A digitally programmable multifocal optics method of selectively focusing incident light at a plurality of focal points along an optical axis. A multifocal system that enables selective focusing of incident light at a plurality of focal points along an optical axis. A high-speed digital multi-focal optical element includes a multi-focal lens and either a programmable optical shutter array (POSA) or a programmable spatial light modulator (SLM).

A variable aperture lens and methods of forming such lenses are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the variable aperture lens include an electro-optic aperture sandwiched between a front lens and a rear lens along an optical axis. The front lens or the rear lens may include multiple lens layers having different optical properties to provide for a low z-height, optically aligned, variable aperture lens.

A variable aperture lens and methods of forming such lenses are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the variable aperture lens include an electro-optic aperture sandwiched between a front lens and a rear lens along an optical axis. The front lens or the rear lens may include multiple lens layers having different optical properties to provide for a low z-height, optically aligned, variable aperture lens.

An optical instrument, comprising an optical system including a focus lens group, an aperture that restricts light flux that passes through the optical system, an aperture motor that sets opening amount for the aperture, a memory that stores first information that represents a relationship between position of the focus lens group and appropriate aperture value and second information that represents a relationship between the aperture value and opening amount of the aperture, and a controller that, when controlling opening amount of the aperture using the aperture motor in accordance with position of the focus lens group, calculates an appropriate aperture value based on the first information and position of the focus lens group, calculates opening amount of the aperture based on the second information and the aperture value that has been calculated, and controls the opening amount to the opening amount of the aperture that has been calculated.

An imager module for a vehicle is disclosed. The imager module comprises an imager configured to capture image data over a plurality of image frames based on incoming light in a field of view and an optic device configured to control a transmission of the incoming light. The module comprises a controller configured to identify an exposure time for the imager based on environmental lighting conditions and adjust the exposure time by a flicker mitigation period. The adjustment of the exposure time mitigates an appearance of a periodic light source in the image data. The controller is further configured to control the transmission of the optic device to control the transmission of the incoming light.

There are provided a multilayer light-blocking film and the like whose front and back surfaces are easy to discriminate while they have light-blocking layers having high optical density whose front and back are usually difficult to discriminate. A multilayer light-blocking film 100 has a multilayer structure comprising at least a substrate film 11, a light-blocking layer 21 provided on one major surface 11a side of this substrate film 11, and a light-blocking layer 31 provided on the other major surface 11b side, the light-blocking layer 21 and the light-blocking layer 31 have an optical density of 2.5 or more in total, and the difference between the 60-degree glossiness of the light-blocking layer 21 and the 60-degree glossiness of the light-blocking layer 31 is 0.1% or more and 9.9% or less. The substrate film 11 and the light-blocking layer 21 and/or the light-blocking layer 31 preferably have inclined end surfaces 12, 22, and/or 32 so that a film width increases from the light-blocking layer 21 toward the light-blocking layer 31.

A light adjusting apparatus including a drive section provided with an axial magnet, a coil core member and a coil, a first substrate provided an opening and a first cut-out portion, a second substrate provided with an opening and a second cut-out portion, located at a predetermined distance from the first substrate, an incident light adjusting section to which the axial magnet is joined, and an axial magnet support member provided with a distance keeping portion that keeps a distance between the coil core member and the axial magnet to within a certain range and a dropout prevention portion that prevents dropout of the axial magnet from the first cut-out portion, the axial magnet support member being fixed to the coil core member, in which the incident light adjusting section is rotated by the drive section for adjusting the incident light.

A light adjusting apparatus including a drive section provided with an axial magnet, a coil core member and a coil, a first substrate provided an opening and a first cut-out portion, a second substrate provided with an opening and a second cut-out portion, located at a predetermined distance from the first substrate, an incident light adjusting section to which the axial magnet is joined, and an axial magnet support member provided with a distance keeping portion that keeps a distance between the coil core member and the axial magnet to within a certain range and a dropout prevention portion that prevents dropout of the axial magnet from the first cut-out portion, the axial magnet support member being fixed to the coil core member, in which the incident light adjusting section is rotated by the drive section for adjusting the incident light.

A double-sided image sensor can capture images from two different perspectives during two different time intervals. For example, during a first time period, the image sensor captures the view relative to a first side of an electronic device containing the image sensor, but during a second time period, captures the view relative to a second side of the electronic device. To capture images from multiple views, the double-sided image sensor contains a layer of photodiodes which captures measurements from multiple directions. Moreover, the image sensor includes selectable attenuators (e.g., mechanical shutters or TN attenuators) which control what view the photodiodes are currently capturing. For example, when capturing an image from the backside of the electronic device, one of the selectable attenuators blocks light from striking the photodiodes from the front side, and as such, only the light entering at the backside strikes the photodiodes.

A camera includes an image pickup device configured to receive a light flux passing through a photographing lens and to convert the light flux into an electric signal, a display device configured to perform a live-view display on the basis of the electric signal output from the image pickup device, an aperture driving actuator configured to adjust a light amount passing through the photographing lens, and a controller configured to control a stop timing of the live-view display performed before an exposure at the time of a still-image photography on the display device in accordance with an operation condition of the aperture driving actuator at the time of the still-image photography.