Abstract: A camera case capable of stopping a movement of the lens barrier provided on a camera if the camera receives an accidental shock. The camera case can contain a camera having an image-taking lens, and a lens barrier movable between a closed position for covering the image-taking lens and an opened position for exposing the image-taking lens. The camera case comprises a case body; and a stopper which stops the movement of the lens barrier of the camera contained in the case body.

Abstract: In an illumination apparatus, an optical element has an exit surface in which an inclination to a perpendicular to an irradiation optical axis in a first area is greater than that of a second area, and the inclination of the first area gradually increases in order from the irradiation optical axis, an intermediate part and a periphery of the exit surface. The first and second areas are defined as those divided by an interface surface that includes an irradiation optical axis and is orthogonal to a plane that is orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the light source. A first reflective surface reflects first light to the intermediate part in the first area. A second reflective surface reflects second light to the periphery in the second area.

Abstract: Provided is a lens apparatus mounted to a camera including an image-pickup element, including: a focus lens means movable in an optical axis direction for focusing; a zoom lens unit; a zoom detector for detecting a zoom value of the zoom lens unit; an aperture-stop device; a stop-value detector; a splitting optical unit; a focus-condition detection unit; an actuator; a controller for controlling the actuator based on an output from the focus-condition detection unit; and a manual operation member, wherein the controller obtains an F-number of the lens apparatus based on outputs from the zoom detector and stop-value detector and when the F-number exceeds a predetermined value, the controller causes the actuator to stop the focus lens unit and switches to a condition in which the focus lens unit is driven by the manual operation member.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprising an image pickup device, a recording device, a display device, a communication device connectable to a plurality of image pickup apparatuses, an allotting device for allotting unique apparatus information to image data and a control device for controlling the display device to display image data received by the communication device and image data recorded by the recording device in different display configuration, with the unique apparatus information and specific information specifying the image data so that the image data received by the communication device and image data recorded by the recording device can be distinguished from one another.

Abstract: An assembly having a dielectric frame which utilizes a plurality of segments, each segment having opposing first and second surfaces and first and second ends portions. Each of the first and second end portions has an end surface and a cutout extending from the end surface of the end portion along the length of the segment and from the first surface to the second surface. The segments of the frame are arranged in abutting relationship with the first surfaces of the segments aligned and the second surfaces of said segments aligned and with the end surface of a first end portion of a segment abutting the end surface of the second end portion of the adjacent segment. In this way, the cutouts of the first and second end portions of abutting segments form a keyway and a key is situated in the keyway so as to hold the abutting segments together. In accordance with the invention, certain of the segments are provided with recesses in the first surfaces of the segments adjacent the cutouts.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus in which keystone distortion non-linearity distortion in a projected image can be excellently corrected is provided. An optical scanning apparatus has light source means and deflecting means for deflecting a light beam emitted from the light source means two-dimensionally in a first direction and a second directrion, the deflection speed of the deflecting means being higher in the first direction than in the second direction. The deflecting means is driven in such a way that its angular velocity in the second direction is smaller when optically scanning a position on the surface to be scanned at which the angle of incidence of the deflected light beam in the second direction is larger than when optically scanning a position on said surface to be scanned at which the angle of incidence of the deflected light beam in said second direction is small.

Abstract: A pick and place assembly for picking up and positioning an article wherein a hollow spindle carrying a head for receiving vacuum for picking up an article, via a vacuum directed through the spindle, is housed within a hollow spindle housing and a sealing assembly is situated between the spindle housing and the spindle for directing the vacuum through the spindle as the spindle is driven by a driving assembly.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed, which is capable of blocking inversely-entering light from an optical viewfinder in an EVF mode. The image-taking apparatus comprises a viewfinder optical system; a mirror unit being driven between a first state in which the mirror unit reflects the light flux toward the viewfinder optical system and a second state in which the mirror unit transmits the light flux toward the image-pickup device; a viewfinder shutter opening and closing a viewfinder optical path; and a controller controlling the drive of the mirror unit. The controller drives the mirror unit to the first state in accordance with an open-side-operation of the operation member, and drives the mirror unit to the second state in accordance with a close-side-operation of the operation member.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image-taking apparatus that prevents a defocus of a subject image observed after a viewfinder mode switches when the focus control uses the same focus detecting unit for OVF and EVF modes. The image-taking apparatus includes a focus detecting unit for detecting focus of the image-taking lens, and a mirror unit for switching between a first state used to introduce the light from the image lens into the viewfinder optical system and the focus detecting unit, and a second state used to introduce the light to the image-pickup device and the focus detecting unit. The controller controls driving of the mirror unit and driving of a focus lens based on a detection result by the focus detecting unit. The controller prohibits the driving of the mirror unit while the focus lens is being driven.

