Abstract: An image stabilizer has a base block, a CCD holder, an intermediate member, a rectangular frame-shaped first sheet metal member, a rectangular frame-shaped second sheet metal member, and voice coil motors (VCMs). The first sheet metal member has a pair of mutually-parallel horizontal leaf springs that is formed by bending upper and lower sides of the first sheet metal member. The second sheet metal member has a pair of mutually-parallel vertical leaf springs that is formed by bending right and left sides of the second sheet metal member. The horizontal leaf springs are flexible along a Y-axis, and the vertical leaf springs are flexible along an X-axis in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis. The VCMs shift a CCD through the CCD holder, while bending the horizontal or vertical leaf springs, to counteract a camera shake in an X-axis or Y-axis direction.

Abstract: An image stabilizer has a base block, an inner frame for holding a CCD, an outer frame, a pair of horizontal leaf springs, a pair of vertical leaf springs, voice coil motors (VCMs) and a flexible printed circuit (FPC). Upon a shake of a digital still camera due to hand-held shooting, the VCMs shift the inner or outer frame while bending the horizontal or vertical leaf springs so that the CCD is shifted to counteract the camera shake. The FPC connected to the CCD and the VCMs is routed from the inner frame, through the horizontal leaf spring, the outer frame and the vertical leaf spring, and pulled out above the base block. The FPC is glued to the horizontal and vertical leaf springs, and elastically bent together with the horizontal and vertical leaf springs.

Abstract: A CCD support mechanism includes a CCD holder for holding a CCD, a first printed circuit board having a first printed coil, a second printed circuit board having a second printed coil, a pair of horizontal leaf springs, and a pair of vertical leaf springs. When a camera shake occurs by hand-held shooting, a VCM composed of the first printed coil and a first stationary magnet shifts the CCD, while bending the horizontal leaf springs, to counteract the camera shake in a Y-axis direction. A VCM composed of the second printed coil and a second stationary magnet shifts the CCD, while bending the vertical leaf springs, to counteract the camera shake in an X-axis direction. Current values of the VCMs are determined by feedback control by using an output signal from a shake detector as a target value and a present position from a position detector as a measurement value.

Abstract: A stereoscopic imaging apparatus capable of obtaining a stereoscopic image suitable for a photographic scene is provided. A First imaging section and a second imaging section has a single-eye 3D sensor which includes a plurality of pixel groups for photo-electrically converting photo-electric luminous fluxes having passed through different regions of the pupil of a single photographing optical system. An LSI has a function of double-eye stereoscopic photography in which a viewpoint image obtained by the first imaging section and a viewpoint image obtained by the second imaging section are recorded in a media as a stereoscopic image and a function of single-eye stereoscopic photography in which a plurality of viewpoint images obtained by one of the first imaging section and the second imaging section is recorded in the media as the stereoscopic image.

Abstract: A digital still camera includes a lens system and an image sensor. The image sensor receives object light through the lens system to output an image signal of an object, wherein exposure control and autofocus control of the lens system are carried out according to the image signal. The image sensor photographs an image of the object after the exposure control and the autofocus control. Auxiliary light is applied to the object with an illumination light source for the autofocus control. A second exposure value is determined by use of a first exposure value determined according to object brightness measured while the illumination light source is inactive. Exposure is carried out to measure object brightness by use of the second exposure value while the auxiliary light is applied, for determining a third exposure value for use in the autofocus control with the auxiliary light.

Abstract: A lens unit has a photographing lens, and is secured removably to a camera main body. An accessory conversion lens device is settable on the lens unit. The lens unit includes a reception unit for receiving accessory device data from the conversion lens device. A determiner checks propriety of the conversion lens device according to accessory device data received by the reception unit, and produces checking information. A transmission unit transmits the checking information to the main body. Specifically, the lens unit has an image pickup element. Also, the conversion lens device includes an RFID tag for storing the accessory device data. The reception unit includes an RFID tag reader for wireless reception. Also, the main body includes an LCD panel to display for outputting alarm information. A main body controller drives the LCD panel if the checking information represents lack of the propriety.

