Abstract: A lens cap includes: a cap main frame; and a pair of operating members attached to a front surface of the cap main frame, wherein, when the operating members are made to slide outward by a biasing force, engaging portions at outer ends of the operating members are engaged with to-be-engaged portions in the front end opening, while first locking portions are formed at inner edges of the operating members, and second locking portions are formed on back surfaces of the operating members, concave portions are formed on the front surface of the cap main frame, first openings and second openings are formed in bottoms of the concave portions, cover plates are placed on the back surface of the cap main frame, and biasing members are placed between the cover plates and the back surface of the cap main frame.

Abstract: A lens cap includes: a cap main frame; and a pair of operating members attached to a front surface of the cap main frame, wherein, when the operating members are made to slide outward by a biasing force, engaging portions at outer ends of the operating members are engaged with to-be-engaged portions in the front end opening, while first locking portions are formed at inner edges of the operating members, and second locking portions are formed on back surfaces of the operating members, concave portions are formed on the front surface of the cap main frame, first openings and second openings are formed in bottoms of the concave portions, cover plates are placed on the back surface of the cap main frame, and biasing members are placed between the cover plates and the back surface of the cap main frame.

Abstract: In an image blur correction device and an imaging device according to the present invention, a holder for holding an optical component, which is displaced for correcting an image blur, is supported by one or more balls, so as to be freely displaced by sliding on the base, and has a structure to restrict the movement of the holder within a range, which is smaller than a mobile range normally acquired when the ball is assembled, if the ball is omitted in an assembly. Therefore the image blur correction device and the imaging device having this configuration can detect the missing of a ball in an assembly.

Abstract: In an image blur correction device and an imaging device according to the present invention, a holder for holding an optical component, which is displaced for correcting an image blur, is supported by one or more balls, so as to be freely displaced by sliding on the base, and has a structure to restrict the movement of the holder within a range, which is smaller than a mobile range normally acquired when the ball is assembled, if the ball is omitted in an assembly. Therefore the image blur correction device and the imaging device having this configuration can detect the missing of a ball in an assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fabricating a lens unit in which an inter-barrel member can be fixed with a high degree of accuracy without enlarging the lens barrels and the accuracy of the dimension of the inter-barrel member is not required. The method comprises the steps of: disposing an inter-barrel member 11 in a gap “g” defined between a front lens barrel 7 on a subject side in an optical-axis direction x and a rear lens barrel 8 on an imaging surface side in the optical-axis direction x; bringing the inter-barrel member 11 into close contact with one of the front lens barrel 7 and the rear lens barrel 8 in the optical-axis direction x; inserting a resilient member 12 into a space in the optical-axis direction x between the inter-barrel member 11 and the other of the front lens barrel 7 and the rear lens barrel 8; and fixing the front lens barrel 7 and the rear lens barrel 8 integrally with each other to compress the resilient member 12 in the optical-axis direction x.

Abstract: The lens barrel of the present invention, in order to provide a lens barrel capable of reliably and easily preventing the breakage of the tooth of the revolving shaft of the driving motor and the tooth of the rack which teeth are engaged with each other, the lens barrel is provided with: the driving motor; the lens unit holder that has the rack receiving the transmission of the driving force by engaging with the revolving shaft which is a part of the driving motor, and holds the lens unit holder; and the spear portion that releases the engagement between the part of the revolving shaft and the rack.

Abstract: There are provided a lens barrel unit and an imaging apparatus in which a plurality of constituent elements can be driven using a linear driving mechanism.

Abstract: There are provided a lens barrel unit and an imaging apparatus in which a plurality of constituent elements can be driven using a linear driving mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for fabricating a lens unit in which an inter-barrel member can be fixed with a high degree of accuracy without enlarging the lens barrels and the accuracy of the dimension of the inter-barrel member is not required. The method comprises the steps of: disposing an inter-barrel member 11 in a gap “g” defined between a front lens barrel 7 on a subject side in an optical-axis direction x and a rear lens barrel 8 on an imaging surface side in the optical-axis direction x; bringing the inter-barrel member 11 into close contact with one of the front lens barrel 7 and the rear lens barrel 8 in the optical-axis direction x; inserting a resilient member 12 into a space in the optical-axis direction x between the inter-barrel member 11 and the other of the front lens barrel 7 and the rear lens barrel 8; and fixing the front lens barrel 7 and the rear lens barrel 8 integrally with each other to compress the resilient member 12 in the optical-axis direction x.

Abstract: A lens barrel and an imaging apparatus are provided that can definitely detect the positions of a plurality of lens groups, do not require high accuracy components, has a high reliability, and is inexpensive. In a lens barrel provided with imaging optical systems with two or more lens groups and driving devices that independently drive the respective lens groups, a lens barrel constituted so that it has a detected member that is attached to one of the lens groups among said lens groups, and said lens group to which said member to be detected is attached moves in conjunction with the drive of the lens group to which said member to be detected is not attached.

