Abstract: A DMA controller is arranged to transfer data in units of one byte, one by one, by hand shaking when a transfer request signal is asserted by a low-speed I/O device, and is arranged to continuously transfer data of a predetermined number of transfer units when a burst request signal is asserted by a high-speed I/O device. The burst request signal may be replaced with a number-of-transfer-bytes information signal to continuously transfer data of a number of transfer bytes designated by the number-of-transfer-bytes information signal. Accordingly, a rate of data transfer between an I/O bus and a system bus can be optimized according to the kind of an I/O device connected to the I/O bus.

Abstract: A camera to which an external strobe device is detachably attachable is disclosed. The camera has an operational member for setting an emission intensity of the external strobe device through an operation by a photographer, and an instructing unit for instructing a set signal set by the operational member to the strobe device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a variable power lens barrel including a first lens unit that is positioned nearest to the subject side, and a cam barrel having the first cam, wherein the first cam alternately and continuously has a plurality of variable power cam portions that drive the first lens unit for varying power thereof in the optical axis direction and a plurality of focus cam portions that drive the first lens unit driven by the respective variable power cam portions for focusing in the optical axis, and an amount of lift of the focus cam portion of the first cam, which drives the first lens unit, in the optical axis direction at the telephoto end is smaller than an amount of lift of the focus cam portion of the first cam, which drives the first lens unit, in the optical axis direction at other variable power positions.

Abstract: A carbonate fuel cell comprising cathode side hardware having a thin coating of a conductive ceramic for providing corrosion resistance and a method of making the same.

Abstract: A strapless, backless bra is provided, including two cups and a connector. The connector has a female part affixed to one cup and a male part affixed to the second cup. Each cup has an upper rim, a first and second end, and a lower peripheral area extending below the upper rim from the first end to the second end. The female and male parts of the connector are located at the first end of the first and second cups, respectively, such that when connected, the bra cups may swivel relative to the connector to conform to the shape of the user. The bra cups further include inside and outside surfaces. Dermal adhesive tape may be disposed on the inside surface of each cup, in the peripheral area thereof, for attachment of the cups to the user.

Abstract: An electronic article surveillance marker assembly comprises a housing containing an EAS marker and a strap member having a detent structure at one end thereof and a tail extending from the detent structure to a free end, one side of the tail defining ratchet structure retainable by the detent structure, the detent structure being retained interiorly of the housing, the tail extending outwardly of the housing through a passage formed in a first wall of the housing, the housing defining an opening in a second wall of the housing in registry with the detent structure, the tail free end being movable through the second wall opening into the detent structure to be retained in the housing.

Abstract: In an image pickup system, an image pickup unit is connected to a computer which has a display device. In order to make a display by matching the characteristic of the image pickup unit with that of the display device, the image pickup unit is provided with a control part which is arranged to measure a signal processing speed of the computer, to compare the signal processing speed with an image pickup speed or a picked-up image data output speed of the image pickup unit and to vary an image pickup action or a picked-up image data output action of the image pickup unit according to a result of the comparison or according to an operation performed by an operator of the image pickup system.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which employs a card-shaped storage medium includes guide portions having a plurality of temporarily fastening portions for temporarily fastening the card-shaped storage medium at their respective locations, one of which is a first location at which the card-shaped storage medium is electrically connected to the apparatus and another of which is a second location at which the card-shaped storage medium is not electrically connected to the information processing apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a measuring device whose measuring accuracy is prevented from lowering when a plurality of lenses for guiding light rays to each of a plurality of photoelectric converters are integrated for the purpose of reduction in size. The measuring device is comprised of a composite optical part and a holding member. The composite optical parts is comprised of at least first and second photoelectric converters, and integrated first and second optical functional members that guide light rays to the first and second photoelectric converters. The holding member holds the first and second photoelectric converters and the composite optical part.

Abstract: Disclosed is a focus detecting device consisting mainly of a light receiving sensor, a reflecting mirror, a first detection circuit, and a focus detection circuit. The light receiving sensor has a plurality of photoelectric converters. The reflecting mirror is movable between a first position at which the reflecting mirror reflects light that comes from an objective, and routes the light to the light receiving sensor, and a second position at which the reflecting mirror recedes from the path of the light coming from the objective. The reflecting mirror has a member that helps form light distributions in a predetermined field on the light receiving sensor. Moreover, the reflecting mirror makes a return from the first position to the second position or vice versa. The first detection circuit detects a change in the light distributions formed in the predetermined field on the light receiving sensor which is observed between before and after the reflecting mirror makes a return.

