Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic image pickup system whose depth dimension is extremely reduced, taking advantage of an optical system type that can overcome conditions imposed on the movement, of a zooming movable lens group while high specifications and performance are kept. The electronic image pickup system comprises an optical path-bending zoom optical system comprising, in order from its object side, a 1-1st lens group G1-1 comprising a negative lens group and a reflecting optical element P for bending an optical path, a 1-2nd lens group G1-2 comprising one positive lens and a second lens group G2 having positive refracting power. For zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group G2 moves only toward the object side. The electronic image pickup system also comprises an electronic image pickup device I located on the image side of the zoom optical system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic image pickup system whose depth dimension is extremely reduced, taking advantage of an optical system type that can overcome conditions imposed on the movement, of a zooming movable lens group while high specifications and performance are kept. The electronic image pickup system comprises an optical path-bending zoom optical system comprising, in order from its object side, a 1-1st lens group G1-1 comprising a negative lens group and a reflecting optical element P for bending an optical path, a 1-2nd lens group G1-2 comprising one positive lens and a second lens group G2 having positive refracting power. For zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group G2 moves only toward the object side. The electronic image pickup system also comprises an electronic image pickup device I located on the image side of the zoom optical system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic image pickup system whose depth dimension is extremely reduced, taking advantage of an optical system type that can overcome conditions imposed on the movement of a zooming movable lens group while high specifications and performance are kept. The electronic image pickup system comprises an optical path-bending zoom optical system comprising, in order from its object side, a 1-1st lens group G1-1 comprising a negative lens group and a reflecting optical element P for bending an optical path, a 1-2nd lens group G1-2 comprising one positive lens and a second lens group G2 having positive refracting power. For zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group G2 moves only toward the object side. The electronic image pickup system also comprises an electronic image pickup device I located on the image side of the zoom optical system.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes, in order from the object side, a one-dimensional scanning mirror, a lens unit which has a flat shape, a two-dimensional image sensor which has a flat shape, and an image composition processing means in which images scanned by the one-dimensional scanning mirror and obtained by the two-dimensional image sensor are connected into one composite image. The lens unit coincides in direction of flatness with the two-dimensional image sensor. An aspect ratio ? of the imaging surface of the two-dimensional image sensor satisfies the following condition: 0.05<?<0.5 One section of an image divided into 2 to 32 sections with respect to one composite image composed through the image composition processing means corresponds to a photographing image obtained by the two-dimensional image sensor in a single scanning operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic image pickup system whose depth dimension is extremely reduced, taking advantage of an optical system type that can overcome conditions imposed on the movement of a zooming movable lens group while high specifications and performance are kept. The electronic image pickup system comprises an optical path-bending zoom optical system comprising, in order from its object side, a 1-1st lens group G1-1 comprising a negative lens group and a reflecting optical element P for bending an optical path, a 1-2nd lens group G1-2 comprising one positive lens and a second lens group G2 having positive refracting power. For zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group G2 moves only toward the object side. The electronic image pickup system also comprises an electronic image pickup device I located on the image side of the zoom optical system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic image pickup system whose depth dimension is extremely reduced, taking advantage of an optical system type that can overcome conditions imposed on the movement of a zooming movable lens group while high specifications and performance are kept. The electronic image pickup system comprises an optical path-bending zoom optical system comprising, in order from its object side, a 1-1st lens group G1-1 comprising a negative lens group and a reflecting optical element P for bending an optical path, a 1-2nd lens group G1-2 comprising one positive lens and a second lens group G2 having positive refracting power. For zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group G2 moves only toward the object side. The electronic image pickup system also comprises an electronic image pickup device I located on the image side of the zoom optical system.