Abstract: The lens barrel of the present invention, in order to provide a lens barrel capable of reliably and easily preventing the breakage of the tooth of the revolving shaft of the driving motor and the tooth of the rack which teeth are engaged with each other, the lens barrel is provided with: the driving motor; the lens unit holder that has the rack receiving the transmission of the driving force by engaging with the revolving shaft which is a part of the driving motor, and holds the lens unit holder; and the spear portion that releases the engagement between the part of the revolving shaft and the rack.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus is provided with an image sensor for photoelectrically converting received light into an electrical signal, a photographing optical system having an image circle larger than an area of the imaging plane of the image sensor for forming an optical image of a subject onto an imaging plane of the image sensor, and a driving section for driving the image sensor over a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the photographing optical system, and a shift photographing mode for performing a photographing in a state that the center of the imaging plane of the image sensor is shifted from the optical axis of the photographing optical system.

Abstract: An information communication apparatus for conducting information communication such as a telephone conversation, sending and reception of E-mails and the like and for capturing an image of a subject comprises an image capturing unit for capturing an image through the zoom optical system, and a body unit for displaying an image and accepting a user's input. A rotating mechanism is provided between the image capturing unit and the body unit. When a user conducts information communication or carries the information communication apparatus, the image capturing unit is positioned so that the optical axis of the zoom optical system is substantially parallel to a display screen of a display. This prevents impairment of the portability of the information communication apparatus. When the user captures an image, the image capturing unit is positioned so that the optical axis of the zoom optical system is substantially perpendicular to the display screen of the display.

Abstract: Openings (OPa, OPb) corresponding to respective card slots (18a, 18b) are formed in a side face of a digital camera, and a slot cover (121) having a size covering both of the openings (OPa, OPb) is placed in a manner so as to shift thereon, thereby allowing either of the openings of the card slots to be selectively exposed. A CPU, installed therein, is allowed to access a card-type medium attached to the card slot that is not exposed, and is not allowed to access a card-type medium attached to the card slot that is exposed. A card-type medium can be detachably attached to the card slot that is exposed, and with respect to the card slot that is not exposed, the attaching and removing operations of a card-type medium are restricted.

Abstract: A portable apparatus having setting means for setting mutually contradictory functions, wherein the setting means comprises a pair of operation buttons, and the operation buttons are disposed on opposing surfaces of the body of the portable apparatus, respectively.

Abstract: An information communication apparatus for conducting information communication such as a telephone conversation, sending and reception of E-mails and the like and for capturing an image of a subject comprises an image capturing unit for capturing an image through the zoom optical system, and a body unit for displaying an image and accepting a user's input. A rotating mechanism is provided between the image capturing unit and the body unit. When a user conducts information communication or carries the information communication apparatus, the image capturing unit is positioned so that the optical axis of the zoom optical system is substantially parallel to a display screen of a display. This prevents impairment of the portability of the information communication apparatus. When the user captures an image, the image capturing unit is positioned so that the optical axis of the zoom optical system is substantially perpendicular to the display screen of the display.

Abstract: A digital camera has an image capturing mode MD1 and a reproduction mode MD2. When an event regarding reproduction, specifically, attachment of a lens cap, operation of a four-way switch or the like to reproduce an image or sound, or insertion of a memory card for reproduction is detected in the image capturing mode M1, the digital camera is automatically switched to the reproduction mode MD2. On the other hand, when an event regarding image capturing, specifically, operation of a pop-up flash, detection of contact of the eye to an eye cup, various settings regarding image capturing, insertion of a memory card for image capturing, or operation of image capturing with a self-timer, focusing, zoom, aperture, shutter button, recording, or display switching is detected in the reproduction mode MD2, the digital camera is automatically switched to the image capturing mode MD1.

Abstract: A portable apparatus having setting means for setting mutually contradictory functions, wherein the setting means comprises a pair of operation buttons, and the operation buttons are disposed on opposing surfaces of the body of the portable apparatus, respectively.

Abstract: Openings (OPa, OPb) corresponding to respective card slots (18a, 18b) are formed in a side face of a digital camera, and a slot cover (121) having a size covering both of the openings (OPa, OPb) is placed in a manner so as to shift thereon, thereby allowing either of the openings of the card slots to be selectively exposed. A CPU, installed therein, is allowed to access a card-type medium attached to the card slot that is not exposed, and is not allowed to access a card-type medium attached to the card slot that is exposed. A card-type medium can be detachably attached to the card slot that is exposed, and with respect to the card slot that is not exposed, the attaching and removing operations of a card-type medium are restricted.

Abstract: A camera is provided with two display devices, one for making a superimposed display of information inside an image plane frame within a viewfinder and the other for displaying information outside the image plane frame. The superimposed display is controlled to be made for a shorter period of time than the display made outside the image plane frame, so that the viewfinder can be sighted without being hindered by the superimposed display.