Abstract: Provided are an illumination device and an electronic apparatus. The illumination device includes a light source configured to emit light, a surface light source layer configured to convert the light emitted from the light source to surface light, a focusing lens configured to focus the surface light from the surface light source layer, and a display panel including an aperture through which light focused by the focusing lens passes.

Abstract: Provided are an illumination device and an electronic apparatus. The illumination device includes a light source configured to emit light, a surface light source layer configured to convert the light emitted from the light source to surface light, a focusing lens configured to focus the surface light from the surface light source layer, and a display panel including an aperture through which light focused by the focusing lens passes.

Abstract: An illuminating device for plant cultivation to cultivate plants has a base, a light source, a light converging plate, a position-adjusting device and a distance sensor. A height of the plants is detected by the distance sensor, and then a distance between the light source and the light converging plate is adjusted according to the height detected, and as a result, an illumination field of the light source is altered by the light converging plate. Therefore, an illumination field of the light passing through the converging plate is narrower to illuminate the plants located farther away and prevents waste of light energy. When the plants grow higher, the distance between the light source and the light converging plate is adjusted to provide a wider illumination field to ensure that light can be distributed evenly among the plants. Utilization efficiency of light energy is therefore improved.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) includes an optics block and an electronic display. A varifocal actuation block included in the HMD adjusts a location of an image plane by adjusting a position of the optics block or the electronic display. Responsive to the varifocal actuation block being powered down or a determination that the HMD is not being worn, the varifocal actuation block changes focus of light directed towards the electronic display by the optics block so the light is not focused on the electronic display. For example, the varifocal actuation block maximizes defocusing of light on the electronic display by the optics block. Additionally, when the HMD is powered on, the varifocal actuation block may also reposition the optics block and the electronic display relative to other so light directed towards the electronic display by the optics block illuminates different areas of the electronic display at different times.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a display panel, a device and a method for controlling the same. The display panel includes: a substrate; a detecting light transmitter, a detecting light receiver, a first optical element and a second optical element which are disposed on the substrate. The first optical element is configured to diverge light emitted from the detecting light transmitter and the second optical element is configured to converge the reflected divergent light to the detecting light receiver.

Abstract: An illumination device includes a first housing, a second housing having a light source, capable of rotating with respect to the first housing, a driving unit configured to rotate the second housing about a first axis in a first direction and/or a second axis orthogonal to the first axis in a second direction, with respect to the first housing, and a display control unit configured to display, on a display unit, information indicating an irradiation direction of light from the light source, wherein the display control unit changes information about the first direction included in the information indicating the irradiation direction displayed on the display unit, according to a rotation angle of the second housing in the second direction.

Abstract: A camera includes a camera housing with a housing wall demarcating the interior of the camera housing, an optical aperture and a lenslet aperture extending through the housing wall, and an opaque blocking wall adjoined to and extending inwardly from the housing wall and circumscribing the lenslet aperture; a lenslet in the lenslet aperture aligned with an on-camera light source; a lens contained within the camera housing and aligned with the optical aperture to receive light entering the camera housing through the optical aperture; an imager within the camera housing and aligned with the lens to capture light passing through the lens; and circuitry contained within the camera housing communicative with the imager and operable to operate the camera. The circuitry includes a printed circuit board that abuts the opaque blocking wall and on which is mounted a light source positioned to be circumscribed by the opaque blocking wall.

Abstract: In implementations of automated bounce flash, a camera device includes a camera to capture an image of a subject in an environment, and includes a flash device to illuminate the subject for image capture. A memory and processor of the camera device implements an image exposure application to select a surface in the environment from which to bounce light emitted from the flash device toward the subject during the image capture. The image exposure application is also implemented to control a direction of the light emitted from the flash device onto the selected surface during the image capture.

Abstract: A setting unit does not set a limit angle of rotating a second housing by a driving unit with respect to a first housing in accordance with information output from a sensor configured to output information related to whether or not an object exists in a predetermined range until an elapsed time since an operation unit is operated exceeds a predetermined time, and the setting unit sets the limit angle in accordance with the information output from the sensor after the elapsed time since the operation unit is operated exceeds the predetermined time.

