Abstract: A camera capable of white balance correction (WBC) of this invention has an image pickup optical system, an image sensor for receiving light from an object, a three-primary-color (3-color) detection section for detecting 3-color signals based on the image sensor output, a matrix processing section for calculating 2-color difference signals from the 3-color signals, a visible-light brightness detection section for detecting visible-light brightness by the output from the 3-color detection section or by a photometric section, an infrared-light detection section for detecting the lightness of infrared-light, and an artificial-light detection section for calculating the ratio of artificial light and natural-light. A correction range for performing the WBC is obtained based on the ratio of artificial-light and natural-light computed by the artificial-light detection section, and the WBC is performed when the 2-color difference signals are within the correction range.

Abstract: A shutter abnormality detection apparatus for a camera includes a shutter including leading and trailing curtains which are shutter curtains electrically controlled to run. A curtain run detection unit detects a run state of at least one of the leading and trailing curtains. A curtain run time judgment unit judges a run time of the shutter curtains based on an output from the curtain run detection unit. An abnormality processing unit notifies an abnormality state of the shutter curtains, when it is judged as a result of judgment in the curtain run time judgment unit that the curtain run time is abnormal.

Abstract: A shutter abnormality detection apparatus for a camera includes a shutter including leading and trailing curtains which are shutter curtains electrically controlled to run. A curtain run detection unit detects a run state of at least one of the leading and trailing curtains. A curtain run time judgment unit judges a run time of the shutter curtains based on an output from the curtain run detection unit. An abnormality processing unit notifies an abnormality state of the shutter curtains, when it is judged as a result of judgment in the curtain run time judgment unit that the curtain run time is abnormal.

Abstract: A focusing apparatus includes a filter unit for performing frequency filtering processing on an image pickup signal, and a focus position detecting unit for detecting a focus position based on the contrast value of the image pickup signal having undergone the frequency filtering processing by the filter unit. The filter unit has a first filter for normal position detection, and a second filter for infinity position detection having a frequency characteristic different from that of the first filter, and selects the first filter or the second filter.

Abstract: A camera capable of white balance correction (WBC) of this invention has an image pickup optical system, an image sensor for receiving light from an object, a three-primary-color (3-color) detection section for detecting 3-color signals based on the image sensor output, a matrix processing section for calculating 2-color difference signals from the 3-color signals, a visible-light brightness detection section for detecting visible-light brightness by the output from the 3-color detection section or by a photometric section, an infrared-light detection section for detecting the lightness of infrared-light, and an artificial-light detection section for calculating the ratio of artificial light and natural-light. A correction range for performing the WBC is obtained based on the ratio of artificial-light and natural-light computed by the artificial-light detection section, and the WBC is performed when the 2-color difference signals are within the correction range.

Abstract: An aqueous solution (20) of an alkali hydroxide is stored and held in a tank (1). An electrode (5) is disposed in the tank (1), and a member (11) coated with a Ti-derived film is disposed in the tank (1) so as to be surrounded with the electrode (5). In this state, a power source (6) applies a negative potential to the electrode (5) and a positive potential to the member (11) to flow electricity between the electrode (5) and the member (11) immersed in the aqueous solution (20). Thus, the Ti-derived film coated on the surface of the member (11) is chemically removed by the aqueous solution (20).

Abstract: A digital camera is characterized by displaying an alarm in a display device in its finder, in the case where it cannot communicate with receivable equipment located nearby, or there is no receivable equipment located nearby.

Abstract: A bevel gear is generated using an annular milling cutter having a blade material made of a high-speed tool steel mounted to a main body, the blade material being coated with at least one layer of a film of a composition substantially comprising (Ti(1−x)Alx)(NyC(1−y)) (where, 0.2≦x≦0.85, 0.2≦y≦1.0), and dry cutting is performed at a cutting speed in the range from 20 to 400m/min without using a cutting oil. With this method, teeth can be generated at a greatly improved cutting speed without using any expensive tool such as cemented carbide, thereby realizing efficient production of a bevel gear at a reduced cost.

Abstract: A camera has a finder device. A liquid crystal element is arranged in the finder device and has an image area and at least one of an index area indicating an image range and an index area indicating information relating to photographing. A control circuit switches modes between a first mode in which the image area is set into a light transmitting state and a second mode in which the image area is set into a light shielding state according to a voltage applied to the liquid crystal element. The index areas always provide index display irrespective of application of the voltage to the liquid crystal element.

