Abstract: Provided is a fluorescence diagnosis endoscope system used to observe human tissue. The system has a light source for illuminating said tissue with a normal light and an excitation light having a certain wavelength range. The human tissue fluoresces in response to the illumination with the excitation light. The system further has a pair of image receiving elements for outputting image signals corresponding to received optical images, receptively. A filter which transmits only light produced by said fluoresced tissue is provided in front of one image receiving element. The image signals output by the image receiving elements are selectively processed and transmitted to a display.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disc apparatus that is adapted for DVD, CD and CD-R. The optical system includes a laser module and an objective lens that converges a divergent laser beam emitted from the laser module onto information layers of optical discs. The laser module is provided with a pair of emission points that are in close proximity to each other, and a pair of light receiving elements. A focusing mechanism moves the objective lens so that the beam spot follows an information layer of the optical disc. The objective lens is provided with the diffractive lens structure to have a wavelength dependence such that the spherical aberration varies in response to the change of the wavelength. Thereby, the variation of the spherical aberration due to the change of the thickness of the cover layer can be canceled by changing the wavelength.

Abstract: An incremental rotary encoder having first and second sensors which each output two sine wave signals having a phase difference of 90 degrees while a rotary member of the incremental rotary encoder rotates. The incremental rotary encoder includes an absolute-zero-index detecting device, provided for the first sensor; at least one binary coding circuit which codes each of the two sine wave signals and the zero index signal into a corresponding binary signal; a holding device for holding the level data of the binary signal of each sine wave signal output from the second sensor when the absolute-zero-index detecting device outputs the zero index signal; and a controller for determining whether the phase of the two sine wave signals output from the second sensor advances or delays with respect to the phase of the two sine wave signals output from the first sensor.

Abstract: An adapter has a plug, a jack, and a flexible cable, which connects the plug and the jack. The plug is connected to a socket provided in a camera body. The jack is connected to a camera accessory, which is a release switch device, for example. The jack is provided with a clip which is fixed to a strap attaching ring provided on the camera body or a strap attached to the strap attaching ring.

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 is durable for the bending motion of said bending portion.

Abstract: An illumination optical system includes a luminous body, and an illumination lens element through which light rays from said luminous body is diffused and emitted. The illumination lens element has peaks and troughs alternately provided on an incident surface or an exit surface thereof. A cross-sectional shape of the peaks and troughs is a curved surface defined by a periodic function which can be differentiated, or the peaks and troughs are formed by a plurality of straight lines approximating the curved surface.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus includes a light receiving device having at least one array of photoelectric conversion elements, wherein each of the photoelectric conversion elements converts light received thereon into an electric charge and accumulates the electric charge so that each the accumulated electric charge is output in order from each photoelectric conversion element as an electrical picture signal of the light receiving device; an A/D converter which converts the picture signal into digital image data; a converting device which performs a logarithmic transformation on the digital image data to replace the digital image data with sensor data; and an operation device which performs a distance measuring calculation in accordance with the sensor data.

Abstract: A lens frame guiding mechanism of a zoom lens includes lens frames having projections which extend radially outwards, wherein a cam follower is formed on each projection; a linear guide barrel; linear guide slots formed on the linear guide barrel parallel to the optical axis, wherein the projections of each lens frame are respectively engaged in the linear guide slots to be slidable therealong; a cam barrel fitted outside the linear guide barrel to be relatively rotatable about the optical axis thereto; and bottomed cam grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cam barrel, in which the cam followers of a corresponding lens frame are respectively engaged. The lens frames are moved in the direction of the optical axis, without rotating about the optical axis, to change a focal length of said zoom lens via rotation of said cam barrel.

Abstract: A multibeam optical system that employs a laser source emitting a laser beam, a diffractive beam-dividing element that diffracts the laser beam emitted from the laser source to be divided into a plurality of diffracted beams exiting at different diffraction angle, and a compensating optical system. compensating optical system, which is afocal and consists of a first group and a second group, arranged at the position where beams divided by a diffractive beam-dividing element are incident thereon. The compensating optical system has a characteristic such that the angular magnification thereof is inversely proportional to the wavelength of the incident beam. The angular difference among the diffracted beam caused by the wavelength dependence of the diffractive beam-dividing element can be reduced when the beams transmit the compensating optical system.

Abstract: A surveying instrument includes a distance-measuring optical system having an objective lens via which a distance from the surveying instrument to an object is measured; and an optical distance meter which includes a reflection member positioned behind the objective lens, a light-transmitting optical system for transmitting a measuring light toward the object via the reflection member and the objective lens, and a light-receiving optical system for receiving a portion of the measuring light which is reflected by the object, subsequently passed through the objective lens, and not interrupted by the reflection member. The light-receiving optical system includes a plurality of light-guiding optical systems, so that the measuring light which is reflected by the object is selectively incident on an end of one of the plurality of light-guiding optical systems in accordance with the distance from the surveying instrument to the object.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus for a camera, having a photometering device, includes a light receiving device including distance measuring zones defined by at least part of a plurality of photometering zones, and at least one array of photoelectric conversion elements, wherein each of the photoelectric conversion elements converts light received thereon into an electric charge and accumulates the electric charge so that each of the accumulated electric charges is output in order from each photoelectric conversion element as an analog picture signal of the light receiving device; an A/D converter which converts the analog picture signal into digital image data; a transformation range setting device which sets a transformation range corresponding to photometering data of the photometering zones that overlap the distance measuring zones; and a logarithmic transformation device which performs logarithmic transformation on the digital image data at the transformation range to obtain sensor data.

