Abstract: The present invention is related to an information delivery system that includes a storage device and a set of physical data objects holding content. The data objects are mapped by metadata held in an archive. The archive utilizes a predetermined language and semantics that may also be used in forming an external query for resolution by the archive. Such queries may be generated by software process such as agents under human or software control.

Abstract: A scanning optical system that emits a plurality of beams to a plurality of surfaces to be scanned, respectively. The scanning optical system includes a light source and a polygonal mirror. The plurality of beams incident on the polygonal mirror are inclined with respect each other in an auxiliary scanning direction. The scanning optical system further includes an imaging optical system that converges the deflected beams on the plurality of surfaces, respectively. The imaging optical system includes a front lens group and a plurality of rear lens groups. All the beams are incident on the front lens group, and then incident on the respective rear lens groups. Each of the plurality of rear lens groups has a shape which is designed in accordance with an angle of a beam incident thereon with respect to an optical axis of the front lens group.

Abstract: A focusing apparatus applied to a telescopic lens system includes more than two lens groups. The focusing apparatus includes two focusing mechanisms which are operable independently from each other, and are adapted to vary both absolute and relative positions of two lens groups in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A viewing apparatus having a photographing function includes a viewing system including a viewing optical system, the viewing optical system having a positive objective optical system and an eyepiece optical system, an image of an object formed through the positive objective optical system being viewed through the eyepiece optical system; and a photographing system including a photographing optical system for photographing the object image viewed through the eyepiece optical system, the photographing optical system being provided independently of the viewing optical system. The photographing optical system includes a first lens group and a second lens group. The photographing system includes two focusing mechanisms, which operate independently from each other, for changing both absolute positions of the first lens group and the second lens group and a relative position of the first lens group and the second lens group on an optical axis of the photographing optical system.

Abstract: A scanning optical system is configured to include a light source, an anamorphic optical element, a polygonal mirror, and an imaging optical system. The imaging optical system has a scanning lens including a first lens provided on a polygonal mirror side and a second lens provided on a surface side, and a compensation lens provided on the surface side with respect to the scanning lens, the compensation lens compensating for curvature of field. The scanning lens includes at least one convex surface that has a toric surface having a stronger power in the auxiliary scanning direction than in the main scanning direction. One surface of the compensation lens has an anamorphic aspherical surface, which is a surface whose radius of curvature in the auxiliary scanning direction at a point spaced from the optical axis thereof is determined independently from a cross-sectional shape thereof along the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A wide-angle lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, a diaphragm, and a positive third lens group. Upon focusing, the positive second lens group moves along the optical axis direction.

Abstract: An air delivery unit for an endoscope includes a pressure-sensor, a voltage descent processor, an amplifier, and an electric power supplier. A closed-space is formed in the air delivery unit. The air delivery unit adjusts a pressure in the closed-space by measuring the pressure and then discharging air in the closed-space.

Abstract: In an optical viewer instrument with a photographing function, a telescopic lens system is used for observing an object, and a digital camera is used for photographing an object. The digital camera includes a CCD image sensor and a photographing lens system associated with each other such that the object is formed as a photographic image on the sensor through the photographing lens system. An automatically-operable focussing mechanism is associated with the photographing lens system such that the object is brought into focus through the telescopic lens system, and such that the object is brought into focus through the photographing lens system. Optical various parameters are selected such that predetermined conditions are fulfilled, whereby the focussing of the photographing lens system can be suitably and properly performed in an automatic focussing manner.

Abstract: In an optical viewer instrument with a photographing function, there is provided a telescopic lens system for observing objects, and a digital camera system including a solid-state image sensor and a photographing lens system associated with each other such that an object is formed as a photographed image on the solid-state image sensor through the photographing lens system. A manually-operable focussing mechanism is associated with the telescopic lens system and the photographing lens system such that the object is brought into focus through the telescopic lens system, and such that the object is brought into focus through the photographing lens system. Optical parameters are selected such that predetermined conditions are fulfilled, whereby the focussing of the telescopic lens system and the focusing of the photographing lens system can be suitably and properly performed by the focussing mechanism.

Abstract: A binocular telescope with a photographing function includes a pair of telescopic optical systems, a casing for receiving the telescopic optical systems, and the casing has outer-side end portions. A camera system includes a photographing optical system, and a solid-state image sensor arranged behind and aligned with the photographing optical system, and an electronic control system electronically controls an operation of the camera system. The electronic control system is supplied with electric power from the batteries through an electric power source circuit board. The batteries and the electric power source circuit board are provided at the outer-side end portions of the casing, such that the weight is balanced between the outer-side end portions of the casing.

Abstract: A viewing apparatus includes a viewing optical system having a positive objective optical system and a positive eyepiece optical system, an image of an object formed through the positive objective optical system being viewed through the positive eyepiece optical system; a photographing optical system, provided independently from the viewing optical system, for photographing the object image viewed through the positive eyepiece optical system; a first focusing mechanism for changing an image focal point of the object image formed through the positive objective optical system of the viewing optical system; a second focusing mechanism for changing an image focal point of an object image formed through the photographing optical system; an interconnection mechanism which interconnects the first focusing mechanism with the second focusing mechanism; and a release mechanism for releasing the interconnection mechanism so that the first focusing mechanism and the second focusing mechanism can operate independently of

Abstract: A light source unit, which is employed in an optical head for an optical disc drive, is provided with a laser diode having a plurality of light emitting points. The plurality of light emitting points are spaced from each other by a predetermined minute amount. One of a plurality of laser beams having different wavelengths is selectively emitted from the plurality of light emitting points. The light source unit further includes a collimating lens that collimates each of the plurality of laser beams respectively emitted from the plurality of light emitting points. The plurality of laser beams passed through the collimating lens proceeds in different directions. The light source unit further-includes a transparent optical path compensation element having a predetermined dispersion characteristic. Each of the plurality of laser beams emerging from the collimating lens is emerged from the transparent optical path compensation element along the same optical path.

Abstract: In an optical viewer instrument with a photographing function, a telescopic lens system for observing an object and a digital camera system for photographing the object are housed in a casing. A manually-operable rotary wheel is rotatably provided in the casing such that a portion of the rotary wheel is exposed to the outside from the casing to bring the object into focus through the telescopic lens system. A display panel unit for displaying the object as a motion picture on a display screen thereof is mounted on the casing so as to be movable between a retracted position, where the display screen of the display panel unit is close to a wall surface of the casing, and a display position, where the display screen of the display panel unit is directed to the ocular-lens-system side of the telescopic lens system. The rotary wheel is arranged such that the exposed portion of the manually-operable rotary wheel is hidden behind the display panel unit when being at the retracted position.

Abstract: A viewing apparatus includes a viewing optical system having a positive objective optical system and a positive eyepiece optical system, an image of an object formed through the positive objective optical system being viewed through the positive eyepiece optical system; a photographing optical system, provided independently from the viewing optical system, for photographing the object image viewed through the positive eyepiece optical system; a first focusing mechanism for changing an image focal point of the object image formed through the positive objective optical system of the viewing optical system; a second focusing mechanism for changing an image focal point of an object image formed through the photographing optical system; an association mechanism which interconnects the first focusing mechanism with the second focusing mechanism; and an indicia indication optical system for selectively indicating the object image and an indicia image in a field of view viewing through the positive eyepiece optical s