Optical apparatus
An optical apparatus uses a variable-optical-characteristic optical element whereby focusing, zooming or the like can be effected without moving a lens or the like and the whole optical apparatus can be arranged in a lightweight structure. The user wears a power transmitting unit 303 by hanging it from his/her neck, for example. The power transmitting unit 303 may be put in a clothes pocket or the like. The power transmitting unit 303 may be placed somewhere around the user. In the power transmitting unit 303 , a transmitting circuit 305 is driven by a power supply 304 to send an electromagnetic wave from a transmitting antenna 306 toward variable-focus eyeglasses 302 . The variable-focus eyeglasses 302 have a receiving antenna 307 provided on eyeglass frames 308 to receive the electromagnetic wave sent from the power transmitting unit 303 . The received electromagnetic wave is, for example, boosted in voltage and rectified to drive the variable-focus lenses.
1. A variable-optical-characteristic optical unit, comprising:
a variable-focus optical element having a fluid portion, and an electrode adjacent to said fluid portion; and
a power source unit and a driving circuit for driving said variable-optical-characteristic optical unit, wherein:
said power source unit or driving circuit includes a booster member that is connected to the power source unit and generates a voltage necessary in said driving circuit, wherein the booster member includes a transformer using a coil or a piezoelectric transformer, and
said variable-optical-characteristic optical unit is capable of achieving optical deflection.
2. A variable-optical-characteristic optical unit according to claim 1 , wherein electrostatic force or piezoelectric effect is used for driving said variable-optical-characteristic optical unit.
3. A variable-optical-characteristic optical unit having a deformable optical surface, comprising:
a variable-optical-characteristic optical unit having said deformable optical surface; and
a control system for driving said variable-optical-characteristic optical unit, wherein said variable-optical-characteristic optical unit includes a fluid portion for deforming said deformable optical surface and an electrode adjacent to said fluid portion, and said control system includes a booster member that is connected to a power source, and for applying a voltage necessary for driving said variable-optical-characteristic optical unit,
wherein the booster member includes a transformer using a coil or a piezoelectric transformer.
4. The variable-optical-characteristic optical unit according to claim 3 , which is a varifocal lens or a variable mirror.
5. An imaging system, comprising an image pickup device and an imaging optical system for which a variable-optical-characteristic optical unit as recited in any one of claims 1 , 3 , and 4 is used.
6. A cellular phone having said imaging system as recited in claim 5 .
7. An imaging system including a display unit, comprising
a variable-focus optical element,
a power source unit and a driving circuit for driving said variable-focus optical element,
a computing unit,
an image pickup device,
an imaging optical system, wherein said power source unit or said driving circuit includes a booster member that is connected to a power source, and generates a voltage necessary in said driving circuit, and
a display configured to be in communication with and to display an output signal from the variable-focus optical element,
said variable-focus optical element is capable of achieving optical deflection,
said computing unit examines a high-frequency component of each image picked up while being defocused, and the position where the high-frequency component reaches a maximum is determined to be an in-focus position, and
said variable-focus optical element is used for autofocusing of said imaging optical system.
8. An imaging system including a display unit, comprising
a variable-focus optical element having a deformable optical surface,
a control system for driving said variable-focus optical element,
a computing unit,
an image pickup device,
an imaging optical system, wherein said control system includes a booster member that is connected to a power source, and operable to apply a voltage necessary for driving said variable-focus optical element, and
a display configured to be in communication with and to display an output signal from the variable-focus optical element,
said computing unit examines a high-frequency component of each image picked up while being defocused, and the position where the high-frequency component reaches a maximum is determined to be an in-focus position, and
said variable-focus optical element is used for autofocusing of said imaging optical system.
9. A cellular phone having said imaging system as recited in claims 7 or 8 .