Abstract: An image stabilizer has a base block, an inner frame for holding a CCD, an outer frame, a pair of horizontal leaf springs, a pair of vertical leaf springs, voice coil motors (VCMs) and a flexible printed circuit (FPC). Upon a shake of a digital still camera due to hand-held shooting, the VCMs shift the inner or outer frame while bending the horizontal or vertical leaf springs so that the CCD is shifted to counteract the camera shake. The FPC connected to the CCD and the VCMs is routed from the inner frame, through the horizontal leaf spring, the outer frame and the vertical leaf spring, and pulled out above the base block. The FPC is glued to the horizontal and vertical leaf springs, and elastically bent together with the horizontal and vertical leaf springs.

Abstract: An image stabilizer has a base block, a CCD holder, an intermediate member, a rectangular frame-shaped first sheet metal member, a rectangular frame-shaped second sheet metal member, and voice coil motors (VCMs). The first sheet metal member has a pair of mutually-parallel horizontal leaf springs that is formed by bending upper and lower sides of the first sheet metal member. The second sheet metal member has a pair of mutually-parallel vertical leaf springs that is formed by bending right and left sides of the second sheet metal member. The horizontal leaf springs are flexible along a Y-axis, and the vertical leaf springs are flexible along an X-axis in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis. The VCMs shift a CCD through the CCD holder, while bending the horizontal or vertical leaf springs, to counteract a camera shake in an X-axis or Y-axis direction.

Abstract: A CCD support mechanism includes a CCD holder for holding a CCD, a first printed circuit board having a first printed coil, a second printed circuit board having a second printed coil, a pair of horizontal leaf springs, and a pair of vertical leaf springs. When a camera shake occurs by hand-held shooting, a VCM composed of the first printed coil and a first stationary magnet shifts the CCD, while bending the horizontal leaf springs, to counteract the camera shake in a Y-axis direction. A VCM composed of the second printed coil and a second stationary magnet shifts the CCD, while bending the vertical leaf springs, to counteract the camera shake in an X-axis direction. Current values of the VCMs are determined by feedback control by using an output signal from a shake detector as a target value and a present position from a position detector as a measurement value.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes: an A/D conversion circuit having an amplifier that is capable of amplifying image signals per shooting frame; and a gain changer that changes the gain of the amplifier. The apparatus causes the gain changer to increase the gain of the amplifier up to a level that compensates for a gradual decrease in the amount of light emitted from LEDs that occurs during continuous shooting. As a result, the amplitude level of every image signal is made constant and thus, replayed images of the same brightness shot during the continuous shooting are obtained.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus has a small light-emitting section capable of easily adjusting a luminous intensity distribution of flash. Two reflection side plates are disposed such that they cover Fresnel lenses disposed on both ends of a protector when a zoom switch is operated to a WIDE side, light emitted sideway from an arc tube is reflected to the two reflection side plates and is guided toward a central side of the protector, and the luminous intensity distribution is adjusted such as to fit the WIDE image taking angle of view. If the zoom switch is operated to a TELE side, the two reflection side plates are inclined, light emitted sideway from the arc tube is guided to the Fresnel lenses, and the luminous intensity distribution is adjusted to fit a TELE image taking angle of view.

Abstract: A main frame adapter is detachably mounted, instead of a camera head, on a camera main frame from which the camera head is separated. The camera head comprises an image taking optical system and an imaging device. The camera main frame is adapted to receive an image signal from the camera head that is detachably mounted on the camera main frame. A head adapter that is detachably mounted, instead of the camera main frame, on the camera head separated from the camera main frame. Both the adapters have each the radio communication section.

Abstract: A lens unit has a photographing lens, and is secured removably to a camera main body. An accessory conversion lens device is settable on the lens unit. The lens unit includes a reception unit for receiving accessory device data from the conversion lens device. A determiner checks propriety of the conversion lens device according to accessory device data received by the reception unit, and produces checking information. A transmission unit transmits the checking information to the main body. Specifically, the lens unit has an image pickup element. Also, the conversion lens device includes an RFID tag for storing the accessory device data. The reception unit includes an RFID tag reader for wireless reception. Also, the main body includes an LCD panel to display for outputting alarm information. A main body controller drives the LCD panel if the checking information represents lack of the propriety.

