Abstract: A driving device includes a stepping motor for causing the light-amount adjusting member to open and close so as to adjust an amount of light passing through an optical system. A driving range where the light-amount adjusting member is actually used for effecting light amount adjustment is set to a range exceeding an electrical angle 360° of the stepping motor. A mechanical abutment portion is provided at a position outside the driving range, and a portion of the light-amount adjusting member is brought into abutment with the mechanical abutment portion when an initial reset of the stepping motor is performed. The light-amount adjusting member is brought to a position a predetermined distance away from the mechanical abutment portion when a light-amount adjusting function of the light-amount adjusting member is stopped.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus capable of picking up an image as a moving image, the image pickup apparatus is able to record at least one of a still image and a sound and is able to change at least one of a focal length of an image forming optical system and an illuminating angle of a flash device, and the image pickup apparatus, when recording the at least one of the still image and the sound, is prevented from changing the at least one of the focal length of the image forming optical system and the illuminating angle of the flash device. Further, there are provided a control method for the image pickup apparatus and a computer program product for controlling the image pickup apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a light control apparatus that maintains the overall apparatus size small, increases the number of stop stages, and is suitable for both the shutter and stop actions. A light control apparatus includes a first actuator, a second actuator, a first light shielding member driven by the first actuator, and a second light shielding member driven by the second actuator, wherein in a stop adjusting action, the first and second actuators drive the first and second light shielding members and adjust an aperture formed by the first and second light shielding members, and wherein in a shutter action, the second actuator drives the second light-shielding member for a light shielding action.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light amount adjusting apparatus for an image pickup apparatus which is capable of reducing the force with which a plate member and a blade member are held in close contact with each other and driving the blade member smoothly even in a high-humidity condition. The light amount adjusting apparatus includes a base plate 5 having an opening 5a, a blade member 1 movable within a range including a position where the blade member overlaps the opening 5a in a light axis direction and restricting the amount of light passing through the opening 5a by overlapping the opening 5a, and a plate member 2 adjacent to the blade member 1 and having a cut portion 2a at a position where the plate member overlaps the blade member 1 in the light axis direction in a state in which the blade member 1 is at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A new process is presented to non-invasively identify organic dyes in historic textiles and other works of art. A small gel bead loaded with a SERS substrate is used to gently extract microscopic amounts of dyes from works of art, without the need to remove a sample and separately extract the dye by acid hydrolysis of the fiber-mordant-dye system. The gel bead subsequently is coated with a silver, gold or copper colloid or with silver, gold or copper nanoislands, and is examined in accordance with a surface enhanced Raman scattering technique to identify the dye.

Abstract: There is provided a stereo image display apparatus in which a CPU 201 of a PC 101 carries out control in accordance with a stereo image display program such that a suitable viewing position verification image that appears different when a glasses-free type display 102 is viewed from a suitable viewing position to when the glasses-free type display 102 is viewed from elsewhere is displayed on the glasses-free type display 102 in accordance with a user's instructions.

Abstract: To provide a controlling apparatus for a photographing system that enables effective use of a memory zoom function regardless of whether a zoom position is within an optical-zoom region or a digital zoom region. The present invention provides a controlling apparatus for a photographing system having an optical-zoom region and a digital zoom region, including a zoom controlling unit for making the photographing system perform a memory zoom operation which is a zoom operation to a zoomed state stored in a storage unit. In addition, the zoom controlling unit makes the photographing system perform the memory zoom operation from a first zoomed state corresponding to one of the optical-zoom region and the digital zoom region to a second zoomed state which corresponds to the other zoom region and is stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: 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; 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 so that the focus lens unit is driven by the manual operation member.

Abstract: A camera is disclosed, to which a strap can be attached without reducing the space inside the camera body. The camera comprises a first exterior member, which constitutes an object side surface of a camera body. A first area of the first exterior member protrudes with respect to other areas of the first exterior member to constitute a grip portion. An attachment portion to which the strap is attached is provided in the first area.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus, in which a reproduced information signal is equalized by an equalizer, includes a detecting circuit for detecting a digital signal from the reproduced information signal, and a controller for controlling an equalizing characteristic of the equalizer according to the reproduced information signal to be inputted to the detecting circuit and a detection result of the detecting circuit.

