Abstract: A parallel driving device that drives parallel-connected semiconductor elements includes a control unit and a gate driving circuit. The control unit detects a temperature difference between the semiconductor elements on the basis of detected values by temperature sensors that detect temperatures of the individual semiconductor elements. The control unit generates a control signal for changing the timing at which to turn on a first semiconductor element specified from the semiconductor elements on the basis of the temperature difference. The gate driving circuit generates a first driving signal for driving the semiconductor elements, and generates a second driving signal that is the first driving signal delayed on the basis of the control signal, and applies the second driving signal to the first semiconductor element.

Abstract: An air cleaner unit of the present invention includes a removable cleaner case having defined therein an outflow port, located below the filter element, for discharging an air, introduced into the cleaner case, towards the combustion engine and including a case body opening downwardly and a bottom plate closing the opening of the case body, and a filter element replaceably accommodated within the cleaner case for substantially purifying the air introduced into the cleaner case through an air intake port. A pedestal is carried by the combustion engine and has an outer peripheral surface, which is substantially in flush with an outer peripheral surface of the filter element within the cleaner case. This filter element within the cleaner case is removably mounted on the pedestal. The bottom plate has a mounting hole defined therein and encircling the outer peripheral surface of the pedestal.

Abstract: An air cleaner unit (7) of the present invention includes a removable cleaner case (70) having defined therein an outflow port (101), located below the filter element, for discharging an air, introduced into the cleaner case (70), towards the combustion engine and including a case body (71) opening downwardly and a bottom plate (73) closing the opening of the case body (71), and a filter element (72) replaceably accommodated within the cleaner case (70) for substantially purifying the air introduced into the cleaner case through an air intake port (74). A pedestal (60) is carried by the combustion engine and has an outer peripheral surface, which is substantially in flush with an outer peripheral surface of the filter element within the cleaner case (70). This filter element (72) within the cleaner case (70) is removably mounted on the pedestal (70). The bottom plate (73) has a mounting hole (73c) defined therein and encircling the outer peripheral surface of the pedestal (60).

Abstract: To provide a small-size engine having a forced air cooling system, wherein the amount of protrusion of the air intake system outwardly from the engine body can be minimized and the limitation on the space required for installation of the engine to the various work units can be alleviated, the engine includes a cooling fan (9) mounted on one end of a crankshaft (4) and has a longitudinal axis (S) of a cylinder block (5) inclined relative to a horizontal direction and also to a vertical direction. A fan housing (17) for guiding a cooling air (W) from the cooling fan (9) towards a cylinder block (5) and a cylinder head (6) is formed with a cutout (22) through which a float chamber (23) of a carburetor (15) is positioned inside the fan housing (17).

Abstract: To provide a small-size engine having a forced air cooling system, wherein the amount of protrusion of the air intake system outwardly from the engine body can be minimized and the limitation on the space required for installation of the engine to the various work units can be alleviated, the engine includes a cooling fan (9) mounted on one end of a crankshaft (4) and has a longitudinal axis (S) of a cylinder block (5) inclined relative to a horizontal direction and also to a vertical direction. A fan housing (17) for guiding a cooling air (W) from the cooling fan (9) towards a cylinder block (5) and a cylinder head (6) is formed with a cutout (22) through which a float chamber (23) of a carburetor (15) is positioned inside the fan housing (17).

Abstract: A water-cooled V-type engine includes: a crankcase in which a crankshaft is rotatably disposed; two cylinders disposed on the crankcase so as to form V-shape; a starter disposed below one of the two cylinders; and a cooling system for cooling the engine with a cooling water. The cooling system includes: a radiator for cooling the cooling water; water jackets disposed on the two cylinders; and a thermostat disposed in a supply line having one end connected to a water outlet formed in a lower end part of the radiator and the other end connected to inlets of the water jackets. The thermostat is disposed below the other of the two cylinders. The engine can be formed in compact construction and the piping of the cooling system can be simplified since the starter and the thermostat are disposed below the tilted cylinders, respectively.

