Abstract: A camera with a retractable electronic flash assembly is provided with a cam member having a first cam face for moving the flash assembly and a second cam face for moving a flashtube in the flash assembly. The cam member is moved within a first moving range to move the flash assembly, and the cam member is moved within a second moving range to move the flashtube. Thus, a moving mechanism of the flash assembly and the flashtube can be simplified.

Abstract: A pivot of a lens cover provided between a camera body and a casing is arranged in a space enclosed by a film cartridge chamber, a fixed cylinder of a lens barrel and a finder in the camera body. The front of the film cartridge chamber is thus utilized as a recessed space for the lens cover. Projecting parts are formed on the peripheral surface of the fixed cylinder, and chips are formed at the inner circumference of a drive ring, which is rotatably arranged on the peripheral surface of the fixed cylinder and transmits a rotational force of the motor to the lens cover. The drive ring is mounted on the fixed cylinder with the chips being joined with the projecting parts, and is rotated by a predetermined amount so that the projecting parts can prevent the drive ring from coming off. This eliminates the necessity of adding a member for preventing the drive ring from coming off.

Abstract: A top face of a battery chamber lid is almost flush with an electronic flash housing to form a part of the top of a camera casing. More specifically, the electronic flash housing and the battery chamber lid are formed and arranged adjacently to form a part of the top of the camera casing. This eliminates the difference in level between the battery chamber lid and the electronic flash housing, and eliminates the necessity of providing a filler member for filling the difference in level. This makes it easier to manufacture the camera casing, and raises the strength of the camera casing.

Abstract: A photographic camera is provided with a cartridge chamber in which a film cartridge is loaded. A chamber lid is movable between an opening position in which it opens an entrance opening to the cartridge chamber and a closed position in which it closes the entrance opening. A lock lever is moved to a locking position in response to movement of the chamber lid to the closed position to lock the chamber lid in the closed position and is moved to an unlocking position to release the chamber lid in response to an operation for opening the chamber lid. The lock lever is urged toward the locking position by a spring.

Abstract: The lens barrel cover of a camera is made separately from its front cover, whereby the center positions of the lens barrel and opening of the lens barrel cover can easily be aligned with each other. Also, since the insertion opening of the front cover is disposed as being shielded with the lens barrel cover, the insertion opening is not exposed to the exterior of the camera, whereby the appearance of the camera will not be spoiled even if the insertion opening and lens barrel positionally deviate from each other. Further, since the front cover is pressed toward the main body section as the lens barrel cover is being attached, no gap is formed between the front cover and the main body section.

Abstract: In a finder, a movable lens is supported by a shaft and a guide plate respectively at both side edge portions thereof so as to keep a balance. The movable lens is moved accurately and smoothly. Also, the guide plate for supporting the side edge portion of the movable lens is separated from the frame. Accordingly, the movement of the movable lens can be smoothed when the machining accuracy of the guide plate is enhanced alone so as to support the movable lens at an accurate position.

Abstract: A display panel is incorporated on the back of a camera body and a cover plate is pivotally attached to the side of the camera body. Operating buttons are provided on the inside of the cover plate. When the cover plate is closed, the operating buttons are contained in the camera body and covered with the cover plate. When the cover plate is opened, the inside of the cover plate faces substantially parallel to an indicating surface of the display panel. At this time, the operating buttons and the display panel are visible from a common vantage point.

Abstract: A laser oscillator system has prolonged service lives of optical components thereof by preventing dust and the like from being produced from heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being reduced in size, and further, generates a higher laser beam output. The laser oscillator system uses a plate type heat exchanger as a cooling unit. The plate type heat exchanger can be made free of dust and the like, during a process of manufacturing it. Hence, it is possible to prevent inclusion of dust and the like from the heat exchanger into a laser oscillator and, thereby, markedly prolong the service lives of optical component parts. Further, the plate type heat exchanger is reduced in size and weight, which makes it possible to simplify a laser gas-circulating system. Further, influence of presence thereof, such as vibrations transmitted therefrom and the like, adversely affecting an electric discharge tube and the like, is reduced.

Abstract: A camera having a metallic front cover comprises a plastic inner cover to mount the front cover to a main body. The inner cover is provided with a step wall. Height of the step wall is more than thickness of the front cover. A pair of hollows are formed in the step wall. A pair of engaging projections are provided on an edge of the front cover. The front cover is attached to the inner cover by fitting the engaging projection into the hollow so that the front cover is adapted to be not lifted up from the inner cover.

Abstract: A cover assembly for a camera having a metallic front cover. The metallic front cover is provided with an upheaval portion. An end surface of the upheaval portion is manufactured as a plane surface. A plastic inner frame is provided with a projection having a step. After the metallic front cover is attached to the inner frame, an ornamental member is pushed toward the metallic front cover such that engaging claws of the ornamental member are adjusted to recesses formed on the projection. The engaging claw is guided by the recess and engages with the step of the projection. A lower surface of the ornamental member abuts closely on the end surface of the upheaval portion. The metallic front cover is fixed by being caught between the ornamental member and the inner frame.

Abstract: A camera having a front cover made of metal comprises a plastic inner cover to mount the front cover to a main body. The inner cover is provided with a grip portion integrally formed therewith. The grip portion is exposed to the outside and protrudes from the front cover forwardly. Further, a surface of the grip portion is molded with plural ridges for anti-slipping. The grip portion made of plastic has advantages, in comparison with a grip covered with the metal front cover, in prevention of slipping and cost for producing the camera.