Abstract: A lens unit has a photographing lens, and is secured removably to a camera main body. An accessory conversion lens device is settable on the lens unit. The lens unit includes a reception unit for receiving accessory device data from the conversion lens device. A determiner checks propriety of the conversion lens device according to accessory device data received by the reception unit, and produces checking information. A transmission unit transmits the checking information to the main body. Specifically, the lens unit has an image pickup element. Also, the conversion lens device includes an RFID tag for storing the accessory device data. The reception unit includes an RFID tag reader for wireless reception. Also, the main body includes an LCD panel to display for outputting alarm information. A main body controller drives the LCD panel if the checking information represents lack of the propriety.

Abstract: A camera comprises a lens unit and a camera body to which the lens unit is attached by a rotational operation. The camera body is provided with terminals including a specific terminal. Arrangement of the specific terminal is different from that of the other terminals. In detaching the lens unit from the camera body, the specific terminal is adapted to be disconnected earlier relative to the other terminals while the other terminals are connected. After the disconnection of the specific terminal has been detected, the other terminals are set to high impedance.

Abstract: In an image taking apparatus, an arc tube and a reflector are moved forward when a zoom switch is operated to a WIDE-side and two reflection side plates are disposed such as to cover and hide Fresnel lenses located on both ends of a protector. Light emitted sideway from the arc tube is reflected from the reflection side plates, the light is introduced toward a central portion of the protector, and a radiation field suitable for a wide angle is formed. If the zoom switch is operated toward the TELE side, the reflection side plates are inclined such as to expose the Fresnel lenses on the both ends of the protector and the arc tube and the reflector are retreated at the same time, light emitted sideway from the arc tube is entirely guided to the Fresnel lenses, and a radiation field suitable for a TELE angle is formed.

Abstract: A camera with a removable imaging lens unit is a small and reliable camera which can prevent electrostatic discharge from causing breakdown or malfunctions. Electrical contact points on a camera body are covered and protected by a mount barrier. When mounting the imaging lens unit on the camera body, a push head is placed in contact with the mount barrier and pushes the mount barrier. After the push head pushes down the mount barrier against the urging force of the spring, electrical contact points on the lens unit are connected with the electrical contact points on the camera body.

Abstract: A digital still camera includes a lens unit and a camera body. The lens unit has a photographing lens, and a CCD for image pickup by detecting object light from the photographing lens. The camera body has a lens mount portion adapted to loading of the lens unit, and a camera contact for electrical connection with the lens unit. The lens unit has a lens unit coupling portion, engageable with the lens mount portion, for removable loading on the camera body. A lens connection contact touches the camera contact when the lens mount portion is engaged with the lens unit coupling portion, for electrical connection. A circuit board is connected with the CCD, has a first surface opposed to the camera body. The lens connection contact is mounted on the first surface. In preferred embodiment, a bayonet mechanism couples the lens unit coupling portion with the lens mount portion.

Abstract: A digital still camera includes a lens system and an image sensor. The image sensor receives object light through the lens system to output an image signal of an object, wherein exposure control and autofocus control of the lens system are carried out according to the image signal. The image sensor photographs an image of the object after the exposure control and the autofocus control. Auxiliary light is applied to the object with an illumination light source for the autofocus control. A second exposure value is determined by use of a first exposure value determined according to object brightness measured while the illumination light source is inactive. Exposure is carried out to measure object brightness by use of the second exposure value while the auxiliary light is applied, for determining a third exposure value for use in the autofocus control with the auxiliary light.

Abstract: A camera has a shutter release button, held in an initial position, that is movable from the initial position to a full-pressed position via a half-pressed position. The camera has three detectors for detecting that the shutter release button is in the initial, half-pressed and full-pressed positions respectively. When the first detector detects that the shutter release button is displaced from the initial position, it is determined that the shutter release is being activated, so the camera starts preparatory operations for shooting. When the second detector detects the shutter release button in the half-pressed position, the camera completes preparatory operations for shooting. When the third detector detects that shutter release button in the full-pressed position, the camera carries out an actual shutter release to write image data on a memory card.