Abstract: A light-folding element includes an object-side surface, an image-side surface, a reflection surface and a connection surface. The reflection surface is configured to reflect imaging light passing through the object-side surface to the image-side surface. The connection surface is connected to the object-side, image-side and reflection surfaces. The light-folding element has a recessed structure located at the connection surface. The recessed structure is recessed from the connection surface an includes a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a tapered portion located between the top end and bottom end portions. The top end portion is located at an edge of the connection surface. The tapered portion has two tapered edges located on the connection surface. The tapered edges are connected to the top end and bottom end portions. A width of the tapered portion decreases in a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion.

Abstract: A camera system for a motor vehicle includes an image sensor for outputting image signals and multiple optical elements. The optical elements include a switchable optical element which is part of a first camera optical system in the first switching state and part of a second camera optical system in a second switching state. Optical elements form the first camera optical system for detecting a first surrounding and for imaging the first surrounding on the image sensor with the aid of a first object distance, and optical elements form the second camera optical system for detecting a second surrounding and for imaging the second surrounding on the image sensor with the aid of a second object distance which differs from the first object distance.

Abstract: A movable mirror shock-absorbing mechanism of a camera includes a movable mirror which is rotatable between a viewfinder light-guiding position and a retracted position, a pressing portion which moves with the rotation of the movable mirror, a first shock-absorbing member which is pressed and moved by the pressing portion to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the retracted position to the viewfinder light-guiding position, and a second shock-absorbing member which is pressed and moved by the pressing portion to absorb shock of the movable mirror when the movable mirror rotates from the viewfinder light-guiding position to the retracted position. The first and second shock-absorbing members are mutually identical in specifications.

Abstract: When a mirror holder is at a mirror-down position, a follower portion traces a first region of a cam portion to urge the mirror holder toward the mirror-down position by an urging force of an urging member. When the mirror holder is at a mirror-up position, the follower portion traces a second region of the cam portion to urge the mirror holder toward the mirror-up position by the urging force of the urging member. When the mirror holder is at an intermediate position between the mirror-down position and the mirror-up position, a contact portion is contacted with one edge of a hole by the urging force of the urging member. When the mirror holder is bounced near the mirror-down position or near the mirror-up position, the contact portion is contacted with an opposite edge of the hole against the urging force of the urging member.

Abstract: A mirror contact member includes a first eccentric portion that is eccentric with respect to a rotation center of the mirror contact member, and a second eccentric portion that is eccentric with respect to the rotation center of the mirror contact member substantially at the same eccentricity as that of the first eccentric portion. When a mirror is displaced to a mirror-down state, the mirror is contacted with the first eccentric portion. A bounce regulation member is disposed to be rotatable about the second eccentric portion.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a diaphragm configured to control an amount of incident light, a variable transmittance and reflectance element configured to reflect a part of the incident light to an optical viewfinder and transmit the remainder of the incident light as imaging light, and a controller configured to increase reflectance of the variable transmittance and reflectance element as a setting value of the diaphragm increases.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing variations in the time it takes for mirror bounce to end caused by adjustments made to the angle of a mirror, making assembly of the image pickup apparatus more efficient, and making the image pickup apparatus more compact. A mirror unit comes into contact with a positioning pin so as to be positioned in the shooting optical path. Rotating an adjustment member, on which a lock lever is rotatably fitted and to which the positioning pin is fixed, causes the mirror unit to move following the adjustment member. The lock lever and the positioning pin eccentrically move according to the rotation of the adjustment member and move in the same direction by the same amount. A gap between the mirror unit and a lock pin of the lock lever is constant.