Abstract: A camera unit and method of control are described. The camera unit has a camera flash sub-unit configurable to emit flash light having an adjustable characteristic. A camera sensor sub-unit generates raw color data when exposed to light for processing into a digital image. The camera unit also includes a camera controller for coordinating operation of the camera flash sub-unit and the camera sensor sub-unit. The camera controller monitors one or more ambient light characteristics in a vicinity of the camera unit. Prior to receiving a command instructing the camera unit to generate the digital image, the camera controller repeatedly configures the camera flash sub-unit based on the monitored ambient light characteristics to adjust the characteristics of the emitted flash light. Once the camera controller receives the command, the camera sensor sub-unit is instructed to expose an image sensor using the pre-adjusted camera flash light to increase illumination.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a luminaire including a light-emitting element and a cover provided on an irradiation side of the light-emitting element. The cover includes a first light transmitting section provided on the center side of the cover and a second light transmitting section provided at the peripheral edge of the first light transmitting section and having light transmittance higher than the light transmittance of the first light transmitting section.

Abstract: A flash device of the present invention includes a flash main body, a light emitting section rotatably coupled to the flash main body, and a variable mechanism that can vary the angle in the vertical direction of the light emitting section between a normal irradiation direction angle and a desired irradiation direction angle different from the normal irradiation direction angle. The flash device further includes a drive section for driving the variable mechanism, a vertical direction angle detecting section for detecting the angle in the vertical direction of the light emitting section, and a control device for changing, with the drive section, the angle in the vertical direction of the light emitting section to the desired irradiation direction angle based on a detection signal of the vertical direction angle detecting section.

Abstract: An optical redirection adapter for an electronic device having a camera includes a housing and an optical element. The optical element is attached to the housing and positioned such that, when the adapter is attached the electronic device, the optical element is positioned in the camera's field of view. The optical element reflects light in the camera's field of view from a redirection angle that is offset from the camera's field of view. The optical redirection adapter facilitates ergonomically sound use of the camera.

Abstract: A method for generating an infrared (IR) beam for illuminating a scene to be imaged comprises providing at least two IR emitters, including a first IR emitter operable to emit a wide beam component of the IR beam, and a second IR emitter operable to emit a narrow beam component of the IR beam, wherein the wide beam component has a linear profile that has a lower standard deviation than a linear profile of the narrow beam component. The method also comprises selecting a desired linear profile for the IR beam, and selecting a power ratio of power directed to the first IR emitter and power directed to the second IR emitter that produces the IR beam with the desired linear profile when the narrow beam component and wide beam component are combined; and directing power to the first and second IR emitters at the selected power ratio to generate the wide and narrow beam components, and combining the generated wide and narrow beam components to produce the IR beam.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes a main body, a movable unit, a first driving unit, a second driving unit, and a control unit. The movable unit is rotatable with respect to the main body and includes a light emitting unit and an optical member disposed in front of the light emitting unit to refract incident light. The first driving unit rotates the movable unit with respect to the main body. The second driving unit moves at least one of the light emitting unit and the optical member to change relative positions. Power is supplied to the second driving unit from a power source that supplies power to the first driving unit. The control unit controls a rotation operation performed using the first driving unit and a moving operation performed using the second driving unit so that the rotation operation is performed after the moving operation is performed.

Abstract: To provide a lighting device for image capturing in an electronic component mounting apparatus that has small dimensions in the height direction and a small size in a plan view and thus can meet demands in a reduction in size. In an electronic component mounting apparatus, a surface lighting unit 30 that emits illumination light to a substrate, which is an object whose image is to be captured by a camera 25, includes as a main component a flat lighting substrate 31 that is provided between the camera 25 and the substrate, which is an object whose image is to be captured, so as to be substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An imaging device preferably for use in a 2-D CCD or CMOS sensor is disclosed. The illumination means uses a plurality of illumination sources, some of which are coupled to lenses in an offset manner to promote far field illumination, and some of which are not so coupled and are arranged to provide near field illumination.

