Abstract: The present invention is a camera distance measuring device having an integral light receiving element for receiving light from a photographic object and outputting light received signals, and a fixed light elimination circuit for eliminating the fixed light component from the output signals of this integral light receiving element. This camera distance measuring device functions as an active distance measuring device by making the fixed light elimination circuit operative and functions as a passive distance measuring device by making the fixed light elimination circuit inoperative. When functioning as an active distance measuring device, this camera distance measuring device alternatively employs either a first illumination device such as a strobe light for illuminating a wide range including the photography range or a second illumination device such as an infrared LED for illuminating a spot-like range within the photography range.

Abstract: A hierarchical arbitration method in which requests are grouped, using a logical OR operation for example, and provided to higher levels of the hierarchy. Then, grant signals from higher levels of the hierarchy are either propagated down through each level of the hierarchy where they are used to modify, using a logical AND operation for example, grant signals. Alternatively, grant signals from all higher levels of the hierarchy may be provided to a leaf layer of the hierarchy where they are all used to modify, using a logical AND operation for example, grant signals.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus with electrical exposure time control function capable of high accuracy control of the electronic shutter and ensuring high exposure accuracy is disclosed. An imaging element accumulates signal charge corresponding to an incident scene light flux in a photo-electric converting element section. The accumulated signal charge is read out as a pixel signal. Charge accumulation control means controls the instant of ending of charge accumulation in the imaging element to an instant other than the horizontal blanking period and/or controls the instant of ending of charge accumulation in the imaging element in time units shorter than the horizontal sync signal interval.

Abstract: This invention is an inexpensive distance measuring device having short lag time, configured so as to have a pair of light receiving regions at positions of focal points of a pair of image forming optical systems, comprising functions for dividing the light receiving regions and for monitoring the integration control for each divided light receiving region, also comprising an AF area sensor capable of performing pre-integration operations while causing strobe light to be emitted, and a microcomputer that, according to object field luminance distributions obtained from pre-integration results of the AF area sensor and to the focal length value of the photographic lens, divides the light receiving regions of the AF area sensor into respective pluralities, causes final integration operations to be performed while monitoring the integration control in each of the divided light receiving regions, and performs ranging computations based on data obtained for each light receiving region, capable of performing appropr

Abstract: A CPU mounted on a printer according to the present invention decides whether at least one sheet can be printed based on a battery capacity detected from a battery controller through a battery check section before a printing operation in a DPOF mode is started, for example, stores, in print history information memory, print history information indicative of a printed frame number and the number of prints in a print scheduling frame number and the number of prints which are set to print control information if it is decided that one sheet cannot be printed due to an insufficient capacity and once interrupts the printing operation. Then, the battery is exchanged with a new battery or is charged. Thereafter, the CPU is operated to read the print history information and restart the printing operation from the number of non-prints corresponding to the print scheduling frame number interrupted based on the history information thus read.

Abstract: The electronic camera comprises a photographing unit including a lens tube which holds a lens for forming an image of object light on a photographing element, and a photographing board disposed on a proximal end side of the lens tube, on which a photographing unit for outputting a signal photoelectric-converted by the photographing element, as an image signal, and a frame which holds each of a finder unit and an electric board, and has an opening section formed therein, which allows the photographing unit to be mounted on or removed from along a direction which crosses with the optical axis of the lens.

Abstract: An absorbent structure and method utilizes pockets or pouches of inorganic or organic granular materials in absorbent structures (such as a structure containing superabsorbents, including polymeric hydrogel forming materials) and fibrous webs, to form a composite heterostructure. The composite absorbent heterostructures are useful, for example, in applications such as diapers, incontinence articles, hygienic supplies and other applications which require good fluid absorbency and retainment properties. The granular material can be made of light plastic materials such as polystyrene or materials such as sand or seeds, and the grains can be hollow, with possible access to their interior volumes.

Abstract: A camera includes a finder optical system. A transmissivity variable element is arranged in the finder optical system and changes the light transmissivity. A release signal outputting circuit outputs a release signal. A light exposure mechanism effects a light exposure operation in accordance with the release signal from the release signal outputting circuit. A control circuit effects control such that, after the outputting of the release signal but before the start of the light exposure operation by the light exposure mechanism, the transmissivity of the finder optical system is made lower by the transmissivity variable element.

Abstract: When sending photographic image data obtained in an electronic camera 1 via a communication interface 42 to a radio telephone line of a PDC 3, a PHS 4, etc., an RISC-CPU 11 converts the image data to data having a configuration allowing communication and further converts by software processing the communication-allowing configuration data to data corresponding to the type of the radio telephone line.

Abstract: In a switch having input ports and output ports, a fast ring reservation arbitration is provided by grouping crosspoint units associated with an output port. If any of the crosspoint units of a group request the output port, a received token will be passed to crosspoint units within the group. If, on the other hand, none of the crosspoint units of a group request the output port, then a received token will bypass the group and be forwarded to a next group.