Abstract: A water-cooled V-type engine includes: a crankcase in which a crankshaft is rotatably disposed; two cylinders disposed on the crankcase so as to form V-shape; a starter disposed below one of the two cylinders; and a cooling system for cooling the engine with a cooling water. The cooling system includes: a radiator for cooling the cooling water; water jackets disposed on the two cylinders; and a thermostat disposed in a supply line having one end connected to a water outlet formed in a lower end part of the radiator and the other end connected to inlets of the water jackets. The thermostat is disposed below the other of the two cylinders. The engine can be formed in compact construction and the piping of the cooling system can be simplified since the starter and the thermostat are disposed below the tilted cylinders, respectively.

Abstract: A mounting device on a camera has a mounting member to fit with an accessory so as to mount the accessory on the camera by sliding it. The mounting member which is molded out of plastic in one piece has eaves-like portions overhanging from an upper portion thereof in opposite directions intersecting perpendicularly to a mounting direction of the accessory, thus having a generally T-shaped cross section. The mounting member has a groove running in the mounting direction at a top central portion for receiving a projecting portion of the accessory so as to determine a horizontal (lateral) position of the accessory relative to the camera. The eaves-like portions receive mating members of the accessory thereunder so as to determine a vertical position of the accessory relative to the camera.

Abstract: An IC card suitably adapted to a camera as a small size device and a camera to which such IC card can be mounted appropriately. The IC card is formed as a rectangular plate of a size of about 20 mm.times.30 mm to 40 mm.times.60 mm so that it may be mounted on a camera. Contents of the IC card are or can be indicated on a front surface of the IC card. A plurality of connecting terminals for electric connection to a camera are disposed in a row on a rear surface along an edge of the IC card. A camera for use with such IC card has an IC card accommodating means provided thereon. Where the camera is a single lens reflex camera, the means may be located sidewardly of a pentagonal roof prism accommodating section on the top of the camera and include a lid member for opening or closing a card accommodating section thereof.

Abstract: A camera system wherein a card accommodating device can be mounted on a body of a camera without increasing the overall size of the camera body and without deteriorating the appearance and convenience in use of the camera. The card accommodating device is mounted on the camera body for pivotal motion from and to a position at which it is fitted in a recessed spacing formed rearwardly of a battery accommodating chamber and sidewardly of a take-up spool chamber of the camera body. The card accommodating device at the position forms part of a side wall of the camera body. The card accommodating device comprises an outer lid unit for removably accommodating an IC card therein, and an inner lid unit mounted for movement and releasably arrested on the outer lid unit and having switch elements and electric signal transmitting contacts located thereon.

Abstract: A photographic camera having a manual focusing mechanism, an automatic focusing mechanism for automatically moving a lens with a drive device and a clutch disposed between the drive device and the lens. The clutch is normally urged towards a state of engagement by an urging element. Also, the clutch may be maintained at its disengaged position against the urging force of the urging element by a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is operatively connected with the drive device so as to be automatically released by a drive operation of the drive device.

Abstract: A drive coupling device for transmitting a rotational drive force from an optical instrument such as a camera body to another optical instrument such as an exchangeable lens has a construction which couples driving and driven coupling members steadily while centerizing the center axes of the driving and driven coupling members for efficient drive force transmission. A flat male engaging portion having a top surface and parallel side walls is formed on the driving coupling member while a slotted female engaging portion having a concave bottom wall and parallel side walls is formed on the driven coupling member. With the optical instruments connected to each other, the male engaging portion is brought into engagement with the female engaging portion under a force of a spring.

Abstract: An illuminating angle adjusting apparatus for an electronic flash device is capable of adjusting the illuminating angle of the electronic flash device in response to drive of a motor smoothly and accurately by a combination of a guide groove and a guide rail provided almost in the same vertical position as a rack gear of a zooming frame and an output gear of a transmission mechanism engaged with one another. A driving force produced by the motor is transmitted to the zooming frame through the engagement of the output gear and the rack gear to move the zooming frame relative to a light emitting portion of the electronic flash device with the same being guided by the guide groove and the guide rail. The movement of the zooming frame causes the change in the illuminating angle of the electronic flash device as it carries a lens at a front portion thereof.