Abstract: A display device includes a liquid crystal capable of displaying a central region, a first peripheral region at the periphery of the central region, and a second peripheral region at the periphery of the central region and differing from the first peripheral region. A first electrode is connected to a region including the central region and first peripheral region of the liquid crystal. A second electrode is connected to a region including the central region and second peripheral region of the liquid crystal. The display regions of the liquid crystal are controlled by supplying driving signals to the first electrode and second electrode.

Abstract: A display device includes a liquid crystal capable of displaying a central region, a first peripheral region at the periphery of the central region, and a second peripheral region at the periphery of the central region and differing from the first peripheral region. A first electrode is connected to a region including the central region and first peripheral region of the liquid crystal. A second electrode is connected to a region including the central region and second peripheral region of the liquid crystal. The display regions of the liquid crystal are controlled by supplying driving signals to the first electrode and second electrode.

Abstract: A camera comprises a liquid-crystal display device and a liquid-crystal control section. The liquid-crystal display device has a liquid crystal whose transmittance is variable. The liquid-crystal control section, in the photograph enable mode, brings the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal display device into the light-transmitting state and, in the photograph disable mode, brings the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal display device into a half light-transmitting state or the no-light-transmitting state.

Abstract: A camera has a liquid-crystal display device including a liquid crystal whose transmittance is variable. A sensing section senses an abnormality in the camera. A liquid-crystal control section, in a release signal wait mode, brings the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal display device into a light-transmitting state and, when the sensing section has sensed an abnormality in the camera, changes the transmittance of the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal display device.

Abstract: This invention is an actuator including a vibration member to which a piezoelectric element is fixed, a plurality of projections arranged at node positions of a tertiary stationary wave on the vibration member, another plurality of projections arranged at node positions of a quintic stationary wave on a vibration member, a rotating member which is in press contact with these projections, and a fixing member for holding the vibration member and pivotally holding the rotating member. A tertiary or quintic stationary wave is selectively excited in the vibration member to rotate the rotating member in one direction or another direction.

Abstract: A camera includes a liquid-crystal display device with a liquid crystal whose transmittance is variable. A liquid-crystal control section, in a release signal waiting mode, brings the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal display device into the light-transmitting state and, when a release signal is output to turn on an exposure mode, lowers the transmittance of the liquid crystal of the liquid-crystal display device temporarily.

Abstract: In an additive process for producing printed wiring boards, by using a developer comprising a chlorine-free organic solvent and an alkaline aqueous solution and as a resist material a copolymer of methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate or the like, the production steps are simplified even if a substrate having a large area is used, and abolishment of chlorine-containing organic solvent as a developer becomes possible.

Abstract: The camera system comprises a camera and an external device. The camera includes a microcomputer, a write control circuit for receiving replacement data from the external device and writing the replacement data into a replacement program memory of the microcomputer, and an interface circuit for controlling a camera element in accordance with the decoded value output from an instruction decoder (ID) of the microcomputer. The external device includes a memory for storing address data to be changed in the microcomputer in the camera and replacement program data, and a transmission circuit for reading out the replacement data from the memory and transmitting the read-out data to the camera.

Abstract: An electronic flash illuminates an object. A first photometric unit measures a visible light component of ambient light of the object. A second photometric unit measures an infrared light component of the ambient light of the object. A determining unit determines the ratio between the visible light component measured by the first photometric unit and the infrared light component measured by the second photometric unit. On the basis of the ratio determined by the determining unit, a light emission determining unit determines whether the electronic flash is to be made emit light.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing printed circuit board by forming wiring pattern by chemical metal plating using a negative pattern made of a photosensitive resin composition layer as the plating resist, wherein the photosensitive resin comprises at least a linear high polymer composed of repeating units expressed by the following general formula (1); ##STR1## where, R.sub.1 is H, an alkyl group having 1-9 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1-9 carbon atoms, and a carboxyalkyl group having 1-9 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is an alkylene group having 1-9 carbon atoms, and n is the polymerized number of the repeating unit, and an organic compound expressed by the following general formula (2); ##STR2## where, R.sub.3 is H or an alkyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms, X is NH or S, and Z is N or C--Y, where Y is H, NH.sub.2, or SH.

Abstract: A battery check device for a camera which includes a discharging circuit to which current flows from a battery and a discharging time setting device for setting a discharging time for determining that an internal resistance of the battery has increased due to non-use of the battery so as to temporarily reduce an output voltage of the battery. The discharging time set by the discharging time setting device is longer than a time required to check the residual energy amount of the battery. A determining device determines whether a voltage of the discharging circuit has reached a reference voltage specific to the battery within the discharging time.