Abstract: An optical device having a variable optical surface is given by the combination of an elastic body and a relatively rigid member having an opening and disposed to contact the elastic body to expose a part of the surface of the elastic body. The exposed surface part forms a variable optical surface, the shape of which is changed by deforming the elastic body to vary the focal length.

Abstract: An array lens comprises a member having a plurality of arranged openings, an elastic member provided in intimate contact with the member and having its surface shape deformable by an extraneous pressure, and means for imparting a force to the elastic member to deform the surface shape of the elastic member in the openings of the member.

Abstract: An optical device having an elastic body sandwiched between typically two optical surfaces, which are capable of changing relative positions through deformation of the elastic body. The two optical surfaces may be given by, for example, parallel flat plate glasses or lenses. By changing the distnace or relative positions between the two optical surfaces, focusing or correction of chromatic aberration of photographic lenses, etc. can be effected.

Abstract: A functional optical element comprises a first optical member, a second optical member provided in contact with said first optical member, the interface between said first optical member and said second optical member being non-flat planar, a means for changing the refractive index of said second optical member, said means for changing refractive index being capable of creating selectively a first state in which said first optical member and said second optical member have an equal refractive index and a second state in which said first optical member and said second optical member have different refractive indices by changing the refractive index of said second optical member.

Abstract: Optical modulation is carried out by providing a transparent member having a surface, providing an elastomeric body disposed spaced apart from the surface, irradiating the surface with a light beam, and causing the elastomeric body to contact the surface so that the proportion of the light beam transmitted through the surface is changed.

Abstract: A variable focal length lens in which a lens comprising a transparent elastic member having a non-uniform distribution of refractive index is adapted to be deformed by an extraneous force.

Abstract: An optical element having the function of changing the cross-sectional intensity distribution of an incident light beam is comprised of a plurality of prisms. The optical element spatially combines a light beam having been amplitude-divided by an amplitude-dividing mirror provided on the joined surface of the prisms and a light beam having been totally reflected by a total-reflection mirror provided on the outermost one of the prisms to thereby change the cross-sectional intensity distribution of the light beam entering the optical element.