Abstract: An automatic focusing device employs an active range finder to establish an initial range to an object. A blur is calculated based on the initial range. If the blur is less than a predetermined value, the active range finder is bypassed in favor of a passive range finder. A focusing drive is responsive to the output of the passive range finder to drive the focus toward zero blur. If the initial range provides a blur calculation exceeding the predetermined value, the focusing drive responds to the active range finder until the calculated blur is reduced to a second predetermined value, at which time the active range finder is bypassed in favor of the passive range finder. Thereafter, the focusing drive responds to the passive range finder.

Abstract: An automatic focusing system includes an active range finding system and a passive range finding system. An initial measurement is made by the active range finding system. If the initial measurement indicates that the lens focus is within a predetermined scope, control of further focusing is transferred immediately to the passive range finding system. If this condition is not met initially, lens focusing begins based on data from the active range finding system. The difference between measured range and the distance at which the lens is focused is monitored. When this difference falls below the predetermined scope, the range finding function is transferred to the passive range finding system. Also, the variance between the distance measured by the active range finding system and the distance at which the lens is focused is used to determine a degree of blur. If the degree of blur is less than a predetermined blur, the range finding function is transferred to the passive range finding system.

Abstract: A camera automatic zoom lens adjustment apparatus in which photography can be performed in one of three modes including a standard mode, creative mode, and active mode. For the creative mode, aperture values of the camera are set at values greater than that for the standard mode to permit improved photography of scenery, which scenery may also include a subject of photography. For the active mode, shutter speeds are set to values faster than that for the standard mode to permit improved photography of sport scenes, or the like. Three points are designated on the subject of photography and the distance each point is away from the camera is measured so that the closest point may be determined as well as the size of the subject within the depth of the field. The proper zoom ratio, or focal distance, is determined with respect to the desired photography mode, the size of the subject in the corresponding depth of field, and the distance the closest point is away from the camera.

Abstract: An image signal processor is capable of precisely reading a dark-colored character or the like drawn on a light-colored background, such as a white board, and to perform binary encoding, but also capable of precisely reading a light-colored character or the like drawn on a dark-colored background, such as a blackboard, and to perform binary encoding. The image signal processor includes an automatic gain control circuit for receiving an image signal generated by an image pickup element and for changing to either a first cutoff frequency for performing automatic gain control on only a low-frequency component of the signal or a second cutoff frequency for performing automatic gain control on both the low-frequency component and a high-frequency component of the image signal.

Abstract: An image pickup printing device wherein images such as characters or diagrams written on a board or the like are made incident through a lens, the incidental images are monitored by a view-finder, the thus-monitored images are converted into the information by a one-dimensional image sensor, and the images are printed out by a printer based on informations obtained by the one-dimensional image sensor.

Abstract: An housing case for electromechanical equipment requires connection of electric wires such as power cord, and incoming/outgoing singal lines. The housing case includes a body and a cover mounted on the body. A slant face having electric wire connections is formed on the body. The cover has two symmetrical sides which correspond to a portion of the housing case omitted to form the slant face. An electric wire hole for inserting electric wires to be connected to the electric wire connection is formed in one of the two sides of the cover. The cover is mounted on the body to cover the slant face. The electric wires are inserted through the electric wire hole on the cover. Then the cover is installed on the body to cover the slant face. The electric wire hole can be installed in either of two positions, thereby selecting either of two directions for the electric wires.

Abstract: A light identifying system includes a photoelectric conversion unit for receiving a pulsed light from a light emitting part on a light receiving part to generate a light reception signal that varies in magnitude according to the quantity of the received light. A peak holding circuit has a time constant that is long compared with the pulse interval of the pulsed light. The peak holding circuit stores a peak value of the light reception signal for its time constant. The peak value is divided by a constant for application to a comparator. The comparator compares it with the light reception signal as a threshold. A peak value of the light reception signal is held, and the peak value thus held is specified as a threshold to the light reception signal, therefore in the unlikely event of decrease in the quantity of emitted light due to a secular change or of decrease in the quantity of received light due to mist and oil film, the threshold decreases accordingly.

Abstract: The light reception signal circuit for photoelectric switch includes a photoelectric conversion circuit for receiving light from a light emitting part controlled for periodic emission. The photoelectric conversion circuit generates an electrical signal corresponding to the quantity of the received light. A programmable attenuator receives the output electrical signal, and attenuates it in even step in response to a digital control signal. A first comparator compares the output voltage with a predetermined upper bound threshold. The first comparator generates a clock signal when the output voltage exceeds the upper bound threshold. A peak holding circuit for receives an output voltage of the programmable attenuator, and holds the peak value of the output voltage on a time constant that is much longer than an emission period of the light emitting part.

Abstract: A camera zoom lens automatic magnification apparatus for automatically changing the focal length of a zoom lens wherein distances to at least three points on a subject--at the center, to the left and to the right--in the angle of view are measured by a range finding device and a zoom lens driving device for changing the focal length of the zoom lens is controlled by a control device according to the output of the range finding device.

Abstract: A serial dot matrix printer is provided with a slit encoder and an optical sensor opposed to the slit encoder. In the slit encoder, firing signal slits each having a fixed width are provided at a fixed pitch, and block signal slits each having a width smaller than that of each firing signal slit are provided in every block composed of a plurality of the firing signal slits. As a carriage moves, the optical sensor moves along the slit encoder to produce a signal at every slit. The signal from the optical sensor is applied to a first control device having a block detector and a firing timing unit. The block detector receives the signal from the optical sensor, measures the passing time between every slit, and detects a block signal according to a difference in passing time between the slits.

Abstract: A zoom lens focusing apparatus for a camera includes a zoom ring for adjusting a zoom lens section of the camera to different magnifications by moving a movable lens assembly therein forward and backward. A cam mechanism couples the zoom ring to the movable lens assembly, so that a change in the focal length of the zoom lens section caused by rotation of the zoom ring, is a logarithmic function of the angle of rotation of the zoom ring. A master lens section of the camera also has a movable lens assembly therein which is movable forward and backward by a driving device. The position of the zoom ring is detected while the movable lens of the zoom lens section moves backward or forward, and a sampling pulse generating circuit produces a pulse corresponding to the position of the zoom ring. A voltage which changes corresponding to the distance of the subject from the camera is applied to a charge-and-discharge circuit and the output thereof is held in a sample and hold circuit.

Abstract: A device for finding the range to an object for use in an automatic focusing camera consisting of a light emitting source for emitting light towards the object and a light detecting element for receiving reflected light from the object and producing an output for determining the range to the object. The light detecting element is spaced from the light emitting source by a given base length. The light emitting source consists of a plurality of light emitting elements aligned side-by-side in the horizontal direction orthogonally intersecting the base length.

Abstract: Electronic flash incorporated camera including a camera body having a lens, a case for the camera body, and a lens protective cover slidably mounted on the case. The cover is slidable between a closed position in which the cover covers the lens, and a retracted position in which the lens is exposed. An electronic flash emission member is mounted on the cover, and the emission member is positioned so as to project beyond the contour of the camera case when the cover is in the retracted position.

Abstract: A focusing control for a camera which uses a reflected beam of light to control extension of the lens. The reflected light beam is received by a photodetector having two aligned photodetectors which are movable with the camera lens. The circuitry controlling the lens movement processes the photo-detector signal by producing integrated sum and differences signals from the two detectors and using these signals to provide indications of the direction and amount of extension of the lens necessary to be in focus. The processor uses comparators, a counter for measuring extension and a memory for remembering the direction of misfocus.