Abstract: An image display/printing apparatus includes a scanning device capable of scanning a plurality of images recorded on a recording medium, a memory capable of storing data of the plurality of images scanned by the scanning device, a display or printing circuit arranged to process, for providing a display or for printing, the data of the plurality of images stored in the memory, and a varying circuit arranged to vary a scanning resolution to be employed by the scanning device, the varying circuit being arranged to vary the scanning resolution according to the number of images to be displayed on one screen by the display circuit or to be printed on one sheet by the printing circuit.

Abstract: An image input apparatus for reading an original image by moving an optical unit with a motor used as a drive source is arranged such that, in repeatedly reading the original image from one and the same reading position with the optical unit, information on a start position at which a preceding round of reading has begun and a driving state of the motor obtained at that time is stored by a system controller, and the amount of moving the optical unit backward for the repeated reading is decided on the basis of the information stored. The arrangement enhances the repeatability of reading in the sub-scanning direction and image input can be made with a better resolution than the intrinsic resolution of the image input apparatus.

Abstract: There are provided a rangefinder device which is capable of detecting that improper distance measurement through glass or the like has been performed, even when the glass is positioned at a certain or considerable distance from the camera, and a camera incorporating the rangefinder device. A projecting section projects a signal beam towards a photographic subject, and a light receiving section receives light from the photographic subject due to the projection via two different light paths. A distance information calculating circuit calculates distance information related to a distance to the photographic subject from the positional relationship between images received by the light receiving section. A position calculating circuit calculates first position information related to positions of the images received by the light receiving section based upon the calculated distance information.

Abstract: A lighting device is disclosed which comprises an illuminating light source for illuminating an object, a first optical unit disposed on the side of the object of the illuminating light source and having an optical action section for diverging light or an optical action section for converging light, and a second optical unit disposed on the side of the object of the optical action section of the first optical unit and having an optical action section for exhibiting a characteristic opposite to a characteristic of the optical action section, wherein the optical action section of the second optical unit overlies the optical action section of the first optical unit in varying areas to change light distribution characteristic on the side of the object.

Abstract: A display apparatus according to the present invention is arranged to inform a user that the set time of a timer circuit capable of setting an arbitrary time will end shortly, immediately before the end of the set time, or inform the user that the set time has ended, immediately after the end of the set time, thereby preventing the user from using the display apparatus for an excessively long time without noticing the lapse of the use time of the display apparatus.

Abstract: An image pickup device capable of exposure control utilizing the iris aperture, shutter speed and gain as three control parameters, comprising means for setting a photometry area in the image frame; means for setting an input parameter as a reference for evaluation, based on the luminance information in an image signal obtained from the photometry means; means for determining the values of the three control parameters for exposure control, according to the value of the input parameter; switch means for switching, according to the phototaking mode, a program setting the control caharacteristics of each control parameter as a function of the input parameter; and photometry area switch means for switching the set state of the photometry area in the image frame, in linkage with the switching operation of the switch means, wherein the phototaking mode is switched according to the phototaking conditions, thereby controlling the parameters and the light metering area according to a program matching the phototaking m

Abstract: A cassette mounting device comprises a cassette holder into which to insert a cassette, a pair of link mechanisms disposed on lateral opposed sides of the cassette holder so that the cassette holder is supported for upward and downward movement with respect to a chassis, and a fixing member which fixes each of the pair of link mechanisms to the chassis, the fixing member clamping each of the pair of link mechanisms turnably with respect to the chassis.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus such as a video camera has the capability of automatic white balance control whereby the white balance is quickly adjusted for any object even just after an operator has turned on a power supply. An image pickup element converts an optical image of an object into an electrical image signal. The image signal is applied to a signal processing circuit and separated into a luminance signal and color signals. The separated color signals or the R and B signals are amplified by gain control circuits under the control of the correction signals supplied by a correction signal computing part, and then applied to a color-difference signal forming circuit which in turn produces color-difference signals (R−Y) and (B−Y). An encoder circuit generates a television signal in the standard form from the above color-difference signals and the luminance signal.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is capable of suppressing a sharp variation in the state of exposure due to a variation in a field of view or a subject image, by varying the response characteristics of an exposure control device, such as an iris, a shutter or a gain, in accordance with an image magnifying rate which becomes higher as an image is electronically magnified by the operation of an electronic zoom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a camera comprising a cam member having cam groves formed for moving lens units, where the cam groves alternately have variable power cam regions for moving the lens units for variable power and focusing cam regions for moving the lens units for focusing, an illumination device whose light distribution angle is changeable, and a finder device whose angle is changeable wherein the light distribution angle of the illumination device and the field angle of the finder device are changed while the lens units move in the variable power cam regions for variable power, and on the other hand, the light distribution angel of the illumination device and the field angle of the finder device are not changed while the lens units move in the focusing cam regions for focusing.