Abstract: A lens barrel includes a lens drive unit that moves a lens holder holding a lens in an optical axis direction, a locking mechanism that regulates movement of the lens holder at a movable end of the lens holder, and a control unit that performs, as a shift process for shifting the lens holder to a movement regulated state produced by the locking mechanism, control for moving the lens holder by using the lens drive unit to a position where movement regulation is achieved by the locking mechanism in a state where movement regulating force generated by the locking mechanism is reduced.

Abstract: A digital camera body to which a lens unit having an image taking optical system is attachable. The camera body has a shake detector detecting a camera shake on the digital camera and outputting a shake detection signal, a blur compensator compensates for a blur, due to the camera shake, of a subject light image projected onto an image capturing surface of an image sensor provided in the camera body, based on an inputted blur compensation amount, a focal length deriver obtaining an overall focal length of the image taking optical system, by use of the information on the focal length obtained from the lens unit, and a blur compensation controller deriving the blur compensation amount for compensating for the blur based on the overall focal length of the image taking optical system and the shake detection signal, and outputting the blur compensation amount to the blur compensator.

Abstract: First, a lens is supplied with a power supply LVDD. Then the state of a chip select signal CSL is input, and the processing waits until chip select signal CSL changes from HIGH.fwdarw.LOW.fwdarw.HIGH, that is, until communication preparation on the lens side is completed. When a microcomputer on the lens side is reset and started, the lens side outputs a communication enable signal and thus the time from mounting of the lens to starting of a communication can be reduced. Thus, a lens-exchangeable camera can be provided capable of starting a BL communication in the shortest time depending on the lens.

Abstract: An exposure controller for use in a photographing apparatus including a flash, includes a diaphragm having a changeable opening to adjust the amount of light reaching a photosensitive medium from a lens optical system, a diaphragm control unit for changing the opening of the diaphragm during the time when a shutter is being opened, and a flash control unit for firing the flash at a predetermined time during the time when the shutter is being opened. This exposure controller enables photography having apodization effect.

Abstract: A drive mechanism comprises an electromechanical conversion element, drive member fixedly attached to said electromechanical conversion element, driven member friction-bonded to said drive member, and a drive pulse generator for accomplishing telescopic displacement of said electromechanical conversion element, wherein telescopic displacement comprising expansion and contraction at different speeds is generated in said electromechanical conversion element via said drive pulse generating means to produce movement of the driven members friction-bonded to said drive member, and wherein said drive pulse generator is provided with a means for controlling the time a drive pulse is applied to said electromechanical conversion element so as to control the electrical load applied to said electromechanical conversion element by controlling the time of said application, and thereby control the driving speed.

Abstract: First, a lens is supplied with a power supply LVDD. Then the state of a chip select signal CSL is input, and the processing waits until chip select signal CSL changes from HIGH.fwdarw.LOW.fwdarw.HIGH, that is, until communication preparation on the lens side is completed. When a microcomputer on the lens side is reset and started, the lens side outputs a communication enable signal and thus the time from mounting of the lens to starting of a communication can be reduced. Thus, a lens-exchangeable camera can be provided capable of starting a BL communication in the shortest time depending on the lens.

Abstract: A lens holding frame holding a lens in a lens barrel is arranged, and a contact member extending therebelow is in friction coupling with a driving axis. By applying driving pulses having such a waveform that includes a moderate rising portion followed by an abrupt falling portion to a piezoelectric element, the holding frame is moved along the direction of the optical axis. An index provided at the holding frame is exposed through a slit of lens barrel, and from the position of the lens on the holding frame, information with respect to the distance to the object is displayed. Detection of the position of the holding frame is performed by a position sensor of ferromagnetic thin film magneto-resistive element type (MR sensor) so as to obtain positional information of the lens on the holding frame based on the detection signal, and the obtained information may be displayed on a liquid crystal or other display portion provided on the lens unit or on a camera body.

Abstract: A single-lens reflex camera comprises a taking lens having a zooming optical system, a finder whose angle of view is determined according to a focal length of the taking lens, and an operation member which is manually operated. In the single-lens reflex camera, the focal length of the taking lens is changed by driving the zooming optical system, and the zooming operation is controlled in response to an operation of the operation member so that the focal length of the taking lens is changed in the wide-angle direction by a predetermined amount. An angle of view corresponding to that which is seen before the focal length is changed is displayed within the finder.

Abstract: When a communication header transmit from the lens side to the body side is input, a reset and start detection signal is checked and if the lens is found to have been reset and started, a body/lens identify signal is communicated to exchange identification signals of each other and the like and resetting of the mechanism is instructed. Thus, malfunction of the lens can be prevented even when the microcomputer for the lens side is reset with the lens mounted on the body.

