The present application provides an automatic focusing method for a fluorescence imaging device, including: S1, obtain a relationship function curve Z-Fv; S2, Gaussian fitting is performed on the relationship function curve Z-Fv, to obtain a standard Gaussian function f(x); S3, the object lens is arranged at three different travel coordinates, to obtain three groups of coordinate-clarity data (Z, Fv); S4, any two groups of the data are taken from the three groups of the coordinate-clarity data (Z, Fv) obtained in S3 and perform the Gaussian fitting with a standard deviation , to obtain a Gaussian function f.sub.1(x); and S5, an average value .sub.1 of the Gaussian function f.sub.1(x) is calculated, as a preferred travel coordinate Z for this time of the focusing object lens. The present application solves problems of large focusing clarity error and slow focusing speed of the fluorescence imaging device in existing technologies.

An autofocus lens system includes no conventional moving parts and has excellent speed and low power consumption. The system includes a small electronically-controlled focusing-module lens. The focusing-module lens includes two adjustable polymeric surfaces (e.g., two adjustable-surface lenses in a back-to-back configuration). The curvature of the surfaces can be adjusted to change focus. The performance of the autofocus lens system is extended by adding a conventional first and second lens, or lens group, on either side of the focusing-module lens. What results is an autofocus lens system with excellent near field and far field performance.

Methods and apparatus relating to image capture of image portions using optical chains with non-parallel optical axis are described. In some embodiments different portions of a scene area of interest captured by different optical chains operating in parallel are combined. The use of multiple optical chains in parallel facilitates generation of an image with a higher overall pixel count than would be possible using a single sensor of one of the optical chains and/or with more light capture than would be captured using a single one of the optical chains.

The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the size of an image pick-up lens unit. A part of a bundle of rays representing subject optical images is deflected vertically downward by a polarization prism, and is further deflected forwards by a total reflection mirror. A bundle of rays totally reflected by the total reflection mirror is split in three directions by a tri-directional splitting prism. The bundle of rays, which is split in three directions, is incident on a first optical-path-length-difference image pick-up element, a second optical-path-length-difference image pick-up element, and a phase-difference image pick-up element included in a phase-difference AF optical system. Auto focus (AF) is performed on the basis of the optical path length difference from signals obtained from the optical-path-length-difference image pick-up elements, and AF is performed on the basis of the phase difference from a signal obtained from the phase-difference image pick-up element. Since the phase-difference AF optical system is disposed so as to be parallel to the axis of the light forming the subject optical images, the size of the image pick-up lens unit can be reduced.

Methods and apparatus for controlling the read out of rows of pixel values from sensors corresponding to different optical chains used to capture portions of the same image area are described. The readout is controlled based on user input and/or determinations with regard to the rate of motion in captured images or portions of captured images. For a low rate of motion i, the readout rate of a sensor corresponding to a small focal length is slowed down while the pixel row readout rate of one or more sensors corresponding to one or more optical chains have larger focal lengths are allowed to proceed at a normal rate. For a high rate of motion, the read out rate of the sensor corresponding to the optical chain having the smaller focal length is allowed to proceed at the normal rate.

An optical apparatus and a driving method therefor according to an embodiment are disclosed. The optical apparatus comprises: a lens assembly including a liquid lens; and a control circuit for generating a driving signal for driving the liquid lens, wherein the driving signal includes a first section and a second section having driving signals with different waveform shapes.

Methods and apparatus for implementing a camera having a depth which is less than the maximum length of the outer lens of at least one optical chain of the camera are described. In some embodiments a light redirection device, e.g., a mirror, is used to allow a relatively long optical chain with a relatively large non-circular outer lens. In some embodiments the light redirection device has a depth, e.g., front of camera to back of camera dimension, which is less than the maximum length of the aperture of the outer lens in the aperture's direction of maximum extent. Multiple optical chains with non-circular outer lenses arranged in different directions may and in some embodiments are used to capture images with the captured images being combined to generate a composite image.

A control apparatus for reducing focus fluctuation of a zoom lens including a focus lens and a magnification varying lens includes a processor configured to acquire, at a first time, information on a position of the magnification varying lens for a second time after the first time and information on an object distance for the second time, acquire a first target position according to the position of the magnification varying lens at the second time and the object distance at the second time, using control information on the position of a magnification varying lens and a position of the focus lens according to the object distance, and control driving of the focus lens using control information and the first target position.

An imaging apparatus includes a first optical system, a first separation optical system that separates the light transmitted through the first optical system into the first wavelength range light and the second wavelength range light, a second optical system that transmits the first wavelength range light obtained by the first separation optical system, a third optical system that transmits the second wavelength range light obtained by the first separation optical system, a first image sensor that receives the first wavelength range light, a second image sensor that receives the second wavelength range light, and a first light source that emits the first wavelength range light, in which the first optical system emits the first wavelength range light emitted from the first light source to a subject, and transmits subject light including first wavelength range reflected light obtained by reflecting the first wavelength range light by the subject.

The present application provides an automatic focusing method for a fluorescence imaging device, including: S1, obtain a relationship function curve Z-Fv; S2, Gaussian fitting is performed on the relationship function curve Z-Fv, to obtain a standard Gaussian function f(x); S3, the object lens is arranged at three different travel coordinates, to obtain three groups of coordinate-clarity data (Z, Fv); S4, any two groups of the data are taken from the three groups of the coordinate-clarity data (Z, Fv) obtained in S3 and perform the Gaussian fitting with a standard deviation , to obtain a Gaussian function f.sub.1(x); and S5, an average value .sub.1 of the Gaussian function f.sub.1(x) is calculated, as a preferred travel coordinate Z for this time of the focusing object lens. The present application solves problems of large focusing clarity error and slow focusing speed of the fluorescence imaging device in existing technologies.