Abstract: A lens controlling apparatus is disclosed, which is capable of preventing an execution of irrelevant AF control in a combination of TV-AF method and an AF method other than the TV-AF method. The lens controlling apparatus comprises: a first signal generating section generating a first signal showing a contrast state of an object image on the basis of a predetermined frequency component of a signal; a second signal generating section generating a second signal by a focus detecting method different from that in the first signal generating section; and a controller, which selects one of a first focus control operation based on the first signal and a second focus control operation based on the second signal in accordance with each change amount of the first and second signals.

Abstract: A switched fabric is provided in a digital control system and data communication is performed using DMA transfer. A communication control unit is provided for controlling the switched fabric. The communication control unit determines the priorities of data to be transferred according to their types. When the communication control unit receives a request for higher-priority DMA transfer during DMA transfer, it suspends the current DMA transfer and performs the higher-priority DMA transfer. After completion of the higher-priority DMA transfer, the communication control unit resumes the suspended DMA transfer.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed, which is capable of reducing the influence of the one-side blur by the automatic focusing function. The image-taking apparatus comprises a focus detector, which detects the focus state of the plurality of focus detection areas, and a selector, which selects a focus target area from a plurality of focus detection area based on the detection result of the focus detector. In a case where a first object distance to a first object is longer than a first predetermined distances and a second object distance to a second object, which exists on an outer side of the first object in the image-taking screen, is shorter than the first object distance by a second predetermined distance or more, the selector selects the focus detection area corresponding to the second object as the focus target area.

Abstract: It is desired to easily and effectively correct hue and saturation in a predetermined region, for an image which cannot be desirably corrected by conversion of the brightness or colors of the entire image. To this end, an image is loaded onto a RAM, and the contrast and color balance of the input image are corrected. A predetermined region is extracted from the corrected image, and it is checked if a predetermined region is set. If the predetermined region is set, a color correction process of the predetermined region is executed.

Abstract: A camera which can accurately inform a photographer of the number of times image taking is possible is disclosed. The camera comprises an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image to an electric signal, an image processing circuit which applies image processing to the image data obtained by using the image-pickup device and generates processed image data, a recording circuit which records the processed image data in a recording medium, a control circuit which causes the image processing circuit to perform image processing on the image data obtained through one-time image taking under a plurality of different conditions to generate a plurality of the processed image data, and an information output unit which outputs information on the remaining number of times image taking is possible.

Abstract: The content utilizing method includes the steps of encrypting the encrypted requested content with a predetermined encrypting key and transmitted to a content processing apparatus, generating and transmitting license control information including usage right information having identification information, and condition of use of the selected content and user specific information together with a decrypting key corresponding to the encrypting key to a usage right control server controlling the usage right of the content. If the utilizing authorization of the content is verified, the usage right information and the decrypting key are transmitted from the authorizing server to the content processing apparatus, and the content is decrypted by the decrypting key in the content processing apparatus and the decrypted content is processed based on the usage right information.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing an information signal on and from a recording medium, which generates a play list indicating a reproduction sequence of the information signal, based on additional information pertaining to a status of the recording and reproducing apparatus during reproduction of the information signal, and records the play list onto the recording medium.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a shift unit portion 3 holding a lens that can bend a photographing optical axis when driven in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis A and a variator moving frame that moves in the optical axis direction. A part of driving means for driving the shift unit portion 3 having a hand shake correction function and a part of a lens held by the variator moving frame 7 are arranged to overlap with each other in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis A. Thus, the apparatus can be made compact.

Abstract: A lens apparatus capable of efficiently arranging a stop blade, an optical filter and a shutter blade to reduce the size of the apparatus is disclosed. The lens apparatus comprising a lens, a lens holding member which holds the lens, a stop blade which changes an area of a light-passing aperture, an optical filter which inserts and removes with respect to a region opposed to the light-passing aperture and a shutter blade which opens and closes the light-passing aperture. Here, at least one member of the stop blade, the optical filter and the shutter blade is arranged at one end side of the lens holding member and the other member is arranged at the other end side of the lens holding member.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed which allows preparatory driving for the next image-taking without degrading image quality and a reduction in time taken for one image-taking operation. The image-taking apparatus has a controller which controls an actuator which drives an operation mechanism which performs a first operation for allowing the image-taking with a photoelectrical conversion device and then a second operation (preparatory driving) for returning to the state before the first operation. The controller starts to drive the actuator for causing the operation mechanism to perform the second operation after the start of the travel of a rear curtain of a shutter and before the end thereof during accumulation of charge on the photoelectrical conversion device, or before reading of charge from the photoelectrical conversion device after the completion of exposure of the photoelectrical conversion device.