Optical device, optical unit and imager
An optical device comprises: a liquid container that contains water-based liquid and oil-based liquid that are different in refractive index from each other and immiscible with each other to have respective optical-transmission properties so that light can transmit in a predetermined optical-axis direction; a coat film that covers at least part of an inner surface of the liquid container and has a hydrophilic/hydrophobic property changing with temperature; and a temperature regulator that regulates temperature of the coat film.
1. An optical device comprising:
a liquid container that contains water-based liquid and oil-based liquid that are different in refractive index from each other and immiscible with each other to have respective optical-transmission properties so that light can transmit in a predetermined optical-axis direction;
a coat film that covers at least part of an inner surface of the liquid container and has a hydrophilic/hydrophobic property changing with temperature; and
a temperature regulator that regulates temperature of the coat film.
2. An optical device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the liquid container comprises:
a first portion arranged in contact with the coat film and comprising a material having a comparatively higher thermal conductivity; and
a second portion covering over an outer surface of the first portion and comprising a material having a comparatively lower thermal conductivity.
3. An optical device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the temperature regulator comprises:
a Peltier device that releases and absorbs heat due to current supply; and
an electrode that supplies a current to the Peltier device.
4. An optical device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the coat film comprises poly-N-isopropyl acrylamide polymer (PNIPAAm).
5. An optical unit comprising:
a liquid container that contains water-based liquid and oil-based liquid that are different in refractive index from each other and immiscible with each other to have respective optical-transmission properties so that light can transmit in a predetermined optical-axis direction;
a coat film that covers at least part of an inner surface of the liquid container and has a hydrophilic/hydrophobic property changing with temperature;
a temperature regulator that regulates temperature of the coat film; and
a control section that controls temperature of the coat film regulated by the temperature regulator.
6. The optical unit according to claim 5 ,
wherein the control section controls current supply to the temperature regulator according to detected temperature of the coat film.
7. An imager comprising:
a liquid container that contains water-based liquid and oil-based liquid that are different in refractive index from each other and immiscible with each other to have respective optical-transmission properties so that light can transmit in a predetermined optical-axis direction;
a coat film that covers at least part of an inner surface of the liquid container and has a hydrophilic/hydrophobic property changing with temperature;
a temperature regulator that regulates temperature of the coat film;
a control section that controls temperature of the coat film regulated by the temperature regulator; and
an imaging section, in which light of from a subject traveled through the water-based liquid and the oil-based liquid are focused, that generates an image signal corresponding to the light of from the subject.