Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately auto focusing a lens of an imaging device. An imaged scene is split into an array of zones. The minimum and maximum sharpness score for each zone is determined over a plurality of lens positions. A histogram of the lens positions of the corresponding maximum weighted sharpness score for each zone is created. The peak of the histogram is determined to be the best focus position for a given scene.

Abstract: A camera casing 100 accommodates therein a shake correction unit 2 for oscillatingly supporting an image sensor 20, a control circuit board 6 loaded with electronic components such as ASIC 61 and a driving control circuit 62, and a viewfinder section 7 for allowing a user to confirm a field to be photographed. The shake correction unit 2, the control circuit board 6, and the viewfinder section 7 are arranged in proximity to each other on planes substantially identical to each other. The shake correction unit 2 has a first driving unit 3a arranged on the side of a side portion 20b of the image sensor 20 to apply an oscillating force to the image sensor 20 to oscillate the image sensor 20 in a first direction (pitch direction shown by the arrows p in FIG.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making, viewing and/or ordering a photographic image, comprising the following steps of:—making a recorded image with a digital camera;—wirelessly sending the image, immediately after it has been made, to a processing unit for processing of the digital data from the digital camera; and—wirelessly sending a code to a printing unit during processing of the digital data, which printing unit is disposed close to or at a predetermined distance from a digital camera, wherein the person of whom an image is made receives a receipt with a code with which he/she can view and/or order the recorded image.

Abstract: An image taking lens forming an optical image on an solid-state image pickup element according to the present invention, is provided with, in order from an object side thereof: a first lens with a positive power; a second lens with a negative power; and a third lens with a negative power. Third lens includes an image side surface in an aspheric shape such that a region around an optical axis in the aspheric shape is formed in a concave shape facing an image side of the image taking lens and a peripheral region in the aspheric shape surrounding the region around the optical axis is formed in a convex shape facing the image side of the image taking lens. The image taking lens fulfills a predefined conditional formula.

Abstract: A cam pin (16) and a demating prevention pin (35) that are provided in a driving frame (15) and have an identical shape are allowed to mate with a cam groove (18) and a demating prevention groove (36) that are provided in a cam frame (17), respectively. A first protrusion (37) is provided on at least one side in an optical axis direction of a portion of the demating prevention groove (36) with which the demating prevention pin (35) mates when the driving frame (15) is advanced. When an external force is applied to the driving frame (15), a cylindrical portion (35f) of the demating prevention pin (35) and the first protrusion (37) come into contact with each other. This prevents the cam pin (16) from demating from the cam groove (18). The cam pin (16) and the demating prevention pin (35) are made of common components, making it possible to reduce the number of components.

Abstract: The invention easily photographs a subject from plural directions collectively. When a picture photographing instruction and a moving picture photographing instruction are inputted in a master digital still camera 3 set as a master of photographing for a subject 2, the invention transmits picture photographing instruction data D13 and moving picture photographing instruction data D18 to slave digital still cameras 4A to 4N, subjects the subject 2 to picture photographing and moving picture photographing according to the picture photographing instruction data D13 and the moving picture photographing instruction data D18 with the slave digital still cameras 4A to 4N, and generates and records slave picture-photographed image data D25 and slave moving-picture-photographed image data D26 corresponding to a photographed image of the subject 2.

Abstract: An exterior vehicle camera is disclosed for monitoring an operating area of a vehicle comprising a camera housing with a camera module having a camera electronics, and camera optics carried within the housing. A recording opening is formed in the camera housing facing toward a recording direction. A transparent recording window covers the recording opening, and is disposed adjacent a recording end of the camera optics. The camera housing and the recording window are formed from plastic materials having sufficiently identical thermal characteristics so that formation of condensation is reduced within the housing at the recording window.

Abstract: A camera system incorporating a seamless lens-drive switching mechanism includes a lens drive ring, a manual operation ring, a motor, a first one-way rotational transfer mechanism preventing the manual operation ring and the lens drive ring from being connected with each other in a first neutral state, and maintains the first neutral state even if the lens drive ring is rotated by the motor; a second one-way rotational transfer mechanism which prevents the motor and the lens drive ring connecting with each other in a second neutral state, connects the motor with the lens drive ring when the motor rotates from the second neutral state, and maintains the second neutral state even if the lens drive ring is rotated by the manual operation ring; and a controller which stops and reverses the motor to bring the second one-way rotational transfer mechanism into the second neutral state.

Abstract: A lens unit includes: a lens barrel; a movable section including a movable lens and configured to be moved in an optical axis direction relative to the lens barrel; a linear actuator configured to move the movable section in the optical axis direction; and a biasing blade spring including a holding portion for holding the movable section, a plurality of spring portions capable of being elastically deformed and biasing the movable section in the optical axis direction, and an attachment portion to be attached to the lens barrel. The plurality of spring portions of the biasing blade spring are configured to restraint a movement force produced at the movable section in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis.

Abstract: A digital camera module (100) with an auto-focusing function is adapted for use in a foldable electronic device. The digital camera module includes a lens mount (10), a lens barrel (20), a voice coil actuator (40), and an image pick-up module (50). The lens barrel receives at least one lens (24) therein and is mounted on/in the lens mount. The lens barrel is made of a composite material including a magnetic metallic nano-powder. The voice coil actuator is adapted for cooperating with the lens barrel to form a magnetic loop. The image pick-up module is disposed under the lens mount and is configured for receiving an image from the at least one lens and converting that image to an electrical signal.