Abstract: A photographic flash unit comprises a direct flash unit and a bounce flash unit rotatably connected to the direct flash unit. Status and control lines coupled between a hot shoe and each flash unit enable independent triggering and control of each flash unit. The direct and bounce flash units may be a part of a digital camera adapted to make a first test exposure using direct flash illumination and second test exposure using bounce flash illumination, then computing an attenuation factor for compensating a selected flash exposure parameter by dividing the selected parameter by the attenuation factor. Steps in a method embodiment include making a first test image, making a second test image, selecting regions in the first and second test images, computing an attenuation factor from luminosity values for the first and second test images, and compensating settings for a final bounce flash image by the attenuation factor.

Abstract: An illumination device contains a light-emitting semiconductor chip containing a plurality of individually drivable emission regions. The illumination device furthermore contains an optical element designed to shape light emitted by the emission regions to form a beam of rays. The illumination device is designed such that different beam profiles of the beam of rays can be set by the individually drivable emission regions.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus having ring light module includes a camera, a support base and a plurality of light units. The camera has a lens having an optical axis. The support base is connected to the camera and surrounds the lens. The support base includes an outer peripheral wall, an inner peripheral wall, and a bottom wall connected the outer peripheral wall and the inner peripheral wall. The bottom wall and the outer peripheral wall and the inner peripheral wall cooperatively define an accommodating groove. The angle between the bottom wall and the inner peripheral wall is an acute angle. The light units are arranged in the accommodating groove and fixed on the bottom wall and emit light beams in an oblique direction with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: A variable focus illuminator includes an array of light sources and a movable lens plate positioned immediately in front of the array of light sources. The lens plate includes a plurality of lenses that redirect the light produced by the light sources, such that different positions of the lens plate result in different sizes of the field illuminated by the variable focus illuminator. The lens plate may be movable in translation, rotation, or both. The variable focus illuminator may also include a cover plate in front of the movable lens plate, which may also include a plurality of cover plate lenses. The variable focus illuminator may be varifocal, or may include a zoom capability. The variable focus illuminator may be part of a system that includes a camera, and the system may also include a pan/tilt mechanism.

Abstract: A flash unit of the present invention is capable of being used as a supplementary light source for taking photographs, and comprises a light emitting section capable of changing an illumination area of a flash, an imaging section capable of imaging a picture, including a subject of the illumination area, a display section capable of displaying setting values for the flash unit, or the illumination area, and a display control section for causing display of the illumination area on the display section.

Abstract: An imaging device disclosed herein is a device for acquiring image data about a subject, comprising an image acquisition section, a housing, a flash device, and a flash controller. The image acquisition section is configured to continuously acquire a plurality of image data from an optical image of a subject. The housing holds the image acquisition section. The flash device is configured to emit a flash of light, with which the emission angle of the flash light with respect to the housing can be varied. The flash controller is configured to control the flash device so that the emission angle of the flash light when the plurality of image data are being continuously acquired will differ for at least two image data out of the plurality of image data.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus having ring light module includes a camera, a support base and a plurality of light units. The camera has a lens having an optical axis. The support base is connected to the camera and surrounds the lens. The support base includes an outer peripheral wall, an inner peripheral wall, and a bottom wall connected the outer peripheral wall and the inner peripheral wall. The bottom wall and the outer peripheral wall and the inner peripheral wall cooperatively define an accommodating groove. The angle between the bottom wall and the inner peripheral wall is an acute angle. The light units are arranged in the accommodating groove and fixed on the bottom wall and emit light beams in an oblique direction with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: An exemplary flash lamp module includes a light source, a holding pole, a lampshade, a slide orbit and a driving portion. The light source is mounted on the holding pole. The lampshade is configured for covering the light source. The lampshade has an opening configured for allowing light beams emitted from the light source passing through the opening. The slide orbit is configured for supporting and allowing the lampshade moving therealong. The driving portion is configured for driving the lampshade to move along the slide orbit so as to change the direction of emitting of light beams through the opening.

