Abstract: A display device 70 having an organic luminescent element arranged at an object image-forming position of a finder optical system. Frames are formed by parts 31b, 32b, 33b of the negative electrode formed of non-transparent material, an organic electroluminescent material is laminated thereon on the eyepiece side, and a positive electrode formed of transparent material is superimposed thereon on the eyepiece side. Since the non-transparent negative electrodes 31b, 32b, 33b shield the light, the frames are recognized as black frames. When the periphery is dark, a voltage is applied between the electrodes causing the organic electroluminescent material to luminesce, such that the frame itself becomes brighter in display and is readily visible.

Abstract: A viewing apparatus having a photographing function includes a viewing system including a viewing optical system, the viewing optical system having a positive objective optical system and an eyepiece optical system, an image of an object formed through the positive objective optical system being viewed through the eyepiece optical system; and a photographing system including a photographing optical system for photographing the object image viewed through the eyepiece optical system, the photographing optical system being provided independently of the viewing optical system. The photographing optical system includes a first lens group and a second lens group. The photographing system includes two focusing mechanisms, which operate independently from each other, for changing both absolute positions of the first lens group and the second lens group and a relative position of the first lens group and the second lens group on an optical axis of the photographing optical system.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is disclosed, which includes a vibration detection unit which detects vibrations, a signal processing unit which performs signal processing for the vibration detection signal output from the vibration detection unit, a vibration correction unit which corrects an image movement caused by the vibration, on the basis of the drive signal output from the signal processing unit, and a controller which controls the drive of the vibration correction unit. The controller corrects the drive signal from the signal processing unit by using a predetermined correction value corresponding to the driven state of the vibration correction unit, and controls drive of the vibration correction unit by using the corrected drive signal.

Abstract: A camera includes a first power supply output circuit which outputs a first stabilized power supply voltage, a second power supply output circuit which outputs a second stabilized power supply voltage lower than the first power supply voltage, a photocoupler which has a light emitting element and a light receiving element, a detecting circuit which detects an analog signal output from the light receiving element and converts the analog signal to a digital signal, and a processing circuit which performs processing based on the digital signal. The first power supply voltage feeds into the light emitting element as an operating voltage thereof. The second power supply voltage feeds into the light receiving element and feeds into the processing circuit as an operating voltage thereof. The camera allows stable operations of the processing circuit with minuter elements and the light emitting element.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus provided with an image blur prevention function, including: a blur correction driving means for performing correction of image blur; an actuator separate from the blur correction driving means, consuming energy of the actuator changing depending on time; a power supply for supplying energy to the blur correction driving means and the actuator; and a variable circuit for changing an energy supply pattern in supplying energy to the blur correction driving means by the power supply before or after consuming energy of the actuator changes.

Abstract: An AF auxiliary light projector for an AF camera includes a focus detection optical system having a first optical axis, and an AF auxiliary light projecting optical system having a second optical axis which intersects the first optical axis, the AF auxiliary light projecting optical system projecting an image having a predetermined contrast pattern onto an object. The AF auxiliary light projecting optical system includes a projector lens, a contrast pattern chart, an illumination lens, and an illumination light source, in that order. The illumination lens has an asymmetrical optical power so that an optical power of a far distance portion of the illumination lens for a far distance region of the contrast pattern chart is greater than an optical power of a near distance portion of the illumination lens for a near distance region of the contrast pattern chart.

Abstract: A flash photography system includes a camera body, a main flash device and at least one sub-flash device, wherein the main flash device emits at least one low flash emission serving as a main-flash emission command signal to transmit the main-flash emission command signal to the sub-flash device, the sub-flash device emitting a flash emission in accordance with the main-flash emission command signal. The flash photography system includes a designating device for designating a flash emission mode of a main-flash emission, and a command device which activates the main flash device to emit the low flash emission serving as the main-flash emission command signal to transmit the main-flash emission command signal to the sub-flash device in a manner corresponding to the designated flash emission mode.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for estimating a camera motion include a frame picture memory unit for storing a plurality of moving picture frames, a buffer for sequentially extracting the frames and storing them, a block division unit for dividing each of the frames stored in the buffer into a plurality of blocks, a mean picture generation unit for generating horizontal and vertical mean pictures using the blocks, a horizontal and a vertical mean picture memory unit for storing the data of the horizontal and vertical mean pictures, a motion vector extraction unit for extracting motion vectors from the blocks using horizontal and vertical mean picture data, a motion vector memory unit for storing the data of the motion vectors, and a camera motion estimation unit for estimating a camera motion using the motion vector data.

Abstract: Where a subject is dark, half pressing of a shutter release button causes an auxiliary light for auto-focusing use to be emitted from an electric flash. If half pressing and cancellation take place consecutively, a power of a main capacitor for the electric flash will become in sufficient, it is charged after emission of an auxiliary light. A camera is to be provided which can prevent charge processing from deteriorating an operating convenience by limiting either a duration of charging or a charging voltage then. Where the subject is dark, half pressing of the shutter release button causes the electric flash to emit an auxiliary light (AF pre-emission) and auto-focusing control to be executed. If half pressing of the shutter release button and its cancellation take place consecutively, charging of the main capacitor of the electric flash is performed alternately for different lengths of time, 150 ms and 300 ms.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens camera system having a camera body, a photographing lens, and a rear converter, the camera body and photographing lens communicating with each other via a first group of contacts and a second group of contacts, respectively, includes a group of relay channels via which the first group of contacts are electrically connected with the second group of contacts, in a state where the rear converter is mounted between the camera body and the photographing lens; a memory in which rear converter data is stored; and a controller which reads the rear converter data from the memory. The memory and the controller have a function to send the rear converter data to the camera body while the camera body and the photographing lens communicate with each other via the first group of contacts, the second group of contacts, and the group of relay channels.

