Image capturing unit and image capturing device

An image capturing unit comprising:

• a variable optical element;
• and
• an optical unit which is disposed on a light-incident end of the variable optical element, wherein
• the variable optical elements comprises a first liquid member, a second liquid member which does not mix in the first liquid member, a container which contains the first liquid member and the second liquid member, and an aperture member having aperture sections on both end in which diameters in the aperture sections are different;
• the aperture section having a small diameter in the aperture member is disposed near the light-incident end;
• an interfacial shape between the first liquid member and the second liquid member varies according to a voltage which is applied to the liquid members;
• and satisfies following conditions (2) and (3);
• 0.1<(Φ1−2×h1)<20.0 (2)
• 0.1<(Φ2−2×h2)<20.0 (3)
• where Φ1 (mm) indicates a diameter for a small aperture section in the aperture member, Φ2 (mm) indicates a diameter for a large aperture section in the aperture member, h1 (mm) indicates a highest position of the axial light-flux on the light-incident end of the variable optical element, and h2 (mm) indicates a highest position of the axial light-flux on the interface between the first liquid member and the second liquid member.

An image capturing unit comprising:

• a variable optical element;
• and
• a light-flux limiting section, wherein
• the variable optical element includes a first liquid member, a second liquid member which does not mix in the first liquid member, and a container which contains the first liquid member and the second liquid member;
• an interfacial shape between the first liquid member and the second liquid member varies according to a voltage which is applied to the liquid members;
• and
• the light-influx limiting section satisfies a following condition (4)
• 0.5<S<20.0 (4)
• where S (mm2) indicates an area for a light flux having a maximum perspective on the light-incident end of the variable optical element.

An image capturing unit comprising:

• a variable optical element;
• and
• an image capturing element, wherein
• the variable optical element includes a first liquid member, a second liquid member which does not mix in the first liquid member, and a container which contains the first liquid member and the second liquid member;
• an interfacial shape between the first liquid member and the second liquid member varies according to a voltage which is applied to the liquid members;
• and
• an absolute value for R12-d is in a range between 10% and 500% of a length d (mm);
• where R12 indicates a diameter of a curvature of the interface, and d indicates a length for an optical path length of an axial principal light between the interface and a surface of the image capturing element.