Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Wataru Kubo

Kenji Yamada

Satoshi Igawa

Hirokatsu Miyata

Atsushi Komoto

Kohei Okamoto

Takashi Noma

Shinjiro Okada

Tsuyoshi Nomoto

Isao Kawata

Yuto Ito

Jun Yamamoto

Kazuya Miyazaki

Tetsuya Yano

Kazuhiro Yamauchi

Toshiki Ito

Kentaro Ito

Satoshi Ota

Rie Ueno

Norishige Kakegawa

Kyosuke Sato

Kosuke Kiyamura

Kazuho Saeki

Mamiko Kumagai

Kyoko Kumagai

A light-controlling device contains a plurality of compounds, wherein the plurality of compounds are compounds having different absorption wavelengths, the light-controlling device has a variable transmittance VT(λ) obtained by combining light absorption characteristics changes of the plurality of compounds, and CR<CRis satisfied. CRis a maximum value among ratios of a signal strength ratio of transmitted light in a transmission state and a signal strength ratio of transmitted light in a light reduction state (light reduction state/transmission state or transmission state/light reduction state) in detection light wavelength regions of a photodetector. CRis CRat a concentration ratio of the plurality of compounds at which wavelength flatness TF of VT(λ) in the detection light wavelength regions has a minimum value TF.

Light-controlling device

The types and concentrations of multiple anodic electrochromic compounds are selected in such a manner that RGis 1.37 or less, in which RGis a maximum value among ratios between RGB signal ratios in the transmission state of an electrochromic device and in colored states of the anodic electrochromic compounds, the RGB signal ratios are obtained from T(λ) and the sensitivity of a photodetector, and T(λ) is a normalized variable transmittance obtained by a combination of absorptions of the anodic electrochromic compounds.

Electrochromic device, optical filter, lens unit, image pickup apparatus, window member, and electrochromic mirror

As an example of an EC element in which vertical color separation is suppressed, the present disclosure provides an EC element including a pair of electrodes, a solvent, an anodic EC compound, and a cathodic EC compound. In the EC element, the difference between a solvation free energy of an oxidized form of the anodic EC compound in water and a solvation free energy of the oxidized form in octanol is 35 kcal/mol or more, and the cathodic EC compound has a substituent containing any one element selected from halogens, sulfur, boron, phosphorus, and silicon.

Electrochromic element, optical filter, lens unit, image pickup apparatus, and window member

There is provided a light modulating element including a plurality of compounds whose light absorption characteristics change with external simulation. The plurality of compounds are compounds having different absorption wavelengths. The light modulating element has a variable transmittance VT(λ) obtained by combining light absorption characteristics of the plurality of compounds. NWD<NWDis satisfied.

Light modulating element and optical apparatus, imaging apparatus and lens unit using the same

An image pickup apparatus including an electrochromic element, wherein the electrochromic element includes a complementary-type EC layer including a solvent and an anodic redox substance and a cathodic redox substance dissolved in the solvent, and image processing is performed based on a charge imbalance current flowing between a first electrode and a second electrode when a voltage lower than the voltage causing a substantial change in the transmittance of the EC layer is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Image pickup apparatus

As an example of an EC element in which vertical color separation is suppressed, the present disclosure provides an EC element including a pair of electrodes, a solvent, an anodic EC compound, and a cathodic EC compound. In the EC element, the difference between a solvation free energy of an oxidized form of the anodic EC compound in water and a solvation free energy of the oxidized form in octanol is 35 kcal/mol or more, and the difference between a solvation free energy of a reduced form of the cathodic EC compound in propylene carbonate and a solvation free energy of the reduced form in octanol is &#x2212;35 kcal/mol or less.

An EC element whose coloring unevenness due to concentration unevenness is reduced by bringing the ratio of red and green wavelength ranges of a colored form of an anodic EC compound close to the ratio of red and green wavelength ranges of a colored form of a cathodic EC compound.

Electrochromic element, optical apparatus, light control window, and image pickup apparatus

An electrochromic device is provided in which resistance of a bus bar is reduced. This devices includes: a pair of base members; a pair of electrodes arranged between the pair of base members; an electrochromic layer arranged between the pair of electrodes; and at least one bus bar electrically connected to one of the pair of electrodes.