Abstract: A radiographic imaging apparatus which has an imaging system having a radiation source to irradiate a subject with radiation and a radiation detector to detect the radiation irradiated from the radiation source, and a radiographic imaging table to arrange the subject within the imaging system includes an arm holder which supports upward arms of the subject arranged on the radiographic imaging table, and a holder supporting member which supports the arm holder.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus preferable for saving image data in folders as desired by a user for each scene or date of image-taking is disclosed. The image-taking apparatus of the present invention comprises an image processing circuit which creates image data files based on output from an image-pickup device, and a filing system which saves created image data files in a folder created on a recording medium with a different file number assigned to each image data file and performs a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number. The filing system creates a new folder on the recording medium in accordance with operation of an operating member by a user and starts the numbering process on image data files to be saved in the new folder from the initial number.

Abstract: A camera is disclosed, in which the generation of a large gap between the illumination unit and the camera body is suppressed. The camera comprises: an illumination unit movable between a protrusion position and a retraction position, and biased toward the protrusion position; and an engaging member movable between an engagement, retreat and standby positions. The engaging member includes a transmission portion where a driving force is transmitted by contacting with the illumination unit being moved from the protrusion position to the retraction position. The engaging member is rotated from the standby position to the retreat position by receiving the driving force from the illumination unit via the transmission portion, and is rotated to the engagement position by a second biasing member to engage with the illumination unit after the contact of the transmission portion with the illumination unit is released at the retreat position.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus has a stop mode in which only recording means comprised of a rotatable drum on which a recording head is mounted and recording medium driving means comprised of a capstan/pinch roller are stopped, which stop mode can be changed from a record temporary stop mode. During the stop mode of the recording means and the recording medium driving means, a video signal photo-taken by a camera of the information recording apparatus can be outputted externally, and, change to the stop mode is made effective by a combination of user's selection and/or presence/absence of an external connection device.

Abstract: A multiple tube catheter, such as a hemo-dialysis catheter, has first and second tubes which are attached to each other over a zone by one or more longitudinally extending wires which joins the two tubes over that zone. When a catheter is implanted in the patient, the attached zone is within the patient so that the catheter cannot be removed or advanced. When the catheter is to be removed, the longitudinally extending wire or wires are pulled proximally out of the tubes involved so that the two tubes can be separated and individually removed. A flexible separating prong within the patient and proximal of the zone holds the tubes apart to further assure that the catheter cannot be moved.

Abstract: A housing apparatus for receiving an image pickup device provided with a light projecting portion for projecting light is provided. The housing apparatus includes a receiving portion for receiving a diffusion plate for diffusing light from the light projecting portion. The receiving portion discloses a housing apparatus, such as a water-proof case, to which the diffusion plate is detachably attachable.

Abstract: A noise-producing device comprises a body (12) having a clamp (24) for mounting the body to a frame member of a bicycle or other motorless vehicle with spoked wheels. The device includes a card holder (15) for securing a resiliently flexible card (14) to the body such hat the card extends freely outwardly from the body. A resonant chamber (18) in the body amplifies the sound produced by the intermittent interaction of the free end of the card with the spokes of the bicycle wheel.

Abstract: A net database retains, for each user, information about a portable terminal and user information including designation of a destination of electronic mail. A determination module determines whether the contents of electronic mail received by a mail server are displayable at the portable terminal of a destination user. If it is determined that the contents are displayable, the electronic mail is sent to the portable terminal of the destination user. If it is determined that the contents are not displayable, the determination module determines the destination of the electronic mail in accordance with the user information. A conversion module converts the electronic mail data into a form outputtable at the destination. The converted data is provided to the destination apparatus, and a notification representing this is notified to the portable terminal.