Abstract: An imaging device includes a varifocal lens and an imaging sensor which outputs a signal corresponding to light. The imaging sensor includes a photoelectric conversion unit which converts light into an electric charge, electric charge reading regions, transfer control electrodes, a gate control circuit which sequentially applies control signals to the transfer control electrodes to correspond to the position of the focal point of the varifocal lens, and a reading circuit which outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of the electric charge transferred to the electric charge reading regions. The gate control circuit repeats an operation of outputting each of the control signals when the position of the focal point is located in the focal ranges during a frame period.

Abstract: A volumetric display capable of high-speed image presentation includes a resonance-type liquid lens having a focal length that is periodically adjusted using resonance of a liquid. An image projector projects an image toward a viewpoint position of a user via the resonance-type liquid lens. Further, the image projector projects an image toward the viewpoint position within a shorter time period than one-tenth of a variation cycle of the focal length. The image projector includes an LED and a DMD, for example.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a varifocal lens and an imaging sensor which outputs a signal corresponding to light. The imaging sensor includes a photoelectric conversion unit which converts light into an electric charge, electric charge reading regions, transfer control electrodes, a gate control circuit which sequentially applies control signals to the transfer control electrodes to correspond to the position of the focal point of the varifocal lens, and a reading circuit which outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of the electric charge transferred to the electric charge reading regions. The gate control circuit repeats an operation of outputting each of the control signals when the position of the focal point is located in the focal ranges during a frame period.

Abstract: A volumetric display capable of high-speed image presentation includes a resonance-type liquid lens having a focal length that is periodically adjusted using resonance of a liquid. An image projector projects an image toward a viewpoint position of a user via the resonance-type liquid lens. Further, the image projector projects an image toward the viewpoint position within a shorter time period than one-tenth of a variation cycle of the focal length. The image projector includes an LED and a DMD, for example.

Abstract: A retroreflective material having high retroreflective performance while being edible is provided with a reflector main body that has optical transparency. The reflector main body is formed from agar. One side of the reflector main body constitutes an incident surface where incident light enters into the reflector main body. The other side of the reflector main body is formed as a retroreflective surface that reflects incident light that has entered to an inner part of the reflector main body in a direction substantially parallel to an incident direction.

Abstract: A retroreflective material having high retroreflective performance while being edible is provided with a reflector main body that has optical transparency. The reflector main body is formed from agar. One side of the reflector main body constitutes an incident surface where incident light enters into the reflector main body. The other side of the reflector main body formed as a retroreflective surface that reflects incident light that has entered to an inner part of the reflector main body in a direction substantially parallel to an incident direction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to widen a range in which line of sight change is possible, particularly in a pan direction. According to the present invention it is possible to acquire high line of sight changing speed. A pan mirror is capable of rotation in forward and reverse directions about a third rotational axis. Also, the third rotational axis extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to a line of sight direction directed from a tilt direction control section to the pan mirror. An angle ? formed by the pan mirror and the third rotational axis is set in a range 0°<?<90°. The tilt direction control section can scan line of sight direction with respect to a virtual plane formed by a rotation locus of the pan mirror. The tilt direction control section can also control tilt angle of the line of sight direction from the pan mirror to a physical object.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a device that is capable of presenting image information that is larger than an object by irradiating light onto the object that moves on a trajectory that is not known. An object tracking section controls line of sight direction so as to be directed towards a moving object. A rendering section irradiates a light beam in a direction along the line of sight direction. In this way the rendering section can irradiate the light beam onto the surface of the object. It is possible to present information, that has been rendered in a range that is larger than the surface area of the object, to an observer, utilizing an after image of the light beam that has been irradiated on the surface of the object.

Abstract: This invention provides a technology that allows the acquisition of background differentials using images acquired by a camera, the viewpoint of which moves. First, said camera acquires a background image, i.e. an image that does not contain a target object. Using information on the line-of-sight direction and viewpoint position of the camera, position information for pixels in the background image is transformed to polar-coordinate information Next, the camera acquires an object image. Using information on the line-of-sight direction and viewpoint position of the camera, position information for pixels in the object image is transformed to polar-coordinate information. The polar-coordinate information for the pixels in the object image is used to identify a target background, said target background being the part of the background image in an angle region corresponding to the object image. By comparing the object image and the target background, the differential therebetween is extracted.

Abstract: A blurless image capturing system sequentially acquires images with little blur, even in a situation where a camera moves. An image capturing camera unit and a mirror unit are both capable of continuous movement in at least a one-dimensional direction. The image capturing camera unit acquires an image of a physical object present within an object region by directing line of sight direction towards the object region by means of the mirror unit. The mirror body changes the line of sight from the image capturing camera unit. The drive unit changes an angle of the mirror body in a given angular velocity in accordance with movement of the image capturing camera unit and the mirror body In this way it is possible to keep the line of sight from the image capturing camera unit directed towards a physical object for a given time. The drive unit directs the line of sight from the image capturing camera unit towards another object region by driving the mirror body. The control unit controls operation of the drive unit.