Abstract: A three-dimensional photographic shelf that is highly controllable, adjustable and portable. A loading turntable of the shelf for loading a photographic subject has the functions of horizontal rotation for different angles and vertical angles switches while cooperating with a hand rod connected to a digital camera.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated adjusting apparatus for lens is disclosed. The adjusting apparatus comprises a body capable of furnishing a lens inside, at least one permanent magnet, a first magnetic conductor and a second magnetic conductor. The first and the second magnetic conductors are respectively wound with a plurality of coils. The permanent magnet is adjoined to the body and has a first polarity and a second polarity opposing each other. The first magnetic conductor has at least a first extension member provided opposite to the first polarity. The second magnetic conductor has at least a second extension member provided opposite to the second polarity. The first extension member and the second extension member can better converge magnetic flux lines emanating from the coils when charged to the positions nearing the two polarities of the permanent magnet so high-efficiency focusing and zooming of lens can be achieved.

Abstract: Traveling photographing of a camera is controlled in accordance with a plurality of photographing parameters and priority orders of the plurality of photographing parameters, respective stored in a storage unit, a motion of an object photographed with the camera is detected on the basics of the photographing parameters, and the priority order corresponding to the photographing parameters used when the motion is detected is changed.

Abstract: A zoom lens assembly includes an optical system forming an optical axis and having at least one lens group, a base member (1), a macro ring member (2) rotatably engaged with the base member for accomplishing both zooming and focusing operations, a lens holder (3) received in the macro ring member and having the at least one lens group received therein, a resilient member (4) compressively engaged with the lens holder, and an interengaging means (13, 21; 16, 25) provided between the macro ring member and the base member. The macro ring member has a driving member (22, 27) disposed thereon for manual manipulating. When the driving member is manipulated, the macro ring member is rotated and moved along the optical axis relative to the base member by the action of the interengaging means, and thus the focal length of the optical system is varied for effecting both normal photography and macro photography.

Abstract: Described is an image data reproduction apparatus including a reproduction section for reproducing image data from a recording medium. A display section shows the image data. An operation section gives a command for switching the display from a one frame image data display to a list image display. A control section executes list image display on the display section in response to the detection of an operation by the operation section when one piece of image data generated from the recording medium is displayed on the display section. The control section also moves a selection display on the list image display in response to the detection of an operation of the operation section. A display control method is also described which includes the steps of: detecting an operation of the operation section; executing list image display by a display section; and moving the selection display on the list image display.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus provided with a plurality of rotating-operation members, in which respective disk sections of the plurality of rotating-operation members are arranged to be at least partially overlapped, to thereby enable it to achieve space-saving. As the electronic apparatus capable of achieving the space-saving, there is included a film camera, a digital camera, and a video camera, that is an image pick-up device. Rotational axes extended from respective disk sections may be parallel coaxial or parallel non-coaxial, or may be inclined to each other. Additionally, in order to prevent surfaces from being scratched or damaged by mutual contact between the disk sections, a protrusion may be provided.

Abstract: A photographing lens includes an eccentricity adjusting frame which holds an eccentricity adjusting lens group serving as a part of a photographing optical system of the photographing lens; a lens support frame, an axis of which is coincident with a predetermined optical axis of the photographing optical system, supporting the eccentricity adjusting frame in a manner to allow the eccentricity adjusting frame to move in a plane orthogonal to the predetermined optical axis during an assembly-stage of the photographing lens; and a fixed aperture member having a circular aperture, the fixed aperture member being integrally formed with the lens support frame so that a center of the circular aperture coincides with the axis of the lens support frame.

Abstract: This invention provides an image processing apparatus that corrects an image blur by using a plurality of images acquired by image capturing means. The apparatus comprises: blur detection means that detects a blur amount between the plurality of images; image composition means that performs the composition of the plurality of images using the detected blur amount; acquisition means that acquires, based on a difference value between the plurality of images and a threshold value thereof, region data for separating the image into regions by changing the threshold value; and display means that selectably displays the region data for each threshold value.

Abstract: According to the present invention, light from a taking lens is reflected by a quick return mirror in a lateral direction of a body unit. Then, after passing through a screen, the light is reflected toward an upper side of the body unit by a second mirror except part of the light. The light reflected by the second mirror is reflected by a third mirror in a direction opposite to a direction in which the light is reflected by the quick return mirror, and is further reflected by a fourth mirror toward an eyepiece located on a back side of the body unit. Part of the light which passing though the screen is taken by an AF sensor unit provided in rear of the second mirror, and an image formation position of an optical image is detected.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an imaging system which can enhance its operational performance to allow an operator to easily obtain a good grasp of images collectively displayed on a screen by comprising: a camera (1) to be disposed in a remote place, the camera (1) having an optical axis (1a); driving means (8, 13) for driving the camera (1) to have the optical axis (1a) of the camera (1) moved in each of horizontal and vertical directions; position detecting means (10) for detecting a position of the optical axis (1a) of the camera (1)in each of the horizontal and vertical directions; position information storing means (12) for storing position information indicative of the position of the optical axis (1a) of the camera (1)to have the position information linked to an image taken at the position by the camera (1); and remote controlling apparatus (21) to be electrically connected to the driving means (8) through a communication network (19, 22) to control the driving means (8, 13), the remote controlling apparatus (