Abstract: When a switching control on an outer wall of a camera is operated and stopped at a click groove corresponding to a desired aspect ratio (for example, C), a CHP lever moves up together with the switching control, and the displacement of the CHP lever is transmitted to an axis rotating lever via a spring. A rotational stroke of the axis rotating lever is smaller than a moving stroke of the CHP lever. A displacement of the CHP lever exceeding the rotational stroke of the axis rotating lever is absorbed by the deformation of the spring. The axis rotating lever is positioned steadily at one of ends of the stroke by the elastic force induced by the deformation of the spring. As a result, the ends of stroke holes in visual field frame pieces can abut against positioning pins without fail.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a switching mechanism for a photographic camera having a panoramic photographing function, wherein changeover between ON/OFF of a main switch as well as changeover of photographing mode (PANORAMA, NORMAL, etc.) can be simultaneously performed by a single manipulator and thereby not only the number of parts required for desired switching operation but also the space demand for these parts can be effectively reduced.

Abstract: A laser discharge tube having electrodes the peeling of which is reduced and a method of manufacturing electrodes of a laser discharge tube by which the peeling of the electrodes is reduced. The electrodes are adhered to the outside periphery of the tube wall of the laser discharge tube. The electrodes contain as components an electric conductive substance, an inorganic binder and boron nitride as a thermal expansion preventing substance for suppressing a coefficient of thermal expansion. When a silica glass tube is used as the laser discharge tube, the laser discharge tube has a coefficient of thermal expansion of +0.5.times.10.sup.-6. When the electrodes are mixed with boron nitride, the electrodes have a coefficient of thermal expansion of +2 to +7.times.10.sup.-6 and the coefficient of thermal expansion of the electrodes can be brought close to the that of the laser discharge tube by mixing boron nitride with the electrodes.

Abstract: A laser discharge tube for preventing the flow out of an electrode material, deterioration of electrodes, and the like, caused by corona discharge, as well as for increasing power to be supplied to the laser discharge tube by improving the heat-dissipating property and insulating property of the electrodes. The laser discharge tube is a tube of a dielectric material (e.g., silica glass) with a circular cross section and two electrode units are helically disposed on the outside periphery thereof at the same pitch. The electrode units include electrodes and dielectric layers, respectively, and each of the electrodes is formed by depositing silver as an electric conductor on the outside periphery of the tube wall by metalizing.

Abstract: A numerical control system for a laser comprises a laser oscillator (1), an electric power supply (3) for driving the laser oscillator, and a computerized numerical control system (CNC) (5). The numerical control system includes sequence control means for controlling a sequence of operation of the laser oscillator, output control means for controlling output conditions of the laser oscillator feedback control means for controlling the feedback of an output from the laser oscillator, and display control means for displaying a condition of the laser oscillator. The laser oscillator (1), the power supply (3), and the computerized numerical control system (5) are coupled together, making the numerical control system for the laser small in size and simple in arrangement.

Abstract: A laser oscillator device applies a high-frequency voltage to a plurality of discharge regions (1a, 1b) through a dielectric to produce a high-frequency discharge for laser pumping. The laser oscillator device includes high-frequency power supplies (26a, 26b) for converting a DC power supply into high-frequency power supply outputs, output transformers (22a, 22b) for boosting the high-frequency power supply outputs and transmitting high-frequency electric power to the discharge regions, the output transformers having secondary windings with grounded midpoints, and current detectors (CT1a, CT1b) for detecting currents flowing through discharge tubes. Output currents of the high-frequency power supplies are controlled by feeding back the detected currents. Since the detected currents are not affected by mutual currents between electrodes, alarm conditions due to uncontrollable operation of a feedback loop and damage of parts are prevented from occurring, and stable current control is achieved.

Abstract: A laser oscillator device applies a high-frequency voltage to a plurality of discharge regions through a dielectric for producing a high-frequency discharge for laser pumping. Various interferences in the laser oscillator device are prevented to allow the device to produce a stable output. The laser oscillator device includes DC power supplies (DC12a, DC13a, DC13c, DC13d) and high-frequency power supplies (RF12b, RF13b, RF14b, RF15b) which are integrally coupled to prevent electromagnetic interference through cables for allowing stable laser oscillation and also to prevent various other interferences.

Abstract: A laser oscillator device applies a high-frequency voltage to a plurality of discharge regions through a dielectric for producing a high-frequency discharge for laser pumping. The laser oscillator device includes a DC power supply (16), and a high-frequency power supply (18, 19, 20, 21) for converting a DC voltage into a high-frequency voltage. The DC power supply (16) and the high-frequency power supply (18, 19, 20, 21) are coupled to each other by a filter (30). The filter (30) prevents a high-frequency component from being fed back from the high-frequency power supply (18, 19, 20, 21) to prevent the laser oscillator device from operating unstably due to parasitic oscillation. Other arrangements are disclosed for preventing interference between the high-frequency power supply and the DC power supply.

Abstract: A laser oscillator device applies a high-frequency voltage to a plurality of discharge regions through a dielectric for producing a high-frequency discharge for laser pumping. The laser oscillator device has current detectors (CT2a, CT2b) for detecting currents flowing from high-frequency power supplies (26a, 26b) into discharge tubes (1). The current detectors are disposed in positions to detect mutual currents between the adjacent discharge tubes. The currents detected by the current detectors (CT2a, CT2b) are used as feedback currents for preventing uncontrollable conditions of the currents due to a coupling current. The laser oscillator device also has a mechanism for preventing interference in the discharge regions.