Abstract: First, a lens is supplied with a power supply LVDD. Then the state of a chip select signal CSL is input, and the processing waits until chip select signal CSL changes from HIGH.fwdarw.LOW.fwdarw.HIGH, that is, until communication preparation on the lens side is completed. When a microcomputer on the lens side is reset and started, the lens side outputs a communication enable signal and thus the time from mounting of the lens to starting of a communication can be reduced. Thus, a lens-exchangeable camera can be provided capable of starting a BL communication in the shortest time depending on the lens.

Abstract: In a program reset processing, a camera confirms stopping of the lens by a focus lens drive state obtaining communication. Then, a lens request obtaining communication is performed. When the lens can return to the AF mode and is in the MF mode, an "AF/MF switch instruction" is transmitted. When a "lens request obtain" communication is performed and it is confirmed that the mode has been switched to the AF mode, "mechanism resetting" is performed. Thus, troubles in setting the focus mode can be prevented.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera body and an interchangeable lens. A microcomputer for operation control is provided on each of the camera body and the interchangeable lens. Data communication is performed between the microcomputers. The camera body transmits a signal representing the type of the camera body to the interchangeable lens, and based on the signal, the interchangeable lens chooses a data to be communicated.

Abstract: In performing an AF operation in a lens-exchangeable camera, whether or not the DVP reference for a lens mounted (i.e., a position serving as a reference for forward movement of the lens) is infinity, is determined. When the DVP reference is infinite, an AF operation is performed with a decision on subject movement. If the DVP reference is not infinity, an AF operation is performed without a decision on subject movement. Thus, a lens-exchangeable camera can be provided capable of preventing malfunction due to an inappropriate reference position for forward movement of the lens.

Abstract: A single-lens reflex camera comprises a taking lens having a zooming optical system, a finder whose angle of view is determined according to a focal length of the taking lens, and an operation member which is manually operated. In the single-lens reflex camera, the focal length of the taking lens is changed by driving the zooming optical system, and the zooming operation is controlled in response to an operation of the operation member so that the focal length of the taking lens is changed in the wide-angle direction by a predetermined amount. An angle of view corresponding to that which is seen before the focal length is changed is displayed within the finder.

Abstract: A lens holding frame holding a lens in a lens barrel is arranged, and a contact member extending therebelow is in friction coupling with a driving axis. By applying driving pulses having such a waveform that includes a moderate rising portion followed by an abrupt falling portion to a piezoelectric element, the holding frame is moved along the direction of the optical axis. An index provided at the holding frame is exposed through a slit of lens barrel, and from the position of the lens on the holding frame, information with respect to the distance to the object is displayed. Detection of the position of the holding frame is performed by a position sensor of ferromagnetic thin film magneto-resistive element type (MR sensor) so as to obtain positional information of the lens on the holding frame based on the detection signal, and the obtained information may be displayed on a liquid crystal or other display portion provided on the lens unit or on a camera body.

Abstract: A single-lens reflex camera comprises a taking lens having a zooming optical system, a finder whose angle of view is determined according to a focal length of the taking lens, and an operation member which is manually operated. In the single-lens reflex camera, the focal length of the taking lens is changed by driving the zooming optical system, and the zooming operation is controlled in response to an operation of the operation member so that the focal length of the taking lens is changed in the wide-angle direction by a predetermined amount. An angle of view corresponding to that which is seen before the focal length is changed is displayed within the finder.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel based on the vari-focal optical system includes a zoom cam ring which is supported only rotatably about the optical axis and a focus cam ring which is supported movably only in the axial direction both fitted on a fixed tube inside a lens barrel. For the alteration of the lens focal length, the zoom cam ring is turned to carry out zooming, and for the focusing of an object, the focus cam ring is moved in the axial direction to carry out focusing, thereby preventing the interference between zooming and focusing caused by the movement of the lens sets. A drive mechanism based on a piezo-electric element is used to move the focus cam ring in the axial direction, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing the weight.

Abstract: A single-lens reflex camera comprises a taking lens having a zooming optical system, a finder whose angle of view is determined according to a focal length of the taking lens, and an operation member which is manually operated. In the single-lens reflex camera, the focal length of the taking lens is changed by driving the zooming optical system, and the zooming operation is controlled in response to an operation of the operation member so that the focal length of the taking lens is changed in the wide-angle direction by a predetermined amount. An angle of view corresponding to that which is seen before the focal length is changed is displayed within the finder.

Abstract: A single-lens reflex camera comprises a taking lens having a zooming optical system, a finder whose angle of view is determined according to a focal length of the taking lens, and an operation member which is manually operated. In the single-lens reflex camera, the focal length of the taking lens is changed by driving the zooming optical system, and the zooming operation is controlled in response to an operation of the operation member so that the focal length of the taking lens is changed in the wide-angle direction by a predetermined amount. An angle of view corresponding to that which is seen before the focal length is changed is displayed within the finder.