Abstract: A drive controller for controlling driving of a movable optical member of a lens apparatus, including: a position acquirer acquiring a position of the movable optical member; an instruction inputter receiving a first driving command for driving the movable optical member from an external apparatus; and a controller determining a driving amount so that the movable optical member is driven to a position different from a position corresponding to the first driving command based on the first driving command and the position of the movable optical member every unit time, and outputs a second driving command to the lens apparatus so that the movable optical member is driven by the driving amount within the unit time, wherein the controller sets the driving amount within the unit time larger as a difference between the position corresponding to the first driving command and the position of the movable optical member becomes larger.

Abstract: A distance-information acquisition unit acquires information about a distance to a subject in each focus detection region by setting a plurality of focus detection regions in an imaging region. A depth-of-field calculating unit calculates the depth of field for one major subject (principal object) on the basis of the information about a distance to the major subject, which is selected from a plurality of subjects, and a diaphragm value, which is corrected on the basis of optical characteristics of an APD filter. An insertion/retreat control unit determines whether or not a subject other than the major subject is present outside the depth of field on the basis of the information about the distance and inserts the APD filter onto the light path in a case in which the subject other than the major subject is present outside the depth of field.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a sensor configured to photoelectrically convert light from an object to output a signal, a selection unit configured to select one of a first exposure control mode and a second exposure control mode having an exposure changing amount per unit time larger than that of the first exposure control mode, and a controller configured to perform control to transmit diaphragm control information generated based on the output signal from the sensor, first information, and second information to a connected lens unit, wherein the first information is about the exposure control mode selected by the selection unit, and the second information is speed information of a diaphragm unit corresponding to the lens unit.

Abstract: A light emission control unit includes: a light emission control section configured to control a light emission timing of a flash used in an image pickup unit, in which the image pickup unit has a function of variably controlling, during exposure, an aperture diaphragm between a first diaphragm position and a second diaphragm position at which the aperture diaphragm is closed more than at the first diaphragm position, and the light emission control section allows the flash to emit light at a first timing at which the aperture diaphragm is closed to the second diaphragm position in an exposure section.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an object image formed by an objective lens, a shutter which is arranged between the objective lens and the image sensor, opens to set the image sensor in an exposure enable state, and closes to set the image sensor in a light-shielding state, a dark image acquisition unit which acquires a dark image by closing the shutter and causing the image sensor to accumulate charges, and a control unit which controls an aperture size of an aperture stop arranged at the objective lens, wherein if the aperture stop has a aperture size more than a predetermined aperture size before acquiring the dark image, the dark image acquisition unit acquires the dark image after the control unit controls the aperture stop to an aperture size not more than the predetermined aperture size.

Abstract: Maximum and minimum aperture sizes are regulated with regard to a diaphragm in order to secure predetermined optical capability in an optical unit which includes a taking lens and the diaphragm. In a normal taking, the diaphragm is used within a normal taking range from the maximum to the minimum aperture sizes. In the present invention, an aperture size which is larger than the maximum size and a size which is smaller than the minimum size (extra aperture size or extra small size) are respectively set at outside the range that secures the capability. The aperture sizes of the diaphragm at outside the specified range are used at least for one of the following: automatic exposure (AE) adjustment, auto focus (AF) adjustment, electronic zoom, displaying a moving image, taking for recording the moving image, and taking under a low resolution by thinning out pixels.

Abstract: An electroactive polymer actuator (10) is disclosed for use in various applications including camera diaphragms and lenses. The actuator (10) converts electrical energy to mechanical energy and comprises, in one embodiment, at least two flexible electrodes (15, 25); a transparent elastic non-conductive material (20) having a substantially constant thickness, the transparent elastic non-conductive material (20) arranged in a manner which causes the transparent elastic non-conductive material (20) to compress in a first direction orthogonal to the thickness in response to an electric field applied to the polymer; and a frame coupled to the at least two electrodes (15, 25) and the transparent elastic non-conductive material (20), the outer frame substantially preventing expansion in a second direction opposite said first direction in response to an electric field applied to the polymer.