Abstract: This invention is a focusing apparatus including a pair of sensor arrays detecting object image signals obtained by a plurality of optical paths in multiple-point distance measurement, an arithmetic operation control section focusing on an object by comparison of relative positions of the object image, a light source consisting of a strobe section or a light projection section, and projecting focusing auxiliary light onto the dark object, and a determination section determining a part of a contrast equal to or greater than a preset, predetermined contrast to be a shadow based on the object image signals obtained when the auxiliary light is projected from the light source. The object image signals obtained from parts other than the part determined as the shadow are preferentially captured on each sensor array and used for focusing control.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus has a sensor, a monitor region selection portion, a distance measuring portion, and a detection portion. The sensor photoelectrically converts the subject image to output a subject image signal corresponding to the luminance distribution. The monitor region setting portion sets the monitor region at the time of integration of the above sensor. The distance measuring calculation portion calculates the distance measurement with respect to the region including the monitor region set with the monitor region setting portion. The detection portion detects a region low in luminance and low in contrast based on the above subject image signal. The monitor region setting portion sets as the second monitor region the low luminance and low contrast region detected with the detection portion out of the first monitor region set at the first time.

Abstract: An image projection system includes projection means for projecting an image on a transmission type screen from a rear surface side of the screen, standard image information generating means for generating standard image information of a standard image, image capturing means for capturing an image on the rear surface of the screen from an inside of a casing in which the projection means is housed, the image capturing means capturing the standard image projected onto the screen from the projection means, which receives the standard image information from the standard image information generating means, removing means for removing influences of external light from the standard image projected from the projection means onto the screen, correction value computing means for computing a correction value on the basis of image information of the standard image from which the influences of the external light are removed by the removing means, correction value storage means for storing the correction value information

Abstract: A hierarchical searching technique is used to find the first memory location of a calendar queue with a validity bit of “1” (that is, the lowest time stamp). The bit string at any level l (l≠0) can be stored in a RAM of size glMl−1. The string at the highest level in the hierarchy (l=0) can be stored in an M0 bit register.

Abstract: To provide a camera configured to be supported by the hands of a photographer on the bottom surface of the body thereof whose operability is improved by allowing various settings to be easily made with the camera body supported reliably and allowing a set value to be stored and retrieved with a small number of operation members, a configuration is provided which includes a grip portion protruding in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of a photographic optical system provided in a predetermined position of a lateral surface of the body of the camera and an operating member for allowing input of information to cause execution of a predetermined operation, the operating member being provided in the vicinity of the grip portion.

Abstract: A two (2) dimensional shaper uses a hierarchical searching technique to find the first memory location of the calendar queue with a validity bit of “1” (that is, the lowest time stamp). The bit string at any level l (l≠0) can be stored in a RAM of size glMl−1. The string at the highest level in the hierarchy (l=0) can be stored in an M0 bit register.

Abstract: The present invention provides a distance measuring apparatus for a camera capable of deciding priority of a plurality of types of autofocusing methods automatically and rapidly and achieving high-speed, accurate focusing under various shooting conditions. This device uses jointly, for example, two types of AFs: active type AF whereby a distance to the subject is measured based on a signal generated by reception of reflected signal light from a subject when distance measuring light is cast on the subject, and passive type AF whereby a distance to the subject is measured by using a light reception signal that corresponds to the subject image, and changes the priority of both types of AFs in response to an output of the shooting condition detecting part and performs a distance measuring operation.

Abstract: A low-cost and space-saving focus adjusting apparatus which accurately performs focus adjustment by correcting chromatic aberration in focus detecting operation. A digital camera including a photographing lens and a color imaging element, according to the present invention, comprises a focus detecting light-receiving sensor for receiving an object light beam passed through the photographing lens, a correcting section for calculating, based on an output from the color imaging element, a correction value for correcting a detection error due to chromatic aberration of the focus detecting light-receiving sensor, a focus detecting section for detecting a focus adjusting state of the photographing lens based on an output from the focus detecting light-receiving sensor, and a control section for driving the photographing lens based on an output from the focus detecting section and an output from the correcting section.

Abstract: A camera has a finder device. A liquid crystal element is arranged in the finder device and has an image area and at least one of an index area indicating an image range and an index area indicating information relating to photographing. A control circuit switches modes between a first mode in which the image area is set into a light transmitting state and a second mode in which the image area is set into a light shielding state according to a voltage applied to the liquid crystal element. The index areas always provide index display irrespective of application of the voltage to the liquid crystal element.

Abstract: An optical information storage material which can reversibly store said information comprising a polymeric material with a dependence of optical activity on temperature characterized in that the optical activity is substantially invariant at temperatures below Tg of said polymer, and variant at a temperatures at or near or above the Tg.