Electrochromic device

The present disclosure includes an effective optical region within a transmittance variable region, and sets the transmittance variable region and the effective optical region so that a shortest distances from a periphery of the transmittance variable region to a periphery of the effective optical region, dand d, are 7.5% or more and 25% or less of a length of the transmittance variable region on a straight line including the shortest distances, L, in a vertical direction.

Electrochromic element, imaging apparatus and transmittance variable window using the same

The present disclosure provides an electrochromic mirror including a light reflective member, and an electrochromic device disposed on the reflective surface side of the light reflective member, wherein the electrochromic mirror includes a light detection region, the light detection region includes a plurality of openings defined in the light reflective member or a light transmissive member disposed between a bezel member and the light reflective member, and the electrochromic mirror is configured to control a transmittance of the electrochromic device in response to at least a portion of the amount of light in the light detection region.

Electrochromic mirror

An electrochromic element includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a peripheral sealing seal arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode; and an electrochromic layer arranged in a space demarcated by the first electrode, the second electrode, and the peripheral sealing seal, one of the first electrode and the second electrode is an anode electrode, and the other is a cathode electrode, the electrochromic layer is an electrochromic element having an anodic electrochromic compound and a cathodic electrochromic compound, the peripheral sealing seal is an anodic reaction-preferential peripheral sealing seal in which an oxidation reaction of the anodic electrochromic compound preferentially occurs near the peripheral sealing seal, and S&#x3c;S, where Sis an area demarcated by the peripheral sealing seal of the anode electrode, and Sis an area demarcated by the peripheral sealing seal of the cathode electrode.

Electrochromic element

An organic compound represented by the following general formula is provided.  In the above formula (1), Rto Reach independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyl group, an acyl group, or a halogen atom provided that at least one of R, R, and Rrepresents the alkoxy group or the aryloxy group; and Rto Rmay form a ring structure therebetween. Rand Reach independently represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an aralkyl group. In addition, Rto Reach independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyl group, an acyl group, or a halogen atom and may form a ring structure therebetween. The above groups except the acyl group may be substituted when necessary.

Organic compound, electrochromic element containing the same, optical filter, lens unit, imaging device, and window material

An electrochromic device includes an electrochromic elementincluding an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, and an electrochromic layer, and drive meansconnected to the electrochromic element. The electrochromic elementincludes a plurality of anode terminals (A, A) electrically connected to the anode electrode, and a plurality of cathode terminals (C, C) electrically connected to the cathode electrode, and each of the anode terminals constitutes a terminal pair in combination with one of the cathode terminals. At least part of a first application period in which the drive meansapplies a voltage to a first terminal pair that is one of the terminal pairs and at least part of a second application period in which the drive meansapplies a voltage to a second terminal pair that is another one of the terminal pairs are not overlapped with each other.

Electrochromic device, optical filter using same, lens unit, image taking device, window member, and driving method for electrochromic element

An electrochromic device according to the present disclosure includes an electrochromic element that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrochromic layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrochromic layer contains an anodic electrochromic compound and an oxidizable substance. The oxidizable substance is a substance which substantially does not undergo a color change due to oxidation and whose oxidant is not reduced. An oxidation reaction of the oxidizable substance is less likely to occur than an oxidation reaction of the anodic electrochromic compound. A controller is configured to control oxidation of the oxidizable substance based on a charge balance of the electrochromic element.

Electrochromic device, optical filter, lens unit, imaging apparatus, window member, and driving method

An image capturing apparatus comprising: an optical element that changes a transmittance of light; an image sensor; an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a temperature of the optical element; a first control unit that controls a transmittance of the optical element; and a second control unit that controls exposure when a subject is captured using the image sensor and an image signal is output. The first control unit performs control so as to increase a target transmittance of the optical element in a first condition under which a temperature of the optical element exceeds a predetermined temperature, based on the information regarding the temperature, and the second control unit controls exposure excluding the transmittance according to a change in the transmittance of the optical element in the first condition.

Image capturing apparatus and method for controlling temperature of a light transmitting element through controlling the optical element's exposure to and transmittance of light

Growing community of inventors

Inagi, Japan

Wataru Kubo