Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope has a bending portion, an ultrasonic probe, and a flexible circuit board. The bending portion, connected to the point of a flexible tube, bends by remote control. The ultrasonic probe has a plurality of ultrasonic wave vibrators, which are arranged circumferentially, and send ultrasonic waves radially and receive echoes of the ultrasonic waves. The flexible circuit board, which transmits signals associated with the ultrasonic waves and the echoes, is constructed of a plurality of flexible circuit board strips in the bending portion so as to allow a bending motion. The plurality of ultrasonic wave coaxial lines, which are provided in the flexible tube to form an ultrasonic wave coaxial cable and are connected to the plurality of flexible circuit board strips, are loose and flexible in a given range.

Abstract: An ultrasonic endoscope has a bending portion, an ultrasonic probe, and a flexible circuit board. The bending portion, connected to the point of a flexible tube, bends along two predetermined bending-directions perpendicular to each other, by remote control. The ultrasonic probe has a plurality of ultrasonic wave vibrators, which are arranged circumferentially, and send ultrasonic waves radially and receive echoes of the ultrasonic waves. The flexible circuit board, which transmits signals associated with the ultrasonic waves and the echoes, is constructed of a plurality of flexible circuit board strips in the bending portion so as to allow a bending motion. The plurality of flexible circuit board strips are arranged such that a bending-resistance to the bending motion occurs symmetrically with respect to a primary central line, corresponding to one of the two bending-directions.

Abstract: A wide-angle lens system includes a negative first lens group and a positive second lens group with a diaphragm, in this order from an object. Upon focusing, the positive second lens group is arranged to be moved along the optical axis. The wide-angle lens system satisfies the following conditions: 0.5<TL2/f<1.0  (1) 4<f1/f2<−2  (2) wherein TL2 designates the distance, in the second lens group, between the most object-side surface of the most object-side lens element and the most image-side surface of the most image-side lens element; f designates the focal length of the entire lens system when an object at an infinite distance is in an in-focus state; f1 designates the focal length of the first lens group; and f2 designates the focal length of the second lens group.

Abstract: A forceps of endoscope comprises a clip that is provided with at least three arms and a base end portion. The arms are connected to the base end portion. Each of the arms has an open-close deforming portion located close to the base end portion. A core member is provided inside the clip to be in contact with an inner surface of the open-close deforming portion at least when the arms are open. A clip open-close ring is operated by remote control performed from the base end of the sheath. The clip open-close member is engaged with the open-close deforming portion to open and close the arms with a substantially equivalent angular interval and so as to prevent each of the arms from crossing each other.

Abstract: A film scanner for electronically scanning an image recorded on a photographic film, includes an image scanner unit, a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit, and a back-light unit in a body. The back-light radiates a light from a top surface of the body, and the film is slidably supported on the top surface. The image scanner unit scans the image of the film illuminated by the back-light unit. The liquid crystal display (LCD) unit illuminated by the back-light unit, displays the image scanned by the image scanner unit. The LCD unit is pivotably removable from the top surface, such that the film is disclosed.

Abstract: A lens drive control apparatus includes a movable lens which is movable along the optical axis; a lens driver; a code plate having two limit positions respectively serving as mechanical movement limit positions of the movable lens, the code plate including first and second codes; a code detector which moves together with the movable lens; a pulse generator which generates pulses according to the movement of the movable lens; a pulse counter; and a position determining device which determines an absolute position of the first code detected by the code detector, based on the number of pulses counted by the pulse counter from the time when the code detector detects the first or second code until the time when the code detector detects the subsequent other of the second code or first code.

Abstract: A photometry device has a normal light photometry sensor and a external light sensor. The normal light photometry sensor performs photometry with respect to an object. The external light sensor performs photometry with respect color components of the external light. An exposure amount of an object is determined based on an output of a normal light sensor. If a difference between the exposure values is greater than the predetermined value, a color judged in the colorimetry procedure is forcibly set to “colorless” and no substantial colorimetric compensation is performed. If the Bv difference is not greater than the predetermined value, the light source compensation data preliminary stored is used for the colorimetric compensation.

Abstract: An optical head for an optical disc drive is provided with a first laser diode that emits a shorter wavelength laser beam, a second laser diode that emits a longer wavelength laser beam, and an objective lens for converging the beams emitted by the laser diodes on the data recording surface of the optical disc. Each of first and second surfaces of the objective lens is rotationally symmetrical, and a rotational axis of the first surface and a rotational axis of the second surface are arranged to be deviated from each other.

Abstract: A film back exchangeable camera is provided. The film back exchangeable camera has a camera body and a film back that can be attached to a rear portion of the camera body. The film back exchangeable camera includes a backward protrusion protruding backward from a film back attaching surface and covering a top surface of the film back. The camera also includes at least one operation member provided on the backward protrusion and a grip portion protruding backward from the film back attaching surface and covering one side surface of the film back.

Abstract: A zoom lens system including a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group. Upon, all the lens groups move towards the object. A lens group other than the first one is a lens group for focusing, and a ratio K of traveling distance of the first to that of the second lens groups is made constant in any part of the focal length range. Furthermore, the zoom lens system satisfies the following condition: 0.16<K<0.50  (1) wherein K=&Dgr;X2/&Dgr;X1; &Dgr;X1 and &Dgr;X2 designate the traveling distances of the first lens group and the second lens group, from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity.