Abstract: An optical unit for use with interchangeable lenses is provided with a mounting and demounting device which includes a mount positioning member, a lock member for locking the mount positioning member at a retracted position, and a mount releasing member for retracting the mount positioning member to the non-projected position. The mount positioning member is urged to project and engageable with a positioning recess of an interchangeable lens. The locking member is provided with a detection means which causes the locking member to release the mount positioning member by detecting completion of mounting of an interchangeable lens on the optical unit.

Abstract: A film information reading device of a camera adapted for use with a film cartridge having on an outer periphery film information pattern consisting of a combination of a plurality of conductive or insulated code areas, including a chamber wall for defining a film loading chamber, and a plurality of electrical contact members which are in contact with the code areas on the film cartridge, when the film cartridge is loaded into the camera. The film information, such as film sensitive speed, can be read out by detecting whether the contact members are in contact with the conductive or insulative code areas.The chamber wall (11c, 11d, 21) has an opening (21a) opened toward the inside the film chamber (12). A base member (22) is slidably fitted within the opening (21a) so as to be slidingly movable between a projected position and a retracted position.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an improved optical unit provided with a driving shaft which is arranged to be displaced in an axial direction for connection with a driven shaft of a mating instrument, following attachment or detachment with respect to the mating instrument. In the optical unit, safety of the mounting surface of the mating instrument and safety of the connecting end portion of the driving shaft have been ensured by providing a difference between the amount of displacement of a position restricting member advancing into a mounting position restricting recess provided in a mounting surface of the mating instrument, and the amount of displacement of the driving shaft to be connected to an end to be clutched of a driven shaft which is borne or journalled in a hole formed in the mounting portion of the mating instrument.

Abstract: An exchangeable lens assembly detachably mountable on a camera body having an automatic focusing device is selectively capable of either automatic focus adjustment by the operation of the automatic focusing device or manual focus adjustment by a manual operation. In two of the embodiments, the change-over between the automatic focus adjustment and the manual focus adjustment is made by operation of a change-over member provided on a stationary barrel separately from a manual focusing ring. A driven shaft coupled with a focus adjusting mechanism is disengaged from a driving shaft of the automatic focusing device in the case of the manual focus adjustment. In the remaining embodiments, a manual focusing ring rotatable and axially shiftable relative to a stationary barrel is axially shifted between an automatic focusing position and a manual focusing position for the change-over.

Abstract: An optical unit for use with interchangeable lenses is provided with a mounting and demounting device which includes a mount positioning member, a lock member for locking the mount positioning member at a retracted position, and a mount releasing member for retracting the mount positioning member to the non-projected position. The mount positioning member is urged to project and engageable with a positioning recess of an interchangeable lens. The locking member is provided with a detection means which causes the locking member to release the mount positioning member by detecting completion of mounting of an interchangeable lens on the optical unit.

Abstract: A focus adjusting device for a camera having a varifocal optical system includes a pivotal member having a focusing guiding slot. The pivotal member is movable about a fixed pivot on the camera body. A guide pin fits in the guiding slot of the pivotal member and zoom information transmitting means are provided for moving the guide pin in accordance with the focal length of a zoom lens unit to vary the distance from the pivot to the pin. Focusing means are included for varying the position of the pivotal member according to a set subject distance along with focus coupling means for moving a focus lens unit in corresponding relation to the position of the guide pin with respect to the direction of the optical axis. The device, which is compact, compensates for differences in the focusing position of the focus lens unit due to variations in the focal length.

Abstract: An automatic focusing camera which can drive an objective lens to a focus position includes a sensor arrangement that is capable of determining when the focusing lens is physically held or is being driven beyond its operative range. The direction of movement can be stored in memory when the motor is de-energized and a comparison can be made with a new focusing signal on a different object to reactivate the focusing system. Additionally, any friction binding of the gear train can be automatically released by a reverse driving of the motor upon determining of a jam condition.