Abstract: A blurless image capturing system sequentially acquires images with little blur, even in a situation where a camera moves. An image capturing camera unit and a mirror unit are both capable of continuous movement in at least a one-dimensional direction. The image capturing camera unit acquires an image of a physical object present within an object region by directing line of sight direction towards the object region by means of the mirror unit. The mirror body changes the line of sight from the image capturing camera unit. The drive unit changes an angle of the mirror body in a given angular velocity in accordance with movement of the image capturing camera unit and the mirror body In this way it is possible to keep the line of sight from the image capturing camera unit directed towards a physical object for a given time. The drive unit directs the line of sight from the image capturing camera unit towards another object region by driving the mirror body. The control unit controls operation of the drive units.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a device that is capable of presenting image information that is larger than an object by irradiating light onto the object that moves on a trajectory that is not known. An object tracking section controls line of sight direction so as to be directed towards a moving object. A rendering section irradiates a light beam in a direction along the line of sight direction. In this way the rendering section can irradiate the light beam onto the surface of the object. It is possible to present information, that has been rendered in a range that is larger than the surface area of the object, to an observer, utilizing an after image of the light beam that has been irradiated on the surface of the object.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to widen a range in which line of sight change is possible, particularly in a pan direction. According to the present invention it is possible to acquire high line of sight changing speed. A pan mirror is capable of rotation in forward and reverse directions about a third rotational axis. Also, the third rotational axis extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to a line of sight direction directed from a tilt direction control section to the pan mirror. An angle ? formed by the pan mirror and the third rotational axis is set in a range 0°<?<90°. The tilt direction control section can scan line of sight direction with respect to a virtual plane formed by a rotation locus of the pan mirror. The tilt direction control section can also control tilt angle of the line of sight direction from the pan mirror to a physical object.

Abstract: A varifocal lens capable of exhibiting high lens performance even with low lens power, and also capable of realizing a comparatively large aperture includes a first elastic membrane arranged between a first medium and a second medium. The first elastic membrane is capable of elastic deformation by pressure from the first medium or the second medium. A drive section causes change in curvature of the first elastic membrane by causing variation in pressure or volume of the first medium or the second medium. The first tensile force applying section applies isotropic tensile force to the first elastic membrane.

Abstract: This invention provides a technology that allows the acquisition of background differentials using images acquired by a camera, the viewpoint of which moves. First, said camera acquires a background image, i.e. an image that does not contain a target object. Using information on the line-of-sight direction and viewpoint position of the camera, position information for pixels in the background image is transformed to polar-coordinate information Next, the camera acquires an object image. Using information on the line-of-sight direction and viewpoint position of the camera, position information for pixels in the object image is transformed to polar-coordinate information. The polar-coordinate information for the pixels in the object image is used to identify a target background, said target background being the part of the background image in an angle region corresponding to the object image. By comparing the object image and the target background, the differential therebetween is extracted.

Abstract: Provided is a displacement amplifying device which uses Pascal's principle and is insusceptible to temperature change. A main body (1) is provided with an accommodation space (11) for accommodating a medium (2) therein. The medium (2) is provided with a fluid (21) with a positive thermal expansion coefficient and a movable body (22) with a negative thermal expansion coefficient. The movable body (22) is displaced according to the movement of the fluid (21). The medium (2) is provided with a small-area first movable surface (23) and a large-area second movable surface (24). The displacement of one of the first movable surface (23) and the second movable surface (24) is transmitted to the other via the medium (2). In the displacement amplifying device, even if the volume of the fluid (21) is changed by the temperature change of the medium (2), the amount of change of the volume of the medium (2) as a whole can be kept low by the volume change of the movable body (22).

Abstract: Provided is a displacement amplifying device which uses Pascal's principle and is insusceptible to temperature change. A main body (1) is provided with an accommodation space (11) for accommodating a medium (2) therein. The medium (2) is provided with a fluid (21) with a positive thermal expansion coefficient and a movable body (22) with a negative thermal expansion coefficient. The movable body (22) is displaced according to the movement of the fluid (21). The medium (2) is provided with a small-area first movable surface (23) and a large-area second movable surface (24). The displacement of one of the first movable surface (23) and the second movable surface (24) is transmitted to the other via the medium (2). In the displacement amplifying device, even if the volume of the fluid (21) is changed by the temperature change of the medium (2), the amount of change of the volume of the medium (2) as a whole can be kept low by the volume change of the movable body (22).