Abstract: Thermal line head includes an electrically-insulated base member, plural sets of at least two electric resistance elements formed on a surface of the base member and aligned with each other, and a driver circuit that selectively and electrically energizes the at least two electric resistance elements in each set in accordance with an associated digital image-pixel signal and an associated digital gradation-signal. When the digital image-pixel signal has a value “0”, none of the at least two electric resistance elements in a corresponding set are electrically energized, and, when the digital image-pixel signal has a value “1”, the selective and electrical energization of the at least two electric resistance elements in the corresponding set are performed in accordance with values of the digital gradation-signal, wherein a total thermal energy output of each of the plural sets of at least two electric resistance elements is stepwisely adjustable.

Abstract: An ink composition includes an oil-based ink and a heat decomposition gas-developing agent that generates gas by a relatively small amount of heat. A thermal printer using the ink composition is not clogged with the composition even after a long-term storage, and provides a printed matter having excellent water resistance. Thus, the ink composition is remarkably useful for a thermal ink jet printer and a thermal ink permeation printer.

Abstract: An image-forming system has an image-forming sheet, and a printer for forming an image on the sheet. The sheet has a sheet of paper, and a layer of microcapsule, coated over the paper sheet, that contains a plurality of microcapsules filled with a dye. A shell wall of each microcapsule is composed of a resin exhibiting a pressure/temperature characteristic such that, when each microcapsule is squashed under a predetermined pressure at a predetermined temperature, the dye seeps from the squashed microcapsule. The microcapsules are covered with an infrared absorbent coating that-absorbs infrared rays having a specific wavelength. The printer has a transparent glass plate, and a roller platen elastically pressed against the plate at the predetermined pressure, with the sheet being interposed between the plate and the platen.

Abstract: Disclosed is an objective lens of an optical pick-up that converges light beams of two different wavelengths onto recording layers of optical discs of two different recording densities, respectively. The objective lens includes a refractive lens whose one surface is divided into a common area through which a light beam of a low NA, which is necessary and sufficient for an optical disc having low recording density, passes and a high NA exclusive area through which a light beam of a high NA, which is necessary only for an optical disc having high recording density, passes. A diffractive lens structure is formed in both the areas. The diffractive lens structure in the common area maximizes the diffraction efficiency of the first order and that in the high NA exclusive area maximizes the diffraction efficiency of the second or third order at the wavelength corresponding to the optical disc having high recording density.

Abstract: A video scope has an image sensor, a circuit board, and a digital signal processor mounted on the circuit board. The digital signal processor reads image signals from the image sensor, and processes the read image signals to thereby produce at least two types of video signal. A wiring-pattern is formed on the circuit board to feed a video signal component, included in one of the two types of video signals, from the digital signal processor. The wiring-pattern is cut off at a suitable location. When the wiring-pattern remains as an unused wiring-pattern on the circuit board, the wiring-pattern is treated such that radiation of noise is prevented from going through the unused wiring-pattern.

Abstract: A stereo-image capturing device comprises an on-chip color filter attached CCD, a photographing optical system, and an aperture disk. The on-chip color filter comprises red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters, so that the CCD senses images in R, G, and B colors. The photographing optical system produces R, G, and B color images of a subject on the imaging surface of the CCD. The aperture disk has three apertures and they have R, G, and B color filters.

Abstract: In an image-forming substrate, a layer of microcapsules is coated over a sheet of paper, and contains at least one type of microcapsule filled with a solid ink. A shell element of each microcapsule is constituted so as to be squashed and broken under a predetermined pressure when the solid ink of each microcapsule is thermally melted at a predetermined temperature to discharge thermally-molten ink from the squashed and broken microcapsule.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group. At least the first and third lens groups move along the optical axis for zooming. The second lens group includes at least one negative lens element, and the zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions: 0.65<fw/f1<0.80  (1) 1.73<N2n<1.85  (2) 0.15<X3/fw<0.21  (3) −0.05<X2/X1<0.10  (4) wherein fw designates the focal length of the entire zoom lens system; f1 designates the focal length of the first lens group; N2n designates the average refractive index of the negative lens elements in the second lens group; X3 designates the traveling distance of the third lens group; X2 designates the traveling distance of the second lens group; X1 designates the traveling distance of the first lens group.

Abstract: In a camera, a drive gear receiving portion (32) for receiving a drive gear (28) is defined in a space by a lens-barrel portion (14) and a shielding cover (26) removably mounted to the lens-barrel portion (14). At the location constituting the drive gear receiving portion (32) on the lens-barrel portion (14), there is provided a notch (34). The drive gear (28) is moved from radially outside of the lens-barrel portion (16) inwardly to the notch (34), whereby the drive gear (28) engages with a gear (2010) of a zoom gear train (20), and with a gear portion (1602) of the lens-barrel block (16) through the notch formed on the lens-barrel portion (14) therethrough. The shielding cover (26) is moved from radially outside of the lens-barrel portion (16) inwardly to be mounted removably on the lens-barrel portion (14).

Abstract: A pattern reading apparatus reads a pattern from a reflective object. The pattern reading apparatus includes a minute-area light source, an objective lens system, an imaging lens, and an imaging element. The objective lens system causes the illumination light beam from the light source to be incident on the object and converges the light beam reflected from the object. The imaging lens forms an image of the object using only a diffused component of light which has been reflected from the object. A spatial filter has a shading region that shades a portion of the reflected light beam from the object surface which has passed through the spatial filter and forms the image of the light source. The imaging element reads the image of the pattern formed by the light beam having passed through the spatial filter.