Abstract: A photographic imaging apparatus includes a housing defining an interior cavity, an opening at one end of the housing to allow light to enter the interior cavity, and a photographic imaging substrate located within the interior cavity opposite from the opening for receiving the light entering the interior cavity through the opening, the photographic imaging substrate including a light passing substrate, a photosensitive agent capable of producing oxygen in the presence of light, and precursor gas, the photosensitive agent being supported on the light passing substrate away from the opening, and exposable to light that has passed through the light passing substrate from the opening, and an oxidizable surface positioned in close association with the photosensitive agent, the oxidizable surface is chemically reactive, the reaction being enhanced by electric current, to yield a visual change or image upon exposure to oxygen produced by the photosensitive agent upon.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a setting operation device which can effectively cope with the tendency toward multiple functions and allows a user to easily change and check functions. In order to achieve this object, the device includes a first rotating unit which is rotated/operated to select at least a first upper operation mode and a second upper operation mode, and a second rotating unit which is rotated/operated to select a lower operation mode belonging to the first upper operation mode set by the first rotating unit and a lower operation mode belonging to the second upper operation mode set by the first rotating unit, the second rotating unit being stacked together with the first rotating unit.

Abstract: A method of configuring settings in an imaging device includes configuring the settings with default values. If at least one value for the settings is externally adjusted, the settings in the imaging device are configured with the at least one value. If the user indicates that the new settings are acceptable, the imaging device determines whether to store the new settings for use in calculating new default values.

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 method of configuring settings in an imaging device includes retrieving the previous state of a plurality of settings in the imaging device. The new state of the settings in the imaging device are determined. The new state is combined with the previous state to form an optimal state of the settings. The imaging device is then configured with the settings according to the optimal state.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator includes first and second electrode portions disposed at predetermined intervals, each electrode portion including one or more series of electrodes arranged successively in a predetermined direction; a slider disposed between the first and second electrode portions and having electrode portions at side faces opposed to the first and second electrode portions, the slider being movable in the predetermined direction; an electrostatic capacitance detecting circuit configured to detect electrostatic capacitances between each series of electrodes of the first and second electrode portions and the electrode portions of the slider; and a driving circuit configured to drive the slider in the predetermined direction by applying voltages between selected series of electrodes of one of the first and second electrode portions and the electrode portions of the slider, said selected series of electrodes being selected based on a detected result of the electrostatic capacitance detecting circuit.

Abstract: To suppress an influence exerted on an output video signal due to a high frequency noise from a scanning circuit. In a solid state image pick-up device including horizontal scanning circuits, and a vertical scanning circuit having a lower driving frequency than those of the horizontal scanning circuits which are arranged so as to be adjacent to different side portions of a square chip, pads are arranged at side portions of the chip, except for the side portions on the sides where the horizontal scanning circuits are arranged. The pads include pads through which a voltage or a ground potential is applied to active elements of pixels of a pixel region, pads through which voltages are inputted to amplifiers, and pads through which output signals of the amplifiers are outputted to the outside of the chip.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a shaft member extending in an optical axis direction, the shaft member having a screw part formed thereon and arranged to be driven by a motor to rotate on an axis thereof A moving member has a screw-engaging part engaging the screw part of the shaft member and the moving member is arranged to move in the optical axis direction. A holding member holds a lens and the holding member and the moving member are moved together in the optical axis direction by rotation of the shaft member. An urging member is arranged to urge the holding member and the moving member to move together in the optical axis direction and permits relative movement of the holding member and the moving member. A stopper is arranged to have the holding member to abut thereon when the holding member moves relative to the moving member against an urging force of the urging member.

Abstract: An actuator applied with shape memory alloy which can be operated in a wide operating temperature range and has a long life time. At a normal ambient temperature, when the first wire of the acting member made of shape memory alloy in which predetermined shape is memorized in advance, is heated, it is transformed to the memorized shape to enable the acting member to be moved. A relative low stress is generated at the first wire and its life-time is not shortened. In the case that the ambient temperature is increased to exceed a transformation starting temperature of the shape memory alloy, the second wire of shape memory alloy is transformed to the memorized shape to generate a high stress at the first wire and to increase the transformation starting temperature of the first wire. With such an arrangement as above, it is possible to operate the actuator applied with the shape memory alloy in a wide operating temperature range.

Abstract: A still photo camera for film and electronic image recording selectively employs various media and media evaluation modes with selectable mechanical, optical and electronic imaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photographic recording arrangement for the recording of photographic images onto a band-shaped medium, with a medium source which a supplies a band-shaped medium, with a clamping arrangement which provides a clamping track and a band-shaped medium output at the beginning of the track through which the band-shaped medium is supplied by the medium source along which clamping track the band-shaped medium is guided and tightened and at the end of which track the guided band-shaped medium is clamped by a first holding mechanism for tightening, with at least one recording apparatus for the recording of images onto the tightened band-shaped medium.

