Optical apparatus

A variable-optical-characteristic optical unit having a deformable optical surface, comprising:

• a variable-optical-characteristic optical unit having said deformable optical surface;
• and
• a control system for driving said variable-optical-characteristic optical unit, wherein said variable-optical-characteristic optical unit includes a fluid portion for deforming said deformable optical surface and an electrode adjacent to said fluid portion, and said control system includes a booster member that is connected to a power source, and for applying a voltage necessary for driving said variable-optical-characteristic optical unit,
• wherein the booster member includes a transformer using a coil or a piezoelectric transformer.

An imaging system including a display unit, comprising

• a variable-focus optical element,
• a power source unit and a driving circuit for driving said variable-focus optical element,
• a computing unit,
• an image pickup device,
• an imaging optical system, wherein said power source unit or said driving circuit includes a booster member that is connected to a power source, and generates a voltage necessary in said driving circuit, and
• a display configured to be in communication with and to display an output signal from the variable-focus optical element,
• said variable-focus optical element is capable of achieving optical deflection,
• said computing unit examines a high-frequency component of each image picked up while being defocused, and the position where the high-frequency component reaches a maximum is determined to be an in-focus position, and
• said variable-focus optical element is used for autofocusing of said imaging optical system.

An imaging system including a display unit, comprising

• a variable-focus optical element having a deformable optical surface,
• a control system for driving said variable-focus optical element,
• a computing unit,
• an image pickup device,
• an imaging optical system, wherein said control system includes a booster member that is connected to a power source, and operable to apply a voltage necessary for driving said variable-focus optical element, and
• a display configured to be in communication with and to display an output signal from the variable-focus optical element,
• said computing unit examines a high-frequency component of each image picked up while being defocused, and the position where the high-frequency component reaches a maximum is determined to be an in-focus position, and
• said variable-focus optical element is used for autofocusing of said imaging optical system.