Abstract: A mirror retention structure to reduce rebounding of a sub-mirror and to prevent shifting of the mirror-down position. The mirror retention structure includes, a main mirror retention frame that retains a main mirror, a sub-mirror retention frame that retains a sub-mirror and is axially supported at the main mirror retention frame, and a receiving pin that abuts against the sub-mirror retention frame and sets an angle of the sub-mirror at a mirror-down position, wherein the sub-mirror retention frame is provided with a first abutting portion that touches against the receiving pin at the mirror-down position, and a second abutting portion, at a different position from the first abutting portion, that touches against the receiving pin at a position prior to the mirror-down position in a transition from a mirror-up position to the mirror-down position.

Abstract: A dual lens optical system includes a first optical system and a second optical system selectively redirecting at least one of two lights of representing images of object from two incident lenses into a first optical axis of light toward an image sensor by at least one reflection member, wherein, at least one optical element is disposed between an image sensor and the reflection member.

Abstract: A lens-interchangeable single-lens reflex camera system according to the present invention employs a novel reflex apparatus comprising stationary “smart glass” elements. The “smart glass” elements switch between transparent and non-transparent states in response to applied electrical voltage, allowing for silent, solid-state control of the optical light path from an external scene image. The optical transmittances of the “smart glass” elements are electronically regulated to provide the operator with a representation of the scene image through the optical viewfinder during the inactive observation period, and to alternately allow the external light to reach the image-sensing device during a photographic exposure.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a first lens group, a second group frame unit, a third lens group, a CCD unit, a lens barrel, and a chassis. The first lens group receives a light flux along a first optical axis. The second group frame unit receives and bends the light flux along a second optical axis after passing through the first lens group. The third lens group receives the bent light flux from the second group frame unit. The CCD unit receives the light flux passing through the third lens group. The lens barrel includes the first lens group, the second group frame unit, the third lens group, and the CCD unit. The chassis supports the lens barrel. The second optical axis is substantially parallel to the transverse direction of an object to be captured by the CCD unit when the bottom of the chassis is substantially parallel to the transverse direction of the object.

Abstract: A silicon-like resilient member is utilized for at least one of a mirror cushion and a light seal. This new member is believed to resist flaking and other problems associated with traditional foam members.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes an optical member that bends and changes the optical path of the incident light; a first lens group, that is driven to retract at least partially inside the image sensing apparatus when a picture is not to be taken and to be projected outside the image sensing apparatus and toward the subject when a picture is to be taken; and a second lens group, as well as a lens barrier for protecting the first lens group when said first lens group is retracted inside the image sensing apparatus. The optical member moves to a position where the optical path of the optical image of the subject, which is incident via the first lens group, is changed to the direction of the second lens group when a picture is to be taken, and moves to a position where it is withdrawn from this area when a picture is not to be taken.

Abstract: The connection structure of flexible boards permits efficient positioning and connecting of a plurality of flexible boards arranged one over the other in a camera by providing a pair of pin elements in a protruding condition in a base portion and forming on one of the pin elements a groove to be engaged with flexible boards. A lens device includes a base metal sheet of metal and pin elements of plastic provided in a protruding condition in the base metal sheet. The pin element has a groove formed on an outer periphery surface of the opposite side to the pin element. A main flex or a shutter flex has holes formed therein, into which the pin elements are to be inserted. A spacing between the holes is formed a little smaller than a spacing between the pin elements.

Abstract: A reactor pressure vessel with an upper support plate, in which an equalization opening is provided as a bypass is described. A process for temperature equalization between an upper dome chamber above a support plate and a lower chamber below it is described. It is proposed that the cross section of the equalization opening be variable as a function of the temperature, so that the flow of medium between the upper dome chamber and the lower chamber is varied as a function of the temperature.

Abstract: A shutter for a photographic camera, having a first and a second pretensioned shutter curtain which are respectively retained in the tensioned state by a first and a second pivotably mounted retaining latch (7, 11) in interaction with a first and second curtain latch (3, 4), the first retaining latch (7) being coupled to a camera release for enabling release of the first curtain, and the second retaining latch (11) being coupled to a release device, which is controlled as a function of the release of the first curtain, for enabling release of the second curtain, wherein the first and second retaining latches (7, 11) are respectively assigned first and second movement-releasing active surfaces (9, 10; 13, 14) which are each coupled either to a mechanically controlled or an electronically controlled curtain-release enabling arrangement.