Abstract: A camera includes a rotatable zoom lens barrel which moves along an optical axis when rotated about the optical axis relative to a camera body. A motor having a drive shaft and a motor accommodating member in which the motor is provided, are positioned in the camera body. A gear train for transmitting rotation of the drive shaft to the zoom lens barrel, and a gear train accommodating member in which at least part of the gear train is provided, are positioned in the camera body. A battery chamber in which a battery may be loaded is positioned in the camera body. The motor accommodating member, the gear train accommodating member and the battery chamber are formed as one unit to be secured to the camera body.

Abstract: A recyclable, one-time use, print on demand, digital camera comprises a housing. A chassis is contained within the housing. An image sensor device, supported on said chassis, senses an image. A processor, arranged in the housing, processes the image sensed by the image sensor device. A replenishable supply of print media is supported on the chassis. The supply of print media includes a former defining a chamber and a quantity of print media carried by the former. A pagewidth print head is arranged on the chassis for printing, on demand, the sensed image on the print media as the print media traces the print head. A power supply is arranged within the former of the supply of print media for providing power to the image sensor device, the processing means, the print head and a drive means for the supply of print media.

Abstract: A camera having a memory in which control programs are stored includes a flash memory in which a control program or data for controlling the camera is stored, and a masked ROM in which a program for determining whether the control program or data stored in the flash memory is proper is stored, wherein the program stored in the masked ROM is executed in advance of execution of the control program stored in the flash memory.

Abstract: In a camera which mounts a microcomputer with an internal flash memory, it is impossible to arbitrarily rewrite the contents of all program areas in the flash memory. In this invention, the flash memory is divided into a plurality of banks, and one bank holds a control program for altering the contents of the flash memory. Upon rewriting contents of this bank, the control program held in that bank is copied to the other bank, and the contents of that bank are rewritten under the control of the control program on the other bank.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first non-volatile memory for storing a control program for controlling an operation of the electronic device, and a second non-volatile memory for storing at least one modifying program for modifying the control program. The second non-volatile memory also stores modification information related to a modification of the control program. At least one predetermined portion of the control program can call a software modification management routine. The modification information is then read and the electronic device determines whether a modifying program to be executed is present in accordance with the modification information and address information, which indicates a current operating position of the control program, in response to the calling of the software modification management routine. The control program and the modifying program are then executed if the electronic device determines that the modifying program is present.

Abstract: A camera including a hole drilled in the top surface of the outer housing member of the camera, a shaft extending across and fixed within the hole, a release button mounted within the hole in a manner such that the release button pivots about the shaft, a step formed within the hole to restrain the pivotal motion of the release button in one direction, a hole drilled in the top surface of the outer housing in the vicinity of the side where the pivotal motion of the release button is restrained by the step, and a photograph mode button mounted in the hole in a manner such that the photograph mode button is pressed to operate. With these plurality of operational members mounted in close vicinity, the camera not only imposes no complex operation on a photographer but also helps the photographer make less erratic operations.

Abstract: The system for and a method of generating a scent and an image based upon a coded signal transmitted from a remote location, and the scent is generated from a dry scent carrying medium which contains a plurality of independent sources of scent causing agents. The coded signal is indicative of simultaneously activating the independent sources of scent causing agents so as to generated a complex mixture of the scents on the fly.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shape memory member, a deforming device which deforms the shape memory member into a predetermined state, an operating device which performs a predetermined movement in response to a movement in which the shape memory member restores itself from the predetermined state to a memorized state, and a restraining device. The restraining device restrains an operation of the deforming device at least when the shape memory member performs the movement of restoring itself from the predetermined state to the memorized state.

Abstract: A photographic lens consists of a first meniscus lens element having a concave surface directed to the image, and a second meniscus lens element having a concave surface directed to the object, arranged in this order from the object side. Both surfaces of the first lens element are spherical, and at least one surface of the second lens element is aspherical. The absolute value of the focal length of the first lens is smaller than the absolute value of the focal length of the second lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cam mechanism for a lens barrel wherein the mechanism is provided with a cam ring and a movable annular member. The cam ring is typically provided with a plural number of cam grooves formed in a predetermined cam profile in the same shape, in the same positions, and in the circumferential direction, but in respective positions differentiated in the optical axis direction. The movable annular member is set in engagement with the cam ring and has a plural number of cam pins installed thereon. The cam pins are fitted into the cam grooves of the cam ring so as to permit the movable annular member to, move freely in the optical axial direction, without being liable to any slanting thereof, in its rotation centering around the optical axis.

