Abstract: In an electronic flash device according to the present invention, a main condenser (101) charged by a high power voltage supply (100) is connected in series with a flash discharge tube (102) and an IGBT (104). To the gate of the IGBT (104), bias voltage is applied by a gate bias power supply (105') before a flash start signal is provided, and the IGBT (104) waits, in an ON state that the flash discharge tube (102) is triggered in response to the flash start signal. When predetermined time elapses after the flash discharge tube (102) starts to flash, a flash stop circuit (106') changes gate bias voltage of the IGBT (104) so as to shift the IGBT (104) to an OFF state by predetermined time width. Application of high voltage to the IGBT (104) is made for extremely short period of time in the OFF state. Consequently, requirement for high breakdown voltage and less leaking current is eased. In addition, a gate controlling circuit becomes simple.

Abstract: A modulized water and light performing equipment comprised of water pump and water distribution and level controller and controlled by a circuit sub-system according to built-in procedure, external sound and external specific signal input modes, to produce various spring patterns of different heights changing at different tempo and rhythm. A plurality of colored lamps are controlled by the circuit sub-system to produce color lighting effects harmoniously matching with water performance. Water performance sub-system and light performance sub-system are incorporated to produce various harmonious, color spring patterns according to the signals sent from different input modes.

Abstract: A sound absorber has a column shape defined by a hollow, substantially cylindrical wire frame with a filler of uniformly distributed fused parallel filaments having high surface area to mass ratio, such as bloomed cellulose acetate. The sound absorber gives efficient absorption in the articulation frequency range.A method of manufacture of the sound absorber includes determining the sound response of an acoustic environment, determining the reciprocal of the sound response of that environment, and matching the absorption characteristics of the sound absorber to the reciprocal of the sound response.Each sound absorber has a linear absorption spectrum above the center frequency so that clusters of the sound absorbers exhibit a similar spectrum.

Abstract: Disclosed is a swivel speaker system to custom-aim sound emanating from the speaker towards a listener. A speaker device of the present system comprises a sound driver disposed within a mount positioned within a housing. The mount swivels within the housing to direct the radiating frequencies to a desired location within a unique environment without obstructively projecting from a mounting surface. Preferably, the speaker has a minimum size to enable mounting at unconventional locations. Additionally, the speaker system, in accordance with another embodiment, provides a modular system having interchangeable support components which customizes the speaker to adapted to unique mounting surfaces in unique listening environments.

Abstract: A camera which is provided with first and second operation members for setting information of different kinds respectively is arranged to have first and second information setting modes. In the first mode, first information is set with the first operation member and second information with the second operation member. In the second mode, the second information is set with the first operation member and the first information with the second operation member. The camera permits selection of the first mode or the second mode as desired.

Abstract: A dual still video/film portrait system in which the film has a virtually transparent magnetic layer, the camera and the photofinishing system used to develop the film each having magnetic read/write heads and a processor for controlling data recorded and played back in magnetic tracks on the film.

Abstract: A photographic camera to be used with a film cassette having film speed indicator means movable between a storage position in which it cannot be detected to provide an indication of the speed of a filmstrip inside the cassette and a use position in which it can be detected to provide the indication, is characterized in that a loading chamber is configured to receive the film cassette with the film speed indicator means in the storage position, actuation means is located in the loading chamber for moving the film speed indicator from the storage position to the use position responsive to insertion of the film cassette into the loading chamber, and sensing means is located in the loading chamber for detecting the film speed indicator means when it is in the use position to determine the speed of the filmstrip inside the cassette.

Abstract: A camera having a remote controller. The automatic focusing mechanism of the camera measures a distance from the camera to a main object positioned within approximately the center region of a focus area and automatically obtains a in-focus condition in correspondence with the measured object distance. The camera includes a memory for storing a maximum object distance at which in-focus conditions are obtained by the automatic focusing mechanism in a remote control photographing mode. When the main object is photographed in the remote control photographing mode, a comparing device compares an object distance measured by the automatic focusing mechanism and the maximum object distance set in the memory with each other. If the measured object distance is less than the maximum object distance, an optical system is adjusted to a normal photographing mode.

Abstract: A horn shaped baffle is provided in the front of a loudspeaker. Escape holes are formed in the horn shaped baffle so as to emit sound waves deviated from the axis of the loudspeaker. A sound absorptive panel is provided on the outside of the baffle so as to cover the holes.

Abstract: An auto-focusing apparatus includes a CCD for imaging an optical image formed by a photographing optical system, a motor for changing the position of the CCD along the direction of the optical axis, a BPF for extracting a predetermined frequency component from an image signal read from the CCD, a detector for outputting a focus signal corresponding to a focusing degree by performing square detection of an output signal from the BPF, and a microprocessor for calculating an intermediate parameter dFZP on the basis of the frequency band of the BPF and the F-number of the photographing optical system, determining a sampling interval .DELTA.x on the basis of a characteristic value COPT of the detector and the intermediate parameter d.sub.FZP, controlling the motor and the CCD in accordance with the sampling interval, sampling a plurality of focus signals, and detecting an in-focus point by interpolating the focus signals.

Abstract: The known muffler of an industrial engine, in which a channel communicating with an exhaust gas outlet is integrally formed on the inside of a muffler main body made of an aluminum diecast, and an inner lid is mounted to the open side of the channel to form an exhaust gas passageway serving also as a tail pipe, within the muffler main body as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 63-127369 (1988) is improved. The improvements reside in that a cross-section area of the channel is reduced gradually or in a stepwise manner from its inlet towards the exhaust gas outlet so as to prevent carbon from adhering to the exhaust passageway, and in that at the exhaust gas outlet is formed a projecting wall adapted to butt against the inner lid, integrally with the muffler main body so as to prevent the exhaust gas escape without passing through the exhaust gas passageway.

Abstract: This is a highly directional floor microphone. A pair of hinged panels rest upon the floor. A compliance may be used to acoustically seal the panels to the floor. At the apex of the floor and hinge is a transducer. The hinged panels are trapezoidal in shape and the hinge is acoustically opaque. The floor increases the directivity 6 dB. The panels increase the directivity by 12 dB. Tapering the panels in a trapezoidal shape increases the directivity by 2 dB. The total increase in directivity is 20 dB, allowing a working distance of ten times that of an omni-directional microphone. The folding nature allows easy storage and carriage.