Abstract: Provided is a restricting blade 21 which includes a blade substrate 21w and a blade end face 21u defining an aperture diameter as being an end face of the blade substrate 21w, while the blade end face 21u includes a first slant portion 21p which is curved and slanted against an optical axis O, a first leading end portion 21q which forms a leading end of the first slant portion 21p, a second slant portion 21r which is curved and slanted in the approximately same direction as the first slant portion 21p as being overlapped with the first slant portion 21p along the optical axis O, and a second leading end portion 21s which forms a leading end of the second slant portion 21r and the first leading end portion 21q is further protruded toward the optical axis O than the second leading end portion 21s.

Abstract: An actuator including a magnetic field generator configured to provide a magnetic field; and a conductive element mounted for movement relative to the magnetic field generator wherein the conductive element forms a series of loops around a series of different axes.

Abstract: A light control apparatus that controls the amount of light passing therethrough by blocking part of an incident light flux, includes: a pair of pivotal members having pivotal axes extending along a direction substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the light flux; and a pair of light blocking members held by the pair of pivotal members and changing the size of a light blocking area as the pair of pivotal members pivot, the light blocking area blocking part of the light flux, wherein the pivotal axes are located in positions that overlap with an area where the light flux passes, and the pair of light blocking members are located in positions that do not overlap with the pivotal axes.

Abstract: A light quantity adjustment device includes: an aperture mechanism that varies an aperture opening through drive of aperture blades to restrict a quantity of light that passes through the aperture opening; and an ND filter inserted in and removed from an optical path on a light incident side or a light exit side of the aperture opening. The ND filter has a distribution of transmittance in which the transmittance differs in a direction of interposition of the ND filter in the optical path of the aperture opening, and includes a recessed portion formed by recessing a center portion of a distal-end region of the ND filter on a side of interposition in the optical path of the aperture opening in a direction opposite the direction of interposition.

Abstract: An aperture unit includes three or more diaphragm blades, a base plate that supports the diaphragm blades, a drive lever connected to the diaphragm blades, and an aperture motor that rotates the drive lever, wherein, in a range from a reference aperture value to a specific aperture value, a polygonal aperture is formed by aperture edges of two or more of the three or more diaphragm blades that linearly move in a first direction and an aperture edge of at least one of the three or more diaphragm blades that linearly moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and wherein, in a range from the specific aperture value to a closed aperture state, an aperture is formed by aperture edges of two diaphragm blades that move in opposite directions.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp includes a first light source, at least one second light source and an integrally designed, transparent shaped part. The shaped part includes a first optical structure for orienting light radiated by the first light source and at least one second optical structure for orienting light radiated by the second light source. The first optical structure and the second optical structure each have a continuously curved surface or a continuous, curved surface with an extent of at least in each case half a centimeter, in particular one centimeter, in two orthogonal directions.

Abstract: A diaphragm comprising a single plate, the single plate comprising: a first plate portion having an aperture; and a second plate portion formed at an outer side of the first plate portion, wherein a first thickness of the first plate portion is thinner than a second thickness of the second plate portion.

Abstract: This invention prevents a degradation in image quality resulting from undesirable reflected light and undesirable transmitted light generated near the ridgeline of the edge portion of an optical element including an aperture blade or an ND filter. The aperture edge of the aperture blade cooperates with the aperture edge of another aperture blade to form an almost rhombic aperture. A small saw-toothed and non-periodic uneven portions having various sizes are formed along two, front and rear ridgelines of the aperture edge and along those of the ND filter. When incident light beams strike the aperture edge of the aperture blade or the edge of ND filter, the uneven portions formed at the ridgeline reflect them in various directions.

Abstract: Provided is an iris for a photographing apparatus. The iris includes a plate, a plurality of iris wings, a motor, and a filter unit. The plate includes a transmission hole therein. The plurality of iris wings are movably provided on one side of the plate. The motor provides power used to move the iris wings. The filter unit is provided inside the iris wings to control an amount of transmitted light that passes through the transmission hole, and the filter unit is at least portions of the iris wings.

Abstract: An illumination and imaging system is provided with a co-axial illuminator that does not include a beamsplitter. The co-axial illuminator achieves efficiencies substantially in excess of those achieved with a beamsplitter. In one aspect, an optical stop is used to reflect illumination upon a target. The optical stop includes an aperture allowing light reflected from the target to pass to a detector. The aperture of the stop has an asymmetrical feature that facilitates operation on specular targets.

Abstract: A light-quantity controlling device includes a driving source, a first light-quantity controlling member driven by the driving source and having a first elongated opening extending in a direction of movement of the first light-quantity controlling member, and a second light-quantity controlling member driven by the driving source in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the first light-quantity controlling member and having a second elongated opening extending in the direction of movement of the second light-quantity controlling member. The light-quantity controlling device also includes a supporting member configured to support the first and second light-quantity controlling members and having an opening therein. The first and second elongated openings intersect each other at the opening provided in the supporting member when the first and second light-quantity controlling members are driven by the driving source.