Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having optical and electronic zooms. A manually operated zoom element allows for movement of the optical zoom and an electrically operated zoom switch permits electric driving of the optical and electronic zooms.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which can produce an image provided with exposure suitable for both a backlighted object and its background without requiring a mechanical member, such as an iris or the like. The image pickup apparatus has a photoelectric conversion section for photoelectrically converting a light image so as to accumulate light information and to output the light information every unit light accumulation period which forms one picture. A digital camera signal processing circuit processes an output from the photoelectric conversion section to output a video signal. A timing signal generator outputs a plurality of timing signals for setting light information accumulation time every unit light accumulation period which is set in the photoelectric conversion section.

Abstract: An electronic image display apparatus includes an image sensor arranged to obtain an electronic image, an external memory arranged to store electronic image information related to identification information which identifies a photographic film loaded in the apparatus, a reproducing circuit arranged to reproduce the identification information recorded at a magnetic information recording part of the photographic film loaded, and a display device arranged to display, on the basis of the identification information stored in the external memory and reproduction information reproduced by the reproducing circuit, the electronic image information related to the identification information. The electronic image display apparatus is thus arranged to let the user know, without fail, what picture is taken on which of films by displaying an electronic image recorded on each film, even in a case where there are many exposed or partially exposed films.

Abstract: In a system for transmitting a video signal obtained by a camera to a discrete device either via a recording/reproducing system or via a transmission line, an image processing system includes a circuit which is arranged within the camera to generate a photo-taking state signal indicating information on aberrations in particular; and a correction circuit which is arranged within a device for reproducing or receiving the video signal to correct the aberrations of the video signal in accordance with the photo-taking state signal.

Abstract: A shutter device with a shutter base plate having an aperture part and a protruding part. First and second shutter blade members are arranged to travel a predetermined movement distance and a distance shorter than the predetermined distance, respectively, over the aperture part. The second shutter blade member has a slot engaging the protruding part of the base plate. First and second arm members are pivotally supported by the shutter base plate and the second arm member supports the first and second shutter blade members in a swingable manner.

Abstract: A control device includes a command table provided with control commands for controlled equipment as a table corresponding to natural language and a control quantity table for determining a control quantity corresponding to a word indicative of a control quantity in the natural language and a kind of control, and generates a control signal for the controlled equipment by applying the inputted natural language to the command table and the control quantity table.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting an optical image formed on an image pickup surface and outputting a picked-up image signal, a parallel-plane plate for shifting an incident position of incident light on the image pickup surface, a plurality of recess portions which function as a plurality of restricting portions for controlling an inclination position of the parallel-plane plate by respectively coming into abutment with permanent magnets secured to the opposite ends of the parallel-plane plate and restricting the positions of the opposite ends in the direction of an optical axis, and a plurality of electromagnets for driving the parallel-plane plate to bring the parallel-plane plate into abutment with the plurality of recess portions, wherein the energization and deenergization of each of the electromagnets are controlled so that the parallel-plane plate is controlled to move among a plurality of inclination positions.

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 illumination device (flash device), which is suited to cameras, includes a flash discharge tube, and an optical member having an entrance surface which a light beam from the flash discharge tube is made to enter and an exit surface from which the light beam having entered the entrance surface is made to exit, wherein a plurality of prism portions are arranged at the exit surface of the optical member, and wherein a part of the plurality of prism portions totally reflect a part of the light beam having entered the entrance surface. The totally-reflected light beam returns to the entrance surface or a reflector and is again reflected therefrom to be efficiently radiated toward the subject.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an image reading part for reading an image from an image recording medium, a position reading part for reading absolute-position information indicative of a position, from the image recording medium, a storage medium which stores a plurality of place-name data corresponding to the absolute-position information, and a display part for selecting and displaying particular place-name data corresponding to the absolute-position information.

Abstract: In a camera, an image correcting apparatus, an image correcting system, an image correcting method or a computer program product providing the image correcting method, an object image is recorded as a photo-taking image, and an object image obtained at a point of time different from a point of time at which the photo-taking image is obtained is recorded as a correction image to be used for correcting the photo-taking image.

Abstract: A video camera is provided with a processing circuit for processing a picked-up image signal outputted from an image sensor, a control circuit for controlling an image pickup action by transferring signals with the processing circuit, a serial communication circuit disposed between the control circuit and the processing circuit for controlling the transfer of signals between the control circuit and the processing circuit, and a change-over circuit for changing over an order of transmission of communication data within one unit to be transmitted by the serial communication circuit.

Abstract: A quantity-of-light adjusting device includes a drive source, a base member having an opening formed therein, and a blade arranged to move by being driven by the drive source and having three openings formed therein side by side in a row in a moving direction of the blade, wherein, among the three openings formed in the blade, the opening situated in the middle of the row is larger than the opening formed in the base member.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus includes guide posts arranged to pull out a tape-shaped recording medium from a cassette and wrap the tape-shaped recording medium around a drum, guide members arranged to support the guide posts, arms arranged to move the guide members, and arm driving parts arranged to cause the arms to swing, wherein the arms and the arm driving parts are disposed respectively on different sides of a chassis.

Abstract: A focus detecting device includes a focus detecting sensor having a glass plate affixed to a surface thereof, and a holding member which holds the focus detecting sensor. The holding member is provided with a first abutting surface on which the glass plate of the focus detecting sensor abuts, a second abutting surface on which a side surface of the focus detecting sensor abuts, and a groove, disposed between the first and second abutting surfaces, in which an adhesive for fixing the focus detecting sensor flows.

Abstract: A fuel-cell stack manifold retention system in which a number of flexible spring loaded belt members adapted to expand, contract and slide are used to hold the manifolds of a fuel-cell stack in place against the faces of the stack.

Abstract: A video signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing a video signal from a recording medium on which the video signal is recorded, the video signal including a plurality of small images in each of vertical scanning periods, comprises: a reproducer for reproducing the video signal recorded on the recording medium; a memory capable of storing a portion of one vertical scanning period of the video signal reproduced by the reproducer; and a memory controller for controlling writing and reading operations of the memory so that a video signal read out from the memory contains only one of the small images in each of vertical scanning periods.

Abstract: An optical apparatus and a camera are provided, which have line-of-sight detecting means, and are capable of selecting a proper AF point selected even if the actually detected line of sight deviates significantly from the observer's intention and capable of reducing the time required for selecting the AF point. A plurality of focus detecting areas are provided on an observing screen, from which focus information on a subject is detected. A line-of-sight detecting device picks up an image of an eyeball of the user to detect the location of a gazing point of the user, A grouping circuit groups the focus detecting areas into a plurality of groups with priorities based on the detected location of the gazing point. A selecting circuit selects one of the groups according to the priorities and selects at least one focus detecting area from the selected group.