Abstract: An electro-developing type camera has an electro-developing recording medium for recording and developing an optical image formed thereon. A conductive electric-charge-eliminating brush is provided to establish electrical contact and physical contact with the recording medium. The electric-charge eliminating brush eliminates an electric charge from the recording medium due to the electrical contact between the brush and the recording medium, and removes particulate matter such as dust from the recording medium due to the physical contact between the brush and the recording medium.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first non-volatile memory for storing a control program for controlling an operation of the electronic device, and a second non-volatile memory for storing at least one modifying program for modifying the control program. The second non-volatile memory also stores modification information related to a modification of the control program. At least one predetermined portion of the control program can call a software modification management routine. The modification information is then read and the electronic device determines whether a modifying program to be executed is present in accordance with the modification information and address information, which indicates a current operating position of the control program, in response to the calling of the software modification management routine. The control program and the modifying program are then executed if the electronic device determines that the modifying program is present.

Abstract: A film spool cartridge and/or camera contain a duplitized color silver halide photographic element having an ISO of at least 25 and at least one light sensitive imaging layer or color recording unit on each side of the support. Such elements can be rapidly processed to provide desired color images. The film spool cartridge includes a spindle, the element wound around the spindle and an aperture for film transport. The camera includes a housing internally forming an exposure plane locator, a lens, a cartridge holder for receiving the film spool cartridge, and a shutter positioned between the lens and the exposure plane for imagewise exposure of the duplitized element.

Abstract: A cartridge holder engages with a cartridge holder driving gear driven by a driving force of an ejecting motor. The ejecting motor is controlled by a microcomputer so that ejecting is performed in succession to the completion of the rewinding of the film.

Abstract: A vibration compensation camera to correct image vibration occurring due to camera vibration by driving a vibration compensation lens according to vibration detected by a vibration detection circuit. The vibration compensation camera also includes a delay mode setting device to set a time delay to perform a shutter opening operation after a predetermined time has elapsed after a release operation. When the delay mode setting device is set to the delay mode, the vibration compensation system is not operated, thereby reducing electric power consumption. The vibration compensation camera may also have a bulb mode function to perform photography while in a bulb mode. A bulb mode setting device sets a bulb mode to maintain a camera shutter in an open state. When the bulb mode setting device is set to the bulb mode, the vibration compensation system is not operated.

Abstract: In a first embodiment of the invention, a transparent plate is mounted at the film plane within a camera. The transparent plate includes a translucent diffusion pattern which diffuses incoming light rays reflected from the subject and effectively repositions them in a controlled manner prior to the light exposing the film. Proposed diffusion patterns may alter the light rays to create characteristics indicative of various types of paintings.In another embodiment of the invention, the transparent plate is mounted in a film cartridge.In another embodiment of the invention, a length of plastic film (a pattern strip) is positioned adjacent to a similar length of photographic film (film strip). An appropriate translucent diffusion pattern is provided onto one surface of the pattern strip, along its entire length.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for actuating and testing a camera (426) of a type including a shutter trigger button (438) and externally accessible features (476, 508, 526, 530) for moving film within the camera. The apparatus may include a support frame (12); a nest (74) supported by the frame, the nest having a base (410) and walls (420, 422, 424) for guiding a camera into position on the base; a device (664-668) associated with the nest for depressing the trigger button to actuate and test a shutter mechanism of a camera; and camera drive mechanism (584-604) associated with the nest for engaging and operating the device for moving to drive exposed film from the exposed film chamber to the unexposed film chamber and then drive exposed film from the unexposed film chamber along the film guide track and out of the camera.

Abstract: A light-quantity control device includes a drive source, a light-quantity control member which is arranged to vary the amount of opening of an aperture by shifting its position, and a speed control part which is arranged to control the driving speed of the drive source in proportion to a rate of change per unit time of the area of the aperture of the light-quantity control member.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a prewind type camera having a film roll cheer with an open portion for containing an unexposed roll of film. According to the invention, a vacuum is applied to the interior of the film roll cheer at the time the prewound film roll is loaded into the film roll cheer through the open portion to maintain the film roll in a wound state after the roll is released. The vacuum remains applied until a lighttight cover is fixedly attached to the open portion of the film roll chamber thereby restraining the film roll.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electronically controlled camera. A system of the camera has a memory for storing a program to control the camera, including at least one auxiliary process, a rewritable memory for storing a flag data used for determining whether the at least one auxiliary process is to be executed, and operational data for executing the at least one auxiliary process. The method includes steps of reading the flag data, determining whether the at least one auxiliary process is to be executed based on the flag data, and executing the at least one auxiliary process based upon the operational data only when it is determined that the at least one auxiliary data is to be executed.

Abstract: In a fuel bundle for use in the core of a boiling water nuclear reactor, part length rods having a tendency to reduce pressure drop are used in combination with spacers and spacer attached devices tending to restore pressure drop to improve critical power. The addition of the part length rods has the advantage of lowering the pressure drop. Attached devices substantially recapture the pressure drop. Exemplary spacer attached mechanisms for the recapture of pressure drop are set forth including vanes--preferably swirl vanes on the spacers, decreasing the spacer pitch to increase the total number of spacers in the upper two phase region of the fuel bundle, increasing the vertical height of the spacers, and increasing the thickness of the metal from which the spacers are constructed. Two classes of separation devices are disclosed for placement in the volume overlying the end of the partial length fuel rods.