Abstract: A cam mechanism includes a linear guide barrel provided with a linear guide projection at one end thereof, extending radially outwards; a cam barrel fitted on the linear guide barrel, rotatable relative to the linear guide barrel and movable along the optical axis with the linear guide barrel, the cam barrel being provided with a cam groove on an inner surface thereof; a linear guide slot formed on the linear guide barrel extending parallel to the optical axis; at least one lens frame positioned inside the linear guide barrel; a projection formed on the lens frame to be slidably engaged in the linear guide slot; and a cam follower formed on the projection to be engaged in the cam groove. The linear guide projection and the linear guide slot are formed on the linear guide barrel at the same circumferential position of the linear guide barrel.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image-capturing device comprises R, G, and B light sources, a CCD, a light-source control processor, a CCD drive circuit, and a distance-information sensing processor. Each of the RGB light sources radiates pulse modulated R, G, and B distance-measurement light beams to a measurement subject. The R, G, and B color filtered pixels of the CCD senses RGB light beams. The RGB light sources are controlled to emit the B, G, and R distance-measurement light beams successively and continuously. The CCD drive circuit controls the CCD to accumulate electric charges of the reflected light beams in a predetermined accumulation period, so that the at least one of RGB distance-measurement light beams is sensed by the CCD. The distance-information sensing processor calculates distance information of the measurement subject by using electric charges accumulated in RGB pixels which are adjacently arranged.

Abstract: There is provided a surgical instrument that includes an elongated body of which distal end is formed to press and drive a bone plug into a bone tunnel. The elongated body also has a guiding hole which is preferably formed along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body and in communication with a front opening formed at the distal end. The guiding hole is formed such that a guide wire can be inserted therein and extend out from the front opening. The guide wire is used to guide the bone plug towards the distal end of the surgical instrument and keep the bone plug there during driving it into the bone tunnel.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises a light source for irradiating a distance measuring light beam to a subject. The light source has a plurality of light source rings, each of which is formed of a plurality of LEDs. The LEDs are annularly disposed along an outer periphery of a lens barrel. The ratio of the intensities of light beams irradiated by the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth light source rings is 1:2:4:8:16. The intensity of the distance measuring light beam irradiated by the light source rings is modulated by selecting the light source rings to be turned ON, so that the intensity of the distance measuring light beam changes in accordance with the time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a scanning optical system that includes a semiconductor laser; a polygon mirror that deflects and scans a light beam emitted from the laser; and an imaging optical system that forms a beam spot on a photoconductive drum. The imaging optical system consists of a curved surface mirror having a positive power mainly in the main scanning direction and an anamorphic lens having a positive power mainly in the auxiliary scanning direction. The anamorphic lens having an anamorphic surface whose optical axis is decentered from a reference ray that reaches the center of the scanning range. The sectional shape of the anamorphic surface in an auxiliary scanning direction being a non-circular curved line to correct coma in the auxiliary scanning direction. The anamorphic surface is a rotationally asymmetrical surface that is defined by a two dimensional polynomial expression.

Abstract: A real image type finder is provided with an imaging optical system, a focusing glass disposed at a focusing surface of the imaging optical system, an observing optical system for observing an image formed on the focusing glass, a case that accommodates the focusing glass and the observing optical system. The case is formed with an opening that allows only the focusing glass to be inserted in/withdrawn from the case therethrough. The finder is further provided with a covering means that removably covers the opening.

Abstract: To make compatible low consumption power formation of a control circuit of a light emitting element and high frequency formation of operational frequency band constituting a variety of usable combination elements of light emitting elements and light receiving elements, bias current is provided to a current mirror for dividing monitor current of a photodiode PD1 by a current source to thereby compensate drive function of a post stage in driving thereof by low current. Reference voltage of a current-voltage conversion portion is set in accordance with an input range of an operational amplifier of a gain adjusting portion at a post stage and input to the operational amplifier is fitted to an input range optimizing amplifying function. There are provided switching circuits SW1 and SW2 for selectively supplying monitor current from two photodiodes to respective APC loops of laser diodes LD1 and LD2 to thereby deal with a 2LD-1PD element and two of 1LD-1PD elements.

Abstract: A video-signal processing device is connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output at least one kind of electric analog video signal, and comprises: an analog-to-digital converter for converting the electric analog video signal into a parallel electric digital video signal; and a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the parallel electric digital video signal into a serial electric digital video signal, whereby the electric analog video signal outputted from the electronic endoscope is fed outside from said device as the serial electric digital video signal.

Abstract: A laser modulating device is provided with a monitoring system that outputs a detection voltage signal corresponding to the output power, a minimum output level setting system that outputs a minimum level voltage signal, a modulating voltage signal generating system, a first adder that outputs a reference voltage signal corresponding to a sum of the minimum level voltage signal and the modulating voltage signal, a comparing system that outputs a driving voltage signal corresponding to a difference between the reference voltage signal and the detection voltage signal, a first V/I converting system that converts the driving voltage signal to a first driving current, the first driving current being supplied to the laser diode, a second V/I converting system, and a circuit that directly supplies the modulating voltage signal from the modulating voltage signal generating system to the second voltage to current converting system, the second voltage to current converting system converting the modulating voltage sign