Abstract: A lens barrel includes a shooting optical system contained in a barrel and operable to lead a subject image to an image sensor, a back focus adjustment lens group constituting a part of the shooting optical system and operable to be fixed immovably after the position of the back focus adjustment lens group is adjusted in an optical axis direction of the shooting optical system, and a back focus adjustment mechanism operable to adjust the position of the back focus adjustment lens group in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides optical systems, devices and methods which utilize one or more electroactive polymer actuators to adjust an optical parameter of the optical device or system.

Abstract: A focusing device is provided. The focusing device has a changing focal length along a physical parameter thereof. The focusing device could be annular or in a shape of a disk. The annular focusing device has a width thereof changing with a periphery thereof, and the disk-shaped focusing device has a thickness, wherein the thickness of the disk-shaped focusing device is changing with an angular position thereof.

Abstract: An electro-optic display includes a “matrix” for confining moving elements of the display (e.g., rotating or twisting elements). The matrix (or at least the viewable portions thereof) may have a high reflectivity, comparable to that of white paper. This results in an overall “whiter” or brighter display. The matrix may include channels to facilitate inter-cell fluid transport and high-density element packing. In some cases, the matrix elements provide a hexagonal arrangement of cells for holding the rotating elements. The rotating elements of the display may be electrically and optically anisotropic hemispherically coated spheres. The hemispherical coating typically provides the necessary charge to create electrical anisotropy.

Abstract: A magnifying assembly, the magnifying assembly comprising a housing comprising a frame to which a magnifying lens is secured; and a battery compartment; a cover assembly slidable along the housing; wherein the cover is slidable relative to the housing in a first direction so as to cover at least part of the magnifying lens and slidable relative to the housing in a second direction so as to expose the magnifying lens; and wherein the distance between the battery compartment relative to the magnifying lens remains the same regardless of whether the cover slides relative to the housing in the first direction so as to cover at least part of the magnifying lens or slides relative to the housing in the second direction so as to expose the magnifying lens.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to a display optical system which includes a first optical system configured to form a magnified image of an image displayed on an image display element, the first optical system including an optical member, a second optical system configured to magnify and guide light of the magnified image from the first optical system to one of an observer or a projection surface, the second optical system including a decentered reflecting surface, and an adjusting mechanism configured to displace the optical member of the first optical system in such a way as to have a component in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the first optical system.

Abstract: The dilemma encountered in most projection systems of having the etendue of the LED-based light source used often being much larger than the etendue of the imager used, causes such systems to have poor throughput efficiency. The etendue folding illumination systems of this invention being comprised of at least one folded collimator/concentrator having coupled into its input aperture an LED-based light source and having an output aperture characteristics that match the target etendue, overcome this dilemma by folding the light source etendue to match the target etendue of the projection system imager while efficiently conserving the flux generated by the light source.

Abstract: A lens driving device is provided to reduce a number of required high-accuracy components and also eliminate the unevenness of maximum displacement of a lens holder with respect to a base. An outer edge of a lower spring plate is clamped by a lower casing served as a base and a lower spacer. A first protrusion is formed on a sidewall of the lens holder and protruding outward therefrom. A second protrusion protruding toward the lens holder is formed on an inner circumference of the lower spacer and extends to a position above and separating from the first protrusion by a distance S. The first protrusion props against the second protrusion when the lens holder is moved toward an imaged-object side and reaching a displacement of the distance S.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a lens drive mechanism for driving a movable lens group provided in the interchangeable lens; a lens-motor for driving the movable lens group via the lens drive mechanism; and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving force of a body-motor provided in a camera body to the lens drive mechanism with the interchangeable lens being mounted to the camera body.

Abstract: An optical-element driving mechanism is configured to drive an optical element, and includes a uniaxial driving mechanism that includes a linear actuator that drives in a first direction, and a link mechanism that converts a displacement in a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The linear actuator is level with the link mechanism in an optical-axis direction. The uniaxial driving mechanism is arranged in order of the link mechanism and the linear actuator in a radial direction when viewed form an optical axis of the optical element.

Abstract: Data related to an object distance which is sent from a camera apparatus is captured. A focus lens position instructed value CL is calculated based on an object distance instructed value CD and a zoom position information value ZP. An object distance returned value PL to be transmitted to the camera apparatus is obtained based on a current lens position CF and the zoom position information value ZP. Whether the focus lens position instructed value CL is equal to the lens position CF or not is determined. When the focus lens position instructed value is not equal to the lens position, a focus lens is moved in accordance with the focus lens position instructed value CL is performed. When the focus lens position instructed value is equal to the lens position, lens driving processing is not performed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a structural color display including: (a) a pattern forming member which forms a plurality of cells each lined up in two dimension; and (b) a light transmissive image display sheet comprising a color showing layer which shows a structural color, the light transmissive image display sheet being faced to the pattern forming member, wherein each cell is independently controlled to reflect a light from a light source corresponding to an image pattern to be displayed, provided that the reflected light is made to enter in the image display sheet from a side facing the pattern forming member by a predetermined incident angle corresponding to the cell. The pattern image forming member comprises the element having a plurality of microscopic mirrors arranged in a rectangular array and being individually rotated.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, there are systems for electronic paper, apparatus for electrophoretic display, and methods of making an electrophoretic display. The apparatus for electrophoretic can include an electret substrate and a plurality of capsules disposed in the electret substrate, wherein each of the plurality of capsules can include a first plurality of charged pigments with a first color and a first charge, a second plurality of charged pigments with a second color and a second charge greater than the first charge, a third plurality of charged pigments with a third color and a third charge greater than the second charge, and a fluid, wherein the plurality of charged pigments are subjected to a non-uniform electric field.