Abstract: A camera includes a base, a focusing lens, a retaining wheel, a pushing member, and a retaining hook. The base has a cylindrical and vertical opening in it. The focusing lens is rotationally fixed within the opening. The retaining wheel is rotationally fixed in the base. The horizontal sides of the retaining wheel include a ratchet side, a smooth side, a first end, and a second end positioned over the connecting portions of the ratchet side and the smooth side. The pushing member is horizontally and movably fixed in the base for moving the focusing lens and the retaining wheel. The retaining hook includes a horizontal arm and a vertical arm. The horizontal arm can move across the upper side of the retaining wheel, and the vertical arm can thus contact each of the horizontal sides of the retaining wheel.

Abstract: There is provided a flash control system for a camera, which is provided with an automatic flash device which uses a predetermined appropriate amount of light to control emission of flash light, a control system that preliminarily emits the flash light, a first photometric sensors for colorimetry, a color determining system that determines the color of the object. Further, the flash control system is provided with a first colorimetric compensation value determining system which determines a first colormetric compensation value based on the determined color, and a flash control level adjusting system that adjusts the predetermined appropriate amount of light based on the first colorimetric compensation value.

Abstract: A first pin to be used for rotatably supporting a shutter blade is disposed near a second pin to be used for rotatably supporting a stop-changing plate. A rotational direction of the shutter blade from a closed position to an open position is set so as to be identical with a rotational direction of the stop changing plate directing from a smaller-stop position to a larger-stop position. Rotational spaces of the shutter blade and the stop changing plate are arranged at one side of a photographic optical axis so that a protrusion of a front cover for containing them is prevented from enlarging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a zoom lens position control device. An encoding pattern, which shows a shift between a focal length changing region and a focal point adjusting region by turns, is provided for a rotary frame in which a lens group of a step zoom lens capable of setting a plurality of focal lengths is arranged. Electrical conduction/non-conduction based on the pattern is detected as an ON/OFF state. The present position of the zoom lens is determined on the basis of the ON/OFF state. When the zoom lens is shifted from the stopping position due to the application of an external force, the stopping position of the zoom lens is initialized. The operation of the zoom lens is subsequently shifted to exposure in a focal length position, where the zoom lens is originally stopped, without unnecessarily increasing release time lag.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for an image blur correction device applied to a camera, which comprises (1) an operation means for starting an image blur correction operation of the image blur correction device in accordance with predetermined actions (shutter release actions) to start a photographing operation of the camera, and (2) a variable means for causing said operation means to change, in accordance with at least either <1> the exposure time in the photographing operation of the camera or <2> the focal distance in the photographing operation of the camera, timing of the image blur correction device to start the image blur correction operation in accordance with the predetermined actions to start the photographing operation.

Abstract: A focus retaining mechanism of a camera is disclosed. The camera includes a base, a focusing lens, a retaining member, and a retaining hook. The base has a cylindrical and vertical opening in it. The focusing lens is rotationally fixed within the opening. The retaining member is horizontally and movably fixed in the base. The horizontal sides of the retaining member include a ratchet side, a smooth side, a first end and a second end positioned over the connecting portions of the ratchet side and the smooth side. The retaining hook has a horizontal arm and a vertical arm installed under the horizontal arm. The horizontal arm can move horizontally across the upper side of the retaining member, and the vertical arm can thus contact each of the horizontal sides of the retaining member.

Abstract: A lens-driver for driving a lens for compensating image blur caused by camera shaking has two driving-levers. In each driving-lever, one end is rotatably connected to a lens frame via a holding shaft and the other end is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft. Two driving levers are arranged generally on one straight line, and there is formed a generally perpendicular angle by a line connecting the holding shaft of one driving-lever and an optical center of the lens, and a line connecting the holding shaft of the other driving-lever and the optical center. Another lens-driver has two driving mechanisms. One driving mechanism drives the lens, and the other driving mechanism drives a shutter mechanism or an aperture mechanism. In the lens barrel, one mechanism occupies one half area and the other mechanism occupies the other half area.

Abstract: A device for use in a camera system including a camera, an optical characteristics modifying converter, and an optical assembly having an image stabilizing unit for stabilizing an image in response to the output of a vibration sensor for detecting a shake in an apparatus includes activating means for activating the stabilization operation by the image stabilizing unit in response to a predetermined operation in a predetermined operation portion of the camera, a determining means for determining whether an optical characteristics modifying converter without image stabilization function is incorporated in the camera system, and decision means for deciding whether to perform an activating operation by the activating means based on a determination by the determining means. The operation of a image stabilizing unit is determined by the incorporation of the converter.

Abstract: An image shake correcting device is provided for use with an apparatus (e.g., a camera) in which image shake is to be corrected. The device comprises an image shake correcting unit for correcting image shake in accordance with an output of a shake detecting unit for detecting a shake condition; a support condition determining unit for determining whether the apparatus, in which image shake is to be corrected, is supported in a predetermined stationary condition; a shutter speed information determining unit for determining a shutter speed at photo-shooting; and a varying unit for varying a response manner of the image shake correcting means to the output of the shake detecting means in accordance with a combination of the determination made by the support condition determining means and the determination made by the shutter speed information determining means.

Abstract: A wrapping sheet made of a transparent sheet material such as polypropylene is provided with an opaque area where directions and the like are partially printed. A back side of the wrapping sheet is coated with an adhesive agent, which forms an adhesive agent layer. A dot printing (so-called an adhesion reduction) is applied to an area of the wrapping sheet covering an uneven part of a camera body at a printing rate of 20-100% to reduce an adhesion of the adhesive agent. The adhesion at edges of the wrapping sheet is higher than that of the area covering the uneven part in order to prevent the wrapping sheet from coming off.