Abstract: Light incident on a microlens at a large incident angle can be efficiently guided to a photo-electric converting portion in a solid state image sensor. In a solid state image sensor having a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels includes a microlens which condenses light, a photo-electric converting portion which photoelectrically converts light condensed by the microlens, a metal electrode layer which is interposed between the microlens and the photo-electric converting portion and has an opening at a position corresponding to the optical path of light traveling from the microlens toward the photo-electric converting portion, and a transparent film layer which is interposed between the microlens and the photo-electric converting portion and has a convex lens-shaped portion that is convex on the microlens side.

Abstract: An image pickup element comprising a plurality of pixels, each including a photoelectric conversion section and a wavelength selection section for transmitting to the photoelectric conversion section light of a predetermined wavelength range, wherein the wavelength selection section has a vertex, and wherein, for a pixel located in the peripheral portion of the image pickup element, the vertex of the wavelength selection section is located closer to the center of the image pickup element than to the center of the photoelectric conversion section.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing element has a photoelectric conversion element which converts incoming light into an electrical signal in accordance with an amount of the light, a microlens which is arranged on an incident surface, a light guide which is arranged between the photoelectric conversion element and the microlens, and an insulating interlayer which is arranged around the light guide.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a photoelectrically converting area for converting an optical signal from a subject into an electronic signal. A plurality of first pixels included in the plurality of pixels have a first transmittance as a light transmittance to the photoelectrically converting area, and a plurality of second pixels included in the plurality of pixels have a second transmittance as a light transmittance to the photoelectrically converting area. The second transmittance is higher than the first transmittance, and a light receiving area for receiving light of each of the plurality of first pixels is larger than a light receiving area for receiving light of each pixel of the plurality of second pixels.

Abstract: According to this invention, light incident on a microlens at a large incident angle can be efficiently guided to a photo-electric converting portion in a solid state image sensor. In a solid state image sensor having a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels includes a microlens which condenses light, a photo-electric converting portion which photoelectrically converts light condensed by the microlens, a metal electrode layer which is interposed between the microlens and the photo-electric converting portion and has an opening at a position corresponding to the optical path of light traveling from the microlens toward the photo-electric converting portion, and a transparent film layer which is interposed between the microlens and the photo-electric converting portion and has a convex lens-shaped portion that is convex on the microlens side. At least part of the convex lens-shaped portion in the direction of thickness extends into the opening formed in the metal electrode layer.

Abstract: An image sensing element having a high refractive index part that covers at least a portion of each of a plurality of photoelectric converters arranged in one or two dimensions and a low refractive index part provided on the periphery of the high refractive index part. The interface between the high refractive index part and the low refractive index part has a surface that is substantially parallel to the optical axis of an image sensing lens and a slanted surface having an angle that differs from that of the parallel surface. The slanted surface is disposed on a portion of a surface near the optical axis of the image sensing lens, the portion being on a side that light rays from the image sensing lens enters the image sensing element.

Abstract: There is provided an optical apparatus that provides quick and precise TTL phase difference detection and pupil slicing focus detection. An optical apparatus includes a first optical element for splitting a first polarized light component contained in light that passes an exit pupil of a first optical system and directs to a photoelectric conversion element so that the first polarized light component direct to different light-receiving areas on the photoelectric conversion element. The optical apparatus may further include a second optical element for separating a second polarized light component contained in the light from said first optical element, from the first polarized light component.

Abstract: This invention realizes high-precision exposure regardless of the F-number of an image sensing lens in photography. One pixel includes a first light-receiving region (119c) which includes a region where the principal ray of an image sensing lens is incident, and second light-receiving regions (119a, 119b) which do not include the region where the principal ray of the image sensing lens is incident. The first light-receiving region (119c) is sandwiched between the two second light-receiving regions (119a, 119b).

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing element has a photoelectric conversion element which converts incoming light into an electrical signal in accordance with an amount of the light, a microlens which is arranged on an incident surface, a light guide which is arranged between the photoelectric conversion element and the microlens, and an insulating interlayer which is arranged around the light guide.

