said mirror part, and a second end of said driving force transmitting member is free from contact with the base when deformation of said mirror part occurs, and said driving force transmitting member transmits a driving force to said mirror part to deform said mirror part.