Abstract: The invention provides a prism optical system which has an image-forming action and provides a clear yet substantially undistorted image at a wide field angle. In a prism optical system 5 comprising an aperture 1 and having an action on erecting an image formed by an objective, there are provided reflecting surfaces 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, and 43 for image inversion, each of which is constructed of a curved surface having a power, and is in an irrotationally symmetric plane shape having no rotationally symmetric axis both within and outside the surface, so that decentering aberration produced by reflection of light at the curved surfaces can be corrected.

Abstract: A distortion-free and compact image-forming optical system with a minimal number of optical components which provides a wide image area and which is favorably corrected for ray aberrations and arranged in a compact structure by folding an optical path. A pentagonal prism member (5) has a first surface (1), a second surface (2), a third surface (3), and a fourth surface (4). The first surface (1) and the fourth surface (4) are refracting surfaces. The second surface (2) and the third surface (3) are reflecting surfaces. The first surface (1) is formed from a spherical surface. The second surface (2), the third surface (3) and the fourth surface (4) are formed from three-dimensional surfaces. Light rays from an object plane O provided on the back side of a cover glass (6) pass through the cover glass (6) and enter the prism member (5) through the first surface (1). The incident light rays are reflected successively by the second surface (2) and the third surface (3).

Abstract: The invention aims to provide binoculars suitable to be used in a theater or a sports stadium, which can provide a wide and bright field of view on one hand, and which are compact and lightweight with improved portability and maneuverability on the other hand. Inverse reflection of an image is achieved by providing optical systems of inverse reflection, each comprising a pair of specular reflectors opposed to each other on an object side and an eyepiece side, respectively, so that an optical axis of light exiting the optical system of inverse reflection on the eyepiece side extends in parallel with an optical axis of light entering the optical system of inverse reflection on the object side, and one or more object lens(es) is or are placed on one or more path(s) selected from optical paths of reflection from respective specular reflectors forming the optical systems of inverse reflection.

Abstract: Compact dual focal length cameras are disclosed having wide angle and telephoto modes of operation. The ratio of telephoto to wide angle ratios is at least 3 to 1, but is typically higher so that the cameras can be used in conjunction with binoculars to take telephoto pictures that give the same visual appearance as when the same scenes are observed through binoculars. Compactness and increased focal length are achieved via four mirror arrangements one preferred embodiment of which wraps around the camera film plane and uses a single constant angular velocity shutter for providing both wide angle and telephoto exposure times. Compact, single-use, medium telephoto cameras are also disclosed.

Abstract: Compact dual focal length cameras are disclosed having wide angle and telephoto modes of operation. The ratio of telephoto to wide angle ratios is at least 3 to 1, but is typically higher so that the cameras can be used in conjunction with binoculars to take telephoto pictures that give the same visual appearance as when the same scenes are observed through binoculars. Compactness and increased focal length are achieved via four mirror arrangements one preferred embodiment of which wraps around the camera film plane and uses a single constant angular velocity shutter for providing both wide angle and telephoto exposure times. Compact, single-use, medium telephoto cameras are also disclosed.

Abstract: The dual-focus change-over camera provides a camera which allows telescope or wide angle photographing with a simple arrangement, and which is inexpensive, small size, and light weighted. The camera comprises a finder change-over member arranged to be movable for establishing two finder openings for different focal distance, a telescope lens and a standard lens for performing photographing with two focal distance, a fixed mirror for reflecting image light from the telescope lens, and a movable mirror movable between a first position (telescope position) for directing the image light from reflected by the fixed mirror to a film and a second position (standard position) for directing the image light from the other standard lens to the film. Then, the movable mirror is rotated to the first or second position in interlocking with the sliding operation of the finder change-over member.