Abstract: A device used in a digital still camera with its lens assembly to prevent the sensor like CCD or C-MOS from receiving harmful light which comes into a sensor area along the periphery of a lens barrel.

Abstract: A two zone lens auto-focusing system to be used in a digital still camera includes a picture taking lens, a solenoid to switch the lens focus point between near distance point and far distance point. The CPU or the electronically controlled distance measuring system of the camera having detected the position of the object, it excites the solenoid, and the head of the solenoid is pulled into the solenoid body with a very short stroke, and the arm that is provided on the lens barrel and coupled with the solenoid head is also pulled toward the solenoid body to transfer the movement of solenoid head to the lens barrel, so that the lens focus may be set at either of far position or near position automatically. These members are assembled and form a simple two zone auto-focusing system of digital still cameras.

Abstract: A system to be used in a digital still camera to control zooming of the zoom lens, which uses programmed data written in a micro controller unit (MCU) instead of cams that are usually used to mechanically control zooming of the zoom lens of digital still cameras, and to control auto-focusing of the zoom lens with the very mechanism which is used for the zoom controlling by receiving electronic signals (pulses) from the MCU or electronically controlled distance measuring system of the digital still camera.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light transmitting apparatus between a rotor and a stator for transmitting data. The apparatus comprises a light-emitting element arranged in a position of a first reference radius of the rotor for emitting a light beam in accordance with the data to be transmitted, a photo-detecting element arranged in a position of a second reference radius on the stator 12 for detecting the beam, and a fan-shaped optical guide member positioned between the stator and the rotor, made of a transparent material, and fixed to the stator. The beam is reflected by a first reflecting surface formed in the arcuate portion of the member and, then, reflected by a second reflecting surface formed in the proximal end portion of the member so as to guide the beam to the photo-detecting element.

Abstract: An optical multiplexing and demultiplexing device of a type using a lens and a diffraction grating, which incorporates a waveguide array having waveguide channels with narrow spacings for facilitating high resolution, where the narrow spacings are realized by forming an etching groove between each adjacent waveguide channels and providing a measure for preventing optical coupling among the waveguide channels in the form of an air gap, or a layer having a refractive index lower than a cladding layer, or a layer for absorbing/reflecting light, which is provided in the etching groove. The device also incorporates a reflection mirror for reflecting the initially diffracted lights from the diffraction grating back to the diffraction grating, such that the diffracting grating diffracts the diffracted lights reflected back from the reflection mirror again to produce wavelength division multiplexed/demultiplexed optical signals in high resolution.

Abstract: For a camera of the kind permitting change-over of the aspect ratio of its image pickup area from one aspect ratio to another, an optical system and an apparatus using the optical system are arranged to be capable of preventing the angle of view of a zoom lens from being changed by the change-over of the aspect ratio.

Abstract: A film transport system to be used in cameras for the Advanced Photo System cartridge film, which have one motor for feeding the film out of the cartridge and for taking up the film on the take-up spool, one sun gear with two planet gears in the film driving gear train to switch the direction of film drive between feed and take-up on the one hand and rewind on the other hand. An arc shaped slot receives the axle of the film advance (feed and take-up) planet gear to accommodate differences of speed between feeding and taking up of the film. This avoids the need for a one way clutch and a separate rewind gear train.

Abstract: A still camera viewfinder comprising a reticle lens having more than one frame thereon and which is selectively positionable in the viewing area, and viewing area masking plate arms which are coupled to said reticle lens to open or selectively mask portions of the viewing area dependent upon the film format or lens in use.

Abstract: An optical communication apparatus that includes a polarization beam splitter which synthesizes an optical axis of a light emitting optical system having a light emission element for emitting a linearly polarized light and an optical axis of a light receiving optical axis to make the optical axis for reception coincide with the optical axis for transmission. A phase plate is provided in such a manner as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle about the common axis. An optical axis of the phase plate of each of the associated communication apparatuses is set at an adequate angle before installation thereof.

Abstract: A zoom lens wherein a portion of the zoom lens moves for focusing has, from front to rear, a first lens unit of positive refractive power, at least a rear lens part of the first lens unit being moved to effect focusing. A plurality of lens units are provided to effect zooming, and these lens units move along an optical axis. Focusing from an infinitely distant object to an object at a minimum distance is performed by (i) moving the at least rear lens part forward, and (ii) moving one movable lens unit of the plurality of lens units forward into a space vacated by the rear lens part moving forward.

Abstract: An aperture device for use in an optical apparatus has a plurality of aperture blades which cooperate in collectively defining an aperture of a desired size. The inner edge of at least one of such blades defining one side of the aperture is uneven over at least part of the length of the inner edge. The spacing between adjacent relatively high portions and relatively low portions, as well as the depth, is smaller than the exposed length of the inner edge of each aperture blade when the aperture device has been operated to the minimum aperture size. Preferably, the spacing between adjacent crests or between adjacent high portions and low portions of the unevenness varies in a non-periodic manner.

Abstract: An image projector has a device for supplying a first light exhibiting a first color and a second light exhibiting a second color differing from the first color, a first generator for modulating the first light and generating a first image by polarized lights whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other, a second generator for modulating the second light and generating a second image by polarized lights whose planes of polarization are orthogonal to each other, an optical coupler for reflecting one of the polarized lights from the first generator and transmitting the other therethrough and transmitting therethrough one of the polarized lights from the second generator and reflecting the other, and a projection optical system for receiving the one polarized light from the first generator and the one polarized light from the second generator through the coupler, and projecting the first and second images by these polarized lights.

Abstract: This specification discloses an objective lens disposed forwardly of a prism block for dividing light into a plurality of color components, the objective lens having an optical filter differing in spectral transmission factor between the central area thereof and the marginal areas thereof, this filter being given the characteristic that one of the marginal areas transmits much of magenta light therethrough and the other marginal area transmits much of green light therethrough, thereby suppressing the coloring of a blurred image based on the light incidence angle dependency of the color dividing surface of the prism block.

Abstract: A projector capable of compactizing the structure and improving the efficiency of light utilization is disclosed. The projector has an illuminating system, a light modulation device and a projection optical system. A first and a second lights of mutually different colors are emitted from the illumination optical system. The light modulating device has a first light modulator for modulating the first light according to a first image signal and a second light modulator for modulating the second light according to a second image signal. Each of the first and second light modulators is provided with a grating, a liquid crystal filled in the grooves of the grating and a driver for driving the molecules of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: This is to disclose an optical apparatus, comprising a plurality of optical lenses; and a plurality of light blocking plates or blocking member arranged in the direction of the optical axis for blocking harmful sagittal peripheral rays, the light blocking plates being installed in a ring shape at the pupil position of the optical lenses and being inclined, by an angle .alpha. respectively, to a plurality of imaginary planes including the optical axis.

Abstract: A zoom lens consisting of a front lens portion having a plurality of lens units which are separated from each other by spaces which vary for zooming, and a rear lens portion comprising an image forming relay lens group for introducing rays of light emitted from the front lens portion to an image surface. The rear lens portion consists of a front relay group that is widely spaced ahead of a rear relay group. The rear relay group comprises a first movable lens group having a positive refractive power that moves along the optical axis for macro photography, and a second movable lens group having a positive refractive power that independently moves along the optical axis to adjust tracking.