Abstract: An optical device and a lens unit each include a liquid container containing an insulating liquid and an electroconductive liquid which are mutually immiscible and optically transparent and have different refractive indices. The optical device and the lens unit also have a gas-absorbing material in or around the liquid container. The gas-absorbing material absorbs gas generated by energization. The optical device and the lens unit can maintain their optical characteristics even if voltage is repeatedly applied. An imaging apparatus includes an optical shooting system having the optical device. The imaging apparatus takes pictures by capturing object light coming through the optical shooting system.

Abstract: A small image-pickup apparatus generating image signals representing subject light based on the subject light coming through an image-taking optical system, has: an image-pickup device generating image signals representing a subject image formed by the subject light focused on a surface thereof; a light reflecting mechanism leading the subject light to the image-pickup device as the subject light coming through the image-taking optical system is reflected in sequence by multiple reflector sections placed apart from each other; a rotation sensor sensing rotation of the image-pickup apparatus in a place along a surface of the image-pickup device; and a rotating mechanism reducing displacement of the subject image resulting from the rotation sensed by the rotation sensor, by rotating at least one of the multiple reflector sections around an axis along an optical path among the multiple reflector sections, whereby preventing camera shake.

Abstract: An optical device and a lens unit each include a liquid container containing an insulating liquid and an electroconductive liquid which are mutually immiscible and optically transparent and have different refractive indices. The optical device and the lens unit also have a gas-absorbing material in or around the liquid container. The gas-absorbing material absorbs gas generated by energization. The optical device and the lens unit can maintain their optical characteristics even if voltage is repeatedly applied. An imaging apparatus includes an optical shooting system having the optical device. The imaging apparatus takes pictures by capturing object light coming through the optical shooting system.

Abstract: A method for forming an identifying indicia on a cathode ray tube being manufactured, which method is practiced by applying a paint containing a powdered metal to a particular exterior surface portion of a glass envelope, forming a part of the cathode ray tube, to form a solid paint layer, followed by the radiation of a laser beam onto at least a portion of the solid paint layer to form the identifying indicia represented by at least one trace of plasticized deformation on a surface region of the solid paint layer.