Abstract: A diaphragm apparatus of a lens for a CCTV camera includes a diaphragm blade which opens and closes a stop aperture of the diaphragm apparatus; and an ND filter which is attached to the diaphragm blade, the ND filter having a spectral transmittance so that the transmittance of infrared radiation therethrough is substantially identical to, or less than, the transmittance of visible light therethrough, or alternatively, the ND filter having a spectral transmittance which cuts out infrared radiation. The ND filter covers the stop aperture when the diaphragm blade is moved to open the aperture.

Abstract: A camera includes a movable aperture stop plate, which changes over a light path of object light between plural stop states. A depressible shutter release button is provided. A shutter mechanism is released in response to depression of the shutter release button after a charging operation and changing over the movable aperture stop plate, to provide an exposure to the photo film. A photometric circuit including a CdS element measures object brightness adapted for changing over the movable aperture stop plate. A photometric switch includes first and second switch segments, is turned on when pressed, to supply the photometric circuit with power. A blocking pin blocks and turns off the first and second switch segments upon completion of the charging operation of the shutter mechanism, and comes away from the photometric switch when the shutter release button is depressed.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is pre-loaded with photo film. A photometric circuit measures object brightness of a photographic object, and determines which of high brightness or low brightness the object brightness is according to comparison with a predetermined reference brightness level. A mode selector in a button shape sets a selected one of an AE mode and a night scene mode. A combination of stationary and movable aperture stop plates changes over a photographic light path in a selected one of small, middle and large aperture stop states. The movable aperture stop plates set the light path in the small aperture stop state when the AE mode is determined and also upon detection of the high brightness. The light path is set in the middle aperture stop state when the AE mode is determined and also upon detection of the low brightness. The light path is set in the large aperture stop state when the night scene mode is determined.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is provided with a movable stop plate formed with small and middle stop apertures. The small stop aperture has a smaller diameter, and the middle stop aperture is larger than the small stop aperture. A fixed large stop aperture, which is larger than the middle stop aperture, is disposed behind the movable stop plate. The movable stop plate is moved to position the small stop aperture at a photographic optical axis when subject brightness is a predetermined reference value or more. Similarly, the middle stop aperture is positioned at the optical axis when the subject brightness is less than the reference value and a flash switch is turned off. Further, the fixed large stop aperture is set to the optical axis when the subject brightness is less than the reference value and the flash switch is turned on.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is pre-loaded with photo film. A photometric circuit measures object brightness of a photographic object, and determines which of high brightness or low brightness the object brightness is according to comparison with a predetermined reference brightness level. A mode selector in a button shape sets a selected one of an AE mode and a night scene mode. A combination of stationary and movable aperture stop plates changes over a photographic light path in a selected one of small, middle and large aperture stop states. The movable aperture stop plates set the light path in the small aperture stop state when the AE mode is determined and also upon detection of the high brightness. The light path is set in the middle aperture stop state when the AE mode is determined and also upon detection of the low brightness. The light path is set in the large aperture stop state when the night scene mode is determined.

Abstract: In a photometry device, a pair of transistors having the same properties. The first transistor is connected at its base to the CdS photo sensor, and at its collector to a resistor. The second transistor is connected at its base to the resistor, and at its collector to the photoconductive element. When a subject brightness is below a reference level that is defined by a resistance of the resistor, the CdS photo sensor has a smaller resistance than the resistance of the resistor, so a smaller current flows into a base of the first transistor than a current flowing into a base of the second transistor. Consequently, the first transistor is turned off, and the second transistor is turned on, conducting current through a solenoid. Thereby, a stop blade is switched over to change the stop size.

Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit is provided with a movable stop plate formed with small and middle stop apertures. The small stop aperture has a smaller diameter, and the middle stop aperture is larger than the small stop aperture. A fixed large stop aperture, which is larger than the middle stop aperture, is disposed behind the movable stop plate. The movable stop plate is moved to position the small stop aperture at a photographic optical axis when subject brightness is a predetermined reference value or more. Similarly, the middle stop aperture is positioned at the optical axis when the subject brightness is less than the reference value and a flash switch is turned off. Further, the fixed large stop aperture is set to the optical axis when the subject brightness is less than the reference value and the flash switch is turned on.