Abstract: An optical device includes a carrier that holds a specimen and has a reference mark, an image capturing means that picks up the image of the specimen and the reference mark formed by an objective lens, a moving mechanism that moves the relative positional relation between the carrier and the objective lens, divides the imaging region into a plurality of regions so that adjacent regions partially overlap each other to enable the image of the specimen and the reference mark in each region to be captured by the image capturing means, and an image processing section that composites images of the plurality of regions captured by the image capturing means so as to match the same reference marks appearing on the overlapping portions.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical apparatus enabling diopter adjustment, etc. to be achieved using, for instance, a reflection type variable-optical property optical element or a variable-optical property mirror but without recourse to any mechanical moving part. The variable-optical property mirror 9 comprises an aluminum-coated thin film 9a and a plurality of electrodes 9b. Via variable resistors 11 and a power source switch 13 a power source 12 is connected between the thin film 9a and the electrodes 9b, so that the resistance values of the variable resistors 11 can be controlled by an operating unit 14. The shape of the thin film 9a as a reflecting surface is controlled by changing the resistance value of each variable resistor 11 in response to a signal from the operating unit 14 in such a manner that the imaging capability of the variable mirror is optimized.

Abstract: An image capturing unit comprises a variable optical element, an optical unit, and a light-flux limiting section. The variable optical element includes a first liquid member, a second liquid member, and a container which contains the first liquid member and the second liquid member. An interfacial shape between the first liquid member and the second liquid member varies according to a voltage which is applied to the liquid members. The light-influx limiting section satisfies following condition 0.1<(??2×h)<20.0 where ? (mm) indicates a maximum diameter for an axial light-flux in the variable optical element and h (mm) indicates a highest position of the axial light-flux on the light-incident end of the variable optical element. By doing this, it is possible to restrict a flare light and a ghost light and prevent impurities in the liquid members from being observed in the captured image.

Abstract: An observation optical system comprises an image display element 5 and an eyepiece optical system which introduces an image formed by the image display element 5 to a center of an eye of an observer without forming an intermediate image, so as to allow the observer to observe the image as a virtual image. The eyepiece optical system is constructed and arranged to bend the optical axis using reflecting surfaces so as to be compact. The optical axis lies in a plane, with respect to which the optical system is formed symmetric. The optical system includes a prism 3 having an entrance surface 33, a plurality of curved reflecting surfaces 31, 32 and an exit surface 31. The reflecting surface 32 is provided with a volume hologram (HOE) 4.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes, in order from the object side, a one-dimensional scanning mirror, a lens unit which has a flat shape, a two-dimensional image sensor which has a flat shape, and an image composition processing means in which images scanned by the one-dimensional scanning mirror and obtained by the two-dimensional image sensor are connected into one composite image. The lens unit coincides in direction of flatness with the two-dimensional image sensor. An aspect ratio ? of the imaging surface of the two-dimensional image sensor satisfies the following condition: 0.05<?<0.5 One section of an image divided into 2 to 32 sections with respect to one composite image composed through the image composition processing means corresponds to a photographing image obtained by the two-dimensional image sensor in a single scanning operation.

Abstract: An optical device includes a carrier that holds a specimen and has a reference mark, an image capturing means that picks up the image of the specimen and the reference mark formed by an objective lens, a moving mechanism that moves the relative positional relation between the carrier and the objective lens, divides the imaging region into a plurality of regions so that adjacent regions partially overlap each other to enable the image of the specimen and the reference mark in each region to be captured by the image capturing means, and an image processing section that composites images of the plurality of regions captured by the image capturing means so as to match the same reference marks appearing on the overlapping portions.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical apparatus enabling diopter adjustment, etc. to be achieved using, for instance, a reflection type variable-optical property optical element or a variable-optical property mirror but without recourse to any mechanical moving part. The variable-optical property mirror 9 comprises an aluminum-coated thin film 9a and a plurality of electrodes 9b. Via variable resistors 11 and a power source switch 13 a power source 12 is connected between the thin film 9a and the electrodes 9b, so that the resistance values of the variable resistors 11 can be controlled by an operating unit 14. The shape of the thin film 9a as a reflecting surface is controlled by changing the resistance value of each variable resistor 11 in response to a signal from the operating unit 14 in such a manner that the imaging capability of the variable mirror is optimized.