Abstract: A camera includes light sources that illuminate a subject, a lens unit that receives image information of the subject, a controller that determines a shadow representation of the subject according to information regarding the light sources, and a display unit that displays the determined shadow representation. A method of displaying an image on a camera includes determining a shadow representation of a subject according to information regarding light sources that illuminate the subject, and displaying the determined shadow representation.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus including a strobo assembly capable of controlling a light emitting angle of a strobo. The imaging apparatus includes a case and a strobo assembly mated to the case and that revolves with respect to the case. The strobo assembly includes a light source that emits light; a strobo housing that accommodates the light source; a bush embedded in the strobo housing and that provides a revolution shaft of the strobo assembly; and an elastic member accommodated in the bush and that provides a predetermined elastic force so that the strobo assembly revolves with respect to the case.

Abstract: A digital camera (10) includes a face detecting section (74), a color temperature detecting section (76) and a flash device (86) having an LED array in which RGB LEDs are regularly arranged as a light source. When a shutter button (18) is pressed halfway, the face detecting section (74) reads out image data of a through image from a memory (60) and detects a person's face in the image. A CPU (64) identifies a scene based on brightness values of face and surrounding areas as, for example, a backlit scene, and specifies a face peripheral area according to an exposure pattern corresponding to the backlit scene. When the shutter button (18) is fully pressed, the CPU (64) sends a flash projection command to an LED control circuit (87), thereby illuminating the LEDs corresponding to the face peripheral area. By controlling illumination of the RGB LEDs, the LED control circuit (87) directs to project the flash light having color temperature that corrects the person's face color into an appropriate skin color.

Abstract: An optical device includes a housing having first to fourth sidewalls and top and bottom plates; and (M?1) partitions between the first and second sidewalls, and has M lens chambers, each filled with first and second liquids forming a liquid lens. A first lens chamber is defined by the first, third, and fourth sidewalls, first partition, and top and bottom plates. The top plate, first sidewall, and first partition respectively have first to third electrodes. An (m+1)-th lens chamber is defined by an m-th partition, third sidewall, (m+1)-th partition, fourth sidewall, and top and bottom plates, m being 1, 2, . . . , or M?2. The top plate, m-th partition, and (m+1)-th partition respectively have first to third electrodes. An M-th lens chamber is defined by an (M?1)-th partition, second to fourth sidewalls, and top and bottom plates. The top plate, (M?1)-th partition, and second sidewall respectively have first to third electrodes.

Abstract: An imaging device disclosed herein is a device for acquiring image data about a subject, comprising an image acquisition section, a housing, a flash device, and a flash controller. The image acquisition section is configured to continuously acquire a plurality of image data from an optical image of a subject. The housing holds the image acquisition section. The flash device is configured to emit a flash of light, with which the emission angle of the flash light with respect to the housing can be varied. The flash controller is configured to control the flash device so that the emission angle of the flash light when the plurality of image data are being continuously acquired will differ for at least two image data out of the plurality of image data.

Abstract: An optical device directs light from a light source to a region of space, such as the field of view of a camera when the optical device is used as a camera flash unit. This device includes a first optical element which converges light from the light source towards an inner portion of the region to be illuminated and a second optical element which diverges part of the light from the first element outwardly towards an outer portion of the region to be illuminated so as to achieve adequate central illumination with improved uniformity of illumination across the region to be illuminated. The second optical element may have a concave multiple-faceted surface comprising plane facets in the shape of an open-base inverted truncated pyramid, contiguous sector-shaped facets, at least some of which are concave, or a face divided into an elongate portion disposed between first and second diverging portions.

Abstract: A compact camera with a compact camera body integrated with a lens, a direct flash module and an indirect flash module. The direct flash unit includes a flash light emission window arranged to project direct illumination in a first direction toward an object to be photographed. The indirect flash unit includes an indirect flash light emission window arranged to project indirect bounce illumination in a second direction off of an indirect reflecting surface to the object. The camera also has a controller that receives a first signal containing information from a first light sensor connected to the direct flash unit, and a second signal containing information from a second light sensor connected to the indirect flash unit. In response to the received first and second signals, the controller selectively adjusts the amount of flash illumination projected from the direct and indirect flash units.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus comprising: a reflecting surface for reflecting light, formed on a circuit board; an LED light source for emitting illumination light with a light-emitting diode, mounted on a part of said reflecting surface; and a reflector for reflecting ahead the light emitted from said LED light source, mounted on said circuit board so as to surround said LED light source and have the opened rear thereof closed by said reflecting surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a flash device which includes a mounting portion removably mounting a flash device on a photographic apparatus, a first base having the mounting portion, a second base mounted on the first base such that the second base can turn around a shaft located approximately parallel with an optical axis of the photographic apparatus, and a flashlight-irradiating unit mounted on the second base such that the flashlight-irradiating unit can turn around a shaft at least in a vertical direction which is orthogonal to the optical axis of the photographic apparatus and is approximately horizontal when the photographic apparatus is located with a horizontal position. In the flash device, the first base has an auxiliary light irradiation unit to irradiate a photographic subject with auxiliary light.