Abstract: A flash lever for actuating a flash switch is interlocked with a stop plate via a spring. When a picture is taken without a flash, photographing is performed in a state that a small stop opening of the stop plate is disposed at an optical path. When the flash lever is moved to an ON position in order to take a picture with the flash, the flash switch is turned on to activate a flash circuit and a photometry circuit. At this time, the stop plate is evacuated from the optical path so that photographing is performed only through a fixed stop opening. If luminance of a subject is large in this condition, an electric current is supplied to an electromagnet to pull an iron plunger therein for returning the stop plate to the original position. In virtue of this, photographing is performed through the small stop opening.

Abstract: A first light guide and a second light guide are attached to a flash charge switch. Each light guide is arranged in a direction where the flash charge switch is slid. If the flash charge switch is in an OFF position, the first light guide transmits light from a photometric window to a photo sensor. If the flash charge switch is in an ON position, the second light guide transmits the light through the photometric window to the photo sensor. As the first light guide has a short distance from an incident end to the photometric window, the incident end has a large incident angle and brighter light is transmitted to the photosensor. As the second light guide has a long distance from the incident end to the photometric window, weak light is transmitted to the photo sensor. When an output signal of the photo sensor is above a predetermined value, a solenoid is activated to set a stop plate on a photographic light path. The stop plate is formed with a small stop aperture.

Abstract: In a photometry device, a pair of transistors having the same properties. The first transistor is connected at its base to the CdS photo sensor, and at its collector to a resistor. The second transistor is connected at its base to the resistor, and at its collector to the photoconductive element. When a subject brightness is below a reference level that is defined by a resistance of the resistor, the CdS photo sensor has a smaller resistance than the resistance of the resistor, so a smaller current flows into a base of the first transistor than a current flowing into a base of the second transistor. Consequently, the first transistor is turned off, and the second transistor is turned on, conducting current through a solenoid. Thereby, a stop blade is switched over to change the stop size.

Abstract: A flash control device for a camera includes a light emission unit which emits light to illuminate a subject to be imaged by the camera, a preliminary light emission control unit which causes the light emission unit to emit light during a preliminary light emission operation prior to a main exposure operation to be performed by the camera and until a predetermined amount of light is received by the camera during the preliminary light emission operation, a range computing unit which computes a distance from the camera to the subject, an exposure calculation unit which computes an aperture value for the camera during the preliminary light emission operation, a main light emission calculation unit which calculates a length of time that the light emission unit is to emit light during a main light emission operation based on the preliminary light emission operation, the computed distance to the subject, and the aperture value, and a main light emission control unit which controls the emission of light by the light

Abstract: An exposure control system for a camera, which is provided with a strobe, includes a photometry system that measures brightness of an object; an exposure parameter determining system that determines exposure parameters in accordance with the brightness detected by the photometry system; a judging system that judges whether a daylight synchro-flash photographing is executed; and an exposure parameter changing system that changes at least one of the exposure parameters determined by the exposure parameter determining system when it is judged that the daylight synchro-flash photographing is executed.

Abstract: An exposure controller for use in a photographing apparatus including a flash, includes a diaphragm having a changeable opening to adjust the amount of light reaching a photosensitive medium from a lens optical system, a diaphragm control unit for changing the opening of the diaphragm during the time when a shutter is being opened, and a flash control unit for firing the flash at a predetermined time during the time when the shutter is being opened. This exposure controller enables photography having apodization effect.

Abstract: In a wide range focusing camera, a cooperating engagement members are provided in moveable parts of a focusing mechanism and an aperture opening selecting mechanism so as to force the latter into selecting a smaller one of the aperture opening areas when the focusing mechanism is actuated into moving the lens to the position suitable for a close range shot. At the same time, a strobe light is enabled. Thus, the focal depth can be increased, and a clear picture of a close range object can be taken without regard to the condition under which the object is placed in relation with the surrounding objects. Also, a three-dimensional object having a depth can be photographed at close range with a satisfactory result. Because a number of settings required for such close-up shots are instantaneously set either manually by hand or automatically by an auto-focusing mechanism, it is possible even for an inexperienced photographer to take clear pictures of objects at close range.

Abstract: An illumination measuring device for panoramic picture taking has a first photoelectric illumination intensity receiver which diffusely determines light falling in a first measuring region and illuminating a first panoramic portion, at least one further photoelectric illumination intensity receiver which diffusely determines light falling in a second measuring region and illuminating a further panoramic portion, and an evaluating unit determining a deviation of an illumination intensity determined by the further illumination intensity receiver from an illumination intensity determined by the first illumination intensity receiver.