Abstract: A variable optical element is formed by a first liquid member, a second liquid member which is unsoluble in the first liquid member, a container which contains the first liquid member and the second liquid member, an index for positioning the variable optical element according to a predetermined reference. In the variable optical element, an interfacial shape between the first liquid and the second liquid surface varies according to a voltage which is applied to the liquid members, and the index is disposed such that a wave front aberration in the variable optical element should be minimum or fewer than a predetermined value under condition that the variable optical element is positioned according to the predetermined reference. By doing this, it is possible to restrict the wave front aberration which is caused by a gravity in the variable optical element, the optical unit, and the image capturing device.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical element that has a low refractive-index chromatic dispersion, a high degree of freedom in molding or forming as is the case with synthetic resins, and moldability or formability that lends itself to mass production. The optical element is obtained by molding or otherwise forming a composition containing a first material that is a fine particle having an Abbe number vd of 80 or greater indicative of a chromatic dispersion in a visible range and having a size of less than 400 nm, and a second material that is an organic/inorganic hybrid material comprising an organic polymer material having a carbon-carbon bond in a main chain and an inorganic component.

Abstract: An imaging optical system at least includes a variable magnification optical system that includes, in order from the object side, a positive, first lens unit, a negative, second lens unit, a positive, third lens unit, a positive, fourth lens unit, and an aperture stop arranged between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit, to change magnification by changing a distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit, a distance between the second lens unit and the third lens unit, and a distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit. The imaging optical system changes the magnification while keeping a constant object-to-image distance, and satisfies the following conditions in at least one magnification state: |En|/L>0.4 |Ex|/|L/?|>0.

Abstract: A zoom optical system includes a deformable element having a focusing function and two lens groups movable in a magnification change and having a magnification varying function or a compensating function for compensating for a shift of an image surface. Alternatively, a zoom optical system includes, in order from the object side, a first group having a negative power and being fixed in a magnification change, a second group having a positive power and being movable in a magnification change, and a third group movable in a magnification change. The first group has a deformable element having a focusing function. An imaging apparatus is provided with either zoom optical system. Whereby, a high-performance zoom optical system with small fluctuation of aberrations in spite of use of a deformable element and a photographing apparatus using the same zoom optical system are provided.

Abstract: An observation optical system comprises an image display element 5 and an eyepiece optical system which introduces an image formed by the image display element 5 to a center of an eye of an observer without forming an intermediate image, so as to allow the observer to observe the image as a virtual image. The eyepiece optical system is constructed and arranged to bend the optical axis using reflecting surfaces so as to be compact. The optical axis lies in a plane, with respect to which the optical system is formed symmetric. The optical system includes a prism 3 having an entrance surface 33, a plurality of curved reflecting surfaces 31, 32 and an exit surface 31. The reflecting surface 32 is provided with a volume hologram (HOE) 4.

Abstract: A viewing optical system for display apparatus, includes an ocular optical member for leading an observation image formed by an observation image forming member to an exit pupil has a first prism member and a second prism member. The first prism member has a first entrance surface, a reflecting surface and a first exit surface disposed to face each other across a first prism medium. The second prism member has a second entrance surface and a second exit surface disposed to face each other across a second prism medium. The first and second prism members are cemented together with a holographic element interposed between the first exit surface and the second entrance surface. The reflecting surface has a positive power. The first exit surface and the second entrance surface are each formed from a plane or cylindrical surface. The holographic element also has a plane of cylindrical surface.

Abstract: An eyepiece optical member introduces into an exit pupil an observation image formed by an observation image forming member. The eyepiece optical member is configured so that a first prism that has a first entrance surface, a reflecting surface and a first exit surface arranged with a first prism medium between and a second prism that has a second entrance surface and a second exit surface arranged with a second prism medium between are joined to each other via a hologram element interposed between the first exit surface and the second entrance surface. The reflecting surface is shaped as a concave surface to give a positive power for rays reflected therefrom. The first entrance surface and the second exit surface are shaped as curved surfaces, respectively, to give a power for rays transmitted therethrough.