Abstract: A disk structure is disposed in an optical tweezers device including a light source for producing incident laser light. The disk structure includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a reflective layer. The second substrate is disposed with respect to the first substrate. One of the first substrate and the second substrate has at least one flow path. The reflective layer, which is adhered to the second substrate, is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. After the incident laser light passes through the first substrate and then reaches the reflective layer, the incident laser light is reflected back as reflective laser light by the reflective layer to form reflective laser light. A tweezers light field is formed in the flow path by both the reflective laser light and the incident laser light.

Abstract: A lens barrel having a first moving barrel, second moving barrel, and a third moving barrel. The first moving barrel has first cam grooves configured corresponding to a focusing operation and holds an optical system used in a focusing operation. The second moving barrel has second cam grooves and is provided in relation to the first moving barrel. The third moving barrel has third cam grooves configured corresponding to a zoom operation and can move relative to a fixed barrel. The second cam grooves correct a position of said optical system corresponding to a drive operation of the third cam grooves.

Abstract: A security device comprises a substrate (1) having an array of microlenses (3) on one side and one or more corresponding arrays of microimages (4) on the other side. The microimages (4) are located at a distance from the microlenses (3) substantially equal to the focal length of the microlenses. The substrate (1) is sufficiently transparent to enable light to pass through the microlenses (3) so as to reach the microimages (4). Each microimage (4) is defined by an anti-reflection structure on the substrate (1) formed by a periodic array of identical structural elements, light passing through the substrate and impinging on the microimages being reflected to a different extent than light which does not impinge on the microimages thereby rendering the microimages visible.

Abstract: In a magnetic display panel that changes the display using a magnet, a polychrome display panel is obtained that magnetically displays two colors in addition to the background, thus, specifically, magnetically displays three colors. The magnetic migration and reversal display panel encloses a dispersion liquid obtained by dispersing micro-magnets with differently colored magnetic poles in a dispersion medium containing a colorant. After writing representing two display colors is obtained by selecting a specified magnetic pole, causing from the front surface side the migration or migration/reversal of the micro-magnets in the dispersion liquid, and displaying the color tone of the specified surface of the micro-magnets, the color tone of writing is changed without changing the state of writing by causing the magnetic field of the opposite magnetic pole to act from the same surface side on the micro-magnets configuring the writing where the color tone is displayed.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a cam ring (5) that determines the position of a first lens frame (11) in the optical axis direction; a first correcting tube (1) that is made of a material having a coefficient of linear expansion different from that of the cam ring (5) and determines the position of the cam ring (5) in the optical axis direction; and a second correcting tube (2) that is made of a material having a coefficient of linear expansion different from that of a movable frame (6) and determines the position of a second lens frame (21) in the optical axis direction, wherein integrally with a change in the dimension of the first correcting tube (1) in the optical axis direction due to a temperature change, the cam ring (5) moves in the optical direction, and at the same time the first and second lenses (10, 20) move in the optical axis direction; and integrally with a change in the dimension of the second correcting tube (2) in the optical axis direction due to the temperature change, the second lens (20) moves

Abstract: An apparatus including an autostereoscopic image selection device and an overcoat opaque material applied to the autostereoscopic image selection device. The autostereoscopic image selection device and overcoat opaque material operate together to provide a self-locating aperture in association with the autostereoscopic selection device. The associated method entails applying an opaque overcoat material to an image selection device comprising a plurality of lenticules and removing selected portions of the opaque overcoat material from the image selection device. The applying and removing operate together with the image selection device to reduce a numerical aperture for at least one lenticule.

Abstract: Optical apparatus for simultaneously focussing first and second coaxially spaced object planes in respective separate first and second areas of a common image plane 13 (such as the sensor of a CCD camera) comprises non-diffractive beamsplitter means for receiving light from said object planes along a common path 2 for transmission to said first and second image areas along respective first and second optical paths 3, 4, and reflective or transmissive focussing means 8 arranged to bring said first and second object planes into focus in said first and second areas. The object planes may be differentiated by having different length paths 3,4 (different physical lengths and/or using a differential optical delay), and/or by having different focussing powers in the two paths. In an add-on for a camera, differently curved mirrors of long focal length modify the main camera lens. Polarising optics may be used to separate the two images. The apparatus may be used for 3-D imaging or wavefront analysis.