Abstract: A lens barrier apparatus includes a lens barrier having opened and closed positions, The lens barrier is positioned on the front face of a lens barrel and protects a camera lens. A motor which drives the opening/closing of the lens barrier and an encoder outputs a predetermined signal together with the rotation of the motor. A drive control when a battery is loaded in the camera, drives the motor in a direction in which the lens barrier is closed and, when the predetermined signal is not output from the encoder during the driving process, drives the motor in a direction in which the lens barrier is opened and then drives the motor in the direction in which the lens barrier is closed again.

Abstract: A scanner that scans an object using a one-dimensional image sensor in order to capture a two-dimensional object is provided with a detachable remote control device. The scanner is controlled such that scanning will only be performed when the remote control device is detached from the scanner.

Abstract: An endoscope treatment tool makes it possible to accurately direct a distal end driven part provided at a distal end of a sheath to a diseased part. The sheath is formed into a rotation follow-up structure such that rotation produced at its proximal end side is transmitted to its distal end side. The sheath and an operation wire are non-rotatively connected to an operation part.

Abstract: A diffusion plate includes a plurality of superimposed basic patterns, each having a large number of microstructures, wherein the microstructures are located in two dimensional periodic arrangements, and wherein lattice vectors, corresponding to the periodic arrangement of the microstructures, vary in accordance with the pattern. The invention also discloses a method for manufacturing a master die for such a diffusion plate, and a focusing screen using the diffusion plate.

Abstract: A real image type variable power finder includes an objective lens system, an ocular lens system, a condenser lens, and an image erecting optical system. The objective lens system includes a first lens group having a negative power and a second lens group having a positive power in this order from the object side, so that the two lens groups being removed to vary the magnification. The second lens group has a negative lens and a positive lens in this order from the object side. The variable power finder satisfies the relationships:(1) 2.5<f.sub.E /f.sub.S <4.0;(2) -0.7<f.sub.S /f.sub.1 <-0.3 (f.sub.1 <0);(3) 0.4<f.sub.S /f.sub.2 <0.8;and(4) -0.3<f.sub.S /f.sub.2-1 <-0.05 (f.sub.2-1 <0);wherein "f.sub.E " designates the focal length of the ocular optical system, "f.sub.S " the effective focal length of a lens system including the objective lens system and the condenser lens on the short focal length side, "f.sub.

Abstract: A barrier mechanism of a camera includes a cylindrical lens cover which has an aperture at its front face and which is supported to move between a photographing position and an accommodating position to the rear of the photographing position. At least one barrier is provided on the front end of the lens cover to open and close the aperture. A barrier opening and closing mechanism which opens and closes the barrier in association with the rotation of a cam ring is further provided. The barrier opening and closing mechanism includes a spring for biasing the barrier towards an open position, and an opening and closing pin which can be moved radially with respect to the lens cover. The pin closes the barrier when moved in the radial direction, and a closing lever is located at a predetermined position outside the lens cover and is biased to rotate to continuously press the opening and closing pin to close the barrier.

Abstract: A counting device for counting the number of exposures for a given frame of film in a multiple exposure camera is operable by the winding mechanism of the camera after the film winding spools have been disengaged therefrom. A means is provided for enabling the counter while simultaneously disengaging and locking the film spools and both mechanical and electrical exposures counters are disclosed.

Abstract: A zoom lens system for a compact camera, having a zoom ratio of approximately 2 or 3 and a smaller overall lens length at the telephoto end than the focal distance at the telephoto end, and which optically experiences only a small focus shift due to environmental changes such as temperature or humidity. The zoom lens system includes a positive lens group and a negative lens group. A positive plastic lens element is disposed in either the positive lens group or the negative lens group. The magnification of the system is adjusted by varying .?.the.!. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.distance between the positive and negative lens groups. The zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions:0.9<f.sub.t /f.sub.p <1.6 (1)0.6<m.sub.p '-m.sub.p <1.2 (2).?.2.9<.!. .Iadd.3.13.ltoreq..Iaddend.m.sub.MAX <4.0 (3)where f.sub.t is the focal length of the overall system at the telephoto end, f.sub.p is the focal length of the positive plastic lens element, m.sub.