Abstract: An image sensing element having a high refractive index part that covers at least a portion of each of a plurality of photoelectric converters arranged in one or two dimensions and a low refractive index part provided on the periphery of the high refractive index part. The interface between the high refractive index part and the low refractive index part has a surface that is substantially parallel to the optical axis of an image sensing lens and a slanted surface having an angle that differs from that of the parallel surface. The slanted surface is disposed on a portion of a surface near the optical axis of the image sensing lens, the portion being on a side that light rays from the image sensing lens enters the image sensing element.

Abstract: An image pickup element comprising a plurality of pixels, each including a photoelectric conversion section and a wavelength selection section for transmitting to the photoelectric conversion section light of a predetermined wavelength range, wherein the wavelength selection section has a vertex, and wherein, for a pixel located in the peripheral portion of the image pickup element, the vertex of the wavelength selection section is located closer to the center of the image pickup element than to the center of the photoelectric conversion section.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a photoelectrically converting area for converting an optical signal from a subject into an electronic signal. A plurality of first pixels included in the plurality of pixels have a first transmittance as a light transmittance to the photoelectrically converting area, and a plurality of second pixels included in the plurality of pixels have a second transmittance as a light transmittance to the photoelectrically converting area. The second transmittance is higher than the first transmittance, and a light receiving area for receiving light of each of the plurality of first pixels is larger than a light receiving area for receiving light of each pixel of the plurality of second pixels.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a storage display element which stores an image by receiving image light from a film frame and displays the stored image, a display device capable of selectively displaying one of a film frame number and information other than the film frame number, and a control circuit which inhibits an image storing action on the storage display element when no film frame number is displayed by the display device.

Abstract: This invention realizes high-precision exposure regardless of the F-number of an image sensing lens in photography. One pixel includes a first light-receiving region (119c) which includes a region where the principal ray of an image sensing lens is incident, and second light-receiving regions (119a, 119b) which do not include the region where the principal ray of the image sensing lens is incident. The first light-receiving region (119c) is sandwiched between the two second light-receiving regions (119a, 119b).

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a storage display element which stores an image by receiving image light from a film frame and displays the stored image, a display device capable of selectively displaying one of a film frame number and information other than the film frame number, and a control circuit which inhibits an image storing action on the storage display element when no film frame number is displayed by the display device.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a projecting optical system for projecting an image of an object in a viewfield onto an image receiving surface. First detecting structure is provided for detecting which position is viewed in the viewfield. Second detecting structure is provided for detecting a defocus for the image receiving surface of the image of the object. Optical system driving structure is provided for driving a portion of the projecting optical system according to the defocus detected by the second detecting structure. A processor is provided for causing the detection by said second detecting structure and the drive by said optical system driving structure to be repeated until the image of the object is focused on the image receiving surface.

Abstract: An image display apparatus having a storage/display element for receiving writing light indicative of an image obtained from an original, storing the image and displaying the stored image, includes a light detecting mechanism for detecting light which has an influence on writing, and a determining circuit for determining an image storage operation condition for the storage/display element according to an amount of light detected by the light detecting mechanism.

Abstract: A camera operating in a plurality of photographing modes is provided with an image receiver for receiving the optical image of an object, a viewfinder for observing the object therethrough, a display device for displaying the photographing modes in visually recognizable characters so that they can be seen through the viewfinder, detecting means for detecting the direction of the visual axis of the photographer gazing at desired one of the characters, means for causing the photographer to recognize the completion of the selection of the photographing mode, and a controller for setting the camera to the selected photographing mode in conformity with the result of the detection by the detecting means, and controlling the camera in the selected photographing mode.

Abstract: A display device includes a spatial light modulator capable of writing therein an image and capable of reading therefrom the written image by converting the image, and an illumination device which transmissively illuminates the spatial light modulator through respective different paths for writing the image and for reading the image.

Abstract: A camera comprising: finder means for inspecting an object, illumination means for illuminating an operator's eye by which the operator looks in at the finder means, a condensing optical system for condensing a reflected light from the operator's eye, photoelectric converter means for receiving the condensed reflected light, calculation means for calculating a direction of a visual axis of the operator's eye on the basis of an output of the photoelectric converter means, and condition setting means operable in response to the result of the calculation of the calculation means, for setting taking conditions of the camera.