Abstract: A flash apparatus is provided. The flash apparatus includes: an attachment portion capable of being attached in a freely detachable manner to an attachment target portion provided on an imaging apparatus; a main body supported in a turnable manner in an anteroposterior direction with respect to the attachment portion by means of a first turning portion; and a light-emitting portion supported in a turnable manner in an anteroposterior or vertical direction with respect to the main body by means of a second turning portion, including a light emitter directly or indirectly emitting light to a subject.

Abstract: An optical device for use with an imaging device for taking photographic images of an object includes a light emitting element capable of emitting light, and a lens arranged so as to direct light from the light emitting element to illuminate the object. The light emitting element may include at least two light emitting zones arranged so that light from the light emitting zones can be directed from the lens in respective corresponding spatial angles, and that the light emitting zones can be individually and selectively controlled to emit a controllable intensity of light.

Abstract: A camera apparatus (10) has a zoom lens (12) having a zoom focus setting that is adjustable over a range of focus values and control circuitry for generating a variable voltage potential according to the zoom focus setting. A flash illumination apparatus (20) has a light source (32) and a variable focus liquid crystal lens (24), the variable focus liquid crystal lens (24) having a first and a second solid optical element (40, 50), chamber (44), the two electrodes (42, 48) and liquid crystal material (46). A variable voltage is applied to the liquid crystal material (46) for the lens power according to the zoom focus setting.

Abstract: In an image taking apparatus, an arc tube and a reflector are moved forward when a zoom switch is operated to a WIDE-side and two reflection side plates are disposed such as to cover and hide Fresnel lenses located on both ends of a protector. Light emitted sideway from the arc tube is reflected from the reflection side plates, the light is introduced toward a central portion of the protector, and a radiation field suitable for a wide angle is formed. If the zoom switch is operated toward the TELE side, the reflection side plates are inclined such as to expose the Fresnel lenses on the both ends of the protector and the arc tube and the reflector are retreated at the same time, light emitted sideway from the arc tube is entirely guided to the Fresnel lenses, and a radiation field suitable for a TELE angle is formed.

Abstract: A mounting structure of an LED includes an LED unit including an LED, a lens element in front of the LED, and a collar around the lens element; a support member including a through-hole through which the lens element of the LED unit is exposed and an annular portion; an annular contacting surface formed on one of the annular portion as an annular concave surface and the collar as an annular convex surface; an annular contacting portion, formed on the other of the annular portion and the collar, wherein an orientation of the LED unit is adjusted by changing a relative contacting position between the annular contacting surface and the annular contacting portion; and a fixing device which fixes the LED unit to the support member while maintaining the contacting position of the annular contacting surface and the annular contacting portion after the adjustment.

Abstract: A flash unit of the present invention is capable of being used as a supplementary light source for taking photographs, and comprises a light emitting section capable of changing an illumination area of a flash, an imaging section capable of imaging a picture, including a subject of the illumination area, a display section capable of displaying setting values for the flash unit, or the illumination area, and a display control section for causing display of the illumination area on the display section.

Abstract: Presented is an auxiliary lighting device that is incorporated in a camera and is disposed at a position apart from an optical axis of a photographic lens for capturing a subject. The device includes a light emitting member with a cylindrical shape to emit light for irradiating a subject, a circumferential wall reflector disposed behind the light emitting member to reflect the light emitted from the light emitting member toward the subject, a first sidewall reflector with a surface that intersects a longitudinal axis of the light emitting member, and which is disposed at a first position near to the optical axis of the photographic lens, and a second sidewall reflector with a surface that intersects the longitudinal axis of the light emitting member, and which is disposed at a second position far from the optical axis of the photographic lens.

Abstract: An adaptive illumination device comprising first and second lighting units connected to each other by way of a hinge mechanism, and further provided with a gear mechanism such that angular movement of the first lighting unit about the hinge causes equivalent angular movement of the second lighting unit in an opposite direction about the hinge.

Abstract: A camera with a built-in strobe is provided, which includes a non-contact-type unit as means for detecting that a strobe device is at a light emittable position and in which a degree of design freedom can be enhanced. The camera with a built-in strobe includes a camera body, a movable strobe device provided at the camera body, and a detecting unit that includes a Hall element provided at the camera body and a magnet provided at the strobe device and detects that the strobe device is at a light emittable position.

Abstract: An illuminating device for photographing includes: an illuminating unit having a plurality of current-controlled light emitting elements, which illuminates a subject with light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements; a storage unit in which light emission brightness information is stored in correspondence to each of the plurality of light emitting elements; and a light emission control unit that controls light emission at the plurality of light emitting elements based upon the light emission brightness information stored in the storage unit so that the plurality of light emitting elements achieve uniform brightness levels at the subject.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system, an image sensor, an image signal processing section and a light-amount characteristic giving section. The imaging optical system has a distortion in such a way as to form an image whose center part is stretched, and whose peripheral part is squeezed. The image sensor has a light reception surface at which a subject image is formed through the imaging optical system, and converts the formed subject image into image signals. The image signal processing section performs an image processing for correcting the image signals with respect to the distortion. The light-amount characteristic giving section gives the subject image a characteristic in which the amount of light at a center part of the subject image formed at the light-reception surface of the image sensor is larger than that at a peripheral part of the subject image.

Abstract: An exemplary method for controlling a direction controllable flash unit of an imaging system is disclosed. The method includes: focusing the imaging system on a primary object; capturing an image having a focal point centered on a portion corresponding to the focused primary object; obtaining a number of position values of the focal point; calculating a number of orientation angle values using the obtained position values; orienting the direction controllable flash unit according to the calculated orientation angle values so as to direct the flash emitted from the direction controllable flash unit to the primary object.

Abstract: A camera apparatus (10) has a zoom lens (12) having a zoom focus setting that is adjustable over a range of focus values and control circuitry for generating a variable voltage potential according to the zoom focus setting. A flash illumination apparatus (20) has a light source (32) and a variable focus liquid crystal lens (24), the variable focus liquid crystal lens (24) having a first and a second solid optical element (40, 50), chamber (44), the two electrodes (42, 48) and liquid crystal material (46). A variable voltage is applied to the liquid crystal material (46) for the lens power according to the zoom focus setting.

Abstract: A light source device has a continous wave (CW) light source for emitting first direct current (DC) light, a level converter for converting optical electric power of the first DC light into second DC light and outputting the second DC light, and a mixer for mixing an optical main signal having a constant extinction ratio with the second DC light.

Abstract: In an embodiment of a flash apparatus, a semiconductor laser device is used as a flash-use light source. Laser light beams are approximately evenly scattered by a reflector plate whose reflection surface is formed of Ag coarse film, whereby illumination of a wide range and safety are secured. In an embodiment of the semiconductor laser device, the semiconductor laser device is disposed such that a longitudinal direction of an imaging area 20a of a camera and a wide direction of far-field patterns 11a1, 12a1 and 12b1 of laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser device match.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for photographic illumination comprising a light box having a top surface with spaced apart walls depending therefrom having an aperture in one wall thereby forming a chamber for the placement therein of an article or articles to be photographed and wherein said light box material is light diffusing. The method further comprises a camera mountable apparatus having means for securing said apparatus to a camera, means for producing illumination, means for producing light beams including fiber optics and multiple LEDs, means for varying the number of beams projected onto the photographic subject. The present invention uses two different